Buckle device with elastic band and article including the same

Abstract

Disclosed is a buckle device that releasably locks an elastic band including a plurality of engaging portions in a lengthwise direction. The buckle device includes a buckle holder and a pair of slide buckles slidably fitted to the buckle holder. The buckle holder includes a pair of locking pins apart from each other and a pair of guide surfaces. A pair of elastic bands are hung on the locking pins respectively. The guide surfaces are inclined in opposite directions with respect to a plane passing through the pair of the locking pins. The slide buckle has a ratchet protrusion configured to engage the engaging portion of the elastic band and a slide surface configured to come into surface contact with the guide surface of the buckle holder. The slide buckle is movable between an unlocked position where the engaging portion pushes the ratchet protrusion in a first direction to allow a movement of the elastic band between the ratchet protrusion and the locking pin, and a locked position where the engaging portion pushes the ratchet protrusion in a second direction opposite to the first direction so that the ratchet protrusion presses the elastic band against the locking pin.

1 . A buckle device, comprising:
 a pair of elastic bands including a plurality of engaging portions in a lengthwise direction;   a buckle holder including: a pair of locking pins apart from each other, the pair of the elastic bands being hung on the locking pins respectively; and a pair of guide surfaces each inclined in opposite directions with respect to a plane passing through the pair of the locking pins; and   a pair of slide buckles each slidably fitted to the buckle holder, the slide buckle including: a ratchet protrusion configured to engage the engaging portion of the elastic band; and a slide surface configured to come into surface contact with the guide surface of the buckle holder,   wherein the slide buckle is movable between an unlocked position where the engaging portion pushes the ratchet protrusion in a first direction to allow a movement of the elastic band between the ratchet protrusion and the locking pin, and a locked position where the engaging portion pushes the ratchet protrusion in a second direction opposite to the first direction so that the ratchet protrusion presses the elastic band against the locking pin.   
     
     
         2 . The buckle device of  claim 1 , wherein the buckle holder includes a pair of wall portions,
 wherein the locking pin and the guide surface are located between the wall portions, and   wherein the slide buckle is slidably fitted between the guide surface and the wall portions.   
     
     
         3 . The buckle device of  claim 2 , wherein the buckle holder includes a pair of guide tongues extending toward the locking pins respectively, a surface of the guide tongue facing toward the locking pin comprising the guide surface, and
 wherein the slide buckle includes a recess on which the guide tongue is placed, a surface of the recess comprising the slide surface.   
     
     
         4 . The buckle device of  claim 3 , wherein an edge of the wall portion facing toward the guide surface is inclined at a same inclination as an inclination of the guide surface. 
     
     
         5 . The buckle device of  claim 1 , wherein the guide surface is inclined with respect to the plane such that the elastic band is compressed against the locking pin in the locked position of the slide buckle and does not move in the second direction. 
     
     
         6 . The buckle device of  claim 1 , wherein the buckle holder includes a push button movable perpendicularly to the plane between the locking pins, the push button including a pair of inclined surfaces each inclined as opposed to the guide surface,
 wherein the slide buckle includes an inclined surface contacting the inclined surface of the push button in the locked position, and   wherein when the push button is moved to the guide surface the inclined surface of the push button pushes the inclined surface of the slide buckle in the first direction to move the slide buckle to the unlocked position.   
     
     
         7 . A buckle device, comprising:
 an elastic band including a plurality of engaging portions in a lengthwise direction;   a slide buckle including: a ratchet protrusion configured to engage the engaging portion of the elastic band; and a slide surface; and   a buckle holder slidably supporting the slide buckle, the buckle holder including:   a locking pin on which the elastic band is hung; and a guide surface configured to come into surface contact with the slide surface of the slide buckle,   wherein the guide surface is situated in a guide plane intersecting a second plane obliquely with respect to a first plane passing through a center of the locking pin, the second plane being orthogonal to the first plane, and   wherein the slide buckle is movable between an unlocked position where the engaging portion pushes the ratchet protrusion in a first direction to allow a movement of the elastic band between the ratchet protrusion and the locking pin, and a locked position where the engaging portion pushes the ratchet protrusion in a second direction opposite to the first direction so that the ratchet protrusion presses the elastic band against the locking pin.   
     
     
         8 . The buckle device of  claim 7 , wherein the buckle holder includes a guide portion extending toward the locking pin, a surface of the guide portion facing toward the locking pin comprising the guide surface, and
 wherein the slide buckle includes a recess on which the guide portion is placed, a surface of the recess comprising the slide surface.   
     
     
         9 . The buckle device of  claim 7 , wherein the engaging portion of the elastic band includes one selected from a protrusion, a ridge and a groove, the protrusion, the ridge and the groove extending in a width direction of the elastic band. 
     
     
         10 . A swimming goggle comprising a pair of eyecups with a lens portion and the buckle device according to  claim 1 , wherein the elastic band of the buckle device is joined to an outer end of the eyecup. 
     
     
         11 . A shoe comprising a string for fastening and the buckle device according to  claim 1 , wherein the elastic bands of the buckle device are coupled to both ends of the string. 
     
     
         12 . A swim fin comprising a string for fastening and the buckle device according to  claim 1 , wherein the elastic bands of the buckle device are coupled to both ends of the string. 
     
     
         13 . A swimming goggle, comprising:
 a pair of eyecups with a lens portion respectively;   the buckle device according to  claim 7  attached to an outer end of one of the pair of the eyecups; and   the buckle device according to  claim 7  attached to an outer end of the other of the pair of the eyecups,   wherein the elastic bands of the buckle devices are integrally formed.   
     
     
         14 . The buckle device of  claim 1 , wherein the engaging portion of the elastic band includes one selected from a protrusion, a ridge and a groove, the protrusion, the ridge and the groove extending in a width direction of the elastic band.