Safety buckle with passive catch
OwnerPaul Giampavoloinventor
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A passive latch provided in a clasped buckle provides a clasping action with no active release. The passive latch is disengaged when the buckle parts are separated through application of a separation force. The separation force can be provided in part by a component of a pinching force applied to another latch mechanism to release the other latch mechanism. The buckle may include other child resistant features, and can be composed of impact modified nylon to resist loss of tolerances or deformation to contribute to maintaining the child resistant features.
Claims19
A child resistant buckle, comprising:
- first and second buckle members shaped to be cooperatively joined in a clasped condition;
- a passive latch mechanism that includes releasably cooperative components on the first and second buckle members respectively, arranged to be releasably cooperative when the first and second buckle members are joined in the clasped condition to retain the first and second buckle members together;
- the passive latch mechanism being disengagable through application of a separation force applied to both the first and second buckle members to urge the first and second buckle members away from each other, the separation force being transferred to the cooperative components in an unclasping action;
- the cooperative components being configured to oppose each other in a direction of the separation force to resist the separation force;
- at least one of the cooperative components being resiliently displaced or deformed by another cooperative component of the passive latch mechanism when the separation force is transferred to the cooperative components sufficient to permit the applied separation force to overcome the separation resistance provided by the cooperative components to disengage the cooperative components to permit the buckle to be unclasped;
- and
- another latch mechanism that includes releasably cooperative engagement structures on respective first and second buckle members and being externally accessible for actuation to permit disengagement of the engagement structures.
A method for providing a child resistant buckle comprising:
- arranging a passive latch mechanism internally to a clasped buckle configuration that includes two separable members;
- arranging at least one cooperative component on each of the two members as part of the passive latch mechanism such that the at least one cooperative components oppose each other in a direction of an applied separation force applied to urge the separable members apart from each other to unclasp the buckle;
- forming one or more of the cooperative components to be resiliently displaced or deformed by another of the cooperative components of the passive latch mechanism when the separation force is applied and transferred to the cooperative components to permit the separation force to overcome the resistance to separation provided by the cooperative components and thereby disengage the cooperative components to permit the buckle to be unclasped;
- and
- arranging a second latching mechanism with releasably cooperative engagement structures on the respective buckle members to be externally accessible to permit release by a user.
A child resistant buckle, comprising:
- a passive latching mechanism with a first engagement structure being located on a central arm of one buckle part and a second engagement structure being located in a cavity of another buckle part, the central arm being receivable in the cavity to permit the first and second engagement structures to cooperatively engage to retain the one and another buckle parts together in a first relative orientation;
- a complementary engagement structure being located on the central arm or in the cavity to cooperatively engage with the first or the second engagement structure in a second relative orientation different from the first relative orientation;
- the engagement structures being substantially non-accessible for disengagement when the buckle is clasped;
- and
- the one and another buckle parts being free of an unlatching mechanism for the passive latching mechanism, such that the passive latching mechanism can be disengaged through a separation force applied to urge the one and another buckle parts away from each other and unclasp the buckle.
A child resistant buckle that includes a plurality of interfitting buckle members, comprising a passive latch mechanism internal to the buckle upon being clasped, components of the passive latch mechanism operating on each other in an unclasping action to disengage the components when a sufficient separation force is applied to the buckle in a direction to separate the buckle members to thereby displace or deform one or more of the components against another component of the passive latch mechanism to permit the buckle to be unclasped;
- a release mechanism for another latching mechanism actuable through the application of a pinching force on the buckle when clasped;
- and
- the release mechanism translating a portion of the pinching force into a separation force to contribute to urging the buckle members away from each other and disengage the passive latch mechanism.
A child resistant buckle, comprising:
- first and second buckle members shaped to be cooperatively joined in a clasped condition;
- a first and a second latch mechanism, each including releasably cooperative components on the first and second buckle members respectively, and each arranged to be releasably cooperative when the first and second buckle members are joined in the clasped condition to retain the first and second buckle members together;
- the first latch mechanism being arranged to be externally accessible for releasable actuation;
- the second latch mechanism being arranged to be internal to the buckle and relatively inaccessible to a user from a location that is external to the buckle, the second latch mechanism being a passive latch mechanism being disengagable through application of a separation force applied to both the first and second buckle members to urge the first and second buckle members away from each other, the cooperative components of the passive latch mechanism being configured to oppose each other in a direction of the separation force to resist the separation force;
- and
- the first latch mechanism arranged to prevent the separation force from being transferred to the cooperative components of the passive latch mechanism when the cooperative components of the first latch mechanism are cooperatively engaged.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.