Buckles – buttons – clasps – etc. – Separable-fastener or required component thereof – Including member having distinct formations and mating...
Reexamination Certificate
2001-05-08
2003-06-03
Brittain, James R. (Department: 3677)
Buckles, buttons, clasps, etc.
Separable-fastener or required component thereof
Including member having distinct formations and mating...
C024S641000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06571435
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The invention generally relates to seat belt buckles.
Reference is briefly made to
FIG. 1
, which illustrates a prior art seat belt buckle
20
and interlocking tongue
22
. The typical seat belt buckle
20
includes a cover
24
that may include top and bottom cover portions
24
a
and
24
b
suitably interconnected, a frame
26
and ejector
28
that is typically spring loaded by an ejector spring
30
. The buckle additionally includes a manually operable button
32
that is guided by portions of the frame. The frame additionally includes one or more latch-receiving slots or openings such as
35
, as well as a latch (latch mechanism) such as a latch plate
34
that is slidably (or rotatably) supported within the frame
26
. The tongue
22
is received within an entry slot or channel
40
defined by portions of the frame. Extreme inward motion of the tongue pushes the ejector
28
rearwardly against the bias of its spring
30
. When the ejector is moved sufficiently rearward, see dimension “a”, the latch moves, or is forced to move, to its locked position within the latch receiving opening or openings
35
and within a latch-receiving opening
42
in the tongue. The latch can be moved to its released or unlocked position in response to the inward motion of the button. Once the latch disengages with the opening
42
in the tongue, the spring-loaded ejector pushes the tongue out of the buckle.
As can be seen in the various figures, the latch-receiving opening
42
is formed in the frame or latch plate
43
portion of the tongue and is positioned behind an integral bar or crosspiece
44
of the tongue. When the tongue is inserted in the buckle a distance greater than the length b of bar
44
(see FIG.
1
), the latch
34
will move into the latch-receiving opening
42
of the tongue.
As mentioned above, the frame provides an entry slot or channel
40
for the tongue. Additionally, the buckle cover is also spaced from the frame; consequently, it might be possible to insert the forward tip portion of the tongue
22
in between the frame and the lower portion
24
b
of the cover. Numeral
50
designates the spacing between the frame and the lower portion of the cover. Continued, inward motion of the tongue may place the tongue against a portion of the ejector
28
moving the ejector rearwardly. If the rearward motion of the ejector exceeds dimension, a, the latch
34
will fall through the latch-receiving spaces or openings
35
(in the frame) even though the tongue is not in a position to lockingly receive the latch
34
. The buckle of
FIG. 1
might also be prone to tampering as an individual may insert an object such as a paper clip or screwdriver into the slot
40
. Sufficient rearward movement of the inserted object will push the ejector rearward allowing the latch mechanism
34
to drop into the slots
35
. With the latch in its lowered position, the tongue
22
can still be inserted within the slot
40
, but the tongue will not lock with the latch
34
. The vehicle occupant may not be aware that the tongue is not properly secured by the buckle latch.
It is an object of the present invention to provide a buckle that prevents the latch from moving to its locked position in response to a relatively small rearward motion of the ejector while not requiring excessive movement.
Accordingly the invention comprises: a seat belt buckle assembly including a seat belt buckle, the buckle comprising: a frame defining a tongue-receiving slot; a latch plate operably positioned in relation to the tongue-receiving slot and movable between an unlocked position and a locked position; a latch spring for biasing the latch plate toward the locked position; an ejector mechanism located behind the tongue-receiving slot and rearwardly movable in response to inward movement of a tongue; the ejector mechanism including a first portion engageable by the tongue and rearwardly movable to a position beyond the location of the latch plate and a second portion slidably receiving and supporting the latch plate, the second portion remaining in contact with the latch plate, preventing the latch plate from moving to its locked position even when the first portion has moved beyond the latch plate.
Many other objects and purposes of the invention will be clear from the following detailed description of the drawings.
REFERENCES:
patent: 4454634 (1984-06-01), Haglund et al.
patent: 4685177 (1987-08-01), Escaravage
patent: 4703542 (1987-11-01), Hirata et al.
patent: 5014401 (1991-05-01), Kitazawa
patent: 5067212 (1991-11-01), Ellis
patent: 5752299 (1998-05-01), Vivacqua et al.
patent: 6055708 (2000-05-01), Ellis et al.
patent: 6202269 (2001-03-01), Specht et al.
patent: 2000041709 (2000-02-01), None
Chamings Antony W.
Grzic Rudi
Jain Tony
Vetter Stephan F.
Breed Automotive Technology Inc.
Brittain James R.
Seitzman Markell
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