Abstract:
The present invention is a lockable snap-clip fastener with two spring-biased jaw members and a slidable locking bar. The locking bar is held in position by the same spring that biases the jaws. As the bar is held in either the locked or unlocked position, it must be positively actuated in order to transition from one configuration to the other.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCES TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This Application claims priority as a non-provisional perfection of prior filed U.S. Provisional Application number 61/533,104, filed Sep. 9, 2011 and incorporates the same by reference in its entirety. 
     
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    The present invention relates to the field of fasteners and more particularly relates to a lockable snap-clip fastener. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0003]    The present invention is a lockable snap clip that comprises fewer parts than prior art snap clips and uses them in a simple arrangement which makes the snap clip of the present invention advantageous over the prior art. 
         [0004]    The present invention represents a departure from the prior art in that the snap clip of the present invention allows for a lockable snap clip which is simple and intuitive to use that will remain in either a locked or unlocked configuration until the user desires to switch from one to the other. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0005]    In view of the foregoing disadvantages inherent in the known types of snap-clip fasteners, this invention provides a lockable snap-clip fastener. As such, the present invention&#39;s general purpose is to provide a new and improved lockable snap-clip fastener that is easy and intuitive to use, uses few component parts and is economical to manufacture. 
         [0006]    To accomplish these objectives, the snap-clip fastener according to the present invention comprises two jaw members joint at a pivot and biased by a spring in a closed position. A locking bar passes through one jaw member and slides underneath an end of the spring. The bar may pass to one side or the other of the jaw member through which it passes and is held in position by the spring. In one position, the bar blocks passage of the other jaw member, while it allows passage in the other position. 
         [0007]    The more important features of the invention have thus been outlined in order that the more detailed description that follows may be better understood and in order that the present contribution to the art may better be appreciated. Additional features of the invention will be described hereinafter and will form the subject matter of the claims that follow. 
         [0008]    Many objects of this invention will appear from the following description and appended claims, reference being made to the accompanying drawings forming a part of this specification wherein like reference characters designate corresponding parts in the several views. 
         [0009]    Before explaining at least one embodiment of the invention in detail, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited in its application to the details of construction and the arrangements 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 and carried out in various ways. Also it is to be understood that the phraseology and terminology employed herein are for the purpose of description and should not be regarded as limiting. 
         [0010]    As such, those skilled in the art will appreciate that the conception, upon which this disclosure is based, may readily be utilized as a basis for the designing of other structures, methods and systems for carrying out the several purposes of the present invention. It is important, therefore, that the claims be regarded as including such equivalent constructions insofar as they do not depart from the spirit and scope of the present invention. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0011]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a fastener depicting the best mode of the present invention. 
           [0012]      FIG. 2  is an alternate perspective view of the fastener of  FIG. 1 . 
           [0013]      FIG. 3  is an exploded view of the fastener of  FIG. 1 . 
           [0014]      FIG. 4  is an alternate exploded view of the fastener of  FIG. 1 . 
           [0015]      FIG. 5  is a plan view of the fastener of  FIG. 1 , unlocked. 
           [0016]      FIG. 6  is a sectional view of the fastener of  FIG. 4 , taken along line A-A. 
           [0017]      FIG. 7  is a sectional view of the fastener of  FIG. 4 , taken along line B-B. 
           [0018]      FIG. 8  is a plan view of the fastener of  FIG. 1 , locked. 
           [0019]      FIG. 9  is a sectional view of the fastener of  FIG. 4 , taken along line C-C. 
           [0020]      FIG. 10  is a sectional view of the fastener of  FIG. 4 , taken along line D-D. 
           [0021]      FIG. 11  is an alternate perspective view of the fastener of  FIG. 1 . 
           [0022]      FIG. 12  is a perspective view of the fastener of  FIG. 1  in use on either end of a sling. 
           [0023]      FIG. 13  is a perspective view of the fastener of  FIG. 1 , attached to a mounting loop. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
       [0024]    With reference now to the drawings, the preferred embodiment of the locking snap-clip fastener is herein described. It should be noted that the articles “a”, “an”, and “the”, as used in this specification, include plural referents unless the content clearly dictates otherwise. 
         [0025]    With reference to  FIGS. 1 and 2 , the fastener  10  is formed of two jaw bodies, a mandible  12  and a maxilla  14 . Maxilla  14  cradles mandible  12 . The mandible  12  and maxilla  14  pivot relative to each other about a roll pin  15  and are biased in a closed position by torsion spring  13 . Lock bar  16  passes through a middle portion of the maxilla  14  and may selectively impede movement of the mandible  12  relative thereto. This impediment allows the fastener  10  to be locked in an immovable position at the will of the user. 
         [0026]      FIGS. 3 and 4  depict the components of the fastener in greater detail. The mandible  12  features a hooked tooth  26  on one end and a lever  28  on the other. Two distal tabs  24  are located on either side of the mandible  12 , roughly one third of the length of the mandible  12  from a terminal end of the lever  28 . Tabs  24  both feature coaxial through holes. A stop  22  is located on one side of the mandible  12  underneath the lever  28  and behind one tab  24 . The maxilla  14  features a cradle  40  which interfaces with the hooked tooth  26 . Cradle  40  features a floor  43  and two sides, which each terminate in a tooth  45 , with space defined between each tooth  45  and the floor  43 . Maxilla  14  also features an attachment bar  48  opposite the cradle. The attachment bar  48  defines a hind end of the maxilla  14 . Two pivot holes  42  are provided in opposite walls of the maxilla  14 , such that, when properly positioned, the holes in the tabs  24  are coaxial with the pivot holes  42 . A roll pin  15  or similar structure is therein inserted to join the mandible  12  and maxilla  14  and serve as a pivot bar about which the jaw bodies respectively pivot. Torsion spring  13  is positioned about the roll pin  15 , between the tabs  24 , and is anchored with one arm in a slot on a back ridge  46  of the maxilla  14  ( FIG. 11 ). The torsion spring  13  biases the jaw bodies in a closed position. 
         [0027]    The locking bar  16  passes through a channel  44  behind the pivot holes  42  in the maxilla  14 . The locking bar features two tapered ends  62   a,    62   b,  an off-center vertical notch  66  and a ridge  64  residing in a similarly off-center horizontal notch. Together, ridge  64  and the horizontal notch form two detents on either side of the ridge  64 . When in position, the horizontal notch resides underneath the end of the spring  13  anchored in the back ridge  46 . The interplay between these pieces is shown in a better view in  FIG. 8 . 
         [0028]    In use, shown in  FIGS. 5-10 , the locking bar  16  is pushed to one side or the other. In an open position, shown in  FIGS. 5-7 , stop  22  is positioned over the notch  66 , thereby allowing relative movement between the mandible  12  and maxilla  14 . Spring  13  resides in an outer edge detent of the ridge  64  in the horizontal notch. Spring pressure biases the spring  13  against the locking bar  16  and maintains the locking bar&#39;s position. To lock the fastener, shown in  FIGS. 8-10 , a user presses the exposed tapered end of the locking bar  16  until enough force is applied to the spring  13  to cause it to jump ridge  64  and settle on its other side&#39;s detent. In this position, stop  22  is not positioned over vertical notch  66 , but rather over a solid portion of the locking bar  16 . This then prevents the mandible  12  and maxilla  14  from pivoting and opening the fastener. The locking bar  16  of the fastener then requires positive pressure from the user to switch from one position to another and remains in that position until the user consciously desires to change. 
         [0029]    This fastener  10  may be used in many different functions, such as the sling  18  shown in  FIG. 12 . In any setting, a strap may be secured about attachment bar  48  in any of the known, conventional means or through any means later discovered. In use, shown in  FIG. 13 , the fastener  10  is opened by unlocking it and depressing the lever  28  to separate the mandible  12  from the maxilla  14 . A piece of connection hardware  8 , such as a ring or bar, is positioned between the teeth  45  and floor  43  of the maxilla jaw  14  and the lever  28  released, thereby closing the hooked tooth  26  around the connection hardware. The fastener  10  is then locked as described above. 
         [0030]    Although the present invention has been described with reference to preferred embodiments, numerous modifications and variations can be made and still the result will come within the scope of the invention. No limitation with respect to the specific embodiments disclosed herein is intended or should be inferred.