US3331108A

US3331108A - Seat belt buckle

Info

Publication number: US3331108A
Application number: US525817A
Authority: US
Inventors: Robert C Fisher; Collins Cecil
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: TRW Automotive Products Inc
Priority date: 1964-07-20
Filing date: 1966-01-21
Publication date: 1967-07-18
Anticipated expiration: 1984-07-18
Also published as: FR1435565A; DE1266552B; SE347661B; JPS4942975B1; GB1098008A

Description

Jufiy 18, W57 R. c. FISHER ETAL.

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SEAT BELT BUCKLE Original Filed July 20, 1964 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 id jig 7% ,i/f r iii-1 h I .24-

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United States Patent 3,331,108 SEAT BELT BUCKLE Robert C. Fisl1er, 588 E. Long Lake Road, Bloomfield H lls, Mich. 48013, and Cecil Collins, Pontiac, Mich; said Qollins assignor to said Fisher Continuation of application Ser. No. 383,846, July 20, 1964. This application Jan. 21, 1966, Ser. No. 525,817 23 Claims. (Cl. 24-230) This application is a continuation of our copending application Ser. No. 383,846 filed July 20, 1964, for Seat Belt Buckle.

This invention relates generally to buckles and more galrticularly to an improved buckle for automobile seat e ts.

It is imperative that the tongue of a metal-to-metal seat belt buckle be positively engageable with a complementary latch within the buckle in such a manner that false latching is precluded. Seat belt buckles heretofore known and used generally fail to meet this specification since the opening force requirements and internal construction thereof are such that an external manual operator is required. Thus, in such known seat belt buckles, it is often possible to insert the tongue under the openable handle of the buckle resulting in a spurious latch.

Accordingly, one object of the instant invention is a buckle for a safety belt that is devoid of an external or projecting manual operator to preclude spurious latching of a tongue thereunder.

Further, since seat belt buckles are generally disposed in a motorists lap, it is desirable for such buckles to have a relatively clean and smooth exterior surface, devoid of appurtenances or apertures which are apt to snag clothing, seats, etc.

Thus, another object is a seat belt buckle that is relatively clean, smooth and devoid of external appurtenances and apertures.

The foregoing problems are solved in the seat belt buckle of the instant invention by the novel construction and geometry of the buckle components which renders possible the use of an internal manual operator. Elimination of the external manual operator for the seat belt buckle both precludes false latching of the tongue under the operator and presents a clean, smooth exterior surface.

Other objects and advantages of the instant invention will be apparent from the following specification, claims and drawings, wherein:

FIGURE 1 is a top view of the seat belt buckle of the instant invention with the tongue removed therefrom;

FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of the seat belt buckle of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view taken substantially along the line 33 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a view similar to FIG. 3 of the seat belt buckle of the instant invention with the tongue assembled therewith;

FIG. 5 is a view similar to FIG. 4 with the internal manual operator and latch rotated to the release condition;

FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view taken substantially along the line 66 of FIG. 3; and

FIG. 7 is a view taken along the line 77 of FIG. 1.

As best seen in FIG. 2 of the drawings, a safety belt buckle 10, in accordance with the exemplary constructed embodiment of the instant invention, comprises a base 12, a latch plate 14, a latch spring 16, an internal manual operator 18, a cover plate 20 and a belt bar 22. The foregoing components are assembled in interlocking relationship on the base 12 and are self-retained in the assembled condition, as will be described.

As best seen in FIGS. 1, 3 and 4, a tongue 30 is adapted to be releasably accepted and retained within the buckle 10. One end 34 of a belt portion 36 is adjustably looped around the bar 22 and an end 37 of a belt portion 38 is secured to the tongue 30 as by stitching designated by the numeral 39.

As best seen in FIG. 2 of the drawings, the base 12 of the buckle 10 is of channel-like lateral cross section defined by a web portion 40 with upstanding flange portions 42 and 44 at the opposite edges thereof. The flange portions 42 and 44 of the base 12 have inwardly folded

edges

46 and 48 thereon, respectively, that extend generally parallel to the web portion 40 of the base 12.

The web portion 40 of the base 12 has a reentrantly folded latch retainer 50 at one end thereof that pivotally accepts an end portion 52 of the latch plate 14. The latch plate 14 is both supported for rotation relative to the base 12 and retained against movement outwardly of the base 12 by the retainer portion 50 thereof.

The latch plate 14 has a latch face 54 on an offset portion 56 thereof that is engageable with a complementary latch surface 58 on the periphery of an aperture 60 in the tongue 30 to effect locking of the tongue 30 within the buckle 10.

The latch plate 14 is normally biased toward the latched condition by the spring 16, one end portion 62 of which is reentrantly folded about the offset portion 56 of the latch, plate 14.

The end portion 62 of the spring 16 is secured to a laterally extending portion 64 which in turn is connected to a pair of longitudinally extending

side portions

66 and 68. A normally folded portion 70 joins the

side portions

66 and 68 thereby to form what amounts to an open rectangle comprising the

portions

64, 66, 68 and 79. The spring 16 has an upstanding latch plate stripper portion 72 on the opposite side of the lateral portion 64 thereof from the portion 62. The stripper portion 72 effects engagement with the underside of the tongue 30 when the latch plate 14 is biased to the release condition by the internal manual operator 18, as will be more particularly described hereinafter.

The belt bar 22, about which the end 34 of the belt portion 36 is looped, has a pair of generally

rectangular slide plates

74 and 76 staked to opposite ends thereof which are guided for reciprocation by the

edge portions

46 and 48 and the web portion 40 of the base 12. The belt portion 36 extends through a complementary aperture 78 in the base 12 and about the bar 22.

In accordance with the present invention the buckle 10 is provided with an internal, substantially enclosed manual operator 18. The manual operator 18 has an end portion 80 that is pivotally supported in a reentrantly folded portion 82 of the cover 20. An opposite end portion 84 of the manual operator 18 is reentrantly folded so as to be engageable with the latch 14.

As best seen by comparing FIGS. 3, 4 and 5, when pressure is applied upon the manual operator 18, as by a finger 83, through an aperture 85 in the cover 20, the manual operator 18 rotates about the fulcrum provided by the reentrantly folded portion 82 of the cover 20. The bias of the inner end portion 84 of the manual operator 18 on the latch 14 effects rotation of the latch 14 about the fulcrum provided by the reentrantly folded portion 50 of the base 12.

The cover 20 is secured to the base 12 by the reentrantly folded portion 82 thereof which is engaged under a pair of fingers 9t) and 92 (FIG. 2) which are pierced from the

edge portions

46 and 48 of the base 12, respectively. The fingers 9 0 and 92 are bent upwardly so that the reentrantly folded portion 82 of the cover plate does not extend downwardly, as seen in FIG. 3, of the drawings, beyond the plane of the lower surfaces of the

edge portions

46 and 48. This feature allows the tongue 30 to bear directly upon the underside of the

edge portions

46 and 48 when in the latched position.

As best seen in FIG. 7 an opposite end 100 of the cover plate 20 is folded normally to the top surface 102 thereof so as to enclose the base 12 at the opposite end thereof from the latch plate retainer 50. The folded portion 100 is provided with a pair of

notches

104 and 106 for the acceptance of the

edge portions

46 and 48, respectively. The folded portion. 100 is snapped into position over the

portions

46 and 48 and is retained in a position flush with the end faces of the web portion 40, flange portions 42 and 44 and

edge portions

46 and 48.

It is to be noted that the geometry of the seat belt buckle 10 is such that the direction of movement of the latch face 54 on the latch 14 is generally parallel to the plane thereof and parallel to the direction of movement of the motorists finger 83. Furthermore, the pressure point of the motorists finger 83 on the manual operator 18 is substantially aligned with the latch face 54. Thus, substantially all of the energy expended by the motorist is transmitted to the latch face 54 of the latch plate 14 to effect disengagement thereof from the latch surface 58 of the tongue 30.

It is also to be noted that the reentrantly folded portions 50 and 82 of the base 12 and cover 20, respectively, extend in close parallel laterally aligned relation so as to define a slot for the acceptance of the tongue 30.

The seat belt buckle 10 of the instant invention is assembled by first engaging the end portion 62 of the latch spring 16 about the offset portion 56 of the latch plate 14. The assembled latch plate 14 and spring 16 are then inserted under the

edge portions

46 and 48 of the base 12, and moved from the left to the right inwardly of the base 12 to the position shown in FIGS. 3-5 of the drawings. It is to be noted that a pair of notches 110 and 112 (FIG. 2) in the portion 70 of the spring 16 permit passage of the spring 16 past a pair of projections 114 and 116 on the base 12. The portion 70 of the spring 16 has to be moved away from the web potrion 40 of the base 12 against its normal bias to allow the projections 114 and 116 to pass through the apertures 110' and 112 whereupon the spring 16 snaps to the condition shown in FIGS. 3-5 of the drawings. Once the spring 16 is in position, the projections 114 and 11 6 preclude movement thereof to the left as seen in FIGS. 3-5.

The looped end 34 of the belt portion 36 is next inserted through slot 78 in the base 12 and the bar 22 inserted therethrough.

The cover 20 and manual operator 18 are then secured to the base 12 by inserting the fingers 90 and 92 into the reentrantly folded portion 82 of the cover 20 and then snapping the normally folded opposite end 100 thereof over the opposite end of the base 12.

Lengthening of the belt 36 is effected by tilting the buckle 10 relative to the belt portion 36. When the belt buckle 10 is so tilted the belt 36 can be lengthened with one hand by merely pulling on the buckle 10. Shortening of the belt portion 36 is effected by merely pulling on the top or free end 34 of the belt portion 36.

From the foregoing description it should be apparent that, because the manual operator 18 is substantially entirely enclosed, the belt buckle 10 of the instant invention is relatively clean and entirely free of protruding components and apertures. Thus, spurious latching of the tongue 30 is precluded and the buckle 10 does not snag clothing or seat upholstery or otherwise present sharp surfaces that might limit use of the buckle 10.

It is to be understood that the improved seat belt buckle herein disclosed and described is presented for the purpose of explanation and illustration and is not intended to indicate limits of the invention the scope of which is defined by the following claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A safety belt buckle comprising a base member having a latch plate retainer at one end thereof,

a latch plate overlying said base member and having one end pivoted in the latch retainer of said base, said latch plate having a latch face thereon,

a belt tongue having a latch surface thereon engageable with the latch face on said latch plate to lock said tongue against movement relative to said base,

resilient means normally biasing said latch plate toward said tongue,

a cover member on said base and having an aperture therein overlying the latch. face on said latch plate, and

an internal manual operator supported by said cover member overlying said belt tongue and accessible through the aperture in said cover member, movement of said manual operator relative to said base effecting movement of said latch plate and disengagement of the latch face thereon from the latch surface on said tongue.

2. A safety belt buckle comprising a base member having a web portion with upstanding flanges on opposite sides with inturned edge portions extending in spaced generally parallel relationship to the web portion thereof, said base member having a latch plate retainer at one end thereof,

a latch plate overlying the web portion of said base member in generally parallel relationship and having one end pivoted in the latch retainer of said base, said latch plate having a latch face thereon,

a belt tongue insertable under the edge portions of said base member in overlying generally parallel relation to said latch plate and having a latch surface there on, the latch face on said latch plate being engageable with the latch surface on said tongue to lock said tongue against movement outwardly of said base,

resilient means normally biasing said latch plate toward said tongue,

a cover member overlying the edge portions of said base and extending generally parallel to the web portion thereof, said cover member having an aperture therein aligned with the latch face on said latch plate, and

an internal manual operator overlying said belt tongue in spaced generally parallel relation thereto, said manual operator being accessible through the aperture in said cover member and movable to effect movement of said latch plate away from said belt tongue whereby movement of said manual operator relative .to said base effects rotation of said latch plate and disengagement of the latch face thereon from the latch surface on said tongue.

3. A safety belt buckle comprising a base member having a web portion with upstanding flanges on opposite sides with inturned edge portions extending in spaced generally parallel relationship to the web portion thereof, said base member having a latch plate retainer at one end thereof,

a belt tongue insertable under the edge portions of said base member in overlying generally parallel relation to said latch plate and having a latch surface thereon, the latch face on said latch plate being engageable with the latch surface on said tongue to lock said tongue against movement outwardly of said base,

resilient means normally biasing said latch plate toward said tongue,

a cover member secured to said base and extending generally parallel to the web portion thereof, said cover member having an aperture therein overlying.

the latch face on said latch plate and a reentrantly folded portion extending generally parallel to the reentrantly folded portion of said base member, and

an internal manual operator overlying said belt tongue and pivotally supported by the reentrantly folded portion of said cover member, said manual operator being accessible through the aperture in said cover member and directly engageable with the other end of said latch plate whereby rotation of said manual operator relative to said base effects rotation of said latch plate and disengagement of the latch face thereon from the latch surface on said tongue.

4. A safety belt buckle comprising a base member having a web portion with upstanding flanges on opposite sides with inturned edge portions extending in spaced generally parallel relationship to the web portion thereof, said base member having a latch plate retainer at one end thereof,

a latch plate overlying the web portion of said base member in generally parallel relationship and having one end pivoted in the latch retainer of said base,- said latch plate having a latch face thereon,

resilient means normally biasing said latch plate toward said tongue,

a cover member secured to said base and extending generally parallel to the web portion thereof, said cover member having an aperture therein overlying the latch face on said latch plate and a reentrantly folded portion extending generally parallel to the reentrantly folded portion of said base member in laterally aligned relationship thereto, and

an internal manual operator having an intermediate portion overlying said belt tongue, one end portion of said operator being pivotally supported by the reentrantly folded portion of said cover member and an opposite end portion of said operator having a laterally extending portion directly engageable with the other end of said latch plate, said manual operator being accessible through the aperture in said cover member.

5. A safety belt buckle comprising 'a base memberhaving a web portion with upstanding flanges on opposite sides with inturned edge portions extending in spaced generally parallel relationship to the web portion thereof, said base member having a latch plate retainer at one end thereof,

resilient means normally biasing said latch plate toward said tongue,

a cover member overlyin the edge portions of said base on the opposite side thereof from said belt tongue, said cover member extending generally parallel to the web portion of said base and having an aperture therein overlying the latch face on said latch plate, said cover member having a reentrantly folded portion extending generally parallel to the reentrantly folded portion of said base member in laterally aligned relationship thereto, and

6. A safety belt buckle comprising a base member having a latch plate retainer at one end thereof,

a belt tongue having a latch surface thereon engageable with the latch face on said latch plate to lock'said tongue against movement relative to said base,

resilient means normally biasing said latch plate toward said tongue,

a cover member on said base having an aperture laterally aligned with the latch surface on said tongue and the latch face on said latch plate when said tongue and latch are in the latched condition, and

a pivoted internal manual operator supported for rotation by said cover member and disposed between said belt tongue and said cover member and accessible through the aperture in said cover member, rotation of said manual operator relative to said base effecting movement of said latch plate and disengagement of the latch face thereon from the latch surface on said tongue.

7. A safety belt buckle comprising a base member having means thereon for supporting a latch plate,

a latch plate supported by the latch plate supporting means of said base, said latch plate having a latch face thereon,

a belt tongue having a latch surface thereon engageable wit-h the latch face on said latch plate to lock said tongue against movement relative to said base,

resilient means normally biasing said latch plate into engagement with said tongue,

a cover member on said base having an aperture laterally aligned with the latch face on said latch plate, and

an internal manual operator supported by said cover member between said cover member and said belt tongue and accesible through the aperture in said cover member, movement of said manual operator relative to said base effecting movement of said latch plate and disengagement of the latch face thereon from the latch surface on said tongue.

. A safety belt buckle comprising v a base member having a web portion with upstanding flanges on opposite sides with inturned edge portions extending in spaced generally parallel relationship to the web portion thereof, said base member having a latch plate retainer at one end thereof,

resilient means normally biasing said latch plate toward said tongue,

a cover member overlying the edge portions of said base and extending generally parallel to the web portion thereof, said cover member having an aper- 7 ture therein aligned with the latch face on said latch plate, and

an internal manual operator between said belt tongue and said cover member in spaced generally parallel relation thereto, said manual operator having a laterally extending end portion engageable with said latch plate so as to maintain said manual operator in spaced relation thereto for the acceptance of said belt tongue therebetween, said manual operator being accessible through the aperture in said cover member and movable toward said belt tongue to effect movement of said latch plate away from said belt tongue whereby movement of said manual operator relative to said base effects movement of said latch plate and disengagement of the latch face thereon from the latch surface on said tongue.

9. A safety belt buckle comprising a base member having a latch plate retainer at one end thereof,

resilient means normally biasing said latch plate toward said tongue,

a cover member on said base having an aperture therein and a reentrantly folded manual operator retainer at one end thereof, and

an internal manual operator overlying said belt tongue and having one end pivoted in the manual operator retainer of said cover member, said manual operator being accessible through the aperture in said cover member, rotation of said manual operator relative to said cover member effecting rotation of said latch plate relative to said base and disengagement of the latch face on said latch plate from the latch surface on said tongue.

10. A safety belt buckle in accordance with claim 9 wherein said manual operator retainer on said cover member extends in spaced parallel relation to the latch plate retainer on said base so as to define an opening for the acceptance of said belt tongue.

11. -A safety belt buckle in accordance with claim 9 wherein the opposite end portion of said cover member from said manual operator retainer is interlockingly engageable with the opposite end of said base from the latch retainer thereof for retaining the opposite end of said cover member on said base.

12. .A safety belt buckle in accordance with claim 11 wherein the opposite end portion of said cover member has a pair of spaced notches therein for the acceptance of the edge portions, respectively, of said base in interlocking relationship.

13. A safety belt buckle comprising,

a base member having a web portion with upstanding flanges on opposite sides with inturned edge portions extending in spaced generally parallel relationship to the web portion thereof, said base member having a latch plate retainer at one end thereof,

resilient means normally biasing said latch plate toward said tongue,

a cover member overlying the edge portions of said base and extending generally parallel to the web portion thereof, said cover plate having an aperture therein, and

an internal manual operator overlying said belt tongue in spaced generally parallel relation thereto, said manual operator being accessible through the aper ture in said cover member and engageable with said latch plate to etfect disengagement thereof from said belt tongue.

14. A safety belt buckle in accordance with claim 13 wherein one end portion of said cover member is reentrantly folded to provide a a support for said internal manual operator.

15. A safety belt buckle in accordance with claim 14 wherein the edge portions of said base are engageable in the reentrantly folded portion of said cover member.

16. A safety belt buckle in accordance with claim 14 wherein the opposite end portion of said cover member has a portion extending normally to said base for closing said base.

17. A safety belt buckle in accordance with claim 13 wherein said cover member has a portion extending normally to the Web portion of said base for closing said base.

18. A safety belt buckle comprising a base member,

means at one end of said base member for pivotally supporting a latch plate,

means at the other end of said base member for attaching a safety belt thereto,

a latch plate overlying said base member in generally parallel relation thereto and having one end pivoted on said support means, said latch plate having a latch face thereon,

resilient means normally biasing said latch plate toward said tongue,

a one piece cover member on said base substantially enclosing said latch plate, belt tongue, and attaching means, said cover member having an aperture therein, and

an internal manual operator guided for movement toward and away from said base member, latch plate, and belt tongue by said cover member, said manual.

operator being accessible through the aperture in said cover member, movement of said manual operator toward said base member, latch plate, and tongue effecting movement of said latch plate away from said tongue and disengagement of the latch face on said latch from the latch surface on said tongue.

19. A buckle in accordance with claim 18 wherein said internal manual operator is movable substantially parallel to the direction of movement of the latch face on said latch plate upon separation thereof from the latch surface on said tongue.

20. A buckle in accordance with claim 18 wherein said latch plate and internal manual operator are concomitantly biased toward the latched condition by said resilient means.

21. A buckle in accordance with claim 18 wherein said internal manual operator is biased toward the latched condition by said resilient means through said latch plate.

22. A safety belt buckle comprising a base member,

means at one end of said base member for pivotally supporting a latch plate,

a latch plate pivoted on said supporting means and overlying said base member in generally parallel relation thereto, said latch plate having a latch face thereon,

a belt tongue having a latch surface thereon engageable with the latch face on said latch plate to lock said 9 tongue against movement in one direction relative to said base,

resilient means normally biasing said latch plate toward said tongue,

a cover member on said base and having an aperture therein, said cover member enclosing said latch plate, tongue and resilient means and having a resflient portion snappingly engageable with said base to effect a mechanical interlock therewith, and

an internal manual operator separate from said latch plate and movable relative to said latch plate, tongue and base member between a latched and an unlatched condition, said internal manual operator being accessible through the aperture in said cover member, movement of said manual operator toward said base member being guided by said cover member and effecting movement of said latch plate out of engagement with said tongue.

23. A safety buckle comprising a one-piece base member having a substantially fiat bottom surface, a separate one-piece cover member secured to the base member in generally overlying parallel relation to said bottom surface, said members being shaped to form an enclosed structure having a slot at one end adapted to receive a belt tongue provided with latching surface thereon which lies in a plane generally perpendicular to the plane of the base when the tongue is inserted into said enclosed structure, said base member having means adjacent the the opposite end of said enclosed structure for attachment of a belt, a latch pivotally mounted on the base member between said bottom surface and said cover member and provided with a latching face which moves in a direction generally perpendicular to said base between latched and unlatched positions incident to pivotal movement of the latch and is positioned to engage the latching surface on the tongue, a latch operator separate from said latch and movable toward and away from said bottom surface while guided by engagement with said cover member, all portions of said latch operator being positioned below the upper surface of said cover member, means associated with said latch and engageable by said latch operator for effecting movement of said latch in response to movement of said latch operator, an opening in said cover to permit manual engagement and movement of the latch operator in a direction to effect unlatching movement of said latch, and resilient means constantly urging the latch in the latching direction and reacting against a portion of said base member,

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 435,360 8/ 1890 Kaylor. 2,581,557 1/1952 Rozas. 3,165,806 1/1965 Lehman. 3,203,064 8/1965 Murphy. 3,235,930 2/ 1966 Chapin.

BERNARD A. GELAK, Primary Examiner.

Claims

1. A SAFETY BELT BUCKLE COMPRISING A BASE MEMBER HAVING A LATCH PLATE RETAINER AT ONE END THEREOF, A LATCH PLATE OVERLYING SAID BASE MEMBER AND HAVING ONE END PIVOTED IN THE LATCH RETAINER OF SAID BASE, SAID LATCH PLATE HAVING A LATCH FACE THEREON, A BELT TONGUE HAVING A LATCH SURFACE THEREON ENGAGEABLE WITH THE LATCH FACE ON SAID LATCH PLATE TO LOCK SAID TONGUE AGAINST MOVEMENT RELATIVE TO SAID BASE, RESILIENT MEANS NORMALLY BIASING SAID LATCH PLATE TOWARD SAID TONGUE, A COVER MEMBER ON SAID BASE AND HAVING AN APERTURE THEREIN OVERLYING THE LATCH FACE ON SAID LATCH PLATE, AND AN INTERNAL MANUAL OPERATURE SUPPORTED BY SAID COVER MEMBER OVERLYING SAID BELT TONGUE AND ACCESSIBLE THROUGH THE APERTURE IN SAID COVER MEMBER, MOVEMENT OF SAID MANUAL OPERATOR RELATIVE TO SAID BASE EFFECTING MOVEMENT OF SAID LATCH PLATE AND DISENGAGEMENT OF THE LATCH FACE THEREON FROM THE LATCH SURFACE ON SAID TONGUE.