Latch device for a safety belt buckle in a vehicle and method of assembling the same

Claim 1

In a safety belt buckle assembly including a tongue and a latch device for receiving and locking the tongue, the latch device comprising: a base including a central portion having a downwardly projected recess portion, integral longitudinally extending walls on opposite sides of the central portion having opposed aligned openings, the side walls having integral inwardly directed upper end portions, the side walls having projections for positioning the tongue between the inwardly directed upper end portions and the projections; a latch member having means at one end pivotally supported in said aligned openings, the latch member having at its opposite end a forward upwardly projecting portion for engagement by a push button, the latch member having an upwardly projecting latching portion substantially centrally thereof and between its ends for locking the tongue, and a flat shoulder portion between said forward upwardly projecting portion and said upwardly projecting latching portion for positioning the tongue thereupon and under said inwardly directed upper end portions; biasing means disposed between said central portion of the base and said latch member so that the latch member is biased toward tongue-locking position; a push button for actuating the latch member, the push button being formed at one end with a portion on its underside for engaging said forward upwardly projecting portion of the latch member so that the push button, when operated, will move the latch member to unlocking position where said flat shoulder portion is partially received in said recess portion of the base; and a cover having an inlet for inserting the tongue therethrough and an opening through which the push button may be operated, the cover being formed therewithin with a portion for pivotally supporting an end of the push button.