REMOTELY-ACTUATED SEAT BELT BUCKLE

• US 20120279028A1
• Filed: 07/16/2012
• Published: 11/08/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 10/24/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Joyson Safety Systems Acquisition, LLC
• Original Assignee: TK Holdings Incorporated (Ningbo Junsheng Investment Group Co., Ltd.)
• Inventors: Grzybowski, Thomas, Marriott, Brandon Scott, Pelliccia, Nicklaus John, WALEGA, Frank Glenn
• Granted Patent: US 8,375,530 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 24/603
• CPC Class Codes: A44B 11/2523 acting parallel to the main plane of the buckle and in the same direction as the fastening action
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 22/32 Devices for releasing in an emergency, e.g. after an accident ; Remote or automatic unbuckling devices unlocking devices for retractors B60R22/3416
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 22/322 using automatic actuating means B60R22/321 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 22/325 using remote control means B60R22/321, B60R22/322 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 24/45 Separable-fastener or required component thereof [e.g., projection and cavity to complete interlock]
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 24/45461 Interlocking portion actuated or released responsive to preselected condition [e.g., heat, pressure]
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 24/45466 having electric or fluid powered, actuation or release, of interlock
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 24/45623 and operator therefor

Abstract

A buckle assembly for a vehicle comprises a seat belt tongue and a seat belt buckle with a blocking mechanism and a manual release button. The blocking mechanism is configured to latch the tongue in the buckle. The buckle assembly further comprises a remote buckle release mechanism, including a buckle release cable and a module operably connected to the cable. The module is configured to pull the cable to release the blocking mechanism to thereby release the seat belt tongue from the buckle. The buckle assembly is also configured to be actuated by an occupant via the manual release button on the buckle. The remote buckle release mechanism does not interfere with operation of the manual release button. The remote buckle release mechanism may also be configured to automatically release the buckles a predetermined time after an airbag deployment.

Claims

1. A buckle assembly for a vehicle, comprising:

a seat belt with a tongue;

a seat belt buckle with a blocking mechanism and a manual release button, the buckle configured to receive and releasably latch to the tongue; and

a remote buckle release mechanism, including;

a buckle release cable; and

a module operably connected to the buckle release cable, wherein the blocking mechanism comprises;

a lock pin; and

a slider movable between a locked position under the lock pin and an unlocked position not under the lock pin, the cable being connected to the slider,

wherein the module is configured to pull the cable to release the slider from the locked position under the lock pin such that the tongue is released from the buckle,

wherein the buckle assembly is configured to be actuated by the manual release button to unlatch the tongue from the buckle, and

wherein the module is actuated from a location remote from the buckle to thereby release the tongue from the buckle via the remote buckle release mechanism.

2. The buckle assembly of claim 1, wherein the remote buckle release mechanism includes a remote emergency release switch mounted in the vehicle at the location remote from the buckle, the remote emergency release switch operably connected to the module such that actuation of the remote emergency release switch actuates the module to pull the cable to release the slider from the locked position under the lock pin to thereby unlatch the tongue from the buckle.

3. The buckle assembly of claim 1, wherein the buckle further includes a lock bar and ejector spring.

4. The buckle assembly of claim 3, wherein the remote buckle release mechanism is configured to release the blocking mechanism without directly acting on the lock bar or ejector spring.

5. The buckle assembly of claim 1, wherein the seat belt buckle further comprises a latch plate configured to latch the tongue to the buckle, and wherein the cable is configured to move the slider out from under the lock pin to release the latch plate latching the tongue to the buckle.

6. The buckle assembly of claim 1, wherein the module comprises a hook and ladder assembly to pull the buckle release cable to release the slider from the locked position under the lock pin.

7. The buckle assembly of claim 1, wherein the module comprises a dual cam assembly configured to pinch and pull the buckle release cable to release the slider from the locked position under the lock pin.

8. The buckle assembly of claim 1, wherein the remote buckle release mechanism includes a push device configured to load the buckle release cable to thereby pull the buckle release cable to release the slider from the locked position under the lock pin.

9. The buckle assembly of claim 1, wherein the module comprises a motor configured to rotate a drum rigidly affixed to the cable in order to wind the cable onto the drum.

10. The buckle assembly of claim 1, wherein the module comprises a push device configured to push the cable in a direction traverse to the length of the cable so as for create a V shape.

12. The vehicle of claim 10, wherein the cable is attached at a first end to the slider, and wherein the cable is attached to a manual pull handle at a second end, the pull handle being configured so that a user may pull on the handle to thereby pull the cable in order to release the slider from the locked position and unlatch the tongue from the buckle.

13. The vehicle of claim 10, wherein each buckle release cable for each of the plurality of seats is configured to be linked to a single emergency release handle so that actuation of the single emergency release handle pulls on each buckle release cable for each of the plurality of seats to thereby unlatch each tongue from its respective buckle.

14. The vehicle of claim 10, further comprising a manual release button, wherein actuation of the manual release button on the buckle unlatches the tongue from the buckle

11. A vehicle, comprising:

a plurality of seats, wherein each of the seats includes;

a seat belt with a tongue;

a seat belt buckle with a blocking mechanism, the buckle configured to receive and releasably latch to the tongue; and

a buckle release cable connected to the blocking mechanism of the buckle, wherein the blocking mechanism comprises;

a lock pin; and

a slider movable between a locked position under the lock pin and an unlocked position not under the lock pin, the cable being connected to the slider,

wherein the cable is configured to release the slider from the locked position under the lock pin such that the seat belt tongue is released from the buckle when the cable is pulled.