U.S. patent application number 12/891883 was filed with the patent office on 2012-03-29 for linear clip mount comprising an open track in a tongue mounting an immovable guide in a buckle that locks by a levered and sprung projection..
Invention is credited to David Szellos.
Application Number | 20120073093 12/891883 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 45869160 |
Filed Date | 2012-03-29 |
United States Patent
Application |
20120073093 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Szellos; David |
March 29, 2012 |
Linear clip mount comprising an open track in a tongue mounting an
immovable guide in a buckle that locks by a levered and sprung
projection.
Abstract
A linear mount clip joins a tongue and a bracket using an open
track in the tongue to guide the tongue into the bracket. The
buckle has an immovable linear guide which serves as an internal
guide for the open track until the tongue can be inserted no
further. The buckle includes a sprung plate overarching the tongue
and incorporating a perforation on the tongue side of the plate as
well as a rotating attachment to the immovable linear guide. The
angle of rotation of the tongue is perpendicular to the axis of the
immovable linear guide. The sprung plate revolves on the axis of
the immovable feature. Depressing the plate on its edge will lever
the plate and its projection away from the tongue allowing it to be
inserted into the buckle bracket. Releasing the plate will cause
the projection to lock into a perforation in the tongue. The tongue
and bracket and locking device form a buckle that can be used to
secure a device to a substrate such as a watch to a watchband.
Inventors: |
Szellos; David;
(US) |
Family ID: |
45869160 |
Appl. No.: |
12/891883 |
Filed: |
September 28, 2010 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
24/594.1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
F16M 13/04 20130101;
Y10T 24/45251 20150115 |
Class at
Publication: |
24/594.1 |
International
Class: |
A44B 11/25 20060101
A44B011/25 |
Claims
1. Novelty in this Invention is claimed to lie in the tongue
equipped with an open track guide that is distinct from excluding
any sprung locking device in the buckle assembly.
2. Novelty is claimed to arise through the separation of the two
tongue features of a distinct perforation for anchoring the locking
device and a distinct open track that guides the tongue around an
immovable bracket feature.
3. Novelty is claimed to arise through the use of the open track
guide to prevent misalignment of the device-bearing tongue backward
into the buckle bracket.
4. Novelty is claimed to arise through the provision of a groove in
the tongue allowing for levering the locking device open.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] No cross reference is made to other applications.
STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OF DEVELOPMENT
[0002] No Federal Government support was received in the
development of this Invention.
SEQUENCE LISTING, TABLE, OR COMPUTER PROGRAM LISTING
[0003] No sequence listing, table, or computer program is attached
or accompanies this application.
BACKGROUND OF THIS INVENTION
[0004] A simple patent by Payant (U.S. Pat. No. 3,999,251, Dec. 28,
1976) illustrates the three functional requirements of a buckle.
Payant describes a belt tongue perforated along the axis of
insertion to allow a locking pin to secure the tongue against the
buckle bracket. Of particular interest in this patent is a clip
designed into the outer bracket portion of the buckle that rotates
up to allow pinning of a lap napkin. It operates in a rotary motion
perpendicular to the axis of insertion of the tongue. The
principles established in this older patent provide structure for
the explanation of the Novel nature of the Invention described in
this application. From this patent it can be seen that a buckle is
a coupling device. The coupling occurs between a bracket that by
complementary shape encloses a tongue that is inserted. Stability
of the bracket can be supplied against the force of withdrawal by a
locking mechanism attached to the bracket that engages a feature of
the tongue either externally on the boundary of a tongue or
internally in a perforation of the tongue. A track is an aperture
in the tongue open at the end of insertion to allow the tongue to
correctly orientate in the bracket opening. It acts in concert with
the match between the bracket opening and the cross sectional shape
of the tongue. A perforation in the tongue is a closed hole often
seen used in locking mechanisms. A projection is a feature that
when introduced locks into the perforation. An internal locking
mechanism is a locking projection attached to the bracket that
completely penetrates the tongue. An external locking mechanism is
a locking feature that acts on the outer boundary of the tongue. A
locking mechanism can be contained inside the bracket or form part
of the external shell of the bracket.
[0005] The Invention described in this application uses a novel
tongue with a perforation and an open guide. The Invention
described in this application uses a novel locking mechanism that
is rotated perpendicular to the axis of tongue insertion and is
formed by part of the external shell of the bracket. The Invention
in this application incorporates an entirely internal device to
stabilize the coupling comprising the buckle.
[0006] Patents that describe a tongue passing into a bracket
include Mallek (U.S. Pat. No. 5,865,562, Feb. 2, 1999). This patent
describes a tongue for attachment of dry wall that inserts into a
bracket affixed to a substrate. The locking mechanism for this
vertically mounted bracket is the weight of gravity. Those in an
earthquake region may wish for a more secure locking mechanism to
prevent wall dislocation. McLeod (US 20100122411, May 20, 2010)
describes a tongue that fits into a tieplate. The tieplate is
mounted to a substrate constituted by the bath. The locking
mechanism here is a light interference fit based on friction. Hotel
owners may wish for a more secure locking mechanism to prevent
theft. Levine (U.S. Pat. No. 4,886,297, Dec. 12, 1989) describes a
skateboard bracket employing a tongue inserted into a bracket. The
locking mechanism is a pin inserted perpendicularly to the axis of
the insertion of the tongue. These patents illustrate the principle
of an inserted tongue gaining stability from the outline of the
cross section of the tongue being complementary to the shape of the
bracket. Couplings are prone to failure if torque is applied to the
base of the tongue. Couplings are prone to failure if a withdrawal
force is applied to the base of the tongue. The coupling designs
described above have employed a variety of linear locking
mechanisms that are mostly unable to provide resistance to these
forces.
[0007] The function of stabilization of the coupling of a tongue
and a bracket by means of a more sophisticated locking device
acting perpendicular to the line of draw of the tongue has been
developed in the class of couples called bayonet mounts. In this
design the inventors have realized that a rotational stop using a
plurality of tabs on the tongue to match a plurality of cavities on
the bracket provides a secure stop against the tongue being
withdrawn. A rotational stop also allows for reversible mounting
and dismounting of the tongue and whatever device is attached to
that tongue. Imanari et al. (U.S. Pat. No. 6,554,503, Apr. 29,
2003) describes a bayonet mount for a camera lens that uses the
bayonet mount to engage bayonet tabs into the mount main body.
Ludwig (U.S. Pat. No. 4,307,954, Dec. 29, 1981) employs a plurality
of claws on the lens marginal portion to permit the lens to be
axially inserted into the body opening. Avoidance of misalignment
is also provided for in the design of the tabs themselves. Fuchi
(U.S. Pat. No. 4,660,953, Apr. 28, 1987) provides a similar bayonet
mount. All of these devices are for axial insertion of a tongue
that is circular in cross section. A bayonet mount takes advantage
of a locking mechanism that is perpendicular to the line of draw.
Application of torque or force of withdrawal acts against the
material integrity of the bayonet mount bracket.
[0008] A disadvantage of traditional bayonet mounts is apparent
when considering space occupied by the mount itself. When the
tongue is circular this results in a coupling with a large volume.
When the device attached to the tongue need not be circular the
bayonet mount can still be used in a smaller form. Schadhauser
(U.S. Pat. No. 6,893,282, May 17, 2005) describes a bayonet mount
for a lamp wherein a rectangular tongue is mounted perpendicular to
an inserted rod tongue. Once the rectangular tip is mounted into a
slot bracket attached to a substrate wall it is then rotated to
provide a locking mechanism that is perpendicular to the line of
draw. As with most bayonet mounts the tongue can easily be
withdrawn once the bayonet mount is returned to an orientation
allowing the plurality of projections on the tongue to be match the
complementary plurality of cavities on the mount. The Schadhauser
patent is of interest to this application because it makes use of a
bayonet mount without the volume of a cylindrical tongue. An
extension of this principle is providing a rotating locking device
with a spring that rotates to lock albeit with a limited angle of
rotation.
[0009] A contrast mount between a tongue and a bracket to form a
buckle coupling assembly may be seen in the patent by Thorsel (U.S.
Pat. No. 4,394,808, Jul. 26, 1983) describing a tongue inserting
into a bracket. The tongue in this case is a flat spring that clips
against the bracket by virtue of a ramp and release feature.
Although the clip is removable the strength of the locking
mechanism is only as strong as the spring in the clip itself.
Application of force or torque to the base of the clip will also
rotate the clip feature of the tongue to be less than perpendicular
to the locking feature of the bracket. This leads to a failure in
coupling when the strength of the spring becomes less than that of
the force applied.
[0010] Engineering efforts into the provision of safe seat belts
separate the tongue insertion and the locking mechanism into two
parts to avoid coupling failure. A seat belt buckle consists of a
bracket into which a tongue is inserted. Falb et. al (U.S. Pat. No.
7,797,803, Sep. 21, 2010) use a tongue with a closed perforation.
The tongue is inserted into the bracket displacing a separate
spring loaded projection. The structural integrity of the coupling
is provided both by the fit between the tongue outline and the
complementary bracket shape and the internal locking mechanism.
There is no guiding open track in the tongue. There is no internal
stability afforded by an internal locking between a guiding channel
and an immovable feature of the bracket. Depressing a button in the
side of the bracket does effect a rotary movement to release the
locking mechanism. The axis of that rotation is perpendicular to
the axis of the insertion of the tongue. Shimizu et al. (U.S. Pat.
No. 5,274,890, Jan. 4, 1994) employ a tongue with a plurality of
perforations to increase the strength of the internal locking
mechanism. A rotary release actuated by a side button is also
present. No open track to guide coupling is present in the tongue.
No rigid coupling between a tongue guiding track and an immovable
feature of the bracket is used. In all cases seat belt buckle
designs make us of an internal rotating locking mechanism possibly
because the only feature holding the tongue into the bracket is the
locking mechanism itself. Murai (U.S. Pat. No. 5,113,556, May 19,
1992) does use a track open at the insertion end of the tongue
whose axis is parallel to the axis of insertion. This provides
stability to the coupling in that the guiding track in the tongue
acts against an internal and immovable feature of the bracket when
torque is applied to the base of the tongue. The coupling is
weakened by integrating the locking mechanism into the tongue. A
combination of torque and withdrawal force applied to the base of
the tongue will eventually result in release of the coupling.
[0011] The Invention described in this application selects the
strong features in each of these patents for a superior buckle
design.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THIS INVENTION
[0012] The Invention described in this application is a linear clip
mount comprised of a tongue and a bracket coupling to form a
buckle. The tongue is guided into the bracket using an integral
open track. The bracket has an immovable linear guide which serves
as an internal guide for the open track until the tongue can be
inserted no further. The bracket includes a sprung plate
overarching the tongue and incorporating a perforation on the
tongue side of the plate as well as a rotating attachment to the
immovable linear guide. The angle of rotation of the plate is
perpendicular to the axis of the immovable linear guide. A small
groove is introduced into the tongue to accommodate levering of the
plate. The sprung plate thus revolves on this axis within the
immovable inner guide. Depressing the plate on its edge will lever
the plate and its projection away from the tongue. This allows the
tongue to be inserted into the buckle. Releasing the plate will
cause the projection to lock into a perforation in the tongue. The
tongue may be attached to a substrate and in turn secure a device
attached to the buckle. Alternatively the tongue may be attached to
a device that is to be attached to a substrate on which the buckle
is anchored.
[0013] This buckle can be incorporated into a portable device such
as an electronic device or watch or light. The tongue can be
secured by a substrate such as a wrist band or handlebars on a
bike. The Invention thus allows the device to be secured to the
substrate removably and without fasteners simply by depressing the
plate edge to lever away the projection and allow the withdrawal of
buckle from the tongue. The linear assembly of two flat components
results in a low profile coupling useful where the volume that can
be dedicated to the attachment itself is limited. In summary:
1. The Invention incorporates a perforation or a plurality of
perforations in the tongue to allow penetration by a locking
mechanism attached to the bracket. 2. The locking mechanism
attached to the bracket acts in a rotary motion where the axis of
that rotation is perpendicular to the axis of insertion. 3. The
locking mechanism consists of a sprung bracket part supporting a
projection that entirely penetrates the perforation or plurality of
perforations in the tongue and is thus is an internal locking
mechanism. 4. Insertion and removal of the tongue requires levering
of the locking mechanism such that the projection is rotated away
from the tongue. 5. The tongue also incorporates a track or
plurality of tracks that guide insertion of the tongue into the
bracket and around an immovable feature or plurality of immovable
features in the bracket. 6. The tongue can be attached to a
substrate such as a watch band or belt or bicycle handlebars and
the bracket can be attached to a device. 7. The sprung locking
feature is an integral part of the external structure of the
bracket.
[0014] The detailed description reiterates these properties in
visual form.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THIS INVENTION
[0015] The buckle is an ancient design meme. A plurality of designs
is possible all involving a bracket and a tongue and a means for
locking. The advantage of a buckle is in its low profile of both
its components and the resulting coupled assembly. The reason why
the assembly is low is that the plane of the inserted tongue is
parallel to the plane of the buckle length. This advantage has seen
widespread adoption of the buckle in dress and in vehicular
applications. Novelty can be established for a new buckle design
through consideration of the combination of buckle and tongue and
locking device design.
[0016] In FIG. 1(a) an oblique view of the buckle shows both a
tongue (6) and an empty buckle (8). The tongue is attached to a
substrate (7). Illustrated here is a watchband or belt. The tongue
incorporates an open track (1) that fits around an immovable
feature (2) clip guiding it into place until the tongue can enter
the buckle no further. This same immovable feature has an
overarching plate with a projection (4) on the tongue side. This
projection would impede the progress of the tongue into the buckle
so it is levered out of place by a spring mount (3) on the
immovable feature. The angle of leverage is perpendicular to the
plane of insertion. The projection (8) is lowered by release of the
plate. The projection fits into a perforation (5) in the tongue to
provide the reversible locking mechanism.
[0017] FIG. 1(b) illustrates the nature of the open track (1) that
is open at the entry side. This port extends along the axis of
insertion until the track comes to an end. The perforation (5) is a
place for the locking projection to anchor. A groove (9) is
introduced parallel to the axis of insertion. This groove allows
for leverage of the locking plate such that the projection is
retracted fully from the perforation.
[0018] FIG. 2 explicitly illustrates how the open track (1) on the
tongue fits around the immovable feature (2) integral to the
buckle. Insertion is only possible if the overarching plate
suspending a projection (4) is levered out of the way. Once the
tongue is inserted the plate can be released to lock the tongue
onto the buckle. Depression of the plate once again allows for
retraction of the tongue from the buckle.
[0019] In practical terms this buckle could be used in a belt or to
fashion an electronic device into a watch band.
* * * * *