US 11,938,892 B2
Seatbelt buckle for resisting contaminant
Moises Mendoza Vazquez, Lerma (MX)
Assigned to AUTOLIV ASP, INC., Ogden, UT (US)
Filed by AUTOLIV ASP, INC., Ogden, UT (US)
Filed on Feb. 21, 2022, as Appl. No. 17/676,557.
Prior Publication US 2023/0264649 A1, Aug. 24, 2023
Int. Cl. B60R 22/18 (2006.01)
CPC B60R 22/18 (2013.01) [B60R 2022/1806 (2013.01)] 17 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A seatbelt buckle for receiving a tongue of a latch plate in an occupant restraining system of a vehicle, the seatbelt buckle comprising:
a housing including a frame and a locking mechanism operatively connected with the frame, the housing further including a passage to receive the tongue of the latch plate;
an ejector operatively coupled to the locking mechanism, the ejector releasably retaining the tongue of the latch plate;
a button in sliding engagement with the locking mechanism, the button movable to release the locking mechanism;
an opening formed in the housing for inserting the tongue of the latch plate into the passage of the housing; and
a gate securely attached to the ejector and sized to fit in the opening of the housing, the gate moving in a linear fashion along with the tongue of the latch plate,
wherein the gate is formed with a first member, a second member, and at least one connecting member angularly attached to each of the first and second members, and
wherein the second member of the gate is formed with a pair of ears fitting in a pair of recesses formed in the ejection such that the gate is securely attached to the ejector as a single unit.