Pivotable strap-buckle assembly

• US 7,000,263 B2
• Filed: 09/20/2004
• Issued: 02/21/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 01/09/2002
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Smith Optics Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Smith Optics Incorporated
• Inventors: McNeal, Joseph Ross
• Primary Examiner(s): Moran, Katherine M.
• Application Number:
  US10/946,215
• Publication Number:
  US 20050034225A1
• Time in Patent Office: 519 Days
• Field of Search: 245/2, 242/6, 242/7, 244/0, 244/4, 244/5, 2451-453, 241/70, 241/93, 241/97, 243/08, 243/09, 24/33, 450/25, 450/63, 450/64, 450/88, 450/93
• US Class Current: 2/452
• CPC Class Codes: A44B 11/12 turnable clamp
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 24/40 Buckles
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 24/4016 Pivoted part or lever

Abstract

This invention is directed towards an apparatus for securing and adjusting a strap. More particularly, the present invention is directed towards a buckle assembly having a pivotable member pivotably attached to opposed regions of the buckle frame. In one embodiment, a sport-goggle assembly has a pivotable buckle assembly attached to one end of a strap. In another embodiment, a sport-goggle assembly has a pivotable buckle assembly attached to each of the two straps. In other embodiments, the pivotable buckle assembly can be used in association with a strap-lengthening member.

Claims

1. A buckle assembly for securing and adjusting a strap, comprising:

a frame having an exterior border and an interior border, the interior border having opposed regions; and

a pivotable member pivotably attached to two opposed portions of the interior border, the pivotable member being selectively detachable from the frame, the pivotable member having a longitudinal axis and being adapted to attach to a strap along the longitudinal axis, the pivotable member and the interior border defining a first slot and a second slot.

2. The buckle assembly of claim 1 wherein the strap is attached to the pivotable member along the longitudinal axis.

3. The buckle assembly of claim 1 wherein the strap is elastic.

4. The buckle assembly of claim 1, further comprising a flange on the exterior border of the frame, the flange being located along a region of the exterior border generally parallel to the longitudinal axis of the pivotable member.

5. The buckle assembly of claim 1 wherein a strap is attached to the pivotable member along the longitudinal axis.

6. The buckle assembly of claim 1 wherein the strap is elastic.

7. The buckle assembly of claim 1 wherein the frame is configured to move apart portions of the two opposed portions of the interior border to allow the pivotable member to be removed from the frame responsive to applying a compressive force to opposing sides of the frame along an axis generally perpendicular to the longitudinal axis.

8. The buckle assembly of claim 1 wherein the frame comprises a resilient material.

9. The buckle assembly of claim 8 wherein the resilient material comprises an elastomer.

10. The buckle assembly of claim 1 wherein the first and second slots have an elongated geometry.

11. A buckle assembly for securing and adjusting a strap, comprising:

a frame having an exterior border and an interior border, the interior border having opposed regions;

a flange on the exterior border of the frame; and

a pivotable member pivotably attached to two opposed portions of the interior border, the pivotable member being selectively detachable from the frame, the pivotable member having a longitudinal axis and being adapted to attach to a strap along the longitudinal axis, the pivotable member and the interior border defining a first slot and a second slot, the flange being located along a region of the exterior border generally parallel to the longitudinal axis of the pivotable member.

12. The buckle assembly of claim 11 wherein the frame is configured to move apart portions of the two opposed portions of the interior border to allow the pivotable member to be removed from the frame responsive to applying a compressive force to opposing sides of the frame along an axis generally perpendicular to the longitudinal axis.

13. The buckle assembly of claim 11 wherein the frame comprises a resilient material.

14. The buckle assembly of claim 13 wherein the resilient material comprises an elastomer.

15. The buckle assembly of claim 11 wherein the first and second slots have an elongated geometry.

16. A strap-buckle assembly, comprising:

an apparatus having a first lateral side and an opposing second lateral side;

a first strap attached to the first side of the apparatus;

a second strap having a first end and a second end, the first end being attached to the second lateral side of the apparatus; and

a buckle assembly attached to the second end of the second strap, the buckle assembly including;

a frame having an exterior border and an interior border, the interior border having opposed regions;

a pivotable member pivotably attached to two opposed portions of the interior border, the pivotable member having a longitudinal axis; and

the second end of the second strap attached to the pivotable member along the longitudinal axis.

17. The strap-buckle assembly of claim 16 wherein the pivotable member is selectively detachable from the frame.

18. The strap-buckle assembly of claim 16 wherein the first and second straps are elastic.

19. The strap-buckle assembly of claim 16, further comprising a flange on the exterior border of the frame, the flange being located along a region of the exterior border generally parallel to the longitudinal axis of the pivotable member.

20. The strap-buckle assembly of claim 16 wherein the pivotable member and the interior border define a first slot and a second slot.

21. The strap-buckle assembly of claim 16 wherein the frame is configured to move apart portions of the two opposed portions of the interior border to allow the pivotable member to be removed from the frame responsive to applying a compressive force to opposing sides of the frame along an axis generally perpendicular to the longitudinal axis.

22. The strap-buckle assembly of claim 16 wherein the frame comprises a resilient material.

23. The strap-buckle assembly of claim 22 wherein the resilient material comprises an elastomer.

24. The strap-buckle assembly of claim 16 wherein the first and second slots have an elongated geometry.

25. The strap-buckle assembly of claim 16 wherein the apparatus comprises eyewear.

26. The strap-buckle assembly of claim 16 wherein the pivotable member is selectively detachable from the frame.

27. A strap-buckle assembly, comprising:

an apparatus having a first lateral side and an opposing second lateral side;

a first strap having a first end and a second end, the first end being attached to the first lateral side of the apparatus;

a buckle assembly attached to the second end of the first strap, the buckle assembly including;

a frame having an exterior border and an interior border, the interior border having opposed regions;

a pivotable member pivotably attached to two opposed portions of the interior border, the pivotable member having a longitudinal axis; and

the second end of the first strap attached to the pivotable member along the longitudinal axis;

a second strap having a first and second end, the first end being attached to the second lateral side of the apparatus and the second end being adapted to be selectively engageable with the buckle assembly or attached to a third strap; and

a third strap having a first and second end, the first end being attached to the second end of the second strap and the second end adapted to be engageable with the buckle assembly.

28. The strap-buckle assembly of claim 27 wherein the first, second, and third straps are elastic.

29. The strap-buckle assembly of claim 27, further comprising a flange on the exterior border of the frame, the flange being located along a region of the exterior border generally parallel to the longitudinal axis of the pivotable member.

30. The strap-buckle assembly of claim 27 wherein the pivotable member and the interior border define a first slot and a second slot.

31. The strap-buckle assembly of claim 27 wherein the frame is configured to move apart portions of the two opposed portions of the interior border to allow the pivotable member to be removed from the frame responsive to applying a compressive force to opposing sides of the frame along an axis generally perpendicular to the longitudinal axis.

32. The strap-buckle assembly of claim 27 wherein the frame comprises a resilient material.

33. The strap-buckle assembly of claim 32 wherein the resilient material comprises an elastomer.

34. The strap-buckle assembly of claim 27 wherein the first and second slots have an elongated geometry.

35. The strap-buckle assembly of claim 27 wherein the apparatus comprises eyewear.

36. A strap-buckle assembly, comprising:

an apparatus having a first lateral side and an opposing second lateral side;

a first strap having a first end and a second end, the first end being attached to the first lateral side of the apparatus;

a first buckle assembly attached to the second end of the first strap, the buckle assembly including;

a frame having an exterior border and an interior border, the interior border having opposed regions;

a pivotable member pivotably attached to two opposed portions of the interior border, the pivotable member having a longitudinal axis; and

the second end of the first strap attached to the pivotable member along the longitudinal axis;

a second strap having a first and second end, the first end being attached to the second lateral side of the apparatus; and

a second buckle assembly attached to the second end of the second strap, the buckle assembly including;

a frame having an exterior border and an interior border, the interior border having opposed regions; and

a pivotable member pivotably attached to two opposed portions of the interior border, the pivotable member having a longitudinal axis; and

the second end of the second strap attached to the pivotable member along the longitudinal axis.

37. The strap-buckle assembly of claim 36 wherein the first strap forms a first loop through the first buckle assembly and the second strap forms a second loop through the second buckle assembly and further comprising a strap-lengthening member having first and second opposed ends connected to the first loop at the first opposed end and connected to the second loop at the second opposed end.

38. The strap-buckle assembly of claim 36 wherein the pivotable members of the first and second buckle assemblies are selectively detachable from the frame.

39. The strap-buckle assembly of claim 36 wherein the first and second straps are elastic.

40. The strap-buckle assembly of claim 36 wherein each of the first and second buckle assemblies comprise a flange on the exterior border of the frame, the flange being located along a region of the exterior border generally parallel to the longitudinal axis of the pivotable member.

41. The strap-buckle assembly of claim 36 wherein the pivotable member and the interior border define a first slot and a second slot.

42. The strap-buckle assembly of claim 36 wherein the frame is configured to move apart portions of the two opposed portions of the interior border to allow the pivotable member to be removed from the frame responsive to applying a compressive force to opposing sides of the frame along an axis generally perpendicular to the longitudinal axis.

43. The strap-buckle assembly of claim 36 wherein the frame comprises a resilient material.

44. The strap-buckle assembly of claim 43 wherein the resilient material comprises an elastomer.

45. The strap-buckle assembly of claim 36 wherein the first and second slots have an elongated geometry.

46. The strap-buckle assembly of claim 36 wherein the apparatus comprises eyewear.