US20100281661A1

US20100281661A1 - Slide Adjuster

Info

Publication number: US20100281661A1
Application number: US12/775,660
Authority: US
Inventors: Takeshi Harada; Yasutaka Nishida; Hisanori Kato
Original assignee: YKK Corp
Current assignee: YKK Corp
Priority date: 2009-05-07
Filing date: 2010-05-07
Publication date: 2010-11-11
Also published as: TW201105261A; CN101878970A; JP2010259627A; DE102010019778A1; KR20100121439A

Abstract

A belt has a rack having a plurality of engaging grooves on a top side thereof. A buckle has a base, a pair of side walls and an operation member. The operation member has an engaging claw and a press section on both ends thereof and is supported on the side walls via a connecting shaft. The buckle has a frame that is fixed on the base and is arranged along a periphery of the press section.

Description

The entire disclosure of Japanese Patent Application No. 2009-112906, filed May 7, 2009, is expressly incorporated by reference herein.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a slide adjuster that slides a belt relative to a buckle to adjust the length thereof.
2. Description of Related Art
A known slide adjuster adapted to adjust the length thereof has a belt and a buckle both made of a synthetic resin, the belt being inserted into and engaged with the buckle at a desired position of the belt to be locked (see, for instance, Document 1: JP-A-2008-86639).
The belt of the above slide adjuster has a rack provided with multiple engaging grooves and the buckle has a movable engaging claw, the engaging claw being engaged with one of the multiple engaging grooves on the rack to settle the buckle at the desired position.
A seesaw operation plate is provided on the buckle. A press section on a first end of the operation plate is pressed by a finger to move the engaging claw on a second end toward and away from the engaging groove, thereby engaging or disengaging the engaging claw with the engaging groove.
The convex and concave profiles respectively formed on the engaging groove and the engaging claw allow the engagement of the engaging claw with the engaging groove when the engaging claw is inclined to move in one direction relative to the rack and free movement of the engaging claw over the engaging groove when the engaging claw is forced to move in the other direction. Accordingly, for instance, during size-narrowing operation, i.e. an operation for moving the buckle toward a base end of the belt, no operation on the press section is required.
The above-described slide adjuster is also used for, as well as a functional component for size adjustment of a head band of a helmet and the like, a slide adjuster for articles of dress such as caps, trousers, skirts and the like, of which external appearance (design) is of great importance.
What is required for such a slide adjuster for articles of dress is an easy and secure operation in terms of practical function thereof, i.e. size adjustment, as well as excellent appearance.
For instance, when an operation on an adjuster attached to a backside of a cap for adjusting the size of the cap requires a visual check, a repetition of a series of operations in which the cap is removed for the adjustment and the cap is worn again to check the wearing condition may be required. In order to eliminate the above complicated work, an adjuster that is adapted to adjustment without a visual check so that the adjuster can be appropriately set by a finger operation while wearing a cap has been desired.
The same is demanded not only for an adjuster of a cap but also for an adjuster attached to a portion that is not easily visually recognized, e.g. a waist adjuster of trousers and skirts.
In order to operate the adjuster without a visual check, the adjuster of the above-described Document 1 is provided with a projection for hooking a finger on a belt and a buckle respectively.
The projection of Document 1 can be felt without visual check and the respective projections can be pinched by one hand to slide the belt and the buckle. Accordingly, an operation in a tightening direction can be easily conducted. In addition, the projection on the buckle is provided by a seesaw movable member, where an operation in a loosening direction by disengaging the engaging claw can be conducted without a visual check.
However, since the operation projection protrudes from the belt and the buckle in Document 1, the adjuster of Document 1 is not suitably used at a portion that requires size or thickness reduction.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

An object of the invention is to provide a slide adjuster that is capable of easy and secure operation without visual check and is capable of being applied to a portion that requires size and thickness reduction.
A slide adjuster according to an aspect of the invention includes: a belt; and a buckle, the belt including a rack that has a plurality of engaging grooves on a top side thereof, the buckle including: a base disposed on a bottom side of the belt; a pair of side walls that are provided upright on the base and are opposed with the belt being interposed; an operation member opposed to the top side of the belt; an engaging claw provided on a first end of the operation member, the engaging claw engaging with at least one of the engaging grooves of the rack; a press section provided on a second end of the operation member; a connecting shaft that connects the operation member to the pair of side walls; a biasing unit that biases the operation member so that the operation member is turned around the connecting shaft in a direction for the engaging claw to move toward the rack; and a frame that is provided on the base and is disposed along a periphery of the operation member on the side of the press section.
According to the above aspect of the invention, the frame serves as a guide for facilitating the groping of the press section by a finger, thereby improving the operability of the operation member. Specifically, when the press section is pressed by a finger, the press section sinks while the frame keeps the position thereof. Accordingly, the press section reduces its relative height within the frame, so that the press section can be recognized by the operative finger, while allowing further press operation. Accordingly, the operation touch as well as the operability can be enhanced.
Further, the frame serves as a guard. In other words, the provision of the frame along the periphery of the operation member on the side of the press section prohibits the invasion of a foreign object into between the operation member and the belt and application of excessive force for ripping the operation member off from the belt.
In the above aspect of the invention, a height of an upper periphery of the frame relative to the base is preferably greater than a height of the press section when the press section is pressed to turn the operation member.
According to the above arrangement, the press section sunk by the pressing by a finger is positioned lower than the frame that keeps the original height, so that the position of the press section can be securely and easily confirmed, which is favorable for further enhancing the operability and operation touch.
However, the height of the upper periphery of the frame relative to the base may be less than the height of the press section when the press section is pressed to turn the operation member. Even when the press section is constantly higher as in the above, the press section can be recognized by a finger according to the presence of the frame surrounding the press section. Since the press section descends when being pressed by a finger, the press section inside the frame can be clearly recognized.
Alternatively, the height of the upper periphery of the frame relative to the base may be greater than the height of the press section when the press section is not pressed and the operation member is not turned. When the height of the press section is constantly less than the height of the frame, the press section can be securely recognized by the presence of the frame surrounding the press section.
In the above aspect of the invention, the frame is preferably connected to the pair of side walls, upper peripheries of the side walls being continuous with an upper periphery of the frame.
According to the above arrangement, the side walls and the frame are continuously arranged along the periphery of the operation member on a side of the press section, so that the guide function and guard function of the frame, and inherent operation function can be further enhanced.
In the above aspect of the invention, the side walls preferably extend along an entire length of the operation member.
According to the above arrangement, the operation member is accommodated in between the pair of side walls and the operation member is moved solely in a space defined by the pair of side walls. Thus, when the buckle is fixed onto an object, engulfment of a fabric during sawing can be avoided. Further, when the side of the buckle provided with the engaging claw is accommodated in a pouched portion of the fabric, an interference of the operation member with the surrounding fabric, which hinders the movement of the buckle, can also be avoided.
In the above aspect of the invention, the operation member preferably has a step between the press section and a part provided with the engaging claw at which a side adjacent to the press section is raised.
According to the above arrangement, the boundary between the press section and the engaging claw can be easily recognized by groping the step, so that the press section can be securely found by a finger during the operation of the operation member.
In the above aspect of the invention, a marker provided by a concavity and convexity perceptible by a finger is preferably provided on a top side of the press section.
According to the above arrangement, the position of the press section can be recognized by a finger with the assistance of the marker, so that the operation can be easily and securely conducted without a visual check.
In the above aspect of the invention, the connecting shaft preferably has a torsional elasticity and the biasing unit is provided by the connecting shaft.
According to the above arrangement, the connecting shaft itself serves as the biasing unit, so that the structure of the adjuster can be simplified. Such a connecting shaft having a torsional elasticity can be easily provided by, for instance, integrally molding the operation member, the connecting shaft and the side walls with a synthetic resin material.
Incidentally, the connecting shaft and the biasing unit may be independently provided in the invention. For instance, the connecting shaft may be freely rotatable and the biasing unit may be provided by a spring and the like disposed between the operation member and the side walls or between the operation member and the base.
In the above aspect of the invention, the belt preferably has a protruding stopper on the top side thereof adjacent to an end of the rack.
According to the above arrangement, the stopper marks a slide limit for sliding the buckle relative to the belt in narrowing the size and prevents the separation of the buckle and the belt. Further, the stopper serves as a stop member in accommodating an end of the belt into the pouched portion of the fabric when the belt is fixed onto the object.
In the above aspect of the invention, the buckle and the belt preferably respectively have a thin attachment for the buckle and the belt to be attached to an object.
According to the above arrangement, the thin attachment can be sewn together with the fabric of the object, thereby easily fixing the attachment to the object.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a use of a slide adjuster according to a first exemplary embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing the adjuster of the first exemplary embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing the adjuster of the first exemplary embodiment faced in a direction different from that in FIG. 2.

FIG. 4 is a plan view showing a belt according to the first exemplary embodiment.

FIG. 5 is an enlarged cross section showing an engaging claw and an engaging groove according to the first exemplary embodiment.

FIG. 6 is an enlarged plan view showing a buckle according to the first exemplary embodiment.

FIG. 7 is a cross section showing a tightening operation according to the first exemplary embodiment.

FIG. 8 is a cross section showing a disengaging operation according to the first exemplary embodiment.

FIG. 9 is a perspective view showing a second exemplary embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 10 is a side elevation showing a buckle according to a third exemplary embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 11 is a cross section showing a buckle according to a fourth exemplary embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 12 is a plan view showing a buckle according to the fourth exemplary embodiment.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENT(S)

Exemplary embodiment(s) of the invention will be described below with reference to the attached drawings.

First Exemplary Embodiment

As shown in FIG. 1, a slide adjuster 1 of the first exemplary embodiment is attached to a backside opening 8 of a cap (object) 9 for adjusting the cap size.
As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the slide adjuster 1 has an elongated belt 10 provided with a rack 11 on a top side thereof and a buckle 20 that is adapted to be fastened at a desired position of the rack 11.
As shown in FIGS. 2, 3 and 4, the belt 10 has an attachment 19 for attaching the belt to the cap 9.
The attachment 19 is thinner than a body (i.e. a portion provided with the rack 11) of the belt 10. As shown in FIG. 1, the attachment 19 is inserted into a pouched portion of one of fabrics (a fabric 2) that oppose each other interposed by the opening 8 of the cap 9 and is sawn together with the fabric 2.
A plurality of engaging grooves 12 extending in a width direction of the belt (i.e. in a direction intersecting with a longitudinal direction of the belt 10) are formed on the top side of the belt 10. The engaging grooves 12 defines the rack 11.
As shown in FIG. 5, each of the engaging grooves 12 of the rack 11 is respectively provided by a slant surface 12A adjacent to the attachment 19 (right side in FIG. 5) and a vertical surface 12B on the opposite side of the slant surface 12A. Thus, when an engaging claw 24 (described later) is engaged with the engaging groove 12, mutual engagement is easily released in one direction of the belt 10 while the engagement is not easily released in the other direction.
With reference back to FIGS. 2, 3 and 4, a stopper 13 is provided between the attachment 19 and the rack 11 on the top side of the belt 10.
The stopper 13 is a plate-shaped member that protrudes from the top side of the belt 10 and extends in the width direction of the belt 10. A side of the stopper 13 that opposes to the buckle 20 is perpendicular to the top side of the belt 10. An opposite side of the stopper 13 is defined by a smooth curve that continues to the top side of the belt 10 (see FIG. 7).
A bottom side of the belt 10 is flat so that a base 21 (described later) of the buckle 20 is slidable.
The above-described belt 10 is integrally molded with a synthetic resin material and is flexible as a whole.
As shown in FIGS. 2, 3 and 6, the buckle 20 has a base 21 disposed on the bottom side of the belt 10. The base 21 has an attachment 29 that is attached to the cap 9.
The base 21 is a plate-shaped member, which may be a flat frame that has an opening at the center thereof.
The attachment 29 is thinner than the base 21. As shown in FIG. 1, the attachment 29 is inserted into a pouched portion of one of the fabrics (a fabric 3) that oppose with each other interposed by the opening 8 of the cap 9, and is sawn together with the fabric 3.
The buckle 20 includes: the base 21; a pair of side walls 22 provided upright on the base 21, the side walls 22 opposing with each other interposed by the belt 10; an operation member 23 provided over and opposed to a top side of the belt 10; an engaging claw 24 provided on a first end of the operation member 23, the engaging claw 24 engaging with one of the engaging grooves 12 on the rack 11; a press section 25 provided on a second end of the operation member 23; a connecting shaft 26 that connects an intermediate portion of the operation member 23 with inner sides of the pair of side walls 22; and a frame 27 fixed on the base 21 and provided along a periphery of the press section 25 of the operation member 23.
Since the pair of side walls 22 are provided upright on both sides of the base 21 and the operation member 23 is supported between the side walls 22 by the connecting shaft 26, a gap is created between the base 21 and the operation member 23. The belt 10 is inserted into the gap.
When the belt 10 is inserted, the rack 11 on the top side of the belt 10 opposes to a bottom side of the operation member 23. The engaging claw 24 is provided on the bottom side on the first end of the operation member 23 in a manner engageable with one of the engaging grooves 12 on the rack 11.
As shown in FIG. 5, an end of the engaging claw 24 is shaped so that, when the operation member 23 is horizontally situated, a surface 24A of the engaging claw 24 adjacent to the connecting shaft 26 (right side in FIG. 5) is slanted at the same angle as that of the slant surface 12A of the engaging groove 12 on the rack 11 and a surface 24B opposite to the surface 24A is also slanted at an angle smaller than the slant angle of the surface 24A. Accordingly, when the engaging claw 24 is engaged with the engaging groove 12, though the engaging claw 24 easily escapes out of the engaging groove 12 by applying a force toward the connecting shaft 26, the engaging claw 24 bites the vertical surface 12B within the engaging groove 12 when a force away from the connecting shaft 26 is applied, thereby not easily escaping out of the engaging groove 12.
With reference back to FIGS. 2, 3 and 6, the operation member 23 seesaws around the connecting shaft 26 as a fulcrum.
The connecting shaft 26 not only connects the operation member 23 to the pair of side walls 22 to support the operation member 23, but also serves as a biasing unit for biasing the operation member 23 by an elasticity in a torsional direction thereof.
Specifically, when the engaging claw 24 is engaged with one of the engaging grooves 12 of the rack 11 (a situation shown in FIG. 7), the operation member 23 is in a neutral posture where the connecting shaft is not twisted. When the operation member 23 is seesawed by, for instance, pressing the press section 25 by a finger to disengage the engaging claw 24 from one of the engaging grooves 12 of the rack 11 (a situation shown in FIG. 8), a torsional force is applied on the connecting shaft 26, which causes a reaction force by the elasticity that biases the operation member 23 to return to the neutral posture (the situation shown in FIG. 7). As described above, the connecting shaft 26 serves as a biasing unit for rotating the operation member 23 in a direction for the engaging claw 24 to move toward the rack 11 around the connecting shaft 26.
The press section 25 is provided on the other end of the operation member 23, the press section 25 being pressed by a finger for seesawing the above-described operation member 23 (see FIG. 8).
The press section 25 is provided by a curve that bulges in an eggshell shape. A marker 25A provided by concavity and convexity that are recognizable by a finger is formed on a top side of the press section. The marks 25A of this exemplary embodiment is provided by three grooves extending in width direction of the buckle 20.
The presence of the marker 25A allows easy recognition of the press section 25 by touching the surface of the buckle 20 without a visual check.
The operation member 23 has a step 28 adjacent to the press section 25.
The press section 25 is raised relative to the portion at which the operation member 23 is supported by the connecting shaft 26 and the portion at which the engaging claw 24 is provided on the bottom side, so that the step 28 is formed on the press section 25 adjacent to the engaging claw 24.
The presence of the step 28 allows easier recognition of the press section 25 by a finger.
Incidentally, even when the buckle 20 is biased to move in a reverse direction, the engagement between the engaging claw 24 and the engaging groove 12 restricts or prohibits the movement of the buckle 20. On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 8, when the press section 25 is pressed by a finger to release the engagement between the engaging claw 24 and the engaging groove 12, the reverse movement of the buckle 20 becomes possible.
The frame 27 is supported by the pair of side walls 22.
The frame 27 is a U-shaped member disposed along the periphery of the operation member 23 adjacent to the press section 25. The frame 27 bridges over the belt 10 inserted into the above-described gap between the base 21 and the operation member 23, both ends of the frame 27 being connected to the pair of side walls 22.
The upper periphery of the frame 27 is continuous with the upper peripheries of the side walls 22 so that the press section 25 is surrounded by the frame 27 and the side walls 22.
The height of the upper periphery of the frame 27 is determined so that the upper periphery of the frame 27 is lower than the top side of the press section 25 when the operation member 23 is at the neutral posture (the situation shown in FIG. 7), and the upper periphery of the frame 27 is higher than the top side of the press section 25 when the press section 25 is pressed to turn the operation member 23 (the situation shown in FIG. 8).
The presence of the frame 27 facilitates groping of the press section 25 surrounded by the frame 27 by a finger and improves the operability of the operation member 23. Specifically, when the press section 25 is pressed by a finger, the press section sinks (see FIG. 8) while the frame 27 keeps the position thereof. Accordingly, the press section 25 reduces its relative height within the frame 27, so that further press operation can be conducted while checking the press section 25 by the operative finger. Accordingly, the operation touch as well as the operability can be enhanced (guide function of the frame).
Further, the presence of the frame 27 surrounding the side of the operation member 23 adjacent to the press section 25 prohibits an invasion of foreign object into between the operation member 23 and the belt 10 and application of excessive force for ripping the operation member 23 off from the belt 10 (guard function of the frame).
The side walls 22 extend along the entire length of the operation member 23 so that the lateral surface of the operation member 23 is completely concealed by the side walls 22 and the frame 27. Especially, the end of the operation member 23 provided with the engaging claw 24 is always accommodated within the space defined by the side walls 22 on both sides even when the operation member 23 is seesawed.
Thus, the presence of the base 21 and the pair of side walls 22 serves for: smoothly sliding the buckle 20 against the belt 10; preventing an engulfment of fabric during sawing when the buckle 20 is attached to an object; and preventing an interference of the operation member 23 with the surrounding fabric, which hinders the movement of the buckle 20, when the side of the buckle 20 provided with the engaging claw 24 is received in the pouched portion of the fabric and the like.
The components of the above-described buckle 20 including the base 21, side walls 22, operation member 23 and connecting shaft 26 are integrally molded with an elastic synthetic resin material.

Second Exemplary Embodiment

FIG. 9 shows a second exemplary embodiment of the invention.
The slide adjuster according to this exemplary embodiment is basically arranged in the same manner as the first exemplary embodiment. Accordingly, the same arrangement will not further be explained and different parts will only be described below.
As shown in FIG. 9, a marker 25B is formed on the top side of the press section 25. The marker 25B is provided as a flat surface formed by flatly cutting the top of the eggshell shape of the top side of the press section 25 of the first exemplary embodiment.
The marker 25B can be recognized as a marker that is capable of being groped with a finger, so that the press section 25 can be easily recognized without a visual check.
The same advantages as those in the first exemplary embodiment can also be obtained in this second exemplary embodiment.

Third Exemplary Embodiment

FIG. 10 shows a third exemplary embodiment of the invention.
The slide adjuster according to this exemplary embodiment is basically arranged in the same manner as the first exemplary embodiment. Accordingly, the same arrangement will not further be explained and different parts will only be described below.
As shown in FIG. 10, the side walls 22 are only provided at a part adjacent to the connecting shaft 26 and the end of the operation member 23 on the side of the engaging claw 24 can be seen in a side elevation.
Further, the side walls 22 and the frame 27 are separated, so that the upper periphery of the frame 27 and the upper peripheries of the side walls 22 are discontinuous. Both ends of the frame 27 are directly supported by the base 21 to provide support portions 27A on the both ends, the support portions 27A being raised upright from both peripheral ends of the base 21 in the same manner as the side walls 22.
The same advantages as those in the first exemplary embodiment can also be obtained in this third exemplary embodiment. However, since the end on the side of the engaging claw 24 of the operation member 23 is not accommodated in the space defined by the side walls 22, the operation member 23 may contact with the surrounding fabric to increase a movement resistance thereof when the buckle 20 is attached to the fabric.

Fourth Exemplary Embodiment

FIGS. 11 and 12 show a fourth exemplary embodiment of the invention.
The slide adjuster according to this exemplary embodiment is basically arranged in the same manner as the first exemplary embodiment. Accordingly, the same arrangement will not further be explained and different parts will only be described below.
As shown in FIGS. 11 and 12, the height of the press section 25 is lower than that in the above-described first exemplary embodiment, where the upper periphery of the press section 25 is located under the upper periphery of the frame 27 even when the operation member 23 is in the neutral posture.
Since the press section 25 is set low, the step 28 (see FIG. 3 and the like) in the above-described first exemplary embodiment is not provided on the operation member 23.
The top side of the press section 25 is dented to provide a dented curved surface that is adapted to receive a finger tip, the dented curved surface providing a marker 25C.
The operation member 23 is supported by the connecting shaft 26 onto the side walls 22. A crank bridge 26A is provided adjacent to the connecting shaft 26. Accordingly, when the press section 25 is pressed to slant the operation member 23 from the neutral posture, the operation member 23 receives a reaction force caused by an elastic deformation of the bridge 26A as well as the reaction force caused by the torsion of the connecting shaft 26 of itself. In other words, the connecting shaft 26 and the bridge 26A causing the reaction forces serve as the biasing unit.
The same advantages as those in the first exemplary embodiment can also be obtained in this fourth exemplary embodiment.
Especially, since the press section 25 is always set lower than the frame 27, the guide function of the frame 27 when the press section 25 is groped by a finger without a visual check can be further clearly exhibited.
Further, since the biasing unit of this exemplary embodiment uses the reaction force caused by the elastic deformation of the bridge 26A in addition to the reaction force caused by the torsion of the connecting shaft 26, a stronger reaction force than the reaction force caused solely by the connecting shaft 26, which is required for some specific usage, can be generated.

MODIFICATIONS

It should be understood that the scope of the invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments but includes the following modifications.
For instance, the marker on the top side of the press section 25 may not be the marker 25A (a plurality of grooves) in the first exemplary embodiment or the marker 25B (a flat surface on a part of a curved surface) in the second exemplary embodiment, but may assume other convex and/or concave shape. For instance, the marker may be provided by small protrusions or dents, a coarse concave and convex surface, a surface arranged with minute treads and the like that are perceptible by a finger.
Further, when the top side of the press section 25 can be recognized by groping the eggshell shape thereof by a finger, the marker may not be necessarily provided. Especially, since the frame 27 surrounding the press section 25 is provided in the invention, the press section 25 can be recognized by a touch on a finger without a visual check by the guide function of the frame 27.
The biasing unit may not be the connecting shaft 26 and the combination of the connecting shaft 26 and the bridge 26A, but may be provided by a combination of a freely rotatable connecting shaft and another component such as a spring for biasing the operation member 23.
Though the height of the upper periphery of the frame 27 relative to the base 21 is greater than that of the press section 25 when the press section 25 is pressed to turn the operation member 23 in the above exemplary embodiments, the height of the frame may be differently set.
For instance, the height of the upper periphery of the frame 27 relative to the base 21 may be less than the height of the press section 25 when the press section 25 is pressed to turn the operation member 23. Even when the press section 25 is constantly higher as in the above, the press section 25 can be recognized by a finger by the presence of the surrounding frame 27. Since the press section 25 descends when being pressed by a finger, the press section 25 inside the frame can be clearly recognized.
Alternatively, the upper periphery of the frame 27 relative to the base 21 may be greater than the height of the press section 25 when the press section 25 is not pressed and the operation member 23 is not turned. When the press section 25 is constantly lower than the height of the frame 27, the press section 25 can be securely recognized by the presence of the frame surrounding the press section 25.
Though the frame 27 is U-shaped and is disposed along the periphery of the press section 25 to surround the press section 25, the frame 27 may be differently designed.
For instance, the frame 27 may not be provided by such a U-shaped continuous member but may alternatively be provided by a plurality of components that are intermittently arranged to form a U-shape in the entirety thereof that surrounds the periphery of the press section 25. Alternatively, the frame 27 may be provided by a C-shaped component, an O-shaped component that surrounds the entire circumference of the press section 25, an arc component that conforms to a periphery of a part of the press section 25, a fragmentary component of an I-shape and the like. In other words, the frame 27 may be provided in any manner as long as the frame 27 is adapted to be disposed along the periphery of the press section 25 to serve for recognition of the position of the press section 25.
The dimensions of the components and the like may be altered as desired within a scope compatible with the invention.

Claims

1. A slide adjuster, comprising:

a belt; and

a buckle,

the belt comprising a rack that has a plurality of engaging grooves on a top side thereof,

the buckle comprising: a base disposed on a bottom side of the belt;

a pair of side walls that are provided upright on the base and are opposed with the belt being interposed;

an operation member opposed to the top side of the belt;

an engaging claw provided on a first end of the operation member, the engaging claw engaging with at least one of the engaging grooves of the rack;

a press section provided on a second end of the operation member;

a connecting shaft that connects the operation member to the pair of side walls;

a biasing unit that biases the operation member so that the operation member is turned around the connecting shaft in a direction for the engaging claw to move toward the rack; and

a frame that is provided on the base and is disposed along a periphery of the operation member on the side of the press section.

2. The slide adjuster according to claim 1, wherein

a height of an upper periphery of the frame relative to the base is greater than a height of the press section when the press section is pressed to turn the operation member.

3. The slide adjuster according to claim 1, wherein

the frame is connected to the pair of side walls, upper peripheries of the side walls being continuous with an upper periphery of the frame.

4. The slide adjuster according to claim 1, wherein

the side walls extend along an entire length of the operation member.

5. The slide adjuster according to claim 1, wherein

the operation member has a step between the press section and a part provided with the engaging claw at which a side adjacent to the press section is raised.

6. The slide adjuster according to claim 1, wherein

a marker provided by a concavity and convexity perceptible by a finger is provided on a top side of the press section.

7. The slide adjuster according to claim 1, wherein

the connecting shaft has a torsional elasticity and the biasing unit is provided by the connecting shaft.

8. The slide adjuster according to claim 1, wherein

the belt has a protruding stopper on the top side thereof adjacent to an end of the rack.

9. The slide adjuster according to claim 1, wherein

the buckle and the belt respectively have a thin attachment for the buckle and the belt to be attached to an object.