The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Dec. 07, 1993
Filed:
Sep. 01, 1992
Kevin M Gillis, Sterling Hts., MI (US);
Bob L McFalls, Shelby Township, Macomb County, MI (US);
TRW Vehicle Safety Systems Inc., Lyndhurst, OH (US);
Abstract
A buckle assembly (36) includes a latch member (50) which is movable between an engaged position and a release position. A pushbutton (88) is manually actuatable from a first position to a second position to move the latch member from the engaged position to the release position. The latch member is movable from the engaged position to the release position against force provided by only a latch spring (64) upon insertion of a tongue (38, 40) into the buckle assembly. The pushbutton is manually actuatable from the first position to the second position against a combined force provided by the latch spring and a coil spring (92). A one-piece plastic locator member (112) is mounted on a base (44) of the buckle assembly. The locator member extends into a belt receiving opening (46) in the base to protect the belt (32) against abrasion by the metal base. The locator member has a first recess (118) which receives an end portion of the coil spring and a second recess (122) which receives an end portion ( 82) of the latch spring. The coil spring extends from the recess in the locator member, through an opening (95) in the latch member, into engagement with the pushbutton.