Buckle for use with a pretensioner
First Claim
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.
6 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
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. The weight (200) as it pivots generates a force upon the latch plate during operation of the pretensioner tending to keep the latch plate in the first opening and a button (250) operatively received upon the frame having ramp means (260) for lifting the latch plate to its unlatched position.
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Citations
25 Claims
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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:
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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. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
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7. A seat belt buckle (100), operable for use with a pretensioner (330) connected thereto for moving the buckle a determinable distance to remove belt slack about an occupant, the buckle comprising:
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a frame (102), operatively connected to the pretensioner (330), having a tongue receiving opening (170) to receive a tongue (173), the frame having a first latch opening (126a) therein and the tongue including a second latch opening (175), a latch (180), guidably movable within the frame between a latched position wherein the latch is positioned within the first latch opening (126a) in the frame and within the second latch opening (173) of the tongue and an unlatched position wherein the latch is positioned out of the first and second latch openings; a button (250) slidably mounted upon the frame including release means for initiating movement of the latch to its unlatched position as the button is moved inwardly relative to the frame; and friction means (372,
376) for generating a frictional force on a surface (376) of the button during the operation of the pretensioner to impede the motion of the button. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25)
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Specification