One-way buckle and hemostatic tourniquet comprising the one-way buckle

Abstract

The invention relates to a one-way buckle (3, 56) and a hemostatic tourniquet for a limb which contains a belt (2), the one-way buckle and a ratchet drum mechanism (1) comprising a frame (4), a ratchet drum (5), a pawl (6), a handle (7), and a hook (8) with a spring-loaded lock (9) for self-locking fastening of the buckle from opposite side of direction of the belt. The buckle allows tightening the tourniquet by pulling a free end (19) of the belt through the buckle. The handle includes a movable locking element (22) keeping the buckle locked when the handle is closed. The handle includes a lever (23) to disengage the locking element from the frame such that when the lever is pulled, the locking element rises and allows the handle to open. When the handle is fully open, the lock is pressed to remove the buckle from the hook.

Description

[0001] ONE-WAY BUCKLE AND HEMOSTATIC TOURNIQUET COMPRISING THE ONE-WAY BUCKLE

[0002] TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0003] The present invention belongs to the field of medicine, namely disaster medicine, military medicine and surgery, and particularly relates to medical devices. More specifically, the present invention relates to a hemostatic tourniquet which is applied to a limb (an arm or a leg) with one or both hands and can be used for temporary stopping or reducing blood flow from large vessels of an injured limb in first aid or during surgery. Also, the present invention relates to a one-way buckle that can be used in said hemostatic tourniquet.

[0004] BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0005] Loss of blood is a major cause of death in emergency situations in which the injured person is alone or medical assistance is not immediately available. The use of a tourniquet to stop blood loss from an injured limb is a well-known technique for preventing death in these situations. In general, for emergency use where the injured person is alone, the injured person must be able to apply the tourniquet to his or her own injured limb and occlude blood flow using only one hand.

[0006] A situation is also possible when the injured limb is trapped between some objects. In such case, a tourniquet that can come apart and be wrapped around the limb is required to stop the bleeding.

[0007] The tourniquet should be configured to increase the compressive force in a dosed manner and relax it in a dosed manner. This will help minimize the impact on tissues while achieving the main goal of stopping bleeding.

[0008] When alone and in the process of applying the tourniquet, the injured person may begin to lose consciousness. Therefore, the tourniquet must maintain the already achieved result of squeezing of the injured limb after a short-term release of the hands.

[0009] A situation is possible when the injured person, together with his or her equipment, finds himself in water or liquid dirt and then is exposed to low temperatures. In these circumstances a tourniquet that is based on the use of “velcro” can lose its functionality. Another situation is possible when the injured person has to move or be transported in very difficult conditions, with a risk of catching on branches, stones, etc. In such conditions, the tourniquet must not open or the previously achieved compression of the limb must not weaken.

[0010] The tourniquet should have a compact size in the transport state and a light weight, which would allow it to be conveniently transported to remote places.

[0011] There are known Esmarch’s rubber hemostatic tourniquets. The disadvantage of such tourniquets is the impossibility of controlling compression, which may cause pain during tightening. Moreover, such tourniquets do not allow applying them with one hand and need to be loosened and tightened again.

[0012] Patent document US2012071917A1, publ. 22.03.2012, discloses a hemostatic tourniquet comprising a non-stretchable strap forming a loop that is worn over the injured limb and a tightening mechanism. The tightening mechanism consists of a platform with a clip for fixing a rod, which tightens the tourniquet by twisting a section of the non-stretchable strap between buckles. The rod is made in the form of a cylinder with thickenings at the ends and a slot in the middle for receiving the strap. Disadvantages of this tourniquet consist in the lack of a possibility of achieving a dosed force on the tissue of the injured limb. Upon rotating the rod by 180° (the need to fix the rod makes the effort of applying the tourniquet multiple of the rotation of the rod by 180°), the reduction of the loop of the tourniquet is equal to the length of the strap that is twisted when the rod is rotated, which limits the accuracy of adjustment on the limb. The possibility of reducing the loop of the tourniquet when twisting the strap by the rod is limited by the distance between the buckles. Therefore, in winter, the tourniquet will not create the necessary pressure through clothing to stop bleeding on the injured limb. The skin of the injured limb can be clamped under the strap between the buckles. Additionally, the rod requires the clip to fix it after applying the tourniquet, to avoid unwinding. If during the rotation of the rod one accidentally lets it out of the hand, all the previously achieved compressive force will be lost.

[0013] Another well-known analogue, a blood-stopping tourniquet is described in patent document RU 2113825 Cl, publ. 27.06.1998, and comprises a non-stretchable belt equipped with a clamping element, and a stretchable belt with marks provided thereon, which corresponds to compression effort of 4.3 kg for a shoulder and a shin, and 12.7 kg for a hip, where the stretchable belt is connected in succession with the non- stretchable belt being undetachable at its one edge, and at another edge it has a fixing buckle of rectangular shape, which is supplied with the clamping element designed as a movable bar. Disadvantages of this tourniquet are as follows. When applying the tourniquet to an injured limb, over clothing, a great effort is required to tighten the tourniquet, which is necessary to compress the clothing and then compress the tissues of the limb. The necessary pressure is not achieved on the injured limb. It is impossible to instantly relax the tension of the tourniquet and also instantly restore the necessary pressure on the limb when bleeding resumes. The design of the tourniquet contains elements that can wear out, and the functionality of which depends on environmental conditions: temperature, humidity, icing, pollution.

[0014] Patent document US4243039A, publ. 06.01.1981 discloses another known analogue, an emergency tourniquet comprising a casing with a spool on which a free end of a strap is wound up by means of a pawl and ratchet mechanism with automatic blocking of reverse rotation. The second end of the strap is rigidly fixed on the opposite side of the casing to a spring-loaded adjustable device for creating additional tension of the strap. This technical solution has the following disadvantages. The fixed fastening of both ends of the strap in the tensioning mechanism reduces flexibility of adjustment of the tourniquet according to the anatomical features of the limbs. The tourniquet lacks a system of quick release of the strap to allow immediate release of tension of the strap so as to remove the tourniquet from the limb. The lack of free ends of the strap does not allow for quick initial tensioning of the strap by hand without using the tensioning mechanism, which can lead to loss of time when applying the tourniquet. Reverse rotation of the spool requires manual lifting of a locking plate of the ratchet mechanism, which makes it inconvenient to bring the tourniquet to the initial position and increases the mechanical wear of the locking plate of the ratchet mechanism.

[0015] In view of the foregoing, it is the object of the present invention to develop a versatile hemostatic tourniquet having a reliable design, which can be conveniently applied to a limb with minimal physical efforts avoiding pinching of human soft tissues in the folds of the tourniquet, and enable interrupting compression process with the release of the hands without losing the already achieved tension, reducing the risk of accidental loosening of compression of an anatomical segment, dosed loosening of compression of an anatomical segment, stopping or reducing bleeding in hard-to-reach anatomical areas, including limbs trapped between some objects, and reducing the relative pressure of the tourniquet on the surface of the limb, and which is functionable in a wide range of environmental conditions.

[0016] BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0017] The present invention is set out in the appended set of claims.

[0018] In order to effectively solve the above-mentioned technical problems, in one aspect, the invention provides a one-way buckle suitable for using in a hemostatic tourniquet according to a second aspect of the present invention, and comprising two mating monolithic plate-like parts, a buckle frame and a belt clip movably connected to each other, wherein the buckle frame comprises a first flat portion, a second flat portion and a convex portion provided therebetween, the first flat portion formed by a slotted plate and two spaced portions extending from the slotted plate, the convex portion being formed by a plate and two spaced portions extending from one edge of the plate and each connecting with one of the two spaced portions of the first flat portion, the plate of the convex portion connecting by its opposite edge, at an obtuse angle, to the second flat portion, an opening being formed in the buckle frame between the slotted plate, the plate of the convex portion and the four spaced portions, an elongated notch being provided on an external side wall of each of the two spaced portions of the convex portion, wherein the belt clip comprises a first flat portion and a second flat portion, the first flat portion formed by a plate, two spaced portions extending from one edge of the plate, and a plate portion protruding from a central section of the same edge of the plate, two spaced flat portions extending at an obtuse angle from the second flat portion and each connecting at an obtuse angle to one of the spaced portions of the first flat portion, an opening being formed in the belt clip between the first flat portion, the second flat portion and the spaced flat portions, wherein the spaced portions of the convex portion are located in the opening of the belt clip, each slidable between one of the spaced portions of the first flat portion, one of the spaced flat portions, and the protruding plate portion, wherein two internal side walls of the belt clip are slidable on and within the notches, and wherein when the belt clip is positioned maximally close to the second plate portion of the buckle frame, the second plate portion of the buckle frame is substantially parallel to and contacts the second plate portion of the belt clip.

[0019] It is contemplated that the protruding plate portion of the belt clip may pass through the opening in the buckle frame.

[0020] It is contemplated that an obtuse angle may be formed between planes of the first flat portion and the second flat portion, and the second flat portion may be lifted in relation to the first flat portion.

[0021] It is contemplated that the opening of the buckle frame may be substantially rectangular.

[0022] It is contemplated that each notch may extend from an upper surface to a lower surface of the buckle frame and from the edge of the plate of the convex portion, from which the two spaced portions extend, and closely to a corresponding one of the spaced portions of the first flat portion, wherein the notches may be located opposite to each other and substantially parallel to each other.

[0023] It is assumed that two spaced flat portions extending at the obtuse angle from the second flat portion each may connect at substantially the same obtuse angle to one of the spaced portions of the first flat portion so that an angle of about 90 degrees is formed between the planes of the first flat portion and the second flat portion.

[0024] It is assumed that the protruding plate portion may extend to the point where the planes of the first flat portion and the second flat portion of the belt clip cross.

[0025] According to an alternative aspect of the present invention, a one-way buckle comprising two mating monolithic plate-like parts, a buckle frame and a belt clip movably connected to each other, characterized in that the buckle frame comprises a first flat portion, a second flat portion and two spaced connecting flat portions provided therebetween, the first flat portion being formed by a slotted plate and two spaced portions extending from a first edge of the slotted plate, the second flat portion being formed by a plate and two spaced portions extending from a first edge of the plate, the connecting flat portions each extending at an obtuse angle from one of the two spaced portions of the first flat portion and connecting at an obtuse angle to one of the two spaced portions of the second flat portion, an opening being formed in the buckle frame between the slotted plate, the plate of the second flat portion, the connecting flat portions, the spaced portions of the first flat portion and the spaced portions of the second flat portion, an elongated notch being provided on each of two external side walls each formed by one of the two connecting flat portions, one of the two spaced portions of the first flat portion and one of the two spaced portions of the second flat portion; the belt clip is a convex plate comprising a first plate portion, a second plate portion and two spaced connecting portions extending from a first edge of the first plate portion and connecting with a first edge of the second plate portion, a central section of the first plate portion protrudes towards the second plate portion and between the two spaced connecting portions, an opening being formed in the belt clip between the first plate portion, the second plate portion and the two spaced connecting portions, wherein the connecting flat portions of the buckle frame are located in the opening of the belt clip, each slidable between the protruding central section of the first plate portion and one of the two spaced connecting portions of the belt clip, wherein two internal side walls of the belt clip are slidable on and within the notches, and wherein when the belt clip is positioned maximally close to the second flat portion of the buckle frame, an edge of the plate of the second flat portion, which is opposite to the first edge of the plate of the second flat portion, contacts an edge of the second plate portion, which is opposite to the first edge of the second plate portion.

[0026] It is contemplated that the central section of the first plate portion of the belt clip passes through the opening in the buckle frame.

[0027] It is contemplated that planes of the first flat portion and the second flat portion of the buckle frame are parallel to each other, and the second flat portion is lifted in relation to the first flat portion.

[0028] It is contemplated that the opening of the buckle frame in this alternative aspect is substantially rectangular.

[0029] It is contemplated that each elongated notch extends from an upper surface to a lower surface of the buckle frame and from a part of the external side wall formed by one of the spaced portions of the first flat portion to a part of the external side wall formed by one of the spaced portions of the second flat portion.

[0030] According to another aspect of the present invention, a hemostatic tourniquet for a limb, comprising a ratchet drum mechanism, a non-stretchable flat belt, and the said one-way buckle, wherein the ratchet drum mechanism comprises: a frame; a ratchet drum; a pawl cooperating with teeth of a ratchet wheel comprised by the ratchet drum; a handle; and a hook with a spring-loaded lock for self-locking fastening of the buckle from opposite side of direction of the belt, wherein the buckle is fastened to the hook through a slot in the slotted plate and allows tightening the tourniquet by pulling a free end of the belt through the buckle, wherein the handle includes a movable locking element keeping the buckle locked when the handle is closed, wherein the handle includes a lever configured to disengage the movable locking element from the frame such that when the lever is pulled, the movable locking element rises and allows the handle to open, wherein when the handle is fully open, the spring-loaded lock is configured to be pressed on to allow removing the buckle from the hook.

[0031] It is assumed that the belt may be engaged with the buckle such that the belt passes through the opening in the buckle frame from underneath the buckle frame and between the first flat portion of the buckle frame and the first portion of the belt clip, passes above an external edge of the first flat portion of the belt clip and through the opening in the buckle frame toward underneath the buckle frame so that the free end of the belt comes out from between the second portion of the belt clip and the second flat portion of the buckle frame.

[0032] It is supposed that the belt may be fixed to the ratchet drum by a second end so that a loop is provided by the belt when the free end of the belt passes through the buckle.

[0033] It is supposed that the handle may comprise a gripping end facing away from free ends of two spaced side walls of the handle, through which passes the ratchet drum, the gripping end connecting the side walls with one another.

[0034] It is supposed that a protrusion may be formed on the free end of one of the side walls of the handle, which is adjacent to the ratchet wheel, wherein the protrusion is protruding in direction opposite to the direction of extension of the side walls toward the gripping end and is configured to push the pawl for disengaging the pawl from the ratchet wheel.

[0035] It is supposed that the movable locking element and the lever may be immovably connected to each other or made in one piece with each other, wherein preferably the movable locking element is arranged between the side walls of the handle with the lever passing through a slot provided in the one of the side walls of the handle, which is adjacent to the ratchet wheel, such that the lever at least partially comes out of the slot to the outside of the handle.

[0036] It is supposed that the lever may be configured for a dosed weakening of the ratchet drum mechanism and preferably is pullable in direction to the gripping end of the handle to the extent sufficient to rise the movable locking element so as to pass a stop projecting from a top edge of one of side walls of the frame, thereby allowing the protrusion to push the pawl, wherein the stop preferably is provided on the top edge of the one of the side walls of the frame, which is adjacent to the ratchet wheel.

[0037] It is supposed that a working stroke of the handle may be limited by a body of the frame when the handle is in the closed state, and by a stop provided in the form of a recess on a lowest edge of one of the side walls of the frame, preferably next to the stop in direction of the belt coming out the ratchet drum, wherein the movable locking element may abut onto the stop when the handle is in an open state, wherein within the working stroke, the movement of the handle of the ratchet drum mechanism in the direction toward the frame is free, and the movement in the direction away from the frame leads to the rotation of the ratchet drum and tensioning of the belt.

[0038] It is supposed that the hook with the spring-loaded lock may be mounted on the frame from the opposite side of direction of the belt coming out the ratchet drum, so that the hook with the spring-loaded lock is located between the pawl and the buckle, wherein the spring-loaded lock preferably comprises a V-shaped element, with a base portion pivotally attached to the frame and charged by a spring element keeping a first end of the two free ends of the V-shaped element close to a free end of the hook to block removal of the buckle from the hook, wherein a second end of the V-shaped element is located above the first end of the V-shaped element relative to the frame such that when applying force onto the second end of the V-shaped element, which overcomes the load of the spring element, the first end of the V-shaped element moves down toward the frame and away from the free end of the hook thereby unlocking the buckle.

[0039] It is supposed that the frame may further comprise a pocket attached to the frame and configured to receive at least a portion of the belt coming from the ratchet drum in direction of the pocket.

[0040] It is contemplated that the pocket is flexible, and most of the length of the belt passes through the pocket with the free end of the belt covered by the pocket and secured in the pocket.

[0041] Thus, the claimed invention offers a versatile hemostatic tourniquet, which is user- friendly and reliable. The hemostatic tourniquet according to the present invention can be conveniently applied to a limb with minimal physical efforts avoiding pinching of human soft tissues in the folds of the tourniquet. The hemostatic tourniquet according to the present invention enables interrupting compression process with the release of the hands without losing the already achieved tension. Thus, the risk of accidental loosening of compression of an anatomical segment is reduced, while a dosed loosening of compression of an anatomical segment is efficiently provided. The hemostatic tourniquet according to the present invention allows stopping or reducing bleeding in hard-to-reach anatomical areas, including limbs trapped between some objects. The hemostatic tourniquet according to the present invention is functionable in a wide range of environmental conditions.

[0042] The one-way buckle according to the present invention has a simple but very reliable design, which is particularly suitable for using in a hemostatic tourniquet according to the present invention, but is not limited to this use and can be equally successfully used in many other applications which require one-way tensioning mechanism for a belt or strap. For example, the slot in the buckle frame can be used to receive one end of the belt, which can be looped through the slot and fixed by stitching, while the other, free end of the belt will be passed through the buckle. In this case, the one-way buckle can act as an individual tensioning mechanism.

[0043] The present invention will be explained in more detail in the detailed description below with the reference to the accompanying figures.

[0044] BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS The proposed invention is explained using the drawings which show different aspects and embodiments of the present invention, are illustrative and are not limiting.

[0045] Fig. 1 schematically shows a side view of a hemostatic tourniquet according to an embodiment of the present invention, with a handle closed and a one-way buckle locked.

[0046] Fig. 2 schematically shows a perspective view of the hemostatic tourniquet shown in Fig. 1, with the handle closed and the one-way buckle locked.

[0047] Fig. 3 schematically shows a close perspective view of the closed handle of the hemostatic tourniquet shown in Fig. 1.

[0048] Fig. 4 schematically shows another perspective view of the hemostatic tourniquet shown in Fig. 1, with the handle closed and the one-way buckle locked.

[0049] Fig. 5 schematically shows a perspective view of the hemostatic tourniquet shown in Fig. 1, with the handle partially opened.

[0050] Fig. 6 schematically shows a perspective view of the hemostatic tourniquet shown in Fig. 1, with the handle fully opened.

[0051] Fig. 7 schematically shows a perspective view of the one-way buckle according to an embodiment of the present invention, which is used in the hemostatic tourniquet shown in Fig. 1, with a buckle frame and a belt clip positioned relative to each other so as to allow free movement of the belt through the one-way buckle.

[0052] Fig. 8 schematically shows a side view of the position of the one-way buckle as shown in Fig. 7.

[0053] Fig. 9 schematically shows a perspective view of the one-way buckle shown in Fig. 7, with the buckle frame and the belt clip positioned relative to each other so as to allow clamping of the belt therebetween.

[0054] Fig. 10 schematically shows a side view of the position of the one-way buckle as shown in Fig. 9.

[0055] Fig. 11 schematically shows a perspective view of the one-way buckle according to another embodiment of the present invention, with a buckle frame and a belt clip positioned relative to each other so as to allow free movement of the belt through the one-way buckle. Fig. 12 schematically shows a side view of the position of the one-way buckle shown in

[0056] Fig. 11.

[0057] Fig. 13 schematically shows a perspective view of the one-way buckle shown in Fig. 11, with the buckle frame and the belt clip positioned relative to each other so as to allow clamping of the belt therebetween.

[0058] Fig. 14 schematically shows a side view of the position of the one-way buckle shown in Fig. 13.

[0059] Figs. 15-16 show perspective views of the assembled one-way buckle according to the embodiment as shown in Figs. 11-14.

[0060] Figs. 17-18 show perspective views of a buckle frame and a belt clip of the one-way buckle according to the embodiment as shown in Figs. 11-14.

[0061] Fig. 19 schematically shows a side view of a hemostatic tourniquet according to another embodiment of the present invention, with a closed handle and the locked one-way buckle according to the embodiment shown in Figs. 11-18.

[0062] Fig. 20 schematically shows a perspective view of the hemostatic tourniquet shown in Fig. 19, with the handle closed and the one-way buckle locked.

[0063] The present figures relate to schematic drawings so that any dimension of the elements shown in the drawings may deviate from a specifically implemented setup.

[0064] DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0065] The above-mentioned and other technical problems are solved by different embodiments of the present invention. The following embodiments are illustrative and not limiting. It should be understood that various modifications and / or changes to the embodiments described herein may be done without departing from the disclosure, and any such modifications and / or changes fall within the scope of the disclosed invention.

[0066] The following definitions are to be used to interpret the meaning of the terms discussed in the description and recited in the claims. As used herein, the term “about” means that the amount or value in question may be the specific value designated or some other value in its neighborhood. Generally, the term “about” denoting a certain value is intended to denote a range within ± 5% of the value.

[0067] The term “substantially parallel” refers to a possibility of deviating not more than 10° from parallel alignment.

[0068] The term “substantially rectangular” refers to a possibility of deviating not more than 10° from parallel alignment of opposite sides of the rectangular shape.

[0069] The term “substantially equal” and “substantially the same” means that a parameter in question may be equal to a value in question or be in the range within ± 5% of the value.

[0070] Where the present description refers to “preferred” embodiments / features, combinations of these “preferred” embodiments / features shall also be deemed as disclosed as long as this combination of “preferred” embodiments / features is technically meaningful.

[0071] With reference to Figs. 1 and 2, a versatile hemostatic tourniquet according to one aspect of the invention is proposed, which comprises a tensioning ratchet drum mechanism 1 , a non-stretchable flat belt 2, and a one-way buckle 3. The tensioning ratchet drum mechanism 1 comprises a frame 4, a ratchet drum 5, a pawl 6, a handle 7, and a hook 8 with a spring- loaded lock 9.

[0072] The frame 4 comprises a base plate 10 and two side walls 11, 11 ’ provided on the base plate 10 spaced from each other. The base plate 10 preferably is made in one piece with the side walls 11, 11 ’ protruding from the plate 10. The side walls 11, 11 ’ preferably are flat and substantially parallel to each other in a longitudinal direction 12 (as shown in Fig. 1). The base plate 10 is flat and preferably curves along the longitudinal direction 12 and in direction opposite to the direction of protrusion of the two side walls 11, 11 ’ so as to follow the shape of a limb of an injured person. The length of the base plate 10 in the longitudinal direction 12 is provided to at least partially cover the limb of an injured person.

[0073] Preferably, the frame 4 further comprises a pocket 13 configured to receive at least a portion of the belt 2. The pocket 13 is provided on the base plate 10 next to the side walls 11, 11 ’ in the longitudinal direction 12. In the embodiment shown in Figs. 1-6, the pocket 13 is made in one piece with the base plate 10.

[0074] All parts of the frame 4 are rigid and can be made of plastic or metal.

[0075] The ratchet drum 5 is rotatably mounted between the side walls 11, 11 ’ of the frame 4 in a transverse direction 14 (as shown in Fig. 1) that is in one plane with and perpendicular to the longitudinal direction 12. The ratchet drum 5 extends through openings in the side walls 11, 11 ’ of the frame 4 such that a central part of the ratchet drum 4 is between the side walls 11, 11 ’ and end parts of the ratchet drum 4 project beyond the side walls 11, 11’. A ratchet wheel 15 is provided on one of the two end parts of the ratchet drum 5 projecting beyond the side walls 11, 11’. The ratchet wheel 15 may be a separate piece having an opening to provide a form-locking connection to the ratchet drum 5 which constitutes its axis of rotation relative to the frame 4. Alternatively, the ratchet wheel 15 is made in one piece with the ratchet drum 5 which constitutes its axis of rotation relative to the frame 4. The ratchet wheel 15 is provided on its circumference with radially outwardly projecting ratchet teeth 16.

[0076] The end parts of the ratchet drum 5 additionally pass through free ends of two spaced side walls 17, 17’ of the handle 7, in the manner of a bearing axis, such that the handle 7 is secured to the ratchet drum 5. The free ends of the side walls 17, 17’ of the handle 7 each have an opening to provide a form-locking connection to the ratchet drum 5 which constitutes an axis of rotation of the handle 7 relative to the frame 4. In the transverse direction 14, the ratchet wheel 15 lies between an exterior face of one of the side walls 11, 11 ’ of the frame 4 and an interior face of a corresponding one of the side walls 17, 17’ of the handle 7. A pivot pin 18 may be provided to pivotally bear the ratchet drum 5 with the handle 7 on the frame 4.

[0077] One end of the belt 2 is fixed to the ratchet drum 5, particularly to the central part of the ratchet drum 5, which is between the side walls 11, 11 ’ of the frame 4. Particularly, the belt 2 is secured along its width to the ratchet drum 5 along its length (transverse direction 14).

[0078] Depending on a modification of the invention, at least a portion or most of the length of the belt 2 is located in the pocket 13. In this case, the belt 2 comes from the ratchet drum 5 in direction of the pocket 13 and passes through the pocket 13. The inner surface of the pocket 13 preferably is provided with a coating or a layer of a material with a low friction coefficient to enable smooth movement of the belt 2 therein and prevent formation of folds and pinching of soft tissues of the limb in the folds, thereby preventing damaging of the soft tissues of the limb. In the embodiment shown in Figs. 1-6, another end of the belt 2 is a free end 19 passing through the buckle 3 to create a loop of adjustable size, which can be pulled through the buckle 3 to enable tightening of the tourniquet around a limb of an injured person.

[0079] The transverse direction 14, as shown in Fig. 1, corresponds to the direction of the width of the belt 2 and the longitudinal direction 12, as shown in Fig. 1, corresponds to the direction of the length of the belt 2.

[0080] The pawl 6 is provided as a spring-loaded arm mounted to the base plate 10 of the frame 4 in the longitudinal direction 12 and projects in direction of the ratchet drum 5 to cooperate with the teeth 16 of the ratchet wheel 15. The pawl 6 is mounted from the side of the frame 4 which is closer to the buckle 3.

[0081] A gripping end 20 of the handle 7, which faces away from the free ends of the side walls 17, 17’ of the handle 7, through which passes the ratchet drum 5, is an operating part of the handle 7. The gripping end 20 of the handle 7 is made as a body connecting the spaced handle side walls 17, 17’ with one another. The spaced handle side walls 17, 17’ preferably are flat and substantially parallel to each other. The handle 7 further comprises a protrusion 21 (as better shown in Figs. 5 and 6) formed on the free end of the one of the side walls 17, 17’ of the handle 7, which is adjacent to the ratchet wheel 15. The protrusion 21 protrudes in direction opposite to the direction of extension of the side walls 17, 17’ to the gripping end 20 and is configured to push the pawl 6 for disengaging the pawl 6 from the ratchet wheel 5. The handle 7 is further provided with a movable locking element 22 and a lever 23 (as better shown in Figs. 3-6) immovably connected to the movable locking element 22. The lever 23 may be made in one piece with the movable locking element 22 that preferably is made as a plate. The movable locking element 22 is arranged between the side walls 17, 17’ of the handle 7 with the lever 23 passing through a slot 25 provided in the one of the side walls 17, 17’ of the handle 7, which is adjacent to the ratchet wheel 15, such that the lever 23 at least partially comes out of the slot 25 outside the handle 7. The lever 23 is configured for a dosed weakening of the ratchet drum mechanism 1 and is pullable in direction to the gripping end 20 of the handle 7 to the extent sufficient to rise the movable locking element 22 so as to pass a stop 24 projecting from a top edge of one of the side walls 11, 11’ of the frame 4, thereby allowing the protrusion 21 to push the pawl 6 and release the ratchet drum 5. The stop 24 preferably is provided on the top edge of the one of the side walls 11, 11’ of the frame 4, which is adjacent to the ratchet wheel 15.

[0082] The working stroke of the handle 7 is limited by a body of the frame 4 of the ratchet drum mechanism 1 when the handle 7 is in the closed state, and by a stop 48 (as shown in Fig. 3) provided in the form of a recess on a lowest edge of one of the side walls 11 , 11’ of the frame 4 (preferably next to the stop 24 in direction of the belt 2 coming out the ratchet drum 4), onto which the movable locking element 22 abuts when the handle 7 is in an open state. Within the working stroke, the movement of the handle 7 of the ratchet drum mechanism 1 in the direction toward the frame 4 is free, and the movement in the direction away from the frame 4 leads to the rotation of the ratchet drum 5 and tensioning of the belt 2 and, accordingly, to the compression of the limb. The double arrow 49 shown in Fig. 1 particularly illustrates a direction of the movement of the handle 7 toward the frame 4 (the arrow directed downwards) and a direction of the movement of the handle 7 away from the frame 4 (the arrow directed upwards). In order to tension the belt 2, a set of sectoral reciprocating movements thus is performed using the handle 7 by pulling the gripping end 20, which causes a rotation of the ratchet drum 5 and wounding up of the belt 2 thereon when the handle 7 is moved in one direction (away from the frame 4), and an absence of a reverse movement when the handle 7 moves in an opposite direction (toward the frame 4), which is ensured due to fixation of the current position of the ratchet drum 5 with the help of the pawl 6.

[0083] The hook 8 with the spring-loaded lock 9 is provided for self-locking fastening of the buckle 3 to the ratchet drum mechanism 1. The hook 8 with the spring-loaded lock 9 is mounted on the frame 4 from the opposite side of direction of the belt 2 coming out the ratchet drum 4, next to the pawl 6 in the longitudinal direction 12, so that the hook 8 with the spring-loaded lock 9 is located between the pawl 6 and the buckle 3 when the buckle 3 is fastened to the ratchet drum mechanism 1, as better shown in Figs. 5 and 6. the hook 8 is mounted on the frame 4 by one end, and the other, free end 52 of the hook 8 projects toward the ratchet drum 5 so as to be capable to reliably catch the buckle 3. The spring-loaded lock 9 is configured to keep the buckle 3 attached to the hook 8 by blocking a way for detachment of the buckle 3 from the hook 8. Particularly, the spring- loaded lock 9 is configured to block the free end 52 of the hook 8 so as to prevent removal of the buckle 3 from the hook 8. The spring-loaded lock 9 preferably comprises a V-shaped element, with the base portion 53 pivotally attached to the frame 4 and charged by a spring element keeping first end 54 of the two free ends 54, 55 of the V- shaped element sufficiently close (as better shown in the side view in Fig. 1) to the free end 52 of the hook 8 to block removal of the buckle 3 from the hook 8. The second end 55 of the V-shaped element is located above the first end 54 of the V-shaped element relative to the frame 4 such that when applying force onto the second end 55 of the V- shaped element, which overcomes the load of the spring, the first end 54 of the V-shaped element moves down toward the frame 4 and away from the free end 52 of the hook 8 thereby unlocking the buckle 3.

[0084] In the embodiment of the one-way buckle shown in Figs. 7-10, the one-way buckle 3 comprises two mating rigid parts, a buckle frame 26 and a belt clip 27 movably connected to each other. The buckle 3 can be made of plastic, metal or any other suitable material.

[0085] The buckle frame 26 is a monolithic thin and curved plate-like element having substantially constant thickness. The buckle frame 26 comprises a first flat portion 28, a second flat portion 30, and a curved portion 29 provided between the first flat portion 28 and the second flat portion 30. The first flat portion 28 is formed by a slotted plate 281 and two spaced and substantially parallel short longitudinal portions 282, 282’ extending from corresponding two ends of one edge 283 of the slotted plate 281 (in a plane of the slotted plate 281). The slot 31 extends in the transverse direction 14 (that is in one plane and perpendicular to the longitudinal direction 12 shown in Fig. 8) and is suitable for receiving the free end 52 of the hook 8 so as to engage the buckle 3 with the hook 8 by passing the free end 52 of the hook 8 through the slot 31. The curved portion 29 is convex (from an upper side of the buckle frame 26) in the longitudinal direction 12. The curved portion 29 is formed by a curved solid plate 291 and two spaced and substantially parallel curved elongated longitudinal portions 292, 292’ extending from corresponding two ends of one edge 293 of the curved plate 291 (in a plane of the curved plate 291) and each connecting with a corresponding one of the two short longitudinal portions 282, 282’of the first flat portion 28. The opposite edge of the curved plate 291 connects at an obtuse angle to an edge of the second flat portion 30 so that an obtuse angle is formed between planes of the first flat portion 28 and the second flat portion 30, and the second flat portion 30 is lifted in relation to the first flat portion 28.

[0086] A substantially rectangular opening 32 is thus formed in the buckle frame 26 between the slotted plate 281, the curved plate 291, the elongated curved longitudinal portions 292, 292’ and the short longitudinal portions 282, 282’. Particularly, the substantially rectangular opening 32 is formed by opposite internal side walls 40, 40’ of the elongated and short longitudinal portions 292, 292’, 282, 282’ and the corresponding opposite edges 283, 293 of the slotted plate 281 and curved plate 291.

[0087] An elongated notch 33, 33’ is provided on an external side wall of each of the two elongated substantially parallel curved longitudinal portions 292, 292’. The elongated notch 33, 33’ extends from the upper surface to the lower surface of the buckle frame 26 and from the edge 293 of the curved plate 291 and closely to the corresponding short parallel longitudinal portion 282, 282’, as shown in Figs. 7 and 8. The elongated notches 33, 33’ are opposite and substantially parallel to each other.

[0088] The belt clip 27 is a monolithic thin and curved plate-like element having substantially constant thickness, preferably substantially equal to the thickness of the buckle frame 26. The belt clip 27 comprises a first flat portion 34 and a second flat portion 36. The first flat portion 34 is formed by a solid plate 341, two spaced and substantially parallel short longitudinal portions 342, 342’ extending from corresponding two ends of one edge 343 of the solid plate (in a plane of the first flat portion 34), and a protruding plate portion 37 protruding from the central section of the same edge 343 of the solid plate 341 (in a plane of the first flat portion 34). Two spaced and substantially parallel elongated longitudinal flat portions 35, 35’ extend at an obtuse angle from corresponding two ends of one edge 361 of the second flat portion 36 and connect at substantially the same obtuse angle to the corresponding two short longitudinal portions 342, 342’ of the first flat portion 34 so that an angle of about 90 degrees is preferably formed between the planes of the first flat portion 34 and the second flat portion 36, as can be better seen in Fig. 8. The protruding plate portion 37 preferably extends to the point where the planes of the first flat portion 34 and the second flat portion 36 of the belt clip 27 cross.

[0089] An opening 38 is thus formed in the belt clip 27 between the first flat portion 34, the second flat portion 36 and the elongated longitudinal flat portions 35, 35’. Particularly, the opening 38 is formed by opposite internal side walls 39, 39’ of the elongated longitudinal flat portions 35, 35’ and short longitudinal portions 342, 342’ and the corresponding opposite edges 343, 361 of the solid plate 341 and the second flat portion 36. The width of the protruding plate portion 37 of the belt clip 27 in the transverse direction 14 is less than the width of the opening 38 of the belt clip 27 in the transverse direction 14.

[0090] All edges formed in the transverse direction 14 by the buckle frame 26 and belt clip 27 are substantially parallel to each other. All edges formed along a longitudinal axis corresponding to the longitudinal direction 12 by the buckle frame 26 and belt clip 27 are substantially parallel to each other.

[0091] The buckle frame 26 and the belt clip 27 are connected such that the two curved longitudinal portions 292, 292’ of the curved portion 29 are located in the opening 38 of the belt clip 27, each slidable between the corresponding short and elongated longitudinal portions 342, 342’, 35, 35’ of the belt clip 27 and the protruding plate portion 37, and such that two opposite internal longitudinal side walls 39, 39’ formed in the opening 38 of the belt clip 27 are slidable on and within the corresponding elongated notches 33, 33’ of the buckle frame 26. This connection provides that the protruding plate portion 37 of the belt clip 27 passes through the opening 32 in the buckle frame 26, and the second flat portion 30 of the buckle frame 26 is located above the second flat portion 36 of the belt clip 27. The opening 32 in the buckle frame 26 substantially corresponds in width (in the transverse direction 14) to the protruding plate portion 37 of the belt clip 27 so as to provide smooth slidable movement of the protruding plate portion 37 in the opening 32. The distance between the elongated notches 33, 33’ of the buckle frame 26 in the transverse direction 14 substantially meets the width (in the transverse direction 14) of the opening 38 in the belt clip 27 so as to provide smooth slidable movement of the internal side walls 39, 39’ in the opening 38 of the belt clip 27 on the elongated notches 33, 33’ of the buckle frame 26.

[0092] The width of the opening 32 in the buckle frame 26 (in the transverse direction 14) is selected such that it substantially meets the width of the belt 2 (in the transverse direction 14) so as to provide smooth movement of the belt through the opening 32.

[0093] Figs. 7 and 8 show the buckle 3 in engagement with the belt 2. When the belt 2 is engaged with the buckle 3, the free end 19 of the belt 2 is inserted through the opening 32 in the buckle frame 26 from underneath the buckle 3 (i.e. from the back side of the buckle frame 26) and between the first flat portion 28 of the buckle frame 26 and the first flat portion 34 of the belt clip 27, and then is passed above an external edge of the first flat portion 34 of the belt clip 27 (as shown by an arrow 41 in Fig. 8) and through the opening 32 in the buckle frame 26 toward underneath of the buckle frame 26 and between the second flat portion 34 of the belt clip 27 and the second flat portion 30 of the buckle frame 26.

[0094] When the belt 2 is engaged with the buckle 3 in the way as explained above, the movement of the belt clip 27 relative to the buckle frame 26 within the notches 33, 33’ in direction away from the second flat portion 30 of the buckle frame 26, as shown in Figs. 7 and 8, allows to freely move the belt 2 within the buckle 3 and adjust the length of the free end 19 of the belt 2 as desired.

[0095] The movement of the belt clip 27 relative to the buckle frame 26 within the notches 33, 33’ in direction maximally close to the second flat portion 30 of the buckle frame 26, as shown in Figs. 9 and 10, provides clamping of the belt 2 within the buckle 3 in two places, namely 1) between the protruding plate portion 37 and the corresponding free edge 40 of the curved plate of the buckle frame 26 (as shown by an arrow 42 in Fig. 10), and 2) between the second flat portion 30 of the buckle frame 26 and the second flat portion 36 of the belt clip 27, which are substantially parallel to each other in this position (as shown by an arrow 43 in Fig. 10). In the position of the belt clip 27 relative to the buckle frame 26, which is maximally close to the second flat portion 30 of the buckle frame 26, the belt 2 is immovable and tensioned on the edge of the protruding plate portion 37, as shown by arrow 50 in Fig. 10, in direction away from the first flat portion 28 of the buckle frame 26, as shown by arrow 51 in Fig. 10. The protruding plate portion 37 thus helps to provide maximal tensioning of the belt 2 by the buckle 3.

[0096] The length of each of the notches 33, 33’ of the buckle frame 26 (in the longitudinal direction 12) should be provided sufficient to achieve clamping of the belt 2 between the second flat portion 30 of the buckle frame 26 and the second flat portion 36 of the belt clip 27 when the belt clip 27 is arranged within the notches 33, 33’ maximally close to the second flat portion 30 of the buckle frame 26, and to achieve release of tension and free movement of the belt 2 within the buckle 3 when the belt clip 27 is moved within the notches 33, 33’ away from the second flat portion 30 of the buckle frame 26.

[0097] When the buckle 3 is detachably attached to the hook 8 through the slot 31 in the first flat portion 28 of the buckle frame 26, it allows to preliminarily tighten the tourniquet by pulling the free end 19 of the belt 2 through the buckle 3 in the position of the belt clip 27 away from the second flat portion 30 of the buckle frame 26 and fix the preliminary tightening by pulling the belt clip 27 toward the second flat portion 30 of the buckle frame 26. The detachable attachment of the buckle 3 to the hook 8 also allows to “break” the tourniquet loop in order to wrap the tourniquet around a limb of an injured person when there is no possibility of putting the loop of the tourniquet on the limb by passing the end of the limb therethrough. “Breaking” of the tourniquet loop can be implemented either by taking the belt 2 out of the buckle 3 or by disengaging the buckle 3 and the hook 8. “Breaking” of the tourniquet loop by detaching the buckle 3 from the hook 8 allows to apply the tourniquet to the injured limb when there is no access from the end of the limb (for example, when the limb is trapped between some objects), avoiding the steps of taking the belt 2 out of the buckle 3 and then passing the belt 2 back through the buckle 3, which takes much time and is difficult to implement with only one hand, which may be crucial when the injured person needs an immediate medical help and / or when the injured person is alone and needs to apply the tourniquet by himself / herself. Moreover, taking the belt 2 out of the buckle 3 and passing the belt 2 back through the buckle 3 multiple times results in a quick wear of the material of the belt 2, thereby resulting in a short lifetime of the tourniquet.

[0098] Figs. 11-18 show an alternative embodiment of the one-way buckle. In this alternative embodiment, the one-way buckle 56 comprises two mating rigid parts, a buckle frame 57 and a belt clip 58 movably connected to each other. The buckle 56 can be made of plastic, metal or any other suitable material.

[0099] The buckle frame 57 is a monolithic thin and curved plate-like element having substantially constant thickness. The buckle frame 57 comprises a first flat portion 59, a second flat portion 60 and two spaced and substantially parallel elongated flat longitudinal connecting portions 62, 62’ provided therebetween. The first flat portion 59 is formed by a slotted plate 591 and two spaced and substantially parallel short longitudinal portions 592, 592’ extending from corresponding two ends of a first edge 593 of the slotted plate 591 (in a plane of the slotted plate 591). The slot 61 extends in the transverse direction 14 (that is in one plane and perpendicular to the longitudinal direction 12 shown in Fig. 12) and is suitable for receiving the free end 52 of the hook 8 so as to engage the buckle 56 with the hook 8 by passing the free end 52 of the hook 8 through the slot 61.

[0100] The second flat portion 60 is formed by a solid plate 601 and two spaced and substantially parallel short longitudinal portions 602, 602’ extending from corresponding two ends of a first edge 603 of the plate 601 (in a plane of the plate 601).

[0101] The two connecting portions 62, 62’ connect the first flat portion 59 and the second flat portion 60. Particularly, each of the two connecting portions 62, 62’ extends at an obtuse angle from a corresponding one of the two short longitudinal portions 592, 592’ of the first flat portion 59 and connects at substantially the same obtuse angle to a corresponding one of the two short longitudinal portions 602, 602’ of the second flat portion 60 so that the planes of the first flat portion 59 and the second flat portion 60 are parallel to each other, and the second flat portion 60 is lifted in relation to the first flat portion 59, as can be better seen in Fig. 12. A substantially rectangular opening 63 is thus formed in the buckle frame 57 between the slotted plate 591, the solid plate 601, the connecting portions 62, 62’ and the short longitudinal portions 592, 592’, 602, 602’. Particularly, the substantially rectangular opening 63 is formed by opposite internal side walls 64, 64’ formed by the portions 62, 62’, 592, 592’, 602, 602’ and the corresponding opposite edges 593 and 603 of the respective slotted plate 591 and solid plate 601.

[0102] An elongated notch 65, 65’ is provided on each of two opposite external side walls, wherein each of the two opposite external side walls is formed by a corresponding one of the connecting portions 62, 62’, a corresponding one of the two short longitudinal portions 592, 592’ of the first flat portion 59, and a corresponding one of the two short longitudinal portions 602, 602’ of the second flat portion 60. Each elongated notch 65, 65’ extends from the upper surface to the lower surface of the buckle frame 57 and from a middle portion of a part of the external side wall, which is formed by the corresponding short longitudinal portion 592, 592’ of the first flat portion 59, to a middle portion of a part of the external side wall, which is formed by the corresponding short longitudinal portion 602, 602’ of the second flat portion 60, as shown in Figs. 11-14. The elongated notches 65, 65’ are opposite and substantially parallel to each other.

[0103] The belt clip 58 is a monolithic thin convex (or half-circle shaped) plate-like element having constant thickness, preferably substantially equal to the thickness of the buckle frame 57. The belt-clip 58 is convex (from an upper surface of the belt clip 58) in the longitudinal direction 12.

[0104] The belt clip 58 comprises an elongated first plate portion 66, an elongated second plate portion 67 being substantially parallel to the first plate portion 66, and two spaced and substantially parallel short longitudinal connecting portions 70, 70’ that connect the first plate portion 66 and the second plate portion 67. The connecting portions 70, 70’ extend from corresponding two ends of said first elongated edge 661 of the first plate portion 66 and connect with the corresponding two ends of a first elongated edge 671 of the second plate portion 67. A central section 68 of the first plate portion 66 protrudes towards the first elongated edge 671 of the second plate portion 67 and between the two spaced connecting portions 70, 70’ (see Figs. 15-18). Optionally, a central section also can slightly protrude at an opposite elongated edge 662 of the first plate portion 66, as shown by position 69 in Fig. 17.

[0105] The wide central section 68 {i.e., wide in the longitudinal direction 1 ) of the first plate portion 66 helps to better support and direct the belt 2 in the buckle 56.

[0106] An opening 71 is thus formed in the belt clip 58 between the first plate portion 66, the second plate portion 67, and the connecting portions 70, 70’, with the central section 68 protruding in the opening 71 following the convex shape of the belt clip 58. Particularly, the opening 71 is formed by opposite internal longitudinal side walls 72, 72’ of the connecting portions 70, 70’, the corresponding opposite edges 661 and 671 of the respective first plate portion 66 (including the edges of the protruding central section 68) and the second plate portion 67.

[0107] The width of the protruding central section 68 of the first plate portion 66 of the belt clip 58 in the transverse direction 14 is less than the width of the opening 71 of the belt clip 58 in the transverse direction 14. Preferably, the width of the protruding central section 68 of the first plate portion 66 of the belt clip 58 in the transverse direction 14 substantially meets the width of the belt 2 in the transverse direction 14.

[0108] The central section 68 of the first plate portion 66 of the belt clip 58 preferably extends in the longitudinal direction 12 substantially to the middle of the connecting portions 70, 70’.

[0109] All edges formed in the transverse direction 14 by the buckle frame 57 and belt clip 58 are substantially parallel to each other. All edges formed along a longitudinal axis corresponding to the longitudinal direction 12 by the buckle frame 57 and the belt clip 58 are substantially parallel to each other.

[0110] The buckle frame 57 and the belt clip 58 are connected such that the two connecting flat portions 62, 62’ of the buckle frame 57 are located in the opening 71 of the belt clip 58, each slidable between a corresponding one of the two connecting portions 70, 70’ of the belt clip 58 and the protruding central section 68 of the first plate portion 66, and such that two opposite internal longitudinal side walls 72, 72’ formed in the opening 71 of the belt clip 58 are slidable on and within the corresponding elongated notches 65, 65’ of the buckle frame 57. This connection provides that the protruding central section 68 of the first plate portion 66 of the belt clip 58 passes through the opening 63 in the buckle frame 57, and the second flat portion 60 of the buckle frame 57 is located above the second plate portion 67 of the belt clip 58 (as can be seen in Figs. 11-14).

[0111] The opening 63 in the buckle frame 57 substantially corresponds in width (in the transverse direction 14) to the central section 68 of the of the first plate portion 66 of the belt clip 58 so as to provide smooth slidable movement of the protruding plate portion 68 in the opening 63. The distance between the elongated notches 65, 65’ of the buckle frame 57 in the transverse direction 14 substantially corresponds to the width (in the transverse direction 14) of the opening 71 in the belt clip 58 (that is the distance between the internal longitudinal side walls 72, 72’) so as to provide smooth slidable movement of the internal longitudinal side walls 72, 72’ of the belt clip 58 on the elongated notches 65, 65’ of the buckle frame 57.

[0112] The width of the opening 63 in the buckle frame 57 (in the transverse direction 14) is selected such that it substantially meets the width of the belt 2 (in the transverse direction 14) so as to provide smooth movement of the belt through the opening 63.

[0113] Figs. 11-14 show the buckle 56 in engagement with the belt 2. When the belt 2 is engaged with the buckle 56, the free end 19 of the belt 2 is inserted through the opening 63 in the buckle frame 57 from underneath the buckle 56 (i.e. from the back side of the buckle frame 57) and between the first flat portion 59 of the buckle frame 57 and the first plate portion 66 of the belt clip 58, and then is passed above an external edge of the first plate portion 66 of the belt clip 58 (as shown by an arrow 73 in Fig. 14) and through the opening 63 in the buckle frame 57 toward underneath of the buckle frame 57 and between the second plate portion 67 of the belt clip 27 and the second flat portion 60 of the buckle frame 57.

[0114] When the belt 2 is engaged with the buckle 56 in the way as explained above, the movement of the belt clip 58 relative to the buckle frame 57 within the notches 65, 65’ in direction away from the second flat portion 60 of the buckle frame 57, as shown in Figs. 11 and 12, allows to freely move the belt 2 within the buckle 56 and adjust the length of the free end 19 of the belt 2 as desired. The movement of the belt clip 58 relative to the buckle frame 57 within the notches 65, 65’ in direction maximally close to the second flat portion 60 of the buckle frame 57, as shown in Figs. 13 and 14 provides clamping of the belt 2 within the buckle 56 in two places, namely 1) between the central section 68 of the first plate portion (66) and the corresponding free edge 603 of the second flat portion 60 (as shown by an arrow 74 in Fig. 14), and 2) between the second flat portion 60 of the buckle frame 57 and the second plate portion 67 of the belt clip 58 (as shown by an arrow 75 in Fig. 14). In the position of the belt clip 58 relative to the buckle frame 57, which is maximally close to the second flat portion 60 of the buckle frame 57, a second elongated edge of the plate 601 of the second flat portion 60, which is opposite to the first elongated edge 603 of the plate 601 of the second flat portion 60, contacts a second elongated edge of the second plate portion 67, which is opposite to the first elongated edge 671 of the second plate portion 67. Therefore, in the position of the belt clip 58 relative to the buckle frame 57, which is maximally close to the second flat portion 60 of the buckle frame 57, the belt 2 appears immovable between the second flat portion 60 of the buckle frame 57 and the second plate portion 67 of the belt clip 58 (as shown by an arrow 75 in Fig. 14) and tensioned in direction away from the first flat portion 59 of the buckle frame 57, as shown by an arrow 76 in Fig. 14. In this position, the belt 2 rests tensioned on the back surface of the belt clip 58.

[0115] The length of each of the notches 65, 65’ of the buckle frame 57 (in the longitudinal direction 12) should be provided sufficient to achieve clamping of the belt 2 between the second flat portion 60 of the buckle frame 57 and the second plate portion 67 of the belt clip 58 when the belt clip 58 is arranged within the notches 65, 65’ maximally close to the second flat portion 60 of the buckle frame 57, and to achieve release of tension and free movement of the belt 2 within the buckle 56 when the belt clip 58 is moved within the notches 65, 65’ away from the second flat portion 60 of the buckle frame 57.

[0116] Figs. 19 and 20 show another possible embodiment of a hemostatic tourniquet, wherein the one-way buckle 56 shown in Figs. 11-18 is used.

[0117] Also, in the embodiment shown in Figs. 19 and 20, the hemostatic tourniquet comprises an alternative embodiment of a pocket 77 which is made flexible and receives the whole length of the belt 2 that comes from the ratchet drum 5 in direction of the pocket 77. One end of the pocket 77 which receives the belt 2 coming from the ratchet drum 5 is attached to the base plate 10 next to the side walls 11 , 11 ’ in the longitudinal direction 12. In the preferable embodiment, most of the length of the belt 2 passes through and is located in the pocket 77 such that another end of the belt 2, which is not attached to the ratchet drum 5, is secured inside the pocket 77 by sewing together the mentioned end of the belt 2 and the free end 78 of the pocket 77.

[0118] In an alternative embodiment (not shown), most of the length of the belt 2 passes through and is located in the pocket 77 such that another end of the belt 2, which is not attached to the ratchet drum 5, is located inside the pocket 77, and the belt 2 is sewn to the pocket

[0119] 77 at some distance from the free end 78 of the pocket 77.

[0120] In another alternative embodiment (not shown), the flexible pocket 77 can cover only a portion of the belt 2 such that the free end 19 of the belt 2 conics from the pocket 77. In this case, the belt 2 can be sewn to the pocket 77 at the end 78 of the pocket 77 so as to move together with the pocket 77, or can freely move in and out of the pocket 77.

[0121] The inner surface of the pocket 77 preferably is provided with a coating or a layer of a material with a low friction coefficient to enable smooth movement of the free portion of the belt 2 therein and prevent formation of folds and pinching of soft tissues of the limb in the folds, thereby preventing damaging of the soft tissues of the limb.

[0122] In the embodiment, where the most of the length of the belt 2 passes through and is located in the pocket 77 such that another end of the belt 2, which is not attached to the ratchet drum 5, is located (and, optionally, secured) inside the pocket 77, the free end

[0123] 78 of the pocket 77 with the belt 2 located therein (instead of the free end 19 of the belt 2) is pulled through the one-way buckle 56 to make a loop and tighten the tourniquet.

[0124] Though in the embodiment shown in Figs. 19-20, the tourniquet comprises the one-way buckle 56 shown in Figs. 11-18, in an alternative embodiment, the tourniquet can comprise the one-way buckle 3 shown in Figs. 7-10, and in such configuration (not shown), if the end of the belt 2, which is not attached to the ratchet drum 5, is located (and, optionally, secured) inside the pocket 77, the free end 78 of the pocket 77 with the belt 2 located therein (instead of the free end 19 of the belt 2) is pulled through the oneway buckle 3 shown in Figs. 7-10 to make a loop and tighten the tourniquet.

[0125] The ratchet drum mechanism 1 of the hemostatic tourniquet according to the present invention has four operating modes: a belt tensioning mode, a current state saving mode, a dosed tension release mode, and a belt release mode. Each of the operating modes correspond to a certain position of the handle 7 of the ratchet drum mechanism 1.

[0126] Before tensioning the belt 2 with the help of the ratchet drum mechanism 1, it is necessary to preliminary tension the belt 2 by passing the free end 19 of the belt 2 (or the free end 78 of the flexible pocket 77) through the buckle 3 or 56 and pulling the excess length of the belt 2 (or the excess length of the flexible pocket 77) through and out of the buckle 3 or 56, as explained above and shown by arrows 41 , 44 and 45 in Fig. 8 (or by arrow 73 in Fig. 12), and ensure clamping of the belt 2 (or the flexible pocket 77 with the belt 2 located therein) within the buckle 3 or 56 as shown by arrows 42 and 43 in Fig. 10 (or by arrows 74-75 in Fig. 14).

[0127] The belt tensioning mode comprises performing a series of sectoral reciprocating movements by the handle 7 (as shown by the double arrow 49 in Fig. 1 and Fig. 19), which cause a rotation of the ratchet drum 5 and wounding up of the belt 2 thereon when the handle 7 is moved in the direction away from the frame 4, and an absence of a reverse movement when the handle 7 freely moves in an opposite direction, i.e. in a direction toward the frame 4, which is ensured due to the fixation of the current position of the ratchet drum 5 with the help of the pawl 6.

[0128] The current state saving mode is the closed position of the handle 7, i.e. where the handle 7 is maximally moved in direction towards the frame 4, as shown by an arrow 46 in Fig. 4 and 20. This closed position of the handle 7 provides a closed state of the ratchet drum mechanism 1. In this state, the movement of the ratchet drum 5 is blocked due to the fixation and complete immobilization of the pawl 6 in a corresponding groove of the handle 7. In this state, the handle 7 also covers (blocks) access to the hook 8 with the spring-loaded lock 9 which fasten the one-way buckle 3 or 56 to the ratchet drum mechanism 1, thereby making it impossible to accidentally unlock the buckle 3 or 56 and detach it from the ratchet drum mechanism 1. The ratchet drum tension mechanism 1 can be put in the dosed tension release mode by pulling the lever 23, preferably in the direction of the gripping end 20 of the handle 7, i.e. in the direction away from the ratchet drum 5, as shown by an arrow 47 in Fig. 5. When the lever 23 is pulled the movable locking element 22 rises in direction away from the ratchet drum 5, which allows the movable locking element 22 to pass the stop 24 on the top edge of one of the side walls 11, 11 ’ of the frame 4 when the handle 7 is turned in direction away from the frame 4, i.e. in the opening direction. After the stop 24 is passed by the movable locking element 22, each further pressing on the handle 7 in the opening direction leads to that the protrusion 21 on the handle 7 pushes the pawl 6 and releases the ratchet drum 5 by disengaging the ratchet wheel 15 and the pawl 6. When the ratchet drum 5 rotates by one tooth 16 of the ratchet wheel 15, the next tooth 16 is caught by the locking element 22, and further rotation of the ratchet drum 5 is blocked. Thus, each pressing on the handle 7 leads to a release of the compression of the limb, which corresponds to the rotation of the ratchet drum 5 by one tooth 16 of the ratchet wheel 15. Tensioning of the belt 2 is required to initiate the rotation of the ratchet drum 5.

[0129] The whole opening of the ratchet drum mechanism 1, as shown in Fig. 6, is ensured by pulling the lever 23 in direction of the gripping end 20 of the handle 7, which causes the movable locking element 22 rise in direction away from the ratchet drum 5, so as to pass the stop 23 on the frame 4. Then, without releasing the lever 23, the handle 7 is turned into a fully open position. After that, the lever 23 is released and the stop 48 (shown in Fig. 3) provided on the lowest edge of one of the side walls 11 , 11 ’ of the frame 4 locks the movable locking element 22 and disconnects it from the ratchet wheel 15, and the protrusion 21 on the handle 7 presses on the pawl 6 and releases the ratchet drum 5, and the force of compression of the limb completely disappears. After that, it is possible to unlock the lock 9 by pressing thereon, remove the buckle 3 or 56 from the hook 8 and remove the tourniquet from the limb.

[0130] Many modifications to the embodiments described herein, as well as other embodiments, can be apparent to one skilled in the art who can take advantage of the ideas presented in the foregoing description and related drawings. It is understandable that any such modifications and additional embodiments are covered by the scope of this disclosure which should not be limited to any of the disclosed particular embodiments.

Claims

CLAIMS1. A one-way buckle (3), comprising two mating monolithic plate-like parts, a buckle frame (26) and a belt clip (27) movably connected to each other, characterized in that the buckle frame (26) comprises a first flat portion (28), a second flat portion (30) and a convex portion (29) provided therebetween, the first flat portion (28) formed by a slotted plate (281) and two spaced portions (282, 282’) extending from the slotted plate (281), the convex portion (29) being formed by a plate (291) and two spaced portions (292, 292’) extending from one edge (293) of the plate (291) and each connecting with one of the two spaced portions (282, 282’) of the first flat portion (28), the plate (291) of the convex portion (29) connecting by its opposite edge, at an obtuse angle, to the second flat portion (30), an opening (32) being formed in the buckle frame (26) between the slotted plate (281), the plate (291) of the convex portion (29) and the four spaced portions (292, 292’, 282, 282’), an elongated notch (33, 33’) being provided on an external side wall of each of the two spaced portions (292, 292’) of the convex portion (29); the belt clip (27) comprises a first flat portion (34) and a second flat portion (36), the first flat portion (34) formed by a plate (341), two spaced portions (342, 342’) extending from one edge (343) of the plate (341), and a plate portion (37) protruding from a central section of the same edge (343) of the plate (341), two spaced flat portions (35, 35’) extending at an obtuse angle from the second flat portion (36) and each connecting at an obtuse angle to one of the spaced portions (342, 342’) of the first flat portion (34), an opening (38) being formed in the belt clip (27) between the first flat portion (34), the second flat portion (36) and the spaced flat portions (35, 35’); wherein the two spaced portions (292, 292’) of the convex portion (29) are located in the opening (38) of the belt clip (27), each slidable between one of the spaced portions (342, 342’) of the first flat portion (34), one of the spaced flat portions (35, 35’), and the protruding plate portion (37), wherein two internal side walls (39, 39’) of the belt clip (27) are slidable on and within the notches (33, 33’), and wherein when the belt clip (27) is positioned maximally close to the second plate portion (30) of the buckle frame (26), the second flat portion (30) of the buckle frame (26) is substantially parallel to and contacts the second flat portion (36) of the belt clip (27).

2. The one-way buckle (3) according to claim 1, wherein the protruding plate portion (37) of the belt clip (27) passes through the opening (32) in the buckle frame (26).

3. The one-way buckle (3) according to claim 1 or claim 2, wherein an obtuse angle is formed between planes of the first flat portion (28) and the second flat portion (30), and the second flat portion (30) is lifted in relation to the first flat portion (28).

4. The one-way buckle (3) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the opening (32) of the buckle frame (26) is substantially rectangular.

5. The one-way buckle (3) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein each notch (33, 33’) extends from an upper surface to a lower surface of the buckle frame (26) and from the edge (293) of the plate (291) of the convex portion (29), from which the two spaced portions (292, 292’) extend, and closely to a corresponding one of the spaced portions (282, 282’) of the first flat portion (28), wherein the notches (33, 33’) are located opposite to each other and substantially parallel to each other.

6. The one-way buckle (3) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the two spaced flat portions (35, 35’) extending at the obtuse angle from the second flat portion (36) each connect at substantially the same obtuse angle to one of the spaced portions (342, 342’) of the first flat portion (34) so that an angle of about 90 degrees is formed between the planes of the first flat portion (34) and the second flat portion (36).

7. The one-way buckle (3) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the protruding plate portion (37) extends to the point where the planes of the first flat portion (34) and the second flat portion (36) of the belt clip (27) cross.

8. A one-way buckle (56) comprising two mating monolithic plate-like parts, a buckle frame (57) and a belt clip (58) movably connected to each other, characterized in that the buckle frame (57) comprises a first flat portion (59), a second flat portion (60)and two spaced connecting flat portions (62, 62’) provided therebetween, the first flat portion (59) being formed by a slotted plate (591) and two spaced portions (592, 592’) extending from a first edge (593) of the slotted plate (591), the second flat portion (60) being formed by a plate (601) and two spaced portions (602, 602’) extending from a first edge (603) of the plate (601), the connecting flat portions (62, 62’) each extending at an obtuse angle from one of the two spaced portions (592, 592’) of the first flat portion (59) and connecting at an obtuse angle to one of the two spaced portions (602, 602’) of the second flat portion (60), an opening (63) being formed in the buckle frame (57) between the slotted plate (591), the plate (601) of the second flat portion (60), the connecting flat portions (62, 62’), the spaced portions (592, 592’) of the first flat portion (59) and the spaced portions (602, 602’) of the second flat portion (60), an elongated notch (65, 65’) being provided on each of two external side walls each formed by one of the two connecting flat portions (62, 62’), one of the two spaced portions (592, 592’) of the first flat portion (59) and one of the two spaced portions (602, 602’) of the second flat portion (60), the belt clip (58) is a convex plate comprising a first plate portion (66), a second plate portion (67) and two spaced connecting portions (70, 70’) extending from a first edge (661) of the first plate portion (66) and connecting with a first edge (671) of the second plate portion (67), a central section (68) of the first plate portion (66) protrudes towards the second plate portion (67) and between the two spaced connecting portions (70, 70’), an opening (71) being formed in the belt clip (58) between the first plate portion (66), the second plate portion (67) and the two spaced connecting portions (70, 70’), wherein the connecting flat portions (62, 62’) of the buckle frame (57) are located in the opening (71) of the belt clip (58), each slidable between the protruding central section (68) of the first plate portion (66) and one of the two spaced connecting portions (70, 70’) of the belt clip (58), wherein two internal side walls (72, 72’) of the belt clip (58) are slidable on and within the notches (65, 65’), and wherein when the belt clip (58) is positioned maximally close to the second flat portion (60) of the buckle frame (57), an edge of the plate (601) of the second flat portion (60), which is opposite to the first edge (603) of the plate (601) of the second flat portion (60), contacts an edge of the second plate portion (67), which is opposite to the first edge (671) of the second plateportion (67).

9. The one-way buckle (3) according to claim 8, wherein the central section (68) of the first plate portion (66) of the belt clip (58) passes through the opening (63) in the buckle frame (57).

10. The one-way buckle (56) according to claim 8 or claim 9, wherein planes of the first flat portion (59) and the second flat portion (60) of the buckle frame (57) are parallel to each other, and the second flat portion (60) is lifted in relation to the first flat portion (59).

11. The one-way buckle (3) according to any one of claims 8-10, wherein the opening (63) of the buckle frame (57) is substantially rectangular.

12. The one-way buckle (3) according to any one of claims 8-11, wherein each elongated notch (65, 65 ’) extends from an upper surface to a lower surface of the buckle frame (57) and from a part of the external side wall formed by one of the spaced portions (592, 592’) of the first flat portion (59) to a part of the external side wall formed by one of the spaced portions (602, 602’) of the second flat portion (60).

13. A hemostatic tourniquet for a limb, comprising a ratchet drum mechanism (1), a non-stretchable flat belt (2), and a one-way buckle (3, 56) according to any one of claims 1-12, wherein the ratchet drum mechanism (1) comprises: a frame (4); a ratchet drum (5); a pawl (6) cooperating with teeth (16) of a ratchet wheel (15) comprised by the ratchet drum (5); a handle (7); and a hook (8) with a spring-loaded lock (9) for selflocking fastening of the buckle (3, 56) from opposite side of direction of the belt (2), wherein the buckle (3, 56) is fastened to the hook (8) through a slot (31, 61) in the slotted plate (281, 591) and allows tightening the tourniquet by pulling a free end (19) of the belt (2) through the buckle (3), wherein the handle (7) includes a movable locking element (22) keeping the buckle (3) locked when the handle (7) is closed,wherein the handle includes a lever (23) configured to disengage the movable locking element (22) from the frame (4) such that when the lever (23) is pulled, the movable locking element (22) rises and allows the handle (7) to open, wherein when the handle (7) is fully open, the spring-loaded lock (9) is configured to be pressed on to allow removing the buckle (3, 56) from the hook (8).

14. The hemostatic tourniquet according to claim 13, wherein the belt (2) is engaged with the buckle (3, 56) such that the belt (2) passes through the opening (32, 63) in the buckle frame (26, 57) from underneath the buckle frame (26, 57) and between the first flat portion (28, 59) of the buckle frame (26, 57) and the first portion (34, 66) of the belt clip (27), passes above an external edge of the first portion (34, 66) of the belt clip (27) and through the opening (32, 63) in the buckle frame (26, 57) toward underneath the buckle frame (26, 57) so that the free end (19) of the belt (2) comes out from between the second portion (34, 67) of the belt clip (27, 58) and the second flat portion (30, 60) of the buckle frame (26, 57).

15. The hemostatic tourniquet according to claim 13 or 14, wherein the belt (2) is fixed to the ratchet drum (5) by a second end so that a loop is provided by the belt (2) when the free end (19) of the belt (2) passes through the buckle (3, 56).

16. The hemostatic tourniquet according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the handle (7) comprises a gripping end (20) facing away from free ends of two spaced side walls (17, 17’) of the handle (7), through which passes the ratchet drum (5), the gripping end (20) connecting the side walls (17, 17’) with one another.

17. The hemostatic tourniquet according to claim 16, wherein a protrusion (21) is formed on the free end of one of the side walls (17, 17’) of the handle (7), which is adjacent to the ratchet wheel (15), wherein the protrusion (21) is protruding in direction opposite to the direction of extension of the side walls (17, 17’) toward the gripping end (20) and is configured to push the pawl (6) for disengaging the pawl (6) from the ratchet wheel (5).

18. The hemostatic tourniquet according to claim 16 or 17, wherein the movable locking element (22) and the lever (23) are immovably connected to each other or made in one piece with each other, wherein preferably the movable locking element (22) is arranged between the side walls (17, 17’) of the handle (7) with the lever (23) passing through a slot (25) provided in the one of the side walls (17, 17’) of the handle (7), which is adjacent to the ratchet wheel (15), such that the lever (23) at least partially comes out of the slot (25) to the outside of the handle (7).

19. The hemostatic tourniquet according to any one of claims 16-18, wherein the lever (23) is configured for a dosed weakening of the ratchet drum mechanism (1) and preferably is pullable in direction to the gripping end (20) of the handle (7) to the extent sufficient to rise the movable locking element (22) so as to pass a stop (24) projecting from a top edge of one of side walls (11, 11 ’) of the frame (4), thereby allowing the protrusion (21) to push the pawl (6), wherein the stop (24) preferably is provided on the top edge of the one of the side walls (11, 11 ’) of the frame (4), which is adjacent to the ratchet wheel (15).

20. The hemostatic tourniquet according to claim 19, wherein a working stroke of the handle (7) is limited by a body of the frame (4) when the handle (7) is in the closed state, and by a stop (48) provided in the form of a recess on a lowest edge of one of the side walls (11, 11 ’) of the frame (4), preferably next to the stop (24) in direction of the belt (2) coming out the ratchet drum (4), wherein the movable locking element (22) abuts onto the stop (48) when the handle (7) is in an open state, wherein within the working stroke, the movement of the handle (7) of the ratchet drum mechanism (1) in the direction toward the frame (4) is free, and the movement in the direction away from the frame (4) leads to the rotation of the ratchet drum (5) and tensioning of the belt (2).

21. The hemostatic tourniquet according to any one of claims 13-20, wherein the hook (8) with the spring-loaded lock (9) is mounted on the frame (4) from the opposite side of direction of the belt (2) coming out the ratchet drum (4), so that the hook (8) with the spring-loaded lock (9) is located between the pawl (6) and the buckle (3, 56), wherein the spring-loaded lock (9) preferably comprises a V-shaped element, with abase portion (53) pivotally attached to the frame (4) and charged by a spring element keeping a first end (54) of the two free ends (54, 55) of the V-shaped element close to a free end (52) of the hook (8) to block removal of the buckle (3, 56) from the hook (8), wherein a second end (55) of the V-shaped element is located above the first end (54) of the V-shaped element relative to the frame (4) such that when applying force onto the second end (55) of the V-shaped element, which overcomes the load of the spring element, the first end (54) of the V-shaped element moves down toward the frame (4) and away from the free end (52) of the hook (8) thereby unlocking the buckle (3, 56).

22. The hemostatic tourniquet according to claim 15, wherein the frame (4) further comprises a pocket (13, 77) attached to the frame (4) and configured to receive at least a portion of the belt (2) coming from the ratchet drum (5) in direction of the pocket (13).

23. The hemostatic tourniquet according to claim 22, wherein the pocket (77) is flexible, and most of the length of the belt (2) passes through the pocket (77) with the free end (19) of the belt (2) covered by the pocket (77) and secured in the pocket (77).

Images