Web adjuster for plastic coated web

• US 5,311,653 A
• Filed: 03/11/1993
• Issued: 05/17/1994
• Est. Priority Date: 03/11/1993
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Indiana Mills & Manufacturing Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Indiana Mills & Manufacturing Incorporated
• Inventors: Merrick, David D.
• Primary Examiner(s): Sakran, Victor N.
• Application Number:
  US08/029,671
• Time in Patent Office: 432 Days
• Field of Search: 24/196, 24/171, 24/170, 24/68 C, 24/68 D
• US Class Current: 24/196
• CPC Class Codes: A44B 11/10 sliding wedge
• CPC Class Codes: A44B 11/2557 with strap length adjustment
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 24/4019 Sliding part or wedge
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 24/4084 Looped strap

Abstract

A web adjuster for use with a plastic coated web. An adjuster frame includes a pair of slotted upstanding walls which slidably receive a roller bar extending therebetween. A plastic sleeve is rotatably mounted to the bar and includes a plurality of flexible ribs. The web extends around the sleeve which acts as a bearing relative to the bar. A stop edge is contactable by the web as the bar and sleeve move thereto locking the web to the adjuster.

Claims

1. A web adjuster comprising:

a frame with a pair of spaced apart slots and having a web stop extending across said frame;

a bar with opposite ends slidably mounted in said slots to receive a web extending at least partially around said bar, said bar movable in said slots with said web to and from said web stop; and

,

first means mounted on said bar and located between said bar and said web operable to position said web apart from said bar allowing relative motion between said web and said bar when said web is positioned apart from said web stop and further operable under web pressure to allow contact between said web and said bar to limit relative motion between said web and said bar as said bar forces said web against said web stop.

2. The web adjuster of claim 1 wherein:

said means is movably mounted to said bar providing a bearing on said bar upon which said web may move relative to said bar.

3. The web adjuster of claim 1 wherein:

said means includes a plurality of separators extending across said bar and normally having a first spacing between separators when said web is spaced apart from said bar, said separators movable under web pressure to increase said first spacing between at least two such separators allowing contact between said web and said bar limiting relative motion between said web and said bar.

4. The web adjuster of claim 3 wherein:

said means is movably mounted to said bar providing a bearing on said bar upon which said web may move relative to said bar.

5. The web adjuster of claim 3 wherein:

said bar is cylindrical;

said means includes a sleeve freely rotatably on said bar which extends therethrough, said sleeve has a longitudinal axis of rotation with a plurality of slots extending in the direction of said axis, said slots each has a width which is said first spacing with said separators located between said slots.

6. The web adjuster of claim 5 and further comprising:

a buckle tongue extending outwardly from said frame oppositely of said web.

7. The web adjuster of claim 5 and further comprising:

handle means extending from said frame operable when moved to move said frame skewedly relative to said web moving said web apart from said web stop and allowing relative motion between said web and said bar.

8. A web adjuster comprising:

a frame with a pair of upstanding walls with a pair of spaced apart slots formed therein;

a bar extending between said upstanding walls and having opposite ends slidably mounted in said slots for a web to extend at least partially around said bar; and

,

a separator mounted on said bar and located between said bar and said web to separate said web apart from said bar allowing said web to move relative to said bar, said separator is immovable on said bar to allow contact between said web and said bar to limit relative motion between said web and said bar.

9. The web adjuster of claim 8 wherein:

said separator includes a plurality of ribs normally spaced apart a first distance holding said web apart from said bar, said ribs are flexible under web pressure to decrease said first distance between at least two of said ribs to allow said web to contact said bar limiting motion between said web and said bar.

10. The web adjuster of claim 9 wherein:

said separator is a sleeve movably mounted on said bar which extends therethrough, said sleeve has said ribs formed thereon with slots formed between said ribs through which said web may contact said bar under sufficient web pressure.

11. The web adjuster of claim 10 and further comprising:

a buckle tongue extending outwardly from said frame.

12. A web adjuster comprising:

a frame with a pair of upstanding walls with a pair of spaced apart slots formed therein;

a bar extending between said upstanding walls and having opposite ends slidably mounted in said slots;

a web extending at least partially around said bar; and

,

separator means mounted on said bar and located between said bar and said web to separate said web apart from said bar allowing said web to move relative to said bar, said separator means is movable on said bar to allow contact between said web and said bar to limit relative motion between said web and said bar.

13. The web adjuster of claim 12 wherein:

said web is plastic encapsulated to facilitate cleansing thereof.

14. The web adjuster of claim 12 wherein:

said separator means is operable to rotatable move on said bar to carry said web allowing relative motion between said bar and said web and is further operable to move under web pressure to provide a vacated space between said web and said bar allowing web contact with said bar limiting relative motion therebetween.

15. The web adjuster of claim 14 wherein:

said frame includes a base extending between and connected to said upstanding wall, said base includes a stop surface extending perpendicularly to and between said upstanding walls.

16. The web adjuster of claim 15 wherein:

said separator means includes a cylindrical sleeve rotatably mounted on said bar which extends therethrough, said sleeve includes a pair of disc shaped opposite ends located inwardly and adjacent said upstanding walls and further includes a plurality of spaced apart flexible ribs extending between said disc shaped ends, said ribs normally separating said web apart from said bar but movable further apart under web pressure as said bar forces said web against said stop surface.

17. The web adjuster of claim 16 wherein:

said separator means is operable to allow said sleeve to rotate on said bar when said web is perpendicularly positioned relative to said base and is further operable to allow said sleeve with bar to move toward said stop surface under web pressure when said web is positioned to extend in the general direction of said base.

18. The web adjuster of claim 17 and further comprising:

handle means extending from said frame operable when moved to move said base skewedly relative to said web moving said web apart from said stop surface and allowing relative motion between said web and said bar.