US20160073741A1

US20160073741A1 - Three Point Slide Connector System

Info

Publication number: US20160073741A1
Application number: US14/785,418
Authority: US
Inventors: Brian A. Lambert
Original assignee: MAGLAB LLC
Current assignee: MAGLAB LLC
Priority date: 2013-04-19
Filing date: 2014-04-21
Publication date: 2016-03-17
Also published as: WO2014172695A9; WO2014172695A1

Abstract

A three point connector system that includes a male and female slide connectors that selectively engage when pressed together. Each slide connector includes a flat body with a hole or slot formed near its distal end in which a strap or cord may attach. The male slide connector includes at least two elastic arms that fit into an end opening formed on the proximal end of the female slide connector. Attached or formed on the top surfaces of the male and female slide connectors are two perpendicularly aligned arc members each with a center opening. The arc members are complimentary in shape and extend upward from the proximal end of the flat body. Each arc member includes an outer flat surface. When the male and female slide connectors are connected together, the two arc members are parallel and adjacent to form a fully assembled, enclosed D-ring. A suitable clip attached to a third strap member may attached around the enclosed eyelet that holds the two arc members together and prevents disconnection of the male and female slide connectors.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD

This invention relates to connector systems that allow three straps to be selectively connected together and where one strap prevents the disconnection of the other two straps.

BACKGROUND ART

Many animals, such as horses and large dogs, have necks and other anatomical structures that make it difficult to align and connect the opposite ends of a collar together around the animal's neck. Usually, the owner or master must hold the opposite ends of the collar and force them together with two hands.
Dog lovers and dogs enjoy walking with a leash that selectively attaches at one end to the dog's collar. The dog leash typically includes a clip that attaches to a D-ring permanently mounted on the collar. Attached to the ends of the collar are male and female end connectors that slide together to hold the collar in place around the dog's neck.
When restraining the dog, substantial force is exerted on the leach which is transferred to the D-ring and the male and female connectors. Because the D-ring is typically permanently attached to the collar, when the leash is disconnected from the D-ring, the D-ring is exposed and susceptible to being snagged by other objects when the dog is playing or chase other animals.
What is needed is a connector that can be used two hold the ends of two straps together and used with a third strap that prevents the two ends of the two straps from disconnecting.

DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION

A connector system that can be used to connect the ends of a single strap or two straps together and used with a third strap attached to another object or used for a different purp0ose that prevents the two ends of the single or two straps from disconnecting.
In one embodiment presented, each connector includes a male and female slide connector configured to selectively engage when pressed together. Each slide connector includes a flat body with a hole formed near its distal end in which a strap or cord is inserted. The male slide connector includes at least two elastic arms that fit into an end opening formed on the proximal end of the female slide connector. Formed on the opposite sides of the female slide connector are side openings configured to receive the outward extending tab surfaces formed on the ends of the arms on the male slide connector with inserted into the female slide connector.
Attached or formed on the top surface of the male and female slide connector to two closed arc members each with a center opening. Each arc member is mounted near the proximal end of the flat body and includes an outer flat surface. In the embodiment shown herein, the arc members are parallel and perpendicularly aligned to the top surface of the flat bodies. When the male and female slide connectors are connected together, the outer flat surfaces of the two arc members are aligned parallel and pressed together to form a two part D-ring enclosed eyelet. A suitable single clip separately or a clip attached to a third strap member may attached around the D-ring that holds the two arc members together and prevents disconnection of the male and female slide connectors.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a side elevational view of the three point connector system showing three straps attached thereto.

FIG. 2 is a top plan of the connector system shown in FIG. 1

FIG. 3 is an sectional end elevational view of the connector system taken along line 3-3 in FIG. 2.

FIG. 4 is a side elevational view of the connector system showing the male and to female slide connectors pulled apart.

FIG. 5 is a top plan view of the connectors shown in FIG. 4.

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

Referring to the accompanying FIGS. 1-5, there is shown a three point connector system 10 that can be used to hold the ends of a first strap 80 and second strap 85 together and used with a third strap 90 that prevents the two ends of the first and second straps 80, 85 from disconnecting.
In one embodiment presented herein, the connector system 10 includes a quick release connectors that includes male slide connector 20 and a female slide connector 40 configured to selectively engage when pressed together. As shown more clearly in FIGS. 4 and 5, each slide connector 20, 40 includes a flat body 22, 42, respectively, with a hole or slot 26, 46, respective formed near its distal end 24, 44 in which the first and second straps 80, 85, respectively, are inserted or attached.
As shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, the male slide connector 20 includes at least two elastic arms 28, 30 that fit into an end opening 48 formed on the proximal end 45 of the female slide connector 40. Formed on the opposite sides of the female slide connector 40 are arc side openings 50, 52 configured to receive the outward extending tab surfaces 29, 31 formed on the ends of the arms 28, 30 when inserted into end opening 48 formed on the female slide connector 40.
Attached or formed on the top surfaces 21, 41 of the male and female slide connectors 20, 40, respectively, are two closed arc members 36, 56 each with a center opening 37, 57, respectively. Each arc member 36, 56 is mounted near the proximal end 35, 45 of the flat body 22, 42, respectively and includes an outer flat surface 38, 58, respectively. In the embodiment shown herein, the arc members 36, 56 are parallel and perpendicularly aligned to the top surfaces 21, 41 of the flat bodies 22, 42, respectively. When the male and female slide connectors 20, 40 are connected together, the outer flat surfaces 38, 58 are parallel and may be pressed together to form an enclosed D-ring 60. A suitable clip 92 attached to a third strap member 90 may attached around the D-ring 60 that holds the two arc members 36, 56 together and thereby prevents disconnection of the male and female slide connectors 20, 40 if the two elastic arms 28, 30 are disconnected from the two side openings 50, 52.
The two elastic arms 28, 30 and the two side openings 50, 52 on the male slide connector 20 and the female slide connector 40, respectively, act as quick release primary connecting components used to quickly and easily connect the two ends of the strap 80, 85 together. When a clip 92 is not attached to the D-ring 60, the two elastic arms 28, 30 and the two side openings 50, 52 are sufficient to hold the two connectors 20, 40 together. When additional tension is applied to the two ends 80, 85, that may cause the two connectors 20, 40 to detach, then a clip 92 may be attached to the D-clip 60 formed when two connectors 20, 40 are connected. The clip 92 may be a separate structure designed solely to hold D-ring together or it may be attached to the end of a leach or cord 90.
In compliance with the statute, the invention described has been described in language more or less specific as to structural features. It should be understood however, that the invention is not limited to the specific features shown, since the means and construction shown, comprises the preferred embodiments for putting the invention into effect. The invention is therefore claimed in its forms or modifications within the legitimate and valid scope of the amended claims, appropriately interpreted under the doctrine of equivalents.

INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY

This invention has application in the hardware connectors industry. More specifically, to such industries that use or require surfaces or straps to be temporarily connected together.

Claims

I claim:

1. A three point connector system, comprising,

a. a male slide connector with a flat body with distal end and a proximal end, said male slide connector includes a hole formed near the distal end in which a strap or cord is inserted and at least two elastic arms extending longitudinally from said flat body, said flat body also includes a perpendicular arc member with a center hole formed near said proximal end;

b. a female slide connector includes a flat body with an end opening and a hole formed near its distal end that receives a strap or cord, said flat body also includes an end opening configured to receive and selectively hold said elastic arms on said male slide connector, said female slide connector also includes a perpendicular arc member with a center hole and aligned perpendicular on said flat body; and,

c. whereby when said elastic arms on said male slide connector are inserted into said end opening formed on said female slide connector, said arc members are positioned in a side-by-side manner with their center holes aligned and registered to form a D-ring with a large continuous hole that receives the clip on a third strap that holds said arc members together and prevents said male slide connector and said female slide connector from disconnecting.