BUCKLE

• US 20110030180A1
• Filed: 04/13/2009
• Published: 02/10/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 05/02/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Illinois Tool Works Inc.
• Original Assignee: Illinois Tool Works Inc.
• Inventors: Anderson, Jeffrey D., Ernst, Craig E. JR., Kolasa, Scott D., Parisi, Brian M.
• Granted Patent: US 8,522,410 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 24/611
• CPC Class Codes: A44B 11/2546 Details
• CPC Class Codes: A44B 11/266 with at least one push-button acting parallel to the main plane of the buckle and perpendicularly to the direction of the fastening action
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 24/45482 and operator therefor
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 24/45508 and spring or resilient extension biasing about pivot
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 24/45529 Requiring manual force applied against bias to interlock or disengage
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 24/45628 for plural, oppositely shifting, similar interlocking components or segments

Abstract

A releasable buckle including a latch having locking arms adapted to lockingly engage a female component. A folding bridge structure extends between the locking arms. The bridge structure includes a pivot connection zone adapted to engage an elongate release member. Upon tensioning the elongate release member the locking arms are pulled inwardly to disengage from the female component.

Claims

1. A buckle comprising:

a female buckle component including an entrance opening and an interior;

a male buckle component including a latch portion adapted for insertion into the female buckle component through the entrance opening, the latch portion including a first lock arm and a second lock arm, the first lock arm and the second lock arm being disposed in spaced relation to one another, the first lock arm including a first distal portion and a first proximal portion relative to the entrance opening, the second lock arm including a second distal portion and a second proximal portion relative to the entrance opening;

a flexible bridge member extending in depressed profile spanning relation between the first lock arm and the second lock arm, the bridge member including a first bridge segment normally extending in angled relation away from the first distal portion of the first lock arm, the bridge member including a second bridge segment extending in angled relation away from the second distal portion of the second lock arm; and

an elongate tensioning member operatively connected to the bridge member at a depressed connection zone between the first lock arm and the second lock arm, the elongate tensioning member extending rearwardly away from the connection zone to a position outside the buckle, the tensioning member adapted to draw the connection zone towards the entrance opening upon application of tensioning force along the tensioning member such that the bridge member is at least partially folded and the first lock arm and the second lock arm are pulled towards one another.

2. The buckle as recited in claim 1, wherein the bridge member is a single piece structure.

3. The buckle as recited in claim 2, wherein the bridge member is integral with the first lock arm and the second lock arm.

4. The buckle as recited in claim 1, wherein the bridge member is a multi-piece structure.

5. The buckle e as recited in claim 1, wherein the first bridge segment and the second bridge segment have a substantially convex curvature along their lengths.

6. The buckle as recited in claim 1, wherein the first bridge segment and the second bridge segment have a substantially concave curvature along their lengths.

7. The buckle as recited in claim 1, wherein the first bridge segment and the second bridge segment are substantially linear along their lengths.

8. The buckle as recited in claim 1, wherein an alignment element projects away from the bridge member in the direction of insertion through the entrance opening, the alignment element including an enhanced diameter distal end adapted to guide insertion of the latch portion through the entrance opening in a predefined orientation.

9. The buckle as recited in claim 8, wherein the alignment element has a generally umbrella shaped configuration.

10. The buckle as recited in claim 1, wherein the female buckle component includes a perimeter skirt disposed at least partially around an exterior of the female buckle component.

11. A buckle comprising:

a female buckle component including an entrance opening and an interior;

a male buckle component including a latch portion adapted for insertion into the female buckle component through the entrance opening, the latch portion including a first lock arm and a second lock arm, the first lock arm and the second lock arm being disposed in spaced relation to one another, the first lock arm including a first distal portion and a first proximal portion relative to the entrance opening, the second lock arm including a second distal portion and a second proximal portion relative to the entrance opening;

a flexible bridge member extending in depressed profile spanning relation between the first lock arm and the second lock arm, the bridge member including a first bridge segment normally extending in angled relation away from the first distal portion of the first lock arm, the bridge member including a second bridge segment extending in angled relation away from the second distal portion of the second lock arm; and

a pliable lanyard operatively connected to the bridge member at a depressed connection zone between the first lock arm and the second lock arm, the pliable lanyard extending rearwardly away from the connection zone to a position outside the buckle, the pliable lanyard adapted to draw the connection zone towards the entrance opening upon application of tensioning force along the pliable lanyard such that the bridge member is at least partially folded about the connection zone and the first lock arm and the second lock arm are pulled towards one another.

12. The buckle as recited in claim 11, wherein the bridge member is integral with the first lock arm and the second lock arm.

13. The buckle as recited in claim 11, wherein the first bridge segment and the second bridge segment have a substantially convex curvature along their lengths.

14. The buckle as recited in claim 11, wherein the first bridge segment and the second bridge segment have a substantially concave curvature along their lengths.

15. The buckle as recited in claim 11, wherein the first bridge segment and the second bridge segment are substantially linear along their lengths.

16. The buckle as recited in claim 11, wherein an alignment element projects away from the bridge member in the direction of insertion through the entrance opening, the alignment element including an enhanced diameter distal end adapted to guide insertion of the latch portion through the entrance opening in a predefined orientation.

17. The buckle as recited in claim 16, wherein the alignment element has a generally umbrella shaped configuration.

18. A buckle comprising:

a female buckle component including an entrance opening and an interior;

a male buckle component including a latch portion adapted for insertion into the female buckle component through the entrance opening, the latch portion including a first lock arm and a second lock arm, the first lock arm and the second lock arm being disposed in spaced relation to one another, the first lock arm including a first distal portion and a first proximal portion relative to the entrance opening, the second lock arm including a second distal portion and a second proximal portion relative to the entrance opening;

a flexible bridge member extending in depressed profile spanning relation between the first lock arm and the second lock arm, the bridge member including a first bridge segment normally extending in angled relation away from the first distal portion of the first lock arm, the bridge member including a second bridge segment extending in angled relation away from the second distal portion of the second lock arm; and

an elongate key member operatively connected to the bridge member at a depressed connection zone between the first lock arm and the second lock arm, the key member extending rearwardly away from the connection zone to a position outside the buckle, the key member adapted to draw the connection zone towards the entrance opening upon application of tensioning force along the key member such that the bridge member is at least partially folded about the connection zone and the first lock arm and the second lock arm are pulled towards one another.

19. A buckle as recited in claim 18, wherein the elongate key member includes a hooked distal end.

20. A buckle as recited in claim 19, wherein the elongate key member includes a proximal end having a web attachment opening.