Clasp for securing flexible bands

• US 10,188,176 B2
• Filed: 04/13/2016
• Issued: 01/29/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 10/21/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Endur Id, Endur ID, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Endur Id
• Inventors: Chadwick, Robert
• Primary Examiner(s): Batson, Victor D
• Assistant Examiner(s): Sullivan, Matthew J
• Application Number:
  US15/097,556
• Publication Number:
  US 20160219987A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,021 Days
• CPC Class Codes: A44B 11/06 with clamping devices
• CPC Class Codes: A44B 11/10 sliding wedge
• CPC Class Codes: A44B 11/25 with two or more separable parts
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 5/3776 by means of a blanket or belts to chairs only A61F5/3792
• CPC Class Codes: B65B 61/202 for attaching articles to the outside of a container B65B61/205 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G09F 3/005 Identification bracelets, e.g. secured to the arm of a person
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 24/45194 for belt or strap
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/4995 Nonthreaded

Abstract

A clasp is configured to permanently interlock around a flexible strip of material and includes first and second interlocking members. Each interlocking member includes two hooks and two recesses. Each of the hooks of the first side are arranged to engage and interlock with one of the recesses of the second side and each of the hooks of the second side are arranged to interlock with one of the recesses of the first side, so as to prevent movement between the interlocking members when interlocked.

Claims

1. A clasp configured to permanently secure a flexible band, comprising:

first and second interlocking members, each interlocking member comprising;

a shell;

a tongue;

a base from which the shell and the tongue extend substantially in parallel; and

a positive interlocking mechanism and a negative interlocking mechanism, wherein, when interlocked, the positive and negative interlocking mechanisms of the first and second interlocking members permanently interlock to form the clasp having a first opening, a second opening opposite the first opening, and a path extending through the clasp between the first and second openings for pass through of a flexible band permanently secured by compression between the tongues of the first and second interlocking members, wherein each tongue further comprises at least one protrusion extending from a back surface of the tongue toward the shell.

2. The clasp of claim 1, wherein a tongue receiving slot is defined between the tongue and the shell of each of the first and second interlocking members, wherein each tongue receiving slot is constructed to receive the tongue of the other interlocking member.

3. The clasp of claim 1, wherein the first and second openings extend in a direction parallel to the tongues of the first and second interlocking members.

4. The clasp of claim 1, wherein the flexible band is disposed in parallel with the shell and tongue of each interlocking member when the flexible band is secured in the clasp.

5. The clasp of claim 1, wherein, when interlocked, the protrusions of tongues of the first and second interlocking members compress and secure the flexible band therebetween.

6. The clasp of claim 5, wherein the path is an internal serpentine path formed between the protrusions of the tongues.

7. The clasp of claim 1, wherein the first and second interlocking members are identical.

8. The clasp of claim 1, wherein:

the positive interlocking mechanism comprises two interlocking hooks;

the negative interlocking mechanism comprises two interlocking recesses configured to permanently receive the two interlocking hooks of the other interlocking member.

9. The clasp of claim 8, wherein:

the two interlocking hooks are outwardly projecting protrusions of the tongue; and

the two interlocking recesses are formed on outer portions of the shell proximal to the first and second openings, respectively.

10. The clasp of claim 8, wherein each interlocking hook comprises an angled side configured to facilitate insertion into a corresponding interlocking recess and a stop side configured to prohibit removal of the interlocking hook from the corresponding interlocking recess.

11. The clasp of claim 1, wherein each shell comprises:

an inner surface opposite the tongue and forming a portion of the tongue receiving slot; and

at least one rib extending from the inner surface toward and in parallel with the tongue and into the tongue receiving slot.

12. The clasp of claim 1, wherein each shell comprises two ribs forming guides arranged to slidably receive therebetween the tongue of the other interlocking member.

13. The clasp of claim 1, wherein the flexible band is a flexible wristband.

14. The clasp of claim 1, wherein the flexible band is a flexible identification band.

15. The clasp of claim 1, wherein the flexible band comprises at least one of a strip of cables, plastic, and fibers.

16. The clasp of claim 1, wherein the clasp is constructed substantially of at least one of plastic, resin, and metal.

17. The clasp of claim 1, wherein at least one of the first and second interlocking members comprises a radio frequency identification (RFID) chip.

18. A clasp configured to permanently secure a flexible band, comprising:

first and second interlocking members, each interlocking member comprising;

a shell;

a tongue;

a base from which the shell and the tongue extend substantially in parallel;

a tongue receiving slot defined between the tongue and the shell, the tongue receiving slot constructed to receive the tongue of the other interlocking member; and

a positive interlocking mechanism and a negative interlocking mechanism,

wherein, when interlocked, the positive and negative interlocking mechanisms of the first and second interlocking members permanently interlock to form the clasp having a first opening, a second opening opposite the first opening, and a path extending through the clasp between the first and second openings for pass through of a flexible band permanently secured by compression between the tongues of the first and second interlocking members,

wherein each tongue further comprises at least one protrusion extending from a back surface of the tongue into the tongue receiving slot, and

when interlocked, the protrusions of tongues of the first and second interlocking members compress and secure the flexible band therebetween.

19. The clasp of claim 18, wherein the flexible band is a flexible identification band and the clasp is configured to permanently secure overlapping portions of the flexible band.