Safety belt buckle

Claim 2

A safety belt buckle adapted to receive a tongue having an aperture therethrough adjacent one edge, the edge and aperture defining a bar, the buckle comprising: a. a base having an upwardly extending projection adjacent a front edge, the projection being adapted to project through the tongue aperture, b. tongue dislodging means on the base and having a longitudinally movable nose portion normally located adjacent to the projection, c. a tongue control member slidably mounted on the base for sliding motion between a locking position adjacent the front edge of the base and a release position spaced from the front edge, the control member being biased toward the locking position and having means for contacting the dislodging means during rearward movement toward the release position, the control member having a restraining portion adapted to overlie the bar when the control member is in its locking position, and d. activation means for moving the control member rearwardly from the locking position to its release position, the control member contacting the dislodging means during such movement causing the nose portion to move rearwardly and upwardly.

Claim 3

A safety belt buckle as defined in claim 1 including a depression in the upper surface of the base on the rearward side of the projection and wherein the nose portion of the tongue dislodging means resides within the depression when the tongue control member is in its locking position.

Claim 4

A safety belt buckle as defined in claim 1 wherein the activation means is a push button which moves at an angle to the movement of the tongue control member.

Claim 5

A safety belt buckle as defined in claim 1 wherein the means on the tongue control member for contacting the dislodging means is adapted to permit the tongue control member to slide rearwardly from its locking position a predetermined distance before it contacts the dislodging means.

Claim 6

A safety belt buckle as defined in claim 4 wherein the predetermined distance is at least equal to the distance the restraining portion must move to cease overlying the bar.

Claim 7

A safety belt buckle as defined in claim 2 wherein the wall defining the rear side of the depression remote from the projection forms an obtuse angle with the upper surface of the base.

Claim 8

A safety belt buckle as defined in claim 1 wherein the walL of the projection remote from the base front edge inclines forwardly at an angle of substantially 94* + or - 3/4 * from the upper surface of the base.

Claim 9

A safety belt buckle as defined in claim 4 wherein the wall of the projection remote from the base front edge inclines forwardly at an angle of substantially 94* + or - from the upper surface of the base.

Claim 10

A safety belt buckle as defined in claim 1 wherein the projection is formed with a front wall adjacent the front edge of the base, a rear wall spaced from the front wall and two side walls, the front wall and rear walls sloping toward each other and the rear corners formed by the rear wall and side walls being rounded and sloped inwardly toward their respective opposed front corners.

Claim 11

A safety belt buckle as defined in claim 9 wherein the rear wall slopes forwardly at an angle of substantially 94* + or -3/4 * from the upper surface of the base.

Claim 12

A safety belt buckle adapted to receive a tongue having an aperture therethrough adjacent one edge, the edge and aperture defining a bar, the buckle comprising: a. a base having an upwardly extending projection adjacent a front edge, the projection being adapted to project through the tongue aperture, and a depression spaced rearwardly from the projection, the projection having a rear wall sloping forwardly at an angle of substantially 94* + or - from the upper surface of the base, b. tongue dislodging means on the base and having a longitudinally movable nose portion normally residing within the depression. c. a tongue control member slidably mounted on the base for sliding motion between a locking position adjacent the front edge of the base and a release position spaced from the front edge, the control member being biased toward the locking position and having means for contacting the dislodging means during rearward movement toward the release position, the control member having a front facing recess adapted to receive the tongue bar and a restraining portion adapted to overlie the bar when the bar is in the recess and the control member is in its locking position, and d. push button activation means for moving the control member rearwardly from the locking position to its release position, the control member contacting the dislodging means during such movement causing the nose portion to move rearwardly and upwardly, the push button moving at an angle to the movement of the control member.

Claim 13

A safety belt buckle adapted to receive a tongue having an aperture therethrough adjacent one edge, the edge and aperture defining a bar, the buckle comprising: a. a base having an upwardly extending projection adjacent a front edge, the projection being adapted to project through the tongue aperture, and a depression spaced rearwardly from the projection, the projection having a rear wall sloping forwardly at an angle of substantially 94* + or - from the upper surface of the base, b. tongue dislodging means on the base and having a longitudinally movable nose portion normally residing within the depression. c. a tongue control member slidably mounted on the base for sliding motion between a locking position adjacent the front edge of the base and a release position spaced from the front edge, the control member being biased toward the locking position and having means for contacting the dislodging means during rearward movement toward the release position, the control member having a front facing recess adapted to receive the tongue bar and a restraining portion adapted to overlie the bar when the bar is in the recess and the control member is in its locking position, and d. push button activation means for moving the control member rearwardly from the locking position to its release position, the control member contacting the dislodging means during such movement causing the nose portion to move rearwardly and upwardly, the push button moving at an angle to the movement of the control member.

Claim 14

A safety belt buckle as defined in claim 11 wherein the means for contacting the dislodging means is adapted to permit the tongue control members to slide rearwardly from its locking position a distance at least equal to the distance the restraining portion must move to cease overlying the bar.

Claim 15

A safety belt buckle as defined in claim 11 wherein the tongue dislodging means is biased toward the depression and returns to its normal position when the control member ceases contacting the dislodging means.

Claim 16

A safety belt buckle as defined in claim 11 including spring means for biasing the control member toward the locking position, the spring means effecting return of the control member and push button to their normal position upon removal of an activating force on the push button.