A buckle assembly having a male buckle member and a female buckle member. The male buckle member contains an engaging means for engagement with the female portion and a male strap receiving means for coupling to a first strap. The female buckle member contains a receiving volume for engaging with the male buckle section and a female strap receiving means positioned on the bottom or top of the receiving volume and substantially along its open engaging end so that when the male and female buckle members are engaged and locked the female strap receiving means substantially abuts an interface section of the male buckle member causing the first and second strap to be in close proximity.
