Belt buckle for the releasable connection of a belt

• US 9,402,447 B2
• Filed: 02/05/2014
• Issued: 08/02/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 02/05/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: ABA Hörtnagl GmbH
• Original Assignee: ABA Hörtnagl GmbH
• Inventors: Hortnagl, Andreas
• Primary Examiner(s): Sandy, Robert J
• Assistant Examiner(s): UPCHURCH, DAVID M
• Application Number:
  US14/173,062
• Publication Number:
  US 20140215773A1
• Time in Patent Office: 909 Days
• Field of Search: 246/29, 246/33
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A44B 11/2519 with two buttons acting in opposite directions
• CPC Class Codes: A44B 11/2561 Tongue elements
• CPC Class Codes: A44B 11/2569 Safety measures buckles for releasing in a vehicle emergency B60R22/32; control, alarm, or interlock systems for the correct application of safety belt buckles in vehicles B60R22/48
• CPC Class Codes: A44B 11/2592 fastening by sliding in the main plane or a plane parallel to the main plane of the buckle A44B11/2503, A44B11/2584 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A44B 11/266 with at least one push-button acting parallel to the main plane of the buckle and perpendicularly to the direction of the fastening action
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 24/45602 Receiving member includes either movable connection between interlocking components or variable configuration cavity
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 24/45623 and operator therefor

Abstract

Belt buckle for releasable connection of a belt to another belt or object. The belt buckle has a male buckle part with a plug-in extension and a female buckle part with a receptacle, and a locking device. The plug-in extension of the male buckle part is insertable into the receptacle of the female buckle part and the buckle parts are lockable to each other in a locking state by the locking device. In the locking state, the buckle parts are arrangeable relative to each other in a neutral position, in which the locking device can be brought into an unlocking position to separate the buckle parts. The buckle parts are additionally arrangeable relative to each other in a blocking position, pivoted in relation to the neutral position, in which the locking device is blocked in a locking position to prevent the buckle parts from being separated from each other.

Claims

1. A belt buckle for releasable connection of a belt to another belt or to another object, comprising a male buckle part with at least one plug-in extension and a female buckle part with at least one plug-in-extension receptacle, and a locking device, wherein, in order to lock the buckle parts, the plug-in extension of the male buckle part is insertable into the plug-in-extension receptacle of the female buckle part and the buckle parts are lockable to each other in a locking state by the locking device, in the locking state, the buckle parts are arrangeable relative to each other in at least one neutral position, in which the locking device can be brought into an unlocking position in order to separate the buckle parts from each other, and, in the locking state, the buckle parts are additionally arrangeable relative to each other in at least one blocking position pivoted in relation to the neutral position, and in the blocking position, the locking device is blocked in a locking position in order to prevent the buckle parts from being separated from each other;

and

wherein, in the locking state, one of the buckle parts is pivotable in a direction toward the locking device relative to the other buckle part on a path from the neutral position into the blocking position.

2. The belt buckle according to claim 1, wherein, in the locking state, the buckle parts are pivoted exclusively in one plane between the neutral position and the blocking position.

3. The belt buckle according to claim 1, wherein, in the locking state, the belt buckle has at least two of the blocking positions, and the neutral position is arranged between the blocking positions.

4. The belt buckle according to claim 1, wherein, in the locking state, the locking device engages in an undercut of the belt buckle, and the locking device is guidable out of the undercut in the neutral position and is retained in an interlocking manner in the undercut in the blocking position.

5. The belt buckle according to claim 4, wherein the undercut is formed in the plug-in extension of the male buckle part.

6. The belt buckle according to claim 4, wherein the locking device is a lever that is pivotable about a pivot axis.

7. The belt buckle according to claim 6, wherein the undercut, on a side on which the lever can be pivoted out of the undercut in the neutral position, is bounded by a retaining lug for interlocking retention in the blocking position.

8. The belt buckle according to claim 7, wherein at least in the blocking position, the retaining lug is located closer to the pivot axis than a lowest bulge of the undercut.

9. The belt buckle according to claim 1, wherein the male buckle part and the female buckle part each have a stop region and, in the blocking position, the stop regions bear against each other and prevent the plug-in extension of the male buckle part from penetrating deeper in the plug-in-extension receptacle of the female buckle part.

10. The belt buckle according to claim 1, wherein the locking device is a lever that is pivotable about a pivot axis.

11. The belt buckle according to claim 1, wherein there are a plurality of the locking devices.

12. A belt buckle for releasable connection of a belt to another belt or to another object, comprising a male buckle part with at least one plug-in extension and a female buckle part with at least one plug-in-extension receptacle, and a locking device, wherein, in order to lock the buckle parts, the plug-in extension of the male buckle part is insertable into the plug-in-extension receptacle of the female buckle part and the buckle parts are lockable to each other in a locking state by the locking device, in the locking state, the buckle parts are arrangeable relative to each other in at least one neutral position, in which the locking device can be brought into an unlocking position in order to separate the buckle parts from each other, and, in the locking state, the buckle parts are additionally arrangeable relative to each other in at least one blocking position pivoted in relation to the neutral position, and in the blocking position, the locking device is blocked in a locking position in order to prevent the buckle parts from being separated from each other;

and

wherein, in the locking state, the buckle parts are pivoted exclusively in one plane between the neutral position and the blocking position.