Patent ID: 7073235

Claim:
A non-inertial release restraint buckle assembly for use in vehicles having restraining belts, the buckle assembly comprising: a buckle housing, a latch plate receiving channel defined within said housing, an opening in one end of said housing communicating with said channel and of a size to receiving a latch plate therein, a latch plate having a leading end, an opening in said latch plate spaced from said leading end, at least one latch mounted in said housing and including latch means for engaging within said opening in said latch plate when said at least one latch is in a first locked position to prevent withdrawal of said latch plate from said housing, said at least one latch being resiliently moveable against a first resilient means that normally urges the at least one latch toward said first locked position thereof to a second release position spaced from of said opening to permit said latch plate to be inserted into and withdrawn from said housing, a pair of oppositely oriented push button mechanisms mounted within said housing and extending outwardly through openings in opposite side walls of said housing, each of said push button mechanisms being movable generally transversely with respect to an elongated axis of said channel from first outer locking positions relative to said housing wherein a portion of each of said push button mechanisms retains said at least one latch in said locked position thereof to second inner release positions relative to said housing wherein said push button mechanisms no longer retain said at least one latch in said locked position thereof, second resilient means mounted within said housing for constantly urging said push button mechanisms toward said first locking positions thereof with oppositely directed forces and such that when one of said push button mechanisms is urged toward it's second release position by a force, a simultaneous increase in force is applied to retain the other push button mechanism in said first locking position thereof, and each of said push button mechanisms being engageable with said at least one latch so as to move said at least one latch to said release position thereof to permit insertion or withdrawal of said latch plate only when said push button mechanisms are simultaneously urged to said second release positions thereof whereby said at least one latch can not be moved to release a latch plate in engagement therewith by inertial forces applied to said buckle housing.