US3574246A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Buckle for cargo-holding straps
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1969-02-11
•
Granted: 1971-04-13
•
Expires: 1989-02-11
Abstract
Abstract A buckle comprising a U-frame and a lever pivoted thereto, between its legs, to swing past a dead center position to and from a buckle-closed position tensioning a cargo-holding strap having one end secured to the frame and its other end portion looped around a terminal member on the lever. Latch means that can be manually or automatically activated or even held in an inactive condition, provides for releasably holding the lever against movement out of its strap-tensioning position.
Inventors
- 👤 Roy Norton
- 👤 Glenn S Thompson
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-26 17:58
CPC Classifications
A; A44; A44B; A44B11/00; A44B11/02; A44B11/06; A44B11/12; A44B11/125; Y; Y10; Y10T; Y10T24/00; Y10T24/21; Y10T24/2175
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 43
Claim 1
Independent Claim
322 words
An overcenter-type strap-tensioning buckle for securing together the ends of a cargo-holding strap, characterized by: A. means providing an elongated frame having front and rear portions and having means at its front portion defining a crossbar to which one end portion of a cargo-holding strap can be secured with the strap extending forwardly from the frame; B. pivot-defining means on the frame disposed on a transverse axis located a distance rearwardly from said crossbar; C. a lever having elongated wall means with a Transversely extending strap support at one end thereof; D. means on the lever supporting the same from said pivotdefining means for pivotal motion about said transverse axis toward and from a buckle-closed position at which said wall means extends fore and aft of said axis, substantially lengthwise along a plane containing said crossbar and axis, and the support on said wall means faces forwardly from a location between said crossbar and axis and a distance offset from said plane; E. said support being adapted to bear against flatwise juxtaposed stretches of the strap at the other end thereof which define a loop and have portions remote from the loop extending forwardly to and around said support near said plane, and have other portions adjacent to the loop which extend rearwardly of the support remote from said plane; F. a terminal member around which said loop is engaged, said terminal member extending transversely of the lever near said plane and at a location spaced rearwardly from said support but between the ends of the lever; and G. means mounting said terminal member on the lever for movement relative thereto toward and from said wall means, and in an attitude such that forwardly acting force thereon resulting from tension on the strap effects movement of said terminal member in a direction toward said wall means to clamp thereto one of the superimposed stretches of the strap engaged over the terminal member.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
322 words
An overcenter-type strap-tensioning buckle for securing together the ends of a cargo-holding strap, characterized by: A. means providing an elongated frame having front and rear portions and having means at its front portion defining a crossbar to which one end portion of a cargo-holding strap can be secured with the strap extending forwardly from the frame; B. pivot-defining means on the frame disposed on a transverse axis located a distance rearwardly from said crossbar; C. a lever having elongated wall means with a Transversely extending strap support at one end thereof; D. means on the lever supporting the same from said pivotdefining means for pivotal motion about said transverse axis toward and from a buckle-closed position at which said wall means extends fore and aft of said axis, substantially lengthwise along a plane containing said crossbar and axis, and the support on said wall means faces forwardly from a location between said crossbar and axis and a distance offset from said plane; E. said support being adapted to bear against flatwise juxtaposed stretches of the strap at the other end thereof which define a loop and have portions remote from the loop extending forwardly to and around said support near said plane, and have other portions adjacent to the loop which extend rearwardly of the support remote from said plane; F. a terminal member around which said loop is engaged, said terminal member extending transversely of the lever near said plane and at a location spaced rearwardly from said support but between the ends of the lever; and G. means mounting said terminal member on the lever for movement relative thereto toward and from said wall means, and in an attitude such that forwardly acting force thereon resulting from tension on the strap effects movement of said terminal member in a direction toward said wall means to clamp thereto one of the superimposed stretches of the strap engaged over the terminal member.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
43 words
The buckle of claim 1, wherein said wall means has flanges at opposite sides thereof, with rounded portions on the flanges that extend forwardly beyond said strap support to afford protection for the superimposed stretches of a strap passing rearwardly around the support.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
93 words
a transverse strap support provided by the front edge of said wall is at a location spaced a distance forwardly from the pivot axis, and offset in one direction from a plane containing said pivot axis and passing through the crossbar, the strap support being movable to said location in consequence of swinging the lever to its closed position from a buckle-open position at which said wall extends forwardly over the crossbar, and the strap support is spaced rearwardly of the pivot axis and offset in the opposite direction from said plane, and
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
93 words
a transverse strap support provided by the front edge of said wall is at a location spaced a distance forwardly from the pivot axis, and offset in one direction from a plane containing said pivot axis and passing through the crossbar, the strap support being movable to said location in consequence of swinging the lever to its closed position from a buckle-open position at which said wall extends forwardly over the crossbar, and the strap support is spaced rearwardly of the pivot axis and offset in the opposite direction from said plane, and
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
23 words
arms which project from the ends of bight away from said wall means and externally alongside the extensions on the frame legs, and
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
23 words
arms which project from the ends of bight away from said wall means and externally alongside the extensions on the frame legs, and
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
74 words
a transverse terminal bar on the lever normally spaced from said wall and over which the other end portion of the strap can be looped with one stretch of the strap passing between said wall and the terminal bar, said bar being offset in the same direction from said plane as the strap support and spaced from the latter a distance no greater than the distance between the strap support and the pivot axis.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
74 words
a transverse terminal bar on the lever normally spaced from said wall and over which the other end portion of the strap can be looped with one stretch of the strap passing between said wall and the terminal bar, said bar being offset in the same direction from said plane as the strap support and spaced from the latter a distance no greater than the distance between the strap support and the pivot axis.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
104 words
hooks on the outer ends of the latch arms which project inwardly toward the opposite sides of the lever, and which are engageable under edge portions of said extensions which face away from said wall means, C. and means on said wall means defining a bearing in which the bight portion of the latch is received to journal the latch for pivotal motion from an operative latching position with its hooks engaged under said edge portions of the extensions on the frame legs, to an unlatching position at which said latch arms are spaced rearwardly away from the extremities of the frame leg extensions.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
104 words
hooks on the outer ends of the latch arms which project inwardly toward the opposite sides of the lever, and which are engageable under edge portions of said extensions which face away from said wall means, C. and means on said wall means defining a bearing in which the bight portion of the latch is received to journal the latch for pivotal motion from an operative latching position with its hooks engaged under said edge portions of the extensions on the frame legs, to an unlatching position at which said latch arms are spaced rearwardly away from the extremities of the frame leg extensions.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
290 words
An overcenter-type strap tensioning buckle for securing together the ends of a cargo-holding strap, characterized by: A. means providing an elongated frame having a rear portion and a front portion with a crossbar thereon to which one end of a cargo-holding strap can be secured; B. pivot-defining means on the frame disposed on a transverse axis located a distance rearwardly from said crossbar; C. a lever having elongated wall means with a transverse strap support at one end thereof; D. means on the lever supporting the same from said pivot-defining means for pivotal motion about said transverse axis from a buckle-closed position, at which said wall means extends a substantial distance rearwardly of said axis, lengthwise along a plane containing the crossbar and said axis, and at which position the strap support thereon faces forwardly from a location between the crossbar and said axis and a distance offset in one direction from said plane, to a buckle-open position at which the strap support is disposed at the opposite side of said plane; E. a terminal member with which the other end portion of the strap can be engaged, and extending transversely of the lever and similarly offset in said one direction from said plane, at a location spaced rearwardly from the strap support but between the ends of the lever; and F. means mounting said terminal member on the lever for movement relative thereto toward and from said wall means, and in such orientation relative to the lever that force exerted on said terminal member urging it toward said support, in consequence of tension on the strap, effects movement of the terminal member toward said wall means to clamp thereto a portion of the strap engaged with the terminal member.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
290 words
An overcenter-type strap tensioning buckle for securing together the ends of a cargo-holding strap, characterized by: A. means providing an elongated frame having a rear portion and a front portion with a crossbar thereon to which one end of a cargo-holding strap can be secured; B. pivot-defining means on the frame disposed on a transverse axis located a distance rearwardly from said crossbar; C. a lever having elongated wall means with a transverse strap support at one end thereof; D. means on the lever supporting the same from said pivot-defining means for pivotal motion about said transverse axis from a buckle-closed position, at which said wall means extends a substantial distance rearwardly of said axis, lengthwise along a plane containing the crossbar and said axis, and at which position the strap support thereon faces forwardly from a location between the crossbar and said axis and a distance offset in one direction from said plane, to a buckle-open position at which the strap support is disposed at the opposite side of said plane; E. a terminal member with which the other end portion of the strap can be engaged, and extending transversely of the lever and similarly offset in said one direction from said plane, at a location spaced rearwardly from the strap support but between the ends of the lever; and F. means mounting said terminal member on the lever for movement relative thereto toward and from said wall means, and in such orientation relative to the lever that force exerted on said terminal member urging it toward said support, in consequence of tension on the strap, effects movement of the terminal member toward said wall means to clamp thereto a portion of the strap engaged with the terminal member.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
64 words
The buckle of claim 3, further characterized by: A. said strap support and said terminal member being located between said plane and said wall means in the closed position of the buckle; and B. said wall means providing a cover which conceals the strap support, the terminal member and portions of the strap engaged with the latter in the closed position of the buckle.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
42 words
The buckle of claim 1, wherein said lever comprises a substantially channel-shaped member having: A. a wEb that provides said wall means; B. spaced-apart flanges to which said pivot-defining means are connected; and C. said terminal member lying under said wall means.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
81 words
The buckle of claim 3, further characterized by: A. said terminal member being disposed at the side of said wall means remote from said plane and having opposite arms which extend rearwardly from its ends and terminate in trunnions that project toward one another on a common transverse axis; and B. a bearing on the lever having bearing openings into which said trunnions project to mount the terminal member on the lever for pivotal motion toward and from said wall means.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
87 words
The buckle of claim 3, further characterized by: A. a fore portion of the lever being received between spaced legs on the frame which carry said pivot-defining means; B. one of said legs having an extension projecting a distance rearwardly beyond the axis of the pivot-defining means, along one side of the lever; and C. a latch carried by the lever for movement to and from an operative latching position engaging a portion on the rear of said leg extension which faces away from said wall means.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
38 words
The buckle of claim 1, further characterized by latch means on the lever rearwardly of said pivot axis and releasably engageable with a part on the frame to prevent swinging of the lever out of its buckle-closed position.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
47 words
The buckle of claim 3, further characterized by latch means on the lever readily releasably engageable with a portion of the frame rearwardly of said pivot axis, to hold the lever against swinging to a buckle-open position at which said wall means extends forwardly over the frame.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
69 words
The buckle of claim 3, further characterized by: A. a latch member mounted on said lever rearwardly of the terminal member, for movement between latching and nonlatching positions; and B. a rearward extension on the frame engageable by the latch member in its latching position, to prevent swinging motion of the lever in a direction to carry said support to a position at the opposite side of said plane.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
50 words
The buckle of claim 1, wherein the lever is provided with transversely spaced means defining identical rounded guards that extend a distance forwardly beyond said strap support to protect the superimposed stretches of the strap thereon against damage by cargo when the lever is swung between buckle-open and buckle-closed positions.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
86 words
The buckle of claim 5, further characterized by: A. said terminal member comprising a bar extending transversely across the space between the lever flanges; and B. the flanges on the lever having opposite upwardly and forwardly inclined slots in which the opposite end portions of the terminal bar are received, to cause the bar to be cammed toward the underside of said wall means by tension on the strap and thereby effect clamping of said one of said forwardly extending superimposed stretches of the strap thereagainst.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
82 words
The buckle of claim 3, further characterized by: A. said wall means passing forwardly over and covering the lever pivot axis, but under the terminal member, and comprising the web of a channel-shaped member; and B. a substantially U-shaped element the bight of which provides said terminal member and the legs of which are individually pivotally connected to the flanges of said channel-shaped member to mount the terminal member thereon for swinging motion about an axis parallel to the lever pivot axis.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
52 words
The buckle of claim 13, further characterized by: A. said web having slots therein, extending for and aft of the lever adjacent to its opposite sides; and B. the legs of said U-shaped element passing through said slots to be disposed alongside the inner surfaces of the flanges on the channel-shaped member.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
79 words
The buckle of claim 7, further characterized by: A. the latch being supported by said wall means for pivotal motion toward and From its latching position, about a fixed transverse axis closely adjacent to said wall means; and B. the latch having an arm portion extending away from said wall means along said side of the lever, with a hook on its outer end to engage said portion on the rear of the extension of said one frame leg.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
41 words
The buckle of claim 3, further characterized by: A. the frame having legs overlying opposite sides of the lever and each having an extension thereon which projects a distance rearwardly beyond the lever pivot axis; B. a substantially U-shaped latch having:
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
29 words
The buckle of claim 16, further characterized by cooperating means on the latch and on the lever for yieldingly holding the latch in said latching and unlatching positions thereof.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
71 words
The buckle of claim 16, further characterized by: A. said latch having spring arms which are biased toward one another to urge the ends of their hooks into engagement with flanges on the opposite sides of the lever; and B. indentations in said flanges in which said hooks can engage under spring tension, to define detents for the latch to yieldingly hold the same in both its latching and unlatching positions.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
36 words
The buckle of claim 16, further characterized by said bearing also having other bearing means thereon to mount the terminal member for pivotal motion toward and from said wall means about a fixed axis transverse thereto.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
71 words
The buckle of claim 16, further characterized by: A. said bight portion on the latch extending transversely over the exterior of said wall means in contact therewith; and B. bearing-defining means comprising a plate secured to the exterior of said wall means and having a bearing crease in its underside to receive the bight portion of the latch and to cooperate with said wall means to pivotally support the latch thereon.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
67 words
The buckle of claim 20, further characterized by: A. said wall means having an opening therein in register with the bight portion of the latch; B. the bight portion of the latch has an eccentric thereon projecting through said opening; and C. a leaf spring on the lever, against which said eccentric portion of the latch bight bears, to yieldingly hold the latch in its latching position.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
91 words
The buckle of claim 21, further characterized by: said cam surface on the extremity of each of said frame arm extensions, engageable with said hooks on the latch arms to momentarily cam the latch out of its latching position during pivotal motion of the lever to bring the buckle to a closed position at which the lever extends lengthwise rearwardly from the frame, and operable to allow return of the latch to its latching position as soon as the hooks thereon can pass under the extremities of the frame leg extensions.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
51 words
The buckle of claim 21, further characterized by: said spring normally exerting a turning moment on the latch through said eccentric on its bight to yieldingly hold the latch in each of its latching and unlatching positions, to one side or the other of a dead center position of the eccentric.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
244 words
A buCkle for securing together the ends of a cargo-holding strap and for tensioning the strap, characterized by: A. a terminal frame comprising a pair of opposite substantially parallel legs having front and rear ends, and a cross bar joining said legs at their front ends, to provide for securement of one end of a cargo-holding strap to said frame; B. an elongated lever having a substantially flat wall; C. means connecting the lever to the legs of the terminal frame for swinging motion about a pivot axis parallel to the crossbar and spaced a distance rearwardly thereof, from inoperative to operative positions at the latter of which the lever is lengthwise aligned with said legs and extends a substantial distance rearwardly therefrom; D. means on the lever providing a strap support that extends transversely across its front portion in confronting relation to the crossbar, at a location between the latter and said pivot axis but a distance offset in one direction from a plane containing the crossbar and said axis when the lever is in its operative position; E. means on the lever providing a terminal bar which extends transversely thereacross at a location adjacent to said pivot axis and similarly offset in said one direction from said plane; and F. cooperating latch means on the lever and said terminal frame engageable with one another a distance rearwardly from said pivot axis, to prevent swinging motion of the lever toward its inoperative position.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
244 words
A buCkle for securing together the ends of a cargo-holding strap and for tensioning the strap, characterized by: A. a terminal frame comprising a pair of opposite substantially parallel legs having front and rear ends, and a cross bar joining said legs at their front ends, to provide for securement of one end of a cargo-holding strap to said frame; B. an elongated lever having a substantially flat wall; C. means connecting the lever to the legs of the terminal frame for swinging motion about a pivot axis parallel to the crossbar and spaced a distance rearwardly thereof, from inoperative to operative positions at the latter of which the lever is lengthwise aligned with said legs and extends a substantial distance rearwardly therefrom; D. means on the lever providing a strap support that extends transversely across its front portion in confronting relation to the crossbar, at a location between the latter and said pivot axis but a distance offset in one direction from a plane containing the crossbar and said axis when the lever is in its operative position; E. means on the lever providing a terminal bar which extends transversely thereacross at a location adjacent to said pivot axis and similarly offset in said one direction from said plane; and F. cooperating latch means on the lever and said terminal frame engageable with one another a distance rearwardly from said pivot axis, to prevent swinging motion of the lever toward its inoperative position.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
97 words
An overcenter-type strap-tensioning buckle for securing together the ends of a cargo-holding strap, characterized by: A. a frame having front and rear portions, a pair of opposite substantially parallel rearwardly extending legs, and a crossbar joining said legs at the front of the frame and to which one end of a cargo-holding strap can be secured; B. a lever having an elongated substantially imperforate flat wall; and C. means pivotally connecting the lever to the frame legs for swinging motion about an axis parallel to said crossbar toward and from a normal buckle-closed strap-tensioning position at which:
Claim 37
Dependent Claim
97 words
An overcenter-type strap-tensioning buckle for securing together the ends of a cargo-holding strap, characterized by: A. a frame having front and rear portions, a pair of opposite substantially parallel rearwardly extending legs, and a crossbar joining said legs at the front of the frame and to which one end of a cargo-holding strap can be secured; B. a lever having an elongated substantially imperforate flat wall; and C. means pivotally connecting the lever to the frame legs for swinging motion about an axis parallel to said crossbar toward and from a normal buckle-closed strap-tensioning position at which:
Claim 38
Dependent Claim
157 words
A buckle having a frame with a crossbar thereon to which one end of a cargo-holding strap can be secured, and a lever pivotally connected to the frame to swing about an axis parallel to but spaced a distance in one direction from the crossbar, the lever having a terminal member thereon engageable by the other end portion of a cargo-holding strap, and being pivotable in one direction about said axis to a buckle-closed position at which a portion of the lever extends to the side of its axis remote from the crossbar, characterized by: A. a part on the frame which lies adjacent to said portion of the lever in the buckle-closed position thereof; and B. a latch device mounted on said portion of the lever for motion toward and from an operative position engaging said part on the frame to prevent Pivotal movement of the lever in the opposite direction out of its buckle-closed position.
Claim 39
Dependent Claim
157 words
A buckle having a frame with a crossbar thereon to which one end of a cargo-holding strap can be secured, and a lever pivotally connected to the frame to swing about an axis parallel to but spaced a distance in one direction from the crossbar, the lever having a terminal member thereon engageable by the other end portion of a cargo-holding strap, and being pivotable in one direction about said axis to a buckle-closed position at which a portion of the lever extends to the side of its axis remote from the crossbar, characterized by: A. a part on the frame which lies adjacent to said portion of the lever in the buckle-closed position thereof; and B. a latch device mounted on said portion of the lever for motion toward and from an operative position engaging said part on the frame to prevent Pivotal movement of the lever in the opposite direction out of its buckle-closed position.
Claim 40
Independent Claim
163 words
A device having a pair of members connected together such that one of said members is constrained to move relative to the other along a predetermined path to and from an operative position, characterized by: A. said members having portions which are juxtaposed in the operative position of said one member; B. a latch; C. means on said one portion of the first designated member mounting the latch for swinging movement relative thereto about an axis fixed with respect to said one member and crosswise of its said path of motion; D. an arm on the latch, movable therewith toward and from a latching position at which a part on said arm is cooperable with an edge on said portion of said other member when said portions of the members are juxtaposed to prevent movement of the first designated member away from said operative position thereof; and E. spring means acting on the latch to yieldingly urge the same to its latching position.
Claim 41
Independent Claim
163 words
A device having a pair of members connected together such that one of said members is constrained to move relative to the other along a predetermined path to and from an operative position, characterized by: A. said members having portions which are juxtaposed in the operative position of said one member; B. a latch; C. means on said one portion of the first designated member mounting the latch for swinging movement relative thereto about an axis fixed with respect to said one member and crosswise of its said path of motion; D. an arm on the latch, movable therewith toward and from a latching position at which a part on said arm is cooperable with an edge on said portion of said other member when said portions of the members are juxtaposed to prevent movement of the first designated member away from said operative position thereof; and E. spring means acting on the latch to yieldingly urge the same to its latching position.
Claim 42
Dependent Claim
45 words
The device of claim 27, further characterized by: A. an eccentric on the latch; and B. said spring means comprising a leaf spring which bears upon said eccentric and acts to yieldingly hold the latch in either said latching position thereof or a nonlatching position.
Claim 43
Dependent Claim
117 words
The device of claim 27, further characterized by: A. cooperating means on the first designated member and on the latch engageable to define the latching position of the latch arm, which position the arm can occupy prior to movement of the first designated member to said operative position thereof; and B. cam means on said portion of said other member engageable with said part on the latch arm during movement of the first designated member toward its operative position for momentarily moving the arm out of its latching position to thereby enable said portions on the members to be brought into juxtaposition without interference from the latch, and then latched as soon as said portions reach juxtaposition.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1974-04-12 | 1974-10-12 | 1975-04-13 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1978-04-12 | 1978-10-12 | 1979-04-13 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1982-04-12 | 1982-10-12 | 1983-04-13 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |