Abstract:
A buckle for binding two items together that includes a male plate and a female plate. The male plate further includes a locking member that is movable between a locking position and an unlocking position, wherein the locking member in the locking position interacts with the locking mechanism to lock the male plate to the female plate along a longitudinal axis that is perpendicular to the binding axis. The female plate includes a locking mechanism that includes two arms extending from opposing ends of the female plate respectively and is adapted to slidably receive the male plate therewithin to secure the male plate face-to-face to the female plate along a binding axis.

Description:
FIELD OF INVENTION 
       [0001]    This invention relates to a buckle, and in particular a belt buckle with an enhanced locking and releasing mechanism. 
       BACKGROUND OF INVENTION 
       [0002]    A buckle, for example a belt buckle, is used for fastening two ends of straps or a belt, in which a device attached to one of the ends is fitted or coupled to the other. Belt buckles and other fixtures are used on a variety of belts. 
         [0003]    Conventional buckles usually involve actions from the both hands before it can be released. It may sometimes impose a challenge to the user on releasing a buckle when one of the hands of the user is occupied with, say, holding bags. 
       SUMMARY OF INVENTION 
       [0004]    In the light of the foregoing background, it is an object of the present invention to provide an alternate buckle with an improved locking and releasing mechanism that allows the user to more conveniently buckle and unlock the buckle. 
         [0005]    Accordingly, the present invention, in one aspect, is a buckle for binding two items together that includes a male plate and a female plate. The male plate includes a first fastener disposed at a first end for connecting to a first item. The female plate includes a second fastener disposed at a first end for connecting to a first item. The male plate is adapted to couple to the female plate along the plane of the two plates with the first end of the male plate and the first end of the female plate in opposing sides to form a binding axis to bind the two items together. 
         [0006]    The female plate further includes a locking mechanism comprising two arms extending from opposing ends of the female plate respectively and is adapted to slidably receive the male plate therewithin to secure the male plate face-to-face to the female plate along the binding axis. The male plate further includes a locking member that is movable between a locking position and an unlocking position, in which the locking member in the locking position interacts with the locking mechanism to lock the male plate to the female plate along a longitudinal axis perpendicular to the binding axis. 
         [0007]    The locking member in a resting state is in the locking position such that when the male plate is coupled to the female plate, the male plate is stabling locked into the locking position. The locking member is further movable by a simple pulling action to the unlocking position such that the male plate can be disengaged from the female plate along the binding axis and the longitudinal axis. 
         [0008]    In an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, the locking member includes a tongue moveably disposed on the male plate, while the locking mechanism includes a tongue receiving port disposed on one of the arms adapted to receive the tongue therewithin, such that the male plate is secured to the female plate along the longitudinal axis. 
         [0009]    According to another aspect of the present invention, a buckle for binding two items together is provided, which includes a male plate and a female plate. The male plate includes a first fastener disposed at a first end of the male plate for connecting to a first item; and a tongue member comprising a tongue disposed on a first end of the tongue member and adapted to be movable between a locking position and an unlocking position. 
         [0010]    The female plate includes a second fastener disposed at a first end of the female plate for connecting to a second item; a hook arm extending from the first end of the female plate and disposed on a base; and a flange arm extending from a second end of the female plate and disposed on the base. 
         [0011]    The male plate is adapted to couple to the female plate along the plane of the two plates with the first end of the male plate and the first end of the female plate in opposing sides to form a binding axis to bind the two items together. 
         [0012]    The flange arm and the hook arm of the female plate area are adapted to slidably receive the male plate therewithin to secure the male plate face-to-face to the female plate along the binding axis. 
         [0013]    The tongue in the locking position interacts with the hook arm to lock the male plate to the female plate along a longitudinal axis perpendicular to the binding axis. As such, when the male plate is coupled to the female plate, the male plate is stabling locked into the locking position. The tongue is further movable by a simple pulling action to the unlocking position such that the male plate can be disengaged from the female plate along the binding axis and the longitudinal axis. 
         [0014]    In an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, the hook arm includes a tongue receiving port disposed on the hook arm, while the tongue receiving port is adapted to receive the tongue therewithin. As such, the male plate is secured to the female plate along the longitudinal axis. 
         [0015]    Due to the novel design of the locking mechanism within the buckle, it is more convenient for the user to smoothly fasten or release the buckle. This will be extremely helpful when one of the hands of the user is occupied so that such fastening or releasing action can be done by a simple single-handed action. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF FIGURES 
         [0016]      FIGS. 1A and 1B  respectively illustrate a side view along the longitudinal axis and a top perspective view of an engagement member of a male plate of the buckle according to one embodiment of the instant invention. 
           [0017]      FIGS. 2A and 2B  respectively illustrate a top view and a side view along the binding axis and of a tongue member of the male plate according to the same embodiment of the instant invention. 
           [0018]      FIG. 3  illustrates a top view of a support plate member of the male plate according to the same embodiment of the instant invention. 
           [0019]      FIGS. 4A and 4B  respectively illustrate a side view along the longitudinal axis and a top view of a press member of the male plate according to the same embodiment of the instant invention. 
           [0020]      FIG. 5A and 5B  respectively illustrate a side view along the longitudinal axis and a top view of a female plate of the buckle according to the same embodiment of the instant invention. 
           [0021]      FIGS. 6A and 6B  respectively illustrate a top perspective view of the (assembled) male plate and female plate of the buckle according to same embodiment of the instant invention where the male plate is coupled to the female plate. 
           [0022]      FIGS. 7A and 7B  respectively illustrate a top perspective view and a side view along the longitudinal axis of the buckle according to same embodiment of the instant invention where the male plate is coupled to the female plate. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
       [0023]    As used herein and in the claims, “comprising” means including the following elements but not excluding others. 
         [0024]    As used herein and in the claims, “a binding axis” refers to an axis formed by a first end of a male plate of this invention and a first end of a female plate of this invention in opposing sides, in which the first end of the male plate includes a first fastener disposed therein for connecting to a first item; and the first end of the female plate includes a second fastener disposed therein for connecting to a second item. In one embodiment, the first item and the second item refer to the two ends of a strap or a belt. 
         [0025]    As used herein and in the claims, “a longitudinal axis” refers to an axis perpendicular to and on the same plane as the binding axis. As used herein and in the claims, “a transverse axis” refers to an axis perpendicular to both the binding axis and the longitudinal axis, and in a direction out of the plane formed by the binding axis and longitudinal axis. 
         [0026]    The first embodiment of the buckle of the present invention includes a male plate  100  that is composed of different members as shown in  FIGS. 1A to 4B . First, the engagement member  110  of the male plate  100 , as shown in  FIGS. 1A and 1B , includes a first fastener  119  at a first end along a binding axis (dotted line  302 ), which connects to a housing  111  at a second end along the binding axis  302 . A rail  113  (in light grey in  FIG. 1A ), abutting against the housing  111  along a transverse axis (dotted line  306 ), includes a flange  113   a  and a web  113   b  that connects the flange  113   a  and the housing  111 . 
         [0027]    Two tongue opening sidewalls  116   a  are disposed on the second end of the housing  111  along the binding axis  302 . A tongue opening  116  is sandwiched between the two tongue opening sidewalls  116   a.  Two spring sidewalls  118  are disposed on the end of the housing  111  connecting to the first fastener  119  along the binding axis. Thus, the two tongue opening sidewalls  116   a,  the two spring sidewalls  118 , and two housing sidewalls  117  respectively disposed on each end of the housing  111  along a longitudinal axis  304  creates a housing cavity within the housing  111 . At least one spring (not show in  FIGS. 1A or 1B ) is disposed within the housing cavity and abuts against each of the spring sidewalls  118 . At least one cylindrically shaped pillar  112  is disposed within the housing cavity. 
         [0028]    Next, as shown in  FIGS. 2A and 2B , a second member of the male plate  100 , a tongue member  140 , includes a washer holder  144  disposed at the center of the tongue member  140 , a flat end  148  disposed on the first end along the binding axis  302  and a trapezoidal shaped tongue  142  disposed on the second end along the binding axis  302 . A washer (not shown in  FIGS. 2A or 2B ) is further provided to be adapted to be fittingly disposed within the washer holder  144 . The tongue member  140  includes a spring support  146  disposed on each end along the longitudinal axis  304 . Further, at least one pillar port  149  is disposed between the spring support  146  and the washer holder  144  along the longitudinal axis  304 . The spring (not shown in  FIGS. 2A or 2B ) is resiliently sandwiched between the spring support  146  and the spring sidewall  118  of the engagement member  110 . 
         [0029]    As shown in  FIG. 3 , the male plate  100  further includes a third member, a support member  130 . The support member  130  includes a T-shaped opening  132  at the center and at least one pillar opening  134 . 
         [0030]    A fourth member of the male plate  100 , a press member  120 , is shown in  FIGS. 4A and 4B . The press member  120  includes a press plate  126  on which a press protrusion  122  is disposed. At least one press rail  124  is disposed on each end along the longitudinal axis  304  of the press plate  126 . 
         [0031]    Now referring to  FIGS. 5A and 5B , a female plate  200  of the buckle of the same embodiment of the present invention is shown. The female plate  200  includes a base  202  with  3  enclosed sides (sidewall  204 , hook arm  210  and flange arm  220 ) and a fourth open side on a first end along the longitudinal axis  304 . The sidewall  204  is disposed on a second end along the longitudinal axis of the base  202 . The flange arm  220  and the hook arm  210  are respectively disposed on the first end and the second end along the binding axis  302  of the base  202 . A second fastener  230  is disposed on the second end along the binding axis  302  and abuts against the hook arm  210 . Consequently, the second fastener  230  (together with the hook arm  210 ), the side wall  204  and the flange arm  220  creates a cavity on the base  202 . 
         [0032]    The hook arm  210  includes a hook rim  212  abutting against the sidewall  204  and a hook  214  disposing on the opposite end of the hook arm  210  along the longitudinal axis  304 . A tongue receiving port  216  is sandwiched between the hook rim  212  and the hook  214 . The hook  214  further includes a locking portion  214   a  forming a side of the tongue receiving port  216  and a slant portion  214   b.  A first opening  202   a  is provided between the hook arm  210  and the base  202 , while a second opening  202   b  is provided between the flange arm  220  and the base  202 . 
         [0033]    Assembly of the Male Plate 
         [0034]    The following paragraphs describe the assembly of the different members of the male plate  100 . The tongue member  140  is first disposed within the housing cavity of the housing  111  of the engagement member  110 . When the tongue member  140  approaches the first end along the binding axis, the pillar ports  149  receive the pillars  112 ; while when the tongue member  140  approaches the second end along the binding axis within the housing cavity, the tongue  142  is adapted to extend through the tongue opening  116 . Further, the movement of the tongue member  140  is facilitated by the resilent action of the spring disposed between the spring sidewall  118  of the engagement member  110  and the spring support  146  of the tongue member  140 . As such, the tongue member  140  can be movably disposed within the housing cavity. In one embodiment, the tongue member  140  is movable along the binding axis  302  within the housing cavity. 
         [0035]    Then, the support member  130  is disposed on top of the tongue member  140  along the traverse axis  306  and secured to the engagement member  110  through the coupling between the pillar openings  134  of the support member  130  and the pillars  112  of the engagement member  110 . Lastly, the press member  120  is disposed on top of the support member  130  along the traverse axis  306  and coupled to the tongue member  140  through the insertion of the press protrusion  122  of the press member  120 , via the T-shaped opening  132  of the support member  130 , into the washer holder  144  of the tongue member  140 . The washer disposed within the washer holder  144  provides additional and secure support to the press protrusion  122  on its insertion into the washer holder  144 , thus enhancing the coupling of the press member  120  to the tongue member  140 . As such, the male plate  100  of the instant invention is fully and securely assembled. 
         [0036]    Operation of the Buckle 
         [0037]    The following paragraphs describe the operation of the buckle according to the same embodiment of the instant invention. First, an assembled male plate  100  and a female plate  200  are shown in  FIGS. 6A and 6B . In coupling the male plate  100  with the female plate  200 , a user first slid the male plate  100  into the female plate  200  along the direction  308  (i.e along the longitudinal axis  304 ). Then, the first opening  202   a  and the second opening  202   b,  the outlines thereof being complementary to the contour of the rail  113  of the engagement member  110 , receive the flange  113   a  of the rail  113  therewithin, such that the male plate  100  is secured to the female plate  200  along both the binding axis  302  and the traverse axis  306 . 
         [0038]    Meanwhile, the tongue  142  of the male plate  100  approaches the hook arm  210  of the female plate  200 . Since the slant end of the tongue  142  is complementary to the slant portion  214   b  of the hook  214 , the tongue  142  can smoothly engage with the slant portion  214   b  to swiftly enter the tongue receiving port  216  and be locked therewithin in a locking position. As such, the male plate  100  enters into a locking position (as shown in  FIGS. 7A and 7B , where the male plate  100  is in light grey for ease of illustration) in which it is stabling locked with the female plate  200  along all of the three aforesaid axes. 
         [0039]    To disengage the male plate  100  from the female plate  200 , a user first presses on the press member  120  and pulls the press member  120  away from the second end to the first end along the binding axis  302  such that the tongue  142  moves away from tongue receiving port  216  of the female plate  200 , in which the male plate  100  switches from a locking position into an unlocking position. The spring provides control and support of the movement of the tongue  142  along the binding axis  302 —when the user releases the press member  120 , the resilient action of the spring would drive the tongue  142  to move from the first end to the second end along the binding axis  302 . 
         [0040]    Upon pulling the press member  120  as afore-described, the user then slides the male plate  100  from the second end to the first end along the longitudinal axis  304  such that the flange  113   a  slides out of the first opening  202   a  and the second opening  202   b.  As a result, the male plate  100  is fully disengaged from the female plate  200  along both the binding axis and the longitudinal axis. 
         [0041]    In a preferred embodiment, the male plate  100  can be coupled to or disengaged from the female plate  200  by a single-handed motion. 
         [0042]    The exemplary embodiments of the present invention are thus fully described. Although the description referred to particular embodiments, it will be clear to one skilled in the art that the present invention may be practiced with variation of these specific details. Hence this invention should not be construed as limited to the embodiments set forth herein.