Clamp for an elastic belt

Abstract

 The invention relates to a clamp (1) for elastic belt (19), comprising a clamp frame (4) with a belt inlet (15) and a clamping strip (11) which is guided in guide slots (9,10) of the frame with guide members (12,13) and which is slidable between a releasing position, in which the belt is displaceable through the belt inlet (15) and a frame opening (20), and a clamping position in which the clamping strip (11) is clamped in the guide slots (9,10) with the guide members (12,13) on the one hand and the belt is clamped on the frame by the clamping strip (11) on the other.

Description

[0001] The present invention relates to a clamp for elastic belt.

[0002] Clamps for elastic belt are known from EP 0 041 494 and EP 0 211 988. These known clamps have the drawback that when no clamping action is exerted via the belt, the belt is freely displaceable through the clamp.

[0003] EP 0 925 734 describes a clamp, wherein the elastic belt is trained round a tiltable clamping strip. The exertion of a force on the underlying belt results in the clamping of the belt taking effect on the clamp. However, actuation of the outward facing belt results in release of the clamping. Such a construction contravenes current safety standards.

[0004] The present invention has for its object to provide a clamp for elastic belt, wherein by changing the forces exerted on the clamp via the elastic belt, this belt cannot be displaced through the clamp, while undesired release of the clamping does not occur either when a force is exerted on the free elastic belt part. The clamp must moreover comply with current safety standards and the clamp must be easy to arrange on the elastic belt.

[0005] This is achieved with a clamp for elastic belt according to the invention, which comprises a clamp frame with a belt inlet and a clamping strip which is guided in guide slots of the frame with guide members and which is slidable between a releasing position, in which the belt is displaceable through the belt inlet and a frame opening, and a clamping position in which the clamping strip is clamped in the guide slots with the guide members on the one hand and the belt is clamped on the frame by the clamping strip on the other.

[0006] In the clamp according to the invention the elastic belt passes through the clamp via the belt inlet and the frame opening, so that during use, particularly on so-called American overalls, hangs downward in shielded manner, this being required by safety standards. Furthermore no creep of the belt through the clamp will occur due to an alternating force on the elastic belt. In addition, due to the once-only passage through the clamp less belt will be used to fix the clamp on the belt.

[0007] If in further preference the guide slots and/or the guide members are provided with means for increasing the clamping of the guide members in the guide slots, the clamping of the clamping strip on the clamp frame will be further improved by means of the guide members. The clamping means can herein be received in the guide slots, in the guide members or in both the guide slots and the guide members. In this latter case the clamping means will co-act when the clamping strip is situated in the clamping position.

[0008] According to a preferred embodiment the clamping means comprise guide slots, the slot height of which decreases in the direction of the clamping position, wherein the thickness of the guide members preferably decreases in the direction of the clamping position.

[0009] According to another embodiment the clamping means comprise a toothing.

[0010] According to yet another embodiment the clamping means comprise mutually engaging structures when the clamping strip is situated in the clamping position, wherein the mutually engaging structures preferably comprise indentations and protrusions.

[0011] In order to further improve the clamping of the belt on the frame it is recommended that the clamping strip is provided with means for increasing the clamping of the belt on the frame. According to a preferred embodiment the clamping means comprise protrusions.

[0012] The clamp according to the invention can be embodied as a single clamp, wherein the frame is provided with a connecting member with which the single clamp can be connected to an item of clothing, an object such as a backpack, and the like. The clamp is however usually embodied in two parts such that the frame is provided with coupling means for coupling to another clamp part, which other clamp part is provided with the connecting means, or again with an above described frame for coupling to another elastic belt.

[0013] Mentioned and other features of the clamp according to the invention will be further elucidated hereinbelow with reference to a number of embodiments, without the invention having to be deemed limited thereto. These embodiments are shown in the annexed drawings, in which:

Figure 1 shows a perspective view of a clamp according to the invention;

Figure 2 shows on a larger scale and partly broken-away the clamp of figure 1 with the elastic belt in the position of use; and

Figure 3 shows variants of detail III of figure 2 on an even larger scale.

[0014] Figure 1 shows a clamp 1 according to the invention. Clamp 1 comprises a first clamp part 2 and a second clamp part 3. Clamp part 2 comprises a clamp frame and a coupling element 5 which is connected thereto and which is inserted into and coupled via a snap connection to a coupling element 6 of clamp part 3.

[0015] Clamp frame 4 comprises the lateral frame parts 7 and 8 in which are arranged guide slots 9 and 10. It is noted that in another embodiment these guide slots do not have to extend in transverse direction through the whole lateral clamp frame parts. A clamping strip 11 is guided in the guide slots with its guide members 12 and 13. Clamping strip 11 is guided in guide slots 9 and 10 and displaceable as according to arrow 14 between the releasing position shown in figure 1 and the clamping position shown in figure 2. The clamping strip herein moves to and from a belt inlet 15 arranged in a transverse part 16 of clamp frame 4.

[0016] Clamp part 3 is provided with a connecting element 18 provided with an eye 17, so that clamp 1 can be attached to an object via clamp part 3. Clamp 1 is connected releasably and adjustably to an elastic belt 19 via clamp part 2. An elastic belt can be manufactured from a woven, natural or synthetic material, or consist of a strip of plastic. Elastic signifies that, under the influence of forces exerted on the belt, the belt temporarily undergoes an elastic change in its dimensions. These changes can cause creep through a clamp of belt 19.

[0017] As shown in figure 2, clamp 1 is connected to elastic belt 19 in that this latter is guided through belt inlet 15, passes over clamping strip 11 and leaves clamp part 2 via a frame opening 20 and then extends under clamp part 3 in the direction remote from belt 19. Only during clamping of the clamping strip 11 on clamp frame 4 is it required that a free end 21 of belt 19 is temporarily trained around clamping strip 11 in order to displace this into the clamping position shown in figure 2.

[0018] Guide slots 9 and 10 are each provided with clamping means 22, in this case a indentation 23. In this indentation 23 lies a rib 24 of the clamping means 22, which are received in guide members 12 and 13 of clamping strip 11.

[0019] The clamping of the clamping strip directly on clamp frame 4 via its guide members 12 and 13 prevents the belt displacing through the clamp due to creep as a result of the alternating forces exerted on the elastic belt. In addition, the free belt part 21 lies underneath and is shielded, which enhances safety. The belt moreover passes through the clamp only once, which facilitates arrangement and reduces the usage of belt.

[0020] Clamping strip 11 is further provided with protrusions 25, which further enhances the clamping of belt 19 on clamp frame 4, and particularly on the transverse part 16.

[0021] Figure 3 shows a clamp 26 in which the belt 19 is clamped with clamping strip 11 on the transverse part 16 of clamp frame 4. In this case the guide members 12 and 13 of clamping strip 11 are provided with additional clamping means 22 in the form of a toothing 27, which enhances the clamping in guide slots 9 and 10 when the clamping strip is situated in the clamping position.

[0022] Figure 4 shows a clamp 28 according to the invention, wherein the guide slots 9 and 10 of frame 4 and the guide members 12 and 13 of clamping strip 11 are each provided with co-acting clamping means 25. In this case the clamping means comprise guide slot portions 29, the height of which decreases in the direction of the clamping position, or the belt inlet 15. Guide members 13 are also provided with a guide member portion 30, the thickness of which decreases in corresponding manner in the direction of the clamping position or the belt inlet 15. Clamping of the clamping strip in clamp frame 4 is thus further enhanced.

[0023] It will be apparent that the clamping means described in the different embodiments can be applied together in different combinations within the scope of the present invention.

Claims

1. Clamp for elastic belt, comprising a clamp frame with a belt inlet and a clamping strip which is guided in guide slots of the frame with guide members and which is slidable between a releasing position, in which the belt is displaceable through the belt inlet and a frame opening, and a clamping position in which the clamping strip is clamped in the guide slots with the guide members on the one hand and the belt is clamped on the frame by the clamping strip on the other.

2. Clamp as claimed in claim 1, wherein the guide slots and/or the guide members are provided with means for increasing the clamping of the guide members in the guide slots.

3. Clamp as claimed in claim 1, wherein the clamping means comprise guide slots, the slot height of which decreases in the direction of the clamping position.

4. Clamp as claimed in claim 2 or 3, wherein the thickness of the guide members decreases in the direction of the clamping position.

5. Clamp as claimed in claims 2-4, wherein the clamping means comprise a toothing.

6. Clamp as claimed in claims 2-5, wherein the clamping means comprise mutually engaging structures when the clamping strip is situated in the clamping position.

7. Clamp as claimed in claim 6, wherein the mutually engaging structures comprise indentations and protrusions.

8. Clamp as claimed in claims 1-7, wherein the clamping strip is provided with means for increasing the clamping of the belt on the frame.

9. Clamp as claimed in claim 8, wherein the clamping means comprise protrusions.

10. Clamp as claimed in claims 1-9, provided with coupling means for coupling to another clamp part.

Drawing