Abstract:
A restraint system for a mobile platform is provided and may include a first belt portion and a second belt portion each having a first end secured to the mobile platform and a second end movable relative to the mobile platform. A latch plate may be fixed to the second end of one of the first belt portion and the second belt portion and a buckle may be secured to the second end of the other of the first belt portion and the second belt portion. The buckle may be selectively connected to the latch plate in a latched state and may include a housing having an opening receiving the latch plate in the latched state and at least one aperture disposed adjacent to the opening and formed through a surface of the housing opposing a user when in the latched state.

Description:
FIELD 
     The present disclosure relates to a restraint system and more particularly to a light-weight restraint system for a mobile platform. 
     BACKGROUND 
     This section provides background information related to the present disclosure which is not necessarily prior art. 
     Restraint systems are typically used in mobile platforms such as automobiles, trains, and aircraft to secure occupants during movement of the mobile platform. For example, automobiles typically include integrated lap and shoulder belts that secure an occupant relative to a seat of the automobile, thereby restricting movement of the occupants relative to the seat should the automobile experience an impact event. Likewise, aircraft typically incorporate lap belts that secure an occupant relative to a seat during flight to restrict movement of the occupant relative to the seat should the aircraft experience turbulence. 
     The primary concern when designing any of the foregoing restraint systems is occupant safety. However, other factors are considered depending on the needs and function of the particular mobile platform for which the restraint system is designed. For example, automotive restraint systems are typically designed to be aesthetically pleasing, light-weight, easy to use, and compact. Likewise, aircraft restraint systems or restraint systems designed for mass transit such as busses and trains are designed to be light-weight and easy to use but are not typically designed to be aesthetically pleasing or compact. 
     The common design considerations amongst the various types of restraint systems are safety, ease of use, and weight. While safety is chief amongst the foregoing considerations, weight is becoming increasingly more important in the face of rising fuel prices and material costs. 
     Heavier mobile platforms require more energy to travel from one destination to another when compared to lighter mobile platforms. As a result, heavier mobile platforms consume more fuel than lighter mobile platforms and are more costly to operate. Engineers therefore strive to reduce the weight of virtually every component of a mobile platform—restraint systems included—in an effort to reduce manufacturing cost and complexity and to the reduce fuel costs of the end user. 
     SUMMARY 
     This section provides a general summary of the disclosure, and is not a comprehensive disclosure of its full scope or all of its features. 
     A restraint system for a mobile platform is provided and may include a first belt portion and a second belt portion each having a first end secured to the mobile platform and a second end movable relative to the mobile platform. A latch plate may be fixed to the second end of one of the first belt portion and the second belt portion and a buckle may be secured to the second end of the other of the first belt portion and the second belt portion. The buckle may be selectively connected to the latch plate in a latched state to join the first belt portion and the second belt portion and may include a housing having an opening receiving the latch plate in the latched state and at least one aperture disposed adjacent to the opening and formed through a surface of the housing opposing a user when in the latched state. 
     A restraint system for a mobile platform is provided and may further include a first belt portion having a first end secured to the mobile platform and a second end movable relative to the mobile platform. A second belt portion may include a first end secured to the mobile platform and a second end movable relative to the mobile platform. A buckle may be secured to the second end of one of the first belt portion and the second belt portion and may include a latch mechanism movable between a latched state and an unlatched state. A latch plate may be fixed to the second end of the other of the first belt portion and the second belt portion and may be selectively received within the buckle in the latched state to join the first belt portion and the second belt portion. The latch plate may include an aperture that engages the latch mechanism in the latched state and may have a longitudinal axis that is parallel to a longitudinal axis of the latch plate. 
     Further areas of applicability will become apparent from the description provided herein. The description and specific examples in this summary are intended for purposes of illustration only and are not intended to limit the scope of the present disclosure. 
    
    
     
       DRAWINGS 
       The drawings described herein are for illustrative purposes only of selected embodiments and not all possible implementations, and are not intended to limit the scope of the present disclosure. 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a restraint device in accordance with the principles of the present disclosure shown in a latched state; 
         FIG. 2  is a top view of the restraint device of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 3  is a bottom view of the restraint device of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 4  is a right side view of the restraint device of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 5  is a left side view of the restraint device of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 6  is a perspective view of the restraint device of  FIG. 1  shown in an unlatched state; 
         FIG. 7  is a top view of the restraint device of  FIG. 6 ; 
         FIG. 8  is a bottom view of the restraint device of  FIG. 6 ; 
         FIG. 9  is a right side view of the restraint device of  FIG. 6 ; 
         FIG. 10  is a left side view of the restraint device of  FIG. 6 ; 
         FIG. 11  is a cross-sectional view of the restraint device of  FIG. 2  taken along line  11 - 11 ; 
         FIG. 12  is an exploded view of the restraint device of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 13  is a perspective view of the restraint device of  FIG. 1  shown in a latched state and in conjunction with a first belt portion and a second belt portion; 
         FIG. 14  is a perspective view of the restraint device of  FIG. 1  shown in an unlatched state an in conjunction with a first belt portion and a second belt portion; and 
         FIG. 15  is a front view of a seat assembly incorporating the restraint device of  FIG. 1  in a latched state. 
     
    
    
     Corresponding reference numerals indicate corresponding parts throughout the several views of the drawings 
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     Example embodiments will now be described more fully with reference to the accompanying drawings. 
     Example embodiments are provided so that this disclosure will be thorough, and will fully convey the scope to those who are skilled in the art. Numerous specific details are set forth such as examples of specific components, devices, and methods, to provide a thorough understanding of embodiments of the present disclosure. It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that specific details need not be employed, that example embodiments may be embodied in many different forms and that neither should be construed to limit the scope of the disclosure. In some example embodiments, well-known processes, well-known device structures, and well-known technologies are not described in detail. 
     The terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particular example embodiments only and is not intended to be limiting. As used herein, the singular forms “a,” “an,” and “the” may be intended to include the plural forms as well, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. The terms “comprises,” “comprising,” “including,” and “having,” are inclusive and therefore specify the presence of stated features, integers, steps, operations, elements, and/or components, but do not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, integers, steps, operations, elements, components, and/or groups thereof. The method steps, processes, and operations described herein are not to be construed as necessarily requiring their performance in the particular order discussed or illustrated, unless specifically identified as an order of performance. It is also to be understood that additional or alternative steps may be employed. 
     When an element or layer is referred to as being “on,” “engaged to,” “connected to,” or “coupled to” another element or layer, it may be directly on, engaged, connected or coupled to the other element or layer, or intervening elements or layers may be present. In contrast, when an element is referred to as being “directly on,” “directly engaged to,” “directly connected to,” or “directly coupled to” another element or layer, there may be no intervening elements or layers present. Other words used to describe the relationship between elements should be interpreted in a like fashion (e.g., “between” versus “directly between,” “adjacent” versus “directly adjacent,” etc.). As used herein, the term “and/or” includes any and all combinations of one or more of the associated listed items. 
     Although the terms first, second, third, etc. may be used herein to describe various elements, components, regions, layers and/or sections, these elements, components, regions, layers and/or sections should not be limited by these terms. These terms may be only used to distinguish one element, component, region, layer or section from another region, layer or section. Terms such as “first,” “second,” and other numerical terms when used herein do not imply a sequence or order unless clearly indicated by the context. Thus, a first element, component, region, layer or section discussed below could be termed a second element, component, region, layer or section without departing from the teachings of the example embodiments. 
     Spatially relative terms, such as “inner,” “outer,” “beneath,” “below,” “lower,” “above,” “upper,” and the like, may be used herein for ease of description to describe one element or feature&#39;s relationship to another element(s) or feature(s) as illustrated in the figures. Spatially relative terms may be intended to encompass different orientations of the device in use or operation in addition to the orientation depicted in the figures. For example, if the device in the figures is turned over, elements described as “below” or “beneath” other elements or features would then be oriented “above” the other elements or features. Thus, the example term “below” can encompass both an orientation of above and below. The device may be otherwise oriented (rotated 90 degrees or at other orientations) and the spatially relative descriptors used herein interpreted accordingly. 
     With reference to the figures, a restraint device  10  is provided and may include a buckle  12 , a latch plate  14 , and a locking mechanism  16 . The locking mechanism  16  may be supported by the buckle  12  and may selectively engage the latch plate  14  to connect the latch plate  14  to the buckle  12 . Namely, the locking mechanism  16  may be moved between a latched state ( FIG. 1 ) connecting the latch plate  14  to the buckle  12  and an unlatched state that allows the latch plate  14  to be disconnected from the buckle  12 . 
     The buckle  12  may include a housing  18  and an actuation handle  20 . The actuation handle  20  may be pivotably supported by the housing  18  to selectively move the locking mechanism  16  from the latched state to the unlatched state. 
     The housing  18  may include a bottom wall  22  and a pair of side walls  24  that are formed integrally with the bottom wall  22  and extend substantially perpendicular to the bottom wall  22 . The bottom wall  22  may include a belt aperture  26 , an intermediate aperture  28 , a pair of apertures  30  disposed proximate to an opening  32  of the housing  18 , and a rib  34 . 
     The belt aperture  26  may be formed through the bottom wall  22  of the housing  18  to permit access to the locking mechanism  16 . The intermediate aperture  28  may be disposed between the belt aperture  26  and the apertures  30  and may include virtually any shape. For example, the intermediate aperture  28  may include an oval shape, as shown in  FIGS. 3 and 8 . Regardless of the particular shape of the intermediate aperture  28 , the size and shape of the intermediate aperture  28  may be adjusted to provide the housing  18  and, thus, the buckle  12 , with a desired rigidity and strength while concurrently providing the buckle  12  with a reduced-weight construction. 
     The apertures  30  may be disposed proximate to the intermediate aperture  28  and the opening  32  and may extend into each of the side walls  24 . As with the intermediate aperture  28 , the apertures  30  may include virtually any shape. For example, the size of the apertures  30  and the extent to which the apertures  30  extend into the side walls  24  may adjust the overall strength and rigidity of the housing  18  and, thus, the buckle  12  while concurrently providing the buckle  12  with a reduced-weight construction. 
     The side walls  24  may extend from the bottom wall  22  such that each side wall  24  is substantially perpendicular to the bottom wall  22 . Each side wall  24  may include a slot  36 , an attachment aperture  38  ( FIG. 12 ), and a sloped surface  40 . The slots  36  may be formed through each side wall  24  and may be disposed between the attachment aperture  38  and an opening  42  of the housing  18 . The attachment apertures  38  may likewise be formed through each side wall  24  and may be positioned proximate to the opening  32  of the housing  18 . The sloped surface  40  may decrease in a direction extending from the attachment aperture  38  toward the opening  42  to provide the side walls  24  with a substantially constantly decreasing height (X;  FIGS. 4 ,  5 ,  9 ,  10 ) extending in a direction from the attachment aperture  38  toward the opening  42 . 
     The housing  18  may include a reduced width (W) proximate to the opening  32  when compared to the width (Q) of the housing  18  proximate to the opening  42  ( FIGS. 2 and 7 ). For example, the width (W) may be approximately equal to half of the width (Q). The reduction in width proximate to the opening  32  when compared to the opening  42  provides the housing  18  with a compact size which, in turn, reduces the overall weight of the housing  18  and buckle  12 . Further, providing the reduced width (W) allows the housing  18  to be properly sized to receive the latch plate  14 . While the width (Q) could theoretically be reduced to further reduce the overall weight of the housing  18 , the width (Q) of the opening  42  is sized to allow a person&#39;s hand to easily enter the opening  42  and grasp the actuation handle  20 . 
     With particular reference to  FIGS. 6-12 , the latch plate  14  is shown to include a peanut-shaped attachment aperture  44  and a locking aperture  46 . The attachment aperture  44  may be formed such that the attachment aperture  44  is substantially perpendicular to a longitudinal axis  48  of the latch plate  14 . Namely, a longitudinal axis  50  of the attachment aperture  44  may be substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis  48  of the latch plate  14  ( FIGS. 7 and 8 ). 
     The locking aperture  46  may be formed substantially perpendicular to the attachment aperture  44  such that a longitudinal axis of the locking aperture  46  is parallel to the longitudinal axis  48  of the latch plate  14 . The length of the locking aperture  46  measured in a direction along the longitudinal axis  48  of the latch plate  14  may be greater than a length of the attachment aperture  44  measured in a direction along the longitudinal axis  50  of the attachment aperture  44 . The locking aperture  46  may additionally include an engagement surface  52  that is in contact with the locking mechanism  16  when the locking mechanism  16  is in the latched state. 
     With particular reference to  FIGS. 11 and 12 , the locking mechanism  16  is shown to include a latch  54 , a locking bar  56 , and a pair of biasing elements  58 . The latch  54  may be rotatably supported relative to the housing  18  by a pin  60 . The pin  60  may be rotatably attached to the housing  18  at the attachment aperture  38  and may likewise be rotatably received by apertures  62  of the latch  54 . The pin  60  and, thus, the latch  54 , may be held in position relative to the housing  18  by inserting a rivet  64  into the pin  60  once the pin  60  extends through each attachment aperture  38  of the respective side walls  24  and through the apertures  62  of the latch  54 . The latch  54  may additionally include an engagement surface  66  ( FIG. 11 ) that contacts the engagement surface  52  of the locking aperture  46  when the latch plate  14  is received within the buckle  12  and the locking mechanism  16  is in the latched state. 
     The biasing elements  58  may likewise be supported relative to the housing  18  by the pin  60  and may rotatably bias the latch  54  into the latched state ( FIG. 11 ). Namely, the biasing elements  58  may exert a rotational force on the latch  54  to bias the latch  54  in the counterclockwise direction relative to the view shown in  FIG. 11 . 
     The actuation handle  20  may likewise be rotatably supported relative to the housing  18  by the pin  60  and may cooperate with the latch  54  to move the locking mechanism  16  from the latched state ( FIG. 11 ) to the unlatched state. Namely, the actuation handle  20  may include a pair of apertures  68  that rotatably receive the pin  60  therein. The actuation handle  20  may therefore be rotatably supported relative to the housing  18  by the pin  60  and may rotate relative to the housing  18  about the pin  60 . 
     The actuation handle  20  may include a generally sloping surface  70  that provides the actuation handle  20  with side walls  72  having a substantially constantly increasing height (Y) extending in a direction from the apertures  68  toward the opening  42  of the housing  18 . In one configuration, the sloped surfaces  40  of the housing  18  include a substantially similar slope as the sloped surfaces  70  of the actuation handle  20  such that the sloped surfaces  40  of the housing  18  matingly receive the sloped surfaces  70  of the actuation handle  20 . The foregoing configuration of the sloped surfaces  40 ,  70  allows the side walls  24  of the housing  18  to cooperate with the side walls  72  of the actuation handle  20  to provide the buckle  12  with substantially closed side surfaces when the locking mechanism  16  is in the latched state. 
     The locking bar  56  may be slidably supported relative to the housing  18  by a slide bar  74 . The slide bar  74  may be disposed within the locking bar  56  and may include ends  76  that are respectively and slidably received within the slots  36  of the side walls  24 . Permitting the ends  76  of the slide bar  74  to slide within the slots  36  allows the slide bar  74  and, thus, the locking bar  56 , to slide relative to the housing  18 . The locking bar  56  may additionally include a locking edge  78  that cooperates with the belt aperture  26  to fix a position of a belt ( FIGS. 13-15 ) relative to the buckle  12 , as will be described in greater detail below. 
     With particular reference to  FIGS. 13 and 14 , the restraint device  10  is shown in conjunction with a first belt portion  80  and a second belt portion  82 . The first belt portion  80  may be fixedly attached to the latch plate  14  by feeding a portion of the first belt portion  80  through the attachment aperture  44  and subsequently attaching the first belt portion  80  to itself, thereby securing the latch plate  14  to the first belt portion  80 . In one configuration, the first belt portion  80  may be fed through the attachment aperture  44  and may be subsequently attached to itself by stitching  81  to restrict removal of the first belt portion  80  from the attachment aperture  44 . 
     The second belt portion  82  may be attached to the buckle  12  by feeding a first end  83  of the second belt portion  82  into the opening  42  of the housing  18  and around an outer perimeter of the locking bar  56 . Once the second belt portion  82  surrounds an outer perimeter of the locking bar  56 , the first end  83  of the second belt portion  82  may be directed back through the opening  42 . In one configuration, the first end  83  of the second belt portion  82  is substantially freely movable relative to the buckle  12  to allow a length of the second belt portion  82  to be adjusted, as will be described in greater detail below. 
     With particular reference to  FIG. 15 , the restraint device  10  is shown in conjunction with a seat assembly  84 . The restraint device  10  may be attached to the seat assembly  84  by attaching the first belt portion  80  and the second belt portion  82  to respective sides of the seat assembly  84 . Attaching the first belt portion  80  to the seat assembly  84  and attaching the second belt portion  82  to the seat assembly  84  fixes the first belt portion  80  and the second belt portion  82  for movement with the seat assembly  84  at one end of each belt portion  80 ,  82 . Further, attaching the first belt portion  80  and the second belt portion  82  to the seat assembly  84  in the foregoing manner concurrently allows the belt portions  80 ,  82  to freely move relative to the seat assembly  84  along a length of each belt portion  80 ,  82  and at each of the latch plate  14  and buckle  12  when the latch plate  14  is disconnected from the buckle  12 . 
     The respective ends of the first belt portion  80  and the second belt portion  82  associated with the buckle  12  and the latch plate  14  are movable relative to the seat assembly  84  when the latch plate  14  is disconnected from the buckle  12 . However, when the latch plate  14  is received within the housing  18  of the buckle  12  and the locking mechanism  16  is in the latched state, the latch plate  14  is fixed for movement with the buckle  12 , thereby restricting movement of the first belt portion  80  and the second belt portion  82  relative to the seat assembly  84 . Namely, when an occupant  94  is seated in the seat assembly  84  ( FIG. 15 ) and the latch plate  14  is fixed for movement with the buckle  12  due to the locking mechanism  16  being in the latched state and the latch plate  14  being disposed within the buckle  12 , the locking mechanism  16  may cooperate with the first belt portion  80  and the second belt portion  82  to restrain the occupant  94  within the seat assembly  84  by preventing removal of the latch plate  14  from the buckle  12 . 
     With particular reference to  FIGS. 11-15 , operation of the restraint device  10  will be described in detail. When the restraint device  10  is in the unlatched state, the latch plate  14  is disconnected from the buckle  12 , thereby allowing the first belt portion  80  and second belt portion  82  to be freely movable relative to one another. When an occupant  94  is seated in the seat assembly  84 , the first belt portion  80  and the second belt portion  82  may be positioned relative to the occupant  94  such that the first belt portion  80  and the second belt portion  82  traverse a portion of the occupant  94  proximate to the occupant&#39;s lap. At this point, the latch plate  14  may be inserted into the opening  32  of the housing  18  for engagement with the locking mechanism  16 . 
     Upon sufficient insertion of the latch plate  14  into the housing  18 , a distal end  86  of the latch plate  14  contacts a sloped surface  88  of the latch  54 , thereby causing the latch  54  to rotate in the clockwise direction relative to the view shown in  FIG. 11  and against the force exerted on the latch  54  by the biasing elements  58 . Rotation of the latch  54  in the clockwise direction relative to the view shown in  FIG. 11  allows the distal end  86  of the latch plate  14  to pass by the engagement surface  66  of the latch  54 . Once the latch plate  14  is sufficiently moved into the housing  18  such that the locking aperture  46  is disposed beneath the latch  54 , the biasing elements  58  are permitted to rotate the latch  54  in the counterclockwise direction relative to the view shown in  FIG. 11  to position a portion of the latch  54  within the locking aperture  46 , thereby positioning the engagement surface  66  in contact with the engagement surface  52 . Contact between the engagement surface  52  of the locking aperture  46  and the engagement surface  66  of the latch  54  restricts movement of the latch plate  14  in the direction (Z) shown in  FIG. 11 , which likewise prevents removal of the latch plate  14  from the housing  18 . 
     The latch plate  14  may be removed from the housing  18  when a rotational force is applied to the actuation handle  20 . Namely, a force may be applied to the actuation handle  20  to rotate the actuation handle  20  in the clockwise direction relative to the view shown in  FIG. 11 , which likewise causes the latch  54  to rotate in the clockwise direction relative to the view shown in  FIG. 11  and against the bias imparted on the latch  54  by the biasing elements  58 . Rotation of the latch  54  in the clockwise direction relative to the view shown in  FIG. 11  causes the engagement surface  66  of the latch  54  to disengage the engagement surface  52  of the locking aperture  46 , thereby permitting movement of the latch plate  14  in the direction (Z). Permitting movement of the latch plate  14  in the direction (Z) allows the latch plate  14  to be removed from the buckle  12 , which allows the first belt portion  80  to be moved relative to the second belt portion  82 . 
     Regardless of whether the locking mechanism  16  is in the latched state ( FIG. 11 ) or the unlatched state, the overall length of the first end  83  of the second belt portion  82  may be adjusted by moving the second belt portion  82  relative to and around the outer perimeter of the locking bar  56 . Namely, the locking bar  56  may be moved toward a first end  90  of each slot  36  to permit free movement of the second belt portion  82  around the outer perimeter of the locking bar  56 . Once the desired length of the first end  83  of the second belt portion  82  is achieved, the locking bar  56  may be moved toward a second end  92  of the slots  36  to pinch or trap the second belt portion  82  between the locking edge  78  and a portion of the bottom wall  22  defining the belt aperture  26 . 
     The foregoing description of the embodiments has been provided for purposes of illustration and description. It is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the disclosure. Individual elements or features of a particular embodiment are generally not limited to that particular embodiment, but, where applicable, are interchangeable and can be used in a selected embodiment, even if not specifically shown or described. The same may also be varied in many ways. Such variations are not to be regarded as a departure from the disclosure, and all such modifications are intended to be included within the scope of the disclosure.