US2936500A

US2936500A - Strap buckle

Info

Publication number: US2936500A
Application number: US751269A
Authority: US
Inventors: Edwin C Elsner
Original assignee: Aeroquip Corp
Current assignee: Eaton Aeroquip LLC
Priority date: 1958-07-28
Filing date: 1958-07-28
Publication date: 1960-05-17
Anticipated expiration: 1977-05-17

Description

May 17, 1960 E. c. ELSNER 2,936,500

STRAP BUCKLE Filed July 28, 1958 3 Sheets-Sheet 1.

. lbw/M 61 525/1459,

- N INVENTORv Z4 MM /mul May 17, 1960 E. c. ELSNER 2,936,500

STRAP BUCKLE Filed July 28, 1958 :5 Sheets-Sheet 2 [an/w 6L 525/1499, I NV E NTOR.

E. C. ELSNER May 17, 1960 STRAP BUCKLE 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed July 28, 1958 [om/v C. ELSA/5e INVENTOR.

STRAP BUCKLE Edwin C. Eisner, Glendale, Calif., assignor to Aeroquip Corporation, Jackson, Mich., a corporation of Michigan Application July 28, 1958, Serial No. 751,269

12 (Ilaims. (Cl. 24-196) This invention relates to a strap buckle employed to connect opposite ends of a strap or webbing, or to connect ends of two separate straps or lengths of webbing, each otherwise secured at their opposite ends, or to connect a strap or piece of webbing to a fixed point.

Buckles of the general character mentioned are well known, but many of them are elaborate in design and construction, expensive to manufacture and assemble, damaging to the strap or webbing material which they are designed to secure, dimcult to place in operative condition, difficult to hold in operative position without slippage under tension, and difficult to release.

An object of the present invention is to provide a buckle of the character mentioned which is simple in design, and which has a minimum number of movable parts.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a buckle which, because of its simplicity and minimal number of parts, is easy and inexpensive to manufacture and assemble.

A further object of the invention is to provide a buckle with positive gripping means which will hold firmly a strap or length of webbing under strong tension without appreciable damage thereto.

Another object of the invention is to provide a buckle in which the free end of a strap or length of webbing which it is designed to secure may be easily or quickly mounted through the buckle, and also may be readily and quickly released from operative position, even under a heavy load tension.

The invention also comprises novel details of construction and novel combinations and arrangements of parts which will be apparent from the following description and drawings which, however, merely describe preferred embodiments of the present invention, and which are given for purposes of illustration and example only.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a plan view of the buckle in operative position.

Figure 2 is a side elevation of the buckle with the threaded strap under tension.

Figure 3 is a vertical section of the buckle taken on the line 33 of Figure 1, with the strap under tension.

Figure 4 is a view similar to Figure 3 but with the strap tension released.

Figure 5 is a front elevation taken on the line 5-5 of Figure 3.

Figure 6 is an enlarged cut-away and exploded view of the spindle shown in Figure 5.

Figure 7 is an enlarged vertical section of the spindle taken on the line 7-7 of Figure 6.

Figure 8 is a side elevation of the buckle similar to Figure 2, but of an alternative form, showing a lever releasing mechanism in closed position.

Figure 9 is a plan view of the same alternative form of the buckle showing the lever releasing mechanism in 70 Figure 10 is a side elevation of the buckle showing theclosed position.

lever releasing mechanism of the same alternative form 2 ,936,500 Patented May 17, 1960 of the buckle in an open position with the strap tension released.

Figure 11 is an enlarged cut-away vertical section of the same alternative form of the buckle taken on the line 11-11 of Figure 9, with the threaded strap under tension, but showing an alternative form of spring mechanism designed to bias the spindle in forward position.

Figure 12 is a plan view of another alternative form of the buckle in operative position.

Figure 13 is a side elevation of the alternative form of the buckle shown in Figure 12 with the threaded strap under tension.

Figure 14 is an enlarged vertical section of the same alternative form of the buckle with the threaded strap under tension.

Figure 15 is an enlarged vertical section similar to Figure 14 but with the strap tension released.

Figure 16 is a further enlarged cross-section taken. on

7 or stop 12 for spindle plates 13 hereinafter described.

The side plates 10 have complementary horizontally elongated slots 14 cut therein, and a spindle 15 extends between the side plates 10 and through said slots 14. The ends of the spindle 15 are of somewhat less diameter than the greatest diameter of the slots 14, and the spindle is mounted with its ends projecting through and beyond said slots 14 being adapted to slide horizontally in said slots and to turn therein.

A member 16, preferably of tubular form, is rigidly mounted to the side plates 10 at the rearward end thereof and spans the distance between said side plates 10. To the member 16 is fastened a strap or webbing 17, generally by forming a bight 18 and firmly fastening a free end 19 to the strap 17 as by stitching as at 20, although it will be recognized that many other suitable means of firmly fastening the strap or webbing 17 to the buckle, such as riveting, are feasible.

The spindle 15 has rigidly mounted on the outside ends thereof spindle plates 13, whichare mounted parallel to the side plates 10 and spaced therefrom a suflicient distance to permit the free sliding and turning of the spindle 15 within the slots 14, but with a limited lateral movement. The spindle plates 13 have notches 21 which seat against the stop 12 on the cross plate 11 when the spindle 15 is in a forward position and tension is being exerted on a strap or webbing 22, thereby limiting rotational movement of the spindle 15 in a counter clockwise direction. The spindle plates 13 also have surfaces 21a which abut against the cross plate 11 to limit rotational movement of the spindle 15 in a clockwise direction as viewed in the drawings.

The extreme ends of the spindle 15 have rigidly mounted thereon nuts, washers or flanges 23 which are preferably provided with knurled surfaces 24, permitting firm finger gripping thereon when it is desired to release the tension on the buckle by sliding the spindle 15 rearwardly in the horizontal slots 14.

The spindle 15 is provided with a relatively heavily knurled area 25, and the land surface thereof has a fiat area 26, the knurled area 25 and the fiat area 26 being in spaced relationship to each other with the flat area 26,

t under the'spindle 15, along the flat area 2 6, over the top of the spindle 15, and under the front edge 12 of the cross plate 11.

When tension is applied to the strap 22, a bight is formed around the spindle 15 and the spindle .15 is drawn forward and, by reason of the pull on the fiat area 26, the spindle .15 is forced, at the same time, to turn in a counter-clockwise direction, as viewed in Figures 1-4, until the knurled area 25 of the spindle 15 comes in contact with the free end 27 of the strap 22 and firmly grips the strap in position between the spindle and an under surface 28 of the cross plate 11. The under surface is generally complementary to the outside form of the surface 25. The spindle 15 is. held in that position by the tension on strap 22 and the seating of surface 21 against the stop 12.

When it is desired to release the tension of the trap 22, rearwardpressure is applied to the flanges 23, thereby withdrawing the pressure of the knurled area 25 from the strap 22 and permitting the spindle 15 to turn in a clockwise direction, thus turning the knurled area 25 out of contact with the strap 22 and allowing the strap 22 to slide freely around the spindle 15.

An alternative form of the invention is shown in Figures 811 inclusive in which form there are freely rotationally mounted on the spindle 15 at the ends thereof and outside the spindle plates 13, lever plates 40 which are joined at the rearward end thereof by cross member 41. The lever plates 40 have eccentric camming surfaces 42. A cross bar 43 is rigidly mounted at the forward end of the cross plate 11 at the seat or stop 12. The camming surface 42 and the mounting of the lever plates 40 on the spindle 15 are so arranged that when pull tension is applied to the strap 22 and the spindle 15 is moved forward in the slots 14, the cross member 41 rests on the side plates 15 and the eccentric surface 42 is in close proximity to, but clear of, the cross bar 43, as shown in Figure 8, but that when it is desired to release the tension on the strap 22, the cross member 41 is lifted, thereby bringing the camming surface 42 into direct pressure abutment against the cross bar 43 and thus forcing the spindle 15 rearwardly in the slots 14. As the upward movement of the cross member 41 is continued, further rearward pressure is exerted on spindle 15 until the full pressure of the knurled area 25 is withdrawn from the strap 22 and the spindle 15 turns in a clockwise direction, thereby turning the knurled area 25 out of contact with the strap 22, and allowing the strap 22 to slide freely around the spindle 15.

An additional optional feature is shown in Figure 11 in which springs 50 are seated in slots or grooves 51 in the side plates and press against the spindle 15, impelling the spindle forward into the tension-holding position. When this optional feature is incorporated into the device and it is desired to release the tension of the strap 22, the rearward pressure exerted on the spindle 15 must compress the springs 50 enough to permit the full pressure of the knurled area 25 to be withdrawn from the strap 22 and to permit the spindle 15 to turn in a clockwise direction, thereby turning the knurled area 25 out of contact with the strap 22 and allowing the strap 22 to slide freely around the spindle 15.

In the alternative form of the device shown in Figures 12-16 inclusive, the side plates 10 have the same complementary horizontally elongated slots 14 cut therein, and the spindle 15 extends between the side plates 10 and through said slots 14, exactly as in the forms of the device shown in Figures 1-11 inclusive. The ends of the spindle 15 are similarly of somewhat less diameter than the greatest diameter of the slots 14, and the spindle is similarly mounted with its ends projecting through and beyond the slots 14, also being adapted to slide horizontally in said slots and to turn therein. However, in said alternative form, the cross plate 11a, although either rigidly mounted on the edges of the side plates 10, or formed as an integral part thereof, and spanning the 4 distance between the side plates 10 at the forward end thereof, do not extend beyond the outside faces of the side plates 10 but is mounted or form flush therewith. Consequently, no seat or stop 12 appears in said alternative form.

The member 16a of the said alternative form, shown in Figures 12-15 inclusive is of modified tubular form, is mounted similarly to the member 16 in Figures 1, 3, 4, 8 and 10 and serves a similar function.

In the said alternative form of the device, there are no separate spindle plates 13 as shown in Figures 810 inclusive, but lever plates a, rigidly joined at the rearward end thereof by cross member 41a which spans the distance between said lever plates a, are rigidly mounted on the outside ends of the spindle 15, rather than freely rotationally mounted, as are the lever plates 40 shown in Figures 8-11. Lever plates 40a are mounted similarly to spindle plates 13 in the primary form of the device, that is, parallel to the side plates 10 and spaced therefrom a sufiicient distance to permit the free sliding and turning of the spindle 15 within the slots 14, but with a limited lateral movement. Said lever plates 40a have eccentric camming surfaces 42a. A cross bar 43a is rigidly mounted on the forward edges of the side plates 10 and spans the distance between the side plates it) at the forward end of said side plates 10. It may be rigidly mounted on the cross plate 11a at the forward edge thereof or may be formed as an integral part thereof.

The cross bar 43a is mounted with its ends 91 projecting beyond the outside faces of side plates 19 and adapted to form a seat or stopfor the carnming surfaces 42a, as hereinafter described.

In the said alternative form of the device, extended slots 51a are cut into side plates 10, open-ended into the rear of slots 14. Slid'eably mounted in said extended slots 51a are studs 95, best shown in Figure 16. Studs have rearwardly open-ended chambers 95 cut therein, and springs 50a are disposed in said extended slots 51a and said chambers 96 so as to seat at the rearward walls of said extended slots 51a and the forward walls of said chambers 96, thus impelling the studs 95 in a forward position, in contact with the spindle 15, which in turn is impelled forward into the tension-holding position herein described.

The strap or webbing 22 is threaded through the said alternative form of the buckle in exactly the same way, that is, by inserting a free end 27 thereof into the front end of the buckle between the side plates 10, and passing it under the spindle 15, along the flat area 26, over the top of the spindle 15, and under the bar 43a.

When, in the said alternative form of the buckle, tension is applied to the strap 22, a bight is formed around the spindle 15 and the spindle 15 is drawn forward. By reason of the pull on the flat area 26, the spindle 15 is forced, at the same time, to turn in a counter-clockwise direction, as viewed in Figure 14, until the knurled area 25 of the spindle 15 comes in contact with the free end 27 of the strap 22 and firmly grips the strap in position between the spindle 15 and an under surface 28a of the cross plate 11a. At this point further counter-clockwise direction of the spindle 15 and of the lever plates 40a, rigidly mounted thereon, is arrested by the impingement of cross-member 41a on the side plates 10, as at 97, and in this position the camming surfaces 42a are in close proximity to, but clear of, the cross bar 43a.

When it is desired to release the tension of the strap 22 in the said alternative form of the device the cross member 40a is lifted in the direction shown in Figure 15, thereby bringing the camming surface 42a into direct pressure abutment against the ends 9ft of the cross bar 43a. The spindle 15 is thus forced rearwardly in the slots 14, against the pressure of the springs 59a. As the upward movement of the cross member 41a is continued in the direction shown in Figure 15 further rearward pressure is exerted on spindle 15 until the full pressure of the knurled area'25 is withdrawn from the strap 22 and the spindle 15 turns in a clockwise direction, thereby turning the knurled area 25 out of contact with the strap 22 and allowing the strap 22 to slide freely around the spindle 15.

While the instant invention has been shown and described herein in what is conceived to be the most practical and preferred embodiments thereof, it is recognized that departures may be made therefrom within the scope of the invention, which is therefore not to be limited to the details disclosed herein, but is to be accorded the full scope of the claims so as to embrace any and all equivalent devices.

Having thus described the invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A buckle for connecting straps or webbing comprising a body structure having parallel side plates, a cross plate spanning the distance between the side plates at the forward end thereof, and across member spanning the distance between the side plates at the rearward end thereof, said cross member being adapted for having mounted thereon a strap or webbing, complementary elongate horizontal slots in the side plates, a spindle spanning the body structure and slideably and rockably disposed in said slots, said spindle having a flattened surface area and a knurled surface area in spaced relationship thereto, and spindle plates rigidly mounted on the outside extremitIes of the spindle in close proximity to and parallel with the outside surfaces of the side plates of the body structure, notches in the forward surfaces of said spindle plates adapted to abut on the cross plate and limit the rocking movement of said spindle plates and spindle in one direction, and extending surfaces on said spindle plates adapted to abut on said cross plate and limit the rocking movement of said spindle plates and spindle in the opposite direction.

2. A buckle for connecting straps or webbing comprising a body structure having parallel side plates, a cross plate spanning the distance between the side plates at the forward end thereof, and a cross member spanning the distance between the side plates at the rearward end thereof, said cross member being adapted for having mounted thereon a strap or webbing, complementary elongate horizontal slots in the side plates, a spindle spanning the body structure and slideably and rockably disposed in said slots, said spindle having a flattened surface area and a knurled surface area in spaced relationship thereto, spindle plates rigidly mounted on the outside extremities of the spindle in close proximity to and parallel with the outside surfaces of the side plates of the body structure, said spindle plates having knurled flanges mountedexternally thereof, notches in the forward surfaces of said spindle plates adapted to abut on the cross plate and limit the rOcking movement of said spindle plates and spindle in one direction and extending surfaces on said spindle plates adapted to abut on said cross plate and limit the rocking movement of said spindle plates and spindle in the opposite direction, and springs seated in said slots, impinging on said spindle and normally biasing said spindle forwardly in said slots. 7

3. A buckle for connecting straps or webbing comprising a body structure having parallel side plates, a cross plate spanning the distance between the side plates at the forward end thereof, and a cross member spanning the distance between the side plates at the rearward end thereof, said cross member being adapted for having mounted thereon a strap or webbing, complementary elongate horizontal slots in the side plates, a spindle spanning the body structure and slideably and rockably dispcsed in said slots, said spindle having a flattened surface area and a knurled surface area in spaced relationship thereto, spindle plates rigidly mounted on the outside extremities of the spindle in close proximity to and parallel with the outside surfaces of the side plates of the body structure, notches in the forward surfaces of said spindle plates adapted to abut on the cross plate and limit the rocking movement of said spindle plates'and spindle in one direction and extending surfaces on said spindle plates adapted to abut on said cross plate and limit the rocking movement of said spindle plates and spindle in the opposite direction, springs seated in said slots, impinging on said spindle and normally biasing said spindle forwardly in said slots, and camming plates having eccentric camming surfaces at the forward edges thereof rotationally mounted on the spindle at the outside extremities thereof and adapted to abut on the cross plate and impel the spindle rearwardly in said slots.

4. A buckle for connecting straps or webbing comprising side plates rigidly mounted parallel to and spaced apart from each other, a cross plate spanning the distance between the side plates at the forward end thereof, a cross member spanning the distance between the side plates at the rearward end thereof, said cross member being adapted for having mounted thereon a strap or webbing, a spindle around which the free end of a strap is trained in the form of a bight, said spindle extending between the side plates approximately midway thereof and slideably and rockably disposed in elongate horizontal slots in the side plates, a knurled area on the spindle, a flattened area on the spindle in spaced relationship thereto, spindle plates rigidly mounted parallel to the side plates on the outside extremities of the spindle, and notches on said spindle plates adapted to abut against the cross plate when the spindle is in forward position under tension, whereby, when the free end of a strap is trained around the spindle in the form of a bight and pull tension is applied thereto, the spindle will be impelled forward by the pull tension on the flattened area of the spindle and rocked in one position until the knurled area of the spindle is in full contact with said strap or webbing and the strap or webbing is held in locked position against the under surface of the cross plate, and, when the spindle is impelled rearwardly, the spindle will be turned in the opposite direction, the knurled area on the spindle will be removed from contact with the strap or Webbing, the strap or webbing will be free from its locked position against the under surface of the cross plate, and the strap or webbing may be readily released from tension.

5. A buckle for connecting straps or webbing comprising side plates rigidly mounted parallel to and spaced apart from each other, a cross plate spanning the distance between the side plates at the forward end thereof, a cross member spanning the distance between the side plates at the rearward end thereof, said cross member being adapted for having mounted thereon a strap or webbing, a spindle around which the free end of a strap is trained in the form of a bight, said spindle being mounted under the cross plate in complementary relation to the under surface of the cross plate, extending between the side plates approximately midway thereof and slideably and rockably disposed in elongate horizontal slots in the side plates, a knurled area on the spindle, a flattened area on the spindle in spaced relationship thereto, spindle plates rigidly mounted parallel to the side plates on the outside extremities of the spindle, and notches on said spindle plates adapted to abut against the cross plate when the spindle is in forward position under tension, whereby, when the free end of a strap is trained around the spindle in the form of a bight and pull tension is applied thereto, the spindle will be impelled forward by the pull tension on the flattened area of the spindle and rocked in one position until the knurled area of the spindle is in full contact with said strap or webbing and the strap or webbing is held in locked position against the under surface of the cross plate, and, when the spindle is impelled rear wardly, the spindle will be turned in the opposite direction, the knurled area on the spindle will be removed from contact with the strap or webbing, the strap or webbing will be free from its locked position against the under 7 surface of the cross plate, and the strap or webbing may be readily released from tension.

6. A buckle for straps or webbing comprising a bifurcated body embodying generally parallel side plates rigidly spaced by a cross member, the latter being adapted for fixed retention of a strap or webbing, said side plates having elongated transversely aligned slots therein, spindle means slideably and rockably mounted in said slots and adapted to receive a looped strap or webbing, a cross plate transversely positioned on said side plates and having an under surface portion generally complementary to a portion of said spindle means, said spindle means being adapted to coact with said under surface portion to clamp a strap or webbing therebetween when the spindle means is rocked and slid in said slots in one direction and to loosen said strap or webbing when the spindle means is rocked and slid in the opposite direction, stop means adapted to limit the rocking movement of the spindle means in one direction, and other stop means adapted to limit said rocking movement in the other direction.

7. A buckle for connecting straps or webbing comprising a body structure having parallel side plates, a cross plate spanning the distance between the side plates at the forward end thereof, and a cross member spanning the distance between the side plates at the rearward end thereof, said cross member being adapted for having mounted thereon a strap or webbing, complementary elongate horizontal slots in the side plates, 21 spindle spanning the body structure and slideably and rockably disposed in said slots, said spindle having a flattened surface area and a knurled surface area in spaced relationship thereto, camming plates having eccentric camming surfaces at the forward edges thereof rigidly mounted on the outside extremities of the spindle in close proximity to and parallel with the outside surfaces of the side plates of the body structure, a cross member spanning the distance between the camming plates at the rearward end thereof, said cross member being adapted to limit the rocking movement of the spindle and camming plates in one direction, and a bar spanning the distance between the side plates at the forward end thereof and adapted to abut on the eccentric camming surfaces of the camming plates and impel the spindle rearwardly in said slots.

8. A buckle for connecting straps or webbing comprising a body structure having parallel side plates, a cross plate spanning the distance between the side plates at the forward end thereof, and a cross member spanning the distance between the side plates at the rearward end thereof, said cross member being adapted for having mounted thereon a strap or webbing, complementary elongate horizontal slots in the side plates, a spindle spanning the body structure and slideably and rockably disposed in said slots, said spindle having a flattened surface area and a knurled surface area in spaced relationship thereto, camming plates having eccentric camming surfaces at the forward edges thereof rigidly mounted on the outside extremities of the spindle in close proximity to and parallel with the outside surfaces of the side plates of the body structure, a cross member spanning the distance between the camming plates at the rearward end thereof, said cross member being adapted to limit the rocking movement of the spindle and camming plates in one direction, spring actuated studs mounting in the rear of said slots impinging on said spindle and normally biasing said spindle forwardly in said slots, and a bar spanning the distance between the side plates at the forward end thereof and adapted to abut on the eccentric camming surfaces of the camming plates and impel the spindle rearwardly in said slots.

9. A buckle for connecting the free ends of a strap or length of webbing and comprising side plates rigidly mounted parallel to and spaced apart from each other, a cross plate rigidly mounted on the exterior edges of the side plates spanning the distance between the side plates at the forward end thereof, a second cross member rigidly mounted on the side plates, spanning the distance between the side plates at the rearward end thereof, on which one end of a strap or webbing is mounted, a spindle around which the free end of the strap is trained in the form of a bight, the spindle extending between the side plates approximately midway thereof and freely extending through horizontal slots in the side plates, the spindle being of a diameter somewhat less than the diameter of the slots and adapted to slide and rock therein, the cylindrical surface of the spindle being knurled in one portion there- .of and flattened on the land portion thereof, camming plates having eccentric camming surfaces at the forward edges thereof rigidly mounted on the outside extremities of the spindle in close proximity to and parallel with the outside surfaces of the side plates of the body structure, a cross member spanning the distance between the camming plates at the rearward end thereof, said cross member being adapted to limit the rocking movement of the spindle and camming plates in one direction, and a bar spanning the distance between the side plates at the forward end thereof and adapted to abut on the eccentric camming surfaces of the camming plates and impel the spindle rearwardly in said slots.

10. A buckle for connecting the free ends of a strap or length of webbing and comprising side plates rigidly mounted parallel to and spaced apart from each other, a cross plate rigidly mounted on the exterior edges of the side plates spanning the distance between the side plates at the forward end thereof, a second cross member rigidly mounted on the side plates, spanning the distance between the side plates at the rearward end thereof, on which one end of a strap or webbing is mounted, a spindle around which the free end of the strap is trained in the form of a bight, the spindle extending between the side plates approximately midway thereof and freely extending through horizontal slots in the side plates, the spindle being of a diameter somewhat less than the diameter of the slots and adapted to slide and rock therein, the cylindrical surface of the spindle being knurled in one portion thereof and flattened on the land portion thereof, camming plates having eccentric camming surfaces at the forward edges thereof rigidly mounted on the outside extremities of the spindle in close proximity to and parallel with the outside surfaces of the side plates of the body structure, a cross member spanning the distance between the camming plates at the rearward end thereof, said cross member being adapted to limit the rocking movement of the spindle and camming plates in one direction, spring actuated studs mounting in the rear of said slots impinging on said spindle and normally biasing said spindle forwardly in said slots, and a bar spanning the distance between the side plates at the forward end thereof and adapted to abut on the eccentric camming surfaces of the camming plates and impel the spindle rearwardly in said slots.

11. A buckle for connecting straps or webbing comprising a body structure having parallel side plates and complementary elongate horizontal slots in said side plates; a cross plate spanning the distance between said side plates at the forward end thereof; a cross member spanning the distance between said side plates at the rearward end thereof and adapted for mounting a strap or webbing thereon; a spindle spanning the body structure between said side plates and slidably and rockably disposed in said slots in said side plates, said spindle having a flattened surface area and a knurled surface area in spaced relationship thereto; means responsive to rotation of said spindle for sliding and rotating said spindle in said slots; and stop means adapted to prevent rotation of said spindle in one direction when the knurled surface area of said spindle is in position opposite said cross plate, and to permit rotation of said spindle in the opposite direction to move said knurled surface area away from said cross plate.

12. A buckle for connecting straps or webbing comprising a body structure having parallel side plates and complementary elongate horizontal slots in said side plates; a cross plate spanning the distance between said side plates at the forward end thereof; a cross member spanning the distance between said side plates at the rearward end thereof and adapted for mounting a strap or webbing thereon; a spindle spanning the body structure 10 between said side plates and slidably and rockably disposed in said slots in said side plates, said spindle having a flattened surface area and a knurled surface area in spaced relationship thereto; means responsive to rotation of said spindle for sliding and rotating said spindle 15 in said slots; and stop means adapted to prevent rotation of said spindle in one direction when the knurled surface area of said spindle is in position opposite said cross plate, and to permit rotation of said spindle in the opposite direction to move said knurled surface area and said flattened surface area away from said cross plate.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 885,064 Luhmann Apr. 21, 1908 913,469 Cleaveland Feb. 23, 1909 1,234,818 Sturrock July 31, 1917 1,376,781 Rosenlof May 3, 1921