buckle

Abstract

A buckle (1) comprising one first buckle portion (2) and at least one second buckle portion (3), wherein the first buckle portion (2) has a first buckle base (4) and a receiving portion (5) formed in the first buckle base (4), and the second buckle portion (3) has a second buckle base (6) having an introduction portion (7) for introduction into the receiving portion (5) of the first buckle portion (2), and the first buckle portions (2) are additionally pivotably supported on the first buckle base (4). The locking device has two locking bodies (8) held in the receiving section (5), and when the lead-in part (7) is led into the receiving section (5), the locking bodies (8) are fixed in the receiving section (5) by at least one retaining surface (9) of each of the locking bodies (8) in the locked position, and the locking bodies (8) can be removed from the receiving section (5) in the unlocked position, and the locking bodies (8) are connected to each other by means of a spring element (10), which elastically preloads both of the locking bodies (8) in a direction toward the locked position.

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a buckle according to the preamble of claim 1 .

[0002] Such a buckle is known, for example, from EP 2713798. In such a buckle, the locking body not only serves to lock the lead-in part in the receiving part, but also to withstand a corresponding pulling force when the two buckle parts are pulled apart in the locked position.

[0003] Other types of buckles are shown in Figures 26 to 35 of EP 3581057. In these versions, the receiving part is rigid and hook-shaped, so that a lead-in part in the form of a barb, also rigid, is caught by this hook-shaped receiving part to absorb the pulling force when the buckle parts are pulled apart. In other words, in such buckles, the pulling force when the buckle parts are connected to each other is absorbed not by a movable part in the form of a locking body but by a fixed part or area molded into the corresponding buckle base.

[0004] Regardless of the differences mentioned above, it is specified that in all buckles of the above-mentioned type, the locking bodies are each elastically preloaded by means of a spring in the direction towards the locked position, with each locking body in the prior art being assigned its own spring.

[0005] The object of the invention is to make it possible to construct a buckle of the type mentioned at the outset from as few individual parts as possible.

[0006] To solve this problem, the present invention proposes a buckle as set forth in claim 1.

[0007] Therefore, given the type of buckle described at the beginning, it is specified that the locking bodies are connected to one another by means of a spring element, which elastically preloads both locking bodies in the direction toward the locked position.

[0008] Therefore, unlike the prior art, in the present invention, only one spring element is provided to elastically preload both locking bodies in the direction toward the locked position. It is further specified that the locking bodies are connected to each other using one spring element, or in other words, a common spring element. This significantly reduces the number of parts required to assemble the buckle. Instead of two individual locking bodies with their respective springs, in the present invention, the locking bodies together with the spring element form a single part, which significantly simplifies the assembly of the buckle according to the present invention.

[0009] In a particularly preferred embodiment, the spring elements are molded integrally into both locking bodies.

[0010] It is also preferably specified that each spring element acts on the respective locking body on the side of the respective locking body facing the respective restraining surface.

[0011] To enable particularly simple assembly, a highly preferred variant of the invention specifies that each of the locking bodies is pivotably supported on a pivot pin on the first buckle base, and that each of the pivot pins is supported so as to be resiliently displaceable. To configure the pivot pins so as to be resiliently displaceable, the pivot pins themselves may be resiliently displaceable. However, it is preferred that each of the pivot pins is supported on a respective spring tab and resiliently displaceable by the spring tab. In this case, each of the pivot pins may be resiliently supported on the first buckle base. However, a particularly preferred variant specifies that each of the pivot pins is resiliently supported on the respective locking body. In all these variants, both locking bodies together with the spring elements can be pushed far into the first buckle part or first buckle base for assembly in the buckle until the pivot pins resiliently lock into the locking body or first buckle base. This allows for a particularly simple assembly of this common component consisting of the locking body and the spring element in the first buckle part.

[0012] Each of the locking bodies preferably has an operating surface protruding from the first buckle base on the side of the locking body facing the respective holding surface for manually operating the locking body, which is configured in such a way that manual operation can be more easily performed by the fingers of the person using the buckle.

[0013] In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the spring element has a U-shaped bent region between the locking bodies. This allows, on the one hand, to achieve particularly good elasticity of the spring element. However, a preferred configuration also provides that the first buckle basic body has an opening and that the spring element, at least at its starting position, is guided at least partially around the opening. This allows for a particularly compact construction. In this case, it is particularly preferred that the spring element is guided around the opening in a U-shaped bent region, i.e., that the U-shaped bent region at least partially surrounds the opening of the first buckle basic body.

[0014] Another embodiment of the invention relates to a buckle according to the preamble of claim 7. This embodiment can be realized or viewed in combination with, but also independently of, the invention described above. The problem to be solved by this embodiment of the invention is to provide particularly good protection against lateral tilting relative to one another when the two buckle parts are connected to one another and in the locked position of the locking body.

[0015] To solve this problem, this aspect of the invention proposes a buckle as set forth in claim 7.

[0016] Therefore, based on the preamble of claim 7, this aspect of the invention specifies that one of the buckle bases, preferably the first buckle base, has an opening, which is defined on one side by an end web, and the other of the buckle bases, preferably the second buckle base, has an anti-tilt hook formed, preferably in an introduction portion, which can be introduced into the opening when both buckle parts are connected to each other, and which anti-tilt hook surrounds the end web at the end position where both buckle parts are connected to each other.

[0017] By encircling the end webs that define the opening in the first buckle base, the anti-tilt hooks prevent the first and second buckle bases from tipping relative to one another.

[0018] The anti-tilt hook may also be configured to be able to withstand a pulling force when the buckle parts are pulled away from each other in at least one of the possible pulling directions when the anti-tilt hook is in a state in which the buckle parts are connected to each other, where the pulling direction is the direction in which the buckle parts would normally be pulled away from each other when the buckle parts are connected to each other and are correspondingly loaded by being pulled away from each other.

[0019] The opening of the first buckle base is preferably formed as an elongated hole, preferably extending parallel to the aforementioned pulling direction of the buckle. The opening of the first buckle base, into which the anti-tilt hook engages and which is preferably formed as an elongated hole, is preferably, as already mentioned above, in a preferred configuration, an opening around which the spring element is guided, preferably with its U-shaped bent region.

[0020] In the buckle according to the invention, similar to the aforementioned EP 2713798, it may also be specified that the locking bodies are not provided solely for locking purposes, but that the force acting on the connected buckle parts in the pulling direction during pulling is absorbed by one or more locking bodies.

[0021] However, it is more preferable that such forces acting on the connected buckle parts in one or more tensile directions are supported or absorbed via rigidly arranged parts on both buckle bases. For this purpose, it is preferred that the receiving part is shaped rigidly, particularly hook-shaped, on the first buckle base, and the lead-in part is shaped as a rigidly shaped hook for hooking into the receiving part. It is particularly preferred that the lead-in part shaped as a hook has a central web and two side parts protruding from the central web on opposite sides, each of the side parts being defined by a front edge, the front edges of the side parts being oriented at least partially V-shaped relative to each other so as to extend at least partially obliquely away from the central web.

[0022] Due to the front edge portions extending at least partially from the central web at an angle away from each other, and thus also due to the side portions of the hooking portions, on the one hand, a buckle having a relatively short structural length can be obtained, in which, on the other hand, due to the special structural form of the side portions and the front edges of the side portions, both buckle portions are relatively well prevented from tilting in a direction perpendicular to the pulling direction when hooked together.

[0023] The leading edges are the edges that define the side sections and that face into the receiving section when a pulling force acts on the catch section in one of the pulling directions. These leading edges appear straight, but can also be curved. Particularly preferably, the leading edges of the two side sections that protrude on opposite sides of the central web are at least partially V-oriented with respect to each other. That is, the leading edges, or simply partial regions of the leading edges, converge toward the central web, preferably at an acute or obtuse angle.

[0024] In a particularly preferred embodiment of the present invention, the side sections together, possibly together with the central web, form a dovetail shape. In this embodiment, the catch section is rigidly formed as a whole, and therefore the side sections are also rigidly formed on the central web. The central web and the side sections together form the catch section, although it is not excluded that the catch section can have further components. In any case, the catch section is part of the second buckle base of the second buckle section. In addition to the catch section, the second buckle base can have, for example, a belt webbing for wrapping a belt around it and / or a corresponding belt receiving window through which the belt is inserted. The belt webbing can be rigid, but it can also be designed as a movable, particularly shiftable, belt webbing, i.e., a clamping webbing, for clamping the belt to the second buckle base. The second buckle base can be a rigidly formed element as a whole. However, the second buckle base can also have a movable section, such as a belt webbing or clamping webbing that is also shiftably supported.

[0025] The receiving section is preferably, as already mentioned, rigidly formed on the first buckle base body, which may also have a belt webbing and a belt receiving window or, in other words, a belt receiving opening in addition to the receiving section. In this configuration, the belt webbing may also be rigidly formed on the first buckle base body, but may also be a movable, in particular shiftable, clamping webbing.

[0026] The one or more locking bodies are arranged on the first buckle base so as to be pivotable between a locked position and an unlocked position. When the hooking portion is hooked into the receiving portion, the one or more locking bodies have a retaining surface that fixes the hooking portion or the lead-in portion in the receiving portion in the locked position, thereby preventing the two buckle portions from unintentionally separating from each other. The two buckle portions can only be separated when the one or more locking bodies are brought into their unlocked position. In this unlocked position, the hooking portion or the lead-in portion can be removed from the receiving portion, thereby separating the two buckle portions from each other.

[0027] In principle, the buckle according to the present invention can be designed in a wide variety of ways and can solve a wide variety of problems. The buckle according to the present invention serves to releasably connect two components to one another. Particularly preferably, the buckle according to the present invention is a so-called belt buckle, which serves to connect one belt to another belt or one belt to another component. Accordingly, the above-mentioned belt webbing in the buckle section, to which the belt can be fastened, is also provided. However, instead of the belt webbing, other fastening possibilities, such as fastening holes in the buckle section, or in other words, other connection possibilities, can also be provided. These other fastening possibilities can then also fasten the belt, or, if not a belt buckle, other objects. In the case of a belt buckle, the belt webbing or the clamping web of the buckle section can also be of various lengths, in order to be able to connect belts with different widths to one another. The width of the buckle section can, of course, also be adapted to the belt width of the belts to be connected to one another.

[0028] Preferably, each side portion of the side portions is defined by a rear edge portion of the side portion on the side opposite the respective front edge portion of the side portion, and at least one retaining surface of the one or more locking bodies forms an abutment surface for the rear edge of the side portion of the hooking portion or introduction portion hooked in the receiving portion in the locked position.

[0029] In a particularly preferred variant, it is specified that the rear edges of the side sections are at least partially oriented in a V-shape so that they extend obliquely away from the central web relative to one another, preferably at least partially V-shaped relative to one another. In such a configuration, the rear edges may be straight, but may also be curved.

[0030] In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the front edges of the side sections form an angle between themselves in the range of 20° to 160°, preferably 60° to 120°. The same applies to preferred configurations for the rear edges of the side sections. The rear edges of the side sections also form an angle between themselves in the range of 20° to 160°, more preferably 60° to 120°. In the case of front and / or rear edges that are only partially oriented so as to extend obliquely away from the central web relative to one another, this angle preferably applies only to the correspondingly obliquely extending region.

[0031] In a particularly preferred variant of the invention, only one partial region of the front edge of each hooking portion is formed as a contact shoulder, and a corresponding contact shoulder is formed on the first buckle base body, so that when a pulling force acts on the hooking portion in a pulling direction into the receiving portion when the hooking portion is hooked in the receiving portion, the pulling force in the pulling direction can be transmitted from the hooking portion to the first buckle base body exclusively via the contact portion of the contact shoulder on the corresponding contact shoulder. In this configuration, the pulling force acting in the pulling direction on both buckle portions is transmitted exclusively via the contact portion of the contact shoulder on the corresponding corresponding contact shoulder. Since the remaining regions of the front edges of each side portion of the hooking portion are released in the receiving portion when hooked, no force can be transmitted in the pulling direction from one buckle portion to the other buckle portion via the remaining portions. However, this release of the front edge in the region located outside the contact shoulder, which acts only in the pulling direction, prevents the side edges of the side sections, which extend diagonally away from each other and are arranged in a V-shape, from opening up against the first buckle section or the receiving section. In this case, the side sections, in cooperation with the receiving section, essentially prevent the two buckle sections from tilting toward each other. Tilting of the two buckle sections toward each other, both here and elsewhere in this specification, should be understood to mean tilting toward each other, especially about an axis perpendicular to the pulling direction. In this sense, it is specified that the contact shoulders are preferably located on the half of the respective front edge facing the central web. Preferably, each contact shoulder is directly adjacent to the central web. The contact shoulders may each be configured as at least partially rounded undercuts. As already suggested, the side walls of the accommodating portion of the first buckle base preferably form lateral abutments for the front edges of the side portions which, when the hooking portion is hooked in the accommodating portion, act to prevent the hooking portion from tilting laterally out of the accommodating portion in a direction perpendicular to the pulling direction.

[0032] As another measure for supporting the connected buckle portions against each other and preventing them from tipping over, the lead-in portion may have a support plate for supporting the second buckle portion against the first buckle portion and preventing them from tipping over relative to each other. In this configuration, it is preferably specified that the support plate is rigidly formed on the central web and spaced apart from the side portions.

[0033] To facilitate the introduction of the lead-in part or the hook part into the receiving part, it may be specified that a beveled chamfer is formed on the front edge of the side part and / or on the side wall of the first buckle base that forms the receiving part, as an introduction aid when introducing the lead-in part or the hook part into the receiving part. The chamfer or inclined surface may be formed so as to automatically press one or more locking bodies from their locked position to their unlocked position without the need for a separate operation when introducing the hook part into the receiving part, so that the lead-in part or the hook part can be introduced by passing by the locking bodies into the receiving part.

[0034] In the hooked state and when the locking body or bodies are in the locked position, the hooking or lead-in part is preferably located in the preferably laterally opening receiving opening of the first buckle basic body and in the receiving part and / or is blocked between the receiving part and the locking body or bodies or the restraining surfaces of the locking body or bodies. The hooking or lead-in part can preferably only be removed from the receiving part to separate the buckle parts when the locking body or bodies are brought into their unlocked position as desired, preferably by manual manipulation.

[0035] Another aspect of the invention, which can be viewed in combination with, but also independently of, the above-mentioned aspects, relates to a belt buckle having a belt receiving window and a clamping web shiftably supported within the belt receiving window for clamping a belt between the clamping web and a frame of the belt buckle that defines the belt receiving window.

[0036] Such belt buckles are known per se from the above-mentioned specification. It was desired to propose a new type of clamping web. For this purpose, the invention proposes a belt buckle as set forth in claim 14.

[0037] That is, in this aspect of the invention, the clamping web has an outer casing with a belt contact surface for contacting the belt, and an inner web, the outer casing having a web receiving passage extending therethrough, and the inner web is insertable through the web receiving passage to shiftably secure the clamping web to a frame surrounding the belt receiving window.

[0038] This configuration allows for particularly simple installation of such clamping webs in the belt receiving window or in the frame surrounding this belt receiving window: the outer sheath can be introduced from the side for installation into the belt receiving window, and then the inner web can be pushed through the correspondingly large web receiving channel.

[0039] In order to make it possible to easily adjust the arrival of the defined end position of the inner web in the web receiving channel and to ensure that the end position is reached, it is specified that in a preferred variant the inner web can be locked, preferably non-destructively and releasably, in the end position inserted through the web receiving channel by means of a locking connection acting between the inner web and the outer sheath.

[0040] To increase the friction between the sheath or clamping web and the belt, the belt-contacting surface of the sheath may have ridges, ribs, teeth or other contoured protuberances. Of course, the belt-contacting surface can also be configured with a roughened surface in other ways, but can also be smooth.

[0041] Such a belt buckle may consist of only one buckle part with only one buckle base body, but may also be configured like the buckles already mentioned at the beginning, i.e., it may in particular be a buckle with one first buckle part and at least one second buckle part, where the first buckle part has a first buckle base body and a receiving section formed in the first buckle base body, and the second buckle part has a second buckle base body with a lead-in part for insertion into the receiving section of the first buckle part, and the first buckle part additionally has one or two locking bodies respectively pivotably supported on the first buckle base body, the lead-in part being fixed in the receiving section by at least one retaining surface of each of the locking bodies when inserted into the receiving section in the locking position of the one or two locking bodies and being removable from the receiving section in the unlocking position of the one or two locking bodies.

[0042] The buckles and buckle belts according to the present invention may be made entirely of metal or alloy, such as aluminum or steel, in all its components, but may also be made entirely of plastic. Mixed configurations are also conceivable, in which parts of the respective buckle or belt buckle are made of plastic and other parts of metal or alloy. It is particularly preferred that both locking bodies, connected to each other by spring elements, are made of plastic together with the spring elements as a single component. This also applies to the possibly elastically displaceable axle pin, insofar as the axle pin is part of this associated component. Of course, the last-mentioned outer sheath and / or inner web may also be made of plastic or metal. The same applies to the buckle base and to the other components of the respective buckle or belt buckle.

[0043] Further features and details of the preferred construction will now be described, by way of example, with reference to one embodiment in which various aspects of the invention are implemented. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0044] [Figure 1] 1 is a top plan view of one embodiment of a buckle according to the present invention, with both buckle portions connected to each other; FIG. [Figure 2] 2 is a bottom view of the buckle shown in FIG. 1 with the buckle portions connected together. FIG. [Figure 3] FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line AA in FIG. [Figure 4] FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line BB in FIG. [Figure 5] FIG. 5 is a side view showing the buckle shown in FIGS. [Figure 6] FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line CC in FIG. 5. [Figure 7] FIG. 7 is an exploded view showing the buckle shown in FIGS. 1 to 6. [Figure 8]8 shows the locking bodies of the buckle shown in FIGS. 1 to 7 coupled together by means of spring elements. FIG. [Figure 9] 8 shows the locking bodies of the buckle shown in FIGS. 1 to 7 coupled together by means of spring elements. FIG. [Figure 10] 8 shows the locking bodies of the buckle shown in FIGS. 1 to 7 coupled together by means of spring elements. FIG. [Figure 11] 8 shows a shiftable clamping web of the buckle shown in FIGS. 1 to 7. FIG. [Figure 12] 8 shows a shiftable clamping web of the buckle shown in FIGS. 1 to 7. FIG. [Figure 13] 8 shows a shiftable clamping web of the buckle shown in FIGS. 1 to 7. FIG. [Figure 14] FIG. 8 is a plan view of the first buckle portion of the buckle shown in FIGS. 1 to 7, viewed from above, without a locking body. [Figure 15] 8 is a plan view from above of the second buckle part of the buckle shown in FIGS. 1 to 7, shown without the clamping web. FIG. [Figure 16] FIG. 15 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line EE in FIG. [Figure 17] FIG. 16 is a cross-sectional view taken along the cutting line FF in FIG.

[0045] The buckle 1 according to the present invention shown in the drawings is a belt buckle that serves to fasten two different belts together. The buckle 1 in this embodiment has a first buckle portion 2 and a second buckle portion 3. Both buckle portions 2, 3 are shown fastened together in FIGS. 1-6. When the buckle 1 is loaded, the two buckle portions 2, 3 are loaded, or in other words pulled apart, in a pulling direction 30 shown in the drawings under normal or typical loading.

[0046] The first buckle part 2 has a first buckle base 4, which has a receiving section 5 formed therein, as will be further explained with reference to FIG. 4 . The second buckle part 3 has a second buckle base 6 with an introduction section 7, which serves for introducing the first buckle part 2 into the receiving section 5, as will be shown and explained in more detail below. The first buckle part 2 also has two locking bodies 8, each pivotally supported on the first buckle base. When the introduction section 7 is introduced, or in this embodiment, hooked, into the receiving section 5 and the locking bodies 8 are in their locked position, each locking body 8 secures the introduction section 7 in the receiving section 5 with its restraining surface 9. When the locking bodies 8 are in their unlocked position, the introduction section 7, which in this embodiment is formed as a hook, can be removed from the receiving section 5. In this embodiment, it is specified that the locking bodies 8 are connected to one another by means of spring elements 10, which elastically preload both locking bodies 8 in the direction towards the locked position. The connection of both locking bodies 8 to one another by means of the spring elements 10 can be seen particularly well in Figures 7 to 10, and will be explained in more detail further below.

[0047] The buckle base bodies 4 and 6 of the two buckle parts 2 and 3 each have a belt receiving window 22 formed therein for fastening a belt thereto. The belt receiving window 22 is surrounded by a frame 24 or a frame-like structure of the corresponding buckle base body 4 or 6. These belt receiving windows 22 or the frame 24 surrounding the belt receiving window 22 serve, as is known per se, to fasten a belt (not shown separately in the drawings) to the respective buckle base body 4 or 6. For this purpose, the first buckle part 2 in this embodiment is characterized in that a portion of the frame 24 is formed as a fastening web 37. When a corresponding belt (not shown in the drawings) is guided through the belt receiving window 22 and around the fastening web 37, as is known per se, the belt can be fastened to the first buckle part 2 by appropriate sewing, gluing, or other connecting methods of the belt region guided around the fastening web 37. In the second buckle part 3 of this embodiment of the buckle 1 according to the invention, a clamping web 23 is provided in the belt receiving window 22, which is supported on a frame 24 so as to be shiftable in both pulling directions 30 in a manner known per se. To fasten a belt (not shown in the drawings) to the second buckle part 3, the belt is guided through the belt receiving window 22 of the second buckle part 3 and, in a manner known per se, around the clamping web 23. By then pulling the belt in the pulling direction 30 away from the first buckle part 2, the clamping web 23 is shifted in the belt receiving window 22 in the aforementioned direction 30, so that the belt is clamped in the belt receiving window 22 between the clamping web 23 and the frame 24 in a manner known per se. These clamping webs 23 have the advantage that, in a known manner, the belt length can be adjusted, during which the clamping webs 23 are again pushed out of the clamping position, the belt is correspondingly readjusted, and the belt is then clamped again between the clamping webs 23 and the frame 24 by a corresponding tension in the corresponding tension direction 30. Such an arrangement of the clamping webs 23 and the fastening webs 37 already described is known per se.Unlike the embodiment shown in the drawings, the first buckle part 2 or the first buckle base body 4 of the first buckle part 2 may also be formed with a corresponding clamping web 23. Similarly, the second buckle part 3 or the second buckle base body 6 of the second buckle part 3 may also be formed with a corresponding fastening web 37 instead of the clamping web 23. Furthermore, belt receiving windows 22 or clamping webs 23 or fastening webs 37 of different sizes may also be formed in the corresponding buckle parts 2, 3, so that belts of different widths can be connected to each other using the buckle 1.

[0048] The one or two clamping webs 23 of such a buckle 1 may in principle be configured as known per se in the prior art, but in the embodiment shown in the drawings, the clamping web 23 has an outer covering 25 and an inner covering 27 according to another aspect of the invention (this will be explained in more detail further below).

[0049] The connection of the two locking bodies 8 to each other by means of the spring element 10 can be seen particularly clearly in the exploded view shown in FIG. 7 and in FIGS. 8 to 10. As can be clearly seen in these figures, in this embodiment, as in other preferred embodiments, the spring element 10 is integrally formed on both locking bodies 8. Between the locking bodies 8, the illustrated spring element 10 has a U-shaped bent region 11. As can be clearly seen, each locking body 8 has the aforementioned clamping surface 9. In the locked position shown in FIG. 6, this clamping surface 9 secures the lead-in portion 7 of the second buckle part 3 in the receiving portion 5 of the first buckle part 2, so that the two buckle parts 2, 3 cannot be separated from each other. When the two locking bodies 8 are pivoted to their respective unlocked positions around their respective pivot pins 12 of the actuating surface 14 by corresponding pressure, the clamping surfaces 9 of the two locking bodies 8 release the lead-in portion 7, allowing the two buckle parts 2, 3 to be separated from each other. This pivoting of the locking bodies 8 from the locked position to the unlocked position occurs against the elastic preload of the spring element 10. That is, the spring element 10 is elastically deformed by pressing against the operating surface 14 during the corresponding pivoting of the locking bodies 8 from the locked position to the unlocked position. In this embodiment, this occurs by moving both legs of the spring element 10 toward each other in the U-shaped region 11. As soon as the operating surface 14 is released or loosened, the spring element 10 again presses against both locking bodies 8, causing them to automatically pivot about the pivot pin 12 from the unlocked position back to the locked position shown in FIGS. 6 to 10 . The preferred embodiment shown in the drawings specifies that the spring element 10 acts on each locking body 8 on the side of the locking body 8 facing the respective retaining surface 9. In the preferred embodiment shown in the drawings, each locking body 8 also has an operating surface 14 for manually operating the locking body 8. This manual operation is usually effected by pressing the operating surface 14 accordingly with one finger in each case.In order to release the lead-in part 7, in the preferred configuration shown in the drawings, both locking bodies 8 must be brought into the unlocked position by correspondingly pressing on the actuating surfaces 14. This is a safety feature, since separation of the two buckle parts 2, 3 is only possible if both locking bodies 8 are actuated together as desired. In this configuration shown in the drawings, this prevents the risk of unintentional complete unlocking and therefore separation of the two buckle parts 2, 3 due to unintentional actuation or rotation of only one locking body 8.

[0050] In the exemplary embodiment shown in the drawings, the pins 12 are each supported so that they can be elastically displaced. For this purpose, the pins 12 themselves may be elastically deformable. However, in the variant shown in the drawings, the pins 12 are each arranged on a spring tongue 13 to achieve their elastic displacement. In the exemplary embodiment shown, the spring tongue 13 is formed on each respective locking body 8. This allows for particularly simple assembly of the component consisting of the locking body 8 and the spring element 10 in the first buckle part 2. During assembly, the locking body 8 with the spring element 10 is pressed into the corresponding housing opening 38 of the first buckle part 2, starting from the position shown in FIG. 7. During this pushing-in movement, the spring tabs 13 with the pins 12 respectively arranged thereon are elastically displaced until the pins 12 lock into the corresponding pin receptacles 33 in the first buckle basic body 4 of the first buckle part 2, thereby mounting the locking bodies 8 with the spring elements 10 in the first buckle basic body 4. Of course, apart from the exemplary embodiment shown in the drawings, in which the pins 12 are elastically displaceably supported on the respective locking bodies 8 by means of the spring tabs 13, it is also possible to form the corresponding pins 12 elastically displaceably on the first buckle basic body 4 with or without the spring tabs 13. In such a case, the pin receptacles 33 are formed in the locking bodies 8. In this variant embodiment, the pivot pin 12 can also be elastically displaced and then locked during assembly of the locking body 8 with the spring element 10 on the first buckle basic body 4, thereby enabling a particularly simple assembly of the locking body 8 with the spring element 10 on the first buckle basic body 4. Alternatively, it is also possible for the pivot pin 12 to be embodied in a correspondingly rigid manner on the locking body 8 or the first buckle basic body 4, provided that the corresponding pivot pin receptacle 33 is embodied in a correspondingly elastically displaceable manner on the respective counterpart.

[0051] In a preferred configuration such as the buckle 1 realized in the drawings, it is specified that the receiving portion 5 of the first buckle base 4 of the first buckle part 2 is formed rigidly and hook-like on the first buckle base 4, and the introduction portion 7 of the second buckle part 3 is formed as a hook portion that is rigidly formed in itself for hooking onto the receiving portion 5.

[0052] Furthermore, as shown in the drawings and particularly clearly in FIG. 7 , the lead-in section 7 preferably has a central web 18 and two side sections 19 projecting from the central web 18 on opposite sides, each of the side sections 19 being defined by a front edge 20 that at least partially extend obliquely away from the central web 18 relative to one another. Preferably, the side sections 19 are oriented in a V-shape relative to one another, as shown in the drawings. The cross-sectional view shown in FIG. 6 along the section line CC in FIG. 5 also clearly shows the central web 18 and the side sections 19 with their front edges 20 oriented in a V-shape relative to one another. As can be seen in FIG. 6 , the lead-in section 7 formed as a hook section has only one partial region of each front edge 20 formed as a contact shoulder 31, and the first buckle base body 4 has a corresponding corresponding contact shoulder 32. With this configuration, in a preferred embodiment of the buckle 1 as shown in the drawings, when a pulling force acts on the leading portion 7 in a direction away from the first buckle part 2, and thus into the receiving part 5, with the leading portion 7 hooked in the receiving part 5, the pulling force can be transmitted from the leading portion 7 to the first buckle base body 4 in the pulling direction 30 exclusively via the contact portions of the contact shoulders 31 on the corresponding contact shoulders 32. In other words, with this configuration, the pulling force acting on both buckle parts 2, 3 in the respective pulling direction 30 is transmitted exclusively via the contact portions of the contact shoulders 31 on the corresponding corresponding contact shoulders 32. The remaining area of ​​the front edge 20 of the side portion 19 of the introduction portion 7, which in the drawing is formed as a hook portion, is released in the pulling direction 30 in the hooked state in the storage portion 5 (this state can also be seen clearly in Figure 6), so that no force is transmitted from one buckle portion 2;3 to the other buckle portion 2;3 in the pulling direction 30 via the remaining area of ​​the front edge 20.As already mentioned at the beginning, this release of the region of the front edge 20 located outside the contact shoulder 31, which nevertheless acts only in the pulling direction 30, prevents the side portions 19 of the front edge 20, which extend obliquely away from one another and are arranged in a V-shape, from spreading relative to the first buckle part 2 or the receiving part 5. In this embodiment, the side portions 19 also cooperate with the receiving part 5 to essentially prevent the two buckle parts 2, 3 from tilting relative to one another. By tilting, we mean in this context that the buckle parts 2, 3 tilt relative to one another about an axis perpendicular to the pulling direction 30. The receiving part 5 of the first buckle basic body 4 with the side portions 19 arranged therebetween can be clearly seen in FIG. 4, a cross-sectional view taken along the section line BB in FIG. 1. The two wall regions of the first buckle basic body 4 that form the receiving section 5 in FIG. 4 and between which the side section 19 is arranged are connected to one another by a wall region of the first buckle basic body 4 that is not visible in the cross-sectional view shown in FIG. 4, thereby forming a hook-like configuration of the receiving section 5 as a whole, into which the lead-in section 7, specifically the side section 19 of the lead-in section 7 in the drawing, can be hooked. This hook-like configuration of the receiving section 5 of the first buckle basic body 4, which is rigid in itself, and the interaction between the central web 18 and the side section 19 of the lead-in section 7 of the second buckle part 3 or second buckle basic body 6, which are formed as hooks, are known per se from the aforementioned EP 3 581 057 B1, and its advantages are described in detail therein. The same applies to the absorption of tensile forces in the pulling direction 30 by the contact shoulder 31 and the countercontact shoulder 32, which need not be described in detail again here.

[0053] However, it should be noted that the buckle 1 shown in the drawings employs additional measures not realized in the prior art to prevent the buckle parts 2, 3 from tilting relative to one another in a direction perpendicular to the pulling direction 30. First, the lead-in part 7 has a support plate 21 for supporting the second buckle part 3 on the first buckle part 2, which also prevents the buckle parts 2, 3 from tilting relative to one another. This support plate 21 can be clearly seen in Figures 1, 7 and 15 and is also rigidly formed on the central web 18 and spaced apart from the side parts 19 in this embodiment.

[0054] Another measure implemented in the illustrated embodiment of the buckle 1 according to the invention for preventing the buckle parts 2, 3 from tilting relative to one another can be seen particularly clearly in Figures 2, 3 and 7. According to a second aspect of the invention, one of the buckle bases, in this case the first buckle base 4, has an opening 15 defined on one side by an end web 16, and the other buckle base, in this case the second buckle base 6, is provided with an anti-tilt hook 17 which can be introduced into the opening 15 when the buckle parts 2, 3 are connected to one another and which surrounds the end web 16 at the end where the buckle parts 2, 3 are connected to one another. This end position is obtained or shown in Figure 2 and in the cross-sectional view shown in Figure 3. As can be seen particularly well in Figure 3, the anti-tilt hook 17 is guided through the opening 15 and surrounds the end web 16, thereby preventing the two buckle parts 2, 3 from tilting relative to one another either upwards or downwards as viewed in Figure 3. For completeness' sake, it should be added in this connection that the anti-tilt hook 17 can also absorb additional forces in the pulling direction 30 by interacting with the web 16, if this is desired and correspondingly configured.

[0055] The opening 15 of the first buckle base 4 is preferably formed as an elongated hole, which can be seen particularly in Figures 2, 3, 7 and 14. The elongated hole is preferably formed to extend longitudinally parallel to the pulling direction 30 of the buckle 1, as also realized in the drawings.

[0056] With regard to this opening 15 in the first buckle base body 4, it should be further remarked here that also in this embodiment the spring element 10 is guided with its U-shaped bent region 11 at least in its starting position at least partially surrounding this opening 15.

[0057] According to another aspect of the invention, as already mentioned at the beginning, the clamping web 23 has a sheath 25 with a belt contact surface 26 for contacting the belt and an inner web 27, the sheath 25 having a web receiving passage 28 extending therethrough, through which the inner web 27 can be inserted for shiftable fixation of the clamping web 23 in the frame 24 surrounding the belt receiving window 22. This aspect of the invention is also realized in the clamping web 23 provided on the second buckle part 3 in this embodiment. This can be particularly clearly seen in FIGS. 3, 4, and 6. Additionally, FIG. 11 shows the sheath 25 of the clamping web 23 in a cross section. FIG. 12 shows a longitudinal section along the section line DD in FIG. 11. FIG. 13 shows the inner web 27. The inlet ramp 42 formed on the sheath 25, which is also visible in the cross section shown in FIG. 12, can also be called a chamfer. The entry ramps 42 facilitate the insertion of the inner web 27 into the web receiving passage 28 of the sheath 25. In this embodiment, the entry ramps 42 are formed at both ends, but only on one side of the web receiving passage 28 in the sheath 25. Alternatively, corresponding entry ramps 42 may be formed on both sides of the web receiving passage 25, preferably symmetrically, and / or one or two corresponding entry ramps 42 may be formed on the sheath 25 only at one end of the web receiving passage 25. This embodiment also specifies that the inner web 27 can be removably locked without destruction in its inserted end position through the web receiving passage 28 by means of a locking connection 29 acting between the inner web 27 and the sheath 25. For this purpose, in this embodiment, the inner web 27 is provided with a resiliently displaceable locking arm 39 having a locking projection 40, as can be seen in particular in FIG. 13 . In contrast, the sheath 25 has a locking receiving portion 41, as can be seen in particular in the longitudinal section shown in FIG. 12 .The locking projections 40 and the locking recesses 41 together form a locking connection 29 when the inner web 27 is pushed correspondingly far into the outer sheath 25 through the web receiving channel 28 and the locking projections 40 lock into the locking projection recesses 41 in the desired end position due to the elastic preload of the locking arms 39. However, this locking connection 29 can also be released again by correspondingly applying pressure to the locked locking projections 40, so that the inner web 27 can be pushed out again from the outer sheath 25, if desired. For completeness' sake, it should be noted that such a locking connection 29 can of course also be configured in other ways between the inner web 27 of the clamping web 23 and the outer sheath 25. For example, it is conceivable to provide corresponding locking projections 40 on the outer sheath 25 and corresponding locking projection recesses 41 on the inner web 27. Of course, it is also possible to realize several such locking connections 29, which allows the inner web 27 to be locked onto the outer sheath 25 at its end position after insertion. Unlike the variant shown in the drawings, the locking connection 29 can also be shaped symmetrically, which would have the same effect on the locking of the locking connection 29 as if the inner web 27 had been pressed into the outer sheath 25. This is possible, for example, by providing corresponding locking lug receptacles 41 on opposite sides of the outer sheath 25. Finally, of course, this locking connection 29 is also merely optional. It is also possible to dispense with such a locking connection 29 if, for example, the inner web 27 is correspondingly fixed onto the outer sheath 25 at its end position by a corresponding positive and / or frictional lock.

[0058] Finally, as can also be seen in the drawings, the belt contact surface 26 of the outer jacket 25 can have protuberances 36, for example in the form of projections, in order to increase the friction between the belt arranged around the clamping web 23 and the belt contact surface 26. However, as already mentioned at the beginning, such protuberances 36 can also be omitted.

[0059] In Figures 14 and 15, the buckle parts 2 and 3 are again shown separated from one another; in Figure 14, the locking body 8 is not shown, and in Figure 15, the clamping web 23 is not shown. Figure 16 shows a cross-section along the section line EE in Figure 14. Figure 17 shows a cross-section along the section line FF in Figure 15. As can be clearly seen in Figures 7 and 17, the second buckle part 3 has a push-in opening 34 in the area forming the frame 24, through which the inner web 27 can be pushed into the sheath 25, which has been correspondingly introduced into the belt receiving window 22, for assembly. Once the end position of the inner web 27, particularly shown in Figure 6, has been reached in the sheath 25, the clamping web 23 can then be shifted back and forth along the web guide 35 in the frame-like structure 24 of the second buckle basic body 6, parallel to the pulling direction 30. When it is desired to remove the clamping web 23, the clamping web 23 is shifted significantly in the web guide 35 so that the inner web 27 can be pushed out of the outer casing 25 again through one of the push-in openings 34 after the locking connection 29 has been released. [Explanation of symbols]

[0060] 1 buckle 2 First buckle part 3 Second buckle part 4. First buckle base 5. Storage section 6 Second buckle base 7 Introduction 8 Lock Body 9 Retaining surface 10 Spring Elements 11 U-shaped curved area 12 Axle Pins 13 Spring tongue 14 Operation surface 15 Aperture 16 End web 17 Anti-tilt hook 18 Central Web 19 side part 20 leading edge 21 Support plate 22 Belt storage window 23 Clamp Web 24 frames 25 Exterior 26 Belt contact surface 27 Inner Web 28 Web Storage Passage 29 Locking joint 30 Tensile direction 31 Contact shoulder 32 Corresponding contact shoulder 33 Axle pin housing 34 Push-in opening 35 Web Guide 36 Ridge 37 Fixed Web 38 Housing opening 39 Locking arm 40 Locking protrusion 41 Locking projection receiving portion 42 Entry slope

Claims

1. A buckle (1) comprising one first buckle portion (2) and at least one second buckle portion (3), wherein the first buckle portion (2) comprises a first buckle base (4) and a receiving portion (5) formed in the first buckle base (4), and the second buckle portion (3) comprises a second buckle base (6) having an introduction portion (7) for introduction into the receiving portion (5) of the first buckle portion (2), ) additionally has two locking bodies (8) each pivotably supported on the first buckle base body (4), and the introduction part (7) is fixed in the receiving part (5) by at least one holding surface (9) of each of the locking bodies (8) when the locking bodies (8) are in their locked positions when introduced into the receiving part (5), and is removable from the receiving part (5) when the locking bodies (8) are in their unlocked positions. The buckle (1) is characterized in that the locking bodies (8) are connected to each other using a spring element (10), and the spring element (10) elastically preloads both locking bodies (8) in a direction toward the locked position.

2. 2. The buckle (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that the spring element (10) is integrally formed with both of the locking bodies (8) and / or the spring element (10) has a U-shaped bent region (11) between the locking bodies (8).

3. 3. The buckle (1) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that each of the locking bodies (8) is supported on the first buckle base body (4) so ​​as to be pivotable about a pivot pin (12), and each of the pivot pins (12) is supported on each of the locking bodies (8) so as to be elastically displaceable, preferably by a spring tongue (13).

4. The buckle (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that each of the spring elements (10) engages with each of the locking bodies (8) on the side of each of the locking bodies (8) facing the respective retaining surface (9).

5. The buckle (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that each of the locking bodies (8) has an operating surface (14) protruding from the first buckle base (4) on the side of each of the locking bodies (8) facing the respective holding surface (9) for operating the locking body (8) by hand.

6. The buckle (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the first buckle base (4) has an opening (15) and the spring element (10) is guided at least partially around the opening (15), at least at the starting position of the spring element (10).

7. A buckle (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 6, comprising one first buckle part (2) and at least one second buckle part (3), wherein the first buckle part (2) comprises a first buckle base (4) and a receiving part (5) formed in the first buckle base (4), and the second buckle part (3) comprises a second buckle base (6) having an introduction part (7) for introduction into the receiving part (5) of the first buckle part (2). The buckle (1) further includes at least one locking body (8) supported on the first buckle base (4), and the introduction portion (7) is fixed in the receiving portion (5) by at least one holding surface (9) of the locking body (8) when the locking body (8) is in a locked position when the introduction portion (7) is introduced into the receiving portion (5), and is removable from the receiving portion (5) when the locking body (8) is in an unlocked position. A buckle (1), characterized in that one of the buckle bases, preferably the first buckle base (4), has an opening (15), which is defined on one side by an end web (16), and the other of the buckle bases, preferably the second buckle base (6), has an anti-tilt hook (17), preferably in the introduction portion (7), which can be introduced into the opening (15) when both buckle parts (2, 3) are connected to each other, and the anti-tilt hook (17) surrounds the end web (16) at the end position where both buckle parts (2, 3) are connected to each other.

8. The buckle (1) according to claim 6 or 7, characterized in that the opening (15) of the first buckle base body (4) is an elongated hole, and in this case, preferably, the elongated hole is specified to extend longitudinally parallel to the pulling direction (30) of the buckle (1).

9. The buckle (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that the storage portion (5) is formed in the first buckle base body (4) in a rigid and hook-like manner, and the introduction portion (7) is formed as a hook portion that is rigidly formed in itself for hooking into the storage portion (5).

10. 10. The buckle (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 9, characterized in that the introduction portion (7) has a central web (18) and two side portions (19) projecting from the central web (18) on opposite sides, each of the side portions (19) being defined by a front edge (20), the front edges (20) of the side portions (19) being oriented at least partially in a V-shape relative to each other so as to extend at least partially obliquely away from the central web (18) relative to each other.

11. The buckle (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 10, characterized in that the introduction part (7) has a support plate (21) for supporting the second buckle part (3) on the first buckle part (2) by preventing the two buckle parts (2, 3) from tilting relative to each other.

12. 12. Buckle (1) according to claims 10 and 11, characterized in that the support plate (21) is rigidly formed on the central web (18) and spaced apart from the side portions (19).

13. The buckle (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 12, characterized in that the buckle (1) is a belt buckle.

14. A belt buckle, in particular a belt buckle according to claim 13, comprising a belt receiving window (22) and a clamping web (23) supported in a shiftable manner in the belt receiving window (22) for clamping a belt between the clamping web (23) and a frame (24) of the belt buckle, the clamping web (23) defining the belt receiving window (22), The clamping web (23) has an outer casing (25) with a belt contact surface (26) for contacting the belt, and an inner web (27), the outer casing (25) has a web receiving passage (28) extending therethrough, and the inner web (27) can be inserted through the web receiving passage (28) to shiftably secure the clamping web (23) to the frame (24) surrounding the belt receiving window (22).

15. 15. The belt buckle according to claim 14, characterized in that the inner web (27) can be locked, preferably without destruction and releasably, in the end position inserted through the web receiving channel (28) by means of a locking connection (29) acting between the inner web (27) and the outer sheath (25).

Images