US20080178438A1 - Buckle - Google Patents

Buckle Download PDF

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Publication number
US20080178438A1
US20080178438A1 US12/019,055 US1905508A US2008178438A1 US 20080178438 A1 US20080178438 A1 US 20080178438A1 US 1905508 A US1905508 A US 1905508A US 2008178438 A1 US2008178438 A1 US 2008178438A1
Authority
US
United States
Prior art keywords
male member
projecting portion
legs
female member
base
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Abandoned
Application number
US12/019,055
Other languages
English (en)
Inventor
Kenichi Yoshie
Miyuki Ohgaku
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
YKK Corp
Original Assignee
YKK Corp
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by YKK Corp filed Critical YKK Corp
Assigned to YKK CORPORATION reassignment YKK CORPORATION ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST (SEE DOCUMENT FOR DETAILS). Assignors: OHGAKU, MIYUKI, YOSHIE, KENICHI
Publication of US20080178438A1 publication Critical patent/US20080178438A1/en
Abandoned legal-status Critical Current

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Classifications

    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A44—HABERDASHERY; JEWELLERY
    • A44B—BUTTONS, PINS, BUCKLES, SLIDE FASTENERS, OR THE LIKE
    • A44B11/00—Buckles; Similar fasteners for interconnecting straps or the like, e.g. for safety belts
    • A44B11/25—Buckles; Similar fasteners for interconnecting straps or the like, e.g. for safety belts with two or more separable parts
    • A44B11/26—Buckles; Similar fasteners for interconnecting straps or the like, e.g. for safety belts with two or more separable parts with push-button fastenings
    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A44—HABERDASHERY; JEWELLERY
    • A44B—BUTTONS, PINS, BUCKLES, SLIDE FASTENERS, OR THE LIKE
    • A44B11/00—Buckles; Similar fasteners for interconnecting straps or the like, e.g. for safety belts
    • A44B11/25—Buckles; Similar fasteners for interconnecting straps or the like, e.g. for safety belts with two or more separable parts
    • A44B11/26—Buckles; Similar fasteners for interconnecting straps or the like, e.g. for safety belts with two or more separable parts with push-button fastenings
    • A44B11/266—Buckles; Similar fasteners for interconnecting straps or the like, e.g. for safety belts with two or more separable parts with push-button fastenings with at least one push-button acting parallel to the main plane of the buckle and perpendicularly to the direction of the fastening action
    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A44—HABERDASHERY; JEWELLERY
    • A44B—BUTTONS, PINS, BUCKLES, SLIDE FASTENERS, OR THE LIKE
    • A44B11/00—Buckles; Similar fasteners for interconnecting straps or the like, e.g. for safety belts
    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A44—HABERDASHERY; JEWELLERY
    • A44B—BUTTONS, PINS, BUCKLES, SLIDE FASTENERS, OR THE LIKE
    • A44B11/00—Buckles; Similar fasteners for interconnecting straps or the like, e.g. for safety belts
    • A44B11/25—Buckles; Similar fasteners for interconnecting straps or the like, e.g. for safety belts with two or more separable parts
    • Y—GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
    • Y10—TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC
    • Y10T—TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER US CLASSIFICATION
    • Y10T24/00—Buckles, buttons, clasps, etc.
    • Y10T24/45—Separable-fastener or required component thereof [e.g., projection and cavity to complete interlock]
    • Y10T24/45225—Separable-fastener or required component thereof [e.g., projection and cavity to complete interlock] including member having distinct formations and mating member selectively interlocking therewith
    • Y10T24/45471—Projection having movable connection between components thereof or variable configuration
    • Y10T24/45524—Projection having movable connection between components thereof or variable configuration including resiliently biased projection component or surface segment
    • Y10T24/45529—Requiring manual force applied against bias to interlock or disengage
    • Y—GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
    • Y10—TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC
    • Y10T—TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER US CLASSIFICATION
    • Y10T24/00—Buckles, buttons, clasps, etc.
    • Y10T24/45—Separable-fastener or required component thereof [e.g., projection and cavity to complete interlock]
    • Y10T24/45225—Separable-fastener or required component thereof [e.g., projection and cavity to complete interlock] including member having distinct formations and mating member selectively interlocking therewith
    • Y10T24/45471—Projection having movable connection between components thereof or variable configuration
    • Y10T24/45524—Projection having movable connection between components thereof or variable configuration including resiliently biased projection component or surface segment
    • Y10T24/45529—Requiring manual force applied against bias to interlock or disengage
    • Y10T24/45534—Requiring manual force applied against bias to interlock or disengage having connected leading edge and separated trailing arms
    • Y—GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
    • Y10—TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC
    • Y10T—TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER US CLASSIFICATION
    • Y10T24/00—Buckles, buttons, clasps, etc.
    • Y10T24/45—Separable-fastener or required component thereof [e.g., projection and cavity to complete interlock]
    • Y10T24/45225—Separable-fastener or required component thereof [e.g., projection and cavity to complete interlock] including member having distinct formations and mating member selectively interlocking therewith
    • Y10T24/45471—Projection having movable connection between components thereof or variable configuration
    • Y10T24/45524—Projection having movable connection between components thereof or variable configuration including resiliently biased projection component or surface segment
    • Y10T24/45545—Projection having movable connection between components thereof or variable configuration including resiliently biased projection component or surface segment forming total external surface of projection
    • Y10T24/45581—Projection having movable connection between components thereof or variable configuration including resiliently biased projection component or surface segment forming total external surface of projection having inserted end formed by oppositely biased surface segments

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to a buckle that includes a male member and a female member. Specifically, the invention relates to a buckle that is used to couple and separate ends of a string member or each end of two string members.
  • Buckles are used to couple and separate ends of a string member or two string members.
  • Existing buckles generally include a plug and a socket, a plug-inserting opening of the socket and a base of the plug being linearly formed such that confronting surfaces of the socket and the plug are made linear.
  • a buckle in which a convex portion is provided on a confronting surface of a socket and a concave portion to fit with the convex portion is provided on a confronting surface of a plug has been suggested.
  • JP-A-2005-305112 discloses a buckle in which a central leg projecting in a plug-inserting direction is provided on a confronting surface of a plug and a V-shaped cutout to accommodate the central leg of the plug is provided on a confronting surface of a socket.
  • the central leg has a triangle shape of which width gradually narrows along the inserting direction.
  • a rib of which thickness is substantially equal to that of a body (a base of the plug) is formed along an outer periphery of the central leg.
  • a mesh screen is provided on an inner bottom of the central leg.
  • JP-A-2002-101915 discloses a buckle in which a convex portion projecting in a plug-inserting direction is provided on a confronting surface of a plug and a concave portion to accommodate the convex portion of the plug is provided on a confronting surface of a socket.
  • the convex portion has a trapezoidal shape of which width gradually narrows along the inserting direction. Front and rear surfaces of the convex portion are formed in flat planes that are substantially flush with front and rear surfaces of a base of the plug (a base of a leg).
  • the user when a user engages the plug with the socket, the user generally inserts the plug into the socket by pinching lateral surfaces of the plug with fingers (thumb, index finger, middle finger) of a hand while pinching lateral surfaces of the socket with fingers (thumb, index finger, middle finger) of the other hand.
  • the central leg since the central leg includes the rib that is formed along the outer periphery of the triangle shape with a thickness substantially equal to that of the base, the pinching fingers are unlikely to fit the central leg. Especially when the user pinches the central leg strongly, the user may feel pressure on the fingers due to the presence of the rib.
  • An object of the present invention is to solve the aforesaid problems by providing a buckle that can be easily pinched even when a user pinches front and rear surfaces of a male member to operate the buckle.
  • a buckle includes a male member and a female member in which the male member is inserted to be engaged.
  • the male member includes: a base to which a string member can be attached; a pair of legs that project from the base; and engaging portions that are provided on the pair of legs and are engageable with the female member.
  • the base includes a projecting portion that projects in a projecting direction of the legs from a side on which the pair of legs project.
  • Recesses are formed on front and rear surfaces of the projecting portion. At least one of the recesses includes: a front end and a rear end in an inserting direction of the male member.
  • the front end substantially has the same height as that of a front surface or a rear surface of the base.
  • the rear end is substantially lower than any other position on a surface connecting the front end and the rear end.
  • the phase “the front end substantially has the same height as that of a front or rear surface of the base” means that the front end substantially has the same height as a plane substantially defining the front or rear surface of the base.
  • the plane substantially defining the front or rear surface of the base when concave-convex processing or a lightening hole (groove) is provided on the front or rear surface of the base to prevent slip, the plane does not include protrusions and dents or a bottom of the lightening hole (groove).
  • the rear end is substantially lower than any other position on a surface connecting the front end and the rear end” means that the rear end is located to be lower than any other point on a plane substantially defining the surface connecting the front end and rear end.
  • the plane substantially defining the surface connecting the front end and rear end when concave-convex processing or a lightening hole (groove) is provided on the surface connecting the front end and rear end to prevent slip, the plane does not include protrusions and dents or a bottom of the lightening hole (groove).
  • the projecting portion that projects in the projecting direction of the legs is provided on the base of the male member and the recess is provided on the front or rear surface of the projecting portion, a finger can be placed in the recess, so that it becomes easy to pinch the front and rear surfaces of the male member to operate the male member.
  • the recesses since at least one of the recesses includes the front end and the rear end in the inserting direction of the male member, the front end substantially having the same height as the front or rear surface of the base, the rear end being lower than any other position on the surface connecting the front end and the rear end (i.e. the rear end is located lower than the front end), the contour of the recess fits with the contour of a ball of a finger placed from the rear end of the inserting direction of the male member. Accordingly, the finger is unlikely to be displaced even when pressing the male member in the inserting direction, so that the insertion can be securely conducted.
  • the female member may preferably include an expanding portion that accommodates the projecting portion on an insertion opening in which the male member is inserted.
  • the appearance of the buckle is improved to be neat while downsizing thereof can be achieved with the plug-inserting directional length of the buckle shortened.
  • a string attachment hole in which the string member is inserted may be preferably formed in the base in the vicinity of the projecting portion.
  • the string attachment hole may be preferably continuous with a dented space defined by the recess of the projecting portion.
  • the finger can be easily accommodated in the dented space of the recess.
  • the finger when the finger is placed from the rear end in the inserting direction of the male member, the finger can be easily accommodated in the dented space since the ball of the finger fits on the string attachment hole and the dented space.
  • the projecting portion and the expanding portion may be preferably respectively provided on both of the front and rear surfaces of the male member and the female member.
  • the projecting portion and the expanding portion are provided on the front and rear surfaces of the male member and the female member, the front and rear surfaces of the male member and the female member can be securely pinched with a thumb and an index finger of the respective hands.
  • the recess of the projecting portion may preferably have a curved surface.
  • the recess of the projecting portion has a curved surface, the finger easily fits on the curved surface of the recess and the finger is unlikely to be displaced from the curved surface when inserting the male member.
  • the recess of the projecting portion may be preferably arranged such that the substantially middle position in a width direction on the rear end of the male member is located at a lower position than any other position on the recess, the recess gradually becoming higher from the lower position toward the front end, forming a curved surface.
  • the recess of the projecting portion has the curved surface so as to fit with the inner contour of the fingertip, the finger easily fits in the recess and the finger is unlikely to be displaced from the recess when inserting the male member.
  • recesses may be preferably formed on the front and rear surfaces of the female member on the opposite side of the inserting opening.
  • a front end of the recess may be preferably arc-shaped.
  • the front end of the recess is arc-shaped, i.e. the front end is formed in a shape coincident with the contour of a fingertip, the finger easily fits in the recess and is unlikely to come out of the recess.
  • a guide groove may be preferably formed in confronting surfaces extending from the respective engaged portions to the expanding portion of the female member, the guide groove guiding the engaging portions provided on the legs of the male member to the engaged portions of the female member.
  • the engaging portions provided on the legs of the male member are guided by the guide groove formed on the female member to the engaged portions to be engaged with the engaged portions. Since the guide groove extends along the confronting surfaces from the engaged portions to the expanding portions of the female member, the inserting direction of the male member can be guided from an initial position to start an insertion of the male member into the female member to an end position where the male member is engaged with the female member.
  • a buckle includes a male member and a female member in which the male member is inserted to be engaged.
  • the male member includes: a base to which a string member can be attached; a pair of legs that project from the base; and engaging portions that are provided on the pair of legs and are engageable with the female member.
  • the base includes a projecting portion that projects in a projecting direction of the legs from a side on which the pair of legs project.
  • the female member includes an expanding portion that accommodates the projecting portion on an insertion opening in which the male member is inserted. At least a confronting surface of the projecting portion out of confronting surfaces of the projecting portion and the expanding portion is arc-shaped and the projecting portion is concaved.
  • FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view of a buckle according to an embodiment of the invention
  • FIG. 2 is a partial cross section showing the buckle in disengagement according to the embodiment
  • FIG. 3 is a cross section taken along III-III line in FIG. 2 ;
  • FIG. 4 is another cross section taken along IV-IV line in FIG. 2 ;
  • FIG. 5 shows a rear end surface of a male member according to the embodiment
  • FIG. 6 is a partial cross section showing the buckle in engagement according to the embodiment.
  • FIG. 7 is a plan view showing a buckle in engagement according to another embodiment of the invention.
  • FIG. 8 is a cross section taken along VIII-VIII line in FIG. 7 ;
  • FIG. 9 is a cross section showing a modification in which projecting threads are provided on recesses.
  • FIG. 10 is a cross section showing a modification in which groove threads are provided in the recesses
  • FIG. 11 is a cross section showing a modification in which the recesses have slant surfaces.
  • FIG. 12 is a cross section showing a modification in which the recesses are concaved.
  • FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view of a buckle according to the embodiment.
  • FIG. 2 is a partial cross section showing the buckle in disengagement according to the embodiment.
  • FIG. 3 is a cross section taken along III-III line in FIG. 2 .
  • FIG. 4 is a cross section taken along IV-IV line in FIG. 2 .
  • FIG. 5 shows a rear end surface of a male member.
  • a buckle 1 is used to couple ends 2 , 3 of a string member and to separate the coupled ends 2 , 3 .
  • the buckle 1 includes a male member A integrally formed of synthetic resin; and a female member B also integrally formed of synthetic resin, the male member A being inserted in the female member B to be engaged with the female member B.
  • the male member A and the female member B may not be made of synthetic resin and other materials such as metal can be alternatively used.
  • the male member A includes: a base 10 ; a pair of legs 20 that project in parallel to each other from width-directional ends of the base 10 (ends in a direction perpendicular to an inserting direction of the male member A), the legs 20 being elastically deformable in a direction intersecting the inserting direction of the male member A (specifically, in a direction substantially perpendicular to the inserting direction); and a support piece 30 disposed between the legs 20 to be parallel to the legs 20 .
  • a string attachment hole 11 (a string attaching portion) through which the end 2 of the string member is inserted to be held is formed in an inner central portion of the base 10 .
  • a projecting portion 14 is provided near the legs 20 on an outer circumferential frame of the string attachment hole 11 through which the string member is inserted.
  • a connecting bar 12 is provided on the outer circumferential frame so as to extend in the width direction of the base 10 , passing the middle of the string attachment hole 11 .
  • the connecting bar 12 partitions the string attachment hole 11 into two string attachment holes 11 A, 11 B respectively on an inserting-directional front side which is near the legs 20 and on an inserting-directional rear side opposite to the front side. Accordingly, a length of the string member can be adjusted.
  • the projecting portion 14 which is disposed between the pair of legs 20 , extends from a position near the legs 20 on the base 10 in a projecting direction of the legs 20 .
  • an inserting-directional front end of the projecting portion 14 on which the male member A is inserted in the female member B is shaped substantially in a contour of a fingertip such that projecting amounts gradually increase from the width-directional ends to the middle of the base 10 to form an arc (more specifically, a parabola).
  • a recess 15 is formed on a front surface of the projecting portion 14 .
  • the front surface is one of the surfaces that are parallel to the inserting direction and the width direction of the male member A (specifically, the left lateral surface in FIG. 3 ).
  • a rear surface is the surface on the opposite side of the front surface (specifically, the right lateral surface in FIG. 3 ).
  • the recess 15 includes a front end 15 A and a rear end 15 B in the inserting direction of the male member A.
  • the front end 15 A is a part having the same arc shape as the contour of the front end of the projecting portion 14 when seen from the front surface side of the male member A.
  • the front end 15 A has a parabolic shape with both ends further extending from the ends of the projecting portion 14 to the rear end 15 B and a height of the male member A on the front surface side is substantially the same as that of a front surface of the base 10 .
  • the rear end 15 B includes linear portions that extend in a direction perpendicularly intersecting the inserting direction (i.e. in the width direction of the base 10 ) when seen from the front surface side of the male member A.
  • a middle part of the linear portions gently curves in the inserting direction to form an arc (i.e. a rear middle part of the projecting portion 14 is concaved).
  • a distance from the rear end 15 B to the front surface of the male member A is the maximum substantially at the middle of the male member A in the width direction, which becomes closer to the front surface of the base 10 toward the both ends, forming an arc.
  • a surface connecting the front end 15 A and the rear end 15 B (a front surface of the recess 15 ) is formed with the width-directional middle of the rear end 15 B located at the lowest position, the surface extending from the lowest position toward the front end 15 A while gradually becoming higher to define a curved surface (a parabolic surface).
  • the surface connecting the front end 15 A and the rear end 15 B curves to coincide with a contour of a finger ball.
  • the rear end 15 B of the recess 15 is a front wall of the string attachment hole 11 adjacent to the projecting portion 14 . Accordingly, the string attachment hole 11 is continuous with a dented space defined by the recess 15 .
  • a recess 17 is formed on a rear surface of the projecting portion 14 .
  • the recess 17 has the same shape as the recess 15 .
  • the recess 17 differs from the recess 15 in that a narrow lightening groove 16 is formed along an inner contour of a front end 17 A of the recess 17 .
  • Each of the pair of legs 20 includes: an outer leg piece 21 and an inner leg piece 22 that are elastically deformable inward relative to the inserting direction of the male member A; and a distal-end connector 24 that connects distal ends of the outer leg piece 21 and the inner leg piece 22 .
  • the inner leg piece 22 is provided on an inner side of the outer leg piece 21 . A thickness of the inner leg piece 22 in the inward/outward deformable direction is thinner than that of the outer leg piece 21 .
  • the outer leg pieces 21 linearly extend from the ends of the base 10 in the inserting direction of the male member A and start to gently curve inward at middle positions toward distal ends to be arced.
  • a proximal end of the inner leg piece 22 is located in the vicinity of the substantially middle of the projecting portion 14 , from which the inner leg piece 22 extends so as to become closer to the outer leg piece 21 , starts at the closest position to curve away from the outer leg piece 21 and further extends in the inserting direction to a distal end.
  • a width of the distal-end connector 24 gradually narrows from a portion connecting distal ends of the outer leg piece 21 and the inner leg piece 22 toward a distal end.
  • Engaging portions 25 are provided on front and rear surfaces on the distal end of the distal-end connector 24 so as to project therefrom.
  • An operating portion 27 is formed at a middle position between an outer contour edge of the distal-end connector 24 and an outer contour edge of the outer leg piece 21 that is continuous with the distal-end connector 24 .
  • the support piece 30 projects from a distal end of the projecting portion 14 in parallel to the pair of legs 20 .
  • Support grooves 32 are respectively formed in the middles of front and rear surfaces of the support piece 30 to extend in a projecting direction of the support piece 30 .
  • the female member B includes a flat cylindrical female member body 40 that has a front wall 40 B (a front surface), a rear wall 40 C (a rear surface), and a pair of lateral walls 40 A connecting the front wall 40 B and the rear wall 40 C.
  • a string attachment hole 41 (a string attaching portion) in which the end 3 of the string member is inserted to be held and a connecting bar 41 A are provided.
  • an insertion hole 43 in which the legs 20 and the support piece 30 are inserted is provided.
  • Expanding portions 42 A are formed on the front wall 40 B and the rear wall 40 C that define an opening of the insertion hole 43 (an insertion opening 43 A of the female member B) with middle parts curved inward to form an arc (a parabola).
  • the projecting portion 14 of the male member A is accommodated in the expanding portions 42 A.
  • recesses 51 , 52 are formed adjacently to the string attachment hole 41 .
  • the recesses 51 , 52 substantially have the same shape as the recesses 15 , 17 of the male member A.
  • a thickness of the connecting bar 41 A is adjusted such that a front surface of the connecting bar 41 A is located at a position lower than that of the rear end 51 B of the recess 51 while a rear surface of the connecting bar 41 A is located at a position higher than that of the rear end 52 B of the recess 52 .
  • the recess 51 and the front surface of the connecting bar 41 A are arranged to be substantially continuous in a plane with the string attachment hole 41 interposed.
  • the recess 52 and the rear surface of the connecting bar 41 A are arranged to be substantially continuous in a plane. Accordingly, even when the end 3 of the string member is inserted through the string attachment hole 41 , fingers pinching the front and rear surfaces of the female member B can fit on the recesses 51 , 52 and the front and rear surfaces of the connecting bar 41 A.
  • leg openings 45 are formed in remote lateral walls of the insertion hole 43 to expose the operating portions 27 of the male member A to the outside.
  • the leg openings 45 are cut out in the lateral walls 40 A of a circumferential wall of the female member body 40 that defines the insertion hole 43 , the leg opening 45 extending inward between the front and rear wall 40 B, 40 C in a concaved manner.
  • concave engaged portions 46 are formed on inner sides of the front and rear walls 40 B, 40 C and on a remote side in the insertion hole 43 relative to the leg opening 45 .
  • Guide grooves 47 that guide the engaging portions 25 provided on the legs 20 toward the engaged portions 46 are formed on the lateral surfaces so as to extend from ends of the expanding portion 42 A to the engaged portions 46 . Widths of the guide grooves 47 gradually narrow from the expanding portions 42 A toward the engaged portions 46 . Accordingly, the legs 20 are elastically deformed in directions substantially perpendicular to the inserting direction (inward directions) while being inserted into the female member B to be engaged with the engaged portions 46 .
  • the front and rear surfaces of the male member A are pinched by the thumb and the index finger of a hand while the front and rear surfaces of the female member are pinched by the thumb and the index finger of the other hand.
  • the recesses 15 , 17 are formed on the front and rear surfaces of the projecting portion 14 that projects from the base 10 , the thumb and the index finger can be placed thereon. Accordingly, a user can easily pinch the front and rear surfaces of the male member A to conduct an operation. Additionally, since the recesses 51 , 52 are also formed on the front and rear surfaces of the female member B, the thumb and the index finger of the other hand can be placed thereon, so that the user can also pinch the front and rear surfaces of the female member B with ease.
  • the recesses 15 , 17 have curved surfaces.
  • the recesses 15 , 17 are so-called circular recesses.
  • the recesses 15 , 17 respectively have the front ends 15 A, 17 A and the rear ends 15 B, 17 B in the inserting direction of the male member A.
  • the front ends 15 A, 17 A have substantially the same heights as those of the front and rear surfaces of the base 10 or the front and rear surfaces of the front and rear walls 40 B, 40 C of the female member B.
  • Substantially the middles in the width direction of the rear ends 15 B, 17 B are located at the lowest positions, from which the curved surfaces extend toward the front ends 15 A, 17 A while becoming higher to form parabolic contours.
  • the concave surfaces fit with finger balls that are placed thereon from the rear end side in the male-member inserting direction.
  • the fingers are unlikely to be displaced from the recesses 15 , 17 . Accordingly, an inserting operation can be securely conducted while pinching the recesses 15 , 17 with fingers.
  • the string attachment hole 11 is formed near the projecting portion 14 to be continuous with the dented spaces on the recesses 15 , 17 of the projecting portion 14 , the fingers can be easily accommodated in the spaces on the recesses 15 , 17 . Accordingly, when fingers are placed on the recesses 15 , 17 from the rear end side in the male-member inserting direction, the finger balls fit on the string attachment hole 11 and the dented spaces, so that the fingers can be easily accommodated in the dented spaces.
  • the male member A and the female member B are pinched with fingers, the male member A is inserted in the female member B. Then, the male member A advances into the female member B with the engaging portions 25 provided on the distal ends of the legs 20 being guided in the guide grooves 47 . Since the guide grooves 47 are arranged to narrow toward a remote side in the female member B, the legs 20 are inserted while being elastically deformed in the directions substantially perpendicular to the inserting direction of the legs 20 (inward directions).
  • the outer leg piece 21 is elastically deformed inward with its proximate end as a fulcrum while the inner leg piece 22 is elastically deformed inward with a bent part on the proximate side being further bent. Since the inner leg piece 22 is arranged thinner than the outer leg piece 21 to be easily deformed inward, a large force is not required for deformation of the legs 20 . In short, the operation can be conducted with a small force.
  • the legs 20 When the male member A is inserted to a position where the engaging portions 25 of the legs 20 have advanced beyond the engaged portions 46 of the female member B, the legs 20 having been elastically deformed inward elastically restore (in outward directions), so that the engaging portions 25 of the legs 20 can be engaged with the engaged portions 46 of the male member B.
  • the male member A is engaged with the female member B.
  • the projecting portion 14 of the male member A fits in the expanding portions 42 A of the female member B with little gap, so that rattling of the buckle can be reduced and appearance of the buckle can be improved to be neat.
  • a dimension of the buckle in the plug-inserting direction becomes long.
  • the operating portions 27 of the legs 20 that are exposed from the leg openings 45 of the female member B are pressed inward. Accordingly, the legs 20 of the male member A are elastically deformed inward. Also in this operation, since the legs 20 are elastically deformed inward, the operation can be conducted with a small force.
  • the engaging portions 25 are disengaged from the engaged portions 46 , where the male member A can be disengaged from the female member B by pulling the male member A out of the female member B.
  • the front end of the projecting portion 14 and the recesses 15 , 17 , 51 , 52 are arc-shaped.
  • the shape may be alternatively selected as long as a fingertip can be accommodated.
  • the shape of the projecting portion 14 and the recess 15 may be a trapezoid in which the rear end 15 B is the bottom side and the front end 15 A is the upper side.
  • the inner bottoms of the recesses 15 , 17 are not the curved surfaces but the recesses 15 , 17 form flat dents having the same height as shown in FIG. 8 .
  • the front and rear surfaces of the recesses 15 , 17 , 51 , 52 may be surface-processed, for example, to provide anti-slip effects.
  • the projecting threads 18 A that are semicircular in cross section and extend in the width direction may be provided on the curved surfaces of the recesses 15 , 17 so as to be aligned from the rear ends toward the distal ends at a certain interval.
  • groove threads 18 B that are semicircular in cross section and extend in the width direction may be provided on the curved surfaces of the recesses 15 , 17 so as to be aligned from the rear ends toward the distal ends at a certain interval.
  • bottoms of the groove threads 18 B may be located to be lower than any other position on the surfaces connecting the rear ends and the front ends of the recesses 15 , 17 .
  • the words “the surfaces” in the phrase “the rear ends are substantially located to be lower than any other position on the surfaces connecting the front ends and the rear ends” mean a surface that substantially forms a plane in which the front end and the rear end are connected, excluding protrusions and dents of the surfaces that are generated during the surface processing and the like.
  • the recess 17 is provided with the lightening groove 16
  • the bottom of the lightening groove 16 is not included in “the surface that substantially forms a plane in which the front end are connected”.
  • the recesses 15 , 17 , 51 , 52 have curved surfaces in the embodiment but is not limited to the arrangement.
  • the recesses 15 , 17 , 51 , 52 may have slant surfaces that become higher from the rear ends 15 B, 17 B toward the front ends 15 A, 17 A.
  • the recesses 15 , 17 , 51 , 52 may be surface-processed such as concave-convex processing to prevent slip or may be provided with a lightening groove.
  • the recesses 15 , 17 have the same shape, the same advantages can be obtained even when at least one front end of the recesses 15 , 17 is arranged to have substantially the same height as the front surface or the rear surface of the base 10 and the rear end thereof is substantially located to be lower than any other position on the surface connecting the front end and the rear end.
  • the rear ends 15 B, 17 B of the recesses 15 , 17 are substantially located to be lower than any other position on the surfaces connecting the front ends 15 A, 17 A and the rear ends 15 B, 17 B.
  • the front and rear surfaces of the projecting portion 14 may be concaved.
  • the projecting portion 14 may be concave-shaped with a middle position thereof located at the lowest position as compared with any other positions on the surfaces connecting the front ends 15 A, 17 A and the rear ends 15 B, 17 B.
  • the expanding portions 42 A are provided on the front and rear surfaces of the female member B, the expanding portions 42 A may not be necessarily provided.
  • the engaging portions 25 of the male member A are engaged with the engaged portions 46 that are provided on a remote side in the inserting hole 43 of the female member B.
  • the arrangement is not limited thereto.
  • an engaging portion that is engaged with the leg opening 45 of the female member B may be provided at least on the outer side of one leg 20 of the male member A in order to engage the male member A with the female member B.
  • the female member B may not be provided with the string attachment hole 41 .
  • the female member body 40 of the female member B may be directly fixed on another component.
  • the string member is not limited to a belt string but may be a thin string having a narrow width.
  • the male member A and the female member B are made of synthetic resin (by injection molding or injection compression molding). However, metal and the like may be alternatively used.

Landscapes

  • Buckles (AREA)
US12/019,055 2007-01-25 2008-01-24 Buckle Abandoned US20080178438A1 (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
JP2007-014705 2007-01-25
JP2007014705A JP2008178570A (ja) 2007-01-25 2007-01-25 バックル

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
US20080178438A1 true US20080178438A1 (en) 2008-07-31

Family

ID=39628303

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
US12/019,055 Abandoned US20080178438A1 (en) 2007-01-25 2008-01-24 Buckle

Country Status (6)

Country Link
US (1) US20080178438A1 (ja)
JP (1) JP2008178570A (ja)
KR (1) KR20080070544A (ja)
CN (1) CN101228980B (ja)
DE (1) DE102008006058A1 (ja)
TW (1) TW200913921A (ja)

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US20100293763A1 (en) * 2009-05-23 2010-11-25 Jisook Paik Buckle
US20110173783A1 (en) * 2008-10-03 2011-07-21 Ykk Corporation Buckle
EP2415365A1 (en) * 2009-03-31 2012-02-08 YKK Corporation Side release buckle
US20140109360A1 (en) * 2012-08-27 2014-04-24 Bison Designs, Llc Side squeeze buckle with integrated LED light
US20140259573A1 (en) * 2010-06-07 2014-09-18 Nifco Inc. Buckle
US20150107060A1 (en) * 2012-04-27 2015-04-23 Illinois Tool Works Inc. Quick fastening device for panels
US20160367903A1 (en) * 2015-06-22 2016-12-22 Kma Concepts Limited Clip Launcher System with Interconnecting Projectile
USD799370S1 (en) * 2016-01-12 2017-10-10 Woojin Plastic Co., Ltd Female receptacle of buckle
US9801432B2 (en) 2012-05-25 2017-10-31 Ykk Corporation Buckle
US10617180B1 (en) * 2018-10-25 2020-04-14 Ying-Chuan Yen Metal body buckle
US11044970B1 (en) * 2020-03-30 2021-06-29 Duraflex Hong Kong Limited Attachment system with quick release
US11766097B2 (en) * 2019-08-27 2023-09-26 Ykk Corporation Buckle and buckle male part

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CN103211355B (zh) * 2009-03-31 2015-09-30 Ykk株式会社 旁开扣
DE112009005297B4 (de) 2009-09-30 2013-12-05 Ykk Corporation Durch lateralen Druck lösbare Schnalle
JP5763050B2 (ja) * 2010-03-19 2015-08-12 モリト株式会社 バックル
JP2011254927A (ja) * 2010-06-07 2011-12-22 Nifco Inc バックル
JP5469541B2 (ja) * 2010-06-07 2014-04-16 株式会社ニフコ バックル
JP6634346B2 (ja) * 2016-06-02 2020-01-22 Ykk株式会社 バックル
US11452344B2 (en) * 2017-09-27 2022-09-27 Globe (jiangsu) Co., Ltd. Chest buckle for a harness
US11219281B1 (en) * 2020-12-09 2022-01-11 Duraflex Hong Kong Limited Buckle assembly

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US7100252B2 (en) * 2005-01-31 2006-09-05 Joseph Anscher Dual locking buckle

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NZ229949A (en) 1988-07-15 1992-12-23 Frampton Erroll Ellis Curved shoe sole: includes constant thickness side portions
JP3701187B2 (ja) 2000-09-27 2005-09-28 Ｙｋｋ株式会社 バックル
US7020939B2 (en) 2004-04-23 2006-04-04 Joseph Anscher Separable buckle

Patent Citations (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US7100252B2 (en) * 2005-01-31 2006-09-05 Joseph Anscher Dual locking buckle

Cited By (22)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US8763217B2 (en) * 2008-10-03 2014-07-01 Ykk Corporation Buckle
US20110173783A1 (en) * 2008-10-03 2011-07-21 Ykk Corporation Buckle
EP2415365A1 (en) * 2009-03-31 2012-02-08 YKK Corporation Side release buckle
US8522409B2 (en) 2009-03-31 2013-09-03 Ykk Corporation Side release buckle
EP2415365A4 (en) * 2009-03-31 2013-09-04 Ykk Corp SIDE RELEASE BUCKLE
US8601652B2 (en) * 2009-03-31 2013-12-10 Ykk Corporation Side release buckle
US8677576B2 (en) 2009-03-31 2014-03-25 Ykk Corporation Side release buckle
US8286312B2 (en) * 2009-05-23 2012-10-16 Jisook Paik Buckle
US20100293763A1 (en) * 2009-05-23 2010-11-25 Jisook Paik Buckle
US20140259573A1 (en) * 2010-06-07 2014-09-18 Nifco Inc. Buckle
US10051922B2 (en) * 2010-06-07 2018-08-21 Nifco Inc. Buckle
US20150107060A1 (en) * 2012-04-27 2015-04-23 Illinois Tool Works Inc. Quick fastening device for panels
US10041523B2 (en) * 2012-04-27 2018-08-07 Illinois Tool Works Inc. Quick fastening device for panels
US9801432B2 (en) 2012-05-25 2017-10-31 Ykk Corporation Buckle
US20140109360A1 (en) * 2012-08-27 2014-04-24 Bison Designs, Llc Side squeeze buckle with integrated LED light
US8863362B2 (en) * 2012-08-27 2014-10-21 Bison Designs, Llc Side squeeze buckle with integrated LED light
US20160367903A1 (en) * 2015-06-22 2016-12-22 Kma Concepts Limited Clip Launcher System with Interconnecting Projectile
US9833720B2 (en) * 2015-06-22 2017-12-05 Kma Concepts Limited Clip launcher system with interconnecting projectile
USD799370S1 (en) * 2016-01-12 2017-10-10 Woojin Plastic Co., Ltd Female receptacle of buckle
US10617180B1 (en) * 2018-10-25 2020-04-14 Ying-Chuan Yen Metal body buckle
US11766097B2 (en) * 2019-08-27 2023-09-26 Ykk Corporation Buckle and buckle male part
US11044970B1 (en) * 2020-03-30 2021-06-29 Duraflex Hong Kong Limited Attachment system with quick release

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
TW200913921A (en) 2009-04-01
JP2008178570A (ja) 2008-08-07
CN101228980B (zh) 2010-06-16
DE102008006058A1 (de) 2008-08-21
CN101228980A (zh) 2008-07-30
KR20080070544A (ko) 2008-07-30

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AS Assignment

Owner name: YKK CORPORATION, JAPAN

Free format text: ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST;ASSIGNORS:YOSHIE, KENICHI;OHGAKU, MIYUKI;REEL/FRAME:020408/0564

Effective date: 20071219

STCB Information on status: application discontinuation

Free format text: ABANDONED -- FAILURE TO PAY ISSUE FEE