Hidden blade belt ratcheting device IV

Abstract

The Hidden Blade Belt Ratcheting Device (HB-BRD) facilitates unidirectional belt fastening and fast release. The HB-BRD includes a turning gate rotatably installed diagonally in a channel. The turning gate has a hidden sharp blade front which operates below on the lower belt surface avoiding visible scratches. Attached at the rear is a resilient plate which acts as a spring. The HB-BRD has two states: “active” and “inactive”. In the active state the device works as a belt ratchet i.e. allowing the belt to be pulled forwards but restricting any belt motion backwards. In the inactive state the ratcheting is disabled and the belt is released. Usually, the BRD is kept in active state by a preloaded resilient plate. After fastening, the belt remains fastened until the HB-BRD is switched manually into inactive state by pulling a latch. The blade's smooth side and channel's smooth surfaces minimize belt wear.

Claims

1. A ratcheting device configured for fastening a belt and releasing a fastened belt; wherein the ratcheting device comprising: a channel, a turning gate, a blade and said belt; wherein the channel is being configured to carry through a portion of the belt; said channel further comprises a gripping wall being adapted with a surface configured to engage said belt; the ratcheting device has an active state and an inactive state; the ratcheting device while in the active state is configured to restrict translation of the belt in the channel in a backwards direction and to facilitate translation of the belt in the channel in a forwards direction; the ratcheting device while in the inactive state is configured to facilitate translation of the belt both in said forwards direction and in said backwards direction; the turning gate being rotationally engaged with the channel at a fulcrum, wherein the turning gate comprises a blade holder attached to an elastic part; wherein the blade includes a blade front; wherein the blade is installed into the blade holder such that the blade front protrudes in a front of the blade holder; the turning gate is installed in the channel such that a straight line emanating from the blade front and passing through the fulcrum is at an obtuse angle with respect to the forwards direction; wherein the blade front is disposed within the channel opposite the gripping wall; wherein the blade front is disposed opposite the gripping wall such that there is a gap between the blade front and the gripping wall; wherein the belt is configured to pass through the gap between the blade front and the gripping wall; wherein, the turning gate is configured to reduce the gap and to increase a pressure force exerted by the blade front on the belt when the turning gate is turned increasingly backwards; wherein the turning gate is configured to increase the gap and to reduce the pressure force exerted by the blade front on the belt when the turning gate is turned increasingly forwards; at the active state, the blade front is configured to exert the pressure force on the belt and the blade front is configured to frictionally engage the belt and to turn forwards the turning gate when the belt is translated in said forwards direction; in addition, at the active state the blade front is configured to frictionally engage the belt and to turn backwards the turning gate when the belt is translated in said backwards direction; wherein the turning gate is configured to facilitate forwards translation of the belt by turning increasingly forwards and diminishing the pressure force of the blade front on the belt; wherein the turning gate is configured to restrict backwards translation of the belt by turning increasingly backwards and increasing the pressure force of the blade front on the belt; at the inactive state of the ratcheting device, the blade front is configured not to exert said pressure force on the belt and translation of the belt is facilitated both in the forwards direction and in the backwards direction; wherein said fulcrum comprises an axle which is fitted into a bearing; wherein the surface of the gripping wall is facing downwards and the blade front engages a lower surface of the belt by moving upwards.

2. A ratcheting device configured for fastening a belt and releasing a fastened belt; wherein the ratcheting device comprising: a channel, a turning gate, a blade and said belt; wherein the channel is being configured to carry through a portion of the belt; said channel further comprises a gripping wall being adapted with a surface configured to engage said belt; the ratcheting device has an active state and an inactive state; the ratcheting device while in the active state is configured to restrict translation of the belt in the channel in a backwards direction and to facilitate translation of the belt in the channel in a forwards direction; the ratcheting device while in the inactive state is configured to facilitate translation of the belt both in said forwards direction and in said backwards direction; the turning gate being rotationally engaged with the channel at a fulcrum, wherein the turning gate comprises a blade holder attached to an elastic part; wherein the blade includes a blade front; wherein the blade is installed into the blade holder such that the blade front protrudes in a front of the blade holder; the turning gate is installed in the channel such that a straight line emanating from the blade front and passing through the fulcrum is at an obtuse angle with respect to the forwards direction; wherein the blade front is disposed within the channel opposite the gripping wall; wherein the blade front is disposed opposite the gripping wall such that there is a gap between the blade front and the gripping wall; wherein the belt is configured to pass through the gap between the blade front and the gripping wall; wherein, the turning gate is configured to reduce the gap and to increase a pressure force exerted by the blade front on the belt when the turning gate is turned increasingly backwards; wherein the turning gate is configured to increase the gap and to reduce the pressure force exerted by the blade front on the belt when the turning gate is turned increasingly forwards; at the active state, the blade front is configured to exert the pressure force on the belt and the blade front is configured to frictionally engage the belt and to turn forwards the turning gate when the belt is translated in said forwards direction; in addition, at the active state the blade front is configured to frictionally engage the belt and to turn backwards the turning gate when the belt is translated in said backwards direction; wherein the turning gate is configured to facilitate forwards translation of the belt by turning increasingly forwards and diminishing the pressure force of the blade front on the belt; wherein the turning gate is configured to restrict backwards translation of the belt by turning increasingly backwards and increasing the pressure force of the blade front on the belt; at the inactive state of the ratcheting device, the blade front is configured not to exert said pressure force on the belt and translation of the belt is facilitated both in the forwards direction and in the backwards direction; wherein said fulcrum comprises an axle which is fitted into a bearing; wherein the surface of the gripping wall is facing downwards and the blade front engages a lower surface of the belt by moving upwards; wherein said elastic part is structured as a resilient plate which acts as a flat spring which is attached to the blade holder; while in the active state, the resilient plate is configured to be at a bent state and is configured to apply said backwards turning force on the turning gate; wherein the backwards turning force is configured to turn the turning gate backwards, which is configured to reduce the gap and to apply the pressure force on the belt; wherein at the active state the turning gate is configured to apply a pressure force on the belt; while in the active state, the resilient plate is held in the bent state by a latch which is resiliently attached to a support wall of the ratcheting device; wherein when manually pulled, the latch is configured to release the resilient plate from the bent state; wherein the turning gate is configured to diminish the backwards turning force when the resilient plate is released and to switch the ratcheting device from the active state into the inactive state.

3. A ratcheting device configured for fastening a belt and releasing a fastened belt; wherein the ratcheting device comprising: a channel, a turning gate, a blade and said belt; wherein the channel is being configured to carry through a portion of the belt; said channel further comprises a gripping wall being adapted with a surface configured to engage said belt; the ratcheting device has an active state and an inactive state; the ratcheting device while in the active state is configured to restrict translation of the belt in the channel in a backwards direction and to facilitate translation of the belt in the channel in a forwards direction; the ratcheting device while in the inactive state is configured to facilitate translation of the belt both in said forwards direction and in said backwards direction; the turning gate being rotationally engaged with the channel at a fulcrum, wherein the turning gate comprises a blade holder attached to an elastic part; wherein the blade includes a blade front; wherein the blade is installed into the blade holder such that the blade front protrudes in a front of the blade holder; the turning gate is installed in the channel such that a straight line emanating from the blade front and passing through the fulcrum is at an obtuse angle with respect to the forwards direction; wherein the blade front is disposed within the channel opposite the gripping wall; wherein the blade front is disposed opposite the gripping wall such that there is a gap between the blade front and the gripping wall; wherein the belt is configured to pass through the gap between the blade front and the gripping wall; wherein, the turning gate is configured to reduce the gap and to increase a pressure force exerted by the blade front on the belt when the turning gate is turned increasingly backwards; wherein the turning gate is configured to increase the gap and to reduce the pressure force exerted by the blade front on the belt when the turning gate is turned increasingly forwards; at the active state, the blade front is configured to exert the pressure force on the belt and the blade front is configured to frictionally engage the belt and to turn forwards the turning gate when the belt is translated in said forwards direction; in addition, at the active state the blade front is configured to frictionally engage the belt and to turn backwards the turning gate when the belt is translated in said backwards direction; wherein the turning gate is configured to facilitate forwards translation of the belt by turning increasingly forwards and diminishing the pressure force of the blade front on the belt; wherein the turning gate is configured to restrict backwards translation of the belt by turning increasingly backwards and increasing the pressure force of the blade front on the belt; at the inactive state of the ratcheting device, the blade front is configured not to exert said pressure force on the belt and translation of the belt is facilitated both in the forwards direction and in the backwards direction; wherein said fulcrum comprises an axle which is fitted into a bearing; wherein the surface of the gripping wall is facing downwards and the blade front engages a lower surface of the belt by moving upwards; wherein said blade is tapered towards the blade front; wherein the blade front ends with a sharp blade front; wherein the sharp blade front is adapted with a smooth side; wherein, the sharp blade front is configured to concentrate said pressure force on the belt when the turning gate is turned backwards while the sharp blade front engages the belt; wherein, the smooth side is configured to engage the belt when the turning gate is turned forwards; wherein, the smooth side is configured to facilitate said belt sliding while the turning gate is turned forwards and the belt is translated in the forwards direction.

4. The ratcheting device of claim 3, wherein the surface of the gripping wall is adapted with a smooth surface; wherein, the smooth surface is configured to facilitate the belt sliding when the belt is fastened at the active state and also when the belt is translated in the inactive state.

5. The ratcheting device of claim 3, wherein the ratcheting device further comprising a depression disposed on the surface of the gripping wall; wherein said depression is configured to facilitate an additional bending of the belt due to said pressure force; wherein, said additional bending is configured to increase a mutual friction force between the belt and the surface of the gripping wall while said ratcheting device is in said active state and the belt is pulled in said backwards direction.

6. A ratcheting device configured for fastening a belt and releasing a fastened belt; wherein the ratcheting device comprising: a channel, a turning gate, a blade and said belt; wherein the channel is being configured to carry through a portion of the belt; said channel further comprises a gripping wall being adapted with a surface configured to engage said belt; the ratcheting device has an active state and an inactive state; the ratcheting device while in the active state is configured to restrict translation of the belt in the channel in a backwards direction and to facilitate translation of the belt in the channel in a forwards direction; the ratcheting device while in the inactive state is configured to facilitate translation of the belt both in said forwards direction and in said backwards direction; the turning gate being rotationally engaged with the channel at a fulcrum, wherein the turning gate comprises a blade holder attached to an elastic part; wherein the blade includes a blade front; wherein the blade is installed into the blade holder such that the blade front protrudes in a front of the blade holder; the turning gate is installed in the channel such that a straight line emanating from the blade front and passing through the fulcrum is at an obtuse angle with respect to the forwards direction; wherein the blade front is disposed within the channel opposite the gripping wall; wherein the blade front is disposed opposite the gripping wall such that there is a gap between the blade front and the gripping wall; wherein the belt is configured to pass through the gap between the blade front and the gripping wall; wherein, the turning gate is configured to reduce the gap and to increase a pressure force exerted by the blade front on the belt when the turning gate is turned increasingly backwards; wherein the turning gate is configured to increase the gap and to reduce the pressure force exerted by the blade front on the belt when the turning gate is turned increasingly forwards; at the active state, the blade front is configured to exert the pressure force on the belt and the blade front is configured to frictionally engage the belt and to turn forwards the turning gate when the belt is translated in said forwards direction; in addition, at the active state the blade front is configured to frictionally engage the belt and to turn backwards the turning gate when the belt is translated in said backwards direction; wherein the turning gate is configured to facilitate forwards translation of the belt by turning increasingly forwards and diminishing the pressure force of the blade front on the belt; wherein the turning gate is configured to restrict backwards translation of the belt by turning increasingly backwards and increasing the pressure force of the blade front on the belt; at the inactive state of the ratcheting device, the blade front is configured not to exert said pressure force on the belt and translation of the belt is facilitated both in the forwards direction and in the backwards direction; wherein said fulcrum comprises an axle which is fitted into a bearing; wherein the surface of the gripping wall is facing downwards and the blade front engages a lower surface of the belt by moving upwards; wherein said belt further comprises a first belt end and a second belt end; wherein said ratcheting device is configured for said belt fastening by tying said second belt end to said ratcheting device and fastening said first belt end with said ratcheting device; wherein, when the belt is fastened, said first belt end is configured to pull said ratcheting device in said backwards direction, while second belt end is configured to pull in said forwards direction the belt ratcheting device.

7. The ratcheting device of claim 6, wherein at least one ratcheting device which is anchored to a footwear item, is configured to fasten said belt which is attached to the footwear item.

8. The ratcheting device of claim 2, wherein the resilient plate is attached to a leaf spring at a leaf spring first end; wherein a leaf spring second end is unattached and is situated below the resilient plate; wherein when the resilient plate is rotated downwards towards the active state, the first end of the leaf spring is configured to move downwards as well and the second end of the leaf spring is configured to move downwards as well and to be pressed against the support wall of the ratcheting device while bending the leaf spring; when the ratcheting device is at the active state and the latch is pulled, the resilient plate is configured to turn forwards the turning gate and the bent leaf spring is configured to be released and to facilitate turning forwards the resilient plate and the turning gate towards the inactive state.

9. The ratcheting device of claim 2, wherein the elastic part is being configured also to serve as a lever for manually switching the ratcheting device from the active state into the inactive state by manually turning up the resilient plate which also turns forwards the turning gate which is configured to increase the gap and to diminish the pressure force exerted by the blade front on the belt; wherein the elastic part is being configured also to serve as a lever for manually switching the ratcheting device from the inactive state into the active state by manually turning down the resilient plate which is configured to turn backwards the turning gate which is configured to reduce the gap and to increase the pressure force exerted by the blade front on the belt.

10. The ratcheting device of claim 1, wherein the blade is made of metal.

11. The ratcheting device of claim 1, wherein the entire ratcheting device except the blade is made of plastics materials.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) FIGS. 1 and 2 illustrate two views of 3D isometric drawings of an embodiment of a channel structure of the Hidden Blade Belt Ratcheting Device (HB-BRD).

(2) FIGS. 3 and 4 illustrate two views of 3D isometric drawings of an embodiment of a turning gate structure of the Hidden Blade Belt Ratcheting Device (HB-BRD).

(3) FIG. 5 illustrates in 3D isometric drawing an assembled HB-BRD in an active state while inserted with a portion of the belt ends.

(4) FIG. 6 illustrates a cross section of FIG. 5 which displays an assembled HB-BRD in an active state while inserted with a portion of the belt ends.

(5) FIG. 7 illustrates in 3D isometric drawing an assembled HB-BRD in inactive state while inserted with a portion of the belt ends.

(6) FIG. 8 illustrates a cross section of FIG. 7 which displays an assembled HB-BRD in an inactive state while inserted with a portion of the belt ends.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(7) FIGS. 1 and 2 illustrate two views of 3D isometric drawings of a channel structure embodiment of a Hidden Blade Belt Ratcheting Device 1 (HB-BRD). The channel's 6 entrance is illustrated in FIG. 1 on the left hand side and the channel's 6 exit on the right hand side. The top side of the gripping wall 2 is shown in FIG. 1 whereas FIG. 2 shows the bottom side of the gripping wall 2. The depression 3 (recess) in the gripping wall 2 is configured to bend the belt when it is pressed by the front side 23 of the blade 15 of the turning gate 11. The HB-BRD's channel 6 includes the gripping wall 2 at the channel's top side. The gripping wall 2 also has a recess 3 configured to bend the belt and thus to increase the friction and the restricting force of blocked belts. Latch 4 is resiliently connected to the channel's latch support wall 7 by the elastic connection 5 for the latch 4. The two holes 10 in the channel's floor are configured to house rivets 22 (illustrated in FIGS. 6 and 8) which attach the second belt's end 21 to the channel structure 1.

(8) FIGS. 3 and 4 illustrate two views of 3D isometric drawings of an embodiment of a turning gate 11 structure of the Hidden Blade Belt Ratcheting Device (HB-BRD). The turning gate 11 has two axles 17 which are installed in bearings 8 situated at the channel's side walls. Each of the bearings 8 is installed between two slots 9 in the channels side walls. These slots 9 allow the side walls to bend during axles 17 installation. The turning gate 11 has a lever 16 which is connected to the blade holder 13 at its front side and to the resilient plate 12 at its rear side. The resilient plate 12 is configured to act as a biased spring which tends to keep the turning gate in the active state in which the turning gate is turned backwards while the blade front 23 presses the belt in the channel 6. The blade holder 13 has blade slots 14 which are configured to hold the blade 15. The blade 15 has a tapered front end 23 and a smooth side 24. The tapered front end 23 is sharp and is configured to concentrate pressure force on the belt at the HB-BRD active state. The smooth side 24 is configured to facilitate belt sliding forwards and backwards in the channel 6. The resilient plate 12 is equipped with two leaf springs 18 which are diagonally attached at one of their ends to the lower face of the resilient plate 12 and the other ends of the leaf springs 18 are free i.e. not attached. When the HB-BRD is in active state, the resilient plate is turned downwards causing the free ends of the leaf springs to be bent and pressed against the upper face of the channel's latch support wall 7. When the latch 4 releases the resilient plate 12, the leaf springs 18 push the resilient plate 12 upwards turning forwards the turning gate 11 into the inactive state in which the blade's front end 23 does not engage the belt and the belt is free to translate both forwards and backwards.

(9) As already mentioned, the hidden blade belt ratcheting device HB-BRD has an active state and an inactive state. While in the active state the HB-BRD 1 is configured to restrict translation of the belt in the channel 6 in a backwards direction and to facilitate translation of the belt in the channel in a forwards direction. While in the inactive state, the belt ratcheting device is configured to facilitate translation of the belt both in forwards direction (i.e. from left to right in FIG. 1) and in backwards direction.

(10) The turning gate 11 is installed in the channel 6 such that a straight line emanating from the blade front 23 and passing through the axle 17 is at an obtuse angle with respect to the forwards direction which is a vector pointing from the entrance of channel 6 and ending at the exit of channel 6. The blade front 23 is disposed within the channel 6 opposite the gripping wall 2. Wherein the blade front 23 is disposed opposite the gripping wall 2 such that there is a gap between the blade front 23 and the gripping wall 2. The belt is configured to pass through the gap between the blade front and the gripping wall.

(11) The turning gate 11 is configured to reduce the gap and to increase the pressure force exerted by the blade front 23 on the belt when the turning gate 11 is turned increasingly backwards. The turning gate 11 is configured to increase the gap and to reduce the pressure force exerted by the blade front 23 on the belt when the turning gate 11 is turned increasingly forwards. At the active state, the blade front 23 is configured to exert a pressure force on the belt and the blade front 23 is configured to frictionally engage the belt and to turn forwards the turning gate 11 when the belt is translated in the forwards direction. Also, at the active state the blade front 23 is configured to frictionally engage the belt and to turn backwards the turning gate 11 when the belt is translated in the backwards direction. The turning gate 11 is configured to facilitate forwards translation of the belt by turning increasingly forwards and consequently diminishing the pressure force of the blade front 23 on the belt. The turning gate 11 is configured to restrict backwards translation of the belt by turning increasingly backwards and consequently increasing the pressure force of the blade front 23 on the belt. At the inactive state of the ratcheting device, the blade front 23 is configured not to exert said pressure force on the belt and translation of the belt is facilitated both in the forwards direction and in the backwards direction. The turning gate's fulcrum is at axles 17 which are fitted into a pair bearings 8.

(12) The blade 15 is tapered towards the blade front 23. The blade front 23 ends with a sharp blade front 23. Wherein the sharp blade front 23 is adapted with a smooth side 24. The sharp blade front 23 is configured to concentrate the pressure force on the belt when the turning gate 11 is turned backwards while the sharp blade front 23 engages the belt. The smooth side 24 is configured to engage the belt when the turning gate 15 is turned forwards. The smooth side 24 is configured to facilitate belt sliding while the turning gate 11 is turned forwards and the belt is translated in the forwards direction.

(13) The Belt Ratcheting Device further comprising a depression (recess) 3 disposed on the surface of the gripping wall 2 where the depression 3 is configured to cause an additional bending of the belt due to the pressure force. The additional bending is configured to increase a mutual friction force between the belt and the surface of the gripping wall while the ratcheting device 1 is in said active state and the belt is pulled in the backwards direction.

(14) The surface of the gripping wall 2 is facing downwards and the blade front 23 engages a lower surface of the belt by moving upwards. The belt further comprises a first belt end 20 and a second belt end 21. The Belt ratcheting device 1 is configured for belt fastening by tying said second belt end 21 to the Belt ratcheting device 1 and fastening said first belt end 20 to the Belt ratcheting device 1. When the belt is fastened the first belt end 20 is configured to pull the Belt ratcheting device 1 in backwards direction, while the second belt end 21 is configured to pull in said forwards direction the belt ratcheting device.

(15) The resilient plate 12 is attached to a pair of leaf springs 18 at the leaf springs first ends. Where a leaf springs second ends are unattached and are situated below the resilient plate 12.

(16) When the resilient plate 12 is rotated downwards towards the active state, the first ends of the leaf springs are configured to move downwards as well and the second ends of the leaf springs are configured to move downwards as well and to be pressed against the top side of the support wall 7 of the elastic connection 5 of the latch 4, while bending the leaf springs 18. When the Belt ratcheting device 1 is at the active state and the latch 4 is pulled, the resilient plate 12 is configured to turn forwards the turning gate 11 and the bent leaf springs 18 are configured to be released and to facilitate turning forwards the resilient plate 12 and the turning gate 11 towards the inactive state.

(17) The resilient plate 12 is being configured also to serve as a lever for manually switching the ratcheting device from the active state into the inactive state by manually turning up the resilient plate 12 which also turns forwards the turning gate 11 which is configured to increase the gap and to diminish the pressure force exerted by the blade front 23 on the belt. Wherein the resilient plate 12 is being configured also to serve as a lever for manually switching the ratcheting device from the inactive state into the active state by manually turning down the resilient plate which is configured to turn backwards the turning gate 11 which is configured to reduce the gap and to increase the pressure force exerted by the blade front 23 on the belt.

(18) FIG. 5 illustrates in 3D isometric drawing an assembled HB-BRD in an active state while inserted with a portions of the belt ends 20 and 21. FIG. 6 illustrates a cross section of FIG. 5 which displays an assembled HB-BRD in an active state while inserted with portions of the belt ends 20 and 21. The resilient plate 12 in FIGS. 5 and 6 is turned backwards and is firmly held down by Latch 4. In the cross section displayed in FIG. 6 the resilient leafs 18 are bent and pressed against the top side of the support wall 7 for the resilient latch section 5. The belt bending into the gripping wall's 2 recess 3 due to pressure force applied by the blade's front 23 is quite noticeable. The first belt end 20 is being ratcheted by the blade 15 whereas the second blade end 21 is riveted and attached to the channel's structure 1 by two rivets 22.

(19) FIG. 7 illustrates in 3D isometric drawing an assembled HB-BRD in an inactive state while inserted with portions of the belt ends 20 and 21. FIG. 8 illustrates a cross section of FIG. 7 which displays an assembled HB-BRD in an inactive state while inserted with portions of the belt ends 20 and 21. The resilient plate 12 in FIGS. 7 and 8 is turned forwards and is released from Latch 4. In the cross section displayed in FIG. 8 the resilient leafs 18 are unbent and not pressed against the top side of the support wall 7 for the elastic connection 5 of the latch 4. The belt is not bended into the gripping wall's 2 recess 3 since there is no pressure force applied by the blade's front 23 on the belt. The first belt end 20 is free of being ratcheted by the blade 15 whereas the second blade end 21 is riveted and attached to the channel's structure 1 by two rivets 22.