Abstract:
A buckle assembly includes a first housing having first lateral walls, and a second housing having second lateral walls. The second housing securely retains said first housing in a mated position. The first housing disengages from the second housing through manipulation of the first lateral walls at any location along the first lateral walls such that the manipulation of the first lateral walls causes the first housing to disengage from the second housing.

Description:
RELATED APPLICATIONS 
   This application relates to and claims priority benefits from U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 60/648,171 entitled “Buckle,” filed Jan. 28, 2005, which is incorporated by reference herein in its entirety. 

   FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
   Embodiments of the present invention generally relate to a buckle assembly, and more particularly, to a side-release buckle assembly that may be used with child automobile seats, athletic gear, backpacks, and the like. 
   BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   Conventional side-release buckle assemblies typically include a female housing that is mated with a male housing. The female housing includes a fixed wall that includes openings bounded by fixed wall structures that receive and retain release mechanisms of the male housing. In order to disengage the male housing from the female housing, the release mechanisms are manipulated, such as by being squeezed together. Typically, the only portions of the buckle assemblies that may be manipulated in order to disengage the male housing are the release mechanisms. 
   Some users may find it difficult to disengage the male housing from the female housing. In short, if a user&#39;s fingers are too bulky, such as when the user is wearing mittens or gloves, portions of the buckle assembly may obstruct the user from fully manipulating the release mechanisms, making it difficult, if not impossible, to disengage the male housing from the female housing. For example, the user&#39;s fingers may engage the fixed wall structures of the female buckle housing while trying to squeeze the release mechanisms toward one another, thereby blocking and preventing full manipulation of the release mechanisms into a disengaged position. 
   Thus, a need exists for a buckle assembly that is quickly and easily buckled and unbuckled. Particularly, a need exists for a buckle assembly that includes a male buckle housing that may be quickly and easily disengaged from a female buckle housing. 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   Embodiments of the present invention provide a buckle assembly that includes first and second housings, such as female and male buckle housings. The first and second housings include first and second lateral walls, respectively. The second housing securely retains the first housing in a mated position. The first housing disengages from the second housing through manipulation (such as squeezing, pressing, or otherwise moving) of the first lateral walls at any location along the first lateral walls, such that manipulation of the first lateral walls causes the first housing to disengage from the second housing. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS 
       FIG. 1  illustrates a top view of a buckle assembly according to an embodiment of the present invention. 
       FIG. 2  illustrates a top view of a female buckle housing according to an embodiment of the present invention. 
       FIG. 3  illustrates a top view of a male buckle housing according to an embodiment of the present invention. 
       FIG. 4  illustrates a lateral view of a male buckle housing according to an embodiment of the present invention. 
       FIG. 5  illustrates a bottom view of a male buckle housing according to an embodiment of the present invention. 
       FIG. 6  illustrates a bottom view of a female buckle housing according to an embodiment of the present invention. 
       FIG. 7  illustrates a lateral view of a female buckle housing according to an embodiment of the present invention. 
       FIG. 8  illustrates a bottom view of a buckle assembly according to an embodiment of the present invention. 
       FIG. 9  illustrates a mating end view of a female buckle housing according to an embodiment of the present invention. 
       FIG. 10  illustrates a mating end view of a female buckle housing according to an embodiment of the present invention. 
       FIG. 11  illustrates a mating end view of a female buckle housing according to an embodiment of the present invention. 
       FIG. 12  illustrates a mating end view of a female buckle housing according to an embodiment of the present invention. 
       FIG. 13  illustrates a mating end view of a female buckle housing according to an embodiment of the present invention. 
       FIG. 14  illustrates a top view of a buckle assembly according to an embodiment of the present invention. 
       FIG. 15  illustrates a lateral view of a buckle assembly according to an embodiment of the present invention. 
       FIG. 16  illustrates a top view of a male buckle housing according to an embodiment of the present invention. 
       FIG. 17  illustrates a top view of a female buckle housing according to an embodiment of the present invention. 
   

   Before the embodiments of the invention are explained in detail, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited in its application to the details of construction and the arrangement of the components set forth in the following description or illustrated in the drawings. The invention is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced or being carried out in various ways. Also, it is to be understood that the phraseology and terminology used herein are for the purpose of description and should not be regarded as limiting. The use of “including” and “comprising” and variations thereof is meant to encompass the items listed thereafter and equivalents thereof as well as additional items and equivalents thereof. 
   DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     FIG. 1  illustrates a top view of a buckle assembly  10  according to an embodiment of the present invention. The buckle assembly  10  is a separable assembly including a female buckle housing  12  that is mated with a male buckle housing  14 . The male buckle housing  14  includes engagement members  16  located proximate a mating interface  18  between the female and male buckle housings  12  and  14 . The engagement members  16  may be buttons, depressions, raised areas, switches, or the like that are configured to be squeezed, pushed, urged, or otherwise moved toward one another in the directions of arrows A in order to cause the male buckle housing  14  to be released from the female buckle housing  12 . The engagement members  16  are integrally formed with lateral walls or sides  17  of the male buckle housing  14 . Thus, a user may disengage the male buckle housing  14  from the female buckle housing  12  by pressing the engagement members  16  and/or the sides  17  of the male buckle housing  14 . 
   As shown in  FIG. 1 , the sides  17  of the male buckle housing  14  are flush with the sides  19  of the female buckle housing  12 . Optionally, the sides  17  of the male buckle housing  14  may be outside or inside those of the female buckle housing  12 . Little or no portion of the female housing  12  extends over or around the sides of the engagement members  16  when the male buckle housing  14  is mated into the female buckle housing  12 . When the engagement members  16  and sides  17  of the male buckle housing  14  are moved toward one other in the directions of arrows A, there is little or no fixed structure abutting or proximate the sides  17  of the male buckle housing  14  to obstruct inwardly-directed movement of the engagement members  16  and sides  17 . 
   The female buckle housing  12  includes passages  20  that are configured to allow a strap to pass therethrough. Similarly, the male buckle housing  14  includes passages  22  that are configured to allow a strap to pass therethrough. Thus, the female buckle housing  12  and the male buckle housing  14  may slidably or otherwise moveably retain straps, such as seatbelt straps, backpack straps, or other such straps. 
   The buckle assembly  10  is shown having a generally arcuate shape. In particular,  FIG. 1  shows the buckle assembly  10  as having an elliptical shape. Embodiments of the present invention, however, may be shaped in various other shapes, such as rectangular, triangular, other polygonal shapes, or the like. 
     FIG. 2  illustrates a top view of the female buckle housing  12 . As shown in  FIG. 2 , the female buckle housing  12  includes a cover  24  that is configured to cover the mating components of the female and male buckle housings  12  and  14 , respectively. Alternatively, the female buckle housing  12  may not include the cover  24 . Instead, the buckle assembly  10 , shown in  FIG. 1 , may not include a cover, or the male buckle housing  14 , shown in  FIG. 1 , may include the cover. 
     FIGS. 3 ,  4 , and  5  illustrate top, lateral, and bottom views, respectively, of the male buckle housing  14 . Because the male buckle housing  14  is symmetrical, each lateral portion is a mirror image of the other lateral portion. Referring to  FIGS. 3-5 , the male buckle housing  14  includes a pair of locking arms  26  integrally connected to the engagement members  16 . Each locking arm  26  includes a base portion  28  and an extending portion  30 . The base portions  28  of the locking arms  26  are integrally connected to one another, while the extending portions  30  are separated from one another by a central slot  32 . As shown in  FIGS. 3 and 5 , the union of the locking arms  26  forms a general U or V shape. A feature of the locking arms  26  is that when they are caused to move together, the space or slot  32  between the base portions  28  and extending portions  30  changes, as compared to conventional side release buckles where a space between center guiding ribs does not change. This feature enhances the connection and separation movement of the male buckle housing  14  and female buckle housing  12  in cooperation with the guide rib  40  (see  FIG. 6 ). The dimensionally changing slot  32  and guide rib  40  enable a generally straight line insertion and separation of the male buckle housing  14  and female buckle housing  12 , as compared to a substantially angled line insertion and separation which could be possible if the slot  32  and guide rib  40  are not present. Movement of the engagement members  16  and/or the sides  17  of the male buckle housing  14  in the directions of arrows A causes a corresponding movement in the locking arms  26  towards each other within the slot  32 . 
   Mating tips  34  are located at distal ends of the extending portions  30  of the flex arms  26 . Each mating tip  34  includes an outer surface  36  located distally from the base  28 , and a groove  38  located proximate the engagement member  16 . In one embodiment, the surface  36  of the tips  34  is ramped or otherwise shaped to provide a camming surface. The mating tips  34  may include stacked vertical grooves separated from one another by a shelf  39 . Optionally, instead of a plurality of stacked grooves  38  separated by shelves  39 , the mating tips  34  may include a single groove or divot that extends through the entire height of the mating tips  34 . The mating tips  34  are configured to snapably mate with reciprocal structures, such as ledges, of the female buckle housing  12 , which is shown, for example, in  FIGS. 1 and 2 . Optionally, the mating tips  34  may be configured to latchably, or otherwise removably, secure to reciprocal structures of the female buckle housing  12 . Another feature according to the present invention concerns the location of the mating tips  34  in relation to the engagement members  16 . In conventional side release buckles, the mating or locking tips of the male member that engage the female member also represent the location the user pushes in to release the locking arms from the female member. Moving the location of the engagement members  16  from the mating tips  34  further enhances the operation of the mating and disengaging of the male buckle housing  14  to the female buckle housing  12  in accordance with the principles of the present invention. As illustrated, a preferred arrangement of the present invention concerns locating the mating tips  34  or locking structure forward of the engagement members  16 , as compared to conventional side releases buckles that locate the locking members behind the associated engagement members. 
     FIGS. 6 and 7  illustrate bottom and lateral views, respectively, of the female buckle housing  12 . Because the female buckle housing  12  is symmetrical, each lateral portion is a mirror image of the other lateral portion. Referring to  FIGS. 6 and 7 , a guide rib  40  extends from a support base  42  to the underside of the cover  24 . Alternatively, the guide rib  40  can extend from one of the support base  42  or cover  24 , or from both the support base  42  and the cover  24  with a slot or other opening therebetween. The guide rib  40  is configured to ensure that the male buckle housing  14 , shown, for example, in  FIGS. 3-5 , is properly mated with the female buckle housing  12 . Additionally, the guide rib  40  also ensures that the male buckle housing  14  is properly oriented with respect to the female buckle housing  12  during an unbuckling process, thereby allowing portions of the female and male buckle housings  12  and  14  to push off one another in order to eject the male buckle housing  14  from the female buckle housing  12 , or vice versa. Another feature of the guide rib  40  in cooperation with the base portions  28  of the locking arms  26  of the male buckle housing  14  is to limit lateral movement of the male buckle housing  14  with respect to the female buckle housing  12  when the members  12  and  14  are assembled together and separated from one another. 
   As shown in  FIG. 6 , the female buckle housing  12  includes a plurality of locking ledges  44  located within a mating cavity  46 . The locking ledges  44  are configured to snapably, latchably, or otherwise removably secure to the mating tips  34  of the male buckle housing  14 , shown, for example, in  FIGS. 3-5 . If, for example, the male buckle housing  14  includes a plurality of grooves  38  separated by shelves  39 , the female buckle housing  12  includes a corresponding number of locking ledges  44  separated by a channel. Alternatively, the male buckle housing  14  may include locking ledges while the female buckle housing  12  includes a plurality of grooves. 
   The female buckle housing  12  also includes walls  47  proximate the guide rib  40 . The walls  47  are preferably configured and adapted to assist in ejecting the male buckle housing  14  from the female buckle housing  12 , or vice versa, during an unbuckling process. In one embodiment, the walls  47  are ramped or otherwise shaped to provide a camming surface for mating engagement with the inside portion of the engagement members  16  of the male buckle housing  14  during an unbuckling process. The walls  47  assist is ejecting the male buckling housing  14  from the female buckle housing  12 . Further, the female buckle housing  12  may also include a member  49  distally located from, but aligned with, the guide rib  40 . The member  49  is shaped to further assist in ejecting the male buckle housing  14  from the female buckle housing  12 , or vice versa, during an unbuckling process. The tips  34  of the male buckle housing  14  engage the sides of the member  49  during an unbuckling process. The shape of the sides of the member  49  assist in causing the male buckle housing  14  to eject from the female buckle housing  12  during an unbuckling process. Another feature of the member  49  in cooperation with the tips  34  is to further limit lateral movement of the male buckle housing  14  with respect to the female buckle housing  12  when the members  12  and  14  are assembled together. 
   Alternatively, instead of including the guide rib  40 , the female buckle housing  12  may include a guide channel. In that case, the male buckle housing  14 , shown, for example, in  FIGS. 3-5 , may include a guide rib configured to pass through the guide channel. 
     FIG. 8  illustrates a bottom view of the buckle assembly  10 . In order to securely mate the male buckle housing  14  with the female buckle housing  12 , the male buckle housing  14  is moved into the female buckle housing  12  in the direction of arrow B. As the male buckle housing  14  is moved into the female buckle housing  12 , the guide rib  40  of the female buckle housing  12  moves into the slot  32  of the male buckle housing  14 . The guide rib  40  guides the locking arms  26  into the female buckle housing  12  during mating. Additionally, the locking arms  26  cannot laterally move past the guide rib  40 . Thus, the guide rib  40  further acts to limit lateral movement, or wiggle, of the male housing  14  relative to the female housing  12  during the mating process. 
   During the mating process, the mating tips  34  of the locking arms  26  engage the locking ledges  44 . As the male housing  14  continues to be moved into the female buckle housing  12 , the surfaces  36  of the mating tips slide over the mating surfaces of the locking ledges  44  and force the mating tips  34  inwardly toward the slot  32 . Once the surfaces  36  slide past the locking ledges  44 , the mating tips  34  move back to their original position and the locking ledges  44  are secured to the locking arms  26  such as by cooperation with the grooves  38 , thereby securing the male buckle housing  14  to the female buckle housing  12 . 
   As shown in  FIG. 8 , once the male buckle housing  14  is secured to the female buckle housing  12 , the mating tips  34  are positioned near or against interior walls  48  that define the mating cavity  46 . This arrangement also limits lateral movement, such as wiggling, of the male buckle housing  14  with respect to the female buckle housing  12 . 
   In order to unbuckle the buckle assembly  10  (that is, remove the male buckle housing  14  from the female buckle housing  12 ), the engagement members  16  and/or the sides  17  of the male buckle housing  14  are manipulated, such as by being pushed toward one another in the directions of arrows A. The buckle assembly  10  does not include any fixed structure over or around the male buckle housing  14  proximate the engagement members  16  that blocks a user from fully engaging the engagement members  16 . Thus, a bulky manipulating unit, such as a finger within a bulky mitten or glove, may manipulate the engagement member  16  without being obstructed by a fixed structure. A user may disengage the male buckle housing  14  from the female buckle housing  12  even if the manipulating unit is bigger and/or bulkier than the engagement members  16 . In general, a user may disengage the male buckle housing  14  from the female buckle housing  12  by squeezing the engagement members  16  and/or the sides  17  of the male buckle housing  14  together. Any portion of the sides  17  of the male buckle housing  14 , including the engagement members  16 , may be manipulated to disengage the male buckle housing  14  from the female buckle housing  12 , not just a small or limited portion of the buckle assembly  10 . 
   Movement of the engagement members  16  towards one another causes a corresponding movement in the attached locking arms  26 . As the locking arms  26  move toward one another, the locking ledges  44  are disengaged from the locking arms  26  or grooves  38 . As the locking ledges  44  are so disengaged, the surfaces  36  of the mating tips  34  engage the inner surfaces of the locking ledges  44 . The guide rib  40  may ensure that the male buckle housing  14  remains properly oriented with respect to the female buckle housing  12  so that the male buckle housing  14  may eject from the female buckle housing  12 , or vice versa. The inwardly-directed flexing of the locking arms  26  toward one another produces a force in the arms  26 . The stored force in the locking arms  26  forces the mating tips  34  to retreat over the locking ledges  44  and move the male buckle housing  14  in the direction of arrow C, thereby ejecting the male buckle housing  14  from the female buckle housing  12 . The camming surfaces of the tips  34  and the internal surfaces of the locking ledges  44  provides a self-camming action to enable separation of the male buckle housing  14  from the female buckle housing  12 . Once the mating tips  34  slide past the locking ledges  44  in the direction of arrow C, the resilient arms  26  spring back to their normal position. 
   In one embodiment, the walls  47  and the member  49  of the female buckle housing  12  also engage portions of the male buckle housing  14  during the unbuckling process, thereby assisting in ejecting the male buckle housing  14  from the female buckle housing  12 , or vice versa. For example, as the mating tips  34  of the locking arms  26  are squeezed inwardly, the mating tips  34  engage the surfaces of the member  49 , which act to push the mating tips  34 , and therefore the entire male buckle housing  14  in the direction of arrow C. Similarly, intermediate portions of the locking arms  26  engage the walls  47  during this process. The walls  47  also act to push the male buckle housing  14  away from the female buckle housing  12  in the direction of arrow C. As such, unbuckling of the buckle assembly  10  is made easier. 
     FIG. 9  illustrates a mating end view of the female buckle housing  12  according to an embodiment of the present invention. As shown in  FIG. 9 , the female buckle housing  12  may include two opposed locking ledges  44  located proximate the support base  42  within the mating cavity  46 . A counterpart male buckle housing includes corresponding reciprocal grooves configured to engage the locking ledges  44 . 
     FIG. 10  illustrates a mating end view of the female buckle housing  12  according to an embodiment of the present invention. As shown in  FIG. 10 , the female buckle housing  12  may include two opposed locking ledges  44  located proximate the cover  24  within the mating cavity  46 . A counterpart male buckle housing includes corresponding reciprocal grooves configured to engage the locking ledges  44 . 
     FIG. 11  illustrates a mating end view of the female buckle housing  12  according to an embodiment of the present invention. As shown in  FIG. 11 , the female buckle housing  12  may include two sets of opposed locking ledges  44 ′ and  44 ″. One set of locking ledges  44 ′ is located proximate the support base  42 , while the other set of locking ledges  44 ″ is located proximate the cover  24 . A counterpart male buckle housing includes corresponding reciprocal grooves configured to engage the locking ledges  44 ′ and  44 ″. 
     FIG. 12  illustrates a mating end view of the female buckle housing  12  according to an embodiment of the present invention. As shown in  FIG. 12 , the female buckle housing  12  may include two sets of opposed locking ledges  144  and  244 . One set of locking ledges  144  is integrally formed with, and extends downwardly from, the cover  24 , while the other set of locking ledges  244  is integrally formed with, and extends upwardly from, the support base  42 . A counterpart male buckle housing includes counterpart reciprocal grooves configured to engage the locking ledges  144  and  244 . In an alternative embodiment, the locking ledges  144  may be slightly spaced from the cover  24  for manufacturing purposes, such as preventing sink during the injection molding process. 
     FIG. 13  illustrates a mating end view of the female buckle housing  12  according to an embodiment of the present invention. As shown in  FIG. 10 , the female buckle housing  12  may include opposed locking ledges  344  integrally formed with, and extending downwardly from, the cover  24 . Alternatively, the locking ledges  344  may be integrally formed with, and extending upwardly from, the support base  42 . A counterpart male buckle housing includes corresponding reciprocal grooves configured to engage the locking ledges  344 . 
     FIGS. 9-13  are intended to illustrate examples of various structural components of the female buckle housing  12 . The examples shown are not intended to be limited to these arrangements. Rather, the examples are intended to illustrate that the locking arrangements between the female buckle housing  12  and male buckle housing  14  can take on many different configurations consistent with the teachings of the present invention. 
     FIGS. 14 and 15  illustrate top and lateral views, respectively, of a buckle assembly  50  according to an embodiment of the present invention. The buckle assembly  50  is a separable assembly including male and female buckle housings  52  and  54 , respectively. The male buckle housing  52  includes ribbed engagement members  56 , while the female buckle housing  54  includes ribbed surfaces  58 . The engagement members  56  and the engagement surfaces  58  are ribbed to assist in gripping and engaging the buckle assembly  50  during buckling and unbuckling. The engagement members  56  and the engagement surfaces  58  may be ribbed, embossed, perforated, or the like. While not shown in  FIGS. 1-13 , the engagement members  16  shown with respect to the buckle assembly  10  may also include similar gripping surfaces. 
   The buckle assembly  50  is similar to the buckle assembly  10 , except that the buckle assembly  50  is generally rectangular. Further, as seen in  FIGS. 16 and 17 , some of the internal components of the male and female buckle housings  52  and  54 , respectively, are of slightly different shapes than those of the female and male buckle housings  12  and  14 , respectively, of the buckle assembly  10 . Nevertheless, the buckle assembly  50  operates similar to the buckle assembly  10 . 
     FIG. 16  illustrates a top view of the male buckle housing  52 . Similar to the male buckle housing  14 , the male buckle housing  52  includes a pair of locking arms  57  and a central slot  59  separating extending portions  60 . The ribbed engagement members  56  are operatively connected to the locking arms  57 . Thus, movement of the engagement members  56  produces a corresponding movement in the locking arms  57 . 
     FIG. 17  illustrates a top view of the female buckle housing  54 . The female buckle housing  54  mates with the male buckle showing  52  shown in  FIG. 16  similar to the mating process described above with respect to the buckle assembly  10 , shown and described with respect to  FIGS. 1-13 . 
   Alternative embodiments can include additional cord, strap or web engaging members extending off the end portions of the male and female buckle housings. Such members will provide slots or openings for receiving mating cords, straps, webs or the like. 
   Thus, embodiments of the present invention provide a buckle assembly that is quickly and easily buckled and unbuckled. Particularly, embodiments of the present invention provide a buckle assembly that includes a male buckle housing that is quickly and easily disengaged from a female buckle housing. 
   Variations and modifications of the foregoing are within the scope of the present invention. It is understood that the invention disclosed and defined herein extends to all alternative combinations of two or more of the individual features mentioned or evident from the text and/or drawings. All of these different combinations constitute various alternative aspects of the present invention. The embodiments described herein explain the best modes known for practicing the invention and will enable others skilled in the art to utilize the invention. The claims are to be construed to include alternative embodiments to the extent permitted by the prior art. 
   Various features of the invention are set forth in the following claims.