Dual action locking buckle device

Abstract

A strap buckle having a handle member rotatably connected to a base member about a first bolt, between an open position and a closed position. A second bolt is connected to the handle member between the first bolt and the handle member's distal end so that the second bolt rotates about the first bolt as the handle member is rotated between the open and closed positions. A sleeve is rotatably disposed around the second bolt. A strap is looped around the sleeve, with strap segments extending therefrom. When the buckle is in the open position, the strap segments extend past, but not around, the first bolt. When the buckle is in the closed position, the strap segments extend around the first bolt such that friction between the strap segments rounding the first bolt prevent movement of the strap in one direction, while allowing movement in the reverse direction.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A buckle device, comprising: 
 a base member having opposing sidewalls and a distal end;    a handle member having opposing arms and a distal end;    a first bolt that rotatably connects the sidewalls to the arms so that the handle member rotates relative to the base member about the first bolt between an open position with the distal ends separated from each other and a closed position with the distal ends positioned adjacent to each other;    a second bolt connected between the arms so that the second bolt rotates around the first bolt as the handle rotates between the open and closed positions;    a sleeve rotatably disposed around one of the first and second bolts; and    a strap looped around the sleeve, with a free segment and a load segment of the strap extending therefrom;    wherein with the handle member in the open position, the free and load segments extend past, but not around, the other one of the first and second bolts; and    wherein with the handle member in the closed position, the free and load segments extend around the other one of the first and second bolts, with the free segment disposed between the load segment and the other one of the first and second bolts, such that the strap is allowed to move around the sleeve as the free segment is pulled but is prevented from moving around the sleeve as the load segment is pulled by friction between the free and load segments extending around the other one of the first and second bolts.    
     
     
         2 . The buckle device of  claim 1 , wherein: 
 with the handle member in the open position, the free and load segments extend away from the sleeve and toward the base member distal end; and    with the handle member in the closed position, the free and load segments extend away from the sleeve and away from the base member distal end, around the other one of the first and second bolts, and then toward the base member distal end.    
     
     
         3 . The buckle device of  claim 1 , further comprising: 
 hooks formed on one of the handle and base members;    a latch plate slidably attached to the other of the handle and base members for engaging with the hooks as the handle member is positioned in the closed position.    
     
     
         4 . The buckle device of  claim 3 , further comprising: 
 a spring for resiliently urging the latch plate toward the hooks as the handle member is positioned in the closed position.    
     
     
         5 . The buckle device of  claim 1 , wherein the base member further includes a base plate connected between the sidewalls with at least at least one strap opening formed therein, and wherein the strap load segment extends through the at least one strap opening.  
     
     
         6 . The buckle device of  claim 1 , wherein the base member further includes a base plate connected between the sidewalls with a pair of strap openings formed therein, and wherein the strap load segment extends through the strap openings.  
     
     
         7 . The buckle device of  claim 1 , further comprising: 
 a second strap having a first end connected to the base member.    
     
     
         8 . The buckle device of  claim 7 , wherein: 
 the strap load segment terminates in an end that is connected to a hook member; and    the second strap having a second end that is connected to a hook member.    
     
     
         9 . A buckle device, comprising: 
 a base member having opposing sidewalls and a distal end;    a handle member having opposing arms and a distal end;    a first bolt that rotatably connects the sidewalls to the arms so that the handle member rotates relative to the base member about the first bolt between an open position with the distal ends separated from each other and a closed position with the distal ends positioned adjacent to each other;    a second bolt connected between the arms so that the second bolt rotates around the first bolt as the handle rotates between the open and closed positions, wherein one of the first and second bolts is disposed closer to the base member distal end relative to the other one of the first and second bolts with the handle in the open position, and wherein the other one of the first and second bolts is disposed closer to the base member distal end relative to the one of the first and second bolts with the handle in the closed position;    a sleeve rotatably disposed around the other one of the first and second bolts; and    a strap looped around the sleeve, with a free segment and a load segment of the strap extending therefrom;    wherein with the handle member in the open position, the free and load segments extend past, but not around, the one of the first and second bolts; and    wherein with the handle member in the closed position, the free and load segments extend around the one of the first and second bolts, with the free segment disposed between the load segment and the one of the first and second bolts, such that the strap is allowed to move around the sleeve as the free segment is pulled but is prevented from moving around the sleeve as the load segment is pulled by friction between the free and load segments extending around the one of the first and second bolts.    
     
     
         10 . The buckle device of  claim 9 , wherein: 
 with the handle member in the open position, the free and load segments extend away from the sleeve and toward the base member distal end; and    with the handle member in the closed position, the free and load segments extend away from the sleeve and away from the base member distal end, around the one of the first and second bolts, and then toward the base member distal end.    
     
     
         11 . The buckle device of  claim 9 , further comprising: 
 hooks formed on one of the handle and base members;    a latch plate slidably attached to the other of the handle and base members for engaging with the hooks as the handle member is positioned in the closed position.    
     
     
         12 . The buckle device of  claim 11 , further comprising: 
 a spring for resiliently urging the latch plate toward the hooks as the handle member is positioned in the closed position.    
     
     
         13 . The buckle device of  claim 9 , wherein the base member further includes a base plate connected between the sidewalls with at least at least one strap opening formed therein, and wherein the strap load segment extends through the at least one strap opening.  
     
     
         14 . The buckle device of  claim 9 , wherein the base member further includes a base plate connected between the sidewalls with a pair of strap openings formed therein, and wherein the strap load segment extends through the strap openings.  
     
     
         15 . The buckle device of  claim 9 , further comprising: 
 a second strap having a first end connected to the base member.    
     
     
         16 . The buckle device of  claim 15 , wherein: 
 the strap load segment terminates in an end that is connected to a hook member; and    the second strap having a second end that is connected to a hook member.    
     
     
         17 . A buckle device, comprising: 
 a base member having a proximate end and a distal end;    a handle member having a proximate end and a distal end;    a first bolt that rotatably connects the proximate ends together so that the handle member rotates relative to the base member about the first bolt between an open position with the distal ends separated from each other and a closed position with the distal ends positioned adjacent to each other;    a second bolt connected to the handle member at a position between the first bolt and the handle member proximate end so that the second bolt rotates around the first bolt as the handle rotates between the open and closed positions;    a sleeve rotatably disposed around the second bolt; and    a strap looped around the sleeve, with a free segment and a load segment of the strap extending therefrom;    wherein with the handle member in the open position, the free and load segments extend past, but not around, the first bolt; and    wherein with the handle member in the closed position, the free and load segments extend around the first bolt, with the free segment disposed between the load segment and the first bolt, such that the strap is allowed to move around the sleeve as the free segment is pulled but is prevented from moving around the sleeve as the load segment is pulled by friction between the free and load segments extending around the first bolt.    
     
     
         18 . The buckle device of  claim 17 , wherein: 
 with the handle member in the open position, the free and load segments extend away from the sleeve and toward the base member distal end; and    with the handle member in the closed position, the free and load segments extend away from the sleeve and away from the base member distal end, around the first bolt, and then toward the base member distal end.    
     
     
         19 . The buckle device of  claim 17 , further comprising: 
 hooks formed on the base member;    a latch plate slidably attached to the handle member for engaging with the hooks as the handle member is positioned in the closed position.    
     
     
         20 . The buckle device of  claim 19 , further comprising: 
 a spring for resiliently urging the latch plate toward the distal end of the handle member.    
     
     
         21 . The buckle device of  claim 17 , wherein the base member further includes a base plate with a pair of strap openings formed therein, and wherein the strap load segment extends through the strap openings.  
     
     
         22 . The buckle device of  claim 21 , further comprising: 
 a second strap having a first end connected to the base plate.    
     
     
         23 . The buckle device of  claim 22 , wherein: 
 the strap load segment terminates in an end that is connected to a hook member; and    the second strap having a second end that is connected to a hook member.