Buckles – buttons – clasps – etc. – Separable-fastener or required component thereof – Including member having distinct formations and mating...
Patent
1988-10-11
1990-03-27
Cranmer, Laurie K.
Buckles, buttons, clasps, etc.
Separable-fastener or required component thereof
Including member having distinct formations and mating...
24637, 297468, 280805, A44B 1125
Patent
active
049108360
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
The present invention relates to a seat belt buckle and more particularly relates to a seat belt buckle of the type which incorporates a latching member adapted to engage part of a tongue inserted into the buckle, the latching member being rotatable about an axis between a position in which the latching member engages the tongue to retain the tongue in the buckle, and a release position in which the latching member does not engage the tongue, thus permitting the tongue to be removed from or re-inserted into the buckle.
Many buckles of this type have been proposed previously, and it is relatively commonplace for the main part of the buckle to incorporate a channel shaped member, the latching member being pivotally mounted on opposed side walls defined by the channel shaped member. The tongue may be inserted into the buckle along a predetermined path which is usually located adjacent the base of the channel shaped member. The latching member can then rotate so that part of the latching member engages an aperture formed in a tongue, or engages part of a substantially "T" shaped head of the tongue, thus retaining the tongue within the buckle.
It will be appreciated that, when accident occurs, a very severe force may be imparted to the tongue, tending to withdraw the tongue from the buckle, and the buckle must be able to withstand this force if the buckle is to be satisfactory. It is to be appreciated that since the latching member is pivotally mounted at the side wall of the buckle, it is desirable to have the maximum area of contact between the latching member and the side wall of the buckle so that the severe force imparted to the latching member can be satisfactorily transferred to the side wall of the buckle, so that the force can be withsood adequately without the components of the buckle bending or deforming.
One way of mounting the latching member is to provide the latching member with a relatively large diameter trunnions at each end, these trunnions being received in relatively large diameter apertures formed in the side walls of the channel. Thus, in the event of an accident, the large diameter trunnions will engage the large diameter apertures, and the buckle is thus able to withstand the applied forces. However, one disadvantage of such an arrangement is that the large diameter trunnions, within the large diameter apertures cannot be considered to be low friction bearings, particularly if there is metal-to-metal contact over the entire periphery of the trunnions. This is undesirable since the latching member should be able to pivot relatively freely with a minimum of friction.
The present invention seeks to provide a buckle of the type described in which the latching member is able to withstand a relatively large applied force, but is pivoted for relatively friction-free movement.
According to this invention there is provided a buckle for use with a seat belt, said buckle incorporating a rotatably mounted latching member, the latching member being rotatable between a position in which part of the latching member engages a tongue to retain the tongue in position in the buckle, and a position in which the latching member does not engage the tongue, thus permitting the tongue to be introduced into or removed from the buckle, the latching member being pivotally mounted at, or adjacent, each end thereof on a deformable member which can deform under a severe force applied to the latching member, there being substantially point contact between the deformable member and the latching member to provide a substantially friction free bearing, a portion of the latching member adjacent each end thereof being located within an aperture formed in a force-withstanding member, part of the aperture having a configuration corresponding to the configuration of the part of the latching member inserted therein such that, if a severe force is applied to a tongue within the buckle when the latching member is in the latching condition the deformable members deform and the end parts of the latching member are brought into co
REFERENCES:
patent: 3561690 (1971-02-01), Muskat
patent: 3952967 (1976-04-01), Barile et al.
Cranmer Laurie K.
General Engineering (Netherlands ) B.V.
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