Device for adjustable attachment of a strap

Abstract: The invention relates to a device for adjustable attachment of a strap (26), comprising an injection moulded first element (10a) provided as a cover. A cross bar (12) forms an integral part of said element and extends across an opening (11) therein. An injection moulded second element (10b) forming a plate has an opening (18) and is integral with two spring legs (21) deverging from the edge of the plate. Said second element is displaceable in said first element with the free edges of the spring edges engaging said first element to bias an edge of the opening in said other element, substantially parallel to the cross bar, against the strap (26) passed around the cross bar (12).

Description: The invention relates to a device for adjustable attachment of a strap comprising a cross bar, a plate guided for displacement in relation to the cross bar transversely thereof in a first element provided as a cover for the plate, said cross bar forming an integral part of the first element and extending across an opening in the element, the plate forming an opening with an edge substantially parallel to the cross bar, and a spring acting between the cross bar and the plate to press said edge against the strap passed around the cross bar, the spring comprising two legs diverging from the edge of the plate and engaging the first element at the free ends thereof. A device for adjustable attachment of a strap of this kind is disclosed in US-A-3 163 905. The purpose of the present invention is to reduce the number of parts included in the device, in order to reduce the manufacturing costs, but also to reduce the dimensions of the device and to make the device small and light, particularly for use in the belts mounted on car seats for children. In order to achieve this purpose the device of the kind referred to according to the invention has obtained the characterizing features of claim 1. In order to explain the invention in more detail an embodiment thereof will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings in which FIG. 1 is a side view of the device in one embodiment thereof intended for use in a belt for a car seat for children, FIG. 2 is a vertical cross sectional view of the device, FIG. 3 is a side view of the element forming the plate and the spring, and FIG. 4 is a side view of the element forming the cross bar and the cover. The two elements forming the adjustment device according to the invention are injection moulded of a suitable plastic material, e.g. Delrin 107. One element comprises the cover and is generally designated 10a. This element forms a rectangular opening 11 and a cross bar 12 located centrally therein, which extends across the opening in parallel with the two opposite longer side edges of the opening, the side of the cross bar facing outwards being slightly set back in relation to the outside surface of the cover and forming gently curved edges as will be seen from FIG. 2. Along the two side edges of the cover extending transversely of the cross bar, inwardly extending edge flanges 13 are provided which define two parallel side grooves 14 which join a bottom groove 15 in the cover, which extends between the side grooves. The flanges 13 define at each side of the cover a rectangular notch 16. Finally said element 10a forming the cover also has a slot 17 at one side thereof at the end where the bottom groove 15 is located. The other element generally designated 10b comprises a rectangular plate which forms a rectangular opening 18 of the same length as the opening 11 but with slightly greater width than said latter opening. At one end the plate forms a cross bar 19, a slot 20 being defined between said cross bar and one side of the plate, and at the other end the plate has two resiliently flexible spring legs 21 diverging from the center of the end edge of the plate and located in the same plane as the plate. The cross bar and the spring legs are integral with the plate. On the other side of the plate opposite to the cross bar 19 the plate forms two protrusions 22 terminating at the top thereof at a sharp edge 23 and at the bottom at a bevelled edge 24. The element 10b is mounted in the element 10a by being slid into the side grooves 14 and the bottom groove 15. Then, the protrusions 22 slide beneath the flanges 13 adjacent the upper edge of the element 10a, said flanges being pressed outwards under resilient yielding by the bevelled edges 24 in order then to snap inwards behind the protrusions at the sharp edges 23 when the protrusions are received in the notches 16. Then, the element 10b cannot be withdrawn again from the element 10a because the sharp edges 23 will engage the flanges 13. A limited displacement of element 10b in relation to element 10a will be allowed, however, because the notches 16 have a greater length than the protrusions 22. The spring legs 21 at the free edge thereof touch the bottom of the bottom groove 15, and when element 10b is pressed into element 10a to the extent permitted by the notches 16 and the protrusions 22 such displacement will take place against the spring bias provided by the spring legs 21. Normally element 10b is kept in a position by the spring legs wherein the lower edge of the opening 18 slightly overlaps the cross bar 12 below as seen in FIGS. 1 and 2. This edge of the opening is gently curved. When the strap adjustment device as described is being used a strap 25 is attached to element 10b by said strap being passed through the slot 20 and around the cross bar 19 and being sewn together. This strap may form e.g. a shoulder strap of a belt for a car seat for children. A strap part 26a of a strap 26 forming part of the belt is attached to the car seat at the bottom thereof and is passed through the slot 17 in element 10a and further through the opening 18 in element 10b the strap then being passed around the cross bar 12 of element 10a and again passed through the opening 18 over the gently curved lower edge then to be passed back as a strap part 26b through the slot 17. Said latter strap part will hang as a loose strap end from the strap attachment device. By the spring bias of the spring legs 21 the strap will be clamped against the cross bar 12 at the lower edge of the opening 18, and if a pull force is imparted to the strap 25 and the strap part 26a the clamping action will be increased so that the strap 26 will be held immovably in the strap adjustment device. It is possible to tighten the strap 26 i.e. to shorten the effective length thereof by pulling the strap part 26b, element 10b then being pressed away from the cross bar 12 the lower edge of the opening 19 against the bias of the spring legs 21, and it is also possible to increase the effective length of the strap 26 by pulling the strap part 26a a larger force being required for this operation; it will be done more easily if element 10b at the same time is pressed into element 10a against the bias of the spring legs. By the invention it is achieved that the manufacture, mounting and handling of the strap adjustment device will be very simple. The invention provides a cheap and safe strap adjustment device. The embodiment described can be modified by element 10b being constructed as a lock tongue for co-operation with a strap buckle attached to the strap 25.

Claims: Device for adjustable attachment of a strap (26), comprising a cross bar (12), a plate (10b) guided for displacement in relation to the cross bar transversely thereof in a first element (10a) provided as a cover for the plate, said cross bar (12) forming an integral part of the first element and extending across an opening (11) in the element, the plate forming an opening (18) with an edge substantially parallel to the cross bar, and a spring (21) acting between the cross bar and the plate to press said edge against the strap passed around the cross bar, the spring comprising two legs (21) diverging from the edge of the plate and engaging the first element (10a) at the free ends thereof, characterized in that the first element (10a) is injection moulded and that the plate (10b) with the spring as an integral part thereof comprises an injection moulded second element. Device as in claim 1 wherein said second element (10b) is displaceably guided in two side grooves (14) and a bottom groove (15) provided between said side grooves in said first element (10a), said spring legs (21) engaging the bottom of the bottom groove. Device as in claim 1 or 2 wherein a recess (16) is provided in a boundary wall (13) of each side groove (14), a protrusion (22) on said second element (10b) being received by said recess to limit the displacement of said second element in said first element (10a). Device as in claim 3 wherein said protrusion (22) has a bevelled edge (24) to allow said second element (10b) to be pushed into said first element (10a) under resilient yielding of said side wall (13), and a sharp edge (23) to prevent withdrawal of said second element from said first element by said sharp edge engaging the boundary edge of the recess (16).

Inventors: OLSON ULF, OLSON, ULF
Applicants: HOLMBERGS FAB AB BRDR, BROEDERNA HOLMBERGS FABRIKS AB
Application year: 1993
Main classification: A44B11
IPC codes: A44B11