Patent Publication Number: US-7712191-B2

Title: Secure fastener for belts

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE 
   The present application is a continuation-in-part application of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/307,695, filed on Feb. 17, 2006, abandoned, of which the entire disclosure is incorporated herein. 

   BACKGROUND OF INVENTION 
   1. Field of Invention 
   The present invention relates to a secure fastener for belts. 
   2. Related Prior Art 
   Referring to  FIGS. 1 and 2 , there is shown a conventional fastener for belts. The fastener includes a base  1  that includes a first crossbar  4  installed adjacent to an end thereof and a handle  2  pivotally installed thereto. The first crossbar  4  has a first belt  5  that is formed with a loop around The first crossbar  4  so that the first belt  5  is secured to the first crossbar  4 . The handle  2  has a latch  3  movably installed adjacent to an end thereof, a second crossbar  6  and a third crossbar  7 . A second belt  8  is directed past the third crossbar  7 , wound around the second crossbar  6  and directed past the third crossbar  7  again. As seen in  FIG. 1 , when the fastener is in an untightened condition, the belts  5  and  8  are tensioned mildly. As seen in  FIG. 2 , when the fastener is in a tightened condition to fasten the belts  5  and  8  and when the handle  2  is pivoted, the latch  3  can be moved to engage with hooks  9  formed on the base  1 , thereby fastening the belts  5  and  8  against the associated crossbar. However, a problem with such fastener is that there must be enough friction between the second belt  8  and the crossbars  6  and  7  for ensuring normal operation. Particularly, if a user intends to exert tension on the belts  5  and  8  larger than the friction, the second belt  8  will slip. Hence, The user cannot exert the intended tension on the belts  5  and  8 . 
   The present invention is therefore intended to obviate or at least alleviate the problems encountered in the prior art. 
   SUMMARY OF INVENTION 
   Accordingly, the object is achieved by providing a secure fastener that includes a fastening device and a security device. The fastening device includes a base, a handle pivotally installed on the base between a slackening position and a fastening position and a latch movably installed on the handle for engagement with the base in the fastening position. A first crossbar is installed on the base so that a first belt can be attached to the first crossbar. Second and third crossbars are installed on the handle so that a second belt can be directed past the third crossbar, wound around the second crossbar and directed past the third crossbar again. The security device is installed on the base and moveably urged by the handle so that the security device can be moved to push the second belt against the third crossbar in the fastening position. 
   In another embodiment, the security device incorporated in the first embodiment takes the form of a leaf spring and defines a body having a face which partially includes a plurality of teeth. The body can be moveably urged by the handle such that the teeth can push the second belt against the third crossbar in the fastening position. 
   The primary advantage of the secure fastener according to the present invention is to provide enough friction on the second belt so that the second belt does not slip. 
   Other advantages and features of the present invention will become apparent from the following description referring to the drawings. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS 
     The present invention wilt be described through detailed illustration of the preferred embodiments referring to the drawings, in which: 
       FIG. 1  is a cross-sectional view of a conventional fastener for belts. 
       FIG. 2  is a cross-sectional view of the conventional fastener of  FIG. 1  in another position. 
       FIG. 3  is a perspective view of a secure fastener for belts according to a first embodiment of the present invention. 
       FIG. 4  is an exploded perspective view of the secure fastener of  FIG. 3 . 
       FIG. 5  is a cross-sectional view of the secure fastener of  FIG. 3 . 
       FIG. 6  is a cross-sectional view of the secure fastener of  FIG. 3  in another position. 
       FIG. 7  is an enlarged, partial cross-sectional view of the secure fastener of  FIG. 6 . 
       FIG. 8  is a perspective view of a secure fastener for belts according to a second embodiment of the present invention. 
       FIG. 9  is an exploded perspective view of the secure fastener of  FIG. 8 . 
       FIG. 10  is a cross-sectional view of the secure fastener of  FIG. 8 . 
       FIG. 11  is a cross-sectional view of the secure fastener of  FIG. 8  in another position. 
       FIG. 12  is an enlarged, partial cross-sectional view of the secure fastener of  FIG. 11 . 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     FIGS. 3-7  illustrate a secure fastener for belts according to a first embodiment of the present invention. The secure fastener includes a fastening device  10  and a security device  20 . The fastening device  10  is similar to the conventional fastener discussed in the RELATED PRIOR ART except several features adapted for incorporating to the security device  20 . 
   The fastening device  10  includes a base  11 , a first crossbar  14  installed on the base  11 , a handle  12  pivotally installed on the base  11  between a slackening position and a tight fastening position, a latch  13  movably installed on the handle  12  for engagement with two hooks  19  on the base  11  in the tight fastening position, a second crossbar  17  installed on the handle  12  and a third crossbar  18  ( FIGS. 5 through 7 ) installed on the handle  12 . 
   The base  11  includes two spaced lateral members each formed with a first slot  15  and a second slot  16  on the wall section thereof. In this embodiment, the first slot  15  is of rectilinear shape, and the second slot  16  is U-shaped. The first crossbar  14  has a length at least equal to the distance of the lateral members. Furthermore, a hook  19  is defined on and integrally formed with the related one of the lateral members of the base  11 . The hook  19  defines a slotted portion. In addition, the hook  19  is co-planar with the related one of the lateral members. 
   The handle  12  also includes two spaced lateral members and the first, second, and third crossbars  14 ,  17  and  18  each has a length at least equal to the distance of the lateral members of the handle  12 . A first belt  30  is formed with a loop around the first crossbar  14  so that the first belt  30  is secured to the first crossbar  14 . A second belt  40  is directed past the third crossbar  18 , wound around the second crossbar  17  and directed past the third crossbar  18  again. 
   The security device  20  includes a pressing element  21 , a supporting element  22  and an elastic element  23 . The pressing element  21  includes a shaft  212  having a length orthogonal to the lateral members of the base  11  and a rough peripheral surface disposed along the length thereof. The pressing element  21  also includes two fins  211  extending in the same orientation of the length of the shaft  212  at two ends thereof respectively. The fins  211  are movably engaged in the first slots  15  respectively. The supporting element  22  includes a length orthogonal to the lateral members of the base  11  and defines a cavity  221  extending along the length thereof. The supporting element  22  also has an end cross section that is complemently engagable in the second slot  16 . In this embodiment, the supporting element  22  includes two ends engaged in the second slots  16  respectively. The elastic element  23  defines a side supported by the bottom wall of the cavity  221  of the supporting element  22  and a concave side  231  for supporting the shaft  212  of the pressing element  21  lengthwise. 
   As seen in  FIG. 5 , the handle  12  is pivoted toward the base  11  to a position for mildly tensioning the belts  30  and  40 . The pressing element  21  and the third crossbar  18  together form a pinch for the second belt  40 . Now, the pinch is idle. Moreover, the peripheral surface of the shaft  212  provides for sufficient friction for precluding slippage of the belts  30  and  40 . 
   As seen in  FIG. 6 , the handle  12  is pivoted toward the base  11  to a position for tightly fastening the belts  30  and  40 , and the latch  13  is moved to a position to be supported by the slotted portion of each hook  19 . Furthermore, the crossbars  17  and  18  are correspondingly moved to new locations relative to the security device  20  due to the position change of the handle  12 , and the pressing element  21  is urged by the elastic element  23  to incorporate to the third crossbar  18  to form a pinch. 
     FIG. 7  is a partial, enlarged view of  FIG. 6 , and it can be seen that the pinch pinches the second belt  40 . The elastic element  23  pushes the pressing element  21  firmly against the second belt  40 . The friction between the second belt  40  and the crossbars  17  and  18  and the friction between the second belt  40  and the pinch ensures normal operation. 
     FIGS. 8 and 9  illustrate a second embodiment of a secure fastener according to the present invention. In the second embodiment, the first and second slots  15  and  16  on each of the lateral members of the base  11  are omitted, and, instead, each lateral member includes a slot  15 ′ on the wall section thereof. Furthermore, the security device  20  incorporated in the first embodiment is replaced by the security device  20 ′. The security device  20 ′ takes the form of a leaf spring and defines a body  21 ′ on which are formed two extensions  22 ′. The two extensions  22 ′ are inserted in two slots  15 ′ of the base  10  respectively. In this embodiment, the body  21 ′ and the extensions  22 ′ are angled with each other. 
   The body  21 ′ of the security device  20 ′ further defines two opposite faces, and one of the faces partially includes a plurality of teeth  23 ′. Optionally but preferably, the teeth  23 ′ extend from the left peripheral side  211 ′ to the right peripheral side  213 ′ of the body  21 ′ of the security device  20 ′ in order to provide for greater frictional contact with the third crossbar  18 . In this embodiment the right and left peripheral sides  211 ′ and  213 ′ are opposite to each other. In addition, a top peripheral side  212 ′ extending transversely between left and right peripheral sides  211 ′ and  213 ′ and the top peripheral side  212 ′ has a length at least equal or slightly smaller than the distance between the lateral members of the handle  12 . It should be understood that the terms “right” “left” and “top” herein have reference only to the structure of the security device  20 ′ shown in the drawings and are utilized only to facilitate describing the second embodiment. 
   As seen in  FIG. 10 , the handle  12  is pivoted toward the base  11  to a position for mildly tensioning the belts  30  and  40 . The security device  20 ′ and the third crossbar  18  together form a pinch for the second belt  40 . Now, the pinch is idle. Moreover, the teeth  23 ′ of the security device  20 ′ provide for sufficient friction for precluding slippage of the belts  30  and  40 . 
   As seen in  FIG. 11 , the handle  12  is pivoted toward the base  11  to a position for tightly fastening the belts  30  and  40 , and the latch  13  is moved to a position to be supported by the slotted portion of each hook  19 . Furthermore, the crossbars  17  and  18  are correspondingly moved to new locations relative to the security device  20  due to the position change of the handle  12 , and the body  21 ′ of the security device  20 ′ is urged to incorporate to the third crossbar  18  to form a pinch due to resilient characteristic of the security device  20 ′. 
     FIG. 12  is a partial, enlarged view of  FIG. 11 , and it can be seen that the pinch pinches the second belt  40 . The teeth  23 ′ of the security device  20 ′ are firmly against the second belt  40 . The friction between the second belt  40  and the crossbars  17  and  18  and the friction between the second belt  40  and the pinch ensure normal operation. 
   In view of the forgoing description, the invention is advantageous in that if the thickness of the second belt  40  is changed, the elastic element  23  and the security device  20 ′ can compensate such change in the thickness of the second belt  40  and still push the pressing clement  21  firmly against the second belt  40 . 
   Moreover, the secure fastener of the present invention exhibits at least two advantages. Firstly, it provides enough friction on the second belt  40  so that the second belt  40  does not slip. Secondly, it compensates for change in the thickness of the second belt  40 . 
   The present invention has been described through the illustration of the preferred embodiments. Those skilled in the art can derive variations from the preferred embodiments without departing from the scope of the present invention. Therefore, the preferred embodiments shall not limit the scope of the present invention defined in the claims.