Break-free safety release buckle and fastener
A quick-release fastening device is disclosed. The device includes a first fastening component having upper and lower surfaces and first and second end portions. A pair of first and second elongated jaw elements are disposed on the first component first end portion and form a channel-like socket therebetween. The jaws define a gripping mechanism having an elongated jaw opening accessing the socket. The first jaw element has a length dimension less than the second jaw element. A tubular pocket is defined in the first member first end portion adjacent the channel-like socket to form a pivot point for the jaw elements. A second fastening component has first and second end portions, the second fastening component first end portion being adapted for releasable engagement with the first fastening component first end portion. Finally, a stud is mounted in the second fastening component first end portion. The stud is sized for releasable engagement within the channel-like socket and further includes an elongated cut-out portion which forms a slot along a substantial portion of the length of the stud, the slot being sized to match the first jaw element to enhance engagement of the stud within the socket without affecting release resistance of said stud imposed by said jaw elements.
This application is related to U.S. provisional patent application No. 60/535,026, filed Jan. 8, 2004.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTIONThis invention relates generally to safety release mechanisms, quick release mechanisms, and fasteners which are designed to free a wearer (including humans and other animals) from equipment, harnesses, and bindings of such equipment which secure it on or about the wearer. These devices are also appropriate for use on luggage and other items which could become entangled with other equipment such as in automated handling systems, conveyers, etc. In many situations items attached to or around the wearer can become caught or entangled, thereby trapping and subjecting the wearer or equipment to potential injury including possible fatal injury or equipment damage which could occur if the worn device and/or harness remained firmly connected. Specifically, this invention is related to fasteners, buckles, and tension releasing devices which are designed to automatically release or separate when a designed tension or pull against the device is exceeded.
DESCRIPTION OF PRIOR ARTPotential dangers of entrapment, strangulation, drowning, broken bones and other disastrous injury from entangled equipment worn on or about persons and animals have been long known and recognized as is evidenced by the number of releasing collars, bindings, harnesses and various fittings for such harnesses, which are designed as quick release fasteners, or as automatically separating connectors of such equipment. Typical of these devices are separating lanyards used for identification cards and badges worn about the neck, and various animal and pet collars. Most such devices are constructed with a low tension release, which makes them unsuited for use in other applications which require them to hold under a greater release tension. Further, many are a separate member sewn or otherwise integrated into the harness or securement of the device in addition to still other fasteners which are used to connect and disconnect the device from the wearer.
OBJECTS AND ADVANTAGESIt is one object of the present invention to provide a safety release mechanism which is adaptable to the design of many known buckles and fasteners, such that the release member is a combined part of the fastener, providing an inexpensive compact safety release fastener which can also be selectively attached, removed, or adjusted for length and fit by conventional means.
It is an additional object to provide a safety release fastener which can easily be adapted in a tamper-proof design, such that a universal separating member can be adapted by the manufacturer to provide various pre-determined fixed release tensions in the same device, thereby reducing manufacturing costs and providing greater flexibility of application by eliminating the need for separate additional tooling to duplicate the basic member for each of various release tensions.
A further object of the present invention is to provide a safety release connection which allows the fitting to swivel on its attachment to the fastener to better conform to contours such as the generally rounded contours normally surrounded by belts, shoulder straps and neck collars.
Still further, it is an objective to provide a releasable buckle connection of fewer parts at lower overall cost by providing greater efficiency in manufacturing.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGSThe accompanying drawings which are incorporated in and form a part of the specification illustrate preferred and alternate embodiments of the present invention and, together with a description, serve to explain the principles of the invention.
In the drawings:
The present invention will generally be constructed of semi-rigid material similar to that used in the manufacture of plastic fasteners and buckles which are generally formed by injection molding, although other suitable material and methods of forming may be used.
In the following description major parts of the assembly will be referred to as a release member 1 and a fastening link 6. While the jaws 4, stud 5, and related structures can be incorporated on either buckle portion, in the preferred and illustrated embodiment the jaws 4 will be incorporated as part of the primary buckle member to which the break free invention is adapted. In this manner, when the rivet 10, bridge 13, or other such limiting device is broken or the jaws 4 eventually fail, the broken or failed members can be easily replaced as part of a replacement release member. If the jaws were reversed, as being part of the fastening link, it would be necessary to remove stitching or other fastenings which were originally used to attach the broken member, and to re-sew or otherwise re-attach a replacement onto the article to which the break free buckle was attached.
In preferred form the notched jaw 4 is the upper jaw when adapted to a ladderlock buckle to prevent the stud from exiting the jaws 4 when the buckle member is raised to slack off tension on the strap, as illustrated in
Referring to
An alternate embodiment is shown in
A preferred alternate embodiment of the standard release member 1 of the buckle assembly is illustrated by a broken-away section in
A stud 5 on the link member is shown in a cross-section drawing in
In other alternate embodiments requiring still greater release tensions the hinge aperture 7 could be eliminated, with the entire space of the hinge aperture 7 and bridge 13 filled in solid, leaving only the grip aperture 8 in the release member 1. In this construction the jaws 4, stud 5 or other desired buckle portions could be designed to break under a maximum load.
Although the illustrations in this application show only two common fasteners it should be understood that the principles and break-free design disclosed in this application can be adapted to many common fasteners, including but not limited only to center release and cam buckles, snap hooks and fasteners, webbing rings, cord closures, tie-downs and associated hardware. Therefore, the specification and claims should be interpreted to include modification of all appropriate fasteners to function as a break-free release device in combination with separating members generally similar to those which are disclosed herein.
The foregoing description and the illustrative embodiments of the present invention have been described in detail in varying modifications and alternate embodiments. It should be understood that the foregoing description is exemplary only, and that the scope of the present invention is to be limited to the claims as interpreted in view of the prior art. Moreover, the invention illustratively disclosed herein may suitably be practiced in the absence of any element which is not specifically disclosed herein.
Claims
1. A quick-release fastening device comprising:
- a first fastening component having upper and lower surfaces and first and second end portions;
- a pair of first and second elongated jaw elements disposed on said first component first end portion and forming a channel-like socket therebetween to define a gripping mechanism having an elongated jaw opening accessing said socket, said first jaw element having a length dimension less than said second jaw element;
- a tubular pocket defined in said first member first end portion adjacent said channel-like socket to form a pivot point for said jaw elements;
- a second fastening component having first and second end portions, said second fastening component first end portion being adapted for releasable engagement with said first fastening component first end portion; and
- a stud mounted in said second fastening component first end portion, said stud being sized for releasable engagement within said channel-like socket and further including an elongated cut-out portion forming a groove along a substantial portion of the length of said stud, said groove being sized to match said first jaw element to enhance engagement of said stud within said socket without affecting release resistance of said stud imposed by said jaw elements.
2. The quick-release fastening device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the length dimension of said first jaw element is defined by a pair of notched end portions.
3. The quick-release fastening device as claimed in claim 2, wherein said stud includes a pair of cylindrical end portions disposed at the ends of said groove, said cylindrical end portions being sized and shaped to match the notched end portions of said first jaw element to enhance entry of said stud into said socket.
4. The quick-release fastening device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the release resistance of said stud from the elongated jaw opening of said gripping mechanism is defined by the elasticity of said jaw elements and the spacing between said channel-like socket and said tubular pocket pivot point adjacent thereto.
5. The quick-release fastening device as claimed in claim 4, wherein said device further comprises a variable release resistance mechanism.
6. The quick-release fastening device as claimed in claim 5, wherein said variable release resistance mechanism comprises a slot defined in the spacing between said channel-like socket and said tubular pocket pivot point to interconnect the same, said slot extending the entire width of said first fastening component.
7. The quick-release fastening device as claimed in claim 6, wherein a connection bridge is disposed in a central portion of said slot to increase the release resistance of said stud.
8. The quick-release fastening device as claimed in claim 5, wherein a vertical aperture is disposed through said first fastening component at the center of said spacing and is adapted to receive a rivet member to increase the release resistance of said stud.
9. The quick-release fastening device as claimed in claim 8, wherein said rivet member includes a central portion having a reduced diameter to vary the release resistance of said stud.
10. The quick-release fastening device as claimed in claim 1, wherein said first fastening component comprises a release member in the form of a buckle adapted to adjustably attach to a connecting strap, and wherein said second fastening component comprises a fastening link adapted to attach to a second article.
11. A safety release system for fasteners to provide a break-away release fastener and buckle mechanism adapted for attachment to webbing and other devices used to secure equipment on or about a wearer and to other equipment and devices, such that the separating member of the system may be constructed as a reusable assembly or component of an assembly or as a tamper-proof replaceable sacrificial safety break fastener to provide automatic release under varied pre-determined amounts of tension on the buckle assembly, said system comprising:
- a release member having upper and lower surfaces and first and second end portions;
- a pair of upper and lower elongated jaw elements disposed on said release member first end portion and forming a channel-like socket therebetween to define a gripping mechanism having an elongated jaw opening accessing said socket, said upper jaw element having a length dimension less than said lower jaw element;
- a lateral opening defined in said release member first end portion adjacent said channel-like socket to form a pivot point for said jaw elements;
- an open slot defined in the space between said lateral opening and said channel-like socket;
- a buckle assembly attached to said release member second end portion;
- a fastening link having first and second end portions, said fastening link first end portion being adapted for releasable engagement with said release member first end portion;
- a transversely oriented stud mounted in said fastening link first end portion, said stud being sized for releasable engagement within said channel-like socket and further including an elongated cut-out portion forming a groove along a substantial portion of the length of said stud, said groove being sized to match said upper jaw element to enhance engagement of said stud within said socket.
12. The safety release system as claimed in claim 11, wherein the length dimension of said upper jaw element is defined by a pair of notched end portions, and said stud includes a pair of cylindrical end portions disposed at the ends of said groove, said cylindrical end portions being sized and shaped to match the notched end portions of said upper jaw element to enhance angled entry of said stud into said socket yet not effect break-away release resistance of said stud from said gripping mechanism socket.
13. The safety release system as claimed in claim 11, wherein the break-away release resistance of said stud through the elongated jaw opening of said gripping mechanism is defined by the elasticity of said jaw elements and the slot between said channel-like socket and said lateral opening pivot point adjacent thereto.
14. The safety release system as claimed in claim 13, wherein said device further comprises a variable break-away release resistance mechanism.
15. The safety release system as claimed in claim 14, wherein said slot extends the entire width of said release member.
16. The safety release system as claimed in claim 14, wherein a bridge is disposed in a central portion of said slot to increase the break-away release resistance of said stud by limiting movement of said jaw elements relative to each other until breakage of said bridge.
17. The safety release system as claimed in claim 14, wherein a vertical aperture is disposed through said release member at the center of said slot and is adapted to receive a rivet member to increase the break-away release resistance of said stud by limiting movement of said jaw elements relative to each other until breakage of said rivet member.
18. The quick-release fastening device as claimed in claim 17, wherein said rivet member includes a central portion having a reduced diameter to vary the break-away release resistance of said stud by varying the breakage strength of said rivet member.
19. The safety release system as claimed in claim 15, wherein said release member is in the form of a buckle mechanism adapted for attachment to webbing and other devices used to secure equipment on or about a wearer and to other equipment and devices, and wherein said fastening link is the separating member and is adapted to attach to a second article including webbing and other devices.
20. A quick-release buckle and fastener device having a break-away safety release mechanism, said device comprising:
- a buckle member having upper and lower surfaces, a buckle end portion and quick-release end portion;
- a pair of upper and lower elongated jaw elements disposed on said quick-release end portion and forming a channel-like socket therebetween to define a gripping mechanism having an elongated jaw opening accessing said socket, said upper jaw element having a length dimension less than said lower jaw element;
- a tubular pocket defined in said quick-release end portion adjacent said channel-like socket to form a pivot point for said jaw elements;
- an open slot defined in the space between said tubular pocket and said channel-like socket;
- a variable break-away release resistance mechanism disposed in a central portion of said open slot to increase the break-away release resistance of said device by limiting movement of said jaw elements relative to each other;
- a fastening link having a release attachment end portion and a connector end portion, said fastening link release attachment end portion being adapted for releasable engagement with said buckle member quick-release end portion; and
- a transversely oriented stud mounted in said fastening link release attachment end portion, said stud being sized for releasable engagement within said channel-like socket and further including an elongated cut-out portion forming a groove along a substantial portion of the length of said stud, said groove being sized to match said upper jaw element to enhance engagement of said stud within said socket without affecting break-away release resistance imposed by said jaw elements.
21. The quick-release fastening device as claimed in claim 20, wherein said variable break-away release resistance mechanism comprises a bridge disposed in a central portion of said slot to increase the break-away release resistance of said stud by limiting movement of said jaw elements relative to each other until breakage of said bridge.
22. The quick-release fastening device as claimed in claim 20, wherein said variable break-away release resistance mechanism comprises a vertical aperture disposed through said buckle member at the center of said slot, and a removable rivet member disposed in said vertical aperture to increase the break-away release resistance of said stud by limiting movement of said jaw elements relative to each other until breakage of said rivet member, said rivet member including a central portion having a selectively variable reduced diameter to vary the break-away release resistance of said stud by varying the breakage strength of said rivet member.
Type: Application
Filed: Jan 8, 2005
Publication Date: Aug 30, 2007
Inventor: Carroll Johnson (Grand Junction, CO)
Application Number: 11/031,679
International Classification: A44B 11/00 (20060101);