Method and apparatus for securing the ends of flexible band with a buckle

Abstract

A method and apparatus are provided for making a buckle joint at the ends of a flexible strap that is wrapped around a round, irregularly shaped, or small object. The method may include loading the end of the strap in a buckle, inserting a rigid insert between a pair of legs of the buckle that prevents one side of the buckle from collapsing, tensioning a strap by a tensioning device and removing the rigid insert after the required tension is achieved. In one embodiment of the method, the rigid insert being pivotably mounted on the lever, which is pivotally mounted in the front of the tensioning apparatus. In an embodiment, the apparatus may be constructed so that there is a zone on the frame for pressing the frame against the buckle, cutting mechanism for cutting strap after tensioning and the windlass actuated by a tension handle.

1 . A method comprising:
 inserting a rigid insert between a pair of legs of a buckle;   placing a first end of a band into a tensioning device, such that the band is held firmly by the tensioning device for tensioning the band, a first portion of the band wrapping around an object, the first portion of the band being located between the first end of the band and a second end of the band, a second portion of the band being wrapped around a pair of legs of the buckle, the second portion of the band being located between the first end of the band and the first portion of the band, and the second end of the band being coupled to the buckle;   tensioning the band by pulling on the first end of the band, via the tensioning device;   the tensioning of the band causing the band to push the pair of legs onto the rigid insert preventing the pair of legs from closing on the band;   the tensioning of the band tightening the first portion of the band, which is wrapped around the object, removing slack from the band;   removing the rigid insert from between the first pair of legs allowing the first pair of legs to close; and   as a result of the tension in the band and removing the rigid insert, first two legs moving towards one another.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising after removing the rigid insert further tensioning the band with the tensioning device, causing the pair of legs to further tighten and close on the band. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , the removing of the rigid insert including at least pushing on a lever that is pivotably mounted, via a pin, on a surface that is fixed in location with respect to the tensioning device and is pivotably connected to the rigid insert; the pushing on the lever being performed on a first side of the pin, the pushing on the level on the first side of the pin causing a portion of the lever on the second side of the pin to pull the rigid insert away from the buckle. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , the pair of legs being a first pair of legs, the buckle having a second pair of legs;
 the tensioning of the band, while the rigid insert is still between the first pair of legs, causing the band to push the second pair of legs towards one another causing the second pair of legs to tend to close upon the second end of the band.   
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 4 , the causing the second pair of legs to tend to close upon the second end of the band causes the second pair of legs to close tightly on the second end of the band holding the second end of the band firmly closed. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 ,
 the rigid insert having two prongs separated from one another a distance that is wide enough for placing the band between the prongs, and   the rigid insert being pivotably attached to a lever, and the lever being pivotally attached to a rigid frame, which is rigidly fixed in position with respect to the tensioning device; and   the removing of the rigid insert including at least pushing on the lever, which pivots on the frame; the pivoting of the lever on the frame pulling the rigid insert out from between the first pair of legs.   
     
     
         7 . A method comprising:
 wrapping a band around an object;   looping a portion of the band around a pair of legs of a buckle, the portion of the band being between a first end of the band a second end of the band;   inserting a rigid insert between the pair of legs of the buckle;   placing the first end of a band into a tensioning device, such that the first end of the band is held firmly by the tensioning device for tensioning the band;   tensioning the band by pulling on the first end of the band, via the tensioning device;   the tensioning of the band causing the band to push the first pair of legs onto the rigid insert;   the tensioning of the band tightening the band around the object, and removing slack from the band;   removing the rigid insert from between the pair of legs allowing the pair of legs to close; and   as result of the tension in the band and removing the rigid insert, first two legs moving towards one another.   
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 7 , the tensioning of the band causing the band to push the a second pair of legs towards one another, causing the second pair of legs to tend to close upon the second end of the band while the insert is still between the first pair of legs. 
     
     
         9 . A system comprising
 a tensioning device; and   a rigid insert for holding the two legs of a buckle open while a band is being tensioned that pushes the two legs together;   the rigid insert having two prongs separated from one another for placing the band between the prongs; and   a lever pivotably attached to the rigid insert at a first end and the lever being pivotably mounted on a rigid frame.   
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 6 , the width between the two prongs being larger than the width of the two prongs. 
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 6 , the frame having a guide piece below the rigid insert upon which the rigid insert rests. 
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 6 , further comprising spring mechanically biasing the rigid insert to protrude outward away from the frame.