Buckle connector

• US 9,848,676 B2
• Filed: 07/07/2016
• Issued: 12/26/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 03/15/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Brad W. Maloney
• Original Assignee: Brad W. Maloney
• Inventors: Maloney, Brad W.
• Primary Examiner(s): Sandy, Robert
• Assistant Examiner(s): Upchurch, David M
• Application Number:
  US15/203,922
• Publication Number:
  US 20160309854A1
• Time in Patent Office: 537 Days
• CPC Class Codes: A44B 11/25 with two or more separable parts
• 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 24/45215 Slot and tab or tongue

Abstract

A buckle connector for releasably connecting a first object to a second object is provided. The buckle connector may include a first clip member and a connector for connecting it to a first object, and a second clip member and a connector for connecting it to a second object. Legs defining opposed grooves are provided on the first clip member and the second clip member is receivable in the grooves. A stop surface is provided on the second clip member and is engageable with a stop surface on the first clip member to prevent relative movement between the first and second clip members, in a first direction. A strap may be connected to the second clip member so that the strap may be positioned in the grooves in the first and second legs on the first clip member before the second clip member is positioned in the grooves.

Claims

1. A buckle connector comprising

a first clip member comprising

a base having a top and a bottom,

a first leg on the top of the base,

a second leg on the top of the base, and

a first stop surface, and

a second clip member having a proximal end and a distal end and comprising

a connector comprising a laterally extending slot close to the distal end of the second clip member, and

a first stop surface close to the proximal end of the second clip member and facing the distal end of the second clip member,

wherein the first leg and the second leg have grooves which face each other and define a slot between them for receiving the second clip member,

wherein the second clip member slides in the slot until the second clip member first stop surface engages the first clip member first stop surface,

wherein the first leg and the second leg are spaced from each other and define a channel between them, and

wherein the second clip member first stop surface is inflexibly supported on the second clip member.

2. The buckle connector claimed in claim 1 wherein the first clip member further comprises a second stop surface and the second clip member further comprises a second stop surface close to the proximal end of the second clip member, facing the distal end of the second clip member, wherein the second clip member second stop surface is inflexibly supported on the second clip member, and wherein the second clip member slides in the slot until the second clip member second stop surface engages the first clip member second stop surface.

3. The buckle connector claimed in claim 1 wherein the second clip member further comprises a flexible retainer arm close to the distal end that is operable, when not flexed and when the second clip member first stop surface is engaging the first clip member first stop surface, to resist movement of the second clip member out of the slot.

4. The buckle connector claimed in claim 1 wherein the first clip member has adhesive on the bottom.

5. The buckle connector claimed in claim 1 wherein the first clip member first stop surface is supported on the first leg.

6. The buckle connector claimed in claim 2 wherein the first clip member second stop surface is supported on the second leg.

7. The buckle connector claimed in claim 5 wherein the first clip member second stop surface is supported on the second leg.

8. The buckle connector claimed in claim 1 wherein the second clip member further comprises a first guide surface on one side and a second guide surface on an opposed side and the first and second guide surfaces are inflexibly supported in substantially parallel relationship.

9. The buckle connector claimed in claim 8 wherein the first guide surface and the second guide surface cooperate with the first leg and the second leg to prevent movement, other than sliding movement, of the second clip member in the slot.

10. A buckle connector comprising

a first clip member comprising

a base having a top and a bottom,

a first leg on the top of the base,

a second leg on the top of the base,

a projection on the top of the base, and

a first stop surface, and

a second clip member having a top, a bottom, a proximal end and a distal end and comprising

a projection on the bottom of the second clip member,

a connector close to the distal end of the second clip member, and

a first stop surface close to the proximal end of the second clip member and facing the distal end of the second clip member,

wherein the first leg and the second leg have grooves which face each other and define a slot between them for receiving the second clip member,

wherein the second clip member slides in the slot until the second clip member first stop surface engages the first clip member first stop surface,

wherein, as the second clip member slides in the slot towards engagement between the second clip member first stop surface and the first clip member first stop surface, the first clip member projection and the second clip member projection move towards and past engagement with each other such that, as the second clip member slides in the slot away from engagement between the second clip member first stop surface and the first clip member first stop surface, engagement between the first clip member projection and the second clip member projection resists such sliding movement,

wherein the first leg and the second leg are spaced from each other and define a channel between them, and

wherein the second clip member first stop surface is inflexibly supported on the second clip member.

11. The buckle connector claimed in claim 10 wherein the first clip member further comprises a second stop surface and the second clip member further comprises a second stop surface close to the proximal end of the second clip member, facing the distal end of the second clip member, wherein the second clip member second stop surface is inflexibly supported on the second clip member, and wherein the second clip member slides in the slot until the second clip member second stop surface engages the first clip member second stop surface.

12. The buckle connector claimed in claim 10 wherein the first clip member has adhesive on the bottom.

13. The buckle connector claimed in claim 10 wherein the first clip member first stop surface is supported on the first leg.

14. The buckle connector claimed in claim 11 wherein the first clip member second stop surface is supported on the second leg.

15. The buckle connector claimed in claim 13 wherein the first clip member second stop surface is supported on the second leg.

16. The buckle connector claimed in claim 10 wherein the second clip member further comprises a first guide surface on one side and a second guide surface on an opposed side and the first and second guide surfaces are inflexibly supported in substantially parallel relationship.

17. The buckle connector claimed in claim 16 wherein the first guide surface and the second guide surface cooperate with the first leg and the second leg to prevent movement, other than sliding movement, of the second clip member in the slot.

18. The buckle connector claimed in claim 10 wherein the second clip member connector comprises a laterally extending slot.