Patent US3790994A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US3790994A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Push button buckle
Assignee: American Safety Equipment Corp
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Filing: 1972-05-15
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Granted: 1974-02-12
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Expires: 1992-05-15
Abstract
Abstract A safety strap buckle of the type wherein a tongue plate attached to one strap section matingly engages a buckle attached to another strap section, where the buckle disclosed herein is provided by non-structural housing fixedly carrying a throughload member and including a push button operated latch assembly for selectively coupling tension loads between the through-load member and the tongue plate. The through-load member in addition to carrying the tension loads is provided with tongue plate guide and restraint means for bearing transverse loads on the buckle such that the housing itself serves merely as an encapsulating member. Assembly of the buckle is facilitated by a two part construction of the encapsulating housing, including a base part having a cavity therein for receiving a load member and the latch member including a push button actuator maybe carried by such load member in a unidirectional assembly operation which is completed by mounting a cover part of the housing to the base part.
Inventors
- 👤 H Jakob
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-27 21:50
CPC Classifications
A; A44; A44B; A44B11/00; A44B11/25; A44B11/2503; A44B11/2546; A44B11/2549; A44B11/2507; A44B11/2511; Y; Y10; Y10T; Y10T24/00; Y10T24/45; Y10T24/45225; Y10T24/45602; Y10T24/45623; Y10T24/45639; Y10T24/45644
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 21
Claim 1
Independent Claim
184 words
In a safety strap combination of the type wherein an apertured tongue plate attached to one strap section matingly engages a buckle attached to a second strap section, said buckle comprising: a non-structural housing, a through-load member disposed within and in fixed relation to said housing and adapted to be connected at one end to the second strap section, and a latch member disposed within said housing and movable relative to said load member for selective releasable engagement with said tongue plate, whereby an applied tension load passes directly through said tongue plate and load member without passing through said housing, said buckle being further defined by said load member having a generally planar body including an aperture formed therein, said latch member including a movable latch plate having a raised catch portion and said buckle additionally including biasing means, said latch plate being disposed in a generally underlying relationship with said load member with said catch portion protruding through the opening thereof for being selectively received in said tongue plate aperture, said spring biasing means urging said catch plate toward said load member.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
184 words
In a safety strap combination of the type wherein an apertured tongue plate attached to one strap section matingly engages a buckle attached to a second strap section, said buckle comprising: a non-structural housing, a through-load member disposed within and in fixed relation to said housing and adapted to be connected at one end to the second strap section, and a latch member disposed within said housing and movable relative to said load member for selective releasable engagement with said tongue plate, whereby an applied tension load passes directly through said tongue plate and load member without passing through said housing, said buckle being further defined by said load member having a generally planar body including an aperture formed therein, said latch member including a movable latch plate having a raised catch portion and said buckle additionally including biasing means, said latch plate being disposed in a generally underlying relationship with said load member with said catch portion protruding through the opening thereof for being selectively received in said tongue plate aperture, said spring biasing means urging said catch plate toward said load member.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
52 words
The buckle of claim 1 further defined by said latch plate having one end hingedly supported by said load member for pivotal movement of said catch portion between a release position recessed within said load member opening and a latched position protruding through said opening for receipt by said tongue member aperture.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
45 words
The buckle of claim 2 further defined by said load member having an integral tab extending beneath said opening from an edge thereof, said latch plate being disposed in cooperation with said load member to provide the hinged support for pivotal movement of said plate.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
68 words
The buckle of claim 3, said raised catch portion of said ltach plate defining a recess on the lower surface thereof, said latch plate being disposed with said load member tab matingly engaging said recess portion and said latch plate having abutment surfaces adjacent said recess engaging shoulders of said load member opening adjacent said tab to couple a tension load between said tongue plate and load member.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
43 words
The buckle as defined in claim 1 further comprising a push button member pivotally mounted above said load member, said push button engaging said latch plate for manually selectively moving said plate and catch portion from a latched position to a release position.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
117 words
A safety buckle for receiving and engaging a tongue plate, the buckle and tongue plate each attached to a safety strap, the buckle comprising: A non-structural housing having a tongue plate receiving opening, a through-load member fixedly carried by said housing and adapted to be connected at an end opposite to said housing opening to one of the safety straps, a latch member disposed within said housing and movable relative to said load member for releasably engaging said tongue plate and coupling the tension forces between said tongue plate and said load member, said load memBer fixedly carrying restraint means for laterally and transversely restraining said tongue plate in a plane adjacent and overlying said load member.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
117 words
A safety buckle for receiving and engaging a tongue plate, the buckle and tongue plate each attached to a safety strap, the buckle comprising: A non-structural housing having a tongue plate receiving opening, a through-load member fixedly carried by said housing and adapted to be connected at an end opposite to said housing opening to one of the safety straps, a latch member disposed within said housing and movable relative to said load member for releasably engaging said tongue plate and coupling the tension forces between said tongue plate and said load member, said load memBer fixedly carrying restraint means for laterally and transversely restraining said tongue plate in a plane adjacent and overlying said load member.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
43 words
The buckle of claim 6 wherein said restraint means comprise a pair of integral ears disposed along opposite lateral edges of said load member and each ear including at least one tab overlying the load member upper surface in vertically spaced apart relation.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
82 words
The buckle of claim 7 wherein each ear includes two longitudinally spaced apart tabs overlying said load member, a first pair of said tabs disposed adjacent the end of said load member near the buckle housing tongue plate receiving opening, and the other pair of tabs spaced intermediate the load member ends, said other pair of tabs having a lower surface sloping upwardly in the direction of said first pair of tabs to facilitate entry of the tongue plate into the buckle.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
84 words
The buckle of claim 7 wherein each ear includes two longitudinally spaced apart tabs overlying said load member, a pair of said tabs disposed adjacent the end of said load member near the housing tongue plate opening and the other pair disposed intermediate the load member ends, said first pair of tabs having end portions bent away from said housing opening toward said other pair of tabs to enhance the transverse restraint of said tongue plate and to facilitate entry thereof in the buckle.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
151 words
A safety belt buckle for reciving and engaging a tongue plate having a retaining shoulder comprising: a non-structural housing; a through-load member received in said housing and adapted to be connected at one end to a safety strap; a latch member disposed within said housing and movable relative to said load member for engaging and restraining said tongue plate when said tongue plate is received in said buckle; a manually-operated release button for movement toward and away from said load member; and biasing means carried by said housing continuously urging said latch member into a latched position, whereby said tongue plate is longitudinally restrained by said latch member when received in said housing and released by said latch member upon operation of said release button, said through-load member including means for engaging and restraining said tongue plate against transverse and lateral movement when said tongue plate is received in said housing.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
151 words
A safety belt buckle for reciving and engaging a tongue plate having a retaining shoulder comprising: a non-structural housing; a through-load member received in said housing and adapted to be connected at one end to a safety strap; a latch member disposed within said housing and movable relative to said load member for engaging and restraining said tongue plate when said tongue plate is received in said buckle; a manually-operated release button for movement toward and away from said load member; and biasing means carried by said housing continuously urging said latch member into a latched position, whereby said tongue plate is longitudinally restrained by said latch member when received in said housing and released by said latch member upon operation of said release button, said through-load member including means for engaging and restraining said tongue plate against transverse and lateral movement when said tongue plate is received in said housing.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
34 words
The buckle of claim 10 wherein said means for laterally restraining said tongue plate when said tongue plate is received in said housing comprises a pair of up-turned ears mounted on said through-load member.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
28 words
The buckle of claim 11 wherein said push button includes laterally extending pivot arms and said through-load member ears includes means for pivotally supporting said release button arms.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
44 words
The buckle of claim 12 wherein said release button includes means extending toward said load member and in engagement with said latch member whereby pivotal movement of said release button moves said latch member from said latched position so as to release tongue plate.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
36 words
The buckle of claim 10 wherein said release button is carried by said latch member for movement of said latch member from the latched position upon manual operation thereof so as to release said tongue plate.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
105 words
The buckle of claim 14 wherein said latch member comprises a latch plate pivotally supported by said load member and including a catch portion for engaging and restraining said tongue plate against longitudinal movement when said tongue plate is received in said hosing, said latch plate including laterally spaced apart notches, said release button including a pair of laterally spaced apart downwardly depending pins fixedly received in said notches of said latch plate whereby manual depression of said release button effects pivotal movement of said latch plate so as to move said catch portion from the latch position so as to release said tongue plate.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
97 words
The buckle of claim 10 wherein said housing comprises two parts, a base in Which said load member and latch member and biasing member are received, and a cover having an aperture therein for access to said release button, said cover having retaining tabs engageable with tab receiving shoulders on said base; said biasing means, latch means including said release button, load member, and cover cooperating with said base for unidirectional assembly therein with said cover retaining tabs engaging said base shoulders so as to secure said biasing means, load member and latch member in said housing.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
39 words
The buckle of claim 16 further defined by said housing base, housing cover and load member having registering apertures through which a safety strap is adapted to pass so as to connect said load member to the safety strap.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
76 words
The buckle of claim 10 wherein said means for engaging and restraining said tongue plate against transverse and lateral movement when said tongue plate is received in said housing comprising at least one tab struck from said through-load member, said tab including a surface overlying and spaced from said load member for receiving the forward end of the tongue plate therebelow to prevent transverse movement of the tongue plate from planar contact with said through-load member.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1977-02-11 | 1977-08-13 | 1978-02-12 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1981-02-11 | 1981-08-13 | 1982-02-12 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1985-02-11 | 1985-08-13 | 1986-02-12 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |