Buckle with pull ring
The two-piece buckle assembly connected by spring tension addresses the challenges of weight, manufacturing complexity, and cord attachment in existing buckles by providing a lightweight, easy-to-manufacture design that securely attaches cords.
Patent Information
- Application Number
- JP2024557508
- Authority / Receiving Office
- JP · JP
- Patent Type
- Applications
- Current Assignee / Owner
- Priority Date
- 2022-04-04
- Filing Date
- 2023-03-27
- Publication Date
- 2025-04-15
AI Technical Summary
Existing buckles are often heavy, difficult to manufacture, and struggle to securely attach cords due to their design accommodating flat straps.
A two-piece buckle assembly connected by spring tension, featuring a substrate with a hook element and an actuation button with a second hook element, allowing for secure attachment of a cord through a pull ring with a looped design.
The buckle assembly achieves a lightweight, easy-to-manufacture design that securely attaches cords, enabling efficient attachment and detachment of items.
Smart Images
Figure 2025510969000001_ABST
Abstract
Description
[Technical field]
[0001] The present invention relates to a buckle having a pull ring with a looped cord attached thereto. In particular, the present invention relates to a buckle that can be attached to a strap and has a spring-loaded portion that allows for engagement and disengagement of the pull ring. [Background technology]
[0002] Two-piece buckles are often used to attach two straps or cords to one another or to attach a strap to an article, such as a piece of luggage. These buckles often take the form of a side release buckle, such as that shown in U.S. Pat. No. 5,399,623, or a center push type buckle, such as that shown in U.S. Pat. No. 5,499,623. However, it is often desirable to construct a buckle with lighter components and easier to manufacture. Additionally, because conventional buckles are made to accommodate flat straps, attachment of a cord to these buckles is often not straightforward. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]
[0003] [Patent Document 1] U.S. Pat. No. 5,546,642 [Patent Document 2] U.S. Pat. No. 6,446,314 Summary of the Invention
[0004] It is an object of the present invention to develop a two-piece buckle in which at least one of the components is simple and lightweight. It is another object of the present invention to provide a buckle that can securely attach a cord.
[0005] This object is accomplished by a buckle assembly including two separate buckle sections connected together under spring tension. A first buckle section includes a base (body) having a top surface, a bottom surface, a front end, and a rear end. The bottom surface of the first buckle section has a first hook element having an engagement surface facing the rear end. The actuation button is disposed within the cavity of the base and extends to the front end of the base. The actuation button is connected to the base by a spring such that the actuation button may slide between an extended rest position and a compressed position by depressing the actuation button toward the rear end of the base to compress the spring. Releasing the actuation button causes the actuation button to slide back to the extended position by allowing the spring to return to its rest state. The actuation button has a second hook element on its bottom surface. The second hook element has an engagement surface facing the front end of the base such that the first hook element and the second hook element face in opposite directions. The straps can be connected to the first buckle portion in any suitable manner, for example, the first buckle portion can include one or more strap retaining bars that allow the straps to be sewn or threaded in an adjustable manner.
[0006] The second buckle portion is a generally ring-shaped structure having a central opening. The second buckle portion is configured to connect to the base and the actuation button by engaging the ring with the first hook element, depressing the actuation button toward the rear end of the base, rotating the actuation button and base until the second hook element is disposed within the central opening, and releasing the actuation button such that the ring is maintained on the hook element under spring pressure. The ring may be used to connect a strap or cord so that an article such as a bag, whistle, or other item can be attached to the buckle assembly.
[0007] In one embodiment, the second buckle portion is in the form of a pull ring having a ring body with a central opening, a first side and a second side, a first hole extending radially from a radially outer side of the ring body to the central opening, a second hole extending radially from the radially outer side of the ring body opposite the first hole to the central opening, a third hole extending from the first side of the ring body adjacent the first hole to the second side of the ring body, and a fourth hole extending from the first side of the ring body adjacent the second hole to the second side of the ring body. This arrangement of holes allows for a novel method of cord attachment. The cord is attached by feeding the cord from the outside through the first hole to the central opening, around to the first side, through the third opening to the second side, into the fourth opening from the second side to the first side, around the ring body, through the second hole, and out of the central opening to the outside of the ring body. The ends of the cord are connected to a node having a diameter larger than that of the first and second holes such that pulling the pull cord between the third and fourth holes forces the node against the first and second holes without allowing the pull cord to pass through. This creates a loop that extends from the ring, which allows an object to be attached to the cord, and thus to the buckle assembly, by clipping or threading the object onto the cord. The node may be molded onto the cord after the cord is assembled to the ring, thereby achieving a permanent attachment of the cord to the ring.
[0008] Preferably, the first and second holes each have an enlarged area on the radially outer surface of the ring body, whereby when the pull cord is pulled between the third and fourth holes, the nodes are accommodated in the enlarged area. In this embodiment, the enlarged area is tapered toward the central opening, and each node has a shape corresponding to the enlarged area such that when the cord is pulled between the third and fourth holes, the nodes do not extend beyond the radially outer surface of the ring body. In this way, the nodes do not protrude from the ring body and do not interfere with its operation. In another embodiment, the radially outer surface of the ring body is flat in the area of the first and second holes.
[0009] The first buckle part has a base configured to receive the push button in a sliding manner. In one embodiment, the base includes two legs extending toward a front end. Each leg has a guide element in the form of an inwardly extending protrusion that slides within a guide groove located opposite the activation button to align the activation button with the base.
[0010] The actuation button is held in place by the force of a spring attached between the actuation button and the base. In one embodiment, the spring is a coil spring attached to a post in the base and extends into a spring opening in the rear end of the actuation button. The spring is sized and positioned such that, at rest, the actuation button is held in an extended position with the second hook element spaced from the first hook element by a distance greater than the size of the opening in the second buckle portion.
[0011] Preferably, the activation button is flush with the top surface of the base, thereby providing the first buckle portion with an ergonomic and aesthetic appearance. To aid in sliding the activation button during assembly and disassembly of the buckle assembly, the activation button includes a downwardly extending push surface at the front end of the activation button. This provides a large area for the user and the depression direction is perpendicular to the push surface, thereby making it easy to slide the activation button and not requiring precise positioning of the user's finger.
[0012] In an alternative embodiment, the second buckle portion is releasably attached to a wall plate that can be secured to the article by sewing or gluing, etc. In this manner, the second buckle portion is stationary and positioned on a flat article, which may be a backpack, clothing, or any other flat surface, and the first buckle portion is attachable and detachable to the second buckle portion for attaching additional items to the flat article.
[0013] Other objects and features of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, it being understood that the drawings are for illustrative purposes only and are not intended to define the limits of the invention. [Brief description of the drawings]
[0014] [Figure 1] FIG. 2 is a top perspective view of an assembled buckle assembly according to the present invention. [Diagram 2] FIG. 2 is a bottom view of the buckle assembly. [Diagram 3] FIG. 2 is a top perspective view of a base body of the first buckle portion. [Figure 4] FIG. 4 is a bottom view of the base of the first buckle portion. [Diagram 5] FIG. 4 is a top view of the base body of the first buckle portion. [Figure 6] FIG. 4 is a side view of the base body of the first buckle portion. [Figure 7] FIG. 2 is a top perspective view of the actuation button of the first buckle portion. [Figure 8] FIG. 13 is a bottom view of the activation button. [Figure 9] FIG. [Figure 10] FIG. 2 is a top perspective view of the assembled first buckle portion. [Figure 11] FIG. 2 is a bottom perspective view of the assembled first buckle portion. [Figure 12] FIG. 2 is a side view of the assembled first buckle part. [Figure 13]FIG. 4 is an exploded view of the components of the first buckle portion. [Figure 14] FIG. 2 is a side cross-sectional view of the assembled first buckle portion in a rest state. [Figure 15] FIG. 13 is a side cross-sectional view of the assembled first buckle portion in a compressed state. [Figure 16] FIG. 13 is a top perspective view of a second buckle portion according to one embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 17] FIG. 4 is a bottom perspective view of the second buckle portion. [Figure 18] FIG. 4 is a top view of the second buckle portion. [Figure 19] FIG. 4 is a side view of the second buckle portion. [Figure 20] 13 is a diagram for explaining a method of assembling a cord to a pull ring of a second buckle portion. FIG. [Figure 21] 11A and 11B are diagrams showing the assembly and release of a first buckle portion and a second buckle portion. [Figure 22] FIG. 2 is a side view of the fully assembled buckle assembly. [Figure 23] 13A-13C show alternative embodiments of the second buckle portion. [Figure 24] FIG. 24 illustrates a buckle assembly using the embodiment of FIG. 23 attached to an article. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0015] Referring now in detail to the drawings, Figures 1 and 2 show a completed buckle assembly in accordance with the present invention, where like reference numerals represent like elements throughout the several views. Buckle assembly 1 is comprised of a first buckle portion 10, an actuator button 20, a second buckle portion in the form of a pull ring 30, and a pull cord 40 connected to the pull ring 30. The pull ring 30 is engageable and disengageable from the first buckle portion 10 by sliding the actuator button 20 under a spring force, as will be described in more detail below.
[0016] 3-6 show the first buckle part 10, which has a base 11 having a top surface 12, a bottom surface 13, a front end 14, and a rear end 15. Two legs 111, 112 extend toward the front end 14, and a cavity 17 for receiving an actuation button 20 is disposed between the legs 111, 112. Two guide projections 113, 114 extend inwardly from the legs 111, 112, respectively. A strap engagement bar 16 is attached to the rear end 15 of the base 11 for connecting a strap to the first buckle part 10. A first hook element 18 extends from the bottom surface 13, and the first hook element 18 has an engagement surface 118 facing the rear end 15. A spring engagement post 119 extends from the base structure 19 in the cavity 17.
[0017] 7-9 show the actuation button 20, which has a top surface 21, a bottom surface 22, and a downwardly extending push surface 23. A second hook element 24 extends from the bottom surface 22, and has an engagement surface 124 that faces the push surface 23 and extends in the opposite direction from the first hook element 18 when the actuation button 20 is assembled on the first buckle part 10. The guide grooves 25, 26 are disposed on a side of the actuation button 20 that faces a rear end 27 of the actuation button 20.
[0018] The actuation button 20 is assembled on the first buckle part 10 as shown in Figs. 10-15. Here, the guide protrusions 113, 114 (as seen in Fig. 5) from the legs 111, 112 are slid into the guide grooves 25, 26 (as seen in Figs. 7-9) of the actuation button 20 to accommodate the actuation button 20 in the cavity 17 of the first buckle part 10. The spring 50 shown in Figs. 13-15 is connected to the first buckle part 10 by attaching one end to the spring engagement post 119 of the first buckle part 10 and the other end to the spring opening 29 of the actuation button 20. In the rest state as shown in Figs. 10-12 and 14, the actuation button 20 is held in an extended position by the spring 50. Pressing the push surface 23 towards the first buckle part 10 causes the actuator button 20 to slide further into the cavity 17 of the first buckle part 10 compressing the buckle assembly, as shown in FIG.
[0019] The pull ring 30 is shown in detail in Figs. 16-20. The pull ring 30 has a central opening 31, a first hole 32 and a second hole 33 extending radially outward from the central opening 31 to the outer surface of the pull ring, and a third hole 34 and a fourth hole 35 extending axially from the front surface 36 to the rear surface 37 of the pull ring 30 adjacent to the first hole 32 and the second hole 33. The outer surface of the pull ring 30 adjacent to the first hole 32 and the second hole 33 is flat. As shown in Figs. 16 and 17, the pull cord 40 extends from the outside of the pull ring 30 through the first hole 32, around the central opening 31, through the third hole 34, across the front surface 36, through the fourth hole 35 to the rear surface 37, and then from the inside through the second hole 33 to the outside to secure the pull cord 40 to the pull ring 30. A node 41 as shown in Figures 19-20 is attached to each of the free ends of the pull cord 40 after the pull cord 40 has been threaded through the holes 32-35, so that when the pull cord 40 is pulled between the third hole 34 and the fourth hole 35, the free ends having the node 41 are received in the first hole 32 and the second hole 33 and cannot be pulled out. As shown in Figures 16-17, the outer portions of the first hole 32 and the second hole 33 have widened portions 32', 33' that receive the node 41, so that the node 41 does not protrude from the first hole 32 and the second hole 33 during use. As shown in Figure 20, the node 41 may be conical or triangular in shape and may widen towards the ends, and the widened portions 32', 33' may also have a corresponding shape. One way to construct pull ring 30 is to thread pull cord 40 through holes 32-35 and then mold a node 41 onto the free end of pull cord 40 so that pull cord 40 is permanently attached to pull ring 30.
[0020] 21 and 22 show how the pull ring 30 is mounted on the first buckle part 10. First, the pull ring 30 is hooked onto the first hook element 18 of the first buckle part 10. Next, the actuation button is slid toward the first buckle part 10 by pressing the push surface 23, thereby compressing the spring 50 (see FIG. 15). The actuation button 20 is pushed toward the first buckle part 10 until the second hook element 24 passes the pull ring 30, at which point the first buckle part 10 can be pushed down. The second hook element 24 thereby hooks the inner surface of the pull ring 30, securing the pull ring 30 to the first buckle part 10. When the actuation button 20 is released, the spring 50 is allowed to return to its extended position as shown by the arrow in FIG. 22, locking the pull ring 30 to the first buckle part 10. The spring tension of the spring 50 prevents the pull ring 30 from disengaging from the first buckle part 10 .
[0021] To release the first buckle part 10, a user presses on the push surface 23 as shown in Figure 21 until the second hook element 24 passes the pull ring 30, at which point the first buckle part 10 can be lifted from that side of the pull ring 30. The pull ring 30 can then be removed from the first hook element 18 to separate the two buckle parts from one another.
[0022] Instead of the pull ring 30 with the pull cord 40, a different mechanism may be attached to the first buckle part 10, as shown in Figures 23-24. In this embodiment, the second buckle part is in the form of a ring 70 with an overhanging lip 71 which engages with hook elements 18 and 24 on the first buckle part 10 and the actuation button 20 to secure the ring 70 to the first buckle part 10 in the same manner as described with respect to Figures 21 and 22. The ring 70 is configured to be connected to a plate 80 for attachment to an article such as a backpack 100. The plate 80 may be sewn to the backpack 100 and then the ring 70 may be attached to the plate 80 via a hook or catch engaged in the opening 81, or may be sewn to the backpack 100 in any suitable manner. This embodiment allows a very simple and safe way to close the top of the backpack. The spring tension of the spring 50 keeps the buckle in the locked position without requiring a lot of force to unlock or bend the plastic parts of the buckle.
[0023] While only a few embodiments of the present invention have been illustrated and described, it will be apparent that many changes and modifications may be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.
Claims
1. 1. A buckle assembly comprising: a first buckle portion including a base having a top surface, a bottom surface, a front end, and a rear end, the bottom surface having a first hook element having an engagement surface facing the rear end; an actuator button disposed within a cavity in the base and extending to the front end of the base, the actuator button being connected to the base by a spring such that the actuator button can be moved between an extended rest position and a compressed position by depressing the actuator button toward the rear end of the base to compress the spring, the actuator button having a second hook element on a bottom surface thereof, the second hook element having an engagement surface facing the front end of the base; a second buckle part having a central opening, the second buckle part configured to connect to the base and the actuator button by engaging the second buckle part with the first hook element, depressing the actuator button toward the rear end of the base, rotating the actuator button and the base until the second hook element is disposed within the central opening, and releasing the actuator button such that the second buckle part is maintained on the hook element under pressure from the spring; A buckle assembly.
2. The second buckle portion is a pull ring, and the pull ring is a ring body having a central opening and a first side and a second side, the ring body having a first hole extending radially from a radially outer side of the ring body to the central opening, a second hole extending radially from the radially outer side of the ring body to the central opening on a side of the ring body opposite the first hole, a third hole extending from the first side of the ring body adjacent the first hole to the second side of the ring body, and a fourth hole extending from the first side of the ring body adjacent the second hole to the second side of the ring body; a pull cord extending from the outside of the ring body through the first hole to the central opening, around to the first side, through the third opening to the second side, into the fourth opening and extending from the second side to the first side, around the ring body, through the second hole, and from the central opening to the exterior of the ring body; 2. The buckle assembly of claim 1, wherein one end of the pull cord extends from the first hole and an opposite end of the pull cord extends from the second hole, each end of the pull cord having a node larger than a diameter of the first and second holes such that pulling the pull cord between the third and fourth holes presses the node against the first and second holes without allowing the pull cord to slip through.
3. 3. The buckle assembly of claim 2, wherein the first hole and the second hole each have an enlarged area on the radially outer surface of the ring body, and when the pull cord is pulled between the third hole and the fourth hole, the node is received in the enlarged area.
4. 4. The buckle assembly of claim 3, wherein the enlarged region tapers toward the central opening and each node has a shape corresponding to the enlarged region such that the nodes do not extend beyond the radially outer surface of the ring body when the cord is pulled between the third hole and the fourth hole.
5. The buckle assembly of claim 2 , wherein the radially outer surface of the ring body is flat in the area of the first hole and in the area of the second hole.
6. 2. The buckle assembly of claim 1, wherein the base includes two legs extending toward the front end, the legs having guide elements that slide within guide grooves located opposite the actuator button to align the actuator button with the base.
7. The buckle assembly of claim 6 , wherein the guide elements include projections extending inwardly from the legs.
8. 2. The buckle assembly of claim 1, wherein the spring is a coil spring, the coil spring being attached to a post of the base and extending into a spring opening in the rear end of the actuator button.
9. The buckle assembly of claim 1 , wherein the base includes a strap retaining element disposed at a rear end of the base.
10. The buckle assembly of claim 1 , wherein the actuator button is flush with the top surface of the base.
11. The buckle assembly of claim 1 , wherein the actuator button includes a downwardly extending push surface at a front end of the actuator button.
12. The buckle assembly of claim 1 , wherein the second buckle portion is connectable to a plate configured for attachment to an article.
13. The buckle assembly of claim 1 , wherein a cord is connected to the second buckle part to form a loop.
14. A pull ring, a ring body having a central opening, a first side and a second side, a first hole extending radially from a radially outer side of the ring body to the central opening, a second hole extending radially from the radially outer side of the ring body to the central opening on a side of the ring body opposite the first hole, a third hole extending from the first side of the ring body adjacent to the first hole to the second side of the ring body, and a fourth hole extending from the first side of the ring body adjacent to the second hole to the second side of the ring body; a pull cord extending from the outside of the ring body through the first hole to the central opening, around to the first side, through the third opening to the second side, into the fourth opening and from the second side to the first side, around the ring body, through the second hole, and from the central opening to the exterior of the ring body; a pull ring, wherein one end of the pull cord extends from the first hole and an opposite end of the pull cord extends from the second hole, each end of the pull cord having a node larger than the diameter of the first hole and the second hole such that pulling the pull cord between the third hole and the fourth hole presses the node against the first hole and the second hole without allowing the pull cord to slip through.
15. 15. The pull ring of claim 14, wherein the first hole and the second hole each have an enlarged area on the radially outer surface of the ring body, and when the pull cord is pulled between the third hole and the fourth hole, the node is received in the enlarged area.
16. 16. The pull ring of claim 15, wherein the enlarged region tapers toward the central opening and each node has a shape corresponding to the enlarged region such that the nodes do not extend beyond the radially outer surface of the ring body when the cord is pulled between the third hole and the fourth hole.
17. The pull ring of claim 14, wherein the radially outer surface of the ring body is flat in the area of the first hole and in the area of the second hole.
Citation Information
Patent Citations
Side-release buckle fastener
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Push release buckle with improved latching capability
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