Patent Abstract:
The present invention relates to a buckle that includes a male latch having an improved shape. An object of the present invention is to provide the buckle that includes a projected part formed on a hook of the male latch, where the projected part has three projected surfaces projected from three side surfaces of the arm. The buckle comprises: the male latch including a pair of hooks each of which has three projected surfaces; and a female receptacle coupled to the male latch by holding the projected surfaces formed on the each hook of the male latch, where the male latch is inserted into the female receptacle.

Full Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates to a buckle whose female receptacle and male latch can be coupled to each other, and more particularly, to a buckle that includes a male latch having an improved shape. 
     2. Description of the Related Art 
     Generally, a buckle has been widely used in a waist belt, a knapsack for climbing, or a shoulder strap of a school bag and includes a female receptacle and a male latch. 
     The buckle includes a female receptacle and a male latch that are detachably connected to each other. A pair of hooks are formed at the male latch and a receiving part having elasticity is formed at the female receptacle to receive the hook of the male latch. Each of ends of the female receptacle and male latch is provided with a connector to be coupled to an end of the belt or shoulder strap (hereinafter, referred to as “belt”). 
       FIGS. 1 to 3  show various constructions of conventional buckles. The conventional buckles are comprised of female receptacles  12   a ,  12   b  and  12   c  and male latches  11   a ,  11   b  and  11   c  respectively. 
     A guide projection is formed at the middle of each of the male latch  11   a ,  11   b  and  11   c  and a pair of hooks are formed at both sides thereof. 
     Each of the female receptacles  12   a ,  12   b  and  12   c  is provided with an insertion part (not shown) into which the guide projection and hooks are inserted. A receiving part is formed at both sides of the female receptacle so as to be connected to the hooks of the male latch. 
     On the other hand, the female receptacle and male latch can be connected with the belt by the connector formed at ends thereof. 
     Operation of the above conventional buckle will be explained below. 
     The male latches  11   a ,  11   b  and  11   c  and female receptacles  12   a ,  12   b  and  12   c  are made of plastic for elasticity. Accordingly, arms  14   a ,  14   b  and  14   c  and projected parts  13   a ,  13   b  and  13   c  of the hooks of the male latches are inserted into the receiving parts of the female receptacles while they are deformed toward guide projections at the middle thereof. In this time, when the hook is located in the receiving part of the female receptacle, the hook is restored to an original state and thus the projected part  13   a ,  13   b  and  13   c  is engaged with a hooked projection of the receiving part. Thus, the male latch and female receptacle are coupled to each other. 
     To the contrary, when the hook of the male latch  11   a ,  11   b  or  11   c  located in the receiving part of the female receptacle  12   a ,  12   b  or  12   c  is pushed inward by a user, the projected part  13   a ,  13   b  or  13   c  of the hook is released from the hooked projection of the receiving part, thereby allowing the female receptacle and male latch to be separated from each other. 
     However, in the conventional buckle, a projected surface of the projected part  13   a ,  13   b  or  13   c  of the hook to be contacted to the hooked projection of the receiving part is formed at one or two side surfaces. Accordingly, coupling force between the male latch and female receptacle is weak and thus the male latch may be separated from the female receptacle even by low external pressure. 
     For example, as shown in  FIG. 1 , it is disclosed in the registered Korean Patent publication No. 0452565 that a projected part  13   a  of a hook of a male latch  11   a  is extended likely to surround an outer surface of an arm  14   a  with different heights. The hook of the male latch  11   a  includes a ‘V’ shaped protruded surface that surrounds only an upper surface of the arm  14   a , that is, the whole first surface, and both side surfaces, that is, very small portions of second and third surfaces of the arm. A projected part  13   b  of a hook of a conventional male latch  11   b  shown in  FIG. 2  is extended in the same height from the both side surfaces, that is, second and third surfaces of the arm. In addition, a projected part  13   c  of a hook of a conventional male latch  11   c  shown in  FIG. 3  is formed of a rectangular protruded surface extended in the same height from an upper surface, that is, a first surface of the arm  14   c.    
     In other words, the projected parts  13   a ,  13   b  and  13   c  of the conventional buckles are projected from one or two side surfaces and thus contact surface with the hooked projection is small. Accordingly, there is a problem that coupling force between the projected part and hooked projection is reduced. 
     In addition, in the above conventional buckles, the projected part of the male latch is formed of only one or two protruded surfaces and thus force is less distributed. Accordingly, when excessively strong force is applied from the belt, the projected parts  13   a ,  13   b  and  13   c , or the hooked projection of the female receptacle may be damaged to cause the buckle to be released. 
     BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide a buckle that includes a projected part formed on a hook of a male latch, where the projected part includes three projected surfaces projected from three side surfaces of an arm. 
     Additional advantages, objects, and features of the invention will be set forth in part in the description which follows and in part will become apparent to those having ordinary skill in the art upon examination of the following or may be learned from practice of the invention. 
     According to an aspect of the present invention, there is provided a buckle, which comprises: a male latch including a pair of hooks each of which has three projected surfaces; and a female receptacle coupled to the male latch by holding the projected surfaces formed on the each hook of the male latch, where the male latch can be inserted into the female receptacle. 
     The male latch may include a first end connected to a first belt and a pair of hooks each of which is extended from the first end and respectively have three projected surfaces at an end thereof. 
     The female receptacle may include: a second end connected to a second belt; an insertion part formed at the opposite side to the second end where the pair of hooks are inserted into the insertion part; and a receiving part that makes the three projected surfaces formed at the end of the each hook to be projected out of the insertion part and fixes the projected surfaces. 
     Each hook may include an arm extended from the first end, and a projected part having the three projected surfaces that are projected from three side surfaces of the arm at the end of the arm. 
     The projected part may include a first projection having a first projected surface projected from a first surface forming an upper surface of the arm, a second projection having a second projected surface projected from a second surface forming a left surface of the arm, and a third projection having a third projected surface projected from a third surface forming a right surface of the arm. 
     The three projected surfaces of the projected part may be inclined at a predetermined angle about a direction perpendicular to a length direction of the arm. 
     An upper part of each projected surface of the projected part may be rounded. 
     The projected part may further include a support part projected in the direction opposite to the first projection. 
     The male latch may further include a guide projection that is extended from the first end and interposed between the pair of hooks. 
     The first projection may be formed to be stepped from the second and third projections. 
     The receiving part may be formed in a shape of being curved toward the middle of the female receptacle from edges of both side surfaces thereof. 
     A hooked projection supporting the three projected surfaces may be formed on a surface facing an open surface of the insertion part among the four surfaces forming the receiving part. 
     A support member supporting the hooked projection may be formed on a surface inward from the hooked projection on an inner surface of the female receptacle. 
     A guide for the guide projection may be formed inside the female receptacle. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS 
       The above objects, other features and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent by describing the preferred embodiments thereof with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: 
         FIGS. 1 to 3  are exemplary views illustrating various constructions of conventional buckles; 
         FIG. 4  is a perspective view illustrating a state that a male latch and a female receptacle of a buckle according to the present invention are separated from each other; 
         FIG. 5  is a detailed perspective view illustrating the female receptacle shown in  FIG. 4 ; 
         FIG. 6  is a detailed exemplary view illustrating a hook of the male latch shown in  FIG. 4 ; 
         FIG. 7  is another detailed exemplary view illustrating the hook of the male latch shown in  FIG. 4 ; and 
         FIG. 8  is a perspective view illustrating a state that the male latch and female receptacle of the buckle are coupled to each other. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawing. The aspects and features of the present invention and methods for achieving the aspects and features will be apparent by referring to the embodiments to be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. However, the present invention is not limited to the embodiments disclosed hereinafter, but can be implemented in diverse forms. The matters defined in the description, such as the detailed construction and elements, are nothing but specific details provided to assist those of ordinary skill in the art in a comprehensive understanding of the invention, and the present invention is only defined within the scope of the appended claims. In the entire description of the present invention, the same drawing reference numerals are used for the same elements across various figures. 
       FIG. 4  is a perspective view illustrating a state that a male latch and a female receptacle of a buckle according to the present invention are separated from each other and  FIG. 5  is a detailed perspective view illustrating the female receptacle shown in  FIG. 4 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 4 , the buckle includes a male latch  110  and a female receptacle  120 . It is desirable that the male latch  110  and female receptacle  120  are made of plastic material to secure elasticity. 
     The male latch  110  includes a first end  111  coupled to a belt, a guide projection  112  projected from the middle of the first end and a pair of hooks  115  projected from both side surfaces of the first end about the guide projection. Particularly, the hooks are formed to be coupled to the female receptacle. 
     The first end  111  of the male latch is coupled to the belt. As shown in  FIG. 4 , a connector is formed at one side of the first end and the belt can be inserted and fixed in the connector. The guide projection and pair of hooks are projected at the other side of the first end. 
     The guide projection  112  is formed at the middle between the pair of hooks. A reference position for insertion into the female receptacle is determined by the pair of hooks. However, the guide projection may not be formed. 
     The hooks  115  are projected from both side surfaces of the first end about the guide projection and actually coupled to the female receptacle by being inserted into the female receptacle. As shown in  FIG. 4 , the hook includes an arm  113  extended from the first end and a projected part  114  having three projected surfaces projected from three side surfaces at the end of the arm. 
     In other words, the projected part  114  includes a first projection  114   a  having a first projected surface projected from an upper surface of the arm, that is, a first surface, a second projection  114   b  having a second projected surface projected from a left surface of the arm, that is, a second surface, and a third projection  114   c  having a third projected surface projected from a right surface of the arm, that is, a third surface. 
     The hooks are coupled to the female receptacle  120  by being inserted therein. The female receptacle includes a second end  121  coupled to the belt, an insertion part  125  formed at the opposite side to the second end in order to receive the pair of hooks and guide projection of the male latch, and a receiving part  122  that makes the projected parts of the hooks inserted through the insertion part  125  to be projected out of the insertion part and fixes the each projected part. 
     The second end  121  of the female receptacle is coupled to the belt. As shown in  FIG. 4 , a connector is formed at one side of the second end and the belt can be inserted and fixed in the connector. 
     The insertion part  125  is formed to have an open surface at the opposite side to the second end. The pair of hooks (and guide projection) are inserted through the open surface of the insertion part. On the other hand, when the guide projection is formed at the male latch, a guide  126  may be further provided to guide the guide projection  112 . In other words, the pair of hooks formed at both sides of the guide projection can be exactly inserted into the receiving part by aligning the guide projection by the guide. 
     The receiving part  122  is provided to make the projected parts  114  formed at the hooks inserted through the insertion part to be projected out of the insertion part and simultaneously prevent the projected parts from being separated from the female receptacle. The receiving part is formed in a shape of being curved toward the middle of the female receptacle from edges of both side surfaces thereof. In addition, the outside and inside of the female receptacle are communicated with each other through the curved portion. Accordingly, the projected parts inserted into the female receptacle through the insertion part can be projected out of the female receptacle through the receiving part. 
     On the other hand, as shown in  FIG. 4 , a hooked projection  123  having a shape similar to the projected part is formed on a surface facing an open surface of the insertion part among the surfaces forming the receiving part  122  in order to make the projected parts to be projected out of the receiving part and prevent the projected parts from being separated from the receiving part. The hooked projection may be formed in the same shape as the three projected surfaces so as to allow the projected parts to pass through or be hooked. 
     In addition, as shown in  FIG. 5 , a support member  124  supporting the hooked projection is formed on the surface inward from the hooked projection, that is, on the inner surface of the female receptacle where the hooked projection is formed. In other words, the hooked projection should have higher durability than other portions because force is applied to the hooked projection when it is coupled to the projected parts. Accordingly, the support member  124  may be additionally provided the surface inward from the hooked projection. 
       FIG. 6  is a detailed exemplary view illustrating a right surface of the hook of the male latch shown in  FIG. 4 . 
     The hook  115  of the male latch are projected from both side surfaces of the first end and actually coupled to the female receptacle by being inserted into the female receptacle. 
     The hook  115  includes the arm  113  extended from the first end thereof and the projected part  114  having projected surfaces projected the end of the arm. Particularly, the projected part  114  has three projected surfaces. In other words, a first projection  114   a  forming a first projected surface of the projected part is projected from an upper surface of the arm, and a third projection  114   c  forming a third projected surface of the projected part is projected from the right surface of the arm. 
     A second projection  114   b  forming a second projected surface of the projected part is projected from the left surface of the arm. The second projection  114   b  is formed at the side opposite to the third projection  114   c  and thus not shown in  FIG. 6 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 6 , the projected surfaces of the projected part are inclined at a predetermined angle about a direction perpendicular to the length direction of the arm. In other words, the projected surfaces of the projected part may be perpendicular to the surface of the arm. However, the projected surfaces of the projected part may have a predetermined angle (less than 90°) in order to increase surface area or distribute force more efficiently. 
     On the other hand, a supporting part  114   d  projected downward a lower part of the projected part in  FIG. 6  supports the projected part. In other words, the supporting part  114   d  is connected to all of the first to third projected parts, thereby supporting them. 
       FIG. 7  is another detailed exemplary view illustrating the hook of the male latch shown in  FIG. 4  and particularly shows a sectional surface of the hook when it is observed in the direction of “A” of  FIG. 6 . 
     In other words,  FIG. 7  shows the shape of the projected part of the hook in more detail and particularly shows the sectional surface of the hook when it is observed in the direction of “A” of  FIG. 6  after the arm is cut. 
     Accordingly, a hatched portion of  FIG. 7  is the sectional surface of the cut arm  113 . A portion projected over the arm is the projected surface of the first projection  114   a . A portion projected to the left of the arm is the projected surface of the second projection  114   b . A portion projected to the right of the arm is the projected surface of the third projection  114   c , and a portion projected below the arm is a supporting part  114   d . In addition, round surfaces formed on the second and third projections  114   b  and  114   c  are shown because upper surfaces of the second and third projected parts are projected upward in round shape. 
     On the other hand, upper surfaces of the first to third projected parts may form in one continuous round surface but, in the embodiment, are stepped in the shape of stairs. In other words, boundary surfaces between the first and second projections  114   a  and  114   b  and between first and third projections  114   a  and  114   c  are stepped as shown in  FIG. 7 . The above construction of the present invention may be helpful to design and to save materials. 
       FIG. 8  is a perspective view illustrating a state that the male latch and female receptacle of the buckle shown in  FIG. 4  are coupled to each other. Operation method of the buckle will be explained below with reference to  FIGS. 4 to 8 . For convenience of explanation, it is assumed that the guide projection is formed at the buckle. However, the guide projection may not be formed at the buckle. 
     When a user wants to combine the male latch  110  and female receptacle  120  with each other, first the user inserts one pair of hooks of the male latch and the guide projection  112  into the insertion part  125  of the female receptacle  120 . In this time, the guide projection may be guided by the guide  126  formed on the inner surface of the female receptacle. 
     On the other hand, when the projected part  114  is inserted into the insertion part and then fitted in the receiving part, the projected part  114  is deformed in the direction of the guide projection at the middle thereof. In other words, the hooked projection  123  of the receiving part  122  is closer to the center of the female receptacle rather than the position of the projected part inserted through the insertion part. Accordingly, the projected part passed through the hooked projection is bent in the direction of the guide projection, that is, in the direction of the center of the female receptacle. Thus, the arm  113  supporting the projected part is also bent in the direction of the center of the female receptacle. 
     However, when the projected part  114  passes through the hooked projection completely and then reaches the opening of the receiving part  122 , the arm  113  formed of elastic body is deformed to the original position, that is, to the direction of the outer edge of the female receptacle by restoring force. Accordingly, the projected part  114  is also restored to the original position. 
     When the projected part is restored to the original position, the projected part is hooked on the hooked projection of the receiving part. Accordingly, the male latch and female receptacle are combined with each other. In other words, the three projections  114   a ,  114   b  and  114   c  of the projected part are hooked on the hooked projection and thus cannot be returned toward the insertion part, thereby keeping the male latch and female receptacle combined with each other. 
     Next, when the user wants to separate the male latch  110  and female receptacle  120  from each other, the user pushes the projected part  140  of the male latch  110  located in the receiving part  122  of the female receptacle  120  toward the inside of the female receptacle. 
     Then, the arm is also bent toward the inside of the female receptacle because the arm is formed of elastic body as described above. Accordingly, the projected part  114  passes through the hooked projection of the receiving part and thus the male latch can be separated from the female receptacle. 
     The arm  113  of the male latch separated from the female receptacle is restored to the original shape by restoring force. 
     It should be understood by those of ordinary skill in the art that various replacements, modifications and changes in the form and details may be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention as defined by the following claims. Therefore, it is to be appreciated that the above described embodiments are for purposes of illustration only and are not to be construed as limitations of the invention. 
     The buckle according to the present invention produces the following effects. 
     First, the projected part formed at the hook of the male latch has three projected surfaces at three side surfaces of the arm and thus the coupling area with the female receptacle is increased. Accordingly, the coupling force of the buckle is increased. 
     Second, the force is distributed to the three projected surfaces, thereby preventing the projected part of the male latch or the hooked projection of the female receptacle from being damaged. 
     It should be understood by those of ordinary skill in the art that various replacements, modifications and changes in the form and details may be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention as defined by the following claims. Therefore, it is to be appreciated that the above described embodiments are for purposes of illustration only and are not to be construed as limitations of the invention.

Technology Classification (CPC): 8