U.S. patent application number 14/258570 was filed with the patent office on 2015-10-22 for front-release belt buckle.
This patent application is currently assigned to Merrimack River Precision Industrial Corporation. The applicant listed for this patent is Merrimack River Precision Industrial Corporation. Invention is credited to Tsung-Ming Kung.
Application Number | 20150296929 14/258570 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 54320843 |
Filed Date | 2015-10-22 |
United States Patent
Application |
20150296929 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Kung; Tsung-Ming |
October 22, 2015 |
FRONT-RELEASE BELT BUCKLE
Abstract
A front-release belt buckle has a female socket and a male plug.
The female socket has a hooking part and a main panel, and the male
plug has a fastening hole. The hooking part is engaged in the
fastening hole for holding the female socket and the male plug. The
front-release belt buckle has a simplified structure for ease of
use and lowered cost in production.
Inventors: |
Kung; Tsung-Ming; (Taipei
City, TW) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
Merrimack River Precision Industrial Corporation |
Taipei City |
|
TW |
|
|
Assignee: |
Merrimack River Precision
Industrial Corporation
Taipei City
TW
|
Family ID: |
54320843 |
Appl. No.: |
14/258570 |
Filed: |
April 22, 2014 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
24/164 ;
24/698.1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A44B 11/28 20130101 |
International
Class: |
A44B 11/28 20060101
A44B011/28; A44B 11/00 20060101 A44B011/00 |
Claims
1. A front-release belt buckle comprising: a female socket having a
hooking part and a main panel, the hooking part formed and bent on
one side of the main panel, the female socket having a space formed
between an inner surface of the hooking part and an inner surface
of the main panel; and a male plug detachably fastened with the
female socket, the male plug having a fastening hole formed on the
male plug, wherein the hooking part of the female socket is engaged
in the fastening hole of the male plug.
2. The front-release belt buckle as claimed in claim 1, wherein the
female socket has a protrusion formed on the inner surface of the
main panel and in the space.
3. The front-release belt buckle as claimed in claim 1, wherein the
female socket has at least one connecting strap hole.
4. The front-release belt buckle as claimed in claim 1, wherein the
male plug has at least one connecting strap hole.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] 1. Field of the Invention
[0002] The present invention relates to a buckle, especially a
front-release belt buckle that is mounted with straps.
[0003] 2. Description of the Prior Arts
[0004] A conventional side-release buckle is applied to most
suitcases and helmets. With reference to FIGS. 5 and 6, the
conventional side-release buckle comprises a male plug 50 with
pressing components 51 formed on two sides of the male plug 50, and
a female socket 60 with holes 61 formed on two sides of the female
socket 60. When the conventional side-release buckle is in use, the
pressing components 51 are pressed and are plugged in the female
socket 60. Then the pressing components 51 are released so that the
pressing components 51 can engage the holes 61. To unfasten the
conventional side-release buckle, the pressing components 51 are
pressed and moved toward the opposite direction relative to the
female socket 60.
[0005] The conventional side-release buckle is pressed and operated
by intensive force from user's hands, so it is inconvenient to
connect or disconnect the male plug and the female socket for those
people who are less dexterous in manually applying force. The
pressing components 51 are elongated and thin structures with weak
strength so the pressing components 51 are fractured easily when
the intensive force is sustained for a long time. As for
manufacturing, the conventional side-release buckle has high cost
of production due to the complicated structure.
[0006] To overcome the shortcomings, the present invention provides
a front-release belt buckle to mitigate or obviate the
aforementioned problems.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0007] The main objective of the present invention is to provide a
front-release belt buckle that can be used easily by any user and
produced with simplified structure.
[0008] The front-release belt buckle comprises a female socket
having a hooking part and a main panel, wherein the hooking part is
formed and bent on one side of the main panel. A space is formed
between an inner surface of the hooking part and an inner surface
of the main panel. A male plug is fastened with the female socket.
A fastening hole is formed on the male plug. The hooking part of
the female socket is engaged in the fastening hole of the male
plug.
[0009] The advantage of the present invention is that both the male
plug and the female socket have simplified and thick structure with
enhanced strength. The way of fastening the front-release belt
buckle is easy for users. To manufacturers, lower cost and higher
quality of production are brought by simplified structure.
[0010] The front-release belt buckle as described has a protrusion
mounted on the main panel and in the space. The protrusion is
applied to holding the male plug and the female socket in the
fastened condition.
[0011] At least one connecting strap hole is formed on the female
socket. Each connecting strap hole is connected with a strap.
[0012] At least one connecting strap hole is formed on the male
plug. Each connecting strap hole is connected with a strap.
[0013] Other objectives, advantages and novel features of the
invention will become more apparent from the following detailed
description when taken in conjunction with the accompanying
drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0014] FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view of a front-release
belt buckle in accordance with the present invention;
[0015] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the front-release belt
buckle in FIG. 1;
[0016] FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional side view of the front-release
belt buckle in FIG. 1;
[0017] FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the front-release belt
buckle in FIG. 1, shown connecting with straps in a suitcase;
[0018] FIG. 5 is an exploded perspective view of the conventional
side-release buckle in accordance with the prior art;
[0019] FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the conventional
side-release buckle in FIG. 5.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0020] With reference to FIG. 1, a front-release belt buckle in
accordance with the present invention comprises a female socket 10
and a male plug 20.
[0021] The female socket 10 has a main panel 11, a hooking part 12,
and a protrusion 13. The hooking part 12 is formed and bent on one
side of the main panel 11 to form a space between an inner surface
of the hooking part 12 and an inner surface of the main panel 11.
The protrusion 13 is formed on one side of the inner surface of the
main panel 11 and extends into the space. A connecting strap hole
14 is formed on the other side of the inner surface of the main
panel 11.
[0022] The male plug 20 is selectively fastened with the female
socket 10. The male plug 20 has a fastening hole 21 and two
connecting strap holes 22. The fastening hole 21 is formed on one
side of the male plug 20. The connecting strap holes 22 are formed
on the other side of the male plug 20.
[0023] With reference to FIGS. 2 to 4, the front-release belt
buckle as described is mounted in a suitcase 30 for holding straps
40 inside the suitcase 30. The hooking part 12 engages the
fastening hole 21 to hold the straps 40. An outer edge of the male
plug 20 is fastened in the space of the female socket 10 and is
held by the protrusion 13. The hooking part 12 firmly engages the
fastening hole 21 because the outer edge of the male plug 20 is
mostly covered by the hooking part 12 and the protrusion 13.
[0024] The female socket 10 and the male plug 20 have the
simplified and thick structure with enhanced strength. The way of
fastening the front-release belt buckle of the present invention is
easier for users. The front-release belt buckle can be used for a
long time without fracture due to the enhanced strength. To
manufacturers, the front-release belt buckle costs lower in
production without the need to develop complicated molds.
[0025] Even though numerous characteristics and advantages of the
present invention have been set forth in the foregoing description,
together with details of the structure and features of the
invention, the disclosure is illustrative only. Changes may be made
in the details, especially in matters of shape, size, and
arrangement of parts within the principles of the invention to the
full extent indicated by the broad general meaning of the terms in
which the appended claims are expressed.
* * * * *