초록 ▼

Personal restraint systems with buckle assemblies for use in vehicles are disclosed herein. In one embodiment, a personal restraint system includes a connector configured to be coupled to a web. The restraint system also includes a buckle assembly configured to releasably retain the connector. In th

Personal restraint systems with buckle assemblies for use in vehicles are disclosed herein. In one embodiment, a personal restraint system includes a connector configured to be coupled to a web. The restraint system also includes a buckle assembly configured to releasably retain the connector. In this embodiment, the buckle assembly includes a frame having a locking feature configured to engage a tongue of the connector. The buckle assembly also includes a locking member movably positioned adjacent to the frame that retains the tongue in a locked position. The buckle assembly further includes an actuator that can be actuated by a user to move the tongue out of the locked position.

대표청구항 ▼

1. A personal restraint system for use in a vehicle, the personal restraint system comprising: a connector configured to be coupled to a web, wherein the connector includes a tongue having an engagement portion; anda buckle assembly configured to releasable retain the tongue of the connector, the bu

1. A personal restraint system for use in a vehicle, the personal restraint system comprising: a connector configured to be coupled to a web, wherein the connector includes a tongue having an engagement portion; anda buckle assembly configured to releasable retain the tongue of the connector, the buckle assembly including:a frame having a locking feature that contacts the engagement portion when the tongue is inserted into the buckle assembly;a locking member adjacent to the frame, wherein the locking member is movable relative to the frame between a locked position and an unlocked position, and wherein the locking member retains the engagement portion of the tongue in contact with the locking feature when the locking member is in the locked position;a button adjacent to the frame, wherein the button is movable relative to the frame to urge the locking member away from the locked position and to urge the tongue away from the locking feature; anda housing at least partially enclosing the frame and the locking member, wherein the frame remains stationary relative to the housing and the tongue pivots relative to the housing to disengage the locking feature from the engagement portion. 2. A personal restraint system for use in a vehicle, the personal restraint system comprising: a connector configured to be coupled to a web, wherein the connector includes a tongue having an engagement portion; anda buckle assembly configured to releasable retain the tongue of the connector, the buckle assembly including: a frame having a locking feature that contacts the engagement portion when the tongue is inserted into the buckle assembly;a locking member adjacent to the frame, wherein the locking member is movable relative to the frame between a locked position and an unlocked position, and wherein the locking member retains the engagement portion of the tongue in contact with the locking feature when the locking member is in the locked position; anda button adjacent to the frame, wherein the button is movable relative to the frame to urge the locking member away from the locked position and to urge the tongue away from the locking feature, andwherein the tongue urges the locking member from the locked position toward the unlocked position when the tongue is inserted into the buckle assembly. 3. The personal restraint system of claim 2 wherein the button simultaneously contacts the locking member and the tongue to urge the locking member away from the locked position and to urge the tongue away from the locking feature. 4. The personal restraint system of claim 2: wherein the tongue is at least generally parallel to the frame when the engagement portion engages the locking feature; andwherein the tongue is positioned at an inclined angle relative to the frame when the engagement portion disengages the locking feature. 5. The personal restraint system of claim 2 wherein the locking member comprises: a tongue contact surface configured to slide against a distal edge of the tongue; anda button contact surface separate from the tongue contact surface and configured to contact the button. 6. The personal restraint system of claim 2 wherein the button comprises an ejecting feature extending from an underside of the button, the ejecting feature having: a locking member urging surface configured to slide against the locking member, wherein the locking member urging surface is at an inclined angle relative to the underside of the button;and a tongue urging surface separate from the locking member urging surface and configured to slide against the tongue. 7. The personal restraint system of claim 2, further comprising: a first cover;a second cover opposite the first cover, wherein the first and second covers form an insertion opening;wherein the button pivots between the first cover and the frame;wherein the locking member slides between the second cover and the frame; andwherein the tongue is inserted and retracted through the insertion opening and pivots about the insertion opening. 8. The personal restraint system of claim 2: wherein the frame further comprises at least one sidewall extending from a base portion, the sidewall having a guide channel; andwherein the locking member further comprises a guide member extending laterally therefrom, wherein the guide channel at least partially receives the guide member to limit the movement of the locking member between the locked and unlocked positions. 9. The personal restraint system of claim 2 wherein the engagement portion includes an engagement surface extending into an aperture. 10. A personal restraint system for use in a vehicle, the personal restraint system comprising: a connector configured to be coupled to a web, wherein the connector includes a tongue having an engagement portion; anda buckle assembly configured to releasably retain the tongue of the connector, the buckle assembly including: a frame having a locking feature that contacts the engagement portion when the tongue is inserted into the buckle assembly;a locking member adjacent to the frame, wherein the locking member is movable relative to the frame between a locked position and an unlocked position, and wherein the locking member retains the engagement portion of the tongue in contact with the locking feature when the locking member is in the locked position;a button adjacent to the frame, wherein the button is movable relative to the frame to urge the locking member away from the locked position and to urge the tongue away from the locking feature; andat least one biasing member urging the locking member toward the locked position, wherein the locking member at least partially ejects the tongue from the buckle assembly when the tongue disengages from the locking feature and the locking member moves from the unlocked position toward the locked position. 11. A connector and buckle assembly for use in a vehicle, the assembly comprising: a web;a connector configured to be coupled to the web, wherein the connector has a tongue; anda buckle assembly configured to releasable retain the connector when the tongue is inserted into the buckle assembly, the buckle assembly including: a frame having a locking feature configured to engage the tongue in a locked position;a locking member movably positioned adjacent to the frame and biased toward the tongue, wherein the locking member retains the tongue in the locked position; andan actuator movably positioned adjacent to the frame, wherein manipulation of the actuator drives the actuator against each of the locking member and the tongue to move the tongue out of the locked position,wherein the locking member is slidably positioned adjacent to a first side of the frame, and the actuator is pivotally positioned adjacent to a second side of the frame, and wherein the second side is opposite the first side. 12. A connector and buckle assembly for use in a vehicle, the assembly comprising: a web;a connector configured to be coupled to the web, wherein the connector has a tongue; anda buckle assembly configured to releasably retain the connector when the tongue is inserted into the buckle assembly, the buckle assembly including: a frame having a locking feature configured to engage the tongue in a locked position;a locking member movably positioned adjacent to the frame and biased toward the tongue, wherein the locking member retains the tongue in the locked position;an actuator movably positioned adjacent to the frame, wherein manipulation of the actuator drives the actuator against each of the locking member and the tongue to move the tongue out of the locked position, andat least one biasing member that urges the locking member toward the locked position. 13. The personal restraint system of claim 12 wherein the locking member includes a first contact surface separate from a second contact surface, and wherein the tongue slides along at least a portion of the first contact surface and the actuator slides along at least a portion of the second contact surface. 14. The personal restraint system of claim 12 wherein the connector is a first connector, the tongue is a first tongue, the web is a first web, and the locking feature is a first locking feature, and wherein the personal restraint system further comprises: a second web; a second connector configured to be coupled to the second web, wherein the second connector has a second tongue; and a second locking feature on the frame, wherein the second locking feature retains the second tongue in the locked position, and wherein manipulation of the actuator drives the actuator against each of the locking member, the first tongue, and the second tongue to move the first and second tongues out of the locked position. 15. The personal restraint system of claim 12 wherein the locking feature is integrally formed with the frame, and wherein the frame remains stationary with reference to the actuator, the locking member, and the connector. 16. A personal restraint system for use in a vehicle, the personal restraint system comprising: a connector configured to be coupled to a web, wherein the connector includes a tongue having a locking feature; anda buckle assembly configured to releasably engage the connector when the tongue is inserted into the buckle assembly, the buckle assembly including: means for engaging the locking feature of the tongue to secure the tongue to the buckle assembly when the tongue is inserted into the buckle assembly in a locked position;means for retaining the locking feature against the means for engaging when the tongue is in the locked position;means for moving the means for retaining the locking feature away from the tongue to release the tongue from the locked position;means for moving the tongue away from the means for engaging to release the tongue from the locked position; andmeans for urging the tongue out of the buckle assembly when the tongue is not in the locked position. 17. The personal restraint system of claim 16: wherein the means for retaining comprises a locking member that moves along a linear path in the buckle assembly; andwherein the means for moving the means for retaining and the means for moving the tongue comprises an actuator that pivots in the buckle assembly.