Strap fastener

A buckle comprising two interengaged buckle structures for resisting tension forces applied to respective ends of the two buckle structures and in opposite directions along a primary direction along which the buckle can interconnect two members which apply said tension forces,

• each structure comprising a first and a second flat engagement part,
• said first engagement parts being engaged to resist such tension forces and lying in a first stratum,
• said second engagement parts being engaged to resist such tension forces and lying in a second stratum parallel to said first stratum,
• said engagement parts being movable to their engaged position by only relative translational movement of said structures parallel to said strata,
• each said stratum being limited in thickness to the thickness of the opposing engaging faces of said engagement parts, which faces are generally perpendicular to said strata said parts each having a supporting portion extending from a respective engagement face toward said end of the respective buckle structure and partially surrounding an opposed engaging face of the other structure,
• and releasable latch means comprising interengageable portions with one such portion on each of said structures,
• said interengageable portions being engaged when said structures are interconnected to retain said structures against inadvertent unbuckling when said tension forces are relaxed.

A buckle having a flat configuration and comprising two interengaged buckle structures for resisting tension forces applied in opposite directions along a primary direction of the tension forces and along which the buckle can interconnect two members, each of said structures having an end for securing it to a respective one of said two members to be interconnected,

• each structure comprising a first and a second flat hook,
• said first flat hooks being of like thickness and engaged and hooked together to resist such tension forces and lying in a first stratum corresponding in thickness to the thickness of said first hooks,
• said second flat hooks being of like thickness and engaged and hooked together to resist such tension forces and lying in a second stratum corresponding in thickness to the thickness of said second hooks and parallel to said first stratum,
• the engaged first hooks having a pair of abutting surfaces, the engaged second hooks having a pair of abutting surfaces, the abutting surfaces of each pair of abutting surfaces in each respective stratum having upper and lower edges corresponding in position to two spaced inner and outer parallel planes defining the respective strata, each buckle structure having, as part of its tension resisting structure, supporting portions directly supporting each of said abutting surfaces and extending from each said abutting surface toward said end of the respective buckle structure, each of said supporting portions lying within one of said two strata,
• said flat hooks being movable to their engaged position by only relative translational movement of said structures parallel to said strata,
• and releasable latch means comprising interengageable portions with one such portion on each of said structures, said interengageable portions being engaged when said structures are interconnected to retain said structures against inadvertent unbuckling when said tension forces are relaxed.

A buckle having a flat configuration and comprising two interengaged buckle structures for resisting tension forces applied in opposite directions along a primary direction of the tension forces and along which the buckle can interconnect two members,

• each structure comprising a first and a second flat hook,
• said first flat hooks being of like thickness and engaged and hooked together to resist such tension forces and lying in a first stratum corresponding in thickness to the thickness of said first hooks,
• said second flat hooks being of like thickness and engaged and hooked together to resist such tension forces and lying in a second stratum corresponding in thickness to the thickness of said second hooks and parallel to said first stratum,
• said flat hooks being movable to their engaged position by only relative translational movement of said structures parallel to said strata,
• and releasable latch means comprising interengageable portions with one such portion on each of said structures,
• said interengageable portions being engaged when said structures are interconnected to retain said structures against inadvertent unbuckling when said tension forces are relaxed,
• said flat hooks and said interengageable portions being movable into engagement by only relative translational movement of said structures toward each other and parallel to said strata, said movement including a principal relative movement of said hooks transversely relative to said primary direction.

A buckle having a flat configuration and comprising two interengaged buckle structures for resisting tension forces applied in opposite directions along a primary direction of the tension forces and along which the buckle can interconnect two members,

• each structure comprising a first and a second hook.
• said first hooks being of like thickness and engaged and hooked together to resist such tension forces and lying in a first stratum corresponding in thickness to the thickness of said first hooks,
• said second hooks being of like thickness and engaged and hooked together to resist such tension forces and lying in a second stratum corresponding in thickness to the thickness of said second hooks and parallel to said first stratum,
• said hooks being movable to their engaged position by only relative translational movement of said structures parallel to said strata,
• and releasable latch means comprising interengageable portions with one such portion on each of said structures,
• said interengageable portions being engaged when said structures are interconnected to retain said structures against inadvertent unbuckling when said tension forces are relaxed,
• said first hooks forming a first outer surface on one side of the buckle and said second hooks forming a second outer surface on an opposite side of the buckle.