Classifications

• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A44—HABERDASHERY; JEWELLERY
  • A44B—BUTTONS, PINS, BUCKLES, SLIDE FASTENERS, OR THE LIKE
  • A44B11/00—Buckles; Similar fasteners for interconnecting straps or the like, e.g. for safety belts
  • A44B11/02—Buckles; Similar fasteners for interconnecting straps or the like, e.g. for safety belts frictionally engaging surface of straps
  • A44B11/06—Buckles; Similar fasteners for interconnecting straps or the like, e.g. for safety belts frictionally engaging surface of straps with clamping devices
  • A44B11/12—Buckles; Similar fasteners for interconnecting straps or the like, e.g. for safety belts frictionally engaging surface of straps with clamping devices turnable clamp
  • A44B11/14—Buckles; Similar fasteners for interconnecting straps or the like, e.g. for safety belts frictionally engaging surface of straps with clamping devices turnable clamp with snap-action

Definitions

• the present invention concerns a buckle having a movab spring-actuated clamping element which is mounted in a fram for pivotal movements relatively thereto.
• the frame compris an abutment portion which is arranged to cooperate with the clamping element.
• Prior-art buckles of this type usually are complex, both as regards the structural components of the buckle and the assembly of these components to form the intended .. buckle.
• the main object of the subject invention thus is prima to provide a buckle of the type outlined in the aforegoing by means of which these problems are solved in a simple and efficient manner.
• Figs. 1 and 2 illustrate a first embodiment of the buckle in accordance with the invention in respectively a sectional view along line II-II and a view from above.
• Figs. 3 and 4 illustrate the buckle of the invention in accordance with a second embodiment thereof, Fig. 3 showing the buckle in the open position thereof whereas Fig. 4 shows the same buckle in the operative clamping position.
• the buckle 1 in accordance with the first embodiment illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2 is shown for use together with comparatively large and flat traction means, such as lashin straps 2, 3. However, it is suitable for use for a variety of fastening purposes and together with objects not referre to or described in closer detail in the specification or shown in the drawings.
• the buckle 1 in accordance with the invention comprises in a manner known per se a movable, spring-actuated clamping element 4 which is supported by a buckle frame 5 for pivotable movement relatively thereto.
• the frame 5 also comprises an abutment portion 6 which is arranged to cooperate with the clamping element 4.
• a traction means 2 preferably is permanently secured to the buckle by means of a base bar 7 which is positioned at one end 1A of the buckle 1 and which extends between frame side walls 9, 10 positioned one at either side of the buckle base 8.
• the opposite end of side traction means 2, alternatively a second traction means 3, is carried in the form of a loop around a deflection bar 11 which is posi tioned at the opposite end 1B of the buckle.
• a portion of the base is bent obliquely upwards and rearwards from the exterior part 11A of the deflection bar 11 so as to serve as said abutment portion 6.
• a tractions means deflection member 13 which is formed integrally with the deflection bar 11 projects vertically from an inner edge 12 of the bar in a direction towards the centre of the buckle and the clamping element mounting support L, laterally displace with respect to said slanting abutment portion 6.
• the support L by means of which said clamping element 4 is mounted in the buckle frame may comprise two mounting sections 14, 15, one on either side 4A, 4B of the clamping element 4, these sections preferably consisting of lugs formed by projecting integral portions of the clamping elem 4 to serve as the clamping element mounting shafts.
• the lugs 14, 15 are received in mounting apertures 16, 17 of complementary configuration made in the frame side walls, or in other suitable mounting means in such a manner that the mounting components 14, 16 and 15, 17 respectively, when fitted together in pairs, allow the clamping element 4 to pivot about a common pivot axis 18.
• the clamping element 4 is arranged, when actuated by a spring means 19, normally to tend to exert pression on the traction means 3 by means of a clamping portion 20 positioned at one end 4C of said clamping element.
• the clamping portion 20 may have a serrated edge 21 or be pro ⁇ vided with other friction-increasing members to strengthen the grip on a traction means 3 or other suitable means in ⁇ serted in the gap 22 formed between the abutment portion 6 and said clamping element 4. The latter is in itself con ⁇ figured to form said spring means.
• the spring means 19 is formed by punch from said clamping element 4 a preferably tongue-shaped flap which is bent in the direction towards the base 8 of the frame, said tongue departing from the clamping end 4C of the element so as to -extend centrally along the longi ⁇ tudinal median axis 23 thereof.
• the clamping element 4 of the buckle 1 like pre- ferably also the frame 5, consist of sheet metal which is bent to shape from a cut, punched or otherwise suitably configured blank.
• the spring means 19 which is delimited along its marginal edges 19A, 19B, 19C by a large slit 24, is bent downwards at an angle X from the clamping element 4 so as to form a straight leg portion 19 and its free end terminates in an upwardly bent abutment portion 25 spac from the transition area 26 with the clamping element end 4C.
• the length of the spring means 19 preferably is chosen to ensure that its abutment portion 25, normally, in the operative, spring-action exerting position illustrated in e.g. Fig.
• This spring force application area 27 in the frame 5 normally is laterally offset with regard to the pivot axis 18 of the clamping element so as to be positioned at the opposite side of said axis 18 from that where the clamping end 4C of the clamping element exerts its action on the abutment portion 6.
• a control portion 28 which is manually operable, e.g. by means of the thumb, projects from the clamping element 4, and it is preferably bent upwards in order to provide the correct angle of action Y in relation to the base 8.
• the clamping element 4 may be actuated in the direction indicated by arrow 29, whereby the clamping element 4 will pivot about the pivot axis 18 in the direction indicated by arrow 30, providing free access to the gap 22 defined between the abutment port 6 and the clamping element 4, for instance for the purpose of inserting a strap 3 which, after having been tightened by exertion of a pulling action on the free strap end 3A, may be fastened in the desired tightened position in the buckle by means of the cooperative clamping action between the clamping element 4 and the abutment portion 6.
• the clamping element In said clamping position, the clamping element is affected by the inherent clamping force 31 of the spring means, which force acts against the spring force application area 27 which is laterally offset by a predetermined distance from the pivot axis 18 of the clamping element 4, whereby the latter 4 is forced to pivot in the direction indicated by arrow 32 about said axis 18 while providing a clamping force, whereby the clamping portion 20 of the clamping element is forced against the abutment portion 6 so as to retain and fasten the strap 3 or similar means against movement and prevent it from being pulled out of the buckle 1 in the pulling direction indicated by 33.
• the clamping element 4 is pivoted upwards about the axis 18.
• the combination of the upwardly projecting edge 13 and the slanting abutment portion 6 of the deflection bar 11 also makes it possible to achieve improved deflection of and clamping effect on the pulling means 3, in addition to which the clamping element 4 may be pivoted downwards until its clamping portion 20 reaches down into the corner formed between the abutment portion and the base portion 11.
• the buckle 101 in accordance with the embodiment illu ⁇ strated in Figs.
• the cooperative spring action between the clamping element and the spring force application area 127 cooperating therewith in this case is fixed to the base 108 of the buckle frame and pre ⁇ ferably is formed by a fixed projection on said frame base 1
• the projection is formed by an* edge 150A which is bent upwards from a tongue 150 at the base 108 and this tongue 150 projects towards an aperture 151 design for passage therethrough and reception therein of a strap 102.
• the spring 119 of the clamping element 104 which also in the case of the buckle 101 is pivotally mounted about a pivot axis 118 acts consistantly against the same area of the buckle, i.e. the fixed spring force application area 127.
• the spring 119 will be increasingly rigid the further the control part 128 of the clamping element is pressed down ⁇ wards in the direction of arrow 129 to pivot the clamping element 104 about mounting shaft CL in the direction indi ⁇ cated by arrow 130.
• the abutment portion 25 is formed by a definite, restricted part of the spring 19 in cooperation with a spring force application area 27 extending along the base 8, as is the case in the previous embodiment, the abutment portion 125 of spring 119 is arranged so as to be shifted along the spring 119 whereas the spring pressur force application area 127 is formed by the fixed projectio on the base 108. Also by means of this buckle 101 a second strap 103 or one end of the first strap 102 therefore could be fastened and be retained in the desired tightened lashin position, clamped between the clamping element clamping portion 120 which may be pivoted about the pivot axis 118, and the abutment portion 106 which also in this embodiment is arranged at an angle.
• the present invention provides a strap-fastening buckle which is simplified both as regards the manufacture thereof and its function, for instance therein that the frame 5; 105 may be formed from one single piece of material which may be cut or punched into the desired configuration, followed by bending of the angularly upstanding or projecting details, for instance the abutment portion 6; 106, side walls 109, 110, deflec ⁇ tion means 13; 113 and spring force application portion 127.
• the clamping element 4; 104 including the integral spring portion 19; 119 is one single piece which may be produced in cutting or punching operations and which is subsequently bent so as to form the spring portions 19; 119 and the manually operable control portion 28; 128.
• Assembly of the buckle 1; 101 is easily effected by mounting the clamping element 4; 104 to the frame 5; 105 through interconnecting the articulation shaft means C; CL, preferably after prising the two end walls 9, 10; 109, 110 somewhat apart.
• the material forming the buckle could be other than the metal described herein, and could e.g. be a plastics material of a nature suitable for the manufacture of the buckle rationally, such as by die casting, e.g. Nylon. ®

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• Buckles (AREA)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Publications (1)

Family

ID=20373863

Family Applications (1)

Country Status (3)

Cited By (4)

Citations (1)

• 1988
  • 1988-11-04 SE SE8804011A patent/SE462254B/sv not_active IP Right Cessation
• 1989
  • 1989-11-03 AU AU44903/89A patent/AU4490389A/en not_active Abandoned
  • 1989-11-03 WO PCT/SE1989/000625 patent/WO1990004934A1/en unknown

Patent Citations (1)

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