Requiring Manual Force Applied Against Bias To Interlock Or Disengage Patents (Class 24/615)
  • Publication number: 20090178253
    Abstract: A side release buckle includes a female buckle member, which has two female coupling arms each having a forwardly extending coupling hole and a side opening, a male buckle member, which has two forwardly extending spring arms and two male coupling arms respectively forwardly extending from the spring arms and insertable with the spring arms into the coupling holes of the female coupling arms for engagement with the side openings of the female coupling arms, and an adapter member, which has a mounting base that is inserted into a receiving space between the female coupling arms of the female buckle member before connection of the male buckle member and locked thereto after connection of the male buckle member and a coupling device at the top side for fastening to an external object.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 11, 2008
    Publication date: July 16, 2009
    Applicant: NIFCO TAIWAN CORPORATION
    Inventor: Yao-Ming Yang
  • Publication number: 20090178251
    Abstract: A side release buckle includes a female buckle member that has two female coupling arms each with a forwardly extending coupling hole and a side opening, and a male buckle member that has two spring arms and two male coupling arms respectively supported on the spring arms and insertable with the spring arms into the coupling holes of the female coupling arms for engagement with the side openings of the female coupling arms. The female coupling arms are elastically outwardly deformable to lower the insertion force of the male buckle member. Disengaging the male coupling arms from the female coupling arms does not cause the female coupling arms to deform elastically outwards, and therefore a high deplugging force is required. An adapter may be provided to secure the female buckle member to an external object.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 11, 2008
    Publication date: July 16, 2009
    Applicant: NIFCO TAIWAN CORPORATION
    Inventor: Yao-Ming Yang
  • Patent number: 7559126
    Abstract: A double action reversible safety buckle is disengaged by pinching side arms together to be free of the socket, while depressing a button or other device to free an internal latch from a catch on the socket. The plug or the socket is symmetrical with respect to the latch on the catch, so that the buckle may be clasped and secured without regard for the orientation of the socket and the plug. The internal latch may be made to be operated concurrently with the side arms, or sequentially to provide additional safety.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 2004
    Date of Patent: July 14, 2009
    Inventor: Paul Giampavolo
  • Publication number: 20090100652
    Abstract: A buckle, operating between a locked position and a released position, comprising a male buckle member having a plurality of locking members, and a female buckle member. The female buckle member includes a housing, a plurality of engaging portions formed on the housing for engaging with the locking members, a latch member slidably disposed in the housing for preventing the locking members from disengaging with the engaging portions in the locked position, and a bias device connecting the latch member to the housing for biasing said latch member against the locking member in the locked position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 31, 2007
    Publication date: April 23, 2009
    Inventor: Yuet Ying Mok
  • Patent number: 7513020
    Abstract: A child resistant buckle has two separate operations that are completed to permit the buckle to be disengaged. The buckle is provided as two interfitting components, which can be joined in at least two orientations while permitting the two operation disengagement to be maintained. The two operations may be sequentially or concurrent and can require a certain degree of force to permit actuation. The buckle composed of a plug and socket is oriented on a seat so that the plug is presented on a right hand side of a child and the socket is presented on a left hand side so that the clasped buckle is more difficult for the seated child to disengage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 2005
    Date of Patent: April 7, 2009
    Inventor: Paul Giampavolo
  • Publication number: 20090070973
    Abstract: A snap clip lug, including receptacle member, clasp member and a post. Receptacle member has a body including a sleeve, first post formation means connected to the body, and a locking slot disposed in relation to the sleeve. The sleeve includes a retaining wall and an opening at one end for receiving the clasp member. Clasp member has a base, second post formation means connected to the base, and a resilient arm extending outwardly from the base and having a locking tab for engaging the locking slot. The locking tab is adapted to slidingly engage the retaining wall and to be received by the locking slot. The post, which is disposed perpendicularly between the receptacle member and the clasp member, is formed from first and second post formation means having engaged one another when the resilient arm is inserted in the sleeve.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 13, 2007
    Publication date: March 19, 2009
    Applicant: CLIMAX MOLYBDENUM COMPANY
    Inventor: Khanh Phu Nguyen
  • Patent number: 7464447
    Abstract: A buckle assembly having a male buckle member and a female buckle member. The male buckle member contains an engaging means for engagement with the female portion and a male strap receiving means for coupling to a first strap. The female buckle member contains a receiving volume for engaging with the male buckle section and a female strap receiving means positioned on the bottom or top of the receiving volume and substantially along its open engaging end so that when the male and female buckle members are engaged and locked the female strap receiving means substantially abuts an interface section of the male buckle member causing the first and second strap to be in close proximity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 25, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 16, 2008
    Assignee: Universal Trim Supply Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Aly Khalifa, Shih-Sheng Yang
  • Patent number: 7448116
    Abstract: A quick release buckle has male and female components releasably joined in snap engagement. A release lever on the female component provides a means of disengaging the components. The release lever may be actuated either by pulling on a lanyard cord to which it is connected, or by accessing a lift tab projecting from its forward end.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 1, 2006
    Date of Patent: November 11, 2008
    Assignee: Illinois Tool Works Inc.
    Inventor: Frank A. Howell
  • Publication number: 20080263836
    Abstract: A quick release buckle has male and female components releasably joined in snap engagement. A release lever on the female component provides a means of disengaging the components. The release lever may be actuated either by pulling on a lanyard cord to which it is connected, or by accessing a lift tab projecting from its forward end.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 1, 2006
    Publication date: October 30, 2008
    Inventor: Frank A. Howell
  • Patent number: 7430789
    Abstract: A three component strap fastener having a body member with a fork inserted into a fork end opening and a catch inserted into an opposite catch end opening in the body member is improved by reconfiguring the catch end opening so as to prevent undesirable twisting of the catch relative to the fork within the body member. Additional constrainment of the catch to prevent it from being forced out of coplanar relationship relative to the fork is achieved by narrowing the outboard extremities of the open mouth formed at the catch end opening of the body member. This added constrainment is achieved by building up the interior wall structure of the body member at the transverse outboard extremities of the catch end opening with four interior, wedge-shaped corner restraints.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2006
    Date of Patent: October 7, 2008
    Assignee: Two Rivers Manufacturing, LLC
    Inventor: Robert Wright
  • Publication number: 20080222860
    Abstract: A buckle assembly includes a first housing and a second housing removably connected to the first housing. Each of the first and second housings may include a main body connected to an outwardly bowed strap bar through outwardly angled lateral walls, such that a strap channel is formed between the main body, the outwardly bowed strap bar and the outwardly angled lateral walls. The strap bar may provide a strap clearance area between a strap secured to the strap bar and a body to which the buckle assembly is secured.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 15, 2007
    Publication date: September 18, 2008
    Inventor: JOHN S. PONTAOE
  • Publication number: 20080209693
    Abstract: Method and apparatus for affixing magnets to objects such as jewelry clasps. In one embodiment the magnet is secured in a single piece setting. When attached to the other half of the clasp, there is a wall between the magnets, enabling the two clasp halves to be mated during drying of the glue. In another embodiment stepped magnets are used, which are preferably further secured in the clasp by mechanical means such as prongs or bezels, so that the resulting fixation is permanent unless the housing itself is deformed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 29, 2008
    Publication date: September 4, 2008
    Inventor: Barbara Zucker-Pinchoff
  • Publication number: 20080178438
    Abstract: A buckle of the present invention includes a male member (A) and a female member (B). The male member includes: a base (10); a pair of legs (20) that project from the base; and engaging portions (25) that are provided on the legs and are engageable with the female member. The base includes a projecting portion (14) that projects in a projecting direction of the legs. A recess (15) is formed on a front or rear surface of the projecting portion. The recess (15) includes a front end (15A) and a rear end (15B) in an inserting direction of the male member (A). The front end substantially has the same height as the front surface of the base. The rear end is substantially lower than any other position on a surface connecting the front end and the rear end.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 24, 2008
    Publication date: July 31, 2008
    Applicant: YKK CORPORATION
    Inventors: Kenichi Yoshie, Miyuki Ohgaku
  • Patent number: 7367092
    Abstract: A lock and harness assembly includes first and second locks removably attached to each other. The locks are coextensively shaped, and are independently and simultaneously pivotal between folded and unfolded positions. Each lock has a linear medial edge conjoined to the other's medial edge when the locks are at a locked position. First and second harnesses traverse through the first and second locks. The harnesses are slidably positioned through the locks. Each lock includes a mechanism for statically holding the harnesses at a locked position such that the harnesses are prohibited from sliding through the locks after the locks have been coupled. Each lock includes a mechanism for releasably coupling the locks to each other such that the locks must be slidably adapted along a linear path defined orthogonal to the harnesses.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 2, 2006
    Date of Patent: May 6, 2008
    Inventor: Marlene A. Dilday
  • Patent number: 7350385
    Abstract: A separable, pull-apart key holder formed of two identically-shaped pieces. The pieces are mounted together in reversed, face-to-face relationship. The pieces are formed of a strong, rigid resiliently flexible plastic material, such as molded polycarbonate or nylon. Each includes a flat, plate-shaped body having a generally planar bearing surface on one side. Projecting tongues formed at one end of the bearing surfaces are received in openings formed at the opposite ends of the bearing surfaces. Locking notches snap into engagement to prevent accidental separation of the pieces after they have been pressed together. The pieces can be intentionally separated by simply pulling them apart with a quick tug or pull, causing the locking notches to deflect resiliently and release. The pieces are reassembled by simply pressing or sliding them together, longitudinal alignment between the parts being established by interfitting ribs and channels on the bearing surfaces.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 2006
    Date of Patent: April 1, 2008
    Inventor: Steven C. Book
  • Patent number: 7340809
    Abstract: A multi-part closure provides remote indication of a secured or unsecured state of the closure. The closure includes first and second mating members that when engaged define a secured state and when disengaged define an unsecured state. A self-contained transmitter is disposed in the first member. A switch is disposed in the first member in electrical communication with the transmitter. The switch is positioned within the first member for engagement by the second member when the first and second members are mated with and secured to one another. A remote receiver provides indication of the engage or disengaged state of the first and second members.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 12, 2003
    Date of Patent: March 11, 2008
    Assignee: Illinois Tool Works Inc.
    Inventors: Richard J. Tracy, Joseph Fabin
  • Publication number: 20080028579
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a buckle device used in child seats of a baby carriage or high chair, comprising first and second waist-strap adjusting device, first and second plug for waist-strap, first and second shoulder strap-coupling device, a socket and a release button. Each of the first and second plugs for waist-strap includes a arm that can be inserted into the socket. Each of the plugs has, in between the arms, a resilient tongue that can be inserted into the socket. The socket has a hole for receiving the release button, and has resilient legs at the bottom thereof so that the release button may maintain in position. The release button includes cavities at both sides thereof for receiving the arms. The release button further includes inclined surfaces corresponding to the resilient tongue between the cavities. When the release button is pressed, the inclined surfaces will exert a force on the resilient tongue to eject the plug from the socket.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 27, 2007
    Publication date: February 7, 2008
    Applicant: Wonderland Nurserygoods Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Shun-Min Chen
  • Patent number: 7320160
    Abstract: A buckle (10) including a plug (30) and a socket (20) is provided with a posture-adjuster that adjusts relative postures of the plug (30) and the socket (20) in a direction that leads a longitudinal axis (A2) of the plug (30) and a longitudinal axis (A1) of the socket (20) to be parallel when the plug (30) is relatively moved in a direction toward inside of the socket (20) from an insertion slot (21) thereof. The posture-adjuster has a guide path (24) that is provided to the socket (20) and has a width that becomes wider as being closer to the front end side thereof as well as a step portion (36) as a guided member that is provided to the plug (30) and guided by the guide path (24).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 1, 2005
    Date of Patent: January 22, 2008
    Assignee: YKK Corporation
    Inventors: Ryoichiro Uehara, Hiroshi Matoba
  • Publication number: 20080010790
    Abstract: A buckle for use with infant seats and the like having a release button slideably mounted within a hollow buckle housing for simultaneously releasing a pair of male buckle members latched in the housing. A bottom bar is slideably mounted into the housing and provided with locking hooks received within openings provided in the housing for permanently locking the bottom bar to the housing. The bottom bar and male projection members are provided with openings for webbing belts. The housing has integral guide ribs for guiding the male members and bottom bar when inserted into the housing to ensure proper insertion and alignment in the housing. All of the members of the buckle assembly are preferably molded of a suitable plastic material.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 17, 2006
    Publication date: January 17, 2008
    Inventor: James Dillner
  • Patent number: 7318259
    Abstract: A buckle which is an insertion type, wherein looseness between a buckle main body and an insertion body is eliminated and generation of impact sound or vibration sound is prevented, and in a resin buckle including the buckle main body formed of a housing and the insertion body having insertion leg portions on both sides, a concave guide groove is provided in a longitudinal direction of a center of an inner face of each of an upper face plate and a lower face plate of the housing of the buckle main body, while a guide lever which can be inserted into the guide groove provided in the housing is provided in a protruded form in a center of a proximal lever of the insertion body. A sliding contact portion which is elevated to make pressure contact with an opposing face is provided in part of the guide groove or the guide lever, or both the guide groove and the guide lever.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 15, 2005
    Date of Patent: January 15, 2008
    Assignee: YKK Corporation
    Inventor: Ryoichiro Uehara
  • Patent number: 7302742
    Abstract: A buckle assembly includes a female connection member having button openings, and a male connection member configured to mate with the female connection member into a securely connected position. The male connection member includes lateral arms having buttons at distal ends. The lateral arms are configured to deflect about pivot points, and the buttons are configured to be secured within the button openings. A flexible and resilient floating strut connects the lateral arms together.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 10, 2006
    Date of Patent: December 4, 2007
    Assignee: Illinois Tool Works Inc
    Inventor: John S. Pontaoe
  • Publication number: 20070226967
    Abstract: Disclosed is a security buckle and method and systems and methods employing the security buckle and methods. The security buckle a first body member having one or more walls defining a receiving cavity and one or more mating slots; and a second body member adapted to engage the receiving cavity, the second body member including one or more latching tabs for engaging the one or more mating slots wherein the second body member is inhibited from disengagement while the one or more latching tabs engage the one or more mating slots, and wherein the first body member includes a portion of the one or more walls defining a security slot adapted for receiving an interfering object that includes an engagement mode for insertion and removal from the slot and an interfering mode for inhibiting the one or more latching tabs from disengaging from the one or more mating tabs until the interfering object is transitioned to the engagement mode.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 12, 2006
    Publication date: October 4, 2007
    Applicant: Wine-Woods Enterprises
    Inventor: Michael E. Woods
  • Publication number: 20070214617
    Abstract: A buckle is provided with a female member 5 having first and second engaging portions 13 and 14, and a male member 6 having first and second engagement pieces 20 and 21. By inserting the male member 6 into the female member 5, the first engaging portion 13 engages with the first engaging piece 20, and the second engaging portion 14 engages with the second engaging piece 21, thereby, female member 5 and male member 6 are connected. The male member 5 and female member 6 are not separated, unless engagement between first engaging piece 20 and first engaging portion 13, as well as engagement between second engaging piece 21 and second engaging portion 14, are released by means of both a first operating portion 11 and a second operating portion 12 which are separately provided on the front and rear of female member 5 being pressed inwardly.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 9, 2007
    Publication date: September 20, 2007
    Applicant: Merzen Products Inc.
    Inventor: Kenji Niwa
  • Publication number: 20070204441
    Abstract: A buckle of the present invention includes a male member (A) and a female member (B). The male member includes a base portion (10), a pair of leg portions (20) projected from the base portion and an engagement portion (25) that is provided to each of the leg portions and engageable with the female member. The base portion includes a projected portion (14) that is projected in a projecting direction of the leg portions (20), the projected portion (14) projected in such a manner that a projecting amount gradually increases from width-direction ends of the base portion toward a center. The leg portions each include an outer leg piece (21) and an inner leg piece (22) and further includes a tip-end connector (24) that connects the outer leg piece and the inner leg piece. A base end of the inner leg piece is positioned on the projected portion (14).
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 26, 2007
    Publication date: September 6, 2007
    Inventor: Natsuko Saitsu
  • Publication number: 20070186394
    Abstract: A side release buckle includes a female buckle member, which has a front opening, two sloping sidewalls, two side holes respectively cut through the sloping sidewalls, and two retaining blocks respectively extended from the sloping sidewalls inside the female buckle member, and a male buckle member, which has two spring arms respectively insertable into the side holes of the female buckle member and a retaining groove on a free end of each spring arm, a springy brace connected between the two spring arms for forcing the retaining grooves into engagement with the retaining blocks after insertion of the spring arms into the side holes of the female buckle member, and a guide portion insertable into the front opening of the female buckle member to guide movement of the spring arms smoothly in the female buckle member.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 9, 2007
    Publication date: August 16, 2007
    Inventor: Hsiung-Ming Hsiao
  • Publication number: 20070175008
    Abstract: A buckle assembly having a male buckle member and a female buckle member. The male buckle member contains an engaging means for engagement with the female portion and a male strap receiving means for coupling to a first strap. The female buckle member contains a receiving volume for engaging with the male buckle section and a female strap receiving means positioned on the bottom or top of the receiving volume and substantially along its open engaging end so that when the male and female buckle members are engaged and locked the female strap receiving means substantially abuts an interface section of the male buckle member causing the first and second strap to be in close proximity.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 25, 2007
    Publication date: August 2, 2007
    Inventors: Aly Khalifa, Shih-Sheng Yang
  • Patent number: 7219406
    Abstract: The plastic snap buckle is provided with a safety latch slidably mounted to an elongated bar of the male plug of the buckle. The latch member is generally rectangular shape having a length equal to the distance between two arcuate portions formed in the free end portion of two flexible arms of the male plug. The latch member may be slidably to locate between the arcuate portion of the flexible arm so as to prevent the flexible arms to be operated inadvertently or forcefully to release the engagement between the male plug and the female receptacle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 6, 2005
    Date of Patent: May 22, 2007
    Inventor: Ming Kei Chui
  • Patent number: 7204002
    Abstract: A buckle including a pair of members (4, 5) coupled to or separated from each other. The buckle includes a socket (10) and a plug (30) capable of being inserted into the socket and hooked in the socket in the state where the plug is inserted into a prespecified position. The socket is attached to a one member (5) in the pair. The plug has a pull section (33) in the direction intersectional to the plug inserting direction, and a mounting section (37) with the other member mounted thereon is provided on the pull section (33).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 28, 2005
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2007
    Assignee: YKK Corporation
    Inventors: Hitoshi Kaneko, Sakiko Minami, Yuko Moriguchi
  • Patent number: 7198244
    Abstract: An object hanger system which provides a pair of interlocking hanger bodies configured to provide locked securement of objects to a hanging surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 8, 2003
    Date of Patent: April 3, 2007
    Assignee: CDC Investments, LLLP
    Inventor: Kenneth E. Deline
  • Patent number: 7198183
    Abstract: The invention herein relates to an adjustable dual straps structure allowing the user to comfortably back-carry a golf bag and mainly consists of two shoulder straps and two support straps. One end of the shoulder straps being buckled together while the other ends thereof are respectively tied to a golf bag. The buckled end of both shoulder straps holds a male buckle, while the buckled end of both support straps holds a female buckle. Each male buckle being fastened to corresponding female buckle, meanwhile both female buckles are fastened on each other. When carrying the golf bag, the user can adjust this angle according to his preference, turning both shoulder straps until they reach the angle where the golf bag can be most comfortably carried.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 7, 2004
    Date of Patent: April 3, 2007
    Inventor: Chih-Hsiang Yang
  • Patent number: 7194787
    Abstract: A sheet attaching instrument (10) that includes an instrument body (11) and an attachment member (12), in which at least one engaging hole (50) is provided with a fall-stop (58) that can hold an attachment projection (30) in an area between an inserting section (51) and a holding section (52), and at least one peripheral edge of a pair of lateral side areas extending from the inserting section (51) to the holding section (52) through the fall-stop (58) is provided with a bridge (54) of which middle section is elastically deformable.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 28, 2004
    Date of Patent: March 27, 2007
    Assignee: YKK Corporation
    Inventors: Ryukichi Murai, Yasutaka Nishida, Ryoichiro Uehara, Yasuaki Funo
  • Patent number: 7174609
    Abstract: A buckle having a plug member and a socket member designed to detachably engaged to each other. The plug member includes a base portion, a pair of engaging legs extended from the base portion such that the engaging legs may be resiliently engaged to the socket member, and a guide rod extended from the base portion between the engaging legs. The socket member includes a chamber opened at a leading end thereof, so as to receive the engaging legs and the guide rod of the plug member, and a pair of latching portions defined within the socket member such that respective leading ends of the engaging legs may be latched into the latching portions. The socket member comprises substantially triangular-shaped upper and lower plates having opposite lateral sides gradually converging towards the leading end of the socket so as to form opposite tapered side surfaces of the socket member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 2004
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2007
    Inventor: Nam-Il Park
  • Patent number: 7144086
    Abstract: A shoulder belt clip for restraining a child in a child safety seats or carrier. In a preferred embodiment, the shoulder belt clip is comprised of a plate made of flexible material and with two horizontal slots arranged in parallel on one side and a U-shaped opening on the other. The two straight slots maintain attachment to, but allow the clip to slide vertically on, the webbing that runs over the left shoulder of the child. The U-shaped opening forms a tab that admits entry of the webbing that runs over the right shoulder of the child and holds it until release is desired by the parent. A narrowing of the U-shaped opening causes compression of the webbing between the tab and the opening and thereby prevents slippage of the clip vertically on the webbing that runs over the left shoulder of the child.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 18, 2004
    Date of Patent: December 5, 2006
    Inventors: John A. Harcourt, William P. Munsell, Jr.
  • Patent number: 7140082
    Abstract: A side release buckle includes a male member having two forward extended elastic retaining arms, each of which has a curved outer sidewall with a retaining shoulder portion formed near a proximal end thereof and a downward locating block; and a hollow female member having a front opening and two side openings, and two projected stoppers. The curved outer sidewalls of the retaining arms enable the male member to slide into the front opening of the female member from an angular position, and the engagement of the male member with the female member at the retaining shoulder portions and axially front ends of the side openings and at the locating blocks and the stoppers provides the buckle with enhanced force-bearing strength to prevent the male and the female member from easy breakaway.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 12, 2005
    Date of Patent: November 28, 2006
    Assignee: Button International Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Tsung-Lung Chen
  • Patent number: 7111368
    Abstract: A buckle body formed of a resin has a housing having an insertion port on one end, an opening portion on both sides and an engaged portion in an inner part, an insertion member is provided with a pair of flexible insertion leg portions including an engaging portion on one end, an operating rod extended like a cantilever from a tip is continuously provided on the outside of the insertion leg portion and a mechanism capable of suppressing inward and outward deformations of the leg portion within a constant rage is provided, and the operating rod is provided with an operating portion protruded outward from the opening portion disposed on the buckle body at time of an insertion into the buckle body, and the insertion leg portion is deformed by pressing to disengage the engaging portion from the engaged portion, thereby removing the insertion member from the buckle body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 2, 2003
    Date of Patent: September 26, 2006
    Assignee: YKK Corporation
    Inventor: Hiroshi Matoba
  • Patent number: 7107657
    Abstract: A vertically positioned, lanyard, releasing breakaway buckle including a keeper and a secure. The keeper has a rear wall, side walls and a floor. A cover, to which a lanyard is secured, is hinged to the keeper and spaced apart from the floor. The cover defines an elongated slot. Apertures are formed inward from the side walls such that a strap may be fed through the apertures to vertically orient the buckle on a strap. The cover has a caming surface formed on the under surface of the cover, and which caming surface terminates in locking surface. An opening formed in the cover. A secure part includes a base, and a tongue section extending from the base. The tongue section has parallel guide arms extending from the rear wall forwardly, and terminating in leading ends, a member secured to the guide arms, and a caming surface formed in the tongue section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 21, 2002
    Date of Patent: September 19, 2006
    Inventor: Frank A. Howell
  • Patent number: 7100252
    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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2005
    Date of Patent: September 5, 2006
    Inventor: Joseph Anscher
  • Patent number: 7100251
    Abstract: A breakaway buckle has a keeper attachable to a first strap and a secure attachable to a second laterally disposed strap. The secure has a tongue releasably retained in the keeper by overlapping interlocked locking surfaces on both components. Cam surfaces on the secure and keeper coact in response to lateral and/or torsional forces exerted on the secure to reduce the area of overlap between the locking surfaces and thereby facilitate separation of the secure from the keeper.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2003
    Date of Patent: September 5, 2006
    Assignee: IIlinois Tool Works, Inc.
    Inventor: Frank A. Howell
  • Patent number: 7101359
    Abstract: A strong, easy to use tab and slot fastening device suitable for use with disposable absorbent articles. The fastening device preferably includes a tab member and a slot member. The slot member has an inboard portion, an outboard portion and a slot. The inboard portion located laterally inboard of the outboard portion and the slot located between the inboard portion and the outboard portion. The tab member has a length, a proximal edge, a distal edge and a lip portion. The tab portion is passed through the slot of the slot member to engage the fastening device. Once passed through the slot, at least the lip portion of the tab member pivots such that it overlaps the outboard portion of the slot member to prevent the tab member from disengaging from the slot member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 10, 2005
    Date of Patent: September 5, 2006
    Assignee: The Procter & Gamble Company
    Inventors: Mark James Kline, Tracey Elaine Beckman, Thomas Henrich, David Joseph Kenneth Goulait, Miguel Alvaro Robles, Constance Lee Fisher
  • Patent number: 7096545
    Abstract: A buckle includes a socket (10), a plug (20) of which tip end part can be inserted into and released from the socket by pressing both sides of the socket by a manual operation. The plug has a base (21) located on a base end of the plug, a pair of lock arms (22) extending to the tip end of the plug from the base, an engaging part (24) provided on the intermediary of the lock arm and engageable with the inside of the socket, a pressing part (25) provided on the intermediary of the lock arm and pressed by the manual operation, and a bridge (30) for connecting the intermediaries of the lock arms.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 2, 2004
    Date of Patent: August 29, 2006
    Assignee: YKK Corporation
    Inventors: Ryoichiro Uehara, Kayo Fujimoto, Yasutaka Nishida
  • Patent number: 7089633
    Abstract: A side release buckle is disclosed to have a center lock formed of a hooked portion at the free end of the center bar of the male buckle member and a hook hole in the bottom wall of the female buckle member to reinforce the strength of the connection between the locking bars of the male buckle member and the respective side notches of the female buckle member. The locking bars each have a wedge block for lifting the free end of the center bar to unlock the center lock when the user squeezed the locking bars inwards to disengage the locking bars from the side notches of the female buckle member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 15, 2004
    Date of Patent: August 15, 2006
    Assignee: Kim Ging Hui Enterprise Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Chun Chien Liu
  • Patent number: 7069625
    Abstract: A safety buckle is disclosed to include two female buckle members respectively fastened to the two distal ends of a belt, each buckle member having a receiving open chamber and recessed engagement portions at top and bottom sides inside the receiving open chamber, and a male buckle member for joining the female buckle members, the male buckle member having two plug units for insertion into the receiving open chambers of the female buckle members respectively, each plug unit having raised engagement portions at the top and bottom sides thereof for engaging the recessed engagement portions of the respective female buckle member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 22, 2004
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2006
    Assignee: Kim Ging Hui Enterprise Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Chun Chien Liu
  • Patent number: 7024734
    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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 14, 2003
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2006
    Inventor: Joseph Anscher
  • Patent number: 7007744
    Abstract: A fastening between a fan shroud and a heat exchanger, the fastening including a plurality of cooperating fastening devices about the outer edge of the shroud and heat exchanger. At least one of the cooperating fastening devices comprises a locking hook on one edge of the shroud, a mount on an edge of the heat exchanger corresponding to the shroud one edge, a stop on the corresponding heat exchanger edge spaced from the mount slot in a direction opposite a first direction, and an elastically flexible extension on the locking hook including a locking tab. The mount defines a slot adapted to receive the locking hook from the first direction. The extension is elastically biased toward an interfering position between the locking tab and the stop when the locking hook is received in the mount slot, and is manually engageable to flex the extension to a releasing position in which the locking tab does not interfere with the stop.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 23, 2004
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2006
    Assignee: Modine Manufacturing Company
    Inventor: Klaus Kalbacher
  • Patent number: 6931695
    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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2003
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2005
    Inventor: Joseph Anscher
  • Patent number: 6868591
    Abstract: A buckle for use with a safety belt includes a buckle housing formed to define a cavity, an actuator aperture in communication with the cavity, and an insertion opening in communication with the cavity. An actuator of the buckle is coupled to the buckle housing and formed to include a button accessible through the actuator aperture of the buckle housing as well as a belt-anchor catch coupled to the button to move with the button. The buckle further includes an ejector spring positioned within the cavity of the buckle housing along a substantially central longitudinal axis defined to extend from a back end of the buckle housing to a front end of the buckle housing. First and second belt anchors are formed to be inserted, at least in part, into the insertion opening to engage the ejector spring and move the ejector spring to a retracted position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 2, 2003
    Date of Patent: March 22, 2005
    Assignee: Indiana Mills & Manufacturing, Inc.
    Inventors: Guy R. Dingman, Gregory L. Woodard, Donald C. Boyle, Michael A. Wiseman
  • Patent number: 6796007
    Abstract: A buckle mechanism comprises a female portion and at least one male portion adapted to be received within the cavity of the female portion. The male portion has a base, a central leg with a catch and a locking tab. The locking tab seats in the locking slot when the male portion is inserted into the female portion. There is a center button mechanism mounted in the female portion and having a center push button, a spring connected to the center push button and/or to a spring base and at least one flexible leg connected to the spring base. The flexible leg has a catch that interlocks with the catch on the male portion when the male portion is inserted into the female portion. When the center push button is depressed, the spring compresses and causes the flexible leg to bend and release the catch on the male portion so that the male portion is ejected from the female portion when the locking tab is depressed sufficiently to clear the locking slot.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 2003
    Date of Patent: September 28, 2004
    Inventor: Joseph Anscher
  • Patent number: 6772487
    Abstract: A retainer clip for use in assemblies held together by a latch having a resilient engagement arm. The force holding the engagement arm in the latched position is a function of the resiliency of the material of the engagement arm and the length of the unsupported portion of the engagement arm. The retainer clip attaches to a part of the assembly by holding the part between a retaining lip and an engagement side to position the retainer clip to bear against the engagement arm. The retainer clip supports the engagement arm to shorten the length of the unsupported portion of the engagement arm thereby increasing the force holding the engagement arm in the latched position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 12, 2002
    Date of Patent: August 10, 2004
    Assignee: International Engine Intellectual Property Company, LLC
    Inventors: Ronald M. Bachorski, Philip D. Keeley
  • Publication number: 20040134046
    Abstract: A seatbelt assembly with a buckle has male and female mating parts, in which the male part includes features to prevent disengagement operation by a child. The child resistant features include added ribs, webbing in the form of flanges or struts, or barbs or prongs that increase the difficulty for disengaging the buckle. The female part can have an arcuate outer surface to increase the overall durability of the buckle and resist damaging external forces or damaging misuse. The female part can also be provided with lateral shoulders to make the female part harder to withdraw and thus more child resistant. The seatbelt assembly with the child resistant buckle can be operated easily by an adult, while remaining secure from disengagement by a typical child.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 11, 2003
    Publication date: July 15, 2004
    Inventor: Paul Giampavolo
  • Patent number: 6754938
    Abstract: A clasp for jewelry items comprising a tongue member and a socket member which are correspondingly connected at the terminal ends of the jewelry item, where the clasp is brought into a locked position when the tongue member is slidably inserted into the socket member and a snapping engagement occurs between engaging elements of the tongue and socket members. The clasp is provided with hook end formations at the free ends of the tongue and socket member, whereby it is connected either directly to axial pin terminal ends of the jewelry item or through extra connecting elements including such axial pin ends thereby ensuring advantageous rotatability of the jewelry terminal ends around the hook end formations of the clasp.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 2001
    Date of Patent: June 29, 2004
    Inventor: Galini Savoulidou