Patent GB-1275571-A (GB)
Title: Improvements in or relating to buckles
Inventor: BARNETT HAROLD ABRAHAM
IPC: A44B11/25
Filed: 1969-10-07
Abstract: 1275571 Buckles DYNASAFE EQUIPMENT Ltd and HOWARD WALL Ltd 1 Jan 1971 [7 Oct 1969 12 Feb 1970] 49287/69 and 6812/70 Heading E2A A buckle comprises two separable parts held together by co-operating aperture 42 and projection means 22 provided by the two parts and latched together by a spring pressed slidable element 23 of one part which is carried in a casing 20 and which can be moved from a position in which it overlies a section of the second part when the projection and aperture means are in engagement into a position which allows the two parts to be separated, one part including a plate 24 having one or more apertures to which one or more strap end portions can be fitted and the second part, which includes the slidable element, having means 25 by which the said part can be connected to a road vehicle or aircraft and a mouth into which part of the said plate can be placed, the said slidable element, when in the position in which the two parts are latched together, forming part of the surface of the buckle adjacent the said mouth such that the said slidable element can be moved by hand from that position into the position in which the two parts of the buckle can be separated. In the construction shown the casing contains a channel 21 which includes guide rails 34 which face each other and which engage in grooves in the slideable member to guide the slideable member. The casing 20 has a projection 28 on which a spring 27 fits to urge the slideable member into abutment with a bar 31 of the channel which prevents the slideable member leaving the casing. The channel is attached by a rivet 30 to a 1ug 26 which in turn is attached to the means 25 which as shown is a cable by which the unit is attached to the floor of a vehicle. In a modification the cable and lug are omitted and instead the channel has a stem which extends out of the casing and which is attached to a bracket by which the buckle is secured to the vehicle; the bracket can be constructed so that two of the buckle parts which include the slidable member can be mounted on it and the parts can be pivotally mounted to the bracket if desired and can be coupled to an adjacent seat so that the angular position of the part or parts is adjusted when the seat is moved backwards or forwards. The bracket can have a plastics cover if desired; the bracket can be fixed to a seat instead of to the floor in which case the buckle part is pivotally attached to the bracket so that it can be pivoted out of the way when desired. A sliding bar snubber for association with the buckle described above is also described and shown in Figure 13. The snubber has a slotted frame 70 which carries two slideable members 74, 75 fixed by rivets to the central part 71 of the frame, the central part being provided with elongated holes to allow the members 74 and 75 to slide relative to the frame so that straps which pass through the slots in the frame and through slots in the members 74 and 75 are clamped between the frame and the members when tension is exerted on the straps. It is stated that the buckle can include a switch which can be operated by the plate 24, the switch being used for giving a warning if an attempt is made to start the vehicle before the safety harness using the buckle has been fixed in position around the user. A plate 24 with two apertures for individual straps instead of one aperture as shown is also described.