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US 2008/0172847 A1Published application
Buckle assembly having single release for multiple belt connectors
AssigneeAmSafe, Inc.
InventorsAllen R. Keene, David Thayer Merrill
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A buckle assembly for a vehicle restraint system where the buckle assembly is adapted to receive a plurality of belt connectors, with the belt connectors being simultaneously released upon moving at least one handle to a release position.
Claims22
1-25. (canceled)
A buckle assembly for attachment to a plurality of belt connectors, the buckle assembly comprising:
- a buckle base having a bottom portion and spaced apart upstanding flanges at least along lateral edges of the bottom portion;
- a first latching mechanism mounted between the spaced apart upstanding flanges of the bottom portion, wherein the first latching mechanism includes a first latch pawl that is movable to a first engaging position in which the first latch pawl engages a first latching abutment of a first belt connector, and wherein the first latching mechanism further includes a first biasing element urging the first latch pawl toward the first engaging position;
- at least a second latching mechanism spaced apart from the first latching mechanism and mounted between the spaced apart upstanding flanges of the bottom portion, wherein the second latching mechanism includes a second latch pawl that is independently movable relative to the first latch pawl to a second engaging position in which the second latch pawl engages a second latching abutment of a second belt connector, and wherein the second latching mechanism further includes a second biasing element urging the second latch pawl toward the second engaging position;
- and
- an operating handle movable between a latch position and a release position, wherein the first latch pawl is engaged with the first latching abutment and the second latch pawl is engaged with the second latching abutment when the operating handle is in the latch position, and wherein the first latch pawl is disengaged from the first latching abutment and the second latch pawl is disengaged from the second latching abutment when the operating handle is in the release position.
2 more elements
A buckle assembly for attachment to a plurality of belt connectors, the buckle assembly comprising:
- a buckle base;
- a first latching mechanism mounted to the buckle base, wherein the first latching mechanism includes a first latch pawl that is movable to a first engaging position in which the first latch pawl engages a first edge portion of a first aperture in a first belt connector, and wherein the first latching mechanism further includes a first biasing element urging the first latch pawl toward the first engaging position;
- a second latching mechanism spaced apart from the first latching mechanism and mounted to the buckle base, wherein the second latching mechanism includes a second latch pawl that is independently movable relative to the first latch pawl to a second engaging position in which the second latch pawl engages a second edge portion of a second aperture in a second belt connector, and wherein the second latching mechanism further includes a second biasing element urging the second latch pawl toward the second engaging position;
- and
- an operating handle movable to a release position in which the first latch pawl is disengaged from the first edge portion of the first aperture and the second latch pawl is disengaged from the second edge portion of the second aperture.
2 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.