Buckle
A quick clamping, quick releasing, buckle is designed to directly engage a strap, belt, or web at any position along the strap, belt, or web without first threading the free front or rear end of the strap, belt, or web through the buckle. The buckle has a locking element for releasably locking the buckle to the strap, belt, or web at a desired position. The buckle is particularly useful for engaging a strap, belt, or web in the configuration of a closed loop without opening the loop, or for releasably joining together the free ends of different straps, belts, or webs. The buckle is arranged so that in its closed position, increasing tension on the web, strap or belt received in the buckle increases the friction on the web, strap or belt to prevent movement of the buckle relative to the web, strap or belt.
Conventional buckles typically receive an end of a strap, belt, or web, or the like to be threaded through the buckle. When the buckle is moved relative to the strap, locking means are provided to selectively and releasably lock the buckle to the strap at a predetermined position on the strap. The buckle can be moved, at the selection of the user, into a different predetermined position on the strap by releasing the locking means, moving the buckle relative to the strap which remains threaded within the buckle to a different position on the strap, and releasably locking the buckle to the strap at the new position on the strap.
It is apparent that conventional buckles require an end of a strap to be threaded through the buckle for initially moving the buckle to a predetermined relative position on the strap. Any further adjustment of the strap requires the buckle to be moved relative to the strap, which remains threaded to the buckle. Additionally, complete removal of the buckle from the strap requires that the buckle be moved relative to the strap until it reaches a free end of the strap, at which time the buckle can be completely disengaged from the strap.
It is an object of the present invention to provide a buckle which is removably mounted to any position on a strap, and adjustable to any different position on a strap, without threading the strap through the buckle.
The buckles disclosed herein are particularly useful in connection with the carrying aid devices disclosed in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/150,795, filed Jun. 9, 2005 and entitled Carrying Aid Device. The disclosure of Ser. No. 11/150,795 is expressly incorporated by reference herein.
Other objects and advantages of the improved buckle in accordance with the present invention will be apparent from the following description of the invention in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONThe present invention is directed to a quick gripping, quick release, buckle. The buckle includes a base component for receiving a strap, belt, web, or the like therein, a retaining component pivotably mounted to the base component for removably retaining the strap, belt, or web within the buckle, and a locking component pivotably mounted to the retaining component for releasably locking the buckle in a fixed position relative to the strap, belt, or web.
The retaining component is pivotable relative to the base component along a pivot axis substantially parallel to the longitudinal orientation of the web, belt, or strap received within the base component of the buckle. In this manner, the buckle can directly engage or disengage any position along the strap, belt, or web without the need to thread the strap, belt, or web through the buckle until the buckle reaches the desired position on the strap, belt, or web. Therefore, the buckle in accordance with the present invention is capable of directly engaging or disengaging any position on a strap, belt, or web, including straps, belts, or webs, configured in a closed loop.
The locking component is pivotable relative to the retaining component along a pivot axis substantially transverse to the longitudinal direction of the strap, belt, or web. In this manner, the locking component, in its locking position, releasably engages the entire width of the strap, belt, or web to releasably lock the buckle at a desired position on the strap, belt, or web.
In further embodiments of the present invention, the clamp comprises a base and a single locking or retaining element pivotably mounted relative to the base for selective movement between locked and unlocked positions along a pivot axis. The pivot axis is substantially parallel to the direction of extension of a web, strap or belt through the clamp so that the clamp can directly engage any position on the web, belt or strap, without first threading the entire web, belt or strap through the clamp. Moreover, the clamp is arranged so that in its closed position, increasing tension on the web, strap or belt received in the clamp increases the friction on the web, strap or belt to prevent movement of the clamp relative to the web, strap or belt.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
Conventional buckles for receiving straps, belts, or webbing are generally formed from two components, a base for receiving the strap, belt, or webbing, and a locking element pivotably mounted to the base and movable between an opened position in which the strap, belt, or webbing is freely movable relative to the buckle, and a closed position in which the buckle is releasably locked to the strap, belt, or webbing at a predetermined position on the strap, belt, or webbing. The locking element is pivotable along a pivot axis which is oriented transversely to the longitudinal direction of the strap, belt, or webbing so that the locking element engages substantially the entire width of the strap, belt, or webbing when the locking element is in its closed or locked position relative to the base. As a result of the arrangement of the base and locking element of a conventional buckle, it is necessary to thread the strap, belt, or webbing through the buckle by inserting a free end of the strap, belt, or webbing into an inlet of the buckle in order to both engage and disengage the buckle from the strap, belt, or webbing. Moreover, since the strap, belt, or webbing must be threaded through a conventional buckle, it is not possible for a conventional buckle to engage or disengage a strap, belt, or webbing in a closed loop configuration.
The improved buckle illustrated by
Each of the opposed sidewalls 10 of the base 2 has a notch or groove 16 defined at the proximate center of each of the opposed sidewalls 10, respectively. Additionally, the front sidewall 10, as viewed in
The base 2 further includes rearwardly extending, obliquely oriented, projections 20, extending from opposed sides of the rear sidewall 10 of the base, as viewed in
The retaining element 4 is pivotably mounted to the base 2 by the opposed free ends of a pin 26 received, respectively, within the openings 22 defined in the projections 20 extending from the base 2. When the retaining element 4 is mounted to the base 2, the pin 26 extends along the pivot axis 24. The retaining element is selectively movable relative to the base between an opened position and a closed position.
The retaining element 4 includes opposed sidewalls designated by reference numeral 28. The bottom portion of the rear sidewall 28, as viewed in
The forward and rear opposed sidewalls 28 of the retaining element 4 are connected by two transversely oriented elements 34 which are spaced apart from each other to define an opening 36 therebetween. Additionally, both the front and rear opposed sidewalls 28 of the retaining element 4 have openings 38, which are oriented in axial alignment with each other, and defined near the upper center portion of each of the opposed sidewalls 28. The aligned openings 38 define a pivot axis, generally designated by reference numeral 40, oriented substantially transverse to the planes of the opposed sidewalls 28, and extending over the opening 36 defined between the elements 34 disposed between the opposed sidewalls 28. Preferably, as illustrated by
A locking element, generally designated by reference numeral 6, includes a longitudinal extending lever portion generally designated by reference numeral 42, and two opposed cams 44 extending from the rear end of the lever portion 42 and oriented substantially transverse to the longitudinal plane of the lever 42. Each cam 44 includes a detente 46 defined by an outwardly extending projection, and a flattened portion designated by reference numeral 48. A pin 50 extends through the respective cams 44, and is oriented substantially transversely relative to the longitudinal plane of the lever 42. The locking element 6 is pivotably mounted to the retaining element 4 by inserting the opposed free ends of the pin 50 of the locking element into the opposed, aligned circular openings 38 defined in the sidewalls 28 of the retaining element 4. The locking element is selectively movable relative to the retaining element between a closed, locked position and an opened, unlocked position. When the locking element 6 is mounted to the retaining element 4, the pin 50 of the locking element coincides with the pivot axis 40 defined between the aligned openings 38 of the retaining element 4. Therefore, the locking element 6 is pivotable relative to the retaining element 4 along a plane which is substantially transverse to the plane along which the retaining element 4 pivots relative to the base 2, and is substantially parallel to the longitudinal direction of extension of the base 2 and the arrow 14 indicating the longitudinal direction of a strap, belt, or webbing received within the buckle.
The locking element 6 includes a rear wall, generally designated by reference 52, disposed between the opposed cams 44. The upper portion of the rear wall 52 includes a toothed segment generally designated by reference numeral 54. Preferably, the locking element 6 is formed from the same material, injection molded reinforced plastic, as the base 2 and the retaining element 4.
The buckle in accordance with the present invention is assembled by inserting the opposed free ends of the pin 26 of the retaining element 4 into the openings 22 of the base 2, and by inserting the opposed free ends of the pin 50 of the locking element 6 into the openings 38 of the retaining element 4. In its assembled state, the retaining element 4 is selectively rotatable relative to the base 2, while the locking element 6 is selectively rotatable relative to the retaining element 4. The rotation of the retaining element 4 relative to the base 2 is independent of the rotation of the locking element 6 relative to the retaining element 4, and the rotation of the locking element 6 relative to the retaining element 4 is independent of the rotation of the retaining element 4 relative to the base 2. As a result of the transverse orientation of the pivot axis 24 and the pivot axis 40, the locking element 6 rotates relative to the retaining element 4 along a plane which is substantially transverse to the plane along which the retaining element 4 rotates relative to the base 2.
In operation, the buckle is opened by rotating retaining element 4 in a counterclockwise direction relative to the base 2 as viewed in
The cams 44 of the locking element 6, as noted above, have both detentes 46 and flattened portions 48. When the locking element 6 is pivoted forwardly (counterclockwise) into its locking position in which the toothed segment 54 engages the strap, belt, or webbing received within the base 2, the action of the cams relative to the opposed sidewalls 10 of the base results in a displacement of the retaining element relative to the base. When this occurs, the pivot pin 26 of the retaining element is moved upwardly relative to the oblique openings 22 in the base. This causes the lower inwardly extending lip 32 of the retaining element 4 to be displaced inwardly relative to the upper outwardly extending lip 18 of the base 2, so that the lips 32 and 18 are in firm engagement for releasably locking the retaining element 4 to the base 2. The retaining element 4 is releasable from the base 2 by pivoting the locking element 6 rearwardly relative to the retaining element 4 (clockwise as viewed in
The buckle in accordance with the present invention is advantageous over conventional buckles in many respects. Because the retaining element 4 pivots relative to the base 2 along a pivot axis substantially parallel to the longitudinal orientation of a strap, belt, or webbing received within the base, the buckle can directly engage the strap, belt, or webbing at any point along its length without first threading a free end of the strap, belt, or webbing through the buckle until the desired position on the strap, belt, or webbing is reached. Similarly, the buckle can be directly disengaged from the strap, belt, or webbing without unthreading the strap, belt, or webbing through the buckle.
Moreover, since it is unnecessary to thread the strap, belt, or webbing through the buckle to engage or disengage the buckle from the strap, belt, or webbing, the buckle can directly engage or disengage straps or webbing formed in a closed loop configuration.
It is also within the scope of the present invention to join together two separate buckles as illustrated by
In operation, a portion of the carrying strap 86 of a bag or luggage is placed within the channel 74 of the base 64 when the clamp 62 is in its opened position as illustrated by
As noted, the clamps illustrated by
As best shown by
As best illustrated by
The forward end of the top piece 128 of the clamp defines a downwardly extending element designated by reference numeral 148. The free end of element 148 defines a hook generally designated by reference numeral 150. The forward end of the bottom piece 130 defines a latch generally designated by reference numeral 152. The latch 152 is aligned with the hook 150 of the top piece 128 so that the hook releasably engages the latch to retain the clamp in a closed position when the top piece 128 is pivoted relative to the bottom piece 130. A light duty spring, generally designated by reference numeral 154, extends from the upper surface of the bottom piece 130 to exert a resilient force on the top piece 128 urging it to pivot in a clockwise direction relative to the bottom piece 130 to guide the clamp into its closed position. However, the clamp is primarily maintained in its closed position as a result of the engagement between the hook 150 engaging the latch 152, supplemented by the opposing force of the portion of the web of a luggage strap retained within the clamp when the clamp is in its closed position. The force exerted by the web, which is enhanced by the complementary protuberances 136 and 138 on the top and bottom pieces of the clamp, also serve to fixedly retain the web within the clamp by frictional engagement when the clamp is in its closed position. A release end of the top piece 128, generally designated by reference numeral 156, is provided to enable slight lateral movement of the top piece 128 relative to the bottom piece 130, overcoming the resilient force of the spring 154, to disengage the hook 150 of the top piece 128 from the latch 152 of the bottom piece 130 to open the assembled clamp. As previously noted, the top and bottom pieces 128 and 130 are designed so that a limited degree of lateral or sliding movement is permitted between the top piece 128 relative to the bottom piece 130 to permit the user to selectively engage and disengage the hook 150 of the top piece 128 and the latch 152 of the bottom piece 130. The top piece 128 is movable relative to the bottom 130 by applying a force, in the desired direction to the release end 156 of the top piece 128. The hook 150 and the latch 152 can be manually engaged by the user to assure a firm gripping engagement when the clamp is in its closed position, and manually disengaged by the user after the top piece has been moved forward relative to the bottom piece.
The carrying aid devices disclosed in Ser. No. 11/150,795, and the clamps employed by the carrying aid devices in accordance with the inventions described herein, have been discussed primarily in conjunction with fixedly retaining the position of luggage or baggage relative to the body of the person carrying the luggage or baggage for illustrative purposes. However, the clamps also have uses and applications other than for retaining luggage or baggage on the body of the carrier. For example, the clamps in accordance with the present invention can be used to fixedly secure the position of any article mounted to any object by belts, straps and webbing. This is accomplished in the same manner as previously described with regard to luggage and baggage—namely, the clamps engage the strap, belt or webbing of an article to releasably retain the article in a fixed position relative to the object to which the article is mounted for preventing displacement of the article relative to the object.
The clamps disclosed herein also may be used for any purpose or application as conventional clamps.
The clamps disclosed herein are preferably formed from plastics. However, the type of plastic used will vary depending on the characteristic (e.g., flexibility or rigidity) needed for the specific clamp or component thereof.
The clamps illustrated by
Other applications of and modifications to the carrying aids within the scope of the present invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art. Accordingly, the carrying aids of the preferred embodiments of the invention discussed herein are intended to be illustrative only and not restrictive of the scope of the invention, that scope being defined by the following claims and all equivalents thereto.
Claims
1. A clamp for releasably retaining a web, belt or strap therein, said clamp comprising a base and a retaining element pivotably mounted relative to each other along a first pivot axis, said retaining element being selectively pivotable relative to said base between an opened position and a closed position in which said web, belt or strap is releasably retained in said clamp, said first pivot axis being oriented in a direction substantially parallel to the direction of extension of said web, belt or strap through said clamp.
2. The clamp as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a locking element pivotably mounted relative to said retaining element along a second pivot axis, said locking element being selectively pivotable relative to said retaining element between a locked position and an unlocked position, said locking element arranged relative to said retaining element such that said second pivot axis is oriented substantially transversely relative to said first pivot axis.
3. The clamp as claimed in claim 2, wherein said locking element includes means for releasably fixing the position of said buckle relative to a strap, belt, or web received in said base and extending in said longitudinal direction of said base.
4. The clamp as claimed in claim 2, wherein said locking element includes means for releasably locking said retaining element in said closed position relative to said base.
5. The clamp as claimed in claim 2, wherein said locking element includes first means for releasably fixing the position of said buckle relative to a strap, belt, or web received within said base and extending in said longitudinal direction of said base, and second means for releasably locking said retaining element in said closed position relative to said base.
6. The clamp as claimed in claim 1, further including means for moving said retaining element relative to said base along a plane oriented at an angle relative to said first pivot axis for releasably locking said retaining element to said base.
7. The clamp as claimed in claim 2, further including means for moving said retaining element relative to said base along a plane oriented at an angle relative to said first pivot axis for releasably locking said retaining element to said base.
8. The clamp as claimed in claim 7, wherein said locking element comprises said means for moving said retaining element relative to said base along said plane oriented at an angle relative to said first pivot axis, said locking element cooperating with said retaining element and said base such that said retaining element is moved along said plane oriented at an angle relative to said first pivot axis when said locking element is pivoted along said second pivot axis into said locked position.
9. The clamp as claimed in claim 8, further including cooperating engagement elements on said base and said retaining element for limiting the relative movement of said retaining element relative to said base along said plane oriented at an angle relative to said first pivot axis when said retaining element is in said closed position relative to said base and said locking element is in said locked position relative to said retaining element.
10. The clamp as claimed in claim 9, wherein said cooperating engagement elements comprise:
- at least one opening defined in said base and oriented along said plane oriented at any angle relative to said first pivot axis; and at least one member on said retaining element adapted to be received within said at least one opening in said base.
11. The clamp as claimed in claim 10, wherein said base and said retaining element are pivotably mounted to each other along said first pivot axis by said cooperating engagement elements.
12. A clamp comprising a base and a retaining element for selectively retaining a strap, web or belt therebetween, said base and said retaining element being pivotably mounted to each other along a pivot axis for relative movement between opened and closed positions of said clamp, said pivot axis being oriented substantially parallel to the longitudinal direction of extension of a strap, web or belt retaining in said clamp.
13. The clamp as claimed in claim 12, further including cooperating locking elements on said base and said retaining element for releasably locking said retaining element to said base in said closed position of said clamp.
14. The clamp as claimed in claim 12, wherein said base and said retaining element are formed together as a single unit.
15. The clamp as claimed in claim 12 wherein said base defines an opening therein, and said retaining element includes a protuberance thereon, said base and said retaining element arranged such that said protuberance is received in said opening to fixedly retain said strap, web on belt in said clamp when said clamp is in said closed position.
16. The clamp as claimed in claim 13 wherein said retaining element and said base are arranged such that increasing tension on said strap, web or belt increases the force with which said clamp engages said strap, web or belt when said clamp is in said closed position.
17. A method of releasably locking a clamp to a strap, belt, or web removably received within said clamp, said clamp comprising a base for removably receiving therein a portion of said strap, belt, or web extending through said base in a longitudinal direction, and a retaining element pivotably mounted to said base along a first pivot axis, said retaining element being selectively pivotable relative to said base between an opened position and a closed position, said first pivot axis being substantially parallel to the longitudinal direction of extension of said strap, belt, or web through said base, the steps of said method comprising:
- pivoting said retaining element relative to said base along said first pivot axis into said opened position;
- causing said clamp to directly engage a predetermined position on said strap, belt, or web without threading an end of said strap, belt, or web through said clamp; and
- pivoting said retaining element relative to base into said closed position for releasably retaining said strap, belt, or web between said retaining element and said base.
18. The method as claimed in claim 17, further including the step of:
- releasably locking said clamp to said predetermined position on said strap, belt, or web for fixedly retaining said clamp relative to said strap, belt, or web on said predetermined position thereon.
19. The method as claimed in claim 17, further including the step of:
- releasably locking said retaining element to said base when said retaining element is moved into said closed position relative to said base.
20. The method as claimed in claim 19, wherein the step of releasably locking said retaining element to said base includes the step of selectively moving said retaining element relative to said base along a plane oriented at an angle relative to said longitudinal direction of extension of said strap, belt, or web through said base.
21. The method as claimed in claim 18, further including the step of pivotably mounting a locking element to said retaining element along a second pivot axis oriented substantially transversely relative to said first pivot axis, said locking element being selectively movable between a locked position and an unlocked position.
22. The method as claimed in claim 19, further including the step of pivotably mounting a locking element to said retaining element along a second pivot axis oriented substantially transversely relative to said first pivot axis, said locking element being selectively movable between a locked position and an unlocked position.
23. The method as claimed in claim 21, wherein the step of releasably locking said clamp to said predetermined position on said strap, belt, or web includes the step of moving said locking element into said locked position.
24. The method as claimed in claim 22, wherein the step of releasably locking said retaining element to said base comprises the step of moving said locking element into said locked position.
25. The method as claimed in claim 17, further including the step of:
- releasably locking said retaining element to said base when said retaining element is moved into said closed position relative to said base, and
- releasably locking said clamp to said predetermined position on said strap, belt, or web for fixedly retaining said clamp relative to said strap, belt, or web on said predetermined position thereon.
26. The method as claimed in claim 17 when said base defines an opening therein and said retaining element has a protuberance thereon, said step of pivoting said retaining element relative to said base including the step of pivoting said protuberance into said opening for releasably retaining said web, strap or belt as a result of frictional engagement with said base and said protuberance on said retaining element.
27. The method as claimed in claim 17, further including the step of arranging said base and said retaining element such that increasing the tension on the strap, belt or web in the clamp increases the force with which said clamp engages said strap, belt or web in the closed position of said clamp.
Type: Application
Filed: Feb 17, 2006
Publication Date: Aug 23, 2007
Inventor: Wayne Chou (Ridgefield, CT)
Application Number: 11/356,703
International Classification: A44B 11/12 (20060101);