Patent Publication Number: US-2002000707-A1

Title: Ratchet tightening device for retaining a strap, and a snowboard binding having such tightening device

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0001] 1. Field of the Invention  
       [0002] The present invention relates to a ratchet tightening device to be used on a sport-related item, such as a sports garment or a sports article, as well as such sports garments and articles incorporating such tightening device.  
       [0003] 2. Description of Background and Relevant Information  
       [0004] Ratchet tightening devices am used to reversibly tension elements such as shoe flaps, pieces of fabric, or the like,  
       [0005] An example of an application of such devices is provided for in the field of snowboarding. Certain snowboard bindings include one or several linkages for removably retaining a boot onto a base of the binding.  
       [0006] A linkage generally includes a strap, a cover, and a ratchet tightening device affixed to the cover. The length of the linkage is adjusted by displacing the strap with respect to the cover by means of the device. To tis end, a lever of the device makes it possible to shorten the linkage, the ratchet preventing an extension when the lever is inactive. If necessary, the extension of the linkage, or its opening by separating the strap and the cover, is obtained by acting on the ratchet by means of a release button. This operation is performed manually by the user of the device, i.e., by a person who practices snowboarding, and who wishes either to reduce the tension of the linkage, or to release a boot from a binding.  
       [0007] However, an extension or an undesired opening of the linkage appears to occur under certain circumstances. This means that the user&#39;s foot, against his/her will, is no longer adequately tightened or retained on the board.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0008] One of the objects of the invention is to avoid an undesired displacement of a strap with respect to a ratchet device.  
       [0009] To this end, the invention proposes a device for tightening a strap including a base, a drive lever, a ratchet, and a release button, the base having a first flange and a second flange connected by a bridge, the lever being journalled on the base between the flanges, the lever including an end provided to drive the strap along a first direction substantially parallel to the flanges and to the bridge, on the one hand, and a handling end, on the other hand, the ratchet being journalled on the base between the flanges, the ratchet having a retaining zone provided to oppose the displacement of the strap along a second direction opposite the first direction, an elastic means constantly biasing the retaining zone of the ratchet toward the bridge, the release button being provided to move the retaining zone of the ratchet away from the bridge against the action of the elastic means,  
       [0010] The button of the tightening device according to the invention is substantially retracted with respect to the lever, or at least with respect to the flanges, in a direction substantially perpendicular to the bridge, when the lever is in a rest position that enables the strap to be retained, a position in which the handling end is the closest to the bridge,  
       [0011] Thus, the support or impact of an object on the device is very unlikely to induce a movement of the ratchet and, subsequently, a displacement of the strap.  
       [0012] In the case of the snowboard binding, a support or impact on the device is unlikely to induce an extension or an opening of the linkage. 
     
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS  
     [0013] Other characteristics and advantages of the invention will be better understood from the description that follows, with reference to the annexed drawings showing, by way of non-limiting examples, how the invention can be embodied, and in which:  
     [0014]FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a snowboard binding provided with a tightening device according to the invention.  
     [0015]FIG. 2 is a side view of the device.  
     [0016]FIG. 3 is a schematic cross-section of the tightening device along the line III-III of FIG. 1.  
     [0017]FIG. 4 is a cross-section similar to FIG. 3, in a case where the device drives a strap.  
     [0018]FIG. 5 is a cross-section similar to FIG. 3, in a case where the device releases the strap.  
     [0019]FIG. 6 is a partial enlargement of FIG. I that shows the device better, in a case where the latter retains the strap.  
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
     [0020] According to the selected example, as shown in FIG. 1, a binding  1  retains a boot  2  on a snowboard  3 .  
     [0021] In a known manner, the binding  1  has a base plate  4 , as well as a first lateral flange  5  and a second lateral flange  6  connected to one another by an arch  7  positioned behind the boot  2 .  
     [0022] The base plate  4  extends along a longitudinal direction L of the binding, between a front end  8  and a rear end  9 .  
     [0023] A linkage  10  is provided to removably retain the boot  2  on the binding  1 .  
     [0024] In a non-limiting manner, the linkage  10  includes, for example, a cover  11 , a strap  12 , and a device  13  for tightening the strap.  
     [0025] The cover  11 , made with one or several layers of flexible material, for example, has a front fastening point  14  and a rear fastening point  15  on the first lateral edge  5 .  
     [0026] The strap  12  is fastened on the second lateral edge  6 .  
     [0027] The fasteners of the cover  11  and of the strap  12  are obtained by any suitable means, such as a journal.  
     [0028] The structure and functioning of the device  13  are explained hereinafter by means of FIGS.  2 - 6 .  
     [0029] The tightening device  13  is seen in a side view in FIG. 2. It includes a U-shaped base  16  provided to guide the strap  12 , The base  16  includes a first flange  17  and a second flange  18  connected by a bridge  19 .  
     [0030] The base  16  is affixed to the cover  11  by means, for example, of a rivet having an axis  20 .  
     [0031] The strap  12  is obtained in the form of a rack, preferably made of plastic. The teeth  21  and the core  22  of the strap  12  preferably form a unitary piece.  
     [0032] As shown in FIG. 3, the tightening device  13  includes a ratchet  23  journalled along an axis  24  between the flanges  17 ,  18 . An elastic mechanism, not shown, such as a spring, constantly biases the ratchet  23  such that a retaining zone  25  of the ratchet is pushed toward the bridge  19 . The retaining zone  25  is shown in the form of a tooth.  
     [0033] A drive lever  26  includes a handle or manipulable end  27 , on the one hand, and a driving end  28  provide with at least one tooth  29 , on tie other hand.  
     [0034] A release member, such as a release button  30 , has a cam surface  31  provided to press on a cam surface  32  of the ratchet  23 , and a handle or manipulable end  33  provided to be actuated by hand.  
     [0035] The drive lever  26  and the release button  30  are journalled on the same axis  34 , between the flanges  17 ,  18 . An elastic mechanism, not shown, such as a spring, constantly biases the lever  26  such that the handle or manipulable end  27  is pushed toward the bridge  19 .  
     [0036] Thus, in the absence of any outside force, the constituent parts of the tightening device  13  occupy the rest position as shown in FIG. 3,  
     [0037] As the strap  12  is present along the bridge  19 , between the flanges  17 ,  18 , i.e., in the base  16 , the ratchet  23  opposes an extension of the linkage  10 . This means that an end  35  of the strap  12  cannot be displaced in a direction going from an inner edge  36  toward an outer edge  37  of the base  16 .  
     [0038] However, a displacement in the opposite direction is possible. This displacement can be caused by the user as is the case in FIG. 4.  
     [0039] The drive lever  26  is actuated by means of tie end  27 , such that the teeth  29  drive the strap  12 . In this case, the end  35  of the strap  12  moves in a direction going from the outer edge  37  toward the inner edge  36 . This means that the linkage  10  becomes shorter. The boot is more firmly tightened.  
     [0040] Conversely, if the user wishes to loosen the linkage, or even to release the boot by opening the linkage, he/she only needs to proceed as shown in FIG. 5.  
     [0041] In this case, the drive lever  26  is not biased since its handle/manipulable end  27  occupies the position that is the closest to the bridge  19 . The user acts with a finger, for example, on the handle/manipulable end  33  of the release button  30 .  
     [0042] The cam surface  31  of the button  30  presses on the cam surface  32  of the ratchet  23 , such that the retaining zone  25  of the ratchet  23  moves away from the bridge  19  and the strap  12 . The linkage  10  can extend, because the ratchet  23  no longer retains the strap  12 .  
     [0043] As soon as the action of the button  30  ceases, the ratchet  23  reassumes a retaining position.  
     [0044] An advantage, induced by the structure of the tightening device  13 , is that the manual action on the release button  30  tends to extend and open the linkage  10 .  
     [0045] According to the invention, as seen better in FIG. 6, the drive lever  26  has a first wing  38  and a second wing  39  with respect to which the release button  30  is retracted, in a direction substantially perpendicular to the strap  12 . Each wing  38 ,  39  is in a lateral position with respect to the lever  26 , The release button  30  is housed between the wings  38 ,  39  of the drive lever  26 .  
     [0046] This construction is particularly interesting if the tightening device is located between the user&#39;s feet. This means that the first lateral edge S of the binding  1  is an outer edge, and that the second lateral edge  6  is an inner edge.  
     [0047] When the user has only one foot retained on the board  3 , and pushes in alternate steps with the other foot, a moving boot frequently strikes the tightening device of the binding of the other boot that is still retained. Since the release button  30  is retracted, it is not actuated by the moving boot if the latter strikes the tightening device,  
     [0048] As a result, the release button  30  is not accidentally actuated against the user&#39;s will.  
     [0049] However, he latter can easily loosen the linkage  10 . To this end, he/she only needs to act on the handling end  33  of the release button  30 , for example with a finger, toward the free end  35  of the strap  12 .  
     [0050] Generally speaking, the constituent elements of the linkage  10 , especially those of the tightening device  13 , are made with materials and according to techniques known to a person having ordinary skill in the art.  
     [0051] The invention is not limited to the example described hereinabove, and it includes all of the technical equivalents that fall within the scope of the claims that follow.  
     [0052] For example, the drive lever  26  and the release button  30  could have other shapes.  
     [0053] The drive lever could have only one wing.  
     [0054] The release button  30  could be retracted by at least one of the flanges of the base. In this case, the flange passes either through an opening of the drive lever, or adjacent the lever. A supplemental piece can be added to the tightening device to enable the retraction of the release button  30 .  
     [0055] Furthermore, the inner structure of the tightening device could be different, For example, the ratchet and the release button could form a unitary piece journalled about an axis, and not two distinct pieces.  
     [0056] Still, although the example of tightening device has been described for an application in the field of snowboard bindings, the device can be provided for use in different technical fields, such as those related to boots, garments, bags, or the like.  
     [0057] The instant application is based upon French Patent Application No. 00 07118, filed May 30, 2000, the disclosure of which is hereby incorporated by reference thereto in its entirety, and the priority of which is hereby claimed under 35 U.S.C. §119.