Anti-pinch buckle assembly

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11259604-B2
Application number	US-201916459861-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jul 2, 2019
Priority date	Jul 23, 2018
Publication date	Mar 1, 2022
Grant date	Mar 1, 2022

Abstract

A buckle assembly includes a buckle member that is configured to removably connect to a reciprocal buckle member. A retaining guard couples to the buckle member. The retaining guard is configured to reduce a potential of pinching as the buckle member connects to and disconnects from the reciprocal buckle member by providing a barrier where the buckle member and reciprocal buckle member connect.

First claim

I claim:

1. A buckle assembly, comprising:
a buckle member configured to removably connect to a reciprocal buckle member, the buckle member comprising one or more pegs extending from a surface, and a collar defining an opening configured to receive the reciprocal buckle member; and
a retaining guard that couples to the buckle member, the retaining guard comprising a base and a retaining arch that together define a passage for receiving and retaining the collar of the buckle member, a longitudinal length of the base being greater than a longitudinal length of the retaining arch,
wherein the retaining guard is configured to reduce a potential of pinching as the buckle member connects to and disconnects from the reciprocal buckle member by providing a barrier where the buckle member and reciprocal buckle member connect,
wherein the longitudinal lengths are measured in the direction that the reciprocal buckle member is received by the opening,
wherein the retaining arch comprises lateral beams extending from the base and connected to a crossbeam, wherein the passage is defined between the base, the lateral beams, and the crossbeam, and
wherein the buckle member comprises a locking protuberance that is retained within a retaining aperture of the retaining guard.

2. The buckle assembly of claim 1 , wherein the buckle member comprises at least one opening formed through a lateral portion, wherein the at least one opening is configured to receive and retain at least one button of the reciprocal buckle member.

3. The buckle assembly of claim 2 , wherein the retaining guard is configured to reduce a potential of pinching as the buckle member connects to and disconnects from the reciprocal buckle member by providing a barrier adjacent the at least one opening of the lateral portion.

4. The buckle assembly of claim 1 , wherein the buckle member comprises one or more recessed areas that are configured to retain one or more portions of the retaining guard.

5. The buckle assembly of claim 4 , wherein the one or more recessed areas of the buckle member comprise a top recessed area on a top wall, and side recessed areas on lateral walls extending from the top wall.

6. The buckle assembly of claim 1 , wherein the longitudinal length of the base of the retaining guard is longer than a longitudinal length of the buckle member.

7. The buckle assembly of claim 1 , wherein the crossbeam defines one or more securing holes configured to receive the one or more pegs extending from the buckle member.

8. The buckle assembly of claim 1 , wherein a retaining aperture is formed through the base of the retaining guard, and receives and retains a locking protuberance of the buckle member.

9. The buckle assembly of claim 1 , wherein the one or more pegs are retained within one or more securing holes of the retaining guard.

10. The buckle assembly of claim 1 , wherein the buckle member is formed of a first material and the retaining guard is formed of a second material that differs from the first material.

11. The buckle assembly of claim 10 , wherein the second material is softer than the first material.

12. A buckle assembly, comprising:
a buckle member configured to removably connect to a reciprocal buckle member and comprising a first opening, a second opening, a third opening, and a recessed area, the first and second openings being laterally opposed, and the third opening being configured to receive the reciprocal buckle member; and
a retaining guard comprising a base and a retaining arch that define a passage for receiving and retaining the buckle member, the retaining arch being sized and shaped to at least partially conform to a shape of the recessed area of the buckle member,
wherein the retaining guard is configured to couple to the buckle member so that the retaining arch is at least partially retained within the recessed area, and
wherein the retaining guard is configured to reduce a potential of pinching as the buckle member connects to and disconnects from the reciprocal buckle member by providing a barrier where the buckle member and reciprocal buckle member connect.

13. The buckle assembly of claim 12 , wherein the buckle member further comprises lateral walls that connect to a top wall and a lower wall, and an outer rim and an inner rim that extend from the top wall and lateral walls of the buckle member, thereby defining the recessed area therebetween.

14. The buckle assembly of claim 13 , wherein the base of the retaining guard laterally extends beyond the lateral walls of the buckle member when the retaining guard and buckle member are coupled.

15. A buckle assembly, comprising:
a buckle member configured to removably connect to a reciprocal buckle member, the buckle member comprising lateral walls that connect to a top wall and a lower wall; and
a retaining guard that couples to the buckle member and comprises a base and a retaining arch extending from the base, the retaining arch and the base together defining a passage for receiving and retaining the buckle member,
wherein the retaining guard further includes a retaining aperture, and the buckle member further includes a locking protuberance, the retaining aperture being configured to receive and retain the locking protuberance,
wherein the base of the retaining guard is longer than a longitudinal length of the buckle member and laterally extends beyond the lateral walls of the buckle member when the retaining guard and buckle member are coupled, and
wherein the retaining guard is configured to reduce a potential of pinching as the buckle member connects to and disconnects from the reciprocal buckle member by providing a barrier where the buckle member and reciprocal buckle member connect.

16. The buckle assembly of claim 15 , wherein the retaining arch comprises lateral beams extending from the base and connected to a crossbeam, wherein the passage is defined between the base, the lateral beams, and the crossbeam.

17. The buckle assembly of claim 15 , wherein the retaining aperture is defined by the base of the retaining guard.

18. The buckle assembly of claim 15 , wherein the retaining guard further includes one or more securing holes that are defined within the retaining arch of the retaining guard, and the buckle member further includes one or more pegs, and
wherein the one or more securing holes are configured to receive and retain the pegs of the buckle member.

Assignees

• Illinois Tool Works

Inventors

• Kolasa Scott David

Classifications

• A44B11/2569

  Safety measures (buckles for releasing in a vehicle emergency B60R22/32; control, alarm, or interlock systems for the correct application of safety belt buckles in vehicles B60R22/48) · CPC title

• A44B11/266 Primary

  with at least one push-button acting parallel to the main plane of the buckle and perpendicularly to the direction of the fastening action · CPC title

• A44B11/2576

  Buckle covers · CPC title

• A45C13/12 Primary

  of press-button or turn-button fasteners · CPC title

• A44B11/2592 Primary

  fastening by sliding in the main plane or a plane parallel to the main plane of the buckle (A44B11/2503, A44B11/2584 take precedence) · CPC title