U.S. patent application number 13/981973 was filed with the patent office on 2013-11-21 for device for avoiding an unintentional adjustment.
The applicant listed for this patent is Andreas Hortnagl. Invention is credited to Andreas Hortnagl.
Application Number | 20130305493 13/981973 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 45855411 |
Filed Date | 2013-11-21 |
United States Patent
Application |
20130305493 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Hortnagl; Andreas |
November 21, 2013 |
DEVICE FOR AVOIDING AN UNINTENTIONAL ADJUSTMENT
Abstract
A device (1) for avoiding an unintentional adjustment of a belt
(4) guided around at least one belt guide bar (2) of a buckle
component (3), wherein the device (1) includes a main body (5)
having a first contact surface (6) and additionally at least one
elastic body (7), preferably at least one spring tongue, having at
least one further contact surface (8). The elastic body (7)
preferably with a region (9) of the elastic body (7) spaced from
the further contact surface (8), is held directly or indirectly
against the main body (55) and the belt (4) can be clamped between
the first contact surface (56) and the further contact surface
(8).
Inventors: |
Hortnagl; Andreas; (Fulpmes,
AT) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
Hortnagl; Andreas |
Fulpmes |
|
AT |
|
|
Family ID: |
45855411 |
Appl. No.: |
13/981973 |
Filed: |
February 7, 2012 |
PCT Filed: |
February 7, 2012 |
PCT NO: |
PCT/AT2012/000020 |
371 Date: |
July 26, 2013 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
24/170 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A44B 11/12 20130101;
A44B 11/14 20130101; Y10T 24/4016 20150115 |
Class at
Publication: |
24/170 |
International
Class: |
A44B 11/12 20060101
A44B011/12 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Feb 15, 2011 |
AT |
A 195/2011 |
Claims
1. A device for avoiding an unintentional adjustment of a belt
guided around at least one belt guide bar of a buckle component,
the device comprising a basic body with a first contact surface and
at least one elastic body with at least one further contact
surface, the elastic body is held directly or indirectly on the
basic body and the belt is clamped between the first contact
surface and the further contact surface.
2. The device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the device is provided
exclusively for clamping the belt.
3. The device as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a sequence
of elevations and depressions arranged between adjacent elevations
for engagement in the belt are arranged on at least one of the
first contact surface or the further contact surface.
4. The device as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a lever
body arranged pivotably on the basic body by a pivot pin, and the
elastic body is held on the basic body via the lever body.
5. The device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the elastic body is
fastenable to the basic body by a connection which is closeable and
releasable without a tool.
6. The device as claimed in claim 4, the lever body has, in
addition to the pivot pin or arranged at a spacing from the pivot
pin, at least one latching connection part which, in a clamped
position of the lever body, is latchable with a counter-latching
connection part of the basic body.
7. The device as claimed in claim 6, wherein at least one of the
lever body or the basic body has, for at least one of closing or
releasing the latching connection, at least one hand-operated
release element between latching connection part and
counter-latching connection part.
8. The device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the basic body has or
is a U-shaped profile, the first contact surface is part of a base
portion of the U-shaped profile situated between two projecting
lateral legs of the U-shaped profile.
9. An arrangement comprising at least one buckle component which
has at least one connection device for releasable connection to
another buckle component, at least one belt which is guided around
at least one belt guide bar of the buckle component, at least one
device as claimed in claim 1, and at least a first portion of the
belt and at least a further portion of the belt are clamped between
the first contact surface and the further contact surface.
10. The arrangement as claimed in claim 9, wherein the portions of
the belt bear directly against one another in a region between the
contact surfaces with sides thereof facing away from the contact
surfaces against which they bear directly in each case.
11. The device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the at least one
elastic body includes at least one spring tongue with the at least
one further contact surface.
12. The device as claimed in claim 1, wherein a region of the
elastic body that is spaced from the further contact surface is
held directly or indirectly on the basic body.
13. The device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the device is free
from other connection devices.
14. The device as claimed in claim 3, wherein the sequence of
elevations comprises-studs or webs.
15. The device as claimed in claim 4, wherein the lever body with
the elastic body-is fastenable to the basic body by a connection
which is closeable and releasable without a tool via a latching
connection.
Description
BACKGROUND
[0001] The present invention relates to a device for avoiding an
unintentional adjustment of a belt guided around at least one belt
guide bar of a buckle component.
[0002] A wide variety of types of harnesses for a wide variety of
applications are known in the prior art. Thus, such arrangements of
belts or harnesses are used in an appropriate embodiment for
securing persons, for example as a climbing belt or as a harness
for various aviation sports but also when working at exposed
positions. It is also known practice to use appropriately designed
harnesses for fastening and securing loads, to name only a few
examples. In order to be able to releasably connect the belts of
the harnesses to one another, it is known practice to use a wide
variety of types of buckles. The buckles usually have two or more
buckle components which can be fastened releasably on or to one
another via appropriate connection devices and together form the
buckle. The belts of the harnesses are frequently fastened
adjustably to the buckles. For this purpose, there are a wide
variety of design forms in the prior art. If no adjustment of the
belt is required, the belts can be firmly stitched to the buckles.
However, it is frequently expedient to provide an adjustment
possibility for the belt. In these cases, the belts are usually
guided around one or more belt guide bars of a buckle component. In
particular in the case of the last-mentioned embodiments, the
problem frequently occurs of an undesired adjustment of the belt
tension, that is to say in particular a loosening of the belt.
Harnesses are in the rarest of cases actually firmly tightened by
the user. As a rule, the unwanted adjustment occurs under weak
tension or even no tension on the belt if the user or the load
moves. The result is that the belts have to be frequently
re-tensioned.
[0003] In order to prevent an unwanted adjustment of the belt,
devices of the generic type are known per se in the prior art.
Velcro tapes are frequently used in order to avoid an undesired
adjustment. However, Velcro tapes have the disadvantage that they
slowly lose their functionality after repeated use.
SUMMARY
[0004] It is therefore the object to provide a device of the
generic type which can be operated simply and reliably used
permanently.
[0005] This is achieved according to the invention in that the
device has a basic body with a first contact surface and
additionally at least one elastic body, preferably at least one
spring tongue, with at least one further contact surface, wherein
the elastic body, preferably with a region of the elastic body
spaced from the further contact surface, is held directly or
indirectly on the basic body, and the belt can be clamped between
the first contact surface and the further contact surface.
[0006] The device according to the invention allows the belt, with
its sections preferably lying doubly or multiply above one another,
to be clamped between the first contact surface of the basic body
and the further contact surface of the elastic body, with the
result that an unwanted adjustment of the belt is prevented, in
particular even when it is not under tension. The elastic body can
be designed, for example, as a spring, tongue or spring lug. It can
be fastened or held directly on the basic body. However, the
elastic body can also be fastened or held indirectly on the basic
body with the interposition of another component. An essential
advantage of the use of at least one elastic body is that the
spring action of the elastic body makes it possible to cover a
large range of belt thicknesses with a single device.
[0007] The device according to the invention is itself generally
not a buckle component of a buckle but an additional component
which is mounted on the belt in addition to the buckle component
and as an add-on part prevents an adjustment of the belt on the
buckle component. A buckle in this connection is understood to mean
a body formed of two or more buckle components, wherein the buckle
components can be releasably fastened to one another by means of
appropriate connection devices. Such buckles are known in a
multiplicity of design forms in the prior art. Usually, a buckle
component is mounted on each of the belts to be connected to one
another and the belts are then connected to one another by
connecting the buckle components. In their interconnected state,
the buckles also serve to transmit tensile forces from one belt to
the other belt.
[0008] In preferred embodiments of the device according to the
invention, by contrast, it is provided that the device according to
the invention is provided exclusively for clamping the belt. It is
advantageously free from other connection devices. A device
according to the invention is thus advantageously not a buckle
component which is provided for connecting to another buckle
component. Thus, devices according to the invention are generally
not provided to transmit tensile forces from one belt to another
belt.
[0009] Devices according to the invention can be embodied in
different widths and be adapted to the respective width of the
belt. However, it is also possible to design a device according to
the invention such that belts of different width can be secured
against an undesired adjustment.
[0010] For the purpose of avoiding the belt slipping through
between the first contact surface and the second contact surface,
it is advantageous if a sequence of elevations, preferably studs or
webs, and depressions arranged between adjacent elevations, for,
preferably positive, engagement in the belt is or are arranged,
preferably in each case, on the first contact surface and/or the
further contact surface. Consequently, the belt is secured not only
by the elastic forces of the elastic body but also by the
engagement of the elevations in the belt.
[0011] In order to allow a desired adjustment of the belt, for
example when donning or removing the harness, with minimum effort,
preferred embodiments of the invention provide that the device has
a lever body which is arranged pivotably on the basic body by means
of a pivot pin, wherein the elastic body is held, preferably
exclusively, on the basic body via the lever body. In these cases,
the elastic body is thus held on the basic body indirectly, namely
via the lever body. The lever body can be pivoted back and forth
about the pivot pin between a closed or clamped position and an
open position. In the open position, adjusting the belt is possible
with little expenditure of force. In the closed or clamped
position, the belt is clamped in and secured against an unwanted
adjustment. Preferred embodiments of this type provide that the
lever body has, in addition to the pivot pin and/or arranged at a
spacing from the pivot pin, at least one latching connection part
which, in a clamped position of the lever body, can be latched with
a counter-latching connection part of the basic body. The lever
body is secured in the clamped position by means of the interaction
between latching connection part and counter-latching connection
part. If the lever body is to be pivoted into the open position,
latching connection parts and counter-latching connection parts can
be released from one another. For this purpose, it is advantageous
if the lever body and/or the basic body has, for closing and/or
releasing the latching connection, at least one hand-operated
release element between latching connection part and
counter-latching connection part. The release element provided can
be for example, a release lever which is pivotably arranged on the
basic body or on the lever body, preferably against an elastic
restoring force.
[0012] Preferred embodiments provide that the further contact
surface of the elastic body is at a smaller spacing from the pivot
pin than the latching connection part.
[0013] The lever body can be formed in one piece together with the
pivot pin, latching connection part and elastic body.
[0014] For the purpose of being able to simply retrofit devices
according to the invention on belts already mounted on
corresponding buckle components, preferred embodiments of the
invention provide that the elastic body, preferably the lever body
with the elastic body, can be fastened to the basic body by means
of a connection which can be closed and released without a tool,
preferably a latching connection. The pivot pin of the lever body
can be particularly preferably fastened to the basic body by means
of the connection, preferably latching connection, which can be
closed and released without a tool. This makes it possible first to
insert the belt into the basic body and then fasten the elastic
body or the lever body to the basic body. This makes it possible to
avoid having to thread the belt through between the two contact
surfaces. Particular preference is given here to latching
connections between the elastic body or the lever body and the
basic body.
[0015] Preferred embodiments of the invention provide that the
basic body has or is a U-shaped profile, wherein the first contact
surface is part of a base portion of the U-shaped profile situated
between two projecting lateral legs of the U-shaped profile. In
such embodiments, it can be provided that the counter-latching
connection parts and/or also the receptacles for the pivot pin of
the lever body are arranged on the lateral legs.
[0016] Apart from the device per se, the invention also relates to
an arrangement with at least one buckle component which has at
least one connection device for releasable connection to another
buckle component, and with at least one belt which is guided around
at least one belt guide bar of the buckle component, wherein the
arrangement additionally has at least one device according to the
invention and at least a first portion of the belt and at least a
further portion of the belt are clamped between the first contact
surface and the further contact surface. In this connection,
advantageous embodiments provide that the portions of the belt bear
directly against one another in the region between the contact
surfaces with their sides facing away from the contact surfaces
against which they bear directly in each case.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0017] Further features and details of preferred configurations of
the invention will be explained with reference to an exemplary
embodiment according to the invention represented in the figures,
in which:
[0018] FIGS. 1 to 3 show various views of an arrangement consisting
of buckle, belt and device according to the invention, wherein the
device according to the invention is in the closed or clamped
position;
[0019] FIGS. 4 to 6 show representations corresponding two FIGS. 1
to 3, but wherein the device is in the open position;
[0020] FIGS. 7 to 10 show various representations of the device per
se according to the invention used in FIGS. 1 to 6;
[0021] FIG. 11 shows a perspective representation of the basic body
of this exemplary embodiment; and
[0022] FIGS. 12 and 13 show representations of the lever body of
this exemplary embodiment.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0023] FIG. 1 shows, in a perspective representation, how two
buckle components 3 and 3' known per se are connected to one
another by means of an appropriate connection device 10 and 10'.
FIG. 2 shows a longitudinal section through the arrangement
according to FIG. 1 and FIG. 3, depicting the corresponding side
views. In the exemplary embodiment shown, a connection device 10 in
the form of a male extension is integrally formed on the buckle
component 3. The other buckle component 3' has, as corresponding
counterparts, connection devices 10' in the form of locking levers.
The locking levers 10' are used to fix the connection device 10,
with the result that the two buckle components 3' and 3 are fixedly
connected to one another and tensile forces on the belt 4 can be
transmitted via the buckle components 3 and 3' to a belt or other
object (not shown here) fastened to the buckle component 3'. To
release the two belts from one another, the locking levers of the
connection device 10' are actuated by hand, with the result that
the two buckle components 3 and 3' can be separated from one
another. All this is known per se and can be implemented according
to the prior art in a wide range of embodiments. In order to be
able to adjust the length of the harness, the belt 4 actually
represented is guided around the belt guide bar 2 on the buckle
component 3. As a rule, the belt guide bars 2 are displaceably
mounted on the buckle component 3 such that the belt 4 guided
around the belt guide bar is held clamped on the buckle component 3
by means of belt guide bar 2. However, this clamping action
generally only lasts for as long as corresponding tension is
present on at least one of the portions 20 or 21 of the belt 4. The
problem described at the outset with the unwanted adjustment of the
length of the belt 4 always occurs when the belt 4 or its portions
20 and 21 are not correspondingly loaded with tension. In that
case, the belt 4 can slip around the belt guide bar 2 and thus the
undesired adjustment can result. In order to prevent this, a device
1 according to the invention is now provided which is arranged in
addition to the buckle component 3 on the belt 4. The device
according to the invention allows the belt 4 to be clamped between
the first contact surface 6 of the basic body 5 and the further
contact surface 8 of the elastic body 7, with the result that an
unwanted adjustment of the belt 4 can no longer occur.
[0024] In FIGS. 1 to 3, the device 1 is in its clamped or closed
position in which the belt 4 is secured against an unwanted
adjustment in the stated manner. In FIGS. 4 to 6, the device 1 is
in the open position in which the belt 4 is not held clamped in the
device 1, and thus, if required, a desired adjustment can be
carried out. FIGS. 4 to 6 again depict a perspective
representation, a longitudinal section and a side view. In FIG. 7,
the device 1 is represented in the open position without belt 4 and
without buckle. FIG. 8 shows a side view of the device 1 in the
clamped or closed position. In FIG. 11, the basic body 5 of the
device 1 is represented as being detached from the other
components. FIGS. 12 and 13 show the lever body 14 as being
detached from other representations. FIG. 12 shows a side view and
FIG. 13 shows a perspective representation from below.
[0025] In the exemplary embodiment shown, the elastic body 7 is
designed as a spring tongue or elastic clamping lug. It is held not
directly but indirectly on the basic body 5 via the lever body 14.
Of course, other embodiments of the invention are also conceivable,
for example in which the elastic body 7 is fastened directly on the
basic body 5. The elastic body 7 has the further contact surface 8.
The first contact surface 6 is provided as a counterpart on the
basic body 5. In the clamped position, the belt 4 is clamped
between the first contact surface 6 and the further contact surface
8. For the purpose of achieving a most effective possible clamping
action, in the exemplary embodiment shown both the first contact
surface 6 and the further contact surface 8 are in each case
equipped with a sequence of elevations 11 and depressions 12
arranged between adjacent elevations 11. In the example shown, the
elevations 11 are studs. Instead, however, it is also possible to
use webs or the like. In the exemplary embodiment shown, the
elastic body 7 is fastened to the lever body 14 with the region 9
opposite the further contact surface 8. In the variant represented,
the lever body 14 is designed in one piece. In other words, the
pivot pin 13, the release elements 17, the latching connection
parts 15 and the elastic body 7 are connected to one another in one
piece. Such parts can be produced, for example, from plastic, for
example by injection molding. The basic body 5 can also be
correspondingly formed from plastic. However, other materials such
as, for example, metal are also conceivable for both parts. In the
exemplary embodiment shown, the lever body 14 is equipped with axle
bolts which form the pivot pin 13. The pivot pin 13 or the stated
axle bolts are pivotably mounted in a corresponding cutout in the
basic body 18.
[0026] As already mentioned at the outset, it is expedient for the
purpose of simple retrofittability if the axle bolts or the pivot
pin 13 are or is mounted such that it can be latched in and out of
the corresponding pivot pin receptacle of the basic body 5 in a
non-destructive manner. In the already-mounted position shown, the
lever body 14 can in any case be pivoted about the pivot pin 13
with respect to the basic body 5 between an open position and a
clamped or closed position. In order to secure the lever body 14 in
the clamped or closed position, in the exemplary embodiment shown
an additional latching connection is provided between the pivotable
lever body and basic body 5. This is formed by the latching
connection parts 15 of the lever body 14 and the counter-latching
connection parts 16 of the basic body 5. In the exemplary
embodiment shown, the latching connection parts 15 are projecting
latching noses and the counter-latching connection parts 16 are
corresponding cutouts for receiving these latching noses in the
lateral legs 18 of the basic body 5. However, this is not
absolutely necessary. Appropriate latching connections can of
course also be embodied differently. In order to allow the most
advantageous lever forces possible to act, it is preferably
provided that the further contact surface 8 is situated closer to
the pivot pin 13 than the latching connection parts 15. In order to
be able to release the latching connection between latching
connection part 15 and counter-latching connection part 16 and, if
appropriate, also to close it, release elements 17 which can be
actuated by hand are provided on the lever body 14 of this
exemplary embodiment. In the exemplary embodiment shown, these
release elements are designed as release levers which are arranged
such that they can be pivoted against an elastic restoring force.
FIG. 9 shows the pivoted-out position of these release elements 17,
in which the latching connection parts 15 are released from the
counter-latching connection parts 16. In this position, the lever
body can be pivoted from the clamped or closed position according
to FIG. 8 into the open position according to FIG. 7. When pivoting
back from the open position into the clamped position, the latching
connection parts 15 advantageously latch by themselves into the
counter-latching connection parts 16 as soon as the lever body 14
is pivoted correspondingly far with respect to the basic body
15.
[0027] FIG. 10 shows a representation in which the latching
connection parts 15 are latched into the counter-latching
connection parts 16.
[0028] FIG. 11 shows particularly clearly that the basic body 5 of
this exemplary embodiment is designed as a U-shaped profile. The
first contact surface 6 with the elevations 11 and depressions 12
is situated on the base portion 19 of this U-shaped profile. The
counter-latching connection parts 16 and the pin receptacles for
the pivot pin 13 are arranged in the two lateral legs 18 projecting
from the central base portion 19.
KEY TO THE REFERENCE NUMBERS
[0029] 1 Device
[0030] 2 Belt guide bar
[0031] 3, 3' Buckle component
[0032] 4 Belt
[0033] 5 Basic body
[0034] 6 First contact surface
[0035] 7 Elastic body
[0036] 8 Further contact surface
[0037] 9 Region
[0038] 10, 10' Connection device
[0039] 11 Elevation
[0040] 12 Depression
[0041] 13 Pivot pin
[0042] 14 Lever body
[0043] 15 Latching connection part
[0044] 16 Counter-latching connection part
[0045] 17 Release element
[0046] 18 Lateral leg
[0047] 19 Base portion
[0048] 20 First portion
[0049] 21 Further portion
* * * * *