Survival Buckle

Abstract

A survival buckle is disclosed which is durable, easy to use, safe, and can provide the necessary spark to create a fire in almost any setting. The male buckle member comprises a flint cartridge positioned on the center guide rod, and the female buckle member comprises a striking pad. To create a spark, the user will separate the male buckle member from the female buckle member, secure the male buckle member in one hand, secure the female buckle member in the other hand, and strike the flint cartridge against the striking pad in an outward motion. The impact from the flint cartridge causes a portion of the striking pad, heated by friction, to react with oxygen from the atmosphere and create a spark.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

[0001] Not Applicable.

STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT

[0002] Not Applicable.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0003] This invention relates generally to a survival buckle, and more particularly, to a side release survival buckle with a plurality of features including a flint and striking pad.

DISCUSSION OF RELATED ART

[0004] A buckle is a device used to secure two or more loose ends by attaching each of them to opposing pieces of the buckle and connecting them together. As such, the buckle creates a bonding force between the loose ends powerful enough to hold a tremendous amount of weight. Buckles come in a variety of shapes and sizes dependent upon their use, and are used to secure a variety of items together. Belts, bracelets, and straps all use buckles to allow an adjustable manner in securing the item.

[0005] A conventional side release buckle is formed from a male buckle member and a female buckle member. The male buckle member includes a portion that is inserted into the female buckle member. Once inserted, opposing forces operate to secure the male buckle member within the female buckle member until released. Side release buttons are advantageous because of their high strength, ease of use, and durability.

[0006] A traditional survival fire starting kit includes a flint, steel striker, and potentially magnesium powder to assist in starting the fire. The steel striker is struck against the flint, where the flint then shaves off particles of the steel, heated by the friction between the two, which reacts with oxygen to produce sparks. The sparks are used to ignite tinder to create a fire in a wilderness setting. Magnesium can be used in conjunction to quickly ignite the tinder and jumpstart a fire. These kits involve many different pieces, each designed for their specific use.

[0007] While many types of buckles exist in the prior art, there is no variant that incorporates the ease of use of a buckle with the survival advantages of a fire starting kit. Therefore, a need exists for a survival buckle which is durable, easy to use, safe, and can provide the necessary spark to create a fire in almost any setting. The present invention accomplishes these objectives.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0008] The present invention will provide a survival buckle which is durable, easy to use, safe, and can provide the necessary spark to create a fire in almost any setting. Furthermore, the present invention will be versatile enough to incorporate into almost any outdoor or survival equipment. This is accomplished by incorporating a flint and steel within the male and female buckle members, as well as survival rope, an emergency container, and a compass.

[0009] The male and female buckle members operate in conjunction, with the male buckle member having a flint cartridge positioned on the center guide rod, and the female buckle member having a striking pad. To create a spark, the user will separate the male buckle member from the female buckle member, secure the male buckle member in one hand, secure the female buckle member in the other hand, and strike the flint cartridge against the striking pad in an outward motion. The impact from the flint cartridge causes a portion of the striking pad, heated by friction, to react with oxygen from the atmosphere and create a spark.

[0010] These and other objectives of the present invention will become obvious to those of ordinary skill in the art after reading the following detailed description of the preferred embodiments. It is to be understood that the foregoing general description and the following detailed description are exemplary, and are intended to provide further explanation of the invention as claimed.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0011] FIG. 1 is a top view of the male and female buckles separated;

[0012] FIG. 2 is a top view of the male and female buckles together;

[0013] FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the male and female buckles separated;

[0014] FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the male and female buckles together;

[0015] FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the male and female buckles prior to striking;

[0016] FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the male and female buckles after striking;

[0017] FIG. 7 is a perspective view of the female buckle having a side striking pad;

[0018] FIG. 8 is a perspective view of the male buckle having an all-flint center guide rod;

[0019] FIG. 9 is a top view of the female buckle having a compartment;

[0020] FIG. 10 is a side view of the female buckle having a compartment;

[0021] FIG. 11 is a perspective view of the male buckle having a replaceable flint and groove track;

[0022] FIG. 12 is a top view of the female buckle having a an open compartment door and flammable material;

[0023] FIG. 13 is a perspective view of the survival buckle having a strap and compass;

[0024] FIG. 14 is a top view of the male and female center buckles separated;

[0025] FIG. 15 is a top view of the male and female center buckles together.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

[0026] Illustrative embodiments of the invention are described below. The following explanation provides specific details for a thorough understanding of and enabling description for these embodiments. One skilled in the art will understand that the invention may be practiced without such details. In other instances, well-known structures and functions have not been shown or described in detail to avoid unnecessarily obscuring the description of the embodiments.

[0027] Unless the context clearly requires otherwise, throughout the description and the claims, the words "comprise," "comprising," and the like are to be construed in an inclusive sense as opposed to an exclusive or exhaustive sense; that is to say, in the sense of "including, but not limited to." Words using the singular or plural number also include the plural or singular number respectively. Additionally, the words "herein," "above," "below" and words of similar import, when used in this application, shall refer to this application as a whole and not to any particular portions of this application. When the claims use the word "or" in reference to a list of two or more items, that word covers all of the following interpretations of the word: any of the items in the list, all of the items in the list and any combination of the items in the list.

[0028] The present invention discloses a survival buckle 10 comprising a female buckle member 30 and a male buckle member 20 releasably connectable to the female buckle member 30. The male buckle member 20 comprises a base 21, a center guide rod 22 which forwardly extends from the base 21, and two spring arms 23 equally spaced from the center guide rod 22. The spring arms 23 forwardly extend from the base 21 and terminate with retaining hooks 24 at their front ends 25. The center guide rod 22 of the further comprises an attached flint cartridge 40 positioned on its top side 26.

[0029] The female buckle member 30 comprises a hollow body 31, a front aperture 32, and two side apertures 33 which hold and secure the spring arm 23 retaining hooks 24 when the male buckle member 20 is slideably inserted into the female buckle member 30. Furthermore, the female buckle member 30 comprises a striking pad 41 positioned on either the top 34, bottom 35, left 36, or right side 37 of the hollow body 31. The striking pad 41 can be inset 45 within the body 31 of the female buckle member 30, can be flush with an edge 38 of the female buckle member 30, or can protrude 39 over an edge 38 of the female buckle member 30. In an alternative embodiment, the entire female buckle member 30 is made of steel and operates as a striking pad 41.

[0030] To create a spark, the user will separate the male buckle member 20 from the female buckle member 30, secure the male buckle member 20 in one hand 81, secure the female buckle member 30 in the other hand 82, orientate the center guide rod 22 such that the top side 26 and flint cartridge 40 are exposed, orientate the female buckle member 30 to expose the striking pad 41, and strike the flint cartridge 40 against the striking pad 41 in an outward motion. The impact from the flint cartridge 40 causes a portion of the striking pad 41, heated by friction, to react with oxygen from the atmosphere and create a spark 42.

[0031] When slideably engaging the female buckle member 30, the flint cartridge 40 is positioned such that it does not contact the female buckle member 30 or the striking pad 41. This is of critical importance, as it prevents inadvertent sparks 42 and potential fire hazards. A clearance of 1-5 mm is anticipated to prevent this contact. Alternatively, the inside track of the hollow body 31 of the female buckle member 30 may comprise a coating or other material to prevent accidental sparks 42.

[0032] In an alternative embodiment, the flint cartridge 40 is replaceable by utilizing a track or groove 28 which runs along the top side 26 of the center guide rod 22. Here, a replaceable flint cartridge 43 is adapted to slidably engage and be retained by the groove 28. Furthermore, a locking mechanism 29 is positioned at the base end 27 of the center guide rod 22, providing a secure means of retaining the replaceable flint cartridge 43. The user merely needs to release the locking mechanism 29 at the base end 27, remove the flint cartridge 43, replace this cartridge with a new flint cartridge 43, and lock the new flint cartridge 43 in place using the locking mechanism 29. In a further alternative embodiment, the entire center guide rod 44 is made of flint and is replaceable.

[0033] In an alternative embodiment, a compartment 50 having a compartment door 51 is placed within the female buckle member 30. The compartment 50 may use a small portion of the female buckle member 30, or may utilize a large amount by implementing a compartment door 52 on the top side 34 of the female buckle member 30. A rubber seal 53, or o-ring, is positioned between the compartment 50 and compartment door 51 to seal the compartment 50 when the door 51 is in a closed position. This compartment 50 can be used to store a flammable material 71 such as magnesium powder or lint to assist in starting a fire using the spark 42 from the flint cartridge 40 and striking pad 41. A compass 54 may also be placed on the female buckle member 30 opposite of the compartment door 51.

[0034] In the preferred embodiment, the base 21 and hollow body 31 comprise one or more strap apertures 60 allowing a belt or strap 61 to be attached to the survival buckle 10. As such, the male 20 and female buckle members 30 will attach to opposing ends of a strap 61 and can create a bracelet or necklace by slideably inserting the male buckle member 20 relative to the female buckle member 30. The strap 61 can be made of intertwined rope 62, which can be unbound for survival purposes. Furthermore, to aid in comfort and reduce fatige, the male 20 and female bucket members 30 are slightly incurvate 70, or curved like a bow.

[0035] The male buckle member 20, female buckle member 30, base 21, hollow body 31, center guide rod 22, spring arms 23, and other features may have a variety of shapes, sizes, and colors. While this application is not meant to be exhaustive, it is anticipated that so long as a flint cartridge 40 or other object capable of creating a spark 42 is inserted within a female buckle member 30, or is moved and stored relative to a female buckle member 30, it is within the purview of this application. While the preferred embodiment will be made of plastics or other polymers, a variety of materials such as metals, metal alloys, and can be used. Furthermore, while the preferred embodiment discloses a bracelet, it is anticipated that the present invention can be incorporated into backpacks, jackets, clothing, outdoor gear, and other objects.

[0036] While a survival buckle 10 is disclosed in the present application, other buckle types are anticipated. For example, a center release buckle 110 comprising a female center buckle member 130 and a male center buckle member 120 releasably connectable to the female center buckle member 130. The male center buckle member 120 comprises a center base 121 and center tab 122 which forwardly extends from the center base 121, the center tab 122 having an center tab aperture 125 with a release arm 123 retained by the bottom side 124 of the center tab aperture 125. The female center buckle member 130 comprises an female center aperture 131 which engages the release arm 123. The center tab 122 has an attached center flint cartridge 126 on the bottom side 124 of the center tab aperture 125, while the female center buckle member 130 has an attached center strike pad 132. A spark 42 is created when the center flint cartridge 126 strikes the center strike pad 132.

[0037] The above detailed description of the embodiments of the invention is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to the precise form disclosed above or to the particular field of usage mentioned in this disclosure. While specific embodiments of, and examples for, the invention are described above for illustrative purposes, various equivalent modifications are possible within the scope of the invention, as those skilled in the relevant art will recognize. Also, the teachings of the invention provided herein can be applied to other systems, not necessarily the system described above. The elements and acts of the various embodiments described above can be combined to provide further embodiments.

[0038] While certain aspects of the invention are presented below in certain claim forms, the inventor contemplates the various aspects of the invention in any number of claim forms. Accordingly, the inventor reserves the right to add additional claims after filing the application to pursue such additional claim forms for other aspects of the invention.

Claims

1. A survival buckle comprising: a female buckle member and a male buckle member releasably connectable to said female buckle member; said male buckle member having a base, a center guide rod forwardly extending from said base, and two spring arms equally spaced from said center guide rod and forwardly extending from said base, said spring arms terminating with retaining hooks at their front ends; said female buckle member having a hollow body, front aperture, and two side apertures which hold and secure said spring arm retaining hooks when said male buckle member is slideably inserted into said female buckle member; said center guide rod having an attached flint cartridge on its top side positioned such that said flint cartridge does not contact said female buckle member when said male buckle member is slideably inserted into said female buckle member; and said female buckle member having a striking pad; wherein a spark is created when said flint cartridge strikes said striking pad.

2. The survival buckle of claim 1, further comprising: a groove on said top side of said center guide rod; a locking mechanism at the base end of said center guide rod; a replaceable flint cartridge adapted to slidably engage and be retained by said groove and said locking mechanism.

3. The survival buckle of claim 1, wherein said striking pad is located on either the top side, the bottom side, the left side, or the right side of said female buckle member.

4. The survival buckle of claim 1, wherein said striking pad is positioned to be flush with an edge of said female buckle member.

5. The survival buckle of claim 1, wherein said striking pad is positioned to protrude over an edge of said female buckle member.

6. The survival buckle of claim 1, wherein the female buckle member is made of steel and operates as a striking pad.

7. The survival buckle of claim 1, wherein said female buckle member further comprises a compartment having a compartment door and a rubber seal to secure the contents of said compartment when said compartment door is closed.

8. The survival buckle of claim 7, wherein said compartment door further comprises an openable top side of the female buckle member.

9. The survival buckle of claim 1, further comprising a compass located on the female buckle member opposite said compartment door.

10. The survival buckle of claim 1, wherein said male and female members further comprise strap apertures adapted to retain a belt or strap.

11. The survival buckle of claim 10, wherein said male and female buckle members are attached to opposing ends of a strap using said strap apertures to create a bracelet or necklace.

12. The survival buckle of claim 11, wherein said bracelet comprises intertwined rope which can be unbound for survival purposes.

13. The survival buckle of claim 1, wherein said male and female buckle members are incurvate.

14. The survival buckle of claim 1, wherein said center guide rod is entirely made of a replaceable flint cartridge.

15. A method for creating a spark using a survival buckle, said method comprising the steps of: separating a female buckle member and a male buckle member releasably connectable to said female buckle member; securing said male buckle member in one hand, said male buckle member having a base, a center guide rod forwardly extending from said base, and two spring arms equally spaced from said center guide rod and forwardly extending from said base, said spring arms terminating with retaining hooks at their front ends; securing said female buckle in the other hand, said female buckle member having a hollow body, front aperture, and two side apertures which hold and secure said spring arm retaining hooks when said male buckle member is slideably inserted into said female buckle member; orientating said center guide rod such that its top side is exposed, said top side having an attached flint cartridge positioned such that said flint cartridge does not contact said female buckle member when said male buckle member is slideably inserted into said female buckle member; and orientating said female buckle member such that its top side is exposed, said top side having a striking pad; and striking said flint against said striking pad such that a portion of the striking pad, heated by the friction of the collision, reacts with the oxygen from the atmosphere, creating a spark.

16. The method of claim 15, further comprising: releasing a locking mechanism at the base end of said center guide rod; removing said flint cartridge adapted to slidably engage and be retained by a groove on said top side of said center guide rod and said locking mechanism; replacing said flint cartridge; and locking said locking mechanism at the base end of said center guide rod to secure said flint cartridge.

17. The method of claim 15, wherein said striking pad is located on either the top side, bottom side, left side, or right side of said female buckle member.

18. The method of claim 15, further comprising: storing a flammable material within a compartment on said female buckle member, said compartment having a compartment door; and creating a spark using said flint and striking pad to ignite said flammable material.

19. The method of claim 15, further comprising: attaching said male and female buckle members to opposing ends of a strap using a strap aperture on said mail and female members; and slideably inserting said male buckle member relative to said female buckle member, creating a bracelet, said male and female buckle members being incurvate for comfort.

20. A center release survival buckle comprising: a female center buckle member and a male center buckle member releasably connectable to said female center buckle member; said male center buckle member having a center base and a center tab which forwardly extends from said center base, said center tab having a center tab aperture encapsulating a release arm retained by the bottom side of said center tab aperture; said female center buckle member having a female center aperture which engages said release arm; said release arm having an attached center flint cartridge on said bottom side of said center tab aperture; and said female center buckle member having an attached center strike pad; wherein a spark is created when said center flint cartridge strikes said center striking pad.