Magnetic Buckle

Abstract

A buckle includes a first connector with a first housing where the first housing includes a locking protrusion and a first magnetic portion. The buckle also includes a second connector that includes a second housing where the second housing includes a second magnetic portion and a trench for receiving the locking protrusion of the first connector. Here, the second magnetic portion is magnetically attracted to the first magnetic portion. The buckle further includes a locking mechanism mounted on the second connector at the trench. The locking mechanism includes a pivotable lever with a blocking portion. During mating of the first connector and the second connector, the pivotable lever pivotably receives the locking protrusion until the locking protrusion seats within the trench in a locked position. The blocking portion blocks the locking protrusion from movement in the locked position.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A buckle comprising:
 a first connector including a first housing, the first housing including a locking protrusion and a first magnetic portion;   a second connector including a second housing, the second housing including a second magnetic portion and a trench for receiving the locking protrusion of the first connector, the second magnetic portion magnetically attracted to the first magnetic portion; and   a locking mechanism mounted on the second connector at the trench, the locking mechanism including a pivotable lever with a blocking portion,   wherein during mating of the first connector and the second connector, the pivotable lever pivotably receives the locking protrusion until the locking protrusion seats within the trench in a locked position, the blocking portion blocking the locking protrusion from movement in the locked position.   
     
     
         2 . The buckle of  claim 1 , wherein, during mating of the first connector and the second connector, the locking protrusion moves in a locking direction and seats within the trench in the locking position, the blocking portion blocking the locking protrusion from movement in a direction opposite the locking direction. 
     
     
         3 . The buckle of  claim 2 , wherein the locking direction is perpendicular to a direction of attraction between the first magnetic portion and the second magnetic portion. 
     
     
         4 . The buckle of  claim 1 , wherein when receiving the locking protrusion, the pivotable lever pivots into the trench. 
     
     
         5 . The buckle of  claim 1 , wherein mating of the first connector and the second connector further comprises receiving a mating force, the mating force pivoting the pivotable lever and seating the locking protrusion within the trench. 
     
     
         6 . The buckle of  claim 1 , wherein the locking mechanism is mounted partially obstructing the trench. 
     
     
         7 . The buckle of  claim 1 , wherein
 the first connector further comprises a registration cavity; and   the second connector further comprises a registration protrusion matingly receivable by the registration cavity,   wherein, when the first connector mates with the second connector, the registration protrusion seats within the registration cavity.   
     
     
         8 . The buckle of  claim 7 , wherein the registration cavity includes a blocking wall and wherein, in the locked position, the blocking wall prevents the first connector from decoupling with the second connector in any direction forming an angle with a locking direction. 
     
     
         9 . The buckle of  claim 8 . wherein the locking direction is perpendicular to a direction of attraction between the first magnetic portion and the second magnetic portion. 
     
     
         10 . The buckle of  claim 7 , wherein each of the first connector and the second connector have a front face as a mating surface, the front face of the first connector including the locking protrusion and the first magnetic portion, the front face of the second connector including the trench and the second magnetic portion. 
     
     
         11 . The buckle of  claim 10 , wherein the registration protrusion of the second connector is offset from and parallel to the front face of the second connector. 
     
     
         12 . The buckle of  claim 10 , wherein the registration cavity of the first connector is formed in a side face of the first housing of the first connector, the side face perpendicular to the front face of the first connector. 
     
     
         13 . The buckle of  claim 1 , wherein the first connector and the second connector are identical and symmetrically mate. 
     
     
         14 . The buckle of  claim 1 , wherein each of the first connector and the second connector further comprise receiving portions configured to attach to straps. 
     
     
         15 . The buckle of  claim 1 . wherein unlocking the buckle from the locking position includes receiving an actuation force at the locking mechanism, the actuation force pivoting the pivotable lever to an unlocked position, the unlocked position separating the blocking portion from the locking protrusion. 
     
     
         16 . A method of forming a buckle, the method comprising:
 forming a buckle comprising:
 a first connector including a first housing, the first housing including a locking protrusion and a first magnetic cavity; and 
 a second connector including a second housing, the second housing including a second magnetic cavity and a trench configured to receive the locking protrusion of the first connector; 
   inserting a first magnet into the first magnetic cavity and a second magnet into the second magnetic cavity, the second magnet magnetically attracted to the first magnet when the first connector mates with the second connector; and   mounting a locking mechanism on the second connector at the trench, the locking mechanism including a pivotable lever with a blocking portion, and wherein during mating of the first connector and the second connector, the pivotable lever pivotably receives the locking protrusion until the locking protrusion seats within the trench in a locked position, the blocking portion blocking the locking protrusion from movement in the locked position.   
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein forming the buckle further comprises forming a registration cavity in the first connector and a registration protrusion in the second connector, the registration cavity formed to matingly receive the registration protrusion, and wherein, when the first connector mates with the second connector, the registration protrusion seats within the registration cavity with the registration cavity surrounding the registration protrusion. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein the registration cavity includes a blocking wall and wherein, in the locked position, the blocking wall prevents the first connector from decoupling with the second connector in any direction forming an angle with a locking direction. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein the registration cavity of the first connector is formed in a side face of the first housing of the first connector, the side face perpendicular to a front face of the first connector. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein each of the first connector and the second connector have a front face as a mating surface, the front face of the first connector including the locking protrusion and the first magnetic cavity, the front face of the second connector including the trench and the second magnetic cavity.