Light weight two-point aviation seatbelt

• US 9,173,456 B2
• Filed: 05/04/2012
• Issued: 11/03/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 05/04/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Autoliv ASP Incorporated (Autoliv Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Autoliv ASP Incorporated (Autoliv Incorporated)
• Inventors: Kohlndorfer, Kenneth H.
• Primary Examiner(s): Sandy, Robert J
• Assistant Examiner(s): Do, Rowland
• Application Number:
  US13/464,118
• Publication Number:
  US 20130292990A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,278 Days
• Field of Search: 245/721, 241/71, 241/96, 246/38, 246/37, 24D/IG.30, 24D/IG.51, 24D/IG.52, 246/31, 246/33, 246/30, 280/801.1
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A44B 11/2526 with an operating lever

Abstract

A restraint system for a mobile platform is provided and may include a first belt portion and a second belt portion each having a first end secured to the mobile platform and a second end movable relative to the mobile platform. A latch plate may be fixed to the second end of one of the first belt portion and the second belt portion and a buckle may be secured to the second end of the other of the first belt portion and the second belt portion. The buckle may be selectively connected to the latch plate in a latched state and may include a housing having an opening receiving the latch plate in the latched state and at least one aperture disposed adjacent to the opening and formed through a surface of the housing opposing a user when in the latched state.

Claims

1. A restraint system comprising:

a first belt portion having a first end adapted to be secured to the mobile platform and a second end movable relative to the mobile platform;

a second belt portion having a first end adapted to be secured to the mobile platform and a second end movable relative to the mobile platform;

a latch plate fixed to said second end of one of said first belt portion and said second belt portion; and

a buckle secured to said second end of the other of said first belt portion and said second belt portion and selectively connected to said latch plate in a latched state to join said first belt portion and said second belt portion, said buckle including a housing having an actuation handle, an opening receiving said latch plate in said latched state, a bottom surface disposed on an opposite side of said housing than said actuation handle, a first aperture formed through said bottom surface of said housing and extending continuously from said bottom surface to a first side surface of said housing, and a second aperture aligned with said first aperture along a longitudinal axis of said housing formed through said bottom surface of said housing and extending continuously from said bottom surface to a second side surface of said housing, said housing further including a connecting member disposed between said first and second apertures and connecting a first portion of said bottom surface adjacent to said opening to a second portion of said bottom surface an opposite side of said first and second apertures than said first portion.

2. The restraint system of claim 1, wherein said first side surface and said second side surface are formed substantially perpendicular to said bottom surface of said housing and substantially parallel to one another.

3. The restraint system of claim 1, wherein said first side surface is formed substantially perpendicular to said bottom surface.

4. The restraint system of claim 3, wherein said actuation handle is selectively movable relative to said housing to permit removal of said latch plate from said housing when in said latched state.

5. The restraint system of claim 1, wherein said latch plate includes a locking aperture at least partially received within said housing in said latched state.

6. The restraint system of claim 5, wherein said locking aperture of said latch plate includes a longitudinal axis that extends along a longitudinal axis of said one of said first belt portion and said second belt portion.

7. The restraint system of claim 1, wherein said housing includes a first section at said opening and a second section adjacent to an end of said housing opposite said opening, said first section having a first width between said first and second side surfaces that is less than a second width of said second section between said first and second side surfaces.

8. The restraint system of claim 1, wherein said housing includes a latch mechanism operable to engage said latch plate in said latched state.

9. A restraint system comprising:

a first belt portion having a first end adapted to be secured to the mobile platform and a second end movable relative to the mobile platform;

a second belt portion having a first end adapted to be secured to the mobile platform and a second end movable relative to the mobile platform;

a buckle secured to said second end of one of said first belt portion and said second belt portion and including a latch mechanism movable between a latched state and an unlatched state, and a housing having a first aperture formed through a bottom surface of said housing and extending continuously from said bottom surface to a first side surface of said housing that is substantially perpendicular to said bottom surface, and a second aperture aligned with said first aperture along a longitudinal axis of said housing formed through said bottom surface of said housing and extending continuously from said bottom surface to a second side surface of said housing, said housing further including a connecting member disposed between said first and second apertures and connecting a first or portion of said bottom surface adjacent to said opening to a second portion of said bottom surface an opposite side of said first and second apertures than said first portion; and

a latch plate fixed to said second end of the other of said first belt portion and said second belt portion and selectively received within an opening of said buckle in said latched state to join said first belt portion and said second belt portion.

10. The restraint system of claim 9, wherein said housing includes an actuation handle operable to move said latch mechanism from said latched state to said unlatched state, said bottom surface of said buckle being formed on an opposite side of said housing than said actuation handle.

11. The restraint system of claim 9, wherein said first side surface and said second side surface are both substantially perpendicular to said bottom surface.

12. The restraint system of claim 9, wherein said first side surface and said second side surface oppose one another.

13. The restraint system of claim 9, wherein said buckle includes a first section at said opening and a second section adjacent to an end of said housing opposite said opening, said first section having a first width between said first and second side surfaces that is less than a second width of said second section between said first and second side surfaces.

14. The restraint system of claim 9, wherein said latch plate includes a locking aperture that engages said latch mechanism in said latched state and has a longitudinal axis that is parallel to a longitudinal axis of said latch plate.

15. The restraint system of claim 14, wherein said latch plate includes an attachment aperture that receives said second end of said other of said first belt portion and said second belt portion, said attachment aperture including a longitudinal axis that is substantially perpendicular to said longitudinal axis of said locking aperture, said attachment aperture being shorter than said locking aperture.

16. A buckle for a restraint system having a first belt portion and a second belt portion and a latch, the restraint system comprising:

a buckle secured to said second end of the other of said first belt portion and said second belt portion and selectively connected to said latch plate in a latched state to join said first belt portion and said second belt portion, said buckle including a housing having an actuation handle, an opening receiving said latch plate in said latched state, a bottom surface disposed on an opposite side of said housing than said actuation handle, a first aperture formed through said bottom surface of said housing and extending continuously from said bottom surface to a first side surface of said housing, and a second aperture aligned with said first aperture along a longitudinal axis of said housing formed through said bottom surface of said housing and extending continuously from said bottom surface to a second side surface of said housing, said housing further including a connecting member disposed between said first and second apertures and connecting a first portion of said bottom surface adjacent to said opening to a second portion of said bottom surface an opposite side of said first and second apertures than said first portion.