U.S. patent application number 10/700607 was filed with the patent office on 2004-05-20 for winding device for strap fastener.
Invention is credited to Huang, Han-Ching.
Application Number | 20040094650 10/700607 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 46300263 |
Filed Date | 2004-05-20 |
United States Patent
Application |
20040094650 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Huang, Han-Ching |
May 20, 2004 |
Winding device for strap fastener
Abstract
A strap fastener system includes a strap fastener for fastening
a belt and a winding device for winding the strap. The winding
device includes a housing, a reel, a control device and a torque
spring. The reel is put in the housing for winding the strap. The
control device is partially and movably installed in the housing
between a rotational position and a non-rotational position. A
torque spring is arranged between the reel and the control device
for automatically rotating the reel in the non-rotational position
of the control device.
Inventors: |
Huang, Han-Ching; (Taichung,
TW) |
Correspondence
Address: |
Alan D. Kamrath
Rider Bennett, LLP
Suite 2000
333 South Seventh Street
Minneapolis
MN
55402
US
|
Family ID: |
46300263 |
Appl. No.: |
10/700607 |
Filed: |
November 3, 2003 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
|
|
|
|
|
|
Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
10700607 |
Nov 3, 2003 |
|
|
|
10287733 |
Nov 4, 2002 |
|
|
|
Current U.S.
Class: |
242/385.4 ;
242/378.4 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B65H 75/48 20130101;
B65H 54/585 20130101; B60P 7/0846 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
242/385.4 ;
242/378.4 |
International
Class: |
B65H 075/48 |
Claims
1. A strap fastener system comprising: a strap fastener for
fastening a belt; and a winding device including a housing, a reel
put in the housing for winding the strap, a control device
partially and movably installed in the housing between a rotational
position and a non-rotational position and a torque spring arranged
between the reel and the control device for automatically rotating
the reel in the non-rotational position of the control device.
2. The strap fastener system of claim 1 wherein the control device
includes a shaft substantially extending in the housing, and the
torque spring includes a first end attached to the reel and a
second end attached to the shaft.
3. The strap fastener system of claim 2 wherein the shaft includes
a square enlarged portion formed near a first end, and the housing
includes a first wall defining a square aperture for receiving the
square enlarged portion of the shaft in the non-rotational
position.
4. The strap fastener system of claim 3 wherein the control device
includes a knob attached to the square enlarged portion of the
shaft.
5. The strap fastener system of claim 3 wherein the shaft further
includes a circular enlarged portion formed near a second end, and
the housing includes a second wall defining a circular aperture
through which the circular enlarged portion of the shaft is
inserted.
6. The strap fastener system of claim 5 wherein the control device
further includes a compression spring compressed between the
circular enlarged portion of the shaft and the second wall of the
housing, thus biasing the control element into the non-rotational
position.
7. The strap fastener system of claim 6 wherein the control device
further includes a ring put around the shaft and against the
circular enlarged portion of the shaft so that the compression
spring is compressed between the ring and the second wall of the
housing.
8. The strap fastener system of claim 2 wherein the shaft defines a
slit for receiving the second end of the torque spring.
9. The strap fastener system of claim 1 wherein the torque spring
is a coil spring.
10. The strap fastener system of claim 6 wherein the compression
spring is a helical spring.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE
[0001] The present application is a continuation-in-part
application of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/287733.
FIELD OF INVENTION
[0002] The present invention relates to a strap fastener and, more
particularly, to a winding device that can be switched between an
automatic mode and a manual mode.
BACKGROUND OF INVENTION
[0003] According to U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/287733, an
automatic winding device 2 is provided for a strap fastener 1. The
automatic winding device 2 includes a housing 3, a reel 4
rotationally put in the housing 3 for winding a first strap 5
introduced through the strap fastener 1 and a spring 6 connected
between the housing 3 and the reel 4. A shaft 33 is securely put in
the housing 3 for supporting the reel 4. The spring 6 includes a
first end secured to the shaft 33 and a second end secured to the
reel 4. Two ratchet wheels 42 are formed on the reel 4. A detent 7
is movably mounted on the housing 3 for releasable engagement with
the reel 4. The ratchet wheels 42 and the detent 7 are however
complicated in structure. Moreover, after being used for some time,
the spring 6 will become slack and incapable of adequately winding
the first strap 5. The present invention is therefore intended to
obviate or at least alleviate the problems encountered in prior
art.
SUMMARY OF INVENTION
[0004] It is the primary objective of the present invention to
provide a strap fastener with a winding device that can be switched
between an automatic mode and a manual mode.
[0005] A strap fastener system includes a strap fastener for
fastening a belt and a winding device for winding the strap. The
winding device includes a housing, a reel, a control device and a
torque spring. The reel is put in the housing for winding the
strap. The control device is partially and movably installed in the
housing between a rotational position and a non-rotational
position. A torque spring is arranged between the reel and the
control device for automatically rotating the reel in the
non-rotational position of the control device.
[0006] Other objects, advantages, and novel features of the
invention will become more apparent from the following detailed
description when taken in conjunction with the attached
drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS
[0007] The present invention will be described through detailed
illustration of the preferred embodiment referring to the attached
drawings.
[0008] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a strap fastener equipped
with a winding device according to the preferred embodiment of the
present invention.
[0009] FIG. 2 is an exploded view of the strap fastener and the
winding device of FIG. 1.
[0010] FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of the strap fastener and
the winding device of FIG. 1.
[0011] FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view taken along a line 4-4 in
FIG. 1.
[0012] FIG. 5 is similar to FIG. 3 but shows the strap fastener in
a different position.
[0013] FIG. 6 is similar to FIG. 4 but shows the winding device in
a different position.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
[0014] Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, a strap fastener 1 is equipped
with a winding device 2 according to the preferred embodiment of
the present invention. The strap fastener 1 is conventional and
therefore will not be described in detail. However, it is stated
here that the strap fastener 1 includes an axle 11 in which a slot
12 is defined.
[0015] The winding device 2 includes a housing 3, a reel 4 put in
the housing 3, a control device 7 partially and movably installed
in the housing 3 between a rotational position and a non-rotational
position and a spring 6 arranged between the reel 4 and the control
device 7. A first strap 5 is wound on the reel 4 and inserted
through the slot 12. The first strap 5 is connected with a first
hook 51. A second strap 8 is attached to the strap fastener 1. The
second strap 8 is connected with a second hook 81.
[0016] The housing 3 includes a first wall 31 and a second wall 32
opposite to the first wall 31. A square aperture 33 is defined in
the first wall 31. A circular aperture 34 is defined in the second
wall 32.
[0017] The control device 7 includes a shaft 71, an enlarged square
portion 75 formed at an end, an enlarged circular portion 76 formed
at an opposite end, a knob 72 integrated with the square portion 75
and a slit 77 defined therein. The control device 7 further
includes a spring 73 and a ring 74.
[0018] In assembly, the spring 6 is put in the reel 4. A first end
of the spring 6 is secured to the reel 4. The reel 4 and the spring
6 are both put in the casing 30. The shaft 71 is inserted into the
casing 3 through the square aperture 33 and from the casing 3
through the circular aperture 34. A second end of the spring 6 is
inserted into the slit 77. The spring 73 is put around the shaft
71. The circular enlarged portion 76 of the shaft 71 is forced
through the ring 74 due to elasticity resulting from the slit 77.
The spring 73 is compressed between the second wall 32 and the ring
74 that is put against the enlarged circular portion 76 of the
shaft 71. Thus, the enlarged square portion 75 is biased towards
the first wall 31.
[0019] Referring to FIGS. 3 and 4, the enlarged square portion 75
of the shat 71 is put in the square aperture 33. Thus, the shaft 71
is not rotational relative to the casing 30, i.e., in the
non-rotational position. To use the strap fastener 1 and the
winding device 2, a user hooks the second hook 81 on a proper
position. The user pulls the first strap 5 from the reel 4, thus
tensioning the spring 6. The user hooks the first hook 51 on a
proper position. Then, referring to FIG. 5, the user operates the
strap fastener 1 to fasten the first strap 5. The strap fastener 1
can be returned to the position shown in FIGS. 3 and 4 so as to
allow the spring 6 to rotate the reel 4, thus winding the first
strap 5. However, after being used for some time, the spring 6
might become slack and incapable of winding the first strap 5
completely back onto the reel 4. Should this happen, manual winding
of the first strap 5 onto the reel 4 is required. Referring to FIG.
6, the enlarged square portion 75 of the shaft 71 can be moved from
the square aperture 33 by means of operating the knob 72. By means
of operating the knob 72, the shaft 71 can be rotated so as to
rotate the reel 4 through the spring 6. Thus, the first strap 5 can
be wound onto the reel manually.
[0020] The present invention has been described via illustration of
the preferred embodiment. After a study of this specification,
those skilled in the art can derive various variations from the
preferred embodiment. Therefore, the preferred embodiment is only
taken as an example and shall not limit the scope of the present
invention that is defined in the claims.
* * * * *