Passenger restraint system

Abstract

A passenger restraint system includes a seatbelt buckle mechanism which includes a tongue having an aperture for receiving the belt and a pair of opposing recesses formed in an opposite edge of the tongue. A housing is provided for receiving a tongue and a latch is pivotably attached to the housing for locking the tongue to the housing. A retainer is provided for releasably locking the housing and latch and a solenoid is disposed in an operative relationship with the retainer for moving the retainer out of engagement with the latch in a remote manner. Apertures in the housing and latch enable mechanical access to the retainer for moving the retainer out of engagement with the latch independent of this solenoid if desired or necessary.

1 . A passenger restraint system comprising:
 a seat belt buckle mechanism comprising:   a tongue having an aperture for receiving a belt and a pair of opposing recesses formed in opposing edges of said tongue;   a housing having a base and upstanding sidewalls for receiving said tongue therebetween;   a latch pivotably attached between the upstanding sidewalls and spaced apart from the housing bottom for enabling said tongue to pass thereunder, said latch including depending sidewardly and spaced apart depending lugs receivable by the tongue opposing recesses for locking said tongue to said housing upon closing said latch onto said housing;   a spring mechanism for holding said latch in a closed position;   a retainer for releasably locking said housing and latch for prevent pivoting of said latch;   a solenoid, disposed in an operative relationship with said retainer, for moving said retainer out of engagement with the latch lug sidewall;   apertures in the housing sidewall and the latch sidewall and, aligned with one another for enabling mechanical access to said retainer for moving said retainer out of engagement with the latch sidewall independently of said solenoid; and   a controller for operating said solenoid.   
   
   
       2 . The system according to  claim 1  further comprising a tongue sensor for indicating full insertion of said tongue into said housing between the upstanding sidewalls. 
   
   
       3 . The system according to  claim 2  further comprising a latch sensor for indicating closure of said latch. 
   
   
       4 . The system according to  claim 1  further comprising a plurality of seat buckle mechanisms, each mechanism comprising:
 a tongue having an aperture for receiving a belt and a pair of opposing recesses formed in opposing edges of said tongue;   a housing having a base and upstanding sidewall, for receiving said tongue therebetween;   a latch pivotably attached between the upstanding sidewalls and spaced apart from the housing bottom for enabling said tongue to pass thereunder, said latch including depending sidewalls and spaced apart depending lugs receivable by the tongue opposing recesses for locking said tongue to said housing upon closing said latch onto said housing;   a spring mechanism for holding said latch in a closed position;   a retainer for releasably locking said housing and latch for prevent pivoting of said latch;   a solenoid, disposed in an operative relationship with said retainer, for moving said retainer out of engagement with the latch sidewall;   apertures in the housing sidewall and the latch sidewall and aligned with one another for enabling mechanical access to said retainer for moving said retainer out of engagement with the latch sidewall independently of said solenoid;   a controller for operating said solenoid;   a tongue sensor for indicating fall insertion of said tongue into said housing between the upstanding sidewall;   a latch sensor for indicating closure of said latch; and   a canted circuit for operating said solenoids.   
   
   
       5 . The system according to  claim 4  further comprising a plurality of seats with each seat belt mechanism installed on a corresponding seat for removably restraining a passenger in at least one of the seats. 
   
   
       6 . The system according to  claim 5  wherein said controller includes status elements for indicating a position of each tongue and each latch. 
   
   
       7 . A passenger restraint system comprising:
 a plurality of seats disposed on a conveyance;   a seat belt mechanism installed on corresponding seats for removably retrain a passenger in at least one of the seats, each mechanism comprising:   a tongue having an aperture for receiving a belt and a pair of opposing recesses formed in opposing edges of said tongue;   a housing having a base and upstanding sidewall, for receiving said tongue therebetween;   a latch pivotably attached between the upstanding sidewalls and spaced apart from the housing bottom for enabling said tongue to pass thereunder, said latch including depending sidewalls and spaced apart depending lugs receivable by the tongue opposing recesses for locking said tongue to said housing upon closing said latch onto said housing;   a spring mechanism for holding said latch in a closed position;   a retainer for releasably locking said housing and latch for prevent pivoting of said latch;   a solenoid, disposed in an operative relationship with said retainer, for moving said retainer out of engagement with the latch sidewall;   apertures in the housing sidewall and the latch sidewalls and aligned with one another for enabling mechanical access to said retainer for moving said retainer out of engagement with the latch sidewall independently of said solenoid; and   a controller for operating said solenoid.   
   
   
       8 . The system according to  claim 7  further comprising a plurality of tongue sensors for indicating full insertion of one of said tongues into a corresponding housing between the upstanding sidewalls. 
   
   
       9 . The system according to  claim 8  further comprising a plurality of tongue sensors for indicating full insertion of the tongues in corresponding housings. 
   
   
       10 . The system according to  claim 8  further comprising a plurality of latch sensors for indicating closure the latch in corresponding housing.