GB2365484A

GB2365484A - A buckle for webbing

Info

Publication number: GB2365484A
Application number: GB0019371A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Dick Hilary Powell; Richard William Seymour
Original assignee: Seymour Powell Ltd
Current assignee: Seymour Powell Ltd
Priority date: 2000-08-07
Filing date: 2000-08-07
Publication date: 2002-02-20
Anticipated expiration: 2020-08-07
Also published as: GB2365484B; GB0019371D0

Abstract

A buckle (32) for webbing (34), which buckle (32) is a quick release buckle (32) which permits sliding adjustment of the length of the webbing (34), comprises first and second buckle parts (36, 38) which are releaseably connectible together in a push/pull manner, and which buckle (32) grips the webbing (34) with sufficient force to prevent the webbing (34) slipping with respect to the buckle (32) only when the first and second buckle parts (36, 38) are connected together, whereby the adjustment of the length of the webbing (34) is automatically permitted when the first and second buckle parts (36, 38) are not connected together and a user does not have to adjust the angle that the buckle (32) makes with the webbing (34) in order to release holding friction between the buckle (32) and the webbing (34) and thereby permit the adjustment of the length of the webbing (34).

Description

<Desc/Clms Page number 1> A BUCKLE FOR WEBBING This invention relates to a buckle for webbing. Buckles for webbing are well known. The known buckles may be quick release buckles which permit sliding adjustment of the length of the webbing. The known quick release buckles comprise first and second buckle parts which are releaseably connectible together in a push/pull manner. The length of webbing is able to be decreased by pulling a free end of the webbing away from the buckle. The length of the webbing is able to be increased by first adjusting the buckle in order to re lease the gripping friction which the buckle exerts on the webbing, and then pulling on the webbing. The adjustment of the buckle is usually effected by a user adjusting the angle that the buckle makes with the webbing.

Users of the known quick release buckles are often not familiar with the mode of operation of the buckles. Difficulty is often encountered by users in adjusting the length of webbing, and especially in increasing the length of webbing due to the fact that something has to be done to the buckle before the length of webbing can be increased. In non-emergency situations, the difficulty of increasing the length of webbing is an irritant for a user. In emergency situations, the

difficulty of increasing the length of the webbing may be life threatening. For example, if the buckle is used on a safety product such as a life-jacket and the user is unfamiliar with the operation of the buckle, then life may be endangered or lost due to an inability to adjust the length of webbing and properly secure the life-jacket in position on the user.

It is an aim of the present invention to reduce the above mentioned problem.

Accordingly, in one non-limiting embodiment of the present invention there is provided a buckle for webbing, which buckle is a quick release buckle which permits sliding adjustment of the length of the webbing, which buckle comprises first and second buckle parts which are releaseably connectible together in a push/pull manner, and which buckle grips the webbing with sufficient force to prevent the webbing slipping with respect to the buckle only when the first and second buckle parts are connected together whereby the adjustment of the length of the webbing is automatically permitted when the first and second buckle parts are not connected together and a user does not have to adjust the angle that the buckle makes with the webbing in order to release holding friction between the buckle and the webbing and thereby permit the adjustment of the length of the webbing.

Preferably, the buckle is one in which at least one of the f irst and second buckle parts is pivotable such that the webbing is able to slip with respect to the buckle when the first and second buckle parts are not connected together, and such that the webbing is not able to slip with respect to the buckle when the first and second buckle parts are connected together.

Preferably, both the first and the second buckle parts are pivotable, in which case the length of webbing can be adjusted from two ends. If desired however, only one of the first and second buckle parts may be pivotable, in which case the length of webbing is adjustable from just one end, this end being the end that has the pivotable buckle part.

The buckle may be one in which the f irst buckle part pivots about a transversely extending bar on the f irst buckle part, and/or in which the second buckle part pivots about a transversely extending bar on the second buckle part.

The buckle may be one in which the f irst buckle part grips an outer part of the webbing when the f irst and the second buckle parts are connected together, and/or in which the second buckle part grips an outer part of the webbing when the first and the second buckle parts are connected together.

The length of webbing may be in one or more pieces. Generally, the webbing can be of any known and used construction, for any known and currently used suitable purpose, for example for aircraft seat belts or life jackets.

An embodiment of the invention will now be described solely by way of example and with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 is a top plan view of a known buckle about to be connected together; Figure 2 is a side view of the buckle shown in Figure 1; Figures 3, 4 and 5 illustrate how the buckle of Figure 1 is used to increase or decrease the length of webbing; Figure 6 is a side view of a buckle of the present invention and about to be connected together; Figure 7 is a top plan view of the buckle as shown in Figure 6; Figure 8 shows the buckle of Figure 6 connected together; and Figure 9 is an end view of part of the buckle as shown in Figure 7.

Referring to Figures 1 - 5, there is shown a known buckle 2 for webbing 4. The buckle 2 is a quick release buckle which permits sliding adjustment of the length of

the webbing 4. The buckle 2 comprises a first buckle part 6 and a second buckle part 8. The first and second buckle parts 6, 8 are connectible together in a push/pull manner. More specifically, the second buckle part 8 comprises a pair of prongs 10, 12 which push into and pull out of a housing 14 on the first buckle part 6. The housing 14 has a pair of slots 16, 18 which receive the prongs 10, 12 respectively. The prongs 10, 12 have outer surfaces 20 which engage with part of surfaces 22 defining the slots 16, 18. Engagement of the surfaces 20, 22 retains the first and the second buckle parts 6,8 together. Inward pushing of the prongs 10, 12 via the slots 16, 18 releases the engagement of the surfaces 20, 22 and allows the first and the second buckle parts 6, 8 to be separated f rom each other in a quick release manner.

Figure 2 shows how the second buckle part 8 makes frictional engagement with the webbing 4 in order to grip and hold 'the webbing 4. More specifically, the webbing 4 passes over a formation 24 and under another formation 26.

Figure 3 is a perspective view of the buckle 2 and the webbing 4 in a closed manner. As indicated in Figure 3, pulling on the free ends 28 of the webbing 4 enables the length of the webbing 4 to be reduced, and

therefore the webbing 4 to be tightened about a person or object enclosed within the webbing 4.

Figures 4 and 5 show how the angle of the buckle 2 with respect to the webbing 4 has to be altered in order to release the friction between the buckle 2 and the webbing 4 and thereby enable the length of the webbing 4 to be increased. Users of the buckle 2 of ten do not appreciate how the buckle 2 works and in particular they do not appreciate that the angle of the buckle 2 with respect to the webbing 4 must be altered as shown in Figures 4 and 5 in order to increase the length of the webbing 4. In non-emergency situations such for example as in an aircraft seat, the difficulty in increasing the length of the webbing 4 may just cause the user irritation. However, in an emergency situation such for example as an aircraft landing on water, it might be that a user would be unable to put on and/or properly fasten a life-jacket if the user did not understand the operation of the buckle 2 that was on the life-jacket. Lives could thus be threatened or lost.

Referring now to Figures 6 - 9, there is shown a buckle 32 which is for webbing 34. The buckle 32 is a quick release buckle 32 which permits sliding adjustment of the length of the webbing 34. The buckle 32 comprises a first buckle part 36 and a second buckle part 38. The first and the second buckle parts 36, 38

are releaseably connectible together in a push/pull mode. More specifically, the second buckle part 38 has a pair of prongs 40, 42 which locate in a housing 44 when the first and second buckle parts 36, 38 are pushed together. The prongs 40, 42 then locate in slots 46, 48 in the housing 44. Engagement of surfaces 50, 52 prevents release of the first and second buckle parts 6, 8. Inward pressing of the prongs 40, 42 via the slots 46, 48 permits the first and second buckle parts 36, 38 to be separated from each other. A stop formation 54 limits the inward movement of the second part 38 into the first part 36.

The buckle 32 is such that it grips the webbing 34 with sufficient force to prevent the webbing 34 slipping with respect to the buckle 32 only when the f irst and second buckle parts 36, 38 are connected together. This means that the adjustment of the length of the webbing 34 is automatically permitted when the first and second buckle parts 36, 38 are not connected together. Thus a user does not have to adjust the angle that the buckle 32 makes with the webbing 34 in order to release holding friction between the buckle 32 and the webbing 34 and thereby - permit the adjustment of the length of the webbing 34.

The buckle 32 is such that the f irst and second buckle parts 36, 38 have portions 56, 58 respectively

which are pivotable such that the webbing 34 is able to slip with respect to the buckle 32 when the first and the second buckle parts 36, 38 are not connected together. However, the webbing 34 is not able to slip with respect to the buckle 32 when the first and the second buckle parts 36, 38 are connected together. The portion 56 pivots about a transversely extending bar 60 on the first buckle part 36. The portion 58 pivots about a transversely extending bar 62 on the second buckle part 38.

As can best be seen from Figures 6 and 7, a formation 64 on the first and second buckle parts 36, 38 grips the webbing 34 when the first and second buckle parts 36, 38 are joined together.

When the first and second buckle parts 36, 38 are separated, they pivot loosely about the bars 60, 62 respectively. The gripping friction between the two formations 64 and the webbing 34 is thus released and the length of the webbing 34 can easily be increased as required. Decreasing the length of the webbing 34 will usually be effected by pulling on one or both of the free ends 66 of the webbing 34 when the first and second parts 36,, 38 are connected together, ie when the webbing 34 has been passed around a person or object and the buckle 32 fastened. There is no need to adjust the angle of the first and second parts 36, 38 with respect

to the webbing 34 in order to increase the length of the webbing 34.

It is to be appreciated that the embodiment of the invention described above with reference to the accompanying drawings has been given by way of example only and that modifications may be effected. Thus, for example, the webbing 34 may be in one, two or more pieces and it may be used for a wide variety of situations. The precise shape of the buckle 32 shown in the drawings may also be varied providing the first and second buckle parts pivot in an appropriate manner. Arrangements other than pivoting arrangements may be employed providing the arrangements employed grip the webbing 34 with sufficient force to prevent the webbing 34 slipping with respect to the buckle 32 only when the first and second buckle parts 36, 38 are connected together.

Claims

CLAIMS 1. A buckle for webbing, which buckle is a quick release buckle which permits sliding adjustment of the length of the webbing, which buckle comprises first and second buckle parts which are releaseably connectible together in a push/pull manner, and which buckle grips the webbing with sufficient force to prevent the webbing slipping with respect to the buckle only when the first and second buckle parts are connected together whereby the adjustment of the length of the webbing is automatically permitted when the first and second buckle parts are not connected together and a user does not have to adjust the angle that the buckle makes with the webbing in order to release holding friction between the buckle and the webbing and thereby permit the adjustment of the length of the webbing.
2. A buckle according to claim 1 in which at least one of the first and second buckle parts is pivotable such that the webbing is able to slip with respect to the buckle when the first and second buckle parts are not connected together, and such that the webbing is not able to slip with respect to the buckle when the first and second buckle parts are connected together.

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3. A buckle according to claim 2 in which both of the first and the second.buckle parts are pivotable.
4. A buckle according to any one of the preceding claims in which the first buckle part pivots about a transversely extending bar on the first buckle part, and/or in which the second buckle part pivots about a transversely extending bar on the second buckle part. S. A buckle according to any one of the preceding claims in which the first buckle part grips an outer part of the webbing when the first. and second buckle parts are connected together, and/or in which the second buckle part grips an outer part of the webbing when the first and second buckle parts are connected together. 6. A buckle for webbing, substantially as herein described with reference to Figures 6 - 9 of the accompanying drawings.