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US 12,622,491 B2Granted
Fastening system and method(s)
AssigneeZipzon, LLC
InventorMark S. Soderberg
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A fastening system for an object (e.g., a wearable such as footwear) is disclosed that includes a buckle assembly and a strap for adjusting tension. The buckle assembly includes a base and a slider engaged with the base. The strap includes an array of teeth to engage with a pawl formed on the base. The fastening system is configurable between an engaged condition and a released condition based on the positioning of the slider relative to the base.
Claims9
A fastening system for an object, the fastening system comprising:
- a strap comprising:
- a proximal end;
- a distal end oppositely disposed to the proximal end;
- a front surface disposed between the proximal end and the distal end;
- a back surface parallel to and offset from the front surface;
- and
- an array of teeth formed between the proximal end and the distal end;
- a buckle assembly comprising:
- a base comprising:
- a bottom configured to be adjoined to the object;
- a top oppositely disposed from the bottom;
- a first wall protruding from the top;
- a second wall protruding from the top and is parallel-to and offset-from the first wall;
- and
- a first digit surface configured to receive a first force from a first digit of a hand;
- wherein the second wall is separated from the first wall by a distance that is greater than a width of the strap;
- a slider slidingly engaged with the first wall and the second wall between a first position and a second position, the slider comprising:
- a first guide slidingly engaged to the first wall;
- a second guide slidingly engaged to the second wall;
- and
- a second digit surface configured to receive a second force from a second digit of the hand;
- and
- a lifter comprising a channel, wherein the channel allows passage of the strap therethrough;
- a pawl configured to engage with the array of teeth;
- a biasing member biasing the slider relative to the base;
- an engaged condition wherein:
- the slider is at the first position;
- the biasing member is at a first length;
- the slider is offset from the top of the base by a first distance;
- and
- the pawl is adjoining the array of teeth;
- and
- a released condition wherein:
- the slider is transitioned to the second position;
- the biasing member is at a second length that is smaller than the first length;
- the slider is offset from the top of the base by a second distance that is greater than the first distance;
- the pawl is not adjoining the array of teeth;
- and
- the strap is free to move relative to the buckle assembly.
36 more elements
A method of fastening a fastening system on an object, the method comprising:
- providing a strap comprising:
- a proximal end;
- a distal end oppositely disposed to the proximal end;
- a front surface disposed between the proximal end and the distal end;
- a back surface parallel to and offset from the front surface;
- and
- an array of teeth formed between the proximal end and the distal end;
- providing a buckle assembly comprising:
- a base comprising:
- a bottom configured to be adjacently adjoined to the object;
- a top oppositely disposed from the bottom;
- a first wall protruding from the top;
- a second wall protruding from the top, parallel-to and offset-from the first wall,
- wherein the second wall is separated from the first wall by a distance that is greater than a width of the strap;
- and
- a first digit surface configured to receive a first force from a first digit of a hand;
- a slider slidingly engaged with the first wall and the second wall between a first position and a second position, the slider comprising:
- a first guide slidingly engaged with the first wall;
- a second guide slidingly engaged with the second wall;
- a second digit surface configured to receive a second force from a second digit of the hand;
- and
- a lifter comprising a channel, wherein the channel allows a passage of the strap through therethrough;
- a biasing member disposed between the base and the slider;
- and
- a pawl configured to engage with the array of teeth;
- releasing the fastening system, the releasing comprising:
- transitioning the slider from the first position to the second position wherein:
- the biasing member is compressed from a first length to a second length,
- the second length being smaller than the first;
- the slider is offset from the top of the base by a distance that is greater in the second position than in the first position;
- the pawl is disengaged from the array of teeth;
- and
- the strap is free to move relative to the buckle assembly.
30 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.