Strap tightening system using a buckle with automatic locking of tightening positions

Abstract

Strap tightening system by means of a buckle comprising a strap (1), having notches (7) forming a first rack (9) and defining different tightening positions according to a direction of advancement (13) and a buckle (3), having a tightening lever (5), movable in rotation to move it from one notch to the next and having a locking lever (19), capable of locking it relative to the strap (1) in one of the tightening positions. According to the invention, the strap (1) is provided with notches (8), opposing the direction of advancement (13) and forming a second rack (10), with which the locking lever (19) is engaged in a locking position and opposite to which it is disengaged in an unlocking position, which is deduced from the locking position by a rotation (R-), controlled by and in the opposite direction to a rotation (R+) of the tightening lever (5), moving the loop (3) from one notch (7) of the first rack (9) to the next.

Description

Title of the invention: System for tightening a strap using a buckle with automatic locking of the tightening positions

[0001] The invention relates to a system for tightening a strap by means of a buckle comprising a strap, provided with notches forming a first rack and defining different tightening positions, according to a direction of advancement and a buckle, provided with a tightening lever, movable in rotation to move it from one notch to the next and provided with a locking lever, capable of locking it relative to the strap in one of the tightening positions.

[0002] Such a system, more particularly used to tighten a boot in a snowboard binding, is disclosed by document WO 2007 / 112125. The direction of advancement corresponds to the tightening of the boot in the snowboard binding. The locking lever makes it possible to maintain the tightening position desired by the user, as long as the tightening lever is not actuated to unlock the buckle. In particular, the buckle does not risk exceeding the selected notch and further tightening the strap when the boot is removed from the binding. However, the locking lever is here an integral part of the tightening lever and thus serves as a means of locking the buckle in the direction of advancement as well as in the opposite direction. In fact, the locking lever is controlled in the locking position, by a rotation in the same direction as that of the tightening lever controlling the buckle in one of the tightening positions.In addition, the locking position is obtained by an increase in rotation compared to the rotation of the tightening lever which is useful for moving the buckle from one notch to the next, along the strap. Note that an anti-loosening lever allows the user to tighten the boot by one notch, without risking losing the tightening obtained at the previous notch.

[0003] Document US 5,745,959 discloses a system for tightening a boot in a snowboard binding, in which a release lever, movable about a rotation axis fixed relative to the buckle, controls the rotation of an anti-loosening lever to disengage it from the notches of the first rack. To allow this rotation, the tightening lever is movable about a rotation axis forming an articulation, movable relative to the buckle, with the release lever.

[0004] One of the aims of the invention is to modify the clamping system described in the introduction, with a view to allowing the clamping lever to control the locking lever differently.

[0005] To this end, the invention relates to a system for tightening a strap by means of a buckle comprising a strap, provided with notches, forming a first rack and defining different tightening positions according to a direction of advancement and a buckle, provided with a tightening lever, movable in rotation to move it from one notch to the next and provided with a locking lever, capable of locking it relative to the strap in one of the tightening positions, characterized in that the strap is provided with notches, opposing the direction of advancement and forming a second rack with which the locking lever is engaged in a locking position and with respect to which it is disengaged in an unlocking position, which is deduced from the locking position by a rotation, controlled by and in the opposite direction to a rotation of the tightening lever, moving the buckle from one notch of the first rack to the next.

[0006] Thus, the locking and unlocking positions are automatically controlled by simply rotating the tightening lever used to move the buckle from one notch to the next along the strap.

[0007] According to a first embodiment of the invention, the locking lever also serves as a release lever for disengaging a lever for preventing the notches from loosening from the first rack. According to a first variant, the locking and release lever is movable about an axis of rotation, fixed relative to the buckle while the tightening lever is movable about an axis of rotation, housed in an oblong opening of the buckle. It is also provided, according to a second variant, that the locking and release lever is movable about an axis of rotation fixed relative to the buckle while the tightening lever is movable about an axis of rotation forming an articulation, movable relative to the buckle, with the locking and release lever.

[0008] According to a second embodiment of the invention, the locking lever is distinct from a release lever capable of disengaging an anti-loosening lever from the notches of the first rack while the tightening lever is movable around an axis of rotation forming an articulation, movable relative to the loop, with the release lever and exerts pressure on the locking lever in the locking position.

[0009] Other advantages of the invention are set out below by the description of different embodiments illustrated by the drawings.

[0010] [Fig-1] is an exploded view of a first embodiment of the invention, according to a first variant.

[0011] [Fig.2] is a sectional view showing the first variant of the first mode of realization lisation, the loop being in a locking position, in the direction of advancement and in the opposite direction.

[0012] [Fig.3] is a sectional view showing the first variant of the first mode of rea lisation, the buckle being in an unlocked position in the direction of advancement.

[0013] [Fig.4] is a sectional view showing the first variant of the first mode of realization lisation, the buckle being in an unlocking position in the opposite direction to the direction of advancement.

[0014] [Fig.5] is an exploded view of a second variant of the first embodiment of the invention.

[0015] [Fig.6] is a sectional view showing the second variant of the first embodiment, the buckle being in a locking position, in the direction of advancement and in the opposite direction.

[0016] [Fig.7] is a sectional view showing the second variant of the first mode of realization lisation, the buckle being in an unlocked position in the direction of advancement.

[0017] [Fig.8] is a sectional view showing the second variant of the first embodiment, the buckle being in an unlocked position in the opposite direction to the direction of advancement.

[0018] [Fig.9] is an exploded view of a second embodiment of the invention.

[0019] [Fig. 10] is a sectional view showing the second embodiment, the buckle being in a locking position, in the direction of advancement and in the opposite direction.

[0020] [Fig. 11] is a sectional view showing the second embodiment, the buckle being in an unlocked position in the direction of advancement.

[0021] [Fig. 12] is a sectional view showing the second embodiment, the buckle being in an unlocked position in the direction opposite to the direction of advancement.

[0022] It should be noted that in the following description, the same element bears the same reference in one or other of the figures.

[0023] A system for tightening a strap by means of a buckle comprises a strap 1 and a buckle 3. The strap 1 is provided with notches 7, forming a first rack 9 and defining different tightening positions according to a direction of advancement 13. The buckle 3 is provided with a tightening lever 5, movable in rotation to move it from one notch to the next and provided with a locking lever 19, capable of locking it relative to the strap 1 in one of the tightening positions.

[0024] The loop 3 comprises a base 21 and two sides 23 provided with an opening 26 for the passage of the rotation axis 33 of the locking lever 19.

[0025] The tightening lever 5 comprises teeth 6 for engaging with the notches 7 of the strap 1 and thus moving the buckle 3 from notch to notch, in the direction of advance 13. The direction of advance 13 is defined by the inclination of the sliding ramps 11 of the notches 7. In the illustration figures, it is marked by an arrow pointing from right to left, the sliding ramps 11 being inclined in such a way as to rise from right to left relative to the strap 1.

[0026] According to the invention, the strap 1 is provided with notches 8, opposing the direction of advancement 13 and forming a second rack 10, with which the locking lever 19 is engaged in a locking position and with respect to which it is disengaged in an unlocking position, which is deduced from the locking position by a rotation R-, controlled by- and in the opposite direction to- a rotation R+ of the clamping lever 5, moving the loop 3 from one notch 7 of the first rack 9 to the next.

[0027] The first rack 9 and the second 10 are preferably parallel. The notches 8 of the latter oppose the direction of advancement 13, forming a stop at the location of the sliding ramps 11 of the notches 7 of the first rack 9. This stop is for example obtained by an inverted inclination of the sliding ramps 12 of the notches 8 of the second rack 10 relative to the sliding ramps 11 of the notches 7 of the first rack 9. In the figures, the sliding ramps 12 of the second rack 10 are thus inclined in such a way as to rise from left to right relative to the strap 1. The second rack 10 can be interposed between two rows of notches 7 forming the first rack 9 or can form a strap edge while the first rack 9 forms an opposite strap edge.

[0028] The system comprises an anti-loosening lever 15 known per se, movable about a rotation axis 17 fixed relative to the loop 3. The two sides 23 of the loop 3 are thus provided with openings 25 for the passage of the rotation axis 17 around which a return spring 29 is mounted. A release lever is also provided to disengage the anti-loosening lever 17 from the notches 7 of the first rack 9. The rotation allowing the anti-loosening lever 15 to be disengaged is controlled by a rotation in the opposite direction of the release lever, by means of a support 35 exerting a force on a corresponding support 40 of the anti-loosening lever 15.

[0029] According to the first embodiment, the locking lever 19 also serves as a release lever to disengage the anti-release lever 15 from the notches 7 of the first rack 9.

[0030] According to the first variant of the first embodiment, the locking and loosening lever 19 is movable around an axis of rotation 33, fixed relative to the buckle 3. The tightening lever 5 is movable around an axis of rotation 16, housed in an oblong opening 27 provided on the two sides 23 of the buckle 3. Said axis 16 is movable against a return spring 31 mounted around its axis of rotation 16. The oblong shape of the opening 27 makes it possible to accommodate a variation in distance between the axis of rotation 16 and the strap 1, due to the engagement of the teeth 6 of the tightening lever 5 in the notches 7 of the first rack 9, during the rotation R+ moving the buckle 3 from one notch 7 to the next. Note that the locking and releasing lever 19 is movable against a return spring 30 mounted around its rotation axis 33.

[0031] According to the second variant of the first embodiment, the locking and loosening lever 19 is movable around a rotation axis 33 fixed relative to the loop 3 while the tightening lever 5 is movable around a rotation axis 18 forming an articulation, movable relative to the loop, with the locking and loosening lever 19. loosening. The clamping lever 5 is articulated to the locking and loosening lever 19 against a return spring 32 mounted on the rotation axis 18 forming the articulation.

[0032] According to the second embodiment, the locking lever 19 is distinct from a release lever 37, capable of disengaging the anti-loosening lever 15 from notches 7 of the first rack 9. The two sides 23 of the loop 3 are thus provided with an opening 28 for the passage of an axis of rotation 36 of the release lever 37. The clamping lever 5 is movable around an axis of rotation 38 forming an articulation, movable relative to the loop 3, with said release lever 37 and comprises a bearing 4 which carries the axis of rotation 38 and by which it exerts pressure on the locking lever 19 in the locking position. The pressure is controlled by the antagonistic effects of the return spring 32 mounted around the axis of rotation 38 and of the return spring 30 mounted around the axis of rotation of said lever 19.

[0033] The operating principle of the clamping system according to the invention is common to the two embodiments described above.

[0034] Figures 2, 6 and 10 show the tightening system where the buckle is in a locking position, in the direction of advance 13 and in the opposite direction. The locking in the direction opposite to the direction of advance 13 is due to the anti-loosening lever 15, teeth 22 of which are engaged with the notches 7 of the first rack 9 under the effect of the return spring 29. The locking in the direction of advance 13 is due to the locking lever 19, an extension 20 of which is engaged with one of the notches 8 of the second rack 10 under the effect of the return spring 30 or 32. In this locking position, the tightening lever 5 is in a rest position.

[0035] Figures 3, 7 and 11, the tightening lever 5 has been actuated by a user in a rotation R+, counterclockwise in the figures, around the axis of rotation 16, 18 or 38, to move the buckle 3 along the strap 1, in the different tightening positions defined by the notches 7 of the first rack 9. To allow the movement of the buckle 3 from one notch 7 to the next, the rotation R+ of the tightening lever 5 controls a rotation R- of the locking lever 19, in a direction of opposite rotation, clockwise in the figures. The rotation R- of the locking lever 19 allows its extension 20 to be disengaged from the notches 8 of the second rack 10. Thus, the buckle 3 can be moved in the direction of advancement 13 from one notch 7 of the first rack 9 to the next.

[0036] It should be noted that the supports 35 and 40 occupy, relative to the axis of rotation 33 and 17, respectively of the locking lever 19 when it also serves as a loosening lever and of the anti-loosening lever 15, angular positions such that the rotation of the clamping lever 5, necessary to move the loop 3 from one notch 7 of the first rack 9 to the next, remains insufficient to disengage the anti-loosening lever 15. The same applies to the angular position of the support 35 relative to the axis of rotation 36 of the release lever 37, when the latter is separate from the locking lever 19.

[0037] When the user releases the tightening lever 5, the latter is returned by the return spring 31 or 32 mounted around its axis of rotation 16 or 18 while the locking lever 19 is returned by the return spring 30 mounted around its axis of rotation 33 or by the same spring 32 as the tightening lever 5. These returns place the two levers 5 and 19 in the locking position, in the direction of advancement 13. The anti-loosening lever having retained its locking position, the buckle 3 is also locked in the direction opposite to the direction of advancement. It can thus be seen that according to the invention, any tightening position of the buckle 3 is automatically locked relative to the strap 1 by simply returning the tightening lever 5 to its rest position.

[0038] Figures 4, 8 and 12 show the tightening system in an unlocked position in the opposite direction to the direction of advance 13, a position which allows the strap 1 to be loosened. The loosening lever, merged with the locking lever 19 or forming a separate lever 37, has been actuated by a user, rotating around its respective axis of rotation 33 or 36, to exert a force on the anti-loosening lever 15 via the supports 35 and 40. This results in a rotation of the anti-loosening lever 15, in the opposite direction to that of the loosening lever 19 or 37, which disengages it from the notches 7 of the first rack 9. While maintaining the force, the user can then move the buckle 3 in the opposite direction to the direction of advance 13 to loosen the strap 1.

[0039] The control of the rotation R- of the locking lever 19 by the rotation R+ of the clamping lever 5 is different depending on the embodiment of the invention.

[0040] According to the first variant of the first embodiment, [Fig. 3], the control is obtained by means of a rim 42 of an opening 44 of the tightening lever 5, serving as a sliding support for an arm 46 of the locking lever 19, extending through said opening 44. But according to the second variant of the first embodiment or according to the second embodiment, the control is obtained by the teeth 6 of the tightening lever 5, which are calculated to exert a force on the strap 1, capable of varying the distance of the axis of rotation of the tightening lever 5 relative to the base 21 of the buckle 3, on which the strap 1 rests.

[0041] In the particular case of the second variant of the first embodiment, [Fig.7], the axis of rotation 18 of the tightening lever 5 forming an articulation, movable relative to the buckle 3, with the locking lever 19, the force of the teeth 6 of the tightening lever 5 on the strap 1 causes the rotation R- of the locking lever 19 around its axis of rotation 33, fixed relative to the buckle 3.

[0042] In the particular case of the second embodiment, [Fig. 11], the axis of rotation 38 of the clamping lever 5 forming an articulation, movable relative to the loop 3, with the release lever 37, the force of the teeth 6 of the tightening lever 5 on the strap 1 causes a rotation of the release lever 37 around its axis of rotation 36, fixed relative to the buckle 3 and the rotation R- of the locking lever 19 around its axis of rotation 33, also fixed relative to the buckle 3, under the action of the return spring 30.

[0043] A second rack, interposed between two rows of notches forming a first rack, is adapted to a locking lever arranged in the center of the buckle while a second rack, forming a strap edge, is adapted to a locking lever arranged on one side. However, the embodiments described above can be adapted to one or the other of the ways of producing the second rack in the strap.

[0044] The invention applies to any strap and buckle tightening system and is not limited to the field of snowboard bindings.

Claims

Claims

1. System for tightening a strap by means of a buckle comprising a strap (1), provided with notches (7) forming a first rack (9) and defining different tightening positions according to a direction of advancement (13) and a buckle (3), provided with a tightening lever (5), movable in rotation to move it from one notch to the next and provided with a locking lever (19), capable of locking it relative to the strap (1) in one of the tightening positions, characterized in that the strap (1) is provided with notches (8), opposing the direction of advancement (13) and forming a second rack (10), with which the locking lever (19) is engaged in a locking position and with respect to which it is disengaged in an unlocking position, which is deduced from the locking position by a rotation (R-), controlled by and in the opposite direction to a rotation (R+) of the tightening lever (5), moving the loop (3) one notch (7) from the first rack (9) to the next.

2. Clamping system according to claim 1, characterized in that the locking lever (19) also serves as a release lever for disengaging an anti-loosening lever (15) from notches (7) of the first rack (9).

3. Clamping system according to claim 2, characterized in that the locking and loosening lever (19) is movable around an axis of rotation (33), fixed relative to the loop (3) while the clamping lever (5) is movable around an axis of rotation (16), housed in an oblong opening (27) of the loop (3).

4. Clamping system according to claim 2, characterized in that the locking and loosening lever (19) is movable around an axis of rotation (33) fixed relative to the loop (3) while the clamping lever (5) is movable around an axis of rotation (18) forming an articulation, movable relative to the loop, with the locking and loosening lever (19).

5. Clamping system according to claim 1, characterized in that the locking lever (19) is distinct from a loosening lever (37), capable of disengaging an anti-loosening lever (15) from notches (7) of the first rack (9) while the clamping lever (5) is movable around an axis of rotation (38) forming an articulation, movable relative to the loop (3), with said loosening lever (37) and exerts pressure on the locking lever (19) in the locking position.

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