Ratchet adjustment system

Abstract

A ratchet adjustment system has an elongated adjustment strip with teeth extending along the strip. The teeth form a ratchet mechanism when ends of the strip are inserted into a locking mechanism having a base plate and locking devices. The strip ends are inserted into the locking devices from opposite directions, so that the system forms a closed circle. The circumference of the system is reduced by pressing opposite sides of the strip together so that the insertion ends are inserted further through the locking devices, and the circumference is increased by pulling the strip away from the locking devices. Depending on the geometry of the teeth and locking devices, the amount of force needed to reduce and increase the circumference could be equal, or the amount of force required to reduce the circumference could be less than the amount required to increase the circumference.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An adjustment system comprising:
 an elongated adjustment strip having two longitudinal sides, two insertion ends and a plurality of teeth extending longitudinally along the strip; and   a locking mechanism comprising a base plate with two locking devices for engaging the teeth of the strip in a ratcheting manner when each of the insertion ends is inserted into a respective locking device,   wherein the locking devices are arranged so that one insertion end of the strip is inserted from one side of the base plate, and the other insertion end is inserted into the locking device from an opposite side of the base plate to create a closed circle formed by the adjustment strip and base plate, with the insertion ends extending in opposite directions, and   wherein a circumference of the system is reduced by pressing opposite sides of the strip together so that the insertion ends are inserted further through the locking devices, and wherein the circumference is increased by pulling the strip away from the locking devices.   
     
     
         2 . The adjustment system according to  claim 1 , wherein each of said teeth has a forward side facing a closest insertion end, and a rearward side facing away from the closest insertion end, 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. 
     
     
         3 . The adjustment system according to  claim 2 , wherein each locking device is adapted to flex under a first minimum amount of force to allow the strip to move along the locking mechanism in a forward direction to a desired position and then engage the teeth in the desired position when less than the first minimum amount of force is exerted, and wherein each 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 strip to move in a rearward direction. 
     
     
         4 . The adjustment system according to  claim 1 , wherein each of said teeth extends upwardly from the strip. 
     
     
         5 . The adjustment system according to  claim 1 , further comprising a cover plate connected to the base plate, said cover plate having openings for receiving the strips. 
     
     
         6 . The adjustment system according to  claim 5 , wherein the cover plate snaps on to the base plate. 
     
     
         7 . The adjustment system according to  claim 1 , wherein the adjustment strip comprises a connecting plate with two strip segments extending in opposite directions from the connecting plate, each strip segment having one of the insertion ends and a plurality of said teeth. 
     
     
         8 . The adjustment system according to  claim 7 , wherein the strip segments are integrally formed with the connecting plate. 
     
     
         9 . The adjustment system according to  claim 7 , wherein the strip segments are removable from the connecting plate. 
     
     
         10 . The adjustment system according to  claim 4 , wherein the locking devices each comprise housing and a resilient arm extending from an underside of the housing and having a projection, each of said projections engaging the teeth of the elongated adjustment strip when the insertion ends are inserted through the housings. 
     
     
         11 . The adjustment system according to  claim 1 , wherein each of the longitudinal sides forms a side wall extending up to at least a height of the teeth. 
     
     
         12 . The adjustment system according to  claim 1 , wherein the adjustment system is attached to an inside surface of a circular article, such that the article is tightened by pushing the insertion ends toward each other through the locking devices in a forward direction, and wherein the circular article is enlarged by pulling at least one of the strips in a rearward direction out of one of the locking devices.