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US 8,429,798 B1Granted
Fastening device
OwnerMark Paigeninventor
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Fastening devices for fastening at least two strap portions. The fastening device may be, for example, a buckle, and the device may fasten respective ends of a single strap, such as a belt. The fastening device contains no moving parts, and may comprise a unitary, one-piece structure. In embodiments, the fastening device is configured to enable either the first strap portion and the second strap portion to be removed from the fastening device without requiring the other strap portion to be removed.
Claims24
A fastening device, comprising:
- a plate member having a front surface and a rear surface opposite the front surface, the front surface being configured to receive a first strap portion such that the first strap portion extends over and adjacent to the front surface and the rear surface being configured to receive a second strap portion such that the second strap portion extends over and adjacent to the rear surface;
- a first protrusion extending from the front surface such that when the front surface receives the first strap portion, the first protrusion is configured to extend into an opening in the first strap portion to inhibit lateral movement of the first strap portion relative to the plate member;
- a second protrusion extending from the rear surface such that when the rear surface receives the second strap portion, the second protrusion is configured to extend into an opening in the second strap portion to inhibit lateral movement of the second strap portion relative to the plate member;
- a pair of first retaining members attached to the plate member and extending at least partially above the front surface and configured such that the first strap portion may be positioned between each of the first retaining members and the front surface of the plate member, each of the first retaining members comprising a raised arm that extends between a first end and a second end of the plate member, and each of the first retaining members being located proximate to a third end and a fourth end of the plate member, respectively;
- and
- a pair of second retaining members attached to the plate member and extending at least partially above the rear surface and configured such that the second strap portion may be positioned between each of the second retaining members and the rear surface of the plate member, each of the second retaining members comprising a raised arm that extends between the first end and the second end of the plate member, and each of the second retaining members being located proximate to the third end and the fourth end of the plate member, respectively, and the pair of first retaining members are offset relative to the pair of second retaining members such that one pair of retaining members are more closely spaced than the other pair of retaining members.
3 more elements
A method of fastening at least two strap portions using a fastening device, comprising:
- positioning a first strap portion over a rear surface of a plate member by inserting the first strap portion between the rear surface of the plate member and a pair of first retaining members attached to the plate member and extending at least partially above the rear surface and configured such that the first strap portion is positioned between each of the first retaining members and the rear surface of the plate member, each of the first retaining members comprising a raised arm that extends between a first end and a second end of the plate member, and each of the first retaining members being located proximate to a third end and a fourth end of the plate member, respectively;
- aligning an opening in the first strap portion with a first protrusion extending from the rear surface of the plate member;
- inserting the first protrusion into the opening in the first strap portion;
- positioning a second strap portion over a front surface of a plate member, the front surface being opposite the rear surface of the plate member, by inserting the second strap portion between the front surface of the plate member and a pair of second retaining members attached to the plate member and extending at least partially above the front surface and configured such that the second strap portion is positioned between each of the second retaining members and the front surface of the plate member, each of the second retaining members comprising a raised arm that extends between the first end and the second end of the plate member, and each of the second retaining members being located proximate to the third end and the fourth end of the plate member, respectively, and the pair of second retaining members is offset relative to the pair of first retaining members such that one pair of retaining members are more closely spaced than the other pair of retaining members;
- aligning an opening in the second strap portion with a second protrusion extending from the front surface of the plate member;
- and
- inserting the second protrusion into the opening in the second strap portion.
4 more elements
A fastening device, comprising:
- a plate member having a front surface and a rear surface opposite the front surface, the front surface being configured to receive a first strap portion such that the first strap portion extends over and adjacent to the front surface and the rear surface being configured to receive a second strap portion such that the second strap portion extends over and adjacent to the rear surface;
- a first protrusion extending from the front surface such that when the front surface receives the first strap portion, the first protrusion is configured to extend into an opening in the first strap portion to inhibit lateral movement of the first strap portion relative to the plate member;
- a second protrusion extending from the rear surface such that when the rear surface receives the second strap portion, the second protrusion is configured to extend into an opening in the second strap portion to inhibit lateral movement of the second strap portion relative to the plate member;
- a first strap portion positioned over and adjacent to the front surface of the plate member and including at least one opening having a size and shape that corresponds with a size and shape of the first protrusion, the first protrusion extending through the opening;
- and
- a second strap portion positioned over and adjacent to the rear surface of the plate member and including at least one opening having a size and shape that corresponds with a size and shape of the second protrusion, the second protrusion extending through the opening,
- wherein the first strap portion and the second strap portion are portions of the same strap, the first strap portion is proximate a first end of the strap, and the second strap portion is proximate a second end of the strap, the first strap portion comprises a first plurality of openings having a first spacing and the second strap portion comprises a second plurality of openings having a second spacing and the first spacing is different than the second spacing.
4 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.