Abstract:
Described is a snap-on buckle. The snap-on buckle comprises a buckle configured to receive an attachment device, the buckle including at least one break away point and a snap, insert molded into the buckle, that is configured to releasably attach to a surface of a mobile terminal. In an alternate embodiment, the snap-on buckle comprises a buckle configured to receive an attachment device, the buckle including at least one break away point and an attachment means, insert molded into the buckle, that is configured to releasably attach to a surface of a mobile terminal.

Description:
BACKGROUND 
       [0001]    Conventional buckle designs that incorporate straps for mobile terminals create premature wearing of the housing. The buckle, usually made of plastic, includes a hollow cylinder to house a watch pin. The watch pin is inserted into holes on the housing. The watch pin, by design, moves relative to the housing in which it is installed causing wear and damage over time through continuous use. The watch pin and buckle would subsequently require replacement after sufficient wear and damage is caused. In addition, the amount of damage on the buckle and/or watch pin at any given time is unknown to the user. Thus, the user is unaware of when to replace the buckle and/or watch pin. The unknown wear and damage may result in a break in the assembly that may cause damage to a user, especially around the area the mobile terminal is attached. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    The present invention relates to a snap-on buckle. The snap-on buckle comprises a buckle configured to receive an attachment device, the buckle including at least one break away point and a snap, insert molded into the buckle, that is configured to releasably attach to a surface of a mobile terminal. In an alternate embodiment, the snap-on buckle comprises a buckle configured to receive an attachment device, the buckle including at least one break away point and an attachment means, insert molded into the buckle, that is configured to releasably attach to a surface of a mobile terminal. 
     
     
       DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0003]      FIG. 1   a  shows an exploded view of an outer side of a snap-on buckle according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0004]      FIG. 1   b  shows an exploded view of an inner side of the snap-on buckle of  FIG. 1   a.    
           [0005]      FIG. 2   a  shows an assembled view of the outer side of the snap-on buckle of  FIG. 1   a.    
           [0006]      FIG. 2   b  shows an assembled view of the inner side of the snap-on buckle of  FIG. 1   a.    
           [0007]      FIG. 3  shows an exemplary embodiment of a top side of a buckle of the snap-on buckle of  FIG. 1   a.    
           [0008]      FIG. 4  shows an exemplary embodiment of the snap-on buckle of  FIG. 1   a  assembled with a pin inserted in a housing of a mobile terminal. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0009]    The present invention may be further understood with reference to the following description and the appended drawings, wherein like elements are referred to with the same reference numerals. The exemplary embodiment of the present invention describes a snap-on buckle used to strap a mobile terminal to a user. The snap-on buckle, its constituent parts, and its attachment to the mobile terminal will be discussed in detail below. 
         [0010]      FIG. 1   a  shows an exploded view of an outer side of a snap-on buckle according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. The snap-on buckle includes a buckle  100  and a snap  200 . The buckle  100  has a bottom side  105 , a left side  110 , a right side  115 , and a top side  120 . The buckle  100  includes a hole  125 , a pair of break away points  130 ,  132 , a pair of windows  135 ,  140 , grooves  145 , a middle body  150 , and buckle connectors  155  (not shown, see  FIG. 3 ). The snap  200  includes a panel  205 , a hook portion  210 , a curve portion  215 , and snap connectors  220 . The constituent parts of the snap-on buckle will be described in more detail below. 
         [0011]    The buckle  100  is a portion of the snap-on buckle that holds an attachment device such as a strap. The strap may be any conventional strap used to attach a mobile terminal to an object (e.g., a user&#39;s arm, a pole, etc.). For example, the strap may be manufactured of a woven polyester fabric. The woven pattern may enhance gripping properties of the strap on the buckle  100 . It should be noted that the use of a strap is only exemplary and that the buckle  100  may hold any attachment device that is used to hold a mobile terminal to a surface. The buckle  100  is manufactured using a rigid plastic to retain a shape. However, it should be noted that the use of a rigid plastic is only exemplary and that other materials may be used to manufacture the buckle  100  (e.g., rubber, metal, etc.). 
         [0012]    The buckle  100  has a substantially square shape when viewed from above. The substantially square shape includes the four sides  105 - 120 . The bottom side  105  and the top side  120  are substantially parallel to each other. The left side  110  and the right side  115  are substantially parallel to each other. The top side  105  and the bottom side  120  are substantially perpendicular to the left side  110  and the right side  115 . It should be noted that the parallel properties of the opposite sides of the buckle  100  is only exemplary. Depending on the attachment device (e.g., strap) and the surface to which the mobile terminal attaches, the buckle  100  may exhibit any shape. For example, in anticipation of the mobile terminal being strapped to a conical surface, the buckle  100  may be designed to exhibit a trapezoidal shape with the side  105  being substantially parallel to the side  120 . The left side  110  may be placed on an angle (e.g., 30°, 45°) while the right side  115  remains substantially perpendicular to the sides  105 ,  120 . 
         [0013]    In the exemplary embodiment, the left side  110  and the right side  115  exhibit a curvature across the length of those sides. The curvature is used in anticipation of the snap-on buckle attaching to a surface that is curved such as a finger or wrist. However, those skilled in the art will understand that depending on the surface to which the snap-on buckle attaches may determine if the sides  110 ,  115  exhibit a curvature. For example, if the surface is a flat surface (e.g., wall, table top) then the sides  110 ,  115  may be straight to conform to the surface that it attaches. It should be noted that the buckle  100  may be designed to allow a curvature with strategic bending points across the sides  110 ,  115 . These bending points will allow the buckle  100  to adjust to any rounded surface to which it attaches. 
         [0014]    The hole  125  exhibits a substantially rectangular shape to receive the snap  200  located on the top side  120 . The hole  125  is designed so that the snap  200  may be insert molded into it, thereby assembling the snap  200  with the buckle  100 , as shown in  FIGS. 2   a - 2   b . Within the hole  125  includes buckle connectors  155  (not shown, see  FIG. 3 ) to the snap connectors  220  on the snap  200 . The connectors  220  and the buckle connectors  155  will be discussed in more detail below. 
         [0015]    The pair of break away points  130 ,  132  provide a measure to prevent potential injury by preemptively breaking the buckle  100 . The break away points  130 ,  132  may be designed to break at any break away force. The break away force is any force that is sufficient to cause potential injury. For example, the buckle  100  may automatically break when a load of approximately 60-70 pounds is applied. If a load of approximately 60-70 pounds is applied, the snap  200  may break, separating the hook portion  210  portion from the panel  205  portion. The break points  130 ,  132  may be located on the buckle  100  beside the shorter sides of the window  135  (sides parallel to the left side  110  and the right side  115 ). In another exemplary embodiment, the break away points  130 ,  132  may be located on the buckle  100  beside the shorter sides of the window  140  (sides parallel to the left side  110  and the right side  115 ). In yet another exemplary embodiment, the break away points  130 ,  132  may be located on the edges (toward the left side  110  and the right side  115 ) of the middle body  150 . It should be noted that the use of one pair of break away points is exemplary only and the buckle  100  may have more than two break away points strategically placed to preemptively break when a threshold load is placed. For example, the buckle  100  may have one pair of break away points beside the shorter sides of the window  130 , another pair of break away points beside the short sides of the window  140 , and another pair of break away points on the edges of the middle body  150 . 
         [0016]    As discussed above, the snap-on buckle of the present invention is intended to attach a mobile terminal to a surface. Therefore, the buckle  100  includes a pair of windows  135 ,  140  for a strap to be inserted. The section of the buckle  100  in between the pair of windows  135 ,  140  is a middle body  150 . The strap enters one window (e.g., window  135 ), loops around the middle body  150 , and exits the other window (e.g., window  140 ). In the exemplary embodiment, the use of the pair of windows  135 ,  140  may be further improved to hold a strap using the grooves  145 . The grooves  145  increase a coefficient of friction when the strap is inserted into the window  135 . Those skilled in the art will understand that the use of the pair of windows  135 ,  140  is only exemplary and that other attachment means are possible. For example, the strap may include conventional attachment means such as buttons, snaps, hook and loop fasteners, etc. The buckler  100  would include a corresponding attachment means. 
         [0017]    The snap  200  is a portion of the snap-on buckle that loops into a mobile terminal. The portion of the mobile terminal that the snap  200  loops into will be discussed in more detail below with reference to  FIG. 4 . In the exemplary embodiment, the snap  200  is manufactured using a stamped metal. The stamped metal is a rigid metal that may bend but ultimately retains its structure. It should be noted that the use of the stamped metal is only exemplary and that the snap  200  may be manufactured using other materials (e.g., plastics). 
         [0018]    The panel  205  is the main body of the snap  200 . The panel  205  is substantially linear across the length of the snap  200 . It should be noted that the panel  205  being linear is only exemplary. The panel  205  may exhibit a curvature or a bend depending on the hole  125  that it eventually fits into. Those skilled in the art will understand that a curvature or a bend may enhance any retentive properties when the buckle  100  and the snap  200  are assembled. 
         [0019]    The hook portion  210  is formed to a side of the panel  205  opposite the side that attaches to the buckle  100 . The hook portion  210  is the piece of the snap-on buckle that directly attaches to a corresponding pin on the mobile terminal. The hook portion  210  is designed to circumnavigate the pin on the mobile terminal in a manner that also allows removal of the snap  200  from the mobile terminal if desired. In one exemplary embodiment, the hook portion  210  exhibits a round shape that completes three-fourths of the circumference of a circle (e.g., arc length), thereby leaving a one-fourth arc as an empty space. The arc may originate from the side of the panel  205 . The arc extends linearly across the length of the panel  205  maintaining a fixed radius. The radius of the arc is dependent on the radius of the pin since the inner surface area of the hook portion  210  should be, for example, flush against the pin. It should be noted that the hook portion  210  exhibiting an arc that is three-fourths the circumference of a circle is only exemplary. The arc may be more or less (e.g., one half) than three-fourths but should be sufficient enough to loop onto the pin without slipping or chance of falling off. It should also be noted that the arc may not be flush against the surface of the pin. As described above, the arc need only be sufficient to prevent slipping or chances of falling off. Those skilled in the art will understand that it is possible to design the hook portion  210  so that the radius of the arc may be greater than the radius of the pin. 
         [0020]    The side of the panel  205  that is insert molded into the hole  125  of the buckle  100  includes the curve portion  215 . The curve portion  215  functions to snugly hold the panel  205  in the hole  125 . In the exemplary embodiment, the size of the hole  125  is greater than the inserting side of the panel  205 . Thus, the curve portion  215  increases the size of the inserting side of the panel  205  so that the snap  200  may be properly insert molded into the hole  125  of the buckle  100 . It should be noted that the use of a curve portion  215  is only exemplary and the snap  200  may be manufactured without the curve portion  215 . 
         [0021]    On the body of the panel  205  are the snap connectors  220 . The snap connectors  220  function to lock the snap  200  upon insert molding into the buckle  100 . In the exemplary embodiment, the snap connectors  220  are two holes placed toward the edges (i.e., sides perpendicular to the side with the hook portion  210  and the curve portion  215 ) of the panel  205 . The holes would snap into buckle connectors  155  located within the hole  125  of the buckle  100 . 
         [0022]    Referring to  FIG. 3 , an exemplary embodiment of the top side  120  of the buckle  100  of the snap-on buckle of  FIG. 1   a  is shown. The hole  125  is shown to extend a majority of the length of the buckle  100 . It should be noted that the hole  125  may extend the entire length of the buckle  100  or a smaller length of the buckle  100 . Those skilled in the art will understand that the size of the hole  125  need only be sufficient enough to receive the snap  200  for insert molding without any inadvertent rotation (i.e., the snap  200  is fixed when locked into the buckle  100 ). The buckle connectors  155  are rounded protrusions from an inner wall of the hole  125 . It should be noted that the use of rounded protrusions are only exemplary. The protrusions to fit in the snap connectors  220  may exhibit corners that fit exactly into the snap connectors  220  or may be exhibit properties of both the rounded protrusions with corners (e.g., protrusions that extend linearly with rounded tops). In the exemplary embodiment, the end of the curve portion  215  of the snap  200  would be located on the side of the hole  125  opposite the side with the buckle connectors  155 , thereby placing the snap connectors  220  in direct contact with the buckle connectors  155 . 
         [0023]    It should be noted that the snap connectors  220  being holes and the buckle connectors  155  being protrusions is only exemplary and other locking mechanisms may be used to insert mold the snap  200  to the buckle  100 . For example, the snap connectors  220  may be buttons, snaps, hook and loop fasteners, etc. The buckle connectors  155  would be a corresponding locking mechanism. 
         [0024]      FIG. 1   b  shows an exploded view of an inner side of the snap-on buckle of  FIG. 1   a .  FIG. 1   b  shows the opposite sides of all the constituent parts shown in  FIG. 1   a . A corresponding release port  130  is also present on the inner side of the buckle  100 . The middle body  150  of the buckle  100  exhibits a curvature on the inner side while the outer side of the middle body  150  exhibits a like curvature to the sides  110 ,  115 . The curvature of the middle body  150  is steep near the top (side closer to the top side  125 ) and becomes gradual near the bottom (side closer to the bottom side  105 ). The grooves  145  are shown to appear as small protrusions on the top of the middle body  150 . 
         [0025]      FIG. 2   a  shows an assembled view of the outer side of the snap-on buckle of  FIG. 1   a . The assembled view shows that a majority of the panel  205  has been inserted into the hole  125 . The snap connectors  220  are fully within the hole  125  to attach to the corresponding buckle connectors  155 . Since a majority of the panel  205  is inserted, a small portion (top side) is still present in the assembled view of  FIG. 2   a . All features of the buckle  100  remain the same as the exploded views of  FIGS. 1   a - b.    
         [0026]      FIG. 2   b  shows an assembled view of the inner side of the snap-on buckle of  FIG. 1   a .  FIG. 2   b  shows the opposite sides of all the constituent parts shown in  FIG. 2   a . The middle body  150  of the buckle  100  still exhibits the curvature on the inner side. The grooves  145  are still shown to appear as small protrusions on the top of the middle body  150 . 
         [0027]    It should be noted that the exemplary embodiments including the buckle portion  100  and the snap portion  200  is only exemplary. Those skilled in the art will understand that the snap-on buckle may be manufactured as one unit so that the buckle  100  and the snap  200  do not require assembly. 
         [0028]      FIG. 4  shows an exemplary embodiment of the snap-on buckle of  FIG. 1   a  assembled with a pin  300  inserted in a housing of a mobile terminal. In addition to a new buckle design, the present invention incorporates the pin  300  used as a holding site for the snap-on buckle. The pin  300  is a cylinder that is fixed in the mobile terminal. It should be noted that the cylinder may be solid or hollow depending on the material used to manufacture the pin  300 . For example, if the pin  300  is manufactured using a hard metal (e.g., iron, stainless steel), then the pin  300  may be hollow. If the pin  300  is manufactured using a rigid plastic, then the pin  300  may be solid. The mobile terminal may include an insertion port  305  where the pin  300  is installed in the mobile terminal. It should be noted that the use of the insertion port  305  is only exemplary. Those skilled in the art will understand that the pin  300  may be placed within a housing of the mobile terminal. It should also be noted that the pin  300  may be part of the housing and is one unit with the housing (i.e., the pin  300  is integrally molded within the housing of the mobile terminal). 
         [0029]    In the exemplary embodiment, the pin  300  is fixed. That is, the pin  300 , though round, does not rotate or move relative to the housing that it is installed. This prevents wear and damage over time through continuous use. For the snap-on buckle to adjust to the surface to which it attaches, the arc of the hook portion  210  on the snap  200  provides the rotational properties necessary. The pin  300  may be fixed by maintaining a rounded cylindrical shape on the surface area where the snap  200  is to connect, but the ends may be a different shape. For example, the ends of the pin  300  may be squares that are inserted into square holes in the mobile terminal. 
         [0030]    It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various modifications may be made in the present invention, without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention. Thus, it is intended that the present invention cover the modifications and variations of this invention provided they come within the scope of the appended claims and their equivalents.