Patent Publication Number: US-10327516-B2

Title: Web-adjustment housing for a buckle assembly

Description:
RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     The present application is a National Phase of International Application Number PCT/US2013/036733 filed Apr. 16, 2013 and relates to and claims priority benefits from U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 61/625,748 filed Apr. 18, 2012, which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety. 
    
    
     FIELD OF EMBODIMENTS OF THE DISCLOSURE 
     Embodiments of the present disclosure generally relate to a buckle assembly, and, more particularly, to a buckle assembly having a web-adjustment housing that defines a web channel. 
     BACKGROUND 
     Buckles are used to securely connect components together. For example, various bags, backpacks, and the like have male and female buckle members connected to straps, webbing, or the like. Each strap, for example, is looped through a web channel on a buckle member. In order to connect the looped straps together, the make buckle member is connected to the female buckle member. 
     A conventional side-release buckle assembly may include a male connection member that is configured to mate with a female connection member, such as shown and described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,465,472, entitled “Buckle.” Each connection member is configured to retain a strap, such as a seatbelt or backpack strap. The male connection member includes integral buttons that may be engaged to release the male connection member from the female connection member, thereby disconnecting the buckle assembly. 
     The male connection member may include a pair of flexible lateral arms having buttons at distal ends. A rigid strut member may extend between the lateral arms. A strap receiving channel may be formed through the male connection member between the rigid strut member and a strap bar. 
     In general, buckle members have strap-receiving or web channels that are configured to restrict the movement of webbing therethrough. While an individual may adjust the strap or channel within the web channel, the buckle member typically restricts the movement, so that the web or strap within the web channel remains at a desired length. In order to secure the strap or webbing in position, many individuals double and triple loop portions of the webbing or strap within the web channel. 
     Some buckle members include numerous small teeth that bite into the webbing or strap. The teeth dig into the material of the webbing or strap, in order to securely retain the webbing or strap at a desired position. 
     However, buckle members typically have relatively small web channels that may be difficult for an individual to navigate webbing therethrough. As such, the web channels of certain buckle members may be difficult for an individual to move a strap or webbing therethrough in order to adjust a length of the webbing or strap. Further, many known buckle member have web channels that may damage the webbing. As an example, the small teeth of certain buckle members may snag and tear webbing or strap material. 
     SUMMARY OF EMBODIMENTS OF THE DISCLOSURE 
     Certain embodiments of the present disclosure provide a buckle member of a buckle assembly. The buckle member may include a mating interface and a web-adjustment housing connected to the mating interface. The web-adjustment housing may include opposed lateral walls, a receiving crossbar, a securing crossbar, and a strut. The receiving crossbar may extend between the opposed lateral walls, and include a ledge that extends in a first direction at a first angle with respect to a plane that contains or is parallel to a longitudinal axis. The securing crossbar may also extend between the opposed lateral walls. A receiving channel may be defined between the receiving crossbar and the securing crossbar. The securing crossbar may include a surface that extends in a second direction at a second angle with respect to the plane. One or both of the receiving crossbar and the securing crossbar may also include one or more retaining members configured to securely engage webbing. The strut may also extend between the opposed lateral walls. A release channel may be defined between the securing crossbar and the strut. The receiving channel and the release channel may define at least a portion of a web channel configured to adjustably retain the webbing. 
     The securing crossbar may also include an apex. The receiving channel may connect to the release channel proximate to the apex. 
     Each retaining member may include an angled surface that is parallel to the ledge. Each retaining member may have a width that is between ⅕ and ½ a width of a receiving channel of the web-adjustment housing. 
     The first angle may be 45° from the ledge to the plane. The second angle may be between 45° and 90° from the surface to the plane. 
     The mating interface may include lateral arms and a guide beam configured to be secured into a reciprocal interface of a female buckle member. Optionally, the mating interface may include a reciprocal interface configured to receive lateral arms and a guide beam of a male buckle member. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  illustrates an isometric top view of a buckle member, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. 
         FIG. 2  illustrates a top view of a buckle member, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. 
         FIG. 3  illustrates a bottom view of a buckle member, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. 
         FIG. 4  illustrates an end view of a web-adjustment housing of a buckle member, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. 
         FIG. 5  illustrates a lateral view of a buckle member, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. 
         FIG. 6  illustrates a cross-sectional view of a buckle member through line  6 - 6  of  FIG. 2 , according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. 
     
    
    
     Before the embodiments of the disclosure are explained in detail, it is to be understood that the disclosure is not limited in its application to the details of construction and the arrangement of the components set forth in the following description or illustrated in the drawings. The disclosure is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced or being carried out in various ways. Also, it is to be understood that the phraseology and terminology used herein are for the purpose of description and should not be regarded as limiting. The use of “including” and “comprising” and variations thereof is meant to encompass the items listed thereafter and equivalents thereof as well as additional items and equivalents thereof. 
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS OF THE DISCLOSURE 
       FIG. 1  illustrates an isometric top view of a buckle member  10 , according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. The buckle member  10  may be molded and formed as a unitary piece of material. For example, the buckle member  10  may be an integral piece of injection-molded plastic or metal. 
     The buckle member  10  includes a web-adjustment housing  12  integrally connected to a mating interface  14 . It is to be understood that the terms web or webbing refer to webbing, straps, ropes, strings, fabric, sheets, or the like that are configured to be adjustably secured within the web-adjustment housing  12 . The mating interface  14  is configured to securely mate with a reciprocal interface of a counterpart buckle member. The buckle member  10  shown in  FIG. 1  is a male buckle member having opposed flexible lateral arms  16  with one or more guide beams  18  disposed therebetween. Engagement buttons  20  may be formed proximate to distal ends  22  of the lateral arms  16 . While the buckle member  10  is shown as a male buckle member, the buckle member  10  may be a female buckle member configured to mate with a male buckle member. In short, the web adjustment housing  12  may be used with male and female buckle members. Indeed, embodiments of the present invention may be used with respect to any of the buckle members shown and described, for example, in U.S. Pat. No. 7,331,088, entitled “Buckle Assembly,” U.S. Pat. No. 7,296,327, entitled “Buckle Assembly,” U.S. Pat. No. 7,302,742, entitled “Side Release Buckle Assembly,” PCT Publication WO2012/162615, entitled “Buckle Assembly,” United States Patent Application Publication No. 2007/0089280, entitled “Side Release Buckle Assembly,” United States Patent Application Publication No. 2008/0222860, entitled “Buckle Assembly,” and United States Patent Application Publication No. 2008/0078069, entitled “Strap Adjusting Assembly,” all of which are hereby incorporated by reference in their entireties. 
     The web-adjustment housing  12  includes opposed lateral walls  24 . A receiving crossbar or crossbeam  26 , a securing crossbar or crossbeam  28 , and a strut  30  extend between the opposed lateral walls  24 . Each of the receiving crossbar  26 , the securing crossbar  28 , and the strut  30  may be perpendicular to the opposed lateral walls  24 . However, the receiving crossbar  26 , the securing crossbar  28 , and the strut  30  may span between the opposed lateral walls  24  at various angles, curves, slopes, or the like. 
     The mating interface  14  extends longitudinally outward from the strut  30 . As shown in  FIG. 1 , the lateral arms  16  and the guide beam  18  may longitudinally extend outward from the strut  30 . 
     A receiving channel  32  is defined between the receiving crossbar  26  and the securing crossbar  28 . An adjustment channel  34  is defined between the securing crossbar  28  and the strut  30 . The receiving channel  32  and the adjustment channel  34  may be configured to adjustably retain a portion of webbing. However, the adjustment channel  34  may not affect webbing retention. Instead, the adjustment channel  34  may be a pass-through channel. 
     The securing crossbar  28  may include one or more retaining members  36 , such as block, teeth, barbs, clasps, or the like, extending into the receiving channel  32  toward the receiving crossbar  26 . As shown in  FIG. 1 , two retaining members  36  extend from the securing crossbar  28 . 
     Each retaining member  36  may include a rectangular top wall  38  connected to planar lateral walls  40  and a planar front wall  42 . A bottom wall  44  of each retaining member  36  may angle downwardly from the front wall  42 . The angle of the bottom wall  44  may be parallel to a plane of an angled ledge of the receiving crossbar  26 . 
     The receiving crossbar  26  may also angle downwardly from a receiving end  45  into the receiving channel  32 . The receiving crossbar  26  may also include one or more retaining members  46 . 
     The retaining members  36  may be spaced apart from one another by a central gap  48 . Further, each retaining member  36  may be spaced from a respective lateral wall  24  by a gap  50 . Alternatively, the retaining members  36  may extend from the lateral walls  24 . 
     Similarly, the retaining members  46  may be spaced apart from one another by a central gap  52 . As shown in  FIG. 1 , the retaining members  46  may extend from respective lateral walls  24 . However, the retaining members  46  may alternatively be separated from the lateral walls  24  by gaps. 
       FIG. 2  illustrates a top view of the buckle member, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. Each retaining member  36  or  46  may have a width  60  that is a fraction of the width  62  of the receiving channel  32 . For example, the width  60  of each retaining member  36  may be ⅕-⅓ the width  62  of the receiving channel  32 . However, the widths may be greater or less than ⅕-⅓ the width  62 . For example, instead of multiple retaining members  36  or  46 , a single centrally located retaining member having ½ the width of the receiving channel  32  may be used. The relatively large size of each retaining member  36  or  46  ensures that the retaining members  36  or  46  do not snag or cut into web material, in contrast to smaller teeth that may dig, snag, and cut into web material. Yet, the retaining members  36  or  46  securely engage the web material. 
       FIG. 3  illustrates a bottom view of the buckle member  10 , while  FIG. 4  illustrates an end view of the web-adjustment housing  12  of the buckle member  10 , and  FIG. 5  illustrates a lateral view of the buckle member  10 . As shown in  FIG. 3 , for example, the retaining members  46  may be separated from the lateral walls  24 . 
       FIG. 6  illustrates a cross-sectional view of the buckle member  10  through line  6 - 6  of  FIG. 2 , according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. As shown in  FIG. 6 , the receiving crossbar  26  may include a planar lip  70  that is generally parallel with a longitudinal axis  72  of the buckle member  10 . The planar lip  70  integrally connects to an angled ledge  74  that angles downwardly from the planar lip  70 . The ledge  74  may be offset from the longitudinal axis  72  at an angle θ, which may be approximately 45°, for example. However, the angle θ may be greater or less than 45°, but is generally not longitudinally aligned with the planar lip  70  or parallel with the longitudinal axis  72 . Similarly, the bottom wall  44  of each retaining member  36 , as well as a bottom leading edge  77  of the securing crossbar  28  may be parallel with the ledge  74 . A receiving inlet  76  is defined between an upper surface of the receiving crossbar  26  and a bottom surface of the securing crossbar  28 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 6 , the bottom leading edge  77  of the securing strip  28  may terminate at an apex  80 . An upwardly angled trailing surface  82  extends from the apex  80  toward a flat rear wall  84  of the securing crossbar  28 . The angle β of the surface  82  may be 45°-75°, for example, from the surface of the surface  82  to the longitudinal axis  72 . However, the angle β may be greater or less than 45°-75° from the surface of the surface  82  to the longitudinal axis  72 . In general, the angle β is oppositely oriented from the angle θ. A release channel  88  is defined between the surface  82  and an internal surface of the strut  30 . 
     The angled ledge  74  and the trailing surface  82  may extend in opposite directions with respect to a plane that is parallel to another plane that contains the longitudinal axis  72 . For example, the angled ledge  74  may extend downwardly with respect to the plane that is parallel to the other plane that contains the longitudinal axis  72 , while the trailing surface  82  extends upwardly with respect to the plane that is parallel to the other plane. In an embodiment, one or both of the angled ledge  74  and the trailing surface  82  may extend from locations relative to a plane that contains the longitudinal axis  72  or a parallel plane. The receiving inlet  76  may have an open receiving end at a receiving end  73  of the housing  12 , while the release channel  88  may be part of the adjustment channel  34 , which may have an open end  75  proximate to a top portion of the housing  12 . The receiving inlet  76  and the release channel  88  may meet at the apex  80 . 
     A web-channel  90  includes the receiving inlet  76  and the release channel  88 . The web-channel  90  provides an undercut path through the web-adjustment housing  12 . The angled nature of the receiving inlet  76  and the release channel  88  provides a circuitous path for webbing  100  to pass through. For example, as shown, the webbing  100  includes a free end  101  and a restrained end  103 . The restrained end  103  may be restrained or attached to an object, such as a backpack, belt, or the like, while the free end  101  may be free and non-restrained. The webbing  100  may be looped through the securing crossbar  28  such that a portion of the webbing  100  is secured at a bite point  105  formed at a lower edge of the planar lip  70 . The circuitous path provides increased retaining ability, as the webbing  100  wraps through angled portions. The webbing  100  is held tight against the bite point  105  and against the retaining members  36  and  46  at a backangle α. The tooth design interaction of the retaining members  36  and  46 , such as the bite point  105 , provides a simulated undercut. The opposite orientation of the angles β and θ, which may be opposite in one or both of direction and magnitude, provides a locking effect when force is applied to the webbing, such as through the weight of a component secured to the buckle member  10 . The angle β provides a release angle that is greater than previous buckles because of the simulated undercut defined by the retaining members  36  and  46 . Further, the bite point  105  may dig into the webbing  100 , which provides added securing force into the webbing  100 . Moreover, the retaining members  36  and  46  (shown in  FIGS. 1-6 ) also securely engage the webbing  100 , thereby securing the webbing  100  in place with respect to the web-adjustment housing  12 . As explained above, the retaining members  36  and  46  are large enough to prevent or otherwise reduce the potential for damage to the material of the webbing  100 . 
     The retaining members  36  and  46  formed on the securing crossbar  28  and the receiving crossbar  26 , respectively, provide stepped areas that define high points, in relation to the gaps, which define low points. The retaining members  36  and  46  restrict movement of the webbing  100  through the web channel  90 . As such, the channel  32  may be relatively tall, as the retaining members  36  and  46  provide retaining force within the receiving inlet  76 . Without the retaining members  36  and  46 , the channel  32  may be constricted (that is, shorter in height) in order to securely restrict and retain the webbing  100  in place. The retaining members  36  and  46  provide additional bite points that the webbing  100  distorts around, further providing a retaining force that locks the webbing  100  in place. The bite points, such as the bite point  105 , are large enough to provide firm locking points without causing damage to the webbing  100  (in contrast to standard, small locking teeth). Additionally, because the retaining members  36  and  46  are relatively large (in comparison to standard locking teeth), they are firmly and robustly planted on the buckle member  10 , and are not susceptible to breaking away from the housing  12 . 
     As shown, the retaining members  36  and  46  extend into the receiving inlet  76 , but may not extend into the release channel  88 . Accordingly, the release channel  88  may be relatively unobstructed, whereas the retaining members  36  and  46  provide locking features that extend into the receiving inlet  76 . In this manner, when an individual desires to adjust the webbing  100 , the unobstructed, relatively large gap of the channel  32  allows for quick and easy adjustment, while the circuitous path of the web channel  90  and the retaining members  36  and  46  that extend into the receiving inlet  76  securely retain the webbing  100  in place after the individual has adjusted the webbing. 
     While the buckle member  10  is described having both the retaining members  36  and  46 , the buckle member  10  may alternatively include only the retaining members  36  or  46 . Further, while the buckle member  10  is shown having two retaining members  36  and two retaining members  46 , more or less retaining members  36  and  46  may be used. 
     Additionally, because the web channel  90  is relatively tall (that is, the distance between the receiving crossbar  26  and the securing crossbar  28  is generally greater than known buckle assemblies), the webbing  100  may be more easily adjusted when engaged by an individual. Additionally, the angle β defines an angle of release for adjustment. The angle β may generally be greater than the angle θ, and provides a relatively high angle of release, which allows for easier adjustment through the web channel  90  when desired, and the webbing  100  is engaged by an individual for adjustment. 
     Embodiments of the present disclosure provide a buckle member having a web-adjustment housing that defines a web channel that provides a circuitous path that is configured to securely lock webbing in place. The web channel may be undercut through the housing, and the retaining members provide additional retaining force that is exerted into the webbing. The retaining members allow the web channel to be large enough to allow the webbing to be doubled and tripled over therein. 
     In contrast to known buckle members, embodiments of the present disclosure provide an increased height web channel, a web channel that is circuitous, which provides retaining strength, retaining members that provide additional retaining strength, and a high angle of release, which allows the webbing to be easily adjusted within the web channel. 
     While various spatial and directional terms, such as top, bottom, lower, mid, lateral, horizontal, vertical, front and the like may be used to describe embodiments of the present disclosure, it is understood that such terms are merely used with respect to the orientations shown in the drawings. The orientations may be inverted, rotated, or otherwise changed, such that an upper portion is a lower portion, and vice versa, horizontal becomes vertical, and the like. 
     Variations and modifications of the foregoing are within the scope of the present disclosure. It is understood that the embodiments disclosed and defined herein extend to all alternative combinations of two or more of the individual features mentioned or evident from the text and/or drawings. All of these different combinations constitute various alternative aspects of the present disclosure. The embodiments described herein explain the best modes known for practicing the disclosure and will enable others skilled in the art to utilize the disclosure. The claims are to be construed to include alternative embodiments to the extent permitted by the prior art. 
     Various features of the disclosure are set forth in the following claims.