Closure device

Abstract

A closure device for connecting two parts includes a first connecting module and a second connecting module. The first connecting module can be arranged on the second connecting module in a closing direction, is mechanically latched with the second connecting module by a latching means in a closed position, and is held at the second connecting module against the closing direction. The first connecting module can be released from the second connecting module by movement of the first connecting module in an opening direction. A form-fit element is arranged on one of the connecting modules, which is formed to engage a recess on the other one of the connecting modules after establishing the latching of the first connecting module with the second connecting module by moving the first connecting module relative to the second connecting module against the opening direction.

Claims

1. A closure device for connecting two parts, comprising a first connecting module and a second connecting module, wherein: each of the first and second connecting modules comprises a base body having opposing front and rear faces, opposing proximal and distal side surfaces defining an X direction extending therebetween, and opposing first and second side surfaces defining an Y direction extending therebetween, the Y direction being directed perpendicular or at an oblique angle with respect to the X direction; the first connecting module is constituted to be arranged on the second connecting module in the X direction, wherein at least one of the first connecting module and the second connecting module comprises a plug-in portion extending along the distal side surface thereof, having two opposing front and rear faces each defining a latching recess longitudinally extending in the Y direction, and the other of the at least one of the first connecting module and the second connecting module comprises a corresponding spring locking element extending along the distal side surface thereof, having two opposing elastically resilient arms each having an inwardly extending latching protrusion longitudinally extending in the Y direction, the plug-in portion and the spring locking element together forming a mating latching arrangement, wherein the plug-in portion acts onto the spring locking element when arranging the first connecting module on the second connecting module for elastically deflecting the arms of the spring locking element in a Z direction transverse to the X and Y directions until the latching recesses and the latching protrusions snap into engagement with each other such that, in a closed position, the first connecting module is mechanically locked with the second connecting module with respect to forces acting onto the first connecting module against the X direction; the first connecting module is releasable from the second connecting module by tangentially moving the plug-in portion along the spring locking element in the Y direction; and the closure device further comprises a form-fit element protruding along the Y direction from a side surface of the plug-in portion of the at least one of the connecting modules, the form-fit element engaging with a corresponding recess extending along the Y direction within a side surface of a protrusion element protruding from the distal side surface of the other one of the at least one of the connecting modules, after establishing the latching of the first connecting module with the second connecting module, by moving the first connecting module relative to the second connecting module against the Y direction, in order to lock, in addition to the latching arrangement, the first connecting module in the closed position with the second connecting module with respect to forces acting onto the first connecting module against the X direction, wherein the form-fit element establishes a positive connection against the X direction by engaging into the recess; and the first connecting module is to be attached to the second connecting module by an offset in the Y direction, and is to be moved against the Y direction by the offset for bringing the form-fit element in engagement with the corresponding recess.

2. The closure device according to claim 1, wherein each connecting module includes a plug-in portion and at least one spring locking element.

3. The closure device according to claim 1, wherein each connecting module includes a form-fit element and a recess associated to the form-fit element of the other connecting module.

4. The closure device according to claim 1, further comprising magnetic means which, for supporting the transfer of the first connecting module into the closed position, produce a force of magnetic attraction between the first connecting module and the second connecting module.

5. The closure device according to claim 4, wherein the magnetic means are formed by magnets arranged on the connecting modules or by a magnet arranged on the one connecting module and a magnetic armature arranged on the other connecting module.

6. The closure device according to claim 4, wherein the magnetic means are formed to magnetically support the movement of the first connecting module relative to the second connecting module against the Y direction for bringing the form-fit element in engagement with the corresponding recess.

7. The closure device according to claim 1, wherein the Y direction is directed vertical to the X direction.

8. The closure device according to claim 1, wherein the Y direction is directed tangentially to the latching protrusions of the latching arrangement extending transversely to the X direction.

9. The closure device according to claim 1, wherein a main loading direction, in which the first connecting module is subjected to a tensile load with respect to the second connecting module, is directed at a first oblique angle to the X direction and at a second oblique angle to the Y direction.

10. The closure device according to claim 1, further comprising a locking means for securing the engagement of the form-fit element with the recess, wherein the locking means locks the first connecting module with respect to the second connecting module against shifting in the Y direction, as soon as the form-fit element has come in engagement with the recess.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) The idea underlying the invention will be explained in detail below with reference to the exemplary embodiments illustrated in the Figures:

(2) FIG. 1A shows a front view of a closure device with a first connecting module and a second connecting module in the open condition;

(3) FIG. 1B shows a sectional view of the arrangement along line B-B of FIG. 1A;

(4) FIG. 1C shows a side view of the arrangement of FIG. 1A;

(5) FIG. 1D shows a sectional view of the arrangement along line A-A of FIG. 1C;

(6) FIG. 2A shows a front view of the closure device on closing in a condition before a latching means of the closure device has come in engagement;

(7) FIG. 2B shows a sectional view of the arrangement along line B-B of FIG. 2A;

(8) FIG. 2C shows a side view of the arrangement of FIG. 2A;

(9) FIG. 2D shows a sectional view of the arrangement along line A-A of FIG. 2C;

(10) FIG. 3A shows a front view of the closure device with connecting modules attached to each other in a closing direction;

(11) FIG. 3B shows a sectional view of the arrangement along line B-B of FIG. 3A;

(12) FIG. 3C shows a side view of the arrangement of FIG. 3A;

(13) FIG. 3D shows a sectional view of the arrangement along line A-A of FIG. 3C;

(14) FIG. 4A shows a front view of the closure device in a closed position;

(15) FIG. 4B shows a sectional view of the arrangement along line B-B of FIG. 4A;

(16) FIG. 4C shows a side view of the arrangement of FIG. 4A;

(17) FIG. 4D shows a sectional view of the arrangement along line A-A of FIG. 4C;

(18) FIG. 5A shows a front view of the closure device on opening;

(19) FIG. 5B shows a sectional view of the arrangement along line B-B of FIG. 5A;

(20) FIG. 5C shows a side view of the arrangement of FIG. 5A; and

(21) FIG. 5D shows a sectional view of the arrangement along line. A-A of FIG. 5C.

(22) FIGS. 1 to 5 (each with views A to D) show an exemplary embodiment of a closure device with a first connecting module 1 and a second connecting module 2 in different phases of movement, namely before closing (FIGS. 1A to 1D), during closing (FIGS. 2A to 2D and FIGS. 3A to 3D), in a closed position (FIGS. 4A to 4D), and during opening (FIGS. 5A to 5D).

(23) The views in FIGS. 1A to 1D, 2A to 2D, 3A to 3D, 4A to 4D, 5A to 5D are chosen such that view A shows a front view, view B a sectional view in a sectional plane transverse to the drawing plane of view A, view C a side view and view D a sectional view in a sectional plane transverse to the drawing plane of view C.

(24) The closure device is formed by a first connecting module 1 and a second connecting module 2, which each can be connected with a belt or rope via a belt stay 13, 23. The closure device then serves for connecting two belts or two other components, which preferably can effect a tensile load acting on the closure device in a main loading direction FL.

(25) FIGS. 1A to 1D first show the closure device in an open condition. In this condition, the connecting modules 1, 2 are present separate from each other, so that the belts or other components connected with the connecting modules 1, 2 are released from each other.

(26) The connecting modules 1, 2 substantially are formed identical in construction. The connecting modules 1, 2 each include a plug-in portion 11, 22 and two spring locking elements 12a, 12b, 21a, 21b, which together form a latching means for mechanically latching the connecting modules with each other. The plug-in portions 11, 22 and the spring locking elements 12a, 12b, 21a, 21b each include latching protrusions 11a, 11b, 120a, 120b, 210a, 210b, 22a, 22b, which are formed to establish a latching, positive connection between the connecting modules 1, 2 against a closing direction X. In one aspect, each plug-in portion 11, 22 may include two opposing faces each defining a latching recess. In another aspect, each spring locking element 12a, 12b, 21a, 21b may include two opposing arms each having an inwardly extending latching protrusion.

(27) For closing the closure device, as shown in FIGS. 2A to 2D, the connecting modules 1, 2 can be attached to each other in the closing direction X. By attaching the connecting modules 1, 2 to each other in the closing direction X, the plug-in portion 11 with its latching protrusions 11a, 11b is attached to the latching protrusions 210a, 210b of the at least partly elastically resilient spring locking elements 21a, 21b, so that the latching protrusions 11a, 11b, 210a, 210b run up onto each other, the spring locking elements 21a, 21b are pushed aside to the outside transversely to the closing direction X, and the plug-in portion 11 with its latching protrusions 11a, 11b latchingly snaps in engagement with the spring locking elements 21a, 21b with the latching protrusions 210a, 210b arranged thereon. At the same time, the latching protrusions 22a, 22b of the plug-in portion 22 of the second connecting module 2 also run up onto the latching protrusions 120a, 120b of the spring locking elements 12a, 12b of the first connecting module, so that the same also latchingly snap in engagement with each other. This latched condition is shown in FIGS. 3A to 3D.

(28) As can be taken from FIGS. 2A to 2D and FIGS. 3A to 3D, the connecting modules 1, 2 first must be attached to each other by an offset A against an opening direction Y directed vertical to the closing direction X (see FIGS. 2D and 3D) with respect to their final closed position. This is due to the fact that on the end face of the plug-in portion 11 of the first connecting module 1 and also on the end face of the plug-in portion 22 of the second connecting module 2 a protrusion 16, 26 each is formed, which axially protrudes from the respective plug-in portion 11, 22 along the opening direction Y and is associated to a recess 240 or 140 at the respective other connecting module 2 or 1.

(29) These protrusions 16, 26 serve to provide an additional positive connection between the connecting modules 1, 2 against the closing direction X by an engagement into the respectively associated recess 240 or 140 in a final closed position, so that the closure device can withstand particularly high load forces in the main loading direction FL.

(30) After, as shown in FIGS. 3A to 3D, the connecting modules 1, 2 have been attached to each other in the closing direction X and the latching means (formed by the plug-in portions 11, 22 and the spring locking elements 12a, 12b, 21e, 21b) is locked into place, the first connecting module 1 additionally must be moved relative to the second connecting module 2 by the offset A against the opening direction Y, in order to transfer the closure device into its final closed position, as it is shown in FIGS. 4A to 4D.

(31) In the closed position as shown in FIGS. 4A to 4D, the closure device then is connected with the spring locking elements 12a, 12b, 21a, 21b by the mechanical latching of the plug-in portions 11, 22 on the one hand and by the engagement of the protrusions 16, 26 into the associated recesses 140, 240 is safely and mechanically highly loadably connected with each other against the closing direction X and also against the main loading direction FL.

(32) On the connecting modules 1, 2 magnetic means 10, 20 are provided, which for example can be formed by one magnet 10, 20 each or by a magnet on the one hand and a magnetic armature in the form of a core made of a ferromagnetic material on the other hand. These magnetic means 10, 20 serve to magnetically support the transfer of the connecting modules 1, 2 into the closed position as shown in FIGS. 4A to 4D and advantageously can be dimensioned such that when attaching the connecting modules 1, 2 to each other, the mechanical latching of the plug-in portions 11, 22 with the spring locking elements 12a, 12b, 21a, 21b can be effected automatically or largely automatically, and thus a user need not mechanically press the connecting modules 1, 2 in engagement with each other with much effort.

(33) The magnetic means 10, 20 are arranged at the connecting modules 1, 2 such that only in the closed position as shown in FIGS. 4A to 4D they largely frontally oppose each other in an attracting manner. If the connecting modules 1, 2, as shown in FIGS. 2D and 3D, are attached to each other with an offset A in the closing direction X, the magnetic means 10, on the other hand are offset to each other in the opening direction Y, so that they exert a force of magnetic attraction against the opening direction Y between the connecting modules 1, 2, and hence automatically pull the connecting modules 1, 2 into the closed position against the opening direction Y and bring the protrusions 16, 26 in engagement with the associated recesses 240 and 140, respectively.

(34) As shown in FIG. 4D, the magnetic means 10, 20 can at least slightly be offset to each other in the opening direction Y also in the closed position, so that in the closed position the connecting modules 1, 2 also are biased to each other against the opening direction Y due to the slight offset of the magnetic means 10, 20 and thus the protrusions 16, 26 are safely pressed into the recesses 240 and 140, respectively.

(35) As shown in FIG. 4A, the main loading direction FL is directed obliquely to the closing direction X and also obliquely to the opening direction Y. With a direction vector component FLX the main loading direction FL is directed against the closing direction X, and with a direction vector component FLY it is directed against the opening direction Y.

(36) In this connection, one direction vector component is understood to be a vector component of the main loading direction FL upon projection onto the closing direction X or the opening direction Y. The direction vector component FLX against the closing direction X is the vector component of the main loading direction L upon projection onto the axis of the closing direction. The direction vector component FLY against the opening direction is the projection of the main loading direction FL onto the axis of the opening direction Y.

(37) Due to the fact that the main loading direction FL is directed at an obtuse angle (greater than 90, but smaller than 180) to the opening direction Y and this results in a direction vector component FLY of the main loading direction FL, which is directed against the opening direction Y, several advantageous effects are obtained.

(38) Firstly, by exerting a tensile load on the closure device in the main loading direction FL, the engagement of the protrusions 16, 26 with the recesses 240, 140 is amplified, as due to a load acting in the main loading direction FL the connecting modules 1, 2 are loaded against the opening direction Y (via the direction vector component FLY).

(39) Secondly, when applying a load, the transfer of the closure device into the final closed position also is supported in that the connecting modules 1, 2 are moved towards each other against the opening direction Y, when the closure device has not yet or not yet completely been transferred from the condition as shown in FIGS. 3A to 3D into the final closed position as shown in FIGS. 4A to 4D.

(40) Thirdly, the oblique orientation of the opening direction Y at an obtuse angle to the main loading direction FL effects that under load the closure device cannot be opened or can at least only be opened with great difficulty.

(41) For opening, the first connecting module 1, as shown in FIGS. 5A to 5D, must be moved in the opening direction Y relative to the second connecting module 2, in order to tangentially push the plug-in portions 11, 22 with the latching protrusions 11a, 11b, 22a, 22b arranged thereon in the opening direction Y out of engagement with the latching protrusions 120a, 120b, 210a, 210b of the spring locking elements 12a, 12b, 21a, 21b. Due to this movement in the opening direction Y, the protrusions 16, 26 also get out of engagement with the recesses 240, 140, so that the connecting modules 1, 2 can be released from each other, when the plug-in portions 11, 22 are out of engagement with the spring locking elements 12a, 12b, 21a, 21b, as shown in FIGS. 5A to 5D.

(42) If no load is applied to the closure device in the main loading direction FL, opening can be effected in a haptically pleasant way, since the tangential movement of the magnetic means 10, 20 in the opening direction Y can be effected without much expenditure of force.

(43) The protrusions 16, 26 at the plug-in portions 11, 22 are formed like trunnions and axially protrude from the plug-in portions 11, 22. The protrusions 16, 26, which for example can be shaped like circular-cylindrical trunnions, can be formed with any stability, wherein the stability substantially is dependent on the geometry and the material properties of the protrusions 16, 26 and of the recesses 140, 240 accommodating the protrusions 16, 26.

(44) The protrusions 16, 26 and a housing tab 14, 24 (also referred to as a protrusion element) protruding from a base body 15, 25 of each connecting module 1, 2 and forming the recess 140, 240 can be fabricated of a metal, in order to ensure a safe, positive engagement. Other parts of the connecting modules 1, 2 for example can be made of plastics as molded plastic parts.

(45) The magnetic means 10, 20 are not necessarily formed and dimensioned such that they automatically pull the connecting modules 1, 2 against the opening direction Y into the final closed position as shown in FIGS. 4A to 4D. It can also be provided that the magnetic means 10, 20 merely magnetically support the attachment in the closing direction, whereas shifting the connecting modules 1, 2 relative to each other against the opening direction Y must be effected manually.

(46) Alternatively or in addition it can also be provided that the shifting movement by the offset A against the opening direction Y is resiliently supported by additional mechanical springs.

(47) To additionally secure the engagement of the protrusions 16, 26 into the recesses 140, 240, a locking means can be provided, which locks the first connecting module 1 with respect to the second connecting module 2 against shifting into the opening direction Y, as soon as the protrusions 16, 26 have come in engagement with the recesses 140, 240. Hence, an additional safeguard is realized, which prevents an inadvertent opening of the closure device by shifting the connecting modules 1, 2 relative to each other in the opening direction Y. The closure device then can only be shifted in the opening direction Y and hence be opened by an additional operation, namely by releasing the locking means.

(48) Such locking for example can be realized in that the spring locking elements 12a, 12b, 21a, 21b still are under pre-tension, when they have been attached to the plug-in portions 11, 22 in the condition shown in FIGS. 3A to 3D. They can be designed such that they only snap into their final latching position and in the same for example engage in associated recesses in the plug-in portions 11, 22, when the final closed position as shown in FIGS. 4A to 4D has been reached. For opening the closure device, the spring locking elements 12a, 12b, 21a, 21b then must be released out of their engagement by active actuation, so as to be able to move the connecting modules 1, 2 relative to each other in the opening direction Y.

(49) The main loading direction FL need not necessarily be directed obliquely to the closing direction X. It is also conceivable that the main loading direction is directed antiparallel to the closing direction X, i.e. exactly opposite to the closing direction X.

(50) In addition, magnetic means need not necessarily be provided. The closure device also can be designed purely mechanically, without magnetic means of the type described here being present.

(51) The idea underlying the invention is not limited to the exemplary embodiments described above, but can also be realized in other embodiments of closure devices, as they are known for example from WO 2008/006357 A2, WO 2009/092368 A2, WO 2010/006594 A2, WO 2008/006354 A2, WO 2008/006356 A2, WO 2009/010049 A2 and WO 2009/12796 A2, whose contents are to be included in the present application.

(52) In the closure devices known from these documents, transferring the closure parts into a closed position is effected in a magnetically supported way, so that in a closed position the same are mechanically latched with each other. Magnetic means need, however, not necessarily be provided in these closure devices either. The closure devices also can be designed purely mechanically, without magnetic means being present.

(53) A closure device of the type described is suitable and advantageously usable for a multitude of different uses. The closure device can be employed as closure for bags, rucksacks, suitcases, furniture or other storage or transport means or containers. The closure device also can be used for the releasable connection of components or flexible pulling means such as ropes or straps (e.g. for mountaineering equipment or sailing equipment or also for dog collars, tow ropes or other ropes or cables), for fastening motorcycle or bicycle accessories to a motorcycle or bicycle (such as for fastening saddle bags or other sacks or bags, of tools or the like) or for infant carriers, perambulators or baby carrying frames. In addition, the closure device can be used for fastening mobile phones, weapons, truncheons or other utensils (e.g. for the police) to a holster.

(54) This list is by no means limiting. In principle, a use of a closure device as described above is possible and advantageous wherever an easily closing closure is desired, which at the same time however is safely closed and loadable in the closed condition.