WO1990009909A1

WO1990009909A1 - An automatic, delayed-release buckle for safety belts of transportation means

Info

Publication number: WO1990009909A1
Application number: PCT/IT1990/000016
Authority: WO
Inventors: Isabella Domenica Marziale; Claudia Raffaela Marziale
Original assignee: Isabella Domenica Marziale; Claudia Raffaela Marziale
Priority date: 1989-02-28
Filing date: 1990-02-16
Publication date: 1990-09-07
Also published as: PT93294A; GR900100141A; IL93439A0; EP0461126A1; AU5090690A

Abstract

A buckle for safety bels in vehicles comprising an outer body (32) and casing (10) with an opening for the service hook (2) which is retained in position by hooking member (3) that can rotate around hinge (8). When a force is applied to strap (1), the outer body (32) pushes the fluid in (35) through holes (36) in distribution member (28) which is fixed to the vehicle (34) by means of the central rod and nut (33). Supporting member (17) compresses spring (16) against pushing member (14) when the outer body is pulled up, and when no further force is applied to the strap (1) the spring (16) pushes supporting member (17) causing the fluid to pass through hole (37) since fluid check member (26) is now covering holes (36). This causes a delay in reaching the original dimensions and the release of hook (2) when push member (11) intercepts it again. A recording device (18) is provided that will be impressed by percussion member (14) causing a deformation that indicates the use of the seat belt and the speed of the vehicle.

Description

AN AUTOMATIC, DELAYED-RELEASE BUCKLE FOR SAFETY BELTS OF TRANSPORTATION MEANS

This invention relates to an automatic, delayed- release buckle for safety belts of transportation means. More particularly, this invention relates to a buckle of the type mentioned above which is so struc¬ tured as to allow said belt to be unfastened or released automatically and safely, in a previously adjustable and delayed way. Moreover, this invention discloses a buckle of the type mentioned above which is provided with a self-locking action fastening system. In addition, the buckle according to the present invention can also be endowed with a device that allows with no possible mistake to ascertain that the belts in question had been actually employed by the passenger or driver as well as to determine the value of the speed of the transportation means at the very impacts in the course of the accident.

The ever increasing number of transportation means makes it necessary to drive very carefully and to check more and more accurately the conditions of said means in addition to an ever increasing employment of safety dev¬ ices for protection of all passengers.

Similar problems are to be considered, for instance, in air traffic because safety belts are widely employed on aircraft.

Quite often passengers of a vehicle or of an air¬ craft after an accident, though wounded, are capable of trying to go out of the structure, but they are pre- vented from going out by the constraint caused by safety belts.

Indeed, while undoubtedly the employment of safety belts lowers the striking effects of the accident on a person, on the other side the impossibility of unfasten- ing belts may cause damaging effects to the user. For instance, on some occurrences, the jamming up or the deformation or even the breaking of the normal un¬ fastening device make it possible to open the belt only by cutting the strap of the same, so that in addition to cause the belt to become useless, it is necessary also to wait for help.

Due to the accident, it could become impossible to open the doors, so that it could be necessary to draw out persons by passing them through the windows;in addition, the buckles for unfastening the belts could be very hard to reach.

Difficulties in opening the belt could also be met with when the vehicle sinks into water or is turned upside down, or when it is in an unstable equilibrium condition, so that all attempts to reach the buckle in order to unfasten the belt might compromise the position of the vehicle itself.

Belts themselves could bridle the passenger while they keep fastened, so putting the same in dangerous conditions.

Such problems become evident any time that the belt cannot be unfastened, under anomalous con¬ ditions, to further endanger the passenger, as is the case when the transportation means catches fire. Moreover, such problem is also felt in particular when transporting disabled people, or old, wounded or invalid people, as well as when transporting children, as such passengers need help for unfastening belts.

In addition, the regulations of the law which have made it compulsory to employ safety belts have also given rise to legal problems concerning the check of the actual employment of safety belts, which check is very important for the judicial authorities both for mere inspection and for inquiry after an accident. Such possibility may be extremely important also for insurance companies, which could be provided with an - a - instrument on the base of which their insured, injured in an accident, might be rightly compensated.

With a view to the problems mentioned above, and taking into account the present requirements, a buckle has been realized which is the object of the present in¬ vention and which gives the user a full, complete and reliable protection, said buckle also allows the actual employment of the same as well as the impact speed in the accident to be faithfully recorded. More particularly, the buckle according to the pres¬ ent invention allows the belt to automatically unfasten when the vehicle stops after the accident, with the possibility of delaying the unfastening action, as well as of having a locking action at any impact motion during the whole course of the accident, of having an ordinary service closure endowed with a self-locking effect, i.e., under pulling conditions both the closure effects arid safety of said belt increase.

Moreover, by means of the buckle according to the present invention it is possible to ascertain that the belt in question had been actually employed and to determine the impact speed of the transportation means in the accident.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a buckle that can be employed again after the accident and which can be easily adjusted for assembling the same on safety belts already on the market, said buckle being also industrially realizable at really low costs. It is a further object of the present invention to provide a buckle of such structure as to prevent the open-articulation fastening or hooking system from jamming up as a result of a deformation of the component members. This invention suggests a device which is based on the principle of the alternate motion with recovery of the energy stored by one or more elastic members which are properly pre-arranged, as an effect of the kinetic energy of the pull exerted by the body mass of the person to the belt during impacts of the vehicle in the accident, and in which said energy stored is released in a calibrated way through one or more fluid-action damp¬ ing devices. Said device can be supplied both sealed and unsealed, and it can be indifferently arranged from the functional viewpoint so as to operate in an axial direc- tion, or telescopically, or with a motion which is con¬ verted into other directions with respect to the direc¬ tion in which the belt is pulled.

Accordingly, it is a specific object of the present invention a buckle for safety belts of transportation means, said belt comprising ofa closure hook which is coupled to the belt strap and can be introduced into a coupling channel obtained in the envelope of the buckle itself, said buckle comprising at least of a member for automatically hooking said hook, as well as means for unfastening said hooking member manually, at least a member for intercepting and automatically hooking said hooking or fastening member, first elastic means for pre-arranging said interception and automatic unfasten¬ ing member in the position of automatic unfastening, and second elastic means which can be compressed during the pulling stage of the belt between two opposite members, one of which is rigidly connected to the envelope of the buckle while the other one is integrally coupled to fastening stem-like or rod means of the buckle itself to the vehicle and is slidable inside said envelope, which means determine the coupling between said interception member and said fastening or hooking member with the consequent unfastening of the belt, during the stretching stage following the jerk step. More particularly, said hooking or fastening member can be made up of a shaped member which is hinged at the top portion, near the coupling channel mentioned above, to said envelope, said member being provided with cor¬ responding means which couple with an opening obtained in said hook, said member being also provided with push- ing elastic means that push the same in the transverse direction with respect to the coupling direction of the hook within said channel, the end of said member opposite to the hinged end being so shaped as to couple with said interception and automatic unfastening member. The means for unfastening or releasing the safety belt hook manually will be preferably made up of an unfastening member which is hinged to said fastening member and is operated by a manual unfastening button that can be acted upon in a direction parallel to the coupling direction of the hook within the channel or in a direction at right angles to said coupling direction.

The envelope or the bearing structure of the buckle, having a sleeve-like conformation or any other shape, can be of a monolithic-based, single-block structure, or of a sectioned, modular-base.d structure in one or more parts between: the hook-bearing member, the button-bear¬ ing member, a sleeve of any shape for the fluid-action delay or damping plenum and an interception and unfastening bush-bearing member, the whole assembly or parts of the same being joined to one another through restrain joints or through any other fastening means.

According to a preferred embodiment of the buckle of the present invention, said interception and automatic unfastening member can be so shaped as to be made operative, through rotation or linear shift in any direction, after fastening the belt, or it can be so shaped as to allow the belt to be only fastened after prearranging the same.

Preferably, it is provided with one or more openings in order to allow the lower end of one or more hooking or fastening members to be inserted into one or more housing spaces, as well as with inside surfaces of the housing spaces for realizing the engagement with said lower ends of the hooking or fastening members, at least a push chute plane for unhooking said hooking members, and obviously, knob members for prearranging the same, said first elastic means being loaded during said pre¬ arranging step, while the inside surfaces of one or more housing spaces are taken into the coupling position with the lower ends of one or more hooking members. According to the present invention, more than one chute plane and hooking member can be provided.

Said second elastic means will preferably be ar¬ ranged between a first corresponding member which is arranged in a slidable way inside said envelope at a position adjacent to said interception and automatic unfastening member, and provided with, a wall against which a first end of said second elastic means rests, and integrally coupled to said stem means, and a second corresponding member or wall which is fastened to said envelope, and which is the lower support of said second elastic means; during the pull or jerk stage, said second corresponding member shifts integrally with the belt strap, with the hook, with the hooking member and with the envelope, so compressing said second elastic means and causing the lower end of said hooking member to go out of said space, as well as the interception member to rotate or to shift linearly, due to the liberation of the energy stored by said first elastic means, said interception member preparing its chute plane to the interception of the lower end of the hooking member and, when the jerk stage is finished, the stretching of said second elastic means previously compressed causes the hooking member which is integral with said envelope to come back towards said interception and automatic unfastening or releasing member which, having its chute plane prearranged for interception, causes the safety belt to unfasten or release automatically.

Again according to the present invention, third elastic means can be provided within said coupling channel of the hook for expelling the hook following the manual or automatic unfastening of the belt.

Said second elastic means can be made up of one or more springs, or of one or more rubber members, or also of one or more members which are able anyway of being compressed, as well as of one or more hydraulic, pneu¬ matic or hydropneumatic members.

According to a further preferred embodiment of the buckle of the present invention, said buckle is provided with a structure for calibrating arid setting the time delay of the automatic unfastening.

Preferably, said structure will be made up of a fluid-action plenum apparatus that makes use of any kind of fluid, in particular of an incompressible fluid, which apparatus is preferably arranged in correspondence to the lower portion of the buckle itself.

Said apparatus comprises ofaseparating member which is rigid or which consists of a membrane, with respect to the buckle envelope, said member realizing a chamber in which the fluid is originally introduced, and a chamber for the transfer of the fluid, in which a number of first openings are provided for allowing the fluid to pass in the stretching stage of the buckle, and then in the compressing stage of said second elastic means, and at least a second opening is provided for the calibrated flow of the fluid during the stretching stage of said second elastic means; means for intercepting the fluid flow through said first openings; sealing means that warrant the fluid tightness; the calibration and setting of the time delay being mainly obtained by suitably ad- justing the size of said second opening and choosing the fluid in a suitable way. The operation of the calibration and time delay structure can occur along a direction parallel or co¬ axial to jerk direction, or along any other direction. More particularly, said rigid or membrane-like sep- arating member can be integral with said stem-like or rod means.

The fluid flow interception means can consist of a valve kept in the position in which it closes said first openings by means of a number of fourth elastic means which push the valve itself in a direction opposite to that of the fluid flow through said first openings, or said interception means can consist of an elastic membrane or of expansion gaskets or lip seals involving a number of lips. According to a further preferred embodiment of the buckle according to the present invention, it is pro¬ vided with a checking and recording device, and in par¬ ticular it is provided with an impression and linear or metrological detection device. Said device will be made up of recording and check¬ ing plate means that can be inserted through a slit ob¬ tained in the buckle envelope and of such a thickness as to strike against a bottom inner wall of said slit; of rotatable means for locking said plate means in the pushing position in the coupling direction and striking against said bottom wall of the slit for the forward motion; and of a percussion member that marks said plate means following an accident.

A second slit of height less than the height of the first slit, with profile and height interference, is ar¬ ranged below said bottom wall of the first slit, the portion of said marked plate means inserting itself into said second slit by the action of said locking and pushing means, so prearranging the plate means for being further impressed.

The measurement of the impression allows the speed of the vehicle at the impact time to be detected.

Said percussion member can be integral with said first corresponding means of the second elastic means, so that such member impresses said plate means which are in turn integral with said second corresponding means, at the end of compressing of said second elastic means.

Preferably, said plate means are made up of an indentable metallic material.

The buckle according to the present invention can also be provided with electric apparatuses for signalling the actual setting at work of the device on board, as well as with acoustic and/or light signalling devices and so on.

As is well evident, the buckle according to the pre- sent invention, whose operation will be more evident after reading the disclosure of its embodiment illus¬ trated in the schematic examples of the enclosed fig¬ ures, allows the user to be free safely and surely from the bridling of the seat belt after an accident, when the vehicle is at rest in any position, so avoiding the possible loss of human lives deriving from the fact that safety belts continue to fasten people to the seat after an accident.

Accordingly, the buckle of the present invention is a complete device as regards in the protection of the user, which device is also very important from the juridical and legal viewpoint.

From the documental check of the actual employment of seat belts and of the value of the impact speed of the vehicle, during the whole course of the accident, the consequence arises of self-discipline imposed to the user in a responsible and evident way, as well as an easy and sure juridical and legal verification, also on the part of insurance companies, for compensation of damages in the right measure, with the certain conse¬ quence of improving on road safety on the whole. The independent and self-contained operation of the device of the present invention warrants the complete and faultless reliability of employment. Such operation is based on the alternate motion, of telescopic charac- ter or not, with a time delay that can be calibrated to the order of some seconds after the vehicle stops, by means of a fluid plenum device which is built-in or arranged in any way within the buckle. The automatic recording of the impact speed in the accident is impressed sequentially and in an orderly way on a specific, extractable metallic card which is not interchangeable and can be read metrologically. The whole mechanism is driven by the energy arising from the body inertial mass of the user, who is constrained by the seat belt, during the whole course of the accident.

This invention is disclosed in the following according to some preferred embodiments of the same, with particular reference to the figures of the sche¬ matic examples enclosed, wherein: Figure I, example A, is a front view of an embodi¬ ment of the buckle according to the present invention;

Figure II, example C, is a first longitudinal cross- sectional view of the buckle of example A as fastened, in the rest position; Figure III, example D, is a second cross-sectional longitudinal view of the buckle of example A, as fastened and while it is undergoing the jerk effect at maximum stretching;

Figure IV, example E, is a third cross-sectional longitudinal view of the buckle of example A, as auto¬ matically unfastened and in the maximum return stroke position, with the unfastening action feeler as wedged in;

Figure I, example B (D.I.) is a top and front view of the checking and recording device before employment; Figure I, example B (D.S.) is a top and front view - L - of the checking and recording device after employment. DETAILS OF FIGURE I, EXAMPLE A n - portion of the seat belt strap; g - service hook; p - manual unfastening button; ib - handle of the interception and pushing member for pre-arrangement with continuous bilateral or unilateral choice; id - index of prearrangement to the right for automatic unfastening; ix - index of prearrangement to the left for automatic unfastening; ma - directions of manoeuvering for prearrangement for automatic unfastening; pf - position indicator of the checking device; vs - housing of the checking device; df - checking device; af - elastic supply member for closing and opening the checking device; mf - manoeuvering directions for closing and opening the checking device; pm - trade mark position; as - bracket of the structure of the connection means for the buckle tang, seat side.

DETAILS OF FIGURE II, EXAMPLE C 1 - portion of the seat belt strap; 2 - service hook 3 - self-locking effect hooking member with feeler of unfastening action; 4 - manual unfastening button; 5 - hook expelling member; 6 - elastic member; 7 - elastic member; 8 - hinge of the unfastening member; 9 - hinge of the articulation of the manual unfastening button; 10 - casing of the buckle end; 11 - interception and auto¬ matic unfastening push member; 12/13 - elastic members; 14 - pushing and percussion member with single or mul¬ tiple heads for recording speed measurements; 15 - upper rod fastening member; 16 - elastic member for energy storage and retrieval; 17 - supporting member bearing the checking device with key point array for progressive forward motion of recorded impressions; 18 - documental checking device; 19 - pin, elastic supply device; 20 - elastic supply device for closing and opening the check- ing device; 21 - elastic member ; 22 - sliding tight seal closure; 23 - tight seal closure; 24 - elastic member; 25 - a stop member; 26 - fluid check member; 27 - slid¬ ing tight seal closure; 28 - distributing member; 29 - tight seal closure; 30 - sliding tight seal closure; 31

- rest fluid chamber closure member; 32 - outer buckle body; 33 - lower rod fastening member; 34 - portion of the bracket of the structure of the connection means of the buckle tang; 35 - rest fluid chamber; 36 - openings for the fluid flow distribution in the stretching stage; 37 - openings for time delaying the fluid flow under calibrated stress; fma - direction of the manual force exerted during the fastening stage; Fms - direction of the manual force exerted during the unfastening stage; Fa - direction of the pushing force of the checking device supply means; 1 - hook closure port; v - housing space of the hook feeler.

DETAILS OF FIGURE III, EXAMPLE D Fd - direction of the jerk dynamic force; Fcl - di¬ rection of the pushing force during the anti-clockwise angular shift of the interception and push member; Fc2 - direction of the push force during the clockwise angular shift of the interception and push member; x - axis of angular rotation of the interception and push member; h

- travel length with calibration for disengagement and for interception of the feeler of unfastening action; hi - travel length, feeler of the unfastening or release action intercepted but free; s - travel length, feeler of unfastening action intercepted and pushed; h2 profile interference for spontaneous forward motion of the checking device; Fmr - right and left direction of the manual rotation force for opening and closing the checking device supply means; a - crown locking points; cpf - fluid cushion chamber for fluid flow under calibrated stress.

DETAILS OF FIGURE 4, EXAMPLE E Fe - direction of the pushing force for expulsion of the hook during the automatic unfastening stage; p - - 15 - buckle closure channel; Fs - direction of the pushing force for the feeler device during the automatic un¬ fastening stage of the buckle; cs - left chute plane of the pushing member for automatic unfastening; cd - right chute plane of the pushing member for automatic un¬ fastening; sd - right limit stop of the feeler, normal buckle unfastening stage; sx - left limit stop of the feeler, normal buckle unfastening stage; Fr - direction of the return force on contrivance recoil; h3 - oscil- lation space of the single or multiple impression heads of the percussion member of the checking device; pcd/pcx - right and left key points of spontaneous forward motion with profile interference, checking device; erf - rest fluid chamber. DETAILS OF FIGURE I, EXAMPLE B

DI - checking device with integral profile; DS - checking device with the profile developed by the buckle in its emergency functions; H1-H2-H3-H4- and so on... - example of data in relation to the body mass of the user, for metrological reading, on the checking device, of the values of the impact speed of the vehicle, sequentially and ordered.

OPERATION OF THE DEVICE OF THE BUCKLE CONTRIVANCE Normal fastening operation: By introducing and push- ing hook 2 into the closure channel "p" in the direction of the manually exerted force Fma, shifting the expell¬ ing member 5 and compressing with its end the elastic member 6 so that the hook is arranged with the closure port "1" at the point corresponding to the hooking mem- ber 3, as an effect of the push of the elastic member 7 the hooking member comes forward and becomes locked within said port "1" of the hook itself (see examples of Figures I-II-III-IV).

Normal unfastening operation: by pressing the un- fastening button 4 in the direction of the manually exerted force Fms, and shifting the hookin member 3 - 14 — because it is connected with the same, and overcoming the pressing action exerted by the elastic member 7, the hooking member is disengaged from the closure port "1" of the hook, so allowing the same to be expelled from the space "p" as an effect of the pushing action of the elastic member 6, so that the belt is unfastened (see Figure II, example C, and Figure IV, example E).

Prearrangement for safety automatic unfastening of the belt: through rotation of the handle of the inter- ception and push member as the user likes or according to the most favourable condition for the user, and putting the proper reference "ib" in correspondence to the left engagement index "ix" or of the right engage¬ ment index "id", as shown by the manoeuvering directions "ma", the safety automatic release of the buckle becomes prearranged, independently of all manoeuvres for fastening and unfastening in the normal way during the service of the transportation means and with no inter¬ ruption of such manoeuvres, so that the fastening device keeps engaged with faultless operation and safety till the occurrence of the emergency (see Figure I, example A).

Safety automatic unfastening: the effect of the dy¬ namic pull or jerk, in case of impact of the transpor- tation means, such jerk resulting from the body mass of the person fastened by. the seat belt when it restrains the person during impact and being transmitted, to the buckle of the belt strap 1 connected to the hook 2, gives rise to the dynamic force in the direction Fd. Such force is transmitted in a rigid way by said hook 2 to the hooking member 3, integral with the buckle body 32 through the pin 8,_/ and said body, which is integral with the supporting member 17 as it is locked with the same through a crown at the points "a", transmits such effect to the elastic member 16 compressing the same because said elastic member is interposed between the -r - percussion member 14 which is connected rigidly to the structure of the transportation means by the central rod, and the supporting member 17, till reaching the maximum extent of the alternate motion of the buckle it- self. In such motion the disengagement occurs of the feeler from the resting position against the side part of the chute plane, so that the feeler itself is allowed to intercept the same during the whole travel stage through the distance hi, which feeler travels such dis- tance in the reverse direction during the return timed motion due to recoil given by the elastic member 16, loaded by the energy stored in the preceding extending stage, and keeps then at rest and wedged in irreversibly on the unfastening chute plane along the path s, moving forward in the direction of the force Fs, so that the unfastening member to which it belongs goes out of the port "1" of the hook 2, so allowing the elastic member 6 to expel the hook itself in the direction of the force Fe, and the buckle to. be safely unfastened automatically (see Figure III, example D, and Figure IV, example E).

Resetting of the contrivance after emergency un¬ fastening: this operation is extremely simple and rapid, as is possible ^o carry out the same by merely shifting the outer handle of the interception and push member, by taking the reference "id^ again to the central position between the right index "id" and the left index "ix". When in such position, the feeler of the unhooking mem¬ ber 3, as a result of the push exerted by the elastic member 7, goes again into the space "v", and keeps free between the sides of the chute planes cd and cs, so making it possible again the operation of the contriv¬ ance for manual unfastening of the buckle, as well as for the new prearrangemen.t of the buckle for safety automatic unfastening (see Figure I, example A and Fig- ure II, example C).

Introduction, automatic development and recovery of the checking device: inserting the device df (18) into the slide space vs, and lifting with rotation the supply device af (20), and then resting the prong on the de¬ vice, said device keeps inserted and pushed as an effect of the elastic member 21, with its end resting on the

^" key points h2 in the positions pcd and pcx of the array of the member supporting the device-bearing member 17, and ready for spontaneous advancement in succession after each marking event, and so on, so that the inser- tion of the device is obtained (see examples of Figures I-II-III-IV). During the extending stage of the contriv¬ ance, owing to the effect of the dynamic force Fd trans¬ mitted by the pull of the belt, the single or multiple impression heads of the percussion member 14 go to rest, at the end-of-run impact, on the corresponding impression points of the checking device df (18) so marking such points through impression of reference marks and of sizes in relation to the value of the jerk and action dynamic force Fd, so that the impression or print can be read metrologically in a suitable way as an indication of the impact speed of the transportation means, together with the reference mark of the device relating to the contrivance in which it had been inserted. After marking the first impression on the device, the single or multiple impression heads of the percussion member 14, owing to the recoil effect of the contrivance, become disengaged from the device itself, which, with its thickness changed because it is compressed along the profile of the tracks within the space of the impression due to the push exerted by the supply device af (20), goes on giving a new rest place through interference of its integral profile at the key points pcd and pcx of the array, and so prearranging the next integral profile for the impression of any possible next jerk, and so on, step by step, so that the contrivance is allowed to record sequentially the - 17- impressions on the checking device of all impacts transmitted by the seat belt in its service during the course of the accident of the transportation means, in an orderly way, this being the automatic development of the device (see examples of Figures I-II-III-IV) . By grasping and rotating the supply device af (20) through one of the two manoeuvering directions f by exerting the manual force Fmr, the device df (18) is disengaged from the pressure prong and, by grasping the outside end of the same the device can be extracted and recovered (see Figure I, example A, and Figure III, example D).

Time-delaying of the motion, and return stage Of the contrivance through recoil: this important function, which is performed by the fluid plenum damping appar- atus, which is present in the buckle as a built-in component or incorporated in the buckle anyway and operates on the same alternate motion, allows the con¬ trivance to ensure in a faultless way the action of the hooking member with self-locking effect 3 on the hook 2 °f the seat belt strap 1, during the whole possible sequence of impacts of the transportation means trans¬ mitted to the buckle, in case of accident, so allowing the contrivance itself to continuously reset the recoil return mo_tion in a timed way at each dynamic impulse transmitted by the belt and consequently allowing the percussion member 14 to effect all impressions relating to the jerks, on the checking device, till the vehicle stops, the automatic unfastening of the buckle at the right moment being anyway ensured, (see examples of Figures II-III-IV). In the static and rest position of the contrivance, the fluid keeps stationary, within the rest fluid chamber 35; during the dynamic extending stage the distribution member 28 keeps in the axial position as it is linked rigidly through its lower rod to the bracket 34 of the structure of the transportation means; as an effect of the pull force in the direction Fd exerted by the belt strap 1 on the hook 2 and transmitted to the hooking member 3, and consequently to the external body 32 as the same is connected to it and integral with the member supporting the device-bearing • member 17, the buckle body goes forward so pushing the fluid itself with its own closure member 31, into the fluid-cushion chamber through calibrated force flow cpf, said fluid flowing through checking members 36 in a reverse direction with respect to the closure direction of the same (see examples of Figures II-III-IV).

In the next return and recoil stage of the contrivance, the elastic member 16, in the compressed state and loaded with the energy stored in the preceding extending stage, transmits its push effect in the direction of the force Fr to the distribution member 28 as it is rigidly connected to the same through the rod_*ϊn that stage, the distribution member 28 forces through the passages 37 for the fluid flow under calibrated push the fluid previously collected within said fluid-cushion chamber cpf designed for fluid flow under calibrated force, again towards the rest fluid chamber erf (35), the motion being slowed down as a function of the fluid flow calibration designed for the apparatus, so that the recoil return motion of the buckle itself is time-delayed (see examples of Figures II-III-IV).

This industrial invention could be modified without changing its innovative concept which is the foundation of the invention itself, as any particular detail might be substituted with other technically equivalent details.

Claims

CLAIMS :

1. A safety belt buckle characterized by the follow¬ ing operation and performance:

- normal service fastening and unfastening or release performance with self-locking effect to ensure a better locking push of the closure on the occurrence of a stronger dynamic pull transmitted by the belt itself;

- time-delayed safety automatic unfastening perform¬ ance, following or not a previous manoeuvre with pre- arrangement with continuous resetting till the occurrence of the emergency,

- automatic development of the extractable checking device, with marking or impression, with prints or marks on one or more tracks, with etrologically readable data collection, for documental evidence of the actual use of the safety belts as well as of all impact speeds of the vehicle, sequentially and in an orderly way, in case of accident; said apparatuses being realizable and suitable to use both separately and in mixed connection or as an aggregate, or even in the form of separate fittings, for safety belts; or anyway arranged along the whole part of the belt itself as well as realized on the frame of the vehicle in question, at the anchoring point of the seat belts; said apparatuses being conceivable as operating on the principle of the alternate motion: extending motion with energy storage on the part of one or more elastic members which are built-in components of the buckle or are anyway arranged in the same, due to the effect of the dynamic jerk transmitted to the buckle itself by the body mass of the person fastened and restrained by the belt during the impact of the vehicle; return motion due to recoil action, said motion being time-delayed by means of one or more fluid flow plenum damping devices with flow under calibrated force (such devices also operating on the principle of the alternate motion of the buckle and being present in the buckle as built-in units or anyway connected to the buckle itself, with simultaneous action), said return resulting from the action of the elastic members mentioned above, due to the unloading effect of the energy stored in the preceding extending stage; the whole contrivance being sealed or unsealed, with telescopic structure or with any other structure and with coaxial arrangement with respect to the pull direction of the belt, or with motions transmitted and anyway converted into other directions, and with inclusion of electric devices for on board light and/or acoustic signalling in order to point out the lacking of prearrangement of the buckle.

2. Safety belt buckle according to the preceding claim, characterized in that the operation of the whole contrivance is based on the alternate motion comprising an extending stage as a result of the jerk on the belt, and a return stage resulting from recoil due to the release of the stored energy.

3. A safety belt buckle according to the preceding claims and to the present claim in which the alternate motion is claimed that is caused by the pull exerted on the safety belt during service, in case of emergency, whose direction is linear and coaxial with respect to the direction of pull of the belt itself.

4. A safety belt buckle according to the preceding claims and to present one, in which the alternate motion is claimed according to claim 3, which motion is transmitted to the contrivance through any possible transmission means, and is converted into other directions with respect to the pull direction of the belt, including the rotatory and helical alternate directions, or any possible combination of the same.

5. A safety belt buckle according to the preceding claims and to the present one in which the extending motion is claimed that occurs as a result of the jerk of the alternate motion claimed in the preceding claim 2, said extending motion caused by the dynamic effect produced, in case of sudden strong stop of the vehicle, by the body mass of the person fastened and restrained by the safety belt, with storing of energy and release of the energy itself on the part of the contrivance, by means of one or more elastic members which are com- pressed during the whole extending motion.

6. A safety belt buckle according to the preceding claims and to the present one in which the recoil return motion is claimed of the alternate motion as claimed in the preceding claim 3, said return motion occurring in the opposite direction with respect to the direction of the extending motion, and being caused by the push effect produced by the energy stored by one or more elastic members of the contrivance itself during the preceding extending stage of the buckle.

7. A safety belt buckle according to the preceding claims as well as to the present one, in which the bear¬ ing structure or envelope of the buckle is claimed, said structure being a whole sleeve-like structure or a monolithic, single-block structure, and seamed to the operating members.

8. A safety belt buckle according to the preceding claims as well as to the present one, in which the bear¬ ing structure or envelope is claimed of the buckle itself, said envelope being realized in the form of one or more section independent members which are anyway joined and fastened to one another.

9. A safety belt buckle according to the preceding claims as well as to the present one, in which its arrangement is claimed in the form of a sleeve-like structure, with telescopic-based operation in its alter¬ nate motion. - 2.1 -

10. A safety belt buckle according to the preceding claims as well as to the present one, in which the normal service fastening of the belt itself is claimed, which fastening occurs anyway with self-locking effect.

11. A safety belt buckle according to the preceding claims as well as to the present one in which the hook¬ ing or fastening member is claimed as a member of any shape and with self-locking effect, hinged with respect to the pull direction of the hook as a projecting or cantilevered part and in a back position with respect to its own hooking tooth, with the self-locking effect determined by the rotatory push with respect to the hinge and in the direction of closure rest of the tooth, said push being received by the member itself in the pull stage of the belt.

12. A safety belt buckle according to the preceding claims as well as to the present one, in which the hook¬ ing member is claimed which is of any possible shape and endowed or not with self-locking effect, said member being provided with a feeler or with any other support¬ ing point in order to cause under any condition the automatic safety unfastening or release of the buckle, on the occurrence of an emergency.

13. A safety belt buckle according to the preceding claims as well as to the present one in which the time- delayed safety automatic unfastening or release of the buckle is claimed, ',which release can be realized by any means based on the principle of the alternate motion: an extending motion due to the jerk transmitted by the belt; and a return motion due to recoil caused by one or more elastic members, with the recovery of the stored energy.

14. A safety belt buckle according to the preceding claims as well as to the present one, in which the apparatus is claimed for time-delayed safety automatic unfastening or release, on the occurrence of an - 2J - emergency, said apparatus being made up of:

- one or more hooking or fastening members, anyway arranged, with an unfastening or release feeler and one or more interception and push members which are arranged in any way with respect to one another and at a spare travel distance;

- one or more elastic members for storing and recovering the energy coming from the dynamic jerk transmitted by the belt to the buckle itself; - one or more fluid plenum damping devices for time- delaying the automatic release of the buckle, such devices being also based on alternate motions, anyway in the linear, rotatory or helical directions, and being connected rigidly and with synchronized operation to the interception and push member, and with one or more recoil return elastic members of the contrivance.

15. A safety belt buckle according to the preceding claims as well as to the present one, in which the application is claimed to the buckle itself of one or more hooking members comprising an automatic release feeler, said members being hinged in any way and having any possible opening direction for release.

16. A safety belt buckle according to the preceding claims as well as to the present one, in which the application is also claimed to the buckle itself of hooking or fastening members comprising automatic release feelers, which are arranged in pairs and are opposite to one another with respect to the closure of the hook and are of any possible shape, in addition to being hinged in any way and for any possible opening direc¬ tion for automatic release.

17. A safety belt buckle according to the preceding claims as well as to the present one in which the application is also claimed to the buckle of hooking or fastening members comprising automatic release feelers, which are present in any number and arranged in the shape of a crown with respect to the hook closure, and are hinged in any way as well as for any opening direc¬ tion for automatic release.

18. A safety belt buckle according to the preceding claims as well as to the present one, in which one or more interception and push members are claimed for auto¬ matic release, said members being made up of:

- a push chute plane with engagement side for con¬ tinuous rest of the automatic release feeler; - one or more spaces for housing the release feeler when at rest on resetting the contrivance, when the emergency automatic release -or unfastening has been per¬ formed;

- a handle for external manoeuvering with respect to the buckle, in performing the prearrangement operation of the safety automatic unfastening;

- a centering and positioning guide of one or more members in their own motions of engagement, interception and push for the safety automatic release.

19. A safety belt buckle according to the preceding claims as well as to the present one, in which one or more interception and push members are claimed, said members having one or more supporting planes for engage¬ ment with release or unfastening members including multiple feelers.

20. A safety belt buckle according to the preceding claims as well as to the present one, in which the application is claimed to the buckle itself of one or more push elastic members for storing and recovering the jerk or pull energy, which are arranged in any possible way within the contrivance, or with respect to the same, said members consisting of:

- a spring or any other suitable mechanical means;

- rubber or any other material or an elastic material which can be compressed and is suitable for this operation, as an already existing material or as a future finding;

- a depressurizing, self-contained or assisted device;

- a pressurizing, self-contained or assisted device for containment of a gas, a mixture of gases, of air and so on.

21. A safety belt buckle according to the preceding claims as well as to the present one, in which the arrangement of the release feeler hooking member and of the interception and push member is claimed, with the possibility of positioning the same at suitable travel and spare distances.

22. A safety belt buckle according to the preceding claims as well as to the present one, in which the time- delaying operation is claimed of the buckle itself, on automatic release, said time-delaying action being determined by one or more fluid plenum damping devices incorporated in the contrivance or arranged outside the same and connected to the contrivance itself in the alternate motion of operation.

23. A safety belt buckle according to the preceding claims as well as to the present one in which the fluid plenum damping device is claimed, to be considered in the return motion caused by the recoil due to the presence of an elastic member simultaneously with the motion of the buckle as it is connected to said buckle, said device being also considered as endowed with time- delaying function as it is retarded or delayed by the fluid as an effect of the calibration of the fluid flow- rate.

24. A safety belt buckle according to the preceding claims as well as to the present_^ one, in which the operation of the fluid plenum damping device is claimed, said operation being based on the principle of the alternate motion in a linear direction.

25. A safety belt buckle according to the preceding claims as well as to the present one, in which the operation of the fluid plenum damping device is claimed, said operation being also based on the alternate motion in a rotatory, helical, spiral, transverse, oblique direction or in any direction resulting from the com¬ bination of the same.

26. A safety belt buckle according to the preceding claims as well as to the present one in which the arrangement is claimed on the buckle itself of the fluid plenum damping device which is positioned and arranged in the longitudinal, transverse, oblique, skew direc¬ tions or in any other direction with respect to the pull direction of the safety belt when in service.

27. A safety belt buckle according to the preceding claims as well as to the present one in which the fluid plenum damping device is claimed as applied to the buckle itself for the time-delaying operation and con¬ sisting of the following parts: a distribution member; a member for checking the fluid flow; a chamber for the fluid at rest; a fluid- cushion chamber for fluid flow under calibrated force; passages for the free fluid flow; passages for the calibrated force fluid flow; and members for connection to the buckle.

28. A safety belt buckle according to the preceding claims as well as to the present one in which the fluid plenum damping device is claimed as based on the principle of plenum operation with alternate stages of fluid recycling, with distribution of the fluid itself respectively in the positions: from the chamber for the fluid at rest to the fluid-cushion chamber for fluid flow under calibrated force and vice-versa or with bypass flow realized in any suitable way.

29. A safety belt buckle according to the preceding claims as well as to the present one in which the fluid plenum damping device is claimed as based on the principle of plenum operation with continuous alternate stages, with fluid discharged to waste and with fluid recharge from a connected reservoir or . anyway from any other independent external means.

30. A safety belt buckle according to the preceding claims as well as to the present one in which the distribution member is claimed belonging to the fluid plenum damping device and consisting of a bearing structure with an elastic seal means having one or more seal lips with spontaneous expansion and contraction.

31. A safety belt buckle according to the preceding claims as well as to the present one, in which the distribution member is also claimed which belongs to the fluid plenum damping device consisting of a slidable diaphragm.

32. A safety belt buckle according to the preceding claims as well as to the present one in which the distribution member belonging to the fluid plenum damp¬ ing device is claimed, said member consisting of an oscillating flexible tight membrane diaphragm or of an elastic material, with expansion and contraction effects.

33. A safety belt buckle according to the preceding claims as well as to the present one in which the fluid flow calibration under calibrated force is claimed of the fluid plenum damping device, said calibration being based on the principle of one or more calibrated cross- section passages.

34. A safety belt buckle according to the preceding claims as well as to the present one in which the calibration of the fluid plenum damping device is claimed, with pressure valve means whose pressure is calibrated by the action of a compressed elastic member.

35. A safety belt buckle according to the preceding claims as well as to the present one in which the employment is claimed of the fluid in the fluid plenum - Z - damping device, said fluid consisting of an oil of any kind, water, chemical compounds, mixtures, or of any other compounds suitable to the operation, of any specific weight, viscosity, pastiness, colour, as already • existing materials or as futura^'findings.

36. A contrivance for the time-delayed safety auto¬ matic release of the buckle, said contrivance being based on the same principles of operation and consisting of the same members belonging to the buckle claimed in 0 the preceding claims, said contrivance being arranged in any way and at any place along the safety belt, and being incorporated within the structure of the vehicle at the extreme points of attachment of the seat belt it¬ self, but anyway not included in the normal release or

*c unfastening service buckle, with the function of safety joint interposed along the whole arc of the belt installation, or with the function of an auxiliary removable inserted portion, for the same automatic release aim.

20 37. A safety belt buckle according to the preceding claims as well as to the present one, in which the apparatus is claimed for the automatic development of the extractable checking device with marking or impression, bearing marks or prints on one or more

25 tracks, with the possibility of collecting metro- logically readable data, for certification by documental evidence of the actual employment on the part of the passenger of the seat belts, as well as of all impact speeds of the vehicle, sequentially, and in an orderly

30 way, during the whole course of the accident.

38. A safety belt buckle according to the preceding claims as well as to the present one, in which the apparatus is claimed for the automatic development of said extractable checking device, whose operation is 35 based on the principle of impression caused by the per¬ cussion alternate motion transmitted to the buckle and to the same by the safety belt, on the "occurrence of emergency, as it is incorporated in the buckle or is connected to the same in any way, and consisting of the following members: a supporting and device- bejaring_member with advancement key point array; an elastic supply device for closing and opening the check¬ ing device; a percussion member with single or multiple impression heads; and an extractable documental device.

39. A safety belt buckle according to the preceding claims as well as to the present one, in which the supporting and device-bearing member is claimed, said member consisting of a containment and slide guide of the device; limit stop key points with profile interference, for step advancement of the device after each marking operation; guide spaces for centering the percussion heads.

40. A safety belt buckle according to the preceding claims as well as to the present one in which the elastic feeder is claimed which consists of a push prong for opening and closing the device, a pressure elastic member and a guiding means.

41. A safety belt buckle according to the preceding claims as well as to the present one in which the per¬ cussion member is claimed as consisting of a sliding and centering guide for the operation; single or multiple heads bearing conventional marks for the specific con¬ trivance, impressed or engraved, for performing the development of the device itself with prints referred to a well determined buckle and not to other equal buckles of the same series.

42. A safety belt buckle according to the preceding claims as well as to the present one in which the check¬ ing device is claimed as consisting of profiles bearing one or more tracks for impressions or prints, and also consisting of a housing guide and of reference marks for the metrological reading of the values of the develop- - JO- ment data, said device being realized with any material of any suitable shape and suitable to tha desired objects, as a material already existing or as any future finding.

43. An apparatus for the automatic development of the extractable checking device which is based on the same operation principles and is made up of the same members belonging to the buckle as claimed in the pre¬ ceding claims, said device being positioned in the whole arc of installation of safety belt and being incor¬ porated in the structure of the vehicle at the extreme attachment points of the safety belt itself, and anyway not included in the normal release service buckle, with the function of an interposed joint as well as of an auxiliary removable inserted part of the whole installation of the belt.

44. A safety belt buckle according to the preceding claims as well as to the present one, in which the envelope or bearing structure of the buckle itself is claimed, said structure consisting of a monolithic sleeve-like member whose section can be of any shape and which can be shaped in any way.

45. A safety belt buckle according to the preceding claims as well as to the present one in which the envelope or bearing structure of the buckle itself is claimed, said structure being realized in the form of a modular member sleeve, said modular members being of any shape and connected to one another.

46. A safety belt buckle according to the preceding claims as well as to the present one, in which the envelope or bearing structure of the buckle itself is claimed, said structure being realized with a frame of any shape and composition.

47. A safety belt buckle according to the preceding claims as well as to the present one, in which the buckle itself is claimed as applied to any fastening - 51 - safety installation for protection of people transported on board of transportation means as for instance: belts, slings, bands, cushions, bodices, chemisettes, etc., all as safety devices.

48. A safety belt buckle according to the preceding claims as well as to the present one, in which the buckle itself is claimed as applied in the form of a partial or of the total contrivance to the point of normal service release or anyway to any other point of the safety installation for fastening people transported on vehicles and for the same aims, on belts, slings, bands, cushions, chemisettes, bodices, and so on for protection of any persons on board of cars, taxis, buses, lorries, tram-cars, trolley-buses, trains, under- ground railways, aircraft, helicopters, airplanes of any kinds, ships and watercraft of any kinds, transportation means for athletic contests, and of any other transpor¬ tation means not mentioned in the present claim.

49. A safety belt buckle according to the preceding claims as well as to the present one, in which the buckle itself is claimed and all its operating members which are.realized in any shape and size.

50. A safety belt buckle according to the preceding claims as well as to the present one in which all mem- bers are claimed, which belong to the buckle itself and are realized with any other material that is suitable to the objects in question, as an already existing material or as a future finding, no material being anyway excluded.

51. A safety belt buckle according to the preceding claims, as well as to the present one, in which the composition of the buckle itself is claimed as consist¬ ing of a set of modular members that can be re-employed or substituted after using the same.