Abstract:
A press release buckle includes a base member defining an accommodation chamber, a front opening and a retaining gap defined between the front opening and the accommodation chamber, a press member supported on a conical compression spring in the accommodation chamber and movable vertically between the top and bottom sides of the accommodation chamber to close/open the retaining gap, and a connection member having a coupling shaft insertable into the accommodation chamber and then the retaining gap, a mounting block for fastening to an external strap member and a neck connected between the coupling shaft and the mounting block and positionable in the front opening of the base member.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    1. Field of the Invention 
         [0002]    The present invention relates to buckles and more particularly, to a press release buckle, which allows the coupling shaft of a connection member thereof to be pressed on a spring-supported press member in an accommodation chamber of a base member thereof and then forced into a retaining gap in the base member and stopped in the retaining gap by the press member. 
         [0003]    2. Description of the Related Art 
         [0004]    Many different types of buckles and snap hooks have been created and are intensively used in shoes, backpacks, travel bags, shoulder bags, etc., to join two parts together. Further, a snap hook generally comprises a hook, a spring latch movable to close/open the hook, and a mounting ring located on one end of the hook for mounting. This design of snap hook is not satisfactory in function. The spring latch may be opened from the hook accidentally by an external force, causing disconnection of the hook from the hooked object. Further, the mounting ring may be fixedly mounted on or rotatably coupled to one end of the hook. Thus, the operational flexibility of this design of snap hook is limited. 
         [0005]      FIGS. 10 and 11  illustrate a conventional snap hook According to this design, the snap hook comprises a hook A, a sliding block B and a mounting ring C. The hook A comprises a hooked portion A 1  at its one end, a stop flange A 2  and a bearing edge A 3  spaced on the middle, a conical head A 4  located on an opposite end, a spring strip A 5  curved from the conical head A 4  and terminating in a hooked tip in between the stop flange A 2  and the bearing edge A 3 , and two sliding rails A 6  bilaterally disposed between the stop flange A 2  and the conical head A 4 . The mounting ring C is mounted on one end of the hook A remote from the hooked portion A 1 . The sliding block B is coupled to the two sliding rails A 6  of the hook A, comprising a top protrusion B 1  located on its one end, a raised portion B 2  located on its other end, a recessed portion B 3  defined between the top protrusion B 1  and the raised portion B 2 . The bottom wall of the recessed portion B 3  of the sliding block B is supported on the spring strip A 5  of the hook A. The spring strip A 5  imparts a pressure to the sliding block B, forcing the top protrusion B 1  into contact with the hooked portion A 1 . 
         [0006]    The aforesaid conventional snap hook is functional; however, due to the structural design of the hooked portion A 1  of the hook A, the user must apply a pressure to the sliding block B to move the top protrusion B 1  apart from the hooked portion A 1  when wishing to disconnect the hook A from the hooked object. When pushing the sliding block B in direction away from the hooked portion A 1  of the hook A, the applied force must overcome the spring force of the spring strip A 5 . Further, because the spring strip A 5  is formed integral with a part of the hook A, applying an excessively high pressure to the sliding block B against the spring strip A 5  may cause concentration of stress, deforming or damaging the connection area between the spring strip A 5  and the hook A. Thus, this design of snap hook is not durable in use and its safety level is low. Therefore, an improvement in this regard is necessary. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0007]    The present invention has been accomplished under the circumstances in view. It is one object of the present invention to provide a press release buckle, which comprises a base member mountable on an external object and defining an accommodation chamber, a front opening and a retaining gap defined between the front opening and the accommodation chamber, a press member supported on an elastic member in the accommodation chamber and movable vertically between the top and bottom sides of the accommodation chamber to close/open the retaining gap, and a connection member having a coupling shaft insertable into the accommodation chamber and then the retaining gap, a mounting block for fastening to an external strap member and a neck connected between the coupling shaft and the mounting block and positionable in the front opening of the base member. Further, the elastic member holds the press member normally in the upper limit position to close the retaining gap, and allows the press member to be moved between the top and bottom sides of the accommodation chamber in a balanced status without tilting so that the coupling shaft of the connection member can be smoothly inserted into the retaining gap or removal of the coupling shaft of the connection member out of the retaining gap. 
         [0008]    It is another object of the present invention to provide a press release buckle, wherein the base member comprises two pivot pins respectively horizontally extended from the inside wall thereof at two opposite lateral sides in the retaining gap between the accommodation chamber and the front opening and two horizontal stop flanges respectively suspending above the pivot pins; the coupling shaft of the connection member comprises two pivot holes respectively and axially located on the two distal ends thereof for receiving the pivot pins and two end notches respectively and radially located on the two distal ends in communication with the pivot holes and facing the mounting block for guiding the two pivot pins of the base member into the pivot holes in one particular direction. 
         [0009]    It is still another object of the present invention to provide a press release buckle, which further comprises a mounting structure adapted for pivotally connecting the base member to an external object. The base member further comprises a bottom shank perpendicularly downwardly extended from the flat bottom surface of the bottom wall thereof and a guide block protruded from the flat bottom surface adjacent to the bottom shank. The coupling structure comprises a first mounting plate attached to one side of the external object. The first mounting plate comprises a center through hole for the passing of the bottom shank of the base member and an arched sliding groove located on the top wall thereof and extending around the center through hole and coupled to the guide block of the base member to guide rotation of the base member relative to the mounting structure within a predetermined angle, for example, 45° angle, and a fastening member inserted through a through hole on the external object and the center through hole of the mounting structure and driven into the bottom shank of the base member to pivotally connect the base member to the mounting structure and the external object. 
         [0010]    It is still another object of the present invention to provide a press release buckle, wherein the base member further comprises an upright post suspending in the accommodation chamber; the press member comprises a bottom recess located on the bottom wall thereof; the elastic member is a conical compression spring that has a relatively smaller bottom end sleeved onto the upright post in the accommodation chamber of the base member and a relatively larger top end positioned in the bottom recess of the press member. Thus, the elastic member supports the press member stably in the accommodation chamber and can return the press member immediately and stably after said press member having been pressed. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0011]      FIG. 1  is an elevational view of a press release buckle in accordance with a first embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0012]      FIG. 2  is an exploded view of the press release buckle in accordance with the first embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0013]      FIG. 3  corresponds to  FIG. 2  when viewed from another angle. 
           [0014]      FIG. 4  is a schematic sectional side view of the first embodiment of the present invention, illustrating the installation procedure of the press release buckle (I). 
           [0015]      FIG. 5  is a schematic sectional side view of the first embodiment of the present invention, illustrating the installation procedure of the press release buckle (II). 
           [0016]      FIG. 6  is a schematic sectional side view of the first embodiment of the present invention, illustrating the installation procedure of the press release buckle (III). 
           [0017]      FIG. 7  is a schematic top view of the first embodiment of the present invention, illustrating the base member and the connection member biased in one direction relative to the mounting structure. 
           [0018]      FIG. 8  is a schematic top view of the first embodiment of the present invention, illustrating the base member and the connection member biased relative to the mounting structure in the reversed direction. 
           [0019]      FIG. 9  is an exploded view of a press release buckle in accordance with a second embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0020]      FIG. 10  is a sectional side view of a buckle according to the prior art. 
           [0021]      FIG. 11  illustrates an operation status of the buckle according to the prior art. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
       [0022]    Referring to  FIGS. 1-3 , a press release buckle in accordance with a first embodiment of the present invention is shown comprising a first buckle unit, which comprises a base member  1 , a press member  12  and an elastic member  14 , and a second buckle unit, which comprises a connection member  2 . 
         [0023]    The base member  1  defines an accommodation chamber  11  and a front opening  111  in communication with the accommodation chamber  11 . The press member  12  is mounted in the accommodation chamber  11  of the base member  1 , defining with the base member  1  a retaining gap  13  between the accommodation chamber  11  and the front opening  111 . The elastic member  14  is mounted in the accommodation chamber  11  and stopped between the press member  12  and the bottom wall of the base member  11 . 
         [0024]    The base member  1  further comprises an upright post  112  vertically upwardly extended from the bottom wall thereof and suspending in the accommodation chamber  11 . The elastic member  14  according to this embodiment is a conical compression spring, having a relatively smaller bottom end  141  sleeved onto the upright post  112  and a relatively larger top end  142  positioned in a bottom recess  121  of the press member  12 . The base member  1  further comprises a coupling structure  113  for receiving the press member  12 . The coupling structure  113  comprises a plurality of vertical coupling grooves  1131  spaced around the inside wall of the base member  1  within the accommodation chamber  11  and a plurality of beveled guide faces  1132  located on the inside wall of the base member  1  and respectively disposed above the vertical coupling grooves  1131 . The press member  12  further comprises a coupling structure  122  for coupling to the coupling structure  113  of the base member  1 . The coupling structure  122  comprises a plurality of coupling hooks  1221  respectively moved along the beveled guide faces  1132  into the vertical coupling grooves  1131 . After insertion of the respective coupling hooks  1221  into the respective vertical coupling grooves  1131 , the press member  12  can be moved vertically up and down in the accommodation chamber  11  (this will be described further). The press member  12  further comprises a sloping surface portion  123  located on the top side thereof. Further, the base member  1  comprises pivot pins  131  respectively horizontally extended from the inside wall thereof at two opposite lateral sides in the retaining gap  13  between the accommodation chamber  11  and the front opening  111 , two horizontal stop flanges  132  respectively suspending above the pivot pins  131 , and a narrow protruding block  133  raised from the bottom wall thereof in the bottom side of the retaining gap  13  and equally spaced between the two pivot pins  131  and abutted to the bottom side of the front opening  111 . 
         [0025]    The connection member  2  comprises a coupling shaft  21 , a mounting block  22  and a neck  23  connected between a middle part of the coupling shaft  21  and a middle part of the mounting block  22 . The coupling shaft  21  comprises two pivot holes  211  respectively and axially located on the two distal ends thereof, two end notches  2111  respectively and radially located on the two distal ends in communication with the respective pivot holes  211  and facing the mounting block  22 , and two locating blocks  212  respectively protruded from the periphery there near the two distal ends and opposite to the end notches  2111 . The mounting block  22  has a mounting hole  221  for the mounting of a strap member. 
         [0026]    Referring to  FIGS. 4-6  and  FIGS. 1-3  again, during installation of the press release buckle, insert the elastic member (conical compression spring)  14  into the accommodation chamber  11  of the base member  1  and sleeve the relatively smaller bottom end  141  of the elastic member (conical compression spring)  14  onto the upright post  112 , and then insert the press member  12  into the accommodation chamber  11  of the base member  1  by forcing the coupling hooks  1221  of the coupling structure  122  along the beveled guide faces  1132  of the coupling structure  113  of the base member  1  into the vertical coupling grooves  1131  respectively to have the relatively larger top end  142  of the elastic member (conical compression spring)  14  be positioned in the bottom recess  121  of the press member  12 . By means of arranging the elastic member (conical compression spring)  14  in the accommodation chamber  11  of the base member  1  in such a manner that the relatively smaller bottom end  141  of the elastic member (conical compression spring)  14  is sleeved onto the upright post  112  and supported on the bottom wall of the base member  1  inside the accommodation chamber  11  and the relatively larger top end  142  of the elastic member (conical compression spring)  14  is positioned in the bottom recess  121  of the press member  12  to support the press member  12 , the press member  12  can be moved in the accommodation chamber  11  stably up and down. 
         [0027]    Thereafter, press the coupling shaft  21  of the connection member  2  onto the press member  12  in the base member  1  to lower the press member  12  and to compress the elastic member (conical compression spring)  14  and then move the connection member  2  to slide the coupling shaft  21  along the sloping surface portion  123  of the press member  12  into the retaining gap  13  and to have the coupling shaft  21  be supported on the narrow protruding block  133 , and then pull the connection member  2  to move the coupling shaft  21  along the narrow protruding block  133  and to further let the two pivot pins  131  be forced through the respective end notches  2111  into the respective pivot holes  211 . At this time, the neck  23  of the connection member  2  extends through the front opening  111  of the base member  1 , and the elastic member (conical compression spring)  14  returns the press member  12  to its former position, i.e. the upper limit position where the coupling hooks  1221  of the coupling structure  122  of the press member  12  are respectively stopped at the top ends of the vertical coupling grooves  1131 , the coupling shaft  21  and its locating blocks  212  are stopped by the press member  12  and the stop flanges  132  of the base member  1  in the retaining gap  13 , and therefore the connection member  2  is kept connected to the base member  1 . 
         [0028]    When wishing to disconnect the connection member  2  (second buckle unit) from the base member  1  (first buckle unit), press the press member  12  to compress the elastic member (conical compression spring)  14  and to open the retaining gap  13 , allowing the coupling shaft  21  of the connection member  2  to be disengaged from the two pivot pins  131  of the base member  1  and the moved out of the retaining gap  13 . After removal of the connection member  2  from the base member  1 , the elastic member (conical compression spring)  14  immediately returns the press member  12  to its former position. 
         [0029]    Referring to  FIGS. 7 and 8  and  FIGS. 2 ,  3  and  6  again, the base member  1  further comprises a bottom shank  1141  perpendicularly downwardly extended from the flat bottom surface  114  of the bottom wall thereof and a guide block  1142  protruded from the flat bottom surface  114  adjacent to the bottom shank  1141 . The first buckle unit of the press release buckle further comprises a mounting structure  15  adapted for fastening the base member  1  to an object  3 , which can be the body member of a bag (backpack, suitcase or travel bag), box or any of a variety of consumer products. The mounting structure  15  comprises a first mounting plate  151 , a second mounting plate  152  and a plurality of fastening members  153 . The first mounting plate  151  is attached to the flat bottom surface  114  of the base member  1 , having a center through hole  1511  coupled to the bottom shank  1141  of the base member  1 , an arched sliding groove  1512  located on the top wall thereof and extending around the center through hole  1511  and coupled to the guide block  1142  of the base member  1  and two bottom mounting posts  1513  perpendicularly downwardly extended from the bottom wall thereof at two opposite sides relative to the center through hole  1511 . The second mounting plate  152  is coupled to the bottom mounting posts  1513  of the first mounting plate  151  and defining a clamping space  150  between the first mounting plate  151  and the second mounting plate  152 , having a center through hole  1521  corresponding to the center through hole  1511  of the first mounting plate  151  and two mounting holes  1522  corresponding to the bottom mounting posts  1513  of the first mounting plate  151 . 
         [0030]    During installation of the mounting structure  15 , attach the first mounting plate  151  and the second mounting plate  152  to the top and bottom sides of the object  3  to have the bottom mounting posts  1513  of the first mounting plate  151  be inserted through respective through holes  31  on the object  3  into the mounting holes  1522  of the second mounting plate  152 , and then fasten one respective fastening member  153  to each of the bottom mounting posts  1513  of the first mounting plate  151  to affix the first mounting plate  15 , the object  3  and the second mounting plate  152  together. 
         [0031]    Thereafter, attach the first mounting plate  151  to the flat bottom surface  114  of the base member  1  to couple the center through hole  1511  and arched sliding groove  1512  of the first mounting plate  151  to the bottom shank  1141  and guide block  1142  of the base member  1 , and then insert one fastening member  153  through the center through hole  1521  of the second mounting plate  152  and one corresponding through holes  31  on the object  3  and drive the fastening member  153  into the base member  1  to pivotally connect the mounting structure  15  and the object  3  to the base member  1 , allowing rotation of the base member  1  relative to the mounting structure  15  and the object  3  within a predetermined angle (subject to the extending angle of the arched sliding groove  1512  around the center through hole  1511 ), for example, 45° angle. 
         [0032]    Further, the mounting hole  221  is located on the back side of the mounting block  22  of the connection member  2  opposite to the neck  23  and the coupling shaft  21  and extending to the bottom side of the mounting block  22  for the mounting of a strap member  4  (or a component part of a bag, box or any of a variety of consumer products) positively. After fastening of the connection member  2  to the strap member  4 , the strap member  4  can be kept from sight. 
         [0033]      FIG. 9  illustrates a press release buckle in accordance with a second embodiment of the present invention. This second embodiment is substantially similar to the aforesaid first embodiment with the exception of the coupling structure  113  of the base member  1 , the coupling structure  122  of the press member  12  and the mounting structure of the base member  1  and the mounting structure of the connection member  2 . 
         [0034]    Further, according to this second embodiment, the coupling structure  113  of the base member  1  comprises a plurality of springy hooks  1133  spaced around the accommodation chamber  11 ; the coupling structure  122  of the press member  12  comprises a plurality of coupling grooves  1222  for receiving the springy hooks  1133  of the coupling structure  113  of the base member  1 . Further, the base member  1  in accordance with this second embodiment eliminates the aforesaid mounting structure  15 . According to this second embodiment, the base member  1  comprises a mounting flap  16  extending around the periphery of the bottom wall thereof in a flush manner for fastening to a first object (for example, the object  3  shown in  FIG. 5 ) with stitches; the connection member  2  comprises a mounting flap  222  extending around the periphery of the bottom wall of the mounting block  22  in a flush manner for fastening to a second object (for example, the strap member  4  shown in  FIG. 5 ) with stitches. 
         [0035]    Although particular embodiments of the invention have been described in detail for purposes of illustration, various modifications and enhancements may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Accordingly, the invention is not to be limited except as by the appended claims.