Patent Publication Number: US-10306950-B2

Title: Strap connection member

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates to a strap connection member which may effectively connect and disconnect straps installed on a backpack, a bag, clothing, a helmet, etc. 
     Description of the Related Art 
     In general, many appendages, such as buckles or rings, are mounted on a backpack, a bag, clothing, a helmet, etc., as needed. For example, many straps S are provided at various regions of a backpack for climbing, as exemplarily shown in  FIG. 1 , one end of each strap S is fixed to the backpack by sewing, various types of appendages, such buckles B, adjusters or rings, are installed at the straps S and used according to function, and buckles B to connect the straps S serving as a fixing belt are provided. 
     Further, during activity, such as camping or climbing, a large number of appendages, i.e., a lantern, a cup, a stick, a water bottle, etc., is received in or hung on a bag so as to be carried. 
     For this purpose, many straps and connection members, such as buckles or rings to connect and fix the straps are necessary. 
     In case of a large number of straps basically installed on a backpack, one end of each strap is fixed to the backpack by sewing, the other end of the strap hangs down so as to be connected to another strap or an appendage, a crossbar to connect the strap is formed at one side of each of various connection members to connect or adjust these straps, and an appendage having one of various shapes, such as a buckle, a ring or a hook having respective functions, is provided at the other side of each connection member. 
     As the most common example of connection members, there is a buckle which is mainly used to connect or disconnect two straps. The buckle includes a plug member and a socket member having female and male types so as to be combinable, a crossbar to connect and fix the strap is formed at the rear end of each of the plug member and the socket member, and a strap hooking bar is further provided at the rear end of any one of the plug member and the socket member in parallel with the crossbar so as to adjust the length of the connected strap. 
     Therefore, a connection member to simply connect and fix a strap is provided with one crossbar, and a connection member to adjust the length of a strap wound thereon is further provided with both a crossbar and a strap hooking bar formed in parallel, thus connecting the straps. 
     That is to say, a connection member to fix a strap is configured such that the strap is wound on a crossbar and then overlapping portions of the strap are sewn together, and a connection member to adjust the length of a strap connected thereto is configured such that the strap is wound on a strap hooking bar and is pressed by a crossbar so as to be fixed, and, in order to adjust the length of the strap, a pressed degree of the strap by the crossbar is decreased by lifting the connection member and thus the length of the strap is adjusted. 
     As described above, most connection members to connect straps are formed to have two types, one of which fixes a strap using a crossbar, and the other of which connects a strap through a double structure using a crossbar and a strap hooking bar. 
     Patent Document 1 discloses one example of connection members using straps, a plug member (a male member) and a socket member (a female member) are provided so as to be combinable, and straps are connected to rear ends of the plug member and the socket member through slots formed by crossbars formed at the rear ends. 
     Patent Document 1 describes one example of a typical buckle in which a connection member provided with a crossbar alone fixes a strap by sewing, etc., and a connection member provided with both a crossbar and a strap hooking bar adjusts the length of a strap connected thereto. 
     However, the above-described strap connection structure has problems, as below. 
     First, structures of connection members vary according to purposes of connecting straps, i.e., fixation of a strap and adjustment of the length of a strap, and thus there is no product compatibility. 
     Due to lack of product compatibility, all products should be separately manufactured according to functions and be differently sorted, managed and handled, thus lowering productivity and causing rise in manufacturing costs and rise in distribution costs. 
     Moreover, a conventional strap connection member is configured so as to connect one strap in only one direction. 
     Connection of straps is used to connect necessary appendages, to hang necessary appendages or to support necessary positions of appendages, and, as needed, is used to simultaneously connect several straps, or to connect straps in several directions, and the conventional connection member cannot achieve such connection. 
     Therefore, in order to achieve the several functions described above, a larger number of straps and a larger number of connection members to connect the straps should be used and, thereby, usage of the straps may be very inconvenient and appearance of a backpack provided with these straps may be poor. 
     PRIOR ART DOCUMENT 
     Patent Document 
     1. Korean Patent Registration No. 10-0737658 (Jul. 3, 2007) 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     Therefore, the present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and it is an object of the present invention to provide a strap connection member which allows a strap installed on a backpack or a bag to be fixed to a position of the strap connection member or to be connected to a position of the strap connection member such that the length of the strap is adjustable. 
     It is another object of the present invention to provide a strap connection member which allows two or more straps to be connected to a position of the strap connection member such that the directions of the connected straps may be arbitrarily set. 
     In accordance with the present invention, the above and other objects can be accomplished by the provision of a strap connection member including a pair of ring-shaped strap hangers provided at one side of a base and integrally formed so as to be spaced apart from each other. 
     The corners of the outer parts of the strap hangers may be curved. 
     A slit formed by the strap hangers spaced apart from each other may have a tilt angle so as to gradually expand from the base. 
     Opposite surfaces of the front ends of the strap hangers may be outwardly inclined. 
     The strap hangers may have different protruding lengths from the base. 
     The strap hangers may have an arc shape or a polygonal shape. 
     The strap hangers may have different shapes, and ring parts formed by the strap hangers may be alternated with each other. 
     A strap appendage may be formed at the other side of the base. 
     The strap appendage may be a plug member or a socket member of a buckle, and the buckle may be used in a bag, a backpack or clothing. 
     The strap appendage and the strap hangers may form a ring so that various accessories may be connected thereto. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The above and other objects, features and other advantages of the present invention will be more clearly understood from the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which: 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view exemplarily illustrating a general backpack; 
         FIG. 2  is a perspective view of a strap connection member in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 3  is a plan view of  FIG. 2 ; 
         FIG. 4  is a cross-sectional view taken along line A-A of  FIG. 3 ; 
         FIG. 5  is a view of the strap connection member of  FIG. 3  in a way in which straps are connected to the strap connection member; 
         FIG. 6  is a perspective view of  FIG. 5 ; 
         FIG. 7  is a perspective view of the strap connection member of  FIG. 3  in another way in which straps are connected to the strap connection member; 
         FIG. 8  is a cross-sectional view taken along line B-B of  FIG. 7 ; 
         FIG. 9  is a perspective view illustrating another state of using the strap connection member in accordance with the present invention; 
         FIG. 10  is a perspective view of strap hangers in accordance with another embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 11  is a plan view of strap hangers in accordance with yet another embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 12  is a perspective view exemplarily illustrating a socket member of a buckle, to which the present invention is applied; 
         FIG. 13  is a perspective view exemplarily illustrating a plug member of the buckle, to which the present invention is applied; 
         FIGS. 14 and 15  are perspective views illustrating the buckle shown in  FIGS. 12 and 13  in a separated state or in a coupled state; and 
         FIGS. 16 to 19  are views illustrating connection members, to which strap hangers in accordance with the present invention are applied. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     Reference will now be made in detail to the preferred embodiments of the present invention, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings. 
       FIG. 2  is a perspective view of a strap connection member in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention,  FIG. 3  is a plan view of  FIG. 2 , and  FIG. 4  is a cross-sectional view taken along line A-A of  FIG. 3 . As exemplarily shown in  FIGS. 2 to 4 , a connection member C 1  in accordance with the present invention includes a pair of strap hangers integrally formed as rings spaced apart from each other and provided at one side of a base  10 . 
     Hereinafter, the pair of strap hangers basically includes a first strap hanger  11  and a second strap hanger  12 . 
     In  FIGS. 2 to 4 , a D ring, which connects straps installed on a backpack or a bag, is applied as the connection member C 1  and, among many connection members, the D ring has a simple configuration. 
     The base  10  of the connection member C 1  serves as a bar on which a strap is wound so as to be connected and fixed to the connection member C 1 , and the first strap hanger  11  and the second strap hanger  12  having a ring shape are formed at one side of the base  10  and thus form a ring part  13 . 
     The first strap hanger  11  and the second strap hanger  12  having the same shape are opposite each other and are formed integrally with the base  10 , thus forming the ring part  13 . The first strap hanger  11  and the second strap hanger  12  are spaced apart from each other and, thus, a slit  14  is formed between the first strap hanger  11  and the second strap hanger  12 . 
     The opposite surfaces of the first strap hanger  11  and the second strap hanger  12  may be flat and the corners of the outer parts connected to the opposite surfaces of the first strap hanger  11  and the second strap hanger  12  may be curved and, in this case, it is favorable to wind straps on the first strap hanger  11  and the second strap hanger  12  so as to fix the straps. 
     The first strap hanger  11  and the second strap hanger  12  are spaced apart from the base  10  and extend in parallel in the same direction while forming the slit  14  between the first strap hanger  11  and the second strap hanger  12 , and, particularly, the first strap hanger  11  and the second strap hanger  12  form a designated slit tilt angle β from the base  10  so that the slit  14  gradually expands from the base  14 . 
     Therefore, straps may more easily enter the connection member C 1  through the slit  14  having an inlet having a large width in the opposite direction of the base  10 . 
     Further, opposite surfaces  15  and  16  of the front ends of the first strap hanger  11  and the second strap hanger  12  may be outwardly inclined and thus form an inlet tilt angle θ, which is greater than the slit tilt angle β, at the inlet of the slit  14  formed by the front ends of the respective strap hangers  11  and  12 , thereby allowing straps to more easily enter the slit  14 . 
     Of course, values of the slit tilt angle β and the inlet tilt angle θ may be arbitrarily selected, as needed, and vary according to applied straps or connection members. 
     A pair of the first and second strap hangers  11  and  12  in accordance with the present invention may have different protruding lengths and, as exemplarily shown in  FIGS. 2 to 4 , the first strap hanger  11  protrudes to a greater length than the second strap hanger  12 . 
     If the first strap hanger  11  and the second strap hanger have different protruding lengths, it may be easier to insert a strap into the slit  14  and then to wind the strap. 
     That is, if a strap passes through the ring part  13  from the outside of the first strap hanger  11  having a greater length, enters the slit  14  and then winds the first strap hanger  11  so that the length of the strap is adjustable, the inlet of the slit  14  becomes wider due to a difference in protruding lengths between the front ends of the respective strap hangers  11  and  12  and the strap having passed through the ring part  13  is easily inserted into the slit  14 . 
     Further, in order to adjust the length of the strap, when the first strap hanger  11  having a greater length is slightly lifted up so that the pressed degree of the strap is reduced, the first strap hanger  11  is conveniently lifted up. 
       FIGS. 5 to 7  are views respectively exemplarily illustrating a connection member C 1  to which strap are connected. In  FIGS. 5 and 6 , a strap S 1  provided in one direction is wound on a bar forming a base  10  of the connection member C 1  formed by a D ring and is fixed by sewing, and different straps S 2  and S 3  are wound on a first strap hanger  11  and a second strap hanger  12 . 
     Therefore,  FIGS. 5 and 6  illustrate that the straps S 1 , S 2  and S 3  are connected to the connection member C 1  in three directions. If straps are fixed simply by winding, as such, the straps may be wound on any one of a pair of strap hangers or be wound on both the strap hangers. 
     Further, in  FIG. 7 , a strap S 1  provided in one direction is wound on a bar forming the base  10  of the connection member C 1  and is fixed by sewing, and two straps S 2  and S 3  provided in different directions are wound on the first strap hanger  11  and the second strap hanger  12  such that the lengths of the straps S 2  and S 3  are adjustable. 
     Here, a strap may be wound on any one of the two strap hangers  11  and  12  so as to be fixed, and thereby another type of connection may be carried out. As such, one of various arbitrary types of connection may be selected, as needed. 
       FIG. 8  is a cross-sectional view taken along line B-B of  FIG. 7 , illustrating a detailed structure of connecting a strap S to the strap hangers  11  and  12  so that the length of the strap S is adjustable. With reference to  FIG. 8 , a free end  18  of the strap S passes through a ring part  13  from the outside of the first strap hanger  11 , is wound on the second strap hanger  12 , is inserted into the slit  14  from the front end of the second strap hanger  12 , overlaps a fixed end  17  of the strap S, is wound on the inner part of the first strap hanger  11 , and is withdrawn to the front end of the first strap hanger  11 . 
     Thereby, the strap S is substantially wound on the second strap hanger  12  and the free end  18  and the fixed end  17  of the strap S overlap each other on the first strap hanger  11  and is pressed by the first strap hanger  11  so as to maintain the connection state of the strap S to the connection member C 1 , and the strap S is bent at the corner of the front end of the second strap hanger  12  and the corner of the rear end of the first strap hanger  11  so as to maintain the fixed state of the strap S. 
     Therefore, relations, such as a distance and an interval between the front end of the second strap hanger  12  and the rear end of the first strap hanger  11 , etc., are important in connecting a strap to the connection member C 1  and may thus be adjusted, as needed. 
     In order to adjust the length of the strap S connected to the connection member C 1 , the strap S is drawn or released by lifting up the first strap hanger  11  while holding the free end  18  of the strap S. When the first strap hanger  11  is lifted up, the strap S pressed by the first strap hanger  11  is released and thus easily drawn. 
     Further, other members than straps may be connected to the connection member C 1  of the present invention. For example, a hook  19  may be hung on the strap hangers  11  and  12  so as to be connected to the strap hangers  11  and  12 , as exemplarily shown in  FIG. 9 . 
       FIG. 10  is a perspective view of a connection member in accordance with another embodiment of the present invention. With reference to  FIG. 10 , a connection member C 2  includes a pair of strap hangers  21  and  22  extending from a base  20  in one direction and simultaneously forming a ring part  23 , and a cut part  27  is formed at one end of each of the first strap hanger  21  and the second strap hanger  22 . 
     If insertion a free end of a strap into the ring part  23  is difficult, the strap may be connected to the connection member C 2  by inserting a mid-portion of the strap into the cut part  27 . Such a cut part  27  may be applied to the strap hanger in accordance with the present invention. 
     The cut parts  27  may be formed at alternate positions of the pair of strap hangers  21  and  22 , thus preventing the strap from being easily separated from the connection member C 2 . 
     Further, a strap hanger of a strap connection member in accordance with the present invention may have other shapes than an arc shape. That is, a pair of strap hangers  31  and  32  extending from a base  30  of a connection member C 3  may have a triangular shape forming a ring part  33  provided therein, as exemplarily shown in  FIG. 11 , or may have other shapes, such as a rectangular shape, a diamond shape and an oval shape. 
     If strap hangers have a polygonal shape, directionality of straps connected thereto may be specified. 
       FIGS. 12 to 19  are views illustrating various strap appendages applied to a connection member in accordance with the present invention and, particularly,  FIGS. 12 to 15  illustrate a buckle B including a socket and a plug, which are detachably attached to each other. 
     That is, a socket connection member C 4  includes a socket  47  formed at one side of a base  40 , a pair of strap hangers  41  and  42 , which are spaced apart from each other, formed at the other side of the base  40  and forming a ring part  43  provided therein, and a slit  44  formed between the strap hangers  41  and  42  so that a strap may be connected to the strap hangers  41  and  42 , and a plug connection member C 5  includes a plug  57  formed at one side of a base  50 , a pair of strap hangers  51  and  52 , which are spaced apart from each other, formed at the other side of the base  50  and forming a ring part  53  provided therein, and a slit  54  formed between the strap hangers  51  and  52  so that a strap may be connected to the strap hangers  51  and  52 . The socket connection member C 4  and the plug connection member C 5  are provided in a set and thus form the buckle B. 
     Here, the illustrated buckle B is only one type of a large number of buckles, and various sockets and plugs may be employed. 
     Further, as exemplarily shown in  FIGS. 12 to 15 , the bases  40  and  50  serving as boundaries between strap hangers in accordance with the present invention and appendages may have a rectilinear shape or a curved shape and include a minimum connection portion which may support the strap hangers. 
       FIG. 16  is a view illustrating example in which a connection member in accordance with the present invention is applied to a lifting buckle. That is,  FIG. 16  illustrates a lifting buckle connection member C 6  including a rail groove  67  for combination with a lifting rail, formed at one side of a base  60 , a pair of strap hangers  61  and  62 , which are spaced apart from each other, formed at the other side of the base  60  and forming a ring part  63  provided therein, and a slit  64  formed between the strap hangers  61  and  62  so that a strap may be connected to the strap hangers  61  and  62 . 
       FIG. 17  is a view illustrating example in which a connection member in accordance with the present invention is applied to a strap adjuster. That is,  FIG. 17  illustrates an adjuster connection member C 7  including slots  77  and  78  formed at one side of a base  70  so that a strap may be continuously inserted into the slots  77  and  78 , a pair of strap hangers  71  and  72 , which are spaced apart from each other, formed at the other side of the base  70  and forming a ring part  73  provided therein, and a slit  74  formed between the strap hangers  71  and  72  so that a strap may be connected to the strap hangers  71  and in a different direction from the strap inserted into the slots  77  and  78 . 
       FIG. 18  is a view illustrating example in which a connection member in accordance with the present invention is applied to a clip. That is,  FIG. 18  illustrates a clip connection member C 8  including a pair of strap hangers  81  and  82 , which are spaced apart from each other, formed at each of both sides of a base  80  provided with a clip  87  formed at one end thereof so that straps may be connected to two pairs of strap hangers  81  and  82  formed at both sides of the base  80 . 
       FIG. 19  is a view illustrating example in which a connection member in accordance with the present invention is applied to a hook. That is,  FIG. 19  illustrates a hook connection member C 9  including a hook  97  formed at one side of a base  90 , a pair of strap hangers  91  and  92 , which are spaced apart from each other, formed at the other side of the base  90  and forming a ring part  93  provided therein, and a slit  94  formed between the strap hangers  91  and  92  so that one strap or two or more straps may be connected to the strap hangers  91  and  92 . 
     As apparent from the above description, a strap connection member in accordance with the present invention includes a pair of strap hangers formed in one direction so that the strap hangers may be used as one strap hanger or be used as separate strap hangers, thus providing convenience. 
     Further, the strap connection member in accordance with the present invention allows different straps to be connected to a pair of the strap hangers, thereby allowing simultaneous connection of the straps in several directions. 
     Further, the strap connection member in accordance with the present invention may arbitrarily select a connection type, i.e., simple connection and fixation of a strap or adjustment of the length of a connected strap. 
     Moreover, in the strap connection member in accordance with the present invention, the direction of a strap connected thereto may be arbitrarily moved, thus allowing the strap to be connected in an arbitrary direction. 
     Although the preferred embodiments of the present invention have been disclosed for illustrative purposes, those skilled in the art will appreciate that various modifications, additions and substitutions are possible, without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention as disclosed in the accompanying claims. For example, a connection member in accordance with the present invention may be formed of various materials, such as a synthetic resin, a metal, etc., be changed in surface or shape, and have elasticity. 
     Further, straps applied to the present invention may include various types, such as a string, a rope, a bend, a belt for connection, etc.