US 4,692,970 A · Belt buckle with eject means

Abstract

A buckle for receiving a tongue. A pair of helical springs are positioned between a latch and a main body having first slots for receiving one edge of a reinforcement plate pivoted downward depressing the latch springs and snapping into place into a yieldable hook shaped portion. A push button is positioned between the reinforcement plate and the cover having a skirt interferingly extending between the plate and main body securing the assembly together. The plate includes a pair of legs extending on opposite of the tongue mouth and into the main body transferring plate load into the main body of the buckle. The push button includes two legs fitting adjacent and inward of two arms of the latch in turn limiting outward travel of the button legs. An alternate embodiment includes a third leg depending from the plate. The preferred embodiment includes a rear tongue receiving channel formed by an extension of the reinforcement plate in which is located a leaf spring providing withdrawal assist force against the tongue.

Claims20

Dependent claims

A buckle comprising:

a reinforcement plate having a longitudinal axis extending through a longitudinal plane and further having legs with distal ends;
a main body having said plate mounted thereto and including stop surfaces receiving said distal ends and limiting relative movement between said plate and main body, said main body includes yieldable means integral therewith for engaging said plate, said yieldable means being moveable to allow said plate to be inserted in said main body and then moveable back holding said plate therein;
a latch positioned in said main body and held captive therein by said plate, said latch moveable between a latch position and an unlatched position;
spring means contacting said latch to move said latch back and forth between said latch position and said unlatched position;
operator means operable to move said latch to said unlatched position;
a cover mounted to said main body and cooperatively forming a mouth therewith, said plate extending adjacent said mouth with said cover enclosing said latch, said spring means and said plate, said cover including securing means extending between said plate and said main body securing said cover to said main body;
and,
limit means depending from said plate within said main body and spaced apart aft of said mouth and including tongue stop surfaces to limit movement of said tongue when said tongue is in said buckle.

5 more elements

A buckle lockingly engageable with a tongue comprising:

a reinforcement plate having opposite end portions with a longitudinal plane extending therebetween, said plate including a pair of legs with distal ends, said legs extending in a direction transverse to said plane to support said plate in said direction;
a main body having said plate mounted thereto, said main body having locking means engaging said opposite end portions of said plate securing said plate thereto and limiting movement of said plate relative to said main body along said plane, said main body including stop surfaces receiving said legs limiting movement of said plate relative to said main body in said direction;
a latch positioned in said main body and held captive therein by said plate;
spring means positioned in said main body being operable to move said latch;
operator means operably engaged with said latch for movement thereof;
a cover mounted to said main body and enclosing said plate, said cover and said main body cooperatively forming a mouth and having said plate extending thereby;
and,
limit means depending from said plate within said main body and spaced apart aft of said mouth and including tongue stop surfaces to limit movement of said tongue when said tongue is in said buckle.

5 more elements

A belt buckle comprising:

a main body member having a cavity therein with an entry passage;
a cover member mounted on said body member;
movable latching means mounted in said main body member for engaging a belt tongue inserted in the buckle;
manual operating means accessible at the exterior of the cover member and engaged with said latching means being movable upon receipt of a predetermined amount of finger force to move said latching means relative to said belt tongue;
first spring means mounted in said main body member and positioned between said main body and said movable latching means being operable to normally apply a first force against said movable latching means in a first direction moving same into engagement with said belt tongue when inserted into the buckle but yieldable to allow movement of said movable latching means away from said belt tongue in a second direction opposite of said first direction;
second spring means positioned adjacent said manual operating means operable to normally apply a second force against said manual operating means in said first direction but yieldable to allow movement of said manual operating means in said second direction when said finger force exceeds the sum of said first force and said second force;
a reinforcing plate extending through a longitudinal plane and having an end portion offset adjacent said entry passage to accommodate entry of a belt tongue into the body member cavity with said end portion including a pair of legs extending away from said reinforcing plate and having a distal end means contacting said main body member limiting relative motion between said reinforcing plate and said main body member in a direction perpendicular to said plane;
and,
additional leg means mounted to said reinforcing plate and extending away therefrom having additional distal end means contacting said main body member operable to limit relative motion between said reinforcing plate and said main body member and to limit motion between said tongue and said reinforcing plate.

6 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Belt buckle with eject means

Life of this patent

Belt buckle with eject means

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims20