Belt Ratcheting Device with Hidden Blade IV

Abstract

The Belt Ratcheting Device with Hidden Blade-IV (HB-IV) facilitates unidirectional belt fastening and fast release. The HB-IV includes a turning gate rotatably installed diagonally in a channel. The turning gate has been installed with a hidden blade which controls the belt's translation by engaging the lower belt surface to avoid visible scratches. The turning gate is connected to a lever. The HB-IV has two states: active and inactive. In the active state the device works as a belt ratchet by allowing the belt to be pulled forwards while restricting any belt motion backwards. In the inactive state the belt's motion is facilitated in both directions. The HB-IV states are manually controlled by the lever. After fastening, the belt remains fastened until released. The HB-IV can be adapted to any kind of smooth leather, cloth or synthetic belts. The blade's hidden position and smooth channel's surfaces minimize belt's wear and scratches.

Claims

1. A ratcheting device configured for fastening a belt; wherein the ratcheting device comprising: a channel, a turning gate, a blade, a lever and an operating 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 while 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 while 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 apply 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 lever is flexibly connected to the turning gate via the operating part; wherein the lever is configured to switch the ratcheting device into the active state when the turning gate has been pulled by the lever and has been turned backward 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 turning gate has been pushed by the lever and has been turned forward when the lever has been moved into an inactive lever position.

2. The ratcheting device of claim 1, wherein the operating part includes a first segment, a second segment and a spring; wherein the first segment has a linear sliding connection with the second segment; wherein the linear sliding connection facilitates linear sliding only within a range of minimal and maximal lengths; wherein the first segment is also resiliently connected to the second segment by the spring; wherein the operating part has a structure which is configured to conduct a pushing force or a pulling force; wherein the second segment is rotationally connected to a turning axle attached at an upper side of the turning gate; wherein the first segment is flexibly connected to the lever; wherein pulling at the first segment by the lever, is configured to pull also the resiliently connected second segment; wherein the second segment which is being pulled by the first segment is configured to pull at the turning axle; pulling at the turning axle, is configured to turn backwards the turning gate while moving the ratcheting device towards the active state; wherein pushing the first segment by the lever is configured to push also the second segment which pushes the turning axle which is configured to turn forwards the turning gate while moving the ratcheting device towards the inactive state; wherein moving the lever into the active lever position is configured to pull the turning axle which turns backwards the turning gate while switching the ratcheting device into the active state; wherein moving the lever into the inactive lever position is configured to push the turning axle which turns forwards the turning gate while switching the ratcheting device into the inactive state.

3. The ratcheting device of claim 2, wherein the lever comprises of a lever pole, a lever bearing and a tying post; wherein the lever bearing is attached to a bottom end of the lever pole; the tying post is attached to a middle point of the lever pole and is flexibly connected to the first segment; 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 left side wall of the box; a top end of the pole protrudes from an L-shaped slit in the left side wall; wherein the L-shaped slit in the left 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 push the first segment which pushes the second segment; the second segment then pushes the turning axle, which is configured to turns forward the turning gate into the inactive state of the ratcheting device; 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 pull the first segment and to extend the spring which is configured to pull the second segment, which pulls the turning axle which also turns backwards the turning gate into the active state of the ratcheting device.

4. 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.

5. 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; 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.

6. 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.

7. 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.

8. The ratcheting device of claim 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.

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

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

11. The ratcheting device of claim 1, 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

[0055] FIG. 1 illustrates in an isometric drawing a top view of the unassembled mechanical parts and the housing box of HB-IV.

[0056] FIG. 2 illustrates in an isometric drawing a top view of the assembled mechanical parts of HB-IV to illustrate their assembly.

[0057] FIG. 3 describes a cross-sectional side view of an assembled ratcheting device HB-IV in an active state. The second belt end and parts of the housing box were removed because they obstruct inner structural details.

[0058] FIG. 4 depicts a cross-sectional side view of an assembled ratcheting device HB-IV in an inactive state. The second belt end and parts of the housing box were removed because they obstruct inner structural details.

[0059] FIG. 5 describes the obtuse angular arrangement of 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.

[0060] FIG. 6 depicts a cross-sectional side view of an assembled ratcheting device HB-IV. The view describes the tying arrangement of the belt's second segment and the box's cover.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0061] FIG. 1 illustrates in an isometric drawing of a top view of the unassembled mechanical parts of HB-IV. A top view of the housing box 1 is shown in a position that allows better viewing of the inner structural details due to the large top opening of the housing box 1. Shown are all the HB-IV parts, which include the spring 18, the lever 16, the turning Gate 31 with its top attached turning axle 54 and the two turning gate's end axles 11 and its blade holder 10. Shown also the Blade 24 and the first segment 51 and the second segment 50. The first segment 51 is linearly connected to the second segment by a cylindrical pole 51 which fits into a cavity 52 in the second segment 50. The lever 16 is shown with its bearing 15 and its tying post 17. The cover 23 is depicted above the housing box 1.

[0062] 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 cover's screw apertures 13 are used to screw the belt's second segment 22 to the housing box 1. The L slit 3 which guides the lever 16 is shown on the left side wall 26 of the housing box 1. The lever's post 5 which is attached to the middle plate 2 which serves as the floor of the channel 8 is also shown. The post 5 is the axle for the lever's bearing 15. The lever axle 5 is also attached to the middle plate 2. The gripping wall 7 which is installed at the top wall 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 31. Channel 8 is depicted on top of the gripping wall 7. The turning gate 31 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 blade holder 10 is also attached in front of the bar 31. The spring 18 is configured to be connected between the first segment 51 and the second segment 50. The lever 16 has a bearing 15 which is installed on the bearing axle 5. The apertures 13 are used to hold two of 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 of 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 to facilitate wall bending during installation of axle 11 into the bearings 29.

[0063] FIG. 2 illustrates in an isometric drawing a top view of the assembled mechanical parts of HB-IV to illustrate their assembly and function.

[0064] The turning gate 31 is shown with its two end axles 11, its blade holder 10 loaded with the blade 24. The turning axle 54 is installed in the bearing 55 of the second segment 50. The second segment 50 has also a cavity 52 which is mounted on top of the first segment 51. The spring 18 connects resiliently the first segment 51 with the second segment 50. By this manner the spring 18 transfers pulling forces created by the lever 16 and applied on the first segment 51 pulling the second segment 50. These pulling forces pull the turning axle 54 and the turning gate 31 backwards driving them into the active state. The pulling forces are created by lever 16 when it is turned into the active state region.

[0065] As also shown in FIG. 2 the first segment and second segment pair have a minimal linear dimension. Thus, when the first segment 51 is pushed by the lever 16 while turning on its bearing 15 and entering the inactive lever position, the pushing forces push the first end 51 into the second segment 50 which in turn pushes the turning axle 54 and the turning gate 31 forwards into the inactive state.

[0066] FIG. 3 describes a cross-sectional side view of an assembled ratcheting device 1 HB-IV in an active state in which, as shown, the blade 24 is squeezing against the belt 20. The lever 16 is pulled all the way rightwards into the end of the short leg of the L shaped slit 3. The second belt end 22 is attached to the housing box 1. Parts of the housing box 1 were removed because they obstruct inner structural details. The lever bearing 15 is mounted on lever's axle 5 which is attached to the middle floor 2.

[0067] FIG. 4 depicts a cross-sectional side view of an assembled ratcheting device 1 HB-IV in an inactive state. The second belt end and parts of the housing box were removed because they obstruct inner structural details.

[0068] FIG. 4 shows a side view of an assembled ratcheting device 1 HB IV in an inactive state in which, as shown, the blade 24 is not touching the belt 20. The lever 16 is pushed all the way leftwards into the end of the long leg of the L shaped slit 3.

[0069] The lever bearing 15 is mounted on lever's axle 5 which is attached to the middle floor 2.

[0070] FIG. 5 describes the obtuse angular arrangement of the forward leaning diagonal structure of the turning gate and its attached blade front 14 with respect to the fulcrum 11 and the channel's forward direction.

[0071] FIG. 6 depicts a cross-sectional side view of an assembled ratcheting device HB-IV. The view describes the tying arrangement of the belt's second end 22 and the box's cover 23. Shown are the screws 44 which are used to tie the cover 23 and the belt's second segment 22 via apertures 13. The first belt's end 20 is also illustrated. In addition, the gripping wall 7, the turning gate bearing 29 and the mounting flexibility slot 19, the L slit 3 and the middle floor 2 are also shown.