Patent ID: 8020894

Claim:
A vehicle occupant restraint system, comprising: a seat belt webbing connected to a latch plate, wherein the latch plate is configured to be releasably connected to a buckle assembly in order to secure the webbing in a position capable of restraining an occupant; wherein the buckle assembly includes: a release button; a blocking component configured to engage the latch plate in order to connect the latch plate to the buckle assembly, wherein the blocking component is configured to disengage from the latch plate in order to facilitate the release of the latch plate when the release button is depressed; a solenoid coupled to a connecting member positioned to engage the blocking component; a solenoid actuator electrically connected to the solenoid; and wherein when the solenoid actuator actuates the solenoid, the connecting member is configured to move to thereby change the position of the blocking component in order to disengage the blocking component from the latch plate, wherein the release button includes a protrusion configured to contact and shift a portion of the blocking component when the release button is depressed, wherein the solenoid pulls the connecting member when the solenoid is actuated wherein the connecting member is J-shaped or U-shaped, wherein the blocking component has an opening, and wherein the connecting member and blocking component are coupled such that a portion of the connecting member is inserted in the opening of the blocking component and the connecting member partially contains a portion of the blocking component.