Magnetic buckle

Abstract

To provide a buckle assembly that allows engagement and release of engagement to be carried out easily and can maintain a state of being fixed even when being subjected to tensile force.SOLUTION: A buckle assembly includes a first buckle part having a first base body and a first magnet, and a second buckle part having a second base body and a second magnet. A first pair of side part inclined surfaces of the first base body are inclined so as to be separated from the first magnet as the first buckle part advances in a direction opposite to a direction that it is connected to the second buckle part when perspectively viewed in a first width direction. A second pair of side part inclined surfaces of the second base body are inclined in the same way. When the first and second buckle parts are pushed in opposite directions from each other, the first and second pairs of side part inclined surfaces slide relative to each other until first and second fastening wedges are disengaged from second and first fastening hooks respectively, and each buckle part is released from the lock position.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 4

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to magnetic buckles, and more particularly to a two-piece slide buckle that is held in place by the cooperation of respective magnets in each piece. [Background technology]

[0002] Two-piece buckles are often used to connect two straps, such as in seat belts. The buckle is often locked together by a spring-loaded latch mechanism that can be released by lifting or lowering the latch or by pressing a button. Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0003] It is an object of the present invention to provide a buckle assembly that is easy to engage and disengage, does not require moving parts such as springs or hinges, and remains secure even under tension. [Means for solving the problem]

[0004] This and other objects are achieved by a buckle assembly having a first buckle part cooperating with a second buckle part. Each buckle part has a base having a plurality of outer surfaces and a plurality of inner surfaces extending from a central circular plane, a fastening opening having a fastening hook at one longitudinal end of the base and a first fastening wedge at the other longitudinal end of the base opposite the circular plane from the fastening hook, and a magnet enclosed below the circular plane of the base. The first and second buckle parts are configured so that, by placing the inner surface of the first buckle part in contact with the inner surface of the second buckle part, the magnets attract each other and the fastening hook of each buckle part enters the fastening opening of the other buckle part, locking the two buckle parts together and preventing disengagement under tension in opposite directions parallel to the longitudinal extent of the buckle assembly.

[0005] The fastening wedges are connected to the base and extend into the fastening openings of the first and second buckle parts. When the fastening hooks enter the openings and lock the two buckle parts together, the fastening hooks engage with the fastening wedges. The two longitudinal sides of the base have two inclined and / or curved side surfaces. These surfaces are shaped to correspond to the shapes of the opposing surfaces of the other buckle parts, so that when the two buckle parts are connected, the inclined side surfaces face each other to form sliding guideways that assist in disengaging the parts. The buckle parts are disengaged from each other by pushing the ends of the buckle parts inward and sliding the buckle parts away from each other parallel to the longitudinal direction of the buckle until the fastening wedges disengage from the fastening hooks. The force required to move the buckle parts to disengage them must exceed not only the frictional force connecting the fastening wedges to the fastening hooks but also the magnetic force holding the two buckle parts together. Because the angled and / or curved sides form a ramp along which the opposing buckle sections slide, the angled sides provide additional force to disengage the buckle sections from one another when the buckle sections are slid in opposite directions. These angled sides also help align the buckle sections with one another during engagement. Even if the sections are not initially aligned, the opposing angled sides slide against one another, aligning the two buckle sections as the magnets pull them toward one another, and the hooks engage the fastening wedges, securing the buckle sections together.

[0006] The magnets attract each other when the inner surfaces of the buckle sections are placed together to keep the fastening hooks and fastening wedges engaged. When the two buckle sections are connected, each fastening wedge engages with the fastening hook of a corresponding one of the buckle sections. The side beveled surfaces allow one buckle section to more easily slide out of the other buckle section when sufficient longitudinal force is applied to disengage the buckle sections from each other.

[0007] To assist in disengaging the buckle sections from one another, the buckle sections are formed so that an edge of the first buckle section and an opposing edge of the second buckle section at one longitudinal end extend beyond the opposing edges of the second buckle section and the first buckle section, respectively, when the two buckle sections are connected. In this way, the outwardly extending edges can be more easily grasped and pressed by a user to disengage the buckle sections.

[0008] Preferably, each of the first and second buckle portions has at least one strap retaining bar connected to the base at an end having a fastening recess to allow the buckle portion to be connected to another object.

[0009] In one embodiment, the fastening hooks of at least one buckle section extend entirely across the base of another buckle section such that the fastening hooks are visible from the outer surface of the other buckle section when the buckle sections are locked together.

[0010] A cover may be attached to one or both of the substrates to cover their outer surfaces.

[0011] Other objects and features of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description considered in connection with the accompanying drawings, which are to be understood, however, as being designed for illustrative purposes only and not as a definition of the limits of the invention.

[0012] In the drawings, like reference numerals refer to like elements throughout the several views. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0013] [Figure 1] FIG. 2 is a top view of a buckle assembly according to the present invention. [Figure 2] FIG. 2 is a side view of the buckle assembly. [Figure 3] 1A and 1B are bottom and side perspective views of the buckle assembly. [Figure 4] FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view taken along line IV-IV in FIG. [Figure 5] 10A and 10B are bottom and side perspective views of a second buckle portion according to the present invention. [Figure 6] 10A and 10B are perspective views of the top and side of the second buckle portion. [Figure 7] FIG. 10 is a side view of the second buckle portion. [Figure 8] FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view taken along line VIII-VIII in FIG. 5. [Figure 9] 3A and 3B are perspective views of the bottom and side of the first buckle portion. [Figure 10] 1A and 1B are perspective views of the top and side of a first buckle portion. [Figure 11] FIG. 2 is a side view of the first buckle portion. [Figure 12] FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view taken along line XII-XII in FIG. 9. [Figure 13] 10A and 10B are perspective views of the top and side of a cover for connecting to one of the buckle portions. [Figure 14] 1 is a perspective view of the bottom and side of the cover. FIG. [Figure 15] 1 is a top and side perspective view of a magnet enclosure. FIG. [Figure 16] 1 is a perspective view of the bottom and side of the magnet enclosure. FIG. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0014] Referring now in detail to the drawings, FIGS. 1-5 show a buckle assembly 1 according to the present invention. Buckle assembly 1 includes a first buckle section 10 and a second buckle section 20. Buckle section 10 has a base 11 having a plurality of outer surfaces 112 and a plurality of inner surfaces 111. Buckle section 20 has a base 21 having a plurality of outer surfaces 212 and a plurality of inner surfaces 211. Strap retaining bars 15, 25 are located on the outer edges of the bases 11, 21, respectively, extending beyond the overlapping portions of the bases 11, 21. Two additional strap retaining bars 151, 251 are also present on buckle sections 10, 20, respectively, to allow adjustment of each connected strap.

[0015] In another embodiment (not shown), strap retaining bar 151 may be configured the same as strap retaining bar 251 to allow adjustment of the straps on both buckle portions.

[0016] Edge 152 of buckle portion 10 is located at the outer end of base body 11, and edge 252 of buckle portion 20 is located at the end of base body 21 opposite edge 152. Cover 30 shown in Figures 13 and 14 is connected to base 21 of second buckle portion 20 by fitting protrusion 32 into recess 29 (see Figure 6) of base 21. As seen in Figure 4, the other end of cover 30 is connected to base 21 by fitting claw 31 into recess 28 of hook 23 (see Figure 5) to immobilize and secure the cover on base 21.

[0017] The individual buckle portions 10, 20 are shown in detail in Figures 5 to 12. Both buckle portions may be of the same construction, or may be made to differ in appearance and / or structure, as long as their cooperating properties are not compromised.

[0018] 5-8 and 13-16 show the buckle portion 20 in an unassembled state. As shown in FIG. 5, the base 21 has an opening 27 with a fastening wedge 24 near a central circular plane (circular plane) 2111. On the opposite side of the circular plane 2111 is a fastening hook 23, which extends upward from the inner surface 211. The fastening hook 23 has an arc shape. There are two side inclined surfaces 26 extending from the circular plane 2111. As shown in FIG. 8, the magnet 50 is placed in the cavity 41 (FIG. 16) of the enclosure 40 and is stored below the circular plane 2111 of the base 21. The circular plane 2111 includes a slot 2112 (FIG. 5) for positioning the assembly of the magnet 50 and the enclosure 40 in a mold during the manufacturing process. As shown in FIG. 6, the opening 27 extends through the base 21 so that the fastening wedge 24 is visible from the outer surface 212 of the buckle portion 20 while the cover 30 is not assembled to the buckle portion 20.

[0019] When the strap is wrapped around the strap retaining bar 151, 251, the structure and toughness of the strap prevents the buckle parts 10, 20 from flipping over due to the magnetic attraction between their outer surfaces 112 and 212 during engagement of the buckle parts.

[0020] 9-12 and 15-16 show the buckle portion 10 in an unassembled state. As shown in FIG. 9, the base 11 has an opening 17 with a fastening wedge 14 near a central circular plane (circular plane) 1111. On the opposite side of the circular plane 1111 is a fastening hook 13, which extends upward from the inner surface 111. The fastening hook 13 has an arc shape. There are two side inclined surfaces 16 extending from the circular plane 1111. As shown in FIG. 12, the magnet 50 is disposed in the cavity 41 (FIG. 16) of the enclosure 40 and is housed below the circular plane 1111 of the base 11. The circular plane 1111 includes a slot 1112 (FIG. 9) for positioning the magnet 50 and the enclosure 40 in a mold during the manufacturing process. As shown in FIG. 10, the opening 17 extends through the base 11 so that the fastening wedge 14 is visible from the outer surface 112 of the buckle portion 10 .

[0021] The operation of buckle assembly 10 is described as follows, with particular reference to Figures 4, 5, and 9. To assemble buckle portions 10 and 20, the two buckle portions are positioned together with their inner surfaces 111, 211 facing each other and the strap retention bars 15, 25 at opposite ends. The attractive force of the magnets 50 in each of buckle portions 10, 20 draws buckle portions 10, 20 together so that side ramps 16 meet side ramps 26. Ramped surfaces 16, 26 slide against each other, helping to guide the two buckle portions into the correct engagement position. Ramped surfaces 16, 26 also have correspondingly curved profiles to further assist in guiding buckle portions 10, 20 into proper alignment. Once the two buckle sections are connected, the fastening hook 13 of the first buckle section 10 extends into the opening 27 of the second buckle section 20 and then engages the fastening wedge 24. Similarly, on the opposite side, the side inclined surface 26 meets the side inclined surface 16, so that each buckle section 10, 20 fits along the other side inclined surface 16, 26. The fastening hook 23 of the second buckle section 20 extends into the opening 17 of the first buckle section 10 and engages the fastening wedge 14. When a force is applied in the longitudinal direction L, such as by tension in a strap (not shown) connected to the bars 15, 25, the secure engagement of the fastening hooks 13, 23 in the openings 27, 17, respectively, prevents the buckle sections 10, 20 from disengaging.

[0022] To disengage the buckle sections 10, 20, the user simultaneously pushes the edges 152, 252 of the buckle sections 10, 20 inward in the direction of the inward arrows in FIG. 3 , which are parallel to the longitudinal direction L, thereby pushing the buckle sections toward each other along this direction. This causes the buckle sections 10, 20 to slide longitudinally relative to each other toward the center of the buckle assembly. As the buckle sections slide longitudinally, the fastening hooks 13, 23 of each buckle section also slide longitudinally until the inclined side surfaces 16, 26 contact each other. At this point, each buckle section 10, 20 slides along the inclined contours of the inclined side surfaces 16, 26, which pull the two buckle sections away from each other. Additionally, the longitudinal sliding breaks the attractive force between the two magnets 50, allowing the two buckle sections 10, 20 to be easily released from each other. Even when subjected to a pulling force in the direction L along the arrows in FIG. 3 pointing away from each other, the buckle parts remain locked together with the fastening hooks 13, 23 firmly engaged with the fastening wedges 24, 14, respectively.

[0023] The present invention provides a simple and reliable method for attaching two buckle sections together without requiring a large amount of force to disengage the parts and without requiring any moving parts in the buckle.

[0024] Accordingly, while only a few embodiments of the invention have been shown and described, it will be apparent that many changes and modifications can be made thereto without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

Claims

1. A buckle assembly comprising a first buckle portion and a second buckle portion, the first buckle portion has a first base body and a first magnet, The first substrate is a plurality of outer surfaces; a first central circular plane; a plurality of interior surfaces extending from the first central circular plane; a first fastening opening having a first fastening hook at one end of a first longitudinal direction of the first base and a first fastening wedge at the other end of the first longitudinal direction opposite the first central circular plane from the first fastening hook; a first magnet is enclosed in the first substrate below the first central circular plane; the second buckle portion has a second base body and a second magnet, The second substrate is a plurality of outer surfaces; a second central circular plane; a plurality of interior surfaces extending from the second central circular plane; a second fastening opening having a second fastening hook at one end of a second longitudinal direction of the second base and a second fastening wedge at the other end of the second longitudinal direction opposite the second central circular plane from the second fastening hook; the second magnet is enclosed beneath the second central circular plane of the second substrate; the first buckle portion and the second buckle portion are configured such that, by placing the inner surface of the first buckle portion in contact with the inner surface of the second buckle portion, the first and second magnets attract each other, the fastening hooks of each buckle portion enter the fastening openings of the other buckle portion, locking the two buckle portions together and preventing disengagement under tension in opposite directions parallel to the longitudinal extent of the buckle assembly; the first base body includes a first pair of side inclined surfaces extending from the first central circular plane when viewed from the first width direction on both sides in a first width direction perpendicular to the first longitudinal direction, and the first pair of side inclined surfaces are inclined when viewed from the first width direction so as to move away from the first magnet as they progress in the first longitudinal direction and in a direction opposite to a direction in which the first buckle portion connects with the second buckle portion, the second base body includes a second pair of side inclined surfaces extending from the second central circular plane when viewed from the second width direction on both sides in a second width direction perpendicular to the second longitudinal direction, and the second pair of side inclined surfaces are inclined when viewed from the second width direction so as to move away from the second magnet as they progress in the second longitudinal direction and in a direction opposite to a direction in which the second buckle portion connects with the first buckle portion, When the first and second buckle portions are connected to each other, the first and second pairs of side inclined surfaces are aligned with each other, a buckle assembly in which, when the first and second buckle parts are pushed in opposite directions parallel to the first and second longitudinal directions, the first and second pairs of side angled surfaces slide relative to each other until the first and second fastening wedges disengage from the second and first fastening hooks, respectively, and the buckle parts are released from a locked position.

2. 2. The buckle assembly of claim 1, wherein the first and second fastening wedges are connected to the first and second bases, respectively, and extend into the first and second fastening openings, respectively, and when the fastening hooks enter the fastening openings and the two buckle sections are locked together, the first and second fastening hooks each engage with one of the fastening wedges of an opposite one of the buckle sections.

3. 2. The buckle assembly of claim 1, wherein the buckle sections are formed such that, when the two buckle sections are connected, an edge of the first buckle section at one longitudinal end of the buckle assembly extends beyond an edge of the second buckle section at the same longitudinal end of the buckle assembly, and an opposite edge of the second buckle section extends beyond an edge of the first buckle section at the same longitudinal end of the buckle assembly.

4. 2. The buckle assembly of claim 1, wherein each of the first buckle portion and the second buckle portion has at least one strap retaining bar connected to the base at an end closer to the fastening opening, the at least one strap retaining bar configured to enable each buckle portion to be connected to another object.

5. 2. The buckle assembly of claim 1, wherein the fastening opening of at least one of the buckle sections extends through the base such that the fastening wedge of one buckle section is visible through the fastening opening of the other buckle section when the buckle sections are fastened together.

6. The buckle assembly of claim 1 , further comprising a cover connected to one of the buckle portions, the cover extending over at least some of the outer surfaces of the one buckle portion.

7. The buckle assembly of claim 1 , wherein at least one of the fastening hooks is arc-shaped.

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