Seatbelt buckle tongue assembly

• US 9,022,483 B2
• Filed: 06/07/2012
• Issued: 05/05/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 06/07/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Shield Restraint Systems, Inc. (Transdigm Group Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Shield Restraint Systems, Inc. (Transdigm Group Incorporated)
• Inventors: Merrick, David D.
• Primary Examiner(s): Nelson, Jr., Milton
• Application Number:
  US13/490,892
• Publication Number:
  US 20130328378A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,062 Days
• Field of Search: 297/468, 24/68.SB
• US Class Current: 297/468
• CPC Class Codes: A44B 11/2553 Attachment of buckle to strap
• CPC Class Codes: A44B 11/2561 Tongue elements
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2022/1812 Connections between seat belt and buckle tongue
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 22/18 Anchoring devices
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 22/26 secured to the seat
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 24/2168 Seat belt
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 24/45241 Slot and tab or tongue

Abstract

Self adjusting and/or locking buckle tongue assemblies for use with occupant restraint systems in vehicles are described herein. In one embodiment, a buckle tongue assembly includes a plate having a tongue portion configured to cooperatively engage a corresponding buckle assembly. The buckle tongue assembly of this embodiment can further include first and second web gripping portions carried by the plate. The second web gripping portion is configured to move relative to the first web gripping portion between a first position in which the web gripping portions are spaced apart to permit movement of a web therebetween, and a second position in which the web gripping portions are engaged or interlocked to clamp the web therebetween.

Claims

1. A buckle tongue assembly comprising:

a plate having a tongue portion configured to cooperatively engage a corresponding buckle assembly;

a first web gripping portion carried by the plate, wherein the first web gripping portion includes a first projection projecting in a first direction; and

a second web gripping portion movably carried by the plate—

wherein the second web gripping portion includes a second projection projecting in a second direction, generally opposite to the first direction,

wherein the second web gripping portion translates in a third direction relative to the first web gripping portion between a first position and a second position, the third direction being generally perpendicular to the first and second directions,

wherein when the second web gripping portion is in the first position, the second projection is spaced apart from the first projection to permit movement of a web therebetween, and

wherein when the second web gripping portion is in the second position, the second projection interlocks with the first projection to clamp the web between the first and second web gripping portions.

2. The buckle tongue assembly of claim 1 wherein the second web gripping portion moves linearly between the first position and the second position.

3. The buckle tongue assembly of claim 1 wherein the first web gripping portion includes a first edge portion and the second web gripping portion includes a second edge portion, and wherein the first edge portion overlaps the second edge portion when the second web gripping portion is in the second position.

4. The buckle tongue assembly of claim 1 wherein movement of the second web gripping includes a second projection, and wherein movement of the second web gripping portion from the first position to the second position drives the second projection over the first projection to clamp the web therebetween.

5. The buckle tongue assembly of claim 1 wherein at least one of the first and second projections has a curved shape.

6. The buckle tongue assembly of claim 1 wherein the first projection includes a first lip projecting in the first direction, and the second projection includes a second lip projecting in the second direction, wherein when the second web gripping portion is in the first position, the second lip is positioned on a first side of the first lip, and wherein when the second web gripping portion is in the second position, the second lip is positioned on a second side of the first lip, generally opposite to the first side.

7. The buckle tongue assembly of claim 1 wherein the first projection includes a first ridge extending transversely across the first web gripping portion, and wherein the second projection includes a second ridge extending transversely across the second web gripping portion.

8. The buckle tongue assembly of claim 1 wherein the first web gripping portion includes a channel adjacent to the first projection, and wherein the channel receives the second projection when the second web gripping portion is in the second position.

9. The buckle tongue assembly of claim 1 wherein the first web gripping portion includes a recess adjacent to the first projection, and wherein the first projection and the recess define an “

S”

shape.

10. The buckle tongue assembly of claim 1 wherein the first and second web gripping portions have complimentary shapes that interlock when the second web gripping portion is in the second position.

11. The buckle tongue assembly of claim 1, further comprising a handle slidably coupled to the plate, wherein the handle includes the second web gripping portion.

12. The buckle tongue assembly of claim 11 wherein the handle further includes a web guide portion spaced apart from the second web gripping portion to define a web path around the web guide portion, wherein tension in the web acting against the web guide portion pulls the second web gripping portion into the second position.

13. A buckle tongue assembly comprising:

a plate having a tongue portion configured to cooperatively engage a corresponding buckle assembly;

a first web gripping portion carried by the plate, wherein the first web gripping portion includes a first projection adjacent to a recess; and

a second web gripping portion movably carried by the plate—

wherein the second web gripping portion includes a second projection,

wherein the second web gripping portion translates relative to the first web gripping portion between a first position and a second position,

wherein when the second web gripping portion is in the first position, the second web gripping portion is spaced apart from the first web gripping portion to permit movement of a web therebetween,

wherein movement of the second web gripping portion from the first position to the second position drives the second projection over the first projection and into the recess to clamp the web therebetween, and

wherein when the second web gripping portion is in the second position, the second web gripping portion interlocks with the first web gripping portion.

14. The buckle tongue assembly of claim 13 wherein the second web gripping portion moves linearly between the first position and the second position.

15. The buckle tongue assembly of claim 13, further comprising a handle slidably coupled to the plate, wherein the handle includes the second web gripping portion and a web guide portion, wherein the web guide portion is spaced apart from the second web gripping portion to define a web path around the web guide portion, wherein tension in the web acting against the web guide portion pulls the second web gripping portion into the second position.

16. The buckle tongue assembly of claim 13 wherein the first projection includes a first lip, and wherein the second projection includes a second lip.

17. The buckle tongue assembly of claim 13 wherein the first projection and the recess define an “

S”

shape.

18. The buckle tongue assembly of claim 13 wherein the first and second web gripping portions have complimentary shapes that interlock when the second web gripping portion is in the second position.

19. A buckle tongue assembly for use with a personal restraint system in a vehicle, the tongue assembly comprising:

a plate having a web aperture and a tongue portion, wherein the tongue portion is configured to cooperatively engage a corresponding buckle assembly;

a first web gripping surface attached to the plate proximate the web aperture, wherein the first web gripping surface includes a first projection extending in a first direction;

a slider movably coupled to the plate, the slider having a cross-bar spaced apart from a draw-bar to define a web passage therebetween, wherein the cross-bar includes a second web gripping surface and the draw-bar includes a web guide surface, wherein the second web gripping surface includes a second projection extending in a second direction, generally opposite to the first projection, and wherein tension in a web passing through the web passage and around the guide surface pulls the slider in a third direction, generally perpendicular to the first and second directions, to drive the second projection over the first projection and interlock the second web gripping surface with the first web gripping surface to clamp the web therebetween.

20. The buckle tongue assembly of claim 19, further comprising an overmold fixedly carried on the plate proximate the web aperture, wherein the overmold includes the first web gripping surface.

21. The buckle tongue assembly of claim 19, further comprising:

an overmold fixedly carried on the plate proximate the web aperture, wherein the overmold includes the first web gripping surface proximate a forward edge portion thereof;

wherein the cross-bar includes the second web gripping surface proximate an aft edge portion thereof; and

wherein the draw-bar includes the web guide surface proximate a forward edge portion thereof.

22. The buckle tongue assembly of claim 19 wherein tension in the web causes the slider to translate toward the first web gripping surface.

23. The buckle tongue assembly of claim 19 wherein the cross-bar is disposed on a first side of the plate and the draw-bar is disposed on a second side of the plate, opposite the first side.

24. The buckle tongue assembly of claim 19 wherein the first and second web gripping surfaces have complimentary shapes.

25. The buckle tongue assembly of claim 19 wherein the first web gripping surface further includes a recess, and wherein tension in the web pulls the second projection over the first projection and into the recess to clamp the web therebetween.

26. A buckle tongue assembly for use with a personal restraint system in a vehicle, the tongue assembly comprising:

a plate having a web aperture and a tongue portion, wherein the tongue portion is configured to cooperatively engage a corresponding buckle assembly, and wherein the plate includes a first edge portion positioned toward a first side of the web aperture and a second edge portion positioned toward a second side of the web aperture opposite the first edge portion;

a first web gripping surface attached to the plate proximate the web aperture;

a slider movably coupled to the plate, wherein the slider includes a first channel that slidably receives the first edge portion and a second channel that slidably receives the second edge portion, the slider having a cross-bar spaced apart from a draw-bar to define a web passage therebetween, wherein the cross-bar includes a second web gripping surface and the draw-bar includes a web guide surface, and wherein tension in a web passing through the web passage and around the guide surface pulls the second web gripping surface into an overlapping relationship with the first web gripping surface to clamp the web therebetween.

27. The buckle tongue assembly of claim 26 wherein the slider includes a first sidewall extending between first end portions of the cross-bar and the draw-bar, wherein the slider further includes a second sidewall extending between second end portions of the cross-bar and the draw-bar, wherein the first sidewall includes the first channel that slidably receives the first edge portion of the plate, and wherein the second sidewall includes the second channel that slidably receives the second edge portion of the plate.

28. The buckle tongue assembly of claim 26 wherein the first and second web gripping surfaces have complimentary shapes that interlock when the tension in the web pulls the second web gripping surface into an overlapping relationship with the first web gripping surface.

29. The buckle tongue assembly of claim 26 wherein the first web gripping surface includes a first projection extending in a first direction, wherein the second web gripping surface includes a second projection extending in a second direction, generally opposite to the first projection, and wherein tension in the web pulls the second projection over the first projection to interlock the second web gripping surface with the first web gripping surface.

30. The buckle tongue assembly of claim 29 wherein at least one of the first and second projections has a curved shape.