Multiple buckle release system

Abstract

A buckle release system has a base plate, a fulcrum mounted on the base plate, a lever pivotably mounted on the fulcrum, a handle connected to one end of the lever, at least one cable mounted to the lever at a location remote from the handle, at least one buckle portion connected to the cable, and at least one mating buckle portion releasably connected to the one buckle portion. Pulling the handle pivots the lever and pulls the cables, causing the buckle portions to release from each other.

1 . A buckle release system comprising:
 a base plate;   a fulcrum mounted on the base plate;   a lever pivotably mounted on the fulcrum;   a handle mounted to the lever;   at least one cable mounted to the lever;   at least one buckle portion connected to the at least one cable; and   at least one mating buckle portion releasably connected to said at least one buckle portion;   wherein pulling the handle pivots the lever and pulls said at least one cable, causing the buckle portions to release from each other.   
     
     
         2 . The system according to  claim 1 , wherein there are at least two cables connected to the lever, and two buckle portions. 
     
     
         3 . The system according to  claim 1 , wherein the fulcrum is located between the at least one cable and the handle. 
     
     
         4 . The system according to  claim 1 , wherein the at least one cable is disposed between the fulcrum and the handle. 
     
     
         5 . The system according to  claim 1 , further comprising a cover plate disposed on top of the base plate and covering the lever. 
     
     
         6 . The system according to  claim 3 , wherein the lever is L-shaped, and the fulcrum is located at an elbow of the lever. 
     
     
         7 . The system according to  claim 2 , wherein at least one of the cables is connected to the lever on one side of the fulcrum, and at least one other of the cables is connected to the lever on an opposite side of the fulcrum, such that pulling on the handle pulls the cables on opposite sides of the fulcrum in opposite directions. 
     
     
         8 . The system according to  claim 1 , further comprising an additional lever connected to the fulcrum and the handle, and at least one cable and buckle portion connected to the additional lever, such that pulling the handle pivots both levers and pulls all of the cables connected to the levers. 
     
     
         9 . The system according to  claim 8 , wherein the fulcrum is located between connections of the handle to each of the levers, so that pulling the handle causes the levers to pivot in different directions from one another. 
     
     
         10 . The system according to  claim 9 , wherein the levers are L-shaped and wherein the fulcrum is located at an elbow of each of the levers. 
     
     
         11 . The system according to  claim 10 , wherein the handle is connected to one end of each of the levers. 
     
     
         12 . The system according to  claim 11 , wherein each lever is connected to two cables, so that the system releases four buckles simultaneously. 
     
     
         13 . The system according to  claim 12 , wherein the fulcrum is disposed between the handle and the two cables on each lever. 
     
     
         14 . The system according to  claim 13 , wherein the cables on each lever are disposed on opposite sides of the fulcrum from each other. 
     
     
         15 . The system according to  claim 1 , further comprising an additional lever connected to the handle, and at least one cable and buckle portion connected to the additional lever, wherein each lever pivots on a separate fulcrum, such that pulling the handle pivots both levers and pulls all of the cables connected to the levers. 
     
     
         16 . The system according to  claim 15 , wherein each lever is L-shaped and the fulcrum is located at an elbow of each lever. 
     
     
         17 . The system according to  claim 16 , wherein each lever is connected to two of said cables with buckles, such that pulling the handle releases all four buckles simultaneously. 
     
     
         18 . The system according to  claim 17 , wherein both cables of each lever are disposed on a same side of the lever relative to the fulcrum. 
     
     
         19 . The system according to  claim 1 , further comprising channels on the base plate for receiving the cables, wherein the cables slide within the channels when the handle is pulled. 
     
     
         20 . A cut-away vest comprising:
 (a) a front vest piece having two shoulder sections and two waist sections;   (b) a rear vest piece having two shoulder sections and two waist sections;   (c) at least two buckle assemblies, each buckle assembly having a male portion and a female portion, each of the male portions being attached to one of the front and rear vest pieces at least one of the shoulder sections and at least one of the waist sections, and each of the female portions being attached to the other of the front and rear vest pieces, one at each of the shoulder sections and waist sections respectively, so that the front vest piece is connected to the rear vest piece by inserting each of the male portions into a corresponding female portion;   (d) a plurality of cables, each cable connected at one end to one of the male portions, and having a second end; and   (e) buckle release system comprising:
 (i) a base plate connected to the vest piece containing the male buckle portions; 
 (ii) a fulcrum mounted on the base plate; 
 (iii) at least one lever pivotably mounted on the fulcrum, wherein said cables are connected to the at least one lever; and 
 (iv) a handle connected to the lever; 
   wherein pulling the handle pivots the lever and pulls said cables, causing the male buckle portions to release from the female buckle portions.   
     
     
         21 . The cut-away vest according to  claim 20 , wherein the buckle release system has two of said levers, with cables connected to each of the levers.