Patent Publication Number: US-11659898-B2

Title: Securing device with spring closure

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application is a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 17/503,608, filed on Oct. 18, 2021, the disclosure of which is herein incorporated by reference. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     This invention relates to a device that allows for releasable connection of a strap to a device or to another strap. In particular, the invention relates to a device that allows for simple and quick attachment and detachment of a loop of a strap to the device, via the use of a spring closure system. 
     2. The Prior Art 
     Buckles with spring gate closure systems have been used to attach straps, particularly straps with closed loop ends, to the buckle in a releasable manner. These types of buckles are used when the removal of the strap may be necessary, or can be used as replacement buckles for a broken buckle in which the strap is already sewn in place. The top bar of the buckle has a free end so as to formed an open slot, and is closed via a separate spring gate locking element that is inserted through a hole or holes in the end of the top bar. The locking element is then pressed into position so that it extends around a catch on the buckle body, thus closing the open slot and keeping the strap connected to the buckle. The drawback of this design is that the spring gate locking element, which is generally formed by a wire that is bent into an L-shape at its end to insert through the holes, is not stable under high forces, as the wire can bend, causing the ends to slip out of the holes and release the strap. Furthermore, the spring gate locking element in this design must be bent out of its original shape in order to be inserted into the holes of the buckle, which further destabilizes the design. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     It is therefore an object of the invention to provide a buckle or other securing device for attaching a strap, in which the locking element cannot be inadvertently removed from the securing device during use and under high forces on the securing device. It is another object of the invention to provide a securing device in which the locking element can be assembled with the securing device in a simple manner without deforming the locking element. 
     These and other objects are accomplished in one embodiment by a buckle comprising a main buckle body having a first side wall, a second side wall, and at least one first slot for receiving a strap, and a top bar connected to the main buckle body at the first side wall and forming a second slot with the main buckle body for receiving a second strap. The second slot is open at a distal end thereof. The top bar has a guide track extending longitudinally therethrough, with the guide track opening into the second slot. The guide track extends parallel to the second slot. A catch is formed on the second side wall adjacent the distal end of the second slot. A spring gate in the shape of a loop with overlapping end portions is disposed in the guide track. The spring gate is configured to be placed around the catch to close the distal end of the second slot. The spring gate is releasable from the catch by pressing on the top bar until the spring gate clears the catch. The spring gate is attachable to the top bar by sliding the spring gate into the guide track from the second slot and moving the spring gate to the distal end of the top bar. The guide track preferably opens into the second slot at an oblique angle. This enables the spring gate to be assembled with the guide track simple and easily. 
     There is at least one protrusion extending into the guide track at the distal end of the guide track to keep the spring gate at the distal end of the guide track once it clears the protrusion. By assembling the spring gate to the buckle in this way, the spring gate does not have to be bent or deformed in any way in order for it to be attached to the buckle. The spring gate is placed onto the catch by rotating the gate around until it rests under the catch, which is preferably in the form of a downward-facing hook. The pressure created by pressing on the spring gate deforms the spring, as it cannot move within the guide track due to the protrusion blocking the guide track. The spring then stores a restoring force that helps to remove the spring from the catch once the top bar is pressed downward sufficiently to release the spring gate from the catch. 
     The connection between the spring gate and the catch prevents any straps inserted into the second slot from sliding out of the buckle through the open end. 
     The spring gate is preferably formed from a metal wire that is bent into a loop with overlapping end portions. Each of end portions of the spring gate have extensions that extend perpendicular to a circumferential direction of the spring gate and in opposite directions to each other, so as to form an essentially Z-shaped profile. These extensions serve to anchor the spring gate in the guide track when the buckle is subject to force from straps being pulled. To receive the extensions, the top bar contains grooves in communication with the guide track, which receive the extensions of the spring gate when the spring gate is positioned at the distal end of the guide track. Force on the top bar away from the main body presses the extensions deeper into the grooves to prevent the spring gate from opening. Furthermore, this pressure from a strap presses on the top bar to compress the guide track and further anchor the spring gate in place. 
     There is preferably a reinforcing protrusion on a bottom surface of the guide track at an opposite end of the protrusion, so that excessive force on the top bar does not damage the portion below the guide track. 
     In an alternative embodiment, the invention can take the form of a closed loop securing device such as a D-ring or triangular shaped ring having a spring gate closure. In this embodiment, the securing device is formed by main body having a first side wall, and a second side wall, and a top section connected to the main body at the first side wall. A gap is formed between a distal end of the top section and the second side wall. The top section has a guide track extending longitudinally therethrough and having an opening to a space outside the top section. A hook is formed on the second side wall facing the first side wall. As with the embodiment discussed above, the spring gate is in the shape of a loop with overlapping end portions and is configured to be assembled with the main body by inserting the spring gate in the guide track and sliding the spring gate to the distal end of the guide track. The spring gate is configured to snap into the hook in a resting position to close the gap between the second side wall and the top bar, and wherein the gap is opened by pressing the spring gate inward to release the spring gate from the hook. The difference between the arrangement of the D ring in this embodiment, and the first embodiment described above, is that here, the hook is facing the interior of the main body and the spring gate rotates inwardly in order to allow access to the main body for attachment of articles to the D-ring. In this embodiment the spring gate is disposed in the hook in a resting position, so that the ring is kept in the closed position until forces are applied to move the spring gate inward to allow access to the ring. 
     The top section of the securing device further comprises a slot for receiving a strap. The slot has an opening to a space between the side walls. The guide track connects to the slot at an oblique angle to a longitudinal extension of the guide track. There is at least one protrusion extending into the guide track at the distal end of the guide track to keep the spring gate at the distal end of the guide track. There is also a reinforcing protrusion extending into the guide track at an opposite end of the guide track from the first protrusion. 
     As with the spring gate of the first embodiment, the end portions of the spring gate have extensions that extend perpendicular to a circumferential direction of the spring gate and in opposite directions to each other. The top section of the securing device contains grooves in communication with the guide track. The grooves are configured to receive the extensions of the spring gate when the spring gate is positioned at the distal end of the guide track, such that force on the top section away from the main body presses the extensions deeper into the grooves to prevent the spring gate from opening. 
     A strap can be connected to the securing device by placing the strap through the slot and around the top section. Tension on the strap away from the main body presses the strap against the top section and compresses the guide track. The spring gate is formed from metal wire but could also be made of any other suitable material. 
     In a further embodiment, the device is in the form of a carabiner clip instead of a ring, taking on a more rounded elongated shape in the main body, but retaining all of the functional features described above with respect to the ring. In this embodiment, clip has a first side wall, a second side wall and a top section separated from the second side wall by a gap. The top section of the carabiner clip further comprises a strap retainer pivotably connect to the top section. The strap retainer is in the form of a closed loop with a central slot for receiving a strap. The strap retainer can be mounted on post extending form the top section of the clip to allow rotation of the strap retainer around the post. 
     In this embodiment, since the top section of the carabiner is not as wide as the ring previously described, the guide track can assume a curved shape, extending down the first side wall of the carabiner clip. In this embodiment, the guide track can be formed by a top bar extending toward the first side wall and a support bar extending from the first side wall toward the opening and parallel to the top bar. A space between the top bar and the support bar opens into the guide track to allow assembly of the spring gate into the guide track. This embodiment follows all of the other features of the ring-like securing device described above. 
     The present invention has the distinct advantages over the prior gated buckles and securing devices, as the spring gate locking element of the present invention does not need to be deformed during assembly, and it cannot be inadvertently released due to large forces on a strap connected to the device. Furthermore, the gate is simple to assemble with the device, and does not require the formation or assembly with small holes in the device. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       Other objects and features of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description considered in connection with the accompanying drawings. It is to be understood, however, that the drawings are designed as an illustration only and not as a definition of the limits of the invention. 
       In the drawings, wherein similar reference characters denote similar elements throughout the several views: 
         FIG.  1    shows a prior art buckle assembly; 
         FIG.  2    shows a perspective view of the buckle according to the invention without the spring gate closure element; 
         FIG.  3    shows another view of the buckle without the spring gate closure element; 
         FIG.  4    shows a top view of the spring gate closure element; 
         FIG.  5    shows a front view of the spring gate closure element; 
         FIG.  6    shows the spring gate closure element being assembled into the guide track of the buckle; 
         FIG.  7    shows the spring gate closure element moving along the guide track of the buckle toward the distal end; 
         FIG.  8    shows the spring gate closure element in its assembled position in the guide track; 
         FIG.  9    shows the buckle in a locked position; 
         FIG.  10    shows a cross-sectional view along lines X-X of  FIG.  9   ; 
         FIG.  10 A  shows an enlarged view of circle  10 A of  FIG.  10   ; 
         FIG.  11    shows the buckle having attached straps being pulled in opposite directions; 
         FIG.  12    shows the closure element being released from the catch by pressing down on the top bar of the buckle; 
         FIG.  13    shows a first alternative embodiment of the invention; 
         FIG.  14    shows an opposite side view of the embodiment of  FIG.  13   ; 
         FIG.  15    shows a cross-sectional view along lines  15 - 15  of  FIG.  14   ; 
         FIG.  15 A  shows a detail of circle  15 A of  FIG.  15   ; 
         FIG.  16    shows the embodiment of  FIG.  13    in an open position; 
         FIG.  17    shows the embodiment of  FIG.  13    with a strap and accessory attached; 
         FIG.  18    shows a second alternative embodiment of the invention; 
         FIG.  19    shows the embodiment of  FIG.  18    in an open position; and 
         FIG.  20    shows the embodiment of  FIG.  18    with a strap attached. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS 
     Referring now in detail to the drawings,  FIG.  1    shows a prior art buckle  100 , which has a main body  102  connected to a top bar  101 . A spring gate  200  is connected to the free end of top bar  101  by deforming the spring gate  200  until the ends are spaced apart enough to be inserted into holes  201  and  202  of top bar  101 . Once spring gate  200  is connected to top bar  101 , it can be used to close the opening into the slot  104 , by hooking spring gate  200  around catch  103 . The drawback to this design is that the deformation of the spring gate  200  leads to some unreliability of the spring gate, as it does not always snap back to its original shape once it is fully assembled onto top bar  101 . Furthermore, vertical pressure such as from straps connected to the buckle and to top bar  101  can force the ends of the spring gate  200  to bend and slip out of the holes  201 ,  202 , which can then lead to failure of the buckle and release of any attached straps. 
     The buckle of the present invention solves this problem through the use of a novel guide track in the top bar as well as a novel gate structure. The buckle of the present invention is shown in  FIGS.  2 - 12   . Here, as shown in  FIGS.  2  and  3   , buckle  10  has a main body consisting of side walls  11 ,  12  with a first slot  13  for receiving a strap. A central bar  14  spans first slot  13  and allows for strap adjustment as needed and arms  17 ,  18  keep the strap in place. Connected to side wall  11  is a top bar  20 , which extends toward side wall  12  but is not connected to side wall  12 . A second slot  15  is disposed between arms  17 ,  18  and top bar  20 . Second slot  15  is open on its end adjacent side wall  12 . A catch  16  in the form of a downward facing hook is disposed on side wall  12 . Inside top bar  20  is a guide track  22  that runs parallel to the extent of top bar  20  and second slot  15 . Guide track  22  is connected to second slot  15  by a guide slot  23 , which is arranged at an oblique angle to guide track  22 . 
     A lower protrusion  25  and an upper protrusion  24  are arranged at a distal end of the guide track, facing each other, to create an area of reduced width in guide track  22 . A groove  26  is formed in top bar  20 , which extends into guide track  22 , which assists in holding spring gate  30 , discussed below, in place. A corresponding groove is located on the opposite face of top bar  20  (not shown) 
       FIGS.  4  and  5    show spring gate  30 , which is formed of a metal wire or other elongated structure that is bent into a D-shape with overlapping end portions  31 ,  32 . Each end portion  31 ,  32  has an extension  33 ,  34 , respectively that extends perpendicular to the plane of spring gate  30 , with each extension facing opposite the other, creating a Z-shaped profile. 
     The assembly of spring gate  30  with buckle  10  is shown in  FIGS.  6 - 9   . As shown in  FIG.  6   , spring gate  30  is slid onto top bar  20  via open slot  15  and then fed into guide slot  23  and up into guide track  22 . Spring gate  30  then slides along guide track  22  as shown in  FIG.  7    until it reaches the distal end, at which it passes through protrusions  24 ,  25  under increased force, to reach the end of guide track  22 , as shown in  FIG.  8   . Protrusions  24 ,  25  prevent spring gate  30  from sliding back along guide track  22  during use of the buckle  10 . As shown in  FIG.  8   , extension  33  of spring gate  30  rests in groove  26  of top bar  20 , and a corresponding groove  28  on the rear side of top bar  20  receives extension  34  as well. 
     To lock buckle  10 , spring gate  30  is rotated around top bar  20  until it passes over catch  16 , at which time the hook on catch  16  locks spring gate  30  in place, as shown in  FIG.  9   . In the locked position, the extensions  33 ,  34  of spring gate  30  are pressed firmly against top bar  20  within grooves  26  and  28 , preventing any movement of spring gate  30  during use, as can be seen in the cross-sectional views of  FIGS.  10  and  10 A . 
     During use, strap  40  is looped around top bar  20  and strap  50  is threaded around central bar  14  in slot  13  as shown in  FIG.  11    to connect two items together. When straps  40  and  50  are pulled in opposite directions along the arrows in  FIG.  11   , which is the typical case, the force of strap  40  on the underside of top bar  20  causes the underside of top bar  20  to bend slightly and compress guide track  22 . This compression further secures spring gate  30  in place on buckled  10 . To prevent excessive compression under heavy loads, an additional protrusion  29  can be supplied in guide track  22  adjacent guide slot  23 , as shown for example in  FIG.  9   . 
     In addition to the compression of guide track  22 , the upward force of the strap  40  on top bar  20  pulls on spring gate  30 , which forces extensions  33 ,  34  of spring gate  30  even more tightly against top bar  20 , so that inadvertent release of spring gate  30  from top bar  20  is prevented. 
     In order to release spring gate  30  from catch  16 , the user simply presses down on top bar  30 , as shown in  FIG.  12   , until spring gate  30  clears catch  16 . The pressure of extensions  33 ,  34  against the walls of the grooves  26 ,  28  in top bar  20  creates a restoring force that allows spring gate  30  to then spring away from catch  16  to allow access to slot  15 . 
     A first alternative embodiment of the invention is shown in  FIGS.  13 - 17   . Here, a securing device  60  in the form of a triangular shaped ring has a first side wall  61  connected to a second side wall  62  on one end and to a top section  63  on the other end. Top section  63  is separated from second side wall  62  by a gap  64 . A hook  71  is disposed at the distal end of second side wall  62 , adjacent the gap  64 . Hook  71  faces inward toward a central cavity  72 . A guide track  65  is disposed in top section  63 , and extends into a slot  66  by way of a slanted guide slot  67 . Slot  66  opens into the interior of device  60  via opening  68 , to allow for attachment of a strap  80 , such as shown in  FIG.  17   . 
     A protrusion  69  is arranged at a distal end of the guide track  65 , create an area of reduced width in guide track  65 . A groove  77  is formed in top section  63 , which extends into guide track  65 , which assists in holding spring gate  30  in place. Spring gate  30  is identical to spring gate  30  as described in  FIGS.  4  and  5    above. A corresponding groove  78  is located on the opposite face of top section  63 . 
     The assembly of spring gate  30  onto device  60  proceeds in the same manner shown in  FIGS.  6 - 9   . Spring gate  30  is slid into guide track  65  via opening  68  and then fed into guide slot  67  and up into guide track  65 . Spring gate  30  then slides along guide track  65  until it reaches the distal end, at which it passes through protrusion  69  under increased force, to reach the end of guide track  65 . 
     Protrusion  69  prevents spring gate  30  from sliding back along guide track  65  during use of the device  60 . As shown in  FIGS.  15  and  15 A , extension  33  of spring gate  30  rests in groove  77  of top section  63 , and a corresponding groove  78  on the rear side of top section  63  receives extension  34  as well. 
     In a resting state, spring gate  30  rests in hook  71  to keep spring gate  30  in place, as shown in  FIGS.  13  and  14   . In the locked position, the extensions  33 ,  34  of spring gate  30  are pressed firmly against top section  63  within grooves  77  and  78 , which creates a spring tension forcing spring gate  30  into hook  71  to close gap  64 . As shown in  FIG.  16   , the interior cavity  72  can be accessed by pressing inward on spring gate  30  to overcome the spring force created by extensions  33 ,  34  against the grooves  77 ,  78  in the top section  63 . When access is no longer needed, spring gate  30  swings back naturally into the locked position. 
     In use such as shown in  FIG.  17   , strap  80  is placed in slot  66 , and another article  85 , such as a hook, is attached to the bottom of device  60 . Stress in opposite directions, caused by pulling on strap  80  in one direction and on article  85  in an opposite direction, causes guide track  65  to compress, pulling top section upwards, and more tightly seating spring gate  30  in hook  71 . An additional protrusion  79  is disposed in top section  63  extending into guide track  65  near guide slot  67  in order to prevent excessive deformation of top section  63  under large stresses. 
     A further embodiment of the invention is shown in  FIGS.  18 - 20   . Here, instead of a triangular shaped ring, the device  90  is in the form of a carabiner clip. Device  90  has a first side wall  91 , a second side wall  92  and a top section  93  that is spaced from the second side wall  92  by a gap  94 . A hook  95  is located at the distal end of second side wall  92  adjacent gap  94 . Hook  95  faces the interior  96  of device  90 . A guide track  97  is located in top section  93  and extends in a curved manner following the contour of top section  93 , toward first side wall  91 . Guide track  93  bends around and along top bar  933  and opens into interior  96  at the end point of support wall  98 , which extends inward from first side wall  91 . 
     As with the embodiments in  FIGS.  1 - 12  and  13 - 17   , a spring gate  30 , which is identical to the gate  30  of those embodiments, is disposed in guide track  97 , and is spring loaded to be pressed into hook  95  to maintain device  90  in a closed position. The extensions  33 ,  34  of spring gate  30  press against grooves  77 ,  78  as with the embodiment in  FIGS.  13 - 17    to press the spring gate outwardly, so that it is pressed into the locked position against hook  95 . To open the gap  94 , the user presses spring gate  30  inward with a force sufficient to overcome the outward spring force as shown in  FIG.  19   , so as to allow an article to be clipped to device  90 . When the article is in position, the user simply releases spring gate  30  and it moves back to the locked position shown in  FIG.  20   . 
     As with the embodiments of  FIGS.  1 - 12  and  13 - 17   , device  90  is also equipped with a protrusion  99  on the distal end of guide track  97 , to keep spring gate in position at the distal end. Additional protrusions could also be supplied for extra security. A further protrusion  990  is disposed at the proximal end of guide track  97  to prevent excess deformation of the parts under stress from an article (not shown) clipped to the device  90 , or from strap  80 , similar to the protrusions shown in the embodiments of  FIGS.  1 - 12  and  13 - 17   . 
     To secure strap  80  to device  90 , a strap securing device  920  is pivotably attached to device  90  via a post  930  which is connected to top section  93 . Strap securing device  920  is in the form of an open rectangle with a strap receiving slot  940 . Other types of devices and shapes could also be used. 
     The present invention provides a simple and secure way to provide a closure system in which the spring gate is resistant to deformation even under large loads. 
     Accordingly, while only a few embodiments of the present invention have been shown and described, it is obvious that many changes and modifications may be made thereunto without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.