US 8,991,867 B2Granted

Break-away buckle for a child restraint

AssigneeArtsana USA, Inc.

InventorsMichael L. Longenecker, James M. Dillner

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Abstract

A buckle for a child safety seat comprising a body having an opening for receiving and selectively retaining in position a tang portion of a first belt portion connector, a loop element for connecting a second belt portion, the loop element engaging the tang portion to connect the first and second belt portions, the loop element comprising a base with a pair of legs extending therefrom and abutting at distal ends at a split surface. Each leg includes an anti-spread tab extending generally perpendicularly from the leg configured to engage the opening when the buckle is operably assembled to prevent separation of the split surface and retain the loop element engaged on the tang portion. The anti-separation tabs allow separation of the split surface as the tang is partially withdrawn from the opening so that the lop portion may be disengaged from the tang by movement generally transverse to the tang.

Claims16

Dependent claims

A buckle for connecting free ends of harness belts in a child safety seat comprising:

a main body having a receptacle with an outer face;
a lap belt connector having an elongate tang extending along an insertion axis from a base arranged generally perpendicular thereto, the tang being configured to be partially received by the receptacle by movement along the insertion axis toward the outer face;
and
a shoulder belt connector having a pair of flexible legs downwardly extending toward distal ends to form, when unflexed, an aperture through which the tang may be positioned to engage the shoulder belt connector on the lap belt connector, when flexed allowing the distal ends to be spaced apart and the tang to pass between the distal ends, each leg further having a retainer tab extending from the respective leg parallel to the insertion axis;
the lap belt connector being insertable into the receptacle with the shoulder belt connector legs positioned around the tang and between the base and the outer face and in adjacent contact therewith causing the retainer tabs to extend into the receptacle and prevent the legs from flexing away from the tang and securing the shoulder belt connector to the lap belt connector, partially retracting the tang from the receptacle to withdraw the retainer tabs from the receptacle enabling the legs to be flexed and the tang to pass between the distal ends and so that the shoulder belt connector may be disengaged from the lap belt connector by movement non-parallel to the insertion axis.

2 more elements

A buckle for connecting free ends of harness belts in a child safety seat, the seat having at least right and left lap belt ends, right and left shoulder belt end, and an anchor belt end, the buckle comprising:

a main body connected to the anchor belt end and having right and left receptacles with right and left outer faces, respectively;
right and left lap belt connectors attached to the right and left lap belt ends, respectively, each lap belt connector having an elongate tang laterally extending from a base along an insertion axis, each tang being partially disposed within a respective receptacle;
right and left shoulder belt connectors connected to the right and left shoulder belt portions, respectively, each shoulder belt connector having a pair of flexible legs extending downwardly therefrom toward respective distal ends, the distal ends being spaced to prevent passage of a respective tang therebetween when the legs are unflexed, the unflexed legs defining an aperture through which the right and left tangs extend, respectively, the legs being positioned along the insertion axis between and in adjacent contact with a respective base and outer face, each leg further having a retainer tab extending therefrom and engaging a respective receptacle to limit leg flexure so that spacing between the distal ends prevents passage of a tang therebetween.

A method for connecting free ends of harness belts in a child safety seat to secure a child therein, the method comprising the steps of:

providing at least right and left lap belt ends, right and left shoulder belt end, and an anchor belt end;
providing a main body connected to the anchor belt end and having right and left receptacles, each receptacle having an outer face;
providing right and left lap belt connectors attached to the right and left lap belt ends, respectively, each lap belt connector having an elongate tang laterally extending from a base along an insertion axis, each tang being configured to be partially received by a respective receptacle by movement along the insertion axis toward the respective outer face;
providing right and left shoulder belt connectors connected to the right and left shoulder belt portions, respectively, each shoulder belt connector having a pair of flexible legs extending downwardly therefrom toward respective distal ends to form, when unflexed, an aperture through which the respective tang may be positioned to engage the respective shoulder belt connector on the respective lap belt connector, the distal ends being spaced to prevent passage of a respective tang therebetween when the legs are unflexed;
providing a retainer tab on each leg extending generally parallel to the insertion axis;
positioning the right and left shoulder belt connectors so that right and left tangs, respectively, extend through the respective apertures, and the legs are in adjacent contact with the respective base of the right and left lap belt connectors;
and
inserting the right and left tangs into the right and left receptacles, respectively, until the respective legs of the right and left shoulder belt connectors are in adjacent contact with the right and left outer faces, respectively, and the retainer tabs are engaged in the respective receptacles to limit leg flexure so that spacing between the distal ends prevents passage of a tang therebetween.

5 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 14/448,835Filed 31 Jul 2014 · us provisional application
Priority: 21 Aug 2013
Published: US 2015/0054272 A126 Feb 2015
Granted: 31 Mar 2015
Term ends: Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification10 codes

A44B 11/2511
Actuated by a push-button: acting perpendicularly to the main plane of the buckle, e.g. placed on the front face of the buckle
A44B 11/2549
Details: fastening of other buckle elements to the main buckle
B60N 2/2812
Adaptations for seat belts: for securing the child to the child seat
Y10T 24/45084
Belt, strap, harness, etc.: for safety belt buckle, strap, harness, etc.