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US 8,776,332 B2Granted
Push button buckle with interchangeable covers
AssigneeBodypoint, Inc.
InventorsMatthew Kosh, John N. Tilden
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A push button buckle (20) having a replaceable cover (30). A button (38) is biased into contact with the cover (30) to aid in installation. The cover (30) flexes to snap onto the frame (50), and is removed with a tool (T).
Claims38
A method comprising:
- providing parts of an unassembled buckle, the parts including at least a frame of the buckle and a cover of the buckle, the frame having a latching mechanism mounted in the frame, the cover having an opening defined through the cover;
- attaching a first end of the cover to the frame;
- rotating the cover on the frame and about the first end;
- and
- pressing a second end of the cover downward, causing the cover to lock around a structure on the frame, wherein, when the cover is locked around the structure on the frame, the opening defined through the cover is aligned with the latch mechanism for actuation of the latch mechanism through the opening.
2 more elements
A push button buckle, comprising:
- a frame forming a first part of the push button buckle when the push button buckle is assembled, the frame comprising a latch mechanism mounted therein, a main locking surface, a pivot mount;
- and
- a cover forming a second part of the push button buckle when the push button buckle is assembled, the cover releasably mounted to the frame, the cover comprising:
- a pivot base configured to releasably mount to the pivot mount on the frame, wherein when the pivot base is mounted to the pivot mount, the cover may be rotated relative to the frame toward an installed position;
- a mating locking surface configured to engage with the main locking surface on the frame when the cover is rotated relative to the frame to the installed position, wherein, when the cover is rotated to the installed position, the cover engages the locking surfaces and the engagement of the locking surfaces and the engagement of the pivot mount to the pivot base maintains the cover in place on the frame;
- and
- an opening defined through the cover, the opening aligned with the latch mechanism for actuation of the latch mechanism through the opening when the cover is in the installed position, wherein an inside of the cover is exposed to the latch mechanism when the cover is in the installed position.
4 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.