Quick release buckle with dual release
AssigneeBAE Systems Aerospace & Defense Group Inc.
InventorsKenneth L. Von Der Ahe, Kenneth W. Sego, Jr., Michael James McElroy
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A buckle includes two pawls engageable by a tongue. A single spring controls the position of the pawls. The buckle has a manual primary release mode of operation. The buckle also has a secondary release mode of operation, in which the spring acts as a secondary release member for the pawls. This is actuated by pulling force exerted by a single point release lanyard of a quick release vest.
Claims6
A buckle assembly comprising a tongue and a buckle, the tongue having an end portion insertable into a mouth of the buckle to lockingly engage the buckle;
- the buckle including a housing and two locking pawls in the housing that are pivotable between a locking position blocking removal of the tongue from the buckle and a release position enabling removal of the tongue from the buckle;
- the buckle including a spring engaging the pawls that biases the pawls into the locking position;
- the pawls having portions that are manually engageable to receive force to pivot the pawls from the locking position to the release position against the bias of the spring thereby to enable removal of the tongue from the buckle as a primary release mechanism;
- and
- the spring having a portion for receiving pulling force from a cable or lanyard to cause the spring to move the pawls from the locking position to the release position to enable removal of the tongue from the buckle as a secondary release mechanism;
- wherein the spring is a torsion coil spring having a central coil portion for receiving the pulling force and having two end portions that engage the respective pawls.
A buckle assembly comprising a tongue and a buckle, the tongue having an end portion insertable into a mouth of the buckle to lockingly engage the buckle;
- the buckle including a housing and two locking pawls in the housing that are pivotable between a locking position blocking removal of the tongue from the buckle and a release position enabling removal of the tongue from the buckle;
- the buckle including a spring engaging the pawls that biases the pawls into the locking position;
- the pawls having portions that are manually engageable to receive force to pivot the pawls from the locking position to the release position against the bias of the spring thereby to enable removal of the tongue from the buckle as a primary release mechanism;
- and
- the spring having a portion for receiving pulling force from a cable or lanyard to cause the spring to move the pawls from the locking position to the release position to enable removal of the tongue from the buckle as a secondary release mechanism;
- wherein the housing has a window through which a portion of a cable or lanyard can extend for transmitting pulling force to the spring, and wherein the housing constrains the spring and the portion of the cable or lanyard to move substantially only in a direction parallel to the direction of movement of the tongue into and out of the buckle.
A buckle assembly comprising a tongue and a buckle, the tongue having an end portion insertable into a mouth of the buckle to lockingly engage the buckle;
- the buckle including a housing and two locking pawls in the housing that are pivotable between a locking position blocking removal of the tongue from the buckle and a release position enabling removal of the tongue from the buckle;
- the buckle including a spring engaging the pawls that biases the pawls into the locking position;
- the pawls having portions that are manually engageable to receive force to pivot the pawls from the locking position to the release position against the bias of the spring thereby to enable removal of the tongue from the buckle as a primary release mechanism;
- and
- the spring having a portion for receiving pulling force from a cable or lanyard to cause the spring to move the pawls from the locking position to the release position to enable removal of the tongue from the buckle as a secondary release mechanism;
- wherein the two pawls are separate pieces from each other when assembled in the buckle, and are made from metal and are substantially non-deformable;
- and
- the spring is a separate piece from the pawls when assembled in the buckle, and is made from metal and is resiliently deformable to control the positioning of the pawls.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.