| Front release buckle -> Monitor Keywords |
|
|
 Front release buckleThe Patent Description & Claims data below is from USPTO Patent Application 20070220719. Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0001]1. Field of the Invention [0002]The present invention relates to buckles and more particularly, to a front release buckle, which has easy mounting/dismounting, small-sized, and rotatable characteristics. [0003]2. Description of the Related Art [0004]Conventional front release buckles that are formed of a male buckle member and a female buckle member are commonly used in backpacks, travel bags, shoulder bags, etc., to join two parts together. Further, a snap hook for hanging an article is known comprising a hook body having a hooked portion, and a spring latch pivoted to the hook body to close the hooked portion. This structure of snap hook is not satisfactory in function because the spring latch tends to be opened unintentionally. Further, an eyelet at one end of the hook body for the mounting of a belt may be made not rotatable, or rotatable in one direction only. [0005]FIGS. 8 and 9 show another design of snap hook according to the prior art. According to this design, the snap hook comprises a hook body A and a latch B. The hook body A has a hooked portion A1 extended from a front end, a stop flange A2 and a bearing flange A3 on the middle, a spring strip A5 forwardly extending from a rear end, the spring strip A5 having a hooked front end suspending between the stop flange A2 and the bearing flange A3, two sliding rails A6 arranged in parallel at two opposite lateral sides relative to the bearing flange A3, and a eyelet A7 at the rear end for the mounting of a belt. The latch B is slidably coupled to the sliding rails A6 of the hook body A, having a front tip B1, a rear protrusion B2, and a curved portion B3 between the front tip B1 and the rear protrusion B2. The spring strip A5 imparts a pressure to the curved portion B3 of the latch B, holding the latch B in the close position (see FIG. 8) where the front tip B1 is stopped against the hooked portion A1 to close the hook body A. This structure of snap hook is still not satisfactory in function because of the drawbacks as follows: [0006]1. When release the load from the snap hook, the user must lift the hook body A with much effort so that the belt that is hooked on the hooked portion A1 of the hook body A can be released from the hook body A. [0007]2. Before releasing the load from the snap hook, the user must push the latch B backwards against the spring power of the spring strip A5 to disengage the front tip B1 from the hooked portion A1 with much effort. When lifting the hook body A, the user must hold the latch B in the open position so that the belt that is hooked on the hooked portion A1 of the hook body A can be released from the hook body A. This operation procedure is inconvenient. [0008]FIG. 10 shows another design of buckle according to the prior art. According to this design, the buckle C is comprised of a male buckle member C1 and a female buckle member C2. The male buckle member C1 has a center guide rod C12 forwardly extending from a front side, and two spring arms C11 forwardly extending from the front side and equally spaced from the center guide rod C12 at two sides. The two spring arms C11 each have a front end terminating in a retaining block C13 that defines a barbed engagement portion C14. The female buckle member C2 has a front open side C21, a longitudinal track C22 disposed on the inside and extending to the front open side C21 on the middle, and two side holes C23 respectively cut through the two opposite lateral sidewalls thereof. The side holes C23 each define a front engagement edge C231. When in use, the center guide rod C12 and two spring arms C11 of the male buckle member C1 are inserted into the front open side C21 of the female buckle member C2 to force the center guide rod C12 into the longitudinal track C22, and at the same time the two spring arms C11 are squeezed in direction toward the center guide rod C12 by the two opposite lateral sidewalls of the female buckle member C2. After insertion of the center guide rod C12 into the longitudinal track C22, and the spring power of the spring arms C11 of the male buckle member C1 forces the retaining blocks C13 sideways, thereby causing engagement of the barbed engagement portions C14 of the retaining blocks C13 with the respective front engagement edges C231. This structure of buckle is functional, however it still has drawbacks. After locking, the retaining blocks C13 of the male buckle member C1 are respectively kept engaged in the side holes C23 of the female buckle member C2. However, the protruding retaining blocks C13 may be forced away from the respective side holes C23 accidentally, causing unintentional release of the buckle C. When fastening the male buckle member C1 to the female buckle member C2, the center guide rod C12 must be accurately aimed at the longitudinal track C22 to ensure accurate positioning. If the center guide rod C12 is not accurately aimed at the longitudinal track C22 when fastening the male buckle member C1 to the female buckle member C2, the spring arms C11 and the center guide rod C12 may be deformed or broken unintentionally. Further, it is complicated to process the barbed engagement portion C14 on the retaining block C13 of each spring arm C11. Further, processing the side holes C23 on the female buckle member CA2 wastes much the material for the female buckle member C2. [0009]Therefore, it is desirable to provide a front release buckle that eliminates the aforesaid drawbacks. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION [0010]The present invention has been accomplished under the circumstances in view. According to one aspect of the present invention, the front release buckle comprises a buckle body, which has a top receiving chamber and a bottom opening, a sliding hook coupled to the top receiving chamber and movable relative to the buckle body between a first position to close the bottom opening of the buckle body for enabling the buckle body to be fastened to a mounting member at an article and a second position to open the bottom opening, and a spring member mounted in the top receiving chamber and stopped between a part of the buckle body and a part of the sliding hook to support the sliding hook in the close position. [0011]According to another aspect of the present invention, the mounting member has two pivot rods insertable into the bottom opening of the buckle body. After connection of the front release buckle to the mounting member, the buckle body can be turned about the pivot rods of the mounting member to the desired angle to keep the front release buckle in close contact with the surface of the article carrying the mounting member. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS [0012]FIG. 1 is an oblique front elevational view of a front release buckle according to the present invention. [0013]FIG. 2 is an exploded view of the front release buckle according to the present invention. [0014]FIG. 3 is a sectional side view of the front release buckle according to the present invention. [0015]FIG. 4 is a schematic sectional side view, showing the sliding hook moved to the open position before connection of the buckle body to the mounting member. [0016]FIG. 5 corresponds to FIG. 4, showing the buckle body fastened to the mounting member. [0017]FIG. 6 is a schematic drawing showing an application example of the present invention. [0018]FIG. 7 is a schematic drawing showing another application example of the present invention. [0019]FIG. 8 is a sectional side view of a snap hook according to the prior art. [0020]FIG. 9 corresponds to FIG. 8, showing the latch opened from the hooked portion of the hook body. [0021]FIG. 10 is an exploded view of a buckle according to the prior art. Continue reading... Full patent description for Front release buckle Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims Click on the above for other options relating to this Front release buckle patent application. ###  How KEYWORD MONITOR works... a FREE service from FreshPatents1. Sign up (takes 30 seconds). 2. Fill in the keywords to be monitored. 3. Each week you receive an email with patent applications related to your keywords. Start now! - Receive info on patent apps like Front release buckle or other areas of interest. ### Previous Patent Application: Personal audio device accessory Next Patent Application: Method for manufacturing inkjet head Industry Class: Railway switches and signals ### FreshPatents.com Support Thank you for viewing the Front release buckle patent info. IP-related news and info Results in 0.47028 seconds Other interesting Feshpatents.com categories: Accenture , Agouron Pharmaceuticals , Amgen , AT&T , Bausch & Lomb , Callaway Golf |
||
