Fastening device

Abstract

A tamper-evident fastening device suitable for use with a wristband. The device may include a casing with two separate portions and a divider that defines two substantially parallel paths of a strap and is adapted to retain two portions of a strap. The two separate portions may be positioned on each planar surface of the divider. The divider and the casing may be configured such that they are capable of being connected together via an irreversible lock.

Claims

1. A tamper-evident fastening device in combination with a wristband having a strap with a first end portion and a second end portion, wherein the combination comprises: a casing comprising two separate portions; and a divider which defines two substantially parallel paths of the strap of the wristband and is adapted to retain the first and second end portions of the strap, wherein the two separate portions of the casing are positioned on opposite planar surfaces of the divider, and wherein the divider and the two separate portions of the casing are configured such that they are capable of being connected together via an irreversible lock, wherein the divider comprises first and second retaining members, wherein the first retaining member is arranged to hold the first end portion of the strap so that longitudinal movement of the first end portion is inhibited, and wherein the second retaining member is arranged to hold the second end portion of the strap such that movement of the second end portion in a first longitudinal direction is enabled and movement in a second, opposite longitudinal direction opposite to the first longitudinal direction is inhibited.

2. The combination according to claim 1, wherein the first retaining member is arranged to intercept the first end portion of the strap at an acute angle.

3. The combination according to claim 1, wherein the first retaining member depends from and extends substantially perpendicular to the divider.

4. The combination according to claim 1, wherein the second retaining member is arranged to intersect the second end portion of the strap at an acute angle.

5. The combination according to claim 1, wherein the second retaining member is arranged such that movement of the strap in the second longitudinal direction causes the second retaining member to pierce the strap to prevent further movement in the second longitudinal direction.

6. The combination according to claim 1, wherein the second retaining member is resiliently biased towards a predetermined position.

7. The combination according to claim 6, wherein the second retaining member is biased away from the opposite planar surfaces of the divider.

8. The combination according to claim 1, wherein the casing comprises a plurality of openings in which the first and second retaining members are engaged when the divider and the two separate portions of the casing are connected together.

9. The combination according to claim 1, wherein the divider further comprises at least one resiliently biased engagement member to prevent the divider and the two separate portions of the casing from being separated once connected together, thereby, providing the irreversible lock.

10. The combination according to claim 9, wherein the casing further comprises at least one housing arranged to engage the at least one engagement member of the divider and prevent the divider and the two separate portions of the casing from being separated once connected together.

11. The combination according to claim 9, wherein the casing comprises at least one protrusion configured to engage with at least one slot on the at least one engagement member.

12. The combination according to claim 10, wherein the at least one engagement member is at least one resiliently biased hooked member configured to engage with the at least one housing on the casing to provide the irreversible lock.

13. The combination according to claim 12, wherein the at least one resiliently biased hooked member further comprises a slot configured to engage with a protrusion on the casing.

14. The combination according to claim 1, wherein the two separate portions of the casing are connected via a hinge.

15. A fastening device in combination with a wristband having a strap with first and second end portions, said combination comprising: a casing; a divider disposed within the casing, wherein two substantially parallel paths for receiving the first and second end portions of the strap of the wristband are defined between the divider and the casing; and first and second retaining members arranged on opposite sides of the divider, wherein the first retaining member is arranged to hold the first end portion of the strap so that longitudinal movement of the first end portion is inhibited, and wherein the second retaining member is arranged to hold the second end portion of the strap such that movement of the second end portion in a first longitudinal direction is enabled and movement in a second, opposite longitudinal direction is inhibited.

16. The combination according to claim 15, wherein the first retaining member depends from and extends substantially perpendicular to the divider.

17. A tamper-evident fastening device suitable for use with a wristband, wherein the device comprises: a casing, comprising two separate or hinged parts which are positioned on opposite faces of a divider, and having at least one channel therein having a proximate and a distal portion, said distal portion having a protrusion on one wall of the at least one channel and a recess or step positioned in an opposite wall of the at least one channel; wherein the divider has at least one engagement member adapted for engagement with the at least one channel, said at least one engagement member being adapted to engage the step or recess or step, and further having a slot therein adapted to engage the protrusion; wherein when the at least one engagement member enters the at least one channel, the at least one engagement member is resiliently biased against at least one wall of the proximate portion of the at least one channel, and when the at least one engagement member traverses the at least one channel to its distal portion, the at least one engagement member irreversibly engages with both the step or recess and the protrusion.

18. The tamper-evident fastening device according to claim 17, wherein the proximate portion of the at least one channel is narrower than the distal portion of the at least one channel.

19. The tamper-evident fastening device according to claim 17, wherein the at least one engagement member has a hook or substantially L-shaped profile.

20. The tamper-evident fastening device according to claim 17, wherein the at least one engagement member is adapted to simultaneously engage both the protrusion with the slot, and the step or recess with a distal portion of the at least one engagement member.

21. The tamper-evident fastening device according to claim 17, wherein the divider comprises a first and a second retaining member.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) FIG. 1 shows an example of a divider of the device according to the present invention;

(2) FIG. 2 shows a side view of the divider of FIG. 1 and the position of the first and second retaining members;

(3) FIG. 3A shows an example of a divider fixed to a casing and the device is shown in an open position, whereby the first end portion of a strap is retained such that movement is inhibited;

(4) FIG. 3B shows an example of the device in an open position, whereby the first end portion of the strap is retained such that movement is inhibited and the second end portion a strap is overlaid before closing of the device;

(5) FIG. 3C shows an example of the device according to the present invention in a closed position and in use with a strap;

(6) FIG. 4 shows a cross-sectional view of an example of a device of the present invention.

(7) FIG. 5 shows an exploded view of a device according to the present invention in an open position, viewed from the side;

(8) FIG. 6 shows an exploded view of the device of FIG. 5; and

(9) FIG. 7 shows an exploded view of a device according to the present invention, having T-shaped engagement members.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

(10) The present invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. A fastening device according to the present invention is depicted in FIGS. 1 to 4.

(11) An example of a divider of the present invention is shown in FIG. 1. The divider 1 shown is planar and one where the first retaining member 4 and the second retaining member 2 are an integral part of the divider 1. The retaining members are both spikes. Additionally, the divider 1 has a substantially square or rectangular shape. The divider 1 further comprises four engagement members 3 on each planar face of the divider 1. In the embodiment shown, the engagement members 3 are hooks.

(12) FIG. 2 shows a side view of the divider according to FIG. 1. The position of the first retaining member 4 and the second retaining member 2 is depicted in this Figure. For example, it can be seen that the first retaining member 4 is substantially perpendicular to the plane of the divider 1.

(13) The second retaining member 2 is shown at an angle of approximately 45 to the plane of the divider 1. When the second retaining member 2 intersects or pierces a strap 5, the second retaining member 2 is also at an angle of approximately 45 relative to the plane of the strap 5.

(14) In FIG. 2, the first retaining member 4 and second retaining member 2 are shown as offset to each other. In the embodiment shown, this is purely for manufacturing convenience since this enables the retaining members to be cut from the same piece of steel. The retaining members would be punched out of the same piece of steel and folded into the appropriate positions. Of course, it is not essential that the first and second retaining members are offset to each other. Features 5a and 5b are opposite ends of the strap.

(15) FIGS. 3A to 3C show an example of a fastening device according to the present invention. FIGS. 3A and 3B show the device in an open position and FIG. 3C shows the device in a closed position ready for use in combination with a strap/wristband.

(16) In this embodiment, the fastening device comprises a plastic moulded casing 6 having a first and second member which are connected via an integrally moulded hinge 9. The first and second member of the casing 6 can be brought into face-to-face registration with each planar face of the divider 1 such that two substantially parallel pathways are defined between the divider 1 and the casing 6, wherein each pathway is defined between the casing 9 and one planar face of the divider 1.

(17) In FIG. 3A, a first end portion of a strap 5 is placed onto the casing 6 and the divider 1 is connected/fixed to the casing 6 by engagement members 3 and the first retaining member 4 inhibits longitudinal movement of the strap. In this particular embodiment, the engagement member 3 are hooks.

(18) The casing 6 comprises four openings 7 on each side of the casing 6, i.e., on each of the first and second members which are connected via the integrally moulded hinge 9. The purpose of these openings 7 is for engaging the engagement members 3 such that the casing 6 is prevented from opening once closed.

(19) Before closing the casing 6 to give the embodiment depicted in FIG. 3C, a second end portion of a strap is laid over the face of the divider 1 such that when the casing 6 is closed by folding it about the integrally moulded hinge 9, the strap forms a loop.

(20) The fastening device in combination with the strap 5 may then be used as a wristband. To use the wristband, a wearer slides one of his hands through the loop. Using the forefinger and thumb of the same hand, he can then grip the second end portion of the strap and use his other hand in order to slide the device along the strap to tighten the loop around his wrist, thereby making the loop smaller. The loop cannot be made larger.

(21) FIGS. 3A and 3B also show an embodiment whereby the casing 6 has a plurality of openings 8 in which the second retaining member 2 is engaged/housed when the casing 6 is closed, thereby preventing the strap 5 from being movable in the second longitudinal direction.

(22) FIG. 4 shows a cross-sectional view of an example of a device according to the present invention.

(23) In this Figure, the second retaining member 2 can be seen extending through or piercing the strap 5 when the device is closed. It is also shown that the engagement members 3 are hooks, of which four are shown on one face of the divider, but as one can imagine, there are also four hooks on the opposite face of the divider 1. The casing 6 comprises openings 7 for engaging/housing the hooks which enable the divider 1 to be fixed to the casing 6. In this embodiment, the hooks are resiliently biased such that the divider 1 clips/locks into the casing 6 and prevents it from opening.

(24) A fastening device according to the present invention is also depicted in FIGS. 5 and 6. FIGS. 5 and 6 show an alternative arrangement of the device. This represents a preferred embodiment of the present invention.

(25) In FIG. 5, the casing 6 is depicted as two separate parts wherein the divider 1 is positioned between the two separate parts of the casing 6. The position of the first retaining member 4 and the second retaining member 2 is depicted in this Figure and is the same as that shown in FIG. 2. For example, it can be seen that the first retaining member 4 is substantially perpendicular to the plane of the divider 1 and the second retaining member 2 is positioned at an acute angle of about 45.

(26) FIGS. 5 and 6 also depicts the locking mechanism of the device which provides for irreversible closing of the device such that if an attempt is made to open the device, once closed, the device is broken which provides evidence of tampering.

(27) The engagement members 3 are shown as hook members. FIG. 6 shows that preferably, there is a total of 6 engagement members 3 on the peripheral edges of the divider 1. The engagement members 3 also each comprise a slot 12 which is depicted as a square hole in the portion of the engagement member 3 which is substantially perpendicular to the divider 1. When the engagement member 3 is inserted into an opening in the casing, the slot engages with a protrusion 11 on the casing. The hook portion of the engagement member passes through the channel in the casing and moves into the recess opposite the protrusion. The hook portion of the engagement member 3 is resiliently biased. The divider is made of metal, preferably steel, more preferably spring steel.

(28) FIGS. 5 and 6 also depict the shields 10 which form part of the casing 6. When the device is brought into the closed position, the shields 10 fully cover the engagement member 3 in situ (i.e., when the sit in the channel, engaged both with the protrusion and the recess).

(29) FIG. 7 illustrates a device according to the invention, wherein the engagement members 3 are T-shaped members instead. This represents a particularly preferred embodiment of the present invention. The rest of the device is substantially the same as previously described and, in particular, as depicted in FIGS. 5 and 6.

(30) In FIG. 7, the first and second retaining members 4,2 are a plurality of triangular-shaped spikes, in accordance with a preferred aspect of the invention.

(31) The engagement members 3 in FIG. 7 are substantially T-shaped. The T-shaped engagement member 3 comprises two resiliently biased members, which are positioned on opposite sides of the horizontal portion of the T-shaped member. In use, the horizontal portion of the T-shaped engagement member initially engages with an opening 7 providing access to a housing in the casing. The opening has the same dimensions as the horizontal portion of the T-shaped member, and the resiliently biased members are compressed until they are positioned within the housing, when they return to their resting state such that they cannot be moved back through the opening in the casing, thereby providing an irreversible lock. If a user attempts to open the casing, it would cause breakage of the device, thereby providing evidence of tampering.

(32) A fastening device according to the present invention is a compact device that may be used in combination with a strap to provide a wristband that has improved properties. An additional advantage of the device according to the present invention is that it can be manufactured more easily than devices that form part of the state of the art and the components fit together to provide a small and compact fastening device.

(33) A fastening device has been described particularly in the context of wristbands but it can clearly be used for other purposes, such as ankle bands.

(34) Although one skilled in the art will readily conceive of many alternative embodiments of the invention described above, the present invention includes all such alternatives which fall within the scope of the following claims.