摘要 |
<p>A seat belt buckle (10), adapted to releasably retain a latch plate (24) insertable within a latch passage (22) in the buckle, which includes a rigid frame (12) having an rectangular base plate (14), provide with an aperture (60), two upstanding longitudinal side walls (16) and a fixed bar (18) extending between said side walls (16). A locking member (26) provided with a depending lock bar (32) is supported by the side walls (16) and pivots between a latched and an unlatched position, the lock bar (32) entering into the aperture (60) in said latched position. A predetermined clearance exits between a forward edge (86) of the lock bar (32) and a forward edge (80) of the aperture (60) when the locking member (26) is in a latched position. The locking member (26) pivots in the side walls (16) by means of integral wing portions (28) which elastically deform when the buckle, in the latched position, is subjected to excessive loads so as to allow the edge (86) to come into contact with edge (80). A shaped blocking member (46) is slidably mounted upon the locking member (26) between a first position in which, when the locking member (26) is in the latched position, it slides under the fixed bar (18) to prevent any pivotal movement of said locking member (26), and a second position in which, when the locking member (26) is in the unlatched position, it engages the fixed bar (18) to retain said locking member (26) in said unlatched position.</p> |