Buckle arrangement

Abstract

A buckle arrangement has a first buckle and a second buckle connectable to the first buckle. The first buckle has a first locking device and a first locking hook, and the second buckle has a second locking device and a second locking hook. The first locking device and the second locking device are formed such that, when the first buckle is connected to the second buckle, the first locking device locks the second locking hook and the second locking device locks the first locking hook.

Claims

1. A buckle arrangement, having a first buckle and a second buckle connectable to the first buckle, wherein the first buckle has a first locking device and a first locking hook, and the second buckle has a second locking device and a second locking hook, the first locking device and the second locking device are formed such that, when connecting the first buckle to the second buckle, the first locking device locks the second locking hook and the second locking device locks the first locking hook, such that the first buckle is connected to the second buckle, the first locking device and the second locking hook are formed symmetrically, particularly point-symmetrically, to the second locking device and the first locking hook, at least in respect of a locking, the first locking hook and the second locking hook in a direction of connection each have a connection extension with a retaining lug protruding at one end in a transverse direction, the first locking device and the second locking device each have a pawl which is mounted pivotably between an open position and a locking position and formed in such a way that each pawl in a connected state, cooperating with the respective retaining lug, secures the respective connection extension in the locking position, the first buckle and the second buckle each have a base body, and each base body is formed in one part with the respective locking hook, the base body is formed from two parts that are in mirror image to each other such that when the two parts are joined, the respective locking hook and an insertion opening of each buckle are formed, and the respective locking hook can be inserted for locking when the first buckle is connected to the second buckle, the first buckle and the second buckle each have a belt opening for guiding through a belt, and the two parts lie against one another with contact at least in a region of the locking hooks and the belt opening.

2. The buckle arrangement according to claim 1, wherein the first locking device is formed identically to the second locking device, the first locking hook is formed identically to the second locking hook, and the first buckle is formed identically and point-symmetrically to the second buckle, based on the connected state.

3. The buckle arrangement according to claim 1, wherein an unlocking of the second locking hook from the first locking device and an unlocking of the first locking hook from the second locking device is possible only by simultaneous actuation of the first locking device and the second locking device and/or is possible only when there is no tension acting on the first buckle and the second buckle.

4. The buckle arrangement according to claim 3, wherein each retaining lug has an undercut, the respective pawl engages in a form-fitting manner with the undercut in the locking position, and the retaining lug in the open position can be removed from the pawl and the pawl is acted on by a spring element in its locking position.

5. The buckle arrangement according to claim 4, wherein the spring element is held at one end by the spacer element, in particular is held in a blind hole in the spacer element.

6. The buckle arrangement according to claim 3, wherein the first locking hook and the second locking hook each have, on the connection extension thereof on a side opposite the retaining lug, a guide surface extending in the direction of connection in such a way that when the first buckle is connected to the second buckle another connection extension can be guided by a respective guide surface.

7. The buckle arrangement according to claim 6, wherein each belt opening has a perpendicular extension to the direction of connection, and the guide surfaces in the connected state are arranged centrally with respect to the perpendicular extension of the belt opening.

8. The buckle arrangement according to claim 1, wherein the first locking hook and the second locking hook each have a first region and a second region adjoining the first region, and in the connected state the first region is arranged completely within the insertion opening.

9. The buckle arrangement according to claim 8, having a spacer element arranged between the two parts of each buckle and formed in such a way that pivoting of the pawl between the open position and the locking position is limited by the spacer element and/or the spacer element bears against the two parts of each buckle with contact, wherein the spacer element is formed from a metal and/or in one piece with the base body.

10. The buckle arrangement according to claim 1, wherein each pawl is mounted pivotably between the two parts of each buckle and/or the pawl has a lever arm protruding from the respective base body in order to unlock the pawl.

11. The buckle arrangement according to claim 1, wherein the first locking device and the second locking device are formed such that, by connecting the first buckle to the second buckle, the first locking device locks the second locking hook in a latching manner and the second locking device locks the first locking hook in a latching manner.

12. The buckle arrangement according to claim 1, having a third buckle identical to the first and second buckles, wherein the third buckle has a third locking device and a third locking hook, and the three buckles are formed such that, by connecting two of the three buckles to one another, respective locking device of one buckle locks respective locking hook of another buckle.

13. The buckle arrangement according to claim 1, wherein the two parts of each buckle are each arranged in an off-set manner and have a region extending in parallel, which in an assembled state of the two parts of each buckle forms an insertion opening for insertion one of the locking hook into the buckle.

14. The buckle arrangement according to claim 13, wherein the insertion opening of each buckle is produced by pressing and/or chamfering.

Description

(1) In the drawings

(2) FIG. 1 shows a buckle arrangement in a connected state in accordance with a preferred exemplary embodiment of the invention in a plan view,

(3) FIG. 2 shows the buckle arrangement according to FIG. 1 in an unconnected state in a plan view,

(4) FIG. 3 shows a buckle of the buckle arrangement shown in FIG. 1 or 2 in a plan view,

(5) FIG. 4 the buckle according to FIG. 3 in a disassembled state in a plan view,

(6) FIG. 5 shows a buckle arrangement in an unconnected state in accordance with a further preferred exemplary embodiment of the invention in a plan view,

(7) FIG. 6 shows the buckle arrangement according to FIG. 5 in a connected state in a plan view,

(8) FIG. 7 shows the buckle arrangement according to FIG. 6 in a partially transparent plan view, and

(9) FIG. 8 shows a buckle arrangement in accordance with a further preferred exemplary embodiment of the invention comprising three buckles.

(10) FIG. 1 shows a buckle arrangement in accordance with a preferred exemplary embodiment of the invention in a plan view, having a first buckle 1 and a second buckle 2 connected to the first buckle 1. In this way, the two buckles 1 and 2 connect a belt 3 of a climbing harness (not shown), said belt being connected to the respective buckles 1, 2. The belt 3 is made of textile, wherein polyamide or the like is also possible, and has a width of 45 mm. As can be better seen from FIG. 2, each of the two buckles 1, 2 has a rectangular belt opening 4, through which the belt 3 in the illustration shown in FIG. 1 is guided for the fastening of a respective buckle 1, 2. The belt opening 4 extends lengthwise perpendicularly to the direction of connection v of the buckles 1, 2.

(11) The two buckles 1, 2 are formed identically in the present case, which means that, together with a third buckle (not shown), any two of the three buckles 1, 2 can be interconnected. Specifically, the first buckle 1 has a first locking device 5 and a first locking hook 6. The second buckle 2 has a second locking device 7 and a second locking hook 8. In accordance with the above, the first locking device 5 and the second locking device 7 are formed identically, and the first locking hook 6 and the second locking hook 8 are formed identically.

(12) In other words, as can be seen from FIGS. 1 and 2, the two buckles 1, 2, based on the connected state shown in FIG. 1, are formed point-symmetrically or mirror-symmetrically with respect to a point of symmetry 9. Accordingly, the locking devices 5, 7 and the locking hooks 6, 8 are also arranged mirror-symmetrically with respect to the point of symmetry 9, which is also shown in FIG. 2 showing a non-connected state of the buckles 1, 2.

(13) When connecting the first buckle 1 to the second buckle 2, the first locking device 5 locks the second locking hook 8 and the second locking device 7 locks the first locking hook 6. On account of the identical embodiment of first buckle 1 and second buckle 2, an unlocking can be performed only by simultaneous actuation of the two locking devices 5, 7. In addition, as is clear from the following detailed description of the locking hooks 6, 8 and the locking devices 5, 7, an unlocking is possible only when there is no tension acting on the two buckles 1, 2 or the belts 3 connected to the two buckles 1, 2 shown in FIG. 1.

(14) For further description of the buckles 1, 2, reference is made to the first buckle 1 shown in FIGS. 3 and 4. Since the two buckles 1, 2 are formed identically, the comments made hereinafter with reference to FIGS. 3 and 4 also apply to the second buckle 2 and the second locking hook 8 as well as the locking device 7.

(15) As can be seen from FIG. 3, the first locking hook 6 has a connection extension 9. Whereas the belt opening 4 is arranged on one side the first buckle 1, the connection extension 9 or the first locking hook 6 extends on the other, opposite side in the direction of connection v away from the belt opening 4 in a direction substantially perpendicularly to the longitudinal extension of the belt opening 4. A retaining lug 10 protruding in the transverse direction at one end is arranged at the tip of the connection extension 9 and forms an undercut 11.

(16) On the side opposite the retaining lug 10 a guide surface 12 extending substantially in the direction of connection v is formed, of which the surface normal extends substantially in the direction of the longitudinal extension of the belt opening 4. The first locking device 5 has a pawl 13 mounted pivotably between an open position and a closed position. The pivot axis of the pawl 13 extends out from the drawing plane in the direction of the surface normals of the surface of the first buckle 1.

(17) The first buckle 1 has a base body, which is formed from two parts 14, 15 formed symmetrically to one another. In the mounted state shown in FIG. 3 of the first buckle 1 the two parts 14, 15 lie congruently one above the other and bear against one another with contact in the region of the locking hook 6 and in the region of the belt opening and thus form the first locking hook 6 and the belt opening 4. In FIG. 4 the upper part 15 of the base body is detached from the lower part 14 of the base body and pivoted against the direction of connection v about an axis extending in the longitudinal extent of the belt opening 4. It can be seen in this way that the two parts 14, 15 are each arranged in an offset manner by means of a pressing process and have a region 16 extending in parallel, which in the assembled state of the two parts 14, 15 as shown in FIG. 3 forms an insertion opening for the insertion of the second locking hook into the first buckle 1.

(18) In the insertion opening 17 formed in this way there is arranged, between the two parts 14, 15, the first locking device 5 in the form of the pawl 13. A spacer element 18 made of a plastic is also provided and in the assembled state of the two parts 14, 15 shown in FIG. 3 bears against the upper part 15 and also against the lower part 14. In an alternative embodiment the spacer element 18 is formed as a form-fitting shaping of one of the two parts 14, 15 and is thus formed in one piece with the part 14, 15 in question. In the mounted state of the two parts 14, 15 shown in FIG. 3, the parts 14, 15 are interconnected by two connection means 19, wherein one connection means 19 is guided through the two parts 14 and also the spacer element 18, and the other connection means 19 is guided through the two parts 14, 15 and also the pawl 13 in order to fix the pawl and form the pivot axis.

(19) In the present case the connection means 19 are formed as screws with nuts, wherein it is also possible however to use rivets or the like. A blind-hole-like bore is provided in the spacer element 18, in which bore a spring element 20 is held at one end. With form-fitting shaping of the spacer element 18 with one of the two parts 14, 15, the spring element 20 is preferably held by the part 14, 15, for example in a receiving opening formed by both parts 14, 15. The spring element 20 is formed in the present case as a helical spring and acts on the pawl 13 in such a way that the pawl 13 is urged into its locking position. A lever arm 21 of the pawl 13 protrudes from the base body or the two parts 14, 15, by means of which pivot arm the pawl 13 can be pivoted by actuation by an operator into its open position (not shown).

(20) If the two buckles 1, 2 are now moved from the position shown in FIG. 2 in the respective direction of connection v for connection of the buckles 1, 2 to one another, or if only a single one of the two buckles 1, 2 is moved in the direction of connection v, the two locking hooks 6, 8 initially slide via their retaining lugs 10 firstly into the respective insertion opening 17 of the respective other buckle 1, 2, guided by their respective guide surfaces 12. The retaining lugs 10 pivot the pawls 3, whereby the spring elements 20 are compressed. With further compression the respective undercuts 11 pass the respective pawls 13, which under the influence of the spring bias of the respective spring elements 20 latch into the respective undercuts 11 and in this way produce a form-fitting connection between the locking devices 5, 7 and the respective locking hooks 6, 8.

(21) In order to visually identify that the latching or locking has been performed, the two locking hooks 6, 8 each have a first region 22 and an adjoining second region 23. The first region 22 is coloured differently from the second region. In the non-connected state of the buckles 1, 2 shown in FIG. 2, both the first region 22 and the second region 23 can be seen. In the connected state shown in FIG. 1, only the second region 23 can still be seen, whereas the first region 22 with the different colouring is arranged completely within the respective insertion opening 17 or the respective other buckle 1, 2. The majority of the connection extension 9 and the retaining lugs 10 are part of the first region 22.

(22) If the buckles 1, 2 shown connected to one another in FIG. 1 now act on the belts 3 with tension, the locking hooks 6, 8 are latched to one another and the locking devices 7, 9 then prevent a detachment of the buckles 1, 2 from one another. Even with accidental actuation of a single locking device 5, 7, i.e. by actuation of the lever arm 21, the buckles 1, 2 still do not detach from one another, since the respective other locking device 5, 7 continues to secure the buckles 1, 2 against unlocking. Only with simultaneous actuation of the lever arms 21 of the two locking devices 5, 7 are the locking hooks 6, 8 unlocked or unlatched.

(23) FIGS. 5 to 7 show a buckle arrangement in accordance with a further preferred exemplary embodiment of the invention. In this embodiment the first buckle 1 and the second buckle 2 each also have a base body, which is formed from two parts 14, 15 formed symmetrically to one another. Compared with the embodiment shown in FIGS. 1 to 4 however, no separate spacer element 18 is provided, as shown in FIG. 4. Instead, the spacer element 18 is formed or moulded as a form-fitting shaping of one of the two parts 14, 15 and is thus formed or moulded in one piece with the relevant part 14, 15. Accordingly, the spring element 20 is held in a receiving opening formed in the base body or is supported on the base body, as is indicated by reference sign 18.

(24) FIG. 8 shows a buckle arrangement in accordance with a further preferred exemplary embodiment of the invention comprising the first buckle 1, the second buckle 2 and a third buckle 24, wherein the third buckle 24 has a third locking device and a third locking hook, and the three buckles 1, 2, 24 are formed such that, by connecting two of the three buckles 1, 2, 24 to one another, the respective locking device of one buckle 1, 2, 24 locks the respective locking hook of the other buckle 1, 2, 24.

LIST OF REFERENCE SIGNS

(25) first buckle 1 second buckle 2 belt 3 belt opening 4 first locking device 5 first locking hook 6 second locking device 7 second locking hook 8 point of symmetry 9 retaining lug 10 undercut 11 guide face 12 pawl 13 part 14, 15 offset part 16 insertion opening 17 spacer element 18 connection means 19 spring element 20 lever arm 21 first region 22 second region 23 third buckle 24 direction of connection v