Claims
- 1. A detachable buckle for use with two flexible strap ends, said buckle including:
a buckle body including a pair of side rails positioned in spaced relationship and a first bar secured to and extending between said rails; a first cross member extending between the side rails and selectively engageable with a first strap end portion to releasably retain said first strap end portion against longitudinal movement within said buckle body; and a second cross member removably mounted on the buckle body and extending between the side rails, said second member being adapted to removably fix a second strap end portion to the buckle body such that separation of the second member from the buckle body releases the second strap end portion from attachment at the second strap end portion to the buckle body.
- 2. A detachable buckle as set forth in claim 1 wherein the second member is adapted to be separated from the buckle body by longitudinal movement of the second member.
- 3. A detachable buckle as set forth in claim 2 wherein the side rails have first and second bores therein in axial alignment and said second member extends through the first bore and at least partially into said second bore.
- 4. A detachable buckle as set forth in claim 3 wherein said second member includes a shank having first and second opposite ends and a resiliently outwardly biased retainer adjacent the first end that can move inwardly to permit insertion of the shank through the first bore and into the second bore and cooperating with a shoulder to removably retain the second member attached to the buckle body.
- 5. A detachable buckle as set forth in claim 4 wherein the second bore is through the respective side rail and an outside surface portion of the respective side rail at least partially defines the shoulder.
- 6. A detachable buckle as set forth in claim 5 wherein the second member includes a grip secured to the shank adjacent the second end of the shank to facilitate separation of the second member from the buckle body.
- 7. A detachable buckle as set forth in claim 6 wherein the shank has a through hole adjacent the second end and the grip includes a ring having a portion extending through the hole.
- 8. A detachable buckle as set forth in claim 7 wherein the ring forms a stop operable to limit axial movement of the shank in the first and second bores.
- 9. A detachable buckle as set forth in claim 7 wherein the grip includes an elongate flexible cord operable to be gripped by a person to facilitate separation of the second member from the buckle body.
- 10. A detachable buckle as set forth in claim 9 wherein the cord is operable to tether the shank to a device to help prevent loss of the second member when separated from the buckle body.
- 11. A detachable buckle as set forth in claim 5 wherein at least one side rail includes an inwardly extending notch with a bottom surface portion with the respective through bore opening onto said bottom surface and said bottom surface forming said shoulder, said shank having a length such that its first end does not project beyond the outside surface of the side rail sufficiently to allow the shank to be accidentally pushed inwardly through said second bore.
- 12. A detachable buckle as set forth in claim 11 wherein there is a notch in each said side rail.
- 13. A detachable buckle as set forth in claim 1 in combination with at least one strap having a first strap end portion and a second strap end portion, the second strap end portion having a loop adapted to receive said second member therethrough and detachably attach said buckle to said second strap end portion.
- 14. A detachable buckle as set forth in claim 13 wherein the first strap end portion is engagable with the first member, said buckle body including a third member extending between said side rails and spaced from the first member defining a slot therebetween, said third member being operable for having said first strap end portion at least partially wrapped therearound and extending for engagement with the first member.
- 15. A detachable buckle as set forth in claim 14 wherein said first member includes a plurality of teeth for engagement with the first strap end portion.
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This non-provisional application is based on Provisional Application Serial No. 60/353,238, filed Feb. 1, 2002 for A QUICK RELEASE DETACHABLE BUCKLE.
Provisional Applications (1)
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Number |
Date |
Country |
|
60353238 |
Feb 2002 |
US |