Quick release strap connector

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A quick release strap connector connects a strap detachably to an electronic device and comprises a cylinder, a knob, a latch bar and a spring. The cylinder is hollow, holds a strap and has an open end, a closed end and a sidewall. The knob is mounted rotatably against the open end of the cylinder. The latch bar is attached to the knob, is mounted through and protrudes from the cylinder and has a pivot latch. The latch is mounted in a slot in the electronic device and rotated to attach the connector to the electronic device. The spring is mounted around the latch bar between the closed end of the cylinder and the knob. The present invention will allow someone to attach or remove the strap from the electronic device quickly and easily, which makes using the strap more convenient.

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Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a quick release connector, especially to a quick release strap connector connected to a strap and detachably connecting to an electronic device.

2. Description of the Related Art

With the development of technology, electronic products have become lighter and smaller. Some of the electronic products have straps to allow the electronic products to be carried. For example, straps are used to carry digital cameras for outdoor photography or a laptop for use during an exhibition or meeting. However, the straps are usually fastened to the electronic products and cannot be removed easily. When electronic products with carrying straps are used on a plane or being used anywhere, the straps are usually unnecessary. The unnecessary straps are inconvenient and sometimes interfer with using the electronic products. Although, straps attached to electronic products do provide convenience and safety, the fastened straps still have the foregoing shortcomings that need to be overcome.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

One objective of the present invention is to provide a quick release strap connector to attach and remove a strap from an electronic device quickly and easily.

A quick release strap connector in accordance with the present invention connects a strap detachably to an electronic device and comprises a cylinder, a knob, a latch bar and a spring. The cylinder is hollow, holds a strap and has an open end, a closed end and a sidewall. The knob is mounted rotatably against the open end of the cylinder. The latch bar is attached to the knob, is mounted through and protrudes from the cylinder and has a latch. The latch is mounted in a slot in the electronic device and rotated to attach the connector to the electronic device. The spring is mounted around the latch bar between the closed end of the cylinder and the knob and holds the latch in the slot in the electronic device. The present invention will allow someone to attach or remove the strap from the electronic device quickly and easily, which makes using the strap more convenient.

Other objectives, advantages and novel features of the invention will become more apparent from the following detailed description when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a quick release strap connector in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective front view of the quick release strap connector in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is another exploded perspective view of the quick release strap connector in FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is an enlarged operational rear interior view of the quick release strap connector in FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is an enlarged side view of the quick release strap connector in FIG. 1;

FIG. 6 is an enlarged cross sectional view of the quick release strap connector along line 6-6 in FIG. 5;

FIG. 7 is perspective view of the quick release strap connector in FIG. 1 connecting a strap to an electronic device; and

FIG. 8 is another enlarged operational front view of the quick release strap connector in FIG. 1;

 DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

With reference to FIGS. 1, 2 and 3, a quick release strap connector in accordance with the present invention comprises a cylinder (10), a knob (50), a latch bar (40) and a spring (60).

With further reference to FIG. 7, the cylinder (10) is hollow, holds a strap (80) and has an open end, a closed end, a sidewall, an optional strap hole (12) and an optional limit groove (13).

The closed end is mounted against an electronic device (70) and has a coaxial opening, an end plug (11) and an optional escutcheon (20).

The end plug (11) is formed in the opening in the closed end of the cylinder (10) and has an outer surface, a coaxial slot (111), an inner surface, two optional latch protrusions (112) and an optional spring mount (113).

The coaxial slot (111) has a center and two sides.

With further reference to FIG. 8, the two latch protrusions (112) are formed on and protrude from the outer surface of the end plug (11) adjacent respectively to the sides of the coaxial slot (111) at the center and opposite to each other and are mounted in a locking slot in an electronic device (70), and each latch protrusion (112) has an outer end and a detent. The detents are formed respectively in the outer ends of the latch protrusions (112) and extend radially out from center of the coaxial slot (111).

The spring mount (113) is formed longitudinally on and protrudes from the inner surface of the end plug (11) around the center of the coaxial slot (111).

The escutcheon (20) is mounted on the outer surface of the end plug (11) of the cylinder (10) and has a narrow slot (22) and a wide slot (21). The narrow slot (22) is formed through the escutcheon (20) and corresponds to the coaxial slot (111) of the end plug (11). The wide slot (21) is formed through the escutcheon (20) perpendicular to the narrow slot (22) and corresponds to and holds the latch protrusions (112) of the end plug (11).

The strap hole (12) is formed transversely off-center through the sidewall of the cylinder (10) and holds the strap (80).

The two limit grooves (13) are curved and are formed concentrically in the open end of the cylinder (10) opposite to each other.

With further reference to FIG. 4, the knob (50) is mounted rotatably in the open end of the cylinder (10), has an inner surface and an outer edge (53), an optional mounting protrusion (51) and two optional knob limit (52).

The outer edge (53) is formed around the knob (50) and may be fluted.

The mounting protrusion (51) is formed coaxially on and protrudes from the inner surface of the knob (50) and has an outer surface and an optional notch (512). The notch (512) is formed longitudinally in the outer surface of the mounting protrusion (51) of the knob (50).

The at least one knob limit (52) is formed on and protrudes from the inner surface of the knob (50) near the outer edge (53) opposite to each other, are mounted respectively in the limit grooves (13) in the cylinder (10) and limit how much the knob (50) can be rotated.

The latch bar (40) is formed coaxially in and protrudes longitudinally from the mounting protrusion (51) of the knob (50) and has a shaft, a pivot latch (41) and an optional collar (30).

The shaft of the latch bar (40) is formed in and protrudes longitudinally from the mounting protrusion (51) of the knob (50), is mounted coaxially and rotatably through the coaxial slot in the end plug (11) and has a distal end. The distal end protrudes beyond the outer surface of the end plug (11) of the cylinder (10).

The pivot latch (41) is formed transversely through the distal end of the shaft of the latch bar (40), is held in the detents in the latch protrusions (112) when the quick release strap connector is disconnected, passes through the slot in an electronic device (70) to attach the quick release connector to the electronic device (70) when the knob (50) is turned and has an inner surface (410). The inner surface (410) corresponds to the dents in the latch protrusions (112) of the end plug (11).

The collar (30) is resilient, is mounted around the shaft of the latch bar (40) adjacent to the pivot latch (41), is larger than the coaxial slot (111), is mounted and held between the latch protrusions (112) and has a through hole (31).

With further reference to FIGS. 5 and 6, the spring (60) is mounted around the shaft of the latch bar (40) between the cylinder (10) and the end plug (11) and is mounted in the notch (512) of the mounting protrusion (51) and around the spring mount (113) of the end plug (11).

Even though numerous characteristics and advantages of the present invention have been set forth in the foregoing description, together with details of the structure and features of the invention, the disclosure is illustrative only. Changes may be made in the details, especially in matters of shape, size, and arrangement of parts within the principles of the invention to the full extent indicated by the broad general meaning of the terms in which the appended claims are expressed.

Claims

1. A quick release strap connector comprising:

a cylinder being hollow and having; an open end; a closed end having a coaxial opening; and an end plug being formed in the opening in the closed end of the cylinder and having an outer surface; a coaxial slot having a center and two sides; and an inner surface; and a sidewall;
a knob being mounted rotatably in the open end of the cylinder and having an inner surface; and an outer edge;
a latch bar being formed coaxially in and protruding longitudinally from the knob and having a shaft being formed in and protruding longitudinally from the knob, being mounted coaxially and rotatably through the coaxial slot in the end plug and having a distal end protruding beyond the outer surface of the end plug of the cylinder; and a pivot latch being formed transversely through the distal end of the shaft of the latch bar and having an inner surface; and a spring being mounted around the shaft of the latch bar between the cylinder and the end plug.

2. The quick release strap connector as claimed in claim 1, wherein

the end plug further has two latch protrusions being formed on and protruding from the outer surface of the end plug adjacent respectively to the sides of the coaxial slot at the center and opposite to each other, and each latch protrusion having an outer end; and a detent, the detents being formed respectively in the outer ends of the latch protrusions and extending radially out from center of the coaxial slot.

3. The quick release strap connector as claimed in claim 2, wherein the latch bar further has a collar being resilient, being mounted around the shaft of the latch bar adjacent to the pivot latch, being larger than the coaxial slot, being mounted and held between the latch protrusions and having a through hole.

4. The quick release strap connector as claimed in claim 3, wherein the closed end of the cylinder further has an escutcheon being mounted on the outer surface of the end plug of the cylinder and having

a narrow slot being formed through the escutcheon and corresponding to the coaxial slot of the end plug; and
a wide slot being formed through the escutcheon perpendicular to the narrow slot and corresponding to and holding the latch protrusions of the end plug.

5. The quick release strap connector as claimed in claim 4, wherein

the inner surface of the end plug has a spring mount being formed longitudinally on and protruding from the inner surface of the end plug around the center of the coaxial slot; and
the spring is mounted around the spring mount of the end plug.

6. The quick release strap connector as claimed in claim 1, wherein

the knob further has a mounting protrusion being formed coaxially on and protruding from the inner surface of the knob and having an outer surface; and
the shaft of the latch bar is mounted coaxially in protrudes longitudinally from the mounting protrusion of the knob.

7. The quick release strap connector as claimed in claim 5, wherein

the knob further has a mounting protrusion being formed coaxially on and protruding from the inner surface of the knob and having an outer surface; and a notch being formed longitudinally in the outer surface; and
the shaft of the latch bar is formed coaxially in protrudes longitudinally from the mounting protrusion of the knob.

8. The quick release strap connector as claimed in claim 1, wherein the cylinder further has a strap hole being formed transversely through the sidewall of the cylinder.

9. The quick release strap connector as claimed in claim 5, wherein the cylinder further has a strap hole being formed transversely through the sidewall of the cylinder.

10. The quick release strap connector as claimed in claim 6, wherein the cylinder further has a strap hole being formed transversely through the sidewall of the cylinder.

11. The quick release strap connector as claimed in claim 7, wherein the cylinder further has a strap hole being formed transversely through the sidewall of the cylinder.

12. The quick release strap connector as claimed in claim 6, wherein

the mounting protrusion of the knob has a notch being formed longitudinally in the outer surface; and
the spring is mounted in the notch of the mounting protrusion of the knob.

13. The quick release strap connector as claimed in claim 7, wherein

the mounting protrusion of the knob has a notch being formed longitudinally in the outer surface; and
the spring is mounted in the notch of the mounting protrusion of the knob.

14. The quick release strap connector as claimed in claim 10, wherein

the mounting protrusion of the knob has a notch being formed longitudinally in the outer surface; and
the spring is mounted in the notch of the mounting protrusion of the knob.

15. The quick release strap connector as claimed in claim 11, wherein

the mounting protrusion of the knob has a notch being formed longitudinally in the outer surface; and
the spring is mounted in the notch of the mounting protrusion of the knob.

16. The quick release strap connector as claimed in claim 1, wherein

the cylinder further has two limit grooves being formed concentrically in the open end of the cylinder opposite to each other; and
two knob limits being formed on and protruding from the inner surface of the knob near the outer edge opposite to each other, being mounted respectively in the limit grooves in the cylinder;

17. The quick release strap connector as claimed in claim 15, wherein

the cylinder further has two limit grooves being formed concentrically in the open end of the cylinder opposite to each other; and
two knob limits being formed on and protruding from the inner surface of the knob near the outer edge opposite to each other, being mounted respectively in the limit grooves in the cylinder.

18. The quick release strap connector as claimed in claim 1, wherein the outer edge of the knob is fluted.

19. The quick release strap connector as claimed in claim 17, wherein the outer edge of the knob is fluted.

Patent History
Publication number: 20090044388
Type: Application
Filed: Aug 14, 2007
Publication Date: Feb 19, 2009
Applicant:
Inventor: Wei-Chen Kao (Shulin City)
Application Number: 11/889,503
Classifications
Current U.S. Class: Receiving Member Includes Either Movable Connection Between Interlocking Components Or Variable Configuration Cavity (24/629)
International Classification: A44B 11/25 (20060101);