Buckle

A buckle which is an insertion type, wherein looseness between a buckle main body and an insertion body is eliminated and generation of impact sound or vibration sound is prevented, and in a resin buckle including the buckle main body formed of a housing and the insertion body having insertion leg portions on both sides, a concave guide groove is provided in a longitudinal direction of a center of an inner face of each of an upper face plate and a lower face plate of the housing of the buckle main body, while a guide lever which can be inserted into the guide groove provided in the housing is provided in a protruded form in a center of a proximal lever of the insertion body. A sliding contact portion which is elevated to make pressure contact with an opposing face is provided in part of the guide groove or the guide lever, or both the guide groove and the guide lever.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to an insertion type buckle comprising a housing-shaped buckle main body and an insertion body having leg portions for an insertion and more particularly, relates to a belt tightening buckle ordinarily used for clothing, bag, sport goods and the like.

2. Description of the Related Art

In a conventional insertion type buckle comprising the housing-shaped buckle main body101and the insertion body102having the insertion leg portions131on both right and left sides of the insertion body102, as shown inFIG. 12, a pair of wall bodies150are provided longitudinally in a center of an inner face of a housing120of the buckle main body101between upper and lower plates of the buckle main body101, and these wall bodies150form a wedge-shaped guide groove105in which its opening side is wide while its deep side is narrowed. A wedge-shaped small protrusion151projecting into the guide groove105is formed in a deep portion of this guide groove105and then a small and shallow wedge-shaped guide groove152is provided recessedly on the opening side of the guide groove105. In the insertion body102, a guide member106, which can be inserted into the guide groove105, is provided in a center of its proximal lever130such that it is projected forward, and a wedge-shaped small guide groove153which can be fitted to the small protrusion151provided on the buckle main body101is provided at a front end of the guide member106. Further, a wedge-shaped small protrusion154which can be fitted to the small guide groove152provided in the guide groove105of the buckle main body101is provided on each of both front and rear surfaces of the guide member106at its proximal portion such that both of them overlap each other. As a result, this insertion type buckle have three positions in which the respective members engage each other firmly.

Further, according to another insertion type buckle, as shown inFIG. 13, a pair of guide pieces255are provided along the longitudinal direction in the center of the inner face of the housing220of the buckle main body201such that they are projected inward, so that a concave guide groove205is provided and then a guide lever206having a H-shaped cross section is provided protrudedly in the center of the proximal lever230and the guide lever206can be inserted into the guide groove205.

Because in the insertion type buckle shown inFIG. 12, the guide groove105, small protrusion151and small guide groove152provided in a housing120of the buckle main body101are all wedge-shaped and all the guide member106, small guide groove153and small protrusion154disposed in the insertion body102are wedge-shaped, the buckle main body101and insertion body102are engaged with each other in a specified insertion range so that the position of the buckle in the longitudinal direction can be controlled. However, because there is no mechanism for restricting a swing of the buckle in the direction to front and rear surfaces, when the insertion leg portions131and guide member106of the insertion body102are inserted into the housing120of the buckle main body101, looseness occurs and if this buckle is used in a bag or the like, impact sound or vibration sound is generated so as to make user feel discomfort.

Further, in case of the insertion type buckle shown inFIG. 13, when the guide lever206of the insertion body202is inserted into the guide groove205formed in the inner face of the housing220of the buckle main body201, it is necessary to provide an allowance between the guide groove205and the guide lever206so as to secure a gap in order to insert the guide lever206into the guide groove205smoothly, because the thickness of the guide lever206is constant. However if the gap is provided, looseness occurs so that vibration sound is generated. Further, if the guide lever206is formed thick, when the guide lever206of the insertion body202is inserted into the housing220of the buckle main body201, there is such a problem that the insertion operation cannot be performed smoothly because friction resistance is large.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention has been achieved in consideration of the above-described problem and an object of a first aspect of the invention is to provide an insertion type buckle comprising a buckle main body formed of a housing and an insertion body having insertion leg portions on both sides and a guide lever in a center of the insertion body, wherein sliding contact faces, which make pressure contact with part of the buckle main body and the insertion body eliminating a gap in a direction to front and rear surfaces when the insertion leg portions and guide lever of the insertion body are inserted into the housing of the buckle main body, thereby preventing a swing of the buckle and blocking generation of impact sound or vibration sound, this insertion type buckle enabling a smooth insertion operation and ensuring an excellent quality with a simple structure.

Objects of second and third aspects of the invention are, in addition to the object of the first aspect, to provide an insertion type buckle, wherein in the sliding contact faces in which when the guide lever of the insertion body is inserted into the housing of the buckle main body, both of the sliding contact faces make pressure contact with each other, one of the sliding contact faces is formed of a flat face while the other one is formed of an elevated portion or one of them is formed as a recess while the other is formed of the elevated portion, in order to block swing of the buckle main body and insertion body thereby preventing generation of impact sound or vibration sound.

Objects of fourth, fifth and sixth aspects of the invention are, in addition to the object of the first aspect, to provide an insertion type buckle, wherein by specifying at which position the sliding contact portion to be provided on the guide groove and the guide lever should be provided on the guide groove or the guide lever, a relative swing between the housing of the buckle main body and the guide lever of the insertion body is blocked thereby preventing generation of the impact sound or vibration sound from the buckle.

Objects of seventh and eighth aspects of the invention are, in addition to the object of the first aspect, to provide an insertion type buckle, wherein the sliding contact portions which make pressure contact with an opposing face provided on the guide groove or the guide lever are provided on both faces or a single face, that is, the sliding contact portions are provided on both the upper and lower faces of the guide groove and the upper and lower faces of the guide lever or are provided on a single opposing face of the guide groove and a single opposing face of the guide lever, in order to block a relative swing between the housing of the buckle main body and the guide lever of the insertion body, thereby preventing generation of the impact sound or vibration sound from the buckle.

To achieve the above-described object, according to the first aspect, there is provided an insertion type buckle made of resin comprising a buckle main body formed of a housing and an insertion body having insertion leg portions on both sides of the insertion body, wherein the buckle main body includes a concave guide groove provided in a longitudinal direction of a center of an inner face of each of an upper face plate and a lower face plate of the housing; the insertion body includes a guide lever capable of being inserted into the guide groove provided within the housing, the guide lever provided in a center of a proximal lever so as to be protruded forward; and a sliding contact portion which makes pressure contact with an opposing face is disposed on part of the guide groove within the housing or the guide lever provided on the insertion body, or sliding contact portions are disposed on part of both of the guide groove and the guide lever.

According to the second aspect, there is provided the insertion type buckle according to the first aspect, wherein one side of the sliding contact portion which makes pressure contact with the opposing face is formed of a flat face while an other side thereof is formed of an elevated portion which is projected to the opposing face.

According to the third aspect, there is provided the insertion type buckle according to the first aspect, wherein one side of the sliding contact portion which makes pressure contact with the opposing face is formed of a recess while the other side thereof is formed of an elevated portion which is projected to the opposing face.

According to the fourth aspect, there is provided the insertion type buckle according to the first aspect, wherein the sliding contact portions which make pressure contact with respective opposing faces are disposed at a proximal portion of the guide lever provided in the insertion body and a distal end portion side of the guide groove provided within the housing, the distal end portion side mentioned here referring to a position corresponding to a front end portion of the guide lever when the guide lever of the insertion body is inserted into the guide groove.

According to the fifth aspect, there is provided the insertion type buckle according to the first aspect, wherein the sliding contact portions which make pressure contact with the respective opposing faces are disposed on faces in the guide groove provided within the housing, opposing a proximal portion and a front end portion of the guide lever provided on the insertion body.

According to the sixth aspect, there is provided the insertion type buckle according to the first aspect, wherein the sliding contact portions which make pressure contact with the respective opposing faces, are disposed at an insertion mouth portion and a distal end portion side of the guide groove provided within the housing and a proximal portion of the guide lever provided on the insertion body.

According to the seventh aspect, there is provided the insertion type buckle according to the first aspect, wherein the sliding contact portions disposed on the guide lever provided on the insertion body, making pressure contact with the opposing faces, are formed on both upper and lower surfaces, namely, both front and rear surfaces, and the sliding contact portions disposed in the guide groove provided within the housing, making pressure contact with the opposing faces, are formed in both upper and lower inner faces.

According to the eighth aspect, there is provided the insertion type buckle according to the first aspect, wherein the sliding contact portion disposed on the guide lever provided on the insertion body, making pressure contact with an opposing face is formed on a single face of the upper and lower faces, namely, the front and rear surfaces and the sliding contact portion disposed in the guide groove provided within the housing, making pressure contact with an opposing face is formed on a single face opposing the sliding contact portion formed on the guide lever provided on the insertion body.

According to the first aspect of the invention, the following effect can be exerted.

When the guide lever of the insertion body is inserted into the guide groove provided within the housing so as to engage the buckle main body with the insertion body, the guide groove and the guide lever make pressure contact with each other in a direction to the front and rear surfaces, so that they cannot deflect. Thus, unlike the conventional product in which the buckle main body and the insertion body deflect from each other, no impact sound or vibration sound is generated and because deflection to the right or left of the buckle is blocked by the insertion leg portions having a resilient performance, no impact sound or vibration sound is generated. Further, because the position in which the sliding contact portions of the guide groove and guide lever make pressure contact with each other acts as a mechanism which keeps the guide lever in a firm contact at the final stage of the insertion operation, the insertion operation of the guide lever can be carried out extremely smoothly.

According to the second and third aspects, the sliding contact portions provided in the guide groove provided within the housing of the buckle main body and on the guide lever provided on the insertion body have an extremely simple structure, which ensures the contact operation and blocks generation of the impact sound and vibration sound.

According to the fourth, fifth and sixth aspects, the sliding contact portions provided in the guide groove provided in the housing of the buckle main body and the guide lever provided on the insertion body are disposed only on part of the guide groove and guide lever, thereby exerting the pressure contact function effectively and blocking generation of the impact sound and vibration sound.

According to the seventh and eighth aspects, the sliding contact portions disposed on the guide lever and guide groove are disposed on faces opposing each other so that the pressure contact function can be exerted to the maximum extent. For the reason, the effects which the present invention exerts are remarkable.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

The buckle of the present invention is an insertion type buckle comprising a buckle main body1and an insertion body2which can be inserted into this buckle main body1as shown inFIG. 1and both the buckle main body1and insertion body2are formed of thermoplastic resin with an injection molding means. The buckle main body1comprises a housing20and at an end of the housing20is provided an insertion mouth24into which insertion leg portions31and a guide lever6of the insertion body2can be inserted and at the other end is provided a belt mounting portion28. On both sides of the buckle main body1are provided openings25which are formed by cutting out in an arcuate form so that operation portions33of the insertion leg portions31appear.

Inside the housing20, a concave guide groove5is provided in a longitudinal direction of a center of an upper face plate21, and a sliding contact portion8, which is formed of a slope and a front end portion17of the guide lever6can make a firm contact with, is provided on a distal end portion side15. A guide groove5is provided in a longitudinal direction of a center of a lower face plate22corresponding to the guide groove5of the upper face plate21and a slope sliding contact portion8is provided on the distal end portion side15corresponding to the sliding contact portion8of the upper face plate21. Further, a projected portion26which is projected toward an insertion mouth14of the guide groove5is provided in the center of the guide groove5so that a concave groove portion35of the guide lever6is fitted thereto and guided thereby. On the side of the belt mounting portion28inside the housing20are provided hook-shaped engaging portions27which can engage engaging protrusions32of the insertion leg portions31, the engaging portions being disposed protrudedly on the upper face plate21and the lower face plate22.

In the insertion body2, the insertion leg portions31are provided so as to be projected forward from both sides of the proximal lever30and a guide lever6, which can be inserted into the guide groove5in the housing20, is provided so as to be projected forward from the center of the proximal lever30and a flat face10is formed on each of upper and lower surfaces of this guide lever. However, elevated portions11are formed on the proximal portion of the guide lever such that they are projected upward and downward so as to form the sliding contact portions8, so that they can make a pressure contact with the insertion mouth14of the guide groove5. On the upper surface of the guide lever6, there is provided a concave portion36which is extended from the proximal end16to the front end portion17with its front end closed. On the lower surface, there is provided a U-shaped concave groove portion35which is extended from the proximal portion16to the front end portion17with its front end open, so that it is capable of being fitted to the projected portion26provided in the guide groove5. Reinforcement portions37are formed on the root of the guide lever6such that they are stretched sideway and then, the insertion leg portions31having the thick operation portions33in the middle thereof are provided so as to be projected forward from both portions of the proximal lever30on both sides of the reinforcement portions with each gap relative thereto. Engaging protrusions32capable of engaging the engaging portions27are provided on both the upper and lower surfaces at the front end of the insertion leg31and when the insertion leg portions31are inserted through the insertion mouth24of the housing20, they are repelled outward so that they make a firm contact with side walls23.

As for the operation of the insertion type buckle, if the insertion leg portions31and the guide lever6of the insertion body2are inserted into the buckle main body1, as shown inFIGS. 6 and 7, the sliding contact portions8comprising the elevated portions11formed on the upper and lower surfaces of the proximal portion16of the guide lever6make pressure contact with the insertion mouth portion14of the guide groove5provided in the upper face plate21and the lower face plate22of the housing20and at the same time, the front end portion17of the guide lever6makes pressure contact with the inclined sliding contact portions8on the upper and lower inner faces on the distal end portion side15provided in the guide groove5. As a consequence, the guide lever6is held firmly by the insertion mouth portion14of the guide groove5on both the front and rear faces and the distal end portion side15through its proximal portions16on both the upper and lower faces and front end portion17. Thus, the insertion body2never deflects vertically, that is, in the direction of the front/rear faces, within the buckle main body1, thereby generating no impact sound or vibration sound.

FIRST EMBODIMENT

An insertion type buckle of an embodiment shown inFIGS. 1 to 8will be described and as shown inFIG. 1, this insertion type buckle comprises the buckle main body1called socket and the insertion body2called plug which can be inserted into this buckle main body1. The buckle main body1and the insertion body2are formed of thermoplastic resin such as polyamide, polyacetal, polypropylene, polybutylene terphthalate with an injection molding means.

The buckle main body1comprises the housing20surrounded by the upper face plate21, the lower face plate22and the side wall23and at an end of the housing20is formed the insertion mouth24into which the insertion leg portions31and the guide lever6provided in the insertion body2can be inserted while the belt mounting portion28is formed at the other end by stretching a mounting lever29for mounting a belt between the side walls23. Then, the openings25are provided on both sides of the housing20by cutting out in an arcuate fashion so that the operation portions33provided on the insertion leg portions31appear on the surface. Inside the housing20is provided the guide groove5which presents a concave configuration in a longitudinal direction of the center of the inner face of the upper face plate21and an inclined face, which can make pressure contact with the front end portion17of the guide lever6, is provided on the distal end portion side15of this guide groove5so as to form the sliding contact portion8.

The guide groove5is provided in the longitudinal direction of the center of the inner face of the lower face plate22of the housing20corresponding to the guide groove5provided in the upper face plate21and the sliding contact portion8providing an inclined face is provided on the distal end portion side15corresponding to the sliding contact portion8of the upper face plate21so that it makes a sliding contact with the guide lever6. The projected portion26, which is projected upward, is provided in the center of the concave guide groove5such that it is directed to the insertion mouth portion14and is fitted to the concave groove portion35provided in the guide lever6so as to guide the guide lever6. The hook-shaped engaging portions27, which can engage the engaging protrusions32formed at the front end of the insertion leg portions31of the insertion body2are provided protrudedly on the side of the belt mounting portion28on the upper face plate21and the lower face plate22of the housing20with a gap between the both.

In the insertion body2, the insertion leg portions31are provided so as to be projected forward from both sides of the proximal lever30stretched between side frames34and the guide lever6which can be inserted into the guide groove5provided in the housing20is provided so as to be projected forward from the center of the proximal lever30and then, the flat face10is formed on each of the both upper and lower surfaces of this guide lever6. By providing the elevated portions11which are projected upward and downward on the proximal portion16of the guide lever6, the sliding contact portion8is formed so that it is capable of making a pressure contact with the insertion mouth portion14of the guide groove5. The dented concave portion36whose front end is closed is provided in the top face of the guide lever6so that it is extended from the proximal portion16to the front end portion17and the concave groove portion35, whose front end is open, entirely providing an U-shaped groove configuration, is provided in the lower face so that it is extended from the proximal portion16to the front end portion17. This concave groove portion35is formed so as to be capable of being fitted to the projected portion26provided in the guide groove5of the housing20so as to guide it.

The reinforcement portions37stretched sideways are formed on the root of the guide portion6and the insertion leg portions31projected forward are provided on both sides of the reinforcement portions37with a gap so that they are projected forward from the both side portions of the proximal lever30. This insertion leg portion31has the thick operation portion33in the middle thereof, which can be exposed from the opening25in the housing20. On both the upper and lower faces at the front end of the insertion leg portion31are provided the engaging protrusions32capable of engaging the engaging portions27provided in the housing20. The insertion leg portions31are repelled outward when they are inserted through the insertion mouth24of the housing20so as to make a pressure contact with the side walls23. The mounting lever39for mounting a belt and a pressing portion40for blocking the belt from sliding by pressing are provided so as to be stretched between the side frames34so as to form the belt mounting portion38.

As for the operation of the insertion type buckle, if the insertion body2is inserted into the buckle main body1as shown inFIG. 5, when the insertion leg portions31advance, their front ends advance along the inner edge of the hook-shaped engaging portion27pressing inward and at a termination, the insertion leg portions31are repelled outward so as to engage the engaging protrusions32with the engaging portions27so as to form a keying condition. At the same time, as shown inFIGS. 6,7, and8, the sliding contact portions8comprising the elevated portions11provided on the upper and lower faces of the proximal portion16of the guide lever6make pressure contact with the insertion mouth portion14of the guide groove5in the upper and lower inner faces of the housing20and at the same time, the front end portion17of the guide lever6makes pressure contact with the inclined sliding contact portions8on the upper and lower inner faces on the distal end portion side15provided in the guide groove5. As a consequence, the guide lever6is held firmly by both the insertion mouth portion14and the distal end portion side15in the guide groove5through the proximal portion16on both the upper and lower faces and both the upper and lower faces of the front end portion17. As a result, the insertion body2never deflects in the vertical direction or in the direction of the front/rear surfaces inside the buckle main body1, thereby generating no impact sound or vibration sound.

SECOND EMBODIMENT

An insertion type buckle of an embodiment shown inFIG. 9indicates a modification of the guide groove5provided in the housing20of the buckle main body1and the sliding contact portion8disposed on the guide lever6provided in the insertion body2. In the guide grooves5formed in the inner faces of the upper face plate21and the lower face plate23of the housing20of the buckle main body1, the sliding contact portion8is provided by providing the elevated portion11which is projected inward in an arcuate fashion, at the insertion mouth portion14into which the guide lever6of the insertion body2can be inserted, while the sliding contact portion8providing an inclined face is formed on the distal end portion side15of each of the guide grooves5in the upper and lower inner faces.

In the guide lever6of the insertion body2, its upper face and lower face are formed as the flat face10which is entirely flat from the proximal portion16to the front end portion17. Thus, when the guide lever6is inserted into the guide grooves5in the upper and lower inner faces of the housing20, the sliding contact portion8of the elevated portions11at the insertion mouth portion14provided in the guide groove5makes pressure contact with the proximal portion16. Further, the inclined sliding contact portion8on the distal end portion side15makes pressure contact with the front end portion17of the guide lever6so that the guide lever6makes pressure contact with the sliding contact portions8at the front and rear positions of the housing20and is held firmly, never deflecting thereby generating no impact sound or vibration sound.

THIRD EMBODIMENT

An insertion type buckle of an embodiment shown inFIGS. 10 and 11indicates a modification of the guide groove5provided in the housing20of the buckle main body1and the sliding contact portion8disposed on the guide lever6provided in the insertion body2. In the guide grooves5formed in the inner faces of the upper face plate21and the lower face plate22of the housing20of the buckle main body1, the sliding contact portions8are formed by providing the elevated portions11having a recess12at its vertex faces, which are projected inward of the insertion mouth portion14into which the guide lever6of the insertion body2is to be inserted. Additionally, the sliding contact portions8providing a slope are formed at the distal end portion side15of the guide grooves5in the upper and lower inner faces.

In the guide lever6of the insertion body2, the sliding contact portion8is formed on the proximal portions16of the upper and lower faces by providing the elevated portions11which are projected outward and the recesses12formed in the guide groove5make pressure contact with the sliding contact portion8formed of the elevated portion11. Further, the front end portion17of the guide lever6is capable of making pressure contact with the sliding contact portion8in which a slope is formed on the distal end portion side15of the guide groove5. As a consequence, when the insertion body2is inserted into the housing20, the guide lever6makes pressure contact with the sliding contact portion8at the insertion mouth portion14and the sliding contact portion8on the distal end portion side15, provided in the guide groove5so that the guide lever6makes pressure contact with the sliding contact portions8at the front and rear positions in the housing20, and consequently, the guide lever6is held firmly at the front and rear positions, never deflecting thereby generating no impact sound or vibration sound.

In the insertion type buckle of the present invention, its buckle main body and insertion body are formed of thermoplastic resin and this is used for firm tightening in clothing, bag and the like so as to prevent generation of impact sound or vibration sound during use thereof and to have excellent quality.