US20120102689A1

US20120102689A1 - Press release buckle

Info

Publication number: US20120102689A1
Application number: US12/938,635
Authority: US
Inventors: Tsung-Ming Kung
Original assignee: Nifco Taiwan Corp
Current assignee: Nifco Taiwan Corp
Priority date: 2010-11-03
Filing date: 2010-11-03
Publication date: 2012-05-03

Abstract

A press release buckle includes a base member defining an accommodation chamber, a front opening and a retaining gap defined between the front opening and the accommodation chamber, a press member supported on a conical compression spring in the accommodation chamber and movable vertically between the top and bottom sides of the accommodation chamber to close/open the retaining gap, and a connection member having a coupling shaft insertable into the accommodation chamber and then the retaining gap, a mounting block for fastening to an external strap member and a neck connected between the coupling shaft and the mounting block and positionable in the front opening of the base member.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to buckles and more particularly, to a press release buckle, which allows the coupling shaft of a connection member thereof to be pressed on a spring-supported press member in an accommodation chamber of a base member thereof and then forced into a retaining gap in the base member and stopped in the retaining gap by the press member.
2. Description of the Related Art
Many different types of buckles and snap hooks have been created and are intensively used in shoes, backpacks, travel bags, shoulder bags, etc., to join two parts together. Further, a snap hook generally comprises a hook, a spring latch movable to close/open the hook, and a mounting ring located on one end of the hook for mounting. This design of snap hook is not satisfactory in function. The spring latch may be opened from the hook accidentally by an external force, causing disconnection of the hook from the hooked object. Further, the mounting ring may be fixedly mounted on or rotatably coupled to one end of the hook. Thus, the operational flexibility of this design of snap hook is limited.
FIGS. 10 and 11 illustrate a conventional snap hook According to this design, the snap hook comprises a hook A, a sliding block B and a mounting ring C. The hook A comprises a hooked portion A1 at its one end, a stop flange A2 and a bearing edge A3 spaced on the middle, a conical head A4 located on an opposite end, a spring strip A5 curved from the conical head A4 and terminating in a hooked tip in between the stop flange A2 and the bearing edge A3, and two sliding rails A6 bilaterally disposed between the stop flange A2 and the conical head A4. The mounting ring C is mounted on one end of the hook A remote from the hooked portion A1. The sliding block B is coupled to the two sliding rails A6 of the hook A, comprising a top protrusion B1 located on its one end, a raised portion B2 located on its other end, a recessed portion B3 defined between the top protrusion B1 and the raised portion B2. The bottom wall of the recessed portion B3 of the sliding block B is supported on the spring strip A5 of the hook A. The spring strip A5 imparts a pressure to the sliding block B, forcing the top protrusion B1 into contact with the hooked portion A1.
The aforesaid conventional snap hook is functional; however, due to the structural design of the hooked portion A1 of the hook A, the user must apply a pressure to the sliding block B to move the top protrusion B1 apart from the hooked portion A1 when wishing to disconnect the hook A from the hooked object. When pushing the sliding block B in direction away from the hooked portion A1 of the hook A, the applied force must overcome the spring force of the spring strip A5. Further, because the spring strip A5 is formed integral with a part of the hook A, applying an excessively high pressure to the sliding block B against the spring strip A5 may cause concentration of stress, deforming or damaging the connection area between the spring strip A5 and the hook A. Thus, this design of snap hook is not durable in use and its safety level is low. Therefore, an improvement in this regard is necessary.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention has been accomplished under the circumstances in view. It is one object of the present invention to provide a press release buckle, which comprises a base member mountable on an external object and defining an accommodation chamber, a front opening and a retaining gap defined between the front opening and the accommodation chamber, a press member supported on an elastic member in the accommodation chamber and movable vertically between the top and bottom sides of the accommodation chamber to close/open the retaining gap, and a connection member having a coupling shaft insertable into the accommodation chamber and then the retaining gap, a mounting block for fastening to an external strap member and a neck connected between the coupling shaft and the mounting block and positionable in the front opening of the base member. Further, the elastic member holds the press member normally in the upper limit position to close the retaining gap, and allows the press member to be moved between the top and bottom sides of the accommodation chamber in a balanced status without tilting so that the coupling shaft of the connection member can be smoothly inserted into the retaining gap or removal of the coupling shaft of the connection member out of the retaining gap.
It is another object of the present invention to provide a press release buckle, wherein the base member comprises two pivot pins respectively horizontally extended from the inside wall thereof at two opposite lateral sides in the retaining gap between the accommodation chamber and the front opening and two horizontal stop flanges respectively suspending above the pivot pins; the coupling shaft of the connection member comprises two pivot holes respectively and axially located on the two distal ends thereof for receiving the pivot pins and two end notches respectively and radially located on the two distal ends in communication with the pivot holes and facing the mounting block for guiding the two pivot pins of the base member into the pivot holes in one particular direction.
It is still another object of the present invention to provide a press release buckle, which further comprises a mounting structure adapted for pivotally connecting the base member to an external object. The base member further comprises a bottom shank perpendicularly downwardly extended from the flat bottom surface of the bottom wall thereof and a guide block protruded from the flat bottom surface adjacent to the bottom shank. The coupling structure comprises a first mounting plate attached to one side of the external object. The first mounting plate comprises a center through hole for the passing of the bottom shank of the base member and an arched sliding groove located on the top wall thereof and extending around the center through hole and coupled to the guide block of the base member to guide rotation of the base member relative to the mounting structure within a predetermined angle, for example, 45° angle, and a fastening member inserted through a through hole on the external object and the center through hole of the mounting structure and driven into the bottom shank of the base member to pivotally connect the base member to the mounting structure and the external object.
It is still another object of the present invention to provide a press release buckle, wherein the base member further comprises an upright post suspending in the accommodation chamber; the press member comprises a bottom recess located on the bottom wall thereof; the elastic member is a conical compression spring that has a relatively smaller bottom end sleeved onto the upright post in the accommodation chamber of the base member and a relatively larger top end positioned in the bottom recess of the press member. Thus, the elastic member supports the press member stably in the accommodation chamber and can return the press member immediately and stably after said press member having been pressed.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is an elevational view of a press release buckle in accordance with a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an exploded view of the press release buckle in accordance with the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 corresponds to FIG. 2 when viewed from another angle.

FIG. 4 is a schematic sectional side view of the first embodiment of the present invention, illustrating the installation procedure of the press release buckle (I).

FIG. 5 is a schematic sectional side view of the first embodiment of the present invention, illustrating the installation procedure of the press release buckle (II).

FIG. 6 is a schematic sectional side view of the first embodiment of the present invention, illustrating the installation procedure of the press release buckle (III).

FIG. 7 is a schematic top view of the first embodiment of the present invention, illustrating the base member and the connection member biased in one direction relative to the mounting structure.

FIG. 8 is a schematic top view of the first embodiment of the present invention, illustrating the base member and the connection member biased relative to the mounting structure in the reversed direction.

FIG. 9 is an exploded view of a press release buckle in accordance with a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 10 is a sectional side view of a buckle according to the prior art.

FIG. 11 illustrates an operation status of the buckle according to the prior art.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Referring to FIGS. 1-3, a press release buckle in accordance with a first embodiment of the present invention is shown comprising a first buckle unit, which comprises a base member 1, a press member 12 and an elastic member 14, and a second buckle unit, which comprises a connection member 2.
The base member 1 defines an accommodation chamber 11 and a front opening 111 in communication with the accommodation chamber 11. The press member 12 is mounted in the accommodation chamber 11 of the base member 1, defining with the base member 1 a retaining gap 13 between the accommodation chamber 11 and the front opening 111. The elastic member 14 is mounted in the accommodation chamber 11 and stopped between the press member 12 and the bottom wall of the base member 11.
The base member 1 further comprises an upright post 112 vertically upwardly extended from the bottom wall thereof and suspending in the accommodation chamber 11. The elastic member 14 according to this embodiment is a conical compression spring, having a relatively smaller bottom end 141 sleeved onto the upright post 112 and a relatively larger top end 142 positioned in a bottom recess 121 of the press member 12. The base member 1 further comprises a coupling structure 113 for receiving the press member 12. The coupling structure 113 comprises a plurality of vertical coupling grooves 1131 spaced around the inside wall of the base member 1 within the accommodation chamber 11 and a plurality of beveled guide faces 1132 located on the inside wall of the base member 1 and respectively disposed above the vertical coupling grooves 1131. The press member 12 further comprises a coupling structure 122 for coupling to the coupling structure 113 of the base member 1. The coupling structure 122 comprises a plurality of coupling hooks 1221 respectively moved along the beveled guide faces 1132 into the vertical coupling grooves 1131. After insertion of the respective coupling hooks 1221 into the respective vertical coupling grooves 1131, the press member 12 can be moved vertically up and down in the accommodation chamber 11 (this will be described further). The press member 12 further comprises a sloping surface portion 123 located on the top side thereof. Further, the base member 1 comprises pivot pins 131 respectively horizontally extended from the inside wall thereof at two opposite lateral sides in the retaining gap 13 between the accommodation chamber 11 and the front opening 111, two horizontal stop flanges 132 respectively suspending above the pivot pins 131, and a narrow protruding block 133 raised from the bottom wall thereof in the bottom side of the retaining gap 13 and equally spaced between the two pivot pins 131 and abutted to the bottom side of the front opening 111.
The connection member 2 comprises a coupling shaft 21, a mounting block 22 and a neck 23 connected between a middle part of the coupling shaft 21 and a middle part of the mounting block 22. The coupling shaft 21 comprises two pivot holes 211 respectively and axially located on the two distal ends thereof, two end notches 2111 respectively and radially located on the two distal ends in communication with the respective pivot holes 211 and facing the mounting block 22, and two locating blocks 212 respectively protruded from the periphery there near the two distal ends and opposite to the end notches 2111. The mounting block 22 has a mounting hole 221 for the mounting of a strap member.
Referring to FIGS. 4-6 and FIGS. 1-3 again, during installation of the press release buckle, insert the elastic member (conical compression spring) 14 into the accommodation chamber 11 of the base member 1 and sleeve the relatively smaller bottom end 141 of the elastic member (conical compression spring) 14 onto the upright post 112, and then insert the press member 12 into the accommodation chamber 11 of the base member 1 by forcing the coupling hooks 1221 of the coupling structure 122 along the beveled guide faces 1132 of the coupling structure 113 of the base member 1 into the vertical coupling grooves 1131 respectively to have the relatively larger top end 142 of the elastic member (conical compression spring) 14 be positioned in the bottom recess 121 of the press member 12. By means of arranging the elastic member (conical compression spring) 14 in the accommodation chamber 11 of the base member 1 in such a manner that the relatively smaller bottom end 141 of the elastic member (conical compression spring) 14 is sleeved onto the upright post 112 and supported on the bottom wall of the base member 1 inside the accommodation chamber 11 and the relatively larger top end 142 of the elastic member (conical compression spring) 14 is positioned in the bottom recess 121 of the press member 12 to support the press member 12, the press member 12 can be moved in the accommodation chamber 11 stably up and down.
Thereafter, press the coupling shaft 21 of the connection member 2 onto the press member 12 in the base member 1 to lower the press member 12 and to compress the elastic member (conical compression spring) 14 and then move the connection member 2 to slide the coupling shaft 21 along the sloping surface portion 123 of the press member 12 into the retaining gap 13 and to have the coupling shaft 21 be supported on the narrow protruding block 133, and then pull the connection member 2 to move the coupling shaft 21 along the narrow protruding block 133 and to further let the two pivot pins 131 be forced through the respective end notches 2111 into the respective pivot holes 211. At this time, the neck 23 of the connection member 2 extends through the front opening 111 of the base member 1, and the elastic member (conical compression spring) 14 returns the press member 12 to its former position, i.e. the upper limit position where the coupling hooks 1221 of the coupling structure 122 of the press member 12 are respectively stopped at the top ends of the vertical coupling grooves 1131, the coupling shaft 21 and its locating blocks 212 are stopped by the press member 12 and the stop flanges 132 of the base member 1 in the retaining gap 13, and therefore the connection member 2 is kept connected to the base member 1.
When wishing to disconnect the connection member 2 (second buckle unit) from the base member 1 (first buckle unit), press the press member 12 to compress the elastic member (conical compression spring) 14 and to open the retaining gap 13, allowing the coupling shaft 21 of the connection member 2 to be disengaged from the two pivot pins 131 of the base member 1 and the moved out of the retaining gap 13. After removal of the connection member 2 from the base member 1, the elastic member (conical compression spring) 14 immediately returns the press member 12 to its former position.
Referring to FIGS. 7 and 8 and FIGS. 2, 3 and 6 again, the base member 1 further comprises a bottom shank 1141 perpendicularly downwardly extended from the flat bottom surface 114 of the bottom wall thereof and a guide block 1142 protruded from the flat bottom surface 114 adjacent to the bottom shank 1141. The first buckle unit of the press release buckle further comprises a mounting structure 15 adapted for fastening the base member 1 to an object 3, which can be the body member of a bag (backpack, suitcase or travel bag), box or any of a variety of consumer products. The mounting structure 15 comprises a first mounting plate 151, a second mounting plate 152 and a plurality of fastening members 153. The first mounting plate 151 is attached to the flat bottom surface 114 of the base member 1, having a center through hole 1511 coupled to the bottom shank 1141 of the base member 1, an arched sliding groove 1512 located on the top wall thereof and extending around the center through hole 1511 and coupled to the guide block 1142 of the base member 1 and two bottom mounting posts 1513 perpendicularly downwardly extended from the bottom wall thereof at two opposite sides relative to the center through hole 1511. The second mounting plate 152 is coupled to the bottom mounting posts 1513 of the first mounting plate 151 and defining a clamping space 150 between the first mounting plate 151 and the second mounting plate 152, having a center through hole 1521 corresponding to the center through hole 1511 of the first mounting plate 151 and two mounting holes 1522 corresponding to the bottom mounting posts 1513 of the first mounting plate 151.
During installation of the mounting structure 15, attach the first mounting plate 151 and the second mounting plate 152 to the top and bottom sides of the object 3 to have the bottom mounting posts 1513 of the first mounting plate 151 be inserted through respective through holes 31 on the object 3 into the mounting holes 1522 of the second mounting plate 152, and then fasten one respective fastening member 153 to each of the bottom mounting posts 1513 of the first mounting plate 151 to affix the first mounting plate 15, the object 3 and the second mounting plate 152 together.
Thereafter, attach the first mounting plate 151 to the flat bottom surface 114 of the base member 1 to couple the center through hole 1511 and arched sliding groove 1512 of the first mounting plate 151 to the bottom shank 1141 and guide block 1142 of the base member 1, and then insert one fastening member 153 through the center through hole 1521 of the second mounting plate 152 and one corresponding through holes 31 on the object 3 and drive the fastening member 153 into the base member 1 to pivotally connect the mounting structure 15 and the object 3 to the base member 1, allowing rotation of the base member 1 relative to the mounting structure 15 and the object 3 within a predetermined angle (subject to the extending angle of the arched sliding groove 1512 around the center through hole 1511), for example, 45° angle.
Further, the mounting hole 221 is located on the back side of the mounting block 22 of the connection member 2 opposite to the neck 23 and the coupling shaft 21 and extending to the bottom side of the mounting block 22 for the mounting of a strap member 4 (or a component part of a bag, box or any of a variety of consumer products) positively. After fastening of the connection member 2 to the strap member 4, the strap member 4 can be kept from sight.
FIG. 9 illustrates a press release buckle in accordance with a second embodiment of the present invention. This second embodiment is substantially similar to the aforesaid first embodiment with the exception of the coupling structure 113 of the base member 1, the coupling structure 122 of the press member 12 and the mounting structure of the base member 1 and the mounting structure of the connection member 2.
Further, according to this second embodiment, the coupling structure 113 of the base member 1 comprises a plurality of springy hooks 1133 spaced around the accommodation chamber 11; the coupling structure 122 of the press member 12 comprises a plurality of coupling grooves 1222 for receiving the springy hooks 1133 of the coupling structure 113 of the base member 1. Further, the base member 1 in accordance with this second embodiment eliminates the aforesaid mounting structure 15. According to this second embodiment, the base member 1 comprises a mounting flap 16 extending around the periphery of the bottom wall thereof in a flush manner for fastening to a first object (for example, the object 3 shown in FIG. 5) with stitches; the connection member 2 comprises a mounting flap 222 extending around the periphery of the bottom wall of the mounting block 22 in a flush manner for fastening to a second object (for example, the strap member 4 shown in FIG. 5) with stitches.
Although particular embodiments of the invention have been described in detail for purposes of illustration, various modifications and enhancements may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Accordingly, the invention is not to be limited except as by the appended claims.

Claims

1. A press release buckle comprising:

a base member, said base member comprising an accommodation chamber, a front opening in communication with said accommodation chamber and a retaining gap defined between said front opening and said accommodation chamber;

a press member mounted in said accommodation chamber of said base member and movable vertically relative to said base member between top and bottom sides of said accommodation chamber to close/open said retaining gap;

an elastic member mounted in said accommodation chamber and stopped between a bottom wall of said base member and said press member to hold said press member in the top side of said accommodation chamber; and

a connection member detachably connectable to said base member, said connection member comprising a coupling shaft insertable into said accommodation chamber and then said retaining gap when said press member is pressed by a person and moved to the bottom side of said accommodation chamber, a mounting block, and a neck connected between a middle part of said coupling shaft and a middle part of said mounting block and positionable in said front opening of said base member.

2. The press release buckle as claimed in claim 1, wherein said base member comprises an upright post vertically upwardly extended from a bottom wall thereof and suspending in said accommodation chamber; said press member comprises a bottom recess located on a bottom side thereof; said elastic member is a conical compression spring, having a relatively smaller bottom end sleeved onto said upright post and stopped at the bottom wall of said base member and a relatively larger top end positioned in the bottom recess of said press member.

3. The press release buckle as claimed in claim 1, wherein said base member comprises a coupling structure disposed around said accommodation chamber; said press member comprises a coupling structure disposed around the periphery thereof and coupled to the coupling structure of said base member to secured said press member to said base member and to allow vertical sliding movement of said press member relative to said base member between the top and bottom sides of said accommodation chamber in opening/closing said retaining gap.

4. The press release buckle as claimed in claim 1, wherein the coupling structure of said press member comprises a plurality of coupling hooks; the coupling structure of said base member comprises a plurality of vertical coupling grooves spaced around an inside wall of said base member within said accommodation chamber for receiving the coupling hooks of the coupling structure of said press member and guiding movement of said press member up and down between the top and bottom sides of said accommodation chamber and a plurality of beveled guide faces located on the inside wall of said base member above said vertical coupling grooves and adapted for guiding the coupling hooks of the coupling structure of said press member.

5. The press release buckle as claimed in claim 4, wherein the coupling structure of said base member comprises a plurality of springy hooks spaced around said accommodation chamber; the coupling structure of said press member comprises a plurality of above said vertical coupling grooves and adapted for guiding the coupling hooks of the coupling structure of said press member.

6. The press release buckle as claimed in claim 1, wherein said base member further comprises two pivot pins respectively horizontally extended from the inside wall thereof at two opposite lateral sides in said retaining gap between said accommodation chamber and said front opening; said coupling shaft of said connection member comprises two pivot holes respectively and axially located on two distal ends thereof for receiving said pivot pins, and two end notches respectively and radially located on the two distal ends in communication with said pivot holes and facing said mounting block for guiding the two pivot pins of said base member into said pivot holes.

7. The press release buckle as claimed in claim 1, wherein said press member comprises a sloping surface portion located on a top side thereof for pressing by said coupling shaft to lower said press member in said accommodation chamber.

8. The press release buckle as claimed in claim 1, wherein said base member further comprises a narrow protruding block raised from the bottom wall thereof in a bottom side in said retaining gap.

9. The press release buckle as claimed in claim 1, wherein said base member further comprises two horizontal stop flanges bilaterally suspending above said retaining gap.

10. The press release buckle as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a mounting structure adapted for pivotally connecting said base member to an external object, said base member further comprising a bottom shank perpendicularly downwardly extended from a flat bottom surface of the bottom wall thereof and a guide block protruded from said flat bottom surface adjacent to said bottom shank; said coupling structure comprising a first mounting plate attached to one side of said external object, said first mounting plate comprising a center through hole for the passing of said bottom shank of said base member and an arched sliding groove located on a top wall thereof and extending around the center through hole and coupled to said guide block of said base member to guide rotation of said base member relative to said mounting structure within a predetermined angle, and a first fastening member inserted through a through hole on said external object and the center through hole of said mounting structure and driven into the bottom shank of said base member to pivotally connect said base member to said mounting structure and said external object.

11. The press release buckle as claimed in claim 10, wherein said first mounting plate of said mounting structure further comprises two bottom mounting posts perpendicularly downwardly extended from a bottom wall thereof at two opposite sides relative to the center through hole of said first mounting plate and respectively inserted into one respective through hole on said external object; said mounting structure further comprises a second mounting plate attached to an opposite side of said external object opposite to said first mounting plate, said second mounting plate comprising a center through hole for the passing of said first fastening member and two mounting holes disposed at two opposite sides relative to the center through hole of said second mounting plate for receiving said bottom mounting posts of said first mounting plate, and two second fastening members respectively fastened to the mounting holes of said second mounting plate and said bottom mounting posts of said first mounting plate to affix said first mounting plate, said external object and said second mounting plate together.

12. The press release buckle as claimed in claim 1, wherein said base member comprises a mounting flap extending around the periphery of the bottom wall thereof in a flush manner for fastening to an external object with stitches.

13. The press release buckle as claimed in claim 1, wherein said mounting block of said connection member comprises a mounting hole for the mounting of an external strap member.

14. The press release buckle as claimed in claim 1, wherein said connection member further comprises a mounting flap extending around the periphery of a bottom wall of said mounting block in a flush manner for fastening to an external strap member with stitches.