초록 ▼

A buckle assembly has a female buckle portion formed by a housing with a hollow interior and at least two openings, and at least two male buckle portions, each having at least one locking leg. There is an actuating device disposed within the housing and accessible through an aperture in the housing.

A buckle assembly has a female buckle portion formed by a housing with a hollow interior and at least two openings, and at least two male buckle portions, each having at least one locking leg. There is an actuating device disposed within the housing and accessible through an aperture in the housing. The actuating device has latching mechanisms for cooperating with the locking legs for locking the male buckle portions within the female buckle portion when the locking legs of the male portions are inserted through the openings of the housing. Pulling the actuating device toward the aperture moves the latching mechanisms away from the male buckle portions and releases the male buckle portions from the housing.

대표청구항 ▼

1. A buckle assembly comprising: a female buckle portion having a housing with a hollow interior and at least two openings;at least two male buckle portions, each of said male buckle portions having at least one locking leg;an actuating device disposed within the housing and accessible through an ap

1. A buckle assembly comprising: a female buckle portion having a housing with a hollow interior and at least two openings;at least two male buckle portions, each of said male buckle portions having at least one locking leg;an actuating device disposed within the housing and accessible through an aperture in the housing; andat least two latching mechanisms formed on the actuating device for cooperating with the locking legs for locking the male buckle portions to the actuating device within the female buckle portion when the locking legs of the male portions are inserted through the openings of the housing,wherein pulling the actuating device toward the aperture causes the latching mechanisms to separate from the locking legs to release the male buckle portions from the housing. 2. The buckle assembly of claim 1, wherein the actuating device further comprises at least one sliding surfaces that slide against the male buckle portions when the actuating device is pulled, to push the male buckle portions out of the female buckle portion. 3. The buckle assembly according to claim 2, further comprising additional latching mechanisms disposed in the housing, one opposite each of the latching mechanisms on the actuating device, such that inserting the male buckle portions through the openings causes the latching mechanisms on the actuating device to engage one side of each male buckle portion, and latching mechanisms on the housing to engage an opposite side of each male buckle portion. 4. The buckle assembly according to claim 3, wherein the sliding surfaces push the male buckle portions out of engagement with the latching mechanisms on the housing when the actuating device is pulled. 5. The buckle assembly of claim 1, wherein each locking leg has a locking pawl on a free end, and wherein the latching mechanisms each comprise a protrusion that interacts with a respective one of the locking pawls to prevent the male buckle portion from exiting the female buckle portion. 6. The buckle assembly according to claim 1, further comprising at least one spring disposed within the housing, said at least one spring pressing the actuating device away from the aperture, so that the male buckle portions snap into and engage the actuating device when the male buckle portions are inserted through the openings. 7. The buckle assembly according to claim 1, wherein there are four male buckle portions, four openings in the housing, and four latching mechanisms on the actuating device, such that pulling the actuating device releases all four male portions simultaneously. 8. The buckle assembly according to claim 1, wherein the housing has a second aperture opposite the aperture, and wherein the actuating device has means for connecting a second actuating device thereto, such that pulling on one actuating device also pulls the second actuating device. 9. The buckle assembly according to claim 1, further comprising at least one guide pin mounted to the housing, said at least one guide pin extending through a channel in the actuating device, and wherein pulling the actuating device causes the channel to slide along the at least one guide pin, to keep the actuating mechanism centered in the housing. 10. The buckle assembly according to claim 1, further comprising a cable connected to the actuating device, said cable extending through the aperture, such that pulling the cable pulls the actuating device. 11. The buckle assembly according to claim 1, further comprising at least one lever mounted within the housing, said lever having a fulcrum and two free ends, wherein one free end is connected to a cable and the other free end is disposed so that the actuating device contacts said other free end and pivots the lever around the fulcrum when the actuating device is pulled, thus pulling the cable. 12. The buckle assembly according to claim 11, wherein the cable is connected to an additional male buckle portion, such that pulling the actuating device pulls the additional male buckle portion connected to the cable. 13. The buckle assembly according to claim 12, wherein there are two of said levers, each lever being connected to one of said cables that is connected to one of said additional male buckle portions. 14. The buckle assembly according to claim 1, further comprising at least one cable connected to the actuating device, and extending through the housing, and at least one cable guide connected to the housing, the cable extending around the cable guide, wherein pulling the actuating device pulls the at least one cable and causes the at least one cable to slide along the at least one cable guide. 15. The buckle assembly according to claim 14, further comprising an additional male buckle portion connected to the at least one cable. 16. The buckle assembly according to claim 14, wherein there are two of said cables, two of said cable guides, and one of said additional male buckle portions connected to each of said cables.