GB2127090A - A slip-in buckle for interconnecting two strap ends - Google Patents

Abstract

In order to make possible the introduction of the male component (11) into the female component (10) of a slip-in strap buckle, independently of an occasional twisted position of the strap ends, a resilient tongue (14) on the male component is displaced sidewardly in relation to a middle plane through the buckle. The female component (10) is provided with a reception slot (21) located symmetrically with respect to the middle plane (18), the slot having guiding grooves (22) for a sidewardly directed latching portion (16) on the tongue (14). The latching portion (16) can engage either of two edges (23) depending on the orientation of the male component when inserted into the slot (21). <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION A slip-in buckle for interconnecting two strap ends A number of slip-in buckles comprising a male component and a female component and adapted to interconnected strap ends are known in the art. The male component is usually provided with a resilient tongue, terminated by a locking knob adapted to snap-in behind a locking ledge at the female portion.

One drawback with buckles of known design is that the male and the female component will only engage properly in a definite relative position, i.e. it is impossible to introduce the male component into the female component if one of the strap ends has been twisted 1800, or alternatively an unsatisfactory, or unreliable locking between the two components is obtained.

The aim of the present invention is to propose a slip-in buckle, where the components can engage independently of the occasional twisted position.

According to a development of the invention it is possible to obtain an improved locking between the male component and the female component.

The male component of the slip-in buckle according to the invention is, in a manner known per se, provided with a resilient buckle having a locking knob and the invention is characterized in that the tongue is displaced sidewardly in relation to a middle plane through the buckle, and the female component is provided with a reception slot, arranged symmetrically in relation to the middle plane, juxtaposed side walls defining said slot each having a guiding groove for the knob.

The tongue advantageously includes a head having sidewardly directed wings, and end walls defining he reception slot in the female component being provided with inwardly tapering guides for the wings.

The male component is preferably provided with guiding lugs, known per se, the apexes of which reach about to the back edges of the wings.

The female component preferably encloses an opening, which at its end remote from the reception slot is defined by a cross-bar adaped to form a permanent attachment for one strap end.

The male component may enclose an opening, within which a frame-shaped slide adapted to receive a substantially 1800 bent strap end is slidably mounted.

The invention will below be described with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 shows a slip-in buckle according to the invention, Figure 2 shows a section along line ll-ll in Figure 4, Figure 3 shows a plan view of the female compo nentofthe buckle according to Figure 1, Figure 4 shows an end view of the female component, as viewed from the reception slot, Figure 5 shows a section along line V - V in Figure 3, Figure 6 shows the male component of the buckle according to Figure 3, without any slide, Figure 7 is a section along line VII-VII in Figure 6, Figure 8 is a plan view of a slide cooperating with the male component, and Figure 9 is a section along line IX - IX in Figure 8.

A slip-in buckle according to the invention includes a female component 10 and a male component 11. The latter comprises, see especially Figures 6 and 7, a frame-shaped main part 12, which encloses an opening 13. A resilient tongue 14 projects from the main part, and is at its distal end formed as a broadened head 15. A locking knob 16, projecting to one side of the tongue is provided centrally in the head. This is further provided with sidewardly projecting wings 17.

As is best evident from the sections shown in Figures 2 and 7, the tongue 14 is displaced sidewardly in relation to a middle plane 18 through the slip-in buckle.

The locking knob 16 is directed outwardly in relation to the middle plane, and its top face will be about level with the adjacent side face of the main part 12, when the buckle is engaged.

The female component 10 likewise encloses an opening 19, and a transverse bead 20, to be turned towards the male component, encloses a reception slot 21 forthetongue 14 of the male component.

The reception slot 21 is arranged symmetrically in relation to the middle plane 18, and the juxtaposed side walls defining the slot is each provided with a guiding groove 22 for the locking knob 16. The side walls of the beam 20 have a certain thickness, and the tongue 14 will have to be resiliently deformed during the introduction into the female component.

When the locking knob 16 has entered the opening 19 fully, the tongue will snap back. and the knob will then engage either of the locking ledges 23, which define the inward ends of the side walls of the beam 20.

The end walls of the reception slot are provided with guides 24 for the wings 17, the guides tapering inwardly in the direction away from the entrance to the slot, when the tongue snaps back, the edges of the wings turned towards the main part 12 will engage further locking ledges 25 at the beam 20.

In this manner a very favourable locking between the two components is obtained, which efficiently prevents an unintentional separation, which is lightly important in safety hardnesses of different types.

The sidewardly displacement of the tongue 14 permits, in conjunction with the symmetrical design of the reception slot 21, that the two components may be brought into engagement, irrespective of the occasional, twisted position of the associated strap ends.

The male component is provided with guiding lugs 26, known per se, which prevent the male component from being introduced in an oblique position, or alternatively that the components are hooked together by the tongue being pushed in along a side of the female component. An important feature is further to arrange so the knob will not be disengaged by the components of the buckle being "bent" in relation to each other.

The guiding lugs 26 extend almost to the rear edges of the wings 17, and their outward edges form extensions of the outward edges of the wings, so an easly introduceable unit is obtained.

Slip-in buckles of this type are used to interconneck the ends of straps. Both attachments thereof to the buckle may be permanent, but usually a possibility of adjusting the length of at least one strap is desirable.

In the embodiment shown the opening 19 in the female component 10 is outwardly defined by a further beam 27. To the latter it is possible, in the manner indicated in Figure 2 to permanently attack one strap end 28. The longitudinally running bars 29 in the main part 12 of the male member 11 are provided with inwardly directed grooves 30, which extend through the outer slotted cross beam 31.

A slide 32 is introduced into the frame, and is provided with a transverse slot 33 defined by dented edges. The slide 32 is provided with two pairs of projections 34, 35. By resilient deformation of the side walls of the transverse beam 31 the inward pairs of projections 34 may be introduced into openings 13. The outward pairs of projections 35 will run freely in recesses 36 in the outwardly turned edges of the beam 31, and permit a displacement of the slide, which is sufficient to make the slot 33 accessi ble within the opening 13.

In the manner denoted by broken lines in Figure 2 a second strap end 33 may be from below be introduced into opening 13, be folded around the slide and then be led downwards through the same, and may then be extended outwardly, parallel to the in-coming portion of the strap end.

This permits a simple adjustment of the length of the strap. Similar adjustments may be obtained in various ways. The solution shown here is known per se, and forms no real part of the present invention.

As is evident from Figure 2 the outward edge 38 of the slid 32 will project past the beam 31, when the strap is subjected to a load. An inwardly directed pushing action upon the projecting edge of the slide will loosen the grip between the dented edge of the slot, and the inward edge of the beam 31, so the strap may be slackened whenever needed. Atighten- ing of the strap is caused by pulling at the free strap end, without any "facilitating" step being undertaken.

The embodiment above described and shown in the drawings are to be regarded as in example only of the invention. The shape and the size of the various parts and components will of course have to be selected with regard to the expected load. The material in the buckle is preferably synthetic resin.

Claims (6)

1. Aslip-in buckle comprising a male component (11) and a female component (10) and intended for interconnecting two strap ends (28, 37), in which the male component (11) in a manner known per se includes a resilient tongue (14) having a locking knob (16), characterized in that the tongue (14) is displaced sidewardly in relation to a middle plane (18) through the buckle, and the female component (10) is provided with a reception slot (21), arranged symmetrically in relation to the middle plane (18), juxtaposed side walls defining said slot each having a guiding groove (22) for the knob (16).

2. A slip-in buckle according to claim 1, characterized in that the tongue (14) includes a head (15) having sidewardly directed wings (17), the end walls defining the reception slot (21) in the remale component being provided with inwardly tapering guides (24) for the wings.

3. A slip-in buckle according to either of claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the male component (11) is provided with guiding lugs (26), known per se, the apexes of which reach about to the back edges of the wings (17).

4. A slip-buckle according to either of the preceeding claims, characterized in that the female component (10) encloses an opening (19), which at its end remote from the reception slot is defined by a cross-bar (27) adapted to form a permanent attachment for one strap end (28).

5. A slip-in buckle according to either of the preceeding claims, characterized in that the male component (11)encloses an opening (13),within which a frame shaped slide (32) adapted to receive a substantially 1800 bent strap end (37) is slidably mounted.

6. A slip-in buckle substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.