U.S. patent application number 11/827587 was filed with the patent office on 2009-01-15 for buckle device.
Invention is credited to Feng Chia Liang.
Application Number | 20090013510 11/827587 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 40251916 |
Filed Date | 2009-01-15 |
United States Patent
Application |
20090013510 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Liang; Feng Chia |
January 15, 2009 |
Buckle device
Abstract
A buckle device includes a female buckle member having a chamber
for pivotally attaching two pawls with pivot pins, the pawls each
has a depression and a projection formed in an inner surface, a
male buckle member includes a tong for engaging into the chamber of
the female buckle member and for engaging with the pawls, the tong
includes two side surfaces each having a protrusion and a void for
engaging into the depressions and the projections of the pawls and
for increasing the contact area between the tong and the pawls and
for solidly anchoring the tong to the female buckle member, and for
sustaining a great pulling or towing force and for attaching to the
facilities that require to sustain a great pulling or towing force,
such as parachutes.
Inventors: |
Liang; Feng Chia; (Taichung,
TW) |
Correspondence
Address: |
CHARLES E. BAXLEY, ESQUIRE
90 JOHN STREET, SUITE 309
NEW YORK
NY
10038
US
|
Family ID: |
40251916 |
Appl. No.: |
11/827587 |
Filed: |
July 11, 2007 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
24/648 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A44B 11/266 20130101;
Y10T 24/45702 20150115 |
Class at
Publication: |
24/648 |
International
Class: |
A44B 11/25 20060101
A44B011/25 |
Claims
1. A buckle device comprising: a female buckle member including a
chamber formed therein, two pawls engaged into said chamber of said
female buckle member and pivotally attached to said female buckle
member with pivot pins respectively, said pawls each including an
inner surface having a depression and a projection formed therein,
a male buckle member including a tong extended therefrom for
engaging into said chamber of said female buckle member and for
engaging with said pawls respectively, said tong including two side
surfaces each having a protrusion extended therefrom for
selectively engaging into said depressions of said pawls, and
including a void formed in each of said side surfaces for
selectively engaging with said projections of said pawls and for
anchoring said tong of said male buckle member to said female
buckle member, and means for biasing said depressions and said
projections of said pawls to engage with said projections and said
voids of said tong and to fasten said tong of said male buckle
member to said female buckle member.
2. The buckle device as claimed in claim 1, wherein said tong
includes two catches formed in said side surfaces respectively for
selectively engaging with said projections of said pawls and for
solidly fastening said tong of said male buckle member to said
female buckle member.
3. The buckle device as claimed in claim 1, wherein said pawls each
include a recess formed therein, and said biasing means includes
two spring members engaged with said recesses of said pawls and
engaged with said female buckle member for biasing said pawls to
engage with said tong.
4. The buckle device as claimed in claim 3, wherein said female
buckle member includes two side legs for forming said chamber of
said female buckle member, and includes a cavity formed in each of
said side legs for engaging with said spring members.
5. The buckle device as claimed in claim 4, wherein said female
buckle member includes an intermediate plate disposed between two
outer plates, and said side legs and said chamber of said female
buckle member are formed in said intermediate plate.
6. The buckle device as claimed in claim 5, wherein said
intermediate plate and said outer plates each include a groove
formed therein and aligned with each other.
7. The buckle device as claimed in claim 1, wherein said male
buckle member includes an intermediate panel disposed between two
outer panels, and said tong is extended from said intermediate
panel.
8. The buckle device as claimed in claim 7, wherein said
intermediate panel and said outer panels each include a groove
formed therein and aligned with each other.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] 1. Field of the Invention
[0002] The present invention relates to a buckle device, and more
particularly to a buckle device including an improved structure for
sustaining an increased pulling or towing force and for attaching
to the facilities that require to sustain a great pulling or towing
force, such as parachutes or the like.
[0003] 2. Description of the Prior Art
[0004] Typical buckle devices comprise a female part and a male
part including two tabs for engaging into the female part and for
detachably anchoring or latching the female part and the male part
together and for releasably attaching onto various portions of the
wearers.
[0005] For example, U.S. Pat. No. 6,237,826 to Gould discloses one
of the typical safety side-release belt buckles comprising a male
part with a resilient member, and a female part with a cavity for
releasably securing the resilient member, and for allowing the
female part and the male part to be selectively separated from each
other by depressing the tabs.
[0006] However, the tabs may be depressed or actuated inadvertently
and the female part and the male part may also be separated from
each other inadvertently such that the typical safety side-release
belt buckles may not be attached to the facilities that require to
sustain a great pulling or towing force, such as parachutes or the
like and that require a great safety.
[0007] U.S. Pat. No. 6,363,590 to Lan discloses another typical
safety buckle also comprising a male buckle member and a female
buckle member detachably fastened together, and the male buckle
member includes two side blocks for engaging with side grooves of
the female buckle member and for releasably or detachably securing
or coupling the male buckle member and the female buckle member
together.
[0008] However, the typical safety buckle may not be easily
operated by the users due to the shielded tabs, and the typical
safety buckle may not sustain a great pulling or towing force and
also may not be attached to the facilities that require to sustain
a great pulling or towing force, such as parachutes or the like and
that require a great safety.
[0009] U.S. Pat. No. 6,560,830 to Chi discloses a further typical
safety buckle or fastening device comprising a male fastener with
engaging sections and a female fastener with resilient legs for
releasably securing the male fastener and the female fastener
together.
[0010] However, similarly, the engaging sections of the typical
safety buckle may be depressed or actuated inadvertently and the
female part and the male part may also be separated from each other
inadvertently such that the typical safety side-release belt
buckles may not be attached to the facilities that require to
sustain a great pulling or towing force, such as parachutes or the
like and that require a great safety.
[0011] U.S. Pat. No. 7,219,406 to Chui discloses a still further
typical safety buckle comprising a male plug and a female
receptacle detachably fastened together, and the male plug includes
two flexible arms for engaging with side arcuate openings of the
female receptacle and for releasably securing the male plug and the
female receptacle together.
[0012] However, similarly, the flexible arms of the typical safety
buckle may also be depressed or actuated inadvertently and the
female receptacle and the male plug may also be separated from each
other inadvertently such that the typical safety buckles also may
not be attached to the facilities that require to sustain a great
pulling or towing force, such as parachutes or the like and that
require a great safety.
[0013] The typical buckle devices may not sustain a pulling or
towing force for more than 700 kgf.
[0014] The present invention has arisen to mitigate and/or obviate
the afore-described disadvantages of the conventional latches for
buckle devices.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0015] The primary objective of the present invention is to provide
a buckle device including an improved structure for sustaining an
increased pulling or towing force and for attaching to the
facilities that require to sustain a great pulling or towing force,
such as parachutes or the like.
[0016] In accordance with one aspect of the invention, there is
provided a buckle device comprising a female buckle member
including a chamber formed therein, two pawls engaged into the
chamber of the female buckle member and pivotally attached to the
female buckle member with pivot pins respectively, the pawls each
including an inner surface having a depression and a projection
formed therein, a male buckle member including a tong extended
therefrom for engaging into the chamber of the female buckle member
and for engaging with the pawls respectively, the tong including
two side surfaces each having a protrusion extended therefrom for
selectively engaging into the depressions of the pawls, and
including a void formed in each of the side surfaces for
selectively engaging with the projections of the pawls and for
anchoring the tong of the male buckle member to the female buckle
member, and a biasing device for biasing the depressions and the
projections of the pawls to engage with the projections and the
voids of the tong and to solidly fasten the tong of the male buckle
member to the female buckle member, and to allow the buckle device
to have an improved structure for sustaining an increased pulling
or towing force and for attaching to the facilities that require to
sustain a great pulling or towing force, such as parachutes or the
like.
[0017] The tong includes two catches formed in the side surfaces
respectively for selectively engaging with the projections of the
pawls and for solidly fastening the tong of the male buckle member
to the female buckle member, and for preventing the tong of the
male buckle member from being disengaged from the female buckle
member inadvertently.
[0018] The pawls each include a recess formed therein, and the
biasing device includes two spring members engaged with the
recesses of the pawls and engaged with the female buckle member for
biasing the pawls to engage with the tong.
[0019] The female buckle member includes two side legs for forming
the chamber of the female buckle member, and includes a cavity
formed in each of the side legs for engaging with the spring
members and for solidly retaining the spring members between the
female buckle member and the pawls.
[0020] The female buckle member includes an intermediate plate
disposed between two outer plates, and the side legs and the
chamber of the female buckle member are formed in the intermediate
plate. The intermediate plate and the outer plates each include a
groove formed therein and aligned with each other for engaging with
a strap member.
[0021] The male buckle member includes an intermediate panel
disposed between two outer panels, and the tong is extended from
the intermediate panel. The intermediate panel and the outer panels
each include a groove formed therein and aligned with each other
for engaging with a strap member.
[0022] Further objectives and advantages of the present invention
will become apparent from a careful reading of the detailed
description provided hereinbelow, with appropriate reference to the
accompanying drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0023] FIG. 1 is an exploded view of a buckle device in accordance
with the present invention;
[0024] FIG. 2 is a top plan schematic view of the buckle device in
which a portion of the female buckle member has been cut off or
removed for showing an inner structure of the buckle device, and
for illustrating the operation of the buckle device; and
[0025] FIG. 3 is a top plan schematic view similar to FIG. 2,
illustrating the operation of the buckle device.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
[0026] Referring to the drawings, and initially to FIGS. 1 and 2, a
buckle device 1 in accordance with the present invention comprises
a female buckle member 20 and a male buckle member 50 to be
detachably or releasably fastened together, and arranged for
allowing the male buckle member 50 and the female buckle member 20
to be solidly and stably fastened or coupled or secured together
and to sustain a great pulling or towing force and for allowing the
male buckle member 50 and the female buckle member 20 to be
attached to the facilities that require to sustain a great pulling
or towing force, such as parachutes or the like and that require a
great safety.
[0027] The female buckle member 20 includes a middle or
intermediate plate 21 disposed or sandwiched between two outer
plates 22, 23 and to be secured together with such as fasteners 80,
and the plates 21, 22, 23 each include a groove 24 formed therein
and aligned with each other for engaging with a belt or strap
member (not shown), the intermediate plate 21 includes a notch or
chamber 25 formed therein and formed between two side legs 26, and
an outer inclined surface 27 and a cavity 28 formed in each of the
side legs 26, in which the cavities 28 of the side legs 26 are
facing toward and communicating with the chamber 25 of the
intermediate plate 21.
[0028] Two pawls 30 are partially engaged into the chamber 25 of
the intermediate plate 21 or of the female buckle member 20 and
rotatably or pivotally attached or coupled or secured to the female
buckle member 20 and between the outer plates 22, 23 with pivot
pins 31 respectively for allowing the pawls 30 to be rotated or
pivoted relative to the female buckle member 20, the pawls 30 each
include a depression 32 formed in an inner surface 33 thereof for
forming a projection 34 in an inner portion 35 thereof, and each
include a recess 36 formed therein and located distal to or
opposite to the depression 32 and/or the projection 34 thereof for
receiving or engaging with spring biasing means or spring members
29 which may bias or force the depressions 32 and/or the
projections 34 and/or the inner surfaces 33 of the pawls 30 toward
each other, and each include a hand grip or knob 37 formed in the
outer portion 38 thereof for being actuated or operated or
depressed by the users against the spring members 29.
[0029] The male buckle member 50 may also include a middle or
intermediate panel 51 disposed or sandwiched between two outer
panels 52 and to be secured together with such as fasteners 53, and
the panels 21, 22, 23 each include a groove 54 formed therein and
aligned with each other for engaging with a belt or strap member
(not shown), and a rod 88 engaged or straddled in the groove 54 of
the male buckle member 50 for further engaging with the belt or
strap member. The male buckle member 50 includes a tong 55 extended
outwardly therefrom, such as extended outwardly from the
intermediate panel 21 for engaging into the chamber 25 of the
female buckle member 20 and for engaging with the pawls 30
respectively.
[0030] The tong 55 includes two outer and inclined side surfaces 56
for engaging with or for mating with the inner surfaces 33 of the
pawls 30 respectively (FIG. 2), and includes a protrusion 57
extended outwardly from each of the side surfaces 56 for
selectively engaging into the depressions 32 of the pawls 30, and
includes a void 58 and/or a catch 59 formed in each of the side
surfaces 56 for selectively engaging with the projections 34 of the
pawls 30, and thus for solidly and stably fasten or couple or
secure the tong 55 of the male buckle member 50 to the female
buckle member 20, and the projections 34 and/or the inner surfaces
33 of the pawls 30 may be selectively disengaged from the tong 55
of the male buckle member 50 by actuating or operating or
depressing the knobs 37 of the pawls 30 toward each other and/or
against the spring members 29 (FIG. 3).
[0031] It is to be noted that, as shown in FIG. 2, the formation
and the provision or the engagement of the projections 34 of the
pawls 30 with the voids 58 of the tong 55, and the formation and
the provision or the engagement of the protrusions 57 of the tong
55 with the depressions 32 of the pawls 30 may increase the contact
area between the tong 55 and the pawls 30, for allowing the buckle
device 1 to sustain a pulling or towing force for more than 1000
kgf, and thus for allowing the buckle device 1 to be attached or
mounted to the facilities that require to sustain a great pulling
or towing force, such as parachutes or the like.
[0032] In addition, as also shown in FIG. 2, the catches 59 of the
tong 55 may also be solidly engaged with the projections 34 and/or
the inner portion 35 of the pawls 30 for solidly and stably
fastening or anchoring or securing the tong 55 of the male buckle
member 50 to the female buckle member 20, and for preventing the
tong 55 of the male buckle member 50 from being disengaged from the
female buckle member 20 inadvertently. The outer inclined surfaces
27 of the side legs 26 of the female buckle member 20 may be
selectively engaged with the pawls 30 for limiting the pawls 30 to
rotate relative to the female buckle member 20.
[0033] Accordingly, the buckle device in accordance with the
present invention includes an improved structure for sustaining an
increased pulling or towing force and for attaching to the
facilities that require to sustain a great pulling or towing force,
such as parachutes or the like.
[0034] Although this invention has been described with a certain
degree of particularity, it is to be understood that the present
disclosure has been made by way of example only and that numerous
changes in the detailed construction and the combination and
arrangement of parts may be resorted to without departing from the
spirit and scope of the invention as hereinafter claimed.
* * * * *