Three point release buckle assembly

#The present invention relates to buckles, and in particular to a snap buckle for releasably connecting straps, belts or the like, that includes various safety features that prevent inadvertent and unwanted release.

#Safety straps are traditionally secured to grocery store carts or other similar vehicles to provide a seatbelt-type restraint in an effort to assure the safety of an occupant or item that is being transported in the shopping cart. Such devices are securely attached to the shopping cart in a manner such that the safety buckle does not become accidentally detached from the cart. Additionally, buckles are used to secure loads carried by various item containers such as backpacks, luggage, fanny packs, etc. The aforementioned devices typically utilize a conventional side release buckle wherein a male member having one or two side latching arms is coupled to a female member that has complimentary catches that enable the male and female members to interlockingly engage one another to secure the system.

#Due to the type of systems that these side release buckles are utilized in, the buckles may be subject to various pressures on one or both sides thereof. In these conventional systems, pushing inwardly on one or both of the side latching arms such that the catches release the latches effects disengagement of the securement device. Due to the resiliency of the side latching arms, the disengagement of the side latching arms from the catch cause the side latching arms to spring back to their original position. This resilient force forces the male member to accelerate in an outwardly direction resulting in the male member sliding out of the guide channel of the female member. Furthermore, young children may try to disengage the buckle resulting in a risk to injury to the child.

#Many other advantages and features of the present invention will become manifest to those versed in the art upon making reference to the detailed description and the accompanying drawings in which a preferred structural embodiment incorporating the principles of the present invention is shown by way of example.

#FIG. 1 is a plan view of a safety buckle assembly according to the present invention;

#FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a male member of the safety buckle assembly of FIG. 1.

#FIG. 1 shows a buckle assembly 100 according to one embodiment of the present invention. The buckle assembly 100 is composed of a male member 200 that is interlockingly and releasably coupled with a female member 400. The buckle assembly 100 including the male and female members 200,400 may be molded from a variety of extrudable materials. These may include LDPE, HDPE, ABS, polystyrene, polypropylene, acetates, butyrates, nylons, polyphenylene sulfides, acetals, polycarbonates, thermoplastic rubbers, and polyesters, among others.

#As shown in FIG. 2, the male member 200 generally includes a handle 202, and an engagement portion 204, wherein handle 202 is separated from engagement portion 204 by a base wall 206. The handle 202 has a generally rectangular shape and is formed by a sloping back wall 208 that is spaced from and parallel to base wall 206, and two opposing side walls 210,212 that connect base wall 206 to back wall 208 to define an opening 214 therebetween. Connected to side walls 210,212 is a bar 216 that traverses opening 214 and configured to retain a strap, belt, or some other form of elongated member such as a member 490 shown in FIG. 4.

#The engagement portion 204 generally includes base wall 206 and a plurality of projections that extend therefrom including two side locking arms 218,220, a central locking arm 222, and a plurality of forming ribs 240, 242, 244, and 246. Each of the side locking arms 218,220 includes an extension member 223, 224 and a latch element 226, 228, respectively, that is disposed on the distal end of each extension member 223, 224. The side locking arms 218 and 220 are configured to be resilient in relation to base wall 206. In this manner, side locking arms 218 and 220 bend horizontally in the directions of arrows 230 and 232, respectively, when a sufficient amount of force is exerted upon them. As seen from FIG. 2, a diameter D of latch elements 226 and 228 is sufficiently larger than a diameter d of extension members 223 and 224 such that a user may be able to manipulate side locking arms 218 and 220 with ease when engaging or disengaging the buckle assembly. Additionally, latch elements 226 and 228 each include a sloping surface 248 and 250, respectively, that is configured to engage female member 400 during the engagement process of buckle assembly 100. Latch elements 226 and 228 also include engagement surfaces 252 and 254, respectively, that are configured to engage complimentary catches formed in female member 400, discussed below.