Automatic seat belt buckle unlatching mechanism

An automatic seat belt buckle unlatching apparatus for a motor vehicle having an engine and a chassis, said apparatus comprising a first seat belt strap and a second seat belt strap, said first seat belt strap including a first end and a second end, said first end of said first seat belt strap adapted to be secured to said chassis, a tongue member secured to said second end of said first seat belt strap, said second seat belt strap including a first end and a second end with said first end adapted to be secured to said chassis, a seat belt latching mechanism secured to said second end of said second seat belt strap adapted to receive said tongue member, said latching mechanism including a plate secured to said second seat belt and a rigid latch strip having a latch adapted to engage said tongue member and a forward end pivotably connected to said plate, means biasing said latch strip into a position in which said latch may engage said tongue member when said tongue member is inserted into said latching mechanism, means selectively engaging said latch strip responsive to the operation of said engine, said means operatively engaging said latch strip when said engine is not operating to displace said latch strip from said position in which said latch may engage said tongue member to permit said tongue member to be removed from said latching mechanism, said means being disengaged from said latch strip when said engine is operating to permit said latch strip to be biased into said position in which said latch may engage said tongue member when it is inserted into said latching mechanism to permit said first seat belt strap and said second seat belt strap to be locked together and means independent of said selectively engaging means for manually releasing said tongue member while said motor vehicle engine is operating.