Buckle assemblies with lift latches and associated methods and systems
View Patent ↗Buckle assemblies with lift latches and associated systems and methods are disclosed herein. In one embodiment, a buckle assembly is configured to detachably engage at least one latch plate. The buckle assembly includes a cover, a load plate connected to the cover and formed with a plurality of openings, a shaft passing through the cover, a lift latch being operably rotated around the shaft in the operation space, and pawls selectively locking corresponding latch plates inserted in the openings in response to the rotation of the lift latch.
1. A buckle assembly, comprising:
a cover;
a plurality of openings positioned circumferentially adjacent to the cover, wherein each of the openings is configured to receive a corresponding latch plate coupled to a web of a personal restraint system;
a plurality of pawls, wherein each of the pawls is configured to selectively engage a corresponding one of the latch plates, when the latch plates are inserted into the openings;
a lift latch having a cam portion and configured to be operably rotated relative to the cover;
a lifter configured to cooperate with the cam portion;
an actuator operably coupled to the lifter and configured to disengage the pawls from the latch plates and release the latch plates from the openings in response to rotation of the lift latch;
wherein the lift latch is a first lift latch configured to be operably rotated relative to the cover to release the latch plates from the openings, and wherein the buckle assembly further comprises a second lift latch positioned opposite the first lift latch and configured to be operably rotated relative to the cover to release the latch plates from the openings.
2. A buckle assembly, comprising:
a cover;
a plurality of openings positioned circumferentially adjacent to the cover, wherein each of the openings is configured to receive a corresponding latch plate coupled to a web of a personal restraint system;
a plurality of pawls, wherein each of the pawls is configured to selectively engage a corresponding one of the latch plates, when the latch plates are inserted into the openings;
a lift latch having a cam portion and configured to be operably rotated relative to the cover;
a lifter configured to cooperate with the cam portion;
an actuator operably coupled to the lifter and configured to disengage the pawls from the latch plates and release the latch plates from the openings in response to rotation of the lift latch;
a bottom housing; and
a load plate disposed between the bottom housing and the cover, wherein the plurality of openings are circumferentially positioned around the load plate, and wherein the load plate includes a plurality of apertures configured to receive the pawls.
3. The buckle assembly of claim 2 , further comprising a secondary opening positioned in the bottom housing and configured to receive a corresponding secondary latch plate coupled to a secondary web of the personal restraint system.
4. A buckle assembly, comprising:
a cover;
a plurality of openings positioned circumferentially adjacent to the cover, wherein each of the openings is configured to receive a corresponding latch plate coupled to a web of a personal restraint system;
a plurality of pawls, wherein each of the pawls is configured to selectively engage a corresponding one of the latch plates, when the latch plates are inserted into the openings;
a lift latch having a cam portion and configured to be operably rotated relative to the cover;
a lifter configured to cooperate with the cam portion;
an actuator operably coupled to the lifter and configured to disengage the pawls from the latch plates and release the latch plates from the openings in response to rotation of the lift latch;
a pawl spring including a plurality of end portions, wherein each of the end portions biases a corresponding one of the pawls toward the cover.
5. The buckle assembly of claim 4 , wherein the pawl spring includes a base portion, and wherein the end portions extend radially outward from the base portion.
6. The buckle assembly of claim 4 , further comprising a center actuation spring positioned adjacent to the actuator and the pawl spring, wherein the center actuation spring biases the actuator toward the cover.
7. The buckle assembly of claim 4 , wherein the cam portion drives the lifter toward the actuator when the lift latch is rotated relative to the cover.
8. The buckle assembly of claim 4 , wherein the actuator includes a base portion and a plurality of protrusions positioned circumferentially around the base portion, wherein each of the protrusions includes a cutout configured to engage a corresponding one of the pawls.
9. A buckle assembly, comprising:
a cover;
a load plate positioned adjacent to the cover;
a plurality of openings positioned circumferentially around the load plate, wherein each of the openings is configured to receive a corresponding latch plate coupled to a web of a personal restraint system;
a plurality of pawls configured to selectively engage corresponding latch plates inserted into the openings;
a first lift latch configured to be operably rotated relative to the cover in a first direction;
a second lift latch positioned opposite the first lift latch and configured to be operably rotated relative to the cover in a second direction opposite the first direction; and
a lifter cooperatively coupling the first and second lift latches to the pawls, wherein rotation of the first lift latch or the second lift latch relative to the cover releasably disengages the pawls from the latch plates.
10. The buckle assembly of claim 9 , wherein the load plate includes a center opening, and wherein at least a portion of the lifter is operably positioned in the center opening.
11. The buckle assembly of claim 9 , wherein the load plate includes:
a plurality of center portions;
an inner ring portion coupled to the center portions, wherein the inner ring portion defines a center opening to at least partially receive the lifter; and
an outer ring portion coupled to the center portions;
wherein the outer ring portion and the center portions collectively define the openings.
12. The buckle assembly of claim 11 , wherein each of the center portions includes a Y-shaped portion.
13. The buckle assembly of claim 11 , wherein the center portions are positioned circumferentially between the inner ring portion and the outer ring portion.
14. The buckle assembly of claim 9 , further comprising:
a bottom housing; and
a secondary opening positioned in the bottom housing and configured to receive a corresponding secondary latch plate coupled to a secondary web of the personal restraint system.
15. The buckle assembly of claim 14 , wherein the secondary opening and the openings are positioned at different horizontal levels.