Patent Document

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION DATA 
   This application claims the benefit of priority of U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 60/403,932 filed Aug. 16, 2002 and U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 60/431,419 filed Dec. 6, 2002. 

   BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   The present invention is directed to a closure. More particularly, the present invention is directed to a safety closure that provides remote indication of the state or condition of the closure. 
   Closures such as buckles, snaps, hooks, latches and the like are used in a wide variety of applications. For example, one such type of closure, e.g., buckles are used in connection with backpacks, belts, child safety seats, strollers and the like. Some of these applications, such as child safety seats and strollers are safety or safety-related applications. 
   With respect to safety and safety-related closure applications such as child safety seats and strollers, failure to properly secure the closure or failure to properly monitor the state or condition of the closure is of interest to a user. 
   While closure monitoring is known for certain types of closures, e.g., automotive seat belt latches, these monitoring systems use either mechanical linkages or electrical hardwired arrangements to effect remote indication. These linkages and hard-wire configurations, are, however, relatively large in size, typically require external power sources (for the hard-wired systems) and can be quite costly. 
   Accordingly, there is a need for a closure that provides remote indication of the state or condition of the closure. Desirably, such a closure provides indication through wireless transmission, without mechanical linkages or electrical hard-wiring. Indication can be provided by, for example, an audible, visual or vibratory signal. 
   BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   A multi-part smart closure provides remote indication of the state or condition of the closure. Such a closure provides indication without mechanical linkages or electrical hard-wiring. Indication can be provided by, but is not limited to, an audible, visual or vibratory signal. The smart circuitry can be incorporated into a wide variety of closures, such as buckles, clasps and the like. 
   These and other features and advantages of the present invention will be apparent from the following detailed description, in conjunction with the appended claims. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS 
     The benefits and advantages of the present invention will become more readily apparent to those of ordinary skill in the relevant art after reviewing the following detailed description and accompanying drawings, wherein: 
       FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a smart closure embodying the principles of the present invention, the exemplary closure structure shown being a two-piece buckle; 
       FIG. 2  is a front view of the female, receptacle portion of the buckle; 
       FIG. 3  is a partial cross-sectional view of the female buckle portion taken along line  3 - 3  of  FIG. 2 ; 
       FIG. 4  is a top view of the male, insert portion of the buckle; 
       FIG. 5  illustrates an exemplary receiver unit for the smart closure; and 
       FIG. 6  is a cross-sectional illustration of an exemplary switch for use with the present smart closure. 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
   While the present invention is susceptible of embodiment in various forms, there is shown in the drawings and will hereinafter be described a presently preferred embodiment with the understanding that the present disclosure is to be considered an exemplification of the invention and is not intended to limit the invention to the specific embodiment illustrated. 
   It should be further understood that the title of this section of this specification, namely, “Detailed Description Of The Invention”, relates to a requirement of the United States Patent Office, and does not imply, nor should be inferred to limit the subject matter disclosed herein. 
   Referring now to the figures and in particular to  FIG. 1 , there is a shown remote indication (smart) closure  10  embodying the principles of the present invention. The closure  10  is exemplified by the illustrated two-part buckle assembly having mating members, e.g., a male (insert) closure member  12  and a female (receptacle) closure member  14 . As seen in  FIGS. 2 and 3 , in a typical arrangement, the female member  14  includes top and bottom walls  16 ,  18  and side walls  20  that define a generally rectangular shaped interior channel  22  ( FIG. 1 ). Apertures  24  are formed at a rear end of the female member  14  (beyond the side walls) that are contiguous with the interior channel  22 . A farthest or distal end of the female member  14  includes one or more slot-like openings  26  for receiving a strap or belt-like element. In one embodiment, such as that illustrated, the female member interior channel  22  is partially separated from the apertures  24  by interior partition walls  28  ( FIG. 2 ). The partition walls  28  can include windows or open portions  30  ( FIG. 3 ) for receiving structural portions (e.g., gussets  32 ) of the male member  12 . 
   Referring now to  FIGS. 1 and 4 , the male member  12  includes a base portion  34  and a pair of flexible arm members  36  extending from the base portion  34 . The arms  36  are elongated and are flexible to permit bending or flexing the arms toward and away from a centerline A 12  of the male member  12 . A central guide element  38  extends in generally the same direction as the arms  36 , along the centerline A 12  of the male element  12 . The central guide element  38  is configured for receipt in the interior channel or groove  22  formed in and along the longitudinal center A 14  of the female member  14 . 
   The arms  36  each include an elongated main portion  40  and an enlarged, rounded protrusion  42  at a distal end thereof. When the male member  12  is inserted in to the female member  14 , the protrusions  42  are configured to engage a wall or surface  44  forming a part of the aperture  24  to lock the male member  12  (at the arms  36 ) to the female member  14 . As can be seen in  FIGS. 1 and 2 , the arm main portions  40  (which are smaller than their respective protrusions  42 ) ride in channels  46  ( FIG. 2 ) in the wall surfaces  44  in which the protrusions  42  do not fit or insert because of their larger size. Thus, the protrusions  42  are prevented from being “pulled” from the apertures  24  by engagement of the arm main portions  40  in the channels  46 . Any of a variety of angled surfaces, lips and/or shoulders can be used to assure engagement and locking of the male  12  and female  14  members to one another. Examples of such configurations are disclosed in Frano et al., U.S. Pat. No. 5,222,279, and Hamilton, et al., U.S. Pat. No. Des. 397,641, both of which patents are commonly assigned with the present application and are incorporated herein by reference. 
   A present smart closure  10  provides remote indication of the state or condition of the closure  10  by use of wireless microelectronic transmission and receiving components. A present closure uses an RF transmitter/encoder  48  and an RF receiver/decoder  50  ( FIG. 5 ) in combination with the structural components of the closure  10 . As best seen in  FIG. 1 , the transmitter  48  is mounted to (or within) the female member  14 . In a present embodiment, the transmitter  48  is a fully self-contained unit (circuit board  52 ) having a power supply, such as a battery  54 . The transmitter  48  can be positioned within the member  14  such that the battery  54  can be replaced, the battery can be recharged, or the battery (and that is the entirety of closure  10 ) is disposable. As illustrated, a covering portion  56  can be configured for removal for access to the battery  54  for replacement. 
   A switch  58  is operably connected to the transmitter unit  48 . The switch  58  is positioned within the female member  14  so that it is engaged, i.e., actuated, by a portion of the male member  12  when the male member  12  is properly inserted into the female member  14 . The switch  58  energizes/deenergizes a circuit within the transmitter  48 . RF signal(s) are then received by the receiver  50  to provide indication of proper engagement of the male  12  and female  14  closure members. In contrast, in the event that the closure  10  is not properly closed (e.g., the male member  12  is not properly inserted into the female member  14 ), the transmitter  48  fails to transmit a signal (or otherwise undergoes a change in state) which alerts a user to the improper condition of the closure  10 . 
   Preferably, the switch  58  is a sealed-type switch, such as a sealed push-button switch. The mechanical portions of the switch  58  are within a sealed or controlled environment. For example, the switch can be within a sealed or isolated chamber in the female portion  14  that is “covered” by a rubber or polymer covering  60  ( FIG. 3 ). The covering  60  is sufficiently resilient or soft so that the switch  58  is readily contacted (to change switch state) but is protected from environmental conditions. In that one anticipated use is in connection with juvenile products, it is envisioned that such an environmentally sealed switch  58  will have a longer useful life than an otherwise non-sealed switch. 
   As seen in  FIGS. 1 and 4 , the central guide portion  38  of the male member  12  is configured for contact with the switch  58  (when the male  12  and female  14  members are engaged) to energize the transmitter  48  circuit. Conversely, when the male member  12  is removed from (or not properly inserted into) the female member  14 , the transmitter  48  circuitry is deenergized (or otherwise undergoes a change in state) providing indication of an open closure  10  condition. 
   With reference to  FIG. 5 , the receiver  50  can be connected to audible (horns or speakers  62 ), visual (LED or other lights  64 ) or vibratory signal indicators, which signal indicators are exemplary only and are not to be considered limiting in any way. It is also anticipated that circuitry can be employed so that the transmitter  48  circuit “samples” the closure  10  state, rather than constantly monitoring that state to extend battery  54  life. In addition, the use of the numerous RF channel combinations that are available will reduce the opportunity for interference and crosstalk when the smart closure  10  is used near other smart closures. 
   Another switch arrangement  158  is illustrated in  FIG. 6 . The switch  158  is used to actuate circuitry on the circuit board  52 . The switch  158  includes an electrically conductive flexible dome switch element  168  that is affixed to, but electrically isolated from, the circuit board  52  by, for example, a section of 2-faced tape  170  with a die cut opening (indicated at  172 ) under the dome  168 . In this arrangement, flexing the dome  168  toward the circuit board  52  brings the dome  168  into contact with contacts  53  on the circuit board  52  to “change” the state of the switch  158 . Conversely, unflexing (by releasing) the dome  168 , terminates switch  158  contact. 
   A flexible membrane seal  174 , such as a linear low density polyethylene (LLDPE) or other suitable elastomer sheet is affixed over the dome  168 . A plunger  176  is positioned in an opening  178  in the female buckle member wall  16  (over the seal  174 ), to overlie the dome  168 . In this manner, the plunger  176  is driven by engagement of the male and female members  12 ,  14  to contact the flexible seal member  174  overlying the dome  168 . This urges the dome  168  into contact with the electrical contacts  53  on the circuit board  52 , changing the state of the switch  158 . 
   In a present closure  10 , the transmitter  48  is a transmitter with integral encoder such as that commercially available from Linx Technologies, Inc., of Grants Pass, Oreg. under product code TXE-418-KH and the receiver  50  is a receiver with integral decoder such as that commercially available from Linx Technologies, Inc. under product code RXD-418-KH. Other transmitters and receivers will be recognized by those skilled in the art and are within the scope and spirit of the present invention. 
   Those skilled in the art will appreciate that although the present smart closure  10  circuitry is described and disclosed with respect to a two-part buckle closure  10 , the present invention can be provided within any multi-part closure, such as clasps, snaps and the like, which other multi-part closures are within the scope and spirit of the present invention. 
   All patents referred to herein, are hereby incorporated herein by reference, whether or not specifically done so within the text of this disclosure. 
   In the present disclosure, the words “a” or “an” are to be taken to include both the singular and the plural. Conversely, any reference to plural items shall, where appropriate, include the singular. 
   From the foregoing it will be observed that numerous modifications and variations can be effectuated without departing from the true spirit and scope of the novel concepts of the present invention. It is to be understood that no limitation with respect to the specific embodiments illustrated is intended or should be inferred. The disclosure is intended to cover by the appended claims all such modifications as fall within the scope of the claims.

Technology Category: 7