WO2022012919A1

WO2022012919A1 - Flexible strip with closure part

Info

Publication number: WO2022012919A1
Application number: PCT/EP2021/067842
Authority: WO
Inventors: Michael Ernst Behrendt
Original assignee: Behrendt Entwicklungsgesellschaft mbH
Priority date: 2020-07-14
Filing date: 2021-06-29
Publication date: 2022-01-20
Also published as: DE102020118570B3

Abstract

The invention relates to a flexible strip, for example a belt, on the end of which a closure part is fastened which interacts with the opposite free end. To create a flexible strip in which an unintentional opening of the closure part is largely ruled out and the length of which can be steplessly adjusted with the aid of the closure part, it is proposed that a toothing is directly incorporated into a free end of the flexible strip. A toothed wheel of the closure part, which meshes with the toothing and can only rotate in one rotational direction by means of a freewheel, or a helix of a two-step transmission of the closure part, which helix is in engagement with the toothing, permits the length of the flexible strip to be set steplessly. An accidental opening of the closure part is prevented in that, with both solutions, a plurality of teeth bear the tensile forces acting in the flexible strip.

Description

Flexible strap with closing part

The invention relates to a flexible strap having a free end and an end to which a closure member is attached. At least the free end of the flexible band has a toothing which interacts with a locking mechanism arranged on the closing part. The closing part has guides for the free end of the flexible strap, which are set up in such a way that the toothed area can be brought into a positive connection with the locking mechanism.

DE 3435 208 A1 discloses a fastener for connecting the two ends of a belt, each of the two ends of the belt being connected to a fastener part. The two closure parts can be moved in opposite directions by a certain length in the longitudinal direction of the belt and can be locked in a selectable relative position of the two closure parts to one another. The first closure part has a toothed rack extending in the longitudinal direction of the belt, in the tooth gaps of which a tooth arranged on the second closure part can be latched with resilient pretension.

DE 202012 001 969 U1 discloses a belt with a flexible band, at the first end of which a closure part is attached. The second, free end of the strap is clamped in the closure part by means of a plate. The clamping force of the plate can be adjusted with a screw.

EP 2258 221 A1 discloses a fastener on a fixed end of a flexible band of a belt, the operating section of which essentially consists of a lever, which engages a ratchet tooth. The closure has a guide element in the form of a rear web for guiding the free end of the strap under, so that it is guided along the rear of the fixed end of the strap. The ratchet teeth are located in a strip of polymer embedded in the band.

The polymer strip with the ratchet teeth embedded in the flexible tape affects the stability of the flexible tape as well as its appearance. The lever only interacts with one ratchet tooth at a time, so that under certain conditions the shutter can open unintentionally. A stepless adjustment of the length of the flexible strap is not possible with the closure.

Furthermore, CN 209992823 U discloses a watch strap that can be finely adjusted in length, at one end of which a conventional locking part is attached, which interacts with the opposite free end. To fine-tune the length, the watch strap is divided into a lower and an upper part. A toothed fixing plate is connected to the lower part of the watch strap. The upper part of the watch strap is connected to another fixing plate, which accommodates the toothed fixing plate so that it can be moved longitudinally. The fixing plates are housed in the watch case. A worm mounted on the other fixing plate engages in the toothing of the toothed fixing plate. The snail is connected via a bevel gear and a shaft to a turntable surrounding the dial of the watch. By turning the turntable, the toothed fixing plate can be in the other The fixing plate is moved back and forth and the length of the two-part watch strap can be finely adjusted.

Based on EP 2258 221 A1, the invention is based on the object of creating a flexible strap with a closing part, in particular a belt, in which unintentional opening of the closing part is largely ruled out and the effective length of the strap can be continuously adjusted using the closing part . At the same time, the optical appearance of the flexible strap and the closing part as well as the stability of the strap should be improved.

This object is solved by a flexible tape having the features of independent claims 1 or 9. Advantageous configurations result from the features of the dependent claims.

The stability of the flexible band is improved by the fact that the teeth are incorporated directly into the free end of the flexible band. At the same time, this improves the visual appearance of the flexible tape. The teeth are preferably machined into an upper side of the flexible band. A particularly advantageous possibility of incorporating the toothing is that the flexible belt is designed as a link belt into which toothed elements for forming the toothing are incorporated. In this way, belts designed as link belts can be equipped with the teeth in an elegant design. However, the toothing can also be applied directly to the upper side of the strip during the manufacturing process are incorporated, for example by way of an injection molding process.

Accidental opening of the closing part is avoided both in the solution according to independent claim 1 and according to independent claim 9 in that several teeth bear the tensile forces acting in the flexible band.

Another advantage of the two solutions according to independent claims 1 and 9 is that the gear meshing with the toothing and rotatable in one direction of rotation or the worm meshing with the toothing allows continuous adjustment of the length of the flexible band with the help of the closing part . If the flexible band is part of a belt, for example, its length can be adjusted exactly to the waist size of its wearer.

In the solution according to claim 1, the flexible band is fixed in the closed position of the closing part in that the ratchet of the closing part has a toothed wheel which is in engagement and can only be rotated in one direction of rotation. When the flexible strap is pushed into the locking part, the gear wheel can be rotated freely. It blocks in the opposite direction. To open the locking part, the gear wheel can be temporarily disabled. This can be done by temporarily disengaging the sprocket from the splines of the flexible belt. Alternatively, to open the closure member, the gear may be disabled by temporarily displacing the gear still engaged with the teeth of the flexible band in both directions is rotatable. If the gear wheel can be rotated in only one direction of rotation by a freewheel, this is temporarily unlocked so that the gear wheel can be rotated in both directions and loses its locking effect.

The locking mechanism of the solution according to independent claim 1 is realized in a structurally advantageous manner in that a freewheel is arranged between the rotatable gear wheel and a bearing element for the rotatable gear wheel, a release lever is arranged on the closing part and can be pivoted about an axis and on the release Lever, the bearing element is fixed in a rotationally fixed manner, wherein the rotatable gear can be temporarily disengaged by pivoting the lever. The release lever is preferably force-loaded in the closing direction, so that the closing part can only be opened against the effective force. The release lever can be loaded with force, for example by means of a spring or another energy storage element.

A simple way of arranging the release lever in the closing part is for the latter to have a U-shaped frame with parallel side walls and for the release lever to be pivoted about an axis between the parallel side walls. The U-shaped frame also guides the free end of the flexible band in order to bring its toothed area into a positive connection with the ratchet.

In order to limit the pivoting movement of the release lever, an elongated hole is made in each of the two side walls and the bearing element is provided with pins at both ends, which extend into the elongated holes in the side walls. Depending on the desired range of adjustment of the length of the flexible strap by means of the closing part, the extent of the toothing of the flexible strap in its longitudinal direction should be dimensioned in such a way that the toothing of the flexible strap extends in its longitudinal direction at least from a front edge at the free end of the strap to a line of action of the toothed wheel in the toothing at maximum overlap of the two ends of the flexible band.

In the solution according to independent claim 9, a two-stage gear is provided as a locking mechanism. The first stage forms an angular gear with a drive wheel, in particular with a crown wheel or a bevel gear, which meshes with a driven wheel, in particular a pinion. The second stage of the ratchet is a worm gear with a worm engaging in the teeth of the flexible band. The output wheel of the bevel gear is non-rotatably connected to the worm. The two-stage gearbox is driven manually directly on the drive wheel. The entire locking mechanism is arranged in a housing with a housing upper part and a housing lower part. Direct manual rotation of the drive wheel takes place via at least one opening in the upper part of the housing.

A linear guide is arranged in the lower part of the housing, which only allows a translatory movement of the free end of the band through the housing. By turning the drive wheel, the driven wheel and thus the worm are set in rotation, which moves the toothed free end of the belt relative to the other end of the belt fastened to the closing part. The translational Movement occurs in the longitudinal direction of the belt so that the two ends of the belt more or less overlap.

Unintentional opening of the locking part is basically already prevented by the self-locking of the worm gear. In addition, however, a detent for locking the drive wheel can be arranged on the closing part, so that unintentional opening of the closing part is reliably avoided even in the case of large tensile stresses in the flexible band.

In an advantageous embodiment, the locking device comprises a spring-loaded locking lever, which is mounted on the closing part and has a projection which engages in one of several openings distributed over the circumference of the drive wheel. The openings are preferably arranged concentrically to the toothing of a crown wheel on the outer edge of the wheel.

The worm and the driven wheel are arranged on a common shaft with shaft journals at the ends, which is advantageous in terms of construction, with the shaft journals being mounted in recesses in the lower housing part. In particular, if the housing and the locking mechanism are produced by injection molding, the number of components to be produced can be reduced in this way.

Precise guidance of the free, toothed end of the flexible band and thus reliable engagement of the worm in the toothing is achieved in that the linear guide is designed as a guide tube adapted to the cross section of the free end and passing through the housing. Due to the cross-section adjustment is a Deviation of the belt, which is guided on all sides, is excluded during translation. The guide tube has an opening through which the worm engages in the teeth of the flexible belt. The opening is preferably dimensioned in such a way that the worm engages in the toothing without being impaired by projecting edges, but the exposed section of the toothing is kept as small as possible.

In one embodiment of the invention, the flexible band is divided into two parts between the two ends. The two parts of the flexible band are attached to a common connecting part. The connecting part can be, for example, a watch case connecting the two parts of the strap, an item of jewelery or luggage.

The invention is explained below using exemplary embodiments. Show it

FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of a first exemplary embodiment of a flexible band with a closing part,

Figure 2 shows a longitudinal section through the flexible band

figure 1,

Figure 3 is a side view of the flexible band

figure 1,

Figure 4 is an exploded view of a second

Embodiment of a flexible band with closing part, Figure 5 is a perspective view of the flexible band of Figure 4 and

Figure 6 shows a partial section through the flexible band

figure 5

Figure 1 shows a flexible band 2 according to the first embodiment of the invention. At one end 1 of the flexible band 2 a closing part 3 is fastened which cooperates with an opposite free end 4 of the flexible band 2 . The closing part 3 comprises a U-shaped frame 3.1 in the side panels 3.2 elongated holes 3.3 are embedded. Between the parallel side walls 3.2, a release lever 5 is arranged so that it can pivot about an axis of rotation 6. The two parallel arms of the release lever 5 are connected to one another at one end of the lever by an actuating member 7 connecting the lever arms. At the opposite end, between the arms of the release lever 5, there extends a bearing element 8, which is non-rotatably connected to the arms of the release lever 5. The bearing element 8 is provided with pins at both ends, which protrude through the arms of the release lever 5 extend through into the slots 3.3 in the side walls 3.2 of the frame 3.1. The elongated holes 3.3 thus limit the pivoting movement of the release lever 5 about the axis of rotation 6.

To the bearing element 8 a gear 10 is rotatably mounted in one direction of rotation. There is a freewheel 9 between the gear wheel 10 and the bearing element 8. The freewheel 9 comprises a ratchet wheel 9.1, which is non-rotatably connected to the bearing element 8, and ratchet rollers 9.2. Because of the geometry of the ratchet wheel 9.1, the gear wheel 10 can only rotate clockwise 11, as can be seen from the sectional view in FIG.

In the free end 4 of the flexible band 2, two rows of chain links with teeth 2.1 are incorporated.

Arranged between the two rows of toothed chain links is a row of flat identification links 2.4. The flexible belt 2 also includes semicircular chain links 2.2 at the outer edges and further semicircular chain links 2.3 each adjacent to the toothed chain links. The individual chain links are connected to one another by chain link axes 2.5.

In the illustrated embodiment, the free end 4 of the flexible strap 2 is guided through the side walls 3.2 of the frame 3.1 to over the other end 1 of the flexible strap 2, which is attached to the closing part 3. The release lever 5 is in the closed position, ie the bearing element 8 is in the lower position defined by the slots 3.3. In this position, the toothed wheel 10 meshes with the toothing 2.1 incorporated into the flexible band 2. Since the toothed wheel 10 can only be rotated in a clockwise direction 11, a movement of the free end 4 of the flexible band is only possible in the direction of insertion 12 into the closing part 3. In the opposite direction, however, blocks the freewheel 9 and pulling apart the two ends 1.4 of the flexible band 2 is not possible.

To open the flexible band 2, the actuating member 7 is pushed towards the surface of the flexible band 2. As a result, the pins of the bearing element 8 move in the Slots 3.3 up and the gear 10 is temporarily disengaged. The free end 4 can now be pulled out of the closing part 3 counter to the insertion direction 12 .

FIG. 4 first shows an exploded view of the essential components of the second embodiment of the flexible strap 2 with closing part 20 according to independent claim 7. The flexible strap 2 is shown in FIGS. 4 to 6 in a simplified manner in order to improve the clarity of the illustration. However, the structure of the flexible band 2 can largely correspond to the flexible band according to FIGS.

Differences arise with regard to the design of the closing part 20. The closing part 20 comprises a cylindrical, two-part housing with a

Housing bottom part 20.1 and a housing top part 20.2 designed as a cover, which can be releasably connected to the housing bottom part 20.1, with openings 20.3, which are designed as lateral incisions in the cover. Furthermore, an opening 20.4 is provided in the end face of the housing upper part 20.2 for receiving a locking lever 20.5 integrated in it. The locking lever 20.5 has a projection 20.6 on one of its two lever arms.

On the inside of the end face of the housing upper part 20.2, a bearing pin 20.7, which can be seen in FIG. Openings 21.1, which interact with the projection 20.6 of the locking lever 20.5, are evenly distributed around the outer circumference of the plate of the crown wheel. Along the toothing 21.2 of the crown wheel, a gripping edge 21.3 is arranged on the outer circumference of the crown wheel, which is accessible via the lateral openings 20.3 in the cover for manual rotation of the drive wheel 21.

The toothing 21.2 of the crown wheel meshes with a driven wheel 22, which is designed as a pinion. The output gear 22 is connected to a worm 23 in a torque-proof manner. The worm 23 and the driven wheel 22 are fixed in a rotationally fixed manner on a common shaft 24, the shaft journals 24.1, 24.2 of which are mounted in corresponding recesses 20.8 of the lower housing part 20.1 of the housing 20.

A linear guide 20.9, which is designed as a guide tube with a rectangular cross section, is arranged in the lower housing part 20.1. The rectangular cross section is adapted to the cross section of the free end 4 of the flexible band 2 . The guide tube has an oblique opening 20.10 in the middle. The linear guide 20.1 guides the toothed free end 4 of the flexible band 2 translationally through the lower housing part 20.1 of the closing part 20. The worm 23 is in engagement with the toothing 2.1 of the free end 4 of the flexible band 2 through the opening 20.10. The other end 1 of the flexible strip 2 is attached to the underside of the lower housing part 20.1 at fastening eyes 20.11 by means of a pin 20.12. The free end 4 of the flexible band 2 can therefore slide over the other end of the band 1 after exiting the linear guide 20.9.

By turning the drive wheel 21 designed as a crown wheel by means of the gripping edge 21.3, the toothing 21.2 drives the designed as a pinion driven wheel 22 and thus the worm 23. The worm 23 in turn meshes with the toothed free end 4 of the flexible belt 2, which is displaced by the rotary movement depending on the direction of rotation of the drive wheel 21 in the insertion direction 12 or in the opposite direction.

A stepless adjustment of the effective length of the flexible band 2 is possible without any problems by means of the two-stage gear integrated into the housing 20 . The second gear stage consisting of the teeth 2.1 and the worm 23 is self-locking, so that an unintentional opening of the closing part 20 is fundamentally ruled out.

Nevertheless, the locking lever 20.5 is located on the cover, the projection 20.6 of which engages in the opening 21.1 of the drive wheel 21 corresponding to the rotational position in the closed position and thereby additionally locks it.

To open the locking part 20, the lock is released by pivoting the locking lever 20.5. By rotating the drive wheel 21, the free end 4 of the flexible strip 2 is moved counter to the direction of insertion 12 until the teeth 2.1 are no longer in engagement with the worm 23.

Claims

Patent Claims:

1. Flexible band (2) with a free end (4) and an opposite end (1) to which a closing part (3) is attached, wherein at least the free end (4) of the flexible band (2) has teeth (2.1 ) which interacts with a ratchet arranged on the closing part (3), characterized in that the toothing (2.1) is worked into at least the free end (4) of the flexible band (2) and the ratchet of the closing part (3) a a gear wheel (10) which meshes with the toothing (2.1) and can only be rotated in one direction of rotation, it being possible for the gear wheel (10) to be temporarily deactivated in order to open the closing part (3).

2. Flexible band (2) according to claim 1, characterized in that in order to open the closing part, the rotatable gear wheel (10) can be brought out of engagement temporarily.

3. Flexible band (2) according to claim 2, characterized in that a freewheel is arranged between the rotatable gear (10) and a bearing element (8) for the rotatable gear, the closing part has a release lever pivotable about an axis (6). (5) comprises and the bearing element (8) is fastened to the release lever (5) in a rotationally test manner, it being possible for the rotatable gear wheel (10) to be temporarily disengaged by pivoting the release lever (5) about the axis (6).

4. Flexible band (2) according to claim 3, characterized in that the closing part (3) has a U-shaped frame (3.1) with parallel side walls (3.2) and between the parallel side walls (3.2) the release lever (5) is pivotally mounted about an axis (6).

5. Flexible band (2) according to claim 4, characterized in that a slot (3.3) is let into each of the two side walls (3.2) and the bearing element (8) is provided at both ends with pins which extend into the slots ( 3.3) extend into the side walls (3.2).

6. Flexible band (2) according to claim 1, characterized in that to open the closing part, the rotatable gear (10) is rotatable in both directions temporarily.

7. Flexible band (2) according to any one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that the flexible band has a bottom and a top, the toothing (2.1) is incorporated into the top such that the teeth of the toothing the rotatable gear (10) opposite.

8. Flexible band (2) according to one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that the teeth (2.1) of the flexible band (4) extend in its longitudinal direction at least from a front edge (4.1) at the free end of the band (4). up to the engagement (10.1) of the gear (10) in the toothing (2.1) with maximum overlap of the two ends (1.4) of the flexible strip (2).

9. Flexible band (2) with a free end (4) and an opposite end (1) to which a closing part (20) is attached, wherein at least the free end (4) of the flexible band (2) has teeth (2.1 ) which interacts with a ratchet arranged on the closing part (3), characterized in that the teeth are incorporated into the free end (4) of the flexible band (2), the ratchet is an angular gear with a drive wheel (21) and a driven wheel (22) and a worm (23), the driven wheel (22) of the bevel gear being non-rotatably connected to the worm (23), the worm (23) engaging in the teeth (2.1) of the flexible belt (2), the The locking mechanism is arranged in a housing of the locking part (20) with an upper housing part (20.2) and a lower housing part (20.1), at least one opening (20.3) is arranged in the upper housing part (20.2), which allows direct manual rotation of the drive wheel (21). , and a linear guide (20.9) is arranged in the lower part (20.1) of the housing, which only allows a translatory movement of the free end (4) through the housing.

10. Flexible band according to claim 9, characterized in that a detent for locking the drive wheel is arranged on the housing upper part (20.2).

11. Flexible band according to claim 10, characterized in that the locking device comprises a spring-loaded locking lever mounted on the closing part and having a projection which engages in openings distributed over the circumference of the crown wheel or bevel wheel.

12. Flexible band according to one of claims 9 to 11, characterized in that the drive wheel (21) is a crown wheel or bevel wheel and the driven wheel (22) is a pinion.

13. Flexible belt according to one of Claims 9 to 12, characterized in that the worm (23) and the driven wheel (22) are arranged on a common shaft (24) with shaft journals (24.1, 24.2) at the ends, the shaft journals (24.1 , 24.2) are mounted in recesses (20.8) in the lower housing part (20.1).

14. Flexible band according to one of claims 9 to 13, characterized in that the linear guide is designed as a guide tube adapted to the cross section of the free end (4) and passing through the housing, and the guide tube has an opening (20.10) to the interior of the housing has, through which the worm (23) engages in the teeth (2.1) of the flexible belt (2).

15. Flexible band (2) according to claim 14, characterized in that the other end (1) of the flexible band (2) is attached to the lower housing part (20.1) below a front outlet opening of the guide tube.

16. Flexible belt (2) according to any one of claims 1 to 15, characterized in that the flexible belt is designed as a link belt, are incorporated into the toothed elements to form the toothing.

17. Flexible band (2) according to any one of claims 1 to 16, characterized in that the flexible band is divided into two parts between the two ends (1,4) and the two parts of the flexible band are attached to a common connecting part.

18. Flexible band according to one of claims 1 to 17, characterized in that the flexible band is part of a belt.