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. 10, 2005
Filed:
Oct. 29, 2002
Kouichi Itoigawa, Aichi-ken, JP;
Hitoshi Muraki, Aichi-ken, JP;
Kouichi Itoigawa, Aichi-ken, JP;
Hitoshi Muraki, Aichi-ken, JP;
Kabushiki Kaisha Tokai-Rika-Denki-Seisakusho, Aichi-ken, JP;
Abstract
A buckle apparatus in which a permanent magnet and GMR element are provided. The polar axis of the permanent magnet is transverse to the direction a tongue plate is inserted. A shielding member is provided to an ejector of the buckle apparatus via a lever. When an inserted tongue plate of a vehicle seat belt pushes and moves the ejector as far as a position at which an engaging piece can engage with a through-hole, the shielding member is interposed between the permanent magnet and the GMR element, and the shielding member shields lines of magnetic force from the permanent magnet toward the GMR element. As a result, magnetic forces lines penetrating the GMR element are greatly reduced, and an electrical resistance value of the GMR element is suddenly and greatly changed. Thus, a buckle apparatus is provided which includes a detection mechanism that can reliably detect when the tongue plate has been inserted into the apparatus main body.