Lanyard buckle connector

Information

  • Patent Grant
  • 6598273
  • Patent Number
    6,598,273
  • Date Filed
    Monday, September 10, 2001
    23 years ago
  • Date Issued
    Tuesday, July 29, 2003
    21 years ago
Abstract
An identification badge is connected to a lanyard using at least two connectors. One of the connectors securely connects a fixture which clasps the identification badge to a buckle. The other connector securely connects the buckle to the lanyard. The connectors are configured to position the badge flat on the shirt or blouse of the wearer so that the visibility of the badge is maximized. The size of the connectors is maintained small. Furthermore, assembly of a lanyard, badge, and buckle combination is made more efficient by making the connectors quick-connect.
Description




BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION




1. Field of the Invention




This invention relates to a lanyard buckle connector for attaching a lanyard to a buckle and for attaching the buckle to a fitting.




2. Description of the Related Art




People wear visual identification devices in social, industrial, and professional setting. One such wearable identification device common in social settings is the paper name tag. The paper name tag is configured with an adhesive to affix the tag to a user's shirt and a surface for printing the user's name. Other types of name tags are known, for example, identification badges, which are more durable than the paper name tag.




The need for industrial security has increased employer use of identification badges. Badges provide the employer's security personnel with a quick device to identify employees and to intercept and properly direct non-employees on the employer's premises. Similarly, in professional settings, such as at professional conferences, visual wearable identification badges enhance participant interaction, and provide a mechanism for event organizers to quickly identify event participants from other members of the public.




As the need for identification badges has grown so have the ways of wearing them. For example, a plastic sleeve that is mountable, such as by magnets, pins or clips, to a shirt or blouse of the wearer can hold the badge and secure it to the user. While such mountable sleeves generally effectively hold the badge on the user's shirt, they are generally awkward. When mounted to the pocket of a shirt, they tend to pull the shirt and pocket out and down. Also, repeated use of pins to mount the badge to the user's clothing can damage the clothing.




Lanyards have improved the wearability of identification badges. A lanyard is a cord that can be worn around the badge wearer's neck, and to which an identification badge can be attached. Although lanyards have improved the wearability of identification badges, they have not worked well with traditional mechanism for securing the badges. When connected to the lanyard, many of these traditional securing mechanisms twist the badge so that it does not rest flat on the wearer's shirt or blouse. Other such mechanisms do not secure the badge well enough, and, as a result, the badge can pull free from the lanyard too easily and be lost. Some securement mechanisms are too large with respect to the badge and lanyard for a pleasing appearance.




SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION




Therefore, a need exists for an improved lanyard connector and method for connecting the badge to the lanyard that will improve the wearability and securement of identification badges to lanyards, while at the same time providing a pleasing appearance.




In accordance with one aspect of the invention, a system for connecting a lanyard, a buckle, and a fitting is provided. The system comprises a one-piece upper connector having an upper portion for receiving the lanyard and lower portion for receiving a transverse element of an upper portion of the buckle. The system also comprises a lower connector having an upper portion for receiving a transverse element of a lower portion of the buckle. The lower connector also has a lower portion for receiving an upper portion of the fitting. When the lanyard is received by the upper portion of the upper connector, the upper connector does not cause the buckle to rotate.




In accordance with another aspect of the invention, a quick-connection system for interconnecting a lanyard, a buckle having a lower surface, and a fitting is provided. The system comprises an upper connector for connecting the lanyard to the buckle; and a lower connector for connecting the buckle to the fitting. The longitudinal dimension of the upper connector is less than the longitudinal dimension of the buckle, and the longitudinal dimension of the lower connector is less than the longitudinal dimension of the buckle.




In another aspect of the invention, a connector for connecting a lanyard to a buckle is provided that comprises a first end and a second end positioned outside of and below the first end. The connector also comprises a lower section configured to receive a portion of a buckle and an upper section configured to receive a lanyard. The first end and the second end are positioned near each other to form a gap therebetween. The gap is smaller than the portion of the buckle, and the first and second ends are moveable with respect to one another so as to increase the gap size to equal or exceed the thickness of the portion of the buckle.




In accordance with another aspect of the invention, a connector for connecting a fitting to a buckle is provided that comprises a first end, and a second end positioned outside of and below the first end. The connector also comprises an upper section configured to receive a portion of the buckle, a lower section configured to receive the fitting, and a tab extending from the upper section abuts the buckle, preventing rotation in at least one direction.




In accordance with yet another aspect of the invention, a method for assembling a lanyard-buckle-badge assembly is provided comprising the step of inserting a badge into a lower portion of a fitting, the fitting having an upper portion. The method also comprises quick-connecting the upper portion of the fitting into a lower connector through a gap formed in the lower connector. Then a lower transverse element of a buckle is quick-connected to the lower connector through the lower connector gap. Then an upper transverse element of the buckle is quick-connected to an upper connector through an upper connector gap.











BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS





FIG. 1

is a front, perspective, schematic view of one embodiment of a lanyard-buckle-badge assembly.





FIG. 1A

is a schematic view of the back side of the assembly of FIG.


1


.





FIG. 2

is an isometric view of an upper connector of FIG.


1


.





FIG. 3

is an isometric view of a lower connector of FIG.


1


.





FIG. 4

is a cross-section of the lanyard-buckle-badge assembly


100


of

FIG. 1

, taken along the plane


4





4


.











DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT





FIGS. 1 and 1A

are schematic views of one embodiment of a lanyard-buckle-badge assembly


100


. The assembly


100


comprises an identification badge


110


, a fitting


120


, a lower connector


130


, a buckle


140


, an upper connector


150


, and a lanyard


160


. The identification badge


110


is preferably made of a durable material so that the lanyard-buckle-badge assembly


100


can be used for several days, months, or years. The badge, of course, can take many forms, but generally contains some useful information that is useful at least in part because it is visual. In general, the badge can be replaced by one of many different articles which could be advantageously dangled from the neck of a wearer, e.g. a whistle, a key, a pen, or other article.




The badge


110


is clasped by a fitting


120


so that the badge


110


seen in

FIG. 1A

, remains securely attached to the wearer and is not lost. As shown, the fitting


120


can extend through a hole


112


in the badge


110


, or it can be secured with a similar fitting such as a hook or key ring.




The fitting


120


is connected to a buckle


140


using a lower connector


130


. The buckle


140


can be similar to one manufactured by YKK Corporation. Preferably, the buckle is a quick disconnect buckle that allows a lower portion


144


of the buckle


140


to be detached from and reattached to an upper portion


146


of the buckle


140


. For security badges that are designed to be scanned by a machine, the quick disconnect feature is particularly useful; it allows the wearer to detach the badge from the lanyard for such scanning. The buckle


140


has a transverse element


142


, which is rectangular in cross-section. The element


142


forms a lower loop


143


that is about twice as wide as it is tall. The buckle


140


also has a transverse element


148


, which creates an upper loop


149


. Like the lower loop


143


, the upper loop


149


is about twice as wide as it is tall. Other types of buckles may also be used with the connectors, connection system, and connection method described herein.




The lower connector


130


, as shown in

FIGS. 1 and 1A

, and as discussed below in more detail in connection with

FIG. 3

, comprises an upper portion


132


for receiving the transverse element


142


of the lower portion


144


of the buckle


140


. Advantageously, the upper portion


132


is U-shaped in order to capture the element


142


. The connector


130


, as discussed in more detail below, is preferably made of several segments that have planar surfaces.




The connector


130


provides a pleasing appearance and a compact size. In one embodiment, the height of the lower connector is approximately seven-sixteenths of an inch, the depth of the connector (that is, from front to back, as viewed in

FIGS. 1 and 1A

) is approximately one-quarter of an inch, and the width of the upper portion


132


connector is approximately three-eighths of an inch. Thus, the connector is almost as wide as it is tall. Of course, other size connectors could be used as well to achieve a similarly appealing appearance in accordance with the connectors described herein. The thickness of the upper portion


132


of the lower connector


130


is about one-half the height of the buckle loop


143


. In one embodiment, the thickness is about one-sixteenth of an inch. The width of the upper portion


132


is smaller than the width of the loop


143


so that there is a loose fit in the transverse direction between the connector


130


and the buckle


140


. For example, the width of the upper portion


132


can be made about one-sixteenth of an inch less than the width of the loop


143


.




The lower connector


130


also comprises a lower portion


134


configured to receive an upper portion


122


of the fitting


120


. In one embodiment, the width of the lower portion


134


is less than the width of the upper portion


132


. For example, the width of the lower portion could be about three-sixteenths of an inch. The width of the lower portion


134


is preferably configured to be slightly less than the width of a loop


124


formed by the upper portion


122


of the fitting


120


. The fitting


120


is thus securely held by the lower portion


134


of the connector


130


so that the fitting is not disconnected from the assembly


100


, which might cause the fitting and badge


110


to be lost.




As discussed above, the buckle


140


also has an upper portion


146


comprising the transverse element


148


which is secured by the upper connector


150


. The transverse element


148


could be a bar, a flexible member under tension, or any other suitable load bearing element. The transverse element


148


preferably is rectangular in cross-section, as is discussed below in connection with FIG.


4


.




The connector


150


provides a pleasing appearance, and a compact size. In one embodiment, the height of the upper connector is about the same as the width. In a specific example of a production product, the height is approximately three-eighths of an inch, and the width of the connector is approximately three-eighths of an inch. Thus, the front elevation appearance of the connector is about square. The thickness of the lower portion


152


of the upper connector


150


is about one-half the height of the loop


149


. In one embodiment, the thickness is about one-sixteenth of an inch. The width of the lower portion


152


is smaller than the width of the loop


149


so that there is a loose fit in the transverse direction between the connector


130


and the buckle


140


. For example, the width of the lower portion


152


can be made about one-sixteenth of an inch less than the width of the loop


149


. The depth of the upper portion


154


of the upper connector


150


is approximately five-sixteenths of an inch, and the depth of the lower portion


152


of the upper connector


150


(that is, the front to back dimension as viewed in

FIGS. 1 and 1A

) is approximately one-quarter of an inch. Thus, the depth is at least half that of the height or the width. Of course, other size connectors could be used as well to achieve a similarly pleasing appearance.




As will be discussed in more detail in connection with

FIG. 2

, the upper connector


150


comprises a lower section


152


configured to receive the element


148


and an upper section


154


configured to receive a portion of the lanyard


160


. Thus, the components below the connector


150


can be securely attached to the lanyard


160


and will not be lost. Advantageously, the lower portion


152


is U-shaped in order to capture the element


148


. The connector


150


, as discussed in more detail below, is preferably made of several elements that have planar surfaces.




The lanyard


160


is an elongate flexible member that is configured to encircle the neck of a wearer and to be long enough for the badge


110


to hang down to an appropriate level. The length of the lanyard


160


can vary with the size of the wearer, with the size of the badge


110


, and with the application. For example, where the buckle


140


is a quick disconnect buckle, and where various items are to be attached to the fitting


120


, the length of the lanyard


160


may be shorter or longer than for applications where only a badge


110


is to be connected to the lanyard. The lanyard could also be made adjustable length, as is known in the art. The lanyard


160


can be made of a woven line of varying thickness, a chain, a cord, a strap, or any other suitable elongate line that can properly position the badge


110


.




As shown in

FIG. 2

, the upper connector


150


has a rear, lower segment


210


, a bottom segment


220


, a front segment


230


, a top segment


240


, and a rear, upper segment


250


. A gap surface


212


is located on the outer side of the rear lower segment


210


and a gap surface


217


is located on the inner side of the rear upper segment


250


. As seen in the isometric view, the five segments


210


,


220


,


230


,


240


, and


250


form a substantially closed loop, or ring with the rear, upper segment


250


overlapping and being positioned outside of the rear, lower segment


210


. The segments


210


,


220


,


230


,


240


, and


250


define a space for receiving the lanyard


160


and a portion of the buckle


140


, as discussed above.




When the lanyard-buckle-badge assembly


100


is assembled, the overlapping portion of the upper connector


150


is positioned on the back of the assembly


100


. A gap


222


is preferably created between the segment


210


and the segment


250


. The gap


222


dimension is preferably about one-sixteenth of an inch wide. Stated more generally, the gap can be made to be less than about one-half of the thickness of the lanyard


160


, and less than about one-half of the thickness of the element


148


. The gap


222


also can be eliminated entirely so that the gap surface


212


and the gap surface


217


touch each other.




As seen in

FIG. 2

, the lower-most end


252


of the rear upper segment


250


also is preferably positioned at or below the upper-most end


254


of the rear lower segment


210


. Thus, when viewed from the back (see FIG.


1


A), the end


254


cannot be seen because it is behind the segment


250


, disposed at an elevation above the end


252


. Although it is preferred that the end


254


be disposed at an elevation above the end


252


, the end


254


could be disposed at an elevation that is less than one-half the thickness of the lanyard


160


or one-half the thickness of the element


148


below the end


252


.




The connector


150


also comprises a lower section


152


comprising the segments


210


,


220


, and


230


configured to receive a portion of the buckle


140


such as the transverse element


148


. In one embodiment, at least the segment


220


is a generally flat, planar segment that fits nicely into the buckle loop


149


. In the arrangement illustrated, the segments


210


and


230


are also generally planar surfaces. In another embodiment, rather than having three segments, the lower section


152


could comprise two surfaces forming a “V” shape. Also, the lower section


152


could be a curved surface, such as a semicircle.




The connector


150


further comprises an upper section


154


that comprises the segments


230


,


240


, and


250


that is configured to receive a portion of the lanyard


160


. In one preferred embodiment of the upper section


154


, the segment


240


is formed as a semicircular internal curve dimensioned so that its internal perimeter is about equal to the width of the flat lanyard


160


, shown in

FIG. 1

, and as seen in FIG.


4


. Of course, the shape of the segment


240


need not be semicircular. It could more generally be any curve, or even comprise one or more planar surfaces. As seen, the portions of the segments


34


and


252


that are below the curved upper segment


240


are generally flat.




The connector


150


is manufactured of injection molded plastic, metal, or any other suitable material could be employed. The material should be durable enough to be used continuously for several days, months or years to connect the lanyard


160


to the buckle


140


. In addition, the material used to make the connector


150


should be relatively rigid but flexible enough to allow rapid assembly. This material flexibility will allow the ends


252


,


254


to be deflected away from one another when either the transverse element


148


or the lanyard


160


is placed in the gap


222


. This deflection causes the dimension of the gap


222


, which is measured from the gap surface


212


to the gap surface


217


, to increase in size. The increased size of the gap


222


allows the transverse element


148


to slide between the surfaces


212


,


217


. The increased size of the gap


222


also allows the lanyard


160


to slide between the surfaces


212


,


217


.




As seen in

FIG. 3

, the lower connector


130


comprises a rear lower segment


302


, a lower segment


304


, a front segment


306


, a top segment


308


, and a rear, upper segment


309


. The segment


302


includes a free end


310


and a gap surface


312


adjacent the end


310


. The segment


309


includes a free end


315


and a gap surface


317


adjacent the end


315


. As seen in

FIG. 3

, the segments


302


-


309


preferably form a closed loop, or ring with the end


315


preferably positioned outside of and at an elevation below the end


310


. A gap


320


is formed between the surface


312


and the surface


317


that is preferably about one-sixteenth of an inch. The gap, more generally, can be made less than about one-half of the thickness of the element


142


. The gap


320


also can be eliminated entirely so that the gap surface


312


and the gap surface


317


touch each other.




As seen in

FIG. 3

, the lower-most end


315


of the segment


309


also is preferably positioned at an elevation below the upper-most end


310


. Thus, when viewed from the back (see FIG.


1


), the end


310


cannot be seen because it is behind the segment


309


, disposed at an elevation above the end


315


. Although it is preferred that the end


310


be disposed at an elevation above the end


315


, the end


310


could be disposed at an elevation that is less than one-half the thickness of the element


142


below the end


315


.




The connector


130


also comprises an upper section


132


that includes the upper portions of the segments


306


and


309


and upper segment


308


, configured to receive a portion of the buckle


140


, such as the transverse element


142


(see FIGS.


1


and


1


A). In one embodiment, the segment


308


is a generally flat, planar segment that fits nicely into the buckle loop


143


. The segments


306


,


308


, and


309


are shown as three planar surfaces, but the upper section


132


could, in another variation, comprise two surfaces forming a “V” shape, or a curved surface, such as a semicircle.




The connector


130


further comprises a lower section


134


comprising the segments


302


,


304


, and


306


configured to receive the fitting


120


. The lower segment


304


and the lower portions of the segments


302


and


306


preferably together form a short U-shaped channel in which the upper portion


122


of the fitting


120


is retained. Of course, the profile formed by the segments


302


-


306


can vary. It could more generally be any profile that retains the upper portion


122


of the fitting


120


.




The connector


130


is manufactured of injection molded plastic, but metal, or any other suitable material can be employed. The material should be durable enough to be used continuously for several days, months, or years for connecting the fitting


120


to the buckle


140


. In addition, the material used to make the connector


130


should be relatively rigid but flexible enough to allow rapid assembly. In a production version of the connectors


130


and


150


, the plastic utilized is referred to as polyoxymethylene. This flexibility will allow the ends


310


,


315


to be deflected away from one another when either the transverse element


142


or the fitting


120


is placed in the gap


320


. This deflection causes the dimension of the gap


320


, which is measured from the gap surface


312


to the gap surface


317


, to increase, which allows the transverse element


142


to slide between the surfaces


312


,


317


. The increased size of the gap


320


also allows the fitting


120


to slide between the surfaces


312


,


317


.




In one embodiment, the connector


130


preferably also comprises a tab


335


which extends from the upper section


132


as part of the front segment


306


. The tab can extend all or part of the way across the top of the upper section


132


. The tab


335


mates with a lower surface of the buckle


140


to prevent rotation of the buckle about the upper section


132


toward the front of the connector


130


. Such rotation could possibly result in the buckle or fitting becoming wedged in the connector or disconnected from the connector


130


. Thus the tab


335


advantageously prevents that occurrence, and also helps keep the badge in proper orientation.




The configuration of connectors


130


,


150


permits a process for assembling a lanyard-buckle-badge assembly


100


that is simple and efficient. In the assembly method the badge


110


is inserted into a lower portion of a fitting


120


. Next the upper portion of the fitting


120


is inserted into a lower connector


130


through the gap


320


formed between the gap surfaces


312


,


317


of the lower connector


130


. As described above, the gap


320


may be less than the thickness of the fitting


120


. However, as described above, the connector


130


is made of a material that is flexible enough to allow the ends


310


,


315


to flex which causes the gap


320


to become larger. Thus, the fitting can slide through the gap and become securely positioned within the connector


130


.




Next, the lower transverse element


142


of the buckle


140


is inserted into the lower connector


130


through the lower connector gap


320


. Again, the insertion of the buckle


140


may rely upon the flexibility of the connector


130


. The upper transverse element


148


of the buckle


140


then is inserted into the upper connector


150


through the gap


222


formed between the gap surfaces


212


,


217


of the upper connector


150


. Then the lanyard


160


is inserted into the upper connector through the upper connector gap


222


. As described above, and in connection with connector


130


, the connector


150


is made of a material that is flexible enough to allow the ends


252


,


254


to flex which causes the gap


222


to become larger. Thus, the element


148


and the lanyard


160


can slide through the gap


222


and become securely positioned within the connector


150


.




The above description is given by way of example and not limitation. Given this disclosure, one skilled in the art could devise variations that are within the scope and spirit of the invention. Further, the various features of this invention can be used alone or in varying combinations with each other, and are not intended to be limited to the specific combination described herein. Thus, the invention is not to be limited by the illustrated embodiment, but is to be defined by the following claims, when read in the broadest manner to preserve the validity of the claims.



Claims
  • 1. A lanyard assembly comprising:a lanyard configured to be worn about a person's neck; a quick disconnect buckle having an upper portion with an upper loop, and a lower portion with a lower loop; a one-piece upper connector having a substantially closed ring-shaped configuration with overlapping free ends that can be flexibly separated to receive said lanyard into an upper portion of the connector and to receive into its lower portion a transverse element forming an upper wall of said buckle loop; a fitting to carry an article; and a one-piece lower connector having a substantially ring-shaped configuration with overlapping free ends which can be flexibly separated to receive a transverse element forming a wall of said loop on the lower portion of said buckle, and to receive an upper portion of the fitting into a lower portion of the lower connector.
  • 2. The assembly of claim 1, wherein said lower connector has a front segment with a tab on its upper end which is configured to prevent the buckle from rotating downwardly around the lower connector.
  • 3. A system for connecting a lanyard, a buckle, and a fitting, the system comprising:a one-piece upper connector having a substantially loop-shaped configuration with free ends positioned close to each other, said connector being formed of relatively rigid material but being sufficiently flexible such that the free ends can be separated to permit a portion of a lanyard into an upper portion of the connector and to receive a transverse element of an upper portion of the buckle into a lower portion of the connector; and a one-piece lower connector having a generally loop-shaped configuration with free ends positioned adjacent each other, said lower connector being made of relatively rigid material but being relatively flexible such that said free ends of the lower connector can be flexibly separated to permit a transverse element of a lower portion of the buckle to be received in an upper portion of the lower connector, and to receive an upper portion of the fitting into a lower portion of the lower connector.
  • 4. The system of claim 3, wherein said upper connector free ends are overlapping, and said lower connector free ends are overlapping.
  • 5. The system of claim 3, wherein said upper connector has a generally flat lower segment which fits within a loop formed on the upper end of the buckle; andwherein said lower connector has a generally flat upper segment to fit into a loop formed on the lower end of the buckle.
  • 6. The system of claim 5, wherein said upper connector has a front segment having a lower generally flat end joined to one end of said upper connector lower segment and an upper end that joins with a curved upper segment, said upper connector further having a rear upper segment having its upper end joined to said curved upper segment and having its lower end being one of said upper connector free ends, said upper connector further having a lower rear segment spaced from said front segment and having a lower end connected to an end of said lower segment, said rear lower segment having an upper end forming the other of said upper connector free ends.
  • 7. The system of claim 5, wherein said lower connector has a generally flat front segment joined to a forward end of said upper segment and having a lower end secured to one end of a lower segment, said lower connector further having a rear lower segment spaced from said front segment, having a lower end joined to said lower segment, and having an upper end forming one of said lower connector free ends, said lower connector further having an upper rear segment having an upper end joined to said upper segment and having a lower end forming the other of said lower connector free ends.
  • 8. The system of claim 3, wherein said lower connector has a generally flat front segment joined to a forward end or said upper segment and having a lower end secured to one end of a lower segment, said lower connector further having a rear lower segment spaced from said front segment, having a lower end joined to said lower segment, and having an upper end forming one of said lower connector free ends, said lower connector further having an upper rear segment having an upper end joined to said upper segment and having a lower end forming the other of said lower connector free ends.
  • 9. A connector for connecting a fitting to a buckle comprising:a one-piece body forming a loop, said body including: a lower segment, a front segment having a lower end joined to one end of the lower segment, an upper segment joined to an upper end of said front segment, a rear upper segment having an upper end joined to said upper segment and having a free lower end, a rear lower segment having a lower end joined to a second end of said lower segment and having an upper free end, said ends being closely positioned to each other, said body being made of relatively rigid material but being sufficiently flexible such that said free ends may be flexibly separated to receive a transverse element of the lower end of a buckle into an upper portion of said loop, and to receive an upper portion of a fitting, and a tab on said upper portion that prevents the buckle from rotating forwardly around the element captured in the loop.
  • 10. The connector of claim 9, wherein the free end on the rear upper segment extends below and is outside of the free end on the rear lower segment.
  • 11. The connector of claim 9, wherein said tab is an extension of the upper end of said front segment.
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Foreign Referenced Citations (1)
Number Date Country
11-187910 Nov 1999 JP