WO2004107901A1

WO2004107901A1 - Closure element for belts, straps, harness and the like

Info

Publication number: WO2004107901A1
Application number: PCT/IB2004/001938
Authority: WO
Inventors: Corrado Padoan
Original assignee: Corrado Padoan
Priority date: 2003-06-10
Filing date: 2004-06-04
Publication date: 2004-12-16
Also published as: ITMI20031169A0; ITMI20031169A1

Abstract

A closure element for belts, straps, harness and the like, which comprises a fastening element (1) that is connected to a body (2) that is supported, at one end of a belt and the like, so that it can rotate about an axis that is substantially perpendicular to the extension of the belt and the like. The fastening element (1) can be inserted in on of the holes (6) located at the other end of the belt and has an insertion body (1a) that can be engaged in the hole and an end portion (1b) that can be mated with the face of the belt that lies opposite the face for insertion in the hole.

Description

CLOSURE ELEMENT FOR BELTS, STRAPS, HARNESS AND THE LIKE

Technical field The present invention relates to a closure element for belts, straps, harness and the like.

Background art As is known, various types of buckles are already commercially available and are used to close belts; such buckles operate in the most disparate manners. One element that is common to all types of currently available buckles is the fact that they cannot be used easily and rapidly on belts, straps and the like and that they also tend to cause, with use, a deformation of the region where the fastening element engages.

Considering in particular the most common buckle, which is constituted by a generally rectangular frame on one side of which a prong is articulated, abutting on the opposite side of the frame, the prong or tongue must be connected to the center of the head, i.e., the folded end of the belt, so that it can rotate freely, in order to be inserted in the adjustment hole selected among the holes provided in the opposite end of the strip or band that constitutes the belt.

The traction applied to the belt causes the prong, guided by the hole, to engage in abutment against the opposite side of the frame of the buckle, locking the position.

The main problems that arise from this type of buckle are constituted by the fact that it is relatively difficult to achieve insertion in the selected adjustment hole, since this operation is performed blind and the hole must be engaged from the inside outwardly.

Moreover, in this operation the belt is made to slide, at its rear face, against the prong and the buckle, with the risk of causing wear and damage. Disclosure of the invention The aim of the invention is to eliminate the drawbacks noted above by providing a closure element for belts, straps, harness and the like that allows to achieve insertion of the adjustment hole easily, avoiding the twisting of the body of the belt or deformations of the hole of the belt.

Within this aim, an object of the invention is to provide a closure element in which the tongue element can be inserted in the selected hole in an axial direction, without causing friction or damage to the belt.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a closure element that thanks to its particular constructive characteristics is capable of giving the greatest assurances of reliability and safety in use.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a closure element for belts, straps, harness and the like, according to the invention, characterized in that it comprises a fastening element that is connected to a body that is supported, at one end of a belt and the like, so that it can rotate about an axis that is substantially perpendicular to the extension of said belt and the like, said fastening element being insertable in one of the holes located at the other end of said belt and having an insertion body that can be engaged with said hole and an end portion that can be mated with the face of said belt that lies opposite the face for insertion in said hole.

Brief description of the drawings

Further characteristics and advantages of the present invention will become better apparent from the description of two preferred but not exclusive embodiments of a closure element for belts, straps, harness and the like, illustrated by way of nonlimiting example in the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Figure 1 is a schematic perspective view of the engagement element in a simplified form;

Figure 2 is an exploded view of the fastening element connected to one end of a belt; Figure 3 is a schematic perspective view of the step for closing the belt;

Figure 4 is a longitudinal sectional view of the belt in the closed position; Figure 5 is a perspective view of the closure element in an embodiment with a perimetric frame;

Figure 6 is a perspective view, taken from the inner side, of the belt in the closed position;

Figure 7 is a sectional view of the step for the insertion of the fastening element in the hole of a belt;

Figure 8 is a schematic sectional view of the belt in the closed position.

Ways of carrying out the invention

With reference to the figures and particularly to Figures 1 to 4, the closure element for belts, straps, harness and the like, according to the invention, comprises at least one fastening element, generally designated by the reference numeral 1, which in the specific example is connected to a cylindrical bar 2 from which it protrudes radially.

The cylindrical bar 2 can be rotatably accommodated at the folded end or head 3 of a belt, generally designated by the reference numeral 4, so that the fastening element 1 can rotate about an axis that is substantially perpendicular to the extension of the belt 4.

Structurally, it is also possible to provide the fastening element 1 so that it is connected to an eye that engages rotatably a cross-member accommodated in the head 3.

The fastening element 1 comprises an insertion body la, which protrudes substantially radially from the bar 2 or is otherwise arranged radially with respect to the rotation axis; at the free end of the insertion body la an end portion lb is provided, which preferably lies substantially at right angles to the body la and has a shape that tapers upwardly and forms downwardly a substantially flat portion, designated by the reference numeral lc, for engaging the face of the belt 4 that lies opposite the face where the fastening element is inserted in the selected hole 6.

In practice, as shown in Figures 1 to 4, it is sufficient to insert the end portion in the hole and then perform the rotation in order to achieve the retained coupling of the belt, in which the end that lies opposite the one provided with the fastening element arranges itself below the conventional keeper 8.

In this step, the insertion of the fastening element 1 occurs in practice automatically, without having to twist the body of the belt; moreover, insertion in the hole occurs without deforming said hole; likewise, these features are also observed during extraction.

The insertion body lb is preferably shaped complementarily with respect to the hole and is therefore correctly accommodated inside the hole. As shown schematically in Figures 5 to 8, it is possible to provide a fastening element that is connected to a frame or border 10 that is for example rectangular.

The fastening element 1 is advantageously supported by a rotatable tubular element 11, which is articulated to the frame on the side that lies opposite the one for connection to the head of the belt, again designated by the reference numeral 3.

With this embodiment, the free end of the belt 4 can be inserted in the frame and the fastening element 1 is inserted in the selected hole 6 from the exposed face, thus making the coupling considerably easier. The shape of the engagement element is of course similar to the one described earlier, and therefore reference is made to the description given above.

From what has been described, it is thus evident that the invention achieves the intended aim and objects, and in particular the fact is stressed that the closure element has a considerable constructive simplicity, since the fastening element does not have to engage the frame of the buckle or another element of said buckle, as occurs in the solutions of the prior art, but engages on the very surface of the body of the belt.

Furthermore, the engagement element, once inserted in the belt, arranges itself so that the insertion body 1 is arranged axially with respect to said hole, so that the traction forces do not cause an undue deformation of the hole, as instead occurs with the solutions of the prior art, in which the tongue is inclined with respect to the hole.

Furthermore, the end portion, by engaging a face of the belt, cooperates with retention, preventing appreciable deformations on the belt.

To perform disengagement, it is sufficient to perform the previously described operations, naturally in reverse order.

From what has been described above it is thus evident that the invention achieves the intended aim and object, and in particular the fact is stressed that a closure element for belts and the like is provided in which the coupling is performed by rotating the engagement element, which thanks to rotation performs both insertion or optionally extraction from the belt, and coupling or uncoupling with respect to the face of the belt.

This aspect is particularly important, since it drastically simplifies the embodiment of the closure elements for belts, further providing a closure element that thanks to its particular constructive shapes does not damage the belt.

The invention thus conceived is susceptible of numerous modifications and variations, all of which are within the scope of the inventive concept.

All the details may further be replaced with other technically equivalent elements.

Furthermore, individual characteristics cited in relation to specific examples may be interchanged with other different characteristics that exist in other provided examples of embodiment. In practice, the materials used, so long as they are compatible with the specific use, as well as the contingent shapes and dimensions, may be any according to requirements.

The disclosures in Italian Patent Application no. MI2003A001169, from which this application claims priority, are incorporated herein by reference.

Claims

1. A closure element for belts, straps, harness and the like, characterized in that it comprises at least one fastening element that is connected to a body that is supported, at one end of a belt and the like, so that it can rotate about an axis that is substantially perpendicular to the extension of said belt and the like, said at least one fastening element being insertable in one of the holes located at the other end of said belt and having an insertion body that can be engaged in said hole and an end portion that can be mated with the face of said belt that lies opposite the face for insertion in said hole.

2. The closure element according to claim 1, characterized in that said at least one fastening element protrudes from a cylindrical bar that can be rotatably accommodated at the end of said belt and the like.

3. The closure element according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said at least one fastening element has an eye that engages rotatably a cross-member that is accommodated at said end of a belt and the like.

4. The closure element according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said at least one fastening element comprises* an insertion body, which can be inserted in said hole, and an end portion, which protrudes substantially at right angles with respect to said insertion body.

5. The closure element according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said end portion is tapered at one end and substantially flat at the other for engagement with said face of the belt.

6. The closure element according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said insertion body is shaped substantially complementarily to the hole in which it is inserted.

7. The closure element according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said at least one fastening element is rotatably supported on one side of a frame, the opposite side of which is rotatably accommodated at the end of said belt.

8. The closure element according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said at least one fastening element is supported by a tubular element that is rotatably supported by said side of said frame.

9. The closure element according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said at least one fastening element can be inserted in the selected hole from the exposed face of said belt.