Abstract:
Buckles for releasably connecting a first object and a second object. Example buckles may include a base including a first upstanding wall including a first boss extending therefrom and a second upstanding wall including a second boss extending therefrom. A housing may be mounted to a connector. The housing may include a hook section shaped to engage the first boss and the second boss and including a mouth for receiving the first boss and the second boss therethrough. A trigger may be configured to selectively obstruct the mouth. The trigger may include a first leg, a second leg, and one or more actuators operative to move the first leg and the second leg generally towards each other such that the first leg and the second leg may pass between the first boss and the second boss as the first boss and the second boss pass through the mouth.

Description:
BACKGROUND 
     The present disclosure is directed to buckles and to infant carriers incorporating buckles. 
     The following U.S. patents may include disclosure relevant to buckles and/or infant carriers and are incorporated by reference into this Background section: U.S. Pat. Nos. 330,152; 417,124; 429,089; 1,531,757; 5,313,691; 5,711,056; 5,970,588; 6,557,220; 7,0007,353; and 7,070,076. 
     SUMMARY 
     Example embodiments according to the present disclosure may include buckles for releasably connecting a first object and a second object. Example buckles may include a base including a first upstanding wall including a first boss extending therefrom and a second upstanding wall including a second boss extending therefrom. A housing may be mounted to a connector. The housing may include a hook section shaped to engage the first boss and the second boss and including a mouth for receiving the first boss and the second boss therethrough. A trigger may be configured to selectively obstruct the mouth. The trigger may include a first leg, a second leg, and one or more actuators operative to move the first leg and the second leg generally towards each other such that the first leg and the second leg may pass between the first boss and the second boss as the first boss and the second boss pass through the mouth. 
     In an aspect, a buckle for releasably connecting a first object and a second object may include a base associated with a first object, the base including a first upstanding wall including a first boss extending therefrom, and a second upstanding wall including a second boss extending therefrom, where the first boss and the second boss generally oppose each other and extend generally towards each other between the first wall and the second wall; a connector associated with a second object; a housing mounted to the connector, the housing including a hook section shaped to engage the first boss and the second boss, the hook section including mouth for receiving the first boss and the second boss therethrough, and a trigger mounted to the housing and configured to selectively obstruct the mouth, the trigger including a first leg corresponding to the first boss, a second leg corresponding to the second boss, and at least one actuator operative to move the first leg and the second leg generally towards each other such that the first leg and the second leg may pass between the first boss and the second boss as the first boss and the second boss pass through the mouth. 
     In a detailed embodiment, the base may include a mounting plate from which the first wall and the second wall extend, the base being mounted to the first object. In a detailed embodiment, the first boss and the second boss may be substantially cylindrical. In a detailed embodiment, when the hook section is engaged with the first boss and the second boss, the housing may be pivotable with respect to the base about an axis which may extend through the first boss and the second boss. In a detailed embodiment, the trigger may include a head section and/or the first leg and the second leg may be joined at the head section. 
     In a detailed embodiment, the first leg may include a first end arranged to engage the first boss, the first end including a first sloped surface and the second leg may include a second end arranged to engage the second boss, the second end including a second sloped surface. Contact between the first boss and the first sloped surface and contact between the second boss and the second sloped surface may be operative to move the first end and the second end inward between the first boss and the second boss as the first boss and the second boss pass through the mouth. 
     In a detailed embodiment, the at least one actuator may include a first actuator extending from the first leg and a second actuator extending from the second leg. In a detailed embodiment, the first actuator may include a first button and the second actuator includes a second button. In a detailed embodiment, the connector may be mounted to the housing by a swivel connection. In a detailed embodiment, the connector may include at least one bar and at least one slot, and the second object may include a strap engaging the bar and the slot. 
     In an aspect, a buckle for releasably connecting a first object and a second object may include a hook section having a substantially J-shaped cross section and including a mouth, the hook section being associated with a first object; a trigger including two legs, the two legs partially obstructing the mouth, the two legs being movable within the mouth while still partially obstructing the mouth; a pair of bosses receivable within the hook section, the pair of bosses being associated with a second object; and an actuator associated with each of the two legs, the actuators being operative to move the two legs to selectively allow or obstruct passage of the pair of bosses through the mouth. 
     In a detailed embodiment, a buckle may include a housing attached to the hook section, the housing including a cavity receiving at least a portion of the trigger. In a detailed embodiment, the hook section may be integrally formed with at least a portion of the housing. In a detailed embodiment, a buckle may include a connector mounted to the housing generally opposite from the hook section, the connector configured for attachment to the first object. 
     In a detailed embodiment, the pair of bosses may be provided on a base, the base including a pair of upstanding walls, each of the pair of bosses being disposed on a respective one of the pair of upstanding walls. In a detailed embodiment, the pair of bosses may be generally opposed and extend generally towards each other between the pair of upstanding walls. 
     In an aspect, an infant carrier may include a shoulder strap; a support panel; and a releasably connectable buckle interposing the shoulder strap and the support panel, the buckle comprising a base including a pair of opposed bosses extending inwardly between a pair of upstanding walls, a housing including a hook section configured to releasably couple with the opposed bosses, the hook section including a mouth sized to receive the opposed bosses therethrough, a trigger including two legs extending into and selectively at least partially obstructing the mouth, at least one actuator operative to move the two legs towards each other such that they fit between the opposed bosses, and a connector mounted to the housing. The base may be mounted to one of the shoulder strap and the support panel and/or the connector may be mounted to the other of the shoulder strap and the support panel. 
     In a detailed embodiment, the housing may be pivotable relative to the base about an axis extending generally through the opposed bosses. In a detailed embodiment, each of the legs may include an end arranged to engage a respective one of the opposed bosses, each end including a sloped surface. In a detailed embodiment, contact between the bosses and the respective sloped surfaces may be operative to move the ends inward between the opposed bosses as the opposed bosses pass through the mouth. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The detailed description refers to the following figures in which: 
         FIG. 1  is a plan view of an example buckle; 
         FIG. 2  is an elevation view of an example buckle; 
         FIG. 3  is a perspective view of an example lower housing; 
         FIG. 4A  is a perspective view of an example trigger; 
         FIG. 4B  is an end view of an example trigger; 
         FIG. 5  is a perspective view of an example base; 
         FIG. 6  is a plan view of an example connector; 
         FIG. 7  is a perspective view of an example upper housing; and 
         FIG. 8  is a perspective view of an example infant carrier including an example buckle; all in accordance with at least some aspects of the present disclosure. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     The present disclosure is directed to, inter alia, buckles for releasably connecting two objects. For example, buckles according to the present disclosure may be used on infant carriers for releasably connecting components, such as releasably connecting a support panel to a shoulder strap. 
       FIGS. 1 and 2  illustrate an example buckle  100 , which may include a housing  102 , a trigger  104 , a connector  106 , and/or a base  108 . Housing  102  may include a hook section  102 A, which may releasably engage one or more bosses  108 A,  108 B on base  108  and/or which may have a substantially J-shaped cross section. Housing  102  may be pivotable with respect to base about a pivot axis  114 , which may extend through bosses  108 A,  108 B of base  108 , generally as indicated by arrow  114 A. 
     Hook section  102 A of housing  102  may include a mouth  1028 , which may be at least partially obstructed by one or more ends  104 C,  104 D of trigger  104 . Trigger  104  may include one or more actuators  104 A,  104 B configured to move one or more interface portions, e.g., ends  104 C,  104 D, such that hook section  102 A may be disengaged from bosses  108 A,  108 B. For example, buttons  248 ,  250  may be squeezed inwardly towards housing  102 , which may cause ends  104 C,  104 D to move inwardly as indicated by arrows  104 E,  104 F. This may allow housing  102  to translate relative to base  108  such that bosses  108 A,  108 B pass through mouth  102 B and/or ends  104 C,  104 D pass between bosses  108 A,  108 B, thereby disengaging hook section  102 A from bosses  108 A,  108 B. 
     In some example embodiments, housing  102  may include an upper housing  110  and/or a lower housing  112 . Connector  106  may be rotatably coupled to housing  102 , such as by being captured between upper housing  110  and lower housing  112 . Connector  106  may include one or more slots  106 A, which may receive straps, webbing, or the like. 
       FIG. 3  is a perspective view of an example lower housing  112 , which may include a cavity  202  (which may receive at least a portion of trigger  104 ) and/or hook section  102 A. In some example embodiments, hook section  102 A may be formed integrally with lower housing  112 . 
     Lower housing  112  may include various openings, such as one or more actuator openings  204 ,  206  (which may receive actuators  104 A,  104 B), a trigger opening  208  (through which trigger  104  may extend between actuators  104 A,  104 B and ends  104 C,  104 D), and/or a connector mounting opening  210  (which may receive a portion of connector  106 ). Some example lower housings  112  may include one or more features configured to engage trigger  104 , such as post  212  (which may extend through trigger  104 ) and/or tab  302  (which may prevent installation of trigger  104  in an inverted orientation). In some example embodiments, connector mounting opening  210  may include a portion of a generally circular shape. 
       FIG. 4A  is a perspective view of an example trigger  104 , and  FIG. 4B  is an end view of an example trigger  104 . Trigger  104  may include one or more legs  214 ,  216 , which may be joined at a head section  218 . Legs  214 ,  216  may be flexible (e.g., elastically deformable) and/or pivotable relative to one another such that they may be moved inwardly towards each other when inwardly directed forces are applied to actuators  104 A,  104 B. Head section  218  may include a through hole  220  for receiving post  212  of lower housing  112 . 
     Ends  104 C,  104 D may be shaped, such as to allow engagement of hook section  102 A with bosses  108 A,  108 B without using actuators  104 A,  104 B to move ends  104 C,  104 D inwardly. For example, ends  104 C,  104 D may include sloped surfaces  222 ,  224 , which may engage bosses  108 A,  108 B as mouth  102 B is placed over bosses  108 A,  108 B. Pressing sloped surfaces  222 ,  224  on bosses  108 A,  108 B may cause ends  104 C,  104 D to move inwardly (by flexing and/or pivoting legs  214 ,  216 ), such that hook section  102 A may engage bosses  108 A,  108 B. Once ends  104 C,  104 D have passed bosses  108 A,  108 B, legs  214 ,  216  may spring outwards, thereby allowing ends  104 C,  104 D to maintain bosses  108 A,  108 B engaged with hook section  102 A. 
     Some example embodiments may include one or more features arranged to ensure that trigger  104  is installed in a desired orientation within housing  102 . For example, a lateral tab  304  may contact tab  302  of lower housing  112  if trigger  104  is installed in an inverted orientation (e.g., with sloped surfaces  222 ,  224  facing the closed portion of hook section  102 A instead of mouth  102 B). This contact may prevent installation of trigger  104  in the inverted orientation. 
       FIG. 5  is a perspective view of an example base  108 , which may include a mounting plate  226  and/or one or more upstanding walls  228 ,  230 . Bosses  108 A,  108 B may be provided on inwardly facing surfaces  232 ,  234  of walls  228 ,  230 . In some example embodiments, a pedestal  236  may interpose walls  228 ,  230  and mounting plate  226 . In some example embodiments, bosses  108 A,  108 B may be generally cylindrical and/or may include tapered inward ends. 
       FIG. 6  is a plan view of an example connector  106 , which may include one or more one or more slots  106 A and/or bars  106 B, which may receive straps, webbing, or the like. Connector  106  may include a longitudinally extending coupling  238  for connecting to housing  102 . Coupling  238  may include a narrowed neck  240 . In some example embodiments, coupling  238  and/or neck  240  may be generally cylindrical such that connector  106  may be rotatable with respect to housing  102 . Such an interface may be referred to as a swivel connection. 
       FIG. 7  is a perspective view of an example upper housing  110 . Upper housing may include various openings, such as one or more actuator openings  242 ,  244  and/or a connector mounting opening  246 . In some example embodiments, connector mounting opening  246  may include a portion of a generally circular shape. 
       FIG. 8  is a perspective view of an example infant carrier  400 , which may include one or more buckles  100 . Infant carrier  400  may include a support panel  402 , which may be configured to receive and/or support an infant (such as adjacent a caregiver&#39;s torso) and/or one or more shoulder straps  404 ,  406 , which may be configured to extend generally over at least one of the caregiver&#39;s shoulders. In some example embodiments, buckle  100  may be arranged to releasably connect support panel  402  to shoulder strap  404 . For example, base  108  may be mounted to shoulder strap  404  (e.g., a first object) and/or connector  106  may engage a strap  106 C mounted to support panel  402  (e.g., a second object). It is within the scope of the disclosure to reverse the arrangement (e.g., base  108  may be mounted to support panel  402  and/or connector may be coupled to shoulder strap  404 ), to employ a similar buckle  100  arrangement to connect support panel  402  to shoulder strap  406 , and/or to employ more than one buckle  100  to connect support panel  402  to either of shoulder straps  404 ,  406 . 
     Example buckles  100  and components thereof according to the present disclosure may be constructed, for example, from molded plastic. Various components (e.g., upper housing  110  and lower housing  112 ) may be joined using techniques known in the art, such as ultrasonic welding. 
     Although example buckles  100  have been described herein in connection with infant carriers, the present disclosure contemplates that example buckles  100  may be useful in other applications. For example, example buckles  100  according to the present disclosure may be useful where it is desired to releasably connect a section of webbing to a fabric component. 
     An example method of attaching a buckle  100  according to the present disclosure may include aligning bosses  108 A,  108 B of base  108  with mouth  102 B of hook section  102 A. Bosses  108 A,  108 B may be moved through mouth  102 B and into hook section  102 A, which may involve bosses  108 A,  108 B contacting sloped surfaces  222 ,  224 , which may cause legs  214 ,  216  to move inwards. Ends  104 C,  104 D may pass between bosses  108 A,  108 B as bosses  108 A,  108 B move through mouth  102 B and into hook section  102 A. Once bosses  108 A,  108 B are clear of legs  214 ,  216 , ends  104 C,  104 D may spring outwards, thereby acting to retain bosses  108 A,  108 B within hook section  102 A. 
     An example method of releasing a buckle  100  according to the present disclosure may include squeezing buttons  248 ,  250 , which may move ends  104 C,  104 D of legs  214 ,  216  inward with respect to bosses  108 A,  108 B. Hook section  102 A may be disengaged from bosses  108 A,  108 B by sliding bosses  108 A,  108 B through mouth  102 B with ends  104 C,  104 D between bosses  108 A,  108 B. 
     While exemplary embodiments have been set forth above for the purpose of disclosure, modifications of the disclosed embodiments as well as other embodiments thereof may occur to those skilled in the art. Accordingly, it is to be understood that the disclosure is not limited to the above precise embodiments and that changes may be made without departing from the scope. Likewise, it is to be understood that it is not necessary to meet any or all of the stated advantages or objects disclosed herein to fall within the scope of the disclosure, since inherent and/or unforeseen advantages may exist even though they may not have been explicitly discussed herein.