An improved lashing sling fastening buckle

Abstract

 A buckle for fastening slings (16) and similar lashing-down straps. The buckle comprises a plate-like frame (12) and one pair of bars (18) which are mounted one on either side of an aperture (14) formed in the frame (12). The bars (18) are pivotally mounted and are arranged to be pivoted from an outer position to an inner position in which they abut against the frame, clamping said sling (16) to the buckle.
The buckle (10) is applied by forming the sling (16) into a loop which is inserted through the frame aperture (14), whereupon the bar (18) is folded into the loop and pivoted downwards against the buckle frame. When the sling (16) is tightened the desired strap locking effect is obtained by the clamping action exerted on the sling between the bar (18) and the frame (12).

Description

[0001] The subject invention concerns a buckle for fastening slings and similar lashing-down straps of the kind comprising at least one bar to lock the strap or sling in position. The fastening buckle comprises a plate-like frame portion and is provided with an aperture through which the strap is passed. The bars are arranged, when in their end position adjacent one edge of said aperture, to clamp the sling or strap against the buckle and thus secure the strap in position.

[0002] Fastening buckles of this prior-art type are used in various positions to secure loads with the aid of slings or similar lashing--down straps. Such fastening buckles are used for instance to immobilize and lash-down loads and goods to load-carriers of various kinds, such as lorry platforms, container platforms, trailers, railroad freight cars, in the cargo space of ships and for mixed loads and piece goods in containers as well as for bundling purposes within the industry. The sling is tightened with the aid of a sling tensioning device and is locked in position with the aid of the fastening buckle which remains on the load during transport. The fastening buckle is designed to allow the sling to be readily slackened and removed for unloading. Some buckles are returned and re-used but in practice the majority of the buckles are discarded after use and it is therefore important that they are inexpensive.

[0003] One common type of fastening buckles comprises two bars and a plate-like part having an aperture therein for introduction of the sling ends which are intended to be passed around the bars. The bars are displaceable across the aperture so as to assume a position at mutually opposite edges of the aperture, in which position the bars secure the sling by clamping it against the aperture edges. The end parts of the bars are mounted in grooves which are formed by bending the lengthwise marginal portions of the fastening buckle upwards and inwards so that the bent portions extend across the plate part at a certain level above the latter. Spring means may be provided to urge each bar towards its respective end position in which it locks the sling in position. One disadvantage found in this type of fastening buckle is that the operator may find it rather difficult to manipulate the bars when wearing bulky protective gloves, mittens and the like. Generally, the fastening buckle and the sling are operated by one person and this operation therefore should be simple.

[0004] A similar type of prior-art fastening buckle is intended for safety belts for vehicles. One example of a buckle of this type is described in GB 1 189 214.

[0005] The purpose of the subject invention is to provide a fastening buckle which is easy to handle and to operate and by means of which the tightening sling may be safely locked in position. This is achieved in accordance with the teachings of the invention by means of an arrangement in fastening buckles which is characterized therein that the bars are pivotally mounted in a pivot joint in the plate-like frame that the bars may be pivoted from an outer position in which they are swung away from the frame and towards a locking position, wherein they abut against the frame to clamp the sling in position, and in that the pivot joint is designed to guide the bars into their position of abutment against the frame wherein said bars extend in parallel with their associate edge of the aperture.

[0006] Further advantages and characterizing features of the buckle in accordance with the invention are defined in the depending claims.

[0007] The invention will be described in closer detail in the following with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a lashing sling fastening buckle in accordance with the invention, and

Fig. 2 is a view illustrating the principles of passing the sling through a buckle in accordance with the invention.

[0008] The lashing sling fastening buckle 10 in accordance with the invention comprises a plate-like frame 12 having a rectangular aperture 14 formed therein. The sling or slings 16 to be attached to the fastening buckle 10 are passed through the aperture 14 in the manner illustrated in Fig. 2. The fastening buckle comprises two bars 18 which are pivotally mounted in the plate-like frame 12 of the buckle 10. Each bar 18 consists of a foldable arm section 20 of preferably oval cross--sectional configuration and is intended to be encircled by the sling 16 and of a pivot pin section 22 having a round cross-sectional configuration and being pivotally mounted in the plate-like frame 12 of the buckle. The frame 12 of the fastening buckle 10 is formed with bent-over sections 24 forming sockets in which the pivot pins 22 are mounted.

[0009] The bars 18 may be swung from an inner locking position, wherein the foldable arm section 20 abuts against the frame 12 adjacent and in parallel with the edge of the aperture 14 so that the sling 16 is wedged between the arm 18 and the frame edge, and an outer position in which the arm section 20 is swung away from the frame 12. The length of the mounting sockets 24 is chosen to ensure that they guide the bars 18 into this sling wedging position in which the bars extend in parallel with the edges of the aperture 14 without any risk that the bars will tend to move askew and as a result thereof jam. The pivot pin 22 of the bar 18 has a collar flange 26 to retain the pin in its socket 24. The lateral marginal portion 27 of the frame 12 is somewhat raised with the result that it will function as a stop means to limit the pivotal movements outwards of the bars 18.

[0010] Fig. 2 illustrates schematically the manner of mounting the sling 16 in the fastening buckle. The sling or strap 16 is formed into a loop 28 which is passed through the aperture 14. By simple manipulation of the bar 18 (left one in Fig. 2) the latter is folded so as to be inserted inside the loop 28 (as shown in Fig. 2). When the tension in the sling 16 is increased the bar 18 is urged towards the edge of the aperture 14, whereby the sling 16 will be clamped in position. The buckle functions in such a manner that the harder the tension on the sling 16 the harder becomes the clamping force exerted by the bar 18 on the sling, pressing the latter against the frame 12 and locking it in relation thereto. Each bar is mounted in its respective socket 24 in such a manner that some displacement of the bar 18 becomes possible in the direction of the pivot pin 22. This displacement makes it necessary to choose the length of the mounting sockets 24 correctly to avoid any tendency of the bar to catch or get stuck.

[0011] The fastening buckle in accordance with the invention is easy to operate. The shaping of the strap 16 into a loop, insertion of the loop into the aperture 14 and the folding down of the bar 18 are all operations that are easy to perform, also when wearing working glooves, mittens and the like. The strap 16 is tightened in the conventional manner with the aid of a sling tensioning device.

[0012] It is important in order to ensure safe locking of the sling, that the clamping force is exerted evenly across the entire sling width. The parallel relationship bars/aperture edges thus is important and the guiding effect on the bars with the aid of the mounting pieces or sockets 24 contributes to obtaining this parallel relationship. Should for some reason one of the bars 18 assume an oblique position, the clamping force is reduced considerably, with the result that strap lashing-down effect on the entire load may cease. All such risks thus are eliminated with the aid of the buckle of the invention.

[0013] The embodiment of the invention described in the aforegoing is to be regarded as one example only and a number of different modifications are possible within the scope of the appended claims. The drawing figures show a simple and useful way of mounting the bars 18 to the frame of the fastening buckle. However, it is possible to provide separate sockets or mounting pieces which are secured to the frame 12 by means of clamping. The bars may also be mounted with the aid of hinge-like means. It is possible to position the bars at the same edge of the fastening buckle frame 12, should this be desirable. Furthermore, only one foldable bar of the type described above may be used in the fastening buckle. In this case it is advisable to equip the buckle with a hook at the opposite edge for attachment of the buckle.

Claims

1. A lashing sling fastening buckle of the type comprising at least one bar (18) which is mounted on a plate-like frame (12) in which is formed an aperture (14) through which the sling (16) or the like is passed, characterized therein that the bar or bars (18) are pivotally mounted in a pivot joint formed in the plate-like frame (12), that the bars (18) may be pivoted from an outer position in which they are swung away from the frame (12) and towards a locking position wherein they abut against the frame (12) so as to clamp the sling in position, and in that the pivot joint is designed to guide the bars (18) into their positions of abutment against the frame (12) wherein said bars extend in parallel with their associated edge of the aperture (14).

2. A lashing sling fastening buckle as claimed in claim 1, characterized therein that it comprises two pivotally mounted bars (18), one on either side of the aperture (14) in the frame (12).

3. A lashing sling fastening buckle as claimed in claim 1 or 2, characterized therein that each bar (18) comprises an arm section (20) which may be pivoted across the frame of the buckle and which has an essentially oval cross-sectional configuration and a pivot pin section (22) extending at right angles to the arm section (20), which pivot pin section (22) is pivotally mounted in the buckle and has a round cross-sectional configuration.

4. A lashing sling fastening buckle as claimed in claim 3, characterized therein that the buckle is formed with mounting sockets (24) which are arranged to form the pivot joints together with said pivot pin sections (22).

5. A lashing sling fastening buckle as claimed in claim 3 or 4, characterized therein that each one of the pivot pin sections of said bars (18) is formed with a collar flange (26).

6. A lashing sling fastening buckle as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, characterized therein that a stop means (27) is arranged to limit the pivotal movement of said bars (18) away from the frame (12) of said buckle (10).

7. A lashing sling fastening buckle as claimed in claim 1, characterized therein that the buckle has one bar only and is provided with a hook at the side of the buckle opposite to said only bar.

Drawing