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US 12,338,847 B2Granted
Buckle with tension indicator
AssigneeBand-It-IDEX, Inc.
InventorsStephen C. Galante, Ryan M. Stoltz
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A buckle and a band for installation onto a workpiece are provided. The buckle includes a tension indicator for indicating when a desired tension on the band has been reached during installation. The tension indicator may be a visual indicator and may include two collapsible wings that are in a first position when untensioned and move to a second position when tensioned.
Claims26
A buckle configured to interact with a band for purposes of clamping one or more objects, the buckle comprising:
- a. a base having a leading end and a trailing end and an upper surface and a lower surface;
- b. at least one tab formed at the leading end of the base and extending away from the base at an angle;
- and
- c. a bridge extending away from the upper surface of the base and defining an opening between an underside of the bridge and the upper surface of the base,
- d. wherein when the band is undergoing tensioning by moving through the opening in a direction toward the trailing end of the base, the band engages the at least one tab, wherein the at least one tab is configured to move toward the trailing end of the base from a first position to a second position.
2 more elements
A band clamp, comprising:
- a. a buckle having a base with a leading end and a trailing end and an upper surface and a lower surface, at least one tab formed at the leading end of the base and extending away from the base at an angle, and a bridge extending away from the upper surface of the base and defining an opening between an underside of the bridge and the upper surface of the base;
- and
- b. an elongate band having a first end and a second end, a loop formed in the first end of the band, the loop having a first portion that is positioned adjacent to the lower surface of the base of the buckle, a second portion that forms a bend in the band proximate the at least one tab and a third portion that extends along the upper surface of the base and through the opening between the bridge and the base of the buckle and wherein, when the band is subjected to tensioning, the bend engages the at least one tab and causes the at least one tab to move from a first position to a second position.
A method comprising:
- a. providing a first length of band material having a first end and a second end;
- b. providing a buckle having a base with a leading end and a trailing end and an upper surface and a lower surface, the buckle also having at least one tab formed at the leading end of the base and extending away from the base at an angle, the buckle also having a bridge extending away from the upper surface of the base and defining an opening between an underside of the bridge and the upper surface of the base, wherein the at least one tab is configured to move from a first position to a second position;
- c. positioning the first end of the band material and a first portion of band material adjacent to the lower surface of the base of the buckle;
- d. wrapping a second portion of band material around the leading end of the buckle to form a loop of band material, the second portion of band material being a continuation of the first portion of band material;
- e. positioning a third portion of band material adjacent the upper surface of the base of the buckle, with the band material extending through the opening in the buckle;
- f. wrapping the second end of the band material around at least one object and through the opening;
- and
- g. tensioning the band material using a tension tool, wherein the band material engages the at least one tab and moves the at least one tab from the first position to the second position.
5 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.