Reducer adjuster buckles

Abstract

A reducer adjuster buckle is provided for use with flexible webbing tapes. The reducer adjuster buckle has a wide-tape body portion for connection to a relatively wide flexible webbing tape. The reducer adjuster buckle also has a tape adjuster body portion for connection to a relatively narrow flexible webbing tape. The tape adjuster body portion allows the effective length of the narrow flexible webbing tape to be shortened or lengthened. The reducer adjuster buckle is a unitary buckle that provides the features of both reducing a wide flexible webbing tape to a narrow flexible webbing tape and adjusting the effective length of the narrow flexible webbing tape.

1 . A buckle for use with first and second tapes having different widths, comprising a buckle body having a tape reducer portion and a tape adjuster portion, the tape reducer portion adapted to connect to the first tape, and the tape adjuster portion adapted to adjustably connect to the second tape, the tape adjuster portion having a bridge between first and second tape receiving adjuster holes; and 
 a tape restraining shoulder positioned juxtaposed the second tape receiving adjuster hole, the first tape receiving adjuster hole being free of a tape restraining member.    
     
     
         2 . The buckle of  claim 1 , wherein the tape reducer portion has a tape receiving hole, the tape receiving hole of the tape reducer portion having a greater width than widths of the first and second tape receiving adjuster holes.  
     
     
         3 . The buckle of  claim 1 , wherein the buckle body is a one-piece molded buckle body.  
     
     
         4 . The buckle of  claim 1 , wherein the tape reducer portion and the tape adjuster portions are rigidly connected together.  
     
     
         5 . A reducer adjuster buckle, comprising: 
 a first tape connection portion having a first tape-receiving opening;    a second tape connection portion connected to the first tape connection portion and having a tape adjuster portion having first and second tape-receiving adjuster openings, and    a tape restraining member positioned juxtaposed one of the first and second tape-receiving adjuster openings, the other one of the first and second tape-receiving adjuster openings being free of a tape restraining member.    
     
     
         6 . The reducer adjuster buckle of  claim 5 , wherein 
 the first tape connection portion is a wide-tape body portion and the first tape-receiving opening is a wide-tape opening; and    the second tape connection portion is a narrow-tape body portion and the first and second tape-receiving adjuster openings are first and second narrow-tape openings.    
     
     
         7 . The reducer adjuster buckle of  claim 5 , wherein the first tape-receiving opening is wider than the first and second tape-receiving adjuster openings.  
     
     
         8 . The reducer adjuster buckle of  claim 5  during use with a wide tape and a narrow tape in which the wide tape is wider than the narrow tape, wherein 
 the first tape connection portion accepts the wide tape through the first tape-receiving opening;  
 the second tape connection body portion accepts the narrow tape through the first and second tape-receiving adjuster openings; and  
 the reducer adjuster buckle connects the wide tape to the narrow tape and adjusts an effective length of the narrow tape.  
 
     
     
         9 . The reducer adjuster buckle of  claim 5 , wherein the first and second tape connection portions form a one-piece molded buckle body.  
     
     
         10 . The reducer adjuster buckle of  claim 5 , wherein the first and second tape connection portions are rigidly connected together.  
     
     
         11 . A buckle assembly, comprising: 
 a buckle having a tape connection portion and a tape adjuster portion;    a first flexible tape connected to the tape connection portion; and    a second flexible tape connected to the tape adjuster portion and looped upon itself by extending through a first tape adjuster hole, around a bridge, through a second tape adjuster hole and back facing itself such that an effective length of the second flexible tape can be adjusted.    
     
     
         12 . The buckle assembly of  claim 11 , wherein the first flexible tape has a greater width than a width of the second flexible tape.  
     
     
         13 . The buckle assembly of  claim 11 , wherein the connection portion of the buckle has a first tape connection hole receiving the first flexible tape.  
     
     
         14 . The buckle assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the restraining shoulder is offset from the bridge in a direction extending away from a bottom side of the buckle.  
     
     
         15 . The reducer adjuster buckle of  claim 5 , wherein the tape restraining member is offset from a bridge in a direction extending away from a bottom side of the reducer adjuster buckle.  
     
     
         16 . The buckle assembly of  claim 11 , further comprising a tape restraining shoulder at the second tape adjuster hole, the first tape adjuster hole being free of a tape restraining member.  
     
     
         17 . The buckle assembly of  claim 16 , wherein the tape restraining shoulder is offset from the bridge in a direction extending away from a bottom side of the buckle.