Rotatable buckle assembly

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9603418-B2
Application number	US-201314391716-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Apr 16, 2013
Priority date	Apr 18, 2012
Publication date	Mar 28, 2017
Grant date	Mar 28, 2017

Abstract

A rotatable buckle assembly may include a male buckle member, and a female buckle member configured to rotatably connect to the male buckle member. The female buckle member may include a handle that is configured to be pulled to disconnect the first buckle member from the second buckle member.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A rotatable buckle assembly comprising: a first buckle member including an insertion member; and
a second buckle member configured to rotatably connect to the first buckle member, wherein the second buckle member includes a base, a handle connected to the base through opposed pivot beams and an insertion channel configured to receive the insertion member, wherein the insertion member is rotatably retained within the insertion channel when the first buckle member is rotatably connected to the second buckle member, and the handle being configured to be upwardly pulled relative to the base to disconnect the first buckle member from the second buckle member.

2. The rotatable buckle assembly of claim 1 , wherein the insertion member comprises an internal stud that conforms to a contour of a portion of the second buckle member, and wherein the internal stud is configured to be rotatably retained by the portion of the second buckle member.

3. The rotatable buckle assembly of claim 2 , wherein the second buckle member comprises opposed pivot beams connected to the handle, wherein the handle comprises an arcuate internal edge that rotatably engages the internal stud when the first buckle member is rotatably connected to the second buckle member.

4. The rotatable buckle assembly of claim 3 , wherein the opposed pivot beams and the handle are positioned over a plane in which an exposed surface of the internal stud resides.

5. The rotatable buckle assembly of claim 1 , wherein the handle comprises a lanyard opening configured to retain a lanyard that is configured to be grasped and pulled.

6. The rotatable buckle assembly of claim 1 , wherein the handle comprises an upturned end that is configured to be grasped and pulled.

7. The rotatable buckle assembly of claim 1 , wherein the second buckle member comprises a base including an outer receiving edge having recessed lateral portions that are configured to limit rotatable movement of the first buckle member with respect to the second buckle member.

8. The rotatable buckle assembly of claim 1 , wherein the insertion member comprises arcuate openings, and wherein the handle comprises securing protrusions configured to be slidably retained within the arcuate openings when the first buckle member is rotatably connected to the second buckle member.

9. The rotatable buckle assembly of claim 1 , wherein the first buckle member is configured to pivot through an arc of +/−30° with respect to a central axis of the second buckle member, or vice versa.

10. A rotatable buckle assembly comprising: a male buckle member; and
a female buckle member configured to rotatably connect to the male buckle member, wherein the female buckle member comprises a base and a handle connected to the base through opposed pivot beams that is configured to be upwardly pulled relative to the base to disconnect the male buckle member from the female buckle member.

11. The rotatable buckle assembly of claim 10 , wherein the male buckle member comprises an insertion member, wherein the female buckle member further comprises an insertion channel configured to receive the insertion member, and wherein the insertion member is rotatably retained within the insertion channel when the male buckle member is rotatably connected to the female buckle member.

12. The rotatable buckle assembly of claim 11 , wherein the insertion member comprises an internal stud, wherein the female buckle member further comprises opposed pivot beams connected to the handle, and wherein the handle comprises an arcuate internal edge that rotatably engages the internal stud when the male buckle member is rotatably connected to the female buckle member.

13. The rotatable buckle assembly of claim 12 , wherein the opposed pivot beams and the handle are positioned over a plane in which an exposed surface of the internal stud resides.

14. The rotatable buckle assembly of claim 10 , wherein the handle comprises a lanyard opening configured to retain a lanyard that is configured to be grasped and pulled.

15. The rotatable buckle assembly of claim 10 , wherein the handle comprises an upturned end that is configured to be grasped.

16. The rotatable buckle assembly of claim 10 , wherein the female buckle member comprises a base including an outer receiving edge having recessed lateral portions that are configured to limit rotatable movement of the male buckle member with respect to the female buckle member.

17. The rotatable buckle assembly of claim 10 , wherein the insertion member comprises arcuate openings, and wherein the handle comprises securing protrusions configured to be slidably retained within the arcuate openings when the male buckle member is rotatably connected to the female buckle member.

18. The rotatable buckle assembly of claim 10 , wherein the male buckle member is configured to pivot through an arc of +1-30° with respect to a central axis of the female buckle member, or vice versa.

19. A rotatable buckle assembly comprising:
a male buckle member including an insertion member having an internal stud and arcuate openings around portions of the internal stud; and
a female buckle member configured to rotatably connect to the male buckle member, wherein the female buckle member comprises:
a base including an outer receiving edge having recessed lateral portions that are configured to limit rotatable movement of the male buckle member with respect to the female buckle member;
an insertion channel configured to receive the insertion member, wherein the insertion member is rotatably retained within the insertion channel when the male buckle member is rotatably connected to the female buckle member;
a handle that is pulled to disconnect the first buckle member from the second buckle member, wherein the handle comprises (a) an arcuate internal edge that rotatably engages the internal stud when the male buckle member is rotatably connected to the female buckle member, (b) an upturned end that is configured to be grasped and upwardly pulled relative to the base to release the first buckle member from the second buckle member, (c) a lanyard opening configured to retain a lanyard that is configured to be grasped and pulled, and (d) securing protrusions configured to be slidably retained within the arcuate openings when the male buckle member is rotatably connected to the female buckle member; and
opposed pivot beams connecting the handle to the base, wherein the opposed pivot beams and the handle are positioned over a plane in which an exposed surface of the internal stud resides.

20. The rotatable buckle assembly of claim 19 , wherein the male buckle member is configured to pivot through an arc of +1-30° with respect to a central axis of the female buckle member, or vice versa.

Assignees

• Illinois Tool Works

Inventors

• Grimm Michael B
• Iannello Christopher A J
• Nilsen Martin J

Classifications

• Y10T24/45623

  and operator therefor · CPC title

• Y10T24/45675

  having pivotally connected interlocking component · CPC title

• A44B11/25 Primary

  with two or more separable parts · CPC title

• A44B11/2592

  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

• Y10T24/45241

  Slot and tab or tongue · CPC title