BUCKLE

Description

[0001] The technical solution relates to the field of production of belt products, in particular, to buckles designed to create quick connections and disconnections of belts, belts, and straps.

[0002] A safety buckle is known (TWM 320854 U, published 21.10.2007), comprising two interlocking parts: a hollow case in which two spring-loaded locking elements (cams) are installed, and a latch with a protruding wedge-shaped part with two hooks at the end that contact the cams in the case when fastening the buckle, wherein both the case and the latch are made, each of three layers: from two overlays and a central insert. The layers of the case and the latch are fastened with rivets: three in the latch, and four in the case. Moreover, two of the four rivets of the case are axes of rotation of the spring-loaded cams. The case and the latch have means for fastening the belt, and the latch has a rectangular hole in which a roller is installed for passing the belt.

[0003] A buckle is known (RU 236055 U1, published 23.07.2025), comprising a hollow body in which two locking spring-loaded cams are installed, and a latch with a protruding wedge-shaped part with two hooks at the end that contact the spring-loaded cams in the hollow body when fastening the buckle, wherein both the hollow body and the latch are made of three layers: from two overlays and a central insert fastened with rivets, wherein two of the four rivets of the hollow body are the axes of rotation of the spring-loaded cams, and the central insert of the latch includes the above-mentioned wedge-shaped part, the cams and the latch insert are made of carbon heat-treated steel, and the rivets, which are the axes of rotation of the cams, are made with a diameter increased by 20-50% compared to diameters of the remaining rivets.

[0004] The disadvantages of existing solutions include the high weight of the structure. Making all elements of the multilayer body, including the central insert, from steel results in excessive weight without increasing its load-bearing capacity. Attempts to increase the buckle's load-bearing capacity in existing solutions by increasing the axle diameters inevitably lead to an even greater increase in weight, which is critical for military equipment, as well as for camping and high-altitude gear.

[0005] The technical result achieved by implementing the proposed technical solution is to reduce the overall weight of the buckle while maintaining its structural rigidity, maximum tensile strength and operational reliability.

[0006] To achieve the specified technical result, a buckle is proposed, made of metal, containing a housing with spring-loaded locking elements installed therein and a counter part made with the possibility of interaction with the specified locking elements, wherein the housing and the counter part are made composite and contain connecting elements in the form of rivets, the locking elements have axes of rotation made in the form of rivets, and the housing is made in the form of a three-dimensional structure from a central insert, a back and front lining, characterized in that the back and front linings are made of steel, and the central insert of the housing is made of an aluminum-containing alloy.

[0007] This technical result is achieved by the buckle housing being a multilayer, three-dimensional structure in which the primary operating load, shear, and tensile forces during buckle tension are supported by the steel face and back plates, as well as the pivot axes of the locking elements. The central insert of the housing primarily functions as a spacer, forming an internal cavity, limiting the travel of the locking elements, providing a seat for the springs, and determining the overall geometry and rigidity of the housing. Since the central insert of the housing is not subjected to critical tensile and shear loads, its manufacture from aluminum, particularly aluminum-containing alloys such as AMg, D16, B95, TsAM, and others, which have a lower density than steel while still maintaining sufficient strength, significantly reduces the overall weight of the product.At the same time, the buckle's power frame, formed by steel plates and rivets, maintains its load-bearing capacity, which guarantees the reliability of the structure under load.

[0008] The buckle can have two versions of the body and the mating part, with or without a movable roller for fixing the belt.

[0009] According to the first embodiment, the housing with a roller is implemented as a three-dimensional structure formed by a central insert, a front cover plate, and a back cover plate, rigidly connected to each other by connecting rivets and axial rivets serving as axes of rotation for the locking elements. A rectangular opening is provided in the rear part of the housing, containing a movable roller mounted for movement and designed to pass and secure the belt strap, pressing and securing it through friction and changing the direction of the strap. To prevent rotation of the roller, a groove or projection is provided on its end surfaces, as well as the cover plates and the central insert, which are formed by counter-elements, a projection or groove, respectively, formed by openings of varying lengths in the central insert and cover plates. This design ensures reliable fixation of the roller while maintaining its function of longitudinal displacement.The internal cavity of the housing is formed by rotating the locking elements and compressing the springs when interacting with the mating part.

[0010] In the version without a sliding pin, the case also consists of a central insert, a faceplate, and a backplate, connected by rivets; however, the sliding pin is absent. A through belt assembly is formed at the rear of the case, formed by aligned holes or openings in the faceplate, backplate, and central insert. A belt strap is passed through these openings, and its length can be adjusted by pulling it through and securing it by bending the strap over the rear wall of the case or by another known threading method. This design simplifies the case structure, reduces metal consumption, and eliminates moving parts subject to wear.

[0011] The counter-piece, containing the roller, is constructed as a composite part and includes a central insert, a front cover, and a back cover, connected by connecting rivets. A rectangular opening is provided at the rear of the counter-piece, housing a movable roller, mounted for movement and designed to pass and secure the belt strap. To prevent the roller from rotating, a groove or projection is provided on its end surfaces, and the covers and central insert are provided with counter-pieces, a projection or groove, respectively, formed by openings of varying lengths in the central insert and the covers. This design ensures secure fixation of the roller while maintaining its longitudinal displacement.

[0012] In the bead-less version, the mating part also includes a central insert and riveted overlays, but the movable bead is missing. The waistband strap is secured by passing it through the openings and crossbars formed by fastening the overlays to the mating part's central insert. The strap is secured by bending the strap through the openings around the crossbars or by a known threading method. This design simplifies the mating part's design, increases its rigidity and reliability due to the absence of moving parts, and reduces manufacturing labor.

[0013] In particular, the central insert of the counter part can also be made of aluminum or aluminum alloys of the required thickness and load-bearing capacity, which allows for additional lightening of the structure without loss of strength.

[0014] The locking elements are rotating, each mounted on its own axial rivet. The locking elements have an asymmetrical shape: on the side where the mating part enters, there is a beveled surface to facilitate opening when the central insert is extended, and on the opposite side, there is a locking lug. The maximum rotation angle of each locking element between extreme positions is no more than 30°. A greater rotation angle increases the freedom of rotation, thereby increasing the risk of the buckle unfastening if one locking element is unlatched, as well as the possibility of severe buckle distortion under load, leading to uneven load distribution, uneven wear, deformation, and premature failure.

[0015] All buckle components in the preferred design, except for the rivets and the central insert, are made of steel, particularly alloy steel, and undergo heat treatment, annealing, which relieves potential internal stresses in the metal and imparts the required ductile properties to the material. This allows the buckle to maintain its functionality without brittle fracture even after plastic deformation caused by the application of maximum operating loads. Unlike hardened steel, which is prone to irreversible brittle fracture under similar conditions, annealed steel withstands plastic deformation without cracking or fracture. This feature further increases the permissible number of loading cycles for the buckle, up to maximum loads, enhancing its durability.

[0016] The buckle parts can be of different thicknesses and ratios relative to each other, and the overall thickness of the buckle is selected structurally in such a way that the buckle in assembled form can withstand the required maximum loads without destruction.

[0017] All buckle components for any design are preferably made of metal of the following thickness: case and mating faceplates - 2 mm, case center insert - 3 mm, mating center insert and case closing elements - 2.5 mm. For the design with sliding rollers, the roller diameters are 7 mm. For all designs: the thickness of the assembled buckle case is preferably 7 mm, and the thickness of the assembled mating part is preferably 6.5 mm.

[0018] To ensure reliable fixation, smooth movement of the locking elements and optimal load-bearing capacity, the dimensions of the buckle parts are related to the following dependencies.

[0019] The longest side of the buckle in the assembled form exceeds the widest part of the buckle in the assembled form by no more than 150% (C>B or B>C), and the size B exceeds the size A, the window for passing the belt, by 10-55% (see the design options for the dependence of the sizes of the buckle parts in Fig. 4a, 4b, 4c), where A, B, C are the linear dimensions of the buckle elements.

[0020] Depending on the design of the buckle 1, 2 or 3, the following preferred ratios of the geometric parameters are established (see the design options for the dependence of the sizes of the parts of the central insert of the mating part of the buckle, Fig. 5a, 5b, 5c).

[0021] For execution 1:

[0022] D>E by 70-300%, preferably 230%;

[0023] E>G by 150-1900%, preferably 675%;

[0024] F>G no more than 300%, preferably 230%;

[0025] E>E1 by 20-50%, preferably 36%;

[0026] E2>E no more than 100%, preferably 26%.

[0027] For execution 2:

[0028] D>E by 70-300%;

[0029] E>G by 150-1900%;

[0030] F>G no more than 300%;

[0031] E>E1 by 20-50%;

[0032] E2>E no more than 100%.

[0033] For execution 3:

[0034] D>E by 70-300%, preferably by 212%;

[0035] E>G by 150-1900%, preferably 675%;

[0036] F>G no more than 300%, preferably 230%;

[0037] E>E1 by 20-50%, preferably 36%;

[0038] E2>E by no more than 100%, preferably by 26%, where D is the width of the mating part of the buckle, G is the width of the shelves of the wedge-shaped part of the figured protrusion, F is the height of the wedge-shaped part of the figured protrusion, E is the width of the wedge-shaped part of the figured protrusion, E1 is the width of the base of the wedge-shaped part of the figured protrusion, E2 is the height of the figured protrusion of the central insert of the mating part.

[0039] The specified ratios are preferable, they ensure optimal metal content of the buckle without its unreasonable increase at a given maximum load, uniform distribution of the load between the layers of the body and the counter part, eliminate jamming of the locking elements and allow to minimize the weight of the buckle while maintaining the rigidity and load-bearing capacity of the buckle.

[0040] Preferred buckle dimensions for the version with a sliding roller in the housing and the mating parts: buckle width 58 mm, buckle length 77 mm, belt opening length in the housing 47 mm, belt opening width in the housing 12 mm, belt opening length in the mating part 50.5 mm, belt opening width in the mating part 14 mm, diameter of the sliding rollers 7 mm, diameter of the rods of the axial rivets 5 mm, diameter of the rods of the connecting rivets 3 mm.

[0041] Preferred buckle dimensions for the version without a movable roller in the housing and the mating parts: buckle width 61 mm, buckle 82 mm, length of the opening for the belt in the housing 47 mm, width of the opening for the belt in the housing 5.2 mm, length of the openings for the belt in the mating part 47 mm, width of the openings for the belt in the mating part 3 pcs.: opening located on the side of the figured protrusion - 5 mm, central opening - 4 mm, opening located on the side of the end of the mating part - 6 mm, diameter of the rods of the axial rivets 5 mm, diameter of the rods of the connecting rivets 3 mm.

[0042] The shaped projection of the central insert of the counter part has a leg and a wedge-shaped part, wherein the angle between the plane of contact of the shelf of the wedge-shaped part with the locking element and the side side of the leg of the shaped projection of the central insert of the counter part (position 16 in the drawings) is from 90° to 130°; and the angle between the side side of the knife of the shaped projection of the central insert of the counter part and its base (position 17 in the drawings) is 90-150° (see the designations of the angles of the central insert of the counter part of the buckle in Fig. 6).

[0043] In addition, the internal passage diameter for the spring or shock-absorbing element is made equal to or greater than the diameter of the spring, the angle of the locking element entering the angle of the hook is made in the range of 70-130°, and the holes for the rivets are equal to or greater than the diameter of the rivet.

[0044] The proposed buckle is disclosed in detail based on drawings representing its implementation.

[0045] Fig. 1 - view of the buckle (body and mating part) in the unfastened position and their cross-section.

[0046] Fig. 2 shows a detailed diagram of a buckle variant with housing and mating part rollers.

[0047] Fig. 3 shows a detailed diagram of an embodiment of a buckle without movable rollers.

[0048] Fig. 4a, 4b, 4c - variants of execution of dependence of sizes of buckle parts.

[0049] Fig. 5a, 5b, 5c - variants of execution of the dependence of the sizes of the parts of the central insert of the mating part of the buckle.

[0050] Fig. 6 shows the angles of the shaped protrusion of the central insert of the mating part of the buckle.

[0051] In Fig. 7 - locking element, execution of parts.

[0052] Fig. 8 shows the design of the parts of the figured protrusion of the central insert of the mating part of the buckle, where:

[0053] 1 - central insert of the mating part,

[0054] 2 - counter part cover (front),

[0055] 3 - mating part cover (rear),

[0056] 4 - countershaft roller,

[0057] 5 - connecting rivets of the mating part,

[0058] 6 - ​​a shaped protrusion in the cover plate of the mating part,

[0059] 7 - central body insert,

[0060] 8 - case cover (front),

[0061] 9 - body cover (rear),

[0062] 10 - housing roller,

[0063] 11 - locking elements,

[0064] 12 - springs,

[0065] 13 - body connecting rivets,

[0066] 14 - axial rivets (axis of rotation of locking elements),

[0067] 15 - a shaped cutout in the case overlay,

[0068] 16 - the angle between the plane of contact of the shelf of the wedge-shaped part with the locking element and the side of the leg of the figured projection of the counter part (hook angle),

[0069] 17 - the angle between the side of the knife of the shaped protrusion of the central insert of the counter part and its base,

[0070] 18 - wedge-shaped part of the figured protrusion of the central insert of the mating part of the buckle,

[0071] 19 - the leg of the figured protrusion of the central insert of the mating part of the buckle,

[0072] 20 - figured protrusion of the mating part,

[0073] 21 - the base of the leg of the figured protrusion of the central insert of the mating part of the buckle,

[0074] 22 - the side of the leg of the figured protrusion of the central insert of the mating part of the buckle,

[0075] 23 - spring cutout,

[0076] 24 - the angle of engagement of the locking element,

[0077] 25 - holes for rivets,

[0078] 26 - shelves of the wedge-shaped part.

[0079] In a specific embodiment, the proposed buckle comprises two interlocking parts: a housing and a mating part. The mating part is made of structural alloy steel and includes a central insert 1, a front plate 2, and a back plate 3, fastened with connecting rivets 5. A rectangular window with a movable roller 4 is formed in the back of the mating part. A shaped protrusion 6 is formed on the front plate 2. The housing is formed by a central insert 7, made of aluminum-containing alloys, a front plate 8, and a back plate 9, which are made of structural alloy steel. Two locking elements 11 are installed inside the housing, each spring-loaded by a spring 12. A rectangular window with a movable roller 10 is made in the rear part of the housing. The rotation axes of the locking elements 11 are formed by axial rivets 14, the layers of the housing are additionally fastened with connecting rivets 13. A figured cutout 15 is made on the front plate 8.

[0080] The buckle is used as follows. When fastening, the counter-part is inserted into the housing, with protrusion 6 engaging recess 15, automatically aligning the parts. The wedge-shaped portion of the central insert 1 pushes the locking elements 11 apart, compressing springs 12. After passing through the hooks, the locking elements 11, under the action of springs 12, return to their original position, securing the counter-part. Unfastening is accomplished by simultaneously pressing on the protruding portions of the locking elements 11 and pulling on the counter-part.

[0081] The shaped projection of the counter part 20 has a leg 19 and a wedge-shaped part 18 having shelves 26, wherein the angle between the plane of contact of the shelf 26 of the wedge-shaped part 18 with the locking element 11 and the side of the leg 19 of the shaped projection of the counter part is from 90° to 130° (position 16 in the drawings), and the angle between the side of the leg 22 of the shaped projection of the counter part 20 and its base 21 is 90-150° (position 17 in the drawings), wherein the width of the internal cutout for the spring 23 is made equal to or greater than the diameter of the spring, the angle of the locking element 24, entering the angle of the hook, is made in the range of 70-130°, and the holes for the rivets 25 are equal to or greater than the diameter of the rivet.

[0082] To confirm the achievement of the stated technical result, three groups of prototypes were manufactured and tested. In all prototypes, the 2mm-thick front and back case plates, the counterplate plates, and the locking elements were made of structural alloy steel, heat-treated by annealing. The presented prototypes differed in that the 3mm-thick central case insert was made of various aluminum-containing alloys. An all-steel buckle of similar geometric dimensions was used as a control sample for weight comparison.

[0083] Example 1. The central insert of the case is made of AMg5M aluminum-magnesium alloy. The buckle is designed for camping equipment and has a rated load of up to 800 kg. During tensile testing, the buckle's ultimate failure load was 840 kg. The steel plates of the load-bearing frame and rivet axes were not deformed, and the AMg5M alloy insert fully maintained its geometric integrity under load. Because the density of the aluminum alloy is significantly lower than that of steel, the overall weight of the buckle was reduced by 10% compared to the all-steel control sample.

[0084] Example 2. The central insert of the case is made of high-strength D16T duralumin alloy. The buckle is designed to withstand loads of up to 900 kg. The breaking load recorded during testing was 920 kg. Tests showed no play or deformation in the multilayer structure. Replacing the 3-mm steel insert with a D16T alloy part reduced the overall weight of the product by 10% while maintaining the structural rigidity and strength of an all-steel counterpart.

[0085] Example 3. The central insert of the case is made of high-strength aircraft-grade B95 alloy. The buckle is designed for use in high-strength applications, such as industrial mountaineering, with loads up to 1,100 kg. The tensile testing machine recorded a breaking load of 1,150 kg. The use of B95 alloy ensures maximum reliability of the inner case contour and high load-bearing capacity, while reducing the buckle's weight by 9.7% compared to the base steel model.

[0086] Thus, the use of aluminum-containing alloys for the production of the central insert of the body is guaranteed to provide the stated technical result: a reduction in the overall weight of the buckle while maintaining the required strength characteristics, operational reliability and maximum load-bearing capacity of the structure against tensile strength.

Claims

1. A buckle made of metal, comprising a housing with spring-loaded locking elements installed therein and a counter part configured to interact with said locking elements, wherein the housing and the counter part are made composite and contain connecting elements in the form of rivets, the locking elements have axes of rotation made in the form of rivets, and the housing is made in the form of a three-dimensional structure consisting of a central insert, a back and front lining, characterized in that the back and front lining are made of steel, and the central insert of the housing is made of an aluminum-containing alloy.

2. A buckle according to paragraph 1, characterized in that the mating part is made in the form of a three-dimensional structure consisting of a central insert, back and front plates, connected by connecting rivets.

3. A buckle according to claim 1, characterized in that the locking elements are made in the form of rotating elements of an asymmetric shape: a beveled surface is made on the side of the input of the mating part, and a locking protrusion is made on the opposite side.

4. The buckle according to item 1, characterized in that the angle of rotation of each locking element between the extreme positions is no more than 30°.

5. The buckle according to paragraph 1, characterized in that all parts of the buckle, except for the rivets and the central insert of the body, are made of structural alloy steel that has undergone heat treatment, namely annealing.

6. A buckle according to claim 1, characterized in that a shaped cutout is made on the cover plate of the housing, and a corresponding shaped projection is made on the cover plate of the mating part for centering and preventing distortion.

7. The buckle according to paragraph 1, characterized in that the longest side of the buckle in the assembled form exceeds the widest part of the buckle in the assembled form by no more than 150%, and the size of the widest part of the buckle exceeds the size of the opening of the through belt assembly by 10-55%.

8. A buckle according to claim 2, characterized in that the central insert of the mating part has a shaped protrusion that contains a leg and a wedge-shaped part with shelves.

9. The buckle according to claim 8, characterized in that the central insert of the mating part is made with the following dimensional ratios: D>E by 70-300%; E>G by 150-1900%; F>G by no more than 300%; E>E1 by 20-50%; E2>E by no more than 100%, where D is the width of the mating part of the buckle, G is the width of the shelves of the wedge-shaped part of the figured protrusion, F is the height of the wedge-shaped part of the figured protrusion, E is the width of the wedge-shaped part of the figured protrusion, E1 is the width of the base of the wedge-shaped part of the figured protrusion, E2 is the height of the figured protrusion of the central insert of the mating part.

10. The buckle according to claim 8, characterized in that the angle between the plane of contact of the shelf of the wedge-shaped part with the locking element and the lateral side of the leg of the shaped projection of the central insert of the counter part is from 90° to 130°; and the angle between the lateral side of the leg of the shaped projection of the central insert of the counter part and its base is 90-150°.

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