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:
Jan. 09, 2001
Filed:
Feb. 04, 1999
Andrew John Downie, Carlisle, GB;
David Burke, Carlisle, GB;
Breed Automotive Technology, Inc., Lakeland, FL (US);
Abstract
A pretensioner-proof buckle comprises a buckle for a vehicle safety restraint mechanism, the buckle comprising: a housing (,) having a rectilinear channel for receving a fastening member (,); a latching element (,) mounted within the housing and moveable between a first position in which it engages the fastening member and a second position in which the fastening member is released; a release button (,) operatively connected to the latching element for effecting movement thereof between the first and second positions; a blocking member (,) for engaging the latching element under predetermined conditions to prevent movement of the latching element towards the release position; and an inertial mass (,) pivotally mounted to, and contained within side walls of, the release button (,), the mass being arranged to act on the blocking member under said predetermined conditions to move the blocking member into engagement with the latching element. The blocking member slides into position during the acceleration phase of a pretensioning operation and thus secures the buckle against spurious release earlier than in previously known arrangements.