Abstract:
A latching system is operable to prevent inadvertent total release of two straps secured by the latching system as the two straps are being latched together. The latching system includes a buckle affixed to an end of a first strap and a plurality of fixed studs affixed to a second strap to be secured to the first strap. The plurality of fixed studs successively latch with the buckle as the second strap is pulled through a first section of the buckle. One of the fixed studs will catch in the buckle even if the first strap is pulled away from the second strap before latching is completed. Latching is completed by passing the second strap through a second portion of the buckle. In one embodiment, when latching is complete, two fixed studs engage the buckle to secure the second strap to the first strap.

Description:
A portion of the disclosure of this patent document contains material that is subject to copyright protection. The copyright owner has no objection to the reproduction of the patent document or the patent disclosure, as it appears in the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office patent file or records, but otherwise reserves all copyright rights whatsoever. 
     CROSS-REFERENCES TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application claims priority to and hereby incorporates by reference in its entirety U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 61/752,640 entitled “INSTANT CONTROL SYSTEM USING A FIXED STUD LATCHING SYSTEM” filed on Jan. 15, 2013. 
     STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT 
     Not Applicable 
     REFERENCE TO SEQUENCE LISTING OR COMPUTER PROGRAM LISTING APPENDIX 
     Not Applicable 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates generally to systems for releasably securing two straps to one another. More particularly, the invention pertains to a buckle or latching systems for use in belts, straps, or harnesses. 
     Halters or bridles for animals (e.g., halters or bridles for horses) typically use a standard buckle to interlock with a selected hole of a plurality of holes in a strap of the bridle. The buckle has a post and a frame including a divider which creates two holes in the frame, a first section and a second section. The post is secured to the divider (e.g., an end portion of the post is bent around the divider). The strap is threaded through the first section of the buckle, the post is fitted through the selected hole in the strap, and the strap is threaded on through the second section of the buckle. The post then catches on the frame as the strap is pulled back through the first section, preventing the strap from pulling out of the buckle. If an animal (e.g., a horse) pulls away while the halter or bridle is being attached to the animal, the post will not automatically catch or fit through any of the holes in the strap, and the strap will pull completely out of the buckle (i.e., out of the first section of the buckle). The animal is then completely untethered and, especially in the case of a horse, may try to get away from the handler by moving toward and past (e.g., jumping over) the handler. This frequently results in injuries to people attempting to place a halter/bridle on an animal and to the animal being haltered or bridled. Similar situations occur when, for example, securing a boat to a dock or trailer and waves move the boat. 
     BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     Aspects of the present invention provide a latching system operable to prevent inadvertent total release of two straps being latched together by the latching system. The latching system includes a buckle affixed to an end of a first strap and a plurality of fixed studs affixed to a second strap to be secured to the first strap. The plurality of fixed studs successively latch with the buckle as the second strap is pulled through a first section of the buckle. One of the fixed studs will catch in the buckle even if the first strap is pulled away from the second strap before latching is completed. Latching is completed by passing the second strap through a second portion of the buckle. In one embodiment, when latching is complete, two fixed studs engage the buckle to secure the second strap to the first strap. 
     In one aspect, a control latching system operable to latch one strap to another strap includes a buckle and a stud. The buckle is affixed to an end of a first strap, and the buckle includes a top surface, a pair of protrusions, and a pin. The top surface has a notch. The pair of protrusions extend out of the plane of the top surface. The pin extends between the pair of protrusions, and the pin secures the buckle to an end of the first strap. The stud is affixed to a second strap at a predetermined distance from the end of the second strap. The notch in the top surface of the buckle is operable to engage the stud when the second strap is pulled through the buckle and maintain a spatial relationship between the first strap and the second strap. It is contemplated that the first strap and the second strap may be opposing ends of the same strap. 
     In another aspect, a control latching system operable to latch a first strap to a second strap includes a buckle and a stud. The buckle is operable to affix to an end of the 1 st  strap. The buckle includes a top surface, a pair of protrusions, and a pin. The top surface has a notch and generally defines a plane. The pair of protrusions extend out of the plane defined by the top surface. The pin extends between the pair of protrusions. The pin is operable to secure the end of the first strap to the buckle. The stud is operable to affix to the second strap at a distance from an end of the 2 nd  strap. In one embodiment, the distance is greater than a length of the buckle. The notch in the top surface of the buckle is operable to engage the stud when the buckle is affixed to the end of the first strap, the stud is affixed to the second strap, and the second strap is positioned between the pin and the top surface of the buckle. 
     In another aspect, headgear for an animal includes a first strap, a second strap, and a latching system. The latching system is operable to latch the first strap to the second strap. The latching system includes a buckle and a stud. The buckle is affixed the first strap at an end of the first strap. The buckle includes a top surface having a notch, a pair of protrusions, and a pen. The top surface generally defines a plane. The pair of protrusions extend out of the plane defined by the top surface. The pin extends between the pair of protrusions, and the end of the first strap is secured to the pin. The stud is affixed to the second strap at a distance from an end of the second strap. The notch in the top surface of the buckle is operable to engage the stud when the second strap is positioned between the pin and the top surface of the buckle. 
     In another aspect, a buckle of a latching system operable to latch a first strap to a second strap includes a top surface having a notch, a pair of protrusions, and a pen. The top surface generally defines a plane. The pair of protrusions extend out of a plane defined by the top surface. The pin extends between the pair of protrusions, and hit is operable to secure the end of the first strap to the buckle. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is an isometric view of headgear for an animal including a latching system. 
         FIG. 2  is a side perspective view of a horse halter including a latching system. 
         FIG. 3  is a side perspective view of a control latching system securing or latching two straps together. 
         FIG. 4  is a top perspective view of a buckle of the control latching system of  FIG. 3 . 
         FIG. 5  is a front perspective view of the buckle of  FIG. 4 . 
         FIG. 6  is a side perspective view of a stud of the control latching system of  FIG. 3 . 
         FIG. 7  is a top perspective view of the stud of  FIG. 6 . 
     
    
    
     Reference will now be made in detail to optional embodiments of the invention, examples of which are illustrated in accompanying drawings. Whenever possible, the same reference numbers are used in the drawing and in the description referring to the same or like parts. 
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     While the making and using of various embodiments of the present invention are discussed in detail below, it should be appreciated that the present invention provides many applicable inventive concepts that can be embodied in a wide variety of specific contexts. The specific embodiments discussed herein are merely illustrative of specific ways to make and use the invention and do not delimit the scope of the invention. 
     To facilitate the understanding of the embodiments described herein, a number of terms are defined below. The terms defined herein have meanings as commonly understood by a person of ordinary skill in the areas relevant to the present invention. Terms such as “a,” “an,” and “the” are not intended to refer to only a singular entity, but rather include the general class of which a specific example may be used for illustration. The terminology herein is used to describe specific embodiments of the invention, but their usage does not delimit the invention, except as set forth in the claims. 
     As described herein, an upright position is considered to be the position of apparatus components while in proper operation or in a natural resting position as described herein. Vertical, horizontal, above, below, side, top, bottom and other orientation terms are described with respect to this upright position during operation unless otherwise specified. The term “when” is used to specify orientation for relative positions of components, not as a temporal limitation of the claims or apparatus described and claimed herein unless otherwise specified. Referring to  FIG. 3 , an upright position of a latching system  100  is defined with respect to a plane or top surface  108  of a buckle  102  being in a generally horizontal orientation with a pin  112  of the buckle being below the plane or top surface  108  of the buckle  102 . 
     Referring to  FIGS. 1-2 , headgear  300  for an animal includes a latching system  100 . In one embodiment, the headgear  300  is a halter for a horse. It is also contemplated that the headgear  300  may be a bridle, headstall, or other headgear for a horse, or some other animal such as a donkey or elephant. In the embodiment shown in  FIGS. 1 and 2 , the latching system  100  is incorporated into a crown piece  302  of the halter  300 . The latching system  100  secures a first strap  106  of the crown piece  302  to a second strap  114  of the crown piece  302  to secure the halter  300  about the horse&#39;s head. 
     Referring more specifically to  FIGS. 3-7 , the control latching system  100  may be used in a variety of applications to secure one strap to another strap such as a belt, saddle, load retaining strap, etc. The control latching system  100  includes a buckle  102  and a stud  104 . The buckle  102  is operable to affix to an end of the first strap  106 . The buckle  102  includes a top surface  108  having a notch  202  (see  FIG. 4 ). A pair of protrusions  110  extend out of a plane  306  generally defined by the top surface  108 . In one embodiment, the pair of protrusions  110  extend substantially perpendicularly from the plane  306  defined by the top surface  108 . A pin  112  of the buckle  102  extends between the pair of protrusions  110  and secures the buckle  102  to the end of the first strap  106 . In one embodiment, the pin  112  secures to the end of the first strap  106  by passing through a loop in the first strap  106  at the end of the first strap  106 . In one embodiment, the pin  112  is removable. For example, the pin  112  may be threaded into holes in the pair of protrusions  110 , or the pin  112  may be a bolt passing through holes in the pair of protrusions  110  utilizing a lock nut or thread locking compound. In another embodiment, the pin  112  is press fit into the holes in the protrusions  110 . 
     The stud  104  is operable to affix to the second strap  114  at a predetermined distance from an end of the second strap  114 . The notch  202  in the top surface  108  of the buckle  102  is operable to engage the stud  104  when the second strap  114  is pulled through the buckle  102  such that the second strap  114  is positioned between the pin  112  and the top surface  108  of the buckle  102  with the stud  104  facing away from the pin  112 . The stud  104  and buckle  102  cooperate to maintain a spatial relationship between the first strap  106  and the second strap  114 . That is, the stud  104  is received into the notch  202  which prevents longitudinal movement of the first strap  106  relative to the second strap  114 . In one embodiment, the stud  104  protrudes substantially perpendicularly from the second strap  114 . It is contemplated that the stud  104  may not be precisely perpendicular due to flexibility of the second strap  114  or misalignment of the stud  104 . In one embodiment, the stud  104  is affixed to the second strap  114  by screwing a washer and machine screw, bolt with enlarged head, or machine screw with enlarged head through the second strap  114  and into the bottom of the stud  104 . In another embodiment, the stud  104  is riveted to the second strap  114 . It is contemplated that the post  104  may be affixed to the second strap  114  by a variety of other schemes without deviating from the scope of this disclosure. 
     Referring to  FIGS. 4 and 5 , the top surface  108  of the buckle  102  has an opening  204 . The pin  112  is substantially centered with respect to the opening  204  in the top surface  108  of the buckle  102  defining a first section  402  of the opening  204  and a second section  404  of the opening  204 . Passing the second strap  114  up through the first section  402  of the opening causes the stud  104  to engage the notch  202  if the second strap  114  is suddenly pulled back through the first section  402  of the opening  204 . Extending the second strap  114  over the pin  112  causes the stud  104  to at least partially extend up through the opening  204 . That is, the distance  610  between a top of the pin  112  and the top surface  108  of the buckle  102  is less than a height of a post  302  of the stud  104 . In one embodiment, the notch  202  in the top surface  108  of the buckle  102  is integral with the opening  204 . In one embodiment, the top surface  108  of the buckle  102  has a second notch  206 , and the second notch  206  is not integral with the opening  204 . In one embodiment, the notch  202  and second notch  206  are substantially U shaped having a center at a back of the U. A center  502  of the notch  202  is aligned with a center  504  of the second notch  206  along a longitudinal axis  506  of the buckle  102 . In one embodiment, the longitudinal axis  506  is substantially centered with respect to the top surface  108  of the buckle  102 . As shown in  FIG. 3 , the second notch  206  is operable to engage a second stud  120  on the second strap  114 . In one embodiment, the stud  104  is one of a plurality of studs centered along a length of the second strap  114 , and a distance between each stud of the plurality of studs on the second strap  114  is substantially equal to the distance between the center  502  of the first notch  202  and the center  504  of the second notch  206 . 
     Referring to  FIGS. 6 and 7 , the stud  104  includes a post  302  and a cap  304 . The post  302  extends substantially perpendicularly from the second strap  114 , and the cap  304  protrudes substantially perpendicularly from the post  302  such that the  304  is generally parallel to the second strap  114 . In one embodiment, the post  302  has a height  608  that is greater than a distance  610  by which the pin is offset from the top surface  108  of the buckle  102 . The notch  202  in the top surface  108  of the buckle  102  is sized to accept the post  302  of the stud  104 . That is, the notch  202  in the top surface  108  of the buckle  102  has a dimension  602  that is larger than a corresponding dimension  604  of the post  302  and smaller than a corresponding dimension  606  of the cap  304  such that the cap  304  catches on the top surface  108  of the buckle  102  as the second strap  114  is pulled away from the first strap  106  if a user does not push the cap  304  of the stud  104  toward the pin  112  and through the opening  204  in the top surface  108  of the buckle  102 . Thus, the latching system  100  automatically latches when the two straps are pulled tight together and requires intentional action to unlatch whereas in the prior art, a buckle requires further intentional action (i.e., pushing a post of the buckle through a hole in the second strap) to latch while the two straps are pulled tight together and will automatically release until that intentional action is completed. 
     It is contemplated that the control latching system disclosed herein may be used with, for example, belts, halters, bridles (e.g., horse halters, bridles), messenger bag straps, or any other application where one strap is secured to another strap. It is also contemplated that the first strap  106  and second strap  114  may be opposing ends of the same strap. 
     In one embodiment of the horse halter  300 , the buckle  102  is cut or stamped from 12 gauge mild steel or 304 stainless steel and bent to form the protrusions such that the protrusions are integral with the top surface  108 . The holes for the pin  112  may be stamped or cut, or drilled after the buckle  102  is bent to form the protrusions. In one embodiment, a width and length of the opening  204  is 0.875 inches, with the notch  202  adding 0.3 inches to the length. Similarly, the second notch  206  has a length of 0.3 inches. A dimension  602  of the notch  202  and second notch  206  is 0.3 inches. The distance from a center of the pin  112  to the top surface is 0.567 inches. An overall length of the buckle  102  is 2.22 inches. A height  608  of the post  302  is 0.25 inches. The width  604  of the post  302  is 0.25 inches. The cap  304  has a width  606  of 0.625 inches. 
     This written description uses examples to disclose the invention and also to enable any person skilled in the art to practice the invention, including making and using any devices or systems and performing any incorporated methods. The patentable scope of the invention is defined by the claims, and may include other examples that occur to those skilled in the art. Such other examples are intended to be within the scope of the claims if they have structural elements that do not differ from the literal language of the claims, or if they include equivalent structural elements with insubstantial differences from the literal languages of the claims. 
     It will be understood that the particular embodiments described herein are shown by way of illustration and not as limitations of the invention. The principal features of this invention may be employed in various embodiments without departing from the scope of the invention. Those of ordinary skill in the art will recognize numerous equivalents to the specific procedures described herein. Such equivalents are considered to be within the scope of this invention and are covered by the claims. 
     All of the compositions and/or methods disclosed and claimed herein may be made and/or executed without undue experimentation in light of the present disclosure. While the compositions and methods of this invention have been described in terms of the embodiments included herein, it will be apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art that variations may be applied to the compositions and/or methods and in the steps or in the sequence of steps of the method described herein without departing from the concept, spirit, and scope of the invention. All such similar substitutes and modifications apparent to those skilled in the art are deemed to be within the spirit, scope, and concept of the invention as defined by the appended claims. 
     Thus, although there have been described particular embodiments of the present invention of a new and useful INSTANT CONTROL SYSTEM USING A FIXED STUD LATCHING SYSTEM it is not intended that such references be construed as limitations upon the scope of this invention except as set forth in the following claims.