Buckle system

Abstract

The invention provides a buckle arrangement for a backpack comprising at least 4 interlocking buckle components, each of the components being respectively attached to a strap attached to the backpack, wherein each of the buckle components is provided with means for at least indirect interlocking independent releasable engagement with at least two other buckle components, the arrangement being such that a first component is provided with means for at least indirect independent interlocking releasable engagement with a second component wherein the first and second components are respectively attached to a pair of spaced apart straps, which straps in turn are attached to a same first side of the backpack, and the first component is further provided with means for at least indirect independent interlocking releasable engagement with a fourth component, wherein the fourth component is attached to a strap which in turn is attached to a second side of the backpack, at a point diagonally removed from the attachment point of the strap of the first component, whereby the 4 components are adapted to be at least indirectly interconnected and two diagonally attached components are adapted to be independently released, thereby leaving a diagonal interconnection between the two remaining components.

1 . A buckle arrangement for a backpack comprising at least 4 interlocking buckle components, each of said components being respectively attached to a strap attached to said backpack, wherein each of said buckle components is provided with means for at least indirect interlocking independent releasable engagement with at least two other buckle components, the arrangement being such that a first component is provided with means for at least indirect independent interlocking releasable engagement with a second component wherein said first and second components are respectively attached to a pair of spaced apart straps, which straps in turn are attached to a same first side of said backpack, and said first component is further provided with means for at least indirect independent interlocking releasable engagement with a fourth component, wherein said fourth component is attached to a strap which in turn is attached to a second side of said backpack, at a point diagonally removed from the attachment point of the strap of said first component, whereby said 4 components are adapted to be at least indirectly interconnected and two diagonally attached components are adapted to be independently released, thereby leaving a diagonal interconnection between the two remaining components. 
   
   
       2 . A buckle arrangement for a backpack according to  claim 1 , further comprising a fifth component provided with means for independent interlocking releasable engagement with each of said 4 buckle components and serving as an intermediate connecting means between said buckle components. 
   
   
       3 . A buckle arrangement for a backpack according to  claim 1  comprising at least 4 interlocking components, each of the components being respectively attached to a strap attached to the backpack, wherein each of the buckle components is provided with means for interlocking, independent releasable engagement with at least two other buckle components, the arrangement being such that a first component is provided with means for independent interlocking releasable engagement with a second component wherein the first and second components are respectively attached to a pair of spaced apart straps which straps in turn are attached to a same first side of the backpack, and the first component is further provided with means for independent interlocking releasable engagement with a fourth component wherein the fourth component is attached to a strap which in turn is attached to a second side of the backpack, at a point diagonally removed from the attachment point of the strap of the first component, whereby the 4 components are adapted to be interconnected and two diagonally attached components are adapted to be independently released, thereby leaving a diagonal interconnection between the two remaining components. 
   
   
       4 . A buckle arrangement for a backpack according to  claim 3 , wherein a third component is provided with means for independent interlocking releasable engagement with said fourth component, wherein said third and fourth components are respectively attached to a pair of spaced apart straps, which straps in turn are attached to a same second side of said backpack, and said third component is further provided with means for independent interlocking releasable engagement with said second component, wherein said second component is attached to a strap which in turn is attached to a first side of said backpack, at a point diagonally removed from the attachment point of the strap of said third component, whereby said 4 components are adapted to be interconnected and two diagonally attached components are adapted to be independently released, thereby leaving a diagonal interconnection between the two remaining components. 
   
   
       5 . A buckle arrangement for a backpack according to  claim 3 , wherein a first component is provided with means for independent interlocking releasable engagement with the other components, wherein said first and second components are attached to a same side of said backpack, and wherein said third and fourth components are attached to a second side of said backpack, and wherein said 4 components are adapted to be interconnected, and wherein said first and said second components are adapted to be released from said third and said fourth components, thereby leaving said first component interconnected with said second component, and said third component interconnected with said fourth component. 
   
   
       6 . A buckle arrangement according to  claim 3 , wherein each of said buckle components is provided with two separate means for interlocking independent releasable engagement, with engagement means provided on two other buckle components, wherein said means on each of said buckle components are arranged with an acute angle therebetween. 
   
   
       7 . A buckle arrangement according to  claim 3 , wherein each of said buckle components is provided with two separate means for interlocking independent releasable engagement, with engagement means provided on three other buckle components, wherein said means on each of said buckle components are arranged so as to allow for all four buckle components to mutually engage and form a disengageable united assembly. 
   
   
       8 . A buckle arrangement according to  claim 7 , wherein each of said buckle components is generally planar, and when engaged to another buckle component, thereby forms a planar, disengageable assembly. 
   
   
       9 . A buckle arrangement according to  claim 3 , wherein said means for interlocking independent releasable engagement, each includes two flexibly depressible elements for releasing said component from an engagement to a means for interlocking a buckle component on an adjoining component, wherein said releasing is effected by depressing a first flexibly depressible element disposed on said means, releasably engaging said adjoining component. 
   
   
       10 . A buckle arrangement according to  claim 9 , wherein each of said flexible elements is disposed within the plane of said buckle components, and is flexibly depressible inward into a plane of said buckle component. 
   
   
       11 . A buckle arrangement according to  claim 9 , wherein each of said flexible elements is disposed within the plane of said buckle components, and is flexibly depressible generally along a line perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of said buckle component. 
   
   
       12 . A buckle arrangement according to  claim 3 , wherein said means for interlocking, independent releasable engagement with at least two other buckle components includes a portion of a male-and-female releasable assembly. 
   
   
       13 . A buckle arrangement according to  claim 3 , wherein only one of the four buckle components contains said means for interlocking independent releasable engagement with at least two other buckle components, wherein said means is a female portion of a male-and-female releasable assembly. 
   
   
       14 . A buckle arrangement according to  claim 3 , wherein only one of the four buckle components contains said means for interlocking independent releasable engagement with at least two other buckle components, wherein said means is a male portion of a male-and-female releasable assembly. 
   
   
       15 . A buckle arrangement according to  claim 4 , wherein said first and fourth components are adapted to be independently released from each other and said second and third components are adapted to be simultaneously released from each other, thereby leaving linear connections between said first and second components and said third and fourth components.