Patent Application
20080086853
Before the embodiments of the invention are explained in detail, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited in its application to the details of construction and the arrangement of the components set forth in the following description or illustrated in the drawings. The invention is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced or being carried out in various ways. Also, it is to be understood that the phraseology and terminology used herein are for the purpose of description and should not be regarded as limiting. The use of “including” and “comprising” and variations thereof is meant to encompass the items listed thereafter and equivalents thereof as well as additional items and equivalents thereof.
The main body 36 of the male connection member 32 includes a rigid cross beam 44 integrally connected to a strap beam 46. The strap channel 40 is formed between the cross beam 44 and the strap beam 46. An extension beam 48 outwardly extends from the cross beam 44, and may be formed perpendicular with respect to the cross beam 44. As shown in
Flexible locking arms 52 are inwardly angled from the blunted distal tip 50 such that the locking arms 52 spread further out toward the cross beam 44. That is, as shown in
The main body 38 of the female connection member 34 includes a shroud 58 that defines an inner chamber (not shown). Button openings 60 are formed in the shroud 58 and are configured to retain the buttons 56 formed at the free ends 54 of the locking arms 52. The button openings 60 are bounded on three sides. Stops 62 are located on one side of each button opening 60. The stops 62 extend outwardly from both sides of the shroud 58. Each stop 62 includes a rounded end 63 integrally connected to a web stop edge 65 by an intermediate extension portion 67. The stops 62 are configured to block a strap or web material connected to the female connection member 34 from passing into the button openings 60 or any other stray strap or web material from passing into the button openings. Additionally, the stops 62, along with adjoining structure of the shroud 58, may be configured to snapably, latchably, or otherwise securely engage the buttons 56 when the male connection member 32 connects to the female connection member 34.
The shroud 58 is integrally connected to a strap beam 64 such that the strap channel 42 is defined between the shroud 58 and the strap beam 64. As discussed below, the strap beam 64 is recessed below the main body 38 of the female connection member 34. Flexible release arms 66 extend from the strap beam 64 on either side of the shroud 58 and are separated from lateral walls of the shroud 58 by clearance gaps 69. Button actuating protuberances 68 are located at distal ends of the release arms 66. The protuberances 68 are configured to engage the buttons 56 during a disconnection process. The protuberances 68 include base portions 75 integrally connected to engagement surfaces 77. The base portions 75 outwardly bow, while the engagement surfaces 77 curve in toward the button openings 60, thereby providing a cam-like extension that is configured to move deep into the button openings 60 when the release arms 66 are squeezed.
In order to connect the male connection member 32 to the female connection member 34, the male connection member 32 is urged into the inner chamber of the shroud 58 in the direction of arrow C. As the male connection member 32 passes into the inner chamber, the locking arms 52 inwardly flex until the buttons 56 reach the button openings 60, at which point the locking arms 52 snap back and the buttons 56 are secured in the button openings 60. Flat edges 57 of the buttons 56 are configured to latchably engage trailing edges 59 of a mating collar 61 of the shroud 58 when the male connection member 32 connects to the female connection member 34.
As noted above, the locking arms 52 are angled with respect to the extension beam 48. The locking arms 52 spread out from the blunted distal tip 50 toward the cross beam 44. Further, the lateral surfaces of the locking arms 52 are flat and straight. During the connection process, foreign substances, such as snow, debris or the like within the inner chamber of the shroud 58 are pushed by the locking arms 52 into and out of the button openings 60. As the male connection member 32 continues to pass into the female connection member 34, the locking arms 52 shunt snow, debris or the like out through the button openings 60. It has been found that the angled nature of the locking arms 52 efficiently moves and shunts foreign substances out of the shroud 58 during the connection process.
In order to disconnect the male connection member 32 from the female connection member 34, an operator engages the flexible release arms 66 and squeezes them toward one another. During the squeezing process, the release arms 66 inwardly flex into the clearance gaps 69 in the directions of arcs D. As the release arms 66 are squeezed toward one another, the protuberances 68 are urged into the buttons 56. With increased squeezing force, the protuberances move further into the button openings 60, thereby forcing the buttons 56 and locking arms 52 to inwardly flex. As the buttons 56 move inward, the buttons 56 lose contact with the trailing edges 59 of a mating collar 61 of the shroud 58 and adjoining portions of the shroud 58. Thus, the buttons 56 are no longer retained within the button openings 60, and the male connection member 32 may be removed from the female connection member 34.
The release arms 66 provide large surfaces for an operator to engage and manipulate. During disconnection, the operator engages the easily engageable release arms 66, but not the buttons 56, which are bounded on three sides by the shroud 58. The engagement surfaces 77 of the protuberances 68 engage the buttons 56. An operator may easily grasp and squeeze the release arms 66 without being blocked by rigid structural portions of the assembly 30. Because the protuberances 68 of the release arms 66 contact the buttons 56 during disconnection, an operator is able to easily disconnect the male connection member 32 from the female connection member 34 without being blocked by rigid support walls that define the button openings 60. Thus, even if an operator is wearing gloves, or has oversized fingers, the fixed structural support walls that define the button openings 60 do not interfere with the operator's fingers.
During disconnection, the stops 62 prevent straps or webbing from sliding into the button openings 60. As such, the stops 62 prevent damage to the release arms 66 (e.g., the release arms 66 could be damaged if moved into button openings 60 that were clogged with webbing material).
The release arms 72 may inwardly bow in order to indicate optimal areas for grasping. Additionally, the inwardly-bowed nature of the release arms 72 provides an ergonomically comfortable area in which fingers may be stably positioned.
Thus, embodiments of the present invention provide a robust buckle assembly having mating components that are easily connected and disconnected when desired. Unlike conventional assemblies, embodiments of the present invention include angled locking arms connected to a distal end of an extension beam, as opposed to straight arms connected to a rigid strut support that are susceptible to snapping. Additionally, embodiments of the present invention are less susceptible to being clogged with snow or debris as compared to conventional buckle assemblies. The angled locking arms act to shunt snow, debris or the like through the button openings during a connection process, while the blunted distal end of the extension beam pushes debris, snow or the like within an inner chamber of the shroud through an opening formed through the shroud.
While various spatial terms, such as upper, bottom, lower, mid, lateral, horizontal, vertical, and the like may used to describe embodiments of the present invention, it is understood that such terms are merely used with respect to the orientations shown in the drawings. The orientations may be inverted, rotated, or otherwise changed, such that an upper portion is a lower portion, and vice versa, horizontal becomes vertical, and the like.
Variations and modifications of the foregoing are within the scope of the present invention. It is understood that the invention disclosed and defined herein extends to all alternative combinations of two or more of the individual features mentioned or evident from the text and/or drawings. All of these different combinations constitute various alternative aspects of the present invention. The embodiments described herein explain the best modes known for practicing the invention and will enable others skilled in the art to utilize the invention. The claims are to be construed to include alternative embodiments to the extent permitted by the prior art.
Various features of the invention are set forth in the following claims.
This application relates to and claims priority benefits from U.S. Provisional Patent Application 60/851,199 entitled “Buckle Assembly,” filed Oct. 12, 2006, which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety.
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 60851199 | Oct 2006 | US |
