Backup buckle for a seat belt

Abstract

The backup buckle has a housing with juxtaposed first and second portions. A buckle mechanism is mounted in the first portion. A stiff plate is affixed to the buckle mechanism and extends along the second portion and away from the buckle mechanism. A latch blade is affixed to the stiff plate at a distance from the buckle mechanism. The backup buckle is mountable to a vehicle seat belt and is useful for offering an alternate release point along the seat belt in vehicles having hard-to-reach seat belt buckles. An objective of the backup buckle is to reduce the number of deaths and injuries caused by faulty seat belts retaining passengers in a vehicle on fire, in a submerged vehicle or in a vehicle in such condition as to create other life threatening situation. In another aspect of the invention, the housing of the backup buckle has a storage compartment therein for stowing personal articles.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.