Ratchet-type buckle
AssigneeBurton Snowboards
InventorDavid J. Dodge
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A snowboard ratchet-type buckling arrangement includes a housing and a strap slidably received within the housing. The strap has a rack of teeth on its upper surface. A tab is pivotally mounted to the housing about a first axis and is spring-biased into engagement with the rack of teeth on the strap. The tab allows the strap to move in a first direction and prevents movement of the strap in a second direction. A lever arm is pivotally mounted about the housing about the first axis and a second axis which is spaced from the first axis. When the lever arm is pivoted about the second axis, saw teeth engage the rack of teeth on the strap to incrementally ratchet the strap through the housing in the first direction.
Claims20
A ratchet-type buckle comprising:
- (a) a housing;
- (b) a strap, having a rack of teeth on at least a portion of one surface, being slidably received within said housing;
- (c) a tab pivotally mounted to said housing about a first axis in a position to engage said strap during pivoting;
- (d) means for biasing said tab into engagement with said rack of teeth on said strap, said tab and teeth being constructed so that when said tab engages a tooth, said strap can move in a first direction relative to said tab but is prevented from moving in a second direction which is substantially opposite to said first direction;
- and
- (e) a lever arm pivotally mounted to said housing about said first axis and about a second axis which is spaced from said first axis.
A ratchet-type buckle comprising:
- (a) a strap having a rack of teeth on at least a portion of one surface;
- (b) a housing having means for slidably receiving said strap;
- (c) a tab pivotally mounted to said housing about a first axis in a position to engage said strap during pivoting;
- (d) means for biasing said tab into engagement with said rack of teeth on said strap, said tab and teeth being constructed so that when said tab engages a tooth, said strap can move in a first direction relative to said tab but is prevented from moving in a second direction which is substantially opposite to said first direction;
- (e) a pair of connecting arms being pivotally mounted to said housing by a pin about said first axis;
- and
- (f) a lever arm pivotally mounted to said pair of connecting arms by a second pin about a second axis such that said lever arm is pivotally mounted to said housing about said first axis and about said second axis which is spaced from said first axis.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.