WO2015190917A1

WO2015190917A1 - Length adjustable strap

Info

Publication number: WO2015190917A1
Application number: PCT/NL2015/000020
Authority: WO
Inventors: Mieke Boogert
Original assignee: Mieke Boogert
Priority date: 2014-06-10
Filing date: 2015-06-10
Publication date: 2015-12-17

Abstract

A strap 1 comprises an elongated strap segment 3 of which an end 3A is attached to a slider element 7 of a zip fastener 5 by coupling means which form part of the slider element. The zip fastener 5 further includes two tapes 9 and 11 provided with edges facing each other to which zip elements 13 are fixed. These zip elements can be coupled to each other in a friction locked manner. The zip fastener 5, forms adjusting means for shortening and lengthening the strap 1. The slider element 7 has a pull tab 15 as well as a blocking mechanism (not shown in the drawing Figures) which can block the slider element against sliding. The outer edges of the tapes 9 and 11 are connected to each other by means of a ribbon. The ribbon and the two tapes form a cover 17. The end 3A of the strap segment 3 is slidable in the cover 17.

Description

Length adjustable strap

DESCRIPTION:

Field of the invention

The invention relates to a length adjustable strap comprising an elongated strap segment, as well as adjusting means connected to the strap segment for shortening and lengthening the strap.

State of the art

A strap of this type is generally known, inter alia in the form of a belt. For the known belt the strap is made of leather and the adjusting means are formed at one of the ends by interdistant holes present in longitudinal direction of the strap and at the other end by a buckle comprising a loop through which the hole-containing end of the strap can be inserted, as well as a tongue which is hingedly connected to the end and can be inserted through one of the holes.

Summary of the invention

It is an object of the invention to provide a strap of the type defined in the opening paragraph of which the length can be adjusted more simply and accurately than the known strap. To this end the strap according to the invention is characterized in that the adjusting means are formed by a zip fastener comprising two elongated adjacent tapes having on a longitudinal side of each tape a row of zip elements which can be interconnected in a friction locked manner, as well as a slider element slidable over the zip elements and which can connect the zip elements to each other, which slider element has two parts facing each other which, during operation, are located on two opposite sides of tapes connected to the slider elements, which slider element is provided with a blocking mechanism which can block the slider element against sliding over the zip elements when used in a zip fastener, and which slider element further includes a pull tab which is connected to a first One of the parts of the slider element, which slider element further includes coupling means which are connected to the other, second part of the slider element, where the strap segment slidable relative to the zip fastener is connected with an end to the slidable slider element via the coupling means and extends parallel to the tapes. By opening or closing the zip fastener, the length of the strap (that is, the length of the strap segment and the length of the part of the zip fastener extending beyond the end of the strap segment) can be increased or reduced, respectively in a simple fashion.

The coupling means preferably comprise a coupling element which is fastened to the second part of the slider element, as well as an eye or hook hingedly connected to the slider element.

An embodiment of the strap according to the invention is characterized in that it comprises at least one holding element which is connected to the tapes at an end of the row of zip elements. The tapes of zip elements can be held by means of this holding element so that during the opening or closing of the zip fastener the tapes of zip elements can be held taut so that the fastening of the zipper is facilitated.

A further embodiment of the zip fastener according to the invention is characterized in that it comprises a further holding element which is connected to the tapes at the other end of the row of zip elements. With this further holding element it is also possible to hold the tapes of zip elements. Since a holding element is now present at either end, both during the opening and closing of the zip fastener the tapes of zip elements can be held taut so that the fastening of the zipper is again facilitated.

For avoiding parts of the tapes of the zip fastener hanging loose, an embodiment of the strap according to the invention is characterized in that a first end of the two tapes is provided with a loop through which the strap segment is projected.

Another embodiment by which it is avoided that parts of the tapes of the zip fastener are hanging loose is characterized in that the other longitudinal sides of the tapes are connected to each other by a further tape, where the tapes and the further tape form a cover in which the strap segment can be moved. This causes the one end to be enclosed by the other end, as a result of which the chance of undesired catching on one of the ends is reduced.

The strap according to the invention can be used in a great variety of applications. For this purpose the zip fastener can be attached with a further end of the two tapes, that is turned away from the strap segment, to an end of a further strap segment or the other end of the strap segment or a connecting element.

A further embodiment of the strap according to the invention is characterized in that the blocking mechanism can be temporarily disengaged and engaged again by pulling the pull tab and subsequently returning to a blocking position. A zip fastener having a slider element provided with a blocking mechanism is known, for example, from EP 1 522 231 A. There are also zip fasteners where the slider element is not blocked by bringing the pull tab to a certain state, but by pushing against the slider element.

Brief description of the drawings

The invention will be described in more detail hereinbelow based on examples of embodiment of the length adjustable strap according to the invention, while reference is made to the appended drawing figures, in which:

Fig. 1 represents a first embodiment of the strap according to the invention in a shortened state;

Fig. 2 represents the strap represented in Fig. 1 in a lengthened state;

Fig. 3 represents the strap represented in Fig. 1 showing the slider element in an intermediate position;

Fig. 4 represents a second embodiment of the strap according to the invention in a bottom view;

Fig. 5 represents the strap represented in Fig. 4 in a lengthened state;

Fig. 6 represents a third embodiment of the strap according to the invention in a lengthened state; and

Fig. 7 represents the strap represented in Fig. 6 in a shortened state.

Detailed description of the drawings In Figs. 1, 2 and 3 is represented a first embodiment of the strap according to the invention in a shortened and a lengthened state, respectively. The strap 1 comprises an elongated strap segment 3 which is attached with an end 3A to a slider element 7 of a zip fastener 5 via coupling means (see Figs. 4 and 5). The zip fastener 5 further includes two tapes 9 and 11 provided with longitudinal sides 9a, 11a facing each other and to which zip elements 13 are fastened. These zip elements can be coupled to each other in a friction locked manner. The slider element 7 comprises two parts 7a and 7b attached to each other, a part 7a of which is present on a side 8a of the tapes 9 and 11 and the other part 7b of which is present on the other, opposite side 8b of the tapes 9 and 11. The zip fastener 5 forms adjusting means for shortening and lengthening the strap 1. The slider element 7 has a pull tab 15 as well as a blocking mechanism (like, for example, in patent EP 1 522 231 A and is not visible in the Figures) which can block the slider element against sliding. The slider element can only be moved by operating the pull tab, which, if pulled, directly disengages the blocking mechanism. This pull tab 15 runs parallel to the rows of zip elements 13.

The other longitudinal sides 9b and 1 lb of the tapes 9 and 11 are connected to each other by means of a further tape. The further tape and the two tapes 9 and 11 form a cover 17. Part of the cover is shown in a cutaway view in the Figures to show the strap segment inside the cover. The end 3A of the strap 3 is slidable in the cover 17.

A tape end 12 turned away from the strap segment can be attached to an end of a further strap segment or to the other end of the strap segment or to a coupling element.

In Figs. 4 and 5 is represented a bottom view of a second embodiment of the strap according to the invention in a shortened and lengthened . version respectively. All elements that are similar to those of the first embodiment are referred to by like reference numerals. The strap 18 accoring to this embodiment differs only from the strap 1 in that the cover 17 is replaced by a loop 19 which is attached to an end 9c, 11c of the tapes. In these Figures the coupling means by which the strap 3 is connected to the slider element 7 is clearly visible. The coupling means are formed by a coupling element 21 attached to the part 7b, as well as an eye 23 which is hingedly enclosed in the coupling element.

In Figs. 6 and 7 is represented a third embodiment of the strap according to the invention in a lengthened state and shortened state, respectively. For this strap 25 the zip fastener 5 is provided with two holding elements 27 and 29 which are connected to the tapes 9 and 11 at the respective ends 9c, 1 lc and 9d, l id of the tapes and thus also of the rows of zip elements 13 directly (see Fig. 6) or indirectly via the lengthening strap segments 31 and 33 (see Fig. 7). The tapes of zip elements can be held by these holding elements while the strap is lengthened or shortened. Since there is a holding element 27, 29 present at either end, the tapes 9 and 11 of zip elements 13 can be held taut during the opening and closing of the zip fastener, so that the fastening of the zip fastener is facilitated.

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Albeit the invention has been described in the foregoing with reference to the drawing Figures, it should be pointed out that the invention is not by any manner or means restricted to the embodiments shown in the drawings. The invention also extends over any embodiment deviating from the embodiments shown in the drawing Figures within the scope defined by the claims.

Claims

CLAIMS:

1. A length adjustable strap (1; 18; 25) comprising an elongated strap segment (3), as well as adjusting means connected to the strap segment for shortening and lengthening the strap, characterized in that the adjusting means are formed by a zip fastener (5) comprising two elongated adjacent tapes (9; 11) having on a longitudinal side (9a, 9b) of each tape a row of zip elements (13) which can be interconnected in a friction locked manner, as well as a slider element (7) slidable over the zip elements which can connect the zip elements to each other, which slider element has two parts (7a, 7b) facing each other which, during operation, are located on two opposite sides (8a, 8B) of tapes connected to the slider elements, which slider element (7) is provided with a blocking mechanism which can block the slider element against sliding over the zip elements (13) when used in a zip fastener (5), and which slider element (7) further includes a pull tab (15) which is connected to a first one of the parts (7A) of the slider element, which slider element (7) further includes coupling means (21, 23) which are connected to the other, second part (7B) of the slider element, where the strap segment (3) slidable relative to the zip fastener is connected with an end (3A) to the slidable slider element (7) via the coupling means (21, 23) and extends parallel to the tapes (9, 11).

2. A length adjustable strap (1; 18; 25) as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the coupling means comprise a coupling element (21) which is fastened to the second part (7b) of the slider element (7), as well as an eye (23) or hook hingedly connected to the slider element.

3. A length adjustable strap (1; 18; 25) as claimed in claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the zip fastener comprises at least one holding element (27) which is connected to the tapes at an end of the row of zip elements (9, 11).

4. A length adjustable strap (1; 18; 25) as claimed in claim 3, characterized in that the zip fastener comprises a further holding element (29) which is connected to the tapes (9, 11) at the other end of the row of zip elements.

5. A length adjustable strap (18) as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that an end (9c, 11c) of the two tapes (9, 11) is provided with a loop (19) through which the strap segment (3) is projected.

6. A length adjustable strap (1; 25) as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the other longitudinal sides (9b, l ib) of the tapes (9, 11) are connected to each other by a further tape (16), where the tapes (9, 11) and further tape ( 16) form a cover (17) in which the strap segment (3) can be moved.

7. A length adjustable strap (1; 18; 25) as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that art end of a further strap segment or the other end of the strap segment (3) or a connecting element is attached to a further end (9d, 1 Id) of the two tapes (9, 11) that is turned away from the strap segment (3).

8. A length adjustable strap (1; 18; 25) as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the blocking mechanism can be temporarily disengaged and engaged again by pulling the pull tab (15) and subsequently returning to a blocking position.