Patent ID: 6837547
Filing Date: 2005-01-04
Classification: A44B,B60R

Abstract:
1. A vehicle occupant protection device for helping to protect an occupant of a seat of a vehicle, the vehicle occupant protection device comprising: first and second lap belt portions for collectively extending across a lap portion of the occupant, the first lap belt extending from a first side of the seat and the second lap belt extending from a second side of the seat; first and second shoulder belt portions for extending over first and second shoulders, respectively, of the occupant; and a buckle assembly for interconnecting the first and second lap belt portions and the first and second shoulder belt portions, the buckle assembly including a buckle portion and a tongue portion, the tongue portion including a laterally extending tongue and the buckle portion including a buckle for receiving and latching the tongue of the tongue portion for securing the tongue portion to the buckle portion, the tongue being inserted into the buckle in a first direction for the buckle to receive and latch the tongue, the buckle including a release mechanism that is actuatable for unlatching the tongue from the buckle, the release mechanism including a push button actuator that moves linearly in the first direction for actuating the release mechanism to unlatch the tongue from the buckle.