GB2119004A

GB2119004A - A strap tensioning buckle

Info

Publication number: GB2119004A
Application number: GB08208853A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Eric Charles Beard
Original assignee: HALPHAN ENGINEERING Ltd
Current assignee: HALPHAN ENGINEERING Ltd
Priority date: 1982-03-25
Filing date: 1982-03-25
Publication date: 1983-11-09

Abstract

The buckle comprises a base member (1) and a handle member (11) having a first end pivotally connected to the base member and a second end carrying a latching mechanism (21-24) engageable in at least one recess (9) in the adjacent end of the base member. The or each recess is open in a direction away from the pivotal connection. The latching means, when engaged, is urged to its latching position by spring means (24) biassing it in a direction to the pivotal connection, and is released by applying finger pressure against cut out portion 22' of the plate 22 carrying the latching members 23. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION A strap tensioning buckle The invention relates to a strap tensioning buckle, particularly a buckle suitable for restraining load on lorries or the curtain on curtain-sided lorries.

Known strap tensioning buckles have various disadvantages known to persons skilled in the art.

The aim of the invention is to avoid, or at least to mitigate, some of these disadvantages.

The invention will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying diagrammatic drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a plan of a buckle, Figure 2 is a longitudinal section through the buckle shown in Figure 1, and Figure 3 is a partiai side view of one end of the buckle.

The buckle according to the invention has a base member 1 formed by two substantially identical, spaced apart and parallel side walls 2, 2' interconnected by a base 3 extending substantially perpendicularly thereto. In the base 3 are made three spaced apart, substantially rectangular windows 4, 5 and 6, defining four transverse members 7A, 7B, 7C and 7D. The inner edge of the transverse member 7D may be curled as is shown in Figure 2. At the first end (Fig. 3) the side walls 2, 2' are reduced in height, the transition to the reduced height being by oblique edges 8 ending at an outwardly open and inwardly closed recess 9.

The buckle further comprises a handle member 11 which is formed by two identical, substantially parallel side walls 12, 12' interconnected at a first end by a planar end member 13 and a strip member 14, spaced from the latter, the members 13 and 14 extending substantially perpendicularly to the side walls 12, 12'. The end member 13 has a straight outer edge 1 3' and an inner edge provided with a curved, e.g. part-circular, centrally situated open recess 13".

The side walls 13, 13' extend at the second end between the side walls 2, 2' and are to the latter pivotally connected by a pivot element 1 5 adjacent to the transverse member 7C. A spacer member 10, parallel to the pivot element 1 5 and spaced therefrom in the direction to the second end of the base member 1 interconnects the side walls 2, 2'.

The side walls 12, 12' of the handle member 11 are at the first end provided with an elongate closed recess 1 6 so situated that in the closed position of the buckle, shown in Fig. 3, the recess 1 6 is in alignment with the recess 9.

The buckle has a latching mechanism including a substantially L-shaped member 21 made of a flat strip material, the longer arm of which is firmly attached to the end member 13 such that its longer arm extends substantially axially relative to the member 1 3 and its shorter arm extends away from but flush with the edge 13' of the end member 13. The shorter arm of the L-shaped member 21 is provided with a first support element projecting inwardly therefrom substantially parallel to the longer arm. The latching mechanism further includes a substantially planar latching member 22 having two opposite projections 23, 23' extending through and projecting beyond the recess 1 5.

The outer end of the member 22 is provided with a second support element and its opposite inner end has a curved, e.g. part-circular, centrally situated open recess 22' extending inwardly beyond the recess 13".

A helical spring 24 extends between and is held by said two support elements and biases the member 22 inwardly of the handle member 11 into its normal position in which the projections 23, 23' bear on the inner end of the recess 1 5.

When the handle member 11 is in its latched position the projections 23, 23' are received in the recess 9 as is shown in Fig. 3.

In operation a first strap A is looped around the transverse member 7D, and a second strap B is threaded through the window 4 inwardly of the member 7B, through the window 5 outwardly of the member 7C, through the window 6, outwardly of the spacer member 10, around the member 14 and again outwardly about the member 10 between the member 10 and itself and between the base 3 and the pivot element 1 5 along the base 3 beyond its first end. This end of the strap extending beyond the first end of the buckle will now be referred to as "the free end" of the strap B.

When the buckle is in use the non-illustrated ends of the straps A and B are firmly fixed, e.g. the end of the strap A to the curtain and the end of the strap B to the chassis of the lorry. The unattached ,end of the strap B is then threaded through the unlatched buckle, the handle member 11 is lifted to the position shown in dashed lines in Figure 2, and the operator then manually tightens the strap B by pulling at the free end until a satisfactory tightening is achieved, whereupon he pivots the handle member in Figure 2 anti-clockwise until the projections 23, 23' slide on the oblique edges 8, thus compressing the spring 24 until in the fully closed position of the handle member 11, when the recesses 16 and 9 are in alignment, the spring 24 forces the projections 23, 23' into the recess 9 whereby the buckle is latched.During the anticlockwise movement the strap is further tightened by the spacer member 10.

In order to release the connection of the steps provided by the buckle the buckle is first unlatched by the operator who supports his thumb on the shorter arm of the L-shaped member and his index finger in the recess 22', and by bringing his thumb and finger together compresses the spring 24 and thereby unlatches the handle element 11 which can then be pivoted e.g. to the position shown in dashed lines in Fig. 2, which enables the free end of the strap B to be pulled out of the buckle.

The buckle is very easy to operate because it provides a firm and comfortable support for the operator's thumb and the curved recess 22' offers convenient support and enough space for the operator's index finger.

It will be understood that the drawings show only one preferred embodiment which can be modified in various respects. So, for instance the L-shaped member may be much wider than shown, and may extend along the whole width of the end member 13, or the L-shaped member may be dispensed with and a suitable support for the operator's thumb provided by an element attached and extending substantially perpendicularly to the end member 13 at the edge 13', e.g. by an end portion of the end member 13 bent substantially perpendicularly to the part of the member 13 shown in Figure 1.

Claims

1. A strap tensioning buckle comprising a base member and a handle member having a first end pivotally connected to the base member and a second end carrying a latching mechanism engageable in at least one recess in the adjacent end of the base member, the or each recess being open in a direction away from the pivotal connection, the latching means, when engaged, being urged to its latching position by spring means biassing it in a direction to the pivotal connection.

2. A buckle according to Claim 1 wherein that part of the latching mechanism which must be depressed against the spring force to unlatch the mechanism, is fully contained inside the buckle.

3. A buckle according to Claim 1 or 2, wherein that part of the latching mechanism which must be depressed against the spring force to unlatch the mechanism is provided with a recess for the finger of the user, the recess being concave with respect to the pivotal connection.

4. A buckle according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the handle member comprises a thumb support extending substantially perpendicularly to the direction in which the spring means biasses the latching mechanism.

5. A buckle according to Claim 4 when appended to Claim 3, wherein the central portion of the concave recess and the central portion of the thumb support lie in a common plane.

6. A strap tensioning buckle constructed, arranged, and adapted to operate substantially as herein described with reference to, and as shown in, the accompanying drawing.