BAND BUCKLE FOR USE WITH INFLATABLE SEAT BELTS

• US 3,791,670 A
• Filed: 09/21/1972
• Issued: 02/12/1974
• Est. Priority Date: 09/21/1972
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Richard W. Lucore, Robert L. Stephenson
• Original Assignee: Richard W. Lucore, Robert L. Stephenson
• Inventors: Stephenson, Robert L., Lucore, Richard W.
• Primary Examiner(s): Betts, Kenneth H.
• Application Number:
  US05/291,107
• Time in Patent Office: 509 Days
• Field of Search: 280/15AB,15SB 9/316 24/23A 285/137R,317
• US Class Current: 280/733
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/18 the inflatable member formed as a belt or harness or combined with a belt or harness arrangement

Abstract

A seat belt buckle assembly is provided which comprises a tongue portion; a buckle portion adapted to lockably engage with the tongue portion; the tongue portion being connected to an inflatable seat belt; first chamber means provided in the buckle portion; second chamber means provided in the tongue portion and communicating with the inflatable seat belt; second chamber means being adapted to communicate with the first chamber means when tongue and buckle portions are lockably engaged; and inflating means communicating with the first chamber means, the inflating means including a gas source; whereby the inflating means and the inflatable seat belt are interconnected through the first and second chamber means when the tongue and buckle portions are lockably engaged so as to allow gas released from the gas source to pass through the first and second chamber means and inflate the inflatable seat belt.

Claims

1. A seat belt buckle assembly comprising a tongue portion;

a buckle portion adapted to lockably engage with said tongue portion;

said tongue portion being connected to an inflatable seat belt;

said buckle portion being provided with first chamber means;

said tongue portion being provided with second chamber means;

said second chamber means communicating with said inflatable seat belt;

said second chamber means being adapted to communicate with said first chamber means when said tongue and buckle portions are lockably engaged;

inflating means communicating with said first chamber means;

said inflating means including a gas source whereby said inflating means and said inflatable seat belt are interconnected through said first and second chamber means when said tongue and buckle portions are lockably engaged so as to allow gas released from said gas source to pass through said first and second chamber means and inflate said inflatable seat belt.

2. A buckle assembly in accordance with claim 1 wherein said tongue portion is connected to inflatable lap and shoulder belts and said second chamber means communicates with said inflatable lap and shoulder belts.

3. A buckle assembly in accordance with claim 1 wherein said tongue portion is connected to a single inflatable seat belt.

4. A buckle assembly in accordance with claim 1 wherein said first chamber means comprises internal passageways located in said buckle portion and said second chamber means comprises hollow connecting portions adapted to interfit with said internal passageways.

5. A buckle assembly in accordance with claim 4 wherein said buckle portion includes a locking portion thereof and said first chamber means comprises two internal passageways peripherally located about the sides of said locking portion.

6. A buckle assembly in accordance with claim 5 wherein said tongue portion includes a locking portion adapted to lock with said portion of said buckle portion and said second chamber means comprises two connecting portions spaced laterally of said locking portion of said tongue portion.

7. A buckle assembly in accordance with claim 5 wherein said internal passageways communicate with each other adjacent the location whereat said first chamber means communicates with said inflating means.

8. A buckle assembly in accordance with claim 4 wherein said first chamber means includes a single internal passageway and said second chamber means includes a single connecting portion.

9. A buckle assembly in accordance with claim 1 wherein said gas source comprises a cartridge of stored gas.

10. A buckle assembly in accordance with claim 1 wherein said gas source comprises a cartridge comprising gas generating materials.

11. A buckle assembly in accordance with claim 1 wherein said gas source comprises a cartridge of stored and generated gas.

12. A buckle assembly in accordance with claim 1 wherein said inflating means is adapted to mechanically interfit with said buckle portion.

13. A buckle assembly in accordance with claim 12 wherein said inflating means is mounted on the floor of a vehicle.

14. A buckle assembly in accordance with claim 1 wherein said buckle portion is located within a portion of a vehicle seat.

15. A buckle assembly in accordance with claim 1 wherein said inflating means is actuated in response to a sensor which senses a preselected condition of a vehicle and upon being actuated said inflating means releases gas from said gas source into said buckle portion and said gas passes through said first and second chamber means and is introduced into said inflatable seat belt to inflate the same.