Patent Publication Number: US-8966723-B2

Title: Adjustment and fixation system of protection vests

Description:
This application claims the priority benefit under 35 U.S.C. §119 of Portugal Patent Application No. 105529 filed on Feb. 17, 2011, which is hereby incorporated in its entirety by reference. 
     FIELD 
     This disclosed subject matter provides a fixation system of protection vests. The vest can be adopted for use, for example, by two-wheeled vehicle drivers. 
     BACKGROUND 
     The fixation systems that are presently used for protection vests, normally include two bodies, the frontal part (chest) and the rear part (back), linked by shoulder pads, whose function is to equally protect this part of the body against any type of impact, like stones or other objects, such as vegetation, trunks, and to provide protection in the case of a fall on the ground or into objects. The shoulder pads are typically fixed in a certain position and link the remaining parts of the vest with screws or other fixation systems that need to be released whenever a position change for a better fitting is required. This turns out to be a difficult operation, especially when the driver is in movement. That is, for example, during a competition the driver isn&#39;t able to change his vest positioning and correct fitting. The presently disclosed subject matter enables the driver to correct positioning without stopping. 
     Conventional systems that use a fixation system for their shoulder pads that includes screws and in which the internal belt presents several orifices, may not be very precise, and may result in a limited fitting concerning the distance between the orifices. Disassembly of the vest can also require the use of tools, to make the necessary adjustments. These systems also sometimes require an adequate clamping, that normally depends on the user or the factory&#39;s clamping, in order to guarantee the correct performance of the product. However, it may occur that an incorrect or insufficient clamping of the screws may imply a possible separation of the plastic parts, where the excess material may damage the clamping thread or crush the plastic with consequent dysfunctionality of the product. 
     Below are references to some documents, which describe some conventional systems. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 5,758,895 describes a clamping set composed by adjustable slabs or belt couplings, featuring a retention notch, applied on snowboards. The system described in this document is composed by a teeth strap with a triangular and not quadratic form, as well as a retention and adjustment device based on a lever, whose extremity also presents an triangular step, that being in contact with the strap and after tightening the lever serves to retain the movement of said strap. Like other remaining systems using triangular teeth, it has the possibility of movement and misfitting of the strap without pressing the device&#39;s button. The adjustment system also presents a set of fixation screws that require tools for the refining of the system. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 4,607,398 discloses a belt and retainer set for diving masks, where the retainer, due to the format, exercises pressure on the belt and fixes it through a step with a triangular form, which fits the teeth of the belt, which have a triangular form. This device disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,607,398 differs from the presently disclosed subject matter in numerous ways. For example, in the form of the belt teeth and the type of retention device, where the disadvantages are obvious, when choosing teeth with a triangular form. Equally, this retainer type does not permit adequate handling, as the adjustment is difficult or cannot be made while the equipment is in use. 
     SUMMARY 
     The presently disclosed subject matter is related to an adjustment and fixation system. The system can be used with protection vests. One exemplary type of protection vest is one that can be adopted, for example, by two-wheeled vehicle drivers. The proposed system can include : a teethed strap ( 1 ); a plug-in device ( 2 ) of the strap; the strap ( 1 ) can include several teeth ( 4 ) with a quadratic form; the plug-in device ( 2 ) can include a step ( 7 ) in quadratic form that, due to an indenture ( 3 ), works as a lever, that together with the teeth ( 4 ) enables the blocking and/or fixing of the strap movement, thus enabling the protector&#39;s correct fitting. For this, it is only necessary to press the extremity ( 10 ) of the device. 
     In order for the user to be able to adjust the protection vest at any time, it is enough to simply press on the extremity ( 10 ), in order to loosen or tighten the adjustment. In other words, the user can be protected by being able to change a defined clamping if it deems necessary. While adjusting the step ( 7 ) the quadratic form of the previously mentioned teeth ( 4 ), allows freedom of movement and prevents the vest from tightening/loosening, which could undermine its correct use. 
     The described system makes it possible to adjust the protection vest without disassembling or removing the vest from the user&#39;s body and inclusively, do it, while moving. The links between the shoulder pads ( 8 ) and the remaining parts of the vest are done on its front part ( 11 ), as seen in  FIG. 6 , thus enabling a simple and quick adjustment, without needing any further fixing mechanisms, such as screws. This system can also be manufactured in polymeric material, dispensing the use of any metals. 
     The presently disclosed subject matter can be used for example, by two-wheeled vehicle drivers, for equestrian sports, motorsports and even those activities involving a bicycle, among other applications. 
     One aspect of the disclosed subject matter includes a fixation system of protection vests that can include: 
     A strap ( 1 ) with several teeth ( 4 ) in quadratic form; 
     A plug-in device ( 2 ) of the strap that serves as a guide of the referred strap enabling the fixation and regulation of its course, that comprises: 
     A step ( 7 ) in quadratic form; 
     An indenture ( 3 ) that enables its elevation by being stressed on its extremity ( 10 ), working as a lever, and enabling together with its teeth ( 4 ) and step ( 7 ), the blocking and/or fixing of the strap movement; 
     An extremity ( 10 ) that, when under pressure from a top surface (downward in  FIG. 5 ), causes the step ( 7 ) to lift, enabling the adjustment of the teethed strap ( 1 ). 
     In another exemplary embodiment of the fixation system of protection vests, the links between the shoulder pads ( 8 ) and the several parts of the protection vest are placed on its front part ( 11 ). 
     In another exemplary embodiment of the fixation system of protection vests, the extremity ( 10 ) lifts its step ( 7 ) by being stressed, enabling the movement of the teethed strap ( 1 ). 
     In still another exemplary embodiment of the fixation system of protection vests, the plug-in device ( 2 ) is composed by one element ( 5 ) that works at the same time as an axis and at least through two saliences ( 6 ) on one of its ends. 
     In another exemplary embodiment of the fixation system for protection vests, the plug-in device ( 2 ) is adopted in brims ( 9 ) of a protection vest. 
     In another exemplary embodiment, the fixation system for protection vests is manufactured in polymeric material, namely polyamide, polypropylene, polyethylene, polyvinyl chloride, among others. 
    
    
     
       DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       Enclosed follow some drawings for a better understanding of the disclosed subject matter. The figures represent exemplary embodiments of the disclosed subject matter that, however, should not be considered to limit the scope of the presently disclosed subject matter. 
         FIG. 1 : Schematic drawing of an exemplary embodiment of an adjustment and fixation system made in accordance with principles of the disclosed subject matter in which the following numbers stand for: 
         1 —Teethed Strap 
         2 —Plug-in Device 
         3 —Indenture 
         4 —Teeth 
         10 —Pressure Extremity 
         FIG. 2 : Schematic drawing of the adjustment and fixation system in which the following numbers stand for: 
         1 —Teethed Strap 
         2 —Plug-in Device 
         3 —Indenture 
         4 —Teeth 
         5 —Plug-in Device/Axis 
         10 —Pressure Extremity 
         FIG. 3 : Schematic top view drawing of the plug-in, fixation and regulation device of the strap in which following numbers stand for: 
         2 —Plug-in Device 
         3 —Indenture 
         4 —Teeth 
         5 —Plug-in Device/Axis 
         6 —Saliences 
         10 —Pressure Extremity 
         FIG. 4 : Schematic side view drawing of the plug-in, fixation and regulation device of the strap, in which following numbers stand for: 
         2 —Plug-in, Fixation and Regulation Device of the Strap 
         5 —Plug-in Device/Axis 
         7 —Step 
         10 —Pressure Extremity 
         FIG. 5 : Schematic side view drawing of the plug-in, fixation and regulation device of the strap, in which following numbers stand for: 
         1 —Teethed Strap 
         2 —Plug-in Device 
         3 —Indenture 
         4 —Teeth 
         5 —Plug-in Device/Axis 
         7 —Step 
         10 —Pressure Extremity 
         FIG. 6 : Schematic drawing of the adjustment and fixation system incorporated into a vest, in which following numbers stand for: 
         8 —Shoulder Pads 
         9 —Brims 
         11 —Frontal Part of the Vest 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS 
     The presently disclosed subject matter is related to an adjustment and fixation system. The system can be used, for example, in protection vests that can be adopted for example by two-wheeled vehicle drivers. The system can include: a teethed strap ( 1 ); a plug-in device ( 2 ) of the strap; the referred strap ( 1 ) being composed by several teeth ( 4 ) with a quadratic form; a step ( 7 ) in quadratic form belonging to the plug-in device ( 2 ), and an indenture ( 3 ) which works as a lever, enabling together with the teeth ( 4 ), the blocking and/or fixing of the strap movement, enabling the protector&#39;s correct fitting. For this, it is only necessary to press the extremity ( 10 ) of the referred device. 
     While the extremity ( 10 ) is pressed, the step ( 7 ) is lifted, and therefore the teethed strap can be moved, proceeding to its adjustment, as seen in  FIG. 5 . 
     When the extremity ( 10 ) is not pressed, the indenture ( 3 ) that works as a lever keeps the step ( 7 ) pressed against the strap and fitted between the teeth in quadratic form ( 4 ) of the same, fixing its positioning. The quadratic form of the step ( 7 ) and the teeth ( 4 ) avoid movements that could lead to the misfitting of the vest, as happens with devices where the clamping devices present triangular teeth. In order to clamp into the existing coupling devices in the front part ( 11 ) of the vest, the clamping device ( 2 ) includes element ( 5 ) that works as an axis at the same time, facilitating the movement of the lever type structure, when the extremity ( 10 ) is pressed. Similarly, the device ( 2 ) can include at least two saliences ( 6 ) on one of its ends, as seen in  FIG. 3 , enabling the appropriate fitting into the existing coupling elements of the front part ( 11 ) of the vest. The quadratic form of the teeth ( 4 ) and the step ( 7 ) enable the fixation and adjustment of the vest such that they are only movable when pressing on extremity ( 10 ). A cross section of the step ( 7 ) and teeth ( 4 ) as viewed from a side of the device (as shown in  FIG. 5 ) can be substantially square or substantially rectangular in shape. In addition, the step ( 7 ) and teeth ( 4 ) can be rectangular in shape as viewed from a top view (as shown in  FIG. 1 ). The step ( 7 ) can be the same width as the steps ( 4 ) as viewed from the top view, or can be shorter, or longer depending on particular application. 
     Similarly, the device can be adopted for fixation and adjustment of other parts of the protection vests as seen in  FIG. 6 , where its use in brims ( 9 ) enable the fitting of the lower parts of these type of vests, therefore increasing the protection level for its users. 
     While there has been described what are at present considered to be exemplary embodiments of the invention, it will be understood that various modifications may be made thereto, and it is intended that the appended claims cover such modifications as fall within the true spirit and scope of the invention. All conventional art references described above are herein incorporated in their entirety by reference.