Buckle

Abstract

A buckle includes first and second lateral latch connections formed by a male component in a female component, and a third latch connection between the lateral latch connections. The third latch connection includes a cantilevered latch hook disconnected by pressing against a portion of the upper surface of the buckle.

1 . A three-point release buckle, comprising:
 a male component;   a female component;   first and second releasable latching connections of said male component within said female component operable along opposite sides of said buckle;   a third releasable latching connection of said male component within said female component, said third releasable latching connection located between said first and second connections; and   said third releasable latching connection having a cantilevered spring latch operable on one face of said buckle for releasing a latch along an opposite face of said buckle.   
     
     
         2 . The buckle of  claim 1 , said female component defining windows along sides thereof, and said male component having deflectable arms having catch ledges engaging surfaces of said windows with said buckle in a latched condition. 
     
     
         3 . The buckle of  claim 2 , said cantilevered spring latch being defined by said female component. 
     
     
         4 . The buckle of  claim 3 , said male component including a center bar having a lip engaging said spring latch with said buckle in a latched condition. 
     
     
         5 . The buckle of  claim 4 , said female component defining a spring latch stop limiting travel of said spring latch during unlatching. 
     
     
         6 . The buckle of  claim 4 , said male and female components having cooperating structure orienting said components for insertion of said male component in said female component. 
     
     
         7 . The buckle of  claim 6 , said female component having a surface one of above and below said male component, said surface having a ridge thereon, and said male component having a cutout for receiving said ridge. 
     
     
         8 . The buckle of  claim 1 , said cantilevered spring latch being defined by said female component and having a deflectable portion on an exposed surface of said female component, said deflectable portion being connected to a latch hook on an opposite side of said male component from said deflectable portion. 
     
     
         9 . The buckle of  claim 8 , said male component including a center bar having a lip engaging said latch hook with said buckle in a latched condition. 
     
     
         10 . A buckle comprising:
 a male component having lateral arms and a center bar;   a female component defining a pocket for receiving said lateral arms and said center bar;   lateral connections between said lateral arms and said female component with said buckle in a latched condition; and   a cantilevered spring latch connection between said male component and said female component including components of said spring latch on opposite sides of said center bar.   
     
     
         11 . The buckle of  claim 10 , said female component having upper and lower plates, with slots defined in said upper plate defining a portion of said upper plate for said spring latch. 
     
     
         12 . The buckle of  claim 11 , including an end plate depending downwardly from said portion of said upper plate, and a latch hook extending into said pocket from said end plate. 
     
     
         13 . The buckle of  claim 12 , said center bar of said male component having a lip for engaging said latch hook with said buckle in a latched condition. 
     
     
         14 . The buckle of  claim 13 , said female component defining a ridge and a said male component defining a cutout orienting said male component relative to said female component. 
     
     
         15 . A buckle comprising:
 a male component having lateral arms and a center bar having a lip;   a female component defining a pocket for receiving said lateral arms and said center bar;   lateral connections between said lateral arms and said female component with said buckle in a latched condition; and   a cantilevered spring latch connection between said male component and said female component, including a depressible portion of said female component operably connected to a latch hook engaging said lip with said buckle in a latched condition.   
     
     
         16 . The buckle of  claim 15 , including slits extending inwardly from an edge of said female member and thereby defining between said slits said depressible portion of said female component. 
     
     
         17 . The buckle of  claim 16 , including an end plate depending from said depressible portion and wings on said end plate extending outwardly beyond said slits. 
     
     
         18 . The buckle of  claim 17 , said latch hook having an angular surface engaging said lip as said buckle is connected. 
     
     
         19 . The buckle of  claim 17 , said latch hook and said depressible portion being on opposite sides of said center bar with said buckle in a latched condition. 
     
     
         20 . The buckle of  claim 17 , including orienting features between said male and female components enabling insertion of said male component in said female component only in a single relative orientation.