Side-release buckle assembly
A buckle assembly includes a female connection member having open button areas, and a male connection member configured to mate with the female connection member. The male connection member may include deflectable lateral arms having buttons that are configured to be positioned within the open button areas, and at least one flexible and resilient strut member connecting the lateral arms together.
This application relates to and claims priority benefits from U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 60/729,599 entitled “Side Release Buckle,” filed Oct. 24, 2005, which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety.
FIELD OF THE INVENTIONEmbodiments of the present invention generally relate to a buckle assembly, and more particularly to a side-release buckle assembly.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTIONA conventional side-release buckle assembly includes a male connection member that is configured to mate with a female connection member, such as shown and described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,465,472, entitled “Buckle.” Each connection member is configured to retain a strap, such as a seatbelt or backpack strap. The male connection member includes integral buttons that may be engaged to release the male connection member from the female connection member, thereby disconnecting the buckle assembly.
In order to secure the male connection member 12 into the female connection member 14, the male connection member 12 is urged into the female connection member 14 in the direction of arrow B. A guide beam 26 of the male connection member 12 moves into a reciprocal channel (not shown) formed in the female connection member 14 to ensure proper mating alignment between the male and female connection members 12 and 14, respectively. As the male connection member 12 is urged into the female connection member 14, the lateral arms 16 deflect inwardly in the directions of arcs A and A′ until the buttons 18 reach button openings 28 formed through the female connection member 14. When the buttons 18 enter the button openings 28, the tension stored in the lateral arms 16 snapably forces the lateral arms 16 and the buttons laterally outward, so that the buttons 18 are secured within the button openings 28. At this point, the male connection member 12 is secured to the female connection member 14.
Referring to
Thus, a need exists for a buckle assembly having mating components that may be easily disconnected.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONCertain embodiments of the present invention provide a first buckle connector/connection member, and a second buckle connector/ connection member. The first connection member may have first and second open button areas. The second connection member is configured to mate with the first connection member into a securely connected position, and includes a first deflectable arm, a second deflectable arm, and at least one flexible resilient strut member.
The first deflectable arm includes a first button configured to be positioned proximate the first open button area when the first connection member is secured to the second connection member. The second deflectable arm includes a second button configured to be positioned proximate the second open button area when the first connection member is secured to the second connection member. The flexible and resilient strut member connects the first and second lateral arms together, such as through a central guide post.
The buttons are easy to engage due to the fact that they are not completely or substantially surrounded by fixed structure, such as a conventional button hole. That is, the buttons are not positioned through button holes when the first connection member is secured to the second connection member. Instead, less than an entire perimeter of each of the first and second buttons is positioned next to the first and second open button areas, respectively when the first connection member is secured to the second connection member. The first and second open button areas do not surround a perimeter of each of the first and second buttons, respectively. Further, the lateral envelope of each button may be at least as large as the lateral envelope of the open button areas.
The strut member may include at least one inwardly-bowed strut. Optionally, the strut member may curve or angle toward a central axis of the second connection member.
Either the first or second connection member may include a guide post, while the other may include a channel configured to receive the guide post. The channel receives the guide post to ensure proper mating alignment of the first connection member with respect to the second connection member.
Each of the first and second deflectable arms may include a locking member. The second connection member may include at least one locking ledge within a mating cavity. The first connection member may be configured to secure to the second connection member through the locking members snapably securing to the locking ledge(s). The locking member and the locking ledge may each include at least one ramped surface configured to allow the locking member to eject from the locking ledge during disconnection.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS
Before the embodiments of the invention are explained in detail, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited in its application to the details of construction and the arrangement of the components set forth in the following description or illustrated in the drawings. The invention is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced or being carried out in various ways. Also, it is to be understood that the phraseology and terminology used herein are for the purpose of description and should not be regarded as limiting. The use of “including” and “comprising” and variations thereof is meant to encompass the items listed thereafter and equivalents thereof as well as additional items and equivalents thereof.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
The male connection member 40 includes lateral arms 46 extending from the main body 42. The lateral arms 46 include engagement buttons 48 proximate the main body 42 that are integrally connected to recessed extension beams 49 that, in turn, integrally connect to locking members 50 distally located from the main body 42. As shown in
Referring again to
Referring to
Because the male connection member 40 does not include a rigid strut member, such as that of the assembly 10 shown with respect to
The bowed struts 58 are configured to flex inwardly toward the main body 42 into the central cavity 63 when the lateral arms 46 are squeezed toward one another. In response to the flexing of the bowed struts 58, the outer walls 62 of the central guide post 60 flex toward one another. The flexing of the bowed struts 58 and the outer walls 62 ensures that the central guide post 60 remains positioned about the axial center X of the male connection member 40. The bowed struts 58 resist the squeezing force exerted into the engagement buttons 48 such that when force is no longer applied, the resistive force in the struts 58 returns the lateral arms 46 back to their at-rest positions (as shown in
The flexible, bowed struts 58 allow an operator to more easily squeeze the lateral arms 46 toward one another as compared to a rigid bridge connecting the arms together (as shown in
A button area 76 is located at either side of the female connection member 70. The button areas 76 are free and open areas. That is, the button areas 76 are not bound on three or more sides (i.e., top, bottom, and at least one lateral portion) by fixed structure. As shown in
Ramped surfaces 84 are located at upper and lower portions of the mating chamber 77. The ramped surfaces 84 are configured to assist in ejecting the male connection member 40 (shown in
Referring to
As shown in
As the male connection member 40 is mated to the female connection member 70, the central guide post 60 is mated into the post receiving channel 80 defined by the interior walls 78 of the female connection member 70. The mating relationship between the central guide post 60 and the post receiving channel 80 ensures that the male connection member 40 is properly aligned with respect to the female connection member 70. While the male connection member 40 is shown having the central guide post 60, and the female connection member 70 is shown having the post receiving channel 80, this arrangement may be reversed, such that the male connection member 40 includes a post receiving channel, while the female connection member 70 includes the guide post.
During the mating process, the curved outer surfaces 52 of the locking members 50 slidably engage the slanted surfaces 88 (hidden by the extension beams 49, but shown in
The curved outer surfaces 52 of the locking members 50 continue to slide over the slanted surfaces 88 until they reach the bent edges 90. Once the curved outer surfaces 52 move past the bent edges 90 in the direction of arrow A, the lateral arms 46 snap back away from each other, and the rear retaining edges 56 of the locking members 50 snapably engage the bent edges 90. Thus, the male connection member 40 is secured to the female connection member 70. In this position, the extension beams 49 of the lateral arms 46 are positioned between the upper and lower locking ledges 86, while the locking members are securely wedged between the bent edges 90 and a strap wall 102 that partially defines the strap channel 74.
In order to disconnect the male connection member 40 from the female connection member 70, the engagement members 48 are squeezed toward one another. As mentioned above, the engagement buttons 48 may be bound on two sides by structural portions of the female connection member 70. Thus, an operator may easily engage the engagement buttons 48 without the operator's fingers being blocked from movement by structure defining a button hole. That is, the engagement buttons 48 are free and open.
As the engagement buttons 48 are inwardly squeezed, the lateral arms 46, and therefore the locking members 50, inwardly move in response thereto. As the locking members 50 move inwardly, the rear retaining edges 56 disengage from the edges 90 of the locking ledges 86. During this time, the upper and lower ramped surfaces 84 of the female connection member 70 provide a camming action that tends to eject the male connection member 40 from the female connection member 70, or vice versa. As the lateral arms 46 move in the direction of arrow B, the curved outer surfaces 52 of the locking members 50 engage the slanted surfaces 88 (hidden in
Thus, the male connection member 40 may be secured to, and disconnected from, the female connection member 70. While the discussion above focused on the male connection member 40 being urged into and away from the female connection member 70, it is to be understood that the motion is relative. That is, instead of the male connection member 40 being urged into the female connection member 70 to secure the buckle assembly 100, the female connection member 70 may be urged into the male connection member 40.
Thus, embodiments of the present invention provide a buckle assembly having mating components that may be easily disconnected. The female connection member has large button areas configured to receive engagement buttons of the male connection member. The large button area bound the engagement buttons on less than three sides (i.e., less than top, bottom, and one lateral portion), and do not include additional structure or impediments that hinder an operator from engaging the buttons. Additionally, the flexible strut members allow the lateral arms to be easily deflected into a disconnected position. Thus, an operator with large fingers, and/or wearing gloves, can easily operate the buckle assembly.
Further, the central guide post of the male connection member and the central guide channel of the female connection member cooperate to ensure that the male connection member stays centered with respect to the female connection member during connection and disconnection processes. Thus, the buckle assembly may be easily and smoothly connected and disconnected. Moreover, uneven engagement and release of the latch arms is minimized.
While various spatial terms, such as upper, lower, mid, lateral, horizontal, vertical, and the like may used to describe portions of the buckle assembly, it is understood that such terms are merely used with respect to the orientations shown in the drawings. The orientations may be inverted, rotated, or otherwise changed, such that an upper portion is a lower portion, and vice versa, horizontal becomes vertical, and the like.
Variations and modifications of the foregoing are within the scope of the present invention. It is understood that the invention disclosed and defined herein extends to all alternative combinations of two or more of the individual features mentioned or evident from the text and/or drawings. All of these different combinations constitute various alternative aspects of the present invention. The embodiments described herein explain the best modes known for practicing the invention and will enable others skilled in the art to utilize the invention. The claims are to be construed to include alternative embodiments to the extent permitted by the prior art.
Various features of the invention are set forth in the following claims.
Claims
1. A buckle assembly comprising:
- a female connection member having open button areas; and
- a male connection member configured to mate with said female connection member into a securely connected position, said male connection member comprising: deflectable lateral arms having buttons, said buttons configured to be positioned within said open button areas; and at least one flexible and resilient strut member connecting said lateral arms together.
2. The buckle assembly of claim 1, wherein less than an entire perimeter of each of said buttons abuts said female connection member when said male connection member is secured to said female connection member.
3. The buckle assembly of claim 2, wherein said open button areas do not surround said entire perimeter of each of said buttons when said male connection member is secured to said female connection member.
4. The buckle assembly of claim 1, wherein each of said open button areas has a first envelope, wherein each of said buttons has a second envelope, and wherein said second envelope is at least as large as said first envelope.
5. The buckle assembly of claim 1, wherein at least one flexible and resilient strut member comprises at least one inwardly-bowed strut.
6. The buckle assembly of claim 1, wherein at least one flexible and resilient strut member comprises at least one strut that curves toward a central axis of said male connection member.
7. The buckle assembly of claim 1, wherein at least one of said male and female connection members comprises at least one guide post, and the other of said male and female connection members comprises at least one channel configured to receive said guide post, wherein said at least one channel is configured to receive said at least one guide post to ensure proper mating alignment of said male connection member with respect to said female connection member.
8. The buckle assembly of claim 1, wherein each of said lateral arms comprises a locking member, wherein said female connection member comprises a locking ledge, said male connection member configured to secure to said female connection member through said locking member snapably securing to said locking ledge.
9. The buckle assembly of claim 8, wherein at least one of said locking member and said locking ledge comprises at least one ramped surface configured to allow said locking member to eject from said locking ledge during disconnection.
10. A buckle assembly comprising:
- a first connection member having first and second open button areas; and
- a second connection member configured to mate with said first connection member into a securely connected position, said second connection member comprising: a first deflectable arm having a first button, said first button configured to be positioned proximate said first open button area when said first connection member is secured to said second connection member; a second deflectable arm having a second button, said second button configured to be positioned proximate said second open button area when said first connection member is secured to said second connection member; and at least one flexible and resilient strut member connecting said first and second lateral arms together.
11. The buckle assembly of claim 10, wherein less than an entire perimeter of each of said first and second buttons is positioned next to said first and second open button areas, respectively, when said first connection member is secured to said second connection member.
12. The buckle assembly of claim 10, wherein said first and second open button areas do not surround a perimeter of each of said first and second buttons, respectively, when said first connection member is secured to said second connection member.
13. The buckle assembly of claim 10, wherein each of said first and second open button areas has a first envelope, wherein each of said first and second buttons has a second envelope, and wherein said second envelope is at least as large as said first envelope.
14. The buckle assembly of claim 10, wherein at least one flexible and resilient strut member comprises at least one inwardly-bowed strut.
15. The buckle assembly of claim 10, wherein at least one flexible and resilient strut member comprises at least one strut that curves toward a central axis of said second connection member.
16. The buckle assembly of claim 10, wherein at least one of said first and second connection members comprises at least one guide post, and the other of said first and second connection members comprises at least one channel configured to receive said guide post, wherein said at least one channel receives said at least one guide post to ensure proper mating alignment of said first connection member with respect to said second connection member.
17. The buckle assembly of claim 10, wherein each of said first and second deflectable arms comprises a locking member, wherein said second connection member comprises at least one locking ledge, said first connection member configured to secure to said second connection member through said locking members snapably securing to said at least one locking ledge.
18. The buckle assembly of claim 17, wherein at least one of said locking member and said locking ledge comprises at least one ramped surface configured to allow said locking member to eject from said locking ledge during disconnection.
19. A buckle assembly comprising:
- a first connection member having first and second open button areas, and at least one post receiving channel positioned within a mating cavity; and
- a second connection member configured to mate with said first connection member into a securely connected position, said second connection member comprising: a first deflectable arm having a first button, said first button configured to be positioned proximate said first open button area when said first connection member is secured to said second connection member; a second deflectable arm having a second button, said second button configured to be positioned proximate said second open button area when said first connection member is secured to said second connection member; at least one guide post; a first flexible and resilient strut member connecting said first deflectable arm to said at least one guide post; and a second flexible and resilient strut member connecting said second deflectable arm to said at least one guide post, wherein said first and second deflectable arms are connected together through said first and second flexible and resilient strut members and said at least one guide post, said at least one channel configured to receive said at least one guide post to ensure proper mating alignment of said first connection member with respect to said second connection member.
20. The buckle assembly of claim 19, wherein less than an entire perimeter of each of said first and second buttons is positioned next to said first and second open button areas, respectively, when said first connection member is secured to said second connection member, wherein said first and second open button areas do not surround said entire perimeter of each of said first and second buttons, respectively, when said first connection member is secured to said second connection member, wherein each of said first and second open button areas has a first envelope, wherein each of said first and second buttons has a second envelope, and wherein said second envelope is at least as large as said first envelope.
21. The buckle assembly of claim 19, wherein each of said first and second deflectable arms comprises a locking member, wherein said second connection member comprises at least one locking ledge, said first connection member securing to said second connection member through said locking members snapaby securing to said at least one locking ledge.
22. The buckle assembly of claim 21, wherein each of said locking member and said locking ledge comprises at least one ramped surface configured to allow said locking member to eject from said locking ledge during disconnection.
Type: Application
Filed: Jun 14, 2006
Publication Date: Apr 26, 2007
Inventor: John Pontaoe (Chicago, IL)
Application Number: 11/452,499
International Classification: A44B 11/25 (20060101);