Buckle with Tension Adjuster

Abstract

In one embodiment a buckle includes at least one rectangular frame having two side members, at least one cross member parallel to and between the side members for dividing an opening formed by the frame into a plurality of slots, and two end members; and at least one strap; wherein a portion of the strap sequentially passes the slots by engaging over each of the at least one cross member is not overlapped with the end of the strap secured to one face of either side member or one face of the cross member. An easy adjustment of the tension of the strap is made possible.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of Invention

The invention relates to buckle constructions and more particularly to a buckle having at least one rectangular frame with at least one cross member wherein portions of the strap pass the slots formed between the cross member and the side member by engaging over the cross member are not overlapped such that an easy adjustment of the tension of the strap is made possible.

2. Description of Related Art

Buckles are well known devices and are used to tighten a strap around an object or to attach the ends of two straps together.

A typical type of buckle has a rectangular frame with a cross member. In detail, the buckle frame is flat and has two side members in addition to the central cross member which is somewhat flexible. A slot is formed between any two adjacent frame members so that a strap may pass through the slots by engaging over the cross member. A user may pull the strap to increase the gripping ability of the frame members on the strap, thereby securing the strap (i.e., tightening).

A conventional two-piece buckle is shown in FIG. 1. As illustrated, the strap passes one slot, the other slot, the opening of a separate rectangular frame member, one slot again, and the other slot again prior to securing back onto itself with the cross member being looped around.

The conventional two-piece buckle shown in FIG. 1 may be configured in another way as shown in FIG. 2. As illustrated, one strap passes one slot of a first frame, the other slot of the first frame, and one slot of a second frame prior to securing back onto itself; and the other strap passes the other slot of the second frame, one slot of the second frame, and the other slot of the first frame prior to securing back onto itself.

For the buckle of FIG. 1, it is seen that the strap is bent to be partially overlapped with itself when passing the frame.

For the buckle of FIG. 2, it is seen that the first and second straps are partially overlapped each other in both frames when passing the slots of the frames.

Conventionally, the buckle strap is formed of fabric, silicone, TPU (thermoplastic polyurethane), EVA (ethylene vinyl acetate), or elastomer (e.g., rubber). However, the strap made of silicone or rubber may exert a great gripping force on any member engaged therewith. Hence, overlapped portions of the strap secured by the buckle may somewhat stick together. Hence, tensioning force adjustment of the strap by manipulating the buckle frame and the strap is made very difficult. Thus, the need for improvement still exists.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is therefore one object of the invention to provide a buckle comprising at least one rectangular frame having two side members, at least one cross member parallel to and between the side members for dividing an opening formed by the frame into a plurality of slots, and two end members; and at least one strap; wherein a portion of the strap sequentially passes the slots by engaging over each of the at least one cross member is not overlapped with the end of the strap secured to one face of either side member or one face of the cross member. By utilizing this buckle, an easy adjustment of the tension of the strap is made possible.

In one aspect of the invention the securing of the end of the strap to one face of either side member or the cross member is achieved by adhesive, glue, hook and loop fastener, snapping, screw fastening, or integrally forming therewith.

In another aspect of the invention the frame has two enlarged end members, an aperture in the midpoint of either end member, and an enlarged cross member above the apertures; a strap having a tube end; a shaft loosely inserted through the tube end of the strap to have both ends rotatably mounted in the apertures; and a separate bar. The strap partially wraps around the bar, sequentially passes the slots by engaging over the cross member.

The above and other objects, features and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following detailed description taken with the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a longitudinal sectional view of a conventional buckle where the strap passes through the buckle in a first configuration;

FIG. 2 is a view similar to FIG. 1 where the strap passes through the buckle in a second configuration;

FIG. 3 is a longitudinal sectional view of a first preferred embodiment of buckle according to the invention where the buckle frame is arranged in a first configuration by cooperating with a separate bar;

FIG. 4 is a longitudinal sectional view showing two buckle frames of FIG. 3 being arranged in a second configuration;

FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing two pairs of buckle frame and bar of FIG. 3 forming a strap buckle;

FIG. 6 is a perspective view showing two pairs of buckle frame and bar of FIG. 3 forming a strap buckle as a component of a dive mask;

FIG. 7 is an exploded view of a second preferred embodiment of buckle according to the invention;

FIG. 8 is a perspective view of the assembled buckle of FIG. 7; and

FIG. 9 is a longitudinal sectional view of the buckle of FIG. 8.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Referring to FIG. 3, a buckle 10 in accordance with a first preferred embodiment of the invention comprises a rectangular frame including two side members 11, 13, a central cross member 12, and two end members (not shown). A first slot 14 is defined between one side member 11 and the cross member 12, and a second slot 15 is defined between the other side member 11 and the cross member 12. One end of a strap 20 is secured to one face of the cross member 12. In other embodiments, one end of the strap 20 is secured to one face of either side member 11 or side member 13. As illustrated, the strap 20 has one end 21 and the other end 22. The strap 20 passes the second slot 15, the first slot 14, partially wraps around a separate bar 30 prior to having its one end 21 secured back to one face of the cross member 12.

The securing of one end 21 of the strap 20 to one face of the cross member 12 may be achieved by adhesive, glue, snapping, hook and loop fastener, screw fastening, or integrally forming therewith. Alternatively, one end 21 of the strap 20 may be secured back to any face of either side member 11 or 13.

Referring to FIG. 4, two buckle frames 40, 50 of the invention are arranged in a second configuration by cooperating with two straps 60, 70. As illustrated, one strap 60 passes the second slot 55 and the first slot 54 of a second frame 50 prior to having its one end 61 secured to the other face of the cross member 42 of a first frame 40; and the other strap 70 passes the second slot 45 and the first slot 44 of a first frame 40 prior to having its one end 71 secured to one face of one side member 51 of the second frame 50. Alternatively, the other end 72 of the strap 60 and the other end 62 of the strap 70 can be secured together to form a single strap. Still alternatively, the other end 62 of the strap 60 and the other end 72 of the strap 70 are connected to two different objects respectively.

Referring to FIG. 5, it shows a first pair of frame 40 and a bar 81, a second pair of frame 50 and a bar 82, and a strap 60 passing through the slots and partially wrapping around the bars 81, 82 to form a strap buckle. It is seen that a user may easily pull the strap 60 in either direction (as indicated by arrows) to adjust the tension of the strap in use.

Referring to FIG. 6, it shows a first pair of frame 40 and a bar 81, a second pair of frame 50 and a bar 82, and a strap 60 passing through the slots and partially wrapping around the bars 81, 82 to form a strap buckle as a component of a dive mask 80. A user may easily pull the strap 60 in either direction (as indicated by arrows) to adjust the tension of the buckle strap over the head when wearing the dive mask.

Referring to FIGS. 7 to 9, a buckle 100 in accordance with a second preferred embodiment of the invention is shown. The buckle 100 comprises a rectangular frame having two enlarged end members 101, an aperture 102 in the midpoint of either end member 101, and an enlarged cross member 104 above the apertures 102; a strap 110 having a tube end 111; a shaft 103 loosely inserted through the tube end 111 of the strap 110 to have both ends rotatably mounted in the apertures 102; and a bar 120 which is disposed parallel to both the shaft 103 and the cross member 104. The strap 110 partially wraps around the bar 120, passes the first slot (not numbered), and passes the second slot (not numbered) by engaging over the cross member 104. Note that the shaft 103 can be replaced by any suitable members as long as the frame can be secured to the strap end.

The invention has the following advantage. Any portion of the strap in passing the rectangular buckle frame is not overlapped with itself. Hence, tension adjustment of the buckle is made easy. This is particularly suitable to a type of buckle strap (e.g., one made of silicone or rubber) which has a great gripping force on any member overlapped therewith.

While the invention herein disclosed has been described by means of specific embodiments, numerous modifications and variations could be made thereto by those skilled in the art without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention set forth in the claims.

Claims

1. A buckle comprising:

at least one rectangular frame having two side members, at least one cross member parallel to and between the side members for dividing an opening formed by the frame into a plurality of slots, and two end members; and

at least one strap;

wherein a portion of the strap sequentially passes the slots by engaging over each of the at least one cross member is not overlapped with the end of the strap secured to one face of either side member or one face of the cross member.

2. The buckle of claim 1, wherein one face of either side member or one face of the cross member has means for securing to one end of each of the at least one strap.

3. The buckle of claim 1, wherein the end members of the frame have a thickness greater than that of each of the cross member and the side members.

4. The buckle of claim 1, further comprising means interconnecting the end members for securing to either end of each of the at least one strap.