Abstract:
A device ( 1 ) for avoiding an unintentional adjustment of a belt ( 4 ) guided around at least one belt guide bar ( 2 ) of a buckle component ( 3 ), wherein the device ( 1 ) includes a main body ( 5 ) having a first contact surface ( 6 ) and additionally at least one elastic body ( 7 ), preferably at least one spring tongue, having at least one further contact surface ( 8 ). The elastic body ( 7 ) preferably with a region ( 9 ) of the elastic body ( 7 ) spaced from the further contact surface ( 8 ), is held directly or indirectly against the main body ( 55 ) and the belt ( 4 ) can be clamped between the first contact surface ( 56 ) and the further contact surface ( 8 ).

Description:
BACKGROUND 
       [0001]    The present invention relates to a device for avoiding an unintentional adjustment of a belt guided around at least one belt guide bar of a buckle component. 
         [0002]    A wide variety of types of harnesses for a wide variety of applications are known in the prior art. Thus, such arrangements of belts or harnesses are used in an appropriate embodiment for securing persons, for example as a climbing belt or as a harness for various aviation sports but also when working at exposed positions. It is also known practice to use appropriately designed harnesses for fastening and securing loads, to name only a few examples. In order to be able to releasably connect the belts of the harnesses to one another, it is known practice to use a wide variety of types of buckles. The buckles usually have two or more buckle components which can be fastened releasably on or to one another via appropriate connection devices and together form the buckle. The belts of the harnesses are frequently fastened adjustably to the buckles. For this purpose, there are a wide variety of design forms in the prior art. If no adjustment of the belt is required, the belts can be firmly stitched to the buckles. However, it is frequently expedient to provide an adjustment possibility for the belt. In these cases, the belts are usually guided around one or more belt guide bars of a buckle component. In particular in the case of the last-mentioned embodiments, the problem frequently occurs of an undesired adjustment of the belt tension, that is to say in particular a loosening of the belt. Harnesses are in the rarest of cases actually firmly tightened by the user. As a rule, the unwanted adjustment occurs under weak tension or even no tension on the belt if the user or the load moves. The result is that the belts have to be frequently re-tensioned. 
         [0003]    In order to prevent an unwanted adjustment of the belt, devices of the generic type are known per se in the prior art. Velcro tapes are frequently used in order to avoid an undesired adjustment. However, Velcro tapes have the disadvantage that they slowly lose their functionality after repeated use. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0004]    It is therefore the object to provide a device of the generic type which can be operated simply and reliably used permanently. 
         [0005]    This is achieved according to the invention in that the device has a basic body with a first contact surface and additionally at least one elastic body, preferably at least one spring tongue, with at least one further contact surface, wherein the elastic body, preferably with a region of the elastic body spaced from the further contact surface, is held directly or indirectly on the basic body, and the belt can be clamped between the first contact surface and the further contact surface. 
         [0006]    The device according to the invention allows the belt, with its sections preferably lying doubly or multiply above one another, to be clamped between the first contact surface of the basic body and the further contact surface of the elastic body, with the result that an unwanted adjustment of the belt is prevented, in particular even when it is not under tension. The elastic body can be designed, for example, as a spring, tongue or spring lug. It can be fastened or held directly on the basic body. However, the elastic body can also be fastened or held indirectly on the basic body with the interposition of another component. An essential advantage of the use of at least one elastic body is that the spring action of the elastic body makes it possible to cover a large range of belt thicknesses with a single device. 
         [0007]    The device according to the invention is itself generally not a buckle component of a buckle but an additional component which is mounted on the belt in addition to the buckle component and as an add-on part prevents an adjustment of the belt on the buckle component. A buckle in this connection is understood to mean a body formed of two or more buckle components, wherein the buckle components can be releasably fastened to one another by means of appropriate connection devices. Such buckles are known in a multiplicity of design forms in the prior art. Usually, a buckle component is mounted on each of the belts to be connected to one another and the belts are then connected to one another by connecting the buckle components. In their interconnected state, the buckles also serve to transmit tensile forces from one belt to the other belt. 
         [0008]    In preferred embodiments of the device according to the invention, by contrast, it is provided that the device according to the invention is provided exclusively for clamping the belt. It is advantageously free from other connection devices. A device according to the invention is thus advantageously not a buckle component which is provided for connecting to another buckle component. Thus, devices according to the invention are generally not provided to transmit tensile forces from one belt to another belt. 
         [0009]    Devices according to the invention can be embodied in different widths and be adapted to the respective width of the belt. However, it is also possible to design a device according to the invention such that belts of different width can be secured against an undesired adjustment. 
         [0010]    For the purpose of avoiding the belt slipping through between the first contact surface and the second contact surface, it is advantageous if a sequence of elevations, preferably studs or webs, and depressions arranged between adjacent elevations, for, preferably positive, engagement in the belt is or are arranged, preferably in each case, on the first contact surface and/or the further contact surface. Consequently, the belt is secured not only by the elastic forces of the elastic body but also by the engagement of the elevations in the belt. 
         [0011]    In order to allow a desired adjustment of the belt, for example when donning or removing the harness, with minimum effort, preferred embodiments of the invention provide that the device has a lever body which is arranged pivotably on the basic body by means of a pivot pin, wherein the elastic body is held, preferably exclusively, on the basic body via the lever body. In these cases, the elastic body is thus held on the basic body indirectly, namely via the lever body. The lever body can be pivoted back and forth about the pivot pin between a closed or clamped position and an open position. In the open position, adjusting the belt is possible with little expenditure of force. In the closed or clamped position, the belt is clamped in and secured against an unwanted adjustment. Preferred embodiments of this type provide that the lever body has, in addition to the pivot pin and/or arranged at a spacing from the pivot pin, at least one latching connection part which, in a clamped position of the lever body, can be latched with a counter-latching connection part of the basic body. The lever body is secured in the clamped position by means of the interaction between latching connection part and counter-latching connection part. If the lever body is to be pivoted into the open position, latching connection parts and counter-latching connection parts can be released from one another. For this purpose, it is advantageous if the lever body and/or the basic body has, for closing and/or releasing the latching connection, at least one hand-operated release element between latching connection part and counter-latching connection part. The release element provided can be for example, a release lever which is pivotably arranged on the basic body or on the lever body, preferably against an elastic restoring force. 
         [0012]    Preferred embodiments provide that the further contact surface of the elastic body is at a smaller spacing from the pivot pin than the latching connection part. 
         [0013]    The lever body can be formed in one piece together with the pivot pin, latching connection part and elastic body. 
         [0014]    For the purpose of being able to simply retrofit devices according to the invention on belts already mounted on corresponding buckle components, preferred embodiments of the invention provide that the elastic body, preferably the lever body with the elastic body, can be fastened to the basic body by means of a connection which can be closed and released without a tool, preferably a latching connection. The pivot pin of the lever body can be particularly preferably fastened to the basic body by means of the connection, preferably latching connection, which can be closed and released without a tool. This makes it possible first to insert the belt into the basic body and then fasten the elastic body or the lever body to the basic body. This makes it possible to avoid having to thread the belt through between the two contact surfaces. Particular preference is given here to latching connections between the elastic body or the lever body and the basic body. 
         [0015]    Preferred embodiments of the invention provide that the basic body has or is a U-shaped profile, wherein the first contact surface is part of a base portion of the U-shaped profile situated between two projecting lateral legs of the U-shaped profile. In such embodiments, it can be provided that the counter-latching connection parts and/or also the receptacles for the pivot pin of the lever body are arranged on the lateral legs. 
         [0016]    Apart from the device per se, the invention also relates to an arrangement with at least one buckle component which has at least one connection device for releasable connection to another buckle component, and with at least one belt which is guided around at least one belt guide bar of the buckle component, wherein the arrangement additionally has at least one device according to the invention and at least a first portion of the belt and at least a further portion of the belt are clamped between the first contact surface and the further contact surface. In this connection, advantageous embodiments provide that the portions of the belt bear directly against one another in the region between the contact surfaces with their sides facing away from the contact surfaces against which they bear directly in each case. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0017]    Further features and details of preferred configurations of the invention will be explained with reference to an exemplary embodiment according to the invention represented in the figures, in which: 
           [0018]      FIGS. 1 to 3  show various views of an arrangement consisting of buckle, belt and device according to the invention, wherein the device according to the invention is in the closed or clamped position; 
           [0019]      FIGS. 4 to 6  show representations corresponding two  FIGS. 1 to 3 , but wherein the device is in the open position; 
           [0020]      FIGS. 7 to 10  show various representations of the device per se according to the invention used in  FIGS. 1 to 6 ; 
           [0021]      FIG. 11  shows a perspective representation of the basic body of this exemplary embodiment; and 
           [0022]      FIGS. 12 and 13  show representations of the lever body of this exemplary embodiment. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS  
       [0023]      FIG. 1  shows, in a perspective representation, how two buckle components  3  and  3 ′ known per se are connected to one another by means of an appropriate connection device  10  and  10 ′.  FIG. 2  shows a longitudinal section through the arrangement according to  FIG. 1  and  FIG. 3 , depicting the corresponding side views. In the exemplary embodiment shown, a connection device  10  in the form of a male extension is integrally formed on the buckle component  3 . The other buckle component  3 ′ has, as corresponding counterparts, connection devices  10 ′ in the form of locking levers. The locking levers  10 ′ are used to fix the connection device  10 , with the result that the two buckle components  3 ′ and  3  are fixedly connected to one another and tensile forces on the belt  4  can be transmitted via the buckle components  3  and  3 ′ to a belt or other object (not shown here) fastened to the buckle component  3 ′. To release the two belts from one another, the locking levers of the connection device  10 ′ are actuated by hand, with the result that the two buckle components  3  and  3 ′ can be separated from one another. All this is known per se and can be implemented according to the prior art in a wide range of embodiments. In order to be able to adjust the length of the harness, the belt  4  actually represented is guided around the belt guide bar  2  on the buckle component  3 . As a rule, the belt guide bars  2  are displaceably mounted on the buckle component  3  such that the belt  4  guided around the belt guide bar is held clamped on the buckle component  3  by means of belt guide bar  2 . However, this clamping action generally only lasts for as long as corresponding tension is present on at least one of the portions  20  or  21  of the belt  4 . The problem described at the outset with the unwanted adjustment of the length of the belt  4  always occurs when the belt  4  or its portions  20  and  21  are not correspondingly loaded with tension. In that case, the belt  4  can slip around the belt guide bar  2  and thus the undesired adjustment can result. In order to prevent this, a device  1  according to the invention is now provided which is arranged in addition to the buckle component  3  on the belt  4 . The device according to the invention allows the belt  4  to be clamped between the first contact surface  6  of the basic body  5  and the further contact surface  8  of the elastic body  7 , with the result that an unwanted adjustment of the belt  4  can no longer occur. 
         [0024]    In  FIGS. 1 to 3 , the device  1  is in its clamped or closed position in which the belt  4  is secured against an unwanted adjustment in the stated manner. In  FIGS. 4 to 6 , the device  1  is in the open position in which the belt  4  is not held clamped in the device  1 , and thus, if required, a desired adjustment can be carried out.  FIGS. 4 to 6  again depict a perspective representation, a longitudinal section and a side view. In  FIG. 7 , the device  1  is represented in the open position without belt  4  and without buckle.  FIG. 8  shows a side view of the device  1  in the clamped or closed position. In  FIG. 11 , the basic body  5  of the device  1  is represented as being detached from the other components.  FIGS. 12 and 13  show the lever body  14  as being detached from other representations.  FIG. 12  shows a side view and  FIG. 13  shows a perspective representation from below. 
         [0025]    In the exemplary embodiment shown, the elastic body  7  is designed as a spring tongue or elastic clamping lug. It is held not directly but indirectly on the basic body  5  via the lever body  14 . Of course, other embodiments of the invention are also conceivable, for example in which the elastic body  7  is fastened directly on the basic body  5 . The elastic body  7  has the further contact surface  8 . The first contact surface  6  is provided as a counterpart on the basic body  5 . In the clamped position, the belt  4  is clamped between the first contact surface  6  and the further contact surface  8 . For the purpose of achieving a most effective possible clamping action, in the exemplary embodiment shown both the first contact surface  6  and the further contact surface  8  are in each case equipped with a sequence of elevations  11  and depressions  12  arranged between adjacent elevations  11 . In the example shown, the elevations  11  are studs. Instead, however, it is also possible to use webs or the like. In the exemplary embodiment shown, the elastic body  7  is fastened to the lever body  14  with the region  9  opposite the further contact surface  8 . In the variant represented, the lever body  14  is designed in one piece. In other words, the pivot pin  13 , the release elements  17 , the latching connection parts  15  and the elastic body  7  are connected to one another in one piece. Such parts can be produced, for example, from plastic, for example by injection molding. The basic body  5  can also be correspondingly formed from plastic. However, other materials such as, for example, metal are also conceivable for both parts. In the exemplary embodiment shown, the lever body  14  is equipped with axle bolts which form the pivot pin  13 . The pivot pin  13  or the stated axle bolts are pivotably mounted in a corresponding cutout in the basic body  18 . 
         [0026]    As already mentioned at the outset, it is expedient for the purpose of simple retrofittability if the axle bolts or the pivot pin  13  are or is mounted such that it can be latched in and out of the corresponding pivot pin receptacle of the basic body  5  in a non-destructive manner. In the already-mounted position shown, the lever body  14  can in any case be pivoted about the pivot pin  13  with respect to the basic body  5  between an open position and a clamped or closed position. In order to secure the lever body  14  in the clamped or closed position, in the exemplary embodiment shown an additional latching connection is provided between the pivotable lever body and basic body  5 . This is formed by the latching connection parts  15  of the lever body  14  and the counter-latching connection parts  16  of the basic body  5 . In the exemplary embodiment shown, the latching connection parts  15  are projecting latching noses and the counter-latching connection parts  16  are corresponding cutouts for receiving these latching noses in the lateral legs  18  of the basic body  5 . However, this is not absolutely necessary. Appropriate latching connections can of course also be embodied differently. In order to allow the most advantageous lever forces possible to act, it is preferably provided that the further contact surface  8  is situated closer to the pivot pin  13  than the latching connection parts  15 . In order to be able to release the latching connection between latching connection part  15  and counter-latching connection part  16  and, if appropriate, also to close it, release elements  17  which can be actuated by hand are provided on the lever body  14  of this exemplary embodiment. In the exemplary embodiment shown, these release elements are designed as release levers which are arranged such that they can be pivoted against an elastic restoring force.  FIG. 9  shows the pivoted-out position of these release elements  17 , in which the latching connection parts  15  are released from the counter-latching connection parts  16 . In this position, the lever body can be pivoted from the clamped or closed position according to  FIG. 8  into the open position according to  FIG. 7 . When pivoting back from the open position into the clamped position, the latching connection parts  15  advantageously latch by themselves into the counter-latching connection parts  16  as soon as the lever body  14  is pivoted correspondingly far with respect to the basic body  15 . 
         [0027]      FIG. 10  shows a representation in which the latching connection parts  15  are latched into the counter-latching connection parts  16 . 
         [0028]      FIG. 11  shows particularly clearly that the basic body  5  of this exemplary embodiment is designed as a U-shaped profile. The first contact surface  6  with the elevations  11  and depressions  12  is situated on the base portion  19  of this U-shaped profile. The counter-latching connection parts  16  and the pin receptacles for the pivot pin  13  are arranged in the two lateral legs  18  projecting from the central base portion  19 . 
       KEY TO THE REFERENCE NUMBERS 
       [0029]      1  Device 
         [0030]      2  Belt guide bar 
         [0031]      3 ,  3 ′ Buckle component 
         [0032]      4  Belt 
         [0033]      5  Basic body 
         [0034]      6  First contact surface 
         [0035]      7  Elastic body 
         [0036]      8  Further contact surface 
         [0037]      9  Region 
         [0038]      10 ,  10 ′ Connection device 
         [0039]      11  Elevation 
         [0040]      12  Depression 
         [0041]      13  Pivot pin 
         [0042]      14  Lever body 
         [0043]      15  Latching connection part 
         [0044]      16  Counter-latching connection part 
         [0045]      17  Release element 
         [0046]      18  Lateral leg 
         [0047]      19  Base portion 
         [0048]      20  First portion 
         [0049]      21  Further portion