Anti-pinch apparel closure
AssigneeTrek Bicycle Corporation
InventorsJesse Perreault, David J. Schofield, Scott D. Kolasa
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A buckle closure assembly having a male part and a female part that snap-fittingly cooperate with one another. The male part and the female part selectively interact with one another along an operating direction to connect and disconnect alternate portions of a strap system. One or both of the male part and the female part include an offset or a standoff that extends from the respective part in a crossing direction relative to the operating direction to maintain a spacing between the buckle assembly and adjacent anatomy and/or clothing.
Claims20
An apparel closure assembly, comprising:
- a first body;
- a cavity and at least one opening formed in the first body, the opening extending in an outward radial direction through the first body from the cavity;
- a second body wherein a portion of the second body is constructed to slidably cooperate with the cavity formed in the first body;
- a spring tab connected to the second body by a living hinge and biased into engagement with the opening formed in the first body when the portion of the second body is disposed in the cavity;
- and
- a rigid standoff extending from the first body in an outward direction that is oriented in a crossing direction with respect to a movement direction of the spring tab;
- wherein:
- the standoff includes a rigid concave exterior surface opposite the first body;
- the concave exterior surface extends pasta first end of the first body;
- and
- the concave exterior surface extends past a second end of the first body that is opposite the first end in an operating direction.
A snap buckle assembly, comprising:
- a first buckle portion;
- a second buckle portion that slidably cooperates with the first buckle portion;
- a catch flexibly connected to the second buckle portion and deflectable relative to the second buckle portion in a direction that crosses an operating direction associated with slidable cooperation between the first buckle portion and the second buckle portion, the catch biased toward a secured engagement with the first buckle portion when the second buckle portion is fully engaged with the first buckle portion;
- and
- an offset that extends from the first buckle portion in a direction that crosses both a deflection direction of the catch and the operating direction of the first and second buckle portions;
- wherein:
- the offset is rigid and includes a concave exterior surface that is rigid and opposite the first buckle portion;
- the concave exterior surface extends past a first end of the first buckle portion;
- and
- the concave exterior surface extends past a second end of the first buckle portion that is opposite the first end in an operating direction.
A method of forming a pinch resistant snap buckle assembly, comprising:
- attaching a first clasp to a strap;
- attaching a second clasp to at least one of the strap and another strap;
- forming a tab on one of the first clasp and the second clasp and forming a pocket on the other of the first clasp and the second clasp and orienting the tab and the pocket so that the first clasp and second clasp snap-fittingly cooperate with one another to selectively connect the first clasp and the second clasp;
- and
- forming a projection on the first clasp;
- wherein:
- the projection is rigid and includes a concave exterior surface that is rigid and opposite the first clasp;
- the concave exterior surface extends past a first end of the first clasp;
- and
- the concave exterior surface extends past a second end of the first clasp that is opposite the first end in an operating direction.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.