Patent Publication Number: US-2018035763-A1

Title: Protective secured belt

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application claims priority to French Patent Application No. 16 57645 filed Aug. 8, 2016. This application in incorporated by reference herein in its entirety. 
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to a belt comprising a strap and a device for closing a first end part of the strap with a second end part of the strap, the closing device comprising a support plate fastened to the first end part and a buckle intended to removably receive the second part, said buckle being rotatable relative to the support plate between an adjusting position and a gripping position, and at least one hook able to cooperate with at least one first opening provided in the second end part so as to fasten the second part of the strap on the first end part. 
     BACKGROUND 
     A belt with a strap is such a belt, for example, intended for police officers or security agents. 
     Such a belt must be able to allow its user to wear his equipment securely around the waist, in particular the firearm holster, for example during demonstrations or confrontations. 
     Such a belt is worn around the users waist, and may be worn over a waistband. It has a width close to 5 centimeters and is rigid enough not to deform under the weight of the equipment fastened on it, for example by torsion. Such a belt is intended to support a weight of at least 3 kilograms. Its esthetic is close to that of standard administrative belts in order to keep the attire uniform. 
     Such a belt must be solid enough to prevent an ill-intentioned person from opening it or tearing it off, in particular during conflicts. Furthermore, it must be tightened so as to prevent any rotation of the belt around the user&#39;s body, which could be bothersome when grasping objects supported by the belt. 
     Thus, it is provided to allow an adjustment of the tightening of the belt in order to adjust it to the size of the person wearing it, so as to prevent any rotation of the belt around the users waist. 
     In order to perform these functions, the belts of this known type generally include a closure device with a buckle removable from the belt, stationery in rotation relative to the belt, once assembled thereto and bearing hooks on a first end part of the strap and a plate including orifices cooperating with the hooks on a second end part of the strap. Such a closure device is particularly effective to prevent any tearing off of the belt. 
     However, such a closure device does not allow easy adjustment of the belt. Indeed, it is necessary to remove the buckle that is not secured to the strap in order to adjust the belt to the user&#39;s waist. This is a tedious operation for a user needing to remove his equipment or change his clothing, for example remove or put on a jacket. Another drawback is that the user can easily lose the buckle when adjusting the belt, since it must be separated from the belt to be able to perform the adjustment. 
     One aim of the invention is to offset these drawbacks by proposing a belt comprising a closure device that is easy to adjust while being difficult for a third party to open. 
     SUMMARY 
     To that end, the invention relates to a belt of the aforementioned type, wherein the hook protrudes from the support plate, the buckle being separated from the support plate in the adjusting position and folded down on said plate in the gripping position such that the hook cooperates with said first opening when the buckle receives the second end part of the strap. 
     Such a closure device allows the user to adjust and tighten the belt easily around his waist, by passing the first end part of the strap in the buckle, positioning the hook in the first opening and pulling the strap in the opposite direction, without separating any element of the belt. Thus, the tightening operation does not risk causing the loss of an element of the belt. Furthermore, the belt is able to withstand an attempted opening by an ill-intentioned third party. 
     According to other features of the belt according to the invention: 
     the first end part of the strap comprises a pin intended to cooperate with a second opening provided in the second end part of the strap; 
     the hook is translatable in the first opening between an insertion position in which the pin is not aligned with the second opening and a blocking position in which the pin is aligned with the second opening; 
     the second end part of the strap includes a plurality of first openings and a plurality of second openings, spaced apart in a longitudinal row of the strap; 
     said first openings and said second openings are positioned in staggered rows and separate longitudinal rows; 
     the distance between the pin and the hook is equal to the distance between the second opening and the edge of the first opening situated across from said second opening; 
     the closure device comprises 2 hooks; 
     the support plate is fitted on the first end part of the strap; 
     the support plate is riveted on the first end part of the strap. 
     The invention also relates to a method for adjusting and tightening a belt, comprising the following steps: 
     passing the second end part of the strap in the buckle, 
     adjusting the length of the second end part of the strap traversing the buckle, and 
     taking the buckle from the adjusting position to the gripping position so as to introduce the hook into the first opening and fasten the second end part to the first end part of the strap. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       Other aspects and advantages of the invention will appear upon reading the following description, provided as an example, and done in reference to the appended drawings, in which: 
         FIG. 1  is a schematic perspective illustration of the belt according to the invention in the gripping position, 
         FIG. 2  is a schematic perspective illustration of the belt of  FIG. 1  in the adjusting position, 
         FIG. 3  is a schematic side view of a detail of the belt of  FIG. 1  in an insertion position of a hook, 
         FIG. 4  is a view similar to  FIG. 3  in a blocking position of the hook, 
         FIG. 5  is a view similar to  FIG. 3  in a position for blocking of the hook and insertion of a pin, 
         FIG. 6  is an exploded perspective view of the closure device of the belt of  FIG. 1 . 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     In reference to  FIGS. 1 and 2 , a belt  10  is described for police officers or security agents or the like. The belt  10  is intended to be worn around the waist, for example over a waistband. 
     The belt  10  includes a strap  12  provided with a first end part  14  and a second end part  16  and a closure device  18  for the first end part  14  of the strap  12  with the second end part  16  of the strap  12 . 
     The strap  12  for example has a width close to 5 centimeters and a length suitable for one pass around a waist. The strap  12  is made from a material that is both flexible and strong, able to withstand the weight of the equipment or an attempt by a third party to tear it off, for example leather or the like. 
     The strap  12  is intended to receive equipment holders, such as weapon holsters, handcuffs holsters, club holders, etc. Their holders are for example made in the form of loops engaged around the strap  12  and comprising means for retaining a piece of equipment. Furthermore, some pieces of equipment may be fastened directly on the strap  12 . By adapting the position of the holders around the strap  12 , for example by sliding their loops, the position of the pieces of equipment relative to the users hands can be adjusted. 
     The strap  12  may include a loop  13 , illustrated in  FIGS. 1 and 2 , so as to receive the end of the second end part  16  and thus keep the second end part  16  with the first end part  14  when the belt  10  is tightened around the user&#39;s waist in order to prevent the second end part  16  from being able to be grasped by an ill-intentioned third party. 
     The closure device  18  comprises a support plate  20  fastened on the end of the first end part  14  of the strap  12 , a buckle  22  housed on this same first end part  14  and rotatable relative to the support plate  20 , at least one hook  24  fastened on the support plate  20 , and one or several first opening(s)  26  situated on the second end part  16  of the strap  12  and intended to cooperate with the hook  24 . 
     As illustrated in  FIG. 6 , the support plate  20  is generally rectangular in order to adapt to the shape of the strap  12 . The support plate  20  is made up of an upper housing  28  and a lower housing  30 . The support plate  20  is made from a metal or plastic material, for example polyamide. 
     The upper housing  28  of the support plate  20  is hollow. It has a proximal end  32  situated opposite the strap  12  and a distal end  34  opposite the proximal end  32 . The upper housing  28  is open at the proximal end  32  and defines a housing  33  to receive the first end part  14  of the strap  12 . Furthermore, the upper housing  28  has a hollow cylinder shape  36  at its distal end  34  to house part of the buckle  22 , as will be described later. The longitudinal axis of the hollow cylinder  36  defines the rotation axis of the buckle  22  relative to the support plate  20 . The upper housing  28  comprises an inner face  38  situated across from the lower housing  30  and an outer face  40  opposite the inner face  38 . It includes an orifice  42  that extends through the two faces  38 ,  40 . The hook  24  extends through the orifice  42  and protrudes from the outer face  40 . 
     The lower housing  30  of the support plate  20  has an inner face  44  situated across from the inner face  38  of the upper housing  28 . 
     According to one preferred embodiment, the support plate  20  is riveted on the first end part  14  of the strap  12 . The upper housing  28  and the lower housing  30  are fastened to one another by rivets  48  associated with counter-parts  50 . The rivets  48  traverse the upper housing  28  and the first end part  14  of the strap  12 , to be fastened in the lower housing  30 . For example, the support plate  20  comprises four rivets  48  and four corresponding counter-parts  50 , situated at each corner of the support plate  20 . 
     According to other embodiments, the support plate  20  is fitted on the first end part  14  of the strap  12  or injected on this first end part  14  so as to overmold the first end part  14  with the support plate  20 . 
     The hook  24  is generally L-shaped and protrudes on the outer face  40  of the upper housing  28 . 
     In the illustrated example, the closure device  18  includes two hooks  24 . The two hooks  24  have identical shapes and extend parallel to one another. 
     As shown in  FIG. 6 , the hooks  24  are secured to a support platen  52  housed in the housing defined by the respective inner faces  40 ,  44  of the upper housing  28  and the inner housing  30 . The support platen  52  is fastened on the inner face  44  of the lower housing  30 , for example forcibly fitted on a bush or fastened by a rivet. 
     The upper housing  28 , the lower housing  30  and the support platen  52  are secured, so as to form a stationary assembly. 
     The hooks  24  extend from the inner face  44  of the lower housing  30  through orifices provided in the first end part  14  of the strap  12  and protruding from the outer face  40 . This configuration allows robust fastening of the support plate  20  and hooks  24  on the first end part  14  of the strap  12  and prevents any separation of the support plate  20 . 
     The buckle  22  comprises a structure formed by a distal frame  54 , a central frame  56  and a proximal frame  58 . The distal frame  54  is situated across from the distal end  34  of the upper housing  28  and includes a rod  60  intended to be housed in the hollow cylinder  36  of the distal end  34  of the upper housing  28 . The rod  60  defines the rotation axis of the buckle  22  relative to the support plate  20 . The distal frame  54  is fastened to the proximal frame  58  via the central frame  56 . Each frame  54 ,  56 ,  58  defines an opening. Furthermore, the openings of the distal frame  54  and the proximal frame  58  extend in substantially parallel planes and the opening of the central frame  56  extends in a plane substantially perpendicular to the planes of the openings of the distal frame  54  and the proximal frame  58 . 
     The buckle  22  is formed in a single piece secured to the support plate  20  and rotatable relative to the latter along the rotation axis defined by the rod  60 . The buckle  22  is made from a metal or plastic material, for example a zinc or polymer alloy. 
     The buckle  22  is rotatable relative to the support plate  20  between an adjusting position, illustrated in  FIG. 2 , and a gripping position, illustrated in  FIG. 1 . 
     The buckle  22  is thus intended to removably receive the second end part  16  of the strap  12 , through the opening of the distal frame  54 , then through the opening of the proximal frame  58 . In the adjusting position, the buckle  22  is separated from the support plate  20 , and in the gripping position, the buckle  22  is folded down on the support plate  20 . In this way, in the gripping position, the central frame  56  is situated across from the outer face  40  of the upper housing  28  and the proximal frame  58  is situated across from the proximal end  32  of the upper housing  28 . 
     The second end part  16  of the strap  12  comprises one or several identical first openings  26 , for example elliptical, spaced apart from one another over a longitudinal row of the second end part  16  of the strap  12 . The first openings  26  have a sufficient length to allow the hook  24  to slide between an insertion position, illustrated in  FIG. 3 , and a blocking position, illustrated in  FIGS. 4 and 5 . In the insertion position, the hook  24  translates freely in the first opening  26 , and in the blocking position, the hook  24  cooperates with an edge  66  of the first opening  26 . In this way, the hook  24  cooperates with the first opening  26  when the buckle  22  is in the gripping position so as to prevent the second end part  16  from moving away from the support plate  20 . In the example illustrated in  FIGS. 1 and 2 , the second end part  16  of the strap  12  comprises two parallel rows provided with a plurality of first openings  26 , such that in the presence of two hooks  24 , each hook  24  cooperates with one of the two rows. 
     According to another embodiment, the closure device  18  includes a pin  62  situated on the first end part  14  of the strap  12  and one or several second openings  64  situated on the second end part  16  of the strap  12 . 
     The pin  62  is fastened on the first end part  14  of the strap  12  and moved away from the support plate  20  toward the inside of the first end part  14 . It comprises a foot and a head with a diameter larger than the diameter of the foot. The pin  62  is riveted on the second end part  16  of the strap  12 . The pin  62  is for example of the “screw button” type. 
     As illustrated in  FIGS. 3 to 5 , in the gripping position of the buckle  22 , the hook  24  is translatable in the first opening  26  between the insertion position and the blocking position of the hook  24 . When the hook  24  is in the insertion position, the pin  62  is not aligned with the second opening  64 . When the hook  24  is in the blocking position, the pin  62  is aligned with the second opening  64  and able to cooperate with the latter. 
     The second opening  64  is circular; more generally, it has a shape adapted to the shape of the pin  62 , such that the pin  62  cooperates with the second opening  64 . The diameter of the second opening  64  is larger than or equal to the diameter of the foot of the pin  62  and is smaller than the diameter of the head of the pin  62 , such that the pin  62  can be forcibly inserted in the second opening  64 . In this way, the pin  62  fastens the first end part  14  with the second part  16  of the strap  12  when the second opening  64  is engaged around the foot of the pin  62  and retained by the head of the pin  62 . 
     In the illustrated example, the second end part  16  of the strap  12  comprises a plurality of identical second openings  64  and spaced apart from one another over a central longitudinal row of the second end part  16  of the strap  12 . It also comprises two lateral rows situated on both sides of the central row and provided with a plurality of first openings  26 . 
     The first openings  26  and said second openings  64  are for example positioned in staggered rows on separate longitudinal rows. 
     Advantageously, the distance between the pin  62  and the hook  24  situated on the support plate  20  is equal to the distance between the second opening  64  and the edge  66  of the first opening  26  situated across from said second opening  64  and closest thereto. 
     Thus, the fastening of the first end part  14  with the second end part  16  of the strap  12  using the pin  62  can only be done when the hooks  24  are in the blocking position. This makes it possible to ensure that the belt  10  is closed correctly using hooks  24  and the pin  62 , and thus to avoid unanticipated opening of the belt  10  due to incorrect blocking thereof. 
     A method for adjusting and tightening the belt  10  will now be described. First, as illustrated in  FIG. 2 , the user passes the second end part  16  of the strap  12  in the buckle  22  in the adjusting position, through the distal frame  54  of the buckle  22 , then through the proximal frame  58  of the buckle  22 . Secondly, the user adjusts the length of the second end part  16  of the strap  12  traversing the buckle  22  in order to adjust the opening diameter of the belt  10  and thus adjust the belt around his waist. The user next takes the buckle  22  from the adjusting position to the gripping position so as to place the hook  24  in the insertion position and introduce it into the first opening  26 . Lastly, the user pulls on the second end part  16  of the strap  12 , in the direction F opposite the insertion direction of the second end part  16  into the buckle  22 . In this way, the hook  24  places itself in the blocking position and fastens the second end part  16  to the first end part  14  of strap  12 . 
     When the belt  10  includes a pin  62 , the user performs a final step consisting of inserting the pin  62  in the second opening  64 , and optionally a step consisting of passing the second end part  16  of the strap  12  in the loop  13 . 
     The embodiments described above are merely examples. Changes may be made thereto. Thus, it is possible to provide several pins or more than two hooks in the closure device. It is also possible to provide a different shape of the hook or the pin as well as a different configuration of the buckle. 
     The belt described above allows a simplified adjustment, such that it can be used multiple times and installed quickly with no risk of losing the buckle. Furthermore, the belt allows secure gripping around the users waist. In this way, it is able to withstand an attempt by an ill-intentioned third party to tear it off.