Quick release weight lifter belt

Abstract

A support belt, particularly adapted for weight lifting users, includes a strap mounted to the main belt. A ratchet mechanism is mounted to one end of the strap. The other end of the strap is inserted through the ratchet mechanism and folded upon itself and secured to itself to form an anchor location. Another anchor location is a portion of the strap which is permanently secured to the belt. When the ratchet mechanism is operated the first end of the strap becomes wound on a take up reel in the ratchet mechanism to pull the two anchor locations toward each other and tighten the belt. In order to have a quick release of the belt the free end of the strap is detached from its engagement to itself so that its anchor location is thereby disengaged.

1 . A support belt comprising a stiff and bendable main belt for encircling a wearer, said main belt having an outer surface and a first end and a second end, a width adjusting strap having a first end and a second end, said width adjusting strap being secured to said outer surface of said main belt at a first anchor location between said first end and said second end of said strap whereby said strap is disposed circumferentially at least partially around said outer surface of said main belt, a ratchet mechanism, said ratchet mechanism including a take up reel, said first end of said strap secured to said reel to mount said ratchet mechanism to said main belt, a ratchet/pawl assembly mounted to said reel for incrementally rotating said reel and winding said strap around said reel, a handle for activating said ratchet/pawl mechanism to move in a winding direction, a direction changing rod, said second end of said strap being positionable to loop around said rod and being bent back upon itself, fastening structure on said second end of said strap to secure said strap in its bent back condition to create a second anchor location remote from said first anchor location with said ratchet mechanism being between said first anchor location and said second anchor location whereby the winding of said strap on said reel causes said first anchor location and said second anchor location to move toward each other and to make said second end of said strap taught and to thereby tighten said belt, and said fastening structure detachably maintaining said second end of said strap in said bent back condition whereby the anchoring condition of said second end of said strap at said second anchoring location may be disengaged to loosen the taut condition of said second end of said strap and thereby reduce the tightness of said belt.  
   
   
       2 . The belt of  claim 1  wherein said ratchet mechanism includes structure for moving said ratchet mechanism in an unwinding direction.  
   
   
       3 . The belt of  claim 2  wherein said second end of said strap is capable of being completely removed from said rod when said fastening structure is disengaged.  
   
   
       4 . The belt of  claim 3  wherein said fastening structure is quick release fastening structure.  
   
   
       5 . The belt of  claim 4  wherein said quick release fastening structure is hook/loop structure.  
   
   
       6 . The belt of  claim 5  wherein said ratchet mechanism includes a frame having a pair of generally parallel plates, said reel extending across said plates, and said rod extending across said plates spaced from said reel.  
   
   
       7 . The belt of  claim 6  wherein said ratchet mechanism includes a handle pivotally mounted to said frame, said handle having an end which extends outwardly of said rod when said handle is rotated toward said frame, and said handle including structure for disengaging said ratchet mechanism to permit said ratchet mechanism to be moved in an unwinding direction.  
   
   
       8 . The belt of  claim 7  wherein the engagement of said first end of said strap with said reel comprises the mounting structure for mounting said ratchet to said main belt.  
   
   
       9 . The belt of  claim 8  wherein said first end of said strap is threaded through said reel and folded upon itself and is secured to itself to create an elongated loop.  
   
   
       10 . The belt of  claim 9  wherein said strap is permanently attached to said main belt between said first end and said second end of said strap over a length which comprises less than one-half the length of said belt, and each of said first end of said strap and said second end of said strap being unattached to said main belt over a substantial length of said main belt.  
   
   
       11 . The belt of  claim 10  wherein the unattached length of said main belt at each of said first end and said second end of said strap comprises a length in the range of 15% to 35% of the length of said main belt.  
   
   
       12 . The belt of  claim 11  wherein from 25% to 35% of the length of said first end of said main belt is unattached to said strap, and from 20% to 25% of said second end of said main belt is unattached to said strap.  
   
   
       13 . The belt of  claim 12  wherein said fastening structure on said second end of said strap also is provided on the permanently anchored portion of said strap.  
   
   
       14 . The belt of  claim 1  wherein said fastening structure is quick release fastening structure.  
   
   
       15 . The belt of  claim 14  wherein said quick release fastening structure is hook/loop structure.  
   
   
       16 . The belt of  claim 1  wherein said ratchet mechanism includes a frame having a pair of generally parallel plates, said reel extending across said plates, and said rod extending across said plates spaced from said reel.  
   
   
       17 . The belt of  claim 1  wherein the securement of said strap to said reel comprises the mounting structure for mounting said ratchet mechanism to said main belt.  
   
   
       18 . The belt of  claim 1  wherein said strap is permanently attached to said main belt between said first end and said second end of said strap over a length which comprises less than one-half the length of said belt, and each of said first end of said strap and said second end of said strap being unattached to said main belt over a substantial length of said main belt.  
   
   
       19 . The belt of  claim 18  wherein the unattached length of said main belt at each of said first end and said second end of said strap comprises a length in the range of 15% to 35% of the length of said main belt.  
   
   
       20 . The belt of  claim 2  wherein said structure for moving said ratchet mechanism in an unwinding direction changes said ratchet mechanism from being in its winding direction to said unwinding direction automatically upon the moving of said ratchet mechanism in said winding direction after a predetermined degree of movement.  
   
   
       21 . The belt of  claim 20  wherein said structure for moving said ratchet mechanism in an unwinding direction includes at least one pawl mounted for selective engagement with and disengagement from a plurality of circumferentially arranged teeth, said teeth being rotatably mounted in an arcuate path, a cam mounted in said arcuate path and said cam moving said pawl to said unwinding direction when said pawl is contacted by said cam.