IP Library Granted Patent US 8,365,368
Granted Patent B2
US 8,365,368 · App. 12/864,061 · Granted Feb 5, 2013

Buckle

Inventors: Hitoshi Kaneko (Toyama, JP); Ryoichiro Uehara (Toyama, JP)
Assignee: YKK Corporation
View Patent ↗
Loading inventors, assignments & file history…
Monitor This Case
Get email alerts when status or documents change.
Order Certified Copies
Most orders are placed with the USPTO same day — all within 24 business hours.
Order via The Patent Place →
Pre-filled with this patent's details
Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 8,365,368
App. No.
12/864,061
Granted
Feb 5, 2013
Kind
B2
Abstract

A buckle includes a male member and a female member. The male member includes: a base; a pair of legs that project from the base; engaging portions that are provided on the legs to be engageable with the female member; and a linking body that links the pair of legs. The linking body includes a curved portion that is curved such that the middle thereof is closest to the base. A pair of projecting portions that are substantially parallel with an insertion direction of the male member extend from the base to be disposed outside the curved portion such that the curved portion is interposed therebetween. With this arrangement, the linking body for linking the pair of legs can be disposed with less possibility that other objects are caught in a space in the male member and without increasing a length dimension in the insertion direction more than necessary. The male member can be stably held relative to the female member against a torsion force.

Claims (16)

1. A buckle comprising:

a male member; and

a female member in which the male member is inserted to be engaged therewith, the male member comprising:

a base to which a string member is attachable;

a pair of legs that project from the base, the pair of legs being elastically deformable in a direction intersecting an insertion direction of the male member;

engaging portions that are respectively provided on the legs to be engageable with the female member;

a linking body that links the pair of legs and allows the legs to be elastically deformed inward;

a curved portion that is curved toward the base and is formed at a middle of the linking body; and

a pair of projecting portions being substantially parallel with the insertion direction of the male member, the pair of projecting portions extending from the base between the curved portion and the legs, wherein

the base comprises a V-shaped base-side projection, wherein a most projected portion of the base-side projection is formed at a widthwise center thereof and wherein the pair of legs projects from widthwise ends of the base-side projection, and

the projecting portions are respectively disposed outside the most projected portion of the base-side projection, and are disposed outside the curved portion such that the curved portion is interposed therebetween.

2. The buckle according to claim 1 , further comprising an accommodating portion for accommodating the curved portion of the linking body between the pair of projecting portions when the pair of legs are elastically deformed inward.

3. The buckle according to claim 1 , wherein the female member comprises a restricting portion that is in contact with side surfaces of the projecting portions to restrict a widthwise movement of the projecting portions.

4. The buckle according to claim 1 , wherein the female member comprises:

an insertion opening for the pair of legs to be inserted; and

an abutment portion to be abutted against the base-side projection.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jul 22, 2010
From: KANEKO, HITOSHI; UEHARA, RYOICHIRO
To: YKK CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 024725/0188 →
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20100306976A1 · Dec 9, 2010