Belt buckle and use thereof in magnetic resonance imaging

• US 7,375,517 B1
• Filed: 02/18/2005
• Issued: 05/20/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 10/31/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Fonar Corporation
• Original Assignee: Fonar Corporation
• Inventors: Cinoglu, Arto, Gelbien, Mark, Citro, Joseph
• Primary Examiner(s): Shrivastav; Brij
• Application Number:
  US11/062,088
• Time in Patent Office: 1,187 Days
• Field of Search: 324300-322, 600407-455, 246/37, 246/41, 280/804
• US Class Current: 324/300
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/055 involving electronic [EMR] or nuclear [NMR] magnetic resonance, e.g. magnetic resonance imaging
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/702 Posture restraints

Abstract

A belt buckle includes a housing having a base, first and second sidewalls projecting from the base so as to form a substantially U-shaped member and a lug member projecting from said base. There is also an electrical switching fastened to the base that has a pair of contact pins. A tongue plate preferably has a base portion and an elongated portion projecting from the base portion. The elongated portion may have a free-end opposite the base portion, a lower planar surface having a recess and mating member mounted at the free end thereof. In an assembled position the tongue plate is inserted in the housing such that the lug engages the recess and the mating member engages the contact pins.

Claims

1. A belt buckle, comprising:

a buckle housing including a base, first and second sidewalls projecting from said base so as to form a substantially U-shaped member and a lug member projecting from said base;

an electrical switching member having a pair of contact pins, said switching member being fastened to said base; and

a tongue plate having a base portion and an elongated portion projecting from said base portion, said elongated portion having a free-end opposite said base portion, a lower planar surface having a recess and mating member mounted at the free end thereof,

wherein in an assembled position said tongue plate is inserted in said housing such that said lug engages said recess and said mating member engages said contact pins.

2. The belt buckle of claim 1 further comprising a handle pivotally mounted onto to said sidewalls, said handle being operative to maintain said tongue plate in a locked position in said housing.