Seat belt buckle with pivoting latch

Claim 1

Closure buckle for safety belt system comprising: a U shaped metal base defining a path of introduction for a tongue having at least one latch aperture and a pair of lateral upstanding flanges; a latch locking element, arranged to tilt vertically in said base around its rear part and having at its front part at least one projecting catch capable of cooperating with said latch aperture of the tongue, in a locked configuration; an ejector slidably displaced in said base in the path of the tongue; a retaining member for locking said locking element in the locked position, said retaining member displaceable between a first position of retention of said locking element and a second position of release vertically offset from said first position; a rocker member having a base pivotally linked to said ejector and an upper tab in floatable contact with said retaining member, said rocker member tiltable between a first position with said ejector in its forward most position and the upper tab of said rocker member in a vertical position allowing said retaining member to be displaced to said second position, and a second position with said ejector in its rearward most position and the upper tab of said rocker member in a horizontal position locking said retaining member in said first position; an elastic means acting on said rocker member, said elastic means producing a first force urging said rocker member towards its first position displacing said ejector forward and producing a second force urging said rocker member towards its second position displacing said retaining member to said first position; a push button having first means of engagement operative to displace said retaining member from its first position towards its second position, when the push button is depressed; and second means of engagement having ramps capable of cooperating with the front part of said locking element and assisting to vertically lift said locking element from said latch aperture and lift said retaining member to its second position after the first means of engagement has displaced the retaining member from its first position, the displacement of said retaining member to said second position tilting said rocker member sufficiently to permit said elastic means to produce said first force urging said rocker member to its first position.