CA1116377A - Strap connector buckle - Google Patents
Strap connector buckleInfo
- Publication number
- CA1116377A CA1116377A CA000189673A CA189673A CA1116377A CA 1116377 A CA1116377 A CA 1116377A CA 000189673 A CA000189673 A CA 000189673A CA 189673 A CA189673 A CA 189673A CA 1116377 A CA1116377 A CA 1116377A
- Authority
- CA
- Canada
- Prior art keywords
- arms
- pair
- wire
- arm
- strap
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Expired
Links
Classifications
-
- A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
- A44—HABERDASHERY; JEWELLERY
- A44B—BUTTONS, PINS, BUCKLES, SLIDE FASTENERS, OR THE LIKE
- A44B11/00—Buckles; Similar fasteners for interconnecting straps or the like, e.g. for safety belts
- A44B11/02—Buckles; Similar fasteners for interconnecting straps or the like, e.g. for safety belts frictionally engaging surface of straps
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
- B65D—CONTAINERS FOR STORAGE OR TRANSPORT OF ARTICLES OR MATERIALS, e.g. BAGS, BARRELS, BOTTLES, BOXES, CANS, CARTONS, CRATES, DRUMS, JARS, TANKS, HOPPERS, FORWARDING CONTAINERS; ACCESSORIES, CLOSURES, OR FITTINGS THEREFOR; PACKAGING ELEMENTS; PACKAGES
- B65D63/00—Flexible elongated elements, e.g. straps, for bundling or supporting articles
- B65D63/10—Non-metallic straps, tapes, or bands; Filamentary elements, e.g. strings, threads or wires; Joints between ends thereof
- B65D63/14—Joints produced by application of separate securing members
- B65D63/16—Joints using buckles, wedges, or like locking members attached to the end of the element
-
- Y—GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
- Y10—TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC
- Y10T—TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER US CLASSIFICATION
- Y10T24/00—Buckles, buttons, clasps, etc.
- Y10T24/14—Bale and package ties, hose clamps
- Y10T24/1402—Packet holders
-
- Y—GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
- Y10—TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC
- Y10T—TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER US CLASSIFICATION
- Y10T24/00—Buckles, buttons, clasps, etc.
- Y10T24/40—Buckles
- Y10T24/4088—One-piece
- Y10T24/4093—Looped strap
Abstract
ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE
A strap connector buckle is formed from a single piece of wire such buckle being rectangular in outline and including a pair of strap engaging arms on opposing sides of the buckle. Each pair of arms includes a first and second arm both of which are straight and approximately parallel to one another and to the arms of the opposing pairs. The first and second arms of each pair are spaced apart sufficiently to permit, in use a strap with which the connector buckle is to be used to be passed therebetween.
The first arm of each of the pairs is a terminal portion of the wire and has a free end while the second arm of each pair is an intermediate wire segment. A first run of the wire connects the first arm of one such pair to the second arm of the other pair and a second run of the wire connects the second arm of said one pair to the first arm of the other pair. A further run of wire connects the second arms of the pairs to one another. In a preferred embodiment, the first run of wire has an end portion adjacent the first arm of said one pair provided with an elbow portion which extends partially around the second arm of the one pair in such a manner as to permit strap tension forces tending to spread the second arms apart to be transmitted from one of the second arms to the other thereby to resist the spreading apart of the second arms. In addition, the free ends of the first arms are arranged to engage and be supported by the further run of wire when the strap is under tension. The further run of wire has an upstanding elbow at each of its ends, with the free ends of the first arms tending to come into engagement with the elbows when the strap is tensioned thereby to hold them in approximate parallelism with their associated second arms.
A strap connector buckle is formed from a single piece of wire such buckle being rectangular in outline and including a pair of strap engaging arms on opposing sides of the buckle. Each pair of arms includes a first and second arm both of which are straight and approximately parallel to one another and to the arms of the opposing pairs. The first and second arms of each pair are spaced apart sufficiently to permit, in use a strap with which the connector buckle is to be used to be passed therebetween.
The first arm of each of the pairs is a terminal portion of the wire and has a free end while the second arm of each pair is an intermediate wire segment. A first run of the wire connects the first arm of one such pair to the second arm of the other pair and a second run of the wire connects the second arm of said one pair to the first arm of the other pair. A further run of wire connects the second arms of the pairs to one another. In a preferred embodiment, the first run of wire has an end portion adjacent the first arm of said one pair provided with an elbow portion which extends partially around the second arm of the one pair in such a manner as to permit strap tension forces tending to spread the second arms apart to be transmitted from one of the second arms to the other thereby to resist the spreading apart of the second arms. In addition, the free ends of the first arms are arranged to engage and be supported by the further run of wire when the strap is under tension. The further run of wire has an upstanding elbow at each of its ends, with the free ends of the first arms tending to come into engagement with the elbows when the strap is tensioned thereby to hold them in approximate parallelism with their associated second arms.
Description
This invention relates to an improved strap connector buckle for securing opposing ends of a flexible strap which is tensioned and arranged around a package, bale, box or bundle or other object that is to be tied or secured.
In recent years, non-metallic strapping, such as nylon, polypropelene, rayon and the like particularly in band or strap configuration, has become increasingly popular. In turn, there has been a demand for specialized fasteners or buckles for securing and tensioning the opposite ends of band or strap loops by means of frictional engagement rather than by means of strapping and sealing tools. Such fasteners or buckles, in order to be effective, must not only grip the band or strap and hold it securely, but also must be arranged such that the band or strap can easily be threaded thereinto by unskilled persons without the use of specialized tools.
In recent years, a number of connector buckle designs have evolved all of which consist of a single length of steel wire appropriately shaped. Unfortunately, ~n-mos* o~ ~heae~d~signs, pro~lems have arisen as a result of distortion occurring in the buckle under heavy tension well below the breaking point of the strapping being used. This distortion tends to destroy the parallel arrangement between the pairs of strap engaging arms at the opposite sides of the connector buckle and thus reduces the frictional hold which the buckle has on the plastic strapping thus causing slippage and hence some loosening of the strapping abou~
the package or object which is tied.
It is an object of the present invention to provide ; improved connector buckles designed and arranged in such a way as to strongly resist the tendency for the arms to be pulled out of parallelism under the influence of the forces applied thereto by the taut strapping.
Thus, one aspect of the present invention provides a strap connector buckle formed of a single ll~G3~
piece of wire, said buckle including a pair of strap engaging arms on each of two opposing sides of the connector buckle, each pair of arms comprising a first arm and a second arm both of which are substantially straight and approximately parallel to one another and to the first and second arms of the opposing pair, the first and second arms of each pair being spaced apart sufficiently to permit, in use, a strap with which the connector buckle is to be used to be passed therebetween, the first arm of each pair of arms being a respective terminal portion of the piece of wire and having a free end and the second arm of each pair of arms being an intermediate segment of the piece of wire, a first run of the piece of wire connecting the first arm of one of said pairs to the second arm of the other of said pairs, a second run of the piece of wire connecting the second arm of said one pair to the first arm of said other pair and a further run of the piece of wire connecting the second arms of said pairs to one another, and wherain the first run of the piece of wire has an end portion thereof adjacent the first arm of said one pair provided with a bend defining an elbow portion extending partially around said substantially straight second arm of said one pair to permit strap tension forces tending to spread said second arms apart to be transmitted from one of said second arms to the other of said second arms via said first run of the piece of wire to resist the spreading apart of said second arms, the free ends of the first arms being arranged to engage and to be supported by said further run of the piece of wire when said strap is under tension, said further run of the piece of wire including an upstanding elbow adjacent each of its ends, each said upstanding elbow being defined by a single bend at each of the opposing ends of said further run of the piece of wire, each of which single bends interconnects , ., .
. ~, . ..
~637~
with a further single bend formed at respective ends of each of said substantially straight second arms, said free ends of the first arms tending to come into engagement with said further run of the piece of wire at said upstanding elbows when the strap is tensioned with said upstanding elbows being arranged to hold said first arms in approximate parallelism with their associated second arms under the influence of strap tension forces, with said first arms of each of said pairs each being in non-overlying or non-overlapping relation with said second arm of the same pair and being located outwardly thereof along the corresponding sides of the buckle.
The invention will now be described by way of examples with reference being had to the accompanying drawings in which:
Fig. 1 is a perspective view of one embodiment of the strap connector buckle;
Fig. 2 is a plan view of the buckle of Fig. l;
; Fig. 3 is an end view of the embodiment of Fig. 1 illustrating diagrammatically the manner in which a strap is laced to the buckle;
Fig. 4 is a perspective view of another embodiment of the invention;
Fig. 5 is a plan view of the embodiment of Fig.4;
Fig. 6 is an end view of the embodiment of Fig. 4 illustrating diagrammatically how a connector strap is threaded to the buckle;
Fig. 7 is a further embodiment of the invention which is similar in many respects to the embodiment of Figure 4;
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Fig, 8 is a plan view of the embodiment of Fig. 7 and Fig. 9 is an end view of the embodiment of Fig. 7 illustrating diagrammatically how a stxap is threaded to the connector buckle.
With reference now to the first embodiment of the invention as shown in Fiys. 1-3, there is shown a strap connector buckle 10 formed from a single piece of round wire appropriately bent to ,the desired shape~ It will be seen that the connector buckle is approximately rectangular in outline and includes a first and second pair of strap engaging arms 12 and 14 on the opposing sides of the connector buckle. It will also be seen that the arms of each pair are generally straight and approximately parallel to one another and to the arms of the opposing pair, the arms being spaced apart sufficiently to permit the connector strap with which the connector buckle is to be used to be passed therebetween. It will also be seen that the first arms 16, 16a of each of said pairs of said arms 12 and 14 constitute terminal portions of the wire having free ends 18, 18a. Furthermore, it will be seen that the second arms 20, 20a of each pair constitute intermediate wire segments. As shown in the drawings, a first run of the wire 22 connects the first arm 16 of the first pair to - the second arm 20a of the second pair. A second run of the wire 24 serves to connect the second arm 20 of the first pair to the first arm 16a of the second pair and in addition, a further run of the wire 26 connects the second arms 20, 20a of the opposed pairs of arms to one another.
In accordance with an important aspect of the invention, the above mentioned first run of wire 22 has an end portion thereof 23 adjacent the point of connection to the first arm 16 provided with a generally right angled elbow portion which extends around a portion of the second arm 20 sufficiently as to permit strap ,:
Lension forces which are directed outwardly in the direction of arrows A in Fig. 1 to be transmitted from one of the second arms 20 to the other second arm 20a via the first run of wire 22 whereby to resist any tendency towards spreading apart of arms 20, 20a.
It will be seen that the elbow portion 23 comprises a simple but relatively sharp bend in the first run of wire 22 adjacent one end thereof, the bend 23 being located adjacent that end of the second arm 20 to which the second run of wire 24 is attached. Thus, under the influence of strap tension forces on the second arms 20, 20a, the right angle bend portion 23 comes into contact with the second arm 20 thus tra~smitting forces thereto and resisting the tendency to~ards spreading:
As a general observation with reference to Figs. 1 and 3 , it will be noted that the first arms 16, 16a of the opposed pairs 12 and 14 are located on the upper sides of the buckle 10, when in use, while the second arms 20, 20a are located on the under side of the buckle. It will also be noted with particular reference to Figs. 1 and 3 that the further run of wire 26 includes an upstanding elbow 28 at each of its opposed ends. Thus, an ~o intermediate portion 29 of the further run of wire 26 is disposed above the level of the second arms 20, 20a. It will also be noted with reference to Figs. 1 and 2 that the free ends 18/ 18a of the first arms 16, 1`6a extend beyond the further run of wire 26.
Also, as clearly shown in the drawings, the arms 16, 16a are spaced apart from one another further than are the arms 20, 20a primarily by virtue of the disposition of elbow ~3 and elbows 28.
Under the influence of strap ~ension forces on the arms, when the strap has been properly threaded to the buckle, as will be described, the free ends of the first arms deflect downwardly and inwardly as shown by arrows B in Fig. 3. Thus, such free ends of the arms come into contact with the further run of wire 26 at the elbows 28 as seen in Fig.3 and are supported thereby thus preventing -- ,B --further undue distortion of the first arms and loss of parallelism be-tween such arms and the remaining arms of the connector buckle. It is of course to be noted that the further run of wire 26 need not necessarily be provided with the upstanding elbows 28. In the absence of such elbows, the free ends of the first arms will simply be deflected downwardly and inwardly until such time as they contact the further run of wire 26 for support thereby. However, since such deflection may be detrimental under certain conditions, ; the provision of elbows 28 is very desirable.
With reference to Fig. 3, which illustrates the manner in which the strap is connected to the buckle 10, it will be seen that the free end of the strap 30, which straps or tapes are well known per se in the art, is passed around and under the second arm 20a and thence upwardly and around the first arm of the same i pair 16a and thence downwardly between arms 16a and 20a and thence around arm 20a whereby it is firmly sandwiched between the tensioned tape and arm 20a; The o-ther end of tape 30 is brought around the package or hale and is secured to the arms 16 and 20 of the first pair of arms in essentially the same fashion.
With reference now to Figures 4-6, there is shown a separate embodiment which is the subject of copending divisional application Serial No. 241,148 filed December 5,1975 . The buckle of Fig. 4 will be designated by the reference numeral 40 and it will be seen that, as with the previous embodiment, it is formed from a single piece of round wire. The connector buckle, as before, is vapproximately rectangular in outline and includes first and second pairs 42 and 44 of strap engaging arms on opposing sides of the connector buckle. As with the previous embodiment the arms of each pair are generally straight and approximately parallel to one another and to the arms of the opposing pair and they are spaced apart sufficiently as to permit a connectOr strap ," ~, .,.,. i ' 7 ~
~ith which the connector is to be used to be passed between SuCh arms. A first arm 46, 46a of eàch of said pairs 42 and 44 constitutes a terminal portion of the wire and they have free ends 48, 48a. Furthermore, the second arms 50, 50a of each of the opposed pairs 42 and 44 comprise an intermediate wire segment. In accordance with an important feature of the invention a first U-shaped bight 52 of the wire serves to connect the first arm 46 of the first pair of arms to one end of the second arm 50 of the first pair. Furthermore, a second U-shaped bight 54 of the wire serves to connect the first arm 46a of the second pair to one end of the second arm 50a of the second pair. It will be seen that the first and second U-shaped bights of wire 52 and 54 are interlooped together approximately midway along the end of the connector buckle. ~hat is, in the embodiment of Figs. 4-6, the U-shaped bights of wire 52 and 54 are of substantially equal length. By virtue of the fact that the U-shaped bights of wire 52 and 54 are interlooped together, they are capable of transmitting tension loads and thus they serve to resist any tendency for the second arms 50 and 50a of the first and second pairs of arms 42 and 44 to be spread apart under the influence of strap tension forces thereon. It will also be noted from a review of Figs. 4-6 that a further run of the wire 56 connects the opposite ends o tha second arms 50, 50a together, such ..... . . .
further run serving basically the same purpose as wire run 26 ; mentioned in conjunction with ~he`embodiments of Figs. 1-3.
,It will also be noted that when the connector buckle Iis in use, the free ended first arms 46, 46a are disposed on the upper face of the buckle while the second arms 50, 50a are dis-posed on the lower or opposing face of the buckle. It will also ~e noted that, as with the embodiment of Figs.1-3, that the free ends 48, 48a of the first arms 46, 46a extend outwardly beyond the further run of wire 56 which connects the other end of the second ,~
- .` .
arms 50, 50a together. Thus, under the influence of strap tension forces which cause such free ends 48, 48a to be sprung downwardly in a direction of arrows B as shown in Fiy. 6, such free ends engage the further run o~ wire 56 and are supported thereby thus ,-preventing undue distortion and loss of parallelism between the first arms and said second arms.
The manner in which a connector strap is threaded to the connector buckle of Figs.4-6 is essential~y the same as described in connection with the embodiment of Figs.1-3 and need not be repeated here.
The embodiments shown in Figs.7-9 are a variation of the embodiments of Figs.4-6 and thus a full description of this embodiment need not be repeated here. It will be seen that the embodiment of Figs.7-9 includes spaced pairs of arms on opposing sides of the connector including free ended first arms 46, 46a and second arms 50, 50a as previously described. The essential difference, however, is that the U-shaped bights of wire 52', 54i are of un~qual length. That is, U-shaped bight 54' is sufficiently long as to extend across the entire end of the connector buckle so that it interloops with the very short U-shaped bight 52' at one of the corners of the connector buckle. This version of the connector buckle functions as described previously in connection with Figs.
4-6 to prevent spreading apart of the second arms 50, 50a under the influence of tension forces thereon. As a further difference, it will also ~e noted that tne furtner run of wire ~b ~ which serves to connect the other ends of second arms 50, 50a`together ~iffers --... . . ., _ from that shown in connection with Figs. 4-6. In Figs. 4-6, the further run of wire 56 is substantially straight whereas in the embodiment of Figs. 7-9, the opposing ends of the further run of wire are provided with upstanding elbow portions 60 so that the further run of wire 56' assumes a configuration very similar to the configuration of the urther run of wire 26 in the ~ .
r~
embodiment of Figs. 1-3. Thus, since the free ends 48, 48a of first arms 46, 46a extend beyond thP further run of wire 56', the free ends of such first arms deflect downwardly under the influence of strap tension Eorces as illustrated by arrows B in Fig. 9 and thus come to rest against the further run of wire 56' adjacent the upstanding elbow portions 60 thereof.
The manner in which the connector strap is threaded to the connector buckle of Figs. 7-9 is the sarne as that shown for the embodiments of Figs. 1-6 and need not be repeated here.
It will thus be seen that the present invention, in its several aspects, provides ; connector buckle designs which are capable of resisting heavy strap tension forces and serve to maintain the various arms of the connector buckle in substantial parallelism at all times. Thus, the frictional hold which the buckle has on the strapping material is maintained and there is less chance of slippage occurring with resultant loosening of the strapping about the package or object which is to be tied th~n with prior art designs.
`Several embodiments of the invention have been illustrated by way of example but not by way of limitation. The scope of the invention is to be determined by reference to the claims appe~ded hereto.
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r ~i J~
In recent years, non-metallic strapping, such as nylon, polypropelene, rayon and the like particularly in band or strap configuration, has become increasingly popular. In turn, there has been a demand for specialized fasteners or buckles for securing and tensioning the opposite ends of band or strap loops by means of frictional engagement rather than by means of strapping and sealing tools. Such fasteners or buckles, in order to be effective, must not only grip the band or strap and hold it securely, but also must be arranged such that the band or strap can easily be threaded thereinto by unskilled persons without the use of specialized tools.
In recent years, a number of connector buckle designs have evolved all of which consist of a single length of steel wire appropriately shaped. Unfortunately, ~n-mos* o~ ~heae~d~signs, pro~lems have arisen as a result of distortion occurring in the buckle under heavy tension well below the breaking point of the strapping being used. This distortion tends to destroy the parallel arrangement between the pairs of strap engaging arms at the opposite sides of the connector buckle and thus reduces the frictional hold which the buckle has on the plastic strapping thus causing slippage and hence some loosening of the strapping abou~
the package or object which is tied.
It is an object of the present invention to provide ; improved connector buckles designed and arranged in such a way as to strongly resist the tendency for the arms to be pulled out of parallelism under the influence of the forces applied thereto by the taut strapping.
Thus, one aspect of the present invention provides a strap connector buckle formed of a single ll~G3~
piece of wire, said buckle including a pair of strap engaging arms on each of two opposing sides of the connector buckle, each pair of arms comprising a first arm and a second arm both of which are substantially straight and approximately parallel to one another and to the first and second arms of the opposing pair, the first and second arms of each pair being spaced apart sufficiently to permit, in use, a strap with which the connector buckle is to be used to be passed therebetween, the first arm of each pair of arms being a respective terminal portion of the piece of wire and having a free end and the second arm of each pair of arms being an intermediate segment of the piece of wire, a first run of the piece of wire connecting the first arm of one of said pairs to the second arm of the other of said pairs, a second run of the piece of wire connecting the second arm of said one pair to the first arm of said other pair and a further run of the piece of wire connecting the second arms of said pairs to one another, and wherain the first run of the piece of wire has an end portion thereof adjacent the first arm of said one pair provided with a bend defining an elbow portion extending partially around said substantially straight second arm of said one pair to permit strap tension forces tending to spread said second arms apart to be transmitted from one of said second arms to the other of said second arms via said first run of the piece of wire to resist the spreading apart of said second arms, the free ends of the first arms being arranged to engage and to be supported by said further run of the piece of wire when said strap is under tension, said further run of the piece of wire including an upstanding elbow adjacent each of its ends, each said upstanding elbow being defined by a single bend at each of the opposing ends of said further run of the piece of wire, each of which single bends interconnects , ., .
. ~, . ..
~637~
with a further single bend formed at respective ends of each of said substantially straight second arms, said free ends of the first arms tending to come into engagement with said further run of the piece of wire at said upstanding elbows when the strap is tensioned with said upstanding elbows being arranged to hold said first arms in approximate parallelism with their associated second arms under the influence of strap tension forces, with said first arms of each of said pairs each being in non-overlying or non-overlapping relation with said second arm of the same pair and being located outwardly thereof along the corresponding sides of the buckle.
The invention will now be described by way of examples with reference being had to the accompanying drawings in which:
Fig. 1 is a perspective view of one embodiment of the strap connector buckle;
Fig. 2 is a plan view of the buckle of Fig. l;
; Fig. 3 is an end view of the embodiment of Fig. 1 illustrating diagrammatically the manner in which a strap is laced to the buckle;
Fig. 4 is a perspective view of another embodiment of the invention;
Fig. 5 is a plan view of the embodiment of Fig.4;
Fig. 6 is an end view of the embodiment of Fig. 4 illustrating diagrammatically how a connector strap is threaded to the buckle;
Fig. 7 is a further embodiment of the invention which is similar in many respects to the embodiment of Figure 4;
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Fig, 8 is a plan view of the embodiment of Fig. 7 and Fig. 9 is an end view of the embodiment of Fig. 7 illustrating diagrammatically how a stxap is threaded to the connector buckle.
With reference now to the first embodiment of the invention as shown in Fiys. 1-3, there is shown a strap connector buckle 10 formed from a single piece of round wire appropriately bent to ,the desired shape~ It will be seen that the connector buckle is approximately rectangular in outline and includes a first and second pair of strap engaging arms 12 and 14 on the opposing sides of the connector buckle. It will also be seen that the arms of each pair are generally straight and approximately parallel to one another and to the arms of the opposing pair, the arms being spaced apart sufficiently to permit the connector strap with which the connector buckle is to be used to be passed therebetween. It will also be seen that the first arms 16, 16a of each of said pairs of said arms 12 and 14 constitute terminal portions of the wire having free ends 18, 18a. Furthermore, it will be seen that the second arms 20, 20a of each pair constitute intermediate wire segments. As shown in the drawings, a first run of the wire 22 connects the first arm 16 of the first pair to - the second arm 20a of the second pair. A second run of the wire 24 serves to connect the second arm 20 of the first pair to the first arm 16a of the second pair and in addition, a further run of the wire 26 connects the second arms 20, 20a of the opposed pairs of arms to one another.
In accordance with an important aspect of the invention, the above mentioned first run of wire 22 has an end portion thereof 23 adjacent the point of connection to the first arm 16 provided with a generally right angled elbow portion which extends around a portion of the second arm 20 sufficiently as to permit strap ,:
Lension forces which are directed outwardly in the direction of arrows A in Fig. 1 to be transmitted from one of the second arms 20 to the other second arm 20a via the first run of wire 22 whereby to resist any tendency towards spreading apart of arms 20, 20a.
It will be seen that the elbow portion 23 comprises a simple but relatively sharp bend in the first run of wire 22 adjacent one end thereof, the bend 23 being located adjacent that end of the second arm 20 to which the second run of wire 24 is attached. Thus, under the influence of strap tension forces on the second arms 20, 20a, the right angle bend portion 23 comes into contact with the second arm 20 thus tra~smitting forces thereto and resisting the tendency to~ards spreading:
As a general observation with reference to Figs. 1 and 3 , it will be noted that the first arms 16, 16a of the opposed pairs 12 and 14 are located on the upper sides of the buckle 10, when in use, while the second arms 20, 20a are located on the under side of the buckle. It will also be noted with particular reference to Figs. 1 and 3 that the further run of wire 26 includes an upstanding elbow 28 at each of its opposed ends. Thus, an ~o intermediate portion 29 of the further run of wire 26 is disposed above the level of the second arms 20, 20a. It will also be noted with reference to Figs. 1 and 2 that the free ends 18/ 18a of the first arms 16, 1`6a extend beyond the further run of wire 26.
Also, as clearly shown in the drawings, the arms 16, 16a are spaced apart from one another further than are the arms 20, 20a primarily by virtue of the disposition of elbow ~3 and elbows 28.
Under the influence of strap ~ension forces on the arms, when the strap has been properly threaded to the buckle, as will be described, the free ends of the first arms deflect downwardly and inwardly as shown by arrows B in Fig. 3. Thus, such free ends of the arms come into contact with the further run of wire 26 at the elbows 28 as seen in Fig.3 and are supported thereby thus preventing -- ,B --further undue distortion of the first arms and loss of parallelism be-tween such arms and the remaining arms of the connector buckle. It is of course to be noted that the further run of wire 26 need not necessarily be provided with the upstanding elbows 28. In the absence of such elbows, the free ends of the first arms will simply be deflected downwardly and inwardly until such time as they contact the further run of wire 26 for support thereby. However, since such deflection may be detrimental under certain conditions, ; the provision of elbows 28 is very desirable.
With reference to Fig. 3, which illustrates the manner in which the strap is connected to the buckle 10, it will be seen that the free end of the strap 30, which straps or tapes are well known per se in the art, is passed around and under the second arm 20a and thence upwardly and around the first arm of the same i pair 16a and thence downwardly between arms 16a and 20a and thence around arm 20a whereby it is firmly sandwiched between the tensioned tape and arm 20a; The o-ther end of tape 30 is brought around the package or hale and is secured to the arms 16 and 20 of the first pair of arms in essentially the same fashion.
With reference now to Figures 4-6, there is shown a separate embodiment which is the subject of copending divisional application Serial No. 241,148 filed December 5,1975 . The buckle of Fig. 4 will be designated by the reference numeral 40 and it will be seen that, as with the previous embodiment, it is formed from a single piece of round wire. The connector buckle, as before, is vapproximately rectangular in outline and includes first and second pairs 42 and 44 of strap engaging arms on opposing sides of the connector buckle. As with the previous embodiment the arms of each pair are generally straight and approximately parallel to one another and to the arms of the opposing pair and they are spaced apart sufficiently as to permit a connectOr strap ," ~, .,.,. i ' 7 ~
~ith which the connector is to be used to be passed between SuCh arms. A first arm 46, 46a of eàch of said pairs 42 and 44 constitutes a terminal portion of the wire and they have free ends 48, 48a. Furthermore, the second arms 50, 50a of each of the opposed pairs 42 and 44 comprise an intermediate wire segment. In accordance with an important feature of the invention a first U-shaped bight 52 of the wire serves to connect the first arm 46 of the first pair of arms to one end of the second arm 50 of the first pair. Furthermore, a second U-shaped bight 54 of the wire serves to connect the first arm 46a of the second pair to one end of the second arm 50a of the second pair. It will be seen that the first and second U-shaped bights of wire 52 and 54 are interlooped together approximately midway along the end of the connector buckle. ~hat is, in the embodiment of Figs. 4-6, the U-shaped bights of wire 52 and 54 are of substantially equal length. By virtue of the fact that the U-shaped bights of wire 52 and 54 are interlooped together, they are capable of transmitting tension loads and thus they serve to resist any tendency for the second arms 50 and 50a of the first and second pairs of arms 42 and 44 to be spread apart under the influence of strap tension forces thereon. It will also be noted from a review of Figs. 4-6 that a further run of the wire 56 connects the opposite ends o tha second arms 50, 50a together, such ..... . . .
further run serving basically the same purpose as wire run 26 ; mentioned in conjunction with ~he`embodiments of Figs. 1-3.
,It will also be noted that when the connector buckle Iis in use, the free ended first arms 46, 46a are disposed on the upper face of the buckle while the second arms 50, 50a are dis-posed on the lower or opposing face of the buckle. It will also ~e noted that, as with the embodiment of Figs.1-3, that the free ends 48, 48a of the first arms 46, 46a extend outwardly beyond the further run of wire 56 which connects the other end of the second ,~
- .` .
arms 50, 50a together. Thus, under the influence of strap tension forces which cause such free ends 48, 48a to be sprung downwardly in a direction of arrows B as shown in Fiy. 6, such free ends engage the further run o~ wire 56 and are supported thereby thus ,-preventing undue distortion and loss of parallelism between the first arms and said second arms.
The manner in which a connector strap is threaded to the connector buckle of Figs.4-6 is essential~y the same as described in connection with the embodiment of Figs.1-3 and need not be repeated here.
The embodiments shown in Figs.7-9 are a variation of the embodiments of Figs.4-6 and thus a full description of this embodiment need not be repeated here. It will be seen that the embodiment of Figs.7-9 includes spaced pairs of arms on opposing sides of the connector including free ended first arms 46, 46a and second arms 50, 50a as previously described. The essential difference, however, is that the U-shaped bights of wire 52', 54i are of un~qual length. That is, U-shaped bight 54' is sufficiently long as to extend across the entire end of the connector buckle so that it interloops with the very short U-shaped bight 52' at one of the corners of the connector buckle. This version of the connector buckle functions as described previously in connection with Figs.
4-6 to prevent spreading apart of the second arms 50, 50a under the influence of tension forces thereon. As a further difference, it will also ~e noted that tne furtner run of wire ~b ~ which serves to connect the other ends of second arms 50, 50a`together ~iffers --... . . ., _ from that shown in connection with Figs. 4-6. In Figs. 4-6, the further run of wire 56 is substantially straight whereas in the embodiment of Figs. 7-9, the opposing ends of the further run of wire are provided with upstanding elbow portions 60 so that the further run of wire 56' assumes a configuration very similar to the configuration of the urther run of wire 26 in the ~ .
r~
embodiment of Figs. 1-3. Thus, since the free ends 48, 48a of first arms 46, 46a extend beyond thP further run of wire 56', the free ends of such first arms deflect downwardly under the influence of strap tension Eorces as illustrated by arrows B in Fig. 9 and thus come to rest against the further run of wire 56' adjacent the upstanding elbow portions 60 thereof.
The manner in which the connector strap is threaded to the connector buckle of Figs. 7-9 is the sarne as that shown for the embodiments of Figs. 1-6 and need not be repeated here.
It will thus be seen that the present invention, in its several aspects, provides ; connector buckle designs which are capable of resisting heavy strap tension forces and serve to maintain the various arms of the connector buckle in substantial parallelism at all times. Thus, the frictional hold which the buckle has on the strapping material is maintained and there is less chance of slippage occurring with resultant loosening of the strapping about the package or object which is to be tied th~n with prior art designs.
`Several embodiments of the invention have been illustrated by way of example but not by way of limitation. The scope of the invention is to be determined by reference to the claims appe~ded hereto.
.~ .
r ~i J~
Claims (2)
1. A strap connector buckle formed of a single piece of wire, said buckle including a pair of strap engaging arms on each of two opposing sides of the connector buckle, each pair of arms comprising a first arm and a second arm both of which are substantially straight and approximately parallel to one another and to the first and second arms of the opposing pair, the first and second arms of each pair being spaced apart sufficiently to permit, in use, a strap with which the connector buckle is to be used to be passed therebetween, the first arm of each pair of arms being a respective terminal portion of the piece of wire and having a free end and the second arm of each pair of arms being an intermediate segment of the piece of wire, a first run of the piece of wire connecting the first arm of one of said pairs to the second arm of the other of said pairs, a second run of the piece of wire connecting the second arm of said one pair to the first arm of said other pair and a further run of the piece of wire connecting the second arms of said pairs to one another, and wherein the first run of the piece of wire has an end portion thereof adjacent the first arm of said one pair provided with a bend defining an elbow portion extending partially around said substantially straight second arm of said one pair to permit strap tension forces tending to spread said second arms apart to be transmitted from one of said second arms to the other of said second arms via said first run of the piece of wire to resist the spreading apart of said second arms, the free ends of the first arms being arranged to engage and to be supported by said further run of the piece of wire when said strap is under tension, said further run of the piece of wire including an upstanding elbow adjacent each of its ends, each said upstanding elbow being defined by a single bend at each of the opposing ends of said further run of the piece of wire, each of which single bends interconnects with a further single bend formed at respective ends of each of said substantially straight second arms, said free ends of the first arms tending to come into engagement with said further run of the piece of wire at said upstanding elbows when the strap is tensioned with said upstanding elbows being arranged to hold said first arms in approximate parallelism with their associated second arms under the influence of strap tension forces, with said first arms of each of said pairs each being in non-overlying or non-overlapping relation with said second arm of the same pair and being located outwardly thereof along the corresponding sides of the buckle.
2. A strap connector buckle according to claim 1 wherein said first arms of each pair are located on the upper side of the connector buckle when in use while said second arms are located on the underside of the connector buckle.
Priority Applications (5)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA000189673A CA1116377A (en) | 1974-01-08 | 1974-01-08 | Strap connector buckle |
| US492848A US3924302A (en) | 1974-01-08 | 1974-07-29 | Strap connector buckle |
| GB791/75A GB1493800A (en) | 1974-01-08 | 1975-01-08 | Strap connector buckle |
| US05/549,804 US4083088A (en) | 1974-01-08 | 1975-02-13 | Strap connector buckle |
| CA241,148A CA1021533A (en) | 1974-01-08 | 1975-12-05 | Strap connector buckle |
Applications Claiming Priority (1)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA000189673A CA1116377A (en) | 1974-01-08 | 1974-01-08 | Strap connector buckle |
Publications (1)
| Publication Number | Publication Date |
|---|---|
| CA1116377A true CA1116377A (en) | 1982-01-19 |
Family
ID=4098883
Family Applications (1)
| Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA000189673A Expired CA1116377A (en) | 1974-01-08 | 1974-01-08 | Strap connector buckle |
Country Status (3)
| Country | Link |
|---|---|
| US (1) | US3924302A (en) |
| CA (1) | CA1116377A (en) |
| GB (1) | GB1493800A (en) |
Families Citing this family (3)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| CA2303693C (en) * | 2000-03-15 | 2001-12-11 | Richard Aaron Barkley | Method and apparatus for toughening metal strap buckles |
| GB0908386D0 (en) * | 2009-05-15 | 2009-06-24 | Elia Gerardo P | Strap buckle |
| US8935831B2 (en) * | 2012-07-29 | 2015-01-20 | Gary E. Galliers | Wire buckle strap fastener |
Family Cites Families (4)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| US686129A (en) * | 1901-03-26 | 1901-11-05 | Robert H Felton | Cotton-tie buckle. |
| US3112543A (en) * | 1962-02-07 | 1963-12-03 | Fmc Corp | Buckle |
| CA867018A (en) * | 1969-04-02 | 1971-03-30 | Somann Gert | Self-locking strap buckle |
| CA889011A (en) * | 1969-11-17 | 1971-12-28 | Ferplas Industries Limited | Self-locking strap buckle |
-
1974
- 1974-01-08 CA CA000189673A patent/CA1116377A/en not_active Expired
- 1974-07-29 US US492848A patent/US3924302A/en not_active Expired - Lifetime
-
1975
- 1975-01-08 GB GB791/75A patent/GB1493800A/en not_active Expired
Also Published As
| Publication number | Publication date |
|---|---|
| GB1493800A (en) | 1977-11-30 |
| US3924302A (en) | 1975-12-09 |
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Legal Events
| Date | Code | Title | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| MKEX | Expiry |