Quick release buckle assembly

• US 5,832,573 A
• Filed: 08/28/1997
• Issued: 11/10/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 11/14/1996
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Illinois Tool Works Inc.
• Original Assignee: Down East, Inc.
• Inventors: Howell, Clarence F.
• Primary Examiner(s): Sakran, Victor N.
• Application Number:
  US08/919,490
• Time in Patent Office: 439 Days
• Field of Search: 24/664, 24/647, 24/616, 24/615, 24/614, 24/662, 24/683, 24/651, 24/265 CD, 24/68 CD, 24/585, 24/170, 24/3.13, 24/633, 24/634
• US Class Current: 24/664
• CPC Class Codes: A44B 11/2526 with an operating lever
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 24/45534 having connected leading edge and separated trailing arms
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 24/45696 Requiring manual force thereon to interlock or disengage
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 24/45785 Requiring manual force applied against bias to interlock or disengage

Abstract

A quick release buckle assembly which is activated by pulling upwardly on a short lanyard. The buckle comprises a keeper part including a latch and a secure part. The secure part has a leading edge which is chamfered in several planes to facilitate its insertion into the keeper part. The latch per se flexes to facilitate locking and unlocking the keeper part and the secure part.

Claims

1. A quick release buckle assembly which comprises:

a keeper part comprising a body, a base formed in the body, a latch pivotally secured to the body, the body comprising a pair of opposed walls extending from the base in parallel relationship and a pair of ribs formed on the opposed surfaces of the wall which ribs define with the base a pair of grooves for guiding a mating secure part into the body, the latch having a top, the top having a leading edge characterized by a depending detent characterized by a capture surface and a trailing edge, a tail piece depending from the trailing edge, the latch being pivotally secured at its trailing edge to the opposed walls, the latch characterized by a flex area formed therein, the flex area comprises a recess formed at the juncture of the trailing edge and the tailpiece, the latch adapted for movement between two positions, a closed position which locks the secure part to the keeper part and a release position which allows for disengagement of the secure part;

a secure part having means for locating the secure part with reference to the means for guiding the secure part, the secure part having a capture surface whereby when the secure part slides into the keeper part, the latch rotates, the leading edge of the secure part engages the tail piece, the tail piece flexes, allowing the secure part to slide under the capture surface of the detent, the secure part then closes into engagement with the capture surface of the detent to lock the secure part and when the latch is moved to its open position away from the capture surface of the secure part, the tail piece drives and disengages the secure part.

2. The assembly of claim 1 wherein the secure part comprises a base plate and an upper chambered tongue plate, secured thereto to define side rails, which rails are adapted to be slideably received in the grooves of the keeper part, the tongue plate having a leading edge and a trailing edge, the capture surface of the secure part formed at the trailing edge.

3. The assembly of claim 2 wherein the capture surface of the secure part and the capture surface of the latch abut and are sloped to lock the secure part and the keeper part together under load.

4. The assembly of claim 3 wherein the leading edge is characterized by a slot whereby a lanyard can be secured to the latch.