Side-release buckle having improved locking feature

A side release buckle, comprising:

• a female socket member comprising a top wall, a bottom wall and a pair of opposing side walls connecting the top and bottom walls, the side walls and the top and bottom walls defining a cavity therebetween which is open at an open end thereof;
• a male plug member having at least one arm member for insertion within said cavity of said socket member through said open end of said cavity, said at least one arm member having a top surface, a bottom surface, an outer side surface and an inner side surface;
• a notch cut into the outer side surface of said at least one arm member, said notch defining a locking shoulder in said arm member, and said shoulder being positioned along a longitudinal axis disposed midway between said top surface and said bottom surface of said at least one arm member;
• an engagement member projecting from an inner surface of at least one of said side walls of said socket member, the engagement member being disposed on a midway line between said top wall and said bottom wall and said engagement member being adapted to mate with said notch on said at least one arm member when said at least one arm member is inserted into the open end of said cavity to couple the plug member to the socket member;
• means for disengaging the notch from the engagement member to permit decoupling of the plug member from the socket member, the means for disengaging comprising a pivotable member which is coupled to the socket member, and which is adapted to be pivoted from said at least one of said side walls of the socket member through an opening in the side wall toward the interior of said cavity to force said at least one arm member to flex inwardly to free said notch from said engagement member and permit decoupling of the plug member from the socket member;
• a bridge from the top wall to the bottom wall across said opening in said at least one side wall, wherein said engagement member projects from said bridge;
• and
• means for coupling a belt to at least one of the plug member or the socket member.

A side release buckle, comprising:

• a female socket member comprising a top wall, a bottom wall and a pair of opposing side walls connecting the top and bottom walls, the side walls and the top and bottom walls defining a cavity therebetween which is open at an open end thereof;
• a male plug member having at least one arm member for insertion within said cavity of said socket member through said open end of said cavity, said at least one arm member having a top surface, a bottom surface, an outer side surface and an inner side surface;
• a notch cut into the outer side surface of said at least one arm member, said notch defining a locking shoulder in said arm member, and said shoulder being positioned along a longitudinal axis disposed midway between said top surface and said bottom surface of said at least one arm member;
• an engagement member projecting from an inner surface of at least one of said side walls of said socket member, the engagement member being disposed on a midway line between said hop wall and said bottom wall and said engagement member being adapted to mate with said notch on said at least one arm member when said at least one arm member is inserted into the open end of said cavity to couple the plug member to the socket member;
• a second shoulder which is defined along said outer side surface of said at least one arm member, said second shoulder extending from said top surface to said bottom surface, and wherein the socket member further includes a stop member which is adapted to engage said shoulder when the plug member is coupled to the socket member to lock the plug member to the socket member;
• means for disengaging the notch from the engagement member and for disengaging the second shoulder from the stop member to permit decoupling of the plug member from the socket member;
• and
• means for coupling a belt to at least one of the plug member or the socket member.

A side release buckle, comprising:

• a female socket member comprising a top wall, a bottom wall and a pair of opposing side walls connecting the top and bottom walls, the side walls and the top and bottom walls defining a cavity therebetween which is open at an open end thereof;
• a male plug member having at least one arm member for insertion within said cavity of said socket member through said open end of said cavity, said at least one arm member having a top surface, a bottom surface, an outer side surface and an inner side surface;
• a notch cut into the outer side surface of said at least one arm member, said notch defining a locking shoulder in said arm member, and said shoulder being positioned along a longitudinal axis disposed midway between said top surface and said bottom surface of said at least one arm member;
• an engagement member projecting from an inner surface of at least one of said side walls of said socket member, the engagement member being disposed on a midway line between said top wall and said bottom wall and said engagement member being adapted to mate with said notch on said at least one arm member when said at least one arm member is inserted into the open end of said cavity to couple the plug member to the socket member;
• means for disengaging the notch from the engagement member to permit decoupling of the plug member from the socket member;
• and
• means for coupling a belt to at least one of the plug member or the socket member,
• wherein said at least one arm member has a predetermined thickness between its outer side surface and its inner side surface, and wherein said shoulder extends through a longitudinal axis situated midway between said outer side surface and said inner side surface, and said engagement member extends through said longitudinal axis situated midway between the outer side surface and the inner side surface when the plug member is coupled to the socket member.