US2542044A - Slide buckle - Google Patents

Description

Feb. 20, 1951 J. MILLER ET AL SLIDE BUCKLE Filed July 9, 1945 INVENTORS: JOSHUA MILLER BY JAMES T. TRU ELSEN AITORNEY Patented Feb. 20, 1951 SLIDE BUCKLE Joshua Miller, Drexel Hill, and James T. Truelsen,

United States Navy, Philadelphia, Pa.

Application July 9, 1945, Serial No. 603,998

(Granted under the act of March 3, 1883, as amended April 30, 1928; 370 0. G. 757) 2 Claims.

, This invention relates to new and useful improvements in fastening devices, and more particularly, to adjustable fastening devices of the buckle, hook and ring type for use with belts, straps, webbing and the like.

The principal object of the present invention is to provide a novel fastening device of the stated type that may be readily adjusted lengthwise of an associated web or strap and is operable to automatically look upon the web or strap in the position to which adjusted when said strap is placed under tension.

Another object of the invention is to provide a novel fastening device of the character de scribed which is constructed and arranged so that the greater the tension or pull placed upon the associated web or strap, the tighter will be the clamping or gripping force exerted by the device upon the web or strap. A further object of the invention is to provide novel fastening devices having the features and advantages described which are of relatively rugged, simplified construction, relatively inexpensive to manufacture and entirely efficient and reliable in use.

These and other objects of the invention, and the various features and details of the construction and operation thereof, are hereinafter fully set forth. and described with reference to the accompanying drawing, in which:

Fig. 1 is a view in perspective showing a buckle fastener embodying the present invention having associated therewith a suitable strap or belt which is shown partly broken away;

Fig. 2 is a sectional view taken on line 22, Fig. 1, the strap or belt having been removed;

Fig. 3 is a section view of an alternative construction embodying thepresent invention;

Fig. 4 is a view in perspective of a hook fastener embodying the present invention shown in conjunction with a suitable belt or strap and complementary ring assembly, the strap being partly broken away;

Fig. 5 is a view in perspective showing a ring construction embodying the present invention with. the strap partly broken away; and

Fig. 6 is a view in perspective of a modified form of buckle fastener embodying the present invention with the straps removed.

Referring now to the drawing, and more particularly to Figs. 1 and 2 thereof, reference numeral generally designates a, buckle type fastener made according to the present invention. The buckle I comprises an open, generally rectangular or square, frame 2 having integral side and end portions 3 and 4, 5 and 6, respectively, which define or bound therewithin an opening or eye l likewise of rectangular or square shape. It is to be noted that the end portion 5 of the frame 2 is substantially thicker than the other end and side portions thereof, and that said end portion 6 is arranged to provide an offset or projecting portion at the underside of the buckle as indicated at 8.

Slidably mounted upon the side portions 3 and 4 of the frame 2 for movement within the eye a between the frame end portions 5 and 6, is a friction grip mcmber generally designated as 9. As shown, the face or surface it of the friction member 9 is substantially flat and parallel to the inner surface of the adjacent frame end wall portion 6, and may be knurled or otherwise provided with a roughened surface I 0' for better frictional engagement with an associated strap or belt as hereinafter described. From the upper edge of the flat surface portion It! the configuration of the friction member 9 is such that the surface curves inwardly and then downward- 1y, as indicated at i I and then declines forwardly in a substantially fiat surface portion 2 to meet a substantially flat bottom or lower surface it, the corner edges of the latter being rounded into the flat surface portions it and Has shown.

To facilitate mounting of the friction member 9 upon the frame 2, the said member 9, for example, may be fabricated in a single piece with its end portions suitably contoured so that when the frame is free of all webs or straps and the member is positioned diagonally of the frame, the ends of the member may clear the frame to thereby completely disengage said member therefrom. For this purpose the lugs 9' which are located below the side frame members 3 and 4 may be rearwardly bevelled as shown in Fig. 1. If preferred the friction member may be fabricated in two parts constructed and arranged as shown in Fig. 3, and suitably secured together, for example, by means of rivets I4. It is to be noted that the friction member 9 projects above the plane of the upper surface of the frame 2, and also projects below the lower surface thereof substantially to the level of, or coplanar with, the under surface of the offset or projection 3 of the frame end portion 6. recesses I5 and it are provided in the ends of the friction member 9 to slidably receive the frame side portions 3 and 4, and the recesses 55 and I6 are made slightly larger than said frame side portions to permit of limited rocking movement of said friction member Q relative tothe frame 2.

The buckle I, constructed as herein described,

Cut-out portions or may be employed effectively to securely connect or fasten together either the opposite ends of the same strap or belt, or the adjacent ends of two straps or belts, as the case may be. This may be accomplished by permanently securing one strap end ii to the buckle i about the end portion 5 thereof, for example, by passing the said strap end about the frame end portion 5, and then stitching or otherwise securing the freev end to the strap proper as indicated at l8. The other strap end portion i9 is adjustably connected to said buckle by passing the same: beneath the frame 2 upwardly through the eye 1 thereof and between the end portion 5 and friction member 9, then over the latter and reversely through the said eye 1 between the friction member 9 and the frame portion 6, then outwardly beneath the latter with. the free end thereof disposed in the relation shown in Fig. 1 of the drawing. If desired, the end of said strap portion 20 may be folded upon itself once or twice and stitched as indicated to provide a stop 2! to prevent complete disengagement of the strap end portion from the buckle I.

With the buckle l and associated strap end portions arranged as shown and described, slack in the strap or straps may be taken up: and the strap or straps tightened to the desired degree merely by grasping the free end 26 of the strap portion l9 and pulling the same through the buckle I. As the strap or straps are placed under tension, the friction member 9 is caused to clamp or grip the strap between itself and the frame end portion 6, with increasing pressure, and the offset 8 of the latter is caused to bite increasingly into the strap with the result that it is securely and tightly held in the position to which tightened or tensioned. In other words, the greater the tension placed upon the straps or strap by pulling upon the free end 20 thereof, the tighter will be the clamping or gripping action of the buckle upon the strap, and the construction and arrangement of the buckle is such that, once tensioned to the desired degree, the straps will not work loose until released.

The buckle may be released and the strap or straps loosened when desired or required merely by a person engaging his fingers under the end portion ii of the frame 2 and actuating or rocking the latter in the direction indicated by the arrow in Fig. l to thereby release the bite and gripping force of the offset 8 and friction memher 9, respectively, upon the strap. Loosened in this manner, the strap or straps may again be readily and easily retightened to the desired tension merely by pulling upon the free end 2! of the strap l9 to cause the buckle to grip and hold the same in the manner previously described.

In lieu of the buckle l, and referreng to Fig. 4 of the drawing, the invention may be embodied in a hook type fastener 22 for connection, for example, to a ring fitting 23 having permanently secured thereon an end of a strap or belt 2 2. Such ahook fastener, may comprise a suitable hook construction 25 having at its base a generally rectangular or square frame 26 including side and end frame portions 2? and 28', and 2s and 35, respectively, which define or bound therewithin a generally rectangular or square. eye or opening 3i. It is to be noted that the end portion 3! of the frame 26 is constructed as hereinbefore described to provide an offset or projection 32 at the underside thereof as in the case of the buckle i, and that likewise there is slidably mounted upon the side frame portions 21 and 28 of said frame26, a friction member 33 which is constructed and arranged as shown and previously described herein.

As shown in Fig. 4, the end porition 34, either of the strap 2i, or of another strap, is adjustably connected to the hook fastener 22 in the same manner and relation as described in connection with the buckle l shown in Fig. 1 of the drawing, the said strap portion 34 being passed beneath the frame 26 and upwardly through the eye 3| between the frame end portion 29 and the friction. member 335,. over the latter and reversely through the eye 3| between member 33 and the frame end portion 30, then outwardly beneath the latter with the free end 35 thereof disposed in the relation shown.

Instead of providing? the hook fastener with adjustable belt or strap fastening means as described, the construction of the present invention may be embodied in a ring assembly for connection with a suitable hook or other form of fastener of conventional type. Thus, and referring to Fig. 5 of the drawing, there may be provided a ring structure designated generally as 36 comprising a loop portion 3'! and a frame portion 33 including integral side and end portions 39 and til, and ii and 42, respectively, which deor bound therewithin a generally rectangular or square opening or eye 43. Asv in the case of the buckle l and the hook fastener 25, the end portion 42 of the frame 38 is constructed to provide an offset or projection 44 at the under- Side thereof as indicated, and there is slidably mounted upon the side. frame portions 39 and 40', a friction member 45 identical in construction to the friction member 9 previously described herein. In this instance, as in. each of the foregoing, the end portion of a. strap or belt 4'6 is passed beneath the frame 38 and upwardly through the eye 43 between the. frame end portion t! and the friction member 45, over the latter and reversely through the eye 4| between the friction member 45 and the frame end portion- 42, then outwardly beneath the latter, with the free end 41 thereof. disposed in the relation shown.

In Fig. 6 of the drawing, there is illustrated a modified form of the buckle of Fig. 1, which comprises a frame 48 including side and end portions 39 and 59, and 5! and 52, respectively, and having a cross-bar portion 53 spaced intermediate the end portions thereof to sub-divide the frame into a pair of adjacent openings or eyes 54 and 55-, respectively. This modified form of buckle, as in the case of the buckle l, is provided with a friction member 56 that is slidably mounted upon the frame side. portions 9 and 5D for movement within the eye 55 in parallel relation to the frame end portion 52, the latter being provided with an offset or projecting portion 57 as previously described herein. Furthermore, if required or desired, the buckle shown in Fig. 6 may also be provided with a second friction member 58 slidably mounted upon the frame side portions t9 and 59 for movement Within the eye 54 in parallel relation to the frame end portion 51, the latter in such event being provided with an offset or projecting portion 59.

Fastening devices constructed as herein illustrated and described, may be used advantageously in most cases where it is desired to provide adjustable fasteners for belts, straps, webbing and the like, such as, for example, in parachute harnesses, luggage straps, ship stays and braces, apparel belts, suspenders and shoulder straps, and numerous other instances'too numerous to mention herein. I

From the foregoing, it will be apparent that the present invention provides a novel fastening device that may be readily adjusted lengthwise of an associated web or strap and which is operable automatically to lock upon the web or strap in the position to which adjusted when said strap is placed under tension. The invention also provides a novel fastening device of the character described which is constructed and arranged so that the greater the tension or pull placed upon the associated. web or strap, the tighter will be the clamping or gripping force exerted by the device upon the web or strap, Furthermore, the invention provides a fastening device, having the features and advantages described, which is of rugged, relatively simplified, construction, relatively inexpensive to manufacture and entirely efficient and reliable in use.

While certain embodiments of the invention I are illustrated and described herein, it is not intended that the present invention be limited to such disclosures, and changes and modifications may be made therein and thereto within the scope of the claims.

The invention described herein may be manufactured and used by or for the Government of the United States of America for governmental purposes without the payment of any royalties thereon or therefor.

We claim:

1. A slide buckle for straps comprising a substantially rectangular frame having parallel side and end members lying in a. common plane and defining an opening therebetween, one of said end members being thicker than said side members and the other end member in a direction normal to said plane and having a portion thereof projecting beyond said plane and presenting a surface which extends across the frame and is substantially parallel to said common plane, said thicker member also presenting a flat surface facing inwardly toward said opening and located substantially normal to said plane, and a friction member having an axis extending parallel to said end members and provided with opposite end portions slidably engaging said side members, the friction member having a portion thereof presenting a surface located substantially in alignment with said surface of said projecting portion of said thicker end member and having another portion presenting a substantially flat gripping surface extending substantially parallel to and adjacent the inwardly facing surface of said thicker end member, the surfaces of the friction member lying adjacent opposite edges of said gripping surface being convexly rounded and extending parallel to said axis.

2. The combination comprising two straps and means for adjustably securing said straps together, said adjusting means embodying a rectangular frame with side and end members lying in a single plane and defining an opening therebetween, one of said straps being fixedly secured to one of said end members, the other end member being thicker in a direction normal to said plane than are said sides and the end member to which said strap is secured, said thicker end member having a portion projecting from said plane and presenting a flat surface extending across the frame parallel to said plane, said thicker end member also presenting a surface facing inward toward said opening and located substantially toward said opening, and a friction member extending between said side members and having an axis parallel to the thicker end member, said friction member being slidably movable by the other strap along the s;de members toward and away from said thicker end member, said friction member having a surface thereof in substantial alignment with the flat surface of the projecting portion of said thicker end member and having a gripping surface thereon substantiaily parallel to and cooperating with said inwardly facing surface of the thicker end member for gripping the other of said straps therebetween, the surfaces of the friction member lying adjacent opposite edges of said gripping surface being convexly rounded and extending parallel to said axis, the said other strap having a lead-in portion extending toward said frame past the flat surface of the projecting portion of the thickened end member and about the convexly rounded surface of the friction mem ber and thence passing between the cooperating gripping surfaces on the friction member and the thickened end member, the latter strap terminating in an end portion which extends away from the frame between said lead-in portion of the strap and the flat surface of the'projecting portion of the thicker end member.

JOSHUA MILLER. JAMES T. TRUELSEN.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS

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