Shortened buckle system

Abstract

A buckle assembly having a male buckle member and a female buckle member. The male buckle member contains an engaging means for engagement with the female portion and a male strap receiving means for coupling to a first strap. The female buckle member contains a receiving volume for engaging with the male buckle section and a female strap receiving means positioned on the bottom or top of the receiving volume and substantially along its open engaging end so that when the male and female buckle members are engaged and locked the female strap receiving means substantially abuts an interface section of the male buckle member causing the first and second strap to be in close proximity.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

For a fuller understanding of the invention, reference is had to the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a horseshoe buckle in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 2 is top plan view of the horseshoe buckle in accordance with the invention;

FIG. 3 is a top plan view of the male buckle portion of the horseshoe buckle of FIGS. 1 and 2;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the male buckle portion of the horseshoe buckle of FIGS. 1 and 2;

FIG. 5 is a top plan view of the female buckle portion of the horseshoe buckle of FIGS. 1 and 2;

FIG. 6 is a side view of the female buckle portion of the horseshoe buckle of FIGS. 1 and 2;

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of another preferred embodiment of the horseshoe buckle according to the invention.

FIG. 8 is a top plan view of the embodiment of FIG. 7.

FIG. 9 is a side view of the female buckle portion of the horseshoe buckle of FIG. 7;

FIGS. 10( a) and 10 (b) show top plan views of variations of the female buckle portion;

FIG. 11 is a perspective view of a generally rectangular shortened buckle in accordance with a second preferred embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 12 is a perspective view of the male buckle portion of the embodiment shown in FIG. 11;

FIG. 13 is a top plan view of the male buckle portion of the embodiment shown in FIG. 11;

FIG. 14 is a perspective view of the female buckle portion of the embodiment shown in FIG. 11;

FIG. 15 is an end view of the female buckle portion of the embodiment shown in FIG. 11;

FIG. 16 is a top plan view of a variation of the female buckle portion of the embodiment shown in FIG. 11;

FIG. 17 is a side cross sectional view along the lines 17-17 of the buckle of FIG. 11 with straps attached;

Claims

1. A buckle, comprising: a male buckle member including engaging means for releasably engaging with a female buckle, a male strap receiving means for coupling to a first strap and an interface section where the engaging means and male strap receiving means are connected; anda female buckle member including: a receiving volume having an open engaging end and an open locking end; anda female strap receiving means for coupling to a second strap, the female strap receiving means being positioned on the bottom of the receiving volume and substantially proximate the open engaging end so that when the male and female buckle members are engaged and locked the female strap receiving means substantially abuts the interface section of the male buckle member causing the first and second strap to be in close proximity to each other.

2. The buckle according to claim 1 wherein the male buckle member is horseshoe in shape and the engaging means comprises two prongs having a barb end portion.

3. The buckle according to claim 2 wherein the receiving volume of the female buckle member comprises two interior walls defining channels for receiving each prong of the male buckle member.

4. The buckle according to claim 2 wherein the barb end portion creates an angle with the prong that is less than 90 degrees.

5. The buckle according to claim 1 wherein the male buckle member further comprises a guide bar extending from the interface section and being disposed laterally between the two prongs.

6. The buckle according to claim 5 wherein the female buckle member comprises a channel for receiving the guide bar.

7. The buckle according to claim 1 wherein the female buckle member comprises a cover plate.

8. The buckle according to claim 1 wherein the female buckle member comprises inwardly curved edges at the open locking end for securing engagement with the barb end portion of the male buckle member.

9. The buckle according to claim 1 wherein the male buckle member and the female buckle member are substantially rectangular in shape.

10. The buckle according to claim 11 wherein the engaging means of the male buckle member comprises two prongs having a barb end portion.

11. The buckle according to claim 10 wherein the receiving volume of the female buckle member further comprises a locking end wall defining two openings for receiving the prongs of the male buckle.

12. The buckle according to claim 10 wherein the barb portion creates an angle with the prong that is less than 90 degrees.

13. The buckle according to claim 12 wherein the male buckle member further comprises a guide bar extending from the interface section being disposed between the two prongs.

14. The buckle according to claim 13 wherein the female buckle member comprises a channel along its length for receiving the guide bar.

15. The buckle according to claim 13 wherein the locking end wall of the female buckle member comprises a thickened wall being capable of resisting breaking when a torque force is applied thereto.

16. The buckle according to claim 2 wherein the barb portion is hollow.

17. The buckle according to claim 2 wherein the barb portion contains a co-molded color which provides a visual indicator for release.

18. A horseshoe shaped buckle, comprising: a male buckle member including engaging means for releasably engaging with a female buckle member, a male strap receiving means for coupling to a first strap and an interface section where the engaging means and male strap receiving means are connected; anda female buckle member including: a receiving volume having an open engaging end and an open locking end; anda female strap receiving means for coupling to a second strap, the female strap receiving means being positioned on the bottom of the receiving volume and proximate the open engaging end so that when the male and female buckle members are engaged and locked the female strap receiving means substantially abuts the interface section of the male buckle member causing the first and second strap to be in close proximity to each other.

19. A generally quadrilateral buckle, comprising: a male buckle member including engaging means for releasably engaging with a female buckle member, a male strap receiving means for coupling to a first strap and an interface section where the engaging means and male strap receiving means are connected; anda female buckle member including: a receiving volume having an open engaging end, an open locking end and a locking end wall defining openings for receiving the engaging means of the male buckle member; anda female strap receiving means for coupling to a second strap, the female strap receiving means being positioned above or below the receiving volume and substantially along the open engaging end so that when the male and female buckle members are engaged and locked the female strap receiving means substantially abuts the interface section of the male buckle member causing the first and second strap to be in close proximity to each other.

20. A buckle, comprising: a male buckle member including engaging means for releasably engaging with a female buckle, a male strap receiving means for coupling to a first strap and an interface section where the engaging means and male strap receiving means are connected; anda female buckle member including: a receiving volume having an open engaging end, an open locking end and a locking end wall defining openings for receiving the engaging means of the male buckle member; anda female strap receiving means for coupling to a second strap, the female strap receiving means being positioned on the bottom or the top of the receiving volume so that it is above or below the horizontal axis of the buckle such that when the male and female buckle members are engaged and locked the first and second strap are in close proximity to each other.