Belt fastening

Abstract

 Belt fastening for connecting two belt parts, whereby the belt fastening (1) consists of a base (4) which is firmly fixed to one far end (2) of the first belt part and of a flap or clip (5) which is hinge-mounted to the base (4) and which makes it possible to clasp the second belt part (38) in relation to the first belt part, and whereby this flap or clip (5) has a protruding part (25) in relation to the base (4), characterised in that the belt fastening (1) is provided with means in the shape of a sliding element (31) which prevents the flap or clip (5) from being opened when it is in an active position.

Description

[0001] The present invention concerns a belt fastening, in particular a belt fastening for safety belts, whereby it is important that, in case of emergency or other situations, this belt fastening cannot be detached or can only be detached with great difficulty.

[0002] In particular, the present invention concerns a belt fastening of the known type which consists of a base which is firmly fixed to one far end of the first belt part and to a flap or clip which is hinge-mounted to the base and which makes it possible to clasp the second belt part in relation to the first belt part, and whereby this flap or clip has a free end which extends from the belt fastening over the base when closed.

[0003] A disadvantage of such a known belt fastening is that the flap or clip can be opened, provided some force is used, by grabbing between the free end of the flap or clip and the belt parts with the finger tips and by pulling the flap or clip open.

[0004] It is clear that opening such a known belt fastening in such a manner may be dangerous when it is used for example in playground attractions.

[0005] Also, for example, for firemen who need to evacuate panic-stricken people in critical situations, it is required that their belt cannot be pulled open by accident.

[0006] The aim of the present invention is to remedy the above-mentioned and other disadvantages.

[0007] To this end, the invention concerns a belt fastening for connecting two belt parts, whereby the belt fastening consists of a base which is firmly fixed to one far end of the first belt part and of a flap or clip which is hinge-mounted to the base and which makes it possible to clasp the second belt part in relation to the first belt part, whereby this flap or clip has a protruding part in relation to the base, and whereby the belt fastening is provided with means in the shape of a sliding element which prevents the flap or clip from being opened when it is in an active position.

[0008] An advantage of the present invention is that the space between the flap or clip and the belt parts is sealed by the sliding element and consequently becomes inaccessible, as a result of which the flap or clip cannot be pulled open by accident.

[0009] It should be noted that the sliding element is provided over one of the belt parts, which offers the additional advantage that all the parts of the belt fastening are attached to the belt parts and consequently cannot be lost easily.

[0010] In order to better explain the characteristics of the present invention, the following preferred embodiment of a belt fastening according to the invention is given as an example only without being limitative in any way, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

figure 1 shows a belt fastening according to the invention in perspective;

figure 2 represents a view according to arrow F2 in figure 1 to a larger scale;

figure 3 represents a section according to line III-III in figure 1;

figure 4 represents the same section as in figure 3, but with the belt fastening in an open position;

figure 5 represents a section according to line V-V in figure 4;

figure 6 represents a variant of figure 4.

[0011] Figures 1 to 3 represent a belt fastening 1 which is fixed to one far end 2 of a belt 3 and which mainly consists of a base 4 and a hinge-mounted flap or clip 5.

[0012] The base 4 is more or less tubular and mainly consists in this case of two standing side walls 6-7 with elevations, 8 and 9 respectively, on one far end, whereby these side walls 6-7 are connected to each other by means of two cross plates, 10 and 11 respectively, which are each provided on one far end of the side walls 6-7.

[0013] The first cross plate 10 is hereby situated on the side edges 12-13 of the side walls 6-7, directed to the flap or clip 5, whereas the second cross plate 11 is situated on the side edges 14-15 of the side walls 6-7 directed away from the flap or clip 5.

[0014] In the cross plate 10 is provided a groove 16 in which the above-mentioned far end 2 of the belt 3 is fixed by means of welding, gluing or the like. -

[0015] The second cross plate 11 is preferably provided with unevennesses, on its side directed towards the flap or clip 5, for example in the shape of different rows of little teeth 17.

[0016] In the above-mentioned elevations 8 and 9 of the side walls 6-7 are provided cylindrical holes 18 and 19 in which the flap or clip 5, at one far end 20, is bearing-mounted by means of hinge pens 21 and 22.

[0017] The flap or clip 5 in this case consists of a plate-shaped part 23 with a width which is equal to, or practically equal to the width of the base 4.

[0018] The hinge-mounted far end 20 of the flap or clip 5 is narrowed, such that the narrowed part 20 can be provided between the above-mentioned elevations 8-9 of the side walls 6-7 of the base 4 in a fitting manner, whereas the part 22 extends above these side walls 6-7.

[0019] At the narrowed part 20 are provided, on the inside of the flap or clip 5, one or several rows of teeth 24 which, when the flap or clip 5 is closed, are situated opposite the above-mentioned teeth 17 on the second cross plate 11.

[0020] The other far end of the flap or clip 5, opposite the narrowed part 20, comprises a protruding part 25 with a free edge 26, opposite the base 4.

[0021] In this free edge 26 is in this case provided at least one groove 27, whereby one or several notches 30 are provided in one of the side walls 28-29 of this groove 27, preferably the side wall 28 which is directed towards the inner wall of the flap or clip 5.

[0022] According to the invention, the belt fastening 1 comprises means which, when activated, prevent the flap or clip 5 from being opened.

[0023] These means mainly consist of a sliding element 31 which is formed of a body 32 in which is provided a groove 33 through which the belt 3 is applied.

[0024] On a side wall 34 of the body 32 directed towards the base 4 is provided at least one cross rib 35 on which are provided one or several thickenings 36 which extend in a direction away from the groove 33.

[0025] Further, the body 32 comprises a collar 37 which, when the sliding element 31 is activated, forms a stop to the free edge 26 of the protruding part 25 of the flap or clip 5.

[0026] It should be noted that the sliding element 31 preferably has a width A which is equal to the width B of the protruding part 25 of the flap or clip 5.

[0027] The use of the above-described belt fastening 1 according to the invention is simple and as follows.

[0028] Figures 4 and 5 represent a belt fastening 1 according to the invention when open.

[0029] In order to fix a second belt part of a second far end 38 of a belt 3 in relation to the above-mentioned first far end 2, one only has to provide this second far end 38 in a direction according to arrow P in the space 39 between the cross plate 11 and the nearby side edge of the opened flap or clip 5, to subsequently turn the flap or clip 5 according to arrow Q towards the base 4 as soon as the far end 38 is in the appropriate place in relation to the far end 2.

[0030] Thus is obtained that, as is represented in figure 3, the second far end 38 of the belt 3 is clamped between the above-mentioned teeth 24 on the inner wall of the flap or clip 5 and the teeth 17 on the above-mentioned second cross plate 11 of the base 4.

[0031] Next, the sliding element 31 can be put in an active position by pushing it over the belt 3 until it fits up to the free edge 26 of the flap or clip 5 with its stop 37, whereby the rib 35 of the sliding element 31 is situated in the above-mentioned groove 27 in the free edge 26 of the flap or clip 5, and whereby the thickenings 36 on this rib 35 work in conjunction with the notches 30 in the above-mentioned groove 27.

[0032] In this manner, the sliding element 31 is locked in relation to the flap or clip 5 of the belt fastening 1, and the flap or clip 5 is prevented from being opened.

[0033] Indeed, in order to open the flap or clip 5, the flap or clip 5 must be turned in a sense opposite to that of arrow Q, which rotation is prevented as the flap or clip 5 is locked in relation to the belt 3 by means of the sliding element 31.

[0034] Moreover, the belt fastening 1 can only be simply opened by grabbing with the finger tips behind the free edge 26 of the flap or clip 3 and by subsequently pulling open the flap or clip 5, which is prevented in case of a belt fastening 1 according to the invention as the sliding element 31 blocks the entry to the free edge 26 of the flap or clip 5 when activated.

[0035] In order to open the belt fastening 1 again, one only has to move the sliding element 31 over the belt 1 first, away from the flap or clip 5, after which the flap or clip 5 can be hinged open, such that the teeth 24 on the inner wall of this flap or clip 5 and the teeth 17 of the base 4 move apart and no longer clench the second belt part 38.

[0036] It should be noted that the belt fastening 1 is preferably equipped with means which make it possible to lock the flap or clip 5 in a closed position in relation to the base 4.

[0037] As is represented in figure 6, such means may for example consist of two hook-shaped elements 40 which are provided on the inside of the flap or clip 5, and which are erected opposite each other and directed outward towards the nearby side edges 12-13 of the base 4, whereas in the inner walls of the side walls 6-7 directed towards each other are provided grooves 41 which extend from the side edges 14-15 of the side walls 6-7 up to a short distance from the side edges 12-13, and whereby the above-mentioned hook-shaped elements 40 are placed at a distance from one another which is a little larger than the distance between the side walls 6-7, but which is smaller than the distance between the bottoms of the above-mentioned grooves 41.

[0038] An advantage of these additional means for locking the flap or clip 5 in relation to the base 4 is that the force which is required to open the flap or clip 5 is relatively large and can practically only be exerted at the free edge 26 of the protruding part of the flap or clip 5.

[0039] The present invention is by no means restricted to the embodiment described above and represented in the accompanying figures; on the contrary, such a belt fastening according to the invention can be realised according to many different variants while still remaining within the scope of the invention.

Claims

1. Belt fastening for connecting two belt parts, whereby the belt fastening (1) consists of a base (4) which is firmly fixed to one far end (2) of the first belt part and of a flap or clip (5) which is hinge-mounted to the base (4) and which makes it possible to clasp the second belt part (38) in relation to the first belt part, whereby this flap or clip (5) has a protruding part (25) in relation to the base (4), characterised in that the belt fastening (1) is provided with means in the shape of a sliding element (31) which prevents the flap or clip (5) from being opened when it is in an active position.

2. Belt fastening according to claim 1, characterised in that the sliding element (31) consists of a body (32) in which is provided a groove (33), and in that the body (32) is provided with a stop in the shape of a standing collar (37).

3. Belt fastening according to any one of claims 1 or 2, characterised in that the body (32), which forms the sliding element, is provided with one or several ribs (35) which are directed towards the protruding part (25) of the flap or clip (5).

4. Belt fastening according to claim 3, characterised in that thickenings (36) are provided on the above-mentioned rib or ribs (35).

5. Belt fastening according to any one of claims 3 or 4, characterised in that the protruding part (25) of the flap or clip (5) has a free edge (26) in which are provided one or several grooves (27) in which the above-mentioned ribs (35) of the sliding element (31) can be provided.

6. Belt fastening according to claims 4 and 5, characterised in that notches (30) are provided in the above-mentioned groove or grooves {27) on the free edge (26) of the flap or clip (5), which can work in conjunction with the above-mentioned thickenings (36).

7. Belt fastening according to claim 1, characterised in that the sliding element (31) has a width A which is equal to the width B of the protruding part (25) of the flap or clip (5).

Drawing