Patent US3686720A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US3686720A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Safety belt buckle
Assignee: Individual
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Filing: 1970-02-09
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Granted: 1972-08-29
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Expires: 1990-02-09
Abstract
Abstract A safety belt buckle of the push button type, in which only three components are required, and which may be assembled without special tools, pins, bolts or the like. The assembly includes a single piece housing, a pivotally supported latch lever or plate, wherein the pivot axis is located at one end of the plate and the push button is at the other end, and a multipurpose spring member which secures the latch plate in the housing, spring biases the push button and guides the belt connector into coupling position.
Inventors
- 👤 William C Wehner
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-28 11:10
CPC Classifications
A; A44; A44B; A44B11/00; A44B11/25; A44B11/2503; A44B11/2507; A44B11/2511; Y; Y10; Y10T; Y10T24/00; Y10T24/45; Y10T24/45225; Y10T24/45602; Y10T24/45623; Y10T24/4566; Y10T24/4567; Y10T24/45675; Y10T24/45696; Y10T24/45712
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 12
Claim 1
Independent Claim
175 words
A three piece safety belt buckle, comprising: an integral housing having an open ended hollow enclosure, a latch lever member disposed within the housing enclosure, through said open end, pivotally supported at one end against an upstanding bearing portion on one internal wall of said housing providing a pivot axis, said latch lever having a push button portion opposite said one end adapted to be manually actuated and a detent latch portion located between said one end and the push button portion, and a spring member disposed within said housing, through said open end and secured therein by an integral retaining means to a wall of the housing spaced from said pivot axis, said spring member having a latch spring portion biasing said push button Portion of the latch lever member away from said one internal wall of the housing and at least two guide portions, generally Ushaped and extending from adjacent said one wall, adapted to guide a seat belt connector into coupling position with said detent latch portion of the latch lever member.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
175 words
A three piece safety belt buckle, comprising: an integral housing having an open ended hollow enclosure, a latch lever member disposed within the housing enclosure, through said open end, pivotally supported at one end against an upstanding bearing portion on one internal wall of said housing providing a pivot axis, said latch lever having a push button portion opposite said one end adapted to be manually actuated and a detent latch portion located between said one end and the push button portion, and a spring member disposed within said housing, through said open end and secured therein by an integral retaining means to a wall of the housing spaced from said pivot axis, said spring member having a latch spring portion biasing said push button Portion of the latch lever member away from said one internal wall of the housing and at least two guide portions, generally Ushaped and extending from adjacent said one wall, adapted to guide a seat belt connector into coupling position with said detent latch portion of the latch lever member.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
53 words
The safety belt buckle defined in claim 1, characterized in that said spring member includes a latch lever retainer portion biasing said one end of the latch lever member into pivotal engagement with said upstanding bearing portion and preventing unintentional removal of said latch lever member through said open end of the housing.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
47 words
The safety belt buckle defined in claim 1, characterized in that said one end of the latch lever is a knife edge and said upstanding bearing portion is at least two spaced bosses integral with said wall of the housing providing pivotal support for said one end.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
149 words
A safety belt buckle, functionally consisting only of: a single piece housing having an open end, said housing having integral side, top and bottom walls defining an enclosure, a single piece latch lever having a width permitting receipt of said latch lever within said enclosure through said open end, said latch lever having one end pivotally supported against said bottom wall of the enclosure about an axis, a manual actuator portion adjacent the opposite end and a latch portion located between said one end and said actuator portion, and a spring means located within said enclosure, retained therein by a retaining means and reactant against one of said enclosure walls to spring bias said manual actuator portion of the latch lever toward said top wall of the enclosure about said axis, and said manual actuator portion extending out of said enclosure to permit manual actuation of said latch portion.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
149 words
A safety belt buckle, functionally consisting only of: a single piece housing having an open end, said housing having integral side, top and bottom walls defining an enclosure, a single piece latch lever having a width permitting receipt of said latch lever within said enclosure through said open end, said latch lever having one end pivotally supported against said bottom wall of the enclosure about an axis, a manual actuator portion adjacent the opposite end and a latch portion located between said one end and said actuator portion, and a spring means located within said enclosure, retained therein by a retaining means and reactant against one of said enclosure walls to spring bias said manual actuator portion of the latch lever toward said top wall of the enclosure about said axis, and said manual actuator portion extending out of said enclosure to permit manual actuation of said latch portion.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
34 words
The safety belt buckle defined in claim 4, characterized in that said latch lever is pivotally supported on sharp tapered edge which abuts an upstanding surface provided on said bottom wall of said enclosure.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
86 words
The safety belt buckle defined in claim 5, characterized in that said spring means includes a central latch spring portion integrally struck from the body portion of the spring which extends beneath and biases the manual actuator portion of the latch lever toward said upper wall of said enclosure, and said spring means having opposite extending latch lever retainer portions which are biased against the latch lever adjacent the pivot axis, and guide portions which guide the belt connector into coupling position with the latch portion.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
61 words
The safety belt buckle defined in claim 4, characterized in that said spring means is a single piece stamping, and includes a generally centrally located latch spring portion biased against said manual actuator portion, and at least two guide spring portions adapted to receive and guide a seat belt connector into coupling position with said latch portion of the latch lever.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
25 words
The safety belt buckle defined in claim 4, characterized in that said spring member includes an extension overlying said open end of the enclosure member.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
112 words
The safety belt buckle defined in claim 4, characterized in that said spring means overlies said bottom wall of said enclosure and is secured thereto, said spring means including an integral latch spring portion struck from the body portion of the spring and extending beneath said manual actuator portion to bias said actuator portion toward said top wall, a latch lever retainer portion biasing said one end of the latch lever into pivotal engagement with said bottom wall of the enclosure and preventing inadvertant removal of the latch lever, and at least two spring guide portions adapted to receive and guide a seat belt connector into coupling position with said latch portion.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
49 words
The safety belt buckle defined in claim 4, characterized in that said spring means is located between said latch lever and said open end of the enclosure and is lockingly retained within said enclosure and biased agaInst said latch lever to retain said latch lever within said housing enclosure.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1975-08-29 | 1976-02-28 | 1976-08-29 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1979-08-29 | 1980-02-28 | 1980-08-29 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1983-08-29 | 1984-02-28 | 1984-08-29 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |