Buckle assembly

Abstract

A buckle assembly includes a latch having a first mating member, a buckle frame, and a lever rotatably secured to the buckle frame. The buckle frame is configured to mate with the latch. The lever includes a second mating member configured to mate with the first mating member in order to secure the latch to the buckle frame in a secured position. The lever is configured to be rotated from the secured position to unlatch the latch from the lever.

1 . A buckle assembly comprising: 
 a latch comprising a first mating member;    a buckle frame configured to mate with said latch; and    a lever rotatably secured to said buckle frame, said lever comprising a second mating member configured to mate with said first mating member in order to secure said latch to said buckle frame in a secured position, said lever being configured to be rotated between the secured position and an unlatched position to unlatch said latch from said lever.    
   
   
       2 . The buckle assembly of  claim 1 , wherein said first mating member is one of a lobe and an opening, and wherein said second mating member is the other of said lobe and said opening.  
   
   
       3 . The buckle assembly of  claim 1 , wherein said buckle frame comprises at least one of sidewalls and ledges configured to protect said latch in the secured position.  
   
   
       4 . The buckle assembly of  claim 1 , wherein said lever further comprises an actuation handle.  
   
   
       5 . The buckle assembly of  claim 1 , wherein said lever further comprises a pin housing, a pin secured within said pin housing, and a spring surrounding said pin, said spring being configured and arranged to bias said lever in the secured position.  
   
   
       6 . The buckle assembly of  claim 5 , wherein said spring has a tail that is secured to said buckle frame.  
   
   
       7 . The buckle assembly of  claim 5 , wherein said spring has a portion that is engaged to and within said lever.  
   
   
       8 . The buckle assembly of  claim 1 , wherein said lever further comprises flat latch surfaces configured to abut a portion of said latch when a force is exerted into said lever, wherein the abutment of said flat latch surfaces into said portion of said latch provides an additional retention feature that prevents said latch from inadvertently dislodging from said buckle frame.  
   
   
       9 . The buckle assembly of  claim 1 , wherein at least one of said latch, buckle frame, and lever are made of metal.  
   
   
       10 . A buckle assembly comprising: 
 a latch comprising a first strap-engaging member configured to receive and retain a first strap end;    a buckle frame configured to mate with said latch, said buckle frame including a base integrally formed with sidewalls configured to protect said latch in a secured position in which said latch is secured to said buckle frame, and a second strap-engaging member configured to receive and retain a second strap end; and    a lever rotatably secured to said buckle frame, said lever being spring-biased into the secured position, and said lever being moveable between the secured position and an unlatched position in which said latch disengages from said buckle frame.    
   
   
       11 . The buckle assembly of  claim 10 , wherein said latch further comprises a first mating member, and said lever comprises a second mating member configured to mate with said first mating member in order to secure said latch to said buckle frame in the secured position.  
   
   
       12 . The buckle assembly of  claim 11 , wherein said first mating member is one of a lobe and an opening, and wherein said second mating member is the other of said lobe and said opening.  
   
   
       13 . The buckle assembly of  claim 10 , wherein said buckle frame further comprises ledges extending from said side walls, said ledges being configured to protect said latch in the secured position.  
   
   
       14 . The buckle assembly of  claim 10 , wherein said lever further comprises an actuation handle.  
   
   
       15 . The buckle assembly of  claim 10 , wherein said lever further comprises a pin housing, a pin secured within said pin housing, and a spring, such that said spring biases said lever in the secured position.  
   
   
       16 . The buckle assembly of  claim 15 , wherein said spring has a tail that is secured within said buckle frame.  
   
   
       17 . The buckle assembly of  claim 15 , wherein said spring has a portion that is engaged to and within said lever.  
   
   
       18 . The buckle assembly of  claim 10 , wherein said lever further comprises flat latch surfaces configured to abut a portion of said latch when a force is exerted into said lever, wherein the abutment of said flat latch surfaces into said portion of said latch provides an additional retention feature that prevents said latch from inadvertently dislodging from said buckle frame.  
   
   
       19 . A buckle assembly comprising: 
 a latch comprising a first mating member and a first strap-engaging member configured to receive and retain a first strap end;    a buckle frame configured to mate with said latch, said buckle frame comprising: (i) a base integrally formed with side walls configured to protect said latch in a secured position in which said latch is secured to said buckle frame, and (ii) a second strap-engaging member configured to receive and retain a second strap end; and    a lever rotatably secured to said buckle frame, said lever being spring-biased into the secured position, and said lever being moveable between the secured position and an unlatched position in which said latch disengages from said buckle frame, said lever comprising: (i) a second mating member configured to mate with said first mating member in order to secure said latch to said buckle frame in the secured position, (ii) a pin housing integrally formed with an actuation handle, (iii) a pin secured within said pin housing, (iv) a spring positioned around said pin, said spring adapted to provide a spring force to said lever that acts to maintain said lever in the secured position, and (v) surfaces configured to abut a portion of said latch when a force is exerted into said lever, wherein the abutment of said surfaces into said portion of said latch provides an additional retention feature that prevents said latch from inadvertently dislodging from said buckle frame.    
   
   
       20 . The buckle assembly of  claim 11 , wherein said first mating member is one of a lobe and a retention window, and wherein said second mating member is the other of said lobe and said retention window.