Trw Vehicle Safety Systems Inc.

Stephen C Czank

Robert J Desmarais

Stephen M Arnold

A buckle (20) comprises a base (80) which defines a cavity (88) for receiving first and second tongues (62, 64) of a vehicle seat belt system. A latch plate (102) is supported by the base (80) and is movable between a latched position connecting the first and second tongues (62, 64) with the base and a release position in which the first and second tongues are disconnected from the base. A pushbutton (222) is movable to an actuated position to move the latch plate (102) from the latched position to the release position. A spring (260) is located in the cavity (82) and is connected to the latch plate (102). The spring (260) has a portion (262) which urges the latch plate (102) toward the latched position. The spring (260) has another portion (264) which extends between the first and second tongues (62, 64) to urge the pushbutton (222) away from the actuated position.

Seat belt buckle spring

A buckle (20) comprises a base (102) for receiving first and second tongues (64, 66). A pivotable latch plate (106) is mounted on the base (102) and is pivotable between a first position connecting the first and second tongues (64, 66) to the base and a second position permitting the first and second tongues to disconnect from the base. Biasing means (164) urges the latch plate (106) to pivot in a direction towards the first position. First blockout means (244) has a blocking position for holding the latch plate (106) in the second position against the biasing means (164) and is movable to a release position permitting the latch plate to pivot to the first position in response to the first tongue (64) being moved to a location relative to the base (102) at which the first tongue is connectable with the base. Second blockout means (246) has a blocking position for holding the latch plate (106) in the second position against the biasing means (164) and is movable to a release position permitting the latch plate to pivot to the first position in response to the second tongue (66) being moved to a location relative to the base (102) at which the second tongue is connectable with the base. The first and second blockout means (244, 246) cooperate to permit the latch plate (106) to pivot to the first position only when the first and second blockout means are simultaneously in their release positions.

Growing community of inventors

Shelby Township, MI, United States of America

Stephen C Czank