Aligned-lever buckle mechanism

• US 3,226,791 A
• Filed: 02/01/1963
• Issued: 01/04/1966
• Est. Priority Date: 02/01/1963
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Andrew G. Garter
• Original Assignee: Andrew G. Garter
• Inventors: Garter, Andrew G.
• Application Number:
  US04/255,587
• Time in Patent Office: 1,068 Days
• US Class Current: 24/644
• CPC Class Codes: A44B 11/2526 with an operating lever
• CPC Class Codes: A44B 11/2557 with strap length adjustment
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 24/4084 Looped strap
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 24/45649 Element and component pivot about same axis
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 24/45681 Blocking removal of formation on projection from complementary formation on side wall of cavity

Claims

1. A BUCKLE ASSEMBLY COMPRISING:

FIRST AND SECOND BUCKLE SECTIONS EACH HAVING BELT-RECEIVING MEANS, PORTIONS OF SAID BUCKLE SECTIONS BEING RECEIVABLE ONE WITHIN THE OTHER, RESPECTIVELY;

INTERENGAGEABLE ABUTMENTS ON SAID PORTIONS, RESPECTIVELY, SAID ABUTMENT MEANS BEING ENGAGEABLE AND SEPARABLE IN A DIRECTION TRANSVERSE TO A LINE CONNECTING SAID BELT-RECEIVING MEANS;

A SHAFT NORMALLY FIXED TO THE OUTER OF SAID BUCKLE SECTIONS ADJACENT SAID ABUTMENTS, SAID SHAFT HAVING AN AXIALLY-EXTENDING PERIPHERAL DISCONTINUITY;

A CAM MEMBER ROTATABLY MOUNTED ON SAID SHAFT, SAID CAM MEMBER HAVING PORTIONS DISPOSED IN A SELECTED ANGULAR POSITION THEREOF TO MAINTAIN THE INTERENGAGEMENT OF SAID ABUTMENTS, AND BEING ROTATABLE IN OPPOSITE DIRECTION FROM SAID SELECTED POSITION TO POSITIONS PROVIDING FOR RELEASE AND ENGAGEMENT OF SAID ABUTMENTS;

A LEVER ROTATABLY MOUNTED ON SAID SHAFT, AND HAVING STOP MEANS INTERENGAGEABLE WITH PORTIONS OF SAID CAM MEMBER TO LIMIT THE ROTATION OF SAID CAM MEMBER WITH RESPECT TO SAID LEVER TO ESTABLISH A LIMITED SECTOR OF FREEDOM OF MOVEMENT, SAID LEVER BEING ROTATABLE FROM A NORMAL POSITION EXTENDING FROM SAID SHAFT TOWARD THE BELT-RECEIVING MEANS ASSOCIATED WITH THE INNER OF SAID BUCKLE SECTIONS, SAID LEVER BEING ROTATABLE TO A RELEASE POSITION THROUGH A SECTOR IN EXCESS OF NINETY DEGREES BRINGING SAID CAM MEMBER TO RELEASE POSITION;

A LEVER-BIASING HELICAL SPRING SURROUNDING SAID SHAFT AND HAVING ONE END THEREOF SECURELY ENGAGING THE DISCONTINUITY OF SAID SHAFT, THE OPPOSITE END OF SAID SPRING ENGAGING THE SAID LEVER URGING THE SAID LEVER TO THE SAID NORMAL POSITION THEREOF;

AND A CAM-BIASING HELICAL SPRING SURROUNDING SAID SHAFT AND HAVING ONE END THEREOF SECURELY ENGAGING THE DISCONTINUITY OF SAID SHAFT, THE OPPOSITE END OF SAID SPRING ENGAGING THE SAID CAM MEMBER URGING SAID CAM MEMBER IN THE DIRECTION OF ROTATION OF SAID LEVER TOWARD SAID RELEASE POSITION, ONE OF SAID STOP MEANS POSITIONING SAID CAM MEMBER AGAINST THE ACTION OF SAID CAM SPRING AT SAID SELECTED ANGULAR POSITION WHEN SAID LEVER IS AT SAID NORMAL POSITION;

THE SAID SECTOR OF FREEDOM OF MOVEMENT OF SAID CAM MEMBER WITH RESPECT TO SAID LEVER BEING SELECTED TO PROVIDE FOR SUFFICIENT ROTATION OF SAID CAM MEMBER TO PROVIDE CLEARANCE FOR THE ENGAGEMENT OF SAID ABUTMENTS WITHOUT SUBSTANTIAL ROTATION OF SAID LEVER FROM THE SAID NORMAL POSITTION THEREOF.