Patent ID: 6292988
Filing Date: 2001-09-25
Classification: A44B,Y10T

Abstract:
A seat belt buckle adapted to releasably engage a latch plate having an aperture therein, said buckle comprising a rigid frame including a base having an opening therein, upstanding side walls adapted to guide the latch plate longitudinally of the frame, a bar extending transversely of the frame between said side walls, said bar being spaced above the base, a locking member pivotally mounted on the frame and pivotal between a lower latched position and an upper unlatched position, said locking member carrying a downwardly projecting locking element engageable in said aperture in the latch plate to retain the latch plate in place and passing into said opening, a slider slidable longitudinally of the locking member between a first position in which it is located under said bar, to retain the locking member in the lower latched position and a second position in which it is resiliently engaged against a rearward edge of the bar to retain the locking member in its upper unlatched position, a push button to push the slider from its first position to its second position and a slider spring to urge the slider towards its first position, the locking member body being provided with at least two elongate slots and the slider being provided with cooperating clips which can pass through the slots and retain the slider in place, the length of the slots being adequate to allow for the necessary sliding movement of the slider.