Web adjuster device

• US 7,010,836 B2
• Filed: 02/17/2004
• Issued: 03/14/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 02/17/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Indiana Mills & Manufacturing Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Indiana Mills & Manufacturing Incorporated
• Inventors: Acton, Aaron J., Beck, W. Patrick
• Primary Examiner(s): SANDY, ROBERT JOHN
• Application Number:
  US10/780,164
• Publication Number:
  US 20040158955A1
• Time in Patent Office: 756 Days
• Field of Search: 241/70, 241/71, 241/96
• US Class Current: 24/265.0BC
• CPC Class Codes: A44B 11/2557 with strap length adjustment
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 24/4016 Pivoted part or lever
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 24/4086 Looped strap
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 24/4736 Buckle connected

Abstract

A web adjuster for use with a web. A clamping member and a bearing member are mounted to a web adjuster frame and movable relative to the frame about a common axis. The web extends at least partially around the bearing member. Applying tension to the web moves the clamping member toward a web stop on the frame to trap the web between the clamping member and the web stop.

Claims

1. A web adjuster device comprising:

a frame comprising

a pair of spaced apart side walls, and

a first web engaging surface extending transversely between the side walls;

a bearing member movably mounted to the frame between the pair of sidewalls;

a web clamping member movably mounted to the frame between the pair of side walls, the web clamping member defining a second web engaging surface and a third web engaging surface separate from the second web engaging surface;

wherein the frame is configured to receive a web extending between the side walls, at least partially around the bearing member and the web clamping member, and between the first and second web engaging surfaces and adjacent to or in contact with the third web engaging surface; and

wherein the third web engaging surface is configured to be responsive to a first direction of web travel through the web adjuster device to urge the second web engaging surface toward the first web engaging surface to trap the web therebetween.

2. The web adjuster device of claim 1 further comprising a central axis extending transversely between the side walls and wherein the web clamping member and the bearing member each move about the central axis.

3. The web adjuster device of claim 2 wherein the web clamping member rotates about the central axis.

4. The web adjuster device of claim 3 wherein the bearing member rotates about the central axis.

5. The web adjuster of claim 4 further comprising an elongate member mounted to the frame between the pair of sidewalls, the elongate member including a longitudinal axis that is coaxial with the central axis and wherein the elongate member mounts the web clamping member and the bearing member to the frame.

6. The web adjuster of claim 5 wherein the bearing member extends radially beyond the web clamping member.

7. The web adjuster device of claim 5 wherein the first and second web engaging surfaces are configured to grip a web extending therebetween as the second web engaging surface of the web clamping member is forced toward the first web engaging surface of the frame.

8. The web adjuster device of claim 7 wherein the web clamping member is generally wedge shaped and includes a protrusion extending opposite the second web engaging surface, the protrusion defining the third web engaging surface of the web clamping member.

9. The web adjuster device of claim 7 wherein applying a force to the web in the first direction forces the web into contact with the third web engaging surface to rotate the web clamping member toward the first web engaging surface to trap the web between the first web engaging surface and the second web engaging surface.

10. The web adjuster device of claim 7 wherein movement of the web in a second direction generally opposite the first direction allows the first and second web engaging surfaces to move away from each other to allow the web to move relatively freely through the web adjuster device relative to the frame.

11. The web adjuster device of claim 7 wherein the frame includes a handle portion configured for manual manipulation of the frame in order to separate from one another the first and second web engaging surfaces to allow movement of the web relative to the frame.

12. The web adjuster device of claim 7 wherein the web adjuster device is rigidly mounted to a platform.

13. The web adjuster device of claim 7 further comprising a coupling portion extending outwardly from the frame.

14. The web adjuster device of claim 13 wherein the coupling portion comprises a buckle configured to receive a tongue.

15. The web adjuster device of claim 13 wherein the coupling portion comprises a tongue configured to mate with a buckle.

16. The web adjuster device of claim 15 wherein the frame lies in a first plane and the tongue extends outwardly from the frame in a second plane.

17. The web adjuster device of claim 7 further comprising a biasing mechanism mounted in contact with the web clamping member and the frame, the biasing mechanism biasing the second web engaging surface of the web clamping member toward the first web engaging surface of the frame.

18. A web adjuster device comprising:

a frame with a pair of spaced apart side walls and having a coupling portion and a web stop extending across the frame;

an elongate member mounted between the spaced apart side walls;

a bearing member movably mounted on the elongate member which extends through the bearing member, the bearing member having a longitudinal axis of rotation;

means for clamping movably mounted to the frame;

a web extending at least partially around each of the bearing member and the means for clamping and passing between the means for clamping and the web stop;

the web clamping member responsive to a first direction of travel of the web relative to the frame to urge the means for clamping toward the web stop to trap the web therebetween.

19. The web adjuster device of claim 18 wherein the web is coated to facilitate cleansing of the web.

20. The web adjuster device of claim 19 wherein the web is fluorescent.

21. A web adjuster device configured to clamp a web having a free end and a tension end when tension is applied to the tension end of the webbing, the adjuster device comprising:

a webbing guide;

a pin mounted to the webbing guide;

a web clamping member mounted by the pin to the webbing guide and movable with respect to the webbing guide;

a bearing member mounted by the pin to the webbing guide and movable with respect to the webbing guide, the bearing member extending radially beyond the web clamping member;

a coupling portion extending from the webbing guide;

a locking portion on the web clamping member which in a locked position clamps the webbing between the locking portion and the webbing guide to prevent movement of the webbing through the adjuster when tension is applied to the tension end;

a release actuator to cause movement of the webbing guide relative to the web clamping member to separate the webbing guide and the web clamping member wherein the webbing is released to allow it to move in either direction through the adjuster device; and

a projection on said web clamping member that abuts against the webbing between the locking portion and the tension end thereof so that the webbing when tensioned exerts a force against the projection which urges or causes rotation of the clamping element in a direction that holds or moves the locking portion in or into a locked position.

22. A web adjuster device comprising:

a frame comprising

a pair of spaced apart side walls, and

a first web engaging surface extending transversely between the side walls;

a web clamping member movably mounted to the frame between the pair of side walls, the web clamping member having an external peripheral surface defining a second web engaging surface and a third web engaging surface separate from the second web engaging surface;

wherein the frame is configured to receive a web extending between the side walls, at least partially around the web clamping member, and between the first and second web engaging surfaces and adjacent to or in contact with the third web engaging surface; and

wherein the third web engaging surface is configured to be responsive to a first direction of web travel through the web adjuster device to urge the second web engaging surface toward the first web engaging surface to trap the web therebetween.

23. A web adjuster device comprising:

a frame comprising

a pair of spaced apart side walls, and

a first web engaging surface extending transversely between the side walls;

a web clamping member mounted to the frame between the pair of side walls and fixed from linear movement relative to the sidewalls, the web clamping member defining a second web engaging surface and a third web engaging surface separate from the second web engaging surface;

wherein the frame is configured to receive a web extending between the side walls, at least partially around the web clamping member, and between the first and second web engaging surfaces and adjacent to or in contact with the third web engaging surface; and

wherein the third web engaging surface is configured to be responsive to a first direction of web travel through the web adjuster device to urge the second web engaging surface toward the first web engaging surface to trap the web therebetween.