GB1599910A

GB1599910A - Buckles

Info

Publication number: GB1599910A
Application number: GB2553477A
Authority: GB
Original assignee: Marling Ind Ltd
Current assignee: Marling Ind Ltd
Priority date: 1978-05-30
Filing date: 1978-05-30
Publication date: 1981-10-07

Description

(54) IMPROVEMENTS IN AND RELATING TO BUCKLES (71) We, MARLING INDUSTRIES LIMITED, a British Company of 14 Aylmer Parade, London, N2 OPF, do hereby declare the invention, for which we pray that a patent may be granted to us, and the method by which it is to be performed, to be particularly described in the following statement: This invention relates to buckles of the type intended for use with straps, and in which, when the buckle is closed, the attached strap is tensioned.

Such strap tensioning buckles are suitable for use in tying down cargo loads. For this service in particular it is very desirable that it should be possible to hold the buckles in the strap tensioning position positively, whilst permitting the buckles to be rapidly detached when desired. The invention seeks to provide a buckle improved in these respects.

According to the present invention there is provided a buckle for use with straps and in which, when the buckle is closed, the straps are tensioned which comprises a body portion and, pivotally attached thereto, a lever plate portion, the lever plate portion having a latch assembly capable of engaging with a detent on the body portion, and a latch release mechanism having a striker plate standing proud from the lever plate portion whereby the latch assembly can be released by a blow on the striker plate.

The invention will be described further, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a side elevation of a buckle emboaying the invention; Figure 2 is a plan view of the buckle of Figure 1; Figure 3 is partial longitudinal section of a buckle showing an alternative latch release mechanism; and Figures 4, 5, 6, and 7 are fragmentary sectional views of alternative forms of latch release mechanisms.

Referring to Figures 1 and 2, the buckle comprises a body portion 10 in the form of a shallow channel with a body portion 12, and two similar side wall portions 14, 16. The body portion 12 is substantially flat, and is shaped to present webs 18, 20, 22 with intervening spaces 24, 26.

Pivotally secured to the side walls of the body portion is a lever plate assembly 28. This is also in the form of a shallow channel with side walls 30 and 32. The pivotal connection between the lever plate 28 and the body portion 10 is by means of a pivot pin 34, which passes through the side walls 14, 16 of the body portion and also through the side walls 30, 32 of the lever plate. Between the side walls of the lever plate it is surrounded by a bearing sleeve 36, and the pin is held captive by headed portions 38 and 40 at its ends. The body portion 28 of the lever plate is formed with an opening 42.

In use, a strap 44 can be passed around the foremost of the webs 22 and passed round the load to be secured. A second strap 46 is passed over the rearmost of the webs 18 on the body portion 10, beneath the next of the webs 20, around bearing sleeve 36, around the web formed at the forward end of the lever plate, passing through opening 42, and then back around sleeve 36, beneath the intermediate web 20 and out over the rearmost web 18, the passage of this web being indicated in Figure 1. The lever plate is then pivoted to its foremost position (i.e. to the left as seen in Figure 1), and the strap 46 is tightened. If then the lever plate is pivoted rearwardly, in the clockwise direction as viewed in Figure 1, the strap will be shortened and thereby thightened.

The lever plate 28 carries a latch assembly whereby the lever plate can be latched to the body portion of the buckle, in the strap tensioning position. For this purpose a latch spindle 48 has axial projections 50, 52 extending laterally through slots 54, 56 formed in the side walls 30, 32 of the lever plate. The spindle is spring biassed to its rearward position by means of a double hair-spring 58 which bears against it. This causes the spindle to assume its most rearward position, against the rearward ends of the slots 54 and 56.

The side walls of the body portion 10 of the buckle are shaped, as shown at 60 in Figure 1, to present a detent portion comprising recesses 62 and nose portions 64. The arrangement of the parts is such that when the lever plate 28 is snapped down, the projecting parts 50 and 52 of the spindle are cammed by the nose portions 64, until the lever plate is fully home, when the portions 50 and 52 of the spindle drop into the recesses 62 in each of the walls 14, 16, thus positively retaining the lever plate in the strap tensioning position of the buckle.

A latch release mechanism is provided whereby the lever plate can be unlatched quickly and easily, when it is desired to release the buckle.

For this purpose, a striker or release plate 66 consists of a shaped plate which passes through a slot 68 formed in the rearward end of the lever plate. The striker plate 66 has attached thereto a camming plate 70 which abuts the spindle 48. The foremost end 72 of the striker plate 66 passes through a slot 74 in the lever plate and is held captive there by the action of a kinked portion 76 of the spring 58 passing through a slot in the plate end 72. On pressing the striker plate 66 towards the lever plate, the camming plate 70 cams the spindle forwardly against the bias of the spring 58, causing the portions 50, 52 of the spindle to move along the slots 54, 56 so that they clear the nose 64 of the detent portions 62.It is arranged by the dimensioning and proportioning of the parts of the buckle that when the lever plate is released in this way, the tension in the straps is such as to exert an opening movement on the lever, thus quickly releasing the buckle.

It is important that the connection between the striker plate and the spindle is such as to ensure that the spindle moves in the slots 54 and 56 without skewing. The construction shown in Figures 1 and 2, where the force imposed between the striker plate and the spindle is symmetrical, achieves this object. With the construction shown, the desired movement of the spindle is further ensured because the camming surface of the camming plate engages the spindle along the major portion of its length.

It is an advantage of the construction shown in Figures 1 and 2 that a simple downward force can easily be imparted to the striker plate which stands proud of the lever plate, to release the buckle. In use, the buckles are liable to be subjected to hard conditions of service and it is convenient if the user can merely release the buckles by a sharp blow with any suitable implement.

Referring to Figure 3, the latch release mechanism comprises shaped release plate 74 passing through the slot 68 and it has a small projecting lug 76 which is loosely coupled by a pin 78 to the centre of a latch plate 80. The latch plate 80 has lateral lugs which project through the slots 54, 56 in the walls 30, 32 in a similar manner to the spindle ends 50, 52 in the embodiment of Figures 1 and 2. Similarly the latch plate 80 is biassed rearwardly by a double hair spring (not shown). The rear end of the latch release plate 74 extends beyond the edge of the body of the lever plate.When the latch release plate is pressed downwardly, as seen in Figure 3, the latch release plate in effect pivots about its point of engagement with the slot 68, and this causes the latch plate 80 to be moved forwardly, thus releasing the projecting latching lug portions from the recess 62 in the body portion of the buckle. This arrangement also allows a quick release of the buckle if the user gives the release plate 74 a sharp blow.

Figures 4, 5, 6 and 7 are fragmentary sec tional views of alternative methods of securing the desired connection between the latch release and the latch plate of the embodiment of Figure 3. As shown in Figure 4, the end portion of the body of the lever plate is recessed, as at 82, thus securing a somewhat more compact construction, without any projection of the latch release above the general level of the buckle. Figure 5 shows an alternative method of locating the rearward end of the latch plate to the latch release, consisting of a projection 84 on the latch plate which enters a correspondingly shaped slot 86 in the latch release.

In Figure 6, two such projections, 88 and 90 are used, with corresponding slots 92 and 94 in the latch release.

Figure 7 shows an alternative construction, in which the slot 68 accommodating the latch release is moved forwardly, and in this case the downturned end 96 of the latch release 74 engages behind two lugs 98 formed in the latch plate 80. With the construction of Figure 7, the end of the body of the lever plate can be recessed, in the manner indicated at 82 in Figure 4. The latch release can be held captive in the slot in the lever plate by a suitable projection at its ends.

In each of the above embodiments the latch release or striker, plate is in a position either above or overlapping the end of the lever plate portion, so that it is readily accessible to a blow from the user to release the buckle.

In certain circumstances it may be desirable to protect the buckle against inadvertent open ing by accidental contact with, for example, a wall or other flat surface. This may be accomplished in a number of ways. A locking arangement, e.g. a lever operable to prevent depression of the striker plate 66 until released, may be incorporated in the buckle. Alternatively, the ease of movement of the spindle in the forward direction can be restricted, e.g. by forming a small raised portion in the side walls 14, 16 in the area-60 to impede the forward movement of the spindle ends when leaving the detent 62 so that only a sharp blow on the striker plate will cause the buckle to release. Another way of guarding against accidental release is to ioncrease the height of the most rearward portions of the side walls 14, 16 in the area of the striker plate so that in the latched position they stand above the level of the striker plate. This means that only a blow, or pressure exerted, between the side walls 14, 16 will open the buckle, and pressure against a large surface will not effect release.

The absence of skewing in the preferred constructions of the invention lead to simpler and more positive operation, and hence less wear. Further, the ability to open the buckle with a blow means that the device is safer, since the fingers do not need to come near during release, which is an important advantage in view of the considerable tension under which the straps buckled are often maintained.

WHAT WE CLAIM IS: 1. A buckle for use with straps and in which, when the buckle is closed, the straps are tensioned which comprises a body portion and, pivotally attached thereto, a lever plate portion, the lever plate portion having a latch assembly capable of engaging with a detent on the body portion, and a latch release mechanism having a striker plate standing proud from the lever plate portion whereby the latch assembly can be released by a blow on the striker plate.

2. A buckle as claimed in claim 1 having parts so dimensioned that when the latch release mechanism is operated the tension on the straps held by the buckle is such as to exert an opening movement on the lever plate portion whereby to release the buckle.

3. A buckle as claimed in either of claims 1 or 2 in which the connection between the latch release mechanism and the latch assembly is such that the latch moves without skewing.

4. A buckle as claimed in any of claims 1 to 3 in which the latch assembly comprises a spring biassed spindle with end portions engageable with the detent and the release mechanism comprises a cam plate attached to the striker plate to cam the spindle away from the detent when the striker plate is depressed.

5. A buckle as claimed in any of claims 1 to 3 in which the latch assembly comprises a spring-biassed latch plate with laterally protruding lugs engageable with the detent and the release mechanism comprises a shaped release plate passing through the lever plate and coupled to the latch plate.

6. A buckle as claimed in claim 5 in which the release plate has a slot which engages with a corresponding projection on the centre of the latch plate.

7. A buckle as claimed in claim 5 in which the release plate has a pair of symmetrical slots which engage with corresponding projections on the latch plate.

8. A buckle as claimed in claim 5 in which a downturned end of the release plate engages a pair of lugs struck up from the latch plate.

9. A buckle as claimed in any of claims 1 to 8 in wihch the end portion of the body of the lever plate is recessed so that the latch release mechanism does not project above the general level of the buckle.

10. A buckle substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as illustrated in Figures 1 and 2 in the accompanying drawings.

11. A buckle as claimed in any of claims 1 to 9 having means for preventing inadvertent opening by accidental contact.

12. A buckle substantially as hereinbefore described with refernce to and as illustrated in Figures 3, 4, 5, 6 or 7 of the accompanying drawings.

**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. a blow, or pressure exerted, between the side walls 14, 16 will open the buckle, and pressure against a large surface will not effect release. The absence of skewing in the preferred constructions of the invention lead to simpler and more positive operation, and hence less wear. Further, the ability to open the buckle with a blow means that the device is safer, since the fingers do not need to come near during release, which is an important advantage in view of the considerable tension under which the straps buckled are often maintained. WHAT WE CLAIM IS:

1. A buckle for use with straps and in which, when the buckle is closed, the straps are tensioned which comprises a body portion and, pivotally attached thereto, a lever plate portion, the lever plate portion having a latch assembly capable of engaging with a detent on the body portion, and a latch release mechanism having a striker plate standing proud from the lever plate portion whereby the latch assembly can be released by a blow on the striker plate.