EP2627208B1 - Buckle - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a buckle with a first buckle member and at least a second buckle member, wherein the first buckle member has at least one latch which is movable between a locking position of the bolt and an unlocking position of the bolt back and forth, wherein in a connecting position of the buckle components of Bar in its locking position, a locking surface of the second buckle member for locking the two buckle members engages behind each other and the bolt for separating the buckle components in its unlocked position is movable, wherein the second buckle member has at least one counter latch, which between a locking position of the counter-bolt and an unlocking position of the counter-bolt and is movable.

Buckles of the type mentioned are known today in a variety of embodiments. Examples of generic buckles go from the CN 201 541 856 U , of the US 2009/100652 A1 , of the US 2011/107565 A1 or the US Pat. No. 6,560,830 B1 out. They are used in a variety of applications, especially when it comes to releasably connect two straps or bands together. Examples of applications are mountain sports, occupational safety, etc.

In some of these applications, the buckles must be easy to operate and with as little force as possible in order to separate the buckle components from each other. On the other hand, the buckles when they are in the connecting position, but also withstand high tensile loads in the locking position of the bolt. An unintentional or accidental opening of the connection between the buckle components is to be avoided in many applications necessarily.

For this reason, generic buckles often have a latch on the first buckle component, which can be secured in its locked position with a counter latch on the second buckle component against accidental opening on. The resulting increased reliability is in the prior art but mostly at the expense of ease of use, since bars and counter latch must be operated separately. Normally, with a fully closed and secured buckle during the opening process, the counter latch must first be moved with the fingers of one hand into its unlocked position and held in this, so that the latch can then be moved with the fingers of the other hand into its unlocked position and thus the buckle components can be separated from each other.

The object of the invention is to propose an improvement in terms of ease of use and to provide a simple as possible, but at the same time very reliable buckle of the type mentioned above.

This is achieved according to the invention by having a housing of the buckle, preferably of the second buckle component, at least one common, externally accessible engagement opening and the bolt and the counter latch each have at least one actuating surface, wherein the actuating surfaces in the connecting position of the buckle components and in the locking position of Riegel and the counter-bolt are externally operable by the engagement opening by hand.

In principle, it is conceivable that the first buckle component also has a locking surface, which is engaged behind in the locking position of the counter-bolt. Particularly preferred embodiments of the invention provide that the counter latch has at least one support surface and, in its locking position with its support surface, locks the or at least one of the latches in its locking position. In other words, it is thus provided in these embodiments that the support surface of the counter-bolt the bolt when both latch and counter-latch in the respective Locking position are located, so supported that the bolt can not be moved to its unlocked position. In these embodiments, the counter latch must then be brought first or at least simultaneously with the latch from its locking position to its unlocked position, so that the latch can be moved to its unlocked position. Only when the latch and counter latch are both actuated appropriately can the buckle components be separated.

For the sake of completeness, it is pointed out that even if in the claims of the bolt and the counter latch in places only in the singular is mentioned, a variety of embodiments are conceivable. The first buckle component but one or more, such. B. have two, four or six bars of the type described. The same applies to the second buckle component. This may also have one, but also two or more counter-locking bars, which function in the manner described or interact with one or more latches of the first buckle component.

The connection position of the buckle components is understood to mean the position in which the buckle components have been brought into contact with one another and / or in contact with one another in such a way that the bolt can be brought into its locking position or, if it is not, in particular by external forces, is held automatically. The fact that the buckle components are in this connection position, but does not say anything about the actual position of the bolt and / or the counter-bolt. Both can be located in corresponding embodiments in the connection position of the buckle components both in their locking position and in their unlocked position. Conveniently, however, it is provided that the bolt and / or the counter bolt is biased or are and in the connecting position of the buckle components automatically occupies the, preferably respective, locking position or occupy, unless he or she, in particular by external forces, is prevented or become.

The locking position of the bolt is the position in which this engages behind the associated locking surface of the second buckle component. The unlocking position of the bolt is the position in which the bolt releases the locking surface of the second buckle component. So that the buckle components can be separated from each other, the bolt or all the bolts of the first buckle component must therefore be in the unlocked position. The locking position of the counter-bolt is that position in which the counter-latch locks the bolt in its locking position or engages behind a corresponding locking surface of the first buckle component. The unlocking position of the counter-bolt is in each case the position in which it releases the said components. The Hintergreiferi of the respective buckle component with latch and / or counter latch as well as the locking of the bolt in its locking position by means of the support surface of the counter-bolt is conveniently carried out via a corresponding positive connection, the concept of Hintergreifens is in the most general version in the sense of fix or fasten understand.

In general, the buckle components are formed so that one of the buckle components has a male, outwardly projecting extension, with which it engages or is inserted into a corresponding exception of the other buckle component in the connecting position of the two buckle components. In this sense, it is common to speak of a male and a female buckle component. However, mixed forms are also conceivable in the invention, in which both buckle components have corresponding projections and recesses with which they then engage in each other in the connecting position.

In preferred embodiments, it is provided that the first buckle component has at least one elastic return element, which biases the bolt in the direction of its locking position. The same applies favorably also for the second buckle component or the counter bolt. Again, it is thus conveniently provided that the second buckle component has at least one elastic return element, which biases the counter latch in the direction of its locking position. The reset elements are each conveniently designed so that they, as soon as bolt and / or counter latch are released, move them back by means of their elastic restoring forces back into the respective locking position. The elastic return elements can be designed very differently. These may be springs, in particular coil springs, leaf springs or the like, but also bodies made of elastomer such as rubber rings, just to name a few examples. However, the elastic return elements can also be integrated directly into the bars and / or the counterbatches by correspondingly elastically formed areas in the respective bar and / or counter latch are present or they are each formed completely elastic. The bolt is conveniently movable in barely on a housing of the first buckle component, preferably pivotally mounted. The counter latch, however, is conveniently movable in or on a housing of the second buckle component, preferably displaceable, stored. Particularly preferred embodiments provide that the counter latch is displaceable back and forth between its locking position and its Eritriegelungsstellung, while the bolt is conveniently pivoted back and forth between its locking position and its unlocked position. The latch can z. B. be pivotally mounted about a pivot axis, be inherently rigid component. Alternatively and / or in addition, however, it is also conceivable that the bolt is an elastically bendable component in itself, so z. B. is in the form of a spring tongue or has such.

In the connecting position of the buckle members both bar and counter latch should be able to be brought by hand from their locking position into the respective unlocked position by manual operation. Thus, it is provided that a housing of the buckle, preferably of the second buckle component, at least one common, externally accessible engagement opening and the latch and the counter latch, each having at least one actuating surface, the actuating surfaces in the connecting position of the buckle components and in the locking position of Riegel and the counter-bolt are externally operable by the engagement opening by hand.

Embodiments of the invention are possible in which the first buckle component has at least two, preferably at least four, latches that are pivotably mounted in at least two different, preferably normal, pivot planes.

• Fig. 1 bis 7 Darstellungen zu einem ersten erfindungsgemäßen Ausführungsbeispiel;
• Fig. 8 bis 14 Darstellungen zu einem zweiten erfindungsgemäßen Ausführungsbeispiel;
• Fig. 15 bis 25 Darstellungen zu einem dritten erfindungsgemäßen Ausführungsbeispiel.

Further features and details of preferred embodiments of the invention will be explained with reference to the following description of the figures. Show it:

• Fig. 1 to 7 Representations of a first embodiment of the invention;
• 8 to 14 Representations of a second embodiment of the invention;
• FIGS. 15 to 25 Representations of a third embodiment of the invention.

Fig. 1 shows first a perspective view of the first embodiment of a buckle 1. The two buckle components 2 and 3 are located in Fig. 1 as well as in the Fig. 2 to 5 in their connection position. FIGS. 2 and 3 show plan views in which both the latch 4 and the counter latch 6 are each in the locked position, whereby the buckle components 2 and 3 can not be separated from each other. In Fig. 3 the cover plate 20 of the housing 11 of the second buckle member 3 is removed, so you can see the inside of the position of latch 4 and counter latch 6 better. In the 4 and 5 Both latch 4 and counter latch 6 are in the respective unlocked position. By pulling in the pulling directions 24, the two buckle components 2 and 3 can be pulled apart in these positions of bolt 4 and counter latch 6 and thus separated from each other.

The housing 10 of the first buckle component 2 and the housing 11 of the second buckle component 3, as well as the latch 4 and the counterbolt 6, in this embodiment are preferably made of metal, such as e.g. Aluminum or steel, or metal alloys. Of course, this does not have to be the case, the parts mentioned can also consist at least partly of plastic or other suitable materials.

In the first embodiment according to. of the Fig. 1 to 7 As in the other two embodiments, each buckle component has a belt seat 19, through which a respective belt can be pulled through for fastening to the respective buckle component. In the illustrated variants, it is the simplest form of the belt seat 19. Of course, the belt receivers 19 can also have other embodiments, as they are known per se in the prior art. For example, it is conceivable that the belt receivers 19, as known per se, are designed such that they allow a locking or clamping of the belt in different positions and thus also an adjustment of the belt. This is z. B. conceivable, an additional, parallel to the in Fig. 5 Traction directions 24 shown to provide displaceable central web in the respective Gurtaufnahmeöffnung 19, around which a corresponding belt herumgefädelt and can be clamped by appropriate train in the Gurtaufnahme 19.

The operation of the buckle 1 gem. of the first embodiment can best be seen from the FIGS. 3 and 5 be explained. As already stated, the two buckle components 2 and 3 are in both representations in their connecting position in which they are fully inserted into one another. In Fig. 3 Both latch 4 and counter latch 6 are in the respective locking position. In Fig. 5 are latch 4 and counter latch 6 in the respective unlocked position in which the buckle components 2 and 3 can be separated by pulling in the pulling direction 24 from each other.

In the case of the bars 4 of the first buckle component, in the exemplary embodiment shown, they are rigid components which are each about their pivot axis 15 can be pivoted between the locking and unlocking back and forth. A formed in the form of a rubber ring elastic return element 8 biases the two bars 4 of the first buckle member 2 in the direction of its locking position gem. Fig. 3 in front. As a result, it is thus achieved that when the latch 4 are not pressed by means of a corresponding force in their unlocked position, the elastic return element 8 moves them in the direction of the locking position or holds there. The two bars 4 are pivotable in a pivoting plane 16. This pivoting plane 16 falls in the representations gem. FIGS. 3 and 5 with the leaf level together. The pivot axes 15 are normal on this pivoting plane sixteenth

In the in Fig. 3 illustrated locking position engages behind each bar 4 a locking surface 5 of the second buckle member 3 positively, so that the buckle components 2 and 3 can not be pulled apart in the pulling direction 24 and thus not separated from each other.

The counter latch 6 are located in the housing 11 of the second buckle member 3. They are parallel to the tension directions 24 slidably mounted in the housing 11 of the second buckle member 3. The elastic return elements 9, designed here in the form of coil springs, tension the counter latch 6 in the direction of their in Fig. 3 illustrated locking position before. The elastic return elements 9 thus push the counter latch 6 in its locking position, if this is not prevented from the outside by appropriate pressure on the actuating surfaces 14 of the respective counter latch 6. In the first embodiment shown, the counterbatches 6 each have a support surface 7. In the locked position acc. Fig. 3 support the counter latch 6 with their support surfaces 7 each one of the latch 4 from such that the respective latch 4 is locked in its locked position and can not be moved into its unlocked position. Fig. 3 shows this locking or locking the bolt 4. In Fig. 5 are, as I said, latch 4 and counter latch 6 in the respective unlocked position. In this, the latch 4 is no longer supported or locked by the respective support surfaces 7 of the counter latch 6.

To acc. To the situation Fig. 3 to the situation gem. Fig. 5 to come, therefore, the counter latch 6, and after their release, the bolt 4 against the force of the respective elastic return elements 8 and 9 are pressed into the respective unlocked positions. This is done according to the invention by pressing on the respective actuating surfaces 13 and 14 of latch 4 and counter latch 6. So that these actuating surfaces 13 and 14 are easily accessible from the outside, they are arranged in pairs in an engagement hole 12 of the second buckle member 3 in the embodiment shown. This allows a two-finger operation by the actuating surfaces 13 and 14 are actuated in each engagement opening 12 with one finger. The actuation of the actuating surfaces 13 and 14 can thus take place simultaneously by means of a single finger.

The 6 and 7 show the first buckle member 2 and the second buckle member 3 in a separate position, but also the latch 4 and counter latch 6 and the respective cover plates 20 of the housing 10 and 11 are removed. The extensions 22 with the central recess 23 of the first buckle component 2 and the corresponding central web 21 of the second buckle component 3 can be seen separated from one another in these representations. By interaction of the central web 21 with the extensions 22 or their central recess 23, the two buckle components 2 become when mated together centered.

In the first exemplary embodiment, the first buckle component 2 is thus the male buckle component, while the second buckle component 3 is the female buckle component of this buckle 1.

In the second embodiment of the invention acc. of the 8 to 14 it is a buckle 1, in which preferably both the first buckle member 2 and the second buckle member 3 and 4 and locking bar 6 are made of plastic. Of course, this does not necessarily have to be this way either. Of course, the components mentioned can also be metal, metal alloys or others Have or consist of materials. The in the 8 to 14 Representations shown are analogous to the representation of the Fig. 1 to 7 selected. The 8 to 12 show the two buckle components 2 and 3 respectively in the connecting position. In the FIGS. 9 and 10 are latch 4 and counter latch 6 in the respective locking position. In the FIGS. 11 and 12 are the latch 4 and the counter latch 6 respectively in the unlocked position. The FIGS. 9 and 11 show top views of the buckle 1, the FIGS. 10 and 12 show longitudinal sections in which you can see the internal components, ie in particular the latch 4 and counter latch 6 well. FIGS. 13 and 14 show the first buckle member 2 and the second buckle member 3 separately from each other in plan views.

The operation of the buckle 1 gem. of the second embodiment corresponds in its essential features of the operation of the buckle 1 of the first embodiment, so that will be discussed below only on the differences. The essential difference of the second embodiment of the first embodiment is that, in particular in the FIGS. 10 and 12 to see the latch 4 are bendable components. They each have web-like sections which act as elastic return elements 8. In the illustrated embodiment acc. of the 8 to 14 The first buckle component 2 is an integrally molded component, preferably made of plastic, in which the latches 4 are integrally formed on the housing 10. The bars 4 are thus formed at least partially in the manner of a bending joint. The pivoting plane 16, in which they can be pivoted, in turn coincides with the leaf level. FIGS. 10 and 12 together.

In Fig. 12 schematically two fingers are shown, which have brought by pressing the respective actuating surfaces 13 and 14, the latch 4, the counter latch 6 in their respective unlocked position.

The third embodiment according to the invention. of the FIGS. 15 to 25 is conveniently also designed as a plastic buckle. Thus, both first buckle component 2 and second buckle component 3 and also bars are preferred 4 as well as counter bolt 6 made of plastic. Of course, this does not necessarily have to be the case in this embodiment as well. Other materials such. As suitable metals, metal alloys, etc. can be used to realize this type of buckle 1.

The essential difference from the second embodiment acc. of the 8 to 14 exists in the third embodiment acc. of the FIGS. 15 to 25 now that not only two in a common pivoting plane 16 pivotable latch 4, but a total of 6 latches 4 are provided on the first buckle member 2, which moreover not in a single, but in two, here orthogonal to each other, pivot planes 16 and 17, as they are in Fig. 24 are marked, can be pivoted.

The Fig. 15 to 21 again show the two buckle components 2 and 3 of this buckle 1 in the connecting position. In the Fig. 16 to 18 are the latch 4 and the counter latch 6 in the respective locking position. In the Fig. 19 to 21 the latch 4 and the counter latch 6 are shown in the respective unlocked position. In order to transfer from the locking to the unlocking position, according to the invention, the finger must be pressed from the outside with the finger on the actuating surfaces 13 and 14 which are arranged jointly in the respective engagement opening 12.

The FIGS. 16 and 19 each show plan views, the FIGS. 17 and 20 each longitudinal sections and the FIGS. 18 and 21 each longitudinal sections in to the FIGS. 17 and 20 orthogonal section planes. The sectional planes AA and BB along which the representations

(continue on page 12 of the original description)

according to FIGS. 18 and 21 are cut in the FIGS. 16 and 19 shown. The cutting plane CC the Fig. 17 is in Fig. 18 located. The cutting plane DD of the Fig. 20 is in Fig. 21 located.

The elastic return elements 8 of the first buckle member 2 are formed as bending springs in each case 4 as in the second embodiment. All bars 4 are thus at least partially elastically bendable components. The in the FIGS. 17 and 20 Particularly well visible latch 4, which are also operable via the engagement in the engagement opening 12 by hand, are pivotable in the pivoting plane 16. The other four bars 4, which are particularly good in the FIGS. 18 and 21 can be seen, 17 are pivotable in the respective pivoting levels.

The displaceable against the elastic return elements 9 in their unlocking counter-latch 6 lock in their locking position acc. of the FIGS. 17 and 18 All six bars 4. The coming to use support surfaces 7 are in the FIGS. 20 and 21 especially good to see. The type of locking the latch 4 by means of the counter latch 6 in the respective locking position is in the FIGS. 17 and 18 shown.

Thus, the buckle components 2 and 3 can be separated by pulling in the pulling direction 24, the counter latch 6 must be brought into its unlocked position, so that the latch 4 of the first buckle member 2 can also be pressed into its unlocked position. To push the latch 4 in its unlocked position, it is sufficient, the two in the FIGS. 17 and 20 to operate particularly well visible latch 4 by means of their actuating surfaces 13. This will put you in the in Fig. 20 pivoted unlocking position shown. During this pivoting movement into the unlocking position, they push over the transfer surfaces 18, as they are in particular in the FIGS. 23 and 24 can be seen, but also in the FIGS. 18 and 21 particularly well visible latch 4 in the unlocked position acc. Fig. 21 , This interaction of the pivotable in the pivoting plane 16 latch 4 with the pivoting in the pivoting levels 17 bars 4 is particularly good in Fig. 24 to recognize. From this figure is also particularly well visible that it is favorably at the transfer surfaces 18 is an interaction of inclined surfaces, so that a compression of the outer latch 4 by means of their actuating surfaces 13 parallel to the pivot plane 16 compression of the other latch 4 in the direction parallel to the pivot planes 17 follows. For completeness, it should be noted that the pivoting plane 16 with the leaf levels of FIGS. 17 and 20 coincides and the pan levels 17 with the leaf levels gem. of the FIGS. 18 and 21 or coincide with parallel planes.

In the in the FIGS. 15 to 25 By way of example shown third embodiment of the invention is thus provided that at least one, in a first of the pivot planes 16 pivotable latch 4 has a transfer surface 18 and by pivoting this first latch 4 of its locking position in its unlocked position and by means of the transfer surface 18 at least a second, in a second of the pivoting levels 17 pivotable latch 4 is pivotable from its locking position in its unlocked position.

FIGS. 22 and 23 show the two buckle components 2 and 3 again in a separate state. In Fig. 23 are the latch 4 in a position corresponding to the respective locking position when the two components 2 and 3 are in the connecting position. In Fig. 25 the latches 4 are compressed in their respective unlocked position.

Legend to the reference numbers:

1

buckle

2

first buckle component

3

second buckle component

4

bars

5

locking surface

6

against Riegel

7

support surface

8th

elastic return element

9

elastic return element

10

casing

11

casing

12

engagement opening

13

actuating surface

14

actuating surface

15

swivel axis

16

pivot plane

17

pivot plane

18

transfer surface

19

belt receiver

20

cover plate

21

center web

22

extension

23

central recess

24

tensile direction

Claims (9)

1. A buckle (1) with a first buckle component (2) and with at least one second buckle component (3), wherein the first buckle component (2) has at least one catch (4) movable to and fro between a locking position of the catch (4) and an unlocking position of the catch (4), wherein in a connecting position of the buckle components (2, 3), the catch (4) engages behind a locking surface (5) of the second buckle component (3) to lock the two buckle components (2, 3) to one another in its locking position and the catch (4) is movable into its unlocking position to separate the buckle components (2, 3), wherein the second buckle component (3) has at least one counter catch (6) movable to and fro between a locking position of the counter catch (6) and an unlocking position of the counter catch (6), characterized in that a housing (10, 11) of the buckle (1), preferably of the second buckle component (3), has at least one common access opening (12) accessible from the exterior and the catch (4) and the counter catch (6) each have at least one actuating surface (13,14), wherein the actuating surfaces (13,14) are manually actuatable from the exterior through the access opening (12) in the connecting position of the buckle components (2, 3) and in the locking position of the catch (4) and the counter catch (6).
2. A buckle (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that the counter catch (6) has at least one supporting surface (7) and in its locking position locks the catch (4) or at least one of the catches (4) in its locking position with its supporting surface (7).
3. A buckle (1) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the first buckle component (2) has at least one resilient restoring element (8) which pretensions the catch (4) in the direction of its locking position and/or in that the second buckle component (3) has at least one resilient restoring element (9) which pretensions the counter catch (6) in the direction of its locking position.
4. A buckle (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the catch (4) is movably mounted in or on a housing (10) of the first buckle component (2), preferably pivotably mounted, and/or the counter catch (6) is movably mounted in or on a housing (11) of the second buckle component (3), preferably displaceably mounted.
5. A buckle (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the counter catch (6) is displaceable to and fro between its locking position and its unlocking position.
6. A buckle (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the catch (4) is pivotable to and fro between its locking position and its unlocking position.
7. A buckle (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that the catch (4) is an inherently rigid component mounted so as to be pivotable about a pivot axis (15) or in that the catch (4) is an inherently resiliently-bendable component.
8. A buckle (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that the first buckle component (2) has at least two, preferably at least four, catches (4) which are pivotably mounted in at least two different pivot planes (16, 17) which are preferably on top of each other in a normal manner.
9. A buckle (1) according to claim 8, characterized in that at least one catch (4) pivotable in a first of the pivot planes (16, 17) has a transfer surface (18) and, by means of pivoting of this first catch (4) from its locking position into its unlocking position and by means of the transfer surface (18), at least one second catch (4), pivotable in a second of the pivot planes (16, 17), is pivotable from its locking position into its unlocking position.

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