Patent Document

[0001]    This application claims priority per 35 U.S.C. § 119(e)(1) to provisional Patent Application No. 60/196,582 filed Apr. 13, 2000. 
     
    
     
       FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
         [0002]    This invention relates to a device to be used for tending straps and also to be used as a whistle. More particularly, this invention relates to a device for tending straps with a whistle integrated within the device where both the whistling and strap-tending functions are independently operable.  
         BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
         [0003]    Devices for tending straps take many forms. The buckle on a typical belt is maybe the most recognizable, but fasteners with similar functions encompass a wide range of designs and related functions, see U.S. Pat. No. 5,794,316 for example. The “tending strap” function is intended to encompass the various functions performed by devices that are attached to straps, or more specifically to belts, webbing, or cords, and that work to secure the straps under tension (a buckle or webbing adjuster for example), confine them to a particular area (a slider), or limit movement of other items along the strap (a cord lock). The articles utilizing these designs are ubiquitous where one finds hikers, boaters, campers, climbers, and other persons employing similar gear. Many of these activities give rise to emergencies or other situations where the spoken word either does not carry far enough, is not loud enough to be heard over surrounding noise, or is not distinct enough to draw attention. “They” often recommend the participant carry a whistle for safety in activities where emergency situations can exist. Such needs for help, however, tend to be rather unexpected. This unexpected quality results in people not equipping themselves with whistles at all times and thus not having one when such an emergency occurs. If the whistle could be incorporated into an otherwise useful item then a person would be more likely to have one available at all times, particularly during emergencies. Aside from emergency uses, a whistle may be merely a handy means for the user to notify others of his or her presence, or otherwise get attention. There is thus a need for a device that has a function with a utility related to the activity that also incorporates a whistle that can be used relatively quickly when the need arises.  
           [0004]    Whistles in general take many forms, for examples see U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,546,887 and 5,507,246. Such whistles undeniably perform the necessary function if they are available. But such whistles are often not available for any number of reasons. A solitary whistle is not an item that most would habitually carry. Therefore a potential user would probably need a reason to include a whistle in the gear for that day. Most of the obvious reasons are related to emergencies and most people do not anticipate having emergencies. This would make a whistle a low priority item on anyone&#39;s packing list. And because emergencies are fortunately rare, the whistle would in fact generally be just another item cluttering up a purse, key-chain, or related devices. This limited need makes it easy and understandable to simply forget to carry a whistle even should one think it a good idea in general.  
           [0005]    But many other things are carried constantly and without additional effort. Many of the activities giving rise to the need for a whistle have a particular type of gear associated with that activity. Although the various activities do not necessarily have gear in common, the individual items of gear have common elements. One group of common elements comprises the fasteners used to secure webbing, belts, straps, and cords on this gear. These devices range from your typical belt buckles to the more high tech molded side release buckles, tension adjusters, sliders, and cord locks. They are present in gear ranging from book bags and backpacks, to key-chains, bike helmets, and the cords on the hoods of many jackets.  
           [0006]    Buckles have been proposed incorporating tools such as a whistle, however the design has been unsatisfactory and has not gained wide spread acceptance. For example, U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,885,250 and 3,903,547 disclose a buckle with a prong that may be fashioned into a whistle. While specific details of how such a whistle might be formed are not disclosed, the general arrangement is not satisfactory because, being on a prong, such a whistle would be hidden and even if known, use would require disengagement of the retained strap or belt. Additionally, the strap must be large enough to house the whistle. This requirement prevents incorporation of a whistle where the strap is of small cross-section because the prong must be accommodated within either a thick strap or two layers of strap. This also means that the strap must be specially manufactured to accept the flange, increasing manufacturing costs and reducing the application of the buckle because it must necessarily be part of a matched set to function. Finally, since the prong is rigid and extends into the strap the areas where the buckle can be located are limited to relatively flat locations that extend the length of the prong and buckle.  
           [0007]    Thus there exists a present need for a device with an integral whistle that can function with a variety of strap sizes and shapes to fasten, tension, lock or generally tend the straps and where the whistle is unobtrusive yet apparent and accessible to the user.  
         SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
         [0008]    The preferred embodiments of the present invention combine the function of a whistle with that of a device for tending straps, cords, belts, or webbing of various shapes and sizes. The whistle is combined with the strap-tending device in a manner that allows the whistle to be used even when the device is tending the straps as designed. Given that a strap runs in a general direction and that the strap-tending device typically performs a function that is oriented along the same general direction, the placement of the whistle is preferably transverse to that direction to facilitate access to the whistle, decrease device dimensions, and improve its manufacturability. The strap-tending functions of the preferred embodiments include: a two-piece side release buckle with the whistle incorporated in the female half and the strap adjusting mechanism in the male half; a single piece strap adjuster with the whistle located opposite the anchor bars and slots from the extension designed to facilitate releasing tension; a cord lock with the whistle integrated into the barrel; and a slider with the whistle integrated to one side of the slots designed to engage the straps. In all cases the whistle is accessible and functional with the intended strap or straps in place and the device performing its intended strap-tending function. 
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0009]    The foregoing and other aspects and advantages of the present invention will be better understood from the following detailed description of preferred embodiments of the invention with reference to the drawings, in which:  
         [0010]    [0010]FIG. 1 is a plan view of female half of a combination side release buckle and whistle of the present invention;  
         [0011]    [0011]FIG. 2 is an isometric view showing the process of engaging the male and female halves of the buckle and whistle of FIG. 1;  
         [0012]    [0012]FIG. 3 is an isometric view of the engaged buckle and whistle of FIG. 1;  
         [0013]    [0013]FIG. 4 is an isometric view showing the assembly of the buckle and whistle of FIG. 1;  
         [0014]    [0014]FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of the buckle and whistle along line A-A of FIG. 1;  
         [0015]    [0015]FIG. 6 is a plan view of a combination webbing length adjuster and whistle of the present invention;  
         [0016]    [0016]FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view of the length adjuster and whistle along line B-B of FIG. 6;  
         [0017]    [0017]FIG. 8 is a plan view of a cord lock and whistle of the present invention;  
         [0018]    [0018]FIG. 9 is a cross-section of the cord lock and whistle along line C-C of FIG. 8;  
         [0019]    [0019]FIG. 10 is a plan view of a webbing slider and whistle of the present invention; and  
         [0020]    [0020]FIG. 11 is a cross-section of the slider and whistle along line D-D of FIG. 10. 
     
    
       [0021]    Like reference numerals refer to corresponding elements throughout the several drawings.  
       DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS  
       [0022]    Referring now to FIGS.  1 - 6 , which show a preferred embodiment of the present invention, we discuss a combination side release buckle and whistle. Female body  11  comprises the female half of a side release buckle with an integral whistle portion  16  that is itself comprised of chamber  13  (seen in cross-section along line A-A in FIG. 5), exit hole (or sharp-edged lip)  15 , end cap  12 , and entry hole  14 . Anchor bar  17  is located adjacent to chamber  13  and defines slot  20  for a strap to pass through.  
         [0023]    Chamber  13  is transverse to the direction of strap tension as shown in FIG. 2 which depicts strap  18  anchored to female body  11  using strap anchor bar  17  (not visible). Entry hole  14  is located opposite exit hole  15  from end cap  12 . Notice that both entry hole  14  and exit hole  15  are accessible when strap  18  is anchored. This allows the whistle to be activated with strap  18  attached. Male body  19  comprises the male half of the side release buckle and is shown in FIG. 2 in position for coupling to female body  11 . Male body  19  also comprises strap anchor bar  17  and slots  20  and  22  used for slidably securing strap  24  as shown in FIG. 3 leaving free end  26  available for further tension adjustment. Strap  24  is attached by threading it up through slot  20 , around anchor bar  17 , down through slot  22  and out past male body  19 . Once past male body  19  strap  24  is referred to as free end  26  to facilitate discussing the adjustment of strap  24 . Friction between strap  24 , free end  26 , anchor bar  17  and male body  19  work to keep strap  24  attached to male body  19 .  
         [0024]    As shown in FIG. 3, both entry hole  14  and exit hole  15  are accessible when strap  24  and free end  26  are secured. Notice also that holes  14  and  15  are accessible when bodies  11  and  19  are coupled. Since straps  18  and  24 , free end  26 , and the coupling of bodies  11  and  19  do not hinder access to holes  14  and  15  the whistle is operable independently from the function of the device.  
         [0025]    [0025]FIGS. 4 and 5 further depict the side release buckle and whistle embodiment of the invention. In this embodiment female body  11  is a single molded item incorporating entry hole  14 , exit hole  15 , and the substantial majority of chamber  13 . Chamber  13  is completed and the whistle made functional with the addition of end cap  12 . This preferred embodiment uses annular snap fit geometry to connect end cap  12  to female body  11 . One of skill in the art will recognize that all the elements of the whistle could be incorporated in male body  19 , rather than female body  11 , but oriented in a similar way between slot  20  and the male connecting means of the buckle. Whistle operation is effectuated by blowing air into entry hole  14 . When exiting chamber  13  this air flows past the lip of exit hole  15 . The combination of the air flow, lip, and chamber combine to create the whistle sound.  
         [0026]    An alternative preferred embodiment of the invention is depicted in FIGS. 6 and 7. This embodiment is termed a combination webbing length adjuster and whistle. The whistle elements and function are as described in FIGS.  4 - 5 , but the two-piece nature of the buckle and whistle combination has been replaced by a one piece adjuster body  28 . Adjuster body  28  functions to adjust webbing or strap  18  and  24  tension in a manner similar to the combination of male body  19  with female body  11  except that adjuster body  28  lacks the ability to quickly release tension that is supplied by the disconnect feature of the combination. FIG. 7 again shows how strap  18  is attached to anchor bar  17  and strap  24  is adjusted by routing it through slot  20 , around anchor bar  17 , and back through slot  22 . Free end  26  is then used to adjust strap  24 . Tension on strap  24  is released by lifting adjuster body  28  away from strap  24 . Tension on strap  24  is increased by simply pulling on free end  26 . One of skill in the art will recognize that straps  18  and  24  can be ends of the same strap or ends from two different straps depending on the intended function of the device. Note that as shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, straps  18  and  24  and free end  26  do not obstruct entry hole  14  and exit hole  15 , making the whistle operational even when the device is also tending straps  18  and  24 .  
         [0027]    A cord lock and whistle combination is depicted in FIGS. 8 and 9. In this device the release button  30  and compression spring  32  are slidably engaged inside lock body  34  and retained by cord  36  passing through the cord hole  38  as shown in FIG. 9 along line C-C from FIG. 8. Cord hole  38  passes through both lock body  34  and release button  30 . Tension in cord  36  is adjusted by depressing release button  30  and sliding lock body  34  in the appropriate direction along cord  36 . Cord  36  is bound by lock body  34  by the deformation of cord  36  and friction between cord  36 , lock body  34 , and release button  30 . The deformation and friction are caused when compression spring  32  forces release button  30  against cord  36 , which is in turn forced against lock body  34 . Chamber  13  is defined by lock body  34 , once again transverse to the direction of cord tension. The chamber is completed by release button  30 , which fulfills the function previously performed by end cap  12  of the other preferred embodiments. Note again that cord  36  does not obstruct entry hole  14  or exit hole  15  making the whistle operational even when the device is also tending cord  36 .  
         [0028]    An additional preferred embodiment is the slider and whistle combination of FIGS. 10 and 11. The slider device is designed to permit two or more pieces of webbing to be slideably engaged relative to one another. FIG. 11 depicts the routing as seen along line D-D from FIG. 10 where slider body  40  is shown engaging strap  24  and free end  26  after they have passed through adjuster body  28  (not shown), or side release buckle  3  (not shown). The geometry of slots  20  and  22  and anchor bar  17  is different in this embodiment from that in side release buckle male body  19  or adjuster body  28  due to the different frictional requirements of the slider. The routing of strap  24  and free end  26  from another strap-tending device highlights one desirable aspect of the invention where multiple whistles can be located on a single item of gear without increasing the number of parts needed to make the piece of gear functional. Incorporating whistles into all strap-tending elements would make accessing a whistle much easier and potentially decrease the manufacturing costs associated with adding a whistle to any one device.  
         [0029]    While the foregoing description and drawings represent the preferred embodiments of the present invention, it will be understood that various additions, modifications and substitutions may be made therein without departing form the spirit and scope of the present invention as defined in the accompanying claims. In particular, it will be clear to those skilled in the art that the present invention may be embodied in other specific forms, structures, arrangements, proportions, and with other elements, materials, and components, without departing from the spirit or essential characteristics thereof. The presently disclosed embodiments are therefore to be considered in all respects as illustrative and not restrictive, the scope of the invention being indicated by the appended claims, and not limited to the foregoing description.

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