US3168770A

US3168770A - Quick release buckle

Info

Publication number: US3168770A
Application number: US253792A
Authority: US
Inventors: Jr Charles John; Jules A Kaufman
Original assignee: Phillips Van Heusen Corp
Current assignee: PVH Corp
Priority date: 1963-01-25
Filing date: 1963-01-25
Publication date: 1965-02-09
Anticipated expiration: 1982-02-09

Description

Feb. 9, 1965 c. JOHN, JR., ETAL Qurcx RELEASE BUCKLE 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Jan. 25, 1965 www i E E NJVM m I 5 A v M /,m @n mu Cd wm .iIlillllllllllllllflfllllIllllll Feb. 9, 1965 C. JOHN, JR, ETAL 3,168,770

QUICK RELEASE BUCKLE Filed Jan. 25, 1965 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTORS CHA/P455 Jay/5 Je BY duLes A. /CqurM/W United States Patent Oilice 3,153,77@ Patented Feb. 9 1965 3,168,770 QUECK RELEASE BUCKLE Charles John, Jr., Astoria, and Jules A. Kaufman, Bronx,

NX., assignors, by mesne assignments, to Phillips-Van Hausen Corporation, New York, N.Y., a corporation of New York Filed lan. 2S, 1963, Ser. No. 253,792 2 Claims. (Cl. 24--230) This invention relates to a quick release buckle. It relates particularly to a quick release buckle intended for use with safety belts of the type worn by occupants of automobiles and aircraft.

It is an object of this invention to provide a quick release buckle having no selective mode of connection; that is, a buckle of which the normally separable elements or assemblies may be connected or latched together without regard to any twisting of either or both of the safety belt portions to which they are attached.

It is another object of the invention to provide a quick release buckle having two latch pawl elements pivotably positioned on a mounting plate member with a single spring element also positioned on said mounting plate tending to maintain -both of said latch pawl elements in latching attitude.

It is another object of this invention to provide a quick release buckle having a plurality of latch pawl elements pivoted on a mounting plate member with the latch pawl elements being separately engageable with and requiring individual actuation for disengagement from a latch element to minimize the possibility of accidental release of the buckle.

It is another object of this invention to provide a quick release buckle having at least one latch pawl element pivoted on a mounting plate member, this latch pawl element being characterized by a high mechanical advantage under manipulation by the buckle wearer to allow easy disengagement of the latch pawl element from a latch element, and, correspondingly, easy release of the buckle even though the buckle ybe loaded heavily through the safety belt portions to which it is attached.

These and other objects and advantages of the present invention as well as its nature and substance will be more clearly perceived and fully understood by referring to the following description and claims taken in connection with the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 represents a side elevation view of `the quick release buckle of this invention with the normally separable elements or assemblies of the buckle in separated or disconnected condition;

FIG. 2 represents a partly exploded view of the latch retaining assembly of the quick release buckle shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 represents a view in section through the quick release buckle shown in FIG. 1 taken along line 3-3 therein looking in the direction of the arrows;

FlG. 4 represents a view in section through the quick release buckle shown in FIG. 1 taken along line 4 4 therein looking in the direction of the arrows;

FIG. 5 represents a View in section through the quick release buckle shown in FIG. l taken along line 5-5 t therein looking in the direction of the arrows;

FIG. 6 represents a side elevation View of the quick release buckle of this invention generally similar to the showing of this buckle in FIG. l, but with the cover sectioned away from the latch retaining assembly of the buckle;

FIG. 7 represents a side elevation view of the quick release buckle of this invention generally similar to the showing of this buckle in FIG. 6, but with the latch element and latch retaining assembly of the buckle having been pushed together into engaged or connected condition; and

FIG. 8 represents a side elevation View of the quick release buckle of this invention generally similar to the showing of this buckle in FIG. 7, but with the latch ele ment of the `buckle being disengaged from the latch pawl elements and partly withdrawn from (or partly inserted into) the latch retaining assembly of the buckle.

Referring now to the drawings in detail, especially to FIGS. 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5 thereof, the quick release buckle ot this invention generally designated 1? comprises a right hand or latch element generally designated l2 and a left hand or latch retaining assembly generally designated 14. As shown in FIG. 1, latch element 12 is attached to a safety belt portion 16, while latch retaining assembly 14 is attached to a complementary safety belt portion 1S. Adjustment of the overall length of the safety belt is made in a manner well known to the art through manipulation of standard clamp or buckle 2t) adjacent latch retaining assembly 1d of quick release buckle 16.

Latch retaining assembly 14 includes a mounting plate generally designated 22 to which are spot welded or riveted a pair of latch element guide blocks generally designated 2d and 26 and a latch pawl seat generally designated Z8. Pivotably iitted in and to seat 23 are latch pawls generally designated and 32 which -tend to be maintained spread apart by action of double-leaf or hairpin-type spring 34 which is secured around an up-turned portion 36 of the mounting plate 22. The mounting plate is also characterized by up-turned portions 33, 40 and d2 against which latch element guide blocks 24 and 26 and latch pawl seat 28 are located respectively. Additionally mounting plate 22 is characterized by horizontal leg portions 44 and do having up-turned portions 4S and 5d at their respective outer ends. A .belt adjustment bar motion limiting bar 52 is formed with or welded across the leg portions of the mounting plate. Also included in latch retaining assembly 14 are belt adjustment bar 54 around which safety belt portion 1S passes; cover 56 `which makes sliding engagement on and over mounting plate 22 and the buckle parts positioned thereon, and screw 53 whereby cover 56 is detachably connected to mounting plate 22.

Referring next to FIG. 6, latch element 12 is separated `from but oriented and aligned for entry into latch retaining assembly 14. The latch element includes two prong o1'

horizontal leg portions

60 and 62. These leg portions are characterized respectively by

outer guide surfaces

64 and 66, inner guide surfaces 63 and 7i), and latching engagement surfaces 72 and 74. Latch element guide blocks 24 and 2e are characterized respectively by inner guide surfaces 76 and '78. Latch pawl seat 28 is characterized by outer guide surfaces 8) and 82. Guide surfaces '76 and '78 are spaced to permit and provide a fairly close sliding fit of

guide surfaces

64 and 66 inside of them, and guide surfaces Si) and 82 are spaced to permit and provide a fairly close sliding t of guide surfaces 68 and '70 outside of them as

leg portions

60 and 62 of latch element 12 are inserted into latch retaining assembly 1d.

Latch element leg portions 6o and 62 are of essentially identical size and shape although configured oppositely. The arrangement of guide blocks 24 and 26 and latch pawl seat 28 is symmetrical about a horizontal axis along the centerline of the guide block seat. Accordingly, assuming that either

safety belt portion

16 or 18 were given aghalf twist, the leg portions of latch element 12 could still be linserted into'latch retaining assembly 174 with leg portion 6@ passing between guide block 26 and latch pawl seat 23 and leg portion 62 passing between .the latch pawl seat and guide block 24.

Latch pawls 3@ and 32 are rather generally L-shaped.

aresfwo 2? At their one ends they are provided respectively with rounded, knob-like portions Sli and Se which are adapted to have close turning lits within the arcuate cut-out regions of latch pawl seat 2S. At their other ends,

latch pawls

30 and 32 are providedY respectively with lingerpressure an-d motionastop pieces 8S and 9d. These pieces bear against inside surfaces or edges of cover 56 as shown in FlG. 6 to arrest the outward motions of the latch pawls under the influence of spring 34. Pieces S8 and 90 are characterized respectively by

manipulation surfaces

92 and 94 accessible through cub-.out regi-ons in cover Se and against which thumb or finger pressure may be exertedA by the wearer of quick .release buckle 10 to rotate the latch pawls inwardly against .the force of spring 3d. lt is to be noted that each latch pawl requires separate manipulation or thumb or finger pressure application to be rotated inwardly. Said in other words, inward rotation of one latch pawl will not by itself cause such rotation of the other latch pawl.'

Latch pawls Bil and 32 are characterized respectively by guide surfaces 96 and 93. These surfaces may be brought into essential alignment respectively with guide surfaces and 8?. on the latch pawl seat as the latch pawls are 'rotated inwardly. A condition of `such alignment is shown, lfor example, in FlG. 8.

Latch pawls

30 and 32 are also characterized respectively by

latching engagement surfaces

100 and 102.

Referring next to FIG. 8, and supposing that latch element 12 is moving to the left with respect to latch retaining assembly le as indicated by the arrow above the latch element, latch

element leg portions

60 and 62 have entered part way into the latch retaining assembly from their condition of being completely withdrawn shown in FIG. 6. The penetrating movement of the latch element leg portions has caused their leading ends to bear upon guide surfaces 96 and 98 of

latch pawls

30 and 32 and, owing .to the initial inclination of these surfaces, rotate the latch pawls inwardly against the lforce of spring 3d.

Referring next .to FIG. 7, latch element l2 has been moved as far as possible to the left with respect to latch retaining assembly 14. This final movement, that is, movement of the latch element to the left with respect to the latch retaining assembly from its, the latch elements, position relative the-reto shown in FIG. 8, has caused

inner guide surfaces

68 and 70 on latch

element leg portions

60 and 62 to completely override guide surfaces 96 and 98 on

latch pawls

30 and 32, with the result that the latch pawls have been allowed to be rotated outwardly under the influence of spring 34 to bring

latching engagement surfaces

100 and 102 on the latch pawls in behind latching engagement surfaces 72 and 74 on the latch element leg portions. Quick release buckle comprising latch element 12 and latch retaining assembly 14 is now in latched condition, and, short of anactual breakage of parts, is not susceptible to becoming unlatched by any pull on safety belt portions 16 and i3 however heavy.

Referring finally to FIGS. 7 .and 8, quick release buckle 10 is unlatched or released by exerting inward pressure on

manipulation surfaces

92 and 94 of thumb-pressure pieces 88 and

90onlatchtpaw1s

30 and 32. Even though

safety belt portions

16 and 18 be heavily loaded, the thumb-pressure pieces can be depressed easily to rotate the latch pawls inwardly. This is because of the high mechanical advantage that

latch pawls

30 and 32 provide to a buckle wearer exerting pressure on

surfaces

92 and 94 to rotate the latch pawls inwardly over any moments on these pawls'` tending to rotate them outwardly exerted by even very heavy loading on safety belt portions 16 and tated inwardly to permit release of buckle l0. Inward rotation of only one of them is not sufficient for this purpose. The double latching effect of latch pawls and 32 enacting with latch

element leg portions

60 and 62 minimizes the possibility of accidental release of the buckle through inadvertent or random depressing of the thurnbipressure .pieces or one of them.

@nce thumb-pressure pieces SS and90 have been depressed suficiently far to bring

latching engagement surfaces

100 and 102 on the latch pawls in clear of latching engagement surfaces '72 and 74 on the leg portions of latching element 12, quick release buckle 10 is effectively released, and its latch element l2 may be moved to the right away from its latch retaining assembly i4. Such vmovement is indicated by the arrow below the latch element in PEG. 8.

Protection by Letters Patent of this invention in all its aspects as the same are defined in the appended claims is sought to the greatest extent that the prior art allows.

What is claimed is:

1. A quick release buckle comprising, a latch element consisting of -a plate adapted to be connected to a first safety belt portion, said latch element having two substantially parallel leg yportions projecting from it, said leg portions having latching engagement surfaces near their Y ends, a latch-retaining assembly including a base plate 13 acting through latch

element leg portions

60 and 62. 70

On the other hand, both of the latch pawls must be roand a closure plate thereover, said plates defining a shallow substantially rectangular housing into which the leg portions on the latch element are inserted through an open entrance end of the housing, the base vplate having a loop engaged by a second belt portion, the base plate having a separating element mounted on it adjacent to said open end, which separating element is disposed between the leg portions when such leg portions are positioned in the housing, said separating element havingarcuate recesses in its opposite edges, a pair of pawls disposed in the housing, each pawl having a rounded nose at one end fitted in one of the recesses and permitting pivotal movement of the pawl, each pawl having a notch for engagement by one of the latching surfaces on the legs, each pawl having Aan integral finger piece, each `pawl being generally L-shaped in configuration, the housing having apertures through which said finger pieces are accessible, and a wish-bone type spring fitted on the base plate and having legs engaging the pawls and pivotally biasing them away from one another. 1

2. A quick release buckle as provided for in claim 1, wherein the noses of the pawls and the recesses in which said noses are located are positioned closer to the entrance opening in the housing than are the notches in the pawls, and said notches in the pawlsare engaged by the latching engagement sur-faces on the legs at positions behind the pivotal points of the pawls, said spring normally urging each pawl finger piece into engagement with a wall `portion of `the housing defining a respective one of each ofthe apertures, and said spring, recesses and wall portions formingthe sole means for retaining the pawls in said housing.

VDONLEYv l. STOCKING, Primary. Examiner.

Claims

1. A QUICK RELEASE BUCKLE COMPRISING, A LATCH ELEMENT CONSISTING OF A PLATE ADAPTED TO BE CONNECTED TO A FIRST SAFETY BELT PORTION, SAID LATCH ELEMENT HAVING TWO SUBSTANTIALLY PARALLEL LEG PORTIONS PROJECTING FROM IT, SAID LEG PORTIONS HAVING LATCHING ENGEGEMENT SURFACES NEAR THEIR ENDS, A LATCH-RETAINING ASSEMBLY INCLUDING A BASE PLATE AND A CLOSURE PLATE THEREOVER, SAID PLATES DEFINING A SHALLOW SUBSTANTIALLY RECTANGULAR HOUSING INTO WHICH THE LEG PORTIONS ON THE LATCH ELEMENT ARE INSERTED THROUGH AN OPEN ENTRANCE END OF THE HOUSING, THE BASE PLATE HAVING A LOOP ENGAGED BY A SECOND BELT PORTION, THE BASE PLATE HAVING A SEPARATING ELEMENT IS DISPOSED BETWEEN THE END, WHICH SEPARATING ELEMENT IS DISPOSED BETWEEN THE LEG PORTIONS WHEN SUCH LEG PORTIONS ARE POSITIONED IN THE HOUSING, SAID SEPARATING ELEMENT HAVING ARCUATE RECESSES IN ITS OPPOSITE EDGES, A PAIR OF PAWLS DISPOSED IN THE HOUSING, EACH PAWL HAVING A NOTCH FOR ENGAGEMENT BY ONE OF THE RECESSES AND PERMITTING PIVOTAL MOVEMENT OF THE PAWL, EACH PAWL HAVING A NOTCH FOR ENGAGEMENT BY ONE OF THE LATCHING SURFACES ON THE LEGS, EACH PAWL HAVING AN INTERGRAL FINGER PIECE, EACH PAWL BEING GENERALLY L-SHAPED IN CONFIGURATION, THE HOUSING HAVING APERTURES THROUGH WHICH SAID FINGER PIECES ARE ACCESSIBLE, AND A WISH-BONE TYPE SPRING FITTED ON THE BASE PLATE AND HAVING LEGS ENGAGING THE PAWLS AND PIVOTALLY BIASING THEM AWAY FROM ONE ANOTHER.