Patents by Inventor Hermann E. Happel

Hermann E. Happel has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 4196500
    Abstract: A seat belt buckle having a laminated or reinforcing plate construction. A main body has a cavity in which a spring is positioned. A latch plate located in the cavity has a pair of outwardly extending arms slidably mounted in pair of mutually opposed upright channels mounted in the cavity. The spring abuts the bottom surface of the latch plate forcing the latch plate upwardly to releasably lock in place a seat belt tongue extending through inlet means into the cavity atop the latch plae. A push button is mounted between the main body and a cover fixedly secured to the main body. The push button has outwardly extending legs slidably received in the channels and abutting the arms on the latch plate whereby the push button may be depressed to move the latch plate and spring downwardly releasing the tongue from the buckle. A plate or block is mounted in a recess on the main body with a second plate mounted thereatop.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 1978
    Date of Patent: April 8, 1980
    Assignee: Indiana Mills & Manufacturing, Inc.
    Inventors: Hermann E. Happel, James R. Anthony
  • Patent number: 4128924
    Abstract: A seat belt buckle having a laminated construction. A main body has a cavity in which a double leaf spring is positioned. A latch plate located in the cavity has a pair of outwardly extending arms slidably mounted in a pair of mutually-opposed upright channels mounted in the cavity. The leaf spring abuts the bottom surface of the latch plate forcing the latch plate upwardly to releasably lock in place a seat belt tongue extending through inlet means into the cavity atop the latch plate. A push button is mounted between the main body and a cover fixedly secured to the main body. The push button has outwardly extending legs slidably received in the channels and abutting the arms on the latch plate whereby the push button may be depressed to move the latch plate and leaf or coil spring downwardly releasing the tongue from the buckle. A first reinforcing plate is mounted in a recess on the main body whereas a second reinforcing plate is mounted in a recess within the cover.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 17, 1977
    Date of Patent: December 12, 1978
    Assignee: Indiana Mills & Manufacturing Inc.
    Inventors: Hermann E. Happel, James R. Anthony