Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 12
Claim 1
Independent Claim
182 words
A buckle apparatus for safety belt assembly, comprising: a tongue member having notches on opposite side edges; a base plate member having a portion of substantially rectangular C-shaped cross section for insertion of the tongue member, and being formed on opposite sides thereof with guide grooves each having supporting surfaces substantially perpendicular to the direction of tongue insertion; a pair of tongue latching plate members each having a flat surface and being slidable along the respective guide grooves of the base member in a direction substantially perpendicular to the direction of tongue insertion; biasing means for resiliently urging the tongue latching plate members so that the tongue latching plate members may engage the respective notches of the tongue member and be supported at their said flat surfaces by said supporting surfaces of the guide grooves, when the tongue member is inserted into the base member, to latch the tongue member; and operable means including cam portions for moving the tongue latching plate members against the force of said biasing means in the direction of disengagement from said notches of the tongue member.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
182 words
A buckle apparatus for safety belt assembly, comprising: a tongue member having notches on opposite side edges; a base plate member having a portion of substantially rectangular C-shaped cross section for insertion of the tongue member, and being formed on opposite sides thereof with guide grooves each having supporting surfaces substantially perpendicular to the direction of tongue insertion; a pair of tongue latching plate members each having a flat surface and being slidable along the respective guide grooves of the base member in a direction substantially perpendicular to the direction of tongue insertion; biasing means for resiliently urging the tongue latching plate members so that the tongue latching plate members may engage the respective notches of the tongue member and be supported at their said flat surfaces by said supporting surfaces of the guide grooves, when the tongue member is inserted into the base member, to latch the tongue member; and operable means including cam portions for moving the tongue latching plate members against the force of said biasing means in the direction of disengagement from said notches of the tongue member.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
25 words
A buckle apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said biasing means comprises a U-shaped spring whose ends are in contact with said respective latching members.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
26 words
A buckle apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said operable means is slidable in a direction substantially the same as the direction of the tongue insertion.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
29 words
A buckle apparatus according to claim 3, further comprising means for biasing said operable means to a position where said tongue latching members are in the tongue latching position.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
22 words
A buckle apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said base plate member includes an upper plate portion and a lower plate portion.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
30 words
A buckle apparatus according to claim 5, wherein said upper plate portion and lower plate portion are spaced from each other so that said tongue member may be inserted therebetween.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
31 words
A buckle apparatus according to claim 5 or 6 wherein said base plate member is formed of a single metal plate including said upper plate portion and said lower plate portion.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
17 words
A buckle apparatus according to claim 7, wherein said base plate is formed by stamping and forming.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
33 words
A buckle apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising an illuminating means which includes an illuminating lamps and switch means which includes a on-off contact controlled by the insertion of the tongue member.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
31 words
A buckle apparatus according to claim 9, wherein said illuminating lamp is turned on when said tongue member is not inserted and is turned off when said tongue member is inserted.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
26 words
A buckle apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising means for ejecting the tongue member when said tongue member is disengaged from said tongue latching members.