Buckle Fastener with Magnet

Abstract

A buckle assembly that includes an insertion part and a receiving part. The insertion part has a housing with a projecting appendage that features one or more catches. The receiving part has a housing with an opening designed to accept the appendage of the insertion part. A first magnetic component is positioned in or on the receiving part, and a second magnetic component is positioned in or on the insertion part. At least one of the magnetic components is a permanent magnet, and the two components are arranged so they attract each other when the parts are brought together, helping to guide and engage them during assembly. Additionally, the receiving part includes a pair of pivoting latches that engage with the catches on the insertion appendage to securely lock the two parts together.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A buckle assembly comprising:
 a receiving part comprising a receiver housing;   an insertion part comprising an insertion housing configured to releasably engage the receiver housing;   a first magnetic component disposed on or within the receiver housing; and   a second magnetic component disposed on or within the insertion housing,
 wherein at least one of the first and second magnetic components comprises a permanent magnet, and 
 wherein the first and second magnetic components are configured to magnetically attract one another during assembly. 
   
     
     
         2 . The buckle assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the first and second magnetic components are configured to draw the insertion part into engagement with the receiving part during assembly. 
     
     
         3 . The buckle assembly of  claim 1 , wherein both the first magnetic component and the second magnetic component comprise permanent magnets. 
     
     
         4 . The buckle assembly of  claim 1 , wherein one of the first magnetic component or the second magnetic component comprises a ferrous material. 
     
     
         5 . The buckle assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the first and second magnetic components are perpendicular to one another. 
     
     
         6 . The buckle assembly of  claim 1 , wherein magnetic attraction between the first and second magnetic components is configured to provide lateral alignment of the insertion part and the receiving part during engagement. 
     
     
         7 . The buckle assembly of  claim 1 , further comprising an insertion appendage extending from the insertion housing, wherein the receiver housing defines an insertion opening configured to receive the insertion appendage. 
     
     
         8 . The buckle assembly of  claim 7 , further comprising a latch disposed within the receiver housing, the latch being pivotably mounted and configured to engage a corresponding catch on the insertion appendage when the insertion part is magnetically drawn into the receiving part. 
     
     
         9 . The buckle assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the permanent magnet comprises a neodymium-iron-boron (NdFeB) material, a samarium-cobalt (SmCo) material, or an alnico-based magnet material. 
     
     
         10 . The buckle assembly of  claim 1 , wherein at least one of the first and second magnetic components is insert-molded into the receiver housing or the insertion housing during manufacturing. 
     
     
         11 . The buckle assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the insertion housing and receiver housing are fabricated from a polymeric material and the first and second magnetic components are embedded therein. 
     
     
         12 . The buckle assembly of  claim 1 , wherein magnetic attraction provides at least partial self-alignment and engagement between the insertion part and the receiving part. 
     
     
         13 . The buckle assembly of  claim 1 , wherein a major axis of the first magnetic component is perpendicular to a major axis of the second magnetic component. 
     
     
         14 . The buckle assembly of  claim 1 , further comprising a pair of latches pivotably mounted relative to the receiver housing. 
     
     
         15 . The buckle assembly of  claim 14 , wherein each of the pair of latches comprises at least one tooth. 
     
     
         16 . The buckle assembly of  claim 15 , wherein the pair of latches are configured to interlock via the at least one tooth of each of the pair of latches. 
     
     
         17 . A buckle assembly comprising:
 an insertion part comprising an insertion housing configured to releasably engage the receiver housing, wherein the insertion housing includes an insertion appendage having one or more catches;   a receiving part comprising a receiver housing that defines an insertion opening configured to receive at least a portion of the insertion appendage;   a first magnetic component disposed on or within the receiver housing;   a second magnetic component disposed on or within the insertion housing,
 wherein at least one of the first and second magnetic components comprises a permanent magnet, and 
 wherein the first and second magnetic components are configured to magnetically attract one another during assembly; 
   a latch pivotably mounted to the receiver housing and configured to engage the one or more catches; and   a third magnetic component disposed on or within the latch.   
     
     
         18 . The buckle assembly of  claim 17 , wherein both the first magnetic component and the second magnetic component comprise permanent magnets. 
     
     
         19 . The buckle assembly of  claim 17 , wherein one of the first magnetic component or the second magnetic component comprises a ferrous material. 
     
     
         20 . The buckle assembly of  claim 17 , wherein the permanent magnet comprises a neodymium-iron-boron (NdFeB) material, a samarium-cobalt (SmCo) material, or an alnico-based magnet material.