Buckle Release Mechanism

Abstract

Disclosed is a buckle release mechanism. The release mechanism can be used to couple together various types of straps, webbing or belts. In one particular embodiment, the release mechanism forms part of a parachute canopy for a pilot's harness. The mechanism includes a housing with a locking mechanism. The locking mechanism employs two rotatable locking pins with associated cams and openings. An opening is formed within the housing for receiving a yoke. A striker plate with opposing lugs is formed at one end of the yoke. The lugs cooperate with the locking pins to either retain or reject the striker plate within the housing.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A buckle mechanism for selectively securing a restraint, the buckle mechanism comprising:
 a housing with forward and rearward ends, an opening formed within the front end of the housing;   a slide secured over top of the housing and adapted for linear movement between locked and unlocked positions, a latch pivotally secured to the housing and having opened and closed positions, wherein the latch must be opened in order for the slide to be moved to the unlocked position, a slide post secured to the slide and adapted for movement with the slide between locked and unlocked positions;   a pair of locking levers positioned within the housing, each locking lever having a first forked end, a second recessed end, and a pivot point therebetween, each of the forked ends being positioned about the slide post, whereby movement of the cover and slide post to the unlocked position causes each of the locking levers to pivot about its respective pivot point;   a pair of cylindrical pins rotatably positioned within the housing, each of the pins including an internal opening, a cam adjacent the internal opening, and a wing, the pins having locked and unlocked orientations corresponding to the locked and unlocked positions of the slide post, the wings being positioned within the recessed ends of the locking levers with the pins in the locked position, the wings being ejected from the recessed ends of the locking levers with the pins in the unlocked position;   a yoke having a striker plate with opposing lugs, the yoke being interconnected to the restraint, the lugs being retained within the internal openings of the cylindrical pins with the cover and slide post in the locked position, and wherein by moving the cover and slide post into the unlocked position, the pins rotate such that the lugs are freed and ejected from the housing by way of the cams.   
     
     
         2 . A buckle mechanism comprising:
 a housing with forward and rearward ends, an opening formed within the front end of the housing;   a slide secured over top of the housing and adapted for linear movement between locked and unlocked positions, a slide post secured to the slide and adapted for movement with the slide between locked and unlocked positions;   a pair of locking levers positioned within the housing, each locking lever having a first end, a second recessed end, and a pivot point therebetween, each of the first ends being interconnected to the slide post, whereby movement of the cover and slide post to the unlocked position causes each of the locking levers to pivot about its respective pivot point;   a pair of cylindrical pins rotatably positioned within the housing, each of the pins including an internal opening, and a wing, the pins having locked and unlocked orientations corresponding to the locked and unlocked positions of the slide post, the wings being positioned within the recessed ends of the locking levers with the pins in the locked position, the wings being ejected from the recessed ends of the locking levers with the pins in the unlocked position;   a striker plate with opposing lugs, the lugs being retained within the internal openings of the cylindrical pins with the cover and slide post in the locked position.   
     
     
         3 . The buckle mechanism as described in  claim 2  further comprising a latch pivotally secured to the housing and having opened and closed positions, wherein the latch must be opened in order for the slide to be moved to the unlocked position, 
     
     
         4 . The buckle mechanism as described in  claim 2  wherein the first end of each locking lever is forked and wherein the adjacent forks are positioned about the slide post. 
     
     
         5 . The buckle mechanism as described in  claim 2  further comprising a cam adjacent the internal opening of each pin, wherein by moving the cover and slide post into the unlocked position, the pins rotate such that the lugs are freed and ejected from the housing by way of the cams. 
     
     
         6 . The buckle mechanism as described in  claim 2  wherein the striker plate includes a yoke that is interconnected to the restraint. 
     
     
         7 . A buckle mechanism comprising:
 a housing with forward and rearward ends, an opening formed within the front end of the housing;   a slide secured over the housing and adapted for movement between locked and unlocked positions;   a pair of cylindrical pins rotatably positioned within the housing, each of the pins including an internal opening and locked and unlocked orientations, with the forward movement of the slide brining the pins into the unlocked orientation and the rearward movement of the slide brining the pins into the locked orientation;   a striker plate with opposing lugs, the lugs being received within or ejected from the internal openings of the pins when the pins are in the unlocked orientation and with the lugs being lockingly received within the openings with the pins in the locked orientation.   
     
     
         8 . The buckle mechanism as described in  claim 7  further comprising cams that are positioned adjacent each of the internal openings of the pins and wherein the cams are used in ejecting the lugs from the internal openings when the pins are in the unlocked orientation.