Safety belt fastening and quick-release device

Abstract

A multiple safety belt fastening and quick release device includes a housing that may be configured to receive one or more safety belt buckles. Tongues of the safety belts may be secured in the housing by a locking mechanism of the device. Each secured safety belt tongue may be associated with a locking mechanism that operates independently of other present locking mechanisms. A release mechanism may simultaneously release all secured safety belts.

1 . A safety belt securing device, the device comprising:
 a housing with a tongue receiving channel that receives a tongue of a safety belt;   a locking mechanism that retains the tongue of the safety belt in the housing when the locking mechanism is in a secured position; and   a release mechanism that moves the locking mechanism from the secured position to a released position when actuated.   
     
     
         2 . The safety belt securing device of  claim 1 , wherein the locking mechanism includes a spring device. 
     
     
         3 . The safety belt securing device of  claim 2 , wherein the spring device includes a pair of spring arms that are spread by a tapered head of the tongue of the safety belt when the tapered head is inserted into the tongue receiving channel. 
     
     
         4 . The safety belt securing device of  claim 2 , wherein a restorative force urges distal ends of the spring arms inward when the spring arms are spread by a tapered head of the tongue of the safety belt. 
     
     
         5 . The safety belt securing device of  claim 2 , wherein locking tabs on the spring arms are received in notches in the tongue of the safety belt when the tongue of the safety belt is fully inserted into the tongue receiving slot. 
     
     
         6 . The safety belt securing device of  claim 2 , wherein a leaf spring is loaded to apply pressure to the tongue of the safety belt when the tongue of the safety belt is fully inserted into the tongue receiving slot. 
     
     
         7 . The safety belt securing device of  claim 1 , wherein the release mechanism includes a travel plate that functions in cooperation with a lift plate. 
     
     
         8 . The safety belt securing device of  claim 7 , wherein lateral motion of the travel plate raises the lift plate. 
     
     
         9 . The safety belt securing device of  claim 7 , wherein lateral motion of the travel plate causes contact arms of the lift plate to separate spring arms of the locking mechanism. 
     
     
         10 . The safety belt securing device of  claim 1 , wherein the release mechanism is actuated by a quick-release lever mounted on an outer surface of the housing, the quick-release lever imparting lateral motion to a travel plate of the release mechanism. 
     
     
         11 . A safety belt securing device, the device comprising:
 a housing with at least one tongue receiving channel for receiving a tongue of a safety belt;   a locking mechanism corresponding to each tongue receiving channel, the locking mechanism retaining the tongue of the safety belt in the housing when the locking mechanism is in a secured position, each locking mechanism functioning independently of other locking mechanisms present in the device; and   a release mechanism that simultaneously moves all locking mechanisms from the secured position to a released position when actuated.   
     
     
         12 . The safety belt securing device of  claim 11 , wherein the locking mechanism includes a spring device. 
     
     
         13 . The safety belt securing device of  claim 12 , wherein the spring device includes a pair of spring arms spread by a tapered head of the tongue of the safety belt when the tapered head is inserted into the tongue receiving channel. 
     
     
         14 . The safety belt securing device of  claim 12 , wherein a restorative force urges distal ends of spring arms inward when the spring arms are spread by a tapered head of the tongue of the safety belt. 
     
     
         15 . The safety belt securing device of  claim 12 , wherein locking tabs on the spring arms are received in notches in the tongue of the safety belt when the tongue of the safety belt is fully inserted into the tongue receiving slot. 
     
     
         16 . The safety belt securing device of  claim 12 , wherein a leaf spring is loaded to apply pressure to the tongue of the safety belt when the tongue of the safety belt is fully inserted into the tongue receiving slot. 
     
     
         17 . The safety belt securing device of  claim 11 , wherein the release mechanism includes a travel plate that functions in cooperation with a lift plate. 
     
     
         18 . The safety belt securing device of  claim 11 , wherein lateral motion of the travel plate raises the lift plate. 
     
     
         19 . The safety belt securing device of  claim 11 , wherein motion of the travel plate causes contact arms of the lift plate to separate spring arms of the locking mechanism. 
     
     
         20 . The safety belt securing device of  claim 11 , wherein the release mechanism is actuated by a quick-release lever mounted on an outer surface of the housing, the quick-release lever imparting lateral motion to a travel plate of the release mechanism.