U.S. patent application number 13/117909 was filed with the patent office on 2012-11-29 for selectively releasable buckle.
This patent application is currently assigned to PEARL IZUMI. Invention is credited to Valter Bozzetto, Fabrizio Stecca, Tony Terrance, Michele Tosello.
Application Number | 20120297591 13/117909 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 47218212 |
Filed Date | 2012-11-29 |
United States Patent
Application |
20120297591 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Bozzetto; Valter ; et
al. |
November 29, 2012 |
Selectively Releasable Buckle
Abstract
A buckle is provided for use in footwear. The buckle includes a
lever arm that feeds a strap into the buckle in a ratcheting
fashion and a lock that secures the strap relative to the buckle
when the lever arm is released. To release the strap from the
buckle, a user may impart rotational motion onto the lock to remove
it from engagement from teeth associated with the strap.
Alternatively, pressure may be applied to the lever arm, which
releases a locking pawl from the strap and allows the strap to
incrementally move a predetermined amount.
Inventors: |
Bozzetto; Valter; (US)
; Stecca; Fabrizio; (US) ; Terrance; Tony;
(US) ; Tosello; Michele; (US) |
Assignee: |
PEARL IZUMI
Louisville
CO
|
Family ID: |
47218212 |
Appl. No.: |
13/117909 |
Filed: |
May 27, 2011 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
24/68SK ;
24/191 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A43C 11/146 20130101;
Y10T 24/4072 20150115; Y10T 24/2183 20150115 |
Class at
Publication: |
24/68SK ;
24/191 |
International
Class: |
A43C 11/14 20060101
A43C011/14; A44B 11/12 20060101 A44B011/12 |
Claims
1. A buckle adapted for tightening and selectively securing a strap
having a plurality of teeth, comprising: a base having a channel
for receiving the strap, said base also including a first hub and a
second hub positioned on opposite sides of said channel; a frame
that includes a lock pin that is operably associated with said
first hub and said second hub, said frame also having a lever pin
that is spaced from said lock pin; a lock positioned between said
first hub and said second hub and rotatably interconnected to said
lock pin and, said lock having a locking pawl, which is adapted for
selective engagement with a tooth of the strap, on a first end and
a release button on a second end; and a lever arm rotatably
interconnected to said lever pin on a first end and wherein a
second end of said lever arm includes a release pawl directed
towards said base that is adapted for selective engagement with the
teeth of the strap when the second end of said lever arm is
defected towards said base, said first end of said lever arm also
including a feed pawl adapted for selective engagement with the
teeth of the strap when said second end of said lever arm is
directed away from said base.
2. The buckle of claim 1, wherein said lock is capable of rotatably
moving from a first position where the locking pawl is abutted
against a strap tooth such that the strap cannot move relative to
said buckle in one direction and a second position of use wherein
said locking pawl is positioned away from the strap teeth, thereby
allowing the strap to move relative to said buckle, said second
position being achieved by either actuating said release button or
by deflecting said second end of said lever arm toward said
base.
3. The buckle of claim 2, wherein said lock includes a laterally
extending projection located adjacent to said release button and
said lever arm includes a laterally extending finger located
adjacent to said first end of said lever arm wherein when said
lever arm is deflected towards said base, said finger will contact
said projection and move said lock to its second position of
use.
4. The buckle of claim 2, wherein when said second end of said
lever arm is deflected towards said base, said release pawl is
adapted to be positioned adjacent to a tooth of the strap such that
complete release of the strap from said buckle is prevented.
5. The buckle of claim 1, wherein said locking pawl and said second
end of said lever arm are biased toward said base.
6. The buckle of claim 1, wherein said lever arm includes a second
release pawl that is spaced from said release pawl.
7. The buckle of claim 1, wherein deflecting said lever arm towards
said base allows said strap to move the distance between two
adjacent teeth.
8. The buckle of claim 1, wherein said second end of said lever arm
possesses a curved profile.
9. A buckle adapted for tightening and selectively securing a strap
having a plurality of teeth, comprising: a base; a frame associated
with said base and having a laterally extending lock pin and a
laterally extending lever pin spaced from said lock pin; a lock
rotatably interconnected to said lock pin and, said lock having a
locking pawl, which is adapted for selective engagement with a
tooth of the strap, on a first end and a release button on a second
end; and a lever arm rotatably interconnected to said lever pin on
a first end and wherein a second end of said lever arm includes a
release pawl directed towards said base that is adapted for
selective engagement with the teeth of the strap when the second
end of said lever arm is defected towards said base.
10. The buckle of claim 9, wherein said lock is capable of moving
from a first position where the locking pawl is abutted against a
strap tooth and a second position of use wherein said locking pawl
is positioned away from the strap teeth, said second position being
achieved by either actuating said release button or by deflecting
said second end of said lever arm toward said base.
11. The buckle of claim 10, wherein when said second end of said
lever arm is deflected towards said base, said release pawl is
adapted to be positioned adjacent to a tooth of the strap such that
complete release of the strap from said buckle is prevented.
12. The buckle of claim 9, wherein said locking pawl and said
second end of said lever arm are biased toward said base.
13. A buckle adapted for tightening and selectively securing a
strap having a plurality of teeth, said buckle comprising a base
defined by lateral edges, a frame associated with said base and
having a laterally extending lock pin and a laterally extending
lever pin spaced from said lock pin, a lock rotatably
interconnected to said lock pin, and a lever arm having a first end
rotatably interconnected to said lever pin, the improvement
comprising: a release pawl positioned on downward-facing surface of
a second end of said lever arm that is adapted for selective
engagement with the teeth of the strap when the second end of said
lever arm is defected towards said base.
14. The buckle of claim 13, wherein said lock is capable of
rotatably moving from a first position where the locking pawl is
abutted against a strap tooth and a second position of use wherein
said locking pawl is positioned away from the strap teeth.
15. The buckle of claim 14, wherein a locking pawl is associated
with a first end of said lock and a release button is associated
with a second end of said lock, said lock further including a
laterally extending projection located adjacent to said release
button, and said lever arm includes a laterally extending finger
located adjacent to said first end of said lever arm wherein when
said lever arm is deflected towards said base, said finger will
contact said projection and move said lock to its second position
of use.
16. The buckle of claim 13, wherein when said second end of said
lever arm is deflected towards said base, said release pawl is
adapted to be positioned adjacent to a tooth of the strap such that
complete release of the strap from said buckle is prevented.
17. A method of selectively releasing a buckle that is
interconnected to a strap, comprising: providing a buckle comprised
of a base, a lever arm rotatably associated with said base and
having a laterally extending finger, and a lock rotatably
associated with said base and having a laterally extending
projection, said strap having a plurality of teeth and positioned
between said lock and said base; rotating said lever arm towards
said base such that said finger contacts said projection to rotate
said lock away from said strap thereby allowing said strap to move
and incremental amount.
18. The method of claim 17, further comprising contacting a release
pawl associated with a distal end of said lever arm with a face of
a tooth that is spaced from said locking pawl to incrementally move
said strap relative to said buckle.
19. The method of claim 17, wherein when said lever arm is rotated
adjacent to said base, an inner release pawl contacts a sloped
surface of said strap tooth to incrementally urge the strap
relative to said lock.
Description
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0001] Embodiments of the present invention are generally related
to a fastening system for footwear. One embodiment of the present
invention is a fastening system for a cycling shoe that employs a
ratcheting buckle that selectively receives and secures a
corresponding strap and that allows for the strap to be
incrementally loosened.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] Cycling shoes are often used with clipless pedal systems
wherein a cleat incorporated into the bottom surface of the shoe
selectively interconnects with a pedal. Like in other types of
footwear, some cycling shoes employ laces to maintain the user's
foot. More commonly, however, the shoes include a primary strap
that is selectively secured to a buckle. Systems that employ a
ratcheting buckle also include one or two auxiliary straps to
further secure the shoe to the user's foot. The strap includes a
plurality of teeth that selectively interact with one or more pawls
associated with the buckle in a ratcheting fashion. More
specifically, to tighten the strap, the user repeatedly rotates a
lever portion of the buckle that includes a feed pawl that engages
successive teeth of the strap to incrementally move the strap
relative to the buckle. Once the desired strap tension is achieved,
a locking pawl on the buckle is used to hold the strap in place. To
allow loosening of the strap or complete removal of the strap from
the buckle, the locking pawl is rotated away from the strap which
removes all interferences that would prevent relative motion
between the buckle and the strap.
[0003] During use, the cyclist's foot can become swollen and thus
there is often a need to alter the tension applied by the primary
strap, e.g., loosen the strap to maintain comfort. In addition,
often cyclists will wish to adjust shoe tension to accommodate
specific peddling circumstances associated with peddling uphill,
downhill, on flat terrain, etc. Thus there is a continuous
compromise between comfort and support--loosening the strap too
much will not provide sufficient support and tightening the strap
to increase support will often lead to foot pain and possibly
injury.
[0004] To address this issue, some buckles allow the user to
incrementally release the strap relative to the buckle and thus
loosen the shoe in a controlled, incremental fashion. For example,
U.S. Pat. No. 7,877,845 to Signori discloses a controlled release
fastening device that employs a buckle having a tightening
component, a release component, and an incremental release
component that allows for selective movement of the strap relative
to the buckle. More specifically, the first component of the buckle
is used to tighten the strap, the second component is used to
maintain the location of the buckle relative to the strap, and the
third component is used to selectively move the locking component
to the next tooth i.e., the distance associated with the "pitch" of
the strap teeth.
[0005] Another method of selectively releasing the buckle is
disclosed in European Patent Application No. EP1611811 to Giusti.
Giusti discloses a gradual release mechanism that is comprised of
multiple components wherein the release and locking mechanism
employs cogs that selectively interface with the teeth of the
strap. Similar to Signori, the locking release system as comprised
of three primary components.
[0006] U.S. Pat. No. 5,642,555 to Lin discloses a fastener that
allows for micro adjustment that possesses an extended outer
profile and thus may not be desirable to be used in many
applications.
[0007] Thus it is a long felt need to provide a buckle that allows
for incremental loosening of the interconnected strap and
associated shoe, is low profile, and less complicated to
manufacture and use. The following disclosure describes an improved
buckle that allows for selective, incremental release of the strap
relative to the buckle that is achieved by moving the mechanism
associated with tightening the strap in a direction opposite to
that associated with tightening the strap.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0008] It is one aspect of the present invention to provide a
buckle that selectively receives a strap. The buckle is generally
comprised of a base portion that interconnects to a shoe upper. A
frame is interconnected to the base portion and spaced a
predetermined distance therefrom to define an opening for receipt
of an end of the strap. The base also provides a channel that helps
maintain the position of the strap relative to the base. The frame
includes a lock pin and a lever pin for securing a lock and a lever
arm, respectively. The lever arm includes a feed pawl at a proximal
end that selectively engages successive teeth of the strap when the
lever arm is repeatedly rotated away from and toward the base to
tighten the strap in a ratcheting manner. The lock is rotatably
interconnected to the lock pin and includes a locking pawl that
engages a tooth of the strap to hold the strap relative to the
buckle when the lever arm is in a neutral position. To release the
strap, the lock pawl is rotated away from the tooth to which it is
engaged.
[0009] To incrementally move the strap relative to the buckle, a
distal end of the lever arm is moved past its neutral position,
i.e., depressed towards the strap. When depressed, the lever arm of
one embodiment rotates the locking pawl away from the tooth to
which it is engaged. A distal end of the lever arm additionally
includes release pawls that engage corresponding teeth of the strap
to incrementally shift the strap relative to the locking pawl. Once
the distal end of the lever arm is released and allowed to return
its neutral position, the strap is able to move incrementally
relative to the buckle, i.e., loosen, until the locking pawl
engages a tooth adjacent to the one which it was previously
engaged. That is, after the strap moves the predetermined amount,
the locking pawl will fall into the space between two adjacent
teeth and abut against the tooth adjacent to the tooth from which
it was displaced when the distal end of the lever was depressed. In
this manner, a user may incrementally release the strap from the
buckle one tooth at a time, for example.
[0010] It is another aspect of the present invention to provide an
incrementally releasing buckle with that employs fewer components
than found in the prior art. Here, as opposed to the embodiments of
the prior art described above, a buckle is provided that uses the
lever arm to achieve incremental release as opposed to a separate
component. The contemplated buckle is thus low profile, easy to
use, and less expensive to manufacture. More specifically, unlike
the buckles of the prior art, which include separate mechanisms or
components to impart an incremental release of the strap,
embodiments of the present invention use the lever arm to both
tighten and incrementally release the strap. The shape and spacing
of the release pawls located on the lever arm dictate the amount of
travel the locking pawl experiences relative to the strap when the
lever arm is depressed. Furthermore, the release pawls maintain the
position of the strap relative to the buckle and act as an
auxiliary lock that prevents total release of the buckle when the
locking pawl is removed from the strap teeth. Once pressure is
removed from the lever arm, the lock resiliently deflects into
engagement with a strap to again hold the strap relative to the
buckle.
[0011] It is yet another aspect of the present invention to provide
a buckle that is easy to operate. More specifically, the
contemplated buckle includes two ways to release the strap. First
the lock includes a release button common on most ratcheting
buckles that rotates the locking pawl away from the strap teeth and
removes all interferences between the buckle and the associated
strap that would prevent removal of the strap from the buckle.
Furthermore, the distal end of the lever arm includes a "button"
that when pressed, allows for the buckle to be incrementally
released from the strap as described above. The contemplated system
is easy to access by a user for release when the shoe is clipped
into a pedal, for example. Furthermore, the distal end of the lever
arm may be upwardly sloped to allow the user to easily access the
same with a single digit to tighten and re-tighten the strap, if
needed.
[0012] It is yet another aspect of the present invention to provide
a buckle that is low profile. More specifically, most embodiments
of the present invention are made of two fixed components and two
rotating components. As will be appreciated upon review of the
figures, this assembly renders a low profile, easy to manufacture,
and easy to use system. Furthermore, the majority of the components
of the buckle are made of lightweight and moldable materials, such
as plastic, which facilitates manufacturability.
[0013] It is still yet another aspect of the present invention to
provide a buckle adapted for tightening and selectively securing a
strap having a plurality of teeth, comprising: a base having a
channel for receiving the strap, said base also including a first
hub and a second hub positioned on opposite sides of said channel;
a frame that includes a lock pin that is operably associated with
said first hub and said second hub, said frame also having a lever
pin that is spaced from said lock pin; a lock positioned between
said first hub and said second hub and rotatably interconnected to
said lock pin and, said lock having a locking pawl, which is
adapted for selective engagement with a tooth of the strap, on a
first end and a release button on a second end; and a lever arm
rotatably interconnected to said lever pin on a first end and
wherein a second end of said lever arm includes a release pawl
directed towards said base that is adapted for selective engagement
with the teeth of the strap when the second end of said lever arm
is defected towards said base, said first end of said lever arm
also including a feed pawl adapted for selective engagement with
the teeth of the strap when said second end of said lever arm is
directed away from said base.
[0014] It is still yet another aspect of the present invention to
provide a buckle adapted for tightening and selectively securing a
strap having a plurality of teeth, comprising: a base; a frame
associated with said base and having a laterally extending lock pin
and a laterally extending lever pin spaced from said lock pin; a
lock rotatably interconnected to said lock pin and, said lock
having a locking pawl, which is adapted for selective engagement
with a tooth of the strap, on a first end and a release button on a
second end; and a lever arm rotatably interconnected to said lever
pin on a first end and wherein a second end of said lever arm
includes a release pawl directed towards said base that is adapted
for selective engagement with the teeth of the strap when the
second end of said lever arm is defected towards said base.
[0015] It is yet another aspect of the present invention to provide
a buckle adapted for tightening and selectively securing a strap
having a plurality of teeth, said buckle comprising a base defined
by lateral edges, a frame associated with said base and having a
laterally extending lock pin and a laterally extending lever pin
spaced from said lock pin, a lock rotatably interconnected to said
lock pin, and a lever arm having a first end rotatably
interconnected to said lever pin, the improvement comprising: a
release pawl positioned on downward-facing surface of a second end
of said lever arm that is adapted for selective engagement with the
teeth of the strap when the second end of said lever arm is
defected towards said base.
[0016] It is still yet another aspect of the invention to provide a
method of selectively releasing a buckle that is interconnected to
a strap, comprising: providing a buckle comprised of a base, a
lever arm rotatably associated with said base and having a
laterally extending finger, and a lock rotatably associated with
said base and having a laterally extending projection, said strap
having a plurality of teeth and positioned between said lock and
said base; rotating said lever arm towards said base such that said
finger contacts said projection to rotate said lock away from said
strap thereby allowing said strap to move and incremental
amount.
[0017] The Summary of the Invention is neither intended nor should
it be construed as being representative of the full extent and
scope of the present invention. Moreover, references made herein to
"the present invention" or aspects thereof should be understood to
mean certain embodiments of the present invention and should not
necessarily be construed as limiting all embodiments to a
particular description. The present invention is set forth in
various levels of detail in the Summary of the Invention as well as
in the attached drawings and the Detailed Description of the
Invention and no limitation as to the scope of the present
invention is intended by either the inclusion or non-inclusion of
elements, components, etc. in this Summary of the Invention.
Additional aspects of the present invention will become more
readily apparent from the Detail Description, particularly when
taken together with the drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0018] The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and
constitute a part of the specification, illustrate embodiments of
the invention and together with the general description of the
invention given above and the detailed description of the drawings
given below, serve to explain the principles of these
inventions.
[0019] FIG. 1 is a top perspective view of the buckle of one
embodiment of the present invention;
[0020] FIG. 2 is a front elevation view of FIG. 1;
[0021] FIG. 3 is a rear elevation view of FIG. 1;
[0022] FIG. 4 is an exploded perspective view of the buckle and
associated strap of one embodiment of the present invention;
[0023] FIG. 5 is a top perspective view of the base of the buckle
of one embodiment of the present invention;
[0024] FIG. 6 is a top perspective view of the frame of the buckle
of one embodiment of the present invention;
[0025] FIG. 7 is a top perspective of the lock of the buckle of one
embodiment of the present invention;
[0026] FIG. 8 is a bottom perspective view of a lever arm of the
buckle of one embodiment of the present invention;
[0027] FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional view of the buckle and
associated strap showing a lock in a locked position;
[0028] FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view showing the buckle and
associated strap showing the lock in an open position that allows
for the strap to be completely released from the buckle;
[0029] FIG. 11 is a cross-sectional view showing the buckle and
associated strap wherein the buckle has been released to allow for
incremental movement of the strap relative to the buckle;
[0030] FIG. 12 is a detail of FIG. 9;
[0031] FIG. 13 is a detail view similar to that of FIG. 12 showing
a distal end of the lever arm approaching the strap;
[0032] FIG. 14 is a detail view similar to that of FIG. 12 showing
release pawls of the distal end contacting teeth of the strap;
[0033] FIG. 15 is a detail view of FIG. 11; and
[0034] FIG. 16 shows the buckle and associated strap integrated
into a cycling shoe.
[0035] To assist in the understanding of one embodiment of the
present invention the following list of components and associated
numbering found in the drawings is provided herein:
TABLE-US-00001 # Components 2 Buckle 6 Base 10 Hub 14 Lock pin
aperture 18 Opening 22 Guide 26 Channel 30 Leading edge 34 Strap 38
Frame 42 Lock pin 46 Lever pin 48 Groove 50 Lever arm 54 Lock 58
Teeth/Tooth 62 Release button 66 Distal end 70 Locking pawl 74
Spring 78 Feed pawl 82 Proximal end 86 Tooth Face 90 Lock spring 94
Stop 98 Strap guides 102 Projection 106 Finger 110 Lever pin
aperture 114 Inner release pawl 118 Outer release pawl 122 Inner
surface 126 Sloped surface 130 Sloped surface 134 Release pawl face
138 Tip 142 Shoe
[0036] It should be understood that the drawings are not
necessarily to scale. In certain instances, details that are not
necessary for an understanding of the invention or that render
other details difficult to perceive may have been omitted. It
should be understood, of course, that the invention is not
necessarily limited to the particular embodiments illustrated
herein.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0037] Referring now to FIGS. 1-4, a buckle 2 of one embodiment of
the present invention is shown that comprises a base 6 having
upwardly extending hubs 10 with lock pin apertures 14. The base 6
also includes an opening 18 bounded by guides 22 that lead into a
channel 26 that receives the leading edge 30 of the strap 34. The
buckle 2 also includes a frame 38 having a lock pin 42, which is
received within the lock pin aperture 14, and a lever pin 46. The
lever pin 46 rotatably supports a lever arm 50 and the lock pin 42
rotatably supports a lock 54. The strap 34 possesses a plurality of
teeth 58 that are selectively engaged by the lock 54 in a
ratcheting fashion. The lever arm 50 and a lock 54 are rotatably
interconnected to the frame 38 and are spring-biased such that a
locking pawl 70 of the lock 54 is urged towards the strap 34 when
the lever arm 50 is in its neutral position as shown. Similarly,
the lever arm 50 is urged towards the base 6 by a spring 74.
[0038] In operation, the buckle 2 receives the strap 34 wherein
rotation of the lever arm 50 away from and towards the base 6
repeatedly moves the strap 34 relative to the buckle 2 to tighten
the strap 34. More specifically, to tighten the strap 34, the strap
34 is first positioned within the channel 26. Next, the lever arm
50 is rotated away from the base 6 (counterclockwise as shown in
FIG. 2), which engages a feed pawl 78 associated with a proximal
end 82 of the lever arm 50 onto a tooth face 86. Further motion of
the lever arm 50 will feed the strap 34 into the buckle 2. Once the
lever arm is released, the strap 34 is secured relative to buckle 2
by the lock 54. Complete release of the strap 34 relative to the
buckle 2 is achieved by depressing a release button 62 associated
with the lock 54 which rotates the locking pawl 70 away from the
teeth 58 and removes all obstructions to relative motion of the
strap 34 relative to the buckle 2. Alternatively, depressing the
lever arm 50 towards the base 6 will incrementally release of the
strap 54 relative to the buckle 2, which will be described in
further detail below.
[0039] FIG. 4 is an exploded view of the buckle 2 showing the
primary components discussed above. Additionally, the lever spring
74 is shown that is positioned around the lever pin 46 wherein the
free ends of the spring 74 are associated with the frame 38. The
lever arm 50 is thus predisposed to return to its neutral position.
Similarly, the lock 54 is also biased by spring 90 such that the
locking pawl 70 is urged towards the strap. One of skill in the art
will appreciate that the lever arm 50 and the lock 54 may be biased
towards the base 6 in other ways such as by way of leaf springs,
magnets, etc., without departing from the scope of the invention.
Further, the lever arm 50 and the lock 54 may be resiliently
interconnected to the base and predisposed to return to a neutral
position when released. For example, the lock 54 and/or lever arm
50 may be molded or otherwise affixed to the base and be able to
resiliently deflect relative to the base when a force is applied
thereto and return to a neutral position adjacent to the base when
such force is released.
[0040] FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the base 6 showing the
pin-receiving hubs 10 that extend therefrom. Furthermore, the base
6 includes a stop 94 that prevents the lever arm from rotating past
a predetermined point. The base 6 also includes the channel 26 that
receives and maintains the position of the strap 34. The location
of the strap 34 also maintained with strap guides 98 that are
located on either side of the channel 26.
[0041] FIG. 6 shows the frame, which may be made of a metallic
material. The frame includes a lock pin 42 and a lever pin 46. The
lock pin 42 and lever pin 46 receive corresponding springs as shown
in FIG. 4. The grooves 48 incorporated on the frame 38 receive the
ends of the spring.
[0042] FIG. 7 is a perspective view of the lock 54 of one
embodiment of the present invention. The lock 54 includes on one
end the locking pawl 70 and on the other end the release button 62.
The lock 54 also includes a projection 102 extending from a side
thereof. When the projection 102 is contacted by a corresponding
finger 106 of the lever arm 50 (see FIG. 8), the lock 54 will
rotate about the lock pin 42 which will lift the locking pawl 70
away from the strap.
[0043] FIG. 8 is a bottom perspective view of the lever arm 50 that
includes a lever arm aperture 110 that defines its rotational axis.
The proximal end 82 of the lever arm 50 includes the feed pawl 78
which contacts a strap tooth when the distal end 66 of the lever
arm 50 is rotated away from the strap. The distal end 66 of the
lever arm 50 includes an inner release pawl 114 and an outer
release pawl 118. Finally, a finger 106 is provided on an inner
surface 122 of the lever arm 50 that selectively contacts the
projection 102 of the lock 54 shown in FIG. 7 to rotate the locking
pawl away from the strap teeth to allow incremental release of the
strap.
[0044] Referring now to FIGS. 9-15, the operation of one embodiment
of the present invention is shown. More specifically, FIGS. 9 and
12 show the strap 34 locked relative to the buckle 2 wherein the
locking pawl 70 engages a face 86a of a strap tooth 58a. The strap
34 is thus unable to move relative to the buckle 2 in one
direction, i.e., the strap 34 cannot be loosened. To tighten the
strap 34, the lever arm 50 is rotated in a direction of Arrow A,
which engages the feed pawl 78 onto the tooth face 86 located aft
of tooth 58a that is currently engaged against the locking pawl 70.
Repeatedly allowing the lever arm 50 to return to its neutral
position and rotating the lever arm 50 in the direction of Arrow A
will tighten the strap 34 in a ratcheting fashion. Once the lever
arm 50 is released, its associated spring 74 will return it to the
neutral position as shown in FIG. 9.
[0045] FIG. 10 shows the locking pawl 70 rotated away from the
teeth 58 of the strap 34. More specifically, when pressure is
applied to the lock release button 62 in the direction of Arrow B,
the lock 54 will rotate about the locking pin 42, which will move
the locking pawl 70 out of engagement from tooth 58a. As all
obstructions are removed, the strap 34 will be able to remove
freely with respect to the buckle 2. Due to the spring-biased
nature of the lock 54, removal of pressure from the release button
62 will return the locking pin against the strap 34 and eventually
the locking pawl 70 will engage the face 86b of a tooth 58b that is
spaced from the tooth 58a to which the locking pawl 70 was
originally engaged.
[0046] FIG. 11 illustrates how the strap 34 is released
incrementally relative to the buckle. Here, when pressure as shown
by Arrow C is applied to the distal end 66 of the lever arm 50, the
lever arm 50 will rotate about the lever pin 46. The finger 106
will eventually contact the projection 102 of the lock 54, thereby
rotating the lock 54 in a direction shown by Arrow D, which is
similar to the rotation imparted when the release button 62 is
depressed. The sloped face 126 (see FIGS. 12-15) of the release
pawls 114 and 118 will interact with the slope faces 130 of the
teeth 58 to incrementally urge the strap 34 in the direction of
Arrow E which loosens the strap 34 incrementally. Once the pressure
indicated by Arrow C is released, the release pawls 114 and 118
will disengage the teeth 58, wiggling of the user's foot will cause
the strap to loosen, and the locking pawl 70 to fall into contact
with the face 86c of an adjacent tooth 58c. Repeatedly performing
the action of pressing down on the distal portion 66 of the lever
arm 50 will incrementally loosen the strap one tooth at a time
which corresponds to the pitch (P) of the strap teeth. The release
pawls 114 and 118 also prevent substantive movement of the strap 34
when the locking pawl 70 is displaced. More specifically, the
release pawl face 134 will contact the nearest tooth face 86 as
shown in FIG. 15 and prevent complete release of the strap from the
buckle when the locking pawl is disengaged.
[0047] Referring now specifically to FIGS. 12-15, the mechanics of
the incremental release are described in further detail. Initially,
the distal end 66 of the lever arm 50 is spaced from the strap 34.
The distal end 66 includes the outer release pawl 118 and inner
release pawl 114, each having a face 134 and a sloped surface 130.
Similarly, the teeth 58 of the strap 34 includes a face 86 and a
sloped surface 126. As shown in FIG. 12, the locking pawl 70 is
engaged onto the face 86a of a tooth, which prevents motion of the
strap 34 relative to the buckle 2 in one direction.
[0048] As the distal end 66 is moved towards the strap 34, as shown
in FIG. 13, the finger 106 of the lever arm 50 contacts the
protrusion 102 of the lock 54, thereby moving the locking pawl 70
away from the face 86a of the tooth to which it was engaged.
Further motion of the distal end 66 towards the strap 34 will
engage the tips 138 of the release pawls 114 and 118 onto the
sloped surfaces 130 of a corresponding strap teeth 58. This contact
will incrementally force the strap 34 in the direction of Arrow E,
thereby loosening the strap, a fraction of a tooth width (W). That
is, as shown in FIGS. 14 and 15, once the strap 34 moves
incrementally along Arrow E, the locking pawl 70 will be positioned
near or rest on the upper portion of the tooth 58a. As there is no
obstruction to further movement of the strap 34 relative to the
buckle 2, the strap 34 will further move along Arrow E as shown in
FIG. 15. Eventually, however, the release pawl faces 134 will
contact at least one face 86c of another tooth 58c, which will stop
relative motion along Arrow E. Once the pressure is removed from
the distal end 66, the lever arm 50 will return to its neutral
position as shown in FIG. 14, thereby allowing the locking pawl 70
to drop into engagement with the face 86c of a tooth 58c adjacent
to the tooth 58a to which it was originally engaged. Thus
incremental release of the strap is provided. Again, repeatedly
pressing down on the distal end 66 of the lever arm 50 will release
the strap 34 one tooth 58 at a time.
[0049] FIG. 16 shows the buckle 2 of one embodiment of the present
invention incorporated onto a shoe 142. One skilled in the art will
appreciate that such configuration is easy to use such that the
user can simply bend down and tighten the strap 34 by rotating the
lever arm 50, if needed. Furthermore, pressing on the lever arm 66
and/or release button 62 will release the strap relative to the
buckle and loosen the shoe incrementally or completely.
[0050] While various embodiments of the present invention have been
described in detail, it is apparent that modifications and
alterations of those embodiments will occur to those skilled in the
art. However, it is to be expressly understood that such
modifications and alterations are within the scope and spirit of
the present invention, as set forth in the following claims.
Further, the invention(s) described herein is capable of other
embodiments and of being practiced or of being carried out in
various ways. In addition, it is to be understood that the
phraseology and terminology used herein is for the purpose of
description and should not be regarded as limiting. The use of
"including," "comprising," or "having" and variations thereof
herein is meant to encompass the items listed thereafter and
equivalents thereof as well as additional items.
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