And Operator Therefor Patents (Class 24/633)
  • Publication number: 20010034929
    Abstract: A latching apparatus for an inflatable belt device which achieves reduction in the gas leakage without losing the smoothness of insertion of a tongue into a buckle, or which achieves reduction in the manufacturing cost and the weight of the latching apparatus. A tongue and a buckle of a latching apparatus for an inflatable belt device have pipes (a tongue pipe, a buckle pipe), through which gas for deploying an inflatable belt flows. The end of the buckle pipe is covered by a buckle cap which is broken when an inflator is actuated. The buckle cap is biased upwardly by a spring fitted around the buckle pipe. A space between the pipes is eliminated by the buckle cap, thereby achieving the reduction in gas leakage. Therefore, the need for excess gas is eliminated, thereby enabling miniaturization of the inflator.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 28, 2001
    Publication date: November 1, 2001
    Inventor: Yoji Suyama
  • Publication number: 20010025403
    Abstract: A buckle device in which it can be detected whether or not a tongue plate inserted into a case is locked, and in which reliability of such detection is high. In the buckle device, a magnetic plate is provided at a leg portion which moves together with the tongue plate which is inserted into an interior of the case. Changes in orientation of a magnetic field of a magnet of a sensing section, which orientation varies due to the magnetic plate approaching and moving away from the magnet, are detected at an MRE sensor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 15, 2001
    Publication date: October 4, 2001
    Inventors: Masakata Kanbe, Masahiro Taniguchi, Katsuya Kogiso, Masaya Tajima
  • Patent number: 6292988
    Abstract: A seat belt buckle of the general type disclosed in GB-A-2238074 in which the slider (44) has extending downwardly from its body (46) clips (76) having side flanges (78), the flanges being formed with chamfers (80). The body (74) of the locking member (24) is provided with elongate slots (72), into which the clips (76) can be pressed, the flanges (78) retaining the slider in place. The length of the slots (72) and of the clips (78) is chosen to allow adequate sliding movement of the slider (44).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 3, 2000
    Date of Patent: September 25, 2001
    Assignee: European Components Co. Limited
    Inventors: Michael John Jackson, Mark John Harrison
  • Publication number: 20010010111
    Abstract: A rewind spring in a cassette for a seat belt retractor is assembled by first placing a mechanism cover on a winding jig. An arbor is fitted to a winding shaft of the jig. One end of a coiled metal bank spring is then fixed to the spring arbor. The band is then wound onto the arbor in the mechanism cover and a spring cover is fitted to the mechanism cover. Finally, a locking clip is attached to the spring cover to lock the arbor against rotation. A spring arbor for use in the cassette has a generally cylindrical shape and an axially extending slot for receiving an end of the spring. A step is provided in the profile of the cylindrical outer surface of the arbor in the region of the slot to compensate for the thickness of the band wound thereon.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 7, 2001
    Publication date: August 2, 2001
    Inventor: James Joseph McCulloch
  • Patent number: 6266855
    Abstract: A seat belt buckle has a guide channel formed in a buckle frame into which a tongue connected to a seat belt can be inserted. An ejector, located in the guide channel acts, as an ejector spring in the ejection direction opposite to the insertion direction of the tongue. A locking element is mounted on the buckle frame and can be moved out of an unlocking position into a locking position in order to lock the tongue in the guide channel. A securing element is movable between a securing position for holding the locking element in the locking position and a release position for releasing the locking element. A blocking device is mounted on the securing element and is moved into a blocking position when the locking element is in the locking position. The securing element is held in the securing position against a movement into the release position, whereby the blocking device is held in the blocking position by the ejector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 1999
    Date of Patent: July 31, 2001
    Assignee: Breed Automotive Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Martin Specht, Walter Krauss, Stephan Schwald, Thomas Schrott
  • Patent number: 6263548
    Abstract: A buckle of the invention is formed of a hollow female member, which is provided with an inserting hole and first engaging portions, and a male member provided with a collar portion and elastic pieces disposed at both end portions of a front surface of the collar portion. Each of the elastic pieces includes a second engaging portion at a distal end thereof, and the elastic pieces are disposed to face each other and inserted into the inserting hole of the female member. The both end portions of the front surface of the collar portion are respectively provided with concave portions, so that the collar portion and the elastic pieces are overlapped in a longitudinal direction thereof. Accordingly, an entire length of the male member is shortened while a length of the elastic piece and bending margin are obtained as required.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 1999
    Date of Patent: July 24, 2001
    Assignee: Nifco Inc.
    Inventor: Yasuhiko Ikeda
  • Patent number: 6256848
    Abstract: A rewind spring in a cassette for a seat belt retractor is assembled by first placing a mechanism cover on a winding jig. An arbor is fitted to a winding shaft of the jig. One end of a coiled metal bank spring is then fixed to the spring arbor. The band is then wound onto the arbor in the mechanism cover and a spring cover is fitted to the mechanism cover. Finally, a locking clip is attached to the spring cover to lock the arbor against rotation. A spring arbor for use in the cassette has a generally cylindrical shape and an axially extending slot for receiving an end of the spring. A step is provided in the profile of the cylindrical outer surface of the arbor in the region of the slot to compensate for the thickness of the band wound thereon.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 3, 1999
    Date of Patent: July 10, 2001
    Assignee: Breed Automotive Technology, Inc.
    Inventor: James Joseph McCulloch
  • Patent number: 6253420
    Abstract: Clamping assembly, comprising a base part, a clamping part, a pivot pin and spring means. The base part and the clamping part have projections with passages. In the assembled state, the passages lie in line with one another and hold the pin in place. The passages of one part are formed by a recess which extends from a side of the part which does not have the projections to the side of the part which does have the projections.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 18, 2000
    Date of Patent: July 3, 2001
    Assignee: Ericsson Radio Systems B.V.
    Inventor: Johan W. Berenschot
  • Patent number: 6233794
    Abstract: A seat belt buckle (100) operable with a pretensioner (330) comprising: a frame (102) having a first latch opening (126a) therein, and opposing frame sides (108a,b), each side including a latch plate slot (110) arranged generally perpendicular to the direction of movement of a tongue into the buckle and pivoted weight mechanism (112, 200, 220). The buckle additionally includes a latch plate (180), having portions (186) movable within the latch plate slots between a locked position in engagement with an opening within the tongue and with the first latch opening (126a), the latch plate moveable between a latched position within the latch opening (126a) in the frame and within the latch opening (173) of the tongue to an unlatched position out of the latch openings.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 1999
    Date of Patent: May 22, 2001
    Assignee: Breed Automotive Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Kenneth H. Kohlndorfer, Carl M. Petersen, III, Harjeet Gill, Rosemary Longley, Tammy Korona, Caryn Foley, Craig Good, Simon X. He, Tony Jain, Lawrence M. Refior, Susan A. Richards
  • Patent number: 6223403
    Abstract: A locking device for a child seat includes slant faces, and a clamping unit having a tiltable clamping roller and a knob for tilting the roller. The slant faces may be formed on a base back of the child seat. A shoulder webbing is inserted between the roller and the slant face, and the clamping roller is tilted so that the webbing is clamped by the roller. The roller is positioned by a spring. The locking device can lock the shoulder webbing when a child seat is mounted either on a left vehicle seat or a right vehicle seat.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 7, 1999
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2001
    Assignee: Takata Corporation
    Inventors: Osamu Nakagawa, Junichi Yoshida
  • Patent number: 6219890
    Abstract: Method and apparatus for escaping from a vehicle include providing safety escape apparatus including a safety belt having a buckle on a free portion of the belt, the buckle having an exposed edge, and the free portion being long enough to allow the exposed edge of the buckle to be placed in contact with a window of the vehicle. A tip harder than glass is affixed to the exposed edge of the buckle so as to extend outwardly therefrom. Escape is performed by disengaging the seat belt from a safety engaged position around an occupant, gripping the buckle with the tip extending outwardly, and forcibly driving the tip into an adjacent window to break the window and allow egress through the window.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 1999
    Date of Patent: April 24, 2001
    Assignee: Egression Technologies, L.L.C.
    Inventor: Douglas F. Souther
  • Patent number: 6205629
    Abstract: A ferromagnetic latch (42) is moveable from a first position to a second position in which the latch locks a lockable element (16) against movement in a passage (22) in a buckle (12). The buckle (12) also includes a switch (60) which includes a ferromagnetic support member (62). The switch (60) also includes a ferromagnetic flux collecting member (70), a Hall effect device (72), and a magnet (74) fixed to the support member (62). The magnet (74) creates a magnetic field that is conducted by the flux collecting member (70) and the latch (42) away from the Hall effect device (72) when the latch is in the first position. The magnetic field is conducted by the flux collecting member (70) and the support member (62) towards the Hall effect device (72) when the latch (42) is moved away from the switch (60) to the second position. The Hall effect device (72) senses a first flux density when the latch (42) is in the first position which causes the Hall effect device (72) to provide a first output signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 16, 1999
    Date of Patent: March 27, 2001
    Assignee: TRW Inc.
    Inventor: David L. Becker
  • Patent number: 6205628
    Abstract: The buckle of the invention comprises a housing, a buckle part connected to one end of a seat belt and having a passage for receiving an interlocking tongue part connected to another end of a seat belt, a pivoting carrier element carrying a latching element arranged to engage with the tongue part to lock the tongue part in the passage, a release button operatively coupled via a ramp surface to move the latching element from an engaging position in which the buckle is fastened to the tongue, to a release position in which the buckle is unfastened, a counterbalance mass slidably mounted in the housing so that its inertia acts on the latching element to keep the latching element in the tongue engaging position under forces of acceleration and of deceleration acting on the buckle, the inertia acting in a first direction under acceleration and in a second direction under deceleration thereby substantially to counteract the effects of button inertia on the operation of the buckle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 14, 1999
    Date of Patent: March 27, 2001
    Assignee: Breed Automotive Technology, Inc.
    Inventor: Andrew John Downie
  • Patent number: 6205627
    Abstract: A belt buckle for vehicle safety belts has a load bearing frame and a locking mechanism thereon. A housing encloses the frame and has an insertion slot for an insert tongue acting in conjunction with the locking mechanism. To eliminate any extraneous matter that has entered into the housing through the insertion slot, a channel leads from the insertion slot through the housing and out of the housing, forming a guide for gravity assisted movement of such extraneous matter out of the housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 18, 1999
    Date of Patent: March 27, 2001
    Assignee: TRW Occupant Restraint Systems GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventor: Christian Hoika
  • Patent number: 6205630
    Abstract: Before mounting to an anchor plate, a holding block is connected by a plurality of connecting portions to a button so as to be formed integrally with the button. A pair of connecting portions among the plurality of connecting portions is comprised of a button-side connecting portion and a holding block-side connecting portion, and the button-side connecting portion and the holding block-side connecting portions are joined together by a minimum sectional area portion which intersects, at an angle of inclination of 45 degrees, a direction in which the button slides. The minimum sectional area portion is made substantially perpendicular to the direction of tensile stress acting during assembly, and therefore, a crack is formed in the minimum sectional area portion along the shortest possible length of the minimum sectional area portion when the above-described pair of connecting portions is broken.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 1999
    Date of Patent: March 27, 2001
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Tokai-Rika-Denki-Seisakusho
    Inventor: Shinji Mori
  • Patent number: 6202269
    Abstract: A buckle for a seat belt has an interlock that provides impact resistance between an ejector and a support for a securing element for securing the locked state, the interlock being maintained during the retensioning process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 3, 1999
    Date of Patent: March 20, 2001
    Assignee: Breed Automotive Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Martin Specht, Walter Krauss, Stephan Schwald, Thomas Schrott
  • Patent number: 6170134
    Abstract: A pretensioner-proof buckle comprises a buckle for a vehicle safety restraint mechanism, the buckle comprising: a housing (3) having a rectilinear channel for receving a fastening member (2); a latching element (4) mounted within the housing and moveable between a first position in which it engages the fastening member and a second position in which the fastening member is released; a release button (10) operatively connected to the latching element for effecting movement thereof between the first and second positions; a blocking member (5) for engaging the latching element under predetermined conditions to prevent movement of the latching element towards the release position; and an inertial mass (14) pivotally mounted to, and contained within side walls of, the release button (10), the mass being arranged to act on the blocking member under said predetermined conditions to move the blocking member into engagement with the latching element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 4, 1999
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2001
    Assignee: Breed Automotive Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Andrew John Downie, David Burke
  • Patent number: 6170133
    Abstract: The present invention provides a buckle having a desirable operability wherein a pair of plugs are simultaneously engaged and disengaged from a socket by a simple structure. The buckle comprises a pair of plugs and a socket. Each the plug has a tongue portion to be inserted into the socket and an engaging portion formed at a tip end portion of the tongue portion. The socket is formed with inserting portions into which the tongue portions are inserted respectively, fixed engaged portions which are formed in the inserting portions and with which the engaging portions of the plugs are engaged, and an operating portion which is formed between the engaged portions and which displaces the engaging portions to disengage the engaging portions with the engaged portions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 1999
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2001
    Assignee: YKK Corporation
    Inventor: Ryoichiro Uehara
  • Patent number: 6145172
    Abstract: A locking device for a buckle including a male member and a female member having coupling apertures formed in opposing sides. The male member includes a pair of resilient arms having coupling tabs for cooperating with the coupling apertures of the female member. The female member has guide means for receiving a guide member on the male member during insertion of the male member into the female member. The female member is provided with a locking device in the form of a locking member slidable in a slot to a position where it prevents depression of one of the resilient arms to release the coupling tabs from the coupling apertures. The lock is released by sliding the locking member along the slot in a direction away from the resilient arm. Accidental or unauthorised release of the buckle can therefore be prevented by providing the locking device on a side of the female member next to the wearer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 13, 1999
    Date of Patent: November 14, 2000
    Inventor: Ted Bourdon
  • Patent number: 6141840
    Abstract: A buckle for releasably engaging a tongue of a restraint system and the like includes a housing containing a latch having a forward edge pivotally connected to a forward end of the housing. Overlying the latch is a lever that is pivotally connected to the housing intermediate opposite ends of the lever. Interposed between the housing and latch is a leaf spring that urges a back edge of the latch upwardly within the housing and into engagement with a rear end portion of the lever rearwardly of the pivotal connection between the lever and housing for urging a front end portion of the lever forwardly of the pivotal connection toward the housing. A raised rearwardly facing shoulder on the latch is engageable by a wall of a slot in the tongue when the tongue is inserted into the buckle between the lever and latch for retaining the tongue within the buckle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 2, 1999
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2000
    Assignee: Artisan Tool & Die Corporation
    Inventor: James R. Berkes
  • Patent number: 6138332
    Abstract: Wing portions of a slider forming a switch are elastically extended outwardly and inserted between an upper plate and a lower plate of a tongue plate in a state in which a cover is attached to a buckle main body. Therefore, the switch can be inserted into the cover through clearances and attached to the tongue plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 11, 1999
    Date of Patent: October 31, 2000
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Tokai-Rika-Denki-Seisakusho
    Inventor: Shinji Mori
  • Patent number: 6138331
    Abstract: A release resistant seat belt buckle cover is shown having a first side and second side for wrapping around a female buckle portion. A tongue is inserted through a belt slot of the male portion of the seat belt buckle. The tongue is then threaded through at least one loop as the male and female buckles are joined. The tongue is then attached to the buckle cover thereby discouraging access to the release button and discouraging untimely release of the seat belt buckle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 9, 1998
    Date of Patent: October 31, 2000
    Inventor: Diana L. Powers
  • Patent number: 6116696
    Abstract: A detachable three point seat belt system having an interlocking mechanism that requires the wearer to reattach a detached system to the seat prior to fastening the seat belt over the wearer's body. This invention specifically addresses the need of three point seat belt systems, which will operate at any seating position within the vehicle, including a front seat, a rear seat, a side seats and/or a center seat within the vehicle. This invention provides a nearly foolproof three-point continuous seat belt system while maintaining significant design flexibility, including detachability and seat adaptability.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 1998
    Date of Patent: September 12, 2000
    Assignee: Autoliv ASP, Inc.
    Inventors: Aaron M. Widman, Dean Nightingale
  • Patent number: 6105219
    Abstract: A buckle guard that is positionable over and around the buckle assembly of a vehicle seat belt shoulder harness to prevent a child from accessing and disconnecting the buckle assembly. The buckle guard includes a back guard section, an inner snap guard section and an outer snap guard section. The back guard section is integrally formed between the inner snap guard section and the outer snap guard section. The back guard section, the inner snap guard section and the outer snap guard section being constructed of a bendable plastic.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 1999
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2000
    Inventor: Rebecca B. Beadle
  • Patent number: 6088890
    Abstract: A buckle for a vehicle safety restraint for use with a pretensioner has an actuating button for operating a latch for the tongue of the safety restraint. The button is connected via pulleys to a counterbalancing mass. When the pretensioner is operated and the buckle is retracted, the inertia of the mass counteracts the inertia of the button. Thus the button is prevented from moving in relation to the buckle in a direction which would tend to unlatch the tongue of the safety restraint.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 1998
    Date of Patent: July 18, 2000
    Assignee: Breed Automotive Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: David Burke, Ian Alexander Gordon, Alan George Smithson
  • Patent number: 6082481
    Abstract: A safety restraint buckle apparatus and method wherein a Hall element is mounted with respect to a housing and a magnet is mounted with respect to the housing, at a distance from the Hall element. A latch is movably mounted between a latched position and an unlatched position. A tongue is movable between an engaged position within the housing and a disengaged position. In the engaged position of the tongue, the latch is in the latched position. An ejector with a pole piece or a pole member is movably mounted between a loaded position and an unloaded position. When the ejector is in the unloaded position, the Hall element operates in a high magnetic state. When the ejector is in the loaded position and the tongue is in the engaged position, the Hall element operates in a low magnetic state because the magnetic flux density is shunted through the tongue.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 1998
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2000
    Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
    Inventor: Kevin J. Engler
  • Patent number: 6079744
    Abstract: A seat belt buckle and latch indicating system employs a seat belt buckle with a Giant Magnetoresistive (GMR) sensor spaced from a magnet above a gap through which a ferromagnetic latch protrudes. The latch may reside at three distinct positions: unlatched, latched, and latched without the presence of a hasp. The latch functions as a magnetic field concentrator with the result that the sensed magnetic field is dependent on latch position. The GMR sensor provides a signal indicating the sensor is working at all times, and provides specific information based on physical positioning of the critical components of the belt and which indicates that the buckle is mated to the seat belt hasp.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 1998
    Date of Patent: June 27, 2000
    Assignee: Breed Automotive Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Harald Snorre Husby, Vihang C. Patel, Ashok F. Patel
  • Patent number: 6076239
    Abstract: A belt lock for a safety belt has a frame (10), a latching element (14) for the latching of the belt tongue (18) and a securing element (16), which secures the latching element (14) in the latched state. Furthermore, a detector device (24, 26, 28) is provided at the belt lock which detects the position of the securing element (16).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 10, 1998
    Date of Patent: June 20, 2000
    Assignee: Takata (Europe) Vehicle Safety Technology GmbH
    Inventors: Robert Kopetzky, Frank Pietschmann, Thomas Steidle, Matthias Pleyer
  • Patent number: 6041480
    Abstract: A seat belt lock cover for use with a seat belt having a seat belt release button, for selectively preventing a child from accessing the seat belt release button, comprising a main housing and a cover plate. The main housing has a pair of side surfaces, a top surface and an elongated channel for allowing the seat belt to pass through the housing. The top surface has an open portion for selectively allowing access to the release button of the seat belt extending through the elongated channel. The cover plate selectively covers the open portion and prevents access to the release button. A pair of release latches, located on opposite side surfaces, prevent the cover plate form opening unless operated simultaneously by a large, adult-size hand.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 16, 1999
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2000
    Inventor: Paula White
  • Patent number: 6035500
    Abstract: A buckle is formed of a base, a latch member supported by side walls of the base so that the latch member can pivot between its non-engaged position and its engaged position, an operational member manipulated to cancel an engagement between the tongue and the latch member; and a lock member. The latch member is biased to the engaged position, and pivots to the engaged position when a tongue is inserted into a predetermined position to engage the tongue. The lock member holds the latch member to the engaged position when the tongue and the latch member are engaged, and is able to be moved by the operational member to a position capable of canceling the engagement between the tongue and the latch member. The lock member is arranged to move only in the longitudinal direction of the buckle. Thus, the movement of the lock member is simplified to improve controlling ability of the latch member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 1999
    Date of Patent: March 14, 2000
    Assignee: Takata Corporation
    Inventors: Yoshihiko Kawai, Yutaka Yamaguchi, Tadayuki Asako, Akihiro Shiota
  • Patent number: 6023821
    Abstract: The disclosure relates to a safety device in a clamping strap (12) with a clamp (10). A casing (11) is designed for accommodating the clamp (10), and the casing (11) is designed with a first aperture (13) for insertion and removal of the clamp (10) and a second aperture (14) for passage of at least a part of the clamping strap (12). The casing is produced from a soft or elastic, preferably shock-absorbing material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 9, 1998
    Date of Patent: February 15, 2000
    Assignee: Industri AB Thule
    Inventor: Frederick G. Murray
  • Patent number: 6014796
    Abstract: A seat belt buckle for use with a tongue 16, associated with a seat belt, includes a frame 10, in which is mounted an ejector 20, operable by an ejector spring 22. Insertion of the tongue pushes a retainer 30 down a track 26, against the action of a retainer spring 32. The track is inclined at an angle .alpha. to the path 15 of the tongue and extends outwardly away from the path in the direction of insertion of the tongue. When the tongue has been inserted an adequate amount, the retainer 30, e.g. a ball returns up the ramp under the influence of the spring 32 and engages in an aperture 18 in the tongue to retain the tongue in the locked condition. Operation of a release mechanism 42 disengages the retainer from the aperture thereby to release the tongue.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 3, 1998
    Date of Patent: January 18, 2000
    Assignee: European Components Co. Limited
    Inventors: Mark John Harrison, Michael John Jackson
  • Patent number: 6000110
    Abstract: A buckle for safety belts in vehicles comprises a load bearing housing in which an insertion path for receiving an insert tongue is formed. A movable latch is mounted on the housing. A casing is provided which surrounds the housing. The casing is provided with an opening at a rear side thereof remote from the insertion path. Within the casing at least one electric switch is arranged. This switch is fitted through the opening in the buckle in an already assembled condition thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 24, 1996
    Date of Patent: December 14, 1999
    Assignee: TRW Occupant Restraint Systems GmbH
    Inventor: Franz Wier
  • Patent number: 5996193
    Abstract: A seat belt buckle (100) operable with a pretensioner (330) comprising: a frame (102) having a first latch opening (126a) therein, and opposing frame sides (108a,b), each side including a latch plate slot (110) arranged generally perpendicular to the direction of movement of a tongue into the buckle and pivoted weight mechanism (112, 200, 220). The buckle additionally includes a latch plate (180), having portions (186) movable within the latch plate slots between a locked position in engagement with an opening within the tongue and with the first latch opening (126a), the latch plate moveable between a latched position within the latch opening (126a) in the frame and within the latch opening (173) of the tongue to an unlatched position out of the latch openings.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 18, 1998
    Date of Patent: December 7, 1999
    Assignee: Breed Automotive Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Harjeet Gill, Carl M. Petersen, III, Robin C. Meyer, Markell Seitzman
  • Patent number: 5987716
    Abstract: A tongue assembly (2) for a seat belt (1) has a plate (20) provided with a sharp-pointed projection (23) on one side thereof, and a tongue portion (22); and a cover (3) of a synthetic resin covering the plate (20). The cover (3) has a front part (31), a back part (32), a projection covering part (34), and a base end part (33) fastened to the plate (20) along the other side opposite the side on which the sharp-pointed projection (23) is formed. The front part (31) and the back part (32) are connected to the base end part (33) by thinned hinge portions (35). In an emergency, the projection covering part (34) of the cover (3) is opened, the front part (31) and the back part (32) of the cover (3) are turned on the hinge portions (35) and are folded back so that the sharp-pointed projection (23) is exposed, and the front part (31) and the back part (32) extend behind the side of the plate (20) opposite the side provided with the sharp-pointed projection (23) and overlap each other to form a grip (5).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 13, 1998
    Date of Patent: November 23, 1999
    Assignee: Fuji Jukogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Takeshi Arai
  • Patent number: 5979026
    Abstract: A buckle tongue combination having a dual release for unlocking the tongue from the buckle. In the preferred embodiment, a spring bias slide cover mounted to the housing extends over a push button depressible to force a locking pawl apart from the tongue unlocking the tongue from the buckle. In an alternate embodiment, a button lock extends partially over and beneath the push button and between the pawl and housing bottom wall. A spring normally urges the button lock against the push button limiting movement of the button but is yieldable to allow the button lock to be moved apart from the button.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 5, 1996
    Date of Patent: November 9, 1999
    Assignee: Indiana Mills and Manufacturing, Inc.
    Inventor: James R. Anthony
  • Patent number: 5974638
    Abstract: In a buckle of the present invention, inertia force F.sub.1 acts in a direction opposite to a direction toward a disengaging position of a main body 4d of a lock member when the buckle is pulled by a pretensioner. Clockwise torque T.sub.1 is developed on a lever 12b and counter-clockwise torque T.sub.2 is developed on a mass body 12c. Since the torque T.sub.2 of the mass body 12c is larger generally, the lever 12b and the mass body 12c rotate together in the counter-clockwise direction so that the lever is set in the restricting position. At the bottoming of the pulling action of the buckle, the inertia force F.sub.2 acts in a direction toward the disengaging position of the main body 4d. Therefore, the mass body 12c rotates in the clockwise direction and the lever 12b is held in the restricting position so that the movement of the lock member in the direction toward the disengaging position of the main body 4d is prevented.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 1999
    Date of Patent: November 2, 1999
    Assignee: Takata Corporation
    Inventors: Yutaka Yamaguchi, Tadayuki Asako, Yoshihiko Kawai
  • Patent number: 5974637
    Abstract: A composite buckle comprising a metal male portion that is attachable to a strap and an insertion plate having two flat surfaces, and a female portion for receiving the male portion. The female portion comprises a metal locking body that is attachable to a strap and at least two locking legs adapted to releasably lock with the insertion plate of the male portion. The male portion is inserted between the two locking legs which engage the plate on opposite surfaces of the plate. There is a plastic housing surrounding at least a portion of the metal locking body. The housing has a flexible arm adapted to separate the locking legs and release the metal locking body from the male portion. The buckle according to the invention combines the strength of a metal buckle with the light weight and attractiveness of a plastic buckle, to form a composite buckle that is suitable for a variety of uses.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 1998
    Date of Patent: November 2, 1999
    Assignee: National Molding Corporation
    Inventors: Richard J. Tracy, E. Grant Swick, Roger A. Erber
  • Patent number: 5970587
    Abstract: A buckle for receiving and locking a tongue connected to a vehicle safety belt, the buckle comprising: a locking element for locking a tongue to the buckle; a sensor to sense locking of the tongue to the buckle; and an indicator arrangement actuable by an output of the sensor to indicate whether the buckle is in a locked or an unlocked condition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 1997
    Date of Patent: October 26, 1999
    Assignee: Autoliv Development AB
    Inventor: Matthew J. Knox
  • Patent number: 5966784
    Abstract: A Hall effect device (60) is exposed to a magnetic field having flux lines extending in a first direction relative to the Hall effect device (60) if a seat belt tongue (16) is not locked in a seat belt buckle (12). The Hall effect device (60) is exposed to a magnetic field having flux lines extending in a second, opposite direction relative to the Hall effect device if the tongue (16) is locked in the buckle (12). The output of the Hall effect device (60) indicates whether or not the tongue (16) is locked in the buckle (12).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 25, 1997
    Date of Patent: October 19, 1999
    Assignee: TRW Inc.
    Inventors: Thomas P. Arbogast, Derrick G. Titus
  • Patent number: 5960523
    Abstract: A seat belt buckle incorporates a spring mounted on the latch. When the latch engages with the tongue of a seat belt, the tongue can move against the spring in response to tension loading of the seat belt while remaining securely latched. This motion due to belt tension is resisted by the spring, with a selected spring constant. A sensor is used to monitor the presence and position of the tongue either directly or by measuring motion of the latch. The position information, which is related to spring compression, is used to determine loading on the tongue and thus seat belt tension.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 25, 1998
    Date of Patent: October 5, 1999
    Assignee: Breed Automotive Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Harald Snorre Husby, Vihang C. Patel, Ashok F. Patel
  • Patent number: 5953798
    Abstract: A buckle comprises a male member and a female member adapted to couple with each other. The male member includes a fitting projection provided on a base thereof and the female member has a fitting cavity formed at its one end for fitting engagement with the fitting projection of the male member. A tongue-shaped presser plate and the actuating levers of the female member are substantially coplanar with the front wall and the corresponding side walls respectively, of the female member, when the male and the female member are coupled with each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 18, 1998
    Date of Patent: September 21, 1999
    Assignee: YKK Corporation
    Inventors: Hiroshi Matoba, Tomohisa Ishida
  • Patent number: 5907892
    Abstract: An apparatus (10) includes a latch mechanism (26) that releasably interlocks with a seat belt tongue (16), and further includes a safety apparatus (50) for the latch mechanism (26). The latch mechanism (26) includes a pushbutton (24) which is movable manually from a rest position to a release position. The safety apparatus (50) includes a retarder device (52) that is switchable into and out of an actuated condition in which the retarder device (52) resists movement of the pushbutton (24) during movement of the pushbutton (24) to the release position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 1998
    Date of Patent: June 1, 1999
    Assignee: TRW Vehicle Safety Systems Inc.
    Inventor: Maureen Todd
  • Patent number: 5898366
    Abstract: An apparatus includes a latch (42), an armature structure (64), and a spring structure (66). The latch (42) is movable from a non-locking position to a locking position in which the latch (42) engages a seat belt tongue (16). The armature structure (64) conducts magnetic flux from a magnet (62) to a Hall effect device (60). The spring structure (66) biases the armature structure (64) into sliding contact with the latch (42) during movement of the latch (42) between the non-locking and locking positions. The latch (42) affects the magnetic flux conducted by the armature structure (66) so as to cause the Hall effect device (60) to have a first output when the latch (42) is in the non-locking position and to have a second, different output when the latch (42) is in the locking position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 1997
    Date of Patent: April 27, 1999
    Assignee: TRW Vehicle Safety Systems Inc.
    Inventors: Louis R. Brown, Robert P. Ellis
  • Patent number: 5894641
    Abstract: The object of a snap fastener closure is to couple a male part with a female part (20) as easily as possible, but so that it is difficult to uncouple them. The female part (20) comprises a push plate (30) which is movable longitudinally in a housing (23) and forks into two plate legs in the interior of the housing. The two plate legs are formed of two portions (31, 32) which are profiled differently with respect to the closing head (12) of the male part, one of these portions (31) serving to lock and the other portion (32) serving to release the closing head (12). In order to achieve easy coupling, it is proposed that the portion (31) acting to lock is provided at the free ends of the two plate legs so that they can spread apart elastically. Then, by inserting the closing head (12) of the male part, an automatic coupling in is made possible between the two plate legs. This portion (31) thus becomes the coupling portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 2, 1997
    Date of Patent: April 20, 1999
    Assignee: William Prym GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Winfried Hurtz, Michael Schwarz
  • Patent number: 5892436
    Abstract: A seat belt buckle (12) has a light-transmitting portion (26) which is visible to a vehicle occupant. The buckle (12) includes a housing (60) containing a latch mechanism (20) which releasably locks a seat belt tongue (16) in the housing (60). The housing (60) further contains a light source (70) and optical fibers (72) for conducting light from the source (70) to the light-transmitting portion (26) of the buckle (12).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 8, 1996
    Date of Patent: April 6, 1999
    Assignees: TRW Inc., TRW Vehicle Safety, System Inc.
    Inventors: Brian K. Blackburn, Scott B. Gentry, Barney J. Bauer
  • Patent number: 5884382
    Abstract: A belt buckle cover includes a first connector portion, a second connector portion, and a third conformable portion located between said first connector portion and second connector portion. The first connector portion, the second connector portion and the third conformable portion are made of a scratch resistant material or fabric. Typically, one or two properly dimensioned pieces of scratch resistant fabric are used. One half of a two part fastener is attached to the first connector portion and the other half of a two part fastener is attached to the second connector portion. One half of a two part fastener is attached to one side of the scratch resistant fabric and the other half of a two part fastener is attached to the other side of the scratch resistant fabric. The conformable portion of the belt cover does not have any edges outside the out periphery of the belt buckle which may dig into the user to cause discomfort.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 1997
    Date of Patent: March 23, 1999
    Inventor: Jimmy J. Hansen
  • Patent number: 5881439
    Abstract: An apparatus (10) includes a base (30) defining a passage (32) which receives a seat belt tongue (16). The base (30) has an intermediate portion (108) between a pair of opposite end portions (106 and 112). The apparatus (10) further includes a housing (28) which contains the base (30). The housing (28) and the end portions (106 and 112) of the base (30) have structures (100, 128, 132) that interlock following movement of the base (30) within the housing (28) in a first direction and subsequently in a second, opposite direction. One of the housing (28) and the intermediate portion (108) of the base (30) defines a slot (144). The other of the housing (28) and the intermediate portion (108) of the base (30) defines a tab (102) which moves into abutment with a surface (146) in the slot (144) upon movement of the base (30) in the second direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 22, 1997
    Date of Patent: March 16, 1999
    Assignee: TRW Vehicle Safety Systems Inc.
    Inventors: Robert P. Ellis, Robert J. Desmarais
  • Patent number: 5878469
    Abstract: A belt buckle for a seat belt connected to a fitting part having an insert tongue, the buckle includes a load-bearing frame comprising an upper part and a lower part substantially parallel thereto, between which an insert tongue of said fitting part can be received and which are formed by bending of an elongated plate-type part. The upper and the lower parts each having a free end and side edges and being interlocked with each other in the region of their free ends by at least one portion of one of the upper part and the lower part being bent around an adjoining portion of the corresponding other part at each of the two side edges.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 23, 1997
    Date of Patent: March 9, 1999
    Assignee: TRW Occupant Restraint Systems GmbH
    Inventor: Franz Wier
  • Patent number: 5860199
    Abstract: A quick-release belt buckle which includes a body fastened to a first end of a belt, the body having a I-shaped retainer block supported on a spring in between a bottom plate and a top cover plate, and a plug member fastened to a second end of the belt, the plug member having a hooked retaining portion at a front end thereof which is forced into engagement with a beveled bottom wall of the retainer block when the plug member is inserted into a mouth in an open frame in the body, the plug member being disconnected from the retainer block when the retainer block is pressed down to compress the spring.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 1998
    Date of Patent: January 19, 1999
    Inventor: Chun Chien Liu