Buckle
AssigneeIllinois Tool Works Inc.
InventorEric W. Millward
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Disclosed is a buckle assembly having a female buckle component and a male buckle component. The female buckle component configured to mate with a male buckle component and including a housing, a button aperture, and a pocket. The pocket includes an alignment edge at an opening of the pocket. The male buckle component includes a main body, guide bars, and lateral arms. Each lateral arm is coupled to the main body and configured to deflect about a pivot point. Each lateral arm includes a flexible lateral arm, a button, locking tips, and a guide fin.
Claims20
A female buckle component configured to mate with a male buckle component into a securely connected position, said female buckle component comprising:
- a housing comprising a first side and a second side separated by a central rib, wherein each side of the housing defines:
- a button aperture configured to secure a button of a male buckle component;
- and
- a pocket configured to receive the male buckle component, wherein the pocket comprises a first alignment edge at an opening of the pocket and a second alignment edge between the opening and the button aperture that is transverse to the first alignment edge.
A buckle assembly comprising:
- a female buckle component comprising a housing having a first side and a second side separated by a central rib,
- wherein the first side defines a first button aperture, a first pocket, and a first locking ledge, and
- wherein the second side defines a second button aperture, a second pocket, and a second locking ledge;
- and
- a male buckle component configured to mate with the female buckle component into a securely connected position, the male buckle component comprising:
- a main body;
- a first guide bar and a second guide bar coupled to the main body;
- and
- a first lateral arm and a second lateral arm coupled to the main body and configured to deflect about a pivot point,
- wherein the first lateral arm comprises a first flexible lateral arm, a first button configured to engage the first button aperture, a first locking tip configured to engage the first locking ledge, and a first guide fin, and
- wherein the second lateral arm comprises a second flexible lateral arm, a second button configured to engage the second button aperture, a second locking tip configured to engage the second locking ledge, and a second guide fin.
A male buckle component configured to mate with a female buckle component having a first side that defines a first button aperture, a first pocket, and a first locking ledge, and a second side that defines a second button aperture, a second pocket, and a second locking ledge, the male buckle component comprising:
- a main body;
- a first guide bar and a second guide bar coupled to the main body;
- and
- a first lateral arm and a second lateral arm coupled to the main body and configured to deflect about a pivot point,
- wherein the first lateral arm comprises a first flexible lateral arm, a first button configured to engage the first button aperture, a first locking tip configured to engage the first locking ledge, and a first guide fin, and
- wherein the second lateral arm comprises a second flexible lateral arm, a second button configured to engage the second button aperture, a second locking tip configured to engage the second locking ledge, and a second guide fin.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.