EP0792666A2 - Verstellbares Band für Tauch- und Schwimmausrüstung - Google Patents

Verstellbares Band für Tauch- und Schwimmausrüstung Download PDF

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Publication number
EP0792666A2
EP0792666A2 EP97830047A EP97830047A EP0792666A2 EP 0792666 A2 EP0792666 A2 EP 0792666A2 EP 97830047 A EP97830047 A EP 97830047A EP 97830047 A EP97830047 A EP 97830047A EP 0792666 A2 EP0792666 A2 EP 0792666A2
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
strap
buckle
coupling member
female
strap according
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.)
Granted
Application number
EP97830047A
Other languages
English (en)
French (fr)
Other versions
EP0792666B1 (de
EP0792666A3 (de
Inventor
Giovanni Battista Beltrani
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Technisub SpA
Original Assignee
Technisub SpA
Priority date (The priority date 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 date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Technisub SpA filed Critical Technisub SpA
Publication of EP0792666A2 publication Critical patent/EP0792666A2/de
Publication of EP0792666A3 publication Critical patent/EP0792666A3/de
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of EP0792666B1 publication Critical patent/EP0792666B1/de
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical
Expired - Lifetime legal-status Critical Current

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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
    • A44B11/25—Buckles; Similar fasteners for interconnecting straps or the like, e.g. for safety belts with two or more separable parts
    • A44B11/26—Buckles; Similar fasteners for interconnecting straps or the like, e.g. for safety belts with two or more separable parts with push-button fastenings
    • A44B11/266—Buckles; Similar fasteners for interconnecting straps or the like, e.g. for safety belts with two or more separable parts with push-button fastenings with at least one push-button acting parallel to the main plane of the buckle and perpendicularly to the direction of the fastening action
    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A63—SPORTS; GAMES; AMUSEMENTS
    • A63B—APPARATUS FOR PHYSICAL TRAINING, GYMNASTICS, SWIMMING, CLIMBING, OR FENCING; BALL GAMES; TRAINING EQUIPMENT
    • A63B31/00—Swimming aids
    • A63B31/08—Swim fins, flippers or other swimming aids held by, or attachable to, the hands, arms, feet or legs
    • A63B31/10—Swim fins, flippers or other swimming aids held by, or attachable to, the hands, arms, feet or legs held by, or attachable to, the hands or feet
    • A63B31/11—Swim fins, flippers or other swimming aids held by, or attachable to, the hands, arms, feet or legs held by, or attachable to, the hands or feet attachable only to the feet

Definitions

  • the present invention is generally related to diving and swimming equipment or appliances, such as flippers, masks, goggles and the like having a seat adapted to be engaged by or onto a part of the user's body (foot-face).
  • the invention is directed to a back strap for such diving equipment of the type including a substantially elastic band whose ends are connected to respective attachment members to be fastened to the equipment, at opposite sides of said seat, and at least one of which is provided with adjustment means to vary the length of the strap.
  • Straps of the above-referenced type are known, for instance, from Italian Utility Model n. 197.555 in the name of the same Applicant, and from U.S. Patent No. 4,607,398.
  • the attachment members of the strap which are permanently fastened to the diving equipment structure, are provided with an adjustment device formed by a swinging latching lever which is normally kept, under the action of a spring, into engagement with latch teeth formed along the corresponding strap end, which is turned around a pin carried by the body of the attachment member.
  • adjusting the strap length is comfortable an easy but, particularly as far as flippers are concerned, wearing and unwearing may result remarkably laborious and tiring.
  • unwearing requires lengthening the strap at one or both ends and then disengagement thereof from the user's heel by sliding the strap beyond the foot.
  • each attachment member has a buckle construction, with a stationary part permanently coupled with a respective side of the flipper and a movable part carrying the adjustment device, which can be connected to each other by to perform quick opening and closing of the strap.
  • This snap-fit system corresponds to that of a usual buckle employed since long in the most various applications, and release of which requires elastically pushing the two latch levers of the movable part towards each other, by at least two fingers of the user's hand, so has to perform disengagement thereof from the stationary part.
  • the object of the present invention is to overcome the above drawbacks, and namely to provide a back strap of the above-referenced type whose opening and quick closing are made more comfortable and convenient, with a minimum effort, and by means of a construction which is not negatively affecting functionality of the adjustment means of the strap length.
  • a further object of the present invention is to provide a back strap of the above-referenced type whose buckle means performing opening and closing thereof are constructively simple, functional and inexpensive.
  • Another object of the invention is to provide a back strap of the above-referenced type which, particularly as far as application to a flipper is concerned, does not necessarily require a manual intervention for opening thereof.
  • a further object of the invention is to provide a back strap of the above-referenced type which, also in the opening position of the buckle means, remains permanently anchored to the diving equipment at both end thereof, thus preventing any risks of accidental lost.
  • an adjustable back strap for diving and swimming equipment of the type set-forth at the beginning is primarily characterized in that it is formed by two distinct and separate strap sections, each of which is connected at one end to a respective attachment member, and that said buckle means are applied to the ends of said two strap sections opposite to the respective attachment members.
  • the buckle means may comprise in practice a single buckle having quick opening and closing performance, which is preferably arranged substantially in the central area of the strap. Accordingly the two strap sections have a symmetrical configuration; alternatively, asymmetrical arrangements may also be contemplated, locating the buckle in a lateral area of the strap.
  • a relatively soft bearing element is associated to the buckle to lay against the part of the user's body.
  • the buckle comprises at least a female coupling member and a male coupling member permanently anchored to the one and, respectively, to the other strap section, these male and female coupling members being snap engageable with each other upon mutual engagement thereof along a first direction, and being disengageable from each other following application from outside of a thrust along a second direction perpendicular to the first direction.
  • the buckle conveniently comprises a movable release member separated from said male and female coupling members and elastically displaceable from an inoperative position towards an operative position to release said male coupling member relative to said female coupling member along said second direction.
  • the back strap according to the invention provides the following advantages:
  • the strap according to the invention is applicable in a particularly advantageous way to flippers, but can be equally usefully employed in the case of other diving and swimming equipment, such as masks and goggles.
  • reference F generally designates the rear portion of a swimming flipper, of a generally conventional type for instance disclosed and illustrated in U.S. Patents No. 5,163,859; 5,435,764; 5,324,219 and 5,358,439 in the name of the same Applicant.
  • the flipper F comprises a relatively rigid blade P and a shoe S, made of a relatively soft material, permanently connected to the blade P by overmoulding and open at its end opposite to the blade P.
  • the shoe S thus defines a receptacle R which is rearwardly open and lowerly delimited by a base or sole B of the same relatively rigid material forming the blade P.
  • Two outer and juxtaposed head pins M normally formed integrally with the blade P upon moulding thereof, are
  • These pins M define anchoring elements for an adjustable back strap according to the invention, generally designated as 1.
  • the adjustable back strap 1 is formed by two strap sections 1a, 1b, which are distinct and separate from each other and both normally made of elastomeric material.
  • the two strap sections 1a, 1b can be mutually connected and disconnected at the respective inner ends by means of a quickly openable and closable buckle 2 which, in the case of the shown example, is located in correspondence of the central area of the strap 1, whereby the two sections 1a, 1b have same length.
  • the buckle 2 is for instance located laterally, whereby the strap sections la, 1b have a non-symmetrical design.
  • each strap section 1a, 1b is connected to a respective attachment member 3, of a generally conventional type incorporating an adjustment device provided to vary the operative length of each strap section 1a, 1b, i.e. the total useful length of the strap 1.
  • each attachment member 3 may be, for instance, of the type disclosed and illustrated in already mentioned Italian utility model No. 197.555 and in U.S. Patent No. 4,607,398.
  • each attachment member 3 comprises a body 4 formed with a double aperture 5 for engagement and permanent anchoring thereof to a respective lateral head pin M of the flipper F, and also carrying a roller 6 around which the outer end of the respective strap section 1a, 1b is wound.
  • This inner end, whose tip tail is designated as 7, is formed with a number of transverse tooth projections 8 cooperating, in a known way, with a latching lever 9 which is swingable around a pin 10 and is normally kept, by the action of a spring member not illustrated, into engagement with the tooth projections 8.
  • the buckle 2 is essentially formed by a female coupling member 11 and by a male coupling member 12 adapted to be snap connected to each other and quickly disconnected.
  • the female coupling member 11 comprises a base plate 13 having an arcuated design, whose curvature corresponds to the average back curvature of a foot heel, and which is made of a relatively rigid material preferably consisting of a moulded thermoplastic material.
  • the base plate 13 is rigid, since for instance integrally formed by moulding, with a shell-like body 14 having, near to its outer side, a recess 15 (figure 8) housing therein an enlarged end head 16 of the strap section la.
  • This strap section la is thus permanently anchored to the female coupling member 11, whose opposite side is open and has an oblique edge 17.
  • the body 14 is formed with a window-like opening 18 (figures 3 and 7) whose outer edge, i.e. the one facing towards the oblique edge 17, defines a hooking member 19, the function of which will be clarified here below.
  • the body 14 is formed with a grooved guide appendage 20 which, owing to the oblique configuration of the edge 17, projects outwardly from the side opposite to the strap section 1a.
  • the face of the base plate 13 which is opposite to the body 14 is covered with a pad member 21 made of a relatively soft and flexible material, for instance elastomeric material or thermoplastic rubber, which is secured to the female coupling member assembly 14 normally by overmoulding.
  • a pad member 21 made of a relatively soft and flexible material, for instance elastomeric material or thermoplastic rubber, which is secured to the female coupling member assembly 14 normally by overmoulding.
  • the perimetral edges of the base plate 13 are incorporated within the pad element 21, i.e. are entirely covered thereby.
  • the pad element 21 is integrally formed with a bracket portion 22 projecting in a cantilever fashion above the window opening 18 of the body 14.
  • the push button 23 constitutes a movable release member, physically separated from the male and female coupling members 11, 12, by means of which opening of the buckle 2 is to be operated.
  • the upper end of the push button 23, secured to the bracket part 22 through a restrained-joint connection or any other equivalent system, may be conveniently covered by an enlarged anti-slip element 24 fixed onto the bracket part 22.
  • the male coupling member 12 comprises a body 25, also having a generally shell-like configuration and normally made of a moulded thermoplastic material, which is formed in correspondence of its outer side with a recess 26 housing an enlarged end head 27 of the strap section 1b, which is thus permanently anchored to the male coupling member 12.
  • the inner side of the body 25 is open and has an oblique edge 28 complementary to the oblique edge 17 of the body 14 of the female coupling member 11.
  • Reference 47 designates a safety-catch member, preferably but not necessarily provided for preventing accidental opening of the buckle 2.
  • the safety catch member 47 comprises a slider having at one end a manually operable outer knurled knob 48 projecting rearwardly of the female coupling member 11, at the opposite end an inner stop head 49 placed beneath the arm 29, and an intermediate shank 50 (normally having a prismatic shape) slidably fitted under friction along a horizontal slot 51 of the female coupling member 11.
  • the safety catch 47 is displaceable along the slot 51 between a lock position (towards the right in the drawings) in which the even in case of pressure upon the push button 23, and an unlock position (towards the left in the drawings) in which elastic deformation of the arm 29 following operation of the push button 23 is instead enabled. Retaining formations of the safety catch 47 in either positions can also be provided.
  • the buckle 2 of the strap 1 has a general configuration conceptually similar to that of a buckle for motorvehicle safety belts, having a push button for quick release of a male hooking member relative to a female hooking member.
  • the elastic member performing quick separation between the two male and female hooking members (which in the buckles for motorvehicle safety belts is constituted by a suitable inner spring) is, according to the invention, formed by the two strap sections 1a, 1b themselves which, in use with the buckle 2 in the closed condition, are kept under resilient traction.
  • the user can easily fit his foot into the flipper receptacle R, and then restrain the heel relative thereto following closure of the buckle 2. To do so, it is sufficient to bring the female coupling member 11 and the male coupling member 12 together, introducing and sliding the guide appendage 20 of the former into the tubular guide element 31 of the latter, and then fitting the arm 29 of the latter into the body 14 of the former, after positioning the safety catch 47 in the unlock condition. Following this action, the hooking tooth 30 snap-fits within the window opening 18, thus engaging behind the hooking member 19 so as to lock the male coupling member 12 relative to the female coupling member 11, such as shown in detail in figures 7 and 8.
  • opening of the buckle 2 according to the preferred embodiment of figures 1-9 is in practice carried out following a thrust applied from outside along one direction which is at right angle relative to the coupling/uncoupling direction of the female and male coupling members 11, 12.
  • This direction might however also be oblique or parallel with respect to the coupling/uncoupling direction between the female and male coupling members 11, 12, as in the case of the alternative embodiment which will be further disclosed with reference to figure 10.
  • the strap 1 according to the invention can be applied not only to flippers, but also to any other diving or swimming equipment having a seat adapted to be engaged by a part of the user's body and to be closed thereagainst.
  • Examples of such equipment include diving masks, swimming goggles and the like.
  • the two strap sections 1a, 1b will be permanently anchored at the opposite sides of the equipment body (the frame carrying the transparent visor of a diving mask, the frames carrying respective transparent lenses of the goggles), and the arrangement of the buckle 2 will be substantially identical to that previously disclosed.
  • the only remarkable difference may consists of a different and lower curvature of the base plate 13 and related soft pad element 21 of the female coupling member 11.
  • the release push button 23 could in these cases be arranged below instead of above the buckle 2. This arrangement can evidently be obtained simply turning the buckle 2 upside down, and accordingly the thrust onto the release push button 23 to operate opening of the buckle 2 will be directed from below upwardly.
  • This arrangement may also be employed when the buckle 2 is applied to a flipper: in this case, opening could be operated by the same user's foot wearing the flipper, abutting the push button 23 against any available reaction surface.
  • the buckle 2 may be positioned, instead of in correspondence of the central area of the strap 1, in a lateral area thereof: accordingly the two strap sections 1a, 1b shall evidently have an uneven length.
  • the locking and unlocking system between the two elements constituting the buckle 2 may be different from that disclosed and illustrated in the example of figures 1-9, and for instance be provided, as shown in figure 10, with a conventional construction such as disclosed and shown in wherein the male coupling member 12 has a pair of juxtaposed springing arms 41 with respective hooking teeth 42 adapted to snap-fit engage corresponding recesses 43 of the female coupling member 11.
  • the male coupling member 12 has a springing wing 44 adapted to be fitted into the female coupling member 11 and formed with a button 45 snap-fit engageable into a back hole 46 of this female coupling member 11.
  • This solution also constructively simple, provides with respect to the embodiment of figure 10 the advantage of being operable, so as to open the buckle 2, by pressing the button 45 with a single user's finger or even with his foot.
  • the construction and arrangement of the push button 23 previously disclosed with reference to the preferred embodiment of figures 1-9 may be different: in particular, the elastic member keeping this push button 3 in its inoperative position could be constituted, instead of the springing bracket part 22 integrated with the pad element 21, by a suitable return spring. Additionally the anti-slip element 24 may have a concave shape so as to allow convenient operation thereof by means of an auxiliary tool, for instance constituted by a simple rod equipping or anyhow available to the user. Lastly, the push button 23 may be integrated with a projecting lever or arm, for instance upwardly inclined, for a more convenient actuation thereof.

Landscapes

  • Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
  • General Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
  • Physical Education & Sports Medicine (AREA)
  • Buckles (AREA)
  • Purses, Travelling Bags, Baskets, Or Suitcases (AREA)
EP97830047A 1996-02-23 1997-02-11 Verstellbares Band für Tauch- und Schwimmausrüstung Expired - Lifetime EP0792666B1 (de)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
ITTP960117 1996-02-23
ITTP960117 1996-02-23

Publications (3)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP0792666A2 true EP0792666A2 (de) 1997-09-03
EP0792666A3 EP0792666A3 (de) 1997-09-10
EP0792666B1 EP0792666B1 (de) 1999-05-19

Family

ID=11418416

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP97830047A Expired - Lifetime EP0792666B1 (de) 1996-02-23 1997-02-11 Verstellbares Band für Tauch- und Schwimmausrüstung

Country Status (2)

Country Link
EP (1) EP0792666B1 (de)
DE (1) DE69700219T2 (de)

Cited By (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
ITGE20090013A1 (it) * 2009-03-10 2010-09-11 Scubapro Europ Elemento cingi-tallone per pinne per il nuoto o attivita' subacquee
JP2014213036A (ja) * 2013-04-26 2014-11-17 Ykk株式会社 施錠可能バックル
CN107328083A (zh) * 2017-07-27 2017-11-07 奥克斯空调股份有限公司 移动式空调用窗户安装板
WO2018006957A1 (en) 2016-07-06 2018-01-11 Electrolux Appliances Aktiebolag Refrigeration apparatus and process for producing the same
CN110559619A (zh) * 2018-06-05 2019-12-13 玛瑞斯公开有限公司 用于游泳脚蹼的脚跟元件

Family Cites Families (6)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US4607398A (en) * 1984-07-24 1986-08-26 U.S.D. Corp Strap and retainer for a divers mask
JPS63174674A (ja) * 1987-01-14 1988-07-19 株式会社　タバタ ダイビングフイン
WO1990000380A1 (en) * 1988-07-07 1990-01-25 Mark Harman Powell Waterproof protective goggles
US5368512A (en) * 1993-06-21 1994-11-29 Brown; Dennis Inflatable swimmer's safety belt
US5546642A (en) * 1994-08-05 1996-08-20 National Molding Corporation Side-release buckle fastener
IT1281802B1 (it) * 1995-03-15 1998-03-03 Htm Sport Spa Maschera subacquea con cinghiolo a sganciamento rapido.

Cited By (7)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
ITGE20090013A1 (it) * 2009-03-10 2010-09-11 Scubapro Europ Elemento cingi-tallone per pinne per il nuoto o attivita' subacquee
JP2014213036A (ja) * 2013-04-26 2014-11-17 Ykk株式会社 施錠可能バックル
WO2018006957A1 (en) 2016-07-06 2018-01-11 Electrolux Appliances Aktiebolag Refrigeration apparatus and process for producing the same
US10955185B2 (en) 2016-07-06 2021-03-23 Electrolux Appliances Aktiebolag Refrigeration apparatus and process for producing the same
CN107328083A (zh) * 2017-07-27 2017-11-07 奥克斯空调股份有限公司 移动式空调用窗户安装板
CN107328083B (zh) * 2017-07-27 2022-12-13 奥克斯空调股份有限公司 移动式空调用窗户安装板
CN110559619A (zh) * 2018-06-05 2019-12-13 玛瑞斯公开有限公司 用于游泳脚蹼的脚跟元件

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
DE69700219T2 (de) 1999-12-16
EP0792666B1 (de) 1999-05-19
EP0792666A3 (de) 1997-09-10
DE69700219D1 (de) 1999-06-24

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