Abstract: In a spring retracted tape measure in which the tape measure is retracted into a housing (1,2) onto a spring biassed drum (3), the ratchet is constituted by teeth (23) formed on the housing and detents (27) on flexible arms (24) on the drum which bias the detents into contact with the teeth (23). A portion (20) of the housing is resiliently connected to the rest of the housing, and can be depressed inwardly to engage the flexible arms (24) thus disengaging the detents (27) from the teeth (23) to permit the tape to be wound in.

Abstract: A seat belt buckle has a latch plate provided with a locking tooth which is biassed into engagement with an aperture in a locking plate, and is provided with a slider operated lever to move the latch plate to release the locking plate. A protrusion is provided on the slider which lies adjacent a portion of the latch plate when in the locking position to prevent the latch plate being disengaged from the locking plate even if the device is subjected to a sudden shock.

Abstract: A buckle holds a plate attached to a safety belt by a latch-tooth engaging an aperture or notch. The latch-tooth is pivoted in the walls of a channel and is released by a lever moved by a slot in a slider. The slider slides on flanges on the channel walls. The lever is almost perpendicular to the plane of the path of the slider and when the plate is in the buckle the lever either passes through a slot in the plate and swings on the channel base or swings outside the channel on a rod through the channel walls.

Abstract: A buckle for a safety belt or harness for a vehicle. The buckle comprises a plate having an aperture defined therein and a casing which separably receives the plate through an entrance slot in the casing. A latch mechanism positioned within the casing releasably latches the plate to the casing. A spring mounted in the casing has one end located closely adjacent the entrance slot and is compressed by the plate when that plate is inserted into the casing. The spring urges the plate outwardly and applies outward force thereto in an essentially continuous manner until the plate is nearly completely ejected from the casing.