US4413385A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Inverse clevis safety belt buckle
Assignee: Irvin Automotive Products Inc
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Filing: 1981-04-13
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Granted: 1983-11-08
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Expires: 2001-04-13
Abstract
Abstract A safety belt buckle wherein a conventional latch for engaging an apertured tongue of a conventional connector is pivotally seated within the base loop of an inverse clevis having an opening for insertion of the tongue and a solid transverse interior surface confining the engaged end of the latch against pivotal displacement incident to latch angularity under ultimate tensile belt loads sufficient to deflect the channel sides of conventional stamped frames characteristic of prior art seat belt buckles.
Inventors
- 👤 James A. Gavagan
- 👤 William E. Brennan
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-07 20:39
CPC Classifications
A; A44; A44B; A44B11/00; A44B11/25; A44B11/2503; A44B11/2507; A44B11/2511; B; B60; B60R; B60R22/00; B60R22/48; B60R2022/4808; B60R2022/4816
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 15
Claim 1
Independent Claim
153 words
A safety belt buckle characterized by a sheet metal loop formed clevis having apertured ends for attachment to a first belt end, a fully surrounded slot in the clevis loop end extremity, a connector having an apertured end for attachment to a second belt end and a tongue insertable through said slot into close proximately with one side of said clevis, said tongue having an apertured end adapted for latch engagement, a latch having a reaction end extending beyond both extremities of said slot pivotally seated against slotted and unslotted portions of said loop end extremity within said clevis adjacent said slot having a latch projection engageable with said tongue apertured end and said one side of said clevis, resilient means biasing said latch toward said engaging position deflectable in response to manual insertion of said tongue, and manually operable means to deflect said latch and resilient means to a tongue releasing position.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
153 words
A safety belt buckle characterized by a sheet metal loop formed clevis having apertured ends for attachment to a first belt end, a fully surrounded slot in the clevis loop end extremity, a connector having an apertured end for attachment to a second belt end and a tongue insertable through said slot into close proximately with one side of said clevis, said tongue having an apertured end adapted for latch engagement, a latch having a reaction end extending beyond both extremities of said slot pivotally seated against slotted and unslotted portions of said loop end extremity within said clevis adjacent said slot having a latch projection engageable with said tongue apertured end and said one side of said clevis, resilient means biasing said latch toward said engaging position deflectable in response to manual insertion of said tongue, and manually operable means to deflect said latch and resilient means to a tongue releasing position.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
22 words
A buckle as set forth in claim 1 including an access aperture in said one side for accommodating said manually operable means.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
26 words
A buckle as set forth in claim 2 wherein said manually operable means comprises an exposed pivotally mounted release lever having side extensions through said aperture.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
18 words
A buckle as set forth in claim 3 including latch side extensions engaged by said lever side extensions.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
23 words
A buckle as set forth in claim 4 wherein said resilient means comprises a spring mounted on the other side of said clevis.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
34 words
A buckle as set forth in claim 4 wherein said resilient means comprises a spring mounted on the other side of said clevis said spring including side extensions engaging said latch side and extensions.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
18 words
A buckle as set forth in claim 6 including an electrical switch located between said spring side extensions.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
33 words
A buckle as set forth in claim 6 including an electrical switch located between said spring side extensions said switch having a pivoted element engaged by said connector tongue in its latched position.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
33 words
A buckle as set forth in claim 8 wherein said pivoted element has a coiled spring mounted thereon adapted to open an electrical circuit in response to tongue actuation of said pivoted element.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
36 words
A buckle as set forth in claim 1 including a plastic housing frontal loop end piece having a slotted opening with guide surfaces for leading said connector tongue through said clevis slot to facilitate buckle engagement.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
33 words
A buckle as set forth in claim 3 including a plastic housing main body having an access aperture for said release lever and a pair of end extensions covering said clevis aperturned ends.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
25 words
A buckle as set forth in claim 11 wherein said housing includes a clevis end spacer insert recessed for a pair of switch lead wires.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
36 words
A buckle as set forth in claim 12 wherein said housing includes a sleeve insert extending through aligned apertures in said clevis providing a shield for said lead wires and passage for said first belt end.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
35 words
A buckle as set forth in claim 13 wherein said plastic cover main body is retained in assembled relation with said clevis by fastening means passing through aligned holes in said cover and clevis ends.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1986-11-07 | 1987-05-09 | 1987-11-08 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1990-11-07 | 1991-05-09 | 1991-11-08 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1994-11-07 | 1995-05-09 | 1995-11-08 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |