IPC분류정보
국가/구분 |
United States(US) Patent
등록
|
국제특허분류(IPC7판) |
|
출원번호 |
US-0152451
(2005-06-14)
|
등록번호 |
US-7350277
(2008-04-01)
|
발명자
/ 주소 |
- Canfield,DeForest
- Whitehead,Robert
- Rullo,James
|
출원인 / 주소 |
- Buckingham Manufacturing Company, Inc.
|
대리인 / 주소 |
Mark Levy & Associates, PLLC
|
인용정보 |
피인용 횟수 :
18 인용 특허 :
6 |
초록
▼
A buckle that is resistant to unintentional or accidental release for joining the distal ends of a web, having a first portion with a rigid, bifurcated tongue. A pair of outward-facing protrusions located on the edges of the tongue at its distal end are adapted for engagement with a locking mechanis
A buckle that is resistant to unintentional or accidental release for joining the distal ends of a web, having a first portion with a rigid, bifurcated tongue. A pair of outward-facing protrusions located on the edges of the tongue at its distal end are adapted for engagement with a locking mechanism disposed within a mating buckle component. The mating buckle component has a rigid block or key centrally located so that as the bifurcated tongue is inserted into the receiving buckle component, the central opening of the bifurcated tongue surrounds and fits snuggly against the rigid central block or key. Side-to-side movement of the tongue (i.e., cocking) is thereby prevented. This lack of side-to-side movement, in cooperation with the latching mechanism, helps prevent accidental unlocking of the buckle.
대표청구항
▼
What is claimed is: 1. A buckle for joining two distal ends of a web attached thereto, comprising: a) a thin, flat insertion portion comprising a rigid, bifurcated tongue having two longitudinal legs with varying width dimension and a predetermined outer contour and projecting longitudinally away f
What is claimed is: 1. A buckle for joining two distal ends of a web attached thereto, comprising: a) a thin, flat insertion portion comprising a rigid, bifurcated tongue having two longitudinal legs with varying width dimension and a predetermined outer contour and projecting longitudinally away from a body region thereof and defining a longitudinal axis, said tongue comprising a central, open slot extending from a distal end thereof inwardly along said longitudinal axis toward said body region, said open slot having a width no greater than the width of any portion of said longitudinal legs; b) a receiver portion for slidably receiving and retaining said tongue therein, said receiver portion comprising an internal guide block key adapted and configured to interact with said open slot in a manner so as to minimize side-to-side movement of said tongue when retained in said receiver portion; and c) a pawl for releasably locking said tongue within said receiver portion, said pawl having an outer contour that is a mirror shape to said outer contour of said longitudinal legs for complete engagement thereof. 2. The buckle for joining two distal ends of a web attached thereto as recited in claim 1, wherein said tongue comprises an outward-facing protrusion disposed on each edge thereof proximate said distal end and said pawl is adapted for releasable interaction with one of said protrusions. 3. The buckle for joining two distal ends of a web attached thereto as recited in claim 2, wherein said pawl for releasably locking said tongue comprises two pawls, each adapted for releasable interaction with respective ones of said protrusions. 4. The buckle for joining two distal ends of a web attached thereto as recited in claim 3, further comprising a biasing mechanism for holding said pawl in releasable contact with a respective one of said protrusions. 5. The buckle for joining two distal ends of a web attached thereto as recited in claim 4, wherein said biasing mechanism comprises a spring. 6. The buckle for joining two distal ends of a web attached thereto as recited in claim 3, wherein each of said two pawls comprises an outer portion projecting beyond a housing of said second, receiver portion so as to be accessible. 7. The buckle for joining two distal ends of a web attached thereto as recited in claim 6, wherein rotation (depression) of each of said outer portion of each of said two pawls is required to release said external protrusions of said tongue from respective ones of said pawls thereby releasing said tongue from said receiving portion. 8. The buckle for joining two distal ends of a web attached thereto as recited in claim 2, further comprising: d) means for attaching at least one of said insertion portion and said receiver portion to a web. 9. The buckle for joining two distal ends of a web attached thereto as recited in claim 8, wherein said means for attaching at least one of said insertion portion and said receiver portion to a web comprises adjustable means. 10. The buckle for joining two distal ends of a web attached thereto as recited in claim 9, wherein said adjustable means for attaching comprises a knurled roller and a spring-loaded keeper disposed in a central region of said body region of at least one of said insertion portion and said receiver portion of said buckle, said keeper, when utilized, being resiliently positioned against at least one of said knurled roller and said knurled bar. 11. A buckle for joining two distal ends of a web attached thereto, comprising: a) a thin, flat insertion portion comprising a bifurcated tongue having two longitudinal legs with varying width dimension and a predetermined outer contour and projecting longitudinally away from a body region thereof and defining a longitudinal axis, said tongue comprising a central, open slot extending from a distal end thereof inwardly along said longitudinal axis toward said body region, and said open slot having a width no greater than the width of any portion of said longitudinal legs, said insertion portion, also comprising a spring-loaded keeper; b) a receiver portion for slidably receiving and retaining said tongue therein, the outer periphery of said receiver portion and said retained insertion portion defining an outer boundary thereof, said receiver portion comprising an internal guide block key adapted and configured to interact with said open slot in a manner so as to minimize side-to-side movement of said tongue when retained in said receiver portion; and c) a pawl for releasable interaction with said long legs, a pawl having an outer contour that is a mirror shape to said outer contour of said longitudinal legs for complete engagement thereof, and having an operating portion disposed external to a housing of said receiver portion, said external portion being disposed inward of said outer boundary of said receiver portion, whereby said operating portion of said pawl is protected from impact by an object external to said buckle. 12. The buckle for joining two distal ends of a web attached thereto as recited in claim 11, said pawl for releasably locking said tongue comprises two pawls, each adapted for releasable interaction with respective ones of said protrusions. 13. The buckle for joining two distal ends of a web attached thereto as recited in claim 12, wherein each of said two pawls comprises an outer portion defining an external actuator and projecting beyond a housing of said second, receiver portion so as to be accessible for movement. 14. The buckle for joining two distal ends of a web attached thereto as recited in claim 13, wherein rotation (depression) of each of said external actuator of each of said two pawls is required to release said external protrusions of said tongue from respective ones of said pawls thereby releasing said tongue from said receiving portion. 15. The buckle for joining two distal ends of a web attached thereto as recited in claim 11, further comprising: d) means for attaching at least one of said insertion portion and said receiver portion to a web. 16. The buckle for joining two distal ends of a web attached thereto as recited in claim 15, wherein said means for attaching at least one of said insertion portion and said receiver portion to a web comprises adjustable means. 17. The buckle for joining two distal ends of a web attached thereto as recited in claim 16, wherein said keeper is resiliently positioned against said knurled roller.
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