Break-free safety release buckle and fastener

Abstract

A quick-release fastening device is disclosed. The device includes a first fastening component having upper and lower surfaces and first and second end portions. A pair of first and second elongated jaw elements are disposed on the first component first end portion and form a channel-like socket therebetween. The jaws define a gripping mechanism having an elongated jaw opening accessing the socket. The first jaw element has a length dimension less than the second jaw element. A tubular pocket is defined in the first member first end portion adjacent the channel-like socket to form a pivot point for the jaw elements. A second fastening component has first and second end portions, the second fastening component first end portion being adapted for releasable engagement with the first fastening component first end portion. Finally, a stud is mounted in the second fastening component first end portion. The stud is sized for releasable engagement within the channel-like socket and further includes an elongated cut-out portion which forms a slot along a substantial portion of the length of the stud, the slot being sized to match the first jaw element to enhance engagement of the stud within the socket without affecting release resistance of said stud imposed by said jaw elements.

1 . A quick-release fastening device comprising: 
 a first fastening component having upper and lower surfaces and first and second end portions;    a pair of first and second elongated jaw elements disposed on said first component first end portion and forming a channel-like socket therebetween to define a gripping mechanism having an elongated jaw opening accessing said socket, said first jaw element having a length dimension less than said second jaw element;    a tubular pocket defined in said first member first end portion adjacent said channel-like socket to form a pivot point for said jaw elements;    a second fastening component having first and second end portions, said second fastening component first end portion being adapted for releasable engagement with said first fastening component first end portion; and    a stud mounted in said second fastening component first end portion, said stud being sized for releasable engagement within said channel-like socket and further including an elongated cut-out portion forming a groove along a substantial portion of the length of said stud, said groove being sized to match said first jaw element to enhance engagement of said stud within said socket without affecting release resistance of said stud imposed by said jaw elements.    
   
   
       2 . The quick-release fastening device as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the length dimension of said first jaw element is defined by a pair of notched end portions.  
   
   
       3 . The quick-release fastening device as claimed in  claim 2 , wherein said stud includes a pair of cylindrical end portions disposed at the ends of said groove, said cylindrical end portions being sized and shaped to match the notched end portions of said first jaw element to enhance entry of said stud into said socket.  
   
   
       4 . The quick-release fastening device as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the release resistance of said stud from the elongated jaw opening of said gripping mechanism is defined by the elasticity of said jaw elements and the spacing between said channel-like socket and said tubular pocket pivot point adjacent thereto.  
   
   
       5 . The quick-release fastening device as claimed in  claim 4 , wherein said device further comprises a variable release resistance mechanism.  
   
   
       6 . The quick-release fastening device as claimed in  claim 5 , wherein said variable release resistance mechanism comprises a slot defined in the spacing between said channel-like socket and said tubular pocket pivot point to interconnect the same, said slot extending the entire width of said first fastening component.  
   
   
       7 . The quick-release fastening device as claimed in  claim 6 , wherein a connection bridge is disposed in a central portion of said slot to increase the release resistance of said stud.  
   
   
       8 . The quick-release fastening device as claimed in  claim 5 , wherein a vertical aperture is disposed through said first fastening component at the center of said spacing and is adapted to receive a rivet member to increase the release resistance of said stud.  
   
   
       9 . The quick-release fastening device as claimed in  claim 8 , wherein said rivet member includes a central portion having a reduced diameter to vary the release resistance of said stud.  
   
   
       10 . The quick-release fastening device as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein said first fastening component comprises a release member in the form of a buckle adapted to adjustably attach to a connecting strap, and wherein said second fastening component comprises a fastening link adapted to attach to a second article.  
   
   
       11 . A safety release system for fasteners to provide a break-away release fastener and buckle mechanism adapted for attachment to webbing and other devices used to secure equipment on or about a wearer and to other equipment and devices, such that the separating member of the system may be constructed as a reusable assembly or component of an assembly or as a tamper-proof replaceable sacrificial safety break fastener to provide automatic release under varied pre-determined amounts of tension on the buckle assembly, said system comprising: 
 a release member having upper and lower surfaces and first and second end portions;    a pair of upper and lower elongated jaw elements disposed on said release member first end portion and forming a channel-like socket therebetween to define a gripping mechanism having an elongated jaw opening accessing said socket, said upper jaw element having a length dimension less than said lower jaw element;    a lateral opening defined in said release member first end portion adjacent said channel-like socket to form a pivot point for said jaw elements;    an open slot defined in the space between said lateral opening and said channel-like socket;    a buckle assembly attached to said release member second end portion;    a fastening link having first and second end portions, said fastening link first end portion being adapted for releasable engagement with said release member first end portion;    a transversely oriented stud mounted in said fastening link first end portion, said stud being sized for releasable engagement within said channel-like socket and further including an elongated cut-out portion forming a groove along a substantial portion of the length of said stud, said groove being sized to match said upper jaw element to enhance engagement of said stud within said socket.    
   
   
       12 . The safety release system as claimed in  claim 11 , wherein the length dimension of said upper jaw element is defined by a pair of notched end portions, and said stud includes a pair of cylindrical end portions disposed at the ends of said groove, said cylindrical end portions being sized and shaped to match the notched end portions of said upper jaw element to enhance angled entry of said stud into said socket yet not effect break-away release resistance of said stud from said gripping mechanism socket.  
   
   
       13 . The safety release system as claimed in  claim 11 , wherein the break-away release resistance of said stud through the elongated jaw opening of said gripping mechanism is defined by the elasticity of said jaw elements and the slot between said channel-like socket and said lateral opening pivot point adjacent thereto.  
   
   
       14 . The safety release system as claimed in  claim 13 , wherein said device further comprises a variable break-away release resistance mechanism.  
   
   
       15 . The safety release system as claimed in  claim 14 , wherein said slot extends the entire width of said release member.  
   
   
       16 . The safety release system as claimed in  claim 14 , wherein a bridge is disposed in a central portion of said slot to increase the break-away release resistance of said stud by limiting movement of said jaw elements relative to each other until breakage of said bridge.  
   
   
       17 . The safety release system as claimed in  claim 14 , wherein a vertical aperture is disposed through said release member at the center of said slot and is adapted to receive a rivet member to increase the break-away release resistance of said stud by limiting movement of said jaw elements relative to each other until breakage of said rivet member.  
   
   
       18 . The quick-release fastening device as claimed in  claim 17 , wherein said rivet member includes a central portion having a reduced diameter to vary the break-away release resistance of said stud by varying the breakage strength of said rivet member.  
   
   
       19 . The safety release system as claimed in  claim 15 , wherein said release member is in the form of a buckle mechanism adapted for attachment to webbing and other devices used to secure equipment on or about a wearer and to other equipment and devices, and wherein said fastening link is the separating member and is adapted to attach to a second article including webbing and other devices.  
   
   
       20 . A quick-release buckle and fastener device having a break-away safety release mechanism, said device comprising: 
 a buckle member having upper and lower surfaces, a buckle end portion and quick-release end portion;    a pair of upper and lower elongated jaw elements disposed on said quick-release end portion and forming a channel-like socket therebetween to define a gripping mechanism having an elongated jaw opening accessing said socket, said upper jaw element having a length dimension less than said lower jaw element;    a tubular pocket defined in said quick-release end portion adjacent said channel-like socket to form a pivot point for said jaw elements;    an open slot defined in the space between said tubular pocket and said channel-like socket;    a variable break-away release resistance mechanism disposed in a central portion of said open slot to increase the break-away release resistance of said device by limiting movement of said jaw elements relative to each other;    a fastening link having a release attachment end portion and a connector end portion, said fastening link release attachment end portion being adapted for releasable engagement with said buckle member quick-release end portion; and    a transversely oriented stud mounted in said fastening link release attachment end portion, said stud being sized for releasable engagement within said channel-like socket and further including an elongated cut-out portion forming a groove along a substantial portion of the length of said stud, said groove being sized to match said upper jaw element to enhance engagement of said stud within said socket without affecting break-away release resistance imposed by said jaw elements.    
   
   
       21 . The quick-release fastening device as claimed in  claim 20 , wherein said variable break-away release resistance mechanism comprises a bridge disposed in a central portion of said slot to increase the break-away release resistance of said stud by limiting movement of said jaw elements relative to each other until breakage of said bridge.  
   
   
       22 . The quick-release fastening device as claimed in  claim 20 , wherein said variable break-away release resistance mechanism comprises a vertical aperture disposed through said buckle member at the center of said slot, and a removable rivet member disposed in said vertical aperture to increase the break-away release resistance of said stud by limiting movement of said jaw elements relative to each other until breakage of said rivet member, said rivet member including a central portion having a selectively variable reduced diameter to vary the break-away release resistance of said stud by varying the breakage strength of said rivet member.