U.S. patent application number 11/358213 was filed with the patent office on 2006-09-21 for rotation-type safety buckle.
This patent application is currently assigned to Button International Co., Ltd.. Invention is credited to Chung Lung Chen.
Application Number | 20060207072 11/358213 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 37000399 |
Filed Date | 2006-09-21 |
United States Patent
Application |
20060207072 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Chen; Chung Lung |
September 21, 2006 |
Rotation-type safety buckle
Abstract
A rotation-type safety buckle comprising of a male fastener and
a female fastener is provided. The male fastener has a column at a
center of an inner surface thereof, the male fastener has a
respective engagement clamper,at each opposite side with respect to
the column the engagement clamper is raised from the inner surface
of the male fastener such that an opening is provided corresponding
to the engagement clamper. The female fastener is provided with a
central portion at a center thereof for connecting with the male
fastener, the central portion has a wall and defines a guiding hole
for receiving the column, and a respective side arm extending from
the wall of the central portion is provided to enter the opening of
the male fastener for complete engagement with the engagement
clamper. The engagement is formed by the male fastener and the
female fastener being stacked to each other and connected, making
the male fastener rotate clockwise, making the side arm enters the
opening of engagement clamper. A secondary protective .engagement
function is provided by the protrusion residing within the void of
the female fastener after the male fastener rotates clockwise.
Inventors: |
Chen; Chung Lung; (Taipei
City, TW) |
Correspondence
Address: |
TROXELL LAW OFFICE PLLC;SUITE 1404
5205 LEESBURG PIKE
FALLS CHURCH
VA
22041
US
|
Assignee: |
Button International Co.,
Ltd.
|
Family ID: |
37000399 |
Appl. No.: |
11/358213 |
Filed: |
February 22, 2006 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
24/580.1 ;
24/590.1; 24/591.1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
Y10T 24/45089 20150115;
Y10T 24/45225 20150115; Y10T 24/4522 20150115; A44B 11/2588
20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
024/580.1 ;
024/590.1; 024/591.1 |
International
Class: |
A44B 11/25 20060101
A44B011/25 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Mar 16, 2005 |
TW |
094204050 |
Claims
1. A rotation-type safety buckle comprising of a male fastener and
a female fastener, wherein the male fastener has a column at a
center of an inner surface thereof, the male fastener has a
respective engagement damper at each opposite side with respect to
the column, the engagement clamper is raised from the inner surface
of the male fastener such that an opening is provided corresponding
to the engagement clamper; and wherein the female fastener is
provided with a central portion at a center thereof for connecting
with the male fastener, the central portion has a wall and defines
a guiding hole for receiving the column, and a respective side arm
extending from the wall of the central portion is provided to enter
a corresponding opening of the male fastener for engagement with
the engagement clamper.
2. The rotation-type safety buckle of claim 1, wherein the opening
is a through-hole in a body of the male fastener.
3. The rotation-type safety buckle of claim 1, wherein the inner
surface defining four corners, each corner is provided with a
protrusion for engaging with the female fastener.
4. The rotation-type safety buckle of claim 3, wherein, along a
circumference of the central portion of the female fastener, at
least a void corresponding to the protrusion is provided for
receiving the protrusion.
5. The rotation-type safety buckle of claim 4, wherein diameter of
the void is substantially larger than diameter of the protrusion
for facilitating entry of the protrusion.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] 1. Field of the Invention
[0002] The invention generally relates to a rotation-type safety
buckle, and more particularly to a rotation-type safety buckle
forming preliminary engagement by having each side arm of female
fastener received in corresponding opening of male fastener,
through clockwise rotation, and forming secondary engagement by
having each protrusion of male fastener received in corresponding
void of female fastener, for preventing unexpected external force
from unfastening the safety buckle.
[0003] 2. Description of the Related Art
[0004] Buckles are widely used in various apparels or personal
carry bags. The buckle mainly consists of the male fastener and the
female fastener. Through connection or engagement between the male
and female fasteners, the desired locking function is achieved. And
through a reverse operation, unlocking or unfastening of them is
made while desired.
[0005] FIG. 1 shows a prior art buckle in which the male fastener A
is provided with a retainer A1 at its inner central surface, and
openings A2 are provided in the male fastener A corresponding to
two cantilever ends of the retainer A1. Furthermore, two
protrusions A3 are provided respectively on two opposite edges of
the male fastener A at about the center location.
[0006] The corresponding female fastener B is provided with a
through-hole B1 at its center for receiving insertion of the
retainer A1, and the through-hole B1 is an open-ended hole. At two
opposite edges of the female fastener B, two adjacent column s B2
are provided with an accommodation space. The accommodation space
between two adjacent columns B2 functions to receive the protrusion
A3 when the male fastener A and the female fastener B rotate with
each other at an angle, referring to FIG. 3A and FIG. 3B. The shape
of through-hole B1 corresponds to the shape of the retainer A1 and
the size is larger for the through-hole B1 allowing the insertion
of the retainer A1.
[0007] As shown in FIG. 2, 3A and 3B, after alignment of the male
fastener A and the female fastener B and the retainer A1 passes
through the through-hole B1 reaching its contact location, by
either rotating the male fastener A or the female fastener B along
one direction would make the retainer A1 and the through-hole B1
rotates towards different directions. Therefore, due to the
provision of opening A2, the two ends of the retainer A1 directly
engages with the edge surface defined by the through-hole B1.
[0008] In addition, each protrusion A3 at two opposite edges of the
male fastener A, while relative rotation between the male fastener
A and the female fastener B is made, enters the space provided by
two columns B2 and retained by the two columns B2 (as shown in FIG.
3A and 3B).
[0009] However, in the above-mentioned buckle, as the protrusion A3
of the male fastener A intends to enter the space provided by the
columns B2 of the female fastener B, a force is required to
accomplish this action. And reversely, another force is also
required while the protrusion A3 intends to escape the space
between the columns B2 for detaching the male fastener A from the
female fastener B. This configuration although provides tight and
secure engagement arrangement, but it needs substantial force to
detach the male fastener A from the female fastener B. For elderly
and young people, it is not a good design.
[0010] Further, while the male fastener A intends to engage with or
detach from the female fastener B, rotation in either directions
may suffice. Therefore, if unexpected pulling or pushing force is
exerted making either the break-down of the protrusions A3 or the
columns B2, the male fastener A may easily detach from the female
fastener B unexpectedly. This is a very non-ideal situation when
the buckle is a used in the apparels or other carry bags.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0011] In view of the foregoing problems, drawbacks and
disadvantages of the conventional buckles, an exemplary aspect of
the present invention is to provide a rotation-type safety buckle
for providing an improved and more secured engagement function when
an unexpected force is exerted.
[0012] Another aspect of the invention is to provide a
rotation-type safety buckle in which the engagement is formed by
the male fastener and the female fastener being stacked to each
other, making the male fastener rotate clockwise, making the side
arm enters into the opening of engagement clamper.
[0013] Yet another aspect of the invention is to provide a
rotation-type safety buckle in which a secondary protective
engagement function is provided by the protrusion residing within
the void of the female fastener after the male fastener rotates
clockwise. Still another aspect of the invention is to provide a
rotation-type safety buckle in which the detachment action is
achieved by lifting the male fastener from the female fastener
axially, and rotating the male fastener counterclockwise for a
complete detachment.
[0014] To fulfill the above aspects of the invention, the buckle of
the invention comprising of a male fastener and a female
fastener,
[0015] wherein the male fastener has a column at a center of an
inner surface thereof, the male fastener has a respective
engagement damper at each opposite side with respect to the column,
the engagement damper is raised from the inner surface of the male
fastener such that an opening is provided corresponding to the
engagement clamper; and
[0016] wherein the female fastener is provided with a central
portion at a center thereof for connecting with the male fastener,
the central portion has a wall and defines a guiding hole for
receiving the column, and a respective side arm extending from the
wall of the central portion is provided to enter the opening of the
male fastener for engagement with the engagement clamper.
[0017] The engagement is formed by the male fastener and the female
fastener being stacked to each other, making the male fastener
rotate clockwise, making the side arm enters opening of the
engagement clamper. A secondary protective engagement function is
provided by the protrusion residing within the void of the female
fastener after the male fastener rotates clockwise.
[0018] To detach the male fastener from the female fastener, a
small force is needed making a small axial relative movement
between the male and the female fasteners to allow the protrusion
of the male fastener escape the void of the female fastener. In
succession, to rotate the female fastener in counterclockwise
direction making escape of the side arm from the opening.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0019] The foregoing and other exemplary purposes, aspects and
advantages will be better understood from the following detailed
description of an exemplary embodiment of the invention with
reference to the drawings, in which:
[0020] FIG. 1 shows a structure of conventional buckle
[0021] FIG. 2 shows a transition status of conventional buckle in
FIG. 1 during engagement process;
[0022] FIG. 3A shows another transition status of conventional
buckle after FIG. 2;
[0023] FIG. 3B shows the conventional buckle after engagement
process is complete;
[0024] FIG. 4 shows the explosive view of the male and female
fasteners according to embodiment of invention;
[0025] FIG. 5 shows the explosive view of the male and female which
is reverse to FIG. 5;
[0026] FIG. 6 illustrates the buckle when the fasteners are stacked
to each other and begin to rotate with respect to each other;
[0027] FIG. 7 shows the status of buckle in final configuration
after rotation action in FIG. 6 is complete;
[0028] FIG. 8A shows sectional view while side arm 23 partially
enters opening;
[0029] FIG. 8B shows sectional view while side arm 23 entirely
enters opening following status in FIG. 8A;
[0030] FIG. 9A shows sectional view of the protrusion 14 about to
enter void 24;
[0031] FIG. 9B shows final sectional view of the protrusion 14 in
FIG. 9A entering void 24.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION
[0032] Referring now to the drawings, and more particular to FIGS.
4-9, there are shown exemplary embodiments of the structure
according to the present invention.
[0033] As depicted in FIG. 4 and FIG. 5, the present invention
provides a rotation-type safety buckle which mainly consists of a
male fastener 1 and a female fastener 2. In the illustration,
portion of the male fastener 1 of the safety buckle and the female
fastener 2 connected to the male fastener 1 are shown in
details.
[0034] At the center of inner surface of the male fastener 1, a
column 11 is provided, and at each opposite side with respect to
the column 11, an engagement clamper 12 is raised from the inner
surface of the male fastener 1. An opening 13 is provided and
formed between the engagement clamper 12 and the inner surface of
the male fastener 1 at location corresponding to the engagement
clamper 12, and the opening 13, in one embodiment, is a
through-hole of the body of the male fastener 1. At four corner
locations of inner surface of the male fastener 1, four protrusions
14 are provided for engaging with the female fastener 2.
[0035] At the center of the female fastener 2, a central portion 21
is provided for engaging with the male fastener 1. The central
portion 21 has a guiding hole 22 at its center for receiving the
column 11, and the guiding hole 22 defines a wall. Two side arms 23
extend from the wall, and the opening 13 of the male fastener 1
functions to receive the side arm 23 while the male and female
fasteners rotate with respect to each other to its destination.
Four voids 24 are provided at four corners of the female fastener 2
respectively corresponding to one protrusion 14 allowing entry of
the protrusion 14 while rotation begins.
[0036] In a preferred embodiment, diameter of the void 24 is about
larger than that of the protrusion 14 for facilitating entry of the
protrusion 14 for an engagement along the rotation direction.
[0037] As depicted in FIG. 6 and FIG. 7, to begin with the
engagement, the male fastener 1 and the female fastener 2 are
stacked together making the column 11 of the male fastener 1 insert
in the guiding hole 22 of the central portion 21. And the
engagement damper 12 also enters and is received in the space
provided in central portion 21 of the female fastener 2.
[0038] At the instance of FIG. 7, either one of the male fastener 1
or female fastener 2 is rotated clockwise relatively making the
side arm 23 enter the opening 13 and engage with the engagement
damper 12 securely, as illustrated in FIG. 8A and FIG. 8B. The
first engagement measure prohibits any unexpected axial departure
between the male and female fasteners.
[0039] As shown in FIG. 9A and FIG. 9B, as the male fastener 1 is
rotated clockwise relatively to the female fastener 2, the void 24
of the female fastener 2 also rotates relatively allowing entry of
the protrusion 14 into the void 24. Since the diameter of void 24
is about larger than that of the protrusion 14, the protrusion 14
may easily slip into the void 24 providing a secondary safety
measure for the buckle.
[0040] The secondary engagement measure prohibits any unexpected
relative rotational movement between the male and female
fasteners.
[0041] When the buckle is under the secured engagement condition
and faces with unexpected large pulling force exerted on the male
fastener 1 or the female fastener 2 axially, this force can not
detach the male fastener 1 from the female fastener 2, since the
side arm 23 is received in the opening 13 and engages with the
engagement damper 12 tightly prohibiting relative axial movement
and, at the same time, the four protrusions 14 are received
respectively into the void 24 prohibiting relative rotational
movement.
[0042] Contrarily, to detach the male fastener 1 from the female
fastener 2, a small axial force is needed first making a small
axial relative movement between the male and the female fasteners
to allow the protrusion 14 of the male fastener 1 escape the void
24 of the female fastener 2. Meanwhile and in succession, to rotate
the female fastener 2 in counterclockwise direction (opposite to
that shown in FIG. 6) makes escape of the side arm 23 from the
opening 13. At a point as the engagement clamper 12 is aligned with
central portion 12, to apply an axial force makes the column 11 and
the engagement clamper 12 detach from the central portion 21 of the
female fastener 2. At the end, the detachment of the male fastener
1 and the female fastener 2 is then accomplished.
[0043] As described above, dual engagement measures are provided in
the buckle of the present invention which prevents the buckle from
unfastening due to unexpected pulling force.
[0044] Benefits, advantages and solutions to problems have been
described herein with regard to specific embodiments. However, the
benefits, advantages and solutions to problems, and any elements
that may cause any benefit, advantage, or solutions to become more
pronounced are not to be construed as critical, required, or
essential features or elements of the invention. All structural,
and functional equivalents to the elements of the above-described
exemplary embodiments that are known to those of ordinary skill in
the art are expressly incorporated herein. As used herein, the
terms "comprises", "comprising" or any other variations thereof,
are intended to cover a non-exclusive inclusion. Further, no
element described herein is required for the practiced of the
invention unless expressly described as essential or critical.
[0045] While the invention has been described in terms of several
exemplary embodiments, those skilled in the art will recognize that
the invention can be practiced with modification within the spirit
and scope of the appended claims.
* * * * *