Buckle Assembly Clamping Loop Prevents Belt Loosening
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Solution Overview
Problem
Buckle assemblies for belt webbing often fail to provide reliable length-adjustable fixation, especially when not under tensile force, leading to unwanted loosening, particularly evident in applications like helmet straps where movement introduces irregular forces.
Innovation Solution
A buckle assembly featuring a circumferentially closed clamping loop on the buckle body that provides an additional force-fit connection independent of tensile forces, which can be elastic and pretensioned, combined with a holding device to prevent the loop from sliding, ensuring a strong and reliable fixation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If a force-fit connection is used between the belt webbing and buckle body, then the buckle assembly can be simple and inexpensive, but the length fixation is unreliable when no directed tensile forces act on the belt webbing end
Solution Approach 1:
The invention divides the fixation function into two independent segments: the original force-fit connection between belt webbing end and buckle body, and the new clamping loop connection between belt webbing and buckle body. This segmentation allows each segment to perform its specific function - the force-fit connection handles loaded conditions while the clamping loop handles unloaded conditions, resolving the reliability issue without complicating the overall structure
Solution Approach 2:
The clamping loop acts as an intermediary element between the belt webbing and the buckle body. It provides an additional connection path that activates when tensile forces are absent, mediating the fixation in unloaded conditions. The clamping loop is positioned to clamp the belt webbing against the buckle body, creating a reliable connection without requiring complex mechanisms
2Reliability
If a separate loop is arranged on the belt webbing to prevent shifting, then the belt webbing can be secured, but the wanted shifting becomes impeded and more awkward for the user
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of placing the loop on the belt webbing (as in the prior art), the invention inverts the approach by placing the clamping loop on the buckle body. This inversion allows the loop to clamp the belt webbing from the buckle body side, providing secure fixation while maintaining ease of operation. The belt webbing can still be intentionally shifted by pulling it through the buckle body opening, as the clamping loop only prevents inadvertent shifting when no tensile forces are applied
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The solution effectively prevents the undesired loosening of belt webbing assemblies in both loaded and unloaded conditions by creating a strong force-fit connection between the buckle body and the belt webbing, enhancing the reliability of the length fixation.
Implementation Method 1
The clamping loop also is formed to act upon the abutment part, which in the connected condition rests against the abutment portion, with a force in direction of the at least one abutment portion
Implementation Method 2
The clamping loop can elastically be pretensioned in the connected condition of the buckle body and the at least one belt webbing
Implementation Method 3
the buckle body includes at least one holding device which is formed to prevent that the clamping loop slides down from the buckle body along a main loading direction
Data Source
AI summary
A buckle assembly for a belt webbing includes a buckle body which includes at least one abutment portion and is connectable with at least one belt webbing. In a connected condition at least one first abutment part of the at least one belt webbing rests against the at least one abutment portion. The buckle assembly furthermore includes a clamping loop arranged on the buckle body, which is circumferentially closed and defines an opening. The clamping loop is arranged on the abutment portion around the buckle body such that the buckle body extends through the opening and is formed to act on the abutment part, which in the connected condition rests against the abutment portion, with a force in a direction of the at least one abutment portion.