Buckle assemblies having load indicating features and associated systems and methods are disclosed herein. In one embodiment, a buckle assembly includes a tang having an opening that receives a web to secure the buckle assembly to a vehicle or a seat structure. The tang also includes an elongate aperture and one or more deformable protrusions along the edge of the aperture. The tang is operably coupled to a buckle frame via a coupling member that extends through the aperture. Upon the application of a sufficient load to the tang, the coupling member deforms the protrusion(s), allowing the tang to move relative to the frame. Movement of the tang relative to the frame can move a colored load indicating region to a position that is visible through a window in a housing of the buckle assembly.

A stored energy release comprises an actuatable member slidably received within a housing. The actuatable member has an extended orientation wherein a portion of the actuatable member extends outwardly from the housing and a retracted orientation wherein the actuatable member resides within the housing. A biasing member is located between the actuatable member and the housing biases the actuatable member to the retracted orientation. A shaft is within the housing with the actuatable member configured for sliding movement along the shaft. A retaining member is located between the actuatable member and the shaft. The retaining member maintains the actuatable member in the extended orientation whereby potential energy is stored within the biasing member. A piezoelectric element selectively engages the retaining member to disable the retaining member and release the stored potential energy within the biasing member to place the actuatable member in the retracted orientation.

A buckle (100) includes a male buckle (110), a female buckle (120), and an actuating structure (130) disposed between the male buckle (110) and the female buckle (120). When the male buckle (110) and the female buckle (120) are engaged, the actuating structure (130) generates an actuating signal. When the male buckle (110) and the female buckle (120) are disengaged, the actuating structure (130) generates a disconnecting signal. A control circuit operates according to the actuating signal or the disconnecting signal, such that the control circuit is actuated more conveniently and the structure of the buckle (100) is simple.

Methods and apparatus for determining seatbelt status are disclosed. An example system includes a plurality of seats including seatbelts. Each of the seatbelts includes a sensor to detect a position of a respective seatbelt, the position including at least one of a fastened position or an unfastened position, and a transceiver to wirelessly communicate the position of the respective seatbelt. The system includes a remote monitoring unit to receive the positions of the seatbelts. The remote monitoring unit is to determine if one or more seats are occupied and, in response to determining that one or more seats are occupied, the remote monitoring unit is to display an overview the seats and the respective positions of the seatbelts for the one or more occupied seats.

Methods and apparatus for determining seatbelt status are disclosed. An example seatbelt system for a mass transit vehicle includes a first seatbelt of a first seat that includes a first buckle and a first magnetically-responsive switch to detect a first tongue when the first seatbelt is in a fastened position. The example apparatus includes a second seatbelt of a second seat that includes a second buckle and a second magnetically-responsive switch to detect a second tongue when the second seatbelt is in the fastened position. The example apparatus includes a remote monitoring unit to indicate, when the first seat is occupied, if the first seatbelt is in the fastened positioned or an unfastened position. The remote monitoring unit is to indicate, when the second seat is occupied, if the second seatbelt is in the fastened positioned or the unfastened position.

A latch device comprises a housing unit, a disk unit, an electromagnetic lock unit, a pressing lock unit, and a detecting unit. The housing unit includes a housing, which has a pressing hole and an insertion slot. The disk unit includes a supporting rod positioned through the housing, and two vertical disks pivotally arranged to the supporting rod. The outer perimeter of the two disks is placed with a hook, a first engaging portion and a second engaging portion. The electromagnetic lock unit includes two electromagnetic mechanisms, two retractable bars connected to the two electromagnetic mechanisms, and two electromagnetic latches respectively connected to the two retractable bars. The pressing lock unit includes a pushbutton, and a button latch connected to the pushbutton. The detecting unit includes two detectors, which are disposed inside the housing for detecting the position of the two electromagnetic latches.

A latch plate is selectively latched to, and selectively unlatched from, a buckle. An extender is moved by the latch plate to a retracted position when the latch plate is latched to the buckle and moves to an extended position when the latch plate is unlatched from the buckle.

A seat belt tongue having a main body, a covering which at least partially covers the outside of the main body, and at least one electronic component which is arranged between the main body and the covering, wherein the electronic component is arranged on a carrier part, and the carrier part is pre-fixed to the main body by means of a form-fitting design.

Buckle assemblies and associated systems and methods for use with child seats and other restraint systems are disclosed herein. In one embodiment, a buckle assembly includes a housing having an opening shaped to receive a first tongue of a first web connector and a second tongue of a second web connector. The buckle assembly also includes a spring having a first ejector arm carrying a first magnet and a second ejector arm carrying a second magnet. A switch assembly is positioned within the housing, and insertion of the tongues into the housing to latch the buckle assembly moves the magnets toward the switch assembly to activate switches in the switch assembly and produce a signal confirming buckle engagement.

A monitoring system generates an alarm signal to alert a responsible adult or stimulates an infant when a signal from a sensor is indicative of a heightened risk of the infant dying such that intervention to save the infant is justified. The monitoring system is portable and is adapted for attachment to devices for carrying or seating infants for transport.