Vented side release buckle
DCFirst Claim
1. A side release buckle, comprising:
- a male member having a longitudinally extending axis and a tongue portion;
a female member having a longitudinally extending axis, a receptacle, defined partially by first and second substantially opposed side walls, for receiving said tongue portion of said male member, and latching means for releasably retaining said tongue portion of said male member within said receptacle;
an opening defined within and extending through a substantially axially central portion of said tongue portion of said male member so as to define upon said tongue portion of said male member a pair of laterally spaced, flexible latching arms for releasably engaging said latching means of said female member; and
a pair of separate openings laterally spaced from each other upon opposite sides of said longitudinally extending axis of said female member, respectively defined within and extending through each one of said first and second substantially opposed side walls of said female member, and having predetermined configurations for at least partial alignment with said opening of said male member when said tongue portion of said male member is disposed within said receptacle of said female member such that said at least partially aligned openings of said male and female members together form corresponding apertures which extend through said side release buckle and which have configurations which are substantially the same as said predetermined configurations of said pair of separate openings defined within said first and second substantially opposed side walls of said female member.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A side release buckle having a female member with a receptacle for receiving a tongue portion of a male member. One or more openings through the male member are alignable at least partially with corresponding openings through the female member when the tongue portion of the male member is disposed in the receptacle of the female member, whereby the at least partially aligned openings of the male and female members form corresponding apertures through the side release buckle. The openings may include one or more rib members for strength. The side release buckles have, among other advantages, reduced weight without compromising strength, and are suitable for applications where it is desirable to vent the buckle, or permit underlying fabric or structure to be at least partially visible therethrough, or to accept a locking member to prevent or deter casual release of the male and female members.
41 Citations
21 Claims
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1. A side release buckle, comprising:
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a male member having a longitudinally extending axis and a tongue portion; a female member having a longitudinally extending axis, a receptacle, defined partially by first and second substantially opposed side walls, for receiving said tongue portion of said male member, and latching means for releasably retaining said tongue portion of said male member within said receptacle; an opening defined within and extending through a substantially axially central portion of said tongue portion of said male member so as to define upon said tongue portion of said male member a pair of laterally spaced, flexible latching arms for releasably engaging said latching means of said female member; and a pair of separate openings laterally spaced from each other upon opposite sides of said longitudinally extending axis of said female member, respectively defined within and extending through each one of said first and second substantially opposed side walls of said female member, and having predetermined configurations for at least partial alignment with said opening of said male member when said tongue portion of said male member is disposed within said receptacle of said female member such that said at least partially aligned openings of said male and female members together form corresponding apertures which extend through said side release buckle and which have configurations which are substantially the same as said predetermined configurations of said pair of separate openings defined within said first and second substantially opposed side walls of said female member. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. A side release buckle, comprising:
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a male member having a longitudinally extending axis and a tongue portion; a female member having a longitudinally extending axis, a receptacle, defined partially by first and second substantially opposed side walls, for receiving said tongue portion of said male member, and latching means for releasably retaining said tongue portion of said male member within said receptacle; an opening defined within and extending through a substantially axially central portion of said tongue portion of said male member so as to define upon said tongue portion of said male member a pair of laterally spaced, flexible latching arms for releasably engaging said latching means of said female member, and an axially extending guide arm interposed between and separated from said pair of laterally spaced flexible, latching arms so as to divide said opening of said tongue portion of said male member into first and second laterally spaced openings within said tongue portion of said male member; and first and second separate openings laterally spaced from each other upon opposite sides of said longitudinally extending axis of said female member and respectively defined within and extending through each one of said first and second substantially opposed side walls of said female member for at least partial alignment with said first and second openings of said male member when said tongue portion of said male member is disposed within said receptacle of said female member such that said at least partially aligned openings of said male and female members together form apertures through said side release buckle. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A side release buckle, comprising:
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a male member having a longitudinally extending axis and a tongue portion; a female member having a longitudinally extending axis, a receptacle, defined partially by first and second substantially opposed side walls, for receiving said tongue portion of said male member, and latching means for releasably retaining said tongue portion of said male member within said receptacle; an opening defined within and extending through a substantially axially central portion of said tongue portion of said male member so as to define upon said tongue portion of said male member a pair of laterally spaced, flexible latching arms for releasably engaging said latching means of said female member; an axially extending guide arm interposed between and separated from said pair of laterally spaced flexible, latching arms so as to divide said opening of said tongue portion of said male member into first and second laterally spaced openings within said tongue portion of said male member, and a third opening defined within said axially extending guide arm; and first and second separate openings laterally spaced from each other upon opposite sides of said longitudinally extending axis of said female member and respectively defined within and extending through each one of said first and second substantially opposed side walls of said female member for at least partial alignment with said first and second openings of said male member when said tongue portion of said male member is disposed within said receptacle of said female member such that said at least partially aligned first and second openings of said male and female members together form first and second apertures through said side release buckle, and a third opening defined within and extending through said female member for at least partial alignment with said third opening of said guide arm of said male member when said tongue portion of said male member is disposed within said receptacle of said female member such that said at least partially aligned third openings of said male and female members together form a third aperture through said side release buckle. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21)
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Specification