The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Oct. 04, 1983
Filed:
Jan. 23, 1981
Peter Bauer, Germantown, MD (US);
Other;
Abstract
A latch mechanism useful for belt buckles, door latches, etc., includes an endless member in the form of a frusto-conical or frusto-spherical band of spring-like material which can be snapped between two stable positions. In one position the rim of the band is disposed on one side of a reference plane defined by the outer rim; in the other position the inner rim is on the opposite side of that plane. An integral tongue projects from one rim of the band and is positionally slaved thereto to assume first and second orientations depending upon the band position. The band is secured to one of two members to be latched, the second member having a keeper for receiving the tongue and a portion of the band, precluding relative movement between the two members. A keeper surface abuts the distal edge of the tongue in one stable band position such that movement of the band out of the keeper is resisted by the abutting force of the surface applied longitudinally to the tongue. When the band is snapped to its second position it can be slid out of the keeper along the reference plane. Belt buckle and door latch embodiments are disclosed.