Miniaturized Harnessing Device

This invention relates to the harnessing of items and more particularly to the harnessing of items using miniaturized devices.

The harnessing devices that are in common use are formed by a strap that is insertable into an attached and apertured head which contains an internal tang that engages the strap. When a harnessing device is small, difficulties are often encountered in inserting the end of the strap into the head. Even after the end has been inserted a significant resistance is often encountered until the tang reaches the first engagement member.

Accordingly it is an object of the invention to facilitate the harnessing of objects using harnessing devices. A related object is to facilitate the harnessing of objects using small scale harnessing devices.

Another object is to facilitate the insertion of straps into harnessing devices. A related object is to facilitate the insertion of straps into small scale harnessing devices.

Representative harnessing devices are disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,816,878 (June 18, 1974); 3,766,608 (Oct. 23, 1973); 3,731,347 (May 8, 1973); 3,537,146 (Nov. 3, 1972); 3,660,869 (May 9, 1972); 3,654,669 (Apr. 11, 1972) and 3,588,962 (June 29, 1971); 3,186,047, June 1, 1962); 3,224,056 (Dec. 21, 1965) 3,486,201 (Dec. 30, 1969); 3,590,442 (July 6, 1971); 3,660,869 (May 9, 1972); 3,855,669 (Dec. 24, 1974); 3,924,299 (Dec. 9, 1975); 3,967,345 and British Pat. No. 1.201.483 (Aug. 5, 1970).

In accomplishing the foregoing and related objects, the invention provides a harnessing device in which the end of the strap inserted into a channel of a locking head is provided with a surface discontinuity extending from members of the strap engageable in the head over an interval greater than the distance between the members.

In accordance with one aspect of the invention the discontinuity extends towards the head from an end that is as thick as the unobstructed channel in the head.

In accordance with another aspect of the invention the discontinuity is in the form of a serrated ramp that can be planar or curved.

In accordance with a further aspect of the invention, the members engaged in the head are regular serrations and the ramp is about the length of two regular serrations, and has an angle of inclination with respect to the strap of between about 10 and 30.degree..

In accordance with a still further aspect of the invention, the discontinuity at the end of the strap inserted into a channel of a locking head is serrated to further facilitate the entry of the strap into the channel, and also to reduce any tendency for the strap to slip from the head during insertion.

Other aspects of the invention will become apparent from a description of several illustrative embodiments, taken in conjunction with the drawings, in which:

FIG. 1A is a perspective view of a miniaturized harnessing device in accordance with the invention;

FIG. 1B is a sectional view of a portion of a prior art miniaturized harnessing device; and

FIG. 2 is a partial cross-sectional view of a modified device of FIG. 1A- with its strap being inserted into its head.

As shown in FIG. 1A a miniaturized harnessing device 10 in accordance with the invention includes a head 11 and an attached strap 12. The free end 12f of the strap 12 is insertable into a channel 11c of the head 11 to engage a locking tang 11t, which may be stationary or deflectable.

When harnessing devices of the type shown in FIG. 1A are miniaturized, it is important for their free ends 12f to be easily insertable into the channel 11c of the head 11. In attempting to meet this objective the prior art has provided a strap 12' of the type shown in FIG. 1B, with a region of gradual taper 12'g extending from the end 12'f to the beginning of serrations 12's. When the end 12'f is inserted into a locking head (not shown) the tang encounters increasing resistance and the strap is difficult to harness. In addition the long taper 12'g tends to have an adverse effect on the locking tang, which is typically of plastic material, such as nylon or polypropylene, and undergoes plastic deformation. On occasion, the temporary deformation prevents the locking tang from making proper engagement with the strap.

The difficulties encountered with the prior art have been overcome by modifying the end of the harnessing device strap as shown in FIG. 1A. Instead of having a gradual taper 12'g on the opposite side of the strap 12' from the serrations 12's, the invention provides a shortened ramp 12r on the same side as the serrations 12s. It has been found that the pitch of the ramp should exceed the pitch of the serrations and is desirably approximately the length of two serrations. As a result of having a short ramp on the same side as the serrations, the strap is easily inserted, yet the locking tang 11t is sufficiently gradually brought into contact with the serrations and is able to avoid detrimental plastic deformation.

As shown in FIG. 2 a strap 12 with a modified tip in accordance with the invention includes projections 12p that facilitate gripping of the end 12f. In addition the ramp 12r is serrated and has a radius of curvature R.sub.1 which further tends to mitigate detrimental deformation of the locking tang 12t. The particular locking tang shown in FIG. 2 is deflectable and includes teeth 11h that mate with the serrations 12s of the strap. It is to be noted that the end of the strap 12 which extends between the tip 12t and the ramp 12r has a substantially uniform thickness t which is essentially the same dimension as the maximum unobstructed height h of the channel 12c. As a result, the strap 12 is readily inserted into the channel 12c until the tang 11t encounters the ramp 12r. At that point the tang 11t begins to be gradually deflected out of the head 11 until the serrations of the tang engage corresponding serrations of the strap and ramp. The serrations of the ramp 12r reduce any tendency for the strap to slip from the head during insertion. Once the tang 11t has been operated, further operation is readily achieved by pulling on the free end of the strap.

While various aspects of the invention have been set forth by the drawings and the specifications, it is to be understood that the foregoing detailed description is for illustration only and that various changes in parts, as well as the substitution of equivalent constituents for those shown and described, may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as set forth in the appended claims.