초록 ▼

A seatbelt assembly with a buckle has male and female mating parts, in which the male part includes features to prevent disengagement operation by a child. The child resistant features include added ribs, webbing in the form of flanges or struts, or barbs or prongs that increase the difficulty for d

A seatbelt assembly with a buckle has male and female mating parts, in which the male part includes features to prevent disengagement operation by a child. The child resistant features include added ribs, webbing in the form of flanges or struts, or barbs or prongs that increase the difficulty for disengaging the buckle. The female part can have an arcuate outer surface to increase the overall durability of the buckle and resist damaging external forces or damaging misuse. The female part can also be provided with lateral shoulders to make the female part harder to withdraw and thus more child resistant. The seatbelt assembly with the child resistant buckle can be operated easily by an adult, while remaining secure from disengagement by a typical child.

대표청구항 ▼

What is claimed is: 1. A child resistant seat belt buckle, comprising: a first buckle connector having a pair of latch arms; a second buckle connector having a pair of latch receptacles for receiving respective ones of the latch arms to couple the first and second buckle connectors together; the fi

What is claimed is: 1. A child resistant seat belt buckle, comprising: a first buckle connector having a pair of latch arms; a second buckle connector having a pair of latch receptacles for receiving respective ones of the latch arms to couple the first and second buckle connectors together; the first and second buckle connectors being uncoupled through displacement of both of the latch arms away from respective latch receptacles to disengage the latch arms and latch receptacles; and the latch arms both being arranged to be displaceable with a displacement urging force applied to both latch arms in concert; and the latch arms having a construction to resist displacement until subjected to a concerted displacement urging force of about 5.5 pounds or greater. 2. The buckle according to claim 1, wherein the concerted displacement force is equal to or greater than about 6.0 pounds. 3. The buckle according to claim 1, wherein the concerted displacement force is equal to or greater than about 6.5 pounds. 4. The buckle according to claim 1, wherein the concerted displacement force is in the range of from about 6.0 pounds to about 16 pounds. 5. The buckle according to claim 1, wherein the concerted displacement force is in the range of from about 5.5 pounds to about 17.5 pounds. 6. The buckle according to claim 1, wherein the concerted displacement force is in the range of from about 6.0 pounds to about 10.75 pounds. 7. The buckle according to claim 1, wherein the first and second buckle connectors are composed of an impact modified nylon. 8. The buckle according to claim 1, wherein the buckle has a width dimension greater than or equal to approximately 3 cm. 9. The buckle according to claim 1, wherein the latch arms are arranged in a coupled buckle such that the force is applied as a squeezing force over a dimension of about 3 cm. 10. The buckle according to claim 9, wherein the first and second buckle connectors are composed of an impact modified nylon. 11. The buckle according to claim 9, wherein the buckle connectors have walls with a thickness of greater than about 0.07 inches. 12. The buckle according to claim 1, wherein one or more of the latch arms further comprise: a tapered portion accessible to the displacement urging force when the first and second buckle connectors are coupled together; an engagement structure and an operative region on the tapered portion near the engagement structure; a non-operative region on the tapered portion and farther away from the engagement structure than the operative region; and the tapered portion being shaped to urge the displacement urging force toward the non-operative region. 13. The buckle according to claim 1, wherein the buckle connectors have walls with a thickness of greater than about 0.07 inches. 14. The buckle according to claim 13, wherein the first and second buckle connectors are composed of an impact modified nylon. 15. The buckle according to claim 1, further comprising: a range of movement of one or more of the latch arms; a portion of the range being operative to permit the one or more latch arms to be disengaged from a respective latch receptacle; and a tapered portion on the one or more latch arms being shaped or positioned to impede the displacement urging force from operating the one or more latch arms in the operative range portion. 16. The buckle according to claim 1, wherein one or more of the latch receptacles further comprises: an edge arranged to cooperate with a respective latch arm to engage the latch arm and the one or more latch receptacle; and a relationship between the latch arm and the one or more latch receptacle wherein the latch arm is urged against the edge of the one or more latch receptacle in an engaged position to thereby preload the latch arm against the displacement urging force. 17. A child resistant seatbelt buckle, comprising: a buckle connector having a first pair of latch members; another buckle connector having a second pair of latch members operable to cooperatively engage with respective ones of the first pair to couple the buckle connectors together when the first and second pairs of latch members cooperate; one of the first or second pairs of latch members being displaceable; the buckle connectors being uncoupled through displacement of the displaceable pair of latch members away from respective ones of the other of the first or second pair; each of the latch members of the displaceable pair being arranged to be displaceable with a combined displacement urging force applied simultaneously to both displaceable latch members; and a construction of the displaceable latch members enabling resistance to displacement until subjected to the combined displacement urging force of about 5.5 pounds or greater. 18. The buckle according to claim 17, wherein the combined displacement force is equal to or greater than about 6.0 pounds. 19. The buckle according to claim 17, wherein the combined displacement force is equal to or greater than about 6.5 pounds. 20. The buckle according to claim 17, wherein the combined displacement force is in the range of from about 6.0 pounds to about 16 pounds. 21. The buckle according to claim 20, wherein the first and second buckle connectors are composed of an impact modified nylon. 22. The buckle according to claim 20, wherein the buckle connectors have walls with a thickness of greater than about 0.07 inches. 23. The buckle according to claim 17, wherein the combined displacement force is in the range of from about 5.5 pounds to about 17.5 pounds. 24. The buckle according to claim 17, wherein the combined displacement force is in the range of from about 6.0 pounds to about 10.75 pounds. 25. The seatbelt assembly according to claim 17, wherein the buckle connectors are composed of an impact modified nylon. 26. The buckle according to claim 17, wherein the buckle has a width dimension greater than or equal to approximately 3 cm. 27. The buckle according to claim 17, wherein the displaceable latch members are arranged in a coupled buckle such that the force is applied as a squeezing force over a dimension of about 3 cm. 28. The buckle according to claim 17, wherein the displaceable latch members further comprise: an engagement structure for engaging the respective cooperative latch member in the other of the first or second pair; and a tapered portion near the engagement structure having operative and non-operative regions; the non-operative region being located farther away from the engagement structure than the operative region; and the tapered portion being shaped to urge the displacement urging force toward the non-operative region. 29. The buckle according to claim 17, wherein the buckle connectors have walls with a thickness of greater than about 0.07 inches. 30. The buckle according to claim 17, further comprising: a range of movement for each of the displaceable latch members; a portion of each range being operative to permit the buckle connectors to be uncoupled; and a tapered portion on each of the displaceable latch members being shaped or positioned to impede the displacement urging force from operating displaceable latch members in a respective operative range portion. 31. The buckle according to claim 17, wherein the construction of one or more of the latch members in the first or second pair further comprises: an edge arranged to cooperate with the respective cooperative latch member in the other of the first or second pair to contribute to permitting the first and second latch members to be cooperatively engaged; and the respective cooperative latch member being urged against the edge in an engaged position to thereby preload the respective cooperative latch member against the displacement urging force. 32. A child resistant buckle, comprising: a female connector having an opening on one end and an elongated notch in an outer surface; the elongated notch having a floor and a wall adjoining the floor for defining a portion of the notch; a through slot in the floor of the elongated notch to permit the notch to receive a latch component from inside the female connector; a male connector receivable in the opening of the female connector and including at least one resilient tang with a fixed end and a moveable end and a tapered portion extending away from the moveable end and being releasably receivable for engagement in the slot when the female and male connectors are coupled such that the moveable end, floor and wall form another notch smaller than the elongated notch; and the smaller notch forming a non-operative area, whereby the at least one tang is not substantially disengaged when actuated at the smaller notch. 33. The buckle according to claim 32, wherein the tapered portion contributes to urging an applied actuation toward the non-operative area to contribute to preventing uncoupling of the male and female connectors by a child. 34. The buckle according to claim 32, wherein the at least one tang further comprises: an engagement structure and an operative region on the tapered portion near the engagement structure; a non-operative region on the tapered portion and farther away from the engagement structure than the operative region; and the tapered portion being shaped to urge an applied actuation toward the non-operative region. 35. The buckle according to claim 32, further comprising: a range of movement of the at least one tang; a portion of the range being operative to permit the male and female connectors to be uncoupled; and the tapered portion being at least one of shaped and positioned to impede an applied actuation from operating the at least one tang in the operative range portion. 36. The buckle according to claim 32, further comprising a compression latch structure being disengageable by displacement of a latch component and arranged with the at least one resilient tang whereby the at least one resilient tang and the latch component resist displacement to release the engagement until being both subjected to a combined displacement urging force of about 5.5 pounds or greater. 37. The buckle according to claim 36, wherein the combined displacement urging force is about 6.5 pounds or greater. 38. The buckle according to claim 36, wherein the combined displacement urging force is in the range of from about 6.0 pounds to about 16 pounds. 39. The buckle according to claim 36, wherein the combined displacement urging force is in the range of from about 5.5 pounds to about 17.5 pounds. 40. The buckle according to claim 36, wherein the combined displacement urging force is in the range of from about 6.0 pounds to about 10.75 pounds. 41. The buckle according to claim 32, wherein the buckle connectors are composed of an impact modified nylon. 42. The buckle according to claim 32, wherein the buckle has a width dimension greater than or equal to approximately 3 cm. 43. The buckle according to claim 36, wherein the at least one tang is arranged in a coupled buckle such that the combined displacement urging force is applied as a squeezing force over a dimension of about 2 cm to about 3 cm. 44. The buckle according to claim 36, wherein the at least one tang further comprises: an engagement structure and an operative region on the tapered portion near the engagement structure; a non-operative region on the tapered portion and farther away from the engagement structure than the operative region; and the tapered portion being shaped to urge an applied disengagement force toward the non-operative region. 45. The buckle according to claim 32, wherein the buckle connectors have walls with a thickness of greater than about 0.07 inches. 46. The buckle according to claim 36, wherein the buckle connectors are composed of an impact modified nylon. 47. The buckle according to claim 45, wherein the buckle connectors are composed of an impact modified nylon. 48. The buckle according to claim 43, wherein the buckle connectors have walls with a thickness of greater than about 0.07 inches. 49. The buckle according to claim 36, further comprising: a range of movement of the at least one tang; a portion of the range being operative to permit the buckle connectors to be uncoupled; and the tapered portion on the at least one tang being shaped or positioned to impede an applied actuation from operating the at least one tang in the operative range portion. 50. The buckle according to claim 32, wherein the elongated notch further comprises: an edge arranged to cooperatively engage the at least one tang; and the at least one tang being urged against the edge of the elongated notch in an engaged position to thereby preload the at least one tang against the displacement urging force. 51. A child resistant buckle, comprising: a first and second connector shaped to permit the connectors to mate with each other; a pair of latch elements in one of the first and second connectors and a pair of cooperative catch elements in the other of the first and second connectors, each latch and catch element being respectively cooperative to clasp the buckle when the connectors are mated; the latch and catch elements being displaceable simultaneously together against a resistance to disengage the latch and catch elements to unclasp the buckle, the resistance being greater than a displacement force capable of being exerted by a child aged 48 months or less the resistance being a force of about 5.5 pounds or greater; one or more of the connectors having a structural support with a dimension sufficient to maintain sufficient structural integrity to maintain the operative feature when the one or more connectors is subjected to a given force; and the connectors being composed of impact modified nylon. 52. The buckle according to claim 51, wherein the structural support includes one or more walls having a thickness of about 0.07 inches or greater. 53. A child resistant buckle, comprising: a buckle connector having a first pair of latch members; another buckle connector having a second pair of latch members operable to respectively cooperate with the first pair to couple the buckle connectors when the first and second pairs of latch members respectively cooperate; the buckle connectors being uncoupled by displacement of both of the latch members of the first or second pair against a combined urging resistance of about 5.5 pounds or greater provided by a construction and arrangement of one or more of the latch members of the first or second pair; and a shape or position of the one or more latch members of the first or second pair, in combination with the urging resistance, contributing to resist operative action by a child aged about 48 months or less. 54. The buckle according to claim 53, further comprising: a non-operative region of one or more of the respectively cooperative first and second pair of latch members in which the one or more of the respectively cooperative latch members is not substantially displaced when a displacement force sufficient to overcome the urging resistance is applied in the non-operative region; an urging portion on the one or more of the respectively cooperative latch members located at an actuation position, whereby the displacement force being applied at the urging portion against the urging resistance tends to be directed along the urging portion toward the non-operative region. 55. A child resistant seat belt buckle, comprising: a first buckle connector including a latch receptacle for receiving a latch arm; a second buckle connector including the latch arm being receivable in the latch receptacle to couple the first and second buckle connectors together; the first and second buckle connectors being uncoupled through displacement of the latch arm away from the latch receptacle to disengage the latch arm and latch receptacle; and the latch arm having a construction to enable the latch arm to resist displacement until subjected to a displacement urging force of about 5.5 pounds or greater. 56. The buckle according to claim 54, wherein the displacement force is in the range of from about 5.5 pounds to about 17.5 pounds. 57. The buckle according to claim 54, further comprising: an engagement structure on the latch arm and an operative region on a tapered portion near the engagement structure; a non-operative region on the tapered portion and farther away from the engagement structure than the operative region; and the tapered portion being shaped to urge the displacement urging force toward the non-operative region. 58. The buckle according to claim 54, wherein the latch receptacle further comprises: an edge arranged to cooperate with the latch arm to engage the latch arm and latch receptacle; and a relationship between the latch arm and the latch receptacle wherein the latch arm is urged against the edge of the latch receptacle in an engaged position to thereby preload the latch arm against the displacement urging force. 59. A child resistant seatbelt buckle, comprising: a buckle connector having a first latch member; another buckle connector having a second latch member operable to cooperatively engage with the first latch member to couple the buckle connectors together when the first and second latch members cooperate; the buckle connectors being uncoupled through displacement of one or more of the latch members away from each other; and a construction of the one or more latch members enabling resistance to the displacement until subjected to a displacement urging force of about 5.5 pounds or greater. 60. The buckle according to claim 59, wherein the displacement force is in the range of from about 5.5 pounds to about 17.5 pounds. 61. The buckle according to claim 59, further comprising: a range of movement of the one or more latch members; a portion of the range being operative to permit the buckle connectors to be uncoupled; and a tapered portion on the one or more latch members being shaped or positioned to impede an applied disengagement force from operating the one or more latch members in the operative range portion. 62. The buckle according to claim 59, wherein the construction of the one or more latch members further comprises: an edge arranged to cooperate with the other of the one or more latch members to contribute to permitting the first and second latch members to be cooperatively engaged; and the one or more latch members being urged against the edge in an engaged position to thereby preload the one or more latch members against the displacement urging force. 63. A child resistant buckle, comprising: a female connector including an opening on one end and a female latch component; the female latch component including an elongated notch in an outer surface of the female connector, the elongated notch including a floor and a wall adjoining the floor for defining a portion of the notch and a through slot in the floor of the elongated notch; a male connector receivable in the opening of the female connector and including at least one resilient tang that includes a moveable end and a tapered portion extending from the moveable end and the at least one tang being releasably receivable for engagement in the slot when the female and male connectors are coupled such that the moveable end, floor and wall form a perimeter of another notch smaller than the elongated notch; and the moveable end being displaceable in a disengaging action in the another notch without disengaging the at least one tang. 64. The buckle according to claim 63, wherein the tapered portion contributes to urging a displacement force in the disengagement action toward the non-operative area to contribute to preventing uncoupling of the male and female connectors by a child. 65. The buckle according to claim 63, further comprising: an engagement structure on the at least one tang and an operative region on the tapered portion near the engagement structure; a non-operative region on the tapered portion and farther away from the engagement structure than the operative region; and the tapered portion being shaped to urge a displacement force in the disengaging action toward the non-operative region. 66. The buckle according to claim 63, further comprising a resistance enabling structure on the at least one resilient tang whereby the at least one resilient tang resists displacement to release the engagement until subjected to a displacement urging force of about 5.5 pounds or greater. 67. The buckle according to claim 66, wherein the displacement urging force is in the range of from about 5.5 pounds to about 17.5 pounds. 68. The buckle according to claim 66, wherein the elongated notch further comprises: an edge arranged to cooperatively engage the at least one tang; and the at least one tang being urged against the edge of the elongated notch in an engaged position to thereby preload the at least one tang against the displacement urging force.