Buckle Mechanism
OwnerPaul Fidrychinventor
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An improved buckle device for a limited release application such as a pet collar, which includes a buckle assembly having a cover having a top with a downward turn release lip. The release lip, in the closed position, does not extend past the frame member and is recessed within the sidewalls and bottom wall of the frame. The cover includes high-positioned ledges that cause a cam latch to release a clasp from the buckle only when the cover has traveled at least about 80-degress from horizontal. The cover hingeably mounts to a frame by means of a pin. The latch is supported by the pin. Tension against the cover is provided by a first biasing member and the latch cam is forced downward by a second biasing member.
Claims20
A buckle device for a strap, the device comprising:
- a female clasp element coupled to an end of the strap at a clasp web end, the clasp element further comprising a latch-engaging end opposite the clasp web end, the latch-engaging end defining a latch-receiving hole;
- a buckle assembly disposed on the strap, the assembly comprising
- a frame member having a generally flat base and two oppositely disposed upturned sidewalls, each respective sidewall defining a pin-receiving hole and a cover restricting tab, the tab disposed on a front portion of each respective sidewall;
- a cover member hingeably disposed on the frame and adapted to selectively operate from a closed position to an open position, the cover member comprising a downward turned release lip;
- and
- a latch-lock cam member disposed on the frame, the latch lock comprising a tab lock supported by oppositely disposed latch-cam sidewalls, each sidewall defining a latch-cam-pin-receiving through hole and at least one tooth disposed on a portion of the front of the latch lock cam member whereby the tooth selectively engages the cut-out ledge on the cover.
A buckle device comprising:
- a buckle assembly disposed on a strap member, the assembly comprising
- a frame member having a generally flat base and two oppositely disposed upturned sidewalls, each respective sidewall defining a pin-receiving hole and a cover restricting tab, the tab disposed on a front portion of each respective sidewall, and wherein the two oppositely disposed upturned sidewalls of the frame member and the flat bottom base cooperate to define a three-dimensional space having a length, width, and height;
- a cover member hingeably disposed on the frame and adapted to selectively operate from a closed position to an open position, the cover member comprising a downward turned release lip and the downward turned release lip disposes within the three dimensional space of the frame when in a closed position whereby the lip member does not extend beyond a curved plane defined by the base and upturned sidewalls of the frame member;
- and
- a latch-lock cam member disposed on the frame, the latch lock comprising a tab lock supported by oppositely disposed latch-cam sidewalls, each sidewall defining a latch-cam-pin-receiving through hole and at least one tooth disposed on a portion of the front of the latch lock cam member whereby the tooth selectively engages the cut-out ledge on the cover.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.