CH649694A5 - Buckle for assembling two strap ends - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a loop for the assembly of two ends of straps.

It is desirable, in many applications, to be able to make the rapid connection of two straps with maximum security. This is the case with the straps which secure a helmet to the head of a moped or motorcyclist. The connection of the straps fitted to the helmets by a loop must in fact be able to be maintained, even under the effect of a significant traction exerted on the straps, and not be open under the effect of an impact due to an object of large dimensions. In this regard, the approval tests predict the impossibility of opening the loop by impact of a sphere with a diameter of 100 mm.

Known buckles include a male part intended to be locked in a female part, the male and female parts each being equipped for fixing one end of a strap. The female part forms a slide limited by four perpendicular walls two by two, in one of which is formed an opening allowing the introduction, in the closed position of the loop, of a part in the form of a pusher which the male part comprises. .

According to a known possibility, the male part comprises a body 5 on which is pivotally mounted a pusher constituted by a separate part of the body, and one end of which is kept away from the latter by the action of a spring. This device is of high cost, given the multiplicity of parts and the mounting operations that they impose.

io According to another possibility, described in French patent No. 2245311, the male part is made of synthetic material and comprises a rectangular frame delimiting a window from which protrudes an elastic tongue coming from molding with the frame and arranged obliquely to that -this. This elastic tongue 15 forms the pusher ensuring the locking of the male part in the female part. If this structure is simple, the tongue does not have sufficient strength to ensure, reliably, the closure of a motorcycle helmet loop.

The present invention relates to a loop comprising a male part intended to be locked in a female part, the male and female parts each being equipped for fixing one end of a strap, the female part of the loop, made of a rigid material such as steel, forming a slide limited by four perpendicular walls two by two, in one of which is formed an opening allowing the introduction, in the closed position of the loop, of a part in the form of a pusher that comprises the male part, which is characterized in that the male part of the loop is constituted by a plate of generally rectangular shape, made of a non-deformable material such as steel, on which it is fixed , by at least one rivet at the end opposite to that to which the strap is fixed, the pusher which is constituted by a plate of rigid but elastically deformable synthetic material, forming a slight angle with the plate, so as to move away from it towards the fixing end of the strap. 35 From a practical point of view, after engagement of the male part in the female part, the free end of the pusher can protrude from the opening and comes to bear by its heel against the wall limiting the opening on the side of introduction of the male part.

This support ensures the locking of the male part in the female part 40 in excellent conditions because, when pulling on the straps, the pusher works under compression. In addition, the fact that the pusher is partially included in the female part avoids, when subjected to compression, any risk of deformation by buckling. The opening releasing the pusher being small 45 makes it impossible to actuate it by an object of large dimensions, such as a sphere with a diameter of 100 mm, a condition required for the approval of a helmet buckle motorcyclist.

To make the opening of the loop, it suffices to press on the plunger at the opening, so as to bring the latter closer to the plate on which it is fixed and to allow its passage inside. of the female part after traction has been exerted in a direction of separation of the two elements.

In any case, the invention will be clearly understood with the aid of the following description, with reference to the appended diagrammatic drawing representing, by way of nonlimiting examples, two embodiments of this loop:

fig. 1 is a perspective view of a first loop in the locked position;

60 fig. 2 is a view in the open position;

fig. 3 is a view in longitudinal section of the loop of FIGS. 1 and 2 in the locked position;

fig. 4 is a view in longitudinal section of a second loop in the locked position.

65 The loop shown in the drawing comprises a female part (2) into which a male part (3) is intended to be engaged. At the end of the female part is fixed, in a non-removable manner, a strap (4), while the male part is equipped with a ring (5) on the

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which is slidably mounted a bar (6) allowing an alternating passage of a strap (7) of adjustable length. The female part (2) has a generally parallelepiped shape, the two ends of which are open, and the upper face of which has an opening (8). 5

The male part (3) comprises a plate (9) of rectangular shape made of a non-deformable material such as steel, this plate carrying the ring (5). On the plate (9) is fixed, near its end of introduction into the female part (2), a piece of synthetic material (10) forming a pusher, the fixing being carried out by means of a rivet ( 12).

The plastic part (10) forming a pusher is shaped so that it deviates slightly from the plate (9) when moving away from the fixing zone (12), and has, on its face in look of the plate (9), a transverse groove (11) improving its flexibility.

The pusher (10) ends in a heel (13) which comprises, facing the plate (9), an extension (14). The maximum spacing between the plate (9) and the heel (13) is slightly greater than the spacing between the two walls, respectively (15) and (16) of the 2 "female part (2).

In the embodiment shown in Figs. 1 to 3, the trigger guard (17) used for fixing the strap (4) is slightly raised relative to the wall (16) of the female part. This transverse offset allows a shortening of the length of the loop, because the light (18) formed between the trigger guard (17) and the wall (16) is opposite the zone in which the end of the male part located forward in the direction of introduction, without disturbing the passage of the strap (4).

In order to shorten the length of the loop, a recess (19) is also provided in the side walls (20) of the female part, as well as in its bottom (15). This recess allows the fitting of part of the ring (5) in the locked position of the loop.

From a practical point of view, to close the loop, it suffices to introduce the male part (3) into the female part (2), movement during which the rear end of the pusher (10) is opposite the opening (8), the heel (13) of the pusher coming to bear against the rear edge (22) of the opening (8). When traction is exerted on one of the straps (4) or (7), or on the two straps, the pusher (10) works on compression and avoids the separation of the two parts (2) and (3) from the loop. It should be noted that any risk of buckling of the pusher (10) is avoided because it is held over part of its length by the upper wall (16) of the female part, in particular facing the tansversale groove ( 11). To unlock the loop, it suffices to apply pressure on the pusher (10), so as to bring it closer to the plate (9), and to allow it to pass under the trigger guard (16a) formed by the rear end. of the wall (16) of the female part.

Fig. 4 shows a variation of this loop equipped with a flap (23) intended to close the opening (8) in the locked position of the loop. This flap is articulated at the front end of the female part around an axis (24) transverse to the latter. In this case, the trigger guard (17) must be located in front of the articulation axis and cannot, as previously, be offset transversely and located at the end of the male part when the latter is in locked position in the female part. The flap area (23), located near the hinge axis, forms a cam (25). The profile of this cam is such that, when the shutter is in the open position and the male part (3) of the loop is introduced into the female part (2), the end of the male part comes to bear on the cam (25) and causes the flap (23) to pivot so as to bring it into its closed position shown in FIG. 4.

To make the opening of this loop, it is therefore necessary, in order to be able to access the pusher (10), to first pivot the flap (23). This arrangement is very secure because it avoids any risk of accidental unlocking of the buckle under conditions of use.

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1 sheet of drawings

Claims (6)

649694 1. Buckle for the assembly of two ends of straps, comprising a male part (3) intended to be locked in a female part (2), the male and female parts each being equipped for fixing an end of a strap (4, 7), the female part (2) of the loop, made of a rigid material, forming a slide limited by four perpendicular walls two by two, in one of which is formed an opening allowing the introduction, in the closed position of the buckle, a push-shaped part which the male part comprises, characterized in that the male part (3) of the buckle is constituted by a plate (9) of generally rectangular shape, produced in a non-deformable material, on which is fixed, by at least one rivet (12) at the end opposite to that to which the strap is fixed, the pusher which is constituted by a plate (10) of rigid synthetic material but elastically de- formable, forming an angle with the plate, of so as to move away from it in the direction of the end of fixing of the strap (7). 2. Buckle according to claim 1, characterized in that, in the locked position, the pusher (10) is enclosed over a part of its length inside the female part. 2 3. Buckle according to claim 2, characterized in that, in the locked position, the area of the pusher (10) having a groove (11) is enclosed between the lower and upper walls of the female part. 4. Buckle according to one of claims 1 or 3, characterized in that the region of the female part of the loop forming a trigger guard (17) for fixing the end of a strap (4) is situated in elevation by relative to the corresponding face (16) of this part of the loop, and the passage which it delimits with the latter is located at the end of the male part when the latter is engaged in the female part. 5. Buckle according to one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the lateral faces (20) and the bottom (15) of the female part have, on the side of introduction of the male part, notches (19) allowing the engagement of the attachment ring (5) of a strap (7) which is fitted to the male part. 6. Buckle according to one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that, on the female part (2) of the loop, is articulated, on the side opposite to that of introduction of the male part (3), and transversely to this, a flap (23) capable of closing the opening (8) of the female part revealing the pusher (10), this flap having an end (25) in the form of a cam whose profile is such that , at the end of introduction into the female part, the male part bears on it and causes the flap (23) to tilt in a closed direction.