The present invention relates to a buckle device and more specifically, relates to a buckle device for length adjustment.
Generally, a buckle device is used to hook a band or the like to stop it and used to adjust a length of the band by using a buckle.
The buckle device needs to securely lock the band when hooking the band to stop it and also needs to readily disengage the band from the buckle when disengaging the band from the buckle.
As a prior art, Korean Patent No.
Prior art document
However, in this prior art, when the band is disengaged from the buckle, the resilient piece needs to spring regardless of a disengagement direction of the buckle or a disengagement direction of the band. Thus, the resilient piece needs to spring and at the same time, the buckle and the band need to be disengaged from each other. That is, in order to disengage the band from the buckle, a user needs to carry out these two operations. Thus, actually, it is difficult for the user to disengage the buckle and the band from each other with his/her hand and it is impossible for the user to readily disengage the buckle and the band from each other with his/her finger.
In an embodiment of the present invention, in order to solve the above-described problem, there is provided a buckle device for length adjustment. This buckle device enables a user to readily disengage a buckle and a band from each other with his/her one finger.
As means for solving the above-described problem, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention, there is provided a buckle device for length adjustment including: a band unit in which multiple saw-teeth are formed; a base unit configured to slidably guide the band unit when the band unit enters the base unit or exit therefrom; and a control unit including a locking unit and a lever unit provided in the base unit to be rotatable. Here, an end of the locking unit and an end of the lever unit may be provided at both ends of the base unit, respectively and the other end of the lever unit is cross-linked with the other end of the locking unit at the both ends, so that according to rotation of the lever unit, the locking unit is engaged with or disengaged from one or more saw-teeth.
The band unit may include a band main body in which the multiple saw-teeth are formed; and a band engagement unit with which the band main body is engaged to be rotatable.
The saw-teeth may include multiple inclined members each end of which is connected to another end to form a convex portion, and in the multiple inclined members, the inclined member farther from the band engagement unit than the other inclined members is more gently inclined than the other inclined members.
The band main body may include an entrance member configured to first enter the base unit; an extension member extended from the entrance member and including the multiple saw-teeth; and an engagement detent slantly extended from the extension member in order for the base unit to stop entrance of the band unit and provided in the band engagement unit to be rotatable.
The band unit further may include a first engagement screw configured to engage the band main body with the band engagement unit to be rotatable, and the first engagement screw penetrates the band engagement unit and the engagement detent.
The band unit may be formed in a plate shape extended in one direction, and the base unit includes a bottom member extended in the direction to correspond to a lower surface of the band unit; and a pair of wall members facing each other and bent and extended upwards from the bottom member.
The locking unit may be provided between ends of the pair of wall members to be rotatable, and the lever unit is provided between the other ends of the pair of wall members to be rotatable.
The control unit may further include a resilient member coupled to either one or both of the locking unit and the lever unit in order for either one or both of the locking unit and the lever unit to apply resilience in a direction of the band unit when the band unit enters or exits, and either one or both of the pair of wall members includes a resilient support configured to support the resilient member.
The locking unit may be provided at an end of the base unit where the band unit first enters, and the lever unit is provided at the other end of the base unit.
The locking unit may include a locking engagement member provided in the base unit; one or more locking teeth facing the base unit when the band unit enters or exits and formed in a shape corresponding to the multiple saw-teeth; and a locking member cross-linked with the lever unit to be engaged with the lever unit when the lever unit is rotated.
The lever unit may include a lever engagement member provided in the base unit; a lever locking member cross-linked with the locking member and engaged with the locking member when the lever unit is rotated; and a lever control member provided at an uppermost position and protruded upwards.
Either one of the locking member and the lever locking member may be protruded in a direction of the other one and the other one is dented corresponding thereto.
The control unit may further include a resilient member coupled to either one or both of the locking engagement member and the lever engagement member in order for either one or both of the locking unit and the lever unit to apply resilience in a direction of the band unit when the band unit enters or exits, and the resilient member is supported by the base unit.
The base unit may include a second engagement screw configured to engage the locking unit with the base unit to be rotatable, and the second engagement screw penetrates the base unit and the locking unit.
The base unit may include a third engagement screw configured to engage the lever unit with the base unit to be rotatable, and the third engagement screw penetrates the base unit and the lever unit.
In accordance with one of embodiments of the above-described means for solving the problem, a control unit including a locking unit and a lever unit cross-linked to be rotatable enables a user to readily disengage a base unit and a band unit from each other with his/her finger.
Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings so that the present invention may be readily implemented by those skilled in the art. However, it is to be noted that the present invention is not limited to the embodiments but can be implemented in various other ways.
Through the whole document, the term "on" or the term "below" that is used to designate one element being on or below another element includes both a case that an element is in direct contact with another element and a case that an element is on or below another element via still another element. Further, the term "comprises or includes" and/or "comprising or including" used in the document means that one or more other components, steps, operation and/or existence or addition of elements are not excluded in addition to the described components, steps, operation and/or elements unless indicated to the contrary.
Hereinafter, there will be explained a buckle device for length adjustment in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention by reference to
As depicted in
As depicted in
The band main body 110 may be extended in one direction and slidably guided into the base unit 200. The band main body 110 may include an entrance member 111, an extension member 112, and an engagement detent 113. The band main body 110 may be formed in a plate shape bent in one direction.
The entrance member 111 may be positioned at one end of the band main body 110 and may be a portion to first enter the base unit 200. Both edges of the entrance member 111 may be rounded in order for the entrance member 111 to easily enter the base unit 200.
The extension member 112 may be extended in a direction from the entrance member 111 toward the engagement detent 113. On the extension member 112, a plurality of saw-teeth 112a may be provided so as to face the control unit 300.
The saw-teeth 112a may be provided in a row along the extension member 112. The saw-teeth 112a may be engaged or disengaged by the control unit 300 and may determine whether or not to move the band main body 110. The saw-teeth 112a may include multiple inclined members 112b each end of which may be connected to another end so as to form a convex portion and a concave portion.
The inclined members 112b adjacent to each other may have different incline angles. Of the inclined members 112b adjacent to each other, the inclined member 112b closer to the entrance member 111 may be more gently inclined than the inclined member 112b closer to the engagement detent 113. This more gently inclined member 112b may enter the base unit 200 earlier than the steeply inclined member 112b. That is, of the multiple inclined members 112b, the inclined member 112b farther from the band engagement unit 120 than the other inclined members 112b may be more gently inclined than the other inclined members 112b, so that a movement of the band unit 100 may be controlled by the control unit 300 when the band unit 100 enters the base unit 200 or exits therefrom.
The engagement detent 113 may be slantly extended from the extension member 112. Since the engagement detent 113 is slantly extended from the extension member 112, entry of the band unit 100 into the base unit 200 may be limited. To be specific, when the band unit 100 enters the base unit 200, if an inclined upper surface of the engagement detent 113 is in contact with the control unit 300, the entry of the band unit 100 into the base unit 200 may be stopped. The engagement detent 113 may be provided in the band engagement unit 120 so as to be rotatable. Since the engagement detent 113 is provided in the band engagement unit 120 so as to be rotatable, the band main body 110 may be provided in the band engagement unit 120 so as to be rotatable.
The engagement detent 113 of the band main body 110 may be provided in the band engagement unit 120 through the first engagement screw 130. The engagement detent 113 may be connected to an extended belt or band or may be provided in a side of a helmet.
The first engagement screw 130 may penetrate the band engagement unit 120 and the engagement detent 113 such that the band main body 110 may be rotated with respect to the band engagement unit 120. The first engagement screw 130 may serve as a rotation axis when the band main body 110 is rotated with respect to the band engagement unit 120.
As depicted in
The bottom member 210 may be formed in an extended plate shape bent in one direction corresponding to the direction of the band unit 100 such that the bottom member 210 corresponds to a lower surface of the band unit 100. The band unit 100 may be guided along an upper surface of the bottom member 210 when the band unit 100 enters the base unit 200 or exits therefrom.
The wall members 220 may be a pair of walls facing each other and may be bent and extended upwards from edges of the bottom member 210, the edges facing each other. When the band unit 100 enters the base unit 200, the band unit 100 first enters between ends 221 of the wall members 220 facing each other. Between the ends 221 of the wall members 220 facing each other, a locking unit 310 may be engaged so as to be rotatable. Between the other ends 222 of the wall members 220 facing each other, a lever may be engaged so as to be rotatable. That is, at both ends of the base unit 200, the locking unit 310 and the lever unit 320 may be engaged so as to be rotatable. When the band unit 100 enters the base unit 200, the entrance member 111 of the band unit 100 may first enter the locking unit 310 engaged with the ends 221 of the wall members 220 so as to be rotatable and the band unit 100 entering the base unit 200 may penetrate the base unit 200 through the locking unit 310 and the lever unit 320 in sequence. The wall members 220 may include resilient supports 223 protruded so as to be adjacent to the locking unit 310 and the lever unit 320.
The resilient support 223 may support resilient members 330 coupled to the locking unit 310 and the lever unit 320, respectively, to apply resilience of the locking unit 310 and the lever unit 320 to the base unit 200. To be more specific, each of the resilient members 330 coupled to the locking unit 310 and the lever unit 320 may enable the locking unit 310 and the lever unit 320 to apply resilience in a direction of the base unit 200 when the locking unit 310 and the lever unit 320 are rotated with respect to the base unit 200 while being supported by the resilient support 223.
The second engagement screw 230 may penetrate the ends 221 of the wall members 220 and the locking unit 310 such that the locking unit 310 can be rotated with respect to the base unit 200. The second engagement screw 230 may serve as a rotation axis when the locking unit 310 is rotated with respect to the base unit 200. The third engagement screw 240 may penetrate the other ends 222 of the wall members 220 and the lever unit 320 such that the lever unit 320 can be rotated with respect to the base unit 200. The third engagement screw 240 may serve as a rotation axis when the lever unit 320 is rotated with respect to the base unit 200. The control unit 300 may control the band unit 100 so as to enter the base unit 200 or exit therefrom. The control unit 300 may include the locking unit 310, the lever unit 320, and the resilient members 330.
When the band unit 100 enters the base unit 200, the band unit 100 enters first from the ends 221 of the base unit 200. The locking unit 310 may be engaged with the ends 221 of the base unit 200 so as to be rotatable. The locking unit 310 may be cross-linked with the lever unit 320 between the ends 221 and the other ends 222 of the base unit 200. The locking unit 310 may be engaged with or disengaged from the saw-teeth 112a of the band unit 100, thereby limiting entrance or exit of the band unit 100. The locking unit 310 may include a locking engagement member 311, locking teeth 312, and a locking member 313.
The locking engagement member 311 may be provided in the base unit 200 so as to be rotatable. The locking engagement member 311 may be provided at the ends 221 of the base unit 200 by the second engagement screw 230. Since the locking engagement member 311 is provided in the base unit 200 so as to be rotatable, the locking unit 310 can be provided in the base unit 200 so as to be rotatable.
The locking teeth 312 may face the saw-teeth 112a of the base unit when the band unit 100 enters the base unit 200 or exits therefrom. The locking teeth 312 may include multiple inclined members configured to form a convex portion and a concave portion corresponding to the saw-teeth 112a. The locking teeth 312 may be one or more and may include a gently inclined member corresponding to and facing the gently inclined member 112b of the saw-teeth 112a of the band unit 100 which enters the base unit 200 or exits therefrom and a steeply inclined member corresponding to and facing the steeply inclined member 112b of the saw-teeth 112a. That is, when the band unit 100 enters the base unit 200 or exits therefrom, the locking teeth 312 may be engaged with or disengaged from the saw-teeth 112a, thereby limiting entrance or exit of the band unit 100 with respect to the base unit 200.
The locking member 313 may be protruded in a direction of the lever unit 320 and cross-linked with the lever unit 320. The locking member 313 may be engaged with the lever unit 320 when the lever unit 320 is rotated. The locking unit 310 can be rotated according to the rotation of the lever unit 320 by the locking member 313 engaged with the lever unit 320. That is, since the locking member 313 is engaged with the lever unit 320 when the lever unit 320 is rotated, the locking unit 310 can be rotated according to the rotation of the lever unit 320, so that the locking teeth 312 engaged with the saw-teeth 112a of the band unit 100 may be disengaged from the saw-teeth 112a or the locking teeth 312 of the locking unit 310 may be spaced from the saw-teeth 112a of the band unit 100 that enters the base unit 200. Thus, the band unit 100 is not interrupted by the locking unit 310 and the band unit 100 may easily enter the base unit 200 or exit therefrom.
The lever unit 320 may face the locking unit 310 and may be provided in the other ends 222 of the base unit 200 so as to be rotatable. The lever unit 320 may be cross-linked with the locking unit 310 between the ends 221 and the other ends 222 of the base unit 200. The rotation of the locking unit 310 may be controlled by the rotation of the lever unit 320, so that the engagement or the disengagement of the locking unit 310 with respect to the saw-teeth 112a of the band unit 100 can be controlled. The lever unit 320 may include a lever engagement member 321, a lever locking member 322, and a lever control member 323.
The lever engagement member 321 may be provided in the base unit 200 so as to be rotatable. The lever engagement member 321 may be provided at the other ends 222 of the base unit 200 by the third engagement screw 240. Since the lever engagement member 321 is provided in the base unit 200 so as to be rotatable, the lever unit 320 can be provided in the base unit 200 so as to be rotatable.
The lever locking member 322 may be formed in a dent shape corresponding to the locking member 313 and may be cross-linked with the locking member 313 of the locking unit 310. The lever locking member 322 may be engaged with the locking member 313 of the locking unit 310 when the lever unit 320 is rotated. The locking unit 310 can be rotated according to the rotation of the lever unit 320 by the lever locking member 322 engaged with the locking unit 310. That is, since the lever locking member 322 is engaged with the locking unit 310 when the lever unit 320 is rotated, the locking unit 310 can be rotated according to the rotation of the lever unit 320, so that the locking teeth 312 engaged with the saw-teeth 112a of the band unit 100 may be disengaged from the saw-teeth 112a or the locking teeth 312 of the locking unit 310 may be spaced from the saw-teeth 112a of the band unit 100 that enters the base unit 200. Thus, the band unit 100 is not interrupted by the locking unit 310 and the band unit 100 may easily enter the base unit 200 or exit therefrom.
In another embodiment, the lever locking member 322 may be protruded in a direction of the locking member 313, and in this case, the locking member 313 may be dented corresponding to the lever locking member 322.
The lever control member 323 may be provided at an uppermost position and protruded upwards. When a user manipulates the control unit 300, a point of the user's finger may be caught in the lever control member 323. When the user pulls the lever control member 323 in an entrance direction of the band unit 100 with respect to the base unit 200, the lever unit 320 may be rotated. The locking unit 310 can be rotated according to the rotation of the lever unit 320, and the locking teeth 312 engaged with the saw-teeth 112a of the band unit 100 may be disengaged from the saw-teeth 112a by the rotation of the locking unit 310, so that the base unit 200 and the band unit 100 may be spaced from each other. That is, if the user pulls the lever control member 323 with his/her finger to rotate the lever unit 320, the locking unit 310 can be rotated and the locking unit 310 may be disengaged from the band unit 100, so that the band unit 100 can exit from the base unit 200 with ease.
The resilient members 330 may be coupled to the locking unit 310 and the lever unit 320 and may enable the locking unit 310 and the lever unit 320 to apply resilience to the base unit 200 while being supported by the resilient support 223 of the base unit 200. Since the resilient members 330 enables the locking unit 310 and the lever unit 320 to apply resilience to the base unit 200, the locking unit 310 may be rotated due to an inclined slide between the saw-teeth 112a and the locking teeth 312 when the band unit 100 enters the base unit 200. Thus, the band unit 100 may be controlled so as to correspond to each of the saw-teeth 112a. That is, by the resilient rotation of the locking unit 310 due to the resilient members 330, the band unit 100 can enter the base unit 200 step by step so as to correspond to each of the saw-teeth 112a of the band unit 100.
Hereinafter, there will be explained an operation method of the buckle device for length adjustment in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention by reference to
Above all, there will be explained entrance of the band unit 100 with respect to the base unit 200.
To be specific, if the band unit 100 enters the base unit 200 in a direction toward the locking unit 310, since the locking unit 310 applies resilience to the base unit 200, as the band unit 100 enters the base unit 200, the gently inclined member 112b of the saw-teeth 112a may be slantly slid with the gently inclined member of the locking teeth 312 corresponding to the inclined member 112b. Thus, the locking unit 310 may be rotated. As the band unit 100 enters the base unit 200, the convex portion of the locking teeth 312 may pass the convex portion of the saw-teeth 112a of the band unit 100 and may reach the concave portion of the saw-teeth 112a. At this time, the locking teeth 312 may be engaged with the saw-teeth 112a. If the band unit 100 continues to enter the base unit 200, the convex portion of the locking teeth 312 may be engaged with the adjacent concave portion of the saw-teeth 112a step by step. Thus, the band unit 100 can enter the base unit 200 step by step.
Then, there will be explained exit of the band unit 100 with respect to the base unit 200.
To be specific, if the lever control member 323 is pulled in an entrance direction of the band unit 100 with respect to the base unit 200, the lever unit 320 may be rotated. The locking unit 310 can be rotated according to the rotation of the lever unit 320 and the locking teeth 312 engaged with the saw-teeth 112a of the band unit 100 may be spaced from the saw-teeth 112a of the band unit 100 by the rotation of the locking unit 310. At this time, the locking unit 310 may be disengaged from the saw-teeth 112a and at the same time, the base unit 200 may exit in the entrance direction of the band unit 100. Thus, the band unit 100 can exit from the base unit 200. That is, if the lever unit 320 is pulled in the entrance direction of the band unit 100, the locking unit 310 may be disengaged from the band unit 100, and at the same time, since the base unit 100 is pulled in the entrance direction of the band unit 100, the band unit 100 can exit from the base unit 200. If the band unit 100 continues to exit from the base unit 200, the base unit 200 and the band unit 100 can be spaced from each other.
As described above, the buckle device for length adjustment in accordance with the embodiment of the present invention may include the control unit 300 including the locking unit 310 and the lever unit 320 provided to be cross-linked with each other and to be rotatable. Therefore, it may be easy for the user to space the base unit 200 and the band unit 100 from each other by using his/her finger. That is, by a simple manipulation with a finger, the base unit 200 and the band unit 100 can be spaced from each other.
The above description of the present invention is provided for the purpose of illustration, and it would be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes and modifications may be made without changing technical conception and essential features of the present invention. Thus, it is clear that the above-described embodiments are illustrative in all aspects and do not limit the present invention. For example, each component described to be of a single type can be implemented in a distributed manner. Likewise, components described to be distributed can be implemented in a combined manner.
The scope of the present invention is defined by the following claims rather than by the detailed description of the embodiment. It shall be understood that all modifications and embodiments conceived from the meaning and scope of the claims are included in the scope of the present invention.
This list of references cited by the applicant is for the reader's convenience only. It does not form part of the European patent document. Even though great care has been taken in compiling the references, errors or omissions cannot be excluded and the EPO disclaims all liability in this regard.