Unitary seat belt buckle

Claim 2

A buckle fabricated from one unit of material, having a degree of flexibility, comprising, as a single unitary piece: a. a base; b. a pair of parallel channels extending from opposite sides of the base as integral parts thereof, the channels having their longitudinal openings facing each other, said openings adapted to slideably guide a tongue, spanning the distance between them; c. a strip of material extending from a side of the base intermediate to the two channels as an integral part of the base, said strip folded back so as to be substantially parallel to the base, and resilient, said strip disposed between the two channels to permit the tongue, slideably inserted between the channels, to be positioned above the resilient surface of the folded strip; d. an inclined latch formed on the surface of the folded strip extending upwarDly away from the surface of the strip and in a direction away from the fold, ending abruptly in a shoulder; e. an aperture in the tongue to engage the latch when the tongue is slideably inserted between the channels in the direction of the upward slope of said latch, to thereby lock the tongue against withdrawal in the direction of the fold, until released by a downward pressure on the strip against the bias of the strip, to withdraw the sloping latch from the aperture of the tongue; and f. means for the attachment of a seat belt to the buckle.

Claim 3

A buckle fabricated from one unit of material, having a degree of flexibility, comprising, as a single unitary piece: a. a base; b. a pair of parallel channels extending from opposite sides of the base as integral parts thereof, the channels having their longitudinal openings facing each other, said openings adapted to slideably guide a tongue, spanning the distance between them; c. a strip of material extending from a side of the base intermediate to the two channels as an integral part of the base, said strip folded back so as to be substantially parallel to the base, and resilient, said strip disposed between the two channels to permit the tongue, slideably inserted between the channels, to be positioned above the resilient surface of the folded strip; d. an inclined latch formed on the surface of the folded strip extending upwarDly away from the surface of the strip and in a direction away from the fold, ending abruptly in a shoulder; e. an aperture in the tongue to engage the latch when the tongue is slideably inserted between the channels in the direction of the upward slope of said latch, to thereby lock the tongue against withdrawal in the direction of the fold, until released by a downward pressure on the strip against the bias of the strip, to withdraw the sloping latch from the aperture of the tongue; and f. means for the attachment of a seat belt to the buckle.

Claim 4

A buckle fabricated from one unit of material, having a degree of flexibility, comprising, as a single unitary piece: a. a base; b. a pair of parallel channels extending from opposite sides of the base as integral parts thereof, the channels having their longitudinal openings facing each other, said openings adapted to slideably guide a tongue, spanning the distance between them; c. a strip of material extending from a side of the base intermediate to the two channels as an integral part of the base, said strip folded back so as to be substantially parallel to the base, and resilient, said strip disposed between the two channels to permit the tongue, slideably inserted between the channels, to be positioned above the resilient surface of the folded strip; d. an inclined latch formed on the surface of the folded strip extending upwarDly away from the surface of the strip and in a direction away from the fold, ending abruptly in a shoulder; e. an aperture in the tongue to engage the latch when the tongue is slideably inserted between the channels in the direction of the upward slope of said latch, to thereby lock the tongue against withdrawal in the direction of the fold, until released by a downward pressure on the strip against the bias of the strip, to withdraw the sloping latch from the aperture of the tongue; and f. means for the attachment of a seat belt to the buckle.

Claim 5

The buckle of claim 1 wherein the material of which the buckle is constructed, is a metal, having a degree of flexibility.

Claim 6

The buckle of claim 1 wherein the inclined latch extends upwardly from the surface of the strip at a point approximately midway between the point of folding and the terminus of the strip.

Claim 7

The buckle of claim 1 wherein a push button extends upwardly from the surface of the folded strip at a point which is substantially its terminus.

Claim 8

The buckle of claim 4 wherein there is a notch in each edge of the folded strip at a point adjacent to the push button, and a guide member, perpendicular to the base, extending downwardly from the upper surface of each of the two channels, slideably positioned with respect to the notches in the edge of the folded strip, to thereby limit the push button to motion substantially perpendicular to the base.

Claim 9

The buckle of claim 1 wherein the cross section of the folded strip from which the latch extends, is diminished at, at least one point between the base and the latch, to thereby reduce and adjust the strength of the bias exerted upwardly on the latch and push button.

Claim 10

The buckle of claim 1 wherein the means for the attachment of a seat belt buckle constitutes a tail piece comprising, an extension of the base outwardly from the rear of the buckle, as an integral part of the base, and an aperture in said tail piece for the attachment of a seat belt.

Claim 11

The buckle of claim 7 wherein the tail piece is produced by folding the extension of the base back on itself in juxtaposition, and the aperture in said tail piece passes through both thicknesses of the material of which it is constructed.

Claim 12

The buckle of claim 7 to which a cover is attached, said cover having a right angular extension to also cover the rear opening in the buckle, and an aperture through which the push button is accessible.

Claim 13

The buckle of claim 9 wherein there is a notch in the rear extremity of each sidewall at a point just above the tail piece for locking engagement with a corresponding lip formed on the free edge of the angular extension of the cover.

Claim 14

The buckle of claim 10 wherein the forward end of the cover has a downwardly curled rounded edge to serve as a guide for the insertion of an apertured tongue, and to hook over the forward edge of the upper surfaces of the channels, when the angular extension of the cover is in locking engagement with the notches in the extremity of the side walls, and the cover is stressed by a downwardly and forwardly applied force.

Claim 15

The buckle of claim 11 wherein a metal tab is separated from the upper surface of each of the two channels by a cut starting at a point on the forward edge of said upper surface and extending toward the rear of the buckle, parallel to the longitudinal edge, for a short distance, said tab being so bent that its forward edge is above the forward edge of the aforesaid upper surface by an amount substanTially equal to the thickness of the metal from which it is cut, whereby the tab constitutes a latch for substantially permanent locking engagement with the terminal, downwardly curled edge of the cover.

Claim 16

The buckle of claim 9 wherein the cover is fabricated from metal of lighter gauge than that of the material from which the buckle is fabricated.

Claim 17

The buckle of claim 9 wherein tHe cover is shaped so as to be higher in the vicinity of the button than at its edges, and wherein a collar, being an integral part of the cover extends downwardly from the aperture to surround the upper portion of the push button in a sliding relationship.

Claim 18

The buckle of claim 9 wherein the cover is constructed partially or wholly of polymeric substances.

Claim 19

The buckle of claim 1 wherein two projecting surfaces extend up from the base at each side of the folded strip carrying the push button and latch, which projections guide a tongue inserted into the channels, and support the tongue at each side of the latch, whereby the latch can be withdrawn from the aperture of the tongue, without any tendency for the tongue to follow the latch downwardly.

Claim 20

The buckle of claim 16 wherein the two projecting surfaces are produced by indenting the bottom of the buckle at each side of the latch, and are positioned so as not to interfere with the movement of the push button and latch.

Claim 21

A buckle fabricated from one unit of material, having a degree of flexibility, comprising, as a single unitary piece: a. a base; b. a pair of parallel channels extending from opposite sides of the base as integral parts thereof, the channels having their longitudinal openings facing each other, said openings adapted to slideably guide a tongue spanning the distance between them; c. a strip of material extending from a side of the base intermediate to the two channels as an integral part of the base, said strip folded back so as to be substantially parallel to the base, said strip folded back so as to be substantially parallel to the base, and resilient, said strip being disposed between the two channels to permit the tongue, slideably inserted between the channels, to be positioned above the resilient surface of the folded strip; d. an inclined latch formed on the surface of the folded strip extending upwardly away from the surface of the strip and in a direction away from the fold; ending abruptly in a shoulder; e. an aperture in the tongue to engage the latch when the tongue is slideably inserted between the channels in the direction of the upward slope of said latch, to thereby lock the tongue against withdrawal in the direction of the fold; f. a push button projecting upwardly from the surface of the strip from a position more distant from the fold than that of the inclined latch, whereby pressure applied to the push button is an integral part, thus acting against the bias of the strip, to withdraw the latch from the aperture of the tongue and permit withdrawal of the tongue; g. a second strip of material extending from a side of the base opposite to that from which the first strip extends, being an integral part of the base and substantially as wide as the base, said second strip being bent to form an end wall to the buckle, and bent further so that the remainder of the second strip lies parallel to the base to form a cover for the buckle; h. an aperture in the cover to provide access to the push button, and; i. means for attaching a belt to the buckle.

Claim 22

A buckle fabricated from one unit of material, having a degree of flexibility, comprising, as a single unitary piece: a. a base; b. a pair of parallel channels extending from opposite sides of the base as integral parts thereof, the channels having their longitudinal openings facing each other, said openings adapted to slideably guide a tongue spanning the distance between them; c. a strip of material extending from a side of the base intermediate to the two channels as an integral part of the base, said strip folded back so as to be substantially parallel to the base, said strip folded back so as to be substantially parallel to the base, and resilient, said strip being disposed between the two channels to permit the tongue, slideably inserted between the channels, to be positioned above the resilient surface of the folded strip; d. an inclined latch formed on the surface of the folded strip extending upwardly away from the surface of the strip and in a direction away from the fold; ending abruptly in a shoulder; e. an aperture in the tongue to engage the latch when the tongue is slideably inserted between the channels in the direction of the upward slope of said latch, to thereby lock the tongue against withdrawal in the direction of the fold; f. a push button projecting upwardly from the surface of the strip from a position more distant from the fold than that of the inclined latch, whereby pressure applied to the push button is an integral part, thus acting against the bias of the strip, to withdraw the latch from the aperture of the tongue and permit withdrawal of the tongue; g. a second strip of material extending from a side of the base opposite to that from which the first strip extends, being an integral part of the base and substantially as wide as the base, said second strip being bent to form an end wall to the buckle, and bent further so that the remainder of the second strip lies parallel to the base to form a cover for the buckle; h. an aperture in the cover to provide access to the push button, and; i. means for attaching a belt to the buckle.

Claim 23

The buckle of claim 18 wherein the forward end of the cover has a downwardly curled rounded lip to serve as a guide to the tongue when inserted into the channels between said rounded lip, and the folded strip associated with the push button and latch.

Claim 24

The buckle of claim 19 wherein a metal tab is separated from the upper surface of each of the two channels by a cut starting at a point on the forward edge of said upper surface, and extending toward the rear of the buckle, parallel to the longitudinal edge, said tab being so bent that its forward edge is above the forward edge of the aforesaid upper surface by an amount substantially equal to the thickness of the metal from which it is cut, whereby the tab constitutes a latch for locking engagement with the downwardly curled, rounded edge of the cover.

Claim 25

The buckle of claim 20 wherein the rounded edge comprises a partial cylinder having an inside diameter, at least equal to the thickness of the metal from which the tabs are cut, whereBy the rounded edge or curl can hook over the tabs, when stressed to do so, by a downward and forward force applied to the cover.

Claim 26

The buckle of claim 18 wherein a longitudinal slot in the end of the buckle, parallel to the base and extending horizontally toward the channels, is provided, for insertion of a looped belt; and openings in the side walls of the channels near the end of the buckle and directly opposite each other to accommodate a cross-piece between them, which, by passing through the loop in the belt, secures the looped end of said belt within the buckle.

Claim 27

The buckle of claim 22 wherein a longitudinal cut starting from the rear edge of each of the upper surfaces of the two channels extends parallel to the channel a sufficient distance to go beyond the end the belt loop attached to the buckle, and the strips thereby separated are bent downwardly, perpendicular to the channel surface and base, whereby they stand between the belt loop and the push button, to thus prevent the loop from being inadvertently pushed into interference with the action of the push button and latch.

Claim 28

The buckle of claim 18 whereby the ends of the rear wall are notched for cooperation with extending tabs on the ends of the side walls, whereby by interlocking, dovetailed corners are produced.

Claim 29

The pre-formed blank of claim 26 wherein the terminal edge of the area to be fabricated into a cover plate is curled downwardly to form a rounded edge.

Claim 30

The buckle of claim 18 wherein the second strip of material extends beyond the end of the buckle to form a tail piece, then folds upwardly, back on itself in juxtaposition, to apply a second thickness to the tail piece, then bends perpendicularly upward to form a rear wall to the buckle, then forward until parallel to the base, to form the cover to the buckle, said tail piece having an aperture through the double thickness of material for the attachment of a seat belt.

Claim 31

A pre-formed blank adapted for fabrication into a unitary seat belt buckle comprising: a. a single metal sheet which has a central base portion having a generally rectangular configuration, from one side of which a strip extends, having a width substantially less than that of the base, said strip having a wedge shaped latch sloping downwardly and away from the base portion, and a hollow push button, the latter being more distant from the base portion than the latch, said push button protruding downwardly from the surface of the strip, said strip adapted to be folded back over the base portion, the fold in the flexible metal serving as a biasing means to urge the latch and push button, both of which protrude upwardly after the folding operation, away from the base portion; b. on the two sides of the base portion adjacent to that from which the strip extends are two areas for fabrication by bending to form two parallel channels with their open channels facing one another to thus bracket the folded strip positioned over the base; c. a second strip extending from the base on the side opposite that from which the aforementioned first strip extends and having a width substantially equal to that of the base, for fabrication by bending into a rear wall adjacent to the two channels, and an apertured cover plate extending further from this wall for bending over the latch and push button, the aperture coinciding with, and providing access to, the push button.

Claim 32

A pre-formed blank adapted for fabrication into a unitary seat belt buckle comprising: a. a single metal sheet which has a central base portion having a generally rectangular configuration, from one side of which a strip extends, having a width substantially less than that of the base, said strip having a wedge shaped latch sloping downwardly and away from the base portion, and a hollow push button, the latter being more distant from the base portion than the latch, said push button protruding downwardly from the surface of the strip, said strip adapted to be folded back over the base portion, the fold in the flexible metal serving as a biasing means to urge the latch and push button, both of which protrude upwardly after the folding operation, away from the base portion; b. on the two sides of the base portion adjacent to that from which the strip extends are two areas for fabrication by bending to form two parallel channels with their open channels facing one another to thus bracket the folded strip positioned over the base; c. a second strip extending from the base on the side opposite that from which the aforementioned first strip extends and having a width substantially equal to that of the base, for fabrication by bending into a rear wall adjacent to the two channels, and an apertured cover plate extending further from this wall for bending over the latch and push button, the aperture coinciding with, and providing access to, the push button.

Claim 33

The pre-formed blank of claim 26 wherein the areas oppositely disposed for fabrication into channels, each have a further extension for folding down into its respective channel as a guide to limit the push button to motion substantially perpendicular to the base. 28 The pre-formed blank of claim 26 wherein the cross section of the strip is reduced at a point between the latch and the base portion to thereby reduce and adjust the strength of the bias which will be exerted upwardly on the latch and push button as a result of the flexibility of the metal strip, after said strip has been folded over the base portion.

Claim 34

The pre-formed blank of claim 26 wherein there is a slot in that portion which is to be fabricated into a rear wall, said slot bEing longitudinally disposed with respect to the rear wall portion, for insertion of a looped belt.

Claim 35

The pre-formed blank of claim 26 wherein there are two openings, one in each of the areas which will become the back of the channels and side walls of the buckle, at points substantially adjacent to the rear wall, said openings to be so positioned as to be directly opposite each other when the channels are formed; said openings to accommodate a cross piece between them, which, by passing through the loop in the belt, will secure the loop end of said belt within the buckle.

Claim 36

The pre-formed blank of claim 26 wherein the lines along which the buckle blank is to be creased during fabrication are weakened to facilitate bending at those points.

Claim 37

The pre-formed blank of claim 31 wherein the lines are weakened by pre-grooving.

Claim 38

The pre-formed blank of claim 26 wherein the area of the second strip to be fabricated into an apertured cover plate, is more depressed in the vicinity of the aperture than at its perimeter, and wherein a collar, being an integral part of the cover, extends upwardly from the aperture to surround the upper portion of the push button in a sliding relationship when the buckle has been fabricated.

Claim 39

The pre-formed blank of claim 34 wherein the two areas for fabrication into channels, include tabs for locking engagement with the curled edge of the cover plate.

Claim 40

The pre-formed blank of claim 35 wherein the rounded edge comprises substantially a partial cylinder of such diameter that when the cover is bent over the buckle as a cover plate, with the push button accessible through the aperture, the terminal edge of said plate is curled around to engage the tabs which on the application of a downward and forward pressure to the cover, lock the cover permanently in place.

Claim 41

The pre-formed blank of claim 26 in which the second strip extending from the base as an integral part includes first, a portion for folding into an apertured tail piece of double thickness for attachment of a seat belt, said tail piece being attached to a portion for the rear wall of the buckle, which in turn is attached to the apertured portion for fabrication into a cover plate.

Claim 42

A pre-formed blank adapted for fabrication into a unitary seat belt buckle comprising: a. a single metal sheet which has a central base portion having a generally rectangular configuration, from one side of which a strip extends, having a width substantially less than that of the base, said strip having a wedge shaped latch sloping downwardly and away from the base portion, and a hollow push button, the latter being more distant from the base portion than the latch, said push button protruding downwardly from the surface of the strip, said strip adapted to be folded back over the base portion, the fold in the flexible metal serving as a biasing means to urge the latch and push button, both of which protrude upwardly after the folding operation, away from the base portion; b. on the two sides of the base portion adjacent to that from which the strip extends are two areas for fabrication by bending to form two parallel channels with their open channels facing one another to thus bracket the folded strip positioned over the base; and c. a second strip extending from the base on the side opposite that from which the aforementioned first strip extends and having a width substantially equal to that of the base, for producing an apertured tail piece for the attachment of a seat belt.

Claim 43

A pre-formed blank adapted for fabrication into a unitary seat belt buckle comprising: a. a single metal sheet which has a central base portion having a generally rectangular configuration, from one side of which a strip extends, having a width substantially less than that of the base, said strip having a wedge shaped latch sloping downwardly and away from the base portion, and a hollow push button, the latter being more distant from the base portion than the latch, said push button protruding downwardly from the surface of the strip, said strip adapted to be folded back over the base portion, the fold in the flexible metal serving as a biasing means to urge the latch and push button, both of which protrude upwardly after the folding operation, away from the base portion; b. on the two sides of the base portion adjacent to that from which the strip extends are two areas for fabrication by bending to form two parallel channels with their open channels facing one another to thus bracket the folded strip positioned over the base; and c. a second strip extending from the base on the side opposite that from which the aforementioned first strip extends and having a width substantially equal to that of the base, for producing an apertured tail piece for the attachment of a seat belt.

Claim 44

The pre-formed blank of claim 38 for producing an apertured tail piece of double thickness by folding back the second extended strip on itself in juxtaposition.