U.S. patent application number 10/011870 was filed with the patent office on 2002-08-22 for cover for seat belt buckle.
Invention is credited to Baloga, Thomas Charles.
Application Number | 20020112327 10/011870 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 26682883 |
Filed Date | 2002-08-22 |
United States Patent
Application |
20020112327 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Baloga, Thomas Charles |
August 22, 2002 |
Cover for seat belt buckle
Abstract
A seat belt buckle, of the type which is released by depressing
a push button, is provided with a cover having a body portion
adapted to cover the push button. The cover is retained in place on
the buckle by a plurality of resilient clips arranged to engage
round the buckle body. The resilient clips are adapted to yield to
release the cover when a force tending to dislodge the cover
exceeds a predetermined value.
Inventors: |
Baloga, Thomas Charles;
(Fort Mill, SC) |
Correspondence
Address: |
DAVIS & BUJOLD, P.L.L.C.
500 NORTH COMMERCIAL STREET
FOURTH FLOOR
MANCHESTER
NH
03101
US
|
Family ID: |
26682883 |
Appl. No.: |
10/011870 |
Filed: |
December 3, 2001 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
|
|
|
|
|
|
Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
60270335 |
Feb 21, 2001 |
|
|
|
Current U.S.
Class: |
24/633 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A44B 11/2576 20130101;
Y10T 24/45623 20150115 |
Class at
Publication: |
24/633 |
International
Class: |
A44B 011/25 |
Claims
1. A cover for a seat belt buckle of the type which is released by
depressing a push button, the cover comprising: a body portion
adapted to cover the push button, and a plurality of resilient
clips arranged to engage round the buckle body to retain the cover
in place, the resilient clips being adapted to yield to release the
cover when a force tending to dislodge the cover exceeds a
predetermined value.
2. A cover according to claim 1, wherein the body portion has an
opening opposite to the push button to enable a test probe to open
the buckle when the cover is in place.
3. A cover according to claim 1, wherein the resilient clips are
oriented so as to be disengageable by application of a dislodging
force thereto in a direction substantially different to the
direction of movement of the push button.
4. A cover according to claim 3, wherein the resilient clips are
oriented so as to be disengageable by application of a dislodging
force thereto in a direction substantially perpendicular to the
direction of movement of the push button.
5. A cover according to claim 4, wherein the dislodging force must
be applied simultaneously at a plurality of separate locations.
6. A cover according to claim 3, wherein disengagement requires
application of a dislodging force simultaneously at a plurality of
separate locations.
7. A seat belt buckle of the type which is released by depressing a
push button, in combination with a cover comprising: a body portion
adapted to cover the push button, and a plurality of resilient
clips arranged to engage round the buckle body to retain the cover
in place, the resilient clips being adapted to yield to release the
cover when a force tending to dislodge the cover exceeds a
predetermined value.
8. The combination of claim 7, wherein the body portion has an
opening opposite to the push button to enable a test probe to open
the buckle when the cover is in place.
9. The combination of claim 7, wherein the resilient clips are
oriented so as to be disengageable by application of a dislodging
force thereto in a direction substantially different to the
direction of movement of the push button.
10. The combination of claim 9, wherein the resilient clips are
oriented so as to be disengageable by application of a dislodging
force thereto in a direction substantially perpendicular to the
direction of movement of the push button.
11. The combination of claim 10, wherein the dislodging force must
be applied simultaneously at a plurality of separate locations.
12. The combination of claim 9, wherein disengagement requires
application of a dislodging force simultaneously at a plurality of
separate locations.
13. The combination of claim 7, wherein the buckle is mounted on an
elongate member and the cover further comprises interengaging
formations adapted to retain the cover captive on said elongate
member the cover is dislodged from the buckle.
Description
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0001] This invention relates to a cover for a seat belt buckle of
the type which is released by depressing a push button and has
particular but not exclusive application to a seat belt buckle
intended for use by a child.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] Problems have been encountered with children's seat belt
buckles resulting from the entry of foreign material, particularly
liquids, between the push button and the buckle body. Entry of such
material is commonly the result of a child eating and/or drinking
while in an automobile child seat. This causes problems of buckle
"fouling" leading to sticking and poor buckle operation. Problems
are also encountered due to a child accidentally or deliberately
pressing the push button to release the buckle when the automobile
is in motion.
[0003] It is an object of the invention to provide a cover for a
seat belt buckle which overcomes these problems.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0004] According to the invention, a cover for a seat belt buckle
of the type released by depressing a push button comprises a body
portion adapted to cover the push button and a plurality of
resilient clips arranged to engage round the buckle body to retain
the cover in place, the resilient clips being adapted to yield to
release the cover when a force tending to dislodge the cover
exceeds a predetermined value.
[0005] Preferably, the cover includes an opening opposite to the
push button to enable a test probe to open the buckle when the
cover is in place.
[0006] The cover may be constructed so that the force needed to
displace the cover from the buckle must be applied in a direction
substantially different to the direction of movement of the push
button. In one form of the invention, this dislodging force must be
applied in a direction substantially perpendicular to the direction
of movement of the push button. Preferably, the dislodging force
must be applied simultaneously at a plurality of separate
locations, for example with two fingers.
[0007] The cover may be provided with interengaging formations
adapted to retain the cover captive on an elongate member, such as
a strap or stalk, on which the buckle is mounted, when the cover is
dislodged from the buckle.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0008] An embodiment of the invention will be now be described, by
way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in
which:
[0009] FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view of a buckle and cover
in accordance with the invention;
[0010] FIG. 2 is a side view of the embodiment shown in FIG. 1,
with the cover in place on the buckle and the cover shown in
cross-section; and
[0011] FIG. 3 is a side view similar to FIG. 2, showing the cover
dislodged from the buckle.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
[0012] The drawings show a seat belt buckle comprising a buckle
body 10 mounted on a seat belt strap 12. The body 10 has a slot 14
for receiving a buckle tongue (not shown) and a push button 16
which is displaceable in the direction of the arrow 18 (FIG. 3) to
release such buckle tongue. The mechanism of the buckle 10 forms no
part of the present invention and will not be described in further
detail.
[0013] In accordance with one embodiment of the invention, a cover
20 comprises a sloping wall 22, flat end walls 24 and 26, and a
front wall 28 which has a convex upper portion to accommodate the
push button 16. Projecting from each side wall 24, 26 is an
integrally-formed resilient clip 30, 32.having a respective detent
formation 34, 36 adapted to engage with a side surface 38 of the
buckle body 10, as shown in FIG. 2. This prevents access to the
push button 16 by a child. The sloping top 22 wall renders removal
by a child more difficult.
[0014] To release the buckle 10, it is necessary first to apply a
force to the clips 30, 32 with two fingers. If sufficient force is
applied, the resilient clips 30 and 32 yield and the cover 20 is
dislodged from the buckle 10, exposing the push button 16. Having
performed this operation, the thumb of an adult operator is then
conveniently positioned to depress the push button 16.
[0015] Inwardly directed projections 42 and 42 on the bottom of the
side walls 24 and 26 engage in the opening 46 formed by the end of
the strap 12, so as to retain the cover captive after it has been
dislodged, as shown in FIG. 3. There is sufficient gap between the
confronting ends of the projections 42 and 44 to permit the cover
20 to be unhooked from the strap 12 if desired.
[0016] The top wall 22 has an opening 48 opposite to the push
button 16 to enable a test probe to open the buckle when the cover
is in place.
[0017] The invention is also applicable to buckles have push
buttons which move in a direction perpendicular to the direction of
insertion of the buckle tongue.
* * * * *