Locking snap buckle

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. Methods include coupling two buckle components together by engaging latching tabs of a security buckle into complementary mating slots/apertures and to inhibit decoupling by interfering with disengagement of the latching tabs. Systems and methods of using this security buckle and securing method include pet and container security systems and methods.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a representative plan view of one style of a generic conventional snap buckle;

FIG. 2 is a representative plan view of a first aspect of the present invention incorporated into a two-piece lanyard release snap buckle;

FIG. 3 is a representative plan view of a second aspect of the present invention incorporated into a two-piece lanyard release snap buckle;

FIG. 4 is a representative plan view of a third aspect of the present invention incorporated into a two-piece lanyard release snap buckle;

FIG. 5 is a representative plan view of a fourth aspect of the present invention incorporated into a two-piece lanyard release snap buckle;

FIG. 6 is a representative plan view of a first aspect of the present invention incorporated into a security system;

FIG. 7 is a representative plan view of a second aspect of the present invention incorporated into a security system;

FIG. 8 is a representative plan view of a generic “snapped” embodiment; and

FIG. 9 is a representative plan view of an alternative embodiment for the present invention.

Claims

1. A security release buckle, comprising: a first body member having one or more walls defining a receiving cavity and one or more mating slots; anda second body member adapted to engage said receiving cavity, said second body member including one or more latching tabs for engaging said one or more mating slots wherein said second body member is inhibited from disengagement while said one or more latching tabs engage said one or more mating slots, and wherein said first body member includes a portion of said one or more walls defining a security slot adapted for receiving an interfering object that includes an engagement mode for insertion and removal from said slot and an interfering mode for inhibiting said one or more latching tabs from disengaging from said one or more mating tabs until said interfering object is transitioned to said engagement mode.

2. The buckle of claim 1 wherein said body members are designed and configured to resist disengagement due to torsional, compression, tension, and shearing of components that may be applied by three sigma of the human population not equipped with power tools designed for torquing, crushing, pulling or cutting.

3. The buckle of claim 1 wherein said body members include structural composite fillers for enhancing resistance to engagement failures due to torsion, compression, tension, and shearing of one or more component.

4. The buckle of claim 1 further comprising: one or more strap engagement couplers included with each body member; anda security strap coupled to each strap engagement coupler.

5. The buckle of claim 4 wherein said security strap includes lengthwise anti-shear fibers.

6. A security system, comprising: a security buckle, said security buckle including 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 said receiving cavity, said second body member including one or more latching tabs for engaging said one or more mating slots wherein said second body member is inhibited from disengagement while said one or more latching tabs engage said one or more mating slots, and wherein said first body member includes a portion of said one or more walls defining a security slot adapted for receiving an interfering object that includes an engagement mode for insertion and removal from said slot and an interfering mode for inhibiting said one or more latching tabs from disengaging from said one or more mating tabs until said interfering object is transitioned to said engagement mode;a securing subsystem for securing a first object; anda locking subsystem including said interfering member coupled to a housing including a locking mechanism to permit transition of said interfering member responsive to a control, said locking system engageable with said security slot in said engagement mode and including a mechanism for inhibiting disengagement when said interfering member is in said interfering mode.

7. The security system of claim 6 wherein said locking subsystem includes a localization subsystem for removeably coupling said locking subsystem to a second object different from said first object.

8. The security system of claim 7 wherein said localization system includes a security cable terminating in a loop.

9. The security system of claim 6 wherein said first object is an animal and said securing system is a harness for said animal.

10. The security system of claim 6 wherein said first object is an animal and said securing system is a collar for said animal.

11. The security system of claim 6 wherein said securing system is a container for said first object.

12. The security system of claim 6 wherein said body members are designed and configured to resist disengagement due to torsional, compression, tension, and shearing of components that may be applied by three sigma of the human population not equipped with power tools designed for torquing, crushing, pulling or cutting.

13. The security system of claim 6 wherein said body members include structural composite fillers for enhancing resistance to engagement failures due to torsion, compression, tension, and shearing of one or more component.

14. The security system of claim 6 further comprising: one or more strap engagement couplers included with each body member; anda security strap coupled to each strap engagement coupler.

15. The security system of claim 14 wherein said security strap includes lengthwise anti-shear fibers.

16. A buckling method, the method comprising: a) engaging a first body member having one or more latching tabs into an engagement receiving cavity of a second body having one or more mating slots compatible with said one or more latching tabs wherein said first body member remains engaged with second body member until said one or more latching tabs disengage said one or more mating slots; andb) interfering with said disengagement of said one or more latching tabs from said one or more mating slots to inhibit disengagement of said first body member from said second body member.

17. A security system for an animal, comprising: a security collar for engaging the animal, said collar including a security strap coupling together a pair of body members of a security buckle with said security buckle including a latching mode and an unlatching mode; anda locking subsystem, removeably engageable with said security buckle, for inhibiting said unlatching mode and removal of said security collar from the animal.

18. The security system of claim 17 wherein said locking subsystem includes a localization subsystem for limiting movement of said security collar while said locking system is engaged with said security buckle.

19. A security system for a container, comprising: a security flap securing an opening of the container, said flap including a security strap coupled to one of a pair of body members of a security buckle with said security buckle including a latching mode and an unlatching mode and another of said pair of body members coupled to a portion of the container; anda locking subsystem, removeably engageable with said security buckle, for inhibiting said unlatching mode and access to a content of the container through said opening.

20. The security system of claim 19 wherein said locking subsystem includes a localization subsystem for limiting movement of the container while said locking system is engaged with said security buckle.

21. A security release buckle, comprising: a first body member having one or more walls defining a receiving cavity and one or more mating slots; anda second body member adapted to engage said receiving cavity, said second body member including one or more latching tabs for engaging said one or more mating slots wherein said second body member is inhibited from disengagement while said one or more latching tabs engage said one or more mating slots, and wherein said first body member includes a cover door for transitioning between an exposing mode for permitting access to said one or more latching tabs and a covering mode for inhibiting access to said one or more latching tabs to inhibit disengagement of said one or more latching tabs from said one or more mating tabs until said cover door is transitioned to said exposing mode.

22. The buckle of claim 21 further comprising a security slot operable with said cover door to inhibit transition from said covering mode to said exposing mode.