Rapid release buckle for safety belts and harness

Claim 2

In a rapid-release buckle for releasable straps of a harness, for example of a parachute or safety device, the buckle comprising means defining a body having an axis and laterl openings in the body for respectively radially receiving the straps, withdrawable locking members within the body for respectively lockingly engaging the releasable straps, a first actuating device co-acting with all of said locking members to withdraw them from the releasable straps and comprising a control element mounted on the body on one side of said openings axially of the body to rotate about said axis, a second actuating device controllable independently of the first actuating device and coacting with only a selected number of said locking members for withdrawing the selected number of locking members from a corresponding selected number of the releasable straps; the following features : the second actuating device comprises a withdrawing member movable axially of the body and combined with said selected number of locking members for withdrawing said selected number of locking members from the corresponding straps, a cam mounted in the body to rotate about said axis independently of said control element and located on the opposite side of said openings to said control element axially of the body, cam follower means interposed between the cam and the withdrawing member for shifting the withdrawing member axially of the body in a direction to withdraw said selected number of locking members from the corresponding straps upon rotation of the cam, and control means for rotating the cam and located on the opposite side of said openings to said control element axially of the body and extending out of the body.

Claim 3

In a rapid-release buckle for releasable straps of a harness, for example of a parachute or safety device, the buckle comprising means defining a body having an axis and lateral openings in the body for respectively radially receiving the straps, withdrawable locking members within the body for respectively lockingly engaging the releasable straps, a first actuating device co-acting with all of said locking members to withdraw them from the releasable straps and comprising a control element mounted on the body on one side of said openings axially of the body to rotate about said axis, a second actuating device controllable independently of the first actuating device and co-acting with only a selected numbeR of said locking members for withdrawing the selected number of locking members from a corresponding selected number of the releasable straps; the following features : the first actuating device comprises a first withdrawing member which is mounted in the body to be movable axially of the body and carries all of the withdrawable locking members for withdrawing all of the withdrawable locking members from the corresponding straps, camming means interconnecting the control element and the first withdrawing member for axially moving the withdrawing member upon rotation of the control element, the second actuating device comprises a second withdrawing member movable axially of the body and combined with said selected number of locking members for withdrawing said selected number of locking members from the corresponding straps, a cam mounted in the body to rotate about said axis independently of said control element and located on the opposite side of said openings to said control element axially of the body, push-rod means mounted in the body for movement in a direction parallel to said axis, interposed between and engaging the cam and the second withdrawing member and freely extending through the first withdrawing member for moving the second withdrawing member and withdrawing said selected number of locking members from the corresponding straps upon rotation of the cam and control means for rotating the cam about said axis and located on the opposite side of said openings to said control element axially of the body and acting substantially in a plane perpendicular to said axis.

Claim 4

In a rapid-release buckle for releasable straps of a harness, for example of a parachute or safety device, the buckle comprising means defining a body having an axis and lateral openings in the body for respectively radially receiving the straps, withdrawable locking members within the body for respectively lockingly engaging the releasable straps, a first actuating device co-acting with all of said locking members to withdraw them from the releasable straps and comprising a control element mounted on the body on one side of said openings axially of the body to rotate about said axis, a second actuating device controllable independently of the first actuating device and co-acting with only a selected numbeR of said locking members for withdrawing the selected number of locking members from a corresponding selected number of the releasable straps; the following features : the first actuating device comprises a first withdrawing member which is mounted in the body to be movable axially of the body and carries all of the withdrawable locking members for withdrawing all of the withdrawable locking members from the corresponding straps, camming means interconnecting the control element and the first withdrawing member for axially moving the withdrawing member upon rotation of the control element, the second actuating device comprises a second withdrawing member movable axially of the body and combined with said selected number of locking members for withdrawing said selected number of locking members from the corresponding straps, a cam mounted in the body to rotate about said axis independently of said control element and located on the opposite side of said openings to said control element axially of the body, push-rod means mounted in the body for movement in a direction parallel to said axis, interposed between and engaging the cam and the second withdrawing member and freely extending through the first withdrawing member for moving the second withdrawing member and withdrawing said selected number of locking members from the corresponding straps upon rotation of the cam and control means for rotating the cam about said axis and located on the opposite side of said openings to said control element axially of the body and acting substantially in a plane perpendicular to said axis.

Claim 5

A buckle as claimed in claim 2, wherein said control means comprises a lever mounted on the body to pivot about said axis .

Claim 6

A buckle as claimed in claim 2, wherein said control means are remote control means comprising a flexible cable movably mounted in the body and having a portion secured to the cam for shifting the cam about said axis, said cable extending out of the body for connection to cable shifting means.