GB2262961A - Buckle assembly - Google Patents

Abstract

A buckle assembly (10) Fig 1 (not shown) of the invention comprises a plug member (11) and a socket member (12) (not shown) releasably engageable therewith for fastening a closure flap of a bag or the like as well as for connecting loose ends of a belt or the like. The plug member (11) includes an engaging tongue (18) having at least two diametrically opposed portions (19, 21) connected to the body of the plug member (1.1). The leading one (19) of said portions being connected integrally with the insert plate (16) while the trailing connection (21) is by resilient interengagement of parts (21') and (22). The socket member (12) includes a resilient means (33, 33) for positively urging the plug member (11) out of engagement with the socket member (12). <IMAGE>

Description

BUCKLE ASSEMBLY This invention relates a buckle assembly for releasably fastening a closure flap of a bag, rucksack or the like and also for releasably connecting loose ends of a belt, strap or the like applied to trousers, skirts and other garment articles.

There are known numerous buckles of different forms and constructions for releasably fastening various garment articles. One such prior art buckle is disclosed in Japanese Utility Model Publication No.

63-20334, wherein the disclosed buckle comprises a plug member having a circular engaging tongue and a socket member releasably engageable with the plug member. The engaging tongue is rotatable relative to the socket member. However, since the engaging tongue is connected at only a relatively small single peripheral portion to the body of the plug member, there would develop stresses localized at such limited area of connection that the plug member is prone to undergo considerable fatigue and hence damage in prolonged use.Furthermore, in the absence of fastening tension as applied by a strap or the like to which the buckle is connected, the engaging tongue of the plug member would tend to protrude objectionably beyond the level of the socket member, making it difficult to disengage the plug from the socket and would often catch foreign matters or part of the garment fabric, resulting in damaged buckle.

Another prior art device is introduced in Japanese Patent Publication No. 57-2324 in which there is shown a buckle having a plug with a square engaging tongue normally urged upwardly apart from an associated socket, the engaging tongue being connected at one of its ends to the plug. This device has similar drawbacks to those of the first mentioned prior art buckle.

With the foregoing drawbacks of the prior art devices in view, the present invention seeks to provide a buckle assembly which is relatively simple in construction and reliable in operation.

More specifically, the invention seeks to provide a buckle assembly incorporating a means of retaining a plug member in place against upward projecting movement unlimitedly above a socket member.

The invention further seeks to provide a buckle assembly capable of dispersing stresses which would otherwise be localized and result in damaged parts.

The invention also seeks to provide a buckle assembly incorporating a means of positively releasing a plug member from its associated socket member.

According to the invention, there is provided a buckle assembly which comprises a plug member and a socket member releasably engageable therewith, the plug member having a barrel portion, a support plate portion integral therewith and an engaging tongue portion connected to the support plate portion by a connecting portion disposed remote from the barrel portion, the engaging tongue portion having a hook portion disposed in opposed relation to the connecting portion and resiliently engaged with the support plate portion, and the socket member having an upper plate portion and a lower plate portion defining therebetween and jointly with an integral peripheral flange portion a guide chamber and a guide opening communicating therewith for releasably receiving the plug member, the upper plate portion having a window for receiving the engaging tongue portion.

The above and other objects and features of the invention will become manifest to those versed in the art upon making reference to the detailed description and the accompanying sheets of drawings in which a preferred structural embodiment incorporating the principles of the invention is shown by way of illustrative example.

Like or corresponding parts are designated by the same reference numerals throughout the several views in the drawings.

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a buckle assembly embodying the invention which is comprised of a plug member and a socket member; Figure 2 is a plan view of the plug member; Figure 3 is a longitudinal cross-sectional view of the plug member shown with its engaging tongue connected; Figure 4 is a plan view of the buckle assembly shown with its plug and socket members coupled together; Figure 5 is a longitudinal cross-sectional view of the buckle assembly shown in Figure 4; Figure 6 is a longitudinal cross-sectional view of the plug member shown with its engaging tongue disconnected; Figure 7 is a view similar to Figure 1 but showing a modified form of buckle assembly according to the invention; Figure 8 is a perspective view of a further modified form of buckle assembly according to the invention;; Figure 9 is a plan view of the buckle assembly of Figure 8 shown coupled together; Figure 10 is a longitudinal cross-sectional view of the buckle assembly of Figure 9.

Referring now to the drawings and Figure 1 in particular, there is shown a buckle assembly 10 embodying the invention which comprises a male part or plug member 11 and a female part or socket member 12, both of which are formed by molding a suitable plastics material into the respective shapes.

The male or plug member 11 has a rectangular barrel portion 13 having an inner end thereof tapered laterally outwardly as shown at 14, 14 terminating at an integral downwardly projecting portion 15. A generally circular support plate portion 16 is connected by a reduced neck portion 17 integrally to the barrel portion 13 and extends horizontally from the projecting portion 15. The plug member 11 includes an engaging tongue 18 in the form of a circular disc smaller in diameter than and concentric with the support plate portion 16, the tongue 18 being joined to the support plate portion 16 by an arcuate connecting portion 19 of a limited length disposed remote from the barrel portion 13. The engaging tongue 18 being smaller than the support plate portion 16 leaves the latter with a marginal peripheral land 20 therearound as better shown in Figures 1 and 2.

The engaging tongue 18 has a cross-sectionally Lshaped hook portion 21 of a limited length disposed in diametrically opposed relation to the connecting portion 19 and normally held in abutting engagement with a bridge portion 22 disposed immediately adjacent to an elongated arcuate slit 23 formed in the neck portion 17.

The plug member 11 is molded initially with the hook portion 21 of the engaging tongue 18 separated from the bridge portion 22 as better shown in Figure 6.

During assembly of the plug member 11, the hook portion 21 is brought under and held resiliently against the bridge portion 22. The engagement of these portions 21 and 22 is facilitated by providing them with respective tapered mating ends 21' and 22' such that the hook portion 21 can smoothly slide down therealong into abutting relation to the bridge portion 22, in which instance the latter portion is resiliently displaced slightly toward the barrel portion 13 as the slit 23 is squeezed.

The female or socket member 12 has a generally Ushaped block including an upper plate portion 24 and a lower plate portion 25 which are joined together by a Ushaped peripheral flange portion 26 extending peripherally around the plate portions 24 and 25 and terminating short of their respective linear or straight ends 24' and 25'. The upper and lower plate portions 24 and 25 define therebetween and jointly with the peripheral flange 26 a guide chamber 27 and have a guide opening 28 formed at their straight ends 24' and 25' in communication with the chamber 27 for receiving the engaging tongue 18 of the plug member 11.

A circular window 29 is formed in the upper plate portion 24 in communication with the guide chamber 27 and adapted to releasably receive the disc-like engaging tongue 18. The circular window 29 includes a retaining rim portion 30 adjacent to the guide opening 28 for retaining the engaging tongue 18 in place when received in the window 29.

The peripheral flange portion 26 of the socket member 12 is notched at the straight open ends 24' and 25' of the plate members 24 and 25 to provide side recesses 26', 26' communicating with the guide opening 28. The upper plate member 24 has its end 24' canted off to provide a downwardly directed taper 31. The provision of the side recesses 26', 26' and the taper 31 in the socket member 12 and the reduced neck portion 17 and the tapers 14, 14 in the plug member 11 ensures free rotary movement of the plug member 11 about the engaging tongue 18 as a fulcrum relative to the socket member 12 when the two members 11 and 12 are coupled together.

The width of the socket 12 as defined by the straight ends 24' and 25' thereof is substantially coextensive with the width of the plug member 11 as shown in Figure 4 so that the buckle assembly 10 as a whole has an attractive appearance.

Designated at 32 are connecting lugs provided at the bottom surfaces of the plug and socket members 11 and 12 for mounting the buckle assembly 10 on a garment article not shown.

With this construction, the buckle assembly 10 is assembled in use by inserting the engaging tongue 18 of the plug member 11 resiliently through the guide opening 28 into the chamber 27 of the socket member 12, until the engaging tongue 18 is snapped in place within the window 29 of the socket member 12. Thus with the plug and socket members 11 and 12 coupled together, the engaging tongue 18 is retained in place against further upward displacement relative to the socket member 12 as the marginal peripheral land 20 of the plug member 11 is held in abutting engagement with the corresponding inner wall of the socket member 12.

The problem of fatigue of the buckle assembly 10 can be eliminated or alleviated which would result from stresses applied to the plug member 11 when brought into snapping engagement with the socket member 12 because such stresses are effectively evenly distributed over both the connecting portion 16 and the hook portion 21 that are located in diametrically opposed relation on the plug member 11.

A modified form of the buckle assembly of the invention is shown in Figure 7 which is substantially identical to the buckle assembly 10 described hereinabove with reference to Figures 1 through 6 inclusive, but which is provided with a resilient means such as a pair of leaf springs 33, 33 for normally urging the plug member 11 out of engagement with the socket member 12. The leaf springs 33, 33 have their respective one ends secured to the inner wall of the peripheral flange portion 26 of the socket member 12 and their respective opposite ends disposed free and slightly bent inwardly toward each other so that the plug member 11, when desired to be separated from the socket member 12, can be positively pushed out under the influence of tension of the leaf springs 33, 33.

Figures 8 through 10 inclusive show another modified form of the inventive buckle assembly which is similar in many respects to the buckle assembly 10 shown in Figures 1 - 6 and 7 but which is devoid of the recesses 26', 26', the taper 31, the reduced neck portion 17 and the tapers 14, 14. The plug member 11 in this modified buckle assembly 10' is therefore not rotatable relative to the socket member 12.

Claims (8)

CLAIMS:

1. A buckle assembly which comprises a plug member and a socket member releasably engageable therewith, said plug member having a barrel portion, a {/^ support plate portion integral therewith and an engaging Is tongue portion connected to said support plate portion by a connecting portion disposed remote from said barrel portion, said engaging tongue portion having a hook portion disposed in opposed relation to said connecting portion and resiliently engaged with said support plate portion, and said socket member having an upper plate portion and a lower plate portion defining therebetween and jointly with an integral peripheral flange portion a guide chamber and a guide opening communicating therewith for releasably receiving said plug member, said upper plate portion having a window for receiving said engaging tongue portion.

2. A buckle assembly as defined in claim 1 including a resilient means for positively urging said plug member out of engagement with said socket member.

3. A buckle assembly as defined in claim 1 wherein said plug member has a tapered inner end and a reduced neck portion, and said socket member has a tapered end in said upper plate portion and side recesses in said peripheral flange portion, the arrangement being such that said plug member is rotatable relative to said socket member.

4. A buckle assembly as defined in claim 1 or claim 3 wherein said engaging tongue is in the form of a circular disc.

5. A buckle assembly as defined in claim 1 wherein said plug member is provided with an elongated slit adjacent to said engaging tongue.

6. A buckle assembly substantially as described with reference to and as illustrated in Figures 1 to 6 of the drawings.

7. A buckle assembly substantially as described with reference to and as illustrated in Figures 1 to 6 modified as in Figure 7.

8. A buckle assembly substantially as described with reference to and as illustrated in Figures 1 to 6 modified as in Figures 8 to 10.