Abstract:
A strap for securing cargo on a vehicle includes a strap and a buckle. The buckle has a releasable strap gripping device, and a cushioning material at least partially surrounding the buckle without obstructing accessibility to the gripping device.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
     This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application Serial No. 60/186,870 filed Mar. 3, 2000 titled “Load Carrier System,” which is hereby incorporated by reference. 
    
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to buckles and more particularly to buckles used with straps to secure loads to vehicles. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Loads are often secured to vehicles by straps that use a buckle to allow the length of the strap to be adjusted. Load carrier straps are often used to secure heavy loads. The buckles must be sturdy and capable of reliably gripping a strap under high tension. Thus, buckles are typically made of metal which creates a risk of damaging the finish of a vehicle on which the strap is used. Metal buckles may also damage the finish on the load being secured by the strap. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 6,023,821 discloses a buckle cover adapted to slide over a buckle for protecting adjacent objects. Unfortunately, this cover interferes with normal use or adjustment of the buckle. The cover must be slid onto and off of the buckle with each use and is therefore cumbersome to use. The cover is also subject to being dislodged or inadvertently left off, leaving the metal buckle exposed. In addition, the cover is rather bulky and unstylish in appearance. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1 is an isometric view of a buckle constructed according to the present invention. 
     FIG. 2 is an isometric view of the structural components of a buckle constructed according to the present invention. 
     FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of the structural components of FIG.  2 . 
     FIG. 4 is a bottom view of the buckle of FIG.  1 . 
     FIG. 5 is an isometric view of an alternative buckle according to the present invention. 
     FIG. 6 is an isometric view of a portion of the buckle of FIG.  5 . 
     FIG. 7 is a top view of a cam portion of the buckle of FIG.  5 . 
     FIG. 8 is an isometric view of the structural portion of the cam of FIG.  7 . 
     FIG. 9 is a c ross-sectional view of the cam of FIG.  7 . 
     FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view of the buckle of FIG.  5 . 
     FIG. 11 is an isometric view of an alternative buckle according to the present invention. 
     FIG. 12 is bottom view of the buckle of FIG.  11 . 
     FIG. 13 is an isometric view of an alternative buckle according to the present invention. 
     FIG. 14 is a bottom view of the buckle of FIG.  13 . 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     The invention provides strap and buckling devices that combine rigid high-strength materials with elastomeric compressible materials in rugged, sturdy designs that are easy to use without damaging the surface of a vehicle or cargo carried on the vehicle. 
     A buckle constructed according to the present invention is depicted generally at  10  in FIG.  1 . Buckle  10  includes a metal frame  12  and a metal cam  14 , as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3. Buckle  10  includes side plates  16 ,  18  and front and rear cross-members  20 ,  22 . Cross-members  20 ,  22  support side plates  16 ,  18  in a spaced-apart rigid relationship to each other. Each side member includes at least one bore  24  through which a cam pivot pin  26  fits. The cam pivot pin also passes through a bore  28  in cam  14  to pivotally hold the cam in place relative to the side plates and front cross-member. 
     A spring  30  biases a front face  32  of cam  14  against front cross-member  26 . Cam  14  includes lever portion  34  opposite the front face that a user depresses to move the front face away from cross-member  26 . Cross-member  26  includes serrations  36  that cooperate with teeth  38  formed on front face  32  to grip strap  40 . When the lever portion is depressed, the strap is free to move between the cam and the frame. When the lever is released, any tension on the strap in a first direction  42  pulls the front face toward the cross-member, thereby firmly pinching the strap and preventing movement. Tension on the strap in the other direction  44  pulls the cam face away from the cross-member, allowing the strap to be tightened, as shown in FIG.  3 . 
     A bumper, protector or cushion  50  is formed on each side plate  16 ,  18 . The cushion is typically affixed to the side by overmolding. The cushion is typically made of a flexible or resilient material, for example TPE, that is soft enough to avoid damaging the surface of a vehicle or cargo being carried by the vehicle. As shown in FIG. 4, pivot pin  26  includes an enlarged portion head  52  at each end. Heads  52  help to mechanically retain the cushions on the frame of the buckle. The cushions may be interconnected by a bridge or web portion  54 , which further stabilizes the cushions on the buckle. When utilizing some thermoplastic elastomer materials that do not have direct adhesion to metal parts, it is generally necessary to provide for a mechanical interconnection between the elastomer and the frame. 
     It should be noted that the cushions extend sufficiently above the side plates of the buckle to shield the cam lever from hitting an adjacent surface such as the surface of a vehicle or load. Although the cushion may not extend around the front or back of the frame, it projects outward sufficiently from the side plates to shield cross-members and other metal parts of the buckle from contact with the vehicle. The cushion is preferably thick and resilient enough to absorb impacts of the buckle on a vehicle without denting or damaging the surface of the vehicle. The cushions are typically formed of a thermoplastic elastomer material, for example, TPE. 
     FIGS. 5-10 show an alternate buckle  100  according to the present invention. Buckle  100  includes structural components similar to those of buckle  10 . However, as shown best in FIGS. 6 and 10, side plates  16 ,  18  include auxiliary plates  102 ,  104 , respectively. The auxiliary plates are mounted to the side plates on pillars  106 ,  108 , respectively. Preferably, the frame includes both side plates and auxiliary plates molded as a single unit. Cushions  120  are then overmolded onto the frame. 
     Cam  14  includes a cushion  60  disposed over the lever portion. Cushion  60  includes a depression  62  that provides a comfortable location for a user to place their finger to operate the cam. In instances where the cam lever projects beyond the edges of the side plates and or side plate cushions, the cam cushion serves to provide additional protection against damage to the vehicle finish. 
     Another buckle constructed according to the present invention is shown in FIG. 11 at  200 . Buckle  200  incorporates structural components similar to buckle  10 . However, side plates  16 ,  18  on buckle  200  are formed with mushroom-shaped retainers  202  at the front and rear. The retainers provide a mechanical grip for cushions  50 . In addition or alternatively, side plates  16 ,  18  may include one or more holes  204 ,  206  that allow a small amount  208 ,  210  of cushion material to flow through and form a mechanical connection to the side plate. 
     FIGS. 13 and 14 illustrate another buckle constructed according to the present invention at  300 . Buckle  300  incorporates a structural member similar to buckle  10 . The main difference is that cushions  50  on buckle  300  are formed separately and attached to the structural member with rivets  302 ,  304 , which pass through the front and rear cross-members. The cushions may also be connected by a piece of elastomer or web portion  54  as with buckle  10 . 
     The various buckles as described herein are useful for attaching loads to vehicles, particularly to roof racks and rear mounted racks. One example of a roof-mounted device that is suitable for use with the disclosed buckles is described in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/280,504, which is incorporated herein by reference. 
     It is believed that the disclosure set forth above encompasses multiple distinct inventions with independent utility. While each of these inventions has been disclosed in its preferred form, the specific embodiments thereof as disclosed and illustrated herein are not to be considered in a limiting sense as numerous variations are possible. The subject matter of the inventions includes all novel and non-obvious combinations and subcombinations of the various elements, features, functions and/or properties disclosed herein. Similarly, where the claims recite “a” or “a first” element or the equivalent thereof, such claims should be understood to include incorporation of one or more such elements, neither requiring nor excluding two or more such elements.