Releasable buckle

A buckle for fastening ends of a flat belt-like article, comprising:

• A. A male member molded of synthetic resin as one piece including
• (1) a first belt-end retainer portion adapted to be connected to one end of the flat belt-like article, and
• (2) a plug portion having
• (a) a generally T-shaped stem having a horizontal portion integral with said first retainer portion, and a vertical portion perpendicular thereto, said vertical portion of said stem further having a pair of guide recesses extending from the distal end of said vertical portion toward said horizontal portion and terminating substantially midway along its length;
• (b) a pair of resilient upturns extending from opposite corners of the distal end of said stem, each of said upturns having a lug projecting upwardly at its distal end so as to define with the later a locking recess at the outer side of said lug;
• (c) a pair of thinner connecting portions each extending outwardly from an outwardly facing side of the respective upturn and terminating in an enlarged gripping ear;
• and
• B. A female member molded of synthetic resin as one piece including
• (1) a second belt-end retainer portion adapted to be connected to the other end of the flat belt-like article;
• and
• (2) a socket portion having
• (a) means defining a socket-opening at one end of said socket portion receptive of said plug portion and also defining a pair of side slits communicating with said socket-opening, said means having a pair of first and second inner walls, said means of said socket portion further having a pair of guide projections extending between said inner walls, said guide projections extending from the bottom of said socket opening toward the open end of said socket opening and terminating substantially midway between said bottom and said open end, each of said guide projections being receivable in a respective one of said guide recesses in said vertical portion of said stem when said plug portion is received in said socket opening;
• and
• (b) two pairs of inwardly facing flanges disposed one pair at each side of said socket-opening, each said pair of flanges defining therebetween a restricted slit communicating with both said socket-opening and one of said side slits for passage therethrough of a respective one of said connecting portions, each said restricted slit having a width greater than the thickness of each said connecting portion and smaller than the thickness of either of said lug and said upturn so that each pair of said flanges is received in one of said locking recesses, each said flange having a first abutment facing one of said side slits for engagement with said distal end of one of said upturns to restrict the movement of said male and female members away from each other, and a second abutment facing said socket-opening for engagement with said lug of one of said upturns to restrict the outward movement of said distal end and hence to prevent said respective upturn from being overbent outwardly.