Adjustable buckle assembly

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10604107-B2
Application number	US-201715693293-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Aug 31, 2017
Priority date	Aug 31, 2017
Publication date	Mar 31, 2020
Grant date	Mar 31, 2020

Abstract

A buckle assembly comprises a buckle base bracket including at least one buckle base bracket ramp stop and at least one buckle base bracket reset ramp, and a buckle adjustment assembly. The buckle adjustment assembly includes a buckle strap coupled to the buckle base bracket such that the buckle adjustment assembly is capable of moving linearly along the buckle base bracket, a buckle head attached to the buckle strap, and a position locking unit coupled to the buckle strap, the position locking unit including a locking cam configured to prevent the buckle adjustment assembly from moving toward the proximal end of the buckle base bracket, and engage with a ramp surface of the buckle base bracket reset ramp to over-rotate the locking cam into a disengaged position such that the buckle adjustment assembly is movable in the first linear direction.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A buckle assembly comprising:
a buckle base bracket including at least one buckle base bracket ramp stop and at least one buckle base bracket reset ramp; and
a buckle adjustment assembly, the buckle adjustment assembly including:
a buckle strap coupled to the buckle base bracket such that the buckle adjustment assembly is capable of moving linearly along the buckle base bracket between an extended position, at least one intermediary position, and a reset position;
a buckle head attached to the buckle strap, such that a proximal end of the buckle base bracket is proximal to the buckle head and a distal end of the buckle base bracket is distal from the buckle head; and
a position locking unit coupled to the buckle strap, the position locking unit including a locking cam configured to:
engage with a stop surface of the buckle base bracket ramp stop to prevent the buckle adjustment assembly from moving in a first linear direction toward the proximal end of the buckle base bracket;
engage with a ramp surface of the buckle base bracket ramp stop to rotate the locking cam such that the buckle adjustment assembly is movable in a second linear direction toward the distal end of the buckle base bracket; and
engage with a ramp surface of the buckle base bracket reset ramp to over-rotate the locking cam into a disengaged position such that the buckle adjustment assembly is movable in the first linear direction;
wherein the position locking unit includes a locking cam lock to retain the locking cam in the disengaged position.

2. The buckle assembly of claim 1 , wherein:
the buckle base bracket includes a buckle base bracket unlock ramp proximal to the proximal end of the buckle base bracket; and
the position locking unit includes a reset link, coupled to the locking cam lock, wherein in response to movement of the buckle adjustment assembly to the extended position, the reset link engages with the buckle base bracket unlock ramp and disengages the locking cam lock such that the locking cam rotates into a locking position.

3. The buckle assembly of claim 1 , wherein the buckle base bracket includes the buckle base bracket ramp stop as one of a plurality of buckle base bracket ramp stops, wherein each buckle base bracket ramp stop from the plurality of buckle base bracket ramp stops corresponds with a respective intermediate adjustment position of the buckle adjustment assembly between the extended position and the reset position.

4. The buckle assembly of claim 1 , wherein:
the locking cam includes a locking cam spring that biases the locking cam to rotate the locking cam in a first rotational direction;
the locking cam is configured to engage with the ramp surface of the buckle base bracket ramp stop to rotate the locking cam in a second rotational direction opposite the first rotational direction; and
the locking cam is configured to engage with the ramp surface of the buckle base bracket reset ramp to over-rotate the locking cam in the second rotational direction.

5. The buckle assembly of claim 1 , further comprising a compression spring, wherein:
the buckle base bracket includes a buckle base bracket rivet proximal to the distal end of the buckle base bracket;
the buckle strap is coupled to the buckle base bracket using a buckle strap rivet; and
the compression spring engages with the buckle base bracket rivet and the buckle strap rivet to bias the buckle adjustment assembly toward the extended position.

6. The buckle assembly of claim 1 , wherein buckle base bracket is attached to a vehicle at the distal end of the buckle base bracket.

7. A method for adjusting a buckle assembly comprising:
applying a compressing force to a buckle adjustment assembly of a buckle assembly to move the buckle adjustment assembly to an adjustment position, wherein the adjustment position is an extended adjustment position, an intermediate adjustment position, or a reset adjustment position, and wherein the buckle assembly includes:
a buckle base bracket including at least one buckle base bracket ramp stop and at least one buckle base bracket reset ramp; and
the buckle adjustment assembly, the buckle adjustment assembly including:
a buckle strap coupled to the buckle base bracket such that the buckle adjustment assembly is capable of moving linearly along the buckle base bracket to the extended adjustment position, the intermediate adjustment position, and the reset adjustment position;
a buckle head attached to the buckle strap, such that a first end of the buckle base bracket is proximal to the buckle head and a second end of the buckle base bracket is distal from the buckle head; and
a position locking unit coupled to the buckle strap, the position locking unit including a locking cam configured to:
engage with a stop surface of the buckle base bracket ramp stop to prevent the buckle adjustment assembly from moving in a first linear direction toward the first end of the buckle base bracket;
engage with a ramp surface of the buckle base bracket ramp stop to rotate the locking cam such that the buckle adjustment assembly is movable in a second linear direction toward the second end of the buckle base bracket; and
engage with a ramp surface of the buckle base bracket reset ramp to over-rotate the locking cam into a disengaged position such that the buckle adjustment assembly is movable in the first linear direction; and

removing the compressing force from the buckle adjustment assembly to lock the buckle adjustment assembly in a target adjustment position.

8. The method of claim 7 , wherein applying the compressing force includes applying the compressing force in the second linear direction.

9. The method of claim 7 , wherein:
the buckle base bracket includes a buckle base bracket rivet proximal to the second end of the buckle base bracket;
the buckle strap is coupled to the buckle base bracket using a buckle strap rivet;
the buckle assembly includes a compression spring that engages with the buckle base bracket rivet and the buckle strap rivet to bias the buckle adjustment assembly toward the extended position;
applying the compressing force includes applying the compressing force to move the buckle adjustment assembly to the reset adjustment position, such that the locking cam engages with the ramp surface of the buckle base bracket reset ramp to over-rotate the locking cam into the disengaged position; and
removing the compressing force includes removing the compressing force such that the compression spring moves the buckle adjustment assembly to the extended adjustment position.

10. The method of claim 7 , wherein:
applying the compressing force includes applying the compressing force to move the buckle adjustment assembly in the second linear direction, such that:
the locking cam engages with the ramp surface of the buckle base bracket ramp stop and rotates into a transition position such that the buckle adjustment assembly is movable in the second linear direction to the intermediate adjustment position; and
on a condition that a maximum distance of the locking cam from the second end of the buckle base bracket exceeds a distance of the stop surface of the buckle base bracket ramp stop from the second end of the buckle base bracket, the locking cam rotates into the locking position; and

removing the compressing force includes removing the compressing force such that the locking cam engages with the stop surface of the buckle base bracket ramp stop and prevents the buckle adjustment assembly from moving in the first linear direction.

11. The method of claim 7 , wherein removing the compressing force from the buckle adjustment assembly to lock the

Assignees

• Nissan North America Inc

Inventors

• Jovicevic Niko

Classifications

• B60R2022/1806

  for buckles · CPC title

• B60R22/206 Primary

  Adjustable stop members for restraint systems comprising belt anchor vehicle mounted tracks, e.g. for passive seat belts · CPC title

• B60R22/18 Primary

  Anchoring devices · CPC title