Clasp for securing flexible bands

• US 9,339,408 B2
• Filed: 10/19/2012
• Issued: 05/17/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 10/21/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Endur ID, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Endur ID, Inc.
• Inventors: Chadwick, Robert
• Primary Examiner(s): Sandy, Robert J
• Assistant Examiner(s): SULLIVAN, MATTHEW J
• Application Number:
  US13/656,206
• Publication Number:
  US 20130097824A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,306 Days
• Field of Search: 244/64, 246/33, 241/68, 244/78, 24465-467, 244/57, 245/29, 24/31.2, 244/69, 245/30, 245/59, 245/45, 245/43, 245/42, 245/31, 244/70, 406/33
• US Class Current: 1/1
• 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 including a base;

a tongue extending from the base in parallel with the shell, including at least one tongue protrusion extending from a tongue back surface toward the shell;

a tongue receiving slot defined between the tongue and the shell, and within which the tongue protrusion extends; and

a positive interlocking mechanism and a negative interlocking mechanism, wherein, when interlocked, a positive interlocking mechanism of one interlocking member permanently interlocks with a negative interlocking mechanism of the other interlocking member to secure overlapped portions of the flexible band within the clasp, wherein the overlapped portions of the flexible band are compressed by and between the tongue protrusions of the tongues of the first and second interlocking members, and

wherein, when interlocked, the first and second interlocking members define a path from one side of the clasp to an opposite side of the clasp through which the flexible band passes such that the flexible band extends through a first opening in the one side of the clasp and a second opening in the opposite side of the clasp.

2. The clasp of claim 1, wherein, when interlocked, the clasp defines an internal serpentine path between the tongues that compresses and secures the flexible band.

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

4. 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.

5. The clasp of claim 4, wherein:

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

the two recess are formed on outer portions of the shell.

6. The clasp of claim 4, 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.

7. 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 two ribs extending from the inner surface and forming opposing sides of the tongue receiving slot.

8. The clasp of claim 1, wherein each tongue further comprises at least one protrusion extending from a back surface of the tongue into the tongue receiving slot.

9. The clasp of claim 1, wherein, when interlocked, the protrusions of tongues of the first and second interlocking members align to compress the band.

10. The clasp of claim 1, wherein the tongue of each of the first and second interlocking members is configured to slidably engage the tongue receiving slot of the other interlocking member.

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

12. The clasp of claim 1, wherein, when the first and second interlocking members are interlocked, a portion of the flexible band is disposed between and in parallel with the tongues and outer shells of the first and second interlocking members.

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

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

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

16. An interlocking member, comprising:

a shell including a base;

a tongue extending from the base in parallel with the shell, including at least one tongue protrusion extending from a tongue back surface toward the shell;

a tongue receiving slot defined between the tongue and the shell and within which the tongue protrusion extends; and

a positive interlocking mechanism and a negative interlocking mechanism,

wherein the interlocking member is configured to interlock with a second interlocking member to form a clasp configured to permanently secure overlapped portions of a flexible band passing through the clasp from one side to an opposite side, wherein the overlapped portions of the flexible band are compressed by and between the tongue protrusions of the tongues of the first and second interlocking members.

17. The interlocking member of claim 16, wherein the interlocking member further comprises a radio frequency identification (RFID) chip.

18. The interlocking member of claim 16, 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 second interlocking member.

19. The interlocking member of claim 18, wherein:

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

the two recess are formed on outer portions of the shell.

20. The interlocking member of claim 18, 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.

21. A method of permanently securing a flexible band, comprising:

providing a clasp comprising first and second interlocking members, each interlocking member comprising;

a shell including a base;

a tongue extending from the base in parallel with the shell, including at least one tongue protrusion extending from a tongue back surface toward the shell;

a tongue receiving slot defined between the tongue and the shell and within which the tongue protrusion extends; and

a positive interlocking mechanism and a negative interlocking mechanism;

disposing overlapped portions of a flexible band in a channel passing through the tongue receiving slot of the first interlocking member; and

permanently combining the second interlocking member with the first interlocking member so that the secured flexible band passes through the clasp from one side to an opposite side and the secured flexible band extends through a first opening in the one side of the clasp and a second opening in the opposite side of the clasp,

wherein the combining includes compressing the overlapped portions of the flexible band by and between the tongue protrusions of the tongues of the first and second interlocking members to prevent the flexible band from being pulled through the clasp.

22. The method of claim 21, wherein permanently combining the first and second interlocking members comprises:

positioning the tongue of each interlocking member within the tongue receiving slot of the other interlocking member; and

forcing together the first and second interlocking members until the positive interlocking mechanism of each of the first and second interlocking mechanism interlocks with the negative interlocking mechanism of the other interlocking member.

23. The method of claim 21, wherein permanently combining the first and second interlocking members comprises:

compressing and securing the flexible band into a serpentine path within the clasp.

24. The method of claim 21, wherein at least one of the first and second interlocking members comprises an active RFID chip.

25. The method of claim 21, wherein the positive interlocking mechanism comprises two interlocking hooks and the negative interlocking mechanism comprises two interlocking recesses, and wherein permanently combining the first and second interlocking members comprises:

permanently receiving the two interlocking hooks of the second interlocking member into the two interlocking recesses of the first interlocking member; and

permanently receiving the two interlocking hooks of the first interlocking member into the two interlocking recesses of the second interlocking member.