Buckle having increased holding power when under load
DCFirst Claim
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1. A buckle, comprising:
- a female receptacle member comprising a tubular body, an interior channel extending therethrough and open at one end thereof, and engagement means defined within said tubular body;
a male latch member having at least one arm member for insertion within said interior channel of said tubular body through said open end of said interior channel of said tubular body of said female receptacle member, said at least one arm member having a predetermined lateral width extending from a laterally outward position to a laterally inward position with respect to said interior channel of said tubular body, and a longitudinal axis extending longitudinally through said at least one arm member; and
latch means disposed upon said at least one arm member for releasable locking engagement with said engagement means of said tubular body upon insertion of said at least one arm member within said interior channel of said tubular body, said latch means of said at least one arm member having a predetermined width, extending from a laterally outward position to a laterally inward position with respect to said interior channel of said tubular body, and a disposition upon said at least one arm member such that a longitudinal axis of said latch means coincides with said longitudinal axis of said at least one arm, as considered in said width direction, so as to provide a retaining force, acting along said longitudinal axis of said latch means, in opposition to and alignment with an arm member removal load force, as considered in said width direction, acting along said longitudinal axis of said at least one arm member.
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Abstract
A buckle including a female receptacle member having a tubular body, an interior channel therethrough and being open to the channel on a portion of the tubular body, a male latch member having at least one arm member for insertion within the channel through the open end of the female receptacle member and a latch member formed between the tubular body and the arm member for releasable locking engagement of the tubular body and the arm member upon insertion of the arm member within the channel and for providing a resistance force in opposition to and alignment with an arm member removal loading force between the tubular body and the arm member.
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Citations
14 Claims
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1. A buckle, comprising:
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a female receptacle member comprising a tubular body, an interior channel extending therethrough and open at one end thereof, and engagement means defined within said tubular body; a male latch member having at least one arm member for insertion within said interior channel of said tubular body through said open end of said interior channel of said tubular body of said female receptacle member, said at least one arm member having a predetermined lateral width extending from a laterally outward position to a laterally inward position with respect to said interior channel of said tubular body, and a longitudinal axis extending longitudinally through said at least one arm member; and latch means disposed upon said at least one arm member for releasable locking engagement with said engagement means of said tubular body upon insertion of said at least one arm member within said interior channel of said tubular body, said latch means of said at least one arm member having a predetermined width, extending from a laterally outward position to a laterally inward position with respect to said interior channel of said tubular body, and a disposition upon said at least one arm member such that a longitudinal axis of said latch means coincides with said longitudinal axis of said at least one arm, as considered in said width direction, so as to provide a retaining force, acting along said longitudinal axis of said latch means, in opposition to and alignment with an arm member removal load force, as considered in said width direction, acting along said longitudinal axis of said at least one arm member. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. A buckle, comprising:
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a female receptacle member comprising a substantially flat tubular body, having an interior channel extending therethrough, formed by two opposed top and bottom walls and two opposed side walls, said top and bottom walls being wider than said side walls, said tubular body having a predetermined length and being open to said channel on at least one end thereof; a male latch member having at least one longitudinally extending and substantially flexible arm member for insertion into said interior channel of said female receptacle member through said open end of said female receptacle member, said at least one arm member having a predetermined lateral width extending from a laterally outward position to a laterally inward position with respect to said interior channel of said tubular body and in a direction extending between said side walls of said tubular body; engagement means defined within said tubular body; and latch means disposed upon said at least one arm member for releasable locking engagement with said engagement means of said tubular body, said latch means being accessible form the exterior of said tubular body for releasable engagement from said engagement means of said tubular body by a user, and said latch means comprising latch surfaces disposed upon opposite sides of said at least one arm member so as to extend toward both said top and bottom walls of said tubular body, said latch surfaces also having predetermined lateral width dimensions which correspond to said predetermined lateral width of said at least one arm member. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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Specification