JP7303277B2 - Strap tightening device - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a lace tightening device.

In recent years, in sports shoes, adjustment of the tightness between the shoe body and the foot has attracted particular attention in order to prevent the foot from slipping inside the shoe and causing injury when walking or playing sports. there is Conventionally, the adhesion has been adjusted using shoelaces, elastic cords, fasteners, or hook-and-loop fasteners. Hook-and-loop fasteners tend to collect dander and dust on the barb edge, and are prone to fatigue after repeated application. The fastener has a small adjustment range and poor fixation. The rubber cord has poor weather resistance and hardens over time. For this reason, most sports shoes on the market are of the shoelace type.

However, some children have trouble tying their shoelaces, and sometimes the shoelaces come loose. It is difficult for an old man with weakened physical strength to squat down and tie his shoelaces. For example, during strenuous or special sports such as basketball, tennis, rock climbing, skateboarding, etc., loose or too long shoelaces may cause a risk of being caught or caught by an external foreign object. Therefore, loose shoelaces or excessively long shoelaces pose a great threat to athletes who work in sports.

Currently, a fastener having a lace tightening function and a lace loosening function disclosed in Patent Document 1 is already on the market. Such fasteners are widely accepted in the market because they can be used with a wide variety of garments that require a lace to be tightened. Conventional fasteners form a uniform locking force in the up-and-down direction by continuously connecting an annular sheet body and an elastic sheet, which are latching devices. It has the effect of tightening or loosening the

Taiwan Patent No. 374016

However, conventional fasteners have complex and numerous elastic elements. In addition, not only is the cost of the elastic element high, but after the elastic element repeatedly tightens or loosens the shoelace, it is likely to cause elastic fatigue, and a large amount of wear will also occur between the elastic element and the contacting member. Further increase the failure frequency and erroneous operation rate of the elastic element.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and its object is to provide a lace tightening/loosening device which is simple in structure and low in cost, and in which wear and failure of the elastic element due to repeated operation are less likely to occur. .

Aspects of the present invention include:
a base having a plurality of base teeth and a housing space communicating to the outside through a string hole;
a strap tightening/loosening member pivotally provided in the housing space and having an annular rail corresponding to the strap hole and a first coupling portion;
It is pivoted in the housing space and has an operation knob and a shaft member, the shaft member includes a first position limiter, a second position limiter, the first position limiter and the second position limiter. a release unit having an anti-slip portion connected between the position limiting portion;
At least one device disposed in the accommodation space, having a through hole, and being positioned by the first position limiting portion or the second position limiting portion by the slip stop portion passing from one side of the through hole to the other. a locking element;
an interlocking member rotatably positioned within the receiving space and coupled to the knob and including a plurality of elastic abutment arms having second coupling portions and engaging the base teeth;
with
When the locking element is positioned by the first position limiting part, the release unit is in the first position, the second coupling part is coupled to the first coupling part, and the elastic abutment arm is preventing the release unit from rotating in the releasing direction and preventing the release unit from rotating in the tightening direction;
when the locking element is positioned by the second position limiter, the release unit is in the second position and the lace tightening/loosening member rotates freely;
It is a strap tightening device.

1 is a perspective view showing a combined appearance according to one embodiment of the present invention; FIG. 1 is a perspective exploded view of an embodiment in a first orientation; FIG. FIG. 4 is a perspective exploded view of an embodiment in a second orientation; FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of the release unit shown in FIG. 1 in the first position; FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of the release unit shown in FIG. 1 in a second position; 2 shows a partial perspective view in FIG. 1; FIG. FIG. 7 is a partially enlarged schematic diagram showing the non-slip block and the stopper surface shown in FIG. 6 ; FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram showing a state in which the elastic abutment arm of the present invention prevents the lace release. FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram showing a state in which a lace is tightened by the elastic contact arm of the present invention; FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing a combined appearance according to another embodiment of the present invention; 11 is a perspective exploded view according to the embodiment shown in FIG. 10 according to a first orientation; FIG. 11 is a perspective exploded view in a second orientation according to the embodiment shown in FIG. 10; FIG. FIG. 11 is a cross-sectional view of the release unit shown in FIG. 10 in the first position; FIG. 11 is a cross-sectional view of the release unit shown in FIG. 10 in the second position; FIG. 11 is a schematic diagram showing a state in which the lace is tightened by the elastic contact arm shown in FIG. 10; Sectional drawing which shows other embodiment of this invention.

An embodiment according to the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 5. FIG. One embodiment is a lace tightening device 100 that includes a base 200 , a lace tightening member 300 , a release unit 400 and an interlocking member 500 .

The base 200 has a receiving space 210 communicated to the outside via two lacing holes 230 and at least one locking element 220 . Four pressers 240 are provided on the base 200 so as to surround the accommodation space 210 . The locking element 220 consists of a plurality of claws corresponding to the central axis of the base 200 and has a through hole 250 in the center.

The lace tightening/loosening member 300 is housed within the receiving space 210 so as to be pivoted out of the locking element 220 by means of the pivot hole 301 . The lacing and loosening member 300 is provided with annular rails 310 corresponding to the two lacing holes 230, and above the lacing and loosening member 300, around the pivot hole 301, there is a projecting and radiating tooth-like first coupling portion 320. be provided.

Since the release unit 400 passes through the pivot hole 301 of the strap tightening/loosening member 300 and the through hole 250 of the base 200 by means of the shaft member 410 , the release unit 400 and the strap tightening/loosening member 300 are coaxially pivoted in the housing space 210 . is set. The release unit 400 further includes a knob 420 and a second coupling portion 430 that mate with each other, the second coupling portion 430 being concave corresponding to the first coupling portion 320 . The knob 420 , the second coupling part 430 and the shaft member 410 are sequentially combined from outside to inside so as to be axially reciprocatingly displaced in the accommodation space 210 . A plurality of external teeth 421 are provided on the knob 420 . A first position limiting portion 411 , a non-slip portion 412 and a second position limiting portion 413 are sequentially formed on the shaft member 410 from top to bottom. A plurality of internal teeth 431 are also annularly arranged on the outside of the second coupling portion 430 . Both the external teeth 421 and the internal teeth 431 protrude into the base 200 along the axial direction. The first position limiter 411 and the second position limiter 413 allow positioning of the pawl of the locking element 220 . The locking element 220 is allowed to pass through the stop 412 after being subjected to an axial force and is further positioned between the first position limit 411 and the second position limit 413 . to switch between When the locking element 220 is positioned by the first position limiting part 411, it is considered that the release unit 400 is in the first position, and the second coupling part 430 is fitted correspondingly to the first coupling part 320. do. In addition, when the locking element 220 is positioned by the second position limiting part 413, the release unit 400 is considered to be in the second position, and the second coupling part 430 is disengaged from the first coupling part 320. .

The interlocking member 500 is a substantially hollow annular body. Four elastic support bases 510 are protruded at regular intervals in the hollow annular body of the interlocking member 500 . Each elastic support base 510 extends and protrudes along the hollow ring wall of the interlocking member 500 to form an elastic abutment arm 520 . The elastic contact arm 520 of the interlocking member 500 can be elastically displaced back and forth in the axial direction corresponding to the external teeth 421 and the internal teeth 431 . Each elastic abutment arm 520 is integrally made with the interlocking member 500 . An anti-slip block 521 and a stop end 522 are provided at the outer end of each elastic abutment arm 520 . Each stop 522 provides a limiting force with respect to internal teeth 431 . When no force is applied by the release unit 400 , each non-slip block 521 aligns with the stop edge 522 to prevent rotation of the external tooth 421 in the release direction, but aligns with the stop edge 522 to prevent any external tooth 421 from rotating. It does not prevent rotation in the tightening direction. The interlocking member 500 is further provided with several projection stops 530 protruding downward. Each protruding stop 530 is positioned and fitted in each pressing base 240 to fix the interlocking member 500 in the housing space 210 . The external tooth 421 has a stopper surface 4211 , the internal tooth 431 has a stopper slope 4311 and a release slope 4312 , and the stopper surface 4211 faces the stopper slope 4311 . Each anti-skid block 521 corresponds to each stopper surface 4211 in plane 5211 , and each anti-skid end 522 corresponds to each stopper slope 4311 and each release slope 4312 in slopes (not labeled).

Next, the operation of the tightening/loosening device 100 of this embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. 6 to 9. FIG.
When the release unit 400 of this embodiment is positioned at the first position, each non-slip block 521 aligns with the stop edge 522 to prevent its internal teeth 431 from rotating in the release direction. Therefore, the user can easily rotate the knob 420 to move the strap tightening/loosening member 300 through the pivot hole 301 by the fitting state in which the second coupling portion 430 and the first coupling portion 320 are correspondingly coupled. A lacing (not shown) can be tightened within the annular rail 310 by pivoting out of the locking element 220 and rotating with the lacing release member 300 . In this case, each stop end 522 is pressed by each release slope 4312 and elastic deformation occurs in the elastic contact arm 520, so the elastic contact arm 520 does not affect the tightening operation. When the operator loosens his/her hand, each non-slip block 521 aligns with the stop end 522 to prevent rotation of the internal tooth 431 in the release direction, so that the lace tightening/loosening member 300 can rotate freely to loosen the lace. no.

FIG. 8 shows a state in which the release unit 400 rotates by applying force in the release direction. Each non-slip block 521 is originally aligned with the non-slip end 522 to prevent the rotation of its external tooth 421 in the release direction, but since the release unit 400 applies force in the release direction to rotate, each non-slip block 521 is inclined. 5212 corresponds to the pressing of the slope 4212 of the external tooth 421 . In this case, the anti-slip block 521 generates a downward force by the two slopes 4212, 5212 to elastically deform the elastic abutting arm 520, and furthermore, each stopping end 522 escapes downward from each stopper slope 4311. become. In this case, each anti-skid block 521 is operated to release step by step (tooth by tooth) in line with the stop end 522 to controllably release the lace in the release direction.

Then, when the user wants to fully release the lace, he pulls up the knob 420 along the axial direction so that the pawl of the locking element 220 passes through the stop 412 under axial force. Furthermore, the locking element 220 may be switched from the first position limiting portion 411 to the second position limiting portion 413 . When the locking element 220 is positioned by the second position limiter 413 , the release unit 400 considers it to be in the second position and the second coupling part 430 disengages from the first coupling part 320 . It should be noted that each stop 522 corresponds to an internal tooth 431 to provide a limiting force. This limiting force avoids inadvertent release or unintentional actuation, and furthermore, when locking element 220 is switched from first position limiting portion 411 to second position limiting portion 413, excessive force due to the reaction force of the release is avoided. It can be made impervious to shocks. Therefore, in this embodiment, the design can be applied to provide a limit to the operating process and a limit force for the buffer.

When the locking element 220 is switched from the first position limiting part 411 to the second position limiting part 413, the release unit 400 of the present embodiment is considered to be in the second position, and the second coupling part 430 is It is detached from the first coupling portion 320 . In this case, the lace tightening/loosening member 300 is free to rotate (no limiting force) to release the lace freely from within the annular rail 310 .

In one embodiment, a method of tightening and loosening a lace is provided using the lace tightening device 100 on an article of wear. The method of one embodiment includes the steps of placing the release unit 400 in a first position and rotating the release unit 400 relative to the interlock member 500 in a release direction such that the lacing member 300 is interlocked by the release unit 400. winding the lace around the annular rail 310; moving the release unit 400 to the second position; and releasing the string.

Another embodiment of the present invention will be described based on FIGS. 10 to 15. FIG. Another embodiment is a lacing device comprising a base 610 , a lacing member 620 , a release unit 630 and an interlocking member 640 .

The base 610 has a plurality of base teeth 611 , a receiving space 612 and at least one locking element 613 . The accommodation space 612 is formed by a substantially circular convex wall. A plurality of base teeth 611 are opened inside the convex wall of the receiving space 612 . The accommodation space 612 communicates with the outside through two string holes 6121 .

A strap tightening/loosening member 620 is pivotally installed in the accommodation space 612 . The lace tightening/loosening member 620 is provided with annular rails 621 corresponding to the two lace holes 6121, and is also provided with a first coupling portion 622 having a plurality of teeth.

The release unit 630 is combined by a shaft member 631 and a knob 632 and pivotally installed in the receiving space 612 so that it can be operated by the user. A plurality of annularly arranged release teeth 6321 are provided within the knob 632 . A first position limiting portion 6312 and a second position limiting portion 6311 are provided on the shaft member 631 of the release unit 630 . A non-slip portion 6313 is provided between the first position limiting portion 6312 and the second position limiting portion 6311 . Locking element 613 is allowed to pass through stop 6313 after force is applied.

The interlocking member 640 is rotatably positioned in the housing space 612 and has a tooth-like second coupling portion 642 corresponding to the base tooth 611 and the release tooth 6321, and a plurality of inclined outwardly radiating members. of elastic abutment arms 641 . When the locking element 613 is positioned by the first position limiting part 6312, the release unit 630 is in the first position, the second coupling part 642 is correspondingly coupled with the first coupling part 622, The elastic contact arm 641 meshes with the base tooth 611 , the elastic contact arm 641 is pressed radially by the release tooth 6321 , and elastically contracts radially in the tightening direction corresponding to the base tooth 611 . Therefore, the elastic contact arm 641 prevents rotation of the release unit 630 in the release direction, but does not prevent rotation of the release unit 630 in the tightening direction. Also, when the locking element 613 is positioned by the second position limiting portion 6311 , the release unit 630 is positioned at the second position and the second coupling portion 642 is disengaged from the first coupling portion 622 .

When the release unit 630 is located at the first position, each elastic contact arm 641 is pressed against or released by the release tooth 6321, so that the elastic contact arm 641 meshes with the base tooth 611 and moves in the release direction. Although it prevents rotation, it meshes with the base tooth 611 and does not prevent rotation in the tightening direction. When the release unit 630 is driven in the release direction, the release tooth 6321 presses the elastic abutment arm 641 so as to elastically contract, thereby releasing the arm 641 step by step. Embodiments can not only perform the function of being easy to assemble, easy to operate, and omitting the elastic unit, but also can reduce the complexity and number of elements, and certainly further reduce the cost of the product.

In other embodiments of the invention, the positions of the locking elements of the above embodiments are modified. As shown in FIG. 16, the locking element 700 according to the present embodiment is integrally formed with the knob 710, and the shaft member 720 is independently used to pivot and lift other elements. This embodiment also allows the locking element 700 to be raised and lowered to two positions along with the shaft member 720 as well. Other details of this embodiment are similar to the previous embodiment and will not be repeated here.

Although the present invention has been disclosed as an embodiment, it is not intended to limit the invention, and various changes and modifications can be made by those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. . Therefore, the protection scope of the present invention shall be based on what is specified in the claims.

The strap tightening/loosening means of the present invention is not only simple in structural design, low in cost, easy to assemble and easy to operate, but also eliminates the design of the conventional independent elastic unit, and reduces wear and tear of the element due to repeated operation. failure can be avoided.

Claims (3)

a base having a plurality of base teeth and a housing space communicating to the outside through a string hole;
a strap tightening/loosening member pivotally provided in the housing space and having an annular rail corresponding to the strap hole and a first coupling portion;
It is pivoted in the housing space and has an operation knob and a shaft member, the shaft member includes a first position limiter, a second position limiter, the first position limiter and the second position limiter. a release unit having an anti-slip portion connected between the position limiting portion;
At least one device disposed in the accommodation space, having a through hole, and being positioned by the first position limiting portion or the second position limiting portion by the slip stop portion passing from one side of the through hole to the other. a locking element;
an interlocking member rotatably positioned within the receiving space and coupled to the knob, including a plurality of elastic abutment arms having second coupling portions and engaging the base teeth;
with
When the locking element is positioned by the first position limiting part, the release unit is in the first position, the second coupling part is coupled to the first coupling part, and the elastic abutment arm is preventing the release unit from rotating in the releasing direction and preventing the release unit from rotating in the tightening direction;
when the locking element is positioned by the second position limiter, the release unit is positioned at the second position and the lace tightening/loosening member rotates freely;
Strap tightening device. said locking element being located on said base and said interlocking member being coupled adjacent said shaft member;
When the knob is pulled up along the shaft, the shaft member moves along the shaft in the storage space so that the locking element is positioned by the second position limiter and the release unit is moved to the second position. and lifting the interlocking member upward, the interlocking member not meshing with the base tooth;
A lace tightening and loosening device according to claim 1. the locking element is integrally formed with the knob;
A lace tightening and loosening device according to claim 1.

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