1. Field of the Invention
The present invention generally relates to buckle assemblies for use in seat belt or restraint systems that are designed to protect vehicle occupants during a crash event or to hold cargo in place. More particularly, the present invention is directed to a buckle assembly adapted to receive a plurality of independent belt connectors for engagement with a respective plurality of latch mechanisms where the plurality of latch mechanisms may be moved to a release position simultaneously.
2. Discussion of the Prior Art
It has become common place for aircraft, automobiles and other vehicles to have occupant restraint systems. Frequently, there are safety related laws or standards that require certain types of driver and passenger safety systems, depending on the type of vehicle in which the system is to be installed. The systems often utilize seat belts of the well known lap and shoulder belt varieties. Indeed, lap and shoulder belts are commonly combined to provide enhanced ability to restrain movement of an individual.
Typically the lap and shoulder belts are joined to each other or are coupled in some way to the same connector. This permits a single connector to engage a single buckle, facilitating release of the combined belt system via one release handle. However, it often can be awkward for the seat occupant to bring the belt assembly into position to engage the single connector with the buckle. Moreover, in the event of a need to quickly exit the seat and vehicle, such as in the event of an accident or other emergency, occupants can easily get entangled or caught in the combined lap and shoulder belt systems. Also, coupling the lap and shoulder belts to a single connector can impede repair or replacement of a portion of the belt system, such as an individual damaged lap or shoulder belt portion of the system.
Accordingly, it is desirable to provide a seat belt system with a single buckle that can be releasably connected to a plurality of belts, such as both a lap and a shoulder belt. It also is desirable for the plurality of belts to be separately connectable to the buckle, so as to reduce the likelihood of becoming entangled in the belts when releasing them and trying to quickly exit a vehicle, and to permit replacement of separate respective portions of the belt system. In addition, it would be highly advantageous to have the buckle include a handle by which one can affect release of the plurality of separately connected belts to facilitate rapid egress from the vehicle.
Also, in the event that one wishes to combine a lap and shoulder belt into one belt connector and further include a shoulder belt or other multiple belt arrangement into at least a second belt connector, it would be advantageous that such combination could be received in one buckle assembly and that the belt connectors could be released simultaneously by grasping and moving one handle.
Further it is desirable to provide a buckle assembly for a cargo hold down or restraint system that permits rapid release of multiple belt connectors with movement of a single handle.
The present invention addresses shortcomings in buckle assemblies of prior art occupant restraint systems, while providing the above mentioned desirable features.
The purpose and advantages of the invention will be set forth in and apparent from the description and drawings that follow, as well as will be learned by practice of the invention.
The present invention is generally embodied in a buckle assembly of a vehicle occupant or cargo restraint system. The buckle assembly may be used in any type of vehicle, whether it be an aircraft, spacecraft, truck, automobile, boat or other craft for use in the air, on land or in water. The buckle assembly also may be used with any vehicle occupant, whether the occupant is a vehicle operator or passenger, or for cargo.
Given the advantageous single release capability of the buckle assembly of the present invention, while suitable for use in all types of vehicles, it is ideally suitable for use in vehicles that may require rapid egress, such as aircraft, spacecraft, emergency or military vehicles. Moreover, the simple, reliable and durable structure shown in the lift latch mechanisms of the preferred embodiments, and that may be employed via the present invention, makes it suitable for use in locations where vehicles may encounter adverse environmental factors, such as airborne sand or dirt.
In a first aspect of the invention, the buckle assembly has a buckle base, a plurality of latches coupled to the buckle base with each latch adapted to engage one of a plurality of respective independent belt connectors, and at least one handle coupled to the buckle base and adapted to have at least latching and release positions wherein the plurality of connectors are simultaneously released when the at least one handle is in the release position.
In another aspect of the invention, the buckle base can be configured to have at least three parallel upstanding flanges which are adapted to receive at least two belt connectors, with each belt connector being received between a respective pair of upstanding flanges in a side-by-side orientation within the same plane.
In a further aspect of the invention, the buckle base can be configured to have at least a pair of parallel upstanding flanges which are adapted to receive at least two belt connectors, with each belt connector being received between the pair of upstanding flanges, and the belt connectors being received in a stacked orientation, in spaced, parallel planes.
Thus, the present invention presents a desirable alternative to buckle assemblies used in present vehicle occupant and cargo restraint systems. The invention permits a plurality of belts, such as lap and shoulder belts, or combinations thereof, or cargo restraint to be independently latched into a single buckle assembly, yet simultaneously released by lifting one release handle.
It is to be understood that both the foregoing general description and the following detailed description are exemplary and provided for purposes of explanation only, and are not restrictive of the invention, as claimed. Further features and objects of the present invention will become more fully apparent in the following description of the preferred embodiments and from the appended claims.
In describing the preferred embodiments, reference is made to the accompanying drawing figures wherein like parts have like reference numerals, and wherein:
It should be understood that the drawings are not to scale. While considerable mechanical details of a buckle assembly, including other plan and section views of the particular components, have been omitted, such details are considered well within the comprehension of those skilled in the art in light of the present disclosure. It also should be understood that the present invention is not limited to the preferred embodiments illustrated.
Referring generally to
Referring to a preferred embodiment in
In the preferred embodiment of
To release the belt connectors 14a, 16a, handle 20 is pivoted to an angled release position R. When handle 20 is pivoted about pivot axle 10 toward the release position R, release edges 44, 46 on handle 20 engage respective release abutments 54, 56 on latches 14, 16, and cause latches 14, 16 to join handle 20 in pivoting about pivot axle 10 to a release position wherein pawls 34, 36 are lifted out of engagement with respective forward walls 34a, 36a of apertures 38a, 40a in belt connectors 14a, 16a. In this release position R, belt connectors 14a, 16a are simultaneously released and permitted to be withdrawn from buckle assembly 1. It will be understood that alternative configurations for causing movement of the latches upon movement of the handle may be utilized.
The alternative preferred embodiment shown in
The embodiment in
Referring now to an alternative preferred embodiment in
In the alternative embodiment shown in
To release the belt connectors 114a, 116a, handle 120 is pivoted to an angled release position R′. When handle 120 is pivoted about pivot axle 110 toward the release position R′, the upper edges 144 of the upper latch 114 engage the underside of handle 120 and cause latch 114 to pivot about pivot axle 110 along with handle 120. Because of this configuration which utilizes a relatively low lash, direct drive of upper latch 114 by the underside of handle 120, it will be appreciated that optionally handle 120 and upper latch 114 may be biased toward the latching position by use of a single resilient member that tends to bias handle 120 or latch 114 toward the latching position. Referring now to the interaction with lower latch 116, when handle 120 is moved to a release position, the downward projecting tabs 123 at the rear end of handle 120 engage a rearward projecting tab 154 of the lower latch 116, simultaneously causing latch 116 to move to a release position. In the release position, pawls 134, 136 are lifted out of engagement with respective forward walls 134a, 136a of apertures 138a, 140a in belt connectors 114a, 116a. Thus, in this release position R′, belt connectors 114a, 116a are simultaneously released and permitted to be withdrawn from buckle assembly 102.
Now turning to the further preferred embodiment in
In the preferred embodiments, the latches and pivot axles are preferably made of steel, aluminum, alloys, plastics or other suitable rigid materials. To reduce weight, the base plates and handles preferably are made of aluminum, but could be made of steel, alloys, plastics or other suitable rigid materials. The resilient members may be made of spring steel, such as in a coil spring, or any other suitable material and configuration to perform the biasing function of a resilient member.
It will be appreciated that a buckle assembly in accordance with the present invention may be provided in various configurations that will receive and latch at least two independent belt connectors, but still provide for simultaneous release of all belt connectors upon moving a handle to a release position. Any variety of suitable materials of construction, configurations, shapes and sizes for the components and methods of connecting the components may be utilized to meet the particular needs and requirements of an end user. It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various modifications can be made in the design and construction of such a buckle assembly without departing from the scope or spirit of the present invention, and that the claims are not limited to the preferred embodiments illustrated.
The present application is a continuation of U.S. patent Ser. No. 11/844,709, filed Aug. 24, 2007, now U.S. Pat. No. 7,614,124, which is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/148,914, filed Jun. 9, 2005, now U.S. Pat. No. 7,263,750, the disclosures of which are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety.
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