Retaining strap
Patent Information
- Application Number
- EP2024717636
- Authority / Receiving Office
- EP · EP
- Patent Type
- Applications
- Current Assignee / Owner
- Priority Date
- 2023-04-05
- Filing Date
- 2024-04-03
- Publication Date
- 2026-01-07
AI Technical Summary
Existing tethers lack versatility and adjustability in size, limiting their range of applications and requiring additional components for equipment attachment.
The tether design incorporates multiple kink zones for defined folding, allowing for adjustable length and additional fastening points, with specific band segments and recesses enabling multiple configurations and secure connections.
This design enhances the tether's adaptability, allowing for adjustable sizes and additional equipment attachment, ensuring a secure and flexible solution for various uses.
Smart Images
Figure EP2024059082_10102024_PF_FP_ABST
Abstract
Description
[0001]ODM GmbH - 1 - 2023-134P-WO Official Ref. No.: April 3, 2024 Retaining strap The invention relates to a retaining strap comprising an end-side fastening section, a first holding section located opposite the end in the direction of a longitudinal axis, and a band section provided between the fastening section and the first holding section, wherein the band section has at least one recess and at least one bending zone which is less rigid and against which the band section can be folded in a defined manner, and the fastening section can be brought into contact with the holding section, wherein the fastening section has a bridge for inserting the first holding section and at least one retaining lug,which can be brought into positive engagement with the recess. The retaining strap can be formed from a one-piece plastic strip of identical material. A less rigid bending zone is achieved by a narrower and / or flatter design of the bending zone compared to an adjacent strap section. A detachable retaining strap is already known from US 10,130,162 B2. The retaining strap has an end-side fastening section for an opposite strap end. The fastening section has an insertion slot designed as a bridge for the strap end and a retaining lug arranged at the end, wherein the strap end has a retaining eyelet that can be brought into positive engagement with the retaining lug. The retaining lug also has a securing element designed as an undercut. A retaining strap is known from KR 1020080054948 A,which also has a bridge section at the end for an opposite band end. In addition, a retaining lug is provided which can be brought into positive engagement with one of several projections. The retaining band also has several projection-free tapers at which the retaining band can be inserted into a recess in a bridge, so that the taper can be placed against the retaining lug and brought into positive engagement with a projection adjacent to the taper. This prevents the entire retaining band from being inserted into the bridge. To open, the retaining band can be pulled further until a taper ODM GmbH - 2 - 2023-134P-WO Official Ref. No.: April 3, 2024 is at the level of the retaining lug. The retaining band can then be guided over this taper through the recess out of the bridge and the retaining band can be opened. In CN 000115258408 A a retaining strap is described that has several notches,which serve as an aid for manual shortening. By rotating the protruding part of the retaining strap around its longitudinal axis, shearing can be effected. JP 000S61119952 U describes several transverse grooves in the retaining strap, which are intended to ensure flexibility of the retaining strap. The invention is based on the object of designing and arranging a retaining strap in such a way that an expanded range of applications is possible. This object is achieved according to the invention in that the strap section has at least one further bending zone for defined folding of the strap section and in that at least n = 3 strap segments are provided, which are delimited at least on one side by a bending zone, wherein a) at least one strap segment is designed as a further retaining section and has at least one recess designed as a hole,which can be brought into positive engagement with the retaining lug of the fastening section and / or b) at least two band segments, each with at least one recess formed as a hole, are provided, which can be brought into contact with band segments by folding the band section in a bending zone, wherein the recesses of band segments brought into contact with one another are aligned and / or c) the band section between the nth band segment and the fastening section has a band zone with at least one recess formed as a hole, wherein at least one band segment can be brought into contact with the band zone by folding the band section in a bending zone, wherein at least one of the recesses of the band segment brought into contact with one another and the band zone are aligned. ODM GmbH - 3 - 2023-134P-WO Official Ref. No.: April 3, 2024 This achievesthat the retaining strap is adjustable in size. The bending zone is located in the middle between the holding section and the fastening section. When the retaining strap is closed, a folded bending zone can always be formed at the end of the retaining strap opposite the fastening section. Furthermore, the retaining strap is suitable for other purposes, such as attaching additional equipment, because the aligned recesses of strap segments brought into contact with one another can serve as attachment eyes for additional equipment. Thus, strap segments are provided that can be brought into contact with other strap segments or other holding sections, but cannot be brought into positive engagement with the retaining lug of the fastening section. In addition, further holding sections are provided,which can be brought into contact with other band segments or with further holding sections and whose recesses are aligned. It can also be advantageous if, starting from the first holding section, only each band segment after the next is designed as a further holding section and has at least one recess that can be brought into positive engagement with the holding lug. It can be provided that at most the (n-2)th band segment has a recess and is designed as a further holding section. Depending on the length of the holding band, two or more sizes of the holding band can thus be set. An intermediate size in which, in the closed state of the holding band, no folded bending zone can be formed at the end of the holding band opposite the fastening section, is thus avoided. This is because the folded holding band would then not be flat at the end because the end-side bath segment would be transverse. Furthermore, it can be advantageousif, starting from the first holding section, the next band segment and, starting from there, each band segment after that has at least one recess, whereby these band segments cannot be brought into positive engagement with the retaining lug. Thus, additional fastening eyes are available for attaching equipment. ODM GmbH - 4 - 2023-134P-WO Official Ref. No.: April 3, 2024 It can also be advantageous if the fastening section has at least one securing lug, whereby the respective holding section, in addition to the recess, has at least one recess that can be brought into positive engagement with the securing lug of the fastening section. The recess and the corresponding securing lug ensure a secure positive engagement between the recess and the retaining lug. Only holding sections have the recess,which can be brought into positive engagement with the securing lug of the fastening section. Other band segments (not holding sections) do not have this recess and cannot be brought into positive engagement with the securing lug of the fastening section. In this case, the recess formed as a hole cannot easily be brought into positive engagement with the retaining lug. Thus, an intermediate size in which, when the holding band is closed, no folded bending zone can be formed at the end of the holding band opposite the fastening section is avoided. This would mean that the folded holding band would not be flat at the end because the end-side bath segment would be positioned transversely. However, if desired, such an architecture is readily possible. For this, further or all band segments would have to be provided with a recess in addition to the recess. In this case, it can advantageously be providedthat the band section has a width B4, wherein in the region of the bending zone a smaller width B2 is provided, with B2 <= f B4 and 0.5 <= f <= 0.9 or 0.7 <= f <= 0.9. This makes it easier to form the bending zone. The smaller width B2 is symmetrical, provided on both sides of the band section with respect to a longitudinal axis. The resulting wave shape of the attached retaining band increases the grip in the direction of the longitudinal axis. Of particular importance for the present invention can be if the band section has a thickness D4, wherein in the region of the bending zone a reduced thickness D2 is provided, with D2 <= d D4 and 0.3 <= d <= 0.7 or 0.4 <= d <= 0.6. The reduced thickness D2 justifies a groove which is provided only on the upper side, ODM GmbH - 5 - 2023-134P-WO Official Ref.: 3 April 2024 thus on the side of the strip section,on which the bridge is arranged. This makes it easier to form the bending zone. In connection with the design and arrangement according to the invention, it can be advantageous if the retaining lug has a guide means for positioning the recess, which guide means acts in a direction N normal to the retaining strap. The guide means is designed as a chamfer. It can also be advantageous if the securing lug has a positive locking aid, which acts in a direction N normal to the retaining strap and prevents slipping out of the recess. The positive locking aid is designed as an undercut. Furthermore, it can be advantageous if the recess has a complementary positive locking aid, which acts in a direction N normal to the retaining strap and prevents the securing lug from slipping out. The complementary positive locking aid is designed as an undercut. Furthermore, it can be advantageousif the first retaining section has at least one chamfer. The chamfer forms a starting bevel and, after the retaining section has been inserted through the bridge, comes into contact with at least one retaining lug. The starting bevel comes into contact with an upper section of the retaining lug,so that one end of the strap easily slides onto and over the retaining lug on the retaining section. The retaining strap can thus be easily inserted into the bridge or the fastening section. Further advantages and details of the invention are explained in the patent claims and in the description and illustrated in the figures. It shows: Figure 1 a perspective view of the retaining strap; Figure 1a a side view of the retaining strap; Figure 2 a perspective view of the fastening section; Figure 3 a side view of the fastening section; ODM GmbH - 6 - 2023-134P-WO Official Ref. No.: April 3, 2024 Figure 4 a perspective view of the holding section; Figure 5 a longer retaining strap; Figure 6 the longer retaining strap closed. A retaining strap 1 according to the embodiment shown in Fig. 1 has an end fastening section 2 and an opposite end first holding section 3a.which forms the strap end 1.4. The retaining strap 1 has a top side 1.2 and a bottom side 1.3. Furthermore, a strap section 4 is provided between the fastening section 2 and the first holding section 3a. The strap section 4 has several recesses 3.1, 3.2 and two bending zones 4.1, 4.2, over which the strap section 4 can be folded. The fastening section 2 can be brought into contact with the holding section 3a. Furthermore, the fastening section 2 has a bridge 2.1 for inserting the first holding section 3a. Two retaining lugs 2.2 are provided behind the bridge 2.1.which can be brought into positive engagement with the respective recess 3.1. By folding in the bending zone 4.1, the first holding section 3a can be inserted into the bridge 2.1 and the recesses 3.1 can be brought into positive engagement with the holding lugs 2.2. The bending zone 4.1 is located, with reference to a longitudinal axis 1.1, in the middle between the recesses 3.1 and the holding lugs 2.2. The band section 4 has n = 5 band segments 4b, 4c with reference to the longitudinal axis 1.1. The band segments 4b have a special specification; they can be designed as a holding section 3a or a further holding section 3b. Starting from the holding section 3a as the first band segment 4b, the third band segment 4b is designed as a further holding section 3b and also has two recesses 3.1, which can be brought into positive engagement with the holding lug 2.2 of the fastening section 2. For this purpose, the holding band 1 is bent in the bending zone 4.2. In addition to the two holding sections 3a,3b, three band segments 4c are provided, each with two recesses 3.2, which are not designed as a holding section. By folding the band section 4 in the bending zone 4.1, the two band segments 4c can be brought into contact with each other, with the four recesses 3.2 being aligned. The band section 4 has a band zone 4a with at least one recess 3.2 between the nth band segment 4c and the fastening section 2. The second and third band segments 4c, 4b can be brought into contact with the band zone 4a by folding the band section 4 in one of the bending zones 4.1, 4.2, with at least one of the recesses 3.1, 3.2 of the band segments 4c, 4b brought into contact with each other and the band zone 4a being aligned. The fastening section 2 also has two securing lugs 2.3, with the respective holding section 3a, 3b having two recesses 3.3 in addition to the two recesses 3.1.which can be brought into positive engagement with the securing lug 2.3 of the fastening section 2. The band section 4 has a width B4, wherein in the area of the bending zones 4.1, 4.2 and between adjacent band segments 4b a smaller width B2 is provided, with B2 = 0.8 B4. According to Fig. 1a, the retaining band 1 according to Fig. 1 is shown in a side view. The band section 4 has a thickness D4, wherein in the area of the bending zones 4.1, 4.2 and between adjacent band segments 4b a reduced thickness D2 of approximately 1 mm is provided compared to the thickness D4 of approximately 2.3 mm. The applied factor d is therefore approximately 0.4. In addition, four other zones 4.3 are provided, which have a smaller width B2 of approximately 19 mm compared to the width B4 of approximately 23 mm. The applied factor f is therefore approximately 0.8. In the illustration of the fastening section 2 according to Fig. 2,Figure 3a shows the bridge 2.1 as well as the two retaining lugs 2.2 and the two securing lugs 2.3. The retaining lugs 2.2 each have a beveled guide 2.4 on their upper section 2.2a, which serves to insert the retaining section 3a. This lifts the retaining section 3a upwards in a direction N normal to the retaining band 1. Correspondingly, according to Figure 4, the first retaining section 3a has two bevels 3.6, which, after the retaining section 3a has been inserted into the bridge 2.1, come into contact with the two retaining lugs 2.2 or their bevel 2.4. The three other zones 4.3' also have a smaller thickness D2. In addition, the securing lugs 2.3 according to Fig. 2, 3 also have a form-locking aid 2.5 in the form of an undercut,which acts in a direction N normal to the retaining strap 1 and prevents it from slipping out of the recess 3.3. According to Fig. 4, the recess 3.3 has a corresponding positive locking aid 3.4 in the form of a chamfer. The chamfer 3.4 also acts in a direction N normal to the retaining strap 1 and prevents the securing lug 2.3 from slipping out. According to Fig. 4, the strap head 3 has its chamfer 3.6, which forms a lead-in slope for the respective retaining lug 2.2. According to Figs. 2 and 3, the retaining lugs 2.2 also have a positive locking aid 2.6 in the form of an undercut, which acts in a direction N normal to the retaining strap 1 and prevents it from slipping out of the recess 3.1. The embodiment shown in Fig. 5 comprises four holding sections 3a, 3b and nine band segments 4b, 4c as well as the band zone 4a. In addition to the bending zone 4.1, three further bending zones 4.2 are provided, so that all four holding sections 3a,3b can be brought into positive engagement with the fastening section 2. In addition, six other zones 4.3 are provided with at least a smaller width B2, so that the parts of the band section 4 brought into contact after folding are congruent. According to Fig. 6, the holding band 1 is folded in the bending zone 4.1, so that the band head 3 with the holding section 3a is in positive engagement with the fastening section 2 at the band foot. The recesses 3.1, 3.2 of the other band segments 4b, 4c and the band zone 4a, which are brought into contact with one another, are aligned. The five other zones 4.3 also have a smaller thickness D2. ODM GmbH - 9 - 2023-134P-WO Official Ref.: 3 April 2024 List of reference symbols 1 Retaining strap 1.1 Longitudinal axis 1.2 Top side 1.3 Bottom side 1.4 Strap end 2 Fastening section, strap foot 2.1 Bridge 2.2 Retaining lug 2.2a Upper section 2.3 Securing lug 2.4 Lead-in aid, chamfer 2.5 Form-locking aid, undercut 2.6 Form-locking aid,Undercut 3 Band head 3a Holding section 3b Further holding section 3.1 Recess 3.2 Recess 3.3 Cut-out 3.4 Form-locking aid, undercut 3.5 Web 3.6 Starting bevel, chamfer 4 Band section 4a Band zone 4b Band segment 4c Band segment 4.1 Kink zone 4.2 Further kink zone 4.3 Other zone Direction N,
Claims
AMENDED CLAIMS received by the International Bureau on 23 August 2024 (23.08.2024) 1. One-piece retaining strap (1) comprising an end-side fastening section (2), a first holding section (3a) opposite the end in the direction of a longitudinal axis (1.1), and a strap section (4) provided between the fastening section (2) and the first holding section (3a), wherein the strap section (4) has at least one recess (3.1) and at least one bending zone (4.1) which is less rigid and against which the strap section (4) can be folded in a defined manner, and the fastening section (2) can be brought into contact with the holding section (3a), wherein the fastening section (2) has on the upper side (1.2) a bridge (2.1) for inserting the first holding section (3a) and at least one holding lug (2.2) which can be brought into positive engagement with the recess (3.1), characterized in that the strap section (4) has at least one further Bend zone (4.2) for defined folding and that at least n = 3 band segments (4b, 4c) are provided, which are delimited at least on one side by a bending zone (4.1, 4.2), wherein a) at least one band segment (4b) is designed as a further holding section (3b) and has at least one recess (3.1) designed as a hole, which can be brought into positive engagement with the holding lug (2.2) of the fastening section (2) and and / or b) at least two band segments (4c), each with at least one recess (3.2) designed as a hole, which can be brought into contact with the upper side (1.2) of the band segments (4b, 4c) by folding the band section (4) in a bending zone (4.1, 4.2), wherein the recesses (3.2) of band segments (4c) brought into contact with one another are aligned and / or c) the band section (4) between the n-th band segment (4b) and the fastening section (2) has a band zone (4a) with at least one recess (3.2) designed as a hole, wherein at least one band segment (4b, 4c) is folded by folding the band section (4) in a bending zone (4.1, 4.2) with the upper side (1.2) against the upper side (1.2) of the. Band zone (4a) can be brought into contact, wherein at least one of the recesses (3.1, 3.2) of the band segment (4b, 4c) and band zone (4a) brought into contact with each other are aligned.
2. Retaining band (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that starting from the first holding section (3a), only each band segment (4b) next but one is designed as a further holding section (3b) and has at least one recess (3.1) which can be brought into positive engagement with the holding lug (2.2).
3. Retaining band (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that starting from the first holding section (3a), the next band segment (4c) and each band segment after that (4c) has at least one recess (3.2), wherein these band segments (4c) cannot be brought into positive engagement with the retaining lug (2.2).
4. Retaining strap (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the fastening section (2) has at least one securing lug (2.3), wherein the respective holding section (3a, 3b) has, in addition to the recess (3.1), at least one cutout (3.3) which can be brought into positive engagement with the securing lug (2.3) of the fastening section (2).
5. Retaining strap (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the strap section (4) has a width B4, wherein in the region of the bending zone (4.1) a smaller width B2 is provided, with B2 <= f B4 and 0.5 <= f <= 0.
9.
6. Retaining strap (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the strap section (4) has a thickness D4, wherein in the region of the bending zone (4.1) a reduced thickness D2 is provided, with D2 <= d D4 and 0.3 <= d <= 0.
7.
7. Retaining strap (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the retaining lug (2.2) has an inlet aid (2.4) for inserting the holding section (3a), which acts in a direction N normal to the retaining strap (1).
8. Retaining strap (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the retaining lug (2.2) has a positive locking aid (2.6) which acts in a direction N normal to the retaining strap (1) and prevents slipping out of the recess (3.1).
9. Retaining strap (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the securing nose (2.3) has a positive locking aid (2.5) which acts in a direction N normal to the retaining strap (1) and prevents slipping out of the recess (3.3).
10. Retaining strap (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the recess (3.3) has a positive locking aid (3.4) which acts in a direction N normal to the retaining strap (1) and prevents the securing nose (2.3) from slipping out.
11. Retaining strap (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the first retaining section (3a) has at least one bevel (3.6) which, after the insertion of the retaining section (3a) into the bridge (2.1), comes to bear against the at least one retaining lug (2.2).