Passive restraint systems for human occupants of vehicles

• US 7,596,837 B1
• Filed: 09/28/2006
• Issued: 10/06/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 09/28/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: C&K Safety, LLC
• Original Assignee: C&K Safety, LLC
• Inventors: Tucker, Curt L.
• Primary Examiner(s): Lavinder; Jack W.
• Application Number:
  US11/529,112
• Time in Patent Office: 1,104 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 24/630
• CPC Class Codes: A44B 11/2549 Fastening of other buckle elements to the main buckle buckles with several tongues released by the same mechanism A44B11/2507 - A44B11/2542
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 24/45607 with additional cavity for engaging different projection
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 24/45618 and interlocking with independently associated or dissociated projection members
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 24/45623 and operator therefor

Abstract

A passive restraint system for human occupants in a vehicle including separable belt buckles that are useful in one embodiment as a buckle for the passive restraint system that is commonly used in racing gear, such as automobile racing.

Claims

1. A separable belt buckle comprising three basic components:

a first structural member constituting a link of pre-determined length;

a second structural member constituting a base plate;

a third structural member constituting a lever;

said first structural member being a flat plate having a horizontal plane, a center point, a distal end and a near end, the flat plate having a first opening near the near end, a second opening near the center point, a third opening adjacent the second opening, and a fourth opening near the distal end, the distal end of the flat plate being angled downwardly from the horizontal plane thereof;

said second structural member comprising a flat plate having a distal end, a near end, a horizontal plane and a top surface;

said second structural member having a first opening near the distal end and an elongated second opening beginning at the near end and extending towards the distal end, said second structural member having a first stanchion securely mounted on the top surface near the near end and straddling the elongated second opening, there being a second stanchion mounted on the top surface and near the distal end;

the first stanchion having holes therethrough to receive a securing pin, said holes having retained therein, a pin;

said second stanchion comprising a retractable lock mechanism, said lock mechanism comprising a housing having a separable end, said separable end having a top end, said separable end having a fastening hole therethrough near the top end;

there being a fastening device located in the fastening hole, said fastening device having a distal end, there being a compressible spring surrounding the fastening device, said spring impinging on a moveable wall located within the housing, said moveable wall having a top end and a bottom end, there being mounted near the top end thereof, a first protruding rod, said first protruding rod having a distal end and being cut on the bias at the distal end, said distal end impinging on a non-movable wall securely mounted on the top surface of the second structural member and said non-movable wall having a bottom end;

said moveable wall having second protruding rod mounted near the bottom end, said second protruding rod being longer than the first protruding rod and having a distal end, there being a second moving wall, having a bottom end, mounted on the distal end of the second protruding rod near the bottom end of the second moving wall;

said second protruding rod passing through an opening near the bottom end of the non-moveable wall;

the lever comprising a unitary piece and having distal end, a near end, and a center point, the lever having hooked configuration at the distal end, there being a hole through the lever near the hooked configuration at the distal end, there being a digit pad mounted on the near end of the lever, there being a second hooked configuration near the center point, said first hooked configuration and second hooked configuration being located on the lever at a predetermined distance from each other, the second hooked configuration having an inside surface and a bottom end, said inside surface having a detent configuration near the bottom end, the lever being mounted near the top surface and in the first stanchion by the securing pin such that the lever partially rotates around the pin.

2. In combination, the separable buckle of claim 1 having two ends, and a safety harness, said safety harness comprising a first shoulder belt, a second shoulder belt, two lap belts, and an anti-submarine belt, wherein the first shoulder belt, the second shoulder belt and the antisubmarine belt are all secured by the separable buckle at approximately the same location on the separable buckle, and the two lap belts are attached, one at each end of the separable buckle.

3. A separable belt buckle comprising three basic components:

a first structural member constituting a link of pre-determined length;

a second structural member constituting a base plate;

a third structural member constituting a lever;

said first structural member being a flat plate having a horizontal plane, a distal end and a near end, the flat plate having a first opening near the near end, a second opening near the near the distal end, the distal end of the flat plate being angled downwardly from the horizontal plane thereof;

said second structural member comprising a flat plate having a distal end, a near end, a horizontal plane and a top surface;

said second structural member having a first opening near the distal end and an elongated second opening beginning at the near end and extending towards the distal end, said second structural member having a stanchion securely mounted on the top surface near the distal end;

said stanchion comprising a retractable lock mechanism, said lock mechanism comprising a housing having a separable end, said separable end having a top end, said separable end having a fastening hole therethrough near the top end;

there being a fastening device located in the fastening hole, said fastening device having a distal end, there being a compressible spring surrounding the fastening device, said spring impinging on a moveable wall located within the housing, said moveable wall having a top end and a bottom end, there being mounted near the top end thereof, a first protruding rod, said first protruding rod having a distal end and being cut on the bias at the distal end, said distal end impinging on a non-movable wall securely mounted on the top surface of the second structural member and said non-movable wall having a bottom end;

said moveable wall having second protruding rod mounted near the bottom end, said second protruding rod being longer than the first protruding rod and having a distal end , there being a second moving wall, having a bottom end, mounted on the distal end of the second protruding rod near the bottom end of the second moving wall;

said second protruding rod passing through an opening near the bottom end of the non-moveable wall;

the lever comprising a unitary piece and having essentially identical bifurcated distal ends, a near end, and a center point, the lever having hooked configuration at the center point there being a hole through the lever in each of the distal ends, there being a digit pad mounted on the near end of the lever, the hooked configuration having an inside surface and a bottom end, said inside surface having a detent configuration near the bottom end, the lever being mounted near the distal ends by securing pins through the holes in the distal ends such that the lever partially rotates around the pin.

4. In combination, the separable buckle of claim 3 having two ends, and a safety harness, said safety harness comprising a first shoulder belt, a second shoulder belt, two lap belts, and an anti-submarine belt, wherein the first shoulder belt, the second shoulder belt and the antisubmarine belt are all secured by the separable buckle at approximately the same location on the separable buckle, and the two lap belts are attached, one at each end of the separable buckle.