TW201446172A - Adjustable securing device and buckle - Google Patents

Abstract

An adjustable securing device includes a strap having opposed first and second major surfaces wherein at least one of the first and second major surfaces includes a fastener, and a buckle attached to the strap, wherein the buckle includes a body containing a slot for receiving the strap, and wherein the buckle includes a buckle fastener arranged for refastenable mating engagement with the strap fastener.

Description

Adjustable fixtures and fasteners

The present invention relates generally to binding, fastening or securing devices and, more particularly, to an adjustable strap-like securing device.

Ropes, straps and cords for securing and binding items are known to us. Strips (such as tie straps) and elastic cords (such as elastic cords) are often used to secure or bundle items such as luggage, goods, or equipment during shipping. These strips and cords are also used to secure or enclose items such as tarpaulins, garments, backpacks, canvas bags, slings for helmets, pet collars, or bundles such as sleeping bags, yoga mats, extension cords, venues. Items for tools or camping gear. In order to allow the length of the strip to be adjusted, the strip may have a so-called "ladder-lock" through which the strip is passed. Additionally, to allow for quick attachment and release of the ends of the strip, the strip may be provided with a fastener, such as a side release buckle. Similarly, the ends of the elasticized cords can be provided with hooks, snaps or clips to allow quick attachment and disconnection of the ends of the cords from each other or the anchoring surface.

Strip and cord sets are also known in the prior art. For example, U.S. Patent No. 4,149,540 (Hasslinger) discloses a detachable fastening device adapted to enclose at least one component in a clamping relationship, having: a first flexible strip having a plurality of surfaces An upright hook and loop type engaging element; a second strip having a plurality of mating upright hook and loop type engaging elements on a surface opposite to the first surface, wherein the first strip is provided for connecting a member of the second strap; and a retaining member coupled to the free end of the first strap, the retaining member defining an opening configured to receive the free end of the second strap. nice No. 6,345,418 (Bertrand et al.) discloses a rope hook comprising a tubular fabric webbing having a length into which a pair of loops have been formed. U.S. Patent No. 6,014,794 (McCoy) discloses a reinforced elastic cord that is fastened for securing the cargo without becoming overstretched. No. 6,546,604 (Galkiewicz et al.) discloses a self-mating mechanical fastener comprising a base sheet and a plurality of parallel narrow spaced elastically deformable ribs projecting from the base sheet.

Existing strips and cords suffer from numerous drawbacks and shortcomings. For example, strips with conventional fasteners, such as ladder fasteners and side release fasteners, are difficult to pass through and adjust, can grip the user's fingers, have a limited range of adjustability, and tend to It slips and therefore does not hold safely. In addition, existing strips and cords are complex and expensive to manufacture, are prone to wear and are therefore prone to premature failure. Elasticated cords have a limited range of adjustability, violently recoil after being stretched and released, lose their elasticity over time, and -- due to their elasticity -- are not safely held. There is a need for an adjustable strip device that is universally, securely held, easy to manufacture, and easy to use.

In one embodiment, the present invention provides a fixture comprising: a belt having opposing first and second major surfaces; and first and second ends, wherein the first major surface and At least one of the second major surfaces includes a fastener; and a fastener attached to the strip, wherein the fastener includes a body for receiving an opening of the strip, and wherein the buckle The kit includes a fastener fastener configured to refastenably engage the strap fastener.

In a more particular aspect, the body can include a first portion and a second portion spaced apart from the first portion, thereby defining an opening between the first portion and the second portion. In another aspect, the body can further include at least one neck portion extending between the first portion and the second portion.

In one embodiment, the fastener has a first major surface and a second major surface, and the first major surface and the second major surface are coplanar. In another aspect, the first body portion and the second body portion of the fastener can be substantially coplanar. In another embodiment, the fastener can have a generally thin plate configuration. In another embodiment, the fastener can have a curved configuration.

In one embodiment, the opening for adjustably receiving the strip can be restrained on all sides and the strip can be attached to the fastener by passing the strip through the opening. The opening is typically configured to slidably and removably receive the strip to allow for easy adjustment of the length and position of the strip. In a particular aspect, the fastener includes a first side and a second side, and the opening can extend from one side, thereby forming a slot having a mouth through which the strip can be passed Inserted laterally into the slot.

In other aspects, the fastener may include a reinforcing rib portion extending along one side of the fastener opposite the opening, and/or the first portion may include a second opening, wherein one of the strips The first end can be secured to the first portion of the fastener via the second opening.

In other aspects of certain embodiments, the fastener fastener can be disposed on a surface of a second body portion of the fastener, the strap fastener can include a plurality of fastening elements, the fastener fastener can be A plurality of fastening elements are included, and the fastener fasteners can comprise a patch of one of the fastening elements, the patch having an area of at least about 1 cm ² and no greater than about 25 cm ² , and at least about 1 cm and no greater than about 8 One length of the centimeter, as measured along the longitudinal length of the strip.

In one embodiment, the fastener fastener is adhesively bonded to the second body portion of the fastener. In other embodiments, the strap fastener can form a first attachment surface and the fastener fastener can form a second attachment surface. In a particular embodiment, the first major surface of the strip can be provided with a loop material and the first major surface of the second body portion of the fastener can be provided with a hook material. In another embodiment, the strap fastening elements and the fastener fastening elements can be self-engaging.

In another embodiment, the second body portion can be configured relative to an angle of the first body portion. The first body portion and the second body portion may form an angle of from about 45 degrees to about 180 degrees. Additionally, the strip and the second body portion can form an angle between about 0 degrees and about 135 degrees. In one embodiment, the first body portion can be configured to be mounted to a surface such that when the first body portion is mounted on a surface, the second body portion extends outwardly away from the mounting surface.

In other embodiments, the fastener can include a leg portion extending from the first body portion. The leg portion can extend outwardly from the first body portion in a direction that is identical to the second body portion. The leg portion may extend outwardly at an angle of about 90 degrees from one end of the first body portion opposite the second body portion, thereby forming a lug. The leg portion can include an opening, and one end of the strap can be secured to the leg portion via the opening. In various embodiments, the fastener can include a reinforcing sidewall portion extending between the first body portion and the second body portion.

In one aspect of the invention, the second major surface of the strap can be substantially free of fasteners and the second major surface of the fastener can be substantially free of fasteners. The fastening element can be disposed on substantially all of the first major surface of the strip, and/or the fastening element can be disposed on substantially all of the first major surface of the second body portion of the fastener .

In various embodiments, the strip can be passed through the second opening of the first body portion of the fastener and looped back onto itself and secured to itself, thereby causing the strip to buckle with the buckle The first body portion of the piece is connected.

Advantages of certain embodiments of the securing device and the fastener described herein include that the device is versatile and mountable on a surface that is durable, easy to manufacture, and easy to use, and is highly adjustable And it will be held strongly and safely while using fewer fasteners and/or less attached material than previously known strips.

2‧‧‧Fixed devices

4‧‧‧ strips

6‧‧‧fasteners

8‧‧‧With fasteners

10‧‧‧fast fasteners

12‧‧‧ first major surface

14‧‧‧Second major surface

16‧‧‧ first end

18‧‧‧ second end

20‧‧‧ first major surface

22‧‧‧Second major surface

24‧‧‧ first end

26‧‧‧ second end

28‧‧‧Ontology

28a‧‧‧First body part

28b‧‧‧Second body part

28c‧‧‧ neck part

28d‧‧‧Strengthened ribs

30‧‧‧ openings

30a‧‧‧ mouth

32‧‧‧ first side

34‧‧‧ second side

36‧‧‧second opening

38‧‧‧Seal Department

50‧‧‧Installation surface

52‧‧‧ openings

54‧‧‧Mechanical fasteners

102‧‧‧Fixed devices

104‧‧‧ strips

106‧‧‧fasteners

108‧‧‧With fasteners

110‧‧‧fast fasteners

128‧‧‧ body parts

128a‧‧‧First body part

128b‧‧‧Second body part

128e‧‧‧Strengthening the side wall section

128f‧‧‧foot part

130‧‧‧ slot

136‧‧‧ openings

‧‧‧‧ angle

‧‧‧‧ angle

The invention will be further described with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: 1 is an exploded view of a fixture in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.

2 is a top plan view of a fixture in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.

Figure 3 is a bottom plan view of the fixture of Figure 2.

4 is a perspective view of a fastener in accordance with an alternative embodiment of the present invention.

Figure 5 is a perspective view of a fastener in accordance with another embodiment of the present invention.

Figure 6 is a side plan view of the embodiment of Figure 5 except that the strip is included and mounted to the surface.

Referring now to the drawings, wherein like reference numerals refer to the like or the corresponding parts, FIGS. 1 through 3 show the fastening device 2 including the strip 4 and the fastener 6. The strip 4 and the fastener 6 respectively comprise fasteners 8, 10 which are configured for refastenable mating engagement, thereby allowing the self-fastening member 6 to re-connect and break the strip 4 repeatedly . The strips 4 include opposing first major surfaces 12 and second major surfaces 14, respectively, and include a first end 16 and a second end 18, respectively, and the fasteners 6 include a first major surface 20 and a second major surface 22, respectively. And including a first end 24 and a second end 26, respectively. In the illustrated embodiment, the first end 16 of the strap 4 is fixedly coupled to the first end 24 of the fastener 6.

The fastener 6 includes a fastener fastener 10 and a body 28. The body 28 includes a first portion 28a and a second portion 28b that are spaced from the first portion 28a, thereby defining an opening 30 between the first portion 28a and the second portion 28b. In the illustrated embodiment, the body 28 includes a neck portion 28c extending between the first portion 28a and the second portion 28b, whereby the opening 30 is a slot that is open at one end and thereby configured to slidably The strip 4 is detachably received from the side without passing the strip 4 through the opening 30. That is, the fasteners 6 include a first side 32 and a second side 34, respectively, and the opening 30 is between the first portion 28a and the second portion 28b and in the direction of the neck portion 28c from the first side 32 of the fastener 6. Extending toward the second side 34 of the fastener 6, thereby forming a slot 30 having a mouth 30a, whereby the strip 4 can be inserted laterally into the slot 30 via the mouth 30a. It will be appreciated that in another embodiment, the opening 30 can be received on all sides Tethering, whereby the strip 4 is attached to the fastener 6 by passing the strip 4 through the opening 30.

In the embodiment illustrated in Figures 1-3, the first major surface 20 and the second major surface 22 of the fastener 6 are substantially coplanar, and the first portion 28a and the second portion 28b of the body 28 are substantially coplanar. That is, the fastener 6 has a generally thin plate configuration. It will be appreciated that in other embodiments, the fastener 6 can be curved.

In the illustrated embodiment, the fastener 6 further includes a reinforcing rib portion 28d that extends along a second side 34 of the fastener 6 adjacent the neck portion 28c. It will be appreciated that the reinforcing rib portion 28d need not extend along the entire length of the second side 34 of the fastener 6 to perform the desired function of providing additional strength. That is, the reinforcing rib portion 28d can extend along only a portion along the second side 34 of the neck portion 28c and the first body portion 28a and the second body portion 28b.

In the illustrated embodiment, the first body portion 28a includes a second opening 36 and the first end 16 of the strip 4 is secured to the first body portion 28a of the fastener 6 via the second opening 36. More specifically, the first end 16 of the strip 4 passes through the opening 36 contained in the first body portion 28a of the fastener 6 and loops back onto itself and to itself. The strip 4 can be secured to itself using known fasteners such as adhesives, rivets or stitching 38, thereby providing between the first end 16 of the strip 4 and the first body portion 28a of the fastener 6. The connection is generally fixed.

The strap fastener 8 and the fastener fastener 10 can be, for example, an adhesive such as a non-adhesive adhesive, a permanent or resettable adhesive, or a mechanical fastener including a buckle, a clip, and a hook. , buttons, hook and loop fasteners, self-matching mechanical fasteners and the like. In the illustrated embodiment, the strap fasteners 8 are disposed on the first major surface 12 of the strap 4 and the fastener fasteners 10 are disposed on the first major surface 20 of the second body portion 28b of the fastener 6. The fastener fastener 10 can be adhesively bonded, for example, to the first major surface 20 of the second body portion 28b of the fastener 6, and the strap fastener 8 can be adhesively bonded or sewn to the strap 4. Alternatively, the strap fastener 8 can be formed as part of the strip 4 itself. That is, the strap fasteners 8, such as loop material, can be directly woven and incorporated into the strip 4 itself. In the illustrated embodiment, the strap fastener 8 and the fastener fastener 10 include attachment surfaces that form the fastening elements. Or a plurality of fastening elements of the patch.

In the illustrated embodiment, a plurality of fastening elements forming the fastener fastener 10 are disposed on substantially all of the first major surface 20 of the second body portion 28b of the fastener 6. Depending on the intended end use application and the desired amount of holding force of the solid, the fastening element disposed in the patch 10 of the fastener 6 is formed on the fastener clip may cover at least about 1 square centimeter (cm ^2), at least about 2cm ² Or a surface area of at least about 3 cm ² and may cover a surface area of no greater than about 20 cm ² , no greater than about 25 cm ^{2 ,} or no greater than about 30 cm ² . One advantage of the present invention is that it does not require a large number of fastening elements on the fastener 6. For example, in various embodiments, the fastener fasteners 10 can have a length of no greater than about 8 centimeters (cm), no greater than about 5 cm, no greater than about 2.5 cm, no greater than about 2 cm, or no greater than about 1 cm, such as Measured along the longitudinal length of the strip 4.

In the illustrated embodiment, the first major surface 20 of the second body portion 28b of the fastener 6 is provided with a hook material, and the first major surface 12 of the strip 4 is provided with a loop material whereby the fastener 6 and the strip are A hook and loop type mating surface is provided between the belts 4. In another embodiment, the position of the hook and loop material can be reversed. That is, the hook material may be disposed on the strip 4, and the loop material may be disposed on the fastener 6. Other mechanical fasteners such as self-mating resealable mechanical fasteners can also be used. Such fasteners are described, for example, in U.S. Patent No. 5,077,870, the entire disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference.

The fastener 6 can be formed from a variety of materials. The particular material selected is not critical to the invention as long as the particular material provides the necessary strength and desired function. Suitable materials include, for example, wood, metal, or rigid synthetic plastic materials.

Referring generally to Figures 4 and 5, which are referred to with similar reference numerals incremented by 100, with features similar to those of Figures 1 through 3, showing a bracket or fastener 106 having a body 128, wherein the fasteners The second body portion 128b of 106 is configured at an angle relative to the first body portion 128a of the fastener 106. In order to allow a clearer view of the details of the fastener 106, the strips are not shown in Figures 4 and 5.

Referring more specifically to the embodiment illustrated in Figure 4, the display includes body member 128 and buckle Fastener 106 of fastener 110. The body 128 includes a first body portion 128a, a second body portion 128b, and a reinforcing sidewall portion 128e. The first body portion 128a includes an opening 136 for securing the strap to the fastener 106, and the fastener 106 includes a slot 130 for adjustably receiving a strap (not shown in Figure 4).

Referring more specifically to the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 5, a fastener 106 including a body member 128 and a fastener fastener component 110 is shown. The body 128 includes a first body portion 128a, a second body portion 128b, a reinforcing sidewall portion 128e, and a leg portion 128f that extends from the end of the first body portion 128a in the same direction as the second body portion 128b. In the illustrated embodiment, the leg portion 128f extends outwardly from the end of the first body portion 128a opposite the second body portion 128b at an angle of about 90 degrees, thereby forming a seal that can be used to secure or bundle the strap. The lug of the item is supported before the item. The leg portion 128f includes an opening 136 for securing the strap to the fastener 106. That is, the strip is fixed to the leg portion 128f via the opening 136.

Referring to Figure 6, a fixture 102 mounted to a mounting surface 50 is shown. The fixture 102 includes a bracket or fastener 106 and a strap 104. In the illustrated embodiment, first body portion 128a and second body portion 128b form an angle a that can range from 0 degrees to about 170 degrees. That is, when the fixture 102 is mounted on the mounting surface 50 and the first body portion 128a is flush mounted on the mounting surface 50, the second body portion 128b extends outwardly away from the mounting surface to allow sufficient space so The strap 104 is manipulated and the strap 104 is secured to the fastener fastener 110. It has been found that a smaller angle a provides increased retention strength. Therefore, an angle α ranging from less than 135 degrees, less than 90 degrees, or less than 45 degrees is desirable. Additionally, when the strap 104 is secured to the fastener 106 via the fastener fastener 110 by arranging the strap 104 in the slot 130 and attaching the strap fastener 108 to the fastener fastener 110, the strap 104 and first body portion 128a form an angle β between about 0 degrees and about 135 degrees.

You can use, for example, a glue, a heat-fusible adhesive, a permanent pressure-sensitive adhesive, or a stretch-removable adhesive (such as Commander available from 3M Company, St. Paul, Minnesota) Adhesive tape) is used to mount fastener 106 to mounting surface 50 in a conventional manner. Alternatively, the fastener 106 can be secured to the mounting surface 50 by an opening 52 provided in the first body portion 128a using a mechanical fastener 54 such as a nail or screw.

In each of the embodiments described herein, the length of the strip 4 is not critical to the invention as long as the length provides the desired function of binding or securing one or more items for a given end use application. Just fine. Strip 4 can have a length of, for example, at least about 8 inches, at least about 12 inches, or at least about 16 inches. Additionally, the material used to form the strip 4 is not critical to the invention as long as the material provides the desired attributes such as strength and/or flexibility for a given end use application. Suitable materials include, for example, cotton, nylon, polypropylene, polyester, and combinations thereof.

According to the advantages of the embodiments described herein, the second major surface 14 of the strip 4 can be substantially free of fastener elements. That is, the embodiments described herein may be in the strip, as compared to known strips that require interlocking fasteners on substantially all of the opposing major surfaces of the strip to allow for the desired degree of retention strength and adjustability. The fastener includes only one major surface. That is, one major surface of the strip may be substantially free of fasteners. A second or mating fastener is disposed on the fastener rather than a second or mating fastener disposed on the opposing major surface of the strap. Additionally, the surface area covered by the fasteners on the fastener is significantly less than the surface area of the fasteners disposed on the strap. Surprisingly, it has been found that even when the second or mating fastener or fastening element is only disposed on the fastener and the surface area covered by the fastener on the fastener is significantly less than the surface area covered by the fastener on the strip , can still maintain full adjustability and strong holding capacity. Another benefit of providing a mating fastening element on the fastener is that a significantly less amount of fastening material is required to form the fastener or mating surface, and thus the overall cost of the raw materials used to produce the fixture. It will be appreciated that the second major surface 22 of the fastener 6 can be substantially free of fastening elements.

The strap fasteners 8 can be disposed on only a portion of the first major surface 12 of the strip 4, or the strip fasteners 8 if maximum adjustability is desired, depending on the desired degree of adjustability. It may be disposed on substantially all of the first major surface 12 of the strip.

It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various changes and modifications may be made to the invention described above without departing from the scope of the invention. By way of example, in one aspect, it will be appreciated that although the strips are used to form the fixture, the strips are not required components of the present invention. That is, the fastener according to the present invention may be initially provided without strips, and strips having various properties or characteristics such as different lengths, colors, or intensities may be separately provided. Therefore, the scope of the invention should not be limited to the structures described in the present application, but only by the structural description of the language of the application and the equivalents of the structures.

2‧‧‧Fixed devices

4‧‧‧ strips

6‧‧‧fasteners

8‧‧‧With fasteners

12‧‧‧ first major surface

16‧‧‧ first end

18‧‧‧ second end

20‧‧‧ first major surface

24‧‧‧ first end

26‧‧‧ second end

28‧‧‧Ontology

28a‧‧‧First body part

28b‧‧‧Second body part

28c‧‧‧ neck part

30‧‧‧ openings

30a‧‧‧ mouth

32‧‧‧ first side

34‧‧‧ second side

36‧‧‧second opening

38‧‧‧Seal Department

50‧‧‧Installation surface

52‧‧‧ openings

54‧‧‧Mechanical fasteners

102‧‧‧Fixed devices

104‧‧‧ strips

106‧‧‧fasteners

108‧‧‧With fasteners

110‧‧‧fast fasteners

128a‧‧‧First body part

128b‧‧‧Second body part

130‧‧‧ slot

‧‧‧‧ angle

‧‧‧‧ angle

Claims (15)

A fixing device comprising: (a) a belt having opposing first and second major surfaces; and first and second ends, wherein at least the first major surface and the second major surface One includes a fastener; and (b) a fastener attached to the strip, wherein the fastener includes a body containing an opening for receiving the strip, and wherein the fastener includes a configuration A fastener fastener for refastenable engagement with the strap fastener. The fixing device of claim 1, wherein the body comprises a first body portion and a second body portion, the second body portion being spaced apart from the first body portion, whereby the first body portion and the first body portion An opening is defined between the two body portions. The fixture of claim 2, wherein the body further comprises at least one neck portion extending between the first portion and the second portion. The fixture of claim 2, wherein the first body portion and the second body portion of the fastener are substantially coplanar. The fixture of claim 1, wherein the opening is configured to slidably and removably receive the strip. The fixing device of claim 1, wherein the fastener comprises a first side and a second side, and wherein the opening extends from one side, thereby forming a slot having a mouth portion through which the The strip is inserted laterally into the slot. The securing device of claim 1, wherein the fastener further comprises a reinforcing rib portion extending along a side of the fastener opposite the mouth. The fixing device of claim 2, wherein the first body portion includes a second opening, and further wherein a first end of the strip is secured to the first portion of the fastener via the second opening. The fixing device of claim 2, wherein the fastener fastener is disposed on a surface of one of the second body portions of the fastener. A fixture as claimed in claim 1, wherein the strap fastener comprises a plurality of fastening elements. The securing device of claim 1, wherein the fastener fastener comprises a plurality of fastening elements. The fixing device of claim 2, wherein the second body portion is disposed at an angle to the first body portion. The fixture of claim 12, wherein the first body portion is configured to be mounted on a surface, and wherein the second body portion is outwardly spaced away from the mounting surface when the first body portion is mounted on a surface extend. The securing device of claim 13, wherein the fastener further comprises a leg portion extending from the first body portion in a direction that is identical to the second body portion. The securing device of claim 13, wherein the fastener comprises a reinforcing sidewall portion extending between the first body portion and the second body portion.