Abstract:
A self-aligning safety belt latch wherein imprecise mating of the tongue member with the buckle housing nonetheless locks the safety belt latch. The tongue member is defined by a continuously arcuate outer configuration and an annular cross-section. The tongue member defines an aperture which is large relative the area of the tongue member. The latching mechanism includes a biased latching mechanism catch extending therefrom. The catch is configured to mate with the tongue aperture and is generally small relative to the tongue aperture. Thus, imprecise mating of the tongue member to the latching mechanism nonetheless effectuates locking of the safety belt latch.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention is directed to a safety seat belt latch and, more specifically, to a self-aligning seat belt latch. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     The effectiveness of safety belts in automobiles has long been established and accepted by the automotive industry and the general public alike. The effectiveness of safety belts is highly publicized by public safety groups to promote awareness and encourage safety belt use. In accord with these efforts, safety belts must be simple to use and be relatively inexpensive. 
     Conventional seat belts include a lap and shoulder belt with a tongue member for mating with the seat belt latch which may be mounted to the automobile or connected to another belt. Such latches are generally complicated structures and, hence, relatively expensive to install. They also generally include a rectangular tongue member having a rectangular cross-section which is inserted within a mating latch to secure the seat belt. These conventional latches require that the tongue be properly aligned, in all three directions, i.e., x-axis, y-axis, and z-axis, or angular orientation, to properly mate with the buckle. A problem resulting from this arrangement is that precise alignment is required for the latch to properly align with the buckle which often requires two hands, may be difficult to effectuate at night, and may be difficult when wearing bulky clothing, for example. If a user is unable to effectuate the locking mechanism of the seat belt quickly, the user may not try again. Thus, safety belt use may be discouraged rather than encouraged. 
     For example, U.S. Pat. No. 4,068,879 to Takada is directed to a seat belt buckle for preventing false latching of the seat belt tongue with the seat belt buckle. The seat belt tongue is defined by a discontinuous outer configuration and a central aperture which is small relative to the tongue. Additionally, the tongue according to that patent does not possess an annular cross-section. Thus, the smaller sized aperture and the non-annular tongue is of conventional design and requires precise alignment with the mating buckle in both the horizontal and vertical directions for the seat belt to latch. Further, the latching mechanism according to the prior art patent is a complicated assembly including a multi-functional spring member which biases a latch plate upward, rendering it relatively expensive due to the large number of parts required. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     It is an object of the invention to encourage use of safety belt buckles by providing a belt buckle having a tongue member and a latching mechanism which easily mate even when the initial alignment of the two is imprecise. 
     It is also an object of the present invention to provide a safety seat belt buckle assembly which is structurally uncomplicated and relatively inexpensive. 
     The present invention achieves these and other objects and overcomes shortcomings of the prior art by providing a self-aligning safety belt buckle including a tongue member and a latching mechanism having means for releasably receiving the tongue member. The tongue is defined substantially by a shackle and an end portion. The shackle has an annular cross-section and a continuously arcuate outer configuration and defines a catch receiving aperture which is large relative to the area of the shackle. The tongue member mates with a catch extending upwardly from the latching mechanism wherein the latching mechanism is biased in a latching position. The catch is relatively smaller than the aperture of the tongue. A buckle housing houses the latching mechanism and defines a tongue receiving aperture at an end thereof. 
     Accordingly, the tongue member is inserted through the buckle housing aperture, urging the catch and, hence, the latching mechanism, downward wherein the tongue is inserted a predetermined amount and the catch is urged upward and extends through the catch receiving aperture of the tongue. This thereby locks the safety belt buckle in the latching position. A release is associated with the latching mechanism and, preferably, extends upwardly from the latching mechanism, through an aperture provided on an upper surface of the buckle housing. Pressure applied to the release thereby urges the latching mechanism downward, against its biased position, to release the catch from the tongue aperture. Indeed, imprecise mating of the tongue to the buckle will nonetheless effectively latch the safety belt buckle due to the simplistic assembly of the safety buckle and the mating configuration of the tongue and the catch of the latching mechanism. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     The foregoing and other objects, features, and advantages of the present invention will be made apparent from the following detailed description of the preferred embodiment of the invention and from the drawings, in which: 
     FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the safety belt according to the present invention; 
     FIG. 2 is an exploded of the safety belt latch; 
     FIG. 2A is a cross-sectional view of a portion of the latching mechanism of the safety belt latch; 
     FIG. 3 is a partially broken away top plan view of the safety belt latch; 
     FIGS. 4A-4D are cross-sectional views of the insertion of the tongue member into the buckle housing showing the sequential process thereof; 
     FIG. 5 is a partially broken away top perspective view of a seat belt latch having a tongue member according to a second embodiment of the present invention; and 
     FIG. 6 is a partially broken away perspective view of the seat belt latch according to a third embodiment of the present invention. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     The present invention will now be described more fully in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which preferred embodiments of the invention are shown. This invention should not, however, be construed as limited to the embodiments set forth herein; rather, they are provided so that this disclosure will be thorough and complete and will fully convey the scope of the invention to those skilled in the art. 
     Although the following discussion and the respective illustrations are directed to a safety seat belt such as for an automobile, it is within the scope of the present invention to provide a safety seat belt having infinite applications other than the automotive industry or, for that matter, as a mechanical connector for members other than seat belts. The safety belt 10, illustrated in FIG. 1, includes a seat belt latch, shown generally at 14, and belts 12 which, conventionally, extend from either side of an automobile seat to restrain the user within the seat. Of course, any harnessing arrangement may be provided such as, for example, including a shoulder strap. 
     The seat belt latch 14 includes a tongue member 16, a buckle housing 18, and a latching mechanism 20. The buckle housing 18 includes an upper portion 22 and a lower portion 24 which, together, define an elongate cavity 26 which, preferably, extends substantially in the same plane as the tongue member 16 or, as shown, in a horizontal plane. The buckle housing 18 also defines, on one end thereof, an aperture 28 which extends perpendicular to the plane of the elongate cavity 26. As shown, the aperture 28 extends substantially across the width of the buckle housing 18. 
     The tongue member 16 is illustrated as having a &#34;D-shaped&#34; configuration defined by a shackle 29 and an end portion 36. The area of the shackle 29 is defined between an outer margin 30 and an inner margin 32. A central aperture 34 is defined by the shackle 29 and the end portion 36 and has an area which is large relative to the overall size of the shackle 29. The horizontally extending end portion 36 of the tongue member 16 is configured to cooperate with the belt 12 as illustrated in the various figures. The shackle 29 of the tongue member 16 has an annular cross-section as best illustrated in FIG. 2A. 
     Preferably, the tongue aperture 34 has an area which is at least two times greater than an area of the shackle 29 defined by the distance between the outer 30 and the inner 32 margins of the tongue member 16. Accordingly, the portion of the tongue member 16 which is inserted through the aperture 28 of the buckle housing 18 is continuously arcuate both in its outer margin 30 and in cross-section. Accordingly, precise alignment of the tongue member 16 into the aperture 28 is unnecessary. 
     The vertical height of the aperture 28 is greater than the thickness of the tongue member 16 and is also wider than the width of the tongue member 16. Preferably, the aperture 28 is at least an eighth of an inch (1/8&#34;) greater in the horizontal and the vertical directions than the thickness and width of the tongue member 16. As illustrated, the belt 12 is wrapped around the horizontal end portion 36 of the tongue member 16 and the two layers of the belt 12 are sewn together. Of course, any means of attaching a belt would not constitute a departure from the scope of the present invention. While the end portion 36 is shown as an elongate rod-like member, any solid form may be utilized. For example, FIG. 6 illustrates an alternative embodiment wherein the end portion is rectangular and a substantial portion is not received within the buckle housing 18 when the tongue member 16 is in the latching position. 
     The latching mechanism 20 is best illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 3. The latching mechanism 20 is illustrated as having a &#34;T-shaped&#34; configuration defined by an elongate portion 38 and a distal portion 40. Positioned on either side of the distal portion 40 are threadable members 42. The threadable members 42 and the distal portion 40 of the latching mechanism 20 each define an elongate aperture 44 through which the belt 12 may be threaded. 
     Positioned adjacent a proximal end 46 of the latching mechanism 20 is a catch 48. The catch 48 is configured to cooperate with the tongue aperture 34 of the tongue member 16. Preferably, and as illustrated, the catch 48 is relatively small compared to the area of the tongue aperture 34 defined by the inner margin 32 of the tongue member 16. As illustrated in the various figures, the catch 48 is defined by a semi-circular outer configuration. In profile, as illustrated in FIG. 2A, the catch 48 includes a chamfered surface 50 for cooperating with the insertion of the tongue member 16 as described in more detail below. The chamfered surface 50 extends in a plane at an acute angle to the elongate latching mechanism 20. The chamfered surface intersects, at its upper end, with a horizontally extending portion 52 of the catch 48. The rear side 54 of the catch 48 is configured to provide an abutting surface for the tongue member 16 when the seat belt latch 14 is in its locked position. As illustrated in FIG. 2A, the lock position is illustrated in solid lines whereas the unlocked position is illustrated in dotted lines. 
     The operation of the present invention will now be described in detail with reference to FIGS. 2A and 4A through 4D, particularly. The tongue member 16, or at least the shackle 29, having the relatively large tongue aperture 34 is inserted into the aperture 28 of the buckle housing 18 after the latching mechanism 20 assumes its original position. Accordingly, the tongue member 16 contacts the chamfered surface 50 of the catch 48 (as illustrated in FIG. 4A) wherein the latching mechanism 20 is urged downward, against its biased position wherein the tongue member 16 traverses across the horizontal portion 52 of the catch 48 (FIG. 4B) and seats against the rear surface 54 of the catch (FIG. 4C). FIG. 4C illustrates the locked position of the seat belt latch 14. 
     In a preferred embodiment, a release 56 is operatively associated with the latching mechanism 20, and more specifically, with the elongate portion 38 thereof. As stated above, the latching mechanism 16 is preferably biased in a substantially horizontal position. As illustrated, the release 56 extends perpendicular to the elongate portion 38 of the latching mechanism 20 and is defined, in cross section, as a &#34;T-shaped&#34; member. Accordingly, the release 56 includes a horizontally extending portion 58 defining an actuator and a vertical portion 60 extending from the actuator 58 to the elongate portion 38 of the latching mechanism 16. Accordingly, pressure, such as by a user&#39;s finger, may be applied to the actuator 58 wherein the latching mechanism 20 is urged downward, thereby also urging the catch 48 downward. Accordingly, the tongue member 16 is free to be released from the buckle housing 18 as shown in FIG. 4D. 
     In an alternative embodiment, as illustrated in FIG. 6, an ejector 62 may be provided. As illustrated, the ejector 62 is in the form of a spring which extends from the vertical portion 60 of the release 56 and which has a free proximal end 64 which contacts the shackle 29 of the tongue member 16. Accordingly, when pressure is applied to the release 56 and the catch 48 is urged downward, the ejector 62 urges the shackle 29 through the buckle housing aperture 28 wherein it is automatically released from the buckle housing 18. 
     FIG. 5 illustrates another embodiment of the present invention wherein the tongue member is differently configured. As in the previous embodiment, the tongue member 66 according to this embodiment has an annular cross-section and a continuously arcuate shackle 69 and an end portion 71. Also like the other embodiment, the tongue member 66 has a relatively large central aperture 68. However, this embodiment differs in that the outer margin 70 and the inner margin 72 of the shackle 69 are differently configured. As illustrated, the outer and inner margins 70 and 72 have a complex geometric configuration defined substantially by a &#34;v-shaped&#34; distal portion 74 and proximal portion 76 resembling half of a square. Accordingly, this embodiment, too, is easily aligned with the buckle housing 18 irrespective of its initial alignment both in the vertical and horizontal directions with the buckle housing aperture 28. 
     While particular embodiments of the invention have been described, it will be understood, of course, the invention is not limited thereto since modifications may be made by those skilled in the art, particularly in light of the foregoing teachings. It is therefore, contemplated by the appended claims to cover any such modifications that incorporate those features of these improvements in the true spirit and scope of the invention.