GB2583764A

GB2583764A - Side release buckle

Info

Publication number: GB2583764A
Application number: GB1906623.2A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Paul Grieves Adrian
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2019-05-10
Filing date: 2019-05-10
Publication date: 2020-11-11
Also published as: GB201906623D0

Abstract

A side release buckle having two symmetrical buckle members, each buckle member being identical and comprising a portion 10 for attachment to a strap or belt, a male portion 20 having a resiliently deflectable arm, a female portion 30, and an intermediate guide portion 40 between the arm and the female portion, wherein the female part of each buckle half receives the male part of the other buckle half. The intermediate guide means may have alignment means that prevent lateral separation of the buckle members. The intermediate guide means may be received by the female portion of the corresponding buckle member (figure 8). The buckle may be used for example on bags, clothes or helmets. The buckle members may be made from thermoplastic polymer, such as acrylonitrile butadiene styrene, and may be made by injection moulding. The buckle may also be made from metal alloy, such as by means of casting. The buckle members being of the same configuration enables any buckle member to be connected to any other buckle member of the same width and enables multiple configurations of a plurality of straps all having the universal fastener.

Description

SIDE RELEASE BUCKLE

Field of the Invention

The present invention relates generally to a buckle or clip, for fastening a belt or strap, especially to a side-release buckle or snap-fit buckle comprising two parts that can be manually attached to and detached from each other.

Background of the Invention

Known side release buckles comprise a plug (male part) and a socket (female part). The plug is inserted into the socket and pushed until it clicks into an engaged condition. The parts are separated by applying an inwards (squeezing) force to exposed parts of the plug to release the clip. These buckles are used to attach two ends of a strap or belt. These clips are used extensively for bags, clothes, helmets and other similar applications where straps ends are required to be adjustable and/or detachable. Existing buckles are only compatible in a male to female attachment configuration. Two plugs cannot be attached, and similarly, two sockets cannot be attached to one another. This may prove a disadvantage if the user wishes to attach the straps in an unconventional configuration or attach multiple straps in series. There is therefore a requirement to provide a side release buckle with a more universal attachment method to allow attachment to any buckle end.

Summary of the Invention

According to a first aspect there is provided a side release buckle comprising first and second symmetrical buckle members each buckle member comprising an attachment portion for attachment to a strap or belt or the like, a plug portion comprising a resiliently deflectable arm, a socket portion, and an intermediate guide means laterally disposed between the arm and the socket portion; wherein the socket portion of a first of the first and second buckle members is arranged to receive the plug portion of the second of the first and second buckle members, and the plug portion of the first buckle member is arranged to be received by the socket portion of the second buckle member.

Each plug portion of each buckle member may comprise an engagement means to releasably engage with a corresponding engagement portion in the socket portion of the corresponding buckle member.

The engagement means may comprise a tab disposed at a forward end of the arm.

The socket portion of each buckle member may comprise a first wall, a second wall, and a side wall.

The engagement portion in the socket portion may comprises an aperture in the side wall.

During engagement of the buckle members, the side walls may apply a force to each tab such that the arms are inwardly deflected until each tab is entirely within each corresponding aperture and returns to its pre-deflected position.

Each intermediate guide means may comprise an alignment means for use during engagement of the buckle.

The alignment means may comprise a surface with which the corresponding alignment means interact to guide the arms into the socket portions. The surface may prevent lateral separation of the buckle members in an engaged condition.

In an engaged condition, the intermediate guide means of each buckle member may be disposed between the arms of the buckle members.

The buckle may be released from an engaged condition by pressure applied on the tabs of both buckle members through the respective apertures to inwardly deflect the arms.

In engaged condition, each socket portion may receive the intermediate guide means of the corresponding buckle member.

The intermediate guide means of the buckle members may be arranged to contact and cause alignment of each plug portion with each socket portion of the opposite buckle member.

The attachment portions may comprise at least one slot and at least one attachment bar for attaching the portions to a strap or belt.

The side release buckle may be attached to a strap.

According to a second aspect there is provided a buckle member for a side release buckle according to the first aspect, comprising: an attachment portion for attachment to a strap or belt or the like, a plug portion comprising a resiliently deflectable arm, a socket portion, and an intermediate guide means disposed between the arm and the socket portion; wherein the socket portion of a first buckle member is arranged to receive the plug portion of a second buckle member, and the plug portion of the first buckle member is arranged to be received by the socket portion of the second buckle member.

Different aspects and embodiments may be used separately or together.

Further particular and preferred aspects of the present invention are set out in the accompanying independent and dependent claims. Features of the dependent claims may be combined with the features of the independent claims as appropriate, and in combination other than those explicitly set out in the claims.

Brief Description of the Drawings

The present invention will now be more particularly described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure I shows a side release buckle in engaged condition in accordance with the present invention; Figure 2 shows a top view of a buckle member of the side release buckle; Figure 3 shows an isometric view of the buckle member of Figure 2; Figure 4 shows a top view of the two buckle members in unengaged condition; Figure 5 shows an isometric view of the two buckle members in unengaged condition; Figure 6 shows a cross section of the two buckle members in unengaged condition; Figure 7 shows a top view of the buckle members during engagement; Figure 8 shows a cross section of the two buckle members during engagement; Figure 9 shows a cross section of the engaged buckle; Figure 10 shows a top view of the engaged buckle; Figure I I shows a top view of an alternative embodiment of a side release buckle; and Figure 12 shows a top view of an alternative embodiment of a side release buckle.

Description

The example embodiments are described in sufficient detail to enable those of ordinary skill in the art to embody and implement the systems and processes herein described. It is important to understand that embodiments can be provided in many alternate forms and should not be construed as limited to the examples set forth herein.

Accordingly, while embodiment can be modified in various ways and take on various alternative forms, specific embodiments thereof are shown in the drawings and described in detail below as examples. There is no intent to limit to the particular forms disclosed. On the contrary, all modifications, equivalents, and alternatives falling within the scope of the appended claims should be included. Elements of the example embodiments are consistently denoted by the same reference numerals throughout the drawings and detailed description where appropriate.

In the following description, all orientational terms, such as upper, lower, radially and axially, are used in relation to the drawings and should not be interpreted as limiting on the invention.

Unless otherwise defined, all terms (including technical and scientific terms) used herein are to be interpreted as is customary in the art. It will be further understood that terms in common usage should also be interpreted as is customary in the relevant art and not in an idealised or overly formal sense unless expressly so defined herein.

Referring now to the drawings, wherein like reference numbers are used to designate like elements throughout the various views, several embodiments of the present invention are further described.

The figures are not necessarily drawn to scale, and in some instances the drawings may have been exaggerated or simplified for illustrative purposes only. One of ordinary skill in the art will appreciate the many possible applications and variations of the present invention based on the following examples of possible embodiments of the present invention.

A side release buckle I is shown in Figure I. The buckle I comprises a first buckle member 2 and a second buckle member 4, each buckle member comprising a forward end and a rear end.

Figures 2 and 3 depict the first buckle member 2. The buckle member 2 comprises an attachment portion 10 at a rear end of the buckle member 2, a plug portion 20, a socket portion 30 and an intermediate guide means 40. The attachment portion 10 comprises an attachment bar 14 and a slot 12 for attaching a strap or a belt. The plug portion comprises an arm 22 and a tab 24. The arm 22 is resiliently deflectable to allow inward pivoting of the arm 22 towards the intermediate guide means 40. The socket portion comprises an upper wall 32, a lower wall 34, and a side wall 36, the side wall having an aperture 38 for receiving the corresponding tab 124 of the second buckle member 4 in engaged condition. The intermediate guide means is disposed laterally between the socket portion 30 and the plug portion 20. The intermediate guide means 40 comprises an alignment means in the form of an angled surface 42.

Figures 4, 5 and 6 show both buckle members 2, 4 prior to engagement. Buckle member 4 also comprises an attachment portion 110, a plug portion 120, a socket portion 130, and an intermediate guide means 140. The features of each buckle member are arranged to fit with the corresponding portions of the opposite buckle member. The tabs 24, 124 are dimensioned to fit within the corresponding apertures 138, 38 of the side walls 136, 36 of the opposite buckle member 4, 2 in engaged condition. The socket portions 30, 130 are arranged to receive the plug portions 120, 20 and the intermediate guide means 140, 40 of the opposite buckle member. Angled surfaces 42, 142 are provided on the intermediate guide means 40, 140, to interact on engagement of the buckle 1 to ensure alignment of the buckle members 2, 4 and corresponding features.

Figures 7 and 8 show the buckle I during the engagement process. To fully engage the buckle I, the forward ends of the buckle members 2, 4 are pushed together in the direction A along an axis of engagement. The arms 22, 122 are inserted into the socket portions 130, 30 of the opposite buckle member 2, 4. The walls of the socket portions 30, 130 provide a housing in which the plug portions 120, 20 are inserted into. The angled surfaces 42, 142 contact and slide past one another to guide the arms 22, 122 and the forward ends of the intermediate guide means 40, 140 into the corresponding socket portions 130, 30. The sidewall inner surfaces 37, 137 contact with the tab outer surfaces 127, 27 to cause inward deflection B of the arms 22, 122.

Figures 9 and 10 show the buckle I in engaged condition. The buckle members 2, 4 are considered engaged once the tabs 24, 124 are entirely within the apertures 138, 38 and a deflection force is no longer being applied to the tab outer surfaces 27, 127 by the side wall inner surfaces 137, 37. In engaged condition, the tabs 24, 124 are no longer in their deflected position and the tab outer surfaces 27, 127 protrude through the apertures 38, 138. During engagement the upper walls 32, 132, lower walls 34, 134, and side walls 36, 136 provide a housing that surrounds the plug portions 120, 20 and the intermediate guide means 140, 40. This helps prevents unintentional separation of the buckle members 2, 4 and retains the plug portions 20, 120 within the sockets 130, 30 so that arms 22, 122 are only deflected in the desired direction B. The tabs 24, 124 are visible and accessible from the apertures 138, 38 and the apertures 138, 38 are shaped so that the tabs 24, 124 can be pressed inwards by the amount required to ensure the tab engagement surfaces 26, 126 and the aperture engagement surfaces 139, 39 so longer engage when the buckle members 2, 4 are pulled apart.

The buckle members 2, 4 cannot be separated by applying a tension force along the axis of engagement alone due to the abutment of the tab engagement surface 26, 126 and the aperture engagement surface 139, 39. The intermediate guide means 40, 140 prevent lateral forces (perpendicular to the axis of engagement in the direction of arrows B) from separating the buckle members 2, 4 by restricting lateral movement between the buckle members 2, 4. The buckle I can be released by the application of an inward force on the tabs 24, 124 to cause inward deflection of the arms 22, 122 such that the tab engagement surface 26, 126 and the aperture engagement surface 39, 139 are no longer abutted. The inward force also causes contact between the angled surfaces 42, 142 of the intermediate guide means 40, 140, the reaction force of this contact converting the inward force to a force in the direction of release, forcing the buckle members 2, 4 away from each other to release the buckle 1.

Alternative embodiments are shown in Figures 11 and 12. Figure 11 shows a side release buckle 201 comprising a first buckle member 202 and a second buckle member 204. The intermediate guide means 240, 340 are disposed laterally between the respective plug portions 220, 320 and socket portions 230, 330 and between the upper walls 232, 332 and lower walls (not shown) of each buckle member. The surfaces 242, 342 on the intermediate guide means 240, 340 interact with each other to ensure alignment of the plug portions 220, 320 and corresponding socket portions 220, 230 during engagement. Additionally, they prevent separation of the buckle members 202, 204 when the buckle 201 is in an engaged condition, by restricting lateral movement between the buckle members 202, 204.

Figure 12 shows a further embodiment of a side release buckle 401, comprising a first buckle member 402 and a second buckle member 404. The intermediate guide means 440, 540 are disposed laterally between the respective plug portions 420, 520 and form part of the upper walls 432, 532 and lower walls (not shown). The intermediate guide means 440, 540 comprise angled surfaces 442, 542 which interact on engagement of the buckle 401 and restrict lateral movement between the buckle members 402, 502 when the buckle 401 is in an engaged condition, preventing the buckle from disengaging.

The buckle members are symmetrical and identical, allowing for any buckle members to be attached to any other buckle member of the same width. The buckles may be available in a number of standard widths to allow for attachment to straps of standard width, for example, to allow for a standard strap width of 25mm. In this example, the buckle may have a width of 30mm and a length of 48mm. However, these are not size limitations and the buckles may be provided in any size to fit the required strap.

In this example, the buckle members are made from thermoplastic polymer such as acrylonitrile butadiene styrene and moulded by injection moulding. Other materials and methods of manufacture can also be provided, for example, a metal or metal alloy buckle by means of casting.

When attached to a strap on a bag or item of clothing, by virtue of the buckle member, straps may be attached in series of unconventional arrangements in which previous buckle ends will not connect. The universal shape of the buckle member therefore allows any available buckle end to connect to another one of the same dimensions.

Claims

Claims I. A side release buckle comprising first and second symmetrical buckle members, each buckle member comprising: an attachment portion for attachment to a strap or belt or the like, a plug portion comprising a resiliently deflectable arm, a socket portion, and an intermediate guide means laterally disposed between the arm and the socket portion; wherein the socket portion of a first of the first and second buckle members is arranged to receive the plug portion of the second of the first and second buckle members, and the plug portion of the first buckle member is arranged to be received by the socket portion of the second buckle member.
2. A buckle as claimed in claim I, wherein each plug portion of each buckle member comprises an engagement means to releasably engage with a corresponding engagement portion in the socket portion of the corresponding buckle member.
3. A buckle as claimed in claim 2, wherein the engagement means comprises a tab disposed at a forward end of the arm.
4. A buckle as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the socket portion of each buckle member comprises a first wall, a second wall, and a side wall.
5. A buckle as claimed in claim 4 when dependent on claim 2 or claim 3, wherein the engagement portion in the socket portion comprises an aperture in the side wall.
6. A buckle as claimed in claim 5, wherein during engagement of the buckle members, the side walls apply a force to each tab such that the arms are inwardly deflected until each tab is entirely within each corresponding aperture and returns to its pre-deflected position.
7. A buckle as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein each intermediate guide means comprises an alignment means for use during engagement of the buckle.
8. A buckle as claimed in claim 7, wherein the alignment means comprises a surface with which the corresponding alignment means interacts to guide the arms into the socket portions.
9. A buckle as claimed in claim 7, wherein the alignment means comprises a surface with which the corresponding alignment means interacts to prevent lateral separation of the buckle members in an engaged condition.
10. A buckle as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein in an engaged condition, the intermediate guide means of each buckle member are disposed between the arms of the buckle members.
I. A buckle as claimed in any preceding claim, in which the buckle is released from an engaged condition by inward pressure on the tabs of both buckle members to inwardly deflect the arms.
12. A buckle as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein in engaged condition each socket portion receives the intermediate guide means of the corresponding buckle member.
13. A buckle as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the intermediate guide means of the buckle members are arranged to contact and cause alignment of each plug portion with each socket portion of the opposite buckle member.
14. A buckle as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the attachment portions comprise at least one slot and at least one attachment bar for attaching the portions to a strap or belt.I5. A strap fitted with a side release buckle as claimed in any preceding claim.I6. A buckle member for a side release buckle as claimed in any preceding claim, comprising: an attachment portion for attachment to a strap or belt or the like, a plug portion comprising a resiliently deflectable arm, a socket portion, and an intermediate guide means disposed between the arm and the socket portion; wherein the socket portion of a first said buckle member is arranged to receive the plug portion of a second said buckle member, and the plug portion of the first said buckle member is arranged to be received by the socket portion of the second said buckle member.