Buckle assembly

Abstract

A buckle assembly includes a female connection member having a main body defining an internal chamber and first and second button openings, and a male connection member selectively connected to the female connection member. The male connection member includes opposed first and second buttons selectively retained within the first and second button openings, respectively, and a pull tab operatively connected to the first and second buttons.

1 . A buckle assembly comprising:
 a female connection member having a main body defining an internal chamber and first and second button openings; and   a male connection member selectively connected to said female connection member, wherein said male connection member comprises opposed first and second buttons selectively retained within said first and second button openings, respectively, and a pull tab operatively connected to said first and second buttons.   
     
     
         2 . The buckle assembly of  claim 1 , wherein said male connection member and said female connection member are configured to be disconnected from one another by said first and second buttons being squeezed toward one another and/or said pull tab being pulled. 
     
     
         3 . The buckle assembly of  claim 1 , wherein said male connection member further comprises first and second coil springs, wherein said first coil spring is disposed between said first button and said pull tab, and wherein said second coil spring is disposed between said second button and said pull tab. 
     
     
         4 . The buckle assembly of  claim 1 , wherein linear movement of said pull tab in a first direction causes relative movement between said first and second buttons in a direction that is perpendicular to said first direction, and vice versa. 
     
     
         5 . The buckle assembly of  claim 1 , wherein said male connection member further comprises a rigid housing that prevents said first and second buttons from moving in a direction that is parallel to a longitudinal axis of said pull tab. 
     
     
         6 . The buckle assembly of  claim 1 , wherein said pull tab comprises at least one post slidably retained within at least one angled track formed through at least one of said first and second buttons. 
     
     
         7 . The buckle assembly of  claim 1 , wherein said pull tab comprises an extension beam having a first post extending from a first surface and a second post extending from a second surface opposite said first surface, wherein said first post is slidably retained within a first angled track formed through a portion of said first button, and wherein said second post is slidably retained within a second angled track formed through a portion of said second button. 
     
     
         8 . The buckle assembly of  claim 1 , wherein said first button comprises first panels and said second button comprises second panels slidably retained to said first panels and/or a portion of said pull tab within said male connection member. 
     
     
         9 . A male connection member of a buckle assembly, comprising:
 a rigid housing connected to a fixed cap through outer beams, said rigid beam defining a central channel;   opposed first and second buttons movably secured between said rigid housing and said cap; and   a pull tab having an extension beam extending into said central channel, wherein said extension beam is operatively connected to said first and second buttons.   
     
     
         10 . The male connection member of  claim 9 , wherein said male connection member is configured to be disconnected from a female connection member by said first and second buttons being squeezed toward one another and/or said pull tab being pulled. 
     
     
         11 . The male connection member of  claim 9 , further comprising first and second coil springs, wherein said first coil spring is disposed between said first button and said extension beam, and wherein said second coil spring is disposed between said second button and said extension beam. 
     
     
         12 . The male connection member of  claim 9 , wherein linear movement of said pull tab in a first direction causes relative movement between said first and second buttons in a direction that is perpendicular to said first direction, and vice versa. 
     
     
         13 . The male connection member of  claim 9 , wherein said rigid housing prevents said first and second buttons from moving in a direction that is parallel to a longitudinal axis of said extension beam. 
     
     
         14 . The male connection member of  claim 9 , wherein said extension beam comprises at least one post slidably retained within at least one angled track formed through at least one of said first and second buttons. 
     
     
         15 . The male connection member of  claim 9 , wherein said extension beam comprises a first post extending from a first surface and a second post extending from a second surface opposite said first surface, wherein said first post is slidably retained within a first angled track formed through a portion of said first button, and wherein said second post is slidably retained within a second angled track formed through a portion of said second button. 
     
     
         16 . The male connection member of  claim 9 , wherein said first button comprises first panels and said second button comprises second panels slidably retained to said first panels and/or a portion of said extension beam. 
     
     
         17 . A buckle assembly comprising:
 a female connection member having a main body defining an internal chamber and first and second button openings; and   a male connection member selectively connected to said female connection member, said male connection member including:
 a rigid housing connected to a fixed cap through outer beams, said rigid beam defining a central channel; 
 opposed first and second buttons movably secured between said rigid housing and said cap, wherein said first button extends through said first button opening and said second button extends through said second button opening; and 
 a pull tab having an extension beam extending into said central channel, wherein said extension beam is operatively connected to said first and second buttons; 
 first and second coil springs, wherein said first coil spring is disposed between said first button and said extension beam, and wherein said second coil spring is disposed between said second button and said extension beam, 
   wherein said male connection member is configured to be disconnected from said female connection member by said first and second buttons being squeezed toward one another and/or said pull tab being pulled, and wherein linear movement of said pull tab in a first direction causes relative movement between said first and second buttons in a direction that is perpendicular to said first direction, and vice versa.   
     
     
         18 . The buckle assembly of  claim 17 , wherein said rigid housing prevents said first and second buttons from moving in a direction that is parallel to a longitudinal axis of said extension beam. 
     
     
         19 . The buckle assembly of  claim 17 , wherein said extension beam comprises a first post extending from a first surface and a second post extending from a second surface opposite said first surface, wherein said first post is slidably retained within a first angled track formed through a portion of said first button, and wherein said second post is slidably retained within a second angled track formed through a portion of said second button. 
     
     
         20 . The buckle assembly of  claim 17 , wherein said first button comprises first panels and said second button comprises second panels slidably retained to said first panels and/or a portion of said extension beam.