Seat belt buckle
First Claim
1. A seat belt buckle assembly comprising:
- a housing including a first end having an opening;
a funnel region having a generally curved profile, the funnel region comprising;
a lower funnel end disposed adjacent said opening of said housing; and
an upper funnel end spaced from said housing,said lower funnel end of said funnel region substantially aligned with said opening and having a diameter which is greater than said opening in said housing,a diameter of said funnel region progressively increases as said funnel region extends away from said opening of said first end of said housing, so that said upper funnel end has a diameter greater than said diameter of said lower funnel end; and
a latch mechanism disposed within said housing.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A seat belt improvement providing seat belt buckling assistance and automatic release of the seat belt. The seat belt assembly includes an electromagnet located in the seat belt buckle that aligns and draws the seat belt tongue into the seat belt buckle when the seat belt tongue is in close proximity to the seat belt buckle. The buckle may be formed with a funnel region adjacent its open end to assist in aligning the seat belt tongue with the opening of the housing and thereafter engaging the seat belt tongue with the latch mechanism. The buckle may additionally include a manual release element. The buckle may further include one or more illuminated areas to assist the passenger in visually locating the seat belt buckle and/or the manual release element.
49 Citations
20 Claims
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1. A seat belt buckle assembly comprising:
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a housing including a first end having an opening; a funnel region having a generally curved profile, the funnel region comprising; a lower funnel end disposed adjacent said opening of said housing; and an upper funnel end spaced from said housing, said lower funnel end of said funnel region substantially aligned with said opening and having a diameter which is greater than said opening in said housing, a diameter of said funnel region progressively increases as said funnel region extends away from said opening of said first end of said housing, so that said upper funnel end has a diameter greater than said diameter of said lower funnel end; and a latch mechanism disposed within said housing. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. A seat belt buckle assembly comprising:
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a housing including a first end having an opening; a funnel region disposed adjacent said first end of said housing, said funnel region substantially aligned with said opening; a latch mechanism disposed within said housing; and a magnetic buckle assist mechanism disposed within said housing and including at least one selectively energizable electromagnet.
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9. A seat belt buckle assembly comprising:
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a housing including a first end having an opening; a funnel region disposed adjacent said first end of said housing, said funnel region substantially aligned with said opening; at least one lighting element mounted within said funnel region, disposed proximate said first end of said housing and substantially aligned with said opening; and a latch mechanism disposed within said housing. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. A seat belt buckle assembly comprising:
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a housing including a first end having an opening; at least one lighting element disposed proximate said first end; and a latch mechanism disposed within said housing; and a magnetic buckle assist mechanism disposed within said housing and including at least one selectively energizable electromagnet. - View Dependent Claims (17)
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18. A seat belt buckle assembly, comprising:
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a seat belt including a tongue; a housing including a first end having an opening; a latch mechanism disposed within said housing; and a latch assist assembly, comprising; first and second switches; and an electromagnet operable to move said latch mechanism to a disengaged position with respect to said seat belt tongue upon actuation of said first switch prior to insertion of said seat belt tongue into said buckle assembly, and operable to allow said latch mechanism to move to an engaged position with respect to said seat belt tongue upon actuation of said second switch after insertion of said seat belt tongue into said buckle assembly. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20)
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Specification