Retainer device for free loose ends of tightening or fastening straps or belts, or the like, particularly in articles for wearing, and buoyancy compensator vest having such a device

Abstract

A device ( 7, 8, 10 ) is provided for retaining free loose ends of tightening or fastening straps ( 5 ) or belts, or the like, particularly in articles for wearing, and more particularly in buoyancy compensator vests for underwater diving. A free end is a part of a segment of a strap or belt ( 5 ) which is secured by the other end to a first part ( 101 ) of the article, which first part ( 101 ) is designed to be connected to a second part ( 102 ) of the article, by said segment of the strap or belt ( 5 ). The second part ( 102 ) is connected in an intermediate portion of the segment of the strap or belt ( 5 ), whereby said segment of the strap or belt ( 5 ) is divided into a portion ( 105 ) for connecting the two parts ( 101, 102 ) of the article, and a free loose portion ( 205 ). The segment of the strap or belt ( 5 ) is connected to said first part ( 101 ) in a permanent manner, a widened member ( 7, 8, 10 ) being provided for fastening and retaining an end of the segment of the strap ( 5 ) to the corresponding first part ( 101 ). The member particularly is an elongated plastic ring ( 8, 10 ), and which member ( 8, 10 ) has an opening through which the other free loose end of the segment of the strap or belt ( 5 ) passes and is retained.

1 . A device for retaining free loose ends of tightening or fastening straps ( 5 ) or belts, or the like, particularly in articles for wearing, comprising a strap or belt ( 5 ) including a segment and opposite free ends, one free end being a part of the segment of the strap or belt ( 5 ) secured by another free end to a first part ( 101 ) of the article, said first part ( 101 ) being connectable to a second part ( 102 ) of the article by said segment of the strap or belt ( 5 ), said second part ( 102 ) being connected in an intermediate portion of the segment of the strap or belt ( 5 ), said segment of the strap or belt ( 5 ) is divided into a free loose portion ( 205 ) and into a portion ( 105 ) for connecting said first and second parts ( 101 ,  102 ) of the article, wherein the segment of the strap or belt ( 5 ) is connected to said first Dart ( 101 ) in a permanent manner, a widened member ( 7 ,  8 ,  10 ) being provided for fastening and retaining an end of the segment of the strap or belt ( 5 ) to the corresponding first part ( 101 ), and said widened member ( 7 ) has an opening through which the free loose portion ( 205 ) of the strap or belt ( 5 ) passes and is retained.  
   
   
       2 . A retainer device as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the opening of the widened fastener and retainer member ( 7 ,  8 ,  10  is such that, when the free loose end ( 205 ) of the segment of the strap or belt ( 5 ) is inserted in the opening, it causes this free loose end ( 205 ) to pass from one side of the connecting portion ( 101 ) of the segment of the strap or belt ( 5 ) to the opposite side of said connecting portion ( 105 ) of the segment of the strap or belt ( 5 ).  
   
   
       3 . A retainer device as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the opening of the widened fastener and retainer member ( 7 ,  8 ,  10 ) is such that, when the free loose end ( 205 ) of the segment of the strap or belt ( 5 ) is inserted in the opening, the whole free loose portion ( 205 ) is situated on one side of the connecting portion ( 105 ) of the segment of the strap or belt ( 5 ).  
   
   
       4 . A retainer device as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein said opening is either substantially on the same plane as the two faces of the connecting portion ( 105 ) of the segment of the strap or belt ( 5 ), or extend transverse, particularly perpendicular, to the longitudinal extension of this connecting portion ( 105 ) of the segment of the strap or belt ( 5 ).  
   
   
       5 . A retainer device as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein said widened fastener and retainer member is the first part ( 101 ) itself, whereto an end of the segment of the strap or belt ( 5 ) is fixed.  
   
   
       6 . A retainer device as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein said widened fastener and retainer member coincides with the widened fastening end of the segment of the strap or belt ( 5 ).  
   
   
       7 . A retainer device as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein said widened fastener and retainer member is a ring ( 8 ,  10 ) that is fixed to the first part ( 101 ) of the article ( 1 ) along a portion of its circumference while, along the opposite portion of its circumference it is fastened to an end of the strap or belt segment ( 5 ).  
   
   
       8 . A retainer device as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein said ring ( 8 ,  10 ) has an elongated shape in a direction transverse to the longitudinal extension of the connecting portion ( 105 ) of the strap or belt segment ( 5 ), and is composed of a pair of parallel longitudinal branches ( 308 ,  110 ), one of which is fastened to the first part ( 101 ) of the article ( 1 ) whereas the other is fastened to the end of the strap or belt segment ( 5 ), which two branches ( 308 ,  110 ) are joined together at each pair of corresponding ends by a portion ( 208 ,  210 ) that is particularly substantially semicircular or substantially straight.  
   
   
       9 . A retainer device as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the fastening end of the strap or belt segment ( 5 ) has a portion that is bent back and sewn on itself as a hem ( 305 ), that encircles a longitudinal branch ( 308 ,  110 ) of the elongated ring ( 8 ,  10 ).  
   
   
       10 . A retainer device as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the elongated ring ( 8 ,  10 ) is secured to the first part ( 101 ) of the article ( 1 ) by means of a strap or belt segment which is fixed, and particularly sewn, by one end, to the first part ( 10 ) of the article ( 1 ), whereas at the opposite end it has a portion that is bent back and sewn on itself as a hem ( 9 ) which encircles the other longitudinal branch ( 308 ,  110 ) of the elongated ring ( 8 ).  
   
   
       11 . A retainer device as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the strap or belt segment that secures the elongated ring ( 8 ,  10 ) to the first part ( 101 ) of the article ( 1 ) has such a length that the ring ( 8 ,  10 ) is situated near the edge of this first part ( 101 ), and particularly the seam of the hem ( 9 ) corresponds to the seam whereby the strap is secured to the first part ( 101 ) of the article ( 1 ), or alternatively, it may be longer and such that the ring ( 8 ,  10 ) is situated in an intermediate position between the first ( 101 ) and second part ( 102 ) of the article.  
   
   
       12 . A retainer device as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein at least one, but preferably both longitudinal branches ( 308 ,  110 ) of the elongated ring ( 8 ,  10 ) have an intermediate longitudinal slit ( 108 ), which divides the branches ( 308 ,  110 ) into two parallel longitudinal portions, one of which, preferably the external portion, is respectively encircled by the hem ( 305 ) at the fastening end of the strap or belt segment (S) and by the hem ( 9 ) at the end of the strap or belt segment which is designed to secure the elongated ring ( 8 ,  10 ) to the first part ( 101 ) of the article ( 1 ).  
   
   
       13 . A retainer device as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein at least one, particularly both longitudinal branches ( 308 ,  110 ) of the elongated ring ( 8 ,  10 ) have two parallel longitudinal slits, which divide the branches ( 308 ,  110 ) into three parallel portions, one of which, particularly the intermediate portion, is respectively encircled by the hem ( 305 ) at the fastening end of the strap or belt segment ( 5 ) and by the hem ( 9 ) at the end of the strap or belt segment which is designed to secure the elongated ring ( 8 ,  10 ) to the first part ( 101 ) of the article ( 1 ).  
   
   
       14 . A retainer device as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein at least one, but preferably both longitudinal portions respectively encircled by the two hems ( 305 ,  9 ), has an opening, particularly an intermediate opening, for insertion of the branch inside its-respective hem ( 305 ,  9 ).  
   
   
       15 . A retainer device as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein said opening is relatively short as compared with the total longitudinal extension of the portion encircled by the hem ( 305 ,  9 ), and of the hem ( 305 ,  9 ) itself.  
   
   
       16 . A retainer device as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein means ( 407 ) are provided for preventing the free loose end ( 205 ) of the strap ( 5 ) from accidentally coming out of the opening of the widened fastener and retainer member ( 7 ,  8 ,  10 ), when it is inserted therein.  
   
   
       17 . A retainer device as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the free loose end of the strap ( 5 ) or belt has manual grasping means ( 6 ) for tightening and/or fastening the strap ( 5 ) or belt, whereas the opening of the widened fastening member ( 7 ,  8 ,  10 ) has such a size as to allow the passage of said grasping means ( 6 ).  
   
   
       18 . A retainer device as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein said grasping means consist of a ring ( 6 ), particularly a D-ring, whose straight portion ( 106 ) is secured to the free loose end of the strap or belt segment ( 5 ).  
   
   
       19 . A retainer device as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the elongated ring ( 8 ) has such as shape as to be narrow in the middle and widened at the opposite ends, particularly toward the fastening end of the strap or belt segment ( 5 ), in such a manner that the longitudinal branch ( 308 ) facing toward this fastening end of the strap or belt segment (S) has an intermediate portion that is arched in the direction of the opposite longitudinal branch ( 308 ), which may yield upon insertion of the D-ring ( 6 ) in the ring ( 8 ) or upon intentional extraction of said D-ring ( 6 ) from the ring ( 8 ), and forms an intermediate retaining narrowed portion to prevent the free end of the strap or belt segment ( 5 ) with the D-ring ( 6 ) from accidentally coming out.  
   
   
       20 . A retainer device as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the elongated ring ( 10 ) has a third branch ( 310 ), which is parallel to the two longitudinal branches ( 110 ) and substantially intermediate therebetween, for connecting the two opposite portions ( 210 ) which join the two branches together ( 110 ) at each pair of corresponding ends, in such a manner as to divide the central opening of the elongated ring ( 10 ) into two elongated openings, and in such a manner that the free loose end ( 205 ) of the strap or belt segment ( 5 ) may be introduced in the opening closer to the fastening end of the strap or belt segment ( 5 ) by one of the sides of the connecting portion ( 105 ) of the strap or belt segment ( 5 ) and extracted from the other opening on the same side of the connecting portion ( 105 ) of the strap or belt segment ( 5 ).  
   
   
       21 . A retainer device as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the third branch ( 310 ) of the elongated ring ( 10 ) extends in a slightly raised position with respect to the plane of the elongated ring ( 10 ), thereby forming a bridge, to facilitate the introduction of the free loose end ( 205 ) of the strap or belt segment ( 5 ).  
   
   
       22 . A retainer device as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the third branch ( 310 ) of the elongated ring ( 10 ) has an opening, particularly an intermediate opening, for facilitating the introduction of the free loose end ( 205 ) of the strap or belt segment ( 5 ).  
   
   
       23 . A retainer element as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the elongated ring ( 8 ,  10 ) is made of a relatively rigid material, particularly nylon, metal or the like.  
   
   
       24 . A retainer device as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the widened fastener and retainer member consists of a fastening plate which is secured by one edge ( 107 ) to the first part ( 101 ) of the article, by sewing and/or chemical-physical adhesion and/or the like, whereas it is secured by the opposite edge ( 207 ) and still by sewing and/or chemical-physical adhesion and/or the like, to the fastening end of the strap or belt segment ( 5 ).  
   
   
       25 . A retainer device as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein said fastening plate ( 7 ) substantially has the shape of a trapezium, particularly an isosceles trapezium, with the greater base corresponding to the edge ( 107 ) secured to the first part ( 101 ) of the article and the smaller base corresponding to the edge ( 207 ) secured to the strap or belt segment ( 5 ), whereas the opening for receiving the free loose end of the strap or belt segment ( 5 ) is an elongated slot extending parallel to the two bases ( 107 ,  207 ) and in an intermediate position therebetween, particularly near the greater base ( 107 ), and is substantially as long as the strap segment ( 5 ) is wide.  
   
   
       26 . A retainer device as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the fastening plate ( 7 ) may be made of a relatively rigid material, such as metal, leather, thick fabric or the like, and particularly it is made of a plastic material and has such a thickness as to be relatively resilient, to be elastically deformable by the user's manual pressure of at least the slot edge ( 7 ) facing toward the edge ( 207 ) secured to the end of the strap or belt segment ( 5 ), to allow and/or facilitate the passage of the other free loose end of the strap or belt segment ( 5 ) inside the slot ( 7 ).  
   
   
       27 . A retainer device as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the slot ( 307 ) has a width greater than or equal to the thickness of the strap or belt segment ( 5 ), but preferably slightly smaller than it, so that the two longitudinal edges of said slot ( 307 ) exert a retention action, to prevent the free loose end of the strap or belt segment ( 5 ) from accidentally coming out of the slot ( 307 ) when it is inserted therein.  
   
   
       28 . A retainer device as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the slot ( 307 ) has such a size as to be narrow in the middle and widened at the opposite ends, particularly toward the fastening edge ( 207 ) of the strap or belt segment ( 5 ), in such a manner that the edge of the slot ( 307 ) facing toward the fastening end ( 207 ) of the strap or belt segment ( 5 ) has an intermediate tongue ( 407 ) that is designed to yield upon insertion of the D-ring ( 6 ) in the slot ( 307 ) or upon intentional extraction of the D-ring ( 6 ) from the slot ( 307 ), and forms an intermediate retaining narrowed portion, to prevent the free end of the strap or belt segment ( 5 ) with the D-ring ( 6 ) from accidentally coming out of the slot.  
   
   
       29 . A retainer device as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the strap or belt segment ( 5 ) is connected to the second part ( 102 ) by buckle means ( 4 ), in such a manner as to adjust the position of these buckle means ( 4 ) along the longitudinal extension of the strap or belt segment ( 5 ), to allow the strap or belt segment ( 5 ) to be tightened and/or fastened.  
   
   
       30 . A retainer device as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the strap or belt segment (S) is connected to a first part ( 404 ) of the buckle ( 4 ), which is engaged, particularly snap-fitted, with a second part ( 504 ) of the buckle ( 4 ), associated to the second part ( 102 ) of the article, in such a manner that the first ( 101 ) and second part ( 102 ) of the article are connected in a removable manner.  
   
   
       31 . A retainer device as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the buckle ( 4 ) or the second part ( 504 ) of the buckle ( 4 ) is connected to the second part ( 102 ) of the article by means of a second strap or belt segment, particularly to adjust its position along the longitudinal extension of said second strap or belt segment.  
   
   
       32 . A retainer device as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the end of the second strap or belt segment which secures it to the second part of the article is equipped with a retainer and possibly fastener device ( 7 ,  8 ,  10 ) as claimed in  claim 1 .  
   
   
       33 . A retainer device as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the first and second parts are parts of a harness member, or the like, associated to a backpack, a bag, or the like.  
   
   
       34 . A retainer device as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the first and second parts are two parts of a belt member, for securing a backpack, a pouch or the like to the waist of a user.  
   
   
       35 . A retainer device as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the first and second parts are two parts of a fastening and/or tightening belt member, for closing and/or compressing a bag.  
   
   
       36 . A retainer device as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the first ( 101 ) and second parts ( 102 ) are two parts of a harness ( 2 ) and/or waist belt ( 3 ) member, of a buoyancy compensator vest.  
   
   
       37 . A buoyancy compensator vest comprising, in each of its two harnesses ( 2 ) and/or lap belt and/or waist belt ( 3 ) and/or other belts, at least one strap segment ( 5 ), which is secured by one end to a first part ( 101 ) of the vest and has an intermediate buckle ( 4 ), whose position may be adjusted along the total longitudinal extension of the strap segment ( 5 ), which buckle ( 4 ) is directly fixed on a second part ( 102 ) of the vest or on a second strap segment, possibly in such a manner as to adjust its position along the extension of said second strap segment, which is in turn fixed by one end to the second part ( 102 ) of the vest, so that, by exerting a pulling action on the free loose end/s of the portions ( 205 ,  103 ) of the strap ( 5 ) projecting beyond the buckle ( 4 ) out of the vest, the harness ( 2 ) or the belt ( 3 ) is tightened or fastened, wherein the end secured to the respective first part ( 101 ) of the vest and/or the strap segments ( 5 ) has an opening through which the respective free loose end ( 205 ,  103 ) of the strap ( 5 ) or belt ( 3 ) passes and is retained.  
   
   
       38 . A vest as claimed in  claim 37 , wherein said opening is formed in a widened device ( 7 ,  8 ,  10 ) for securing the end of the strap segment/s ( 5 ) to their respective parts ( 101 ) of the vest.  
   
   
       39 . A vest as claimed in claims  37  and  38   claim 37 , wherein said opening is in such a position that the free loose end ( 205 ,  103 ) of the strap/s ( 5 ,  3 ,), when the latter are inserted in the opening, may be reached by the hand of the user for tightening or fastening the harness ( 2 ) or belt ( 3 ), particularly from within the vest.  
   
   
       40 . A vest as claimed in  claim 37 , wherein the buckle ( 4 ) of the harness ( 2 ) or belt ( 3 ) is composed of two snap-fit parts ( 404 ,  504 ), one ( 404 ) of which is associated to the first strap segment ( 5 ) and the other is associated to the second part ( 102 ) of the vest or to the second strap segment.  
   
   
       41 . A D-ring ( 6 ), whose straight portion ( 106 ) is designed to be held in a hem ( 305 ) which is obtained by bending back and sewing the free loose end of a strap ( 5 ) or belt on itself, for manually grasping and fastening or tightening said strap ( 5 ) or belt, wherein said straight portion ( 106 ) has an opening, particularly an intermediate opening, that allows insertion of the D-ring ( 6 ) in the hem ( 305 ).  
   
   
       42 . A D-ring as claimed in  claim 41 , wherein this opening for insertion of the ring in the hem ( 305 ) is formed in a segment ( 206 ) that is provided in an intermediate position between the straight portion ( 106 ) of the D-ring ( 6 ) and the opposite side of the ring ( 6 ), particularly adjacent to said straight portion ( 106 ) and at a slightly greater distance with respect to the thickness of the strap ( 5 ) or belt.  
   
   
       43 . A D-ring. ( 6 ) as claimed in  claim 41 , wherein said opening is relatively short as compared with the whole length of the straight portion ( 106 ) of the D-ring, of the intermediate segment and of the hem ( 305 ).  
   
   
       44 . (canceled)