Housing for a dual release twin buckle assembly

A housing assembly for twin latching mechanisms. The housing assembly includes two handles that can be pivoted to separately unlatch two belt connectors. The latching mechanisms are positioned within the housing such that when the handles are pivoted upwardly, their leading edges engage plunger mechanisms associated with the latching mechanisms. By engaging the plunger mechanisms, individual latches are disengaged and the associated belt connectors are ejected. A flange interconnects the two handles such that one or both handles are pivoted depending upon which handle is lifted by the operator. The housing provides a secure enclosure for the latch mechanisms and also shields the working components from the environment.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to a housing for a twin buckle assembly. More specifically, the present invention relates to a buckle assembly that accepts tongue plates from separate restraint belts and which permits the tongue plates to be separately released.

DESCRIPTION OF THE BACKGROUND ART

The use of restraint systems is now common place, and even mandatory, in a wide variety of vehicles. Aircraft, both fixed wing and rotary, and most types of land vehicles now all use restraints to prevent injury to vehicle occupants. Restraint systems are likewise used in watercraft. These restraint systems typically include lap and shoulder belts that are secured to a single tongue plate. The tongue plate, in turn, is releasably secured within a female receptacle of the buckle assembly.

This conventional design, however, is not acceptable in all situations. For instance, sometimes vehicle occupants are wearing heavy or bulky clothing. This situation may occur, for instance, when the occupants are firemen wearing fire retardant clothing, or soldiers wearing body armor. Other situations arise where the occupant may need to secure a shoulder belt without also securing the lap belt. In such cases, the use of conventional restraint systems is simply not possible. Namely, these situations require lap and shoulder belts that can be secured independently of one another.

An example of a buckle assembly with multiple belt connectors is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 7,263,750 to Keene. Keene discloses a buckle assembly for a vehicle restraint system where the buckle assembly is adapted to receive a plurality of belt connectors. The belt connectors are simultaneously released upon moving at least one handle to a release position.

Although the inventions of the prior art achieve particular objectives, these inventions also suffer from common drawbacks. These inventions, for instance, do not provide a housing that adequately protects the internal buckle assembly against damage and/or corrosion. Furthermore, the prior art inventions do not provide a device with separate housing and latching assemblies so as to improve durability and impact strength. The subject invention is directed at overcoming these shortcomings.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is therefore one of the objectives of the present invention to provide a latching mechanism that is completely secured within a protective housing.

It is another objective of this invention to provide a device wherein the housing includes one or more pivotal upper handles that cooperate with one or more internal latching mechanisms.

It is yet another object of this invention to provide housing and latching mechanisms that are not fixedly interconnected so as to improve impact resistance.

It is still yet another objective of this invention to provide latching mechanisms with associated cover plates, wherein separate tongue plates can be independently secured and removed from the latching mechanisms.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

The present invention relates to a housing assembly for twin latching mechanisms. The housing assembly includes two handles that can be pivoted to separately unlatch two belt connectors. The latching mechanisms are positioned within the housing such that when the handles are pivoted upwardly, their leading edges engage plunger mechanisms associated with the latching mechanisms. By engaging the plunger mechanisms, individual latches are disengaged and the associated belt connectors are ejected. A flange interconnects the two handles such that one or both handles are pivoted depending upon which handle is lifted by the operator. The housing provides a secure enclosure for the latch mechanisms and also shields the working components from the environment.

FIG. 1is a perspective view of the housing assembly10in the closed orientation. This figure also illustrates the base20of the housing. Base20includes opposed upstanding side edges22which function in shielding the internal components of the latching mechanisms. In the particular embodiment depicted, side edges22are tapered downwardly towards the rearward end of base20. Housing10further comprises two separate handles24(a) and24(b) that are pivotally secured to base20. As illustrated inFIG. 1, each handle (24(a) and24(b)) includes a rearward end with an upstanding lip26. Lip26functions in giving a user a greater surface area with which to manipulate the individual handles (24(a) and24(b)). This is preferred because many times an operator may be wearing gloves or other bulky protective garments. The forward end of each handle (24(a) and24(b)) includes an inwardly rounded extent28. Each extent28is adapted to engage an adjacent latching mechanism when the corresponding handle (24(a) and24(b)) is pivoted, as noted more fully hereinafter. It will be further noted that the intermediate portion of each handle (24(a) and24(b)) includes a downwardly angled extent that generally matches the slope of upstanding side edges22. This configuration accommodates the internal components of the latching mechanisms while at the same time providing a generally closed configuration so as to prevent contaminants and/or debris from entering housing10.

As depicted, handles (24(a) and24(b)) are pivotally interconnected to base20. In this regard, apertures are included within the side edges22of base20at the forward extent of housing10. These apertures are dimensioned to receive a pivot pin32which is long enough to span the width of housing. A dual torsion spring34is mounted along the length of pivot pin32(noteFIG. 6). Spring34includes an intermediate extent that is secured within the latching mechanism and distal ends that contact the inner surface of handles (24(a) and24(b)). Spring34, thereby, functions in separately biasing each handle (24(a) and24(b)) into a closed position (as noted inFIG. 1). Conversely, when either handle (24(a) or24(b)) is pivoted relative to base20, as depicted inFIGS. 2 and 3, the operator must exert a sufficient amount of force to overcome the bias provided by spring34.

With reference now toFIG. 4, the internal latching mechanisms (36and38, respectively) of housing assembly10are depicted. In the preferred embodiment, two laterally disposed latching mechanisms (36and38) are included. However, it is within the scope of the present invention to utilize any other number of latching mechanisms. The preferred latching mechanisms are commercially available. Each of the mechanisms includes a lower extent that is adapted to be mounted to base20by way of rivets, screws, or similar fastening mechanisms.

Each latching mechanism (36and38) further includes an elongated male latch element40that is adapted to engage a corresponding aperture50within the belt connector48. In the preferred embodiment, each latch element40is adapted to engage the associated belt connector48only when the forward tongue end52of the belt connector48is fully engaged into the respective latching mechanism (36or38). The latching elements can thereafter be disengaged by way of a plunger (44and46) that is associated with each latching mechanism (36and38). Each plunger (44,46) is at the forward facing portion of the associated latching mechanism (36and38) and serves to disengage a belt connector48when depressed. Each of the belt connectors48further includes a rearward belt opening54by which a respective lap and/or shoulder belt can be secured.

In use, with the handle in its closed configuration, as depicted inFIG. 1, a user can insert the forward tongue end52of a belt connector48into either of the two respective latching mechanisms (36or38). Only when the belt connector48is fully inserted will the corresponding latching element40be forced downwardly (via a spring bias) so as to be inserted through the female opening50within tongue52. In this orientation, the belt connector48is locked within the latching mechanism (36,38).

The two latching mechanisms (36and38) are independently operable such that a user can selectively secure one or both of the belt connectors48as needed. Thereafter, when a user wishes to disengage the belt connectors48, they can do so by pivoting one or both of the handles (24(a) and24(b)) relative to base20. In the preferred embodiment, handle24(b) is separately operable while handle24(a) operates in conjunction with handle24(b). More specifically, as noted inFIG. 4, a connecting flange25is included on handle24(a). By way of flange25, when a user lifts handle24(a), handle24(b) is also lifted (noteFIG. 2). However, handle24(b) can be lifted without engaging flange25(noteFIG. 3). Accordingly, handle24(b) can be pivoted without pivoting handle24(a).

In use, when handle24(a) is pivoted, both handles24(a) and24(b) are lifted upwardly which, in turn, causes the rounded edges28of both handles24(a) and24(b) to simultaneously engage both of the plunger mechanisms (44and46) of the associated latching mechanisms (36and38). This causes both plunger mechanisms to be depressed inwardly, which causes each of the latching elements to disengage the tongue end52of the respective belt connector48. Namely, the latching elements are caused to be removed from the female apertures of tongue elements52. Each of the latching mechanisms (36,38) further includes an ejector spring which causes the belt connector48to be forcibly ejected from the latching mechanism (36,38) when disengaged. Thus, the pivotal movement of handle24(a) causes both of the belt connectors48to be immediately released and ejected. Thereafter, handles24(a) and24(b) are caused to return the closed orientation via the bias of spring34. In this orientation, the latching mechanisms (36,38) are again free to accept one or more belt connectors48.

When the user wishes to disengage only one belt connector48, he or she lifts handle24(b) (noteFIG. 3). As noted, by lifting handle24(b), the operator does not engage flange25, such that only handle24(b) is pivoted. As a result, only the rounded leading edge of handle24(b) engages plunger44. This, in turn, causes the corresponding belt connector to be ejected from only one latching mechanism36. All of this is accomplished while the opposing belt connector48remains locked within latching mechanism.

In one possible arrangement, the belt connector associated with handle24(b) is coupled to a shoulder belt. Likewise, the belt connector48associated with handle24(a) is coupled to a lap belt. This arrangement would permit a user to release his or her shoulder belt without simultaneously releasing the lap belt by pivoting handle24(b). Conversely, by pivoting handle24(a), both the lap and shoulder belts would be released. Of course, other restraint arrangements are within the scope of the present invention.

Housing assembly10is secured to the interior of a vehicle by way of a mounting bracket56(noteFIG. 4). Namely, mounting bracket56includes a first end which can be secured to the frame of the vehicle via a rivet or bolt (noteFIG. 6). Mounting bracket56is preferably angled so as to insure the proper orientation of housing assembly relative to the user. The opposite end of mounting bracket56includes a mounting aperture for use in securing the housing assembly to the mounting bracket. This interconnection can again be achieved by way of rivets and/or similar fasteners62. Importantly, this end of the mounting bracket56includes two upwardly standing anti-rotation fins58(noteFIG. 6). These fins58abut the rearward edge of the base20and, thereby, prevent base20from pivoting relative to mounting bracket56or otherwise getting positioned into an orientation that is not conducive to the latching or unlatching of the belt connectors48. In an alternative embodiment, mounting bracket56can have a T-shaped end with associated mounting apertures to prevent rotation (FIGS. 7 and 8).