Belt Ratcheting Device with Hidden Blade III

Abstract

The Belt Ratcheting Device with Hidden Blade-III (HB-III) facilitates unidirectional belt fastening and fast release. The HB-III includes a turning gate rotatably installed diagonally in a channel. The turning gate has a hidden sharp blade front which operates on the lower belt surface avoiding visible scratches. The turning gate is connected to a lever by a spring. The HB-III 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. The HB-III is controlled by the lever's position. After fastening, the belt remains fastened until the HB-III is switched manually into inactive state by moving the lever. The blade's smooth side and channel's smooth surfaces minimize belt wear.

Claims

1. A ratcheting device configured for fastening a belt; wherein the ratcheting device comprising: a channel, a turning gate, a blade, an activating resilient part and a releasing resilient part; wherein the channel is being configured to carry through a portion of the belt; the channel further comprises a gripping wall being adapted with a gripping surface configured to engage the belt; the ratcheting device has an active state and an inactive state; while in the active state, the ratcheting device is configured to restrict translation of the belt in the channel in a backward direction and to facilitate translation of the belt in the channel in a forward direction; while in the inactive state, the ratcheting device is configured to facilitate translation of the belt both in the forward direction and in the backward direction;  the turning gate being rotationally engaged with the channel and turns around an axis which serves as a fulcrum; wherein the turning gate comprises an axle centered at the axis; wherein the axle is merged with a bar except for a left axle end which protrudes from a left bar's end and a right axle end which protrudes from a right bar's end; wherein the turning gate comprises a blade holder which is attached to the bar; 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 forward direction; wherein the blade front is disposed within the channel 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; 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 backward; 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 forward;  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 the turning gate forward when the belt is translated in the forward direction; wherein at the active state the blade front is configured to frictionally engage the belt and to turn the turning gate backward when the belt is translated in the backward direction;  wherein at the active state the turning gate is configured to facilitate forward translation of the belt by turning increasingly forward and diminishing the pressure force of the blade front on the belt;  wherein at the active state the turning gate is configured to restrict backward translation of the belt by turning increasingly backward 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 the pressure force on the belt and translation of the belt is facilitated both in the forward direction and in the backward direction; wherein the activating resilient part has a first activating end and a second activating end; wherein the first activating end is connected to the turning gate and the second activating end is connected to a lever; wherein the lever is configured to switch the ratcheting device into the active state when the lever has been moved into an active lever position; wherein the lever is configured to switch the ratcheting device into the inactive state when the lever has been moved into an inactive lever position; wherein the gripping surface of the gripping wall is facing downwards, and the blade front engages a lower surface of the belt by moving upwards.

2. The ratcheting device of claim 1, wherein the second activating end of the activating resilient part is connected to the lever and the first activating end is connected to the turning gate at a top post which is attached to a top side of the bar; wherein pulling the activating resilient part at the top post is configured to turn the turning gate backward; the releasing resilient part has a first releasing end and a second releasing end; wherein the first releasing end is connected to the channel and the second releasing end is connected to the turning gate at a bottom post which is attached to a bottom side of the bar; wherein pulling at the releasing resilient part is configured to turn the turning gate forward; wherein the releasing resilient part is configured to become un-extended when the turning gate has been turned forward and the ratcheting device is in the inactive state; wherein the releasing resilient part is configured to become extended when the turning gate has been turned backward and the ratcheting device is in the active state; wherein moving the lever into the active lever position is configured to switch the ratcheting device into the active state by pulling the activating resilient part which is configured to turn backward the turning gate; while the turning gate is being turned backwards by pulling the activating resilient part, the releasing resilient part is configured to become extended; the releasing resilient part is configured to become extended while the turning gate is being turned backwards by pulling and extending the activating resilient part; wherein when the lever has been switched into the inactive lever position, the activating resilient part is configured to become un-extended and to facilitate the un-extension of the releasing resilient part which turns forward the turning gate into the inactive state; wherein, after the lever has been switched into the inactive lever position, the releasing resilient part is configured to turn forward the turning gate into the inactive state while becoming un-extended.

3. The ratcheting device of claim 1, wherein the blade is tapered and sharpened at the blade front; wherein the sharp blade front is adapted with a smooth side; wherein, the sharp blade front is configured to concentrate the pressure force on the belt when the turning gate is turned backward while the sharp blade front engages the belt; wherein, the smooth side is configured to engage the belt when the turning gate is turned forward; wherein, the smooth side is configured to facilitate the belt sliding while the turning gate is turned forward and the belt is translated.

4. The ratcheting device of claim 1, wherein the gripping surface of the gripping wall is adapted with a smooth gripping surface; wherein, the smooth gripping 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 1, wherein the ratcheting device further comprising a depression disposed on the gripping surface of the gripping wall; wherein the depression is configured to facilitate an additional bending of the belt due to the pressure force; wherein, the additional bending is configured to increase a mutual friction force between the belt and the gripping surface of the gripping wall while the ratcheting device is in the active state and the belt is pulled in the backward direction.

6. The ratcheting device of claim 1, wherein the belt further comprises a first belt end and a second belt end; wherein the ratcheting device is configured for fastening the belt by tying the second belt end to the ratcheting device and fastening the first belt end with the ratcheting device; wherein, the second belt end is tied to the ratcheting device using screws or rivets; wherein, when the belt is fastened, the first belt end is configured to pull the ratcheting device in the backward direction, while the second belt end is configured to pull the ratcheting device in the forward direction.

7. The ratcheting device of daim 1, wherein at least one ratcheting device which is anchored to a footwear item, is configured to fasten the belt which is attached to the footwear item.

8. The ratcheting device of daim 2, wherein the activating resilient part is an activating spring; wherein the second end of the activating resilient part is a second end of the activating spring which is connected to the lever; wherein the first end of the activating resilient part is a first end of the activating spring which is connected to the turning gate at the top post; wherein pulling the activating spring is configured to turn the turning gate backward; the releasing resilient part is a releasing spring which has a first end of the releasing spring and a second end of the releasing spring; wherein the first end of the releasing spring is connected to the channel and the second end of the releasing spring is connected to the turning gate at the bottom post; wherein the releasing spring is configured to become un-extended when the turning gate has been turned forward and the ratcheting device is in the inactive state; wherein the releasing spring is configured to become extended when the turning gate has been turned backward and the ratcheting device is in the active state; wherein moving the lever into the active lever position is configured to switch the ratcheting device into the active state by pulling the activating spring which is configured to turn backward the turning gate; while the turning gate is being turned backwards by pulling the activating spring, the releasing spring is configured to become extended; the releasing spring is configured to become extended while the turning gate is being turned backwards by pulling and extending the activating spring; wherein when the lever has been switched into the inactive lever position, the activating spring is configured to become un-extended and to facilitate turning forward the turning gate into the inactive state by the releasing spring; wherein, after the lever has been switched into the inactive lever position, the releasing spring is configured to turn forward the turning gate into the inactive state while becoming un-extended.

9. The ratcheting device of claim 8, wherein the lever comprises of a lever pole, a lever bearing and a spring tying post; wherein the lever bearing is attached to a bottom end of the lever pole; the spring tying post is attached to a middle point of the lever pole and is connected to the first end of the activating spring; wherein the second end of the activating spring is connected to the top post which is attached to the turning gate; wherein the ratcheting device is housed in a housing box; a top wall of the housing box is the gripping wall; wherein the gripping surface is facing downwards; the channel is located below the gripping wall between the gripping surface and an upper surface of a middle plate which is installed at a middle height of the housing box; wherein the upper surface of the middle plate serves as a channel's floor; a lever axle is attached to a lower surface of the middle plate; the lever bearing is installed on the lever axle; the lever pole is parallel to the middle plate and extends from the lever's bearing towards a top side wall of the box; a top end of the pole protrudes from an L-shaped slit in the top side wall; wherein the L-shaped slit in the top side wall is configured to guide the location of the top end of the pole; wherein the lever is configured to be at the inactive lever position when the top end of the pole resides at an end of a long arm of the L-shaped slit; wherein when the lever is at the inactive lever position, it is configured to un-extend the activating spring which is configured to facilitate turning forwards the turning gate into the inactive state of the ratcheting device due to un-extending of the releasing spring; wherein the lever is configured to be at the active lever position when the top end of the pole resides at an end of a short arm of the L-shaped slit; wherein when the lever is at the active lever position, it is configured to extend the activating spring which is configured to turn backwards the turning gate into the active state of the ratcheting device.

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.

12. The ratcheting device of claim 9, wherein the turning gate comprises of the left axle end which is fitted into a left axle bearing drilled at a left side wall of the housing box and the right axle end which is fitted into a right axle bearing drilled at a right side wall of the housing box.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0058] FIG. 1 illustrates in an isometric drawing a bottom view of the unassembled mechanical parts of HB-III.

[0059] FIG. 2 depicts a cross-sectional bottom view of an assembled ratcheting device HB-III in an inactive state. The second belt end and parts of the housing box were removed because they obstruct inner structural details.

[0060] FIG. 3 describes a cross-sectional bottom view of an assembled ratcheting device HB-III in an active state. The second belt end and parts of the housing box were removed because they obstruct inner structural details.

[0061] FIG. 4 illustrates a cross-sectional bottom view of an assembled ratcheting device HB III. Some inner parts and parts of the housing box were removed because they obstruct many structural details.

[0062] FIG. 5 describes the forward leaning diagonal arrangement of the turning gate and its attached blade front with respect to the fulcrum and the channel's forward direction.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0063] FIG. 1 illustrates in an isometric drawing of a bottom view of the unassembled mechanical parts of HB-III. The housing box 1 is shown in an upside down position that allows better viewing of the inner structural details due to the large bottom opening of the housing box 1. Shown are all the HB-III parts, which include the activating spring 18, the releasing spring 12, the lever 16, the turning Gate 9, the Blade 14 and the cover 23.

The middle plate 2 which is parallel to the gripping wall 7 is installed at about the middle height of the housing box 1 and serves as the floor of the belt channel 8. The screw holes 13 are also marked. The screw holes are used to screw the belt's second end 22 to the housing box 1. The L slit which guides the lever 16 is shown on the upper side wall 26 of the housing box 1. The post 4 which is attached to the middle plate 2 which serves as the floor of the channel 8 is also shown. The post 4 is connected to one end of the releasing spring 12 which is also drawn. The lever axle 5 is also attached to the middle plate 2. The gripping wall 7 which is installed at the top of the ratcheting device 1 is shown at the bottom of the housing box 1 because FIG. 1 presents a bottom view. The gripping wall 7 has a depression 30 which has been carved in order to increase the blocking force of the turning gate 9. The channel 8 is depicted on top of the gripping wall 7. The turning gate 9 has a bar 31 which is merged with the turning gate's axle 11. The tips of the axle 11 are protruding from the bar's ends and are installed in a pair of bearings 29 which are drilled at the housing box's side walls 26. The bottom post 25 and the top post 27 are attached to the bottom side and top side of the bar 31 respectively. The blade holder 10 is also attached in front of the bar 31. The activating spring 18 is configured to be connected between the top post 27 and lever's spring connection 17. The lever 16 has a bearing 15 which is installed on the bearing axle 5. The holes 13 are used to hold ewo of the the screws 24 which are designed to attach to the housing box 1 the belt's end 22 and the cover 23. Holes 28 are designed to hold two the screws 24 which attach the cover 23 to the housing box 1. The pair of slits 19 in the side walls 26 are introduced in order to facilitate wall bending during installation of axle 11 in the bearings 29.

[0064] FIG. 2 depicts a cross-sectional bottom view of an assembled ratcheting device HB-III in an inactive state. The cover 23, the second belt end 22 and parts of the housing box 1 were removed because they obstruct inner structural details. The housing box 1 is shown in an upside-down position that allows better viewing of the structural details due to the large bottom opening of the housing box 1. The middle plate 2 which is parallel to the gripping wall 7 is installed at about the middle height of the housing box 1 and serves as the floor of the belt channel 8 which carries the first belt end 20. A releasing spring anchor 4 is attached to the middle plate 2 and is used to anchor the rear end of the releasing spring 12 (an extension spring type) which is shown in FIG. 2 in an un-extended state because the turning gate 9 is in its inactive state and is turned forward. When the turning gate 9 is in its inactive state, the blade 14 is not engaging the lower surface of the first belt end 20. The lever's axle 5 is also attached to the middle plate 2. The lever's bearing 15 is installed on the axle 5. The lever 16 turns on the axle 5. The other end of the lever 16 protrudes through the L-shaped slit 3 which is carved at the top side wall. The L-shaped slit 3 guides the lever between the lever's active state position and the lever's inactive state position. The lever 16 in FIG. 2 is at the lever's inactive state position where the top end of the lever is at the left most position (forward position which resides at the end of the long arm of the L-shaped slit) in the L-shaped slit 3. The turning gate 9, the blade holder 10 and the blade 14 are shown in FIG. 2 at their maximally forward turning position. The activation spring 18 (which is an extension spring type) is connected between the lever post 17 and the top post 27 (obstructed in FIG. 2 by the turning gate 9) which is attached to the upper side of the turning gate 9. The activating spring is un-extended since the lever 16 is at the most forward position and the turning gate is also maximally turned forward. The turning gate 9 also includes the blade holder 10 which houses the blade 14. The releasing spring 12 also is connected to the turning gate 9 via bottom post 25 which is attached to the gate's lower side. Also shown in FIG. 2 is the slit 19 which is carved in the top of side wall 26 that facilitates installation of the axle ends 11 of the turning gate 9 by allowing for temporarily bending of the top and bottom side walls during installation of the turning gate 9. The holes 13 at the bottom wall of the box 1 are used to attach the second end 22 of the belt 20 (shown in FIG. 4) to the housing box 1 by screwing the second belt's end 22 to the wall 21. In FIG. 2, both the activating spring 18 and the releasing spring 12 are at their minimally extended positions since the turning gate 9 is in inactive state i.e. turned forward.

[0065] FIG. 3 depicts a cross-sectional bottom view of an assembled ratcheting device HB-III in an active state. The cover 23, the second belt end 22 and parts of the housing box 1 were removed because they obstruct many structural details. The housing box 1 is shown in an upside-down position that allows better viewing of the structural details due to the large bottom opening of the housing box 1. The middle plate 2 which is parallel to the gripping wall 7 is installed at about the middle height of the housing box 1 and serves as the floor of the belt's channel 8 which carries the first belt end 20. A releasing spring anchor 4 is attached to the middle plate 2 and is used to anchor the rear end of the releasing spring 12 (which is an extension spring type) which is shown in FIG. 3 in an extended state because the turning gate 9 is in its active state and is turned backward at this active state the blade 14 is engaging the lower side of the belt's end 20 and the ratcheting device is at its active state. The second end of the releasing spring 12 is attached to the bottom post 25 which is attached to the bottom side of the turning gate 9. When the turning gate 9 is in its active state, the blade 14 is engaging the lower surface of the first belt's end 20 and activates the belt ratchet operation. The lever's axle 5 is also attached to the middle plate 2. The lever's bearing 15 is installed on the axle 5. The lever 16 turns on the axle 5. The other end of the lever 16 protrudes through the L-shaped slit 3 which is carved at the top side wall. The L-shaped slit 3 guides the lever between the lever's active state position and the lever's inactive state position. The lever 16 in FIG. 3 is at the lever's active state position where the top end of the lever is at the right most position (backward position) i.e. at the end of the short arm of the L in the L-shaped slit 3. The turning gate 9, the blade holder 10 and the blade 14 are shown in FIG. 3 at their maximally backward turning position. The activation spring 18 (which is an extension spring type) is connected between the lever post 17 and the off-axial anchor 23 (obstructed in FIG. 3 by the turning gate 9) which is attached to the lower side of the turning gate 9. The activating spring 18 is extended since the lever 16 is at the most backward position and the turning gate 9 is also maximally turned backward. The turning gate 9 also includes the blade holder 10 which houses the blade 14. The releasing spring 12 also is connected to the turning gate 9 via bottom post 25 which is attached to the gate's lower side. The releasing spring 12 is fully extended at the gate's active state and is ready to release and inactivate the turning gate by turning it forward as soon as the lever 16 is switched into its inactive position. Also shown in FIG. 3 is the slit 19 which is carved in the top side wall 26 and facilitates installation of the axle ends 11 of the turning gate by allowing for temporarily bending of the bottom and top side walls during installation of the turning gate 9. The holes 13 at the bottom wall of the box 1 are used to attach the second end 22 of the belt 20 (shown in FIG. 4) to the housing box 1. In FIG. 3, both the activating spring 18 and the releasing spring 12 are at their maximally extended positions since the turning gate 9 is in active state i.e. turned backward.

[0066] FIG. 4 depicts a cross-sectional bottom view of an assembled ratcheting device HB III. Parts of the housing box 1 were removed because they obstruct many structural details. The housing box 1 is shown in an upside-down position that allows better viewing of the structural details due to the large bottom opening of the housing box 1. The middle plate 2 which is parallel to the gripping wall 7 is installed at about the middle height of the housing box 1 and serves as the floor of the belt channel 8 which carries the first belt's end 20. The lever's axle 5 is also attached to the middle plate 2. The other end of the lever 16 protrudes through the L-shaped slit 3 at the top side wall, which guides the lever between the lever's active state position and the lever's inactive state position. Also shown in FIG. 4 is the slit 19 which is carved in the top side wall 26 and facilitates installation of the turning gate by allowing for temporarily bending of the bottom and top side walls during installation of the turning gate 9. The holes 13 at the bottom wall of the box 1 are used to attach the second end 22 of the belt 20 (shown in FIG. 4) to the housing box 1. The bottom cover 23 is depicted at the upper side of FIG. 4 . The bottom cover 23 is attached to the box 1 by four screws 24. The two left screws 24 are used to attach the cover 23 to the box 1 in addition to the second belt's end 22.

[0067] FIG. 5 describes the forward leaning diagonal arrangement of the turning gate blade holder 10 and its attached blade front 14 with respect to the fulcrum of axis 11 and the channel's forward direction. FIG. 5 shows that the turning gate is installed in the channel in a forward leaning diagonal orientation. As illustrated in FIG. 5, A straight line emanating from the blade front 14 and passing through the axis of rotation 11 (i.e. the fulcrum) is at an obtuse angle (i.e. an angle greater than 90 degrees but less than 180 degrees) with respect to the forward direction (marked in FIG. 5 by an arrow emanating from the blade's front). It means that the obtuse angle which is centered at the blade front and is measured between the two lines emanating from the angle's center (the blade front). One line starts at the angle's center and passes through the axis of rotation (i.e. fulcrum) and the second line starts at the angle's center (i.e. the blade front) and is parallel to the forward direction of the channel.