Information
-
Patent Grant
-
6324735
-
Patent Number
6,324,735
-
Date Filed
Friday, January 21, 200024 years ago
-
Date Issued
Tuesday, December 4, 200123 years ago
-
Inventors
-
-
Examiners
- Knight; Anthony
- Rodriquez; Ruth C.
Agents
-
CPC
-
US Classifications
Field of Search
US
- 024 68 SK
- 024 70 J
- 024 68 J
- 024 71 J
- 024 715 K
- 024 705 K
- 024 265 WS
- 036 505
-
International Classifications
-
Abstract
A buckle device for skate boots includes a U-shaped lock member pivotably connected to a frame on the boot and a head of a toothed belt is pivotably connected to the lock member. A slot is defined in a distal end of the lock member and two recesses defined in a bottom of the lock member. A tongue is retractably received in the slot of the lock member with two resilient legs biased between the tongue and an inside of the recess. The tongue has two limiting pieces movably retained in the two recesses in the lock member and an engaging member extends from a bottom of the tongue so as to be engaged with the hook. The lock member cannot be lifted except that the engaging member is disengaged from the hook by pushing the tongue.
Description
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a buckle device for skate boots or in-line skate. The tongue of the buckle device has two resilient legs which is biased between the tongue and the inside of the recess in the lock member so as to retractably receive the tongue in the lock member.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
A conventional buckle device for skate boots or in-line skate generally includes a securing means on one flap of the boot and a lock member on the other flap of the boot, wherein the lock member is pivotably connected to a frame. A toothed belt has a first end thereof fixedly connected to a head pivotably connected to the lock member and a second end of the toothed belt can be secured in the securing means. The lock member is a U-shaped member and the frame and the head are pivotably connected to the lock member at different points. When fastening the belt, the first end of the belt is firstly secured in the securing means and then the lock member is pushed to pull the belt tightly. However, the lock member tends to be lifted unintentionally because there has no safety means connected to the lock member and once the buckle is opened, the ankle of the wearer could be hurt.
The present invention intends to provide a buckle device that has a tongue retractably received in the lock member so that the lock member cannot be lifted except that the tongue is first pushed.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
In accordance with one aspect of the present invention, there is provided a buckle device for footwear. The buckle device comprises a frame on a first flap of the footwear and a hook extends from the frame. A U-shaped lock member includes a body portion with two arms and the lock member is pivotably connected to two lugs of the frame. Two recesses are defined in a bottom of the body portion and a slot is defined in a distal end of the body portion. The slot communicates with the two recesses. A toothed belt has a head on a first end thereof and the head is pivotably connected between the two arms of the lock member. A second end of the toothed belt is secured to the securing means. A tongue is retractably received in the slot and has two resilient legs. Two limiting pieces extend from a bottom of the tongue and are movably retained in the two recesses. An engaging member extends from the bottom of the tongue and the engaging member has an inclined surface which moves over the hook to force the tongue toward the resilient legs before the engaging member is engaged with the hook.
The object of the present invention is to provide a buckle device for footwear wherein two resilient legs extend from the tongue so that the tongue can be pushed toward the lock member to disengage the engaging member on the tongue from the hook on the frame.
These and further objects, features and advantages of the present invention will become more obvious from the following description when taken in connection with the accompanying drawings which show, for purposes of illustration only, several embodiments in accordance with the present invention.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1
is an illustrative view to show the buckle device of the present invention;
FIG. 2
is an exploded view to show the buckle device of the present invention;
FIG. 3
is a top view to illustrate the operation of the tongue relative to the lock member of the buckle device of the of the present invention, and
FIG. 4
is a perspective view to show the buckle device of the present invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
Referring to
FIGS. 1
,
2
and
4
, the buckle device in accordance with the present invention comprises a frame
23
fixedly connected on a first flap of a boot
10
or the like, and a securing means
30
fixedly connected to a second flap on the boot
10
. The frame
23
has two lugs
230
extending therefrom and a hook
231
extends from the frame
23
. The hook
231
has a rounded top
2310
. A U-shaped lock member
22
includes a body portion and two arms extending from the body portion. Each arm of the lock member
22
has a first hole
220
and a second hole
223
respectively defined therethrough. The two arms of the lock member
22
are pivotably connected to the two lugs
230
of the frame
23
at the two first holes
220
by two pins
224
. Two recesses
222
are defined in a bottom of the body portion and a slot
221
is defined in a distal end of the body portion. The slot
221
communicates with the two recesses
222
.
A toothed belt
21
has a head
20
connected to a first end thereof and the head
20
is pivotably connected between the two arms of the lock member
22
at the two second holes
223
by a long pin
211
which passes through holes
210
. A second end of the toothed belt
21
is to be secured to the securing means
30
by a known manner.
A tongue
40
is retractably received in the slot
221
and has two resilient legs
42
extending from a first end of the tongue
40
. The resilient legs
42
urges against an inside of the slot
221
and each resilient leg
42
has at least one serrated section
420
so that it is convenient to be deformed. Two limiting pieces
410
extend from a bottom of the tongue
40
and are movably retained in the two recesses
222
of the lock member
22
when the tongue
40
is inserted in the slot
221
. An engaging member
412
extends from the bottom of the tongue
40
and has an inclined surface
413
. When the tongue
40
is inserted into the slot
221
of the lock member
22
, a second end
41
extends from the slot
221
.
As shown in
FIG. 3
, when releasing the buckle device, the user has to push the second end of the tongue
40
to let the two resilient legs
42
be deformed and the tongue
40
is moved toward the lock member
22
. Therefore, the engaging member
412
is moved away and disengaged from the hook
231
, and the lock member
22
can be lifted. When locking the buckle device by pushing the lock member
22
toward the frame
23
, the inclined surface
413
moves over the rounded top
2310
of the hook
231
to force the tongue
40
toward the resilient legs
42
and the engaging member
412
is engaged with the hook
231
after the inclined surface
413
of the engaging member
412
passes over the rounded top
2310
of the hook
231
.
Accordingly, the buckle device has a safety feature that prevents the lock member
22
from being lifted if the tongue
40
is not pushed.
While we have shown and described various embodiments in accordance with the present invention, it should be clear to those skilled in the art that further embodiments may be made without departing from the scope and spirit of the present invention.
Claims
- 1. A buckle device for footwear having a first flap and a second flap on which a securing means is connected, said buckle device comprising:a frame adapted to be fixedly on the first flap and having two lugs extending therefrom, a hook extending from said frame; a U-shaped lock member including a body portion and two arms extending from said body portion, a first hole and a second hole respectively defined in each arm of said lock member, two recesses defined in a bottom of said body portion and a slot defined in a distal end of said body portion, said slot communicating with said two recesses, said two arms of said lock member pivotably connected to said two lugs of said frame at said two first holes of said two arms of said lock member; a toothed belt having a head connected to a first end thereof and said head pivotably connected between said two arms of said lock member at said two second holes of said two arms of said lock member, a second end of said toothed belt adapted to be secured to the securing means, and a tongue retractably received in said slot and having two resilient legs extending from a first end of said tongue, each resilient leg having at least one serrated section, two limiting pieces extending from a bottom of said tongue and movably retained in said two recesses, an engaging member extending from said bottom of said tongue and said engaging member having an inclined surface which moves over said hook to force said tongue toward said resilient legs before said engaging member is engaged with said hook.
- 2. The buckle device as claimed in claim 1, wherein said hook has a rounded top.
US Referenced Citations (3)