US2991529A - Multi-purpose buckle or latch - Google Patents

Description

`uly 11, 1961 A. J. RICHARDSON 2,991,529

MULTI-PURPOSE BUCKLE 0R LATCH Filed April 7. 1959 a. iamzaxau INVENTOR vql-ed J Ric/10111501@ BY Mh ATTORNEY United `States Patent O 2,991,529 MULTI-PURPOSE BUCKLE R LATC Alfred J. Richardson, |P.0. Box 927, Hayden, Ariz.

, Filed Apr. 7, 1959, Ser. No. 804,851 i -2 Claims.- (Cl.'24'-2^30), f (Granted under Title 35, U.S. Code(1952), sec. 266) 'I'he invention described herein, if patented, may be manufactured and used by or for the Government for governmental purposes, without the payment to me of any royalty thereon.

This invention relates to latches in general but more particularly to a latch for use with flexible material such as camouflage nets, tent doors, tail gate -ies and cargo covers.

A primary object of the invention resides in providing such a latch which may be easily and quickly operated to either open or closed position.

Another object of the invention consists in providing a latch of the foregoing type which is of strong and durable construction and yet one which may be readily repaired or parts replaced, if desired.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following description taken inconnection with the accompanying drawings, in which FIG. 1 is a top plan view of the multi-purpose latch showing the two sections thereof secured to the fabric elements which are to be fastened together;

FIG. 2 is a sectional view taken on the line 2-2 of FIG. 1, and looking in the direction of the arrows;

FIG. 3 is a view similar to FIG. 2, but with the latch sections moved to releasable positions;

FIG. 4 is a bottom plan view of the fastener showing the parts in interlocked position; and

FIG. 5 is an exploded view showing the various elements prior to being assembled.

Referring to the drawings in greater detail and by reference numeral, the fabric with which the multi-purpose buckle is associated in the present illustration is indicated by the numeral 1, and the numerals 2 and 3 indicate the two parts of the separable fastener. The element 2 comprises the plate 4 and the tongue 5 extending forwardly therefrom and in the same plane as the plate itself. The tongue 5 is somewhat narrower in width than the plate 4 so as to provide shoulders or abutments 5. This tongue is provided with an opening 6, a wall 6 of which opening is intended to cooperate with a projection on the other portion of the separable fastener as will hereinafter appear. The plate 2 is provided with a leaf spring 7 provided with a loop portion 8 which receives a bolt 9 passing through the loop and through an opening in the plate 4 and receiving a nut 10 for securing the parts together. The spring 7 has a pair of ends 11 which are adapted to engage the socket member of the fastener for more securely holding the parts together against inadvertent release.

To secure the plate 4 and its tongue 5 to the fabric 1 a clamping plate 12 is provided having an area and shape substantially the same as the plate 4 and clamping the fabric between the two parts 4 and 12', and these elements may be secured together in clamping relationship with the fabric by means of self-tapping screws 13 preferably located at the four corners of the plate.

Socket member 3 comprises plate 14 having an upturned flange 15 provided with an elongated slot 16 having a length corresponding to the width of the tongue 5 which it is adapted to receive when the buckle or latch is brought into operative relationship. This plate is provided with a struck-up projection 17 adapted to cooperate with the wall 6 of the opening 6 of the tongue 5. This wall 6 is spaced from the abutments 5 a distance apj A 2,991,529 7 Patented July 11, 1961 proximating the distance betweensocket 15 and projectionlT so that when the parts are brought together, the wall 1- 6 will frictionally engage the projection 17 as the abutments -5" engagethe ange or socket portion 15, as clearly indicatedin FIGS. 2 and 3. In order to supplement the frictional engagement between the parts 17 and 6 and to secure the latch against inadvertent separation, the spring 7 is employed.

This socket member 15 with its plate 14 is secured to the fabric 1 by clamping the fabric between the plate 14 and a clamping plate 18 in the same manner as heretofore mentioned in connection with the tongue 5 and its plate 4, self-tapping screws 19 being employed for securing the parts together.

It is believed that the operation of the multi-purpose buckle or separable fastener will be readily understood from the foregoing description of the various parts. However, it may be mentioned that in securing the latch, the tongue 5 is passed through the slot 16 of the socket portion `15 until the abutments 5 are brought up against the element 15 while the tension is stored in the spring 7 by its engagement with the flange 15. With the parts in this relationship, the wall 6 of the opening 6 will approximately register the free end of projection 17 and the element 2 of the fastener comprising the members 4-5 will be swung about its pivots 5', 5' until wall 6 engages over the projection 17 as clearly indicated in FIGS. 2 and 3. From this relationship, it will be apparent that the spring 7 will draw the plate 4 and tongue 5 toward the left in FIG. 2, so as to tightly impinge the wall 6 of the tongue against the abutment 17 and thus prevent inadvertent release of the parts. To release the buckle, it will only be necessary to apply some slight force on the elements 2 and 3 longitudinally thereof to somewhat relieve the pressure between the parts 17 and 6 so that the tongue 5 may be swung downwardly (FIGS. 2 and 3) to thereby release the wall 6 from the projection 17, thereby permitting the withdrawal of the tongue 5 from the slot 16 in the socket member 15.

From the foregoing description taken in connection with the attached drawings, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that I have devised a relatively simple and inexpensive construction of a multi-purpose buckle for use in connection with camouflage nets, tent doors, etc., that the latch is of a strong and durable construction and that the parts may be readily replaced, if necessary, by releasing the various screw-type fasteners heretofore referred to.

In accordance with the patent statutes, I have described what I now consider to be the preferred form of the invention, but since various minor changes may be made in structural details without departing from the spirit of the invention, it is intended that all such changes be included within the scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A separable `fastener comprising a pair of plates, a tongue extending from an end of one of said plates, a socket portion comprising a single flange bent up from the adjacent end of the other plate and provided with a tongue-receiving slot, said tongue provided with an opening adjacent its forward end, a projection on the plate which carries the socket, said projection being so disposed as to frictionally engage the forward wall of the opening in the tongue when the latter is positioned in the socket, and a spring fixed to said tongue-bearing plate and engaging said ange, whereby the frictional engagement between said wall and projection is substantially increased.

2. A separable fastener comprising a pair of plates, each of said plates being secured to a piece of flexible material, a tongue extending from an end of one of said 3 4 plates, a socket portion comprising a single ange bent References ACited in the le of this patent up from the adjacent end of the other plate and pro- UNITED STATES PATENTS vided with a tongue-receiving slot, said tongue provided with an opening adjacent its forward end, a projection 271001 Thompson Ian 23 1883 on the ,plate whichtcfarries the socket, said projection being. 5 gmsll Waslbume u Feb- 13 190g soldisposed as-tofrictionally enguagevthe forwrdlwall lsgtl "liegt-2g of the opening in" .the tongue whenrthelatter ispositioned .f y inthe socket, and a spring fixed to said tongue-bearing kFCREGN PATENTS plate and engaging, Said, ange, whereby the frictona'l en- 180,611 Germany Jan. 2s, 1907 gagernent between said walland projection Vis Asubstantially w 213,813 Australia Mar. 14, 1958 increased. 530,423 Gerrnany July 29, 1931

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