Assembly including a ratchet device and a tightening strap

Abstract

An assembly including a ratchet tightening device and a band. The device includes a base, a driving lever, and a pawl. For at least one tooth of a series of serrations of the band, at least one straight line tangent to the meshing surface of the tooth and parallel to the band, forms, together with the longitudinal direction of the band, an angle that is less than 90 degrees. A driving end of the lever is configured to cooperate with the serrations of the band. A retaining zone of the pawl is configured to cooperate with the serrations of the band.

1 . An assembly comprising:
 a band extending lengthwise in a longitudinal direction, from a fastening end to a free end;   the band comprising serrations, said serrations including a succession of teeth extending in said longitudinal direction;   a ratchet tightening device comprising:
 a base; 
 a driving lever articulated to the base and including a driving end for driving the band along a first direction and a handling end; 
 a pawl articulated on the base and having a retaining zone provided to oppose displacement of the band along a second direction opposite the first direction; and 
 an elastic mechanism constantly biasing the retaining zone of the pawl towards the base; 
 for at least one tooth of said succession of teeth of the band, at least one straight line tangent to a meshing surface of the one tooth and parallel to a surface of the band forms, together with the longitudinal direction of the band, an angle less than 90 degrees; 
 the driving end of the lever being structured and arranged to cooperate with the succession of teeth of the band; 
 the retaining zone of the pawl being structured and arranged to cooperate with the succession of teeth of the band. 
   
     
     
         2 . An assembly according to  claim 1 , wherein:
 the lever includes a tooth;   for the tooth of the lever in contact with the one tooth of the succession of teeth of the band, at least one straight line, tangent to a meshing surface of the tooth of the lever and parallel to a surface of the band forms, with the longitudinal direction of the band, an angle less than 90 degrees.   
     
     
         3 . An assembly according to  claim 1 , wherein:
 the pawl includes a tooth;   for the tooth of the pawl in contact with the one tooth of the succession of teeth of the band, at least one straight line, tangent to a meshing surface of the tooth of the pawl and parallel to a surface of the band forms, with the longitudinal direction of the band, an angle less than 90 degrees.   
     
     
         4 . An assembly according to  claim 3 , wherein:
 each tooth of the band, the pawl, and the is generally V-shaped.   
     
     
         5 . An assembly according to  claim 4 , wherein:
 the angle of the V of each tooth of the band, the pawl, and the lever is between 60 and 170 degrees.   
     
     
         6 . An assembly according to  claim 3 , wherein:
 each tooth of the band, the pawl, and the lever, has a generally curved shape.   
     
     
         7 . An assembly according to  claim 3 , wherein:
 each tooth of the band, the pawl, and the lever, has an alternation of facets.   
     
     
         8 . An assembly according to  claim 3 , wherein:
 each tooth of the band, the pawl, and the lever, is transversely symmetrical.   
     
     
         9 . An assembly according to  claim 1 , wherein:
 the tightening device comprises a release button structured and arranged for applying a release force to the pawl;   the driving lever and the release button are articulated about respectively different axes.   
     
     
         10 . An assembly according to  claim 1 , wherein:
 the tightening device comprises a release button structured and arranged for applying a release force to the pawl;   the driving lever and the release button are articulated about a common axis.   
     
     
         11 . An assembly according to  claim 1 , wherein:
 the base has a first flange and a second flange connected by a bridge;   the lever is articulated on the base between the flanges;   the first driving direction is substantially parallel to the flanges and to the bridge;   the pawl is articulated on the base between the flanges;   the elastic mechanism biases the retaining zone of the pawl towards the bridge.   
     
     
         12 . An assembly according to  claim 1 , wherein:
 the tightening device includes a release button;   the release button is structured and arranged to bias the retaining zone of the pawl against a force exerted by the elastic mechanism.   
     
     
         13 . An assembly according to  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a boot, the boot including a sole and an upper, the tightening device and the strap being affixed to the boot and structured and arranged to tighten the upper against a foot or lower leg of a wearer.   
     
     
         14 . An assembly according to  claim 13 , wherein:
 the boot is a ski boot, constructed and arranged to be secured to a ski by means of a binding engaging the ski boot.   
     
     
         15 . A snowboard binding assembly for binding a snowboard boot to a snowboard, said assembly comprising:
 at least two straps, at least one of said straps including a ratchet tightening device and a band;   the band extending lengthwise in a longitudinal direction, from a fastening end to a free end;   the band comprising serrations, said serrations including a succession of teeth extending in said longitudinal direction;   the ratchet tightening device comprising:
 a base; 
 a driving lever articulated to the base and including a driving end for driving the band along a first direction and a handling end; 
 a pawl articulated on the base and having a retaining zone provided to oppose displacement of the band along a second direction opposite the first direction; and 
 an elastic mechanism constantly biasing the retaining zone of the pawl towards the base; 
 for at least one tooth of said succession of teeth of the band, at least one straight line tangent to a meshing surface of the one tooth and parallel to a surface of the band forms, together with the longitudinal direction of the band, an angle less than 90 degrees; 
 the driving end of the lever being structured and arranged to cooperate with the succession of teeth of the band; 
 the retaining zone of the pawl being structured and arranged to cooperate with the succession of teeth of the band. 
   
     
     
         16 . An assembly according to  claim 15 , further comprising:
 a baseplate;   a lateral edge extending upwardly from the baseplate;   a medial edge extending upwardly from the baseplate;   a heel loop extending between the lateral and medial edges;   the fastening end of the band being fastened to one of the lateral and medial edges.