Abstract: A buckle has a strap attaching structure which has at least one shock absorbing flexible portion attached to the strap attaching structure. The shock absorbing flexible portion can be a flexible fin, which extends longitudinally along the strap attaching structure. The free end of the fin extends away from the strap attaching structure. The strap is wrapped around the strap attaching structure and the flexible portion. When a force is exerted against the strap attaching structure by pulling on the strap, the strap presses against the flexible portion and causes it to bend, thus decelerating the load caused by the strap and absorbing the initial force on the buckle.

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 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.

Abstract: A buckle has a male and a female portion. The female portion has a hollow body with two sidewalls, an open receiving end and a locking end with an opening formed from the side walls. The opening is wider in a central area than at its ends. The male portion has at least one locking arm with a free end and a locking tab. Inserting the male portion into the female portion compresses locking arm, causing the locking tab to extend through the opening in the locking end. Inserting the male portion fully into the female portion causes tab to rest against one of the narrow ends of the opening in the locking end, to lock the male portion to the female portion. Pulling the male portion against the female portion causes the tab to lock even more firmly against the edges of the opening to prevent inadvertent disengagement.

Abstract: A buckle has a male and a female portion. The female portion has a hollow body with two sidewalls, an open receiving end and a locking end with an opening formed from the side walls. The opening is wider in a central area than at its ends. The male portion has at least one locking arm with a free end and a locking tab. Inserting the male portion into the female portion compresses locking arm, causing the locking tab to extend through the opening in the locking end. Inserting the male portion fully into the female portion causes tab to rest against one of the narrow ends of the opening in the locking end, to lock the male portion to the female portion. Pulling the male portion against the female portion causes the tab to lock even more firmly against the edges of the opening to prevent inadvertent disengagement.

Abstract: A buckle comprises a male portion and a female portion, the female portion having a top face, a bottom face and a cavity for accepting the male portion. The male portion is adapted to snap into the female portion to lock the two portions of the buckle together. At least one face of the female portion is formed from an integrally molded screen made of the same material as the rest of the female portion and having a thickness that is less than a thickness of the female portion. The screen reduces the weight of the buckle, making it more comfortable for the user as well as less expensive to manufacture.

Abstract: A buckle comprising a female part having a hollow body with a front wall, a back wall, an open top, a cavity between the top and bottom walls and at least one locking slot extending through the hollow body and communicating with the cavity. The top and bottom walls have a cutout that communicates with the open top. There is a male part that has a base, at least one locking leg and a central leg. The central leg has a shape that corresponds to the shape of the cutout in the female part. The central leg also has a mesh portion that reduces the weight of the buckle. Inserting the male part into the open top of the female part causes the central leg to rest in the cutout of the female part and the locking leg to engage the locking slot to lock the male part to the female part.

Abstract: A rod clip for connecting a rod to a lever comprises a first portion and a second portion hinged to the first portion. The first portion has a top surface having a recess for receiving a rod, such that folding the second portion over the first portion forms a channel for retaining the rod. There are rod retaining tabs disposed above the channel for retaining the rod in the channel until the second portion can be snapped over the first portion. There is a lock for locking the first portion to the second portion after the second portion is folded over the first portion. There is a lever retaining device disposed on one of the two portions. The hinge is formed by apertures on sides of one of the portions and corresponding protrusions on the other. The protrusions extend into the apertures to allow pivoting of the first and second portions with respect to each other.

Abstract: A buckle comprising a female part having a hollow body with a front wall, a back wall, an open top, a cavity between the top and bottom walls and at least one locking slot extending through the hollow body and communicating with the cavity. The top and bottom walls have a cutout that communicates with the open top. There is a male part that has a base, at least one locking leg and a central leg. The central leg has a shape that corresponds to the shape of the cutout in the female part. The central leg also has a mesh portion that reduces the weight of the buckle. Inserting the male part into the open top of the female part causes the central leg to rest in the cutout of the female part and the locking leg to engage the locking slot to lock the male part to the female part.

Abstract: A hinged product has a first section and a second section. The first section has a post extending transversely across one end thereof. The second section two co-axial apertures therein, each of the apertures having an internal wall. The post extends between and through the apertures to connect the first section to the second section. There is at least one protrusion located on either the post or the internal walls of the apertures. There is at least one rib disposed the other of the internal walls or the post. The rib contacts the protrusion as the second section is rotated relative to the first section and causes resistance to rotation. This resistance allows for a stepped rotation of the two sections relative to one another. The product is integrally molded in one piece via a molding gate that is offset from a parting line of the mold. When the mold is opened, the mold shears off the molding gate to create a two-piece clip.

Abstract: A buckle comprises a male portion, a female portion and a push button. The male portion comprises a base and at least one locking leg having a release tab. The female portion comprises a hollow body and a catch for locking the locking leg to the female portion when the male portion is inserted into the female portion. The push button is inserted into the female portion and is adapted to move longitudinally toward and away from the male portion. The push button has a base, a spring mounted on an inside surface of the base and at least one release prong. Depressing the push button causes the release prong to slide between the catch and the release tab, to release the release tab from the catch, and causes the spring to push against the male portion and eject the male portion from the female portion.

Abstract: A fastener comprises an anchor and a central pin. The anchor has a top plate to which a central leg is connected. At the free end of the central leg are two anchor arms that extend up and outward from the free end, forming an arrowhead shape. Each anchor arm has an outwardly extending lip connected to its free end. The anchor arms are flexible and can flex inward as the anchor is placed through a hole in an item to be fastened. Connected to the top surface of the top plate is a push pin. Depressing the push pin breaks the connection areas to create a two-piece anchor from the single part. The push pin comprises a push button and a pin connected to the underside of the push button. The pin consists of a vertical post having a channel therein for accommodating the central leg of the anchor. Pushing the push button downward causes the anchor arms to be pushed outward and to anchor the fastener into the items to be fastened.

Abstract: A fastener comprises an anchor and a central pin. The anchor has a top plate to which a central leg is connected. At the free end of the central leg are two anchor arms that extend up and outward from the free end, forming an arrowhead shape. The anchor arms are flexible and can flex inward as the anchor is placed through a hole in an item to be fastened. Connected to the top surface of the top plate is a push pin. Depressing the push pin breaks the connection areas to create a two-piece anchor from the single part. The push pin comprises a push button and a pin connected to the underside of the push button. The pin consists of a vertical post having a channel therein for accommodating the central leg of the anchor. Pushing the push button downward causes the anchor arms to be pushed outward and to anchor the fastener into the items to be fastened.

Abstract: A buckle comprises a male portion, a female portion and a push button. The male portion comprises a base and at least one locking leg having a release tab. The female portion comprises a hollow body and a catch for locking the locking leg to the female portion when the male portion is inserted into the female portion. The push button is inserted into the female portion and is adapted to move longitudinally toward and away from the male portion. The push button has a base, a spring mounted on an inside surface of the base and at least one release prong. Depressing the push button causes the release prong to slide between the catch and the release tab, to release the release tab from the catch, and causes the spring to push against the male portion and eject the male portion from the female portion.

Abstract: A buckle comprises a male portion and a female portion, the female portion having a top face, a bottom face and a cavity for accepting the male portion. The male portion is adapted to snap into the female portion to lock the two portions of the buckle together. At least one face of the female portion is formed from an integrally molded screen made of the same material as the rest of the female portion and having a thickness that is less than a thickness of the female portion. The screen reduces the weight of the buckle, making it more comfortable for the user as well as less expensive to manufacture.

Abstract: A fastener comprises an anchor and a central pin. The anchor has a top plate to which a central leg is connected. At the free end of the central leg are two anchor arms that extend up and outward from the free end, forming an arrowhead shape. The anchor arms are flexible and can flex inward as the anchor is placed through a hole in an item to be fastened. Connected to the top surface of the top plate is a push pin. Depressing the push pin breaks the connection areas to create a two-piece anchor from the single part. The push pin comprises a push button and a pin connected to the underside of the push button. The pin consists of a vertical post having a channel therein for accommodating the central leg of the anchor. Pushing the push button downward causes the anchor arms to be pushed outward and to anchor the fastener into the items to be fastened.

Abstract: A hinged product has a first section and a second section. The first section has a post extending transversely across one end thereof. The second section two co-axial apertures therein, each of the apertures having an internal wall. The post extends between and through the apertures to connect the first section to the second section. There is at least one protrusion located on either the post or the internal walls of the apertures. There is at least one rib disposed the other of the internal walls or the post. The rib contacts the protrusion as the second section is rotated relative to the first section and causes resistance to rotation. This resistance allows for a stepped rotation of the two sections relative to one another. Depending on the arrangement of the apertures, the product could be placed in numerous configurations.

Abstract: A hinged product has a first section and a second section. The first section has a post extending transversely across one end thereof. The second section two co-axial apertures therein, each of the apertures having an internal wall. The post extends between and through the apertures to connect the first section to the second section. The first section is integrally formed with the second section via at least one connection point connecting the first section and the second section outside of the apertures. Rotating the first section relative to the second section causes the connection point to break and create a two piece hinge.