FR2809778A1 - RATCHET DEVICE FOR HOLDING A STRIP - Google Patents

Abstract

The clip (23) for the binding (11, 12) of a snowboard has a tip (25) which cooperates with grooves on the binding to fasten it against a bridge section (19). It is released by a release button (30) which disengages the tip. When the clip is released the button is moved vertically away from the binding (12) to a position where the handle (27) of the clip is closest to the bridge (19).

Description

The ratchet device for retaining a strip The invention relates to a

ratchet clamp

  used on clothing or sporting goods.

  Such devices are used for reversibly tensioning elements such as shoe flaps, pieces of

fabrics, or whatever.

  An example of application is given for the field of snowboarding, or snowboarding. Some snowboard bindings include one or more links to hold them in place

  removable boot on a base of the binding.

  A link generally comprises a strip, a cover, and a ratchet tightening device secured to the cover. The length of the link is adjusted by moving the strip relative to the cover using the device. To do this, a lever of the device makes it possible to shorten the link, the pawl preventing elongation when the lever does not act. If necessary, the extension of the link, or its opening by separation of the strip and the cover, is obtained by acting on the pawl using a release button. This operation is an act desired by a user of the device, that is to say by a person who practices snowboarding and who either wants to reduce the

  tension of the link, or release a boot from a binding.

  However, it has become apparent that, in certain circumstances, an unwanted lengthening or opening of the link occurs. This means that against the user's will

  plus the foot sufficiently tightened or retained on the board.

  One of the objects of the invention is to avoid a displacement not

  wanted a band compared to a ratchet device.

  To do this, the invention provides a device for tightening a strip comprising a base, a drive lever, a pawl, and a release button, the base having a first flange and a second flange connected by a bridge. , the lever being articulated on the base between the flanges, the lever comprising on the one hand an end provided for driving the strip in a first direction substantially parallel to the flanges and the bridge, and on the other hand a handling end, the pawl being articulated on the base between the flanges, the pawl having a retaining zone intended to oppose the movement of the strip in a second direction opposite to the first direction, an elastic means permanently urging the pawl retaining zone towards the bridge, the release button being provided to move the pawl retention zone away from the bridge

  against the action of the elastic means.

  The clamping device according to the invention is characterized in that the button is substantially retracted with respect to the lever or at least with respect to the flanges, in a direction substantially perpendicular to the bridge, when the lever is in a rest position which allows retaining the tape, position in which the handling end is

closer to the bridge.

  Thus, the support or the shock of an object on the device is very unlikely to induce a movement of the pawl, and by

following a displacement of the band.

  In the case of snowboard binding, a support or a shock on the device is unlikely to induce an elongation or

opening the link.

  Other characteristics and advantages of the invention will be

  better understood using the description which follows, in

  look at the appended drawing illustrating, by a nonlimiting example, how the invention can be implemented, and in which: - Figure 1 is a perspective view of a snowboard binding provided with a clamping device according to the invention , - Figure 2 is a side view of the device, - Figure 3 is a schematic section of the device according to III-III of Figure 1, - Figure 4 is a section similar to Figure 3, in a case where the device drives a strip, - Figure 5 is a section similar to Figure 3, in a case where the device releases the strip, - Figure 6 is a partial enlargement of Figure 1 which better shows the device, in a case where this last

retains the tape.

  According to the example chosen as shown in Figure 1, a

  binding 1 holds a boot 2 on a snowboard 3.

  In known manner, the binding 1 has a plate 4, as well as a first lateral edge 5 and a second lateral edge

  6 connected to each other by a hoop 7.

  The plate 4 extends in a longitudinal direction L of the attachment between a front end 8 and an end

rear 9.

  A link 10 is provided for removably retaining the boot

2 on fixing 1.

  Without limitation, the link 10 comprises for example a cover 11, a strip 12, and a device 13 for tightening the strip. The cover 11, made for example with one or more layers of flexible material, has a front attachment point 14

  and a rear attachment point 15 on the first lateral edge 5.

  The strip 12 is attached to the second lateral edge 6.

  The fasteners of the cover 11 and of the strip 12 are made

  by any suitable means, such as a joint.

  The structure and operation of the device 13 are

  explained below using Figures 2 to 6.

  The clamping device 13 is seen from the side in FIG. 2.

  It includes a U-shaped base 16 provided to guide the strip 12. The base 16 comprises a first flange 17 and a

  second flange 18 connected by a bridge 19.

  The base 16 is secured to the cover 11 for example using

a 20-pin rivet.

  The strip 12 is in turn produced in the form of a rack, preferably made from a plastic material. The teeth 21 and the core 22 of the strip 12 form

preferably a single piece.

  As shown in FIG. 3, the clamping device 13 comprises a pawl 23 articulated along an axis 24 between the flanges 17, 18. An elastic means, not shown, such as a spring, permanently urges the pawl 23 so that a retaining zone 25 of the pawl is pushed towards the deck 19. The

  retention zone 25 is shown in the form of a tooth.

  A drive lever 26 comprises on the one hand a handling end 27, and on the other hand an end

  drive 28 provided with at least one tooth 29.

  A release button 30 has a cam surface 31 intended to press on a cam surface 32 of the pawl 23, and a handling end 33 intended to be actuated at

the hand.

  The driving lever 26 and the release button 30

  are articulated on the same axis 34, between the flanges 17, 18.

  An elastic means, not shown, such as a spring, permanently urges the lever 26 so that the end of

  handling 27 is pushed towards deck 19.

  Thus in the absence of any external stress, the constituent parts of the clamping device 13 occupy

  each position as shown in Figure 3.

  As the strip 12 is present along the bridge 19 between the flanges 17, 18, that is to say in the base 16, the pawl 23 opposes an elongation of the link 10. This means that one end 35 of the strip 12 cannot move, in a direction which goes from an internal edge 36 towards an external edge 37 of

the base 16.

  On the other hand, movement in the opposite direction is possible.

  This displacement can be caused by the user as it is

the case in Figure 4.

  The drive lever 26 is actuated, by means of the end 27, so that the teeth 29 entrain the strip 12. In this case the end 35 of the strip 12 moves in

  a direction which goes from the external edge 37 towards the internal edge 36.

  This means that link 10 becomes shorter. The tightening of

the boot gets stronger.

  Conversely if the user wants to loosen the link, or even release the boot by opening the link, he just has to proceed

  as shown in Figure 5.

  In this case the drive lever 26 is not stressed, its handling end 27 occupying the position closest to the bridge 19. The user acts, for example with a finger, on the handling end 33 of the button of

release 30.

  The cam surface 31 of the button 30 presses on the cam surface 32 of the pawl 23, so that the retaining zone 25 of the pawl 23 moves away from the bridge 19 and from the strip 12. The link 10

  can lengthen because the pawl 23 no longer retains the strip 12.

  Of course, as soon as the action of the button 30 ceases, the

  ratchet 23 returns to a retaining position.

  An advantage, induced by the structure of the clamping device 13, is that the manual action on the release button 30 tends to lengthen and open the link 10 According to the invention as can be seen better in FIG. 6, the lever drive 26 has a first wing 38 and a second wing 39 with respect to which the release button is retracted, in a direction substantially perpendicular to the strip 12. Each wing 38, 39 is situated in the lateral position relative to the lever 26. The release button 30 is housed between the wings 38, 39 of the lever

26.

  This architecture is particularly interesting if the clamping device is located between the feet of the user. This amounts to saying that the first lateral edge of the binding 1 is an outer edge, and that the second

  lateral edge 6 is an inner edge.

  When the user has only one foot retained on board 3, and that he pushes in an alternating step with the other foot, it is frequent that a boot in motion comes to strike the device

  tightening the fixing of the other boot still retained.

  As the release button 30 is retracted, it is not actuated by the boot in motion if it strikes the

clamping device.

  It follows that the release button 30 is not

  operated against the will of the user.

  However, the latter can easily loosen the link 10.

  It suffices for this to act on the handling end 33 of the release button 30, for example with a finger, in a direction of approach of the free end 35 of the strip 12. In general, the elements components of the link 10, in particular those of the clamping device 13, are manufactured with materials and according to techniques known to those skilled in the art.

  Of course, the invention is not limited to the example below.

  before described, and includes all technical equivalents

  which may fall within the scope of the claims which

  to follow. For example, the drive lever 26 and the button

  release 30 could have other forms.

  The drive lever could have a single wing. The release button 30 could be retracted by at least one of the flanges of the base. In this case, the flange passes either through an opening of the drive lever, or next to the lever. An additional part can be added to the clamping device to allow the retraction of the

release button 30.

  On the other hand, the internal structure of the clamping device could be different. For example, the pawl and the release button could form a one-piece hinged piece

  on an axis, not two separate pieces.

  Still, although the example of a tightening device has been described for an application in the field of a snowboard binding, provision may be made to use the device in another technical field such as that of the boot,

clothing, bags, or whatever.

Claims (3)

  1- Clamping device (13) of a band (12) comprising a base (16), a drive lever (26), a pawl (23), and a release button (30), the base ( 16) having a first flange (17) and a second flange (18) connected by a bridge (19), the lever (26) being articulated on the base (16) between the flanges (17, 18), the lever ( 26) comprising on the one hand an end (28) provided for driving the strip (12) in a first direction substantially parallel to the flanges (17, 18) and the bridge (19), and on the other hand a handling end ( 27), the pawl (23) being articulated on the base (16) between the flanges (17, 18), the pawl (23) having a retaining zone (25) provided to oppose the movement of the strip ( 12) in a second direction opposite to the first direction, an elastic means permanently urging the retaining zone (25) of the pawl (23) towards the bridge (19), the release button (30) being provided to move away r the retaining zone (25) of the pawl (23) relative to the bridge (19) against the action of the elastic means, characterized in that the button (30) is substantially retracted relative to the lever (26) or by relative to the flanges (17, 18), in a direction substantially perpendicular to the bridge (19), when the lever (26) is in a rest position which allows the retaining of the strip (12), position in which the end   handling (27) is closest to the bridge (19).   2- clamping device (13) according to claim 1, characterized in that the lever (26) has a first wing (38) and a second wing (39) between which is housed a handling end (33) of the button of release (30).   3- Clamping device (13) according to one of claims   1 or 2, characterized in that the pawl (23) and the   release button (30) are two separate pieces.