Multi-point buckle for restraint system
First Claim
1. A restraint buckle assembly comprising:
- a frame;
a first pawl pivotally attached to the frame, wherein the first pawl includes a first release member projecting from a first surface of the first pawl;
a second pawl spaced apart from the first pawl and pivotally attached to the frame, wherein the second pawl includes a second release member projecting from a second surface of the second pawl, and wherein the first and second pawls are moveable between locked positions and open positions;
a biasing member operably coupled to the first and second pawls to urge the pawls toward the locked positions; and
a release button slidably coupled to the frame and moveable along a path between a first position and a second position, wherein the release button includes a first recess spaced apart from a second recess, wherein the first recess receives the first release member and the second recess receives the second release member, and wherein the release button urges the first and second pawls from the locked positions toward the open positions when the release button is moved from the first position toward the second position.
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Accused Products
Abstract
The present invention provides a buckle and tongue combination for restraining an occupant in a seat, the buckle and tongue combination. The combination includes a housing, a frame located within the housing, two pawls disposed upon the frame, each pawl having a distal end and a proximal end, each distal end having a release abutment extending from the respective pawl, a hinge pin disposed at the proximal end of each pawl for pivotally coupling the pawls to the frame, a tongue adapted to be disposed adjacent the two pawls, the tongue interlockingly engages the pawls, a biasing member disposed within the housing, the biasing member engages the pawls urging the pawls to a locked position with respect to the adjacent tongue and a release button slidably secured along the frame, the release button biased in a first or locked position, the release button having at least one inclined abutment surface which engages the release abutments and urges the two pawls towards an unlocked position when the release button is urged toward a second position opposite from the first position, whereby the user is able to release the tongue from the buckle upon depressing the release button toward the second or unlocked position.
In one embodiment, the tongues include a molded portion and an alignment key so as to assure proper orientation of the tongue with the housing. In addition, the housing includes an ejector contact pad which acts against the alignment key to eject the tongues. The contact pad is finished so as to provide an aesthetic appearance. In another embodiment, the tongue may comprise a single tongue rather than dual tongues. Still further, another embodiment provides overlapping tongues wherein a first tongue includes a pawl spreader and a second tongue includes a pawl lock.
97 Citations
24 Claims
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1. A restraint buckle assembly comprising:
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a frame; a first pawl pivotally attached to the frame, wherein the first pawl includes a first release member projecting from a first surface of the first pawl; a second pawl spaced apart from the first pawl and pivotally attached to the frame, wherein the second pawl includes a second release member projecting from a second surface of the second pawl, and wherein the first and second pawls are moveable between locked positions and open positions; a biasing member operably coupled to the first and second pawls to urge the pawls toward the locked positions; and a release button slidably coupled to the frame and moveable along a path between a first position and a second position, wherein the release button includes a first recess spaced apart from a second recess, wherein the first recess receives the first release member and the second recess receives the second release member, and wherein the release button urges the first and second pawls from the locked positions toward the open positions when the release button is moved from the first position toward the second position. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. A buckle and tongue combination for restraining an occupant in a seat, the buckle and tongue combination comprising:
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a housing; a frame located within the housing; two pawls disposed upon the frame, each pawl having a distal end and a proximal end, each distal end having a release pin extending from the respective pawl; a hinge pin disposed at the proximal end of each pawl for pivotally coupling the pawls to the frame; a tongue adapted to be disposed adjacent the two pawls, wherein the tongue interlockingly engages the pawls; a biasing member disposed within the housing, wherein the biasing member engages the pawls, urging the pawls to a locked position with respect to the adjacent tongue; and a release button slidably secured along the frame, the release button biased in a first or locked position, the release button having at least one inclined abutment surface which engages the release pins and urges the two pawls towards an unlocked position when the release button is urged toward a second position opposite from the first position, whereby the user is able to release the tongue from the buckle upon depressing the release button toward the second or unlocked position; wherein the release button is a molded component having two recesses which open outwardly away from the release pins, wherein the inclined abutment surface is a release wall formed in each of the two recesses, wherein the release pins are received by respective button recesses, and wherein the release wall engages the release pins and urges the two pawls towards the unlocked position when the release button is urged toward the second position. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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20. A retraint buckle assembly comprising:
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a frame having a first slot and a second slot; a first pawl pivotally coupled to the frame, wherein the first pawl includes a first release member projecting from the first pawl, wherein the first release member projects into the first slot; a second pawl pivotally coupled to the frame, wherein the second pawl includes a second release member projecting from the second pawl, wherein the second release member projects into the second slot, and wherein the first and second pawls are moveable between locked positions and open positions; a biasing member operably coupled to the first and second pawls, wherein the biasing member urges the first and second pawls toward the locked positions; and a release button moveably coupled to the frame between a first position and a second position, wherein the release button includes a first inclined abutment edge and a second inclined abutment edge, wherein the first release member projects adjacent to the first abutment edge and the second release member projects adjacent to the second abutment edge, and wherein the release button urges the first and second release members outwardly and away from each other when the release button is moved from the first position to the second position. - View Dependent Claims (21, 22, 23, 24)
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Specification