QUICK RELEASE CLIP

Abstract

 A quick-release clip, particularly for wearable articles (2) comprises a male component (3) carrying a plate-like insert (6) and a female component (4) having a containment channel (7) configured to accommodate the plate-like insert (6) along an insertion direction (Z). The male component (3) also comprises an engagement wing (12) extending near the plate-like insert (6) and carrying an engagement tooth (14) projecting towards the plate-like insert. The containment channel (7) is delimited by a covering wall (8) that has an engagement seat (15) configured to engage the engagement tooth (14).

Description

[0001] The present invention relates to a quick-release clip, particularly for wearable articles.

[0002] In more detail, the present invention may be conveniently used to equip clothing, backpacks, belts, personal protective equipment or any other type of article which, in case of need, must be easily and immediately released and taken off from the user's body.

[0003] For example, in the case of bulletproof vests, it is necessary to provide a system to immediately remove the vest from the user's body, which can be easily implemented even in emergency conditions determined by a partial inability of the user to move.

[0004] In fact, especially in the context of using the article for military purposes, the user in an injured or semi-mobile condition must still be able to release the bulletproof vest (or backpack or any other type of belt worn by the user) by separating the respective portions of the vest from each other and thus allowing the article to be easily taken off from the body.

[0005] For this purpose, it is known to use quick-release clips generally placed at belts or shoulder straps that are close to the user's body and easy to access, in order to allow quick release by manual action.

[0006] Such quick-release clips typically consist of two components, each of which is permanently associated with a part of the article to be separated, and can be reversibly engaged with each other by means of appropriate mechanical hooking systems. Generally, such systems are implemented by interlocking surfaces suitably configured to couple and withstand traction actions under normal conditions of use.

[0007] At least one of the two portions is also equipped with a manual actuator in the form of a tab and/or cord, adapted to be pulled along a direction transverse to the coupling/decoupling direction of the two portions. By acting on the actuator, it is therefore possible to disengage the mechanical interlocking of the two components, allowing them to be detached and the article to be separated from the user's body.

[0008] An example of the known systems described above is shown in document US7448116_B1, which describes a quick-release buckle having a male component and a female component that can be removably coupled to each other by snap engagement. A containment channel is in fact defined in the female component, configured to engage, sliding along a predetermined insertion direction, an insert carried by the male component. An engagement wing obtained on the female component at the containment channel allows the two components to disengage from each other. The engagement wing can be operated either by pulling a cord to which it is attached or by accessing a lifting tab protruding from its front end.

[0009] The Applicant found that known clips of the type described above have major drawbacks and application limitations.

[0010] In particular, it was observed that the presence of the engagement wing on the female component inevitably interrupts the structural continuity of the containment channel, which assumes a substantially C-shaped crosssectional configuration. This structure shows a certain mechanical yielding so that under rather high stresses, e.g. torsional stresses accompanied by traction along the insertion direction, it may undergo deformations resulting in the components undesirably decoupling from each other. In this context, the male element can slip out of the containment channel, thus leading to accidental detachment of the male component from the female component, with consequent drawbacks in terms of safety and tightness of the device.

[0011] The attempt to limit the problems described above leads to strengthen the female element by choosing suitably rigid materials and relatively high thicknesses. This results in an undesirable increase in structural size and weight for the same mechanical strength, together with greater manoeuvring difficulties for release purposes, with important safety consequences when opening is required in emergency situations.

[0012] It has also been observed that the integration of the engagement wing into the female component tends to significantly increase the geometric and structural complexity of the latter, requiring rather complex moulds and tooling for manufacturing it. This leads to a significant increase in production costs, as well as a considerable limitation in design freedom. The object of the present invention is to make available a quick-release clip that can overcome the problems described above.

[0013] In particular, an object of the present invention is to provide a quick-release clip that offers greater structural strength to stress.

[0014] The object is also to offer a clip that, for the same structural strength, can be made from a smaller amount of material, which is advantageous in terms of weight, space requirements and manufacturing costs.

[0015] A further object of the invention is to offer a clip that can simplify the manoeuvres required for decoupling male and female components from each other.

[0016] A further object is to propose a clip whose design concept offers greater design freedom to obtain the desired mechanical strength and ability to respond to manoeuvres aimed at disengaging the male element from the female element.

[0017] In addition, the object is to obtain a clip that can be manufactured at a lower cost, also thanks to the possibility of using relatively simple moulds and equipment for producing it.

[0018] More in particular, the subject matter of the present invention is a quick-release clip, according to claim 1.

[0019] The absence of the engagement wing on the female component gives the latter greater structural strength, using a lower amount of material and consequent advantages in terms of weight, overall dimensions and manufacturing costs.

[0020] It is also considered that the positioning of the engagement wing carrying the engagement tooth on the male component instead of the female component conveniently simplifies the structure of the latter, without significantly hindering the structure of the male component. The buckle can therefore be manufactured using simplified moulds, to the benefit of production cost reduction.

[0021] It is also possible to achieve greater design freedom in the choice of shapes and thicknesses of materials suitable for offering the necessary strength and optimum yielding to simplify the release operation, either with the aid of a traction cord or by means of a manual action directly applied to the engagement wing.

[0022] According to a further aspect, the invention relates to a wearable article comprising one or more clips according to the foregoing.

[0023] In at least one of the aforesaid aspects, the invention may comprise one or more of the following preferred features.

[0024] Preferably, the covering wall is configured to fit between the engagement wing and the plate-like insert.

[0025] Preferably, the covering wall is thicker than a distance between the engagement tooth and the plate-like insert.

[0026] Preferably, the covering wall is configured to act against the engagement tooth to elastically move the engagement wing away from the plate-like insert during insertion of the latter in the containment channel.

[0027] Preferably, the plate-like insert extends overhanging from an attachment portion of the male component, along an insertion direction in the containment channel.

[0028] Preferably, the plate-like insert has a substantially rectangular shape. Preferably, the plate-like insert has a substantially trapezoidal shape. Preferably, the plate-like insert has a wedge-shaped profile in a section plane parallel to the insertion direction.

[0029] Preferably, the containment channel extends from an attachment portion of the female component, along an insertion direction of the plate-like insert.

[0030] Preferably, the containment channel has an access opening at one end thereof opposite to the attachment portion of the female component. Preferably, the containment channel and the plate-like insert have mutually complementary shape.

[0031] Preferably, in a section plane orthogonal to the insertion direction, the containment channel extends in a closed line around the insertion direction.

[0032] Preferably, the containment channel is delimited between said covering wall, a base wall parallel to the covering wall, and two lateral walls each extending between the base wall and the covering wall.

[0033] Preferably, said covering wall, base wall and lateral walls extend one after the other according to a continuous development in a section plane orthogonal to the insertion direction.

[0034] Preferably, the lateral walls mutually converge along the insertion direction.

[0035] Preferably, the lateral walls mutually converge towards the attachment portion of the female component.

[0036] Preferably, the lateral walls are parallel to corresponding lateral edges of the plate-like insert of the male component.

[0037] Preferably, the base wall and the covering wall converge on each other along the insertion direction.

[0038] Preferably, the base wall and the covering wall mutually converge towards the attachment portion of the female component.

[0039] Preferably, the base wall and the covering wall are parallel to corresponding opposite faces of the plate-like insert of the male component.

[0040] Preferably, the engagement seat is configured to accommodate the engagement tooth by snap engagement.

[0041] Preferably, the engagement seat is made in the form of an opening passing through the covering wall.

[0042] Preferably, the engagement seat is arranged close to the attachment portion of the female component.

[0043] Preferably, the engagement seat has an elongated configuration transverse to the insertion direction.

[0044] Preferably, the engagement tooth has an elongated configuration transverse to the insertion direction.

[0045] Preferably, the female component has auxiliary containment walls protruding from the covering wall in order to define with the latter a housing for the engagement wing.

[0046] Preferably, the auxiliary retaining walls extend in continuation of the lateral walls of the containment channel.

[0047] Preferably, stop shoulders projecting in said housing are also provided. Preferably, said stop shoulders are configured to act against the engagement wing and limit the translation thereof away from the plate-like insert.

[0048] Preferably, said stop shoulders are obtained in the auxiliary containment walls near the attachment portion of the female component.

[0049] Preferably, there is also a gripping element carried by the engagement wing.

[0050] Preferably, the gripping element is made in the form of an eyelet protruding from the opposite side with respect to the plate-like insert and engaging a traction cord.

[0051] Preferably, the engagement wing is joined to the attachment portion by an elastically deformable interconnection portion.

[0052] Preferably, the interconnection portion has an arcuate profile in a section plane parallel to the insertion direction.

[0053] Preferably, the interconnection portion is thinner than the engagement wing.

[0054] More features and advantages will appear from the detailed description of a preferred, but not exclusive, embodiment of a quick-release clip according to the present invention. Such description will be set forth herein below with reference to the accompanying drawings, provided for merely indicative and therefore non-limiting purposes, wherein:

• Figure 1 shows in a perspective view the concerned clip with a male component and a female component mutually connected;
• Figure 2 shows the clip of Figure 1 with the male and female components decoupled;
• Figure 3 shows the male and female components from a different perspective angle;
• Figures 4 to 7 show some steps in the decoupling of the male component from the female component, sectioned in a plane parallel to an insertion direction;
• Figure 8 shows an example of the clips according to the invention applied to a wearable article.

[0055] In the above-mentioned figures, a quick-release clip is globally referred to as 1, in accordance with the present invention. The clip 1 can be conveniently used on wearable articles 2, e.g. to equip clothing, backpacks, belts, personal protective equipment or any other type of article 2 that, if necessary, must be easily and immediately detached and taken off from the user's body. Figure 8 shows, for exemplary purposes, a bulletproof vest equipped with two clips according to the present invention. The clip 1 essentially comprises a male component 3 and a female component 4 that can be snap-fitted together by mutually sliding along a predetermined insertion direction referred to as Z in the attached figures. Each of said male component 3 and female component 4, preferably made in a single piece of injection-moulded plastic material, is suitable to be constrained to a part of the wearable article 2 by means of a respective attachment portion 3a, 4a, preferably provided with a through-hole through which a textile tape 5 (Figure 8) is typically engaged and secured to the respective part of the wearable article 2.

[0056] The male component 3 has a plate-like insert 6 extending overhanging from the respective attachment portion 3a, along the insertion direction Z. The plate-like insert 6 may conveniently be substantially rectangular in shape or, as envisaged in the preferred embodiment shown herein, substantially trapezoidal. It may also be conveniently provided that the plate-like insert 6 has, in a section plane parallel to the insertion direction Z, a substantially wedge-shaped profile as better visible in Figures 4 to 7. The female component 4 in turn has a containment channel 7 extending from the respective attachment portion 4a along the insertion direction Z. The containment channel 7 is perimetrically delimited by a covering wall 8, a base wall 9 parallel to covering wall 8, and two lateral walls 10 each extending between the base wall 9 and the covering wall 8. Said covering wall 8, base wall 9 and lateral walls 10 extend one after the other according to a continuous development in a section plane orthogonal to the insertion direction Z so that, in the same section plane, the containment channel 7 extends according to a closed line around the insertion direction, as better visible in Figure 3.

[0057] At one end of the containment channel 7 opposite to the attachment portion 4a of the female component 4, said covering wall 8, base wall 9 and lateral walls 10 define an access opening 11 through which the containment channel accommodates the plate-like insert 6 of the male component 3.

[0058] Preferably, the containment channel 7 and the plate-like insert 6 have a mutually complementary shape. To this end, it can be envisaged that at least within the containment channel 7, the lateral walls 10 mutually converge along the insertion direction Z, towards the attachment portion 4a of the female component 4, according to a course parallel to the corresponding lateral edges 6a of the plate-like insert 6 of the male component 3. Similarly, at least within the containment channel 7, the base wall 9 and the covering wall 8 may mutually converge along the insertion direction Z, towards the attachment portion 4a of the female component 4, according to a course parallel to mutually opposite faces 6b of the plate-like insert 6.

[0059] As clearly visible in the appended figures, the male component 3 further comprises at least one engagement wing 12 extending from the respective attachment portion 3a, next to the plate-like insert 6, following a course substantially parallel to the latter at a short distance therefrom. Preferably, the engagement wing 12 is joined to the respective attachment portion 3a by means of an elastically deformable interconnection portion 13, which may conveniently have an arcuate profile in a section plane parallel to the insertion direction Z. As better visible in Figures 4 to 7, the interconnection portion 13 can have a small thickness compared to the engagement wing 12, to the benefit of elastic deformability.

[0060] The engagement wing 12 has, at one end thereof opposite to the attachment portion 3a, at least one engagement tooth 14 protruding towards the plate-like insert 6 and preferably having an elongated configuration transverse to the insertion direction Z.

[0061] When inserting the plate-like insert 6 into the containment channel 7, the covering wall 8 of the female component 4 is inserted between the engagement wing 12 and the plate-like insert 6. As it is clearly visible from Figure 7, the covering wall 8 has a thickness greater than a distance between the engagement tooth 14 and the plate-like insert 6, so that it can act against the engagement tooth 14 to elastically move the engagement wing 12 away from the plate-like insert 6 during insertion of the latter into the containment channel 7.

[0062] At least one engagement seat 15 arranged in the covering wall 8 engages in a snap manner the engagement tooth 14 upon insertion of the plate-like insert 6 in the containment channel 7. The engagement seat 15, preferably arranged near the attachment portion 4a of the female component 4, can be conveniently made in the form of an opening passing through the covering wall 8, according to an elongated configuration transverse to the insertion direction Z, consistently with the shape of the engagement tooth 14.

[0063] The snap engagement of the engagement tooth 14 in the respective engagement seat 15 ensures a stable connection between the male component 3 and the female component 4, which is able to withstand even high tensile forces that tend to pull the plate-like insert 6 out of the containment channel 7. The mutually complementary shape of the plate-like insert 6 and the containment channel 7 can further favour the stability of the connection. In addition, the continuous development in a closed line of the base walls 9, covering walls 8 and lateral walls 10 defined by the containment channel 7 around the plate-like insert 6 favours optimum mechanical strength in the absence of significant deformations even upon high torsional stresses around the insertion direction Z.

[0064] If required, it is possible to decouple the male component 3 from the female component 4 very easily and immediately. To this end, it may be conveniently provided that the engagement wing 12 carries a manually activated gripping element 16 to cause it to move away from the plate-like insert 6, and the consequent disengagement of the engagement tooth 14 from the engagement seat 15. In the preferred example shown, this gripping element 16 is defined by an eyelet arranged on the side opposite to the plate-like insert 6, for engaging a traction cord 17. As clearly shown in Figures 3 to 7, acting on the traction cord 17 causes elastic deformation of the engagement wing 12 resulting in disengagement of the engagement tooth 14 from the respective engagement seat 15. At the same time, the traction exerted on the cord 17 favours the extraction of the plate-like insert 6 from the containment channel 7 and the consequent separation of the male component 3 from the female component 4.

[0065] In order to preserve the engagement wing 12 from accidental impact and/or interference with external objects, the female component 4 may conveniently have auxiliary containment walls 18 protruding from the covering wall 8, preferably as a continuation of the lateral walls 10 of the containment channel 7, in order to define with the covering wall itself a housing 19 for the engagement wing 12 when the male component 3 and the female component 4 are mutually engaged.

[0066] Stop shoulders 20 projecting into the housing 19, for example obtained in the auxiliary containment walls 18 near the attachment portion 4a of the female component 4, and configured to act against the engagement wing 12 and limit its translation away from the plate-like insert 6, can also be provided. The engagement wing 12 is thus preserved from undesirable overstress, such as in the event of excessive force being applied via the traction cord 17.

Claims

1. Quick release clip, comprising

a male component (3) carrying a plate-like insert (6);

a female component (4) having a containment channel (7) configured to accommodate the plate-like insert (6) along an insertion direction (Z);

wherein the male component (3) also includes an engagement wing (12) extending next to the plate-like insert (6) and carrying an engagement tooth (14) protruding towards the plate-like insert itself;

and wherein the containment channel (7) is delimited by a covering wall (8) which has an engagement seat (15) configured to engage the engagement tooth (14).

2. Clip according to claim 1, wherein the covering wall (8) is configured to enter between the engagement wing (12) and the plate-like insert (6).

3. Clip according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the covering wall (8) is configured to act against the engagement tooth (14) to resiliently move the engagement wing (12) apart from the plate-like insert (6) during insertion of the latter in the containment channel (7).

4. Clip according to one or more of the preceding claims, wherein at least one of said plate-like insert (6) and containment channel (7) extends overhanging from an attachment portion (3a, 4a) of the male component (3) and, respectively, the female component (4), along said insertion direction (Z).

5. Clip according to one or more of the preceding claims, wherein in a section plane orthogonal to the insertion direction (Z), the containment channel (7) extends along a closed line around the insertion direction (Z).

6. Clip according to one or more of the preceding claims, wherein the containment channel (7) is delimited between said covering wall (8), a base wall (9) parallel to the covering wall (8), and two lateral walls (10) extending each between the base wall (9) and the covering wall (8).

7. Clip according to one or more of the preceding claims, wherein the female component (4) has auxiliary containment walls (18) projecting from the covering wall (8) to define with the latter a housing (19) for the engagement wing (12).

8. Clip according to one or more of the preceding claims, further comprising stop shoulders (20) projecting into said housing (19), configured to act against the engagement wing (12) and limit its translation away from the plate-like insert (6).

9. Clip according to one or more of the preceding claims, further comprising a gripping element (16) carried by the engagement wing (12), the gripping element (16) being made in the form of an eyelet protruding from the opposite side with respect to the plate-like insert (6) and engaging a traction cord (17).

10. Clip according to one or more of the preceding claims, wherein the engagement wing (12) is joined to the attachment portion (3a) of the male component (3) by an elastically deformable interconnection portion (13).

11. Wearable article, comprising at least one clip (1) according to one or more of the preceding claims.

Drawing