Patent ID: 7559126

Claim:
A safety buckle, comprising: a socket having a cavity with a first surface; a first catch in the cavity and adjoining the first surface and directed away from the first surface; a plug with a central arm for insertion into the socket; a first latch on the central arm sized and positioned to permit engagement with the first catch when the plug is inserted into the socket in a first relative orientation to releaseably retain the plug and socket together; a second catch or second latch on an opposing side of the cavity or central arm, respectively, and sized and positioned with a symmetry to the first catch or first latch, respectively, to permit an alternate engagement with the corresponding first catch or first latch, such that the socket and plug may be releaseably retained together in a second relative orientation different from the first relative orientation; one of the first or second latches on the central arm or one of the first or second catches in the cavity being free from engagement when the plug and socket are releaseably retained together; and a disengagement device on the socket or plug and integral with the socket or plug and operable to displace the central arm when actuated to disengage one or more engagements involving the central arm.