U.S. patent application number 12/133944 was filed with the patent office on 2009-12-10 for buckle with tension adjuster.
Invention is credited to Chih-Cheng Shiue.
Application Number | 20090300889 12/133944 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 41398981 |
Filed Date | 2009-12-10 |
United States Patent
Application |
20090300889 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Shiue; Chih-Cheng |
December 10, 2009 |
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.
Inventors: |
Shiue; Chih-Cheng; (Taipei,
TW) |
Correspondence
Address: |
BRUCE H. TROXELL
SUITE 1404, 5205 LEESBURG PIKE
FALLS CHURCH
VA
22041
US
|
Family ID: |
41398981 |
Appl. No.: |
12/133944 |
Filed: |
June 5, 2008 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
24/197 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A44B 11/006 20130101;
A44B 11/18 20130101; Y10T 24/4086 20150115 |
Class at
Publication: |
24/197 |
International
Class: |
A44B 11/00 20060101
A44B011/00 |
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.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] 1. Field of Invention
[0002] 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.
[0003] 2. Description of Related Art
[0004] Buckles are well known devices and are used to tighten a
strap around an object or to attach the ends of two straps
together.
[0005] 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).
[0006] 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.
[0007] 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.
[0008] For the buckle of FIG. 1, it is seen that the strap is bent
to be partially overlapped with itself when passing the frame.
[0009] 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.
[0010] 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
[0011] 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.
[0012] 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.
[0013] 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.
[0014] 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
[0015] FIG. 1 is a longitudinal sectional view of a conventional
buckle where the strap passes through the buckle in a first
configuration;
[0016] FIG. 2 is a view similar to FIG. 1 where the strap passes
through the buckle in a second configuration;
[0017] 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;
[0018] FIG. 4 is a longitudinal sectional view showing two buckle
frames of FIG. 3 being arranged in a second configuration;
[0019] FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing two pairs of buckle
frame and bar of FIG. 3 forming a strap buckle;
[0020] 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;
[0021] FIG. 7 is an exploded view of a second preferred embodiment
of buckle according to the invention;
[0022] FIG. 8 is a perspective view of the assembled buckle of FIG.
7; and
[0023] FIG. 9 is a longitudinal sectional view of the buckle of
FIG. 8.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0024] 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.
[0025] 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.
[0026] 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.
[0027] 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.
[0028] 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.
[0029] 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.
[0030] 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.
[0031] 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.
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