초록

A buckle assembly for a vehicle restraint system where the buckle assembly is adapted to receive a plurality of belt connectors, with the belt connectors being simultaneously released upon moving at least one handle to a release position.

대표청구항 ▼

What is claimed is: 1. A buckle assembly for attachment to a plurality of belt connectors, the buckle assembly comprising: a buckle base having a bottom portion and spaced apart upstanding flanges at least along lateral edges of the bottom portion; a first latching mechanism mounted between the spa

What is claimed is: 1. A buckle assembly for attachment to a plurality of belt connectors, the buckle assembly comprising: a buckle base having a bottom portion and spaced apart upstanding flanges at least along lateral edges of the bottom portion; a first latching mechanism mounted between the spaced apart upstanding flanges of the bottom portion, wherein the first latching mechanism includes a first latch pawl that is movable to a first engaging position in which the first latch pawl engages a first latching abutment of a first belt connector, and wherein the first latching mechanism further includes a first biasing element urging the first latch pawl toward the first engaging position; at least a second latching mechanism spaced apart from the first latching mechanism and mounted between the spaced apart upstanding flanges of the bottom portion, wherein the second latching mechanism includes a second latch pawl that is independently movable relative to the first latch pawl to a second engaging position in which the second latch pawl engages a second latching abutment of a second belt connector, and wherein the second latching mechanism further includes a second biasing element urging the second latch pawl toward the second engaging position; and an operating handle movable between a latch position toward the buckle base and a release position away from the buckle base, wherein the first latch pawl is engaged with the first latching abutment and the second latch pawl is engaged with the second latching abutment when the operating handle is in the latch position, and wherein the first latch pawl is disengaged from the first latching abutment and the second latch pawl is disengaged from the second latching abutment when the operating handle is moved away from the buckle base toward the release position. 2. The buckle assembly of claim 1, further comprising at least one pivot axle coupled to the buckle base, wherein at least the first latch pawl is pivotally coupled to the pivot axle. 3. The buckle assembly of claim 1, further comprising first and second pivot axles coupled to the buckle base, wherein the first latch pawl is pivotally coupled to the first pivot axle and the second latch pawl is pivotally coupled to the second pivot axle. 4. The buckle assembly of claim 1 wherein the buckle base includes at least two upstanding parallel flanges, and wherein the buckle assembly further comprises at least one pivot axle received in apertures in the upstanding flanges, wherein at least the first latch pawl is pivotally coupled to the pivot axle. 5. The buckle assembly of claim 1 wherein the buckle base includes at least three upstanding parallel flanges. 6. The buckle assembly of claim 5 wherein the buckle base receives the first belt connector between a first pair of the upstanding parallel flanges and the second belt connector between a second pair of the upstanding parallel flanges. 7. The buckle assembly of claim 5, further comprising at least one pivot axle received in apertures in the upstanding flanges, wherein at least the first latch pawl is pivotally coupled to the at least one pivot axle. 8. The buckle assembly of claim 1 wherein the operating handle is pivotally coupled to the buckle base. 9. The buckle assembly of claim 1 wherein the operating handle is pivotally coupled to the spaced apart upstanding flanges of the buckle base. 10. The buckle assembly of claim 1, further comprising at least one resilient member that biases the operating handle toward the latch position. 11. The buckle assembly of claim 1 wherein the operating handle moves the first latch pawl away from the first engaging position and the second latch pawl away from the second engaging position as the operating handle moves toward the release position. 12. The buckle assembly of claim 1 wherein the first latching abutment of the first belt connector includes a first edge portion of a first aperture in the first belt connector, and wherein the second latching abutment of the second belt connector includes a second edge portion of a second aperture in the second belt connector. 13. The buckle assembly of claim 1 wherein the operating handle rotates away from the buckle base when moving from the latch position to the release position. 14. A buckle assembly for attachment to a plurality of belt connectors, the buckle assembly comprising: a buckle base having a bottom portion and first, second, and third spaced apart upstanding flanges; a first latching mechanism mounted between the first and second upstanding flanges of the bottom portion, wherein the first latching mechanism includes a first latch pawl that is movable to a first engaging position in which the first latch pawl engages a first latching abutment of a first belt connector, and wherein the first latching mechanism further includes a first biasing element urging the first latch pawl toward the first engaging position; at least a second latching mechanism spaced apart from the first latching mechanism and mounted between the first and second upstanding flanges of the bottom portion, wherein the second latching mechanism includes a second latch pawl that is independently movable relative to the first latch pawl to a second engaging position in which the second latch pawl engages a second latching abutment of a second belt connector, and wherein the second latching mechanism further includes a second biasing element urging the second latch pawl toward the second engaging position; at least one pivot axle received in apertures in the first, second, and third upstanding flanges, wherein the at least one pivot axle is comprised of a first axle portion and a second axle portion, and wherein the first latch pawl is pivotally coupled to the first axle portion and the second latch pawl is pivotally coupled to the second axle portion; and an operating handle movable between a latch position and a release position, wherein the first latch pawl is engaged with the first latching abutment and the second latch pawl is engaged with the second latching abutment when the operating handle is in the latch position, and wherein the first latch pawl is disengaged from the first latching abutment and the second latch pawl is disengaged from the second latching abutment when the operating handle is in the release position. 15. The buckle assembly of claim 14 wherein the third upstanding flange is positioned between the first and second upstanding flanges. 16. The buckle assembly of claim 14 wherein the third upstanding flange is positioned between the first and second upstanding flanges, wherein the first latching mechanism is mounted between the first and third upstanding flanges, and the second latching mechanism is mounted between the third and second upstanding flanges. 17. The buckle assembly of claim 14, further comprising at least one resilient member that biases the operating handle toward the latch position. 18. A buckle assembly for attachment to a plurality of belt connectors, the buckle assembly comprising: a buckle base; a first latching mechanism mounted to the buckle base, wherein the first latching mechanism includes a first latch pawl that is movable to a first engaging position in which the first latch pawl engages a first edge portion of a first aperture in a first belt connector, and wherein the first latching mechanism further includes a first biasing element urging the first latch pawl toward the first engaging position; a second latching mechanism spaced apart from the first latching mechanism and mounted to the buckle base, wherein the second latching mechanism includes a second latch pawl that is independently movable relative to the first latch pawl to a second engaging position in which the second latch pawl engages a second edge portion of a second aperture in a second belt connector, and wherein the second latching mechanism further includes a second biasing element urging the second latch pawl toward the second engaging position; and an operating handle movable in a direction away from the buckle base to a release position in which the first latch pawl is disengaged from the first edge portion of the first aperture and the second latch pawl is disengaged from the second edge portion of the second aperture. 19. The buckle assembly of claim 18 wherein the operating handle is pivotally movable to the release position. 20. The buckle assembly of claim 18 wherein the operating handle is pivotally coupled to the buckle base. 21. The buckle assembly of claim 18 wherein the operating handle moves the first latch pawl away from the first engaging position and the second latch pawl away from the second engaging position as the operating handle pivots toward the release position. 22. The buckle assembly of claim 18 wherein the buckle base includes first and second spaced apart upstanding flanges, wherein the first and second latching mechanisms are mounted between the first and second upstanding flanges, and wherein the operating handle is pivotally coupled to the first and second upstanding flanges. 23. The buckle assembly of claim 18 wherein the first latching mechanism includes a first pivot axle and the second latching mechanism includes a second pivot axle, and wherein the first latch pawl is operably coupled to the first pivot axle and the second latch pawl is operably coupled to the second pivot axle. 24. The buckle assembly of claim 18 wherein the buckle base includes first and second spaced apart upstanding flanges, wherein the buckle assembly further comprises a pivot axle extending between the first and second upstanding flanges, wherein first and second latching mechanisms are pivotally mounted to the pivot axle between the first and second upstanding flanges, and wherein the operating handle is pivotally mounted to the pivot axle. 25. A buckle assembly for attachment to a plurality of belt connectors, the buckle assembly comprising: a buckle base having first and second spaced apart upstanding flanges; a first latching mechanism mounted to the buckle base, wherein the first latching mechanism includes a first latch pawl that is movable to a first engaging position in which the first latch pawl engages a first edge portion of a first aperture in a first belt connector, and wherein the first latching mechanism further includes a first biasing element urging the first latch pawl toward the first engaging position; a second latching mechanism spaced apart from the first latching mechanism and mounted to the buckle base, wherein the second latching mechanism includes a second latch pawl that is independently movable relative to the first latch pawl to a second engaging position in which the second latch pawl engages a second edge portion of a second aperture in a second belt connector, and wherein the second latching mechanism further includes a second biasing element urging the second latch pawl toward the second engaging position; an operating handle movable to a release position in which the first latch pawl is disengaged from the first edge portion of the first aperture and the second latch pawl is disengaged from the second edge portion of the second aperture; a pivot axle extending between the first and second upstanding flanges, wherein first and second latching mechanisms are pivotally mounted to the pivot axle between the first and second upstanding flanges, and wherein the operating handle is pivotally mounted to the pivot axle; and a third upstanding flange positioned between the first and second upstanding flanges and between the first and second latching mechanisms, wherein the pivot axle extends through an aperture in the third upstanding flange. 26. The buckle assembly of claim 25 wherein the operating handle is pivotally coupled to the buckle base. 27. The buckle assembly of claim 25 wherein the operating handle is pivotally coupled to the first and second spaced apart upstanding flanges of the buckle base.