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Buckle for use with a pretensioner

  • US 5,996,193 A
  • Filed: 06/18/1998
  • Issued: 12/07/1999
  • Est. Priority Date: 06/18/1998
  • Status: Expired due to Fees
First Claim
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1. A seat belt buckle (100) operable with a pretensioner (330) for moving the buckle a determinable distance to remove belt slack about an occupant, the buckle comprising:

  • a frame (102), adapted to be connected to the pretensioner (330), having a tongue receiving opening (170) to receive a tongue (173), the frame having at least a first latch opening (126a) therein and the tongue including a second latch opening (175), and opposing frame sides (108a,b), each side including a latch plate slot (110) arranged generally perpendicular to the first direction;

    a latch plate (180), having side portions (184) guidably movable within the latch plate slots (110), the latch plate moveable between a latched position within the first latch opening (126a) in the frame and within the second latch opening (173) of the tongue and an unlatched position out of the latch and tongue openings;

    a pivoted weight (200) rotatable relative to the frame (102) and movable with the latch plate, the weight positioned upon a top portion of the latch plate when the latch plate is in its latched position;

    the weight (200) generating a force upon the latch plate during operation of the pretensioner tending to keep the latch plate in the first latch opening in opposition to forces generated by a button (250) acting on the latch plate andthe button (250) being operatively received upon the frame and having lifting means (260) acting upon the latch plate for lifting the latch plate from its latched position to its unlatched position.

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