Patent ID: 7350277
Filing Date: 2008-04-01
Classification: A44B,Y10T

Abstract:
1. A buckle for joining two distal ends of a web attached thereto, comprising: a) a thin, flat insertion portion comprising a rigid, bifurcated tongue having two longitudinal legs with varying width dimension and a predetermined outer contour and projecting longitudinally away from a body region thereof and defining a longitudinal axis, said tongue comprising a central, open slot extending from a distal end thereof inwardly along said longitudinal axis toward said body region, said open slot having a width no greater than the width of any portion of said longitudinal legs; b) a receiver portion for slidably receiving and retaining said tongue therein, said receiver portion comprising an internal guide block key adapted and configured to interact with said open slot in a manner so as to minimize side-to-side movement of said tongue when retained in said receiver portion; and c) a pawl for releasably locking said tongue within said receiver portion, said pawl having an outer contour that is a mirror shape to said outer contour of said longitudinal legs for complete engagement thereof.