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US 7,117,569 B2Granted
Adjustable ratchet buckle fastener
AssigneeMedical Technology, Inc.
InventorGary R. Bledsoe
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An adjustable fastener such as one suitable for use in securing straps in a variety of orthotic and other types of devices. The fastener has a male portion and a female portion that are each attached to a strap or other desired location on the device with which the fastener is used. The male portion has an elongated tab and the female portion has a housing and a passage through the housing. The passage allows the elongated tab to slide through the housing in the female portion. An engagement finger in the housing is resiliently biased to engage one or more teeth along an edge of the elongated tab to prevent the elongated tab from sliding further out of the passage. The finger can be selectively disengaged from the teeth to allow the elongated tab to slide further or completely out of the housing.
Claims24
A fastener comprising:
- a male portion comprising an attachment point and an elongated tab;
- a track along one edge of said elongated tab, said track comprising of a plurality of track teeth;
- a female portion comprising an attachment point and a housing, said housing containing a passage through said housing, wherein said elongated tab can be slidably disposed in said passage and wherein said attachment point for said female portion is a rivet hole and said female portion is pivotally connected to an anchor point;
- an engagement finger in said housing, said engagement finger comprising at least one engagement tooth adapted to selectively engage at least one track tooth;
- wherein said engagement finger is resiliently biased toward said passage to engage said at least one engagement tooth with said at least one track tooth;
- an arm, adapted to selectively disengage said at least one engagement tooth of said engagement finger from said at least one track tooth upon application of pressure to said arm;
- and
- wherein engagement of said at least one engagement tooth and said at least one track tooth prevents said elongated tab from sliding further out of said housing.
5 more elements
A fastener comprising:
- a male portion comprising an attachment point and an elongated tab;
- a track along one edge of said elongated tab, said track comprising of a plurality of track teeth;
- a female portion comprising an attachment point and a housing, said housing containing a passage through said housing, wherein said elongated tab can be slidably disposed in said passage and wherein said attachment point for said female portion is a rivet hole and said female portion is pivotally connected to an anchor point;
- an engagement finger in said housing, said engagement finger comprising at least one engagement tooth adapted to selectively engage at least one track tooth;
- wherein said engagement finger is resiliently biased toward said passage to engage said at least one engagement tooth with said at least one track tooth;
- an arm, adapted to selectively disengage said at least one engagement tooth of said engagement finger from said at least one track tooth upon application of pressure to said arm;
- wherein engagement of said at least one engagement tooth and said at least one track tooth prevents said elongated tab from sliding further out of said housing;
- and
- wherein engagement of said at least one engagement tooth and said at least one track tooth allows the ratcheting of said elongated tab further into said housing.
6 more elements
A fastener comprising:
- a male portion comprising an attachment point and an elongated tab;
- a first track along one edge of said elongated tab, said track comprising of a plurality of track teeth;
- a second track on a second edge of said elongated tab, said second track comprising a plurality of track teeth;
- a female portion comprising an attachment point and a housing, said housing containing a passage through said housing, wherein said elongated tab can be slidably disposed in said passage;
- a first engagement finger in said housing, said first engagement finger comprising at least one engagement tooth adapted to selectively engage at least one track tooth on said first track;
- wherein said first engagement finger is resiliently biased toward said passage to engage said at least one engagement tooth with said at least one track tooth on said first track;
- a second engagement finger in said housing, said second engagement finger comprising at least one engagement tooth adapted to selectively engage at least one track tooth on said second track;
- wherein said second engagement finger is resiliently biased toward said passage to engage said at least one engagement tooth with said at least one track tooth on said second track;
- a first arm, adapted to selectively disengage said at least one engagement tooth of said first engagement finger from said at least one track tooth on said first track upon application of pressure to said first arm;
- a second arm, adapted to selectively disengage said at least one engagement tooth of said second engagement finger from said at least one track tooth of said second track upon application of pressure to said second arm;
- a first and second leaf spring adapted to bias said one or more engagement teeth of said first and second engagement fingers toward said passage;
- and
- wherein engagement of said at least one engagement tooth of said first and second engagement fingers with said at least one track tooth on said first and second tracks prevents said elongated tab from sliding further out of said housing;
- and
- wherein both said engagement fingers must simultaneously be disengaged from said tracks for said elongated tab to slide further out of said housing.
12 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.