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:
May. 02, 2000
Filed:
Oct. 23, 1998
Mustafa A Khalifa, Dearborn, MI (US);
Kenneth Budowick, Clinton Township, MI (US);
Srinivas Reddy Malapati, Southfield, MI (US);
John P Paris, Fenton, MI (US);
Oscar H Sharp, Sterling Heights, MI (US);
Chrysler Corporation, Auburn Hills, MI (US);
Abstract
An energy absorbing occupant restraint system for a motor vehicle includes a load-limiting buckle assembly. The buckle assembly includes a first elongated member adapted to be secured to the floor of the motor vehicle and a second elongated member. The buckle assembly further includes a buckle attached to the first elongated member. The buckle is adapted to releasably engage a tongue assembly carried by a seat belt webbing. A connector member interconnects the first and second elongated members. The second elongated member is configured so as to incrementally allow the second elongated member to translate relative to the first elongated member when the first elongated member is acted upon by a load which exceeds a predetermined level. In the preferred embodiment, the second elongated member is a sleeve member which telescopically receives the first elongated member. The sleeve member has an elongated aperture with a plurality of deflectable tangs which resist deflection until acted upon by a predetermined load.