U.S. patent application number 10/098320 was filed with the patent office on 2002-09-26 for buckle.
This patent application is currently assigned to YKK Corporation. Invention is credited to Mitani, Hiroshi, Tsukumo, Takashi, Uehara, Ryoichiro.
Application Number | 20020133922 10/098320 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 18940216 |
Filed Date | 2002-09-26 |
United States Patent
Application |
20020133922 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Uehara, Ryoichiro ; et
al. |
September 26, 2002 |
Buckle
Abstract
A buckle which consists of a female member having an insertion
port at an end of a housing and a male member having an insertion
portion capable of being inserted into the housing, and is formed
of a mounting portion at least on one of the female member and the
male member. The mounting portion can mount a locking device or a
sealing device for locking or sealing engagement between the female
member and the male member and comprises, for example, a mounting
column or the like having a through hole. When the insertion
portion is inserted into the housing, the through holes are
overlapped and a lock bar is inserted into the through hole so as
to lock, the engagement between the female member and the male
member is locked accurately and easily.
Inventors: |
Uehara, Ryoichiro; (Tokyo,
JP) ; Tsukumo, Takashi; (Chiba-ken, JP) ;
Mitani, Hiroshi; (Kowloon, HK) |
Correspondence
Address: |
Finnegan, Henderson, Farabow,
Garrett & Dunner, L.L.P.
1300 I Street, N.W.
Washington
DC
20005-3315
US
|
Assignee: |
YKK Corporation
|
Family ID: |
18940216 |
Appl. No.: |
10/098320 |
Filed: |
March 18, 2002 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
24/615 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A44B 11/266 20130101;
Y10T 24/45529 20150115 |
Class at
Publication: |
24/615 |
International
Class: |
A44B 011/25 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Mar 23, 2001 |
JP |
2001-84570 |
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. A buckle comprised of a female member which is provided with an
insertion port at an end of a flat cylindrical housing thereof and
a male member having an insertion portion which can be inserted
into the housing, wherein a mounting portion, to which a locking
device or a sealing device for locking or sealing engagement
between the female member and the male member is adapted to be
mounted, is formed at least one of the female member and the male
member.
2. The buckle according to claim 1, wherein the mounting portion is
formed on each of the housing and the insertion portion, and the
mounting portions are formed with through holes respectively, which
overlap each other, when the female member and the male member
engage each other.
3. The buckle according to claim 1, wherein the mounting portion is
formed on each of the housing and the insertion portion, and each
mounting portion has an opening which is open in a direction other
than an insertion direction of a corresponding one of the female
member and the male member and communicates with a corresponding
one of the through holes, such that the openings can overlap each
other when the female member and the male member are engaged.
4. The buckle according to claim 1, wherein the through hole is
formed in the mounting portion of any one of the housing and the
insertion portion, and an opening is formed at least on the other
mounting portion, wherein the opening is open in a direction other
than an insertion direction of a corresponding one of the female
member and the male member and communicates with the through hole
when the insertion portion is inserted for engagement.
5. The buckle according to claim 1, wherein the mounting portion is
formed on each of the housing and the insertion portion, and
openings, which are open in a direction other than an insertion
direction of a corresponding one of the female member and the male
member and communicate with at least one of the through holes, are
formed such that the communicating portions or the communicating
portion and the through hole overlap each other when the insertion
portion is inserted for engagement.
6. The buckle according to claim 1, wherein the mounting portion
comprises a through hole going through a front face and a rear face
of an operating portion of the insertion portion or a through hole
having an opening inside of the operating portion, the operating
portion appearing through a cutout concave portion formed on a side
of the housing when the insertion portion is inserted for
engagement.
7. The buckle according to claim 1, wherein the mounting portion
comprises a through hole formed near an inner side of an inserting
leg portion of the insertion portion which is inserted into the
housing such that the through hole goes through between a front
face and a rear face of the housing.
8. The buckle according to claim 1, wherein the mounting portion
comprises a through hole having an opening which is open to an
outside face of the housing.
9. The buckle according to claim 1, wherein the mounting portion
comprises mounting columns erected on an end portion of the
insertion port side of the housing and a proximal portion of the
insertion portion, such that the mounting columns approach each
other when the insertion portion is inserted for engagement.
10. The buckle according to claim 9, wherein the mounting columns
have through holes which overlap each other when the insertion
portion is inserted for engagement.
11. The buckle according to claim 10, wherein the mounting column
has an opening which is open in an opposite direction to an
insertion direction of a corresponding one of the female member and
the male member and communicates with the through holes.
12. The buckle according to claim 9, wherein the mounting columns
are provided in parallel on any one of the housing and the
insertion portion and the mounting column is provided on the other
one such that it is capable of being inserted in between the
mounting columns.
13. The buckle according to claim 9, wherein a bent portion is
formed at each end of the mounting columns.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] 1. Field of the Invention
[0002] The present invention relates to an insertion type buckle
comprised of a female member and a male member, wherein the female
member and the male member can be locked or sealed with a locking
device or the like when the female member and the male member are
engaged with each other by insertion.
[0003] 2. Description of the Related Art
[0004] A conventional insertion type buckle in which a male member
is inserted into a female member has been widely used as a joint
device for opening/closing an opening of a bag such as a nap sack
or a binding device of a fastening belt for fastening commodities
or traveler's bags. Although this buckle allows users to
engage/disengage the female member and male member easily, anyone
can release the engagement so that there is a fear that if a bag
having this buckle is left without owner's attention, somebody may
release the engagement and steal its content or commodities from
the bag. To solve this problem, a buckle, which is structured to be
locked so that the male member inserted into the female member may
not be removed, has been well known.
[0005] For example, a buckle is known which is disclosed in
Japanese Utility Model Publication No.HEI7-46166 and shown in FIG.
34. In this buckle, a locking cover 110 to guide
engaging/disengaging operation is disposed slidably in a pressing
plate 121 which is provided on a housing 103 of the female member
101 and can be pressed in order to release the engagement with a
male member 102. This locking cover 110 accommodates a rotor 112
which revolves eccentrically and slides the locking cover 110 back
and forth when a key 111 is inserted and revolved into the rotor
112. When the locking cover 110 is forwarded, the pressing plate
121 cannot be pressed, and when the locking cover 110 is retreated,
the pressing plate 121 can be pressed. By this pressing, the
engaging piece of the male member 102 releases engagement with an
elastic engaging piece 101a of the female member 101 so that the
male member 102 can be removed from the housing 103 of the female
member 101.
[0006] However, said buckle 100 is a buckle in which, the locking
cover 110 is mounted slidably through the rotor 112 on the pressing
plate 121 of the housing of the female member 101. Therefore, the
structure of the buckle 100 is very complicated and a large number
of parts are required. Moreover, the special key 111 is necessary,
thus an existing locking device such as a padlock or a cylinder
lock cannot be used as the locking device of this buckle.
Therefore, there is a problem that the cost of the buckle may be
high.
[0007] Further, UK patent publication No.2266337 discloses a buckle
as shown in FIG. 35. This buckle 120 engages when right and left
inserting leg portions 122a of a male member 112 are inserted into
a housing 121a of a female member 121. In this buckle 120, a
tongue-like piece 123 is formed by bending an end of a narrow lock
plate 123 perpendicularly in the shape of letter L and a protruded
piece 123b is provided in the center portion near the other end
such that it is protruded in the same direction as the tongue-like
piece 123a. This protruded piece 123b is formed with insertion hole
123c of a U-shaped lock bar which is a locking device. Upon
locking, after the right and left insertion porting leg portion
112a of the male member 122 is inserted into the housing 121a of
the female device 121, the tongue-like piece 123a at an end of the
lock plate 123 is pressed by pressing the surface of the belt 124
fixed on the housing 121a, while the protruded piece 123b is
introduced into between a belt folding-back lever 135 of the male
member 122 and the housing 121a from the back. Consequently, the
protruded piece 123a appears on the rear face and then, the lock
bar of the locking device is inserted into this protruded piece
123a to lock.
[0008] Although this buckle shown in FIG. 35 allows existing
locking devices such as a padlock to be employed easily, this
buckle 120 is comprised of three parts, the female member 121, the
male member 122 and the lock plate 123, so that the number of the
buckle's parts is large and cost of the buckle is increased. In
addition, each member has a peculiar structure based on the
combining structure, therefore, when a part of the members are
lost, it is hard to collect alternative parts. Further, it is
troublesome to store the lock plate 123 and its locking operation
is difficult due to complicated operation.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0009] The present invention has been achieved in view of the above
described problems. Its basic feature is an insertion type buckle
consisting of a female member and a male member, which allows
itself to be locked easily with an existing locking device such as
a padlock and a cylinder lock, or a buckle with a mounting portion
of a locking device, a binding band or the like, which can be
sealed easily with a binding band. The buckle has a very simple
structure and can be provided at a low cost.
[0010] In addition, for the configuration of the mounting portion,
for example, the mounting portion disposed in the female member and
the male member can be constituted of simple through holes, cutout
through holes a part of which coincide with openings, or through
holes in which one is a through hole and the other coincides with
the opening. Moreover, the mounting portion can be formed only on
an insertion portion of the male member or only on a housing of the
female member.
[0011] In addition, the mounting portion can be formed of mounting
columns erected both on the female member and the male member to
allow easy locking or sealing operations. In this case, the
mounting portion can be constituted only by the through hole formed
on the mounting column or by the through hole a part of which
coincides with the opening.
[0012] The basic feature of this invention is characterized by a
buckle comprised of a female member in which a flat cylindrical
housing having an insertion port at an end thereof is provided and
a male member having an insertion portion which can be inserted
into the housing, wherein a mounting portion, to which a locking
device or a sealing device to lock or seal the engagement can be
mounted to maintain the engagement between the female member and
the male member when the insertion portion is inserted into and
engaged with the housing, is disposed in both the female member and
the male member or in any one thereof. This feature is effective in
enabling existing locking or sealing structures such as locking
devices and binding bands to be disposed to buckles of various
configurations.
[0013] If the mounting portion is formed on each of the housing of
the female member and the insertion portion of the male member, the
mounting portion is provided with an opening which is open to a
direction other than an insertion direction of a corresponding one
of the female member and the male member such that the opening
coincides with the through hole, or, the mounting portion is
provided with the through hole formed on any one of the housing and
the insertion portion and the opening, which is open to a direction
other than the insertion direction of a corresponding one of the
female member and the male member, formed on the other one of the
housing and the insertion portion, such that the opening and the
through hole communicate with each other; so that communicating
portions or the communicating portion and the through hole may
overlap each other when the insertion portion is inserted into and
engaged with the housing. Further, it is preferable that the
communicating portion, which make the opening and the through hole
communicate, communicates with the opening in the same diameter as
that of overlapping through hole. Moreover, for the diameters of
the overlapping through holes, it is preferable that the diameter
of the through hole disposed at the inner side, for example, the
through hole of the insertion portion, is formed larger than the
diameter of the through hole disposed at the outer side, for
example, the through hole of the housing, so that insertion
operation may be facilitated when a lock bar of a locking device is
inserted.
[0014] Further, said mounting portion can be provided with the
through hole on an operating portion which is exposed from the
housing when the female member and the male member are engaged, or
with the through hole or the through hole with the opening which is
provided on a part of the housing which is near the inner part of
an inserting leg of the insertion portion upon engagement. In this
case, the mounting portion is provided only on the insertion
portion or the housing, thereby a locking device or a binding band
can be easily attached to, and moreover, the manufacture of the
buckle is easy.
[0015] Furthermore, said mounting portions comprise mounting
columns formed on an edge portion of the insertion portion side of
the housing and a proximal portion of the insertion portion. The
mounting columns can be formed so that they may approach each other
upon engagement and in this case, the locking device or the sealing
device can be mounted throughout the female member and the male
member, thereby disengagement of the female member and the male
member is surely prevented.
[0016] Further, on the mounting columns provided on the housing and
the insertion portion, through holes which can overlap each other
upon engagement can be provided, or openings which are open to
opposite directions of insertion directions of corresponding ones
of the female member and the male member can be provided on the
through holes such that the through hole and the opening
communicate with each other, or the mounting portion can be
provided on any one of the housing or the insertion portion such
that the mounting portion is capable of being inserted in between
the mounting columns provided in parallel on the other one. The
mounting portions wherein the locking device cannot slip out can be
formed in a simple form and moreover, a locking operation can be
done easily.
[0017] Furthermore, a bent portion which bends can be formed on
each edge of the mounting portion. In this case, the sealing device
such as a binding band can be mounted accurately and easily. There
are various effects such as preventing the binding band from being
removed from the mounting columns.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0018] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a female member and a male
member when they are removed from each other in a buckle of a first
embodiment of the present invention;
[0019] FIG. 2 is a front view of the female member of the same
buckle;
[0020] FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken along the line II-II in
FIG. 2;
[0021] FIG. 4 is a front view of the male member of the same
buckle;
[0022] FIG. 5 is a sectional view taken along the line IV-IV in
FIG. 4;
[0023] FIG. 6 is a front view showing an engagement state between
the female member and the male member of the same buckle;
[0024] FIG. 7 is a side view showing an engagement state between
the female member and the male member of the same buckle;
[0025] FIG. 8 is a perspective view showing a state in which the
female member and the male member are removed from each other in
the buckle of the first embodiment with a modification of the
mounting portion;
[0026] FIG. 9 is a perspective view showing a state in which a
female member and a male member are removed from each other in a
buckle of a second embodiment of the present invention;
[0027] FIG. 10 is a longitudinal sectional view of the female
member of the same buckle;
[0028] FIG. 11 is a perspective view showing a state in which a
female member and a male member are removed from each other in a
buckle of a third embodiment of the present invention;
[0029] FIG. 12 is a front view of the female member of the same
buckle;
[0030] FIG. 13 is a sectional view taken along the line XII-XII in
FIG. 12 of the same buckle;
[0031] FIG. 14 is a front view of the male member in the same
buckle;
[0032] FIG. 15 is a sectional view taken along the line XIV-XIV in
FIG. 14 of the same buckle;
[0033] FIG. 16 is a front view showing a state in which the female
member and the male member of the same buckle are engaged with each
other;
[0034] FIG. 17 is a front view of the male member having a mounting
portion according to a modification in the buckle of the third
embodiment;
[0035] FIG. 18 is a front view showing a state in which a female
member and a male member are removed from each other in a buckle of
a fourth embodiment of the present invention;
[0036] FIG. 19 is a partially broken front view showing a state in
which the female member and the male member of the same buckle are
engaged with each other;
[0037] FIG. 20 is a partially broken front view showing a state in
which the female member and the male member are engaged with each
other in the buckle of the fourth embodiment with a modification of
the mounting portion of a locking device;
[0038] FIG. 21 is a front view showing a state in which a female
member and a male member are engaged with each other in a buckle of
a fifth embodiment of the present invention;
[0039] FIG. 22 is a sectional view taken along the line XXI-XXI in
FIG. 21;
[0040] FIG. 23 is a front view of the female member of the same
buckle;
[0041] FIG. 24 is a sectional view taken along the line XXIII-XXIII
in FIG. 23 of the same buckle;
[0042] FIG. 25 is a front view of the male member of the same
buckle;
[0043] FIG. 26 is a sectional view taken along the line XXV-XXV in
FIG. 25 of the same buckle;
[0044] FIG. 27 is a front view of the male member indicating a
modification of the mounting portion of the male member shown in
FIG. 25;
[0045] FIG. 28 is a front view showing a state in which a female
member and a male member are engaged with each other in a buckle of
a sixth embodiment of the present invention;
[0046] FIG. 29 is a partially broken front view showing a state in
which the female member and the male member are engaged with each
other in the same buckle;
[0047] FIG. 30 is a sectional view taken along the line
XXVIII-XXVIII in FIG. 28 showing a state in which the female member
and male member are engaged with each other in the same buckle;
[0048] FIG. 31 is a perspective view showing a state in which a
female member and a male member are removed from each other in a
buckle of a seventh embodiment of the present invention;
[0049] FIG. 32 is a side view showing a state in which a locking
device is mounted at the time of engagement in the same buckle;
[0050] FIG. 33 is a perspective view of the female member and the
male member showing a modification of the mounting portion in the
buckle of the seventh embodiment;
[0051] FIG. 34 is a longitudinal sectional view showing a state in
which a female member and a male member are engaged with each other
in a well known buckle; and
[0052] FIG. 35 is a perspective view showing a state in which the
female member and the male member are engaged with each other in
another well known buckle.
DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS
[0053] Hereinafter, the embodiments of the present invention will
be described in detail with reference to the accompanying
drawings.
[0054] The buckle of the present invention comprises a female
member 1 and a male member 2 as shown in FIG. 1 and formed so that
an insertion portion 4 provided on an end of the male member 2 can
be inserted or removed through an insertion hole 10 in a flat
cylindrical housing 3 of the female member 1. The female member 1
and the male member 2 are formed integrally by injection molding
using thermoplastic resin such as polyacetal, polyamide,
polyprophylene, and polybutylene terphthalate.
[0055] In the buckle of the first embodiment shown in FIGS. 1 to 7,
the female member 1 consists of a flat cylindrical housing 3
comprising an upper plate 7, a bottom plate 8 and a side wall 9 as
shown in FIGS. 2 and 3. The insertion port 10 is provided at an end
while a belt holding portion 11 is provided at the other end. A
curved cutout concave portion 12 is provided in each of both side
walls 9 by cutting the side wall in an arc inward such that an
operating portion 33 of a flexible inserting leg portion 27 of the
male member 2 engages with the cutout concave portion 12 and is
exposed outward upon insertion engagement of the buckle. Further,
engaged portions 13, which can engage engaging portions 29 of
inserting leg portions 27, are provided on an inner face on the
front end side from the cutout concave portions 12 of the housing 3
such that they oppose each other.
[0056] A tongue-like mounting column 15 is provided in the
insertion port 10 of the housing 3, such that it is protruded out
of the surface from the center portion of the bottom plate 8 of the
housing 3 through the upper plate 7 in order to form a mounting
portion 5 for a locking device 50, which allows a U-shaped lock bar
51 of the locking device 50 such as a padlock and a cylinder lock
to be inserted into and installed on, when the insertion portion 4
of the male member 2 is inserted into and engaged with that female
member 1. Insertion portions 17 are provided in both sides of the
mounting column 15 so that the mounting columns 31 of the male
member 2 can be inserted therein. A through hole 16 which
penetrates the mounting column 15 from side to side is formed in
the mounting column 15 so that the lock bar 51 of the locking
device 50 can be passed through. Between the upper plate 7 and the
bottom plate 8 of the housing 3 as shown in FIG. 3, a partition
plate 18 which is extended inward in the longitudinal direction
from the mounting column 15 is provided such that it reinforces the
housing 3 and guides guide pieces 30 of the male member 2. A belt
attachment portion 11 is formed at an outside end of the housing 3
by providing an attachment lever 19, on which a belt is to be
attached, between the side walls 9.
[0057] In the male member 2, as shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, a belt
holding portion 26 capable of holding an end of the belt is
provided in a rear half from a proximal portion 24 existing
substantially in the center in the longitudinal direction thereof
and an insertion portion 4, which can be inserted into the housing
3 of the female member 1, is formed in a front half from the
proximal portion 24. In the insertion portion 4, flexible inserting
leg portions 27, whose front ends which can be inserted into the
housing 3 are curved inward, are provided protrudedly on both sides
of the proximal portion 24, and the engaging portions 29, which can
engage the engaged portions 13 disposed inside the housing 3, are
provided at front ends of the inserting leg portions 27 such that
they are protruded out of both the front and rear faces.
[0058] A pair of guide pieces 30, which can sandwich the mounting
column 15 and the partition plate 18 from both sides, are provided
protrudedly in the center of the proximal portion 24 of the
insertion portion 4 in order to cope with the mounting column 15,
which is the mounting portion 5 disposed on the housing 3 of the
female member 1. A space is provided between the guide pieces 30
such it is extended from the proximal portion 24 to its front end,
so that the guide pieces 30 can be inserted while being guided by
the partition plate 18. Further, the mounting columns 31 are formed
protrudedly out of the surface on the proximal portion 24 of the
guide pieces 30, so as to oppose and sandwich the mounting column
15 provided at an end portion of the partition plate 18 of the
housing 3 and a through hole 32 is formed in this mounting column
31 which corresponds to the through holes 16 in the mounting
columns 15, so that the lock bar 51 of the locking device 50 can be
inserted therein.
[0059] A portion opposing the cutout concave portion 12 of the
housing 3 at the center of the inserting leg portion 27 is formed
in a larger width so that it can press and operate the insertion
portion 27 from both sides and constitutes the operating portions
33. In the belt holding portion 26 provided in a rear half of the
male member 2, as shown in FIG. 5, a holding lever 34 is provided
horizontally such that its inside is inclined downward in order to
hold a belt and then, a folding-back lever 35 is provided
horizontally between the holding lever 34 and the proximal portion
24 so that the belt can be wound around and hooked on it.
[0060] As for use state of the female member 1 and the male member
2, as shown in FIG. 6, the inserting leg portions 27 of the
insertion portion 4 of the male member 2 are inserted from the
insertion port 10 of the housing 3, so that the engaging portions
29 of the inserting leg portions 27 engage the engaged portions 13
inside the housing 3. At the same time, the mounting column 15 of
the housing 3 and the mounting columns 31 of the insertion portion
4 are made to overlap so that the through holes 16, 32 coincide
with each other. Then, the female member 1 and the male member 2
are locked by inserting the lock bar 51 of the locking device 50 as
shown in FIG. 7. Consequently, even if it is intended to move any
one in a direction that the female member 1 and the male member 2
are removed from each other, the female member 1 and the male
member 2 cannot move in the direction that they leave each other
because the lock bar 51 comes into contact with peripheral walls of
the through holes 16, 32, thereby preventing them from being
removed.
[0061] FIG. 8 shows a modification of the mounting portion 5 of the
buckle of the first embodiment. The mounting column 15 as the
mounting portion 5 erected in the center of the insertion port 10
of the housing 3 of the female member 1 is provided in a reverse J
shape by separating a leg portion 15b of the mounting column 15
placed opposite to the insertion direction of the female member 1
from the upper plate 7 of the housing 3 by a predetermined
distance, forming an opening 14 between the upper plate 7 such that
the opening 14 communicates with the through hole 16.
[0062] A pair of the mounting columns 31 as the mounting portion 5
erected on the proximal portion 24 of the insertion portion 4 of
the male member 2 are provided in reverse J shapes by separating
leg portions 31b of the mounting columns 31 placed opposite to the
insertion direction of the male member 2 from the proximal portion
24 of the insertion portion 4 by a predetermined distance, forming
openings 36 between the tip of the leg portions 31b and the upper
plate 7 of the housing 3. Each opening 36 is formed such that it
communicates with each through hole 32. When the insertion portion
4 of the male member 2 is inserted into the housing 3 of the female
member 1, a leg portion 15a of the mounting column 15 is sandwiched
by leg portions 31a of the mounting column 31 such that the through
hole 16 and the through holes 32 overlap. When the lock bar 51 of
the locking device 50 is inserted into the through holes in this
state, even if it is intended to move the male member 2 in a
direction to remove it from the female member 1, the male member 2
cannot move further because the lock bar 51 comes into contact with
the leg portions 31a of the mounting column 31. On the contrary,
even if it is intended to move the female member 1 in a direction
to slip out of the male member 2, the male member 1 cannot move
further because the lock bar 51 comes into contact with the leg
portion 15a of the mounting column 15.
[0063] A buckle of a second embodiment of the present invention
shown in FIGS. 9 and 10 has substantially the same structure as the
buckle of the first embodiment, except that a pair of the mounting
columns 15 are provided on the housing 3 of the female member 1
while a single mounting column 31 is provided on the insertion
portion 4 of the male member 2. As shown in FIG. 9, a pair of the
mounting columns 15 are provided in the center of the upper plate 7
of the insertion port 10 of the flat housing 3, such that they are
projected out of the surface with an interval to fit a tongue-like
mounting column 31 provided on the insertion portion 4. The upper
plate 7 between the pair of the mounting portions 15 is cut off to
provide an insertion portion 17 where the mounting column 31 can be
inserted. Further, as shown in FIG. 10, a partition plate 18 is
disposed between the upper plate 7 and the bottom plate 8 such that
it is stretched from the insertion portion 17 up to a front end in
order to guide the guide pieces 30 of the insertion portion 4.
[0064] On the other hand, in the male member 2, as shown in FIG. 9,
a pair of the guide pieces 30 are provided in the center of the
proximal portion 24 and then, the tongue-like mounting column 31 is
provided on the proximal portion 24 side of these guide pieces 30
such that it is projected out of the surface. A gap is provided
from this mounting column 31 to front ends of the guide pieces 30
so as to be capable of holding the partition plate 18 in the
housing 3. The mounting column 15 of the housing 3 is provided with
the through holes 16 while the mounting column 31 on the insertion
portion 4 is provided with the through hole 32. When the insertion
portion 4 is inserted into the housing 3, both the through holes
16, 32 overlap each other, so that the lock bar of the locking
device can be inserted into the through holes 16, 32.
[0065] In a buckle of a third embodiment of the present invention
shown in FIGS. 11 to 16, the female member 1 is comprised of a flat
cylindrical housing 3 as shown in FIGS. 12 and 13 and has an
insertion port 10 at an end thereof and a belt holding portion 11
at the other end. A cutout concave portion 12 is provided in each
of both side walls 9 by cutting in the shape of arc, so that an
operating portion 33 of an inserting leg portion 27, which is
deformable plastically, of the male member 2 appears outward at
this cutout concave portion 12. Further, the engaged portions 13,
which can engage the engaging portions 29 of the inserting leg
portions 27, are provided in areas from the cutout concave portions
12 to an inner face of the front end side of the housing 3 such
that they oppose each other, and the partition plate 18 is provided
in the longitudinal direction at the center portion in the width
direction of the housing 3 and between the upper plate 7 and the
bottom plate 8 in order to guide the guide piece 30 of the male
member 2.
[0066] On the other hand, in the male member 2, as shown in FIGS.
14 and 15, the belt holding portion 26 is provided from the
proximal portion 24, which is substantially in the center thereof,
up to a rear half in order to hold an end of the belt. The
insertion portion 4, which can be inserted into the housing 3 of
the female member 1, is formed from the proximal portion 24 over a
front half thereof. In the insertion portion 4, the inserting leg
portions 27, which can be inserted into the housing 3 and are
deformable plastically so that front ends thereof curve inward, are
provided protrudedly on both sides of the proximal portion 24. The
engaging portions 29 capable of engaging the engaged portions 13
disposed inside the housing 3 are provided at both surfaces of the
front ends of the inserting leg portions 27.
[0067] A guiding piece 30 is provided protrudedly in the center of
the proximal portion 24 of the insertion portion 4, the guiding
piece 30 having a H-shaped lateral section allowing itself to slide
guided by the partition plate 18 in the housing 3. Further, the
wide operating portion 33 is provided in the center of each
inserting leg portion 27 such that it is projected outward from the
cutout concave portion 12 of the housing 3. A through hole 32, into
which a U-shaped lock bar 51 of the locking device 50 or the like
can be inserted, is formed on the operating portion 33 such that it
goes through between the front and rear faces, and this through
hole 32 structures a mounting portion 5 of the present
invention.
[0068] The through hole 32 is provided so as to adjoin an edge
portion of the cutout concave portion 12 of the housing 3 when the
inserting leg portions 27 are inserted into the housing 3. In the
male member 2, a belt holding portion 26 is formed on an opposite
side of the insertion portion 4, being provided with a folding-back
lever 35 which the belt can be wound around and hooked on and a
holding lever 34 capable of holding the folded-back belt.
[0069] As for use state of the female member 1 and the male member
2, as shown in FIG. 16, the insertion portion 4 of the male member
2 is inserted from the insertion port 10 of the housing 3 of the
female member 1, so that the engaging portion 29 of the inserting
leg portion 27 engages the engaged portion 13 of the housing 3.
When the buckle is locked by inserting a U-shaped lock bar 51 of a
locking device 50 into the through hole 32 provided in the
operating portion 33 exposed from the cutout concave portion 12 of
the housing 3, even if the operating portion 33 is pressed inward
of the housing 3, the lock bar 51 comes into contact with an edge
portion of the cutout concave portion 12 of the housing 3, thereby
restricting the inserting leg portions 27 from swinging. Therefore,
engagement between the engaging portion 29 and the engaged portion
13 is maintained thereby disabling the female member 1 and the
female member 2 from being removed from each other.
[0070] FIG. 17 shows a modification of the mounting portion 5 in
the buckle of the third embodiment. The through hole 32 on which
the lock bar of the locking device 50 is to be mounted, formed in
the inserting leg portion 27 of the insertion portion 4 of the male
member 2, is provided with an opening 36 in an inside face of the
inserting leg portion 27, that is, in a direction perpendicular to
the inserting direction, while employing the through hole 32 as it
is, so that this opening 36 communicates with the through hole
32.
[0071] FIGS. 18 and 19 show the buckle of a fourth embodiment. In
this buckle, the male member 1 is a flat cylindrical housing 3
comprised of an upper plate 7, a bottom plate 8 and side walls 9.
An insertion port 10 is provided at an end thereof while a belt
holding portion 11 is provided at the other end. An arc-shaped
cutout concave portion 12 is provided in each of both the side
walls 9 so that an operating portion 33 of a flexible inserting leg
portion 27 of the male member 2 appears outward at this cutout
concave portion 12. The engaged portions 13 capable of engaging the
engaging portions 29 provided on the inserting leg portions 27 are
provided on inner faces of the upper plate 7 and bottom plate 8 on
the front end side of the housing 3 from the cutout concave
portions 12 such that they oppose each other. The partition plate
18 is provided in the center of the housing 3 in the longitudinal
direction from the vicinity of the insertion port 10 up to the belt
holding portion 11 to join the upper plate 7 with the bottom plate
8, in order to reinforce the housing 3. Further, a through hole 16
is provided piercing through the upper plate 7 and the bottom plate
8 in an eccentric edge portion on the insertion port 10 side of the
housing 3 such that the U-shaped lock bar of the locking device is
inserted into the through hole 16.
[0072] On the other hand, in the male member 2, an insertion
portion 4 which can be inserted into the housing 3 is formed in a
front half from the proximal portion 24 existing in the center of
the longitudinal direction of the male member 2. The insertion
portion 4 is provided with inserting leg portions 27 on both sides
of the proximal portion 24 such that the insertion leg portions 27
can be inserted into the housing 3 and front ends thereof have
flexibility to curve inward. An operating portion 33 is provided on
a side face in the center of each inserting leg portion 27 so that
it can be pressed inward. An engaging portion 29 capable of
engaging an engaged portion 13 of the housing 3 is provided
protrudedly out of the front and rear faces at a front end of each
inserting leg portion 27. A mounting portion 5 of a locking device
is formed by providing a through hole 32 in the proximal portion of
any one inserting leg portion such that a U-shaped lock bar of the
locking device can be inserted. Further, a pair of guide pieces 30
are provided protrudedly in the center of the proximal portion 24
so that they go along the partition plate 18 of the housing 3 and
are guided thereby.
[0073] A folding-back lever 35 which a belt can be wound around and
hooked on and a holding lever 34 capable of holding the folded back
belt are provided horizontally between side frames in a rear half
from the proximal portion 24 of the male member 2, so that a belt
holding portion 26 is formed.
[0074] As for use state of the female member 1 and the male member
2, as shown in FIG. 19, the insertion portion 4 of the male member
2 is inserted from the insertion port 10 of the housing 3 of the
female member 1, so that the engaging portions 29 of the inserting
leg portions engage the engaged portions 13 of the housing 3.
Consequently, the through hole 16 in the housing 3 overlaps the
through hole 32 in the inserting leg portion 27 and if locking is
done by inserting a lock bar of a locking device through these
through holes 16, 32, the female member 1 and the male member 2 are
locked with that lock bar so that the inserting leg portions 27
cannot be moved in the housing 3. Therefore, engagement between the
engaging portions 29 and the engaged portions 13 is maintained
thereby disabling the female member 1 and the male member 1 from
being removed from each other.
[0075] FIG. 20 shows a modification of the mounting portion on
which the locking device is to be mounted in the buckle of the
fourth embodiment. A mounting portion 5 is formed by communicating
a through hole 16 made through the upper plate 7 and the bottom
plate 8 of the housing 3 of the female member 1 with an opening 14
made in a side wall 9 of the housing 3. Additionally, it is
permissible to form the mounting portion 5 for the locking device
by communicating a through hole 32 made in the proximal portion 24
of the inserting leg portion 27 of the male member 2 with an
opening 36 which is open to the side of the belt holding portion
26. If the opening is formed in the same direction as the inserting
direction, even if the lock bar 51 is inserted, the male member 2
slips out of the female member 1. The opening direction needs to be
opposite to the inserting direction.
[0076] FIGS. 21-26 show the buckle of a fifth embodiment. As shown
in FIGS. 23 and 24, the female member 1 has an insertion port 10,
into which the insertion plate 28 of the male member 2 can be
inserted, at an end of its housing 3. A tongue-like flexible
pressing plate 21 is formed by cutting three sides of the upper
plate 7 while leaving its insertion port 10 side. The insertion
port 10 is formed between an upper side of a base lever 22 provided
on side walls 9 on both sides of the housing 3 and the upper plate
7. A flexible tongue-like engaging plate 23 is provided protrudedly
such that it is extended in the insertion direction from the base
lever 22. A front end of the engaging plate 23 is formed such that
it slopes upward toward the front end and is projected, so that it
engages an engaging pawl 37 provided on the insertion plate 28 of
the male member 2.
[0077] A hook portion 41 is formed above a rear wall 40 provided on
the side walls 9 on the belt holding portion 11 side of the housing
3 and a tongue-like piece 42 provided at a front end of the
pressing plate 21 such that it opposes a bottom face of the hook
portion 41 restricts upward motion of the pressing plate 21.
Further, a press-down protrusion 43, which can press down the
engaging plate 23, is provided on a bottom face at a front end of
the pressing plate 21. If the engaging plate 23 is pressed down,
the engaging pawl 37 of the insertion plate 28 is released from
engagement so that the insertion plate 28 can be removed. Further,
a through hole 16, which allows the lock bar of the locking device
to be passed through, is formed on a side of the base portion of
the pressing plate 21 of the housing 3 so that this through hole
may extended up to the engaging plate 23.
[0078] On the other hand, in the male member 2, as shown in FIGS.
25 and 26, an insertion portion 4 is formed by providing a flat
insertion plate 28 in front of its proximal portion 24. A flexible
elastic tongue-like piece 38 is provided at the center of the
insertion plate 28 by cutting out three sides thereof except its
proximal portion 24 side. This elastic tongue-like piece 38 is
formed so as to be capable of making an elastic contact with a
slope 44 formed on the pressing plate 21 of the housing 3. A cutout
portion 25 is formed by dividing the center of the insertion plate
28 in front of the elastic tongue-like piece 38 to right and left
sections. When the insertion plate is inserted into the housing 3,
the cutout portion 25 escapes the interference with pressing
protrusion 43 on the pressing plate 21. A hook-like engaging pawl
37 is provided on a bottom face at a front end of this insertion
plate 28 so as to engage the engaging plate 23 of the housing 3.
Further, a through hole 32 for inserting the lock bar of the
locking device can be passed through is provided in the insertion
plate 28 corresponding to the through hole 16 provided in the
pressing plate 21 of the housing 3 so that it overlaps the through
hole 16. Further, a belt holding portion 26 is formed on an
opposite side to the insertion potion 4 of the proximal portion 24
and comprised of a folding-back lever 35 which a belt can be wound
around and hooked on and a holding lever 34 capable of holding the
folded-back belt.
[0079] As for use state of the female member 1 and the male member
2, as shown in FIG. 22, the insertion portion 4 of the male member
2 is inserted from the insertion port 10 of the housing 3 of the
female member 1 so as to engage the engaging pawl 37 of the
insertion plate 28 with the engaging plate 23 of the housing 3.
Consequently, the through hole 16 provided in the engaging plate 23
and pressing plate 21 overlaps the through hole 32 provided in the
insertion plate 28. If the lock bar of the locking device is
inserted into the through holes 16, 32 and locked, the female
member 1 and the male member 2 are prevented from being separated
by the lock bar so that the insertion plate 28 cannot be moved
within the housing 3, thereby restricting the movement of the
insertion plate 28.
[0080] FIG. 27 shows a modification of the mounting portion 5 which
allows the locking device to be attached in the buckle of the fifth
embodiment. In this buckle, a part of the mounting portion 5 is
structured by providing the through hole 32 provided in the
insertion plate 28 of the insertion portion 4 of the male member 2
with an opening 36 which is open in a direction other than the
insertion direction or toward the center line of the male member 2
so that the opening 36 communicates with the through hole 32.
[0081] The insertion portion 4 of this male member 2 is inserted
into the housing 3 of the female member 1 shown in FIG. 23. If the
insertion portion 4 is inserted into the housing 3, the through
hole 16 provided in the housing 3 overlaps the through hole 32
provided in the insertion portion 4. The lock bar of the locking
device inserted into these through holes restricts the movement of
the female member 1 and the male member 2. This type of the
mounting portion 5 allows the locking device to be inserted easily
even if the through holes 16, 32 deflect from each other to some
extent.
[0082] FIGS. 28 to 30 shows the buckle of the sixth embodiment. The
female member 1 is a flat cylindrical housing 3 comprised of an
upper plate 7, a bottom plate 8 and side walls 9. An insertion port
10 is provided at an end thereof and a belt holding portion 11 is
provided at the other end. Arc-shaped cutout concave portions 12
are provided in both the side walls 9, so that the operating
portions 33 of the inserting leg portions 27 of the male member 2
are exposed outward from the cutout concave portions. Engaged
portions 13 are formed on side walls 9 on the insertion port 10
side of the cutout concave portions 12, so as to engage hook-shaped
engaging portions 29 provided on the proximal portion of the
operating portion 33 of the inserting leg portions 27.
[0083] Partition pieces 20 are provided in the center of each of
the upper plate 7 and bottom plate 8 of the housing 3 in the
longitudinal direction thereof such that they oppose each other in
order to guide a pair of guide pieces 30 provided on the insertion
portion 4 of the male member 2. Further, as shown in FIG. 29, a
through hole 16 is provided through the upper plate 7 and the
bottom plate 8 at a position which is eccentric to a side of each
of the upper plate 7 and bottom plate 8 of the housing 3 and avoids
the interference with the inserting leg portion 27 when the
inserting leg portions 27 are inserted so that the engaged portion
13 engages the engaging portion 29. The lock bar of the locking
device can be inserted into this through hole 16. Moreover, a
protruded portion 45 is provided on an edge portion on the
insertion port 10 side of the upper plate 7 such that it is
protruded toward a folding-back lever 35 in the belt holding
portion 26 of the male member 2 when the inserting leg portion 27
of the male member 2 is inserted. When a belt hooked on the
folding-back lever 35 is floated, this comes into contact with the
belt thereby blocking it from loosening.
[0084] The male member 2 is provided with a belt holding portion 26
capable of holding an end of a belt, which is extended in a rear
half from the proximal portion 24. The belt holding portion 26 is
comprised of a folding-back lever 35 which a belt is hooked and
folded back by, the folding-back lever 35 being provided on the
proximal portion 24 side, and a holding lever 34 capable of holding
the belt, provided outside the folding-back lever 35, such that
they are stretched between side frames. An insertion portion 4 is
formed in a front half from the proximal portion 24 and flexible
inserting leg portions 27 are provided protrudedly on both sides of
the proximal portion 24 of the insertion portion 4. An operating
portion 33 is formed such that a front end thereof is expanded and
a hook-shaped engaging portion 29 capable of engaging the engaged
portion 13 formed in the cutout concave portion 12 of the housing 3
is provided in the base portion of the operating portion 33. A pair
of the guide pieces 30 are provided protrudedly in the center of
the proximal portion 24 so as to be capable of sliding along the
partition pieces 20 provided on the upper plate 7 and the bottom
plate 8 of the housing 3 such that they oppose each other.
[0085] As for use state of the female member 1 and the male member
2, as shown in FIG. 28, the inserting leg portion 27 of the
insertion portion 4 of the male member 2 is inserted into the
insertion port 10 of the housing 3 so that the engaging portions 29
of the inserting leg portion 27 engages the engaged portions 13
formed in the cutout concave portions 12 of the housing 3. After
that, the lock bar of the locking device is inserted into the
through hole 16 in the housing 3 to lock.
[0086] Consequently, even if it is intended to press the operating
portions 33 of the inserting leg portion 27 inserted into the
housing 3, the operating portions 33 cannot be moved because the
lock bar of the locking device exists in the through hole 16. Thus,
the engagement between the engaged portion 13 of the housing 3 and
the engaging portion 29 of the inserting leg portion 27 cannot be
released. Meanwhile, it is permissible to provide the through hole
16 provided through the upper plate 7 and the bottom plate 8 of the
housing 3 with an opening 14 on the housing 3 which is open in a
direction other than the insertion direction of the housing 3 to
communicate this opening 14 with the through hole 16.
[0087] Finally, the buckle of the seventh embodiment shown in FIG.
31 has the same structure as the buckle of the first embodiment
except that the configuration of the mounting portion on which the
locking device is to be mounted is different. If speaking of the
mounting portion 5 on which the locking device is to be mounted, a
plate-like mounting column 15 having a specified width is erected
at an end portion on the insertion port 10 side of the upper plate
7 of the flat housing 3 of the female member 1 and then, a bent
portion 20 is formed by bending a front end of the mounting column
15. On the other hand, in the male member 2, a plate-like mounting
column 31 having a specified width is erected at the proximal
portion 24 of the male member 2 corresponding to the mounting
column 15 of the female member 1. Then, a bent portion 39 is formed
by bending a front end of the mounting column 31 in an opposite
direction to the bent portion 20.
[0088] As for use state of the female member 1 and the male member
2 of this buckle, the a belt is connected to the female member 1
and the male member 2 and the engaged portion 13 and the engaging
portion 29 are engaged by inserting the insertion portion 4 of the
male member 2 from the insertion portion 4 of the housing 3 of the
female member 1. Consequently, as shown in FIG. 32, both the
mounting columns 15, 36 contact each other face to face. With this
state, a sealing device 52 such as a binding band is wound around
these mounting columns 15, 36. The sealing device 52 never slips
out because it is hooked by the bent portions 20, 39 of the
mounting columns 15, 36.
[0089] FIG. 33 shows a modification of the mounting columns 15, 36
in the buckle shown in FIG. 31. Through holes 16, 32 are made in
opposing faces of the mounting columns 15, 36 of the female member
1 and the male member 2 respectively, so that the lock bar of the
locking device can be inserted therein. This buckle allows the
locking device or the sealing device to be employed depending on
the case.
[0090] The buckle of the present invention has the above-described
structure and achieves following effects.
[0091] There is provided a buckle comprised of a female member
which is a flat cylindrical housing having an insertion port at an
end thereof and a male member having an insertion port which can be
inserted into the housing, wherein a mounting portion, to which a
locking device or a sealing device for locking or sealing the
engagement when the female member and the male member engage each
other is to be mounted, is disposed in both the female member and
the male member or in any one thereof. Consequently, existing
locking or sealing structures such as locking devices and binding
bands can be disposed to buckles of various configurations.
[0092] When said mounting portions are provided on both the housing
and the insertion portion, if through holes which overlap
respective mounting portions, openings which overlap respective
through holes, or the openings which communicate with one of the
through holes are structured so that they may overlap each other,
the mounting portion can be provided on both the housing and the
insertion portion in diversified styles easily according to the
use. In such a case, too, disengagement of the female member and
the male member can be surely prevented.
[0093] Moreover, when mounting columns as mounting portions are
formed on an end portion of the insertion port side of the housing
and a proximal portion of the insertion portion, so that the
mounting columns approach each other when the insertion portion is
inserted for engagement, the locking device or the sealing device
can be attached to both the female member and thereby,
disengagement of the female member and the male member can be
surely prevented. Further, if through holes which can overlap each
other under engagement are provided on the mounting columns
provided on the housing and the insertion portion, or an opening is
provided to this through hole in an opposite direction to the
insertion direction of a corresponding one of the female member and
the male member such that they communicate with each other, the
locking device does not slip out and moreover, the locking
procedure can be facilitated.
[0094] Reference Numerals
[0095] 1 female member
[0096] 2 male member
[0097] 3 housing
[0098] 4 insertion portion
[0099] 5 mounting portion
[0100] 10 insertion port
[0101] 12 cutout concave portion
[0102] 14 opening (female member)
[0103] 15 mounting column (female member)
[0104] 16 through hole (female member)
[0105] 20 bent portion (female member)
[0106] 31 mounting column (male member)
[0107] 32 through hole (male member)
[0108] 36 opening (male member)
[0109] 39 bent portion (male member)
[0110] 50 locking device
[0111] 51 lock bar
[0112] 52 sealing device
* * * * *