A system and method for a locking mechanism that includes an ability to indicate that a fall event has occurred as well as indicate proper engagement via a signal cable coupled through a harness. The locking mechanism includes a mechanical indicator that is disposed within the locking mechanism (as opposed to far away from the locking mechanism at a remote cable attachment point) that can visually indicate that a fall event has occurred. Further, the locking mechanism includes electronic components including three magnetic actuators and corresponding electronic switches that signal change of state. Locking tabs and a leading edge of the insert respectively include the three magnetic actuators. The electronic switches, which may be magnetically activated reed switches, signal status change to an external controller and, optionally, an external computer.

A tongue mechanism for use in an occupant restraint system also having a buckle mechanism and a webbing. The tongue mechanism includes a tongue member configured to selectively engage the buckle mechanism, a body formed over a portion of the tongue member, a slider, and a biasing member configured to laterally bias the slider. The body includes a body contact surface. The slider includes a slider contact surface and is configured to travel along a track between a first free position and a second locking position. When the slider is positioned in the first free position the tongue mechanism is free to slide along the length of the webbing, and when the slider is positioned in the second locking position a portion of the webbing is clamped between the slider contact surface and the body contact surface thereby preventing the tongue mechanism from sliding along the length of the webbing.

A restraint system includes a first member including a first hole and fixable to a seat frame, a second member including a second hole and slidably coupled to the first member between a retracted position in which the first and second holes are aligned and an extended position in which the first and second holes are spaced from each other, a buckle housing fixed to the second member, and a tongue including a third hole and insertable into the buckle housing to an inserted position in which the second and third holes are aligned.

A belt buckle includes a casing (12) and an illumination system (24) present in the area of a locking tongue insertion opening (14). The illumination system (24) includes a lamp (32) and a light conductor (26; 26) having a light emission area, and the light conductor (26; 26) includes an annular portion (42; 42) which surrounds at least a major part of the locking tongue insertion opening (14).

A seat belt system 10 has a retractor 28; a lap belt 14, an inflator 200, a buckle 210 and a tongue 220. The flexible, retractable inflatable lap belt 14 is attached to the retractor 28. The lap belt 14 protectively houses an inflatable member including an airbag 116 which includes a feed or fill hose 118. The buckle and tongue are configured to receive and transmit inflation gas from the inflator 200 to the lap belt 14. The airbag 116 is located at a fixed distance from the buckle 210 and when activated the inflation gas flows through the seat belt buckle 210 into the tongue 220 and then into the airbag 116 which is fixedly located on the lap belt 14 at the fixed distance.

A vehicle seat is provided with a wire that, in the event of a vehicle frontal collision, enables a pulling load applied by a vehicle occupant to a webbing to be transmitted between a cushion frame of a seat cushion and a movable rail of a sliding device. One end portion of the wire is anchored to a first anchoring member of the movable rail, while another end portion of the wire is anchored to a second anchoring member of the cushion frame.

A vehicle seat that includes: a seat cushion that is configured to be raised and lowered in a seat vertical direction; a buckle that is attachable to an attachment location that is not subject to the raising or lowering of the seat cushion, and that retains a tongue provided at an elongated belt shaped webbing, in a state in which in the webbing is worn over at least a pelvis area of the occupant; and a lifting device that is actuated, in a case in which a collision of a vehicle has been detected, so as to move the occupant, in a case in which the occupant is sitting on the seat cushion, toward an upper side of the seat at a location further toward a rear side of the seat than a central portion of the seat cushion in a front-rear direction of the seat.

A safety belt buckle includes a base and a latch. The base includes a chamber with at least one positioning member disposed therein, and an opening communicating with the chamber. The latch includes a tongue with at least one recess with one open side, is adapted to be inserted into the chamber through the opening. The at least one positioning member is introduced into the at least one recess through the open side thereof to be engaged with the at least one recess when the tongue is inserted into the chamber. By the design mentioned above, the latch could be engaged with the positioning member of the base through the recess. Whereby, the latch still could be engaged with the base securely and would not be released easily and accidentally when any one of the latch and the base is laterally pushed or pulled.

A buckle assembly includes a frame, a latch plate, and a tongue. The frame includes a latch opening and a slot for receiving the tongue. The latch plate is configured to be linearly displaced within the frame between a locked position and an unlocked position and includes a latch portion. The tongue includes a tongue opening having an angled leading end. When the tongue is inserted into the frame slot, the latch plate is biased to the locked position such that the latch portion of the latch plate traverses the angled leading end of the tongue opening until the angled leading end of the latch portion of the latch plate is secured in the latch opening in the locked position. In preferred embodiments, the buckle assembly includes a seat belt connected to the tongue for securing a user to a seat of a vehicle.

A webbing-buckling device of a multi-point seat belt system has a buckle assembly and a tongue assembly. The buckle assembly has a buckle base having a first frame portion and a webbing-locking member slidably inserted through the first frame portion. The tongue assembly is disposed on the buckle assembly and has a tongue base having a second frame portion and a webbing-fixing member slidably inserted through the second frame portion. One of two webbings is inserted between the first frame portion and the webbing-locking member, and the other webbing is inserted between the second frame portion and the webbing-fixing member. Alternatively, the webbing-buckling device has a buckle assembly and two tongue assemblies disposed on the buckle assembly. Each tongue assembly has a tongue base having a second frame portion and a webbing-fixing member inserted through the second frame portion. The webbings are inserted through the tongue assemblies.