Patent ID: 8191213

Claim:
A quick-release buckle assembly, comprising: a female portion comprising a hollow body with an interior cavity, an open top communicating with the cavity, and at least one locking slot extending through the hollow body and communicating with the cavity; a male portion comprising a base, and at least one locking leg, such that inserting the male portion into the cavity through the open top of the female portion causes the at least one locking leg to engage the at least one locking slot to lock the male portion to the female portion; and a lever pivotably connected at one end to the male portion and having a free end, said lever having a tongue extending into an interior of the male portion; wherein the male portion has an engaging element connected to a free end of the at least one locking leg, and wherein the tongue contacts the engaging element, so that lifting the free end of the lever causes the tongue to push the engaging element toward the base of the male portion and move the at least one locking leg inward to release the male portion from the female portion.