Ratchet adjustment system

Abstract

An adjustment system for adjusting the width of a cuff has an elongated adjustment strip having a set of longitudinally extending teeth. Each tooth has a forward side and a rearward side. The length of each forward side is greater than a length of each of the rearward sides so that an angle between a longitudinal axis of the strip and the forward side is less than an angle between the longitudinal axis and the rearward side of each tooth. There is a locking mechanism formed by a base plate having a locking device on an underside and a guide for slidably connecting the locking mechanism to the strip. The teeth and the locking device are configured so that the locking device can be moved forward along the strip using only a small amount of force, and can then be moved rearward using a larger amount of force.

1 : An adjustment system comprising:
 an elongated adjustment strip having two longitudinal sides, a plurality of generally triangular teeth extending longitudinally along the strip, wherein each of said teeth has a forward side facing a forward direction and a rearward side facing a rearward direction, wherein a length of each of the forward sides is greater than a length of each of the rearward sides so that an angle created between a longitudinal axis of the elongated adjustment strip and the forward side is less than an angle between the longitudinal axis and the rearward side of each tooth; and   a locking mechanism comprising a base plate having a flexible locking device disposed on an underside thereof and a guide for slidably connecting the locking mechanism to the elongated adjustment strip;   wherein the locking device is adapted to flex under a first minimum amount of force to allow the locking mechanism to move along the strip in a forward direction to a desired position and then grip the teeth of the elongated adjustment strip in the desired position when less than the first minimum amount of force is exerted, and wherein the locking device is adapted flex further under a second minimum amount of force that is greater than said first minimum amount of force to allow the elongated adjustment strip to move in a rearward direction.   
     
     
         2 : The adjustment mechanism according to  claim 1 , further comprising a cover plate connected to a top surface of the base plate. 
     
     
         3 : The adjustment mechanism according to  claim 2 , wherein the locking mechanism is adapted to be attached to a strap connected between the cover plate and the base plate. 
     
     
         4 : The adjustment mechanism according to  claim 3 , wherein the base plate has a plurality of fabric gripping teeth disposed on the top surface and the cover plate has a plurality of fabric gripping teeth disposed as a bottom surface thereof, to securely hold a strap between the cover plate and base plate. 
     
     
         5 : The adjustment mechanism according to  claim 1 , wherein the cover plate has a plurality of raised ridges across a top surface thereof. 
     
     
         6 : The adjustment mechanism according to  claim 1 , wherein the teeth are located along longitudinal edges of the elongated adjustment device and the wherein the locking device comprises two longitudinally extending springs arranged on the base plate so as to engage the teeth when the locking device is moved along the elongated adjustment strip. 
     
     
         7 : The adjustment system according to  claim 1 , wherein the teeth are arranged facing upward along an expanse of the elongated adjustment strip, and wherein the locking device comprises a resilient arm that engages the teeth when the locking mechanism is slid along the elongated adjustment strip. 
     
     
         8 : The adjustment system according to  claim 1 , further comprising at least one set of stops located on at least one end of the elongated adjustment device, said stops preventing the locking mechanism from sliding out of engagement with the elongated adjustment strip. 
     
     
         9 : An adjustable cuff, comprising:
 a flexible cuff having a circumference and an edge;   an elongated adjustment strip mounted on the cuff parallel to the edge of the cuff and having two longitudinal sides, and a plurality of generally triangular teeth extending longitudinally along the strip, wherein each of said teeth has a forward side facing a forward direction and a rearward side facing a rearward direction, wherein a length of each of the forward sides is greater than a length of each of the rearward sides so that an angle created between a longitudinal axis of the elongated adjustment strip and the forward side is less than an angle between the longitudinal axis and the rearward side of each tooth;   an adjustment strap attached to the cuff parallel to said elongated adjustment strip; and   a locking mechanism mounted to the strap and comprising a base plate having a locking device extending from an underside thereof and a guide for slidably connecting the locking mechanism to the elongated adjustment strip;   wherein the locking device is adapted to flex under a first minimum amount of force to allow the locking mechanism to move along the strip in a forward direction to a desired position and then grip the teeth of the elongated adjustment strip in the desired position when less than the first minimum amount of force is exerted, and wherein the locking device is adapted flex further under a second minimum amount of force that is greater than said first minimum amount of force to allow the elongated adjustment strip to move in a rearward direction.   
     
     
         10 : The cuff according to  claim 9 , wherein the guides are formed by brackets extending below the bottom surface of the base plate, the brackets being adapted to slide underneath edges of the elongated adjustment strip when the locking mechanism is slid along the strip, and keep the locking mechanism in contact with the elongated adjustment strip. 
     
     
         11 : The cuff according to  claim 9 , further comprising a cover plate connected to a top surface of the base plate. 
     
     
         12 : The cuff according to  claim 11 , wherein the strap is attached between the cover plate and the base plate. 
     
     
         13 : The cuff according to  claim 12 , wherein the base plate has a plurality of fabric gripping teeth disposed on the top surface and the cover plate has a plurality of fabric gripping teeth disposed as a bottom surface thereof, to securely hold the strap between the cover plate and base plate. 
     
     
         14 : The cuff according to  claim 11 , wherein the cover plate has a plurality of raised ridges across a top surface thereof. 
     
     
         15 : The cuff according to  claim 9 , wherein the teeth are located along longitudinal edges of the elongated adjustment device and the wherein the locking device comprises two longitudinally extending springs arranged on the base plate so as to engage the teeth when the locking device is moved along the elongated adjustment strip. 
     
     
         16 : The cuff according to  claim 10 , wherein the elongated adjustment strip is attached to the cuff only along the longitudinal axis of the strip, so that the brackets of the locking mechanism slide underneath the teeth. 
     
     
         17 : The cuff according to  claim 9 , wherein the teeth are arranged facing upward along an expanse of the elongated adjustment strip, and wherein the locking device comprises a resilient arm that engages the teeth when the locking mechanism is slid along the elongated adjustment strip 
     
     
         18 : The cuff according to  claim 9 , further comprising at least one set of stops located on at least one end of the elongated adjustment device, said stops preventing the locking mechanism from sliding out of engagement with the elongated adjustment strip. 
     
     
         19 : An adjustment system comprising:
 an adjustment strip having two longitudinal sides, a plurality of teeth extending longitudinally along the strip, wherein each of said teeth are arranged so as to define a forward direction and a rearward direction; and   a locking mechanism comprising a base having a locking device and a guide for slidably engaging the locking mechanism;   wherein the adjustment system is adapted to flex under a first minimum amount of force to allow the locking mechanism to move along the strip in the forward direction to a desired position and then grip the teeth of the adjustment strip in the desired position when less than the first minimum amount of force is exerted, and wherein the adjustment system is adapted flex further under a second minimum amount of force that is greater than said first minimum amount of force to allow the adjustment strip to move in the rearward direction.   
     
     
         20 : An adjustable cuff, comprising:
 a flexible cuff having a circumference and an edge;   an adjustment strip having two longitudinal sides, a plurality of teeth extending longitudinally along the strip, wherein each of said teeth are arranged so as to define a forward direction and a rearward direction;   an adjustment strap attached to the cuff parallel to said adjustment strip; and   a locking mechanism mounted to the strap and comprising a base having a locking device and a guide for slidably engaging the locking mechanism with the elongated adjustment strip;   wherein the locking device is adapted to flex under a first minimum amount of force to allow the locking mechanism to move along the strip in the forward direction to a desired position and then grip the teeth of the adjustment strip in the desired position when less than the first minimum amount of force is exerted, and wherein the locking device is adapted flex further under a second minimum amount of force that is greater than said first minimum amount of force to allow the adjustment strip to move in the rearward direction.