Buckle device with enhanced tension adjustment
OwnerMichael A. Doyleinventor
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A buckling device to be used in athletic foot-gear, typically ski-boots. The buckling device includes a pivoting clasp affixed to one of two ski-boot flaps, an adjustment section, a linearly adjustable loop, and a hook section affixed to the second of two ski-boot flaps. The adjustment section includes three alternative types of actuation including a knob, a swivel-key, and a ratchet, each being able to actuate gearing in order to provide tension adjustment of the loop around a given hook on the hook section. An optional protective hook-cover is also provided.
Claims14
A buckling device for use with athletic foot-gear that includes a clamp mechanism having a clasp pivotably connected to a first flap and a plurality of hooks located on a hook section affixed to a second flap, said buckling device comprising:
- a) an adjustment section pivotably connected to said clasp, wherein said adjustment section includes actuation means for providing a rotary force and means for providing force translation, wherein said actuation means extends above a surface of said clasp for ease of manipulation;
- b) a loop movably connected to said adjustment section, wherein said loop is attachable to one of said plurality of hooks;
- and
- c) means for retaining said loop in engagement with any of said one or more hooks while adjusting of an overall tension of said buckling device,
- wherein said means for providing force translation is operatively connected to said actuation means for translating said rotary force into a linear force such that said adjustment section is able to cause linear motion of said loop for adjustment of said overall tension of said buckling device.
A buckling device for use with athletic foot-gear, said buckling device comprising:
- a) a clasp pivotably connected to a first flap, said clasp being pivotable between an unlocked position and a locked position;
- b) an adjustment section pivotably connected to said clasp, said adjustment section having gearing and actuation means for actuating said gearing, wherein said actuation means extends above a surface of said clasp for ease of manipulation;
- c) a loop section coupled to said adjustment section through said gearing,
- d) a hook section having a plurality of hooks for coupling to said loop section, said hook section being affixed to a second flap;
- and
- e) means for retaining said loop section in engagement with any of said plurality of hooks while drawing said first flap and said second flap together,
- wherein when said clasp is in said locked position, said loop is linearly adjustable via said actuation means such that said first flap and said second flap can be drawn tightly together.
A method of fastening two flaps of an athletic foot-gear with a buckling device having
- a clasp pivotably connected to a first flap, said clasp being pivotable between an unlocked position and a locked position,
- an adjustment section pivotably connected to said clasp, said adjustment section having gearing and actuation means for actuating said gearing, wherein said actuation means extends above a surface of said clasp for ease of manipulation,
- a loop section having a worm-gear operatively coupled to said adjustment section through said gearing, and
- a hook section having a plurality of hooks, said hook section being affixed to a second flap,
- said method comprising the steps of:
- a) initially pivoting said clasp in into said unlocked position,
- b) positioning a loop-end of said loop section loosely around one of said hooks,
- c) secondarily pivoting said clasp into said locked position, and
- d) rotating said actuation means so that said worm-gear translates a rotary force from said actuation means into a linear force to thereby linearly displace said loop section, said linear force being directly proportional to an overall tension of said buckling device such that said first flap and said second flap are drawn tightly together.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.