Releasable two-part buckles

Abstract

A releasable two-part buckle having a first part and a second part is provided. The first and second parts have forward and rearward ends. A hook extends towards the forward end of the first part, while an arm extends towards the forward end of the second part. The hook has a first engagement surface. The arm has a center axis and a loop with a second engagement surface. The arm moves between an engaged state having the engagement surfaces engaged at a contact surface and a disengaged state having the engagement surfaces disengaged. In some embodiments, the buckle is configured so that the contact surface bisects the center axis in the engaged state. In other embodiments, the buckle is configured so that, when in the engaged state, a tension applied to the buckle induces substantially no bending moment in the arm towards the disengaged state.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A releasable two-part buckle, comprising:
 a first part with a forward end and a rearward end;   a stationary hook extending toward said forward end of said first part, said stationary hook having a first engagement surface;   a second part with a forward end and a rearward end; and   an arm extending toward said forward end of said second part, said arm having a center axis and defining a loop remote proximate said forward end, said loop having a second engagement surface,   said arm being resiliently movable between an engaged state having said first and second engagement surfaces engaged with one another at a contact surface and a disengaged state having said first and second engagement surfaces disengaged from one another.   
     
     
         2 . The releasable two-part buckle of  claim 1 , wherein said contact surface bisects said center axis in said engaged state. 
     
     
         3 . The releasable two-part buckle of  claim 1 , wherein said loop is a closed loop. 
     
     
         4 . The releasable two-part buckle of  claim 1 , wherein said loop is an open loop. 
     
     
         5 . The releasable two-part buckle of  claim 1 , wherein one or more of said arm and said second part are configured to allow said arm to resiliently move between said engaged and disengaged states. 
     
     
         6 . The releasable two-part buckle of  claim 1 , wherein said arm comprises a pair of arms and said a stationary hook comprises a pair of stationary hooks. 
     
     
         7 . The releasable two-part buckle of  claim 1 , further comprising a surface extending from said arm for application of a removal force that is perpendicular to said center axis to said arm. 
     
     
         8 . The releasable two-part buckle of  claim 7 , further comprising an opening defined through said surface, at least a portion of said stationary hook being received in said opening when said first and second parts engaged with one another. 
     
     
         9 . The releasable two-part buckle of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a first strap engaging portion extending toward said rearward end of said first part; and   a second strap engaging portion extending toward said rearward end of said second part.   
     
     
         10 . The releasable two-part buckle of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a first centering member toward from said forward end of said first part;   a second centering member extending toward said forward end of said second part, wherein said first and second centering members are slidably engagable with one another to align said arm and said stationary hook during engagement.   
     
     
         11 . The releasable two-part buckle of  claim 10 , wherein said arm comprises a pair of arms and said a stationary hook comprises a pair of stationary hooks, said first centering member being between said pair of stationary hooks and said second centering member being between said pair of arms. 
     
     
         12 . The releasable two-part buckle of  claim 11 , further comprising a locking member, said locking member being movable between a first position that prevents movement of said pair of arms towards said disengaged state and a second position that allows movement of said pair of arms towards said disengaged state. 
     
     
         13 . The releasable two-part buckle of  claim 12 , wherein said locking member is movable on said first centering member or said second centering member. 
     
     
         14 . The releasable two-part buckle of  claim 1 , further comprising a plurality of cam surfaces configured to separate said first and second parts upon application and removal of a removal force to said arm. 
     
     
         15 . A releasable two-part buckle, comprising:
 a first part having a first strap engaging portion and a pair of stationary hooks; and   a second part having a second strap engaging portion and a pair of arms, each arm having a center axis and a looped end, said pair of arms being resiliently movable between an engaged state having said pair of hooks and arms engaged with one another and a disengaged state having said pair of hooks and arms disengaged from one another,   wherein said pair of hooks and arms are configured so that, when in said engaged state, a tension applied to said first and second parts induces substantially no bending moment in said pair of arms towards said disengaged state.   
     
     
         16 . The releasable two-part buckle of  claim 15 , wherein said loop is a closed loop. 
     
     
         17 . The releasable two-part buckle of  claim 15 , wherein said loop is an open loop. 
     
     
         18 . The releasable two-part buckle of  claim 15 , further comprising a surface extending from each of said pair of resilient arms for application of a removal force to move said pair of resilient arms to said disengaged state. 
     
     
         19 . The releasable two-part buckle of  claim 18 , further comprising an opening defined through said surface, at least a portion of said stationary hook being received in said opening when said first and second parts engaged with one another. 
     
     
         20 . The releasable two-part buckle of  claim 15 , further comprising:
 a first centering member extending from said first part between said pair of stationary hooks; and   a second centering member extending from said second part between said pair of arms, wherein said first and second centering members are slidably engagable with one another to align said pair of arms and said pair of stationary hooks during engagement.   
     
     
         21 . The releasable two part buckle of  claim 20 , further comprising a locking member, said locking member being movable between a first position that prevents inward movement of said pair of arms towards said disengaged state and a second position that allows movement of said pair of arms towards said disengaged state. 
     
     
         22 . The releasable two part buckle of  claim 21 , wherein said locking member is slidably positioned on said first centering member. 
     
     
         23 . The releasable two part buckle of  claim 21 , wherein said locking member is slidably positioned on said second centering member. 
     
     
         24 . A releasable two-part buckle, comprising:
 a first part having a pair of stationary hooks, each hook of said pair of stationary hooks having a leg and a barb, said leg extending along a first of three perpendicular planes, said barb extending inward from said leg along a second of said three perpendicular planes; and   a second part having a pair of arms, each arm of said pair of arms having a first finger, a second finger, and a loop, said first and second fingers extending along said first of said three perpendicular planes and spaced from one another along a third of said three perpendicular planes a sufficient distance to accept said barb between said first and second fingers, said loop extending along said third of said three perpendicular planes and closing an end of said first and second fingers,   each arm being resiliently movable between an engaged state having said barb engaged with said loop of a corresponding hook and a disengaged state having said barb disengaged from said loop of said corresponding hook.   
     
     
         25 . The releasable two-part buckle of  claim 24 , wherein said loop is a closed loop. 
     
     
         26 . The releasable two-part buckle of  claim 24 , wherein said loop is an open loop.