Apparatus for Assisted Buckle Release

Abstract

An apparatus for assisted buckle release employing a generally C-shaped, V-shaped, or U-shaped assistive device adapted to depress a buckle’s release button, such as a button typical of a child car seat restraint harness, and thereby assist in unlocking the buckle.

Claims

1. An apparatus for assistive buckle release for facilitating the release of vehicular restraints interconnected with a buckle, said apparatus comprising: an engagement portion configured to be positioned against the undersurface of the buckle or restraint; a generally planar lever arm connected to the engagement portion, said lever arm comprising: a basal side; a dorsal side; a first end disposed connected to the engagement portion; a second end disposed projected at an extremity away from the engagement portion; a body section disposed from the first end to the second end; and a protuberance projected from the basal side of the lever arm; wherein the protuberance is closer to the first end than the second end; wherein the thickness of the lever arm at the portion that is adjacent to the protuberance is the same thickness as the second end; wherein the apparatus surrounds at least three sides of the buckle or restraint through at least 270° with the engagement portion in contact against an undersurface of the buckle or restraint; wherein the assistive device facilitates release of the restraints interconnected with the buckle by increasing torque and/or pressure at the protuberance when applied in contact with a release button.

2. The apparatus for assisted buckle release of claim 1 wherein the protuberance comprises an actuator surface configured to seat against the release button of the existing buckle.

3. The apparatus for assisted buckle release of claim 2 wherein the actuator surface is configured to increase frictional engagement against the release button of the buckle.

4. The apparatus for assisted buckle release of claim 2 wherein at least a portion of the lever arm comprises a yielding, polymeric overmold.

5. The apparatus for assisted buckle release of claim 1 wherein ends of the lever arm and engagement portion are rounded to prevent harmful contact.

6. The apparatus for assisted buckle release of claim 1 wherein the body section is disposed along an arc.

7. The apparatus for assisted buckle release of claim 1 wherein the engagement portion and the lever arm are not directly connected and are disposed on either side of a midportion.

8. The apparatus for assisted buckle release of claim 1 wherein the dorsal side of the lever arm between the location of the protuberance and the second end is flat or angular, and not curved.

9. The apparatus for assisted buckle release of claim 1 wherein the width of the protuberance is less than the width of the lever arm.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0019] A more complete understanding of the method and apparatus of the present invention may be obtained by reference to the following Detailed Description when taken in conjunction with the accompanying Drawings wherein:

[0020] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a buckle release assistive device according to an example embodiment of the present invention;

[0021] FIG. 2 is a side elevation view of an example embodiment of the buckle release assistive device;

[0022] FIG. 3 is a side elevation view of an example embodiment of the buckle release assistive device;

[0023] FIG. 4 is a top elevation view of an example embodiment of the buckle release assistive device;

[0024] FIG. 5 is a bottom elevation view of an example embodiment of the buckle release assistive;

[0025] FIG. 6 is a rear elevation view of an example embodiment of the buckle release assistive device;

[0026] FIG. 7 is a front elevation view of an example embodiment of the buckle release assistive device; and

[0027] FIG. 8 is a flow chart illustrating an exemplary method of using an embodiment of the buckle release assistive device.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0028] Referring to FIG. 1, the buckle release assistive device 10 contemplated for use with the present method herein disclosed includes a substantially C-shaped or U-shaped body 20 having a first wing 30 and a second wing 40 disposed spaced apart and projected anteriorly from a mid-portion 50. The first wing 30 and the second wing 40 therefore occupy parallel planes to delimit an intermediate space 60 therebetween.

[0029] The first wing 30 is disposed to position overtop the front of the buckle 100 to which the device 10 is applied and the second wing 40 is disposed to position overtop the rear of the buckle 100 to which the device 10 is applied. Thus the device 10 is fittable around a buckle 100 to position the buckle 100 interior to the intermediate space 60.

[0030] The first wing 30 includes an outer surface 32 extensive from the mid-portion 50 to a terminus 34. As best shown in FIGS. 1 and 4, the outer surface 32 widens towards apical edge 36 disposed at the terminus 34 at a farthest extremity from the mid-portion 50. The outer surface 32 therefore presents an area for contact with the hand of a user and presents a flat surface for engagement therewith. In some embodiments, the outer surface may be overlain with a polymeric overmold, devised to be accommodating and yielding to the touch. In the example embodiment depicted, and best shown in FIG. 4, the apical edge 36 is rounded to prevent harmful contact or discomfort in use.

[0031] In some embodiments, and as best shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the first wing 30 may also include a sloped member 39 disposed longitudinally upon the inner surface 38 thereof, between the apical edge 36 and the protuberance 70. The sloped member 39 may assist in fitting the assistive device 10 around the buckle 100, by siding engagement against the buckle 100 as the assistive device 10 is oriented into position, whereby the buckle 10 is forced to position in the intermediate space 60 with the buckle’s release button 102 positioned directly situated underneath the protuberance 70 at the end of the sloped member 39. The sloped member 39 may further act to strengthen the protuberance 70, to stabilize the protuberance 70, and prevent breakage thereof during use.

[0032] The second wing 40 also includes an outer surface 42 extensive from the mid-portion 50 to terminus 44. As best shown in FIG. 5, the outer surface 42 widens toward apical edge 46 disposed at the terminus 44 at a farthest extremity from the mid-portion 50. In some embodiments, the outer surface may be overlain with a polymeric overmold, devised to be accommodating and yielding to the touch. In the example embodiment depicted herein, while maintaining a similar width relative to and coextensive with the first wing 30, the second wing 40 has a longitudinal axis that is shorter than the longitudinal axis of the first wing 30. Thus, as best shown in FIG. 5, the first wing 30 extends its apical edge 36 farther from the mid-portion 50 than the second wing 40 and therefore overhangs the second wing 40 some distance. In the example embodiment depicted, and best shown in FIG. 5, the apical edge 46 is also rounded to prevent harmful contact of discomfort when in use.

[0033] As is best shown in FIG. 3, outer surface 42 of the second wing 40 may include transverse recess 49 disposed at terminus 44, said transverse recess 49 adapted to accommodate the intermediate phalanx of the user’s forefinger when engaging the buckle release assistive device 10, as will be explained forthwith.

[0034] The first wing 30 further includes an inner surface 38, disposed facing the second wing 40 on one side of the intermediate space 60. Likewise, the second wing 40 includes an inner surface 48, disposed facing the first wing 30 on the other side of the intermediate space 60. In the embodiment exemplified herein, a protuberance 70 is disposed projecting from the inner surface 38 of the first wing 30 into the intermediate space 60. The protuberance 70 includes an actuator surface 72 devised to seat against a button 102 of buckle 100, said actuator surface 72 sized appropriate therefor. The actuator surface 72 may include tractive members or other coating and/or surface features devised to increase friction against the button 102 to which the buckle release assistive device 10 is engaged.

[0035] As best shown in FIG. 2, the protuberance 70 may be disposed medially along the length of the first wing 30. The distance between the protuberance 70 and the apical edge 36 of the first wing 30 therefore represents a lever arm distance which increases torque when applying pressure to the button 102 to which the buckle release assistive device 10 is engaged. The surface area of each of the wings 30, 40 relative the surface area of the actuator surface 72 of the protuberance 70 creates a pressure differential wherein a force manually applied to the pair of wings 30, 40 is increased by distribution through the lesser surface area exhibited at the actuator surface 72, thus increasing efficacy in depressing an associated actuator button 102 underlying the actuator surface 72 of the protuberance 70. Thus, the device and method is operable as an assistive buckle release due to lever arm distance (increased torque) as well as pressure.

[0036] It should be noted, therefore, that the present method is employable with similar assistive devices (not shown) that orient the protuberance 70 at different locations along the length of the first wing 30, including embodiments that have the protuberance 70 at the terminus 34 of the first wing 30, say, or rendered as a projection disposed toward the second wing 40 from the apical edge 36 of the terminus 34, the main utility of the present method residing in the ability to depress button 102 indirectly and by action of the assistive device 10 disposed engaged around the buckle 100 proper, rather than any appreciable increase or decrease in action enabled by an associated lever arm distance. Since force is more easily applied by a user in contracting the hand generally, by leveraging the anatomy of the hand and its musculature between opposing digits, such as the thumb and forefinger, or thenar and fingers, for example, as opposed to depressing with a single digit such as a finger or thumb in a single direction, the actual position of the protuberance 70 upon the inner surface 38 of the first wing 30 is of lesser consequence than the position of each of the first and second wings 30, 40 occupying planes defining an intermediate space 60 adapted to accommodate the buckle 100 therein. The expanse of the upper surfaces 32, 42 likewise increases facility in employment of the present method. Thus, the assistive device 10 enables greater facility in effectuating release of a buckle 100 by increased torque, pressure, and manual engagement accommodative of the physical anatomy of the hand in general.

[0037] Mid-portion 50 is devised to be to enable compression of the first wing 30 and the second wing 40 together. Thus, the present buckle release assistive device 10 may be readily positioned with the first and second wing 30, 40 disposed on either side of the buckle 100. The distance between inner side 54 of mid-portion 50 and the protuberance 70 may be matched to the dimensions of the buckle 100 whereby the protuberance 70 is maintained directly overtop the button 102 when the buckle 100 abuts the inner side 54. A simple squeeze by the user then effects depression of the button 102 and release of the restraints 104.

[0038] In the example embodiment depicted herein, attachment member 56 is disposed upon an outer side 54 of the mid-portion 50 to enable interconnection with a key ring, or example, or another article, item, or accouterment, suited for porting or storing the present device 10.

[0039] FIG. 8 depicts a flow chart illustrating the steps of the present method 500 employed when using the instant device. A user first places the assistive device around a buckle, to engage the buckle interior to the intermediate space. Once positioned so that the protuberance is disposed directly overtop the buckle release button, the user grasps termini and squeezes together. The actuator surface of the protuberance therefore engages against the button and depresses it effectuating the release of tongues of the restraint belts. The buckle release assistive device may then be disengaged from around the buckle by sliding in the direction of the mid-portion and thence stored as desired.