US3242542A

US3242542A - Strap buckle and tightener

Info

Publication number: US3242542A
Application number: US402435A
Authority: US
Inventors: Tako Anthony
Original assignee: A J GERRARD Manufacturing CO
Current assignee: A J GERRARD Manufacturing CO
Priority date: 1964-10-08
Filing date: 1964-10-08
Publication date: 1966-03-29
Anticipated expiration: 1983-03-29

Description

March 29, 1966 A. TAKO 3,242,542

STRAP BUCKLE AND TIGHTENER Filed Oct. 8, 1964 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 March 29, 1966 A. TAKO 3,242,542

STRAP BUCKLE AND TIGHTENER Filed Oct. 8, 1964 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 [nz/enia 1 CZnZ /wm ZZZ/C0,

United States Patent 3,242,542 STRAP BUCKLE AND TIGHTENER Anthony Take, North Lake, 111., assignor to A. .I. Gerrard Manufacturing Company, Des Plaines, 111., a corporation of Illinois Filed Oct. 8, 1954, Ser. No. 402,435 3 Claims. (Ci. 24-68) My present invention relates generally to buckles for securing together the ends of flexible strap employed in packing operations, and more particularly to strap buckles for securing together the ends of flexible resilient strap, fabricated of a material such as nylon, looped around a box, bale or like package.

Objects of my present invention include the provision of a type of strap buckle, as described, which is operable to tension the strap after the latter has been disposed about the package and loosely associated with the buckle, which is operable to tension the strap about a package by folding overlapping portions of the strap back upon themselves, which may be readily locked in a strap tensioning position for securely maintaining the strap under tension, which in tensioning position prevents the strap from shifting sidewise relative to the buckle, which may be readily associated with strap being withdrawn from a roll of strapping material, and which will lie substantially flat on the package when in strap tensioning position.

The strap buckle of my present invention basically comprises an elongated leg portion, a locking finger portion extending from the leg portion adjacent one end thereof and a pair of arm portions extending from the leg portion and being spaced apart whereby to define a strap receiving slot open on one side. In one embodiment of my present invention, the locking finger portion lies substantially in the same plane as the arm portion of the buckle and is disposable intermediate the object and the strap for maintaining the buckle in a strap tensioning position. In other embodiments of my present invention, the locking finger lies in a plane substantially perpendicular to the plane of the arm portions and is disposable within the object itself for maintaining the buckle in a strap tensioning position. In one of the latter embodiments of my present invention, the strap buckle is fabricated of wire.

It is a feature of my present invention that the embodiment of buckle wherein the locking finger and arm portions lie in a common plane may be formed with two spaced apertures for receiving the ends of an implement that may be manipulated for angula-rly shifting the buckle whereby to effect disposal of the locking finger intermediate the object and the strap after the latter has been placed under tension.

Now in order to acquaint those skilled in the art with the manner of making and using strap buckles in accordance with the principles of my present invention, 1 shall describe in connection with the accompanyng drawings, preferred embodiments of my invention.

In the drawings:

FIGURE 1 is a plan view of one embodiment of strap buckle of my present invention;

FIGURE 2 is an elevational view of a strap loosely disposed about a package and associated with the strap buckle of FIGURE 1 which is shown in longitudinal section;

FIGURE 3 is a fragmentary plan view of the buckle and strap of FIGURE 2;

FIGURE 4 is a fragmentary elevational view of a strap disposed about a package and placed under tension with the strap buckle of FIGURE 1 which is shown in longitudinal section;

FIGURE 5 is a fragmentary perspective view of the buckle and strap of FIGURE 4, and of the lower portion of an implement for effecting angular shifting of the buckle;

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FIGURE 6 is an elevational view of the implement shown in part in FIGURE 5;

FIGURE 7 is a fragmentary plan view of a strap with the buckle of FIGURE 1 being locked in strap tensioning position;

FIGURE 8 is a fragmentary elevational view of a strap disposed about a package and locked under tension with the strap buckle of FIGURE 1 which is shown in longitudinal section;

FIGURE 9 is a perspective view of another embodi ment of strap buckle of my present invention;

FIGURE 10 is an elevational view of a strap loosely disposed about a package and associated with the strap buckle of FIGURE 9 which is shown in longitudinal section;

FIGURE 11 is a fragmentary plan view of the buckle and strap of FIGURE 10;

FIGURE 12 is a fragmentary elevation-a1 View of a strap disposed about a package and being placed under tension with the strap buckle of FIGURE 9 which is shown in longitudinal section;

FIGURE 13 is a fragmentary elevational view of a strap disposed about a package and held under tension, with the strap buckle of FIGURE 9, which is shown in longitudinal section, being locked in strap tensioning position;

FIGURE 14 is a fragmentary plan view of the buckle and strap of FIGURE 13; and

FIGURE 15 is a perspective view of a still further embodiment of strap buckle of my present invention.

Referring now to FIGURES l and 5, there is indicated generally by the reference numeral 10 one embodiment of strap buckle of any present invention. The generally fiat buckle '10 comprises an elongated leg portion 12 with a locking finger portion 14 joined at one end to the leg portion 12 adjacent one end thereof substantially perpendicularly thereto. The finger portion 14, adjacent the outer end thereof, is upset to form an abutment 16.

Extending substantially perpendicularly from the leg portion 12 in the same direction as the finger portion 14 are a pair of

arm portions

18 and 20. These arm portions, which at their one ends are joined to the leg portion 12, are spaced apart whereby to define a slot 22 therebetween which is open on one side. The arm portion 18 is formed with a recess 24 in the side edge thereof facing away from the slot 22, and the arm portion 24} has a corresponding recess 26 formed in the side edge thereof facing away from the slot 22. In addition, the outer corner portion 28 of the arm 20 facing the slot 22 extends obliquely whereby to enlarge the entrance of the slot 22. Finally, a pair of

implement receiving apertures

30 and 32 are formed respectively in the leg portion 12 adjacent the finger portion 14 and in the armpo-rtion 18 adjacent the outer end thereof. In order to minimize fabrication costs, the buckle 10 is preferably formed or stamped in one integral piece from a sheet or strip of metal.

The manner of lacing or associating a strap with the buckle 10 during a banding operation may be best understood by referring to FIGURES 2 and 3. After the buckle 10 has been disposed adjacent the surface of a package or object 42 to be banded with the upset end 16 facing downwardly, flexible strap 44 is drawn from a supply roll 46. The buckle 10 is especially adapted for use with resilient nylon strapping material produced from Dyrnetrol. In accordance with one procedure, the free end 48 of the strap 44 is first fed upwardly through the slot 22 and then downwardly and under the locking finger 14, and, after being drawn around the package 42, is again fed upwardly through the slot 22 and downwardly under the locking finger 14, whereby portions of the strap 44 adjacent the buckle 10 are disposed in overlapping relation. Alternatively, and if desired, the strap 44 may be first looped loosely about an object 42 and the buckle 10 then slid sidewise into the position shown in FIGURE 3. In this connection, the oblique corner 28 of the arm portion 20 serves to accommodate and facilitate association of the strap 44 with the buckle 10. At this point in the banding operationafter the strap 44 has been looped through the slot 22, the section of the strap 44 leading from the supply roll 46 is manually pulled in the direction of the roll 46 so as to draw the band 44 taut about the package 42.

To place the strap 44, which is disposed about the package 42, under tension, the end of the buckle 10 adjacent the finger portion 14 is raised upwardly and the buckle 10 is swung in a direction lengthwise of the strap 44 through approximately 180 degrees. During such swinging movement of the buckle 10, the end thereof adjacent the recess 24 serves as a fulcrum point. An intermediate swingable position of the buckle 10 is shown in dash lines in FIGURE 2, and the terminal swingable, or strap tensioning, position of the buckle 10 is shown in solid lines in FIGURES 4 and 5. As best shown in FIGURE 4, swinging movement of the buckle 10 serves to gather, or to fold back upon themselves, the overlapping portions of the strap 44 adjacent the slot 22, where by the strap 44 is placed in tension about the package 42.

In order to lock the buckle 10 in its strap tensioning position, the buckle is shifted or pivoted angularly from the solid line position shown in FIGURE 5 to the dash line position shown in FIGURE 7 until the outer edge of the finger portion 14 clears the strap 44. Then, the finger portion 14 is pressed downwardly toward the package 42 and is inserted or disposed intermediate of the package 42 under strap 44, with the buckle 10 being simultaneously moved from the dash line position shown in FIGURE 7 to the solid line position shown in FIGURES 7 and 8. Angular shifting movement of the buckle 10 may be accomplished by the use of an implement, such as a pair of wire cutters, indicated generally by the reference numeral 50 in FIGURE 6. The implement 50 has a pair of arms 52 formed with pin portions 54 at the outer ends thereof which are adapted to be received in the

buckle apertures

30 and 32 as indicated in FIGURE 5. After the pins 54 have been dis posed in the

apertures

30 and 32, the implement 50 may be twisted or manipulated manually for angularly shifting the buckle whereby to effect disposal of the locking finger 14 intermediate the object 42 and the strap 44. In strap tensioning position, the buckle 10 lies substantially flat on the package.

When the buckle 10 is located in the position shown in FIGURES 7 and 8, the abutment 16 of the locking finger 14 and the edges of the

leg portions

18 and 20 defining the

recesses

24 and 26 are engageable with the edges of the strap 44 for preventing the strap from shifting sidewise relative to, or sliding away from, the buckle 10 and becoming dislodged from the finger portion 14. After the buckle 10 has been locked in strap tensioning position, the strap 44 may be cut from the roll 46. Although the buckle 10 is adapted to be readily laced with strap being withdrawn from a roll of strapping material, it is to be understood that the buckle may also be used with strap p-re-cut to length. The buckle 10 may be adjusted on, or removed from, a banded assembly by pressing down on the end of the buckle adjacent the finger portion 14 until the abutment 16 clears the edges of the adjacent overlapping band portions, moving the buckle sidewise to the dash line position shown in FIGURE 7, and permitting the buckle to swing back toward the position shown in solid lines in FIGURE 2 whereupon the strap 44 is released from tension. Then, for adjustment the strap may be urged taut and the-buckle returned to strap tensioning position, or for removal the ends of the strap may be unlaced from the buckle or the buckle slid sidewise away from engagement with the band. It will be appreciated that the strap buckle 10 of my present invention may be readily disposed in, and released from, strap tensioning position with or without the use of tools.

Referring now to FIGURE 9, there is indicated generally by the reference numeral another embodiment of strap buckle of my present invention. The buckle 60 comprises an elongated leg portion 62 with a pair of

arm portions

64 and 66 extending substantially perpendicularly therefrom and being spaced apart whereby to define a slot 68 therebetween which is open on one side. The buckle 60 further comprises an arcuate locking or anchor finger portion 70 extending from the leg portion 62 and lying in a plane generally perpendicular to the plane of the

arm portions

64 and 66. The outer end of the finger 70 is formed with a point or spearhead 72. To minimize fabrication costs, the buckle 60 is preferably formed or stamped in one integral piece from a sheet or strip of metal.

As best illustrated in FIGURES 10 and 11, the buckle 10, with the finger 70 pointing upwardly, may be disposed adjacent the surface of a container 74 constructed of wood or a similar material. Flexible strap 76, which may be drawn from a supply roll (not shown) or precut to length and which may be fabricated from resilient nylon material produced from Dymetrol, is then looped about the container 74 and associated with the buckle 60. In one procedure, the free end 78 of the strap 76 is fed upwardly through the slot 68 and over the arm portion 66, and, after being drawn around the container 74, is again fed upwardly through the slot 68 and over the arm portion 66, whereby portions of the strap 76 adjacent the buckle 60 are disposed in overlapping relation. In an alternative procedure, the strap 76 may be first looped loosely about the container 74 and the buckle 60 then slid sidewise into the position shown in FIGURES 10 and 11.

After the strap 76 has been drawn taut about the container 74, the end of the buckle 60 adjacent the finger portion 70 is raised upwardly and the buckle 60 is swung in a direction lengthwise of the strap 76 from the position shown in FIGURE 10, through the solid line position shown in FIGURE 12, to the dash line position shown in FIGURE 12. During swinging movement of the buckle 60, the arm portion 64' serves as a fulcrum, and the overlapping portions of the strap 76 adjacent the slot 68 are gathered, or folded back upon themselves, whereby the strap 76 is placed in tension about the container 74. Then to effect final tensioning of the strap 76 and to securely anchor the buckle 60 in strap tensioning position, a hammer or. like instrument is used to apply an impact force to the end of the leg portion 62 adjacent the finger 70 to thereby nail or drive the latter into the container 74 to the position shown in FIGURES 13 and 14. In strap tensioning position, the exposed portion of the buckle 60 lies substantially flat on the container, and the anchored finger 70 serves to prevent relative lateral shifting between the buckle 60 and strap 76.

The buckle 60 may be adjusted on, or removed from, a banded assembly by pulling the locking finger 70 out of the container 74, as with a nail puller, and permitting the buckle to swing back to the position shown in FIG- URE l0 whereupon the strap is released from tension. Then, for adjustment the strap may be urged taut and the buckle returned to strap tensioning position, or for removal the ends of the strap may be unlaced from the buckle or the buckle slid sidewise away from engagement with the band.

A still further embodiment of strap buckle of my present invention is indicated generally by the reference numeral 80 in FIGURE 15. The buckle 80 is fabricated from a strip of wire and comprises a central elongated leg portion 82 which includes a formed loop 84 extending generally at right angles thereto intermediate of the ends thereof. At one end, the buckle 80 is comprised of an arm portion 86 bent generally -at right angles to the leg portion 82 and lying in the general plane of the loop 84. The leg portion 86, and the loop 84 that also serves as an arm portion, define a slot 88 open on one side. At the other end, the buckle 80 is comprised of a locking finger portion 90 bent into a plane generally perpendicular to the plane of the

arm portions

84 and 86 and having a pointed outer end 92. The buckle S0 is adapted to be used for the same purpose and in the same manner as the buckle 60.

While I have shown and described what I believe to be preferred embodiments of my present invention, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various rearrangements and modifications may be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of my invention.

I claim:

1. A strap buckle comprising an elongated leg portion, a pair of arm portions extending from said leg portion and being spaced apart whereby to define a slot open on one side, an arcuate finger portion extending from said leg portion and lying in a plane generally perpendicular to the plane of said arm portions, and said finger portion being formed with a spearhead at the outer end thereof.

2. For use with an object to be banded and a strap extending around the object with portions overlapping; a buckle comprising an elongated leg portion, a pair of arm portions extending from said leg portion and being spaced apart whereby to define a slot open on one side, a locking finger portion extending from said leg portion adjacent one end there of and lying in a plane generally perpendicular to the plane of said arm portions, and said locking finger portion being formed with a spearhead at the outer end thereof; said buckle being swingable in a direction lengthwise of the strap through ap proximately degrees to fold the portions of the strap adjacent said arm portions back upon themselves to tension the strap about the object; and said locking finger portion being disposable into the object for selectively maintaining said buckle in a strap tensioning position.

3. A strap buckle comprising an elongated leg portion, a pair of arm portions extending from said leg portion and being spaced apart whereby to define a slot open on one side, a locking finger portion extending from said leg portion adjacent one end thereof and lying in a plane generally perpendicular to the plane of said arm portions, and said locking finger portion being formed with a spearhead at the outer end thereof.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 650,322 5/1900 Hocker 24-71.3 1,475,245 11/ 1923 Rothermel 24-713 X 2,397,574 4/1946 Thonet 8190 2,597,210 5/1952 Walters 2471.3 2,679,082 5/ 1954 Himberger 247l.3 2,896,296 7/ 1959 Huber 24273 FOREIGN PATENTS 244,135 3/ 1959 Australia.

485,803 10/1953 Italy.

216,886 1/ 1942 Switzerland.

WILLIAM FELDMAN, Primary Examiner.

MILTON s. MEHR, Examiner.

Claims

1. A STRAP BUCKLE COMPRISING AN ELONGATED LEG PORTION, A PAIR OF ARM PORTIONS EXTENDING FROM SAID LEG PORTION AND BEING SPACED APART WHEREBY TO DEFINE A SLOT OPEN ON ONE SIDE, AN ARCUATE FINGER PORTION EXTENDING FROM SAID LEG PORTION AND LYING IN A PLANE GENERALLY PERPEN-