Detachable interlocking seat belt anchorage apparatus and method

A seat belt assembly for restraining an occupant of a seat of a vehicle, the seat having a bottom cushion and a backrest with a lower portion and an upper portion, the seat belt assembly comprising:

• an anchoring mechanism disposed proximate the upper portion;
• a static buckle disposed proximate the bottom cushion;
• a static attachment feature disposed proximate the bottom cushion;
• a belt extending from the anchoring mechanism;
• a movable attachment feature coupled to the belt, wherein the movable attachment feature is configured to interlock with the static buckle such that the belt forms a shoulder harness for the occupant;
• and
• an interlocking buckle coupled to the belt, wherein the interlocking buckle is configured to receive the static attachment feature in a first insertion direction and to receive the movable attachment feature in a second insertion direction non-perpendicular to the first insertion direction, the interlocking buckle having a latching lever configured to move between an anchored position that retains only the static attachment feature and a free position that retains only the movable attachment feature
• wherein the interlocking buckle further comprises:
• a first ejector configured to urge the static attachment feature to withdraw from the interlocking buckle;
• and
• a second ejector configured to urge the movable attachment feature to withdraw from the interlocking buckle, wherein the second ejector operates independently of the first ejector.

An interlocking buckle for a seat belt assembly for restraining an occupant of a seat of a vehicle, the interlocking buckle comprising:

• a first receiving interface configured to receive a static attachment feature;
• a second receiving interface configured to receive a movable attachment feature;
• and
• a user control operable to move the interlocking buckle from an anchored configuration in which the interlocking buckle retains only the static attachment feature to a free configuration in which the interlocking buckle retains only the movable attachment feature wherein the user control comprises a button configured to be pressed by a user.

An interlocking buckle for a seat belt assembly for restraining an occupant of a seat of a vehicle, the interlocking buckle comprising:

• a first receiving interface configured to receive a static attachment feature;
• a second receiving interface configured to receive a movable attachment feature;
• a first ejector configured to urge the static attachment feature to withdraw from the first receiving interface;
• and
• a second ejector configured to urge the movable attachment feature to withdraw from the second receiving interface, wherein the second ejector operates independently of the first ejector.

A method for moving a seat belt assembly from an anchored configuration to a free configuration, the seat belt assembly comprising a static attachment feature, a movable attachment feature coupled to a belt, and an interlocking buckle having a first end configured to receive the static attachment feature, a second end configured to receive the movable attachment feature, and a user control comprising a button, the method comprising:

• activating the user control by pressing the button;
• releasing the static attachment feature from the interlocking buckle in response to activation of the user control to permit removal of the static attachment feature from the interlocking buckle;
• and
• retaining the movable attachment feature in the interlocking buckle in response to activation of the user control to prevent removal of the movable attachment feature by the interlocking buckle.

A method for moving a seat belt assembly from a free configuration to an anchored configuration, the seat belt assembly comprising a static attachment feature, a movable attachment feature coupled to a belt, and an interlocking buckle having a first end configured to receive the static attachment feature, a second end configured to receive the movable attachment feature, and a latching lever, the method comprising:

• inserting the static attachment feature into the interlocking buckle along a first insertion direction;
• retaining the static attachment feature, wherein retaining the static attachment feature comprises pivoting the latching lever in response to insertion of the static attachment feature;
• and
• releasing the movable attachment feature in response to pivoting of the latching lever to permit removal of the movable attachment feature along a direction opposite to a second insertion direction non-perpendicular to the first insertion direction.

An interlocking buckle for a seat belt assembly for restraining an occupant of a seat of a vehicle, the interlocking buckle comprising:

• a first end configured to receive a static attachment feature in a first insertion direction;
• a second end configured to receive a movable attachment feature in a second insertion direction non-perpendicular to the first insertion direction;
• and
• a latching lever configured to move between an anchored position that retains only the static attachment feature and a free position that retains only the movable attachment feature,
• wherein the latching lever comprises a latching extension configured to block withdrawal of the movable attachment feature when the latching lever is in the free position.