Side-release buckle with security feature

Abstract

A side-release buckle having a male member having at least one forwardly dependent catch arm, and a female member having an opening adapted to receive the at least one forwardly dependent catch arm, wherein the at least one forwardly dependant catch arm includes an aperture permitting the connection of a security device. The female member may also include a second opening, the male member having three forwardly dependant catch arms, the middle of which is adapted to penetrate the second opening with an extension member having an aperture capable of receiving a security device. The male member and the female member may be connected by a strap. The female member may include a housing capable of preventing the strap from being loosened when the male member is within the female member.

1 . A side-release buckle comprising: 
 a male member having at least one forwardly dependent catch arm;    a female member having an opening adapted to receive said at least one forwardly dependent catch arm;    wherein said at least one forwardly dependant catch arm includes an aperture permitting the connection of a security device.    
   
   
       2 . The side-release buckle of  claim 1 , wherein said female member further comprises a second opening, said male member comprising three forwardly dependant catch arms, the middle of which is adapted to penetrate said second opening with an extension member having an aperture capable of receiving a security device.  
   
   
       3 . The side-release buckle of  claim 1 , wherein said security device is either a lock or a tamper indicative seal.  
   
   
       4 . The side-release buckle of  claim 1 , wherein said male member and said female member are connected by a strap, said female member further comprising a housing capable of preventing said strap from being loosened when said male member is within said female member.  
   
   
       5 . A side-release buckle for connecting a strap comprising: 
 a male member having a frame supporting a loop bar at its rear around which a strap is threaded and two forwardly dependent catch arms on each of a first side and a second side, at least one of said catch arms having an aperture within which a security device may be threaded; and,    a female member having a frontal opening, two side openings, and a loop bar at a rear portion around which the strap is threaded;    wherein said male member is capable of penetrating said female member through said frontal opening when said forwardly dependant latch arms are biased toward each other, said forwardly dependant latch arms extending from said two side openings respectively when said male member is within said female member.    
   
   
       6 . A side-release buckle for connecting a strap comprising: 
 a male member having a frame supporting a loop bar at its rear around which a strap is threaded and three forwardly dependant latch arms, two of which extend on a first side and a second side, the third of which extends from a middle, at least one of said catch arms having an aperture within which a security device may be threaded; and,    a female member having a frontal opening, two side openings, a top opening and a loop bar at a rear portion around which the strap is threaded;    wherein said male member is capable of penetrating said female member through said frontal opening when said forwardly dependant latch arms are biased toward each other, said forwardly dependant latch arms extending from said two side openings and said top opening when said male member is within said female member.    
   
   
       7 . A strap system comprising: 
 a side release buckle having a male member with a forwardly dependent catch arm, a female member with an opening adapted to receive said forwardly dependent catch arm, and a strap connecting said male member to said female member, said forwardly dependent catch arm having an aperture; and    a security device adapted to be threaded through said aperture to prevent said male member from being withdrawn from said female member.    
   
   
       8 . A method of securing a strap having a first end with a male member having a forwardly dependant catch arm and a female member with an opening adapted to receive the forwardly dependent catch arm, the forwardly dependant catch arm having an aperture for threading a security device therethrough, the security device preventing withdrawal of the male member from within the female member when threaded through the aperture, the method comprising: 
 inserting a male member of a strap into a female member of the strap such that a forwardly dependent catch arm of the male member extends from an opening in the female member;    threading a security device through an aperture in the forwardly dependent catch arm of the male member to prevent the male member from being withdrawn from the female member.    
   
   
       9 . The method of  claim 8 , further comprising the steps of opening the security member; 
 unthreading the security member from the aperture in the forwardly dependent catch arm.    
   
   
       10 . The method of  claim 9 , further comprising the step of withdrawing the male member from the female member.