Patent ID: 6145172
Filing Date: 2000-11-14
Classification: A44B,Y10T

Abstract:
A locking device for a buckle having separable co-operating male and female members,said male member havinga first resilient arm on a lateral side of said male member and a second resilient arm on an opposite lateral side of said male member, said first resilient arm and said second resilient arm being inwardly deformable and having a coupling tab at a free end thereof;said female member havingan outward-facing wall, a body-facing wall, and two lateral walls, defining a housing receptive to said male member;a first coupling aperture formed within a recess on one of the laterals walls, and adapted to releasably receive one of said coupling tabs;a second coupling aperture formed within a recess on the other lateral wall, and adapted to releasably receive one of said coupling tabs;said coupling tabs shaped so as to urge said first resilientarm and said second resilient arm inwardly as said male member is inserted into the housing of the female member, said first resilient arm and said second resilient arm biased toward a detent position when said coupling tabs align with said first and second coupling apertures;said locking device comprising:a locking member movable between a locked position, wherein the locking member blocks one of said first resilient arm and said second resilient arm against inward deformation, and an unlocked position, wherein the locking member allows inward deformation of said first resilient arm and said second resilient arm;a slot means having a bent configuration in one of said body-facing wall or said outward-facing wall of said female member;said locking member captively engaged in said slot means and diagonally slidable between the locked position and the unlocked position.