Seatbelt buckle tongue

• US 6,405,412 B1
• Filed: 05/31/2000
• Issued: 06/18/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 02/16/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Key Safety Systems, Inc. (Ningbo Junsheng Investment Group Co., Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: Breed Automotive Technology, Inc. (Ningbo Junsheng Investment Group Co., Ltd.)
• Inventors: Bell, John
• Primary Examiner(s): Brittain, James R.
• Application Number:
  US09/583,357
• Time in Patent Office: 748 Days
• Field of Search: 241/98, 241/63.R, 242/00, 241/97, 242/65.BC, 243/09--13, 243/23, 297/468, 297/483, 280/801.1, 280/808
• US Class Current: 24/265.0BC
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2022/021 Means for holding the tongue or buckle in a non-use position, e.g. for easy access by the user
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 22/023 Three-point seat belt systems comprising two side lower and one side upper anchoring devices B60R22/022, B60R22/03 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 24/3423 and separable fastening means for attached fastener
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 24/4088 One-piece
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 24/4736 Buckle connected

Abstract

A seatbelt buckle tongue has a buckling part and an aperture through which seatbelt webbing passes. The extent of sliding of the tongue on the webbing is limited by at least one protrusion provided on the inside of the aperture in the tongue. A protrusion may be round, square or formed of a line of a plurality of buttons dimensioned and arranged to apply pressure to the webbing passing through the tongue and resist sliding of the tongue on the webbing.

Claims

1. A seatbelt buckle tongue comprising

a buckling part adapted for cooperation with a buckle and

a seatbelt webbing connecting part consisting of one aperture therethrough bordered by two opposing convex surfaces for receiving seatbelt webbing, the extent of sliding of the tongue on the seatbelt webbing is limited by at least one protrusion provided on the inside of the aperture, the seatbelt webbing passes through one aperture, the protrusion is positioned on one side of the aperture and extends generally perpendicular to the tongue.

2. The seatbelt buckle tongue of claim 1 wherein the protrusion is positioned so that the weight of the tongue itself causes sufficient friction between the webbing and the protrusion to hold the tongue in position on the webbing and prevent it sliding downwardly, in the park position.

3. The seatbelt buckle tongue of claim 1 wherein the protrusion has a square profile.

4. The seatbelt buckle tongue of claim 1 wherein the protrusion is molded or cast with the tongue.

5. The seatbelt buckle tongue of claim 1 wherein the protrusion is formed separately from the tongue and is attached to the aperture.