Abstract:
The present invention relates to a ratchet belt for sports capable of providing an abrasion prevention part for preventing a toothed part of a ratchet belt from being worn away due to a repeated use in a ratchet belt capable of fixing boots to a binder by tightening in a step-by-step manner based on a tooth interval of a ratchet belt when a user wears a sports binder, and a buckle is tightened. The ratchet belt for sports comprises a concave and convex shaped ankle in which a slope surface slanted similarly with a slanted surface of the ratchet belt or slanted more than the same and a roughly upright surface are repeatedly formed, wherein said ankle is press-formed, and the ankle is insert-formed, so that a part of the upper side of the upright surface is exposed to the outside and is directly engaged with an engaging protrusion of the buckle.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0001]     1. Field of the Invention  
         [0002]     The present invention relates to a ratchet belt for sports, and in particular to a ratchet belt for sports capable of providing an abrasion prevention part for preventing a toothed part of a ratchet belt from being worn away due to a repeated use in a ratchet belt. The ratchet belt is capable of fixing boots to a binder by tightening in a step-by-step manner based on a tooth interval of a ratchet belt when a buckle is tightened for a user to wear a binder for sports. There are various kinds of ratchet belts adapted for a binder for sports. The present invention relates to a belt formed of a polyurethane material wherein a ratchet belt having a toothed surface of an upper surface of the same is inserted into an inner side of a buckle, and the buckle is engaged with the teeth in a step-by-step manner as a ratchet belt is tightened. The tooth type ratchet belt is adapted to a snowboard, ski, a roller skate, an inline skate, etc.  
         [0003]     2. Description of the Background Art  
         [0004]     Generally, a user who enjoys a snowboard fixes boots to a binder for a snowboard. In a fixing method, a user mounts boots in the interior of a binder and adjusts a buckle, so that the boots are stably engaged by being tightened to teeth of a belt. After fixing boots to the binder, the user can snowboard.  
         [0005]      FIG. 1  is a view illustrating the construction of a conventional binder for sports, and  FIG. 2  is a view illustrating the construction of a ratchet belt. As shown therein, one end of the ratchet belt has an engaging hole  10  and is engaged to a certain portion of the binder in a state that it is stably fixed by a fixing member, and the other end of the same is inserted into an inner side of the ratchet type buckle  20 , so that the belt  30  is tightened based on the size of user&#39;s feet. In addition, teeth  40  are formed on the upper surface of the belt  30 . As the user tightens the belt  30  by adjusting the buckle  20 , the teeth  40  are engaged, and the belt  30  is tightened, and the user&#39;s feet are stably mounted in the interior of the binder.  
         [0006]     In the conventional ratchet belt  30 , when the user snowboard for a long time, the teeth of a certain portion fixing the boots of the user based on the buckle  20  may be intensively worn away. In the rental binder, there may be some differences in the portion of the teeth fixed based on the sizes of user&#39;s feet or ankle, but mostly the teeth of a certain portion may be intensively worn away, so that the fixing force is decreased.  
         [0007]     In the case that the user rides the snowboard with the binder fixed by the belt having a decreased fixing force, since the user&#39;s feet are not stably fixed by the snowboard, the user may feel uncomfortable. In addition, the user cannot enjoy a high-speed riding. In particular, in the case that the user&#39;s feet are disengaged from the binder, a big accident may occur.  
         [0008]     Therefore, the worn-away belt is periodically checked and exchanged with a new belt for thereby maintaining a certain fixing force. In this case, only three or four teeth are worn away. However, when exchanging the worn-away belt with a new belt, the non-worn teeth are generally exchanged together. Therefore, it is non-economical and inefficient.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0009]     Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a binder for sports capable of overcoming the problems encountered in the conventional art.  
         [0010]     It is another object of the present invention to provide a binder for sports capable of permanently using a binder for sports by forming an abrasion prevention part in a teeth part of a belt that frequently contacts with a buckle.  
         [0011]     To achieve the above objects, in a binder operating as an apparatus in which a ratchet belt having a plurality of teeth formed on an upper surface of the same is engaged to a ratchet type buckle having an engaging protrusion, wherein a slanted surface is formed in one side of teeth of a ratchet belt, and a vertical surface is formed in the other side of the teeth, and a ratchet belt is not escaped from a buckle in such a manner that an engaging protrusion is caught by the vertical surface, and the length of the ratchet belt is adjusted in a step-by-step method by tightening the buckle, there is provided an improved ratchet belt for sports, comprising a concave and convex shaped ankle in which a slope surface slanted similarly to a slanted surface of the ratchet belt or slanted more than the same and a roughly upright surface are repeatedly formed, wherein the ankle is press-formed, and the ankle is insert-formed, so that a part of the upper side of the upright surface is exposed to the outside and is directly engaged with an engaging protrusion of the buckle.  
         [0012]     In addition, a plurality of holes are formed in the slope surface, so that the upper and lower surfaces of the ankle communicate with each other, and the ankle is stably fixed to the ratchet belt through the holes.  
         [0013]     The ratchet belt is injected with a polyurethane material, and the slope surface is inwardly curved, so that the polyurethane is stacked thickly on an upper surface of the ankle.  
         [0014]     To achieve the above objects, in a binder operating as an apparatus in which a ratchet belt having a plurality of teeth formed on an upper surface of the same is engaged to a ratchet type buckle having an engaging protrusion, wherein a slanted surface is formed in one side of teeth of a ratchet belt, and a vertical surface is formed in the other side of the teeth, and a ratchet belt is not escaped from a buckle in such a manner that an engaging protrusion is caught by the vertical surface, and the length of the ratchet belt is adjusted in a step-by-step method by tightening the buckle, there is provided an improved ratchet belt for sports, comprising a concave and convex shaped ankle in which a slope surface slanted similarly to a slanted surface of the ratchet belt and a roughly upright surface are repeatedly formed, wherein the ankle is press-formed and insert-injected, and one side of the slope surface is inwardly bent for thereby forming a certain space, and a hole is formed in a center portion of the same, and the upper and lower surfaces of the ankle communicate each other through the hole, and an injection material is filled in the space of the interior of the bent portion, so that the ankle is stably fixed to the ratchet belt.  
         [0015]     To achieve the above objects, in a binder operating as an apparatus in which a ratchet belt having a plurality of teeth formed on an upper surface of the same is engaged to a ratchet type buckle having an engaging protrusion, wherein a slanted surface is formed in one side of teeth of a ratchet belt, and a vertical surface is formed in the other side of the teeth, and a ratchet belt is not escaped from a buckle in such a manner that an engaging protrusion is caught by the vertical surface, and the length of the ratchet belt is adjusted in a step-by-step method by tightening the buckle, there is provided an improved ratchet belt for sports, comprising an abrasion prevention part in which a slope surface and upright surface similar to the slanted surface and a vertical surface are repeatedly formed on an upper surface, and the slope surface and the upright surface are engaged with the engaging protrusion of the buckle, wherein the abrasion prevention part is provided in one side of the center of the belt.  
         [0016]     The abrasion prevention part is insert-injected for thereby forming a ratchet belt, and a plurality of engaging grooves are formed on a slope surface of the abrasion prevention part, and an engaging rod is integrally formed with the ratchet belt at a portion corresponding to the engaging groove, and the engaging rod is engaged with the engaging groove.  
         [0017]     An engaging protrusion is provided at a front end and rear end of the abrasion prevention part, respectively, so that the abrasion prevention part is inserted to the ratchet belt.  
         [0018]     The ratchet belt is formed of a polyurethane material, and the abrasion prevention part is formed of plastic such as polypropylene. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0019]     The present invention will become better understood with reference to the accompanying drawings which are given only by way of illustration and thus are not limitative of the present invention, wherein;  
         [0020]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view illustrating the constructions of a ratchet belt and a strap of a binder for sports in a conventional art;  
         [0021]      FIG. 2  is a perspective view illustrating the construction of a ratchet belt of a binder in a conventional art;  
         [0022]      FIG. 3  is a perspective view illustrating the construction of a binder for sports according to the present invention;  
         [0023]      FIGS. 4A and 4B  are a perspective view and a cross sectional view illustrating the construction that a metallic thin plate is inserted into the interior of a ratchet belt for enhancing a durability of a surface of a threaded part according to a first embodiment of the present invention;  
         [0024]      FIG. 4C  is a perspective view illustrating the construction of a metallic thin plate according to the present invention;  
         [0025]      FIGS. 5A and 5B  are a perspective view and a cross sectional view illustrating the construction that another type of a metallic thin plate is inserted into the interior of a ratchet belt according to a second embodiment of the present invention;  
         [0026]      FIG. 5C  is a perspective view illustrating the construction of a metallic thin plate according to the present invention;  
         [0027]      FIGS. 6A and 6B  are a perspective view and a cross sectional view illustrating the construction which further comprises an abrasion prevention part at the center portion of the ratchet belt according to a third embodiment of the present invention; and  
         [0028]      FIG. 6C  is a perspective view illustrating the construction of an abrasion prevention part according to the present invention. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS  
       [0029]     The preferred embodiments of the ratchet belt of a binder for sports according to the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings.  
         [0030]      FIG. 3  is a perspective view illustrating the construction of a binder for sports according to the present invention. As shown therein, a teeth part formed of a plurality of teeth is formed on the whole upper surfaces of a front shaft fixing belt  100   a  and a rear shaft fixing belt  100   b.  A ratchet type buckle  130  is engaged to one side of each upper surface of a front shaft strap  120   a  and a rear shaft strap  120   b . The front shaft belt  100   a  and the rear shaft belt  100   b  are engaged to the front shaft strap  120   a  and the rear shaft strap  120   b  by the ratchet type buckle  130 , respectively.  
         [0031]     The preferred embodiment of the ratchet according to the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. Various examples of the ratchet belt according to the present invention are shown in  FIGS. 4A through 6C .  
         [0032]     In the present invention, one end of the ratchet belt  100  includes an engaging hole  102  and is engaged with the binder, and the other end of the same includes an entrance part  104  passing through the ratchet type buckle  130 . A plurality of teeth parts  106  are formed on the center upper surface and are directly engaged with the ratchet type buckle  130 .  
         [0033]     The teeth parts  106  are composed of a slanted surface  106   a  which is slanted in the direction of the entrance part and gradually tightens the ratchet type buckle  130  and a vertical surface  106   b  which is contacted with engaging protrusion (not shown) of the ratchet type buckle  130  and operates as a stopper in order to prevent the ratchet type buckle  130  from retracting. A boundary surface  106   c  between the slanted surface  106   a  and the vertical surface  106   b  is rounded for thereby enhancing a smooth movement of the buckle  130 .  
         [0034]     In the conventional art, the ratchet belt is formed of a polyurethane material and is divided into two or three parts. The divided parts are engaged using a certain connection part, such as a fixing pin, etc. Here, since the material of polyurethane is easily worn away, the center portion intensively contacting with the buckle is exchanged, for thereby preventing the teeth parts from being worn away.  
         [0035]     To achieve the above matter, the applicant of the present invention filed the Korean patent application No. 2003-45234. However, it is not needed to fabricate exchangeable elements and assemble the same in such a manner that only the center part frequently contacting with the buckle is formed of a certain material strong with respect to abrasion.  
         [0036]      FIGS. 4A and 4B  are a perspective view and a cross sectional view illustrating the construction that a metallic thin plate is inserted into the interior of a ratchet belt for enhancing a durability of a surface of a threaded part according to a first embodiment of the present invention, and  FIG. 4C  is a perspective view illustrating the construction of a metallic thin plate according to the present invention.  
         [0037]     As shown therein, first, a steel plate is cut into metallic thin plates each having a certain length. The thusly-cut metallic thin plate is pressed in a shape in which a slant surface  140   a  and an upright surface  140   b  are repeatedly formed, for thereby forming an ankle  140 . At this time, the slope surface  140   a  of the ankle is slanted more than the slanted surface  106   a  of the ratchet belt  100  and is inwardly curved. The boundary surface between the slope surface  140   a  and the upright surface  140   b  is rounded for thereby corresponding to the boundary surface  106   c  of the ratchet belt. A plurality of first holes  142  are formed in the slope surface  140   a  symmetrically at left and right sides.  
         [0038]     Therefore, when the ratchet belt  100  is formed in such a manner that the ankle  140  is inserted, and polyurethane is injected, a certain amount of polyurethane is stacked on a curved portion of the slope surface  140   a.  The polyurethane passes through the first holes  142 , and the upper and lower surfaces of the ankle  140  communicate with each other. The ankle  140  is stably fixed to the upper and lower surfaces of the ratchet belt  100 .  
         [0039]     In particular, since the upper side of the upright surface  140   b  of the ankle  140  is directly engaged with an engaging protrusion (not shown) of the ratchet type buckle  130 , the upper side is more easily worn away. Therefore, the upper side of is the upright surface  140   b  is formed in such a manner that a part of the same is exposed to the outside of the ratchet belt  100 .  
         [0040]      FIGS. 5A and 5B  are a perspective view and a cross sectional view illustrating the construction according to a second embodiment of the present invention in which a slope surface of a metallic thin plate is bent differently from the first embodiment of the present invention, and  FIG. 5C  is a perspective view illustrating the construction of a metallic thin plate according to the present invention.  
         [0041]     The second embodiment of the present invention is the same as the first embodiment of the present invention. Namely, the metallic thin plate is repeatedly pressed in a concave and convex shape in such a manner that the slope surface  150   a  and the upright surface  150   b  are repeatedly formed. However, in the second embodiment of the present invention, the slope surface  150   a  is slanted to coincide with the slanted surface  106   a  of the ratchet belt  100 . The slope surface  150   a  is inwardly bent, and the second hole  152  is formed at the center portion. Therefore, the upper and lower sides of the ankle  150  communicate through the second hole  152 . The polyurethane is filled into the interior of the bent part, so that the ankle  150  is more stably fixed to the ratchet belt  100 .  
         [0042]     In the first and second embodiments of the present invention, since the ankle pressed using metallic thin plate is inserted into the interior of the ratchet belt, and a part of the same is exposed to the vertical surface of the teeth, it is possible to prevent friction in maximum due to a contact with the buckle.  
         [0043]     In another method, an abrasion prevention part having a good durability is further formed in one side of the center of the ratchet belt.  
         [0044]      FIGS. 6A and 6B  are a perspective view and a cross sectional view illustrating the construction of the ratchet belt which could be used semi-permanently without exchange by reinforcing material which prevents abrasion at the center of the ratchet belt according to a third embodiment of the present invention, and  FIG. 6C  is a perspective view illustrating the construction of an abrasion prevention part according to the present invention.  
         [0045]     An abrasion prevention part  160  formed of a plastic material such as polypropylene, etc. is separately formed. The ratchet belt  100  is fabricated in such a manner that the abrasion prevention part  160  is inserted, and polyurethane is injected. In the abrasion prevention part  160 , the slope surface  160   a  and the upright surface  160   b  are provided in the portion corresponding to the slanted surface  106 a and the vertical surface  160   b  of the ratchet belt  100  and frequently contact with the engaging protrusion of the buckle  130 .  
         [0046]     At this time, an engaging groove  162  is formed in the abrasion prevention part  160  so that the abrasion prevention part  160  is stably engaged with the ratchet belt  100 , and an engaging rod  108  is formed in the ratchet belt corresponding to the engaging groove  162 . In addition, the engaging steps  164  and  166  are formed at the front and rear ends of the abrasion prevention part  160 , so that the abrasion prevention part  160  is stably engaged with the ratchet belt  100 .  
         [0047]     In the present invention, the abrasion prevention part  160  is formed in a rectangular shape, but the construction of the abrasion prevention part  160  is not limited thereto. Namely, any shape construction, except for a rectangular shape, capable of preventing abrasion in such a manner that the abrasion prevention part  160  of synthetic resin is mounted on the ratchet belt  100  of polyurethane and that the abrasion prevention part  160  and the ratchet belt  100  are engaged, may be adapted.  
         [0048]     Therefore, in the third embodiment of the present invention, since the portion that receives fixing force is formed of plastic material such as polypropylene, the strength is much higher than the conventional belt of polyurethane material, so that it is possible to achieve an excellent fixing force. The durability is enhanced.  
         [0049]     In the present invention, there is further provided an abrasion prevention part having an excellent durability and anti-abrasion property in such a manner that a concave and convex shaped ankle in which a slanted surface and a vertical surface are repeatedly formed, is inserted at one side of the ratchet belt frequently contacting with the ratchet buckle. In the present invention, only the ratchet belt having teeth formed of polyurethane material used for the binder of snowboard is described as an exampled, but various modification and applications may be implemented in sports as well as other fields unless the technical scope of the present invention is not damaged.  
         [0050]     As described above, the following effects are obtained in the present invention.  
         [0051]     Only the portion frequently contacting with the buckle is reinforced by the abrasion prevention part, so that customer&#39;s demands are satisfied. Therefore, the reliability and satisfaction with respect to the products are achieved. It is possible to permanently use the product without exchanging the ratchet belt. The cost of material is decreased.  
         [0052]     As the present invention may be embodied in several forms without departing from the spirit or essential characteristics thereof, it should also be understood that the above-described examples are not limited by any of the details of the foregoing description, unless otherwise specified, but rather should be construed broadly within its spirit and scope as defined in the appended claims, and therefore all changes and modifications that fall within the meets and bounds of the claims, or equivalences of such meets and bounds are therefore intended to be embraced by the appended claims.