SIDE-RELEASE BUCKLE

• US 20160157564A1
• Filed: 11/25/2015
• Published: 06/09/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 12/09/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Here Be Dragons, LLC
• Original Assignee: Here Be Dragons, LLC
• Inventors: Howell, Frank A.
• Granted Patent: US 9,730,495 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: A44B 11/25 with two or more separable parts
• 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

Abstract

A buckle comprises two components relatively shiftable along a central axis into and out of an assembled state, with an interlocking mechanism for releasably coupling the components in their assembled state. The interlocking mechanism comprises at least one wing on one of the components. The wing has opposed mutually spaced resilient panels defining a passage therebetween leading to aligned locking surfaces. At least one resilient prong on the other component has oppositely protruding posts and first and second cam surfaces. The first cam surfaces are configured and arranged to urge the panels apart and thereby accommodate insertion of the prong into the passage to a locked position at which the posts are in snap engagement with the locking surfaces. The second cam surfaces are configured and arranged to act in response to flexure of the prong towards the central axis to urge the panels apart and to thereby accommodate withdrawal of the prong from the passage.

Claims

1. A buckle comprising two components relatively shiftable along a central axis into and out of an assembled state, with interlocking means for releasably coupling said components in said assembled state, said interlocking means comprising at least one wing on the one of said components, said wing having opposed mutually spaced resilient panels defining a passage therebetween leading to aligned locking surfaces on said panels, and at least one resilient prong on the other of said components, said prong having oppositely protruding posts and first and second cam surfaces, said first cam surfaces being configured and arranged to urge said panels apart and thereby accommodate insertion of said prong into said passage to a locked position at which said posts are in snap engagement with said locking surfaces, said second cam surfaces being configured and arranged to act in response to flexure of said prong towards said central axis to urge said panels apart and to thereby accommodate withdrawal of said prong from said passage.

2. The buckle of claim 1 wherein a pair of said wings are provided on said one component, and a pair of said prongs are provided on said other component.

3. The buckle of claims 1 or 2 wherein said panels are provided with openings for receiving said posts, and wherein said locking surfaces are defined by edges of said openings.

4. The buckle of claim 1 where said locking surfaces are defined by peripheral edges of said panels.

5. The buckle of claim 1 wherein said second cam surfaces are provided on said posts.

6. The buckle of claim 1 wherein said second cam surfaces are provided on said prong.

7. The buckle of claim 2 wherein said pair of wings are separated by a centrally projecting nose, and wherein said pair of prongs are separated by a U-shaped recess configured and dimensioned to receive said nose.

8. The buckle of claim 1 wherein said first and second components are identical.

9. A buckle comprising two identical components relatively shiftable along a central axis into and out of an assembled state, with interlocking means for releasably coupling said components in said assembled state, said interlocking means comprising a wing on each of said components, said wings having opposed mutually spaced resilient panels defining passages therebetween leading to aligned locking surfaces on said panels, and a resilient prong on each of said components, said prongs having oppositely protruding posts and first and second cam surfaces, said first cam surfaces being configured and arranged to urge said panels apart and thereby accommodate insertion of said prongs into said passages to locked positions at which said posts are in snap engagement with said locking surfaces, said second cam surfaces being configured and arranged to act in response to flexure of said prongs towards said central axis to urge said panels apart and to thereby accommodate withdrawal of said prongs from said passages.

10. A buckle comprising two identical components relatively shiftable along a central axis into and out of an assembled state, with interlocking means for releasably coupling said components in said assembled state, said interlocking means comprising a wing on each of said components, said wings having opposed mutually spaced resilient panels defining passages therebetween leading to aligned back edges of said panels, and a resilient prong on each of said components, said prongs having oppositely protruding posts and first and second cam surfaces, said first cam surfaces being configured and arranged to urge said panels apart and thereby accommodate insertion of said prongs into said passages to locked positions at which said posts are in snap engagement with the back edges of said panels, said second cam surfaces being configured and arranged to act in response to flexure of said prongs towards said central axis to urge said panels apart and to thereby accommodate withdrawal of said prongs from said passages.