GB2042054A - Fastening device for diving equipment - Google Patents

Abstract

A fastening device for diving equipment provided with fastening bands or straps formed with transversal retaining ribs. The device comprises a base plate 1 provided with a slot 4 for the passage of said strap. A stem 5 projects upwardly from said base plate and is provided at its upper end with a platelet 6 extending sidewise at both sides. One of the said side extensions extends over said slot up to the outer edge of the said slot, so as to clamp the strap between the slot outer edge and the cooperating edge of the platelet extension. By exerting a pressure on the opposite side extension of the platelet in the direction of the base plate, the strap will be released. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Fastening device for diving equipment This invention relates to a fastening device for diving equipment, and more particularly to an adjustable fastening device for straps provided with retaining ribs or projections, of the kind which are, for example, used for wearing diving masks or swimming fins, or the like.

The known devices of this kind are usually provided with metal buckles having a slidable cross bar, or with buckles provided with two parallel transversal slots. With any of these known kinds of fastening devices it is very difficult to adjust the strap tension while the device is in use. Moreover, these devices are subject to loss their adjustment, due to the tendency of the strap to slide.

The present invention aims to eliminate these and other drawbacks and disadvantages of the known devices.

According to one feature, the strap fastening and retaining device according to the invention essentially comprises a base plate provided with a slot for the insertion of the strap end, an elastic stem which integral to the said base plate and projecting upwardly from one edge of the said slot, and a platelet secured to the free end of the said elastic stem, and extending at one side up to the edge of the said slot opposed to the edge to which the elastic stem is secured, and extending on its other side for a certain length in.the opposite direction, so that by inserting the strap through the said slot in the base plate, the strap comes to be automatically clamped between the edge of said platelet and the cooperating edge of said slot, while by exerting a pressure on the opposite edge of the platelet the strap will be released.

Further objects and advantages of the present invention will be more clearly apparent from the following description of one preferred embodiment thereof, which is shown by way of example in the accompanying drawing, in which: Figure 1 is a view in longitudinal section of the device according to the invention; Figure 2 is a plan view of the device of Fig.

1; Figure 3 shows the device as applied to a swimming fin, and Figure 4 is a cross sectional view of the device according to Figs. 1 and 2 applied to the fin of Fig. 3.

Referring to the drawing, and referring particularly to Figs. 1 and 2, the illustrated device comprises a base plate 1 provided at its underside with a dovetail-shaped groove 2 for engagement in a similarly dovetail-shaped element 3 provided in the diving mask or in the swimming fin with which the device is intended to be used.

At one of its ends, the base plate 1 has a slot 4. From the innermost transversal edge of the slot 4, a flexible stem 5 extends in the upward direction. To the upper end of the stem 5 a platelet 6 is secured. The said platelet is provided with a first section 106 extending up to the opposed transversal edge 104 of slot 4, and with a second section 206 extending in the opposite direction. Advanta geously, the plate 1, the stem 5 and the platelet 6 are made in one piece of a plastics material having a certain degree of flexibility and elasticity.

In Fig. 4, the disclosed device is shown as applied to a swimming fin. For this purpose, the swimming fin is provided on its sides with two dovetail-shaped member 3 on which a pair of devices 1 according to the invention are engaged. 1 6 denotes a heel strap which in a quite conventional manner is provided with transversal ribs 7.

In operation, the end portions of the strap are inserted through the slots 4 in the base plate 1, and caused to pass between the edge 104 of said slots and the cooperating edge of section 106 of platelet 6. To unlock the strap, it will be sufficient to exert on the platelet section 206 a pressure in the direction of the base plate 1, whereby the platelet section 106 will be lifted up, and the strap will be released.

Although the device has been disclosed as applied to a swimming fin, it is obvious that it might be applied to a diving mask or to any other item.

1. Fastening device for diving equipment provided with bands or straps formed with transversal retaining ribs, comprising a base plate, a slot in said base plate for the passage of said strap, a stem projecting upwardly from said base plate and a platelet secured to the upper end of said stem and extending sidewise at both sides from said stem, one of the said extensions extending over the said slot and up to the outer edge of said slot.

2. The device according to claim 1, in which the said elastic stem is secured to the inner edge of said slot.

3. The device according to the preceding claims, in which the said base plate, the said stem, and the said platelet are made in one piece of a plastics material.

4. The device according to the preceding claims, in which the said base plate is prn- vided with means for fastening it to the item on which it is to be used.

5. The device according to claim 4, in which the said fastening means are constituted by insertion means that cooperate with complementary insertion means provided on the item to which the device is to be secured.

6. The device according to claim 5, in which the said insertion means are constituted by dovetail-shaped insertion means.

**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims (7)

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. SPECIFICATION Fastening device for diving equipment This invention relates to a fastening device for diving equipment, and more particularly to an adjustable fastening device for straps provided with retaining ribs or projections, of the kind which are, for example, used for wearing diving masks or swimming fins, or the like. The known devices of this kind are usually provided with metal buckles having a slidable cross bar, or with buckles provided with two parallel transversal slots. With any of these known kinds of fastening devices it is very difficult to adjust the strap tension while the device is in use. Moreover, these devices are subject to loss their adjustment, due to the tendency of the strap to slide. The present invention aims to eliminate these and other drawbacks and disadvantages of the known devices. According to one feature, the strap fastening and retaining device according to the invention essentially comprises a base plate provided with a slot for the insertion of the strap end, an elastic stem which integral to the said base plate and projecting upwardly from one edge of the said slot, and a platelet secured to the free end of the said elastic stem, and extending at one side up to the edge of the said slot opposed to the edge to which the elastic stem is secured, and extending on its other side for a certain length in.the opposite direction, so that by inserting the strap through the said slot in the base plate, the strap comes to be automatically clamped between the edge of said platelet and the cooperating edge of said slot, while by exerting a pressure on the opposite edge of the platelet the strap will be released. Further objects and advantages of the present invention will be more clearly apparent from the following description of one preferred embodiment thereof, which is shown by way of example in the accompanying drawing, in which: Figure 1 is a view in longitudinal section of the device according to the invention; Figure 2 is a plan view of the device of Fig. 1; Figure 3 shows the device as applied to a swimming fin, and Figure 4 is a cross sectional view of the device according to Figs. 1 and 2 applied to the fin of Fig. 3. Referring to the drawing, and referring particularly to Figs. 1 and 2, the illustrated device comprises a base plate 1 provided at its underside with a dovetail-shaped groove 2 for engagement in a similarly dovetail-shaped element 3 provided in the diving mask or in the swimming fin with which the device is intended to be used. At one of its ends, the base plate 1 has a slot 4. From the innermost transversal edge of the slot 4, a flexible stem 5 extends in the upward direction. To the upper end of the stem 5 a platelet 6 is secured. The said platelet is provided with a first section 106 extending up to the opposed transversal edge 104 of slot 4, and with a second section 206 extending in the opposite direction. Advanta geously, the plate 1, the stem 5 and the platelet 6 are made in one piece of a plastics material having a certain degree of flexibility and elasticity. In Fig. 4, the disclosed device is shown as applied to a swimming fin. For this purpose, the swimming fin is provided on its sides with two dovetail-shaped member 3 on which a pair of devices 1 according to the invention are engaged. 1 6 denotes a heel strap which in a quite conventional manner is provided with transversal ribs 7. In operation, the end portions of the strap are inserted through the slots 4 in the base plate 1, and caused to pass between the edge 104 of said slots and the cooperating edge of section 106 of platelet 6. To unlock the strap, it will be sufficient to exert on the platelet section 206 a pressure in the direction of the base plate 1, whereby the platelet section 106 will be lifted up, and the strap will be released. Although the device has been disclosed as applied to a swimming fin, it is obvious that it might be applied to a diving mask or to any other item. CLAIMS

1. Fastening device for diving equipment provided with bands or straps formed with transversal retaining ribs, comprising a base plate, a slot in said base plate for the passage of said strap, a stem projecting upwardly from said base plate and a platelet secured to the upper end of said stem and extending sidewise at both sides from said stem, one of the said extensions extending over the said slot and up to the outer edge of said slot.

2. The device according to claim 1, in which the said elastic stem is secured to the inner edge of said slot.

3. The device according to the preceding claims, in which the said base plate, the said stem, and the said platelet are made in one piece of a plastics material.

4. The device according to the preceding claims, in which the said base plate is prn- vided with means for fastening it to the item on which it is to be used.

5. The device according to claim 4, in which the said fastening means are constituted by insertion means that cooperate with complementary insertion means provided on the item to which the device is to be secured.

6. The device according to claim 5, in which the said insertion means are constituted by dovetail-shaped insertion means.

7. Fastening device for diving equipment substantially as described with reference to the accompanying drawings.