Lockable safety device for prevention of accidental airbag depolyment
AssigneeThe Boeing Company
InventorsJohn A. Lepore, Thomas E. Dowhower, Peter M. Heinrich
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A safety device for preventing accidental discharge of an airbag. A lower portion of the safety device includes two opposing sidewalls at least partially defining a cavity for holding a seat belt buckle assembly. An upper portion of the safety devices is hingedly coupled to the lower portion. The safety device also includes a mechanism for securely latching the upper portion to the lower portion and a mechanism for releasing the upper portion from the lower portion when the upper portion is securely latched to the lower portion to allow the upper portion to rotate away from the lower portion.
Claims20
A safety device for preventing accidental discharge of an airbag, the safety device comprising:
- a lower portion comprising two opposing sidewalls at least partially defining a cavity for holding a seat belt buckle assembly;
- an upper portion hingedly coupled to the lower portion;
- means for securely latching the upper portion to the lower portion;
- and
- means for releasing the upper portion from the lower portion when the upper portion is securely latched to the lower portion to allow the upper portion to rotate away from the lower portion.
A safety device for preventing accidental discharge of an airbag, the safety device comprising:
- a lower portion comprising two opposing sidewalls at least partially defining a cavity for holding a seat belt buckle assembly;
- an upper portion hingedly coupled to the lower portion;
- a latching mechanism for securely latching the upper portion to the lower portion;
- and
- a releasing mechanism for releasing the upper portion from the lower portion when the upper portion is securely latched to the lower portion to allow the upper portion to rotate away from the lower portion.
A method for securely covering and uncovering a buckle assembly of a seatbelt using a safety device, the safety device including a lower portion comprising two opposing sidewalls at least partially defining a cavity for holding a seat belt buckle assembly, an upper portion hingedly coupled to the lower portion, a latching mechanism for securely latching the upper portion to the lower portion, and a releasing mechanism for releasing the upper portion from the lower portion when the upper portion is securely latched to the lower portion to allow the upper portion to rotate away from the lower portion, the method comprising:
- positioning the buckle assembly in the cavity of the lower portion such that a strap coupled to the buckle assembly extends from the lower portion through the slot area;
- rotating the upper portion with respect to the lower portion to engage the latching mechanism and so that the buckle assembly is secure in the cavity with the upper portion completely covering the buckle assembly;
- and
- selectively engaging the release mechanism to allow the upper portion to rotate away from the lower portion to uncover the buckle assembly and allow the buckle assembly to be removed from the cavity.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.