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US 8,720,019 B2Granted
Buckle assemblies for personal restraint systems and associated methods of use and manufacture
AssigneeAmSafe Commercial Products, Inc.
InventorsFred Buckingham, Mark E. Main
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Personal restraint systems with buckle assemblies for use in vehicles are disclosed herein. In one embodiment, a personal restraint system includes a connector configured to be coupled to a web. The restraint system also includes a buckle assembly configured to releasably retain the connector. In this embodiment, the buckle assembly includes a frame having a locking feature configured to engage a tongue of the connector. The buckle assembly also includes a locking member movably positioned adjacent to the frame that retains the tongue in a locked position. The buckle assembly further includes an actuator that can be actuated by a user to move the tongue out of the locked position.
Claims17
A personal restraint system for use in a vehicle, the personal restraint system comprising:
- a connector configured to be coupled to a web, wherein the connector includes a tongue having an engagement portion;
- and
- a buckle assembly configured to releasable retain the tongue of the connector, the buckle assembly including:
- a frame having a locking feature that contacts the engagement portion when the tongue is inserted into the buckle assembly;
- a locking member adjacent to the frame, wherein the locking member is movable relative to the frame between a locked position and an unlocked position, and wherein the locking member retains the engagement portion of the tongue in contact with the locking feature when the locking member is in the locked position;
- a button adjacent to the frame, wherein the button is movable relative to the frame to urge the locking member away from the locked position and to urge the tongue away from the locking feature;
- and
- a housing at least partially enclosing the frame and the locking member, wherein the frame remains stationary relative to the housing and the tongue pivots relative to the housing to disengage the locking feature from the engagement portion.
5 more elements
A personal restraint system for use in a vehicle, the personal restraint system comprising:
- a connector configured to be coupled to a web, wherein the connector includes a tongue having an engagement portion;
- and
- a buckle assembly configured to releasable retain the tongue of the connector, the buckle assembly including:
- a frame having a locking feature that contacts the engagement portion when the tongue is inserted into the buckle assembly;
- a locking member adjacent to the frame, wherein the locking member is movable relative to the frame between a locked position and an unlocked position, and wherein the locking member retains the engagement portion of the tongue in contact with the locking feature when the locking member is in the locked position;
- and
- a button adjacent to the frame, wherein the button is movable relative to the frame to urge the locking member away from the locked position and to urge the tongue away from the locking feature, and
- wherein the tongue urges the locking member from the locked position toward the unlocked position when the tongue is inserted into the buckle assembly.
5 more elements
A personal restraint system for use in a vehicle, the personal restraint system comprising:
- a connector configured to be coupled to a web, wherein the connector includes a tongue having an engagement portion;
- and
- a buckle assembly configured to releasably retain the tongue of the connector, the buckle assembly including:
- a frame having a locking feature that contacts the engagement portion when the tongue is inserted into the buckle assembly;
- a locking member adjacent to the frame, wherein the locking member is movable relative to the frame between a locked position and an unlocked position, and wherein the locking member retains the engagement portion of the tongue in contact with the locking feature when the locking member is in the locked position;
- a button adjacent to the frame, wherein the button is movable relative to the frame to urge the locking member away from the locked position and to urge the tongue away from the locking feature;
- and
- at least one biasing member urging the locking member toward the locked position, wherein the locking member at least partially ejects the tongue from the buckle assembly when the tongue disengages from the locking feature and the locking member moves from the unlocked position toward the locked position.
5 more elements
A connector and buckle assembly for use in a vehicle, the assembly comprising:
- a web;
- a connector configured to be coupled to the web, wherein the connector has a tongue;
- and
- a buckle assembly configured to releasable retain the connector when the tongue is inserted into the buckle assembly, the buckle assembly including:
- a frame having a locking feature configured to engage the tongue in a locked position;
- a locking member movably positioned adjacent to the frame and biased toward the tongue, wherein the locking member retains the tongue in the locked position;
- and
- an actuator movably positioned adjacent to the frame, wherein manipulation of the actuator drives the actuator against each of the locking member and the tongue to move the tongue out of the locked position,
- wherein the locking member is slidably positioned adjacent to a first side of the frame, and the actuator is pivotally positioned adjacent to a second side of the frame, and wherein the second side is opposite the first side.
6 more elements
A connector and buckle assembly for use in a vehicle, the assembly comprising:
- a web;
- a connector configured to be coupled to the web, wherein the connector has a tongue;
- and
- a buckle assembly configured to releasably retain the connector when the tongue is inserted into the buckle assembly, the buckle assembly including:
- a frame having a locking feature configured to engage the tongue in a locked position;
- a locking member movably positioned adjacent to the frame and biased toward the tongue, wherein the locking member retains the tongue in the locked position;
- an actuator movably positioned adjacent to the frame, wherein manipulation of the actuator drives the actuator against each of the locking member and the tongue to move the tongue out of the locked position, and
- at least one biasing member that urges the locking member toward the locked position.
5 more elements
A personal restraint system for use in a vehicle, the personal restraint system comprising:
- a connector configured to be coupled to a web, wherein the connector includes a tongue having a locking feature;
- and
- a buckle assembly configured to releasably engage the connector when the tongue is inserted into the buckle assembly, the buckle assembly including:
- means for engaging the locking feature of the tongue to secure the tongue to the buckle assembly when the tongue is inserted into the buckle assembly in a locked position;
- means for retaining the locking feature against the means for engaging when the tongue is in the locked position;
- means for moving the means for retaining the locking feature away from the tongue to release the tongue from the locked position;
- means for moving the tongue away from the means for engaging to release the tongue from the locked position;
- and
- means for urging the tongue out of the buckle assembly when the tongue is not in the locked position.
6 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.