Side-release buckle assembly

Abstract

A buckle assembly includes a female connection member having open button areas, and a male connection member configured to mate with the female connection member. The male connection member may include deflectable lateral arms having buttons that are configured to be positioned within the open button areas, and at least one flexible and resilient strut member connecting the lateral arms together.

1 . A buckle assembly comprising: 
 a female connection member having open button areas; and    a male connection member configured to mate with said female connection member into a securely connected position, said male connection member comprising: 
 deflectable lateral arms having buttons, said buttons configured to be positioned within said open button areas; and  
 at least one flexible and resilient strut member connecting said lateral arms together.  
   
   
   
       2 . The buckle assembly of  claim 1 , wherein less than an entire perimeter of each of said buttons abuts said female connection member when said male connection member is secured to said female connection member.  
   
   
       3 . The buckle assembly of  claim 2 , wherein said open button areas do not surround said entire perimeter of each of said buttons when said male connection member is secured to said female connection member.  
   
   
       4 . The buckle assembly of  claim 1 , wherein each of said open button areas has a first envelope, wherein each of said buttons has a second envelope, and wherein said second envelope is at least as large as said first envelope.  
   
   
       5 . The buckle assembly of  claim 1 , wherein at least one flexible and resilient strut member comprises at least one inwardly-bowed strut.  
   
   
       6 . The buckle assembly of  claim 1 , wherein at least one flexible and resilient strut member comprises at least one strut that curves toward a central axis of said male connection member.  
   
   
       7 . The buckle assembly of  claim 1 , wherein at least one of said male and female connection members comprises at least one guide post, and the other of said male and female connection members comprises at least one channel configured to receive said guide post, wherein said at least one channel is configured to receive said at least one guide post to ensure proper mating alignment of said male connection member with respect to said female connection member.  
   
   
       8 . The buckle assembly of  claim 1 , wherein each of said lateral arms comprises a locking member, wherein said female connection member comprises a locking ledge, said male connection member configured to secure to said female connection member through said locking member snapably securing to said locking ledge.  
   
   
       9 . The buckle assembly of  claim 8 , wherein at least one of said locking member and said locking ledge comprises at least one ramped surface configured to allow said locking member to eject from said locking ledge during disconnection.  
   
   
       10 . A buckle assembly comprising: 
 a first connection member having first and second open button areas; and    a second connection member configured to mate with said first connection member into a securely connected position, said second connection member comprising: 
 a first deflectable arm having a first button, said first button configured to be positioned proximate said first open button area when said first connection member is secured to said second connection member;  
 a second deflectable arm having a second button, said second button configured to be positioned proximate said second open button area when said first connection member is secured to said second connection member; and  
 at least one flexible and resilient strut member connecting said first and second lateral arms together.  
   
   
   
       11 . The buckle assembly of  claim 10 , wherein less than an entire perimeter of each of said first and second buttons is positioned next to said first and second open button areas, respectively, when said first connection member is secured to said second connection member.  
   
   
       12 . The buckle assembly of  claim 10 , wherein said first and second open button areas do not surround a perimeter of each of said first and second buttons, respectively, when said first connection member is secured to said second connection member.  
   
   
       13 . The buckle assembly of  claim 10 , wherein each of said first and second open button areas has a first envelope, wherein each of said first and second buttons has a second envelope, and wherein said second envelope is at least as large as said first envelope.  
   
   
       14 . The buckle assembly of  claim 10 , wherein at least one flexible and resilient strut member comprises at least one inwardly-bowed strut.  
   
   
       15 . The buckle assembly of  claim 10 , wherein at least one flexible and resilient strut member comprises at least one strut that curves toward a central axis of said second connection member.  
   
   
       16 . The buckle assembly of  claim 10 , wherein at least one of said first and second connection members comprises at least one guide post, and the other of said first and second connection members comprises at least one channel configured to receive said guide post, wherein said at least one channel receives said at least one guide post to ensure proper mating alignment of said first connection member with respect to said second connection member.  
   
   
       17 . The buckle assembly of  claim 10 , wherein each of said first and second deflectable arms comprises a locking member, wherein said second connection member comprises at least one locking ledge, said first connection member configured to secure to said second connection member through said locking members snapably securing to said at least one locking ledge.  
   
   
       18 . The buckle assembly of  claim 17 , wherein at least one of said locking member and said locking ledge comprises at least one ramped surface configured to allow said locking member to eject from said locking ledge during disconnection.  
   
   
       19 . A buckle assembly comprising: 
 a first connection member having first and second open button areas, and at least one post receiving channel positioned within a mating cavity; and    a second connection member configured to mate with said first connection member into a securely connected position, said second connection member comprising: 
 a first deflectable arm having a first button, said first button configured to be positioned proximate said first open button area when said first connection member is secured to said second connection member;  
 a second deflectable arm having a second button, said second button configured to be positioned proximate said second open button area when said first connection member is secured to said second connection member;  
 at least one guide post;  
 a first flexible and resilient strut member connecting said first deflectable arm to said at least one guide post; and  
 a second flexible and resilient strut member connecting said second deflectable arm to said at least one guide post, wherein said first and second deflectable arms are connected together through said first and second flexible and resilient strut members and said at least one guide post,  
 said at least one channel configured to receive said at least one guide post to ensure proper mating alignment of said first connection member with respect to said second connection member.  
   
   
   
       20 . The buckle assembly of  claim 19 , wherein less than an entire perimeter of each of said first and second buttons is positioned next to said first and second open button areas, respectively, when said first connection member is secured to said second connection member, wherein said first and second open button areas do not surround said entire perimeter of each of said first and second buttons, respectively, when said first connection member is secured to said second connection member, wherein each of said first and second open button areas has a first envelope, wherein each of said first and second buttons has a second envelope, and wherein said second envelope is at least as large as said first envelope.  
   
   
       21 . The buckle assembly of  claim 19 , wherein each of said first and second deflectable arms comprises a locking member, wherein said second connection member comprises at least one locking ledge, said first connection member securing to said second connection member through said locking members snapaby securing to said at least one locking ledge.  
   
   
       22 . The buckle assembly of  claim 21 , wherein each of said locking member and said locking ledge comprises at least one ramped surface configured to allow said locking member to eject from said locking ledge during disconnection.