Buckle for vehicle seat belt system

An apparatus for use in a seat belt system, said apparatus comprising:

• first and second tongues;
• a base having a longitudinal axis and at least partially defining a cavity for receiving said first and second tongues which are movable into the cavity along respective first and second paths of movement;
• latch means supported by said base in the cavity and being movable between a first position preventing withdrawal of said tongues from the cavity and a second position permitting withdrawal of the tongues from the cavity;
• and
• blocking means having a portion located in one of said first and second paths of movement of said tongues for blocking insertion of said tongues into the cavity until both tongues are advanced together a fully inserted distance into the cavity, said blocking means comprising:
• a plunger supported by said base for linear movement in a direction substantially parallel to the axis of said base as said tongues are advanced into the cavity;
• and
• a pivotable arm carried by said plunger and having opposite end portions, each of said end portions being engageable with a respective one of said tongues;
• said pivotable arm having a first position relative to said plunger enabling advancement of said tongues into the cavity the fully inserted distance and a second position relative to said plunger blocking movement of said tongues into said cavity in response to one tongue being advanced into the cavity by a predetermined distance ahead of the other tongue.

A buckle for use in a vehicle seat belt system having a pair of tongues, said buckle comprising:

• a base at least partially defining a cavity for receiving the pair of tongues which are movable into the cavity along paths of movement;
• a latch plate supported by said base in the cavity and being movable between a first position connecting the tongues with said base when the tongues are moved a fully inserted distance into the cavity and a second position in which the tongues are disconnected from said base;
• and
• means for blocking movement of said tongues into the cavity until both tongues move into the cavity together a predetermined distance which is less than the fully inserted distance, said blocking means comprising:
• a member supported for linear movement relative to said base;
• a pivotable arm carried by said member and having portions located in the paths of movement of the tongues, opposite end portions of said arm being engageable with the tongues, said arm pivoting relative to said member if one of the tongues moves the predetermined distance into the cavity without the other of said tongues being moved the predetermined distance into said cavity;
• and
• stops for engaging one of said end portions of said arm to block linear movement of said member to prevent advancement of only one tongue the fully inserted distance into the cavity.

A buckle for use in a vehicle seat belt system having a pair of tongues, said buckle comprising:

• a base at least partially defining a cavity for receiving the pair of tongues which are movable into the cavity along paths of movement;
• a latch plate supported by said base and being movable between a first position connecting the tongues with said base when both tongues move a fully inserted distance into the cavity and a second position in which the tongues are disconnected from said base;
• and
• means for permitting advancement of the tongues into the cavity the fully inserted distance after both tongues advance at least a predetermined distance into the cavity substantially together, the predetermined distance being less than the fully inserted distance, said means comprising:
• a member supported for linear movement relative to said base;
• and
• a pivotable arm carried by said member and having portions located in the paths of movement of the tongues, opposite end portions of said arm being engageable with the tongues, said means being ineffective to permit advancement of the tongues upon said arm pivoting relative to said member at least a predetermined angle, said arm prevented from pivoting relative to said member the predetermined angle when said tongues are moved substantially together into the cavity the predetermined distance.