US3886632A

US3886632A - Buckle

Info

Publication number: US3886632A
Application number: US437932A
Authority: US
Inventors: Lazlo Bako
Original assignee: Presto Lock Co Inc
Current assignee: Presto Lock Co Inc
Priority date: 1974-01-30
Filing date: 1974-01-30
Publication date: 1975-06-03
Anticipated expiration: 1992-06-03

Abstract

A buckle for use with a perforated strap, such as a luggage strap. A base plate carries a stud for engaging a selected perforation of the strap. A loop member pivotably connected to the base plate and movable to raised and lowered positions with respect thereto has a tang formed integrally therewith which extends into the opening defined by the loop member. When the loop member is in the lowered position, the tang cooperates with the end of the stud for maintaining the selected perforation of the strap in receiving engagement with the stud. A leaf spring attached to the base plate releasably maintains the loop member in the raised and lowered positions. A key-actuatable bolt is provided for locking the loop member in the lowered position.

Description

United States Patent Walter Kidde & Company, lnc., Elmwood Park, NJ.

Bako June 3, 1975 [54] BUCKLE FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 1 lnvemorl Lallo Bake, Woodcliff Lake 20,351 9/1908 United Kingdom 24/167 [73] Assignee: Presto Lock Company, Division of Primary Examiner-Bernard A. Gelak Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Shapiro and Shapiro [22] Filed: Jan. 30, 1974 57 CT [21] Appl. No.: 437,932 A buckle for use with a perforated strap, such as a luggage strap. A base plate carries a stud for engaging a selected perforation of the strap. A loop member pivfi 24/167 L fi g otably connected to the base plate and movable to l 5 d 173 180 raised and lowered positions with respect thereto has a 1 le 0 earc 24/188 17 tang formed integrally therewith which extends into the opening defined by the loop member. When the loop member is in the lowered position, the tang coop- [56] References Clted erates with the end of the stud for maintaining the se- UNITED STATES PATENTS lected perforation of the strap in receiving engage- 142,907 9/1873 Frazer 24/180 ment with the stud. A leaf spring attached to the base 232,526 9/1880 Marschall 24/166 plate releasably maintains the loop member in the 3231936 10/1885 Hardy 24/180 raised and lowered positions. A key-actuatable bolt is 400,624 4/1889 Yarger 24/166 provided for locking the loop member in the lowered 475,951 5/1892 Stahley I 24/166 Osition 735,689 8/1903 Adams 24/167 p 782,423 2/1905 Shoenberger 24/166 10 Claims, 10 Drawing Figures 13 6A 26 42 h 32 3O 28 2 2 \i [If e 26 I 2O t H f 70 11". I 62 t 14 I 9 y I T A 5/ a a 52 e 4 {4 Ill I II all-=5.

5O i'y\ k lifi 72 PATENTEBJUN3 ms- 3.886532 SHEET 1 BUCKLE BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to buckles for use with perforated straps.

It has been proposed in the prior art to provide for use with perforated straps buckles comprising a base plate from which a pin or stud projects for receiving a selected perforation of a strap and a cover pivotally attached to the base plate for movement into raised and lowered positions relative to the base plate. (See, for example, US Pat. No. 353,526 and No. 470,485 and British Patent No. 20,351.) When the cover is in the lowered position, a strap having a perforation engaging the stud is held in place by the cover for maintaining the selected perforation of the strap in receiving engagement with the stud. These prior art buckles have the disadvantage that they do not have aesthetically pleasing appearance of a buckle having a buckle loop with a tang pivotally connected thereto which extends through a selected perforation of the strap.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Accordingly, a primary object of the present invention is to provide for use with perforated straps, such as luggage straps, a buckle having a tang formed integrally with a buckle loop but which, when fastened to a strap, gives the general appearance of a buckle having a tang pivotally connected to a buckle loop.

Another object of the invention is to provide a buckle of the above-described type constructed such that the loop member may be releasably maintained in the raised and lowered positions.

Another object of the invention is to provide a buckle of the above-described type having an improved locking mechanism for locking the loop member in the lowered position.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a buckle of the above-described type having simplified construction.

A buckle made in accordance with the invention for use with a perforated strap comprises a base plate having a stud projecting therefrom for receiving a selected perforation of the strap and a loop member pivotally attached to the base plate and movable to raised and lowered positions relative thereto. Tang means, preferably a finger, is formed integrally with the loop member and extends into the opening defined by the loop member, the tang means being cooperable with the end of the stud when the loop member is in the lowered position for maintaining the selected perforation of the strap in receiving engagement with the stud.

The above-described objects and advantages of the invention, as well as other objects and advantages, will be apparent from the following detailed description of the invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a plan view of a buckle made in accordance with the invention;

FIG. 2 is a longitudinal cross-sectional view taken approximately in the plane of line 22 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a transverse cross-sectional view taken approximately in the plane of line 3-3 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a bottom view of the buckle:

FIG. 5 is a side elevational view, partly broken away, showing the loop member in the lowered position;

FIG. 6 is a view similar to FIG. 5 but showing the loop member in the raised position;

FIG. 7 is a plan view ofa buckle in accordance with the invention having a key-actuable locking mechanism for locking the loop member in the lowered position, this view showing the loop member in the raised position;

FIG. 8 is a plan view similar to FIG. 7, but showing the loop member in the lowered position and showing a key inserted in the locking mechanism, this view being partly broken away to show the relationship of the key and the parts of the locking mechanism;

FIG. 9 is a longitudinal cross-sectional view taken approximately in the plane of line 99 of FIG. 8; and

FIG. 10 is a side elevational view of the locking bolt employed in the locking mechanism of FIGS. 8 and 9.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring to the drawings, a buckle in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the invention essentially comprises a base plate or mounting plate A, a latch member or loop member B, and a leaf spring C. For convenience of manufacture and assembly, the base plate and the loop member are preferably made by die-casting these parts. Furthermore, although the drawings show a buckle having a generally rectangular shape, it will be understood that buckles in accordance with the invention may have other configurations.

As shown in FIGS. 1-4, base plate A comprises a generally rectangular body having a planar top surface 10 against which a perforated strap is to be placed. A plurality of countersunk holes 12 are provided for permitting the base plate to be mounted in a known manner on a surface, such as the surface of one of the cooperable sections ofa suitcase or trunk. Projecting from the center of the base plate is a pin or stud 14 for receiving a selected one of the perforations 16 of a perforated strap 18, shown in phantom in FIG. 7. Pivotally connected to base plate A in a manner to be described later is a loop member B comprising

side portions

20, 22, 24, and 26 which define an opening 28 through the loop member. A tank, preferably in the form of an elongated finger 30, is formed integrally with side portion 24 of the loop member and extends to the center of opening 28, the end of the tang or finger being cooperable with stud 14 on base plate A for maintaining the selected perforation of the strap in receiving engagement'with the stud when the loop member is in the lowered position shown in FIGS. 1-3. In the preferred form, the end of the tang has a recess 32 for receiving the end of the stud when the latch member is in the lowered position. When the latch member is moved to the raised position shown in FIG. 7, the strap may be removed from the buckle or may be shifted relative to the base plate for enabling a different perforation of the strap to be engaged by stud 14.

It will be apparent from FIG. 1 that the buckle of the present invention, when in operative engagement with a perforated strap, has the general appearance of a buckle having a tang pivotally attached to a buckle loop and extending through a selected perforation of the strap.

The manner in which loop member B is pivotally connected to base plate A will now be described with reference to FIGS. 1 3. The opposite ends of a pivot pin 34 are secured in respective channels 36 and 37 (see FIGS. 1 and 3) in spaced

sections

38 and 39 of side portion 26 of the loop member by bending over the respective inner walls 40 and 41 (see FIG. 1) of the channels, as shown in FIG. 4. The central portion of the pivot pin is received by downwardly facing

channels

42 and 44 formed by a curved wall 46 of the base plate.

Leaf spring C biases side portion 26 of the loop member against the base plate for thereby releasably maintaining the loop member in the raised and lowered positions. Referring to FIG. 4, leaf spring C is generally T- shaped, with the broad end being mounted on the underside of the base plate by headed-over studs 48 in a known manner. As shown in FIG. 2, the narrow end of the spring is curved to form a bearing recess 50 which receives the pivot pin 34, the spring being flexed to bias side portion 26 of the loop member into contact with the base plate. As shown in FIG. 3, spaced

sections

39 and 39 of side portion 26 of the loop, member have extending downwardly

therefrom projections

52 and 53 which are biased into contact with the

depressed surfaces

54 and 55, respectively, of the base plate when the loop member is in the lowered position. These projections act as fulcrum points on the loop member for enabling the leaf spring and the pivot pin to cooperate to maintain the bottom surface 56 of side portion 22 in contact with surface 10 of the base plate, as shown in FIG. 2, when the loop member is in the lowered position, thereby maintaining the loop member in that position. When the loop member is rotated to the raised position, shown in FIG. 6, leaf spring C biases the outer surfaces 58 and 60 (see FIG. 1) of

sections

38 and 39, respectively, of loop member side portion 26 against

surfaces

54 and 55, respectively, of the base plate for resiliently maintaining the loop member in that position. Referring to FIGS. 2 and 3, the upper surface 62 of the portion of leaf spring C which forms bearing recess 50 is adapted to contact the lower surface 64 of curved wall 46 on base plate A for limiting further rotation of the loop member from the base plate.

FIG. 7 illustrates the buckle of the invention fastened by rivets 66 to a surface 68, such as a surface provided by one of the cooperable sections of a suitcase or trunk of the like. The edge of surface 10 of the base plate is provided with a recess 70 which cooperates with a recess 72 in side portion 22 of the loop member to facilitate manual engagement of the loop member for lifting it from the lowered position shown in FIGS. 2 and 9.

For releasably locking loop member B in the lowered position for thereby securing perforated strap 18 in the buckle, a key-actuatable bolt is provided. Referring to FIG. 7, a locking stud 74 having a notch 76 in its side projects perpendicularly from side portion 22 of the loop member and is receivable by an opening 78 in the base plate when the loop member is in the lowered position, as shown in FIG. 9. A key barrel 79 is held in place in an opening 77 in side portion 22 of the loop member by a retaining plate 80 which is suitably attached to the loop member. Referring to FIGS. 8 and 9. a locking mechanism cooperable with the locking stud comprises a frame 82 attached to the underside of the base plate by headed-over studs 84. The frame has an opening 83 therein for receiving the locking stud 74. A generally Y-shaped locking bolt 85 is pivotally attached to the frame by a rivet 88, the locking bolt being shown in the locking position wherein leg portion 86 of the locking bolt engages notch 76 of the locking stud. A key 90 is received through key barrel 79, an opening nan-A 92 in retaining plate 80, and opening 94 in base plate A for actuating the locking mechanism, the end of the key being received by opening 96 in frame 82. Rotation of the key in the counterclockwise direction causes tooth 98 of the key to engage leg portion 87 of the locking bolt for moving the locking bolt to the unlocked position (shown in phantom) to thereby release locking stud 74 of the loop member. Clockwise rotation of the key when the locking bolt is in the unlocked position causes tooth 98 of the key to engage leg portion 86 of the locking bolt for moving the locking bolt to the locking position (shown in solid lines).

Depressions

100 and 102 in the frame are cooperable with a detent 104 on the bottom of leg portion 87 of the locking bolt (shown in FIG. 10) for releasably maintaining the locking bolt in the locked or unlocked positions, respectively. The locking bolt is preferably formed of spring steel with leg portion 87 being bent downwardly relative to leg portion 86, as shown in FIG. 10, for biasing the detent 104 into contact with the frame 82. Referring to FIG. 8, frame 82 is further provided with projections or stops 106 and 108 for limiting the range of rotation of the locking bolt to the locking and unlocking positions, respectively.

It is believed that the advantages and proved results furnished by the buckle of the invention will be apparent from the foregoing description of a preferred embodiment of the invention. Various changes and modifications may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as sought to be defined in the following claims.

I claim:

1. A buckle for use with a perforated strap comprising a base plate having a stud projecting therefrom for receiving a selected perforation of the strap, a loop member pivotally attached to the base plate and movable to lowered and raised positions relative to the base plate, and tang means formed integrally with the loop member and extending into the opening defined by the loop member, the tang means covering the end of the stud when the loop member is in the lowered position for maintaining the selected perforation of the strap in receiving engagement with the stud.

2. A buckle as set forth in claim 1, further comprising means for releasably maintaining the loop member in the lowered and raised positions.

3. A buckle as set forth in claim 1, further comprising key-actuatable locking means for releasably locking the loop member in the lowered position.

4. A buckle as set forth in claim 1, wherein the tang means comprises an elongated finger, the end of the finger being recessed to receive the end of the stud when the latch member is in the lowered position.

5. A buckle as set forth in claim 4, further comprising means for releasably maintaining the loop member in the lowered and raised positions.

6. A buckle as set forth in claim 4, wherein a side portion of the loop member has a pivot pin portion which is received by bearing recess means provided by the base plate for pivotally connecting the loop member to the base plate.

7. A buckle as set forth in claim 6, further comprising a leaf spring attached to the base plate and cooperable with the pivot pin portion of the loop member for biasing said side portion of the loop member against the base plate. and wherein said side portion of the loop member has first and second surfaces cooperable with means provided by the base plate for releasably maintaining the loop member in the raised and lowered positions, respectively.

8. A buckle as set forth in claim 4, further comprising locking means for releasably locking the loop member in the lowered position.

9. A buckle as set forth in claim 8, wherein the locking means comprises a key-actuatable locking bolt carried by the base plate and cooperable with a locking stud provided by the loop member.

10. A buckle as set forth in claim 9, wherein a side portion of the loop member has a pivot pin portion in the raised and lowered positions. respectively.

Claims

7. A buckle as set forth in claim 6, further comprising a leaf spring attached to the base plate and cooperable with the pivot pin portion of the loop member for biasing said side portion of the loop member against the base plate, and wherein said side portion of the loop member has first and second surfaces cooperable with means provided by the base plate for releasably maintaining the loop member in the raised and lowered positions, respectively.