Cross-Reference to Related Applications

[0001] This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Application No. 62/410,462, filed October 20, 2016, the subject matter of which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety. Background of the Invention

[0002] The present invention relates to a strap and buckle system, and more particularly to a low profile strap and buckle system adaptable to various applications.

Summary of the Invention

[0003] A strap and buckle system bundles a plurality of objects. The buckle includes a body with a cavity formed therein. The body has a first end with an opening and a second end with a strap passageway therethrough. The buckle also includes a metal strip retained in the cavity of the body. The metal strip has a first end with a first barb and a second end with a second barb. The first barb of the metal strip is positioned at the first end of the body and the second barb of the metal strip is positioned at the second end of the body.

[0004] A strap is inserted in the first end of the body and secured by the first barb of the metal strip. The strap is wrapped around the plurality of objects and the free end of the strap is inserted in the second end of the body and feed through the strap passageway. The second barb of the metal strip engages the strap. The free end of the strap is tensioned thereby securing the plurality of objects.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0005] Fig. 1 is an exploded perspective view of the buckle of the present invention.

[0006] Fig. 2 is a sectional view of the buckle of Fig. 1 with a strap installed in the first end of the buckle. [0007] Fig. 3 is a sectional view of the buckle and strap of Fig. 2 with the strap installed in the second end of the buckle.

[0008] Fig. 4 is a perspective view of the buckle and strap of Fig. 3.

[0009] Fig. 5 is an exploded perspective view of an alternative embodiment of the buckle of the present invention.

[0010] Fig. 6 is an assembled perspective view of the buckle of Fig. 5.

[0011] Fig. 7 is a sectional view of the buckle of Fig. 5 with a strap installed in the first end of the buckle.

[0012] Fig. 8 is a sectional view of the buckle and strap of Fig. 7 with the strap installed in the second end of the buckle.

[0013] Fig. 9 is a perspective view of the buckle and strap of Fig. 7.

[0014] Fig. 10 is an exploded perspective view of an alternative embodiment of the buckle of the present invention.

[0015] Fig. 11 is an assembled perspective view of the buckle of Fig. 10.

[0016] Fig. 12 is a sectional view of the buckle of Fig. 10 with a strap installed in the first end of the buckle.

[0017] Fig. 13 is a sectional view of the buckle and strap of Fig. 10 with the strap installed in the second end of the buckle.

[0018] Fig. 14 is a perspective view of the buckle and strap of Fig. 10.

Detailed Description

[0019] Figs. 1-4 illustrate a first embodiment of the strap and buckle system of the present invention. The strap and buckle system provides a low profile, versatile bundling option that accommodates a limitless bundle size. The strap and buckle system is also adaptable to various applications.

[0020] As illustrated in Fig. 1, the buckle 50 is a molded polymer body 52 with a metal strip 80. It is contemplated that the buckle 50 is formed from a polymer and the metal strip if formed from stainless steel or other corrosion resistant material. As a result, the buckle 50 is flexible and is able to conform to a non-flat surface.

[0021] The metal strip 80 is rectangular with a first end 82 and a second end 86. Each end 82, 86 of the metal strip 80 is bent toward the center of the metal strip 80. Opposing barbs 84, 88 are formed at the ends 82, 86 of the metal strip 80.

[0022] The buckle 50 includes a rectangular center cavity 54 formed therein. The cavity 54 extends along the length of the buckle 50. The metal strip 80 fits into and is retained in the cavity 54 of the buckle 50. It is contemplated that the metal strip 80 is retained within the cavity 54 by overmolding, ultrasonic welding, heat staking, glue, or other similar method.

[0023] The buckle 50 also includes a first end 60 with an opening 62 and a stop 64 and a second end 70 with a strap passageway 72 there through. The cavity 54 in the buckle 50 positions the metal strip 80 in the center of the buckle 50 with a barb 84, 88 located at each end 60, 70, respectively, of the buckle 50. The barbs 84, 88 extend in opposite directions toward the center of the buckle 50.

[0024] As illustrated in Figs. 2-3, the buckle 50 is designed to retain a simple rectangular polymer strap 100. The strap 100 is soft enough to be gripped by the barbs 84, 88 of the metal strip 80. Initially, a strap 100 would be cut square forming a first end 102 to insure engagement with the first barb 84 at a first end 60 in the buckle 50. The first end 102 of the strap 100 is inserted in the opening 62 at the first end 60 of the buckle 50. The strap 100 is inserted until the edge 104 of the strap 100 engages the stop 64 at the first end 60 of the buckle 50. As the strap 100 is inserted, the barb 84 grips the first end 102 of the strap 100 thereby securing the first end 102 of the strap 100 in the buckle SO.

[0025] The strap 100 is then wrapped around the object or objects to be bundled (not illustrated). Once the strap 100 has been wrapped around the bundle, the strap 100 is cut to a length that would enable a tensioning tool to grip the strap 100 for tensioning. The free end 106 of the strap 100 is inserted into the second end 70 of the buckle 50. The strap 100 is feed through the strap passageway 72 in the second end 70 of the buckle 50 for tensioning. The barb 88 positioned at the second end 70 of the buckle 50 grips the strap 100 to secure the second end 106 of the strap 100. Once the strap 100 is tensioned, the excess strap is cut close to the buckle body 52, as illustrated in Figs. 3 and 4.

[0026] Figs. 5-9 illustrate an alternative embodiment of the strap and buckle system. As illustrated in Fig. 5, the buckle 150 includes a body 152 with a rectangular cavity 154 that extends along the length of the buckle 150. The cavity 154 includes a polymer boss 156 extending from a center of the buckle 150. The cavity 154 also includes a rectangular portion 158 that extends along the width of the buckle 150. The polymer boss 156 is located in the rectangular portion 158.

[0027] The buckle 150 also includes a metal strip 180. The metal strip 180 is rectangular with a first end 182 and a second end 186. Each end 182, 186 of the metal strip 180 includes a barb 184, 188, respectively. The barbs 184, 188 extend in opposite directions towards a center of the metal strip 180. The center of the metal strip 180 includes a rectangular portion 190 with a hole 192 there through. The center hole 192 in the metal strip 180 receives the polymer boss 156 extending from the buckle 150. The metal strip 180 is retained within the cavity 154 by welding or heat staking. [0028] The buckle 150 also includes a first end 160 with an opening 162 and a stop 164 and a second end 170 with a strap passageway 172 there through. The cavity 154 in the buckle 150 positions the metal strip 180 in the center of the buckle 150 with a barb 184, 188 located at each end 160, 170, respectively, of the buckle 150.

[0029] Figs. 6, 7, and 8 illustrate the metal strip 180 positioned within the cavity 154 in the buckle 150. As described above, a first end 202 of a strap 200 is inserted in the opening 162 of first end 160 of the buckle 150. The strap 200 is inserted until the edge 204 of the first end 202 of the strap 200 engages the stop 164 at the first end 160 of the buckle 150. As the strap 200 is inserted, the barb 184 grips the strap 200 thereby securing a first end 202 of the strap 200 in the buckle 150.

[0030] The strap 200 is then wrapped around the object or objects to be bundled (not illustrated). Once the strap 200 has been wrapped around the bundle, the strap 200 is cut to a length that would enable a tensioning tool to grip the strap 200 for tensioning. The free end 206 of the strap 200 is inserted into the second end 170 of the buckle 150. The strap 200 is fed through the strap passageway 172 at the second end 170 of the buckle 150 for tensioning. The barb 188 positioned at the second end 170 of the buckle 150 grips the strap 200 to secure the second free end 206 of the strap 200. Once the strap 200 has been tensioned and secured, the excess strap is cut close to the buckle body 152, as illustrated in Figs. 8 and 9.

[0031] Figs. 10-14 illustrate another alternative embodiment of the strap and buckle system. As illustrated in Fig. 10, the buckle 250 includes a body 252 with a rectangular cavity 254 that extends along the length of the buckle 250 with two polymer bosses 256 extending from a center line of the buckle 250. The cavity 254 also includes two rectangular portions 258 that extend along the width of the buckle 250. One polymer boss 256 is located in each of the rectangular portions 258. The buckle 250 also includes a metal strip 280. The metal strip 280 is rectangular with a first end 282 and a second end 286. Each end 282, 286 of the metal strip 280 includes a barb 284, 288, respectively. The barbs 284, 288 extend in opposite directions toward a center of the metal strip 280. The metal strip 280 includes rectangular portions 290 with holes 292 there through. Each hole 292 in the metal strip 280 receives one of the polymer bosses 256 extending from the buckle 250. The metal strip 280 is retained within the cavity 254 by welding or heat staking.

[0032] The buckle 250 also includes a first end 260 with an opening 262 and a stop 264 and a second end 270 with a strap passageway 272 there through. The first end 260 of the buckle includes a ramp 266 for facilitating the strap 300 to be fed through the strap passageway 272.

[0033] Figs. 11, 12, and 13 illustrate the metal strip 280 positioned within the cavity 254 in the buckle. The cavity 254 in the buckle 250 positions the metal strip 280 in the center of the buckle 250 with a barb 284, 288 located near each end 260, 270, respectively, of the buckle 250.

[0034] As described above, a first end 302 of a strap 300 is inserted in the opening 262 at the first end 260 of the buckle. The strap 300 is inserted until the first end 302 of the strap 300 engages the stop 264 at the first end 260 of the buckle 250. As the strap 300 is inserted, the barb 284 grips the first end 302 of the strap 300 thereby securing one end of the strap 300 in the buckle 250.

[0035] The strap 300 is then wrapped around the object or objects to be bundled (not illustrated). Once the strap 300 has been wrapped around the bundle, the strap 300 is cut to a length that would enable a tensioning tool to grip the strap 300 for tensioning. The second end 306 of the strap is inserted into the second end 270 of the buckle 250. The strap 300 is fed through the strap passageway 272 at the second end 270 of the buckle 250. The ramps 266 facilitate feeding the strap 300 through the strap passageway 272. The barb 288 at the second end 270 of the buckle 250 grips the strap 300 to secure the second end 306 of the strap 300. Once the strap 300 is tensioned, the excess strap is cut close to the buckle body 252, as illustrated in Figs. 13 and 14. [0036] The strap and buckle system of the present invention has a low profile with no exposed sharp edges and accommodates a nearly limitless bundle size. The strap and buckle system is also easily scalable to fit various applications.

[0037] Furthermore, while the particular preferred embodiments of the present invention have been shown and described, it will be obvious to those skilled in the art that changes and modifications may be made without departing from the teaching of the invention. The matter set forth in the foregoing description and accompanying drawings is offered by way of illustration only and not as limitation.