Buckle with pivoting and sliding strap securing bar

• US 7,353,573 B2
• Filed: 11/07/2006
• Issued: 04/08/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 04/04/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Duraflex Hong Kong Limited
• Original Assignee: Duraflex Hong Kong Limited
• Inventors: Anscher, Joseph
• Primary Examiner(s): Brittain; James R
• Application Number:
  US11/593,790
• Publication Number:
  US 20070050954A1
• Time in Patent Office: 518 Days
• Field of Search: 24614-616, 246/25, 241/70, 241/71, 241/93, 241/96, 241/80
• US Class Current: 24/625
• CPC Class Codes: A44B 11/006 Attachment of buckle to strap for safety buckles A44B11/2553
• CPC Class Codes: A44B 11/08 roller displaceable in wedge-shaped slot
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 24/4016 Pivoted part or lever
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 24/4042 Stud
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 24/45524 including resiliently biased projection component or surface segment
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 24/45529 Requiring manual force applied against bias to interlock or disengage
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 24/45581 having inserted end formed by oppositely biased surface segments
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 24/4736 Buckle connected

Abstract

A buckle having a male portion and a female portion. The male portion has two sidewalls, first and second retaining bars and at least one locking arm. There is a slidable and pivotable strap gripping bar disposed adjacent the first strap retaining bar. The strap gripping bar is adapted to slide between a release position and a gripping position. The female portion comprises a hollow body with an open end and at least one locking slot for receiving the locking arm. When the male portion is inserted into the female portion, the locking arm locks into the locking slot and the female portion pushes the strap gripping bar into a gripping position, which grips a strap threaded through the retaining bars, and prevents the strap from slipping. When the male portion is released from the female portion, the strap gripping bar slides into the release position and allows adjustment of the strap.

Claims

1. A buckle, comprising:

a male portion comprising;

two sidewalls, first and second retaining bars disposed between said sidewalls;

at least one locking arm; and

a slidable and pivotable strap gripping bar disposed between said two side walls and adjacent said first strap retaining bar, said strap gripping bar adapted to slide between a release position and a gripping position, and also pivot between a release position and gripping position; and

a female portion comprising;

a hollow body with an open end; and

at least one locking slot for receiving said at least one locking arm;

wherein when said male portion is inserted into said female portion, said locking arm locks into said locking slot and said female portion pushes said strap gripping bar into a gripping position,

wherein if a strap is threaded through said strap retaining bars and said strap gripping bar is in said gripping position, said strap gripping bar grips said strap and prevents said strap from slipping,

wherein said strap can be adjusted by pivoting said strap gripping bar out of said gripping position until a desired adjustment of said strap is reached, at which point said strap gripping bar can be released back into said gripping position,

wherein when said male portion is released from said female portion, said strap gripping bar slides into the release position and allows adjustment of said strap, and

wherein said strap gripping bar has two ends and two protrusions at each end, and wherein there are two apertures in each of said sidewalls, a first one of said protrusions on each end of the strap gripping bar extending through a first one of said apertures on each of the sidewalls to connect said strap gripping bar to said male portion, and a second one of said protrusions on each end of the strap gripping bar extending through a second one of said apertures on each of the sidewalls so that the second protrusions can be raised and lowered to pivot the strap gripping bar to adjust the strap.

2. The buckle according to claim 1, wherein said strap gripping bar has teeth along a side facing said strap retaining bar, so that when said strap gripping bar is in a gripping position, said teeth grip the strap.

3. The buckle according to claim 1, wherein said strap gripping bar comprises a pushing surface facing away from said strap retaining bars, said pushing surface abutting said female portion when said male and female portion are locked together and allowing the female portion to push the strap gripping bar into the gripping position.

4. The buckle according to claim 1, wherein there are two locking arms and two locking slots.

5. The buckle according to claim 1, further comprising at least one strap retaining bar disposed on said female portion.

6. The buckle according to claim 1, wherein said first strap retaining bar is offset vertically from said second strap retaining bar.

7. The buckle according to claim 1, wherein said strap gripping bar is initially integrally molded with said male portion via locking gates.

8. The buckle according to claim 1, wherein said strap gripping bar is equipped with at least one protrusion along a side facing the first strap retaining bar.

9. The buckle according to claim 8, wherein said first strap retaining bar is equipped with at least one indentation corresponding to the at least one protrusion on the strap gripping bar, so that when said strap gripping bar is pushed against said first strap retaining bar, said at least one protrusion rests in said at least one indentation.

10. The buckle according to claim 8, further comprising a strap threaded through the buckle such that a portion of the strap extends between the strap gripping bar and the first strap retaining bar, and wherein said strap has at least one hole corresponding to the at least one protrusion on the strap gripping bar, and wherein said at least one protrusion extends through the at least one hole in the strap and prevent slippage of the strap.

11. The buckle according to claim 1, wherein the strap gripping bar can be pivoted by placing two fingers against ends of the strap gripping bar and rotating the strap gripping bar out of the gripping position.

12. A buckle, comprising:

a male portion comprising;

two sidewalls, first and second retaining bars disposed between said sidewalls;

at least one locking arm; and

a slidable and pivotable strap gripping bar disposed between said two side walls and adjacent said first strap retaining bar, said strap gripping bar adapted to slide between a release position and a gripping position, and also pivot between a release position and gripping position, said strap gripping bar being equipped with at least one protrusion along a side facing the first strap retaining bar;

a female portion comprising;

a hollow body with an open end; and

at least one locking slot for receiving said at least one locking arm; and

a strap threaded through the buckle such that a portion of the strap extends between the strap gripping bar and the first strap retaining bar, said strap having at least one hole corresponding to the at least one protrusion on the strap gripping bar, and said at least one protrusion extending through the at least one hole in the strap and prevent slippage of the strap,

wherein when said male portion is inserted into said female portion, said locking arm locks into said locking slot and said female portion pushes said strap gripping bar into a gripping position,

wherein said strap can be adjusted by pivoting said strap gripping bar out of said gripping position until a desired adjustment of said strap is reached, at which point said strap gripping bar can be released back into said gripping position; and

wherein when said male portion is released from said female portion, said strap gripping bar slides into the release position and allows adjustment of said strap.