Patent Publication Number: US-9901144-B2

Title: Seatbelt buckling device and system

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     This invention relates to a seatbelt buckling device adapted for use as part of a motor vehicle occupant restraint system. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Seatbelt assemblies and systems are in widespread use in motor vehicles. Present systems have certain common elements including seatbelt webbing which extends across the upper and lower torso of the occupant, and a retractor for allowing protraction and retraction of the webbing so that the belt may adapt to different sizes of occupants and be conveniently out of the way when not being used. Seatbelt assemblies further typically include a buckle which releasably attaches to a latch plate. 
     Seatbelt assemblies must be securely affixed to motor vehicle structural elements in order to provide the necessary restraint effect in vehicle impact conditions and further to meet government regulations. Further, seatbelt assemblies must securely retain an occupant within its seat, while also allowing the occupant easy ingress and egress from the seat under a variety of conditions and situations. 
     Typical seatbelt assemblies include a buckle that is securely mounted to a vehicle structure, such as a seat frame or the floor of the occupant compartment. The buckle typically includes a slot that is sized to receive and retain a latch plate. 
     The latch plate is typically attached to the seatbelt webbing. The seatbelt webbing is typically fixed to the vehicle structure at one end, and the opposite end is typically fixed to a retractor having an internal spool that is configured to protract and retract the webbing in response to various loads. The latch plate is typically attached by passing the seatbelt webbing through an elongate opening or slot, such that the latch plate can slide along the webbing and be adjusted relative to the size of the occupant. The latch plate is typically attached to webbing such that the latch plate remains on the webbing, whether the seatbelt is in the buckled or unbuckled configuration. 
     The buckle is typically in the form of a housing that includes a pushbutton. A single slot is provided at the top of the buckle and defined between the pushbutton and the housing, into which a single latch plate is inserted. In other forms, the pushbutton is provided on the side of the housing, and the housing defines the slot at the top of the buckle. 
     Because the seatbelt is inherently inserted and removed multiple times through the course of its life, there are prolonged instances where the seatbelt is in an unbuckled condition. In this condition, the slot at the top of the housing is open and capable of receiving the latch plate when buckling is desired by the occupant. 
     In some approaches, the buckle is maintained in an upright position to provide easier access to the occupant. In other approaches, the buckle may lay flat against the vehicle seat. Often, the buckle is recessed in a vehicle seat to provide a low profile vehicle seat. 
     In each of these approaches, the slot is susceptible to debris or other objects being inserted into slot or inadvertently falling into the slot. Such debris can include coins, pins, paperclips, gravel, hairpins, rubber bands, or other similar items. Debris becoming lodged within the buckle can interfere with proper buckle operation. 
     Seatbelt buckles have been developed with smaller slots, but the smaller slot results in a smaller latch that may not meet design criteria. For example, a traditional belt buckle slot has a width extending across the buckle and a height that corresponds to the thickness of the latch plate. The slot also has a depth for receiving at least a portion of the length of the latch plate. 
     One example of a smaller slot design has been used with child seats that use a pair of separate latch plates in a five point seatbelt design. The smaller slot has a smaller width, while having approximately the same height. These designs require one latch plate to be buckled from one side of the child occupant and a second latch plate to be buckled from the other side. Accordingly, two slots are used, with each slot having a smaller width than a traditional buckle. The latch plates meet at a central buckle that is disposed between the legs of the child occupant. However, such designs are impractical for occupants that have outgrown a child seat. They are more uncomfortable and are difficult to adjust to accommodate occupants of varying sizes. Moreover, the use of two separate latch plates necessarily makes buckling and unbuckling more difficult than a single latch plate and buckle system. 
     Accordingly, improvements can be made to seatbelt buckling systems that improve on a buckle&#39;s resistance to debris. 
     SUMMARY 
     A seatbelt buckling system in accordance with this invention provides the advantage of limiting or preventing the debris from entering the buckle slot while maintaining an overall width similar to traditional designs. However, the slot is split into two slot portions, and the widths of each slot portion are smaller than the overall width of a single slot. This will improve the functioning of the buckle, and decrease the instances of required costly repair or replacement. The buckle includes a blocking member disposed within the slot that defines the two slot portions. The blocking member can be in the form of a blockout portion that is integral with the button. The blockout portion defines the smaller widths of the slots. A latch plate has two fingers that are part of a unitary structure. The single latch plate having two fingers resembles a similar latch plate and can be retrofitted to traditional systems. The buckle includes a latch member in the cavity that is pivotable in response to pressing the button. The latch member includes a pair of posts that retain the fingers by being inserted into windows defined by the fingers. 
     The blocking member can alternatively be in the form of a protrusion from an ejector that is disposed within the buckle. The protrusion extends toward the opening of the buckle slot and thereby splits the slot into two smaller slot portions. The ejector protrusion can be used instead of the blockout portion, because the protrusion blocks the debris from entering the housing. However, the ejector with the protrusion could also be used in addition to the blockout portion in some instances. 
     Additional benefits and advantages of the present invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art to which the present invention relates from the subsequent description of the preferred embodiment and the appended claims, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is an isometric view showing a seatbelt buckling system including a buckle and a latch plate having a pair of fingers; 
         FIG. 2  is an exploded view illustrating the buckle and latch plate, as well as internal components of the buckle; 
         FIG. 3  is a top view of the buckle, showing a blockout portion and pair of generally equal sized slots defined by the buckle and the blockout portion; 
         FIG. 4  is a front view of the latch plate, illustrating fingers having generally equal widths; 
         FIG. 5  is a cross-sectional view of the latch plate taken along line  5 - 5  of  FIG. 4 ; 
         FIG. 6  is a side view of the latch plate, showing a base portion of the latch plate being generally coplanar with the fingers; 
         FIG. 7  is a side view of the latch plate showing the latch plate aligned at an angle relative to the fingers; 
         FIG. 8  is a front view of a latch plate having fingers of different widths; 
         FIG. 9  is a top view of a buckle illustrating a blockout portion in an offset position and defining a pair of slots having different widths; 
         FIG. 10  is an isometric view showing an alternative buckle having a blocking member in the form an ejector protrusion; 
         FIG. 11  is an isometric view of an alternative latch plate having shorter fingers than the latch plate of  FIG. 2 ; 
         FIG. 12  is an isometric view of an alternative ejector having the ejector protrusion; and 
         FIG. 13  is an exploded of an alternate buckling system having the buckle of  FIG. 10 , the latch plate of  FIG. 11 , and the ejector of  FIG. 12 . 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     An occupant restraint system having a seatbelt buckling system  10  in accordance with various embodiments of this invention is illustrated in  FIGS. 1-9 . With reference to  FIG. 1 , the system  10  includes a buckle  12  adapted for mounting to a vehicle structure  14  and a latch plate  16  adapted for being received and secured by the buckle  12 . The latch plate  16  is further adapted to allow a seatbelt webbing  18  of the system  10  to be retained by the buckle  12  when the latch plate  16  is secured by the buckle. 
     In one approach, the belt webbing  18  has an anchor  20  at its lower end and a retractor  22  at its upper end. The anchor  20  and retractor  22  may or may not have a pre-tensioner function. Thus, the belt webbing  18  has three points of connection to the vehicle: at the ends of the belt webbing  18  and at the buckle  12  when the latch plate  16  is received and retained by the buckle  12 , thereby retaining the webbing  18 . 
     With reference to  FIGS. 1 and 2 , the buckle  12  has a generally rectangular cartridge shape. The buckle  12  is comprised of various components that are connected together via known manufacturing methods, such as via adhesives, mechanical fasteners, press fits, or the like. The buckle  12  is shown in  FIG. 2  in an exploded view, illustrating various internal components. The buckle  12  includes an outer housing  30  that defines the general outer shape of the buckle  12 . The housing  30  has a generally curved shape to provide a comfortable feel to the vehicle occupant. 
     The buckle  12  also includes a base cover  32  that is coupled to the outer housing  30  to provide a generally enclosed structure. Of course, other manners of provided an enclosed space could also be utilized, such as through injection molding the desired shape. It will be appreciated that other known manners for providing an enclosed space for the buckle  12  are contemplated in this disclosure. 
     The buckle  12 , therefore, also defines an interior cavity  36  within the outer housing  30  and base cover  32 . The interior cavity  36  is sized to accommodate various interior components of the buckle  12 , some of them fixed and some of them moveable relative to the housing  30  and base cover  32 . 
     For example, and with reference to  FIGS. 2 and 3 , the buckle  12  includes a pressable button  40  that translates within the buckle  12  relative to the housing  30 . The button  40  mechanically cooperates with an assembly of internal components  42  of the buckle  12 , causing the internal components  42  to move to release the latch plate  16  in a traditional manner. These internal components  42  are described in further detail below. 
     The buckle  12 , and its internal components  42 , have a closed state and an open state. The components  42  and button  40  are biased toward the closed state, such that when the button  40  is not pressed, the components  42  will be in a position to prevent an inserted latch plate  16  from being removed from the buckle  12 . Pressing the button  40  against its bias and toward the open state will in turn force the internal components  42  against their bias and into the open state, thereby allowing the latch plate  16  to be removed from the buckle. 
     The internal components  42  are also arranged to allow the latch plate  16  to be inserted into the buckle  12  without requiring that the button  40  be pressed, as is typical in traditional buckles. The latch plate  16  will cause the components to move upon contacting them, forcing them against their bias. Once the latch plate  16  has been inserted a predetermined distance, the bias of the components  42  will cause them to return to the closed state, thereby retaining the latch plate  16  in the closed position. 
     As stated above, and with reference to the exploded view of  FIG. 2 , the latch plate  16  is retained by the internal components  42  of the buckle  12  in a manner similar to conventional buckles. The internal components  42  include a base frame  110  and a latch member  80  that is rotatably coupled to the base member  110 . The latch member  80  includes a hinge protrusion  81  that is rotatably inserted in hinge holes  117  of the base member  110 . The components  42  further include an ejector  213  and a locking bar  230 . The ejector  213  is inserted into an ejector slot  118  of the base frame  110 . The locking bar  230  is inserted in a moving slot  116  of the base frame  110 . An inertial lever  160  is provided that is coupled to the button  40  and the locking bar  230 . When the button  40  is depressed, the locking bar  230  will move along the moving slot  116 , forcing the latch member  80  to pivot to an open position, releasing the latch plate  16 . 
     With reference to  FIG. 4 , unlike a traditional latch plate, which includes a single tongue portion, the latch plate  16  includes a tongue portion  50  having a pair of fingers  52 . Of course, additional fingers could also be used in other approaches. The fingers  52  each define a window  54  in the form of a through-hole extending through the body of each of the fingers  52 , such that there are two windows  54  to go along with the two fingers  52 . The windows  54  have a generally elongate shape extending in direction parallel to the longitudinal direction of the fingers  52 . However, other shapes could also be used in some embodiments, such as a window having the same length and width, or in the form of a circle or oval, or being wider than they are long. 
     The tongue  50 , including the fingers  52 , has a thin and flat shape, similar to a traditional latch plate. The tongue and each of the fingers  52  have a first flat surface on one side and a second flat surface on the opposite side. Accordingly, the tongue  50  and fingers  52  each have a generally rectangular cross-section, as shown in  FIG. 5 . The fingers  52  extend from a base portion  56  of the latch plate  16 , and the base portion  56  is wider than the tongue portion  50  including the fingers  52 . The base portion  56 , in one approach, is unitary with the fingers  52 , with an over-molded portion  57 , such as plastic, extending over the structure of the latch plate  16  to define the base portion  56 . In another approach, the base portion  56  can be a separate piece from the tongue  50  and attached to the tongue  50  using known attachment methods. 
     The base portion  56  also has a decreasing taper toward the fingers  52 , so that a transverse cross-section decreases toward the fingers  52 . The cross-section of the tongue  50  through the fingers  52  appears as pair of rectangles side by side, with a space in between, as shown in  FIG. 5 . 
     The tongue  50  also defines an elongate channel  58  between the fingers  52 . The channel  58  extends from the end of the fingers  52  to the base portion  56  in a direction parallel to the longitudinal axis of the tongue  50 . The channel  58  is accordingly configured to allow an element to be received through the channel  58 . Put another way, the tongue  50  having two fingers  52  can be inserted into a pair of openings that are spaced apart by a physical element. 
     With reference to  FIG. 6 , the base portion  56  of the latch plate  16  can lie along the same plane as the tongue  50  and fingers  52 , in one approach. In another approach, the base portion  56  can be aligned in a plane that is at an angle to the plane of the tongue  50  and fingers  52 , as shown in  FIG. 7 . In this approach, the relationship of the latch plate  16  relative to the buckle will depend on the orientation of the latch plate  16  when it is inserted. 
     The fingers  52 , in one approach, are the same size and length, as shown in  FIG. 4 , and are arranged symmetrically on the latch plate  16 . In this approach, the latch plate  16  can be inserted regardless of whether it is flipped about its longitudinal axis. Accordingly, fingers  52  having the same size are preferable for the latch plate having a coplanar base portion  56 . 
     With reference to  FIG. 8 , in another approach, the fingers  52  have different sizes, and are therefore asymmetrical on the latch plate  16 . In this approach, the latch plate  16  can be inserted in one orientation, but not a flipped orientation. This configuration of the fingers  52  may be preferable for the latch plate having an angled base portion  56 , so that the base portion  56  is angled in the same direction relative to the buckle  12  when the latch plate is inserted. 
     It will be appreciated, however, that different sized fingers  52  could be used for the flat latch plate  16  configuration. Similarly, like-sized fingers  52  can be used on the bent latch plate  16  configuration. 
     The latch plate  16  can be inserted without requiring actuation of the button  40 . The latch plate  16  is retained by posts  82  that are received in the windows  54  of the fingers  52 . The posts  82  are part of the latch member  80 . The latch member  80  is operatively coupled to the button  40 , such that depressing the button  40  will pivot the latch member  80 , moving the posts  82  out of engagement with the windows  54 . Movement of the latch member  80  will cause both posts  82  to move, such that each of the fingers  52  are released at approximately the same time. The ejector  213  is biased in a direction opposite the direction of insertion. When the posts  82  are released from the fingers  52 , the ejector  213  will force the fingers  52  and the latch plate away from the posts  80 , such that the latch plate  16  will be ejected from the buckle  12 , and the latch plate  16  can be removed even if the button  40  is no longer pressed. 
     With reference to  FIG. 3 , the buckle  12  and its component parts combine to define a pair of slots  60  that are arranged side by side. The slots  60  are sized and configured to receive the fingers  52  of the latch plate. Preferably, the slots  60  are sized slightly larger than the fingers  52 , allowing the fingers  52  to be more easily inserted into the slots  60 . However, the slots  60  are not too large such that the fingers  52  and latch plate  16  will not be securely fastened within the buckle  12  when inserted. The slots  60  are separated by a blocking member  69  in the form of a blockout portion  70  that is integrated into the buckle  12 . The blockout portion  70 , in a preferred approach, is integrated with the button  40 . However, the blockout portion could also be integrated with the housing  30  in another approach. Put another way, the buckle  12  defines a slot, and the blockout portion  70  splits the slot and defines first and second slot portions. Other forms of the blocking member  69  will be described later with reference to internal components of the buckle  12 . 
     In one approach, the blockout portion  70  is positioned within the buckle  12  to define a pair of equally sized slots  60 , as illustrated in  FIG. 3 . In this approach, the blockout portion  70  is generally centered on the buckle  12 , such that the buckle  12  is symmetrical when viewing the slots  60  from the direction of insertion. In this approach, the latch plate  16  can be inserted in two different 180 degree orientations. This may be preferable in designs where the latch plate  16  can become flipped due to twisting or folding of the seatbelt webbing  18 , and where the orientation of the latch plate  16  is immaterial, such as a latch plate  16  that appears the same regardless of 180 degree orientation. 
     With reference to  FIG. 9 , the blockout portion  70  is offset to one side, either left or right, such that the slots  60  have different widths and the buckle  12  appears asymmetrical when viewed in the direction of insertion. In this approach, the latch plate  16  can be inserted in one particular orientation. 
     As described above, the fingers  52  can be like-sized or have different sizes. Accordingly, like-sized fingers  52  are used in buckles  12  that have a centered blockout portion  70 , and different sized fingers  52  are used for buckles  12  having an offset blockout portion  70 . 
     As described above, the blockout portion  70  is integrated into the buckle  12 . With reference to  FIG. 3 , the blockout portion  70 , in one approach, is integrated into the button  40  that moves into and out of the buckle  12 . Accordingly, the blockout portion  70  will travel along with the button  40  as it is pressed to release the latch plate  16  from the buckle  12 . When the latch plate  16  is inserted into the buckle  12 , the blockout portion  70  remains near the top of the buckle  12  and will not move. The insertion of the fingers  52  into the slots  60  will not act against the blockout portion  70 . If the latch plate  16  is misaligned during an attempted insertion, the fingers  52  will not enter the slots  60 . In the event one of the fingers  52  contacts the blockout portion  70 , the latch plate  16  will be restricted from insertion and moving the button, because the other of the fingers  52  will contact the buckle housing  30 . 
     When the latch plate  16  is not inserted into the buckle  12 , the blockout portion  70  will remain at the top of the buckle  12 , thereby reducing the ability of debris to enter the interior of the buckle  12 . 
     When the button  40  is depressed while the latch plate  16  is inserted, the movement of the blockout portion  70  into the buckle  12  will not increase the ability of debris to enter the buckle  12 , because the base portion  56  of the latch plate will span top of the buckle  12 , blocking debris. 
     If the button  40  is depressed when the latch plate  16  is not inserted, it is possible for wider debris to enter the buckle  12  when the blockout portion  70  is inside the buckle. However, the blockout portion  70  will move back toward the top of the buckle  12  when the button returns to the top of the buckle, thereby expelling wider debris that may have entered. Moreover, instances of the button  40  being depressed without the latch plate  16  being inserted are rare, as there is no reason to depress the button  40  if the latch plate  16  is not inserted, as the purpose of the button  40  being depressed is to release the latch plate  16 . It does not need to be depressed for the latch plate  16  to enter the buckle  12 . 
     By integrating the blockout portion  70  with the button  40 , existing buckle designs can be modified by replacing a traditional button with the button  40  having the blockout portion  70 . The remaining portions of the button  40  can remain unchanged. The space occupied by the blockout portion  70  is already present in previous designs, so the blockout portion  70  will simply occupy that space. Similarly, existing latch plates can be replaced by the latch plate  16  having the two fingers  52  that correspond to the widths of the slots  60  defined by the position of the blockout portion  70 . The latch member  80  having the two posts  82  that retain the fingers  52  through the windows  54  can replace a traditional latch member having a single post or claw used with traditional single tongue/window designs. 
     In an alternative approach, the blockout portion  70  is integrated into the buckle housing  30 . In this approach, the blockout portion  70  will remain at the top of the buckle  12 . It will not move as the button  40  is depressed. This approach can be beneficial to designs where the button  40  is not adjacent the slots  60 . For example, the button  40  can be disposed on the side of the buckle  12 . This alternative approach can apply to the arrangements shown in  FIGS. 1, 3, and 9 , but with the blockout portion  70  being integral with the buckle housing  30  instead of the button  40 . 
     As described above, the blockout portion  70  limits the introduction of debris into the buckle  12 . The blockout portion  70  cooperates with the fingers  52  of the latch plate  16  to allow the latch plate  16  to be inserted into the buckle  12 . The fingers  52  define the channel  58  that is disposed between the fingers  52 . The above described ejector  213  cooperates with the end of the latch plate  16  to help eject the latch plate  16  from the buckle  12  when the button  40  is depressed. More particularly, the inserted end of the latch plate  16  forces the ejector further  213  into the buckle  12  and the latch plate  16  is held in place, with the ejector  213  biased against the insertion direction. Once the button  40  is pressed, the latch plate  16  is released, which allows the ejector to force the latch plate  16  out of the buckle  12  in response to the bias of the ejector  213 . 
     The above described ejector  213  has a generally flat surface against which the latch plate  16  acts. This type of ejector can also be used for traditional single tongue latch plates. The above described latch plate  16  with the two fingers  52 , however, defines the channel  58  and does not make uninterrupted contact across the ejector  213 . When the two fingers  52  make contact with the ejector  213 , the contact between ejector  213  and fingers  52  combines to define a closed loop, enclosing the channel  58 . 
     Accordingly, in another approach and with reference to  FIGS. 12 and 13 , the ejector  213  can optionally include an ejector protrusion portion  214  that extends longitudinally from the ejector  213  toward the opening of the buckle  12 . This elongate protrusion  214  may also reduce the introduction of debris into the buckle  12  in addition to or as an alternative to the blockout portion. 
     The protrusion portion  214  is sized to have a width corresponding to the spacing between the fingers  52 , such that the fingers  52  can move past the protrusion  214  as the latch plate  16  is inserted. 
     The length of the protrusion portion  214  depends on whether the buckle  12  includes the blockout portion  70  integrated with the button  40 . If the blockout portion  70  is included, the blockout portion  70  moves with the button  40  as it pressed. Thus, the blockout portion  70  would move toward the ejector protrusion  214 . Accordingly, the ejector protrusion  214 , in this approach, has a length that is short enough to allow the button  40  to be depressed without the blockout portion  70  contacting the ejector protrusion  214 . 
     However, in instances where the blockout portion  70  is not integrated with the button  40 , for example when the blockout portion  70  is integrated with the housing  30  or if the blockout portion  70  is not used, the length of the protrusion  214  can be longer. In these cases, the button  40  can travel downward into the buckle  12  without interfering with the ejector protrusion  214 . 
     In instances where the blockout portion  70  is in a fixed position, the length of the ejector protrusion  214  is such that it is short enough to remain recessed behind the blockout portion  70  when the ejector  213  is positioned toward the opening of the buckle  12  and not pressed into the buckle  12  by the latch plate  16  being inserted. Thus, the above described ejector  213  having the ejector protrusion  214  can be used in the embodiments of  FIGS. 1-9 . 
     However, as mentioned above, the blocking member  69  can also be in the form of an end  215  of the ejector protrusion  214  instead of in the form of the blockout portion  70 . The existence of the ejector protrusion  214  allows for the buckle  12  to limit the introduction of debris without using the blockout portion  70 . In instances where there is no blockout portion  70 , the ejector protrusion  214  itself provides the resistance to debris entering the buckle  12 . 
     With reference to  FIGS. 10-13 , the end  215  of the ejector protrusion  214  that is disposed near the opening of the buckle  12  is positioned within the slot  60  similar to the positioning of the above described blockout portion  70 . The ejector protrusion  214 , rather than the blockout portion  70 , defines the pair of slots  60 . Similar to the blockout portion  70 , the ejector protrusion  214  could also be offset to the side to define differently sized slots  60 . 
     In this approach, the button  40  and housing  30  are the same as in a traditional buckle with a single tongue latch plate, such that without the ejector protrusion  214 , a traditional single-tongue latch plate could be inserted into the slot  60 . The existence of the ejector protrusion  214 , however, prevents the instruction of a single-tongue latch plate. The ejector  213  having the ejector protrusion  214  can quickly and efficiently replace the traditional ejector in traditional buckles. 
     In this approach, the length of the ejector protrusion  214  will generally correspond to the length of the channel  58 . Or, put another way, the length of the channel  58  will correspond to the length of the ejector protrusion  214 . The protrusion  214  could also be shorter than the length of the channel  58 . In this case, a gap would be defined between the end  215  of the protrusion  214  and the end of the channel  58 , and the fingers  52  would still contact the ejector  213  to force the ejector inward when the latch plate  16  is inserted. The protrusion  214  can also be longer than the channel  58 . In this case, the end  215  of the protrusion will contact the end of the channel  58 , but the fingers  52  will not contact the ejector  213 . However, the ejector  213  can still operate to eject the latch plate  16  by way of its contact with the latch plate  16  at the end of the channel  58 . 
     The channel  58  and fingers  52  are generally shorter than those used with the blockout portion  70 . This shorter channel  58  is the result of the ejector  213  being pushed down in to the buckle  12  when the latch plate  16  is inserted into the buckle  12 . As described above, the ejector  213  travels toward the opening when the button  40  is depressed to eject the latch plate  16 , and remains near the opening when the latch plate  16  is not inserted. Thus, the end  215  of the ejector protrusion  214  is pushed down into the buckle  12  as the latch plate  16  is inserted. This is in contrast to the blockout portion  70  that remains at the top of the buckle  12  when the latch plate  16  is inserted. Because the ejector  213  and the end  215  of the ejector protrusion  214  move into the buckle  12 , the channel  58  does not need to be as long. The length of the ejector protrusion  214  is such that it will extend up to the opening of the buckle  12  when the ejector  213  is disposed toward the opening (when the latch plate  16  is not inserted). With the end  215  of the ejector protrusion  214  disposed at the opening, the ejector protrusion  214  blocks debris from entering the buckle  12  in a manner similar to the blockout portion  70 . The protrusion  214  moves away from the opening in response to the latch plate  16  being inserted, and at this point the latch plate  16  is blocking debris, so the movement of the ejector  213  and protrusion  214  does not allow debris to enter after being moved further into the buckle  12 . 
     Thus, the blocking member  69  can be in the form of the blockout portion  70  or alternatively in the form of the ejector protrusion  213 . The ejector protrusion  214  can be used without the blockout portion  70 , or could be used in addition to the blockout portion  70 , if desired. 
     The above described embodiments provide a buckle system that is resistant to debris entering the buckle  12 , while maintaining the traditional size and operation of previous systems. The forces acting on the latch plate  16  are generally in the direction opposite insertion, which are caused when the belt webbing  18  is put under tension during a vehicle deceleration. The unitary structure of the latch plate  16  having two fingers  52  retains a similar tensile strength relative to a single tongue. Accordingly, the buckle  12  and latch plate  16  of the above described embodiments provide similar functionality to a traditional buckle, but with increased resistance to damage and requirement for repair due to foreign objects entering the buckle  12 . 
     While the above description constitutes the preferred embodiment of the present invention, it will be appreciated that the invention is susceptible to modification, variation and change without departing from the proper scope and fair meaning of the accompanying claims.