Harsh environment buckle assemblies and associated systems and methods

• US 9,814,282 B2
• Filed: 02/02/2016
• Issued: 11/14/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 02/02/2016
• 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): Sandy, Robert
• Assistant Examiner(s): Upchurch, David M
• Application Number:
  US15/013,883
• Publication Number:
  US 20170215526A1
• Time in Patent Office: 651 Days
• CPC Class Codes: A44B 11/2523 acting parallel to the main plane of the buckle and in the same direction as the fastening action

Abstract

In one embodiment, a buckle assembly includes a release actuator that can apply a first force and a second force to release a web connector. The release actuator is slidably coupled to a frame that includes a pair of opposing openings. A pawl is pivotally mounted to the frame via the opposing openings and includes a latch portion positioned to releasably engage the web connector. A biasing member is operably positioned between the release actuator and the pawl, and the release actuator is movable to compress the biasing member and exert the first force against the pawl. The release actuator is also movable to contact the pawl to exert the second force against the pawl. The first and second forces urge the pawl to rotate and disengage the latch portion from the web connector.

Claims

1. A buckle assembly for releasably engaging a web connector, the buckle assembly comprising:

a frame having a pair of opposing openings;

a pawl pivotally mounted to the frame via the opposing openings, wherein the pawl includes a latch portion positioned to releasably engage the web connector;

a release actuator operably mounted to the frame; and

a biasing member operably positioned between the release actuator and the pawl, wherein the release actuator is configured to move to a first position to compress the biasing member against the pawl to urge the pawl to rotate and disengage the latch portion from the web connector, and wherein the release actuator is further configured to move to a second position to further compress the biasing member and to contact the pawl to further urge the pawl to rotate and disengage the latch portion from the web connector.

2. The buckle assembly of claim 1, further comprising an ejector slidably coupled to the frame, wherein the ejector is movable via the web connector to urge the pawl to rotate and engage the latch portion with the web connector.

3. The buckle assembly of claim 1 wherein the pawl rotates in a first direction to disengage the latch portion, wherein the buckle assembly further comprises an ejector slidably coupled to the frame and positioned to be engaged by a tongue of the web connector, wherein insertion of the tongue into the buckle assembly drives the ejector against the pawl to rotate the pawl in a second direction that engages the latch portion with the tongue.

4. The buckle assembly of claim 1 wherein the latch portion includes a locking arm, wherein the pawl further includes a drive portion, and wherein the drive portion includes:

a curved body having a slot, wherein the arm extends through the slot;

a hook shaped to engage the latch portion; and

a biasing member mount extending from the body, wherein the biasing member is positioned between the release actuator and the biasing member mount.

5. The buckle assembly of claim 1 wherein the pawl includes a first biasing member mount, wherein the release actuator includes a second biasing member mount, wherein the biasing member extends between the first biasing member mount and the second biasing member mount, and wherein the release actuator urges the pawl to rotate via direct physical contact between the first biasing member mount and the second biasing member mount.

6. The buckle assembly of claim 1, further comprising a switch configured to provide an indication of engagement of the web connector by the buckle assembly, wherein rotation of the pawl to disengage the latch portion from the web connector includes rotation of the pawl to contact the switch.

7. The buckle assembly of claim 6 wherein the pawl further includes a drive portion, wherein the drive portion is coupled to the latch portion, wherein the biasing member is operably positioned between the drive portion and the release actuator, and wherein rotation of the pawl to contact the switch includes contact between the drive portion and the switch.

8. The buckle assembly of claim 7 wherein the biasing member is a first biasing member, wherein the buckle assembly further comprises a second biasing member, and wherein the second biasing member biases the ejector to move the web connector out of the buckle assembly.

9. A personal restraint system, comprising:

a web connector;

a buckle assembly for releasably engaging the web connector, the buckle assembly including

a frame;

a pawl rotatably coupled to the frame, wherein the pawl includes a latch portion configured to engage the web connector;

a release actuator movably coupled to the frame; and

a biasing member operably coupled between the release actuator and the pawl, wherein the release actuator is configured to move to a first position to exert a first force on the pawl via the biasing member, wherein the release actuator is further configured to move to a second position to bring the release actuator into contact with the pawl and exert a second force on the pawl, and wherein the first force and the second force together urge the pawl to rotate in a direction that disengages the latch portion from the web connector.

10. The personal restraint system of claim 9 wherein the biasing member is a first biasing member, and wherein the buckle assembly further includes:

an ejector slidably coupled to the frame; and

a second biasing member positioned to bias the ejector in a direction that moves the web connector out of the buckle assembly, wherein insertion of the web connector into the buckle assembly moves the elector to compress the second biasing member, wherein the direction is a first direction, and wherein the ejector is movable to contact the pawl and exert a third force on the pawl to rotate the pawl in a second direction, opposite to the first direction, that engages the latch portion with the web connector.

11. The personal restraint system of claim 9 wherein the pawl further includes a drive portion coupled to the latch portion, and wherein the first force and the second force are applied to the pawl via the drive portion.

12. The personal restraint system of claim 11 wherein the drive portion includes a slot and the latch portion includes a locking arm, and wherein the drive portion is secured to the latch portion via extension of the locking arm through the slot.

13. The personal restraint system of claim 9 wherein the pawl further includes a drive portion having a biasing member mount, wherein the first force is applied via contact between the biasing member and the drive portion at an outer perimeter of the biasing member mount, and wherein the second force is applied via contact between the release actuator and the biasing member mount.

14. The personal restraint system of claim 9 wherein the buckle assembly further includes a switch, wherein the pawl further includes a drive portion coupled to the latch portion, and wherein the switch is positioned to be actuated via the drive portion.

15. The personal restraint system of claim 14 wherein the buckle assembly further includes a housing having an upper portion and a lower portion, wherein the web connector is received in the lower portion, and wherein the switch is positioned within the upper portion.

16. A buckle assembly, comprising:

a frame;

a pawl having a latch portion, wherein the pawl is movably coupled to the frame and operable to releasably engage the latch portion with a web connector;

a release button slidably coupled to the frame; and

a biasing member operably coupled between the release button and the pawl, wherein the biasing member is configured to exert a force against the pawl to rotate the pawl in a direction that disengages the latch portion from the web connector, and wherein the release button is configured to compress the biasing member to a solid height position to increase the force on the pawl.

17. The buckle assembly of claim 16 wherein the biasing member is a coil spring having a plurality of coils, and wherein the solid height position includes compression to bring individual coils into contact with adjacent coils.

18. The buckle assembly of claim 16 wherein the pawl further includes a drive portion coupled to the latch portion, and wherein the buckle assembly further comprises a switch operable to provide an indication of a condition of the buckle assembly, wherein rotation of the pawl to disengage the latch portion from the web connector includes the drive portion contacting the switch.

19. The buckle assembly of claim 18, further comprising a housing having an upper portion and a lower portion, wherein the latch portion releasably engages the web connector within a space that is at least partially enclosed by the lower portion, and wherein the switch is positioned within a space that is at least partially enclosed by the upper portion.

20. The buckle assembly of claim 16 wherein the direction is a first direction, the buckle assembly further comprising an ejector slidably coupled to the frame, wherein the ejector is movable via the connector to engage the pawl and rotate the pawl in a second direction that engages the latch portion with the web connector.