US20020038498A1

US20020038498A1 - Closure for closing strip

Info

Publication number: US20020038498A1
Application number: US09/954,232
Authority: US
Inventors: Ove Ahlgren; Josef Lechner
Original assignee: Geimuplast Kunststofftechnik GmbH
Current assignee: Geimuplast Kunststofftechnik GmbH
Priority date: 2000-09-15
Filing date: 2001-09-17
Publication date: 2002-04-04
Also published as: EP1188952A2; EP1188952A3

Abstract

A closure for a closing strip includes a tooth strap (32) and a closure (1) with a guide for the tooth strap (32). In order to make it easy to separate the lock between the tooth strap and closure, the closure (1) has a meshing part (6,7) with a tooth and an unlocking part (16, 17), by means of which the tooth can be brought out of the meshed stage (FIG. 6).

Description

The invention concerns a closure for a closing strip, which includes a tooth strap and a closure with a guide for the tooth strap. The closure and/or the tooth strap are preferably made of plastic. The tooth strap includes at least one row of teeth. It is guided in the guide of the closure in such a manner that the row of teeth is guided past a tooth of the closure. In this regard, teeth in the row of teeth and/or the tooth of the closure can be shaped in such a manner that relative movement of the row of teeth is possible, compared to the tooth in one direction, namely the closing direction, while this relative motion is blocked in the other direction (opening direction) by hooking the tooth of the closure with the tooth of the row of teeth. For this purpose, the teeth in the row of teeth and/or the tooth on the closure may be designed asymmetrically, for example, in the form of a triangular cross section with one oblique flank and one essentially vertical, possibly even undercut, flank.

The problem to be solved by the invention is to suggest a closure for a closing strip of the type indicated in the beginning, of releasing this locking in a simple manner.

In accordance with the invention, this problem is solved by the characteristics of

claim

1. The closure has a meshing part on which the tooth is provided, and an unlocking part through which the tooth can be retracted from meshing. By operating the unlocking part, the tooth is moved away from the row of teeth of the tooth strap and brought out of meshing, as a result of which the locking of the closing strip can be released.

Advantageous further development are described in the subclaims.

Preferably, the meshing part is connected to the closure by means of a joint. This joint can be created by forming the meshing part on the closure. If necessary, in the area on which it is formed, a depression in the material may be provided. The attachment is preferably designed and dimensioned in such a manner that the meshing part again returns to its original position after a deformation or operation. The joint is therefore preferably designed as an elastic joint.

A further advantageous development is characterized in connecting the unlocking part with the closure by means of a joint. This joint is preferably designed in a similar or identical manner as the joint by which the meshing part is connected to the closure, so that reference can be made to the description given there. In particular, this involves preferably an elastic joint.

Preferably, the meshing part can be operated by pressing on the unlocking part. The tooth of the meshing part is therefore preferably capable of being brought out of meshing by the exertion of pressure on the unlocking part. This simplifies the unlocking.

According to a further advantageous development, on the side of the closure that is opposite the meshing part, a further preferably corresponding meshing part is provided. Furthermore, on the side of the closure that is opposite the unlocking part, preferably a further, preferably corresponding, unlocking part is provided. It is advantageous if the locking part is designed symmetrically with respect to the meshing part and/or the unlocking part.

A further advantageous further development is characterized by making it possible to actuate the unlocking parts placed on opposite sides of the closure by pressure on each unlocking part directed against the other. As a result, it becomes substantially easier to unlock them.

The teeth of the meshing parts may point in the same direction. It is, however, also possible for the teeth of the meshing parts to point away from each other. Other arrangements can also be imagined.

According to a further advantageous further development, the meshing part has an oblique surface. The unlocking part has a corresponding wedge surface. Through the interaction of the wedge surface and the oblique surface, the meshing part can be activated and, as a result, the tooth of the meshing part can be brought out of contact.

It is advantageous if the oblique surface lies next to the tooth.

On the opposite side of the closure, it is preferable to provide a corresponding meshing part with a corresponding oblique surface. The teeth of the meshing parts preferably point in the same direction. The oblique surfaces preferably point away from each other.

According to a further advantageous development, the main part is connected to the unlocking part by a connecting part. Upon activation of the unlocking part, the meshing part is actuated through the action of the connection part.

Preferably, on the opposite side of the closure, a corresponding meshing part is provided. The teeth of the meshing parts preferably point away from each other.

The invention concerns further a closing strip, which includes a closure and a tooth strap, or consists of a closure and a tooth strap.

According to the invention, this closing strip includes a closure in accordance with the invention.

Sample embodiments of the invention are explained in detail below, on the basis of the attached drawing. In the drawing, the following is shown [0018]
FIG. 1 a first embodiment of a closure for a closing strip in a front view, [0019]
FIG. 2 a side view of the closure according to FIG. 1, [0020]
FIG. 3 a section across the line III-III in FIG. 1, [0021]
FIG. 4 a front view of the tooth strap belonging to the closure according to FIGS. 1 through 3, [0022]
FIG. 5 a side view of the tooth strap according to FIG. 4, [0023]
FIG. 6 the closing strip, consisting of a closure according to FIGS. 1 through 3 and a tooth strap according to FIGS. 4 and 5, in assembled condition, [0024]
FIG. 7 a section along the line VII-VII in FIG. 6, [0025]
FIG. 8 a front view of the closing strip according to FIGS. 6 and 7 in a position where the tooth strap is being inserted into the closure, [0026]
FIG. 9 a side view of the closing strip according to FIG. 8, [0027]
FIG. 10 a front view of the closing strip according to FIGS. 8 and 9, after partial tensioning, [0028]
FIG. 11 a front view of a second embodiment of a closure, [0029]
FIG. 12 a side view of the closure according to FIG. 11, [0030]
FIG. 13 a section along the line XIII-XIII in FIG. 11, [0031]
FIG. 14 a section along the line XIV-XIV in FIG. 11, [0032]
FIG. 15 the detail “A” from FIG. 14 in enlarged representation, [0033]
FIG. 16 a front view of the tooth strap belonging to the closure according to FIGS. 11 through 15, [0034]
FIG. 17 a side view of the tooth strap according to FIG. 16, [0035]
FIG. 18 a section along the line XVIII-XVIII in FIG. 16, [0036]
FIG. 19 the detail “B” from FIG. 16 in enlarged representation, [0037]
FIG. 20 the detail “C” from FIG. 18 in enlarged representation, [0038]
FIG. 21 a rear view of the tooth strap according to FIGS. 16 and 17, [0039]
FIG. 22 the detail “D” from FIG. 21 in an enlarged representation, [0040]
FIG. 23 a front view of the closing strip, consisting of the closure according to FIGS. 11 through 15 and the tooth strap according to FIGS. 16 through 22, in assembled condition, [0041]
FIG. 24 a side view of the closing strip according to FIG. 23, and [0042]
FIG. 25 a cross-section through the closing strip according to FIGS. 23 and 24 in the area of the closure.[0043]
In the first embodiment shown in FIGS. 1 through 10, on one end of the [0044] closure 1, which is represented in the FIGS. 1 through 3, there is provided an opening 2, through which a fastening strip (not shown in the drawing) can be inserted and fastened to the closure 1. The closure 1 is provided at its other end with a guide 3 for the tooth strap. A first tooth 4 and a second tooth 5 extend into the guide 3, which are at a distance from each other and which point in the same direction. The teeth 4 and 5 are in the outside area of the guide 3. Each is placed in the end area of a meshing part 6, 7. The meshing parts 6, 7 are connected each through a joint 8, 9 with the closure 1, namely an elastic joint that is formed by being molded on to each of the meshing parts 6, 7 on the closure 1. After an elastic separation of the ends of the meshing parts 6, 7, on which the teeth 4, 5 are located, the meshing parts 6, 7 again resume their original position.
As can be seen in FIGS. 1 through 3, the [0045] closure 1 includes a base plate 10. On the end of the closure 1 opposite the opening 2 or the base plate 10, two end walls 11, 12 are present, which leave a gap 13 open. The end walls 11, 12 are connected to extensions 14, 15, which are directed toward the other end of the closure 1, and on whose ends the meshing parts 6, 7 with the teeth 4, 5 are located. The extensions 14, 15 also leave the gap 13 free between.
The [0046] end walls 11, 12 are, in their outer regions, connected to unlocking parts 16, 17. The unlocking parts 16, 17 are connected to the closure 1 in the outer end region of the end walls 11, 12, each through a joint 18, 19, where these joints 18, 19 are formed by molding the unlocking parts 16, 17 on the closure 1 in the outermost end region of the end walls 11, 12.
The unlocking [0047] parts 16, 17 run parallel to the longitudinal direction of the closure 1 and the base plate 10. They lie opposite each other and are—like the meshing parts 6, 7 with the teeth 4, 5—symmetrical to one another. On the end of the unlocking parts 16, 17 nearer the cut-out 2, wedge-shaped surfaces 20, 21 pointing inwards are provided, which, in the starting positions shown in FIGS. 1 through 3, are at a distance from corresponding oblique surfaces 22, 23, next to the teeth 4, 5, as can be seen especially in FIGS. 1 and 3.
On the ends facing cut-[0048] out 2, the extensions 14, 15 each have a slot 24, 25 running in the longitudinal direction of the closure 1, through which the meshing parts 6, 7 are separated from the guide segments 26, 27. The inner edges of the guide segments 26, 27 point inward into the guide 3, in the manner shown in FIG. 3, forming openings 28, 29 for guide rails 30, 31 of the tooth strap 32.
The [0049] tooth strap 32 represented in FIGS. 4 and 5 is provided on one end with a cut-out 33, which serves to accept and fasten a belt or strip (not represented in the drawing). It includes two parallel rows of teeth 34, 35, whose distance from each other corresponds to the distance of the teeth 4, 5 of the closure 1. In the same way, the distance of the rails 30, 31, which run parallel to each other and inside the tooth rows 34, 35, corresponds to the distance of the openings 28, 29 of the closure 1.
The [0050] tooth strap 32 has an insertion part 36 on its end opposite the cut-out 33, to which a grip flap is attached. The width b of the insertion part 36 is less than the width B of the gap 13 of the closure 1. The length of the insertion guide part 36 is greater than the length of the gap 13. As a result, it is assured that the insertion part 36 can be laid into the closure 1 as represented in FIG. 8. Subsequently, the handle flap 37 can be pulled in the direction of the arrow 38, as a result of which the teeth in the tooth rows 34, 35 mesh with the teeth 4, 5 of the closure 1, as shown in FIGS. 6, 7 and 10. During this movement, the tooth strap 32 is guided by the guide rails 30, 31 into the openings 28, 29.
The teeth of the [0051] tooth strap 34, 35 are asymmetrical. The flanks of the teeth that face the end with the cut-out 33 are substantially perpendicular to the base surface of the tooth strap 32, while the flanks directed toward the opposite end are oblique. The teeth 4, 5 of the closure 1 are shaped accordingly. As a result of this, the tooth strap 32 can be pulled in the direction of the arrow 38 through the guide 3 of the closure 1. When a tooth of the tooth rows 34, 35 passes, the meshing parts 6, 7 are pushed aside elastically. If, after the end of the movement in the direction of the arrow 38, an attempt is made to move the tooth strap 32 in the opposite direction, then the teeth 4, 5 of the closure 1 hooks against one of the teeth 34, 35 of the tooth strap 32.
In order to release this hooked condition, the releasing [0052] parts 16, 17 are pressed together. As a result, the wedge surfaces 20, 21 move toward each other. As soon as the wedge surfaces 20, 21 reach the oblique surfaces 22, 23 of the teeth 4, 5, these begin to move downward, therefore, away from the level of the base plate 10. This movement is made possible by the elasticity of the meshing parts 6, 7 and through their elastic joints 8, 9. When the teeth 4, 5 have been moved a sufficient distance away from the base plate 10 of the closure 1, the hooking between the teeth 4, 5 and the teeth of the tooth rows 34, 35 is released and the tooth strap 32 can be pulled out of the guide 3 in the direction opposite that of arrow 38.
Outside of the [0053] tooth rows 34, 35 on the tooth strap 32, there are provided oblique surfaces 39, 40, which correspond to the corresponding oblique surfaces 41, 42 of the unlocking parts 16, 17.
FIGS. 11 through 25 show a second embodiment. Those parts that correspond to the first embodiment are assigned the same reference symbols. In this embodiment, the [0054] teeth 51, 52 are placed in the center of the guide 3 of the closure 53. They are at the ends of the meshing parts 54, 55, which run in the longitudinal direction 56 of the closure 53, and which are molded on to the meshing part 53 [sic], forming elastic joints 57, 58.
The meshing [0055] parts 54, 55 with the teeth 51, 52 lie in the longitudinal direction 56 of the closure 53. The teeth 51, 52 point away from each other. They include, in the manner shown in FIG. 11, a first flank, which is substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal direction 56, and through which the hooking occurs, and a flank running obliquely to the longitudinal direction 56. The teeth 51, 52 protrude in the manner shown in FIG. 14 from the base place 10 into the interior of the guide 3.
Two unlocking [0056] parts 59, 60 are placed on the sides of the closure, which are connected through elastic joints 61, 62 to the closure 53. The elastic joints 61, 62 are formed by being cast onto the closure 53. Furthermore, gaps 63, 64 are provided in order to improve the joint function. The unlocking parts 59, 60 are symmetrical around the longitudinal axis 56 of the closure 1. Each one is bent outward.
The unlocking [0057] parts 59, 60 are connected in their forward end region to connecting parts 65, 66, the other end of each of which is connected to the associated guide piece 54, 55, in the area of the teeth 51, 52. The teeth 51, 52 are shown in FIG. 11 in the locked position. If they are to be unlocked, the unlocking pieces 59, 60 are pressed together, so that they move toward each other. Through the action of the connecting parts 65, 66, as a result, the meshing parts 54, 55, and with them the teeth 51, 52, are each moved in the direction of the central axis 56. The distance of the teeth from the central axis 56 decreases so that the lock is released.
In the area of the end of the [0058] guide 3 guide protrusions 67, 68 are provided at the end, which run parallel to each other and parallel to the longitudinal axis 56, and which are at a distance from each other. The guide protrusions 67, 68 extend into the guide 3. They are on both sides of the teeth 51, 52.
The [0059] tooth belt 69 belonging to the closure according to FIGS. 11 through 15 is represented in FIGS. 16 through 22. It has two rows of teeth 70, 71, which run parallel to the longitudinal axis 72 and are directed inward, that is, pointing at each other. The rows of teeth 70, 71 are located on both sides of a longitudinal slot 73 in the middle of the tooth strap 69.
On the back side of the [0060] tooth strap 69, in the area of the rows of teeth 70, 71, a protrusion 74 is provided. On both sides of the protrusion 74, also on the back of the tooth strap 69, longitudinal slots 75, 76 are located. The longitudinal slots 75, 76 correspond to the guide rails 67, 68 in the closure 53, both in their profile shape and their distance.
In order to achieve the connection between the [0061] tooth strap 69 and the closure 53, the tooth strap 69, with its insertion part 36, is laid into the gap between the guide rails 67, 68, as represented in FIG. 23. Through a subsequent relative movement between the tooth strap 69 and the closure 53, hooking is achieved between the teeth 51, 52 and each of the teeth of the rows of teeth 70, 71. The flanks of the teeth of the rows of teeth 70, 71 are directed in a corresponding manner to the teeth 51, 52 by turns essentially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis 72 of the tooth strap 69 and in a direction oblique to this lengthwise axis 72. During the above-mentioned relative movement, the tooth strap 69 is guided in the guide 3 of the closure 53 by the guide rails 67, 68, which extend into the longitudinal slots 75, 76 in the manner shown in FIG. 25.

Claims

1. Closure for a closing strip, which includes a tooth strap (32; 69) and a closure (1; 53) with a guide (3) for the tooth strap (32; 69), where the closure (1; 53) has a meshing part (6, 7; 54, 55) with a tooth (4, 5; 51, 52) and an unlocking part (16, 17; 59, 60), through which the tooth (4, 5; 51, 52) can be brought out of the meshed state.

2. Closure according to claim 1, characterized in that the meshing part (6, 7; 54, 55) is connected to the closure (1; 53) by a joint (8, 9; 57, 58).

3. Closure according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the unlocking part (16, 17; 59, 60) is connected to the closure (1; 53) by a joint (18, 19; 61, 62).

4. Closure according to one of the foregoing claims, characterized in that meshing part (6, 7; 54, 55) can be actuated by pressing the unlocking part (16, 17; 59, 60).

5. Closure according to one of the foregoing claims, characterized in that, on the side of the closure (1; 53), opposite the meshing part (6) and/or the unlocking part (16; 59), a corresponding meshing part (7) and/or a corresponding unlocking part (17; 60) is provided.

6. Closure according to claim 5, characterized in that meshing parts (6, 7; 54, 55) can be actuated by pressing the unlocking devices (16, 17; 59, 60) toward each other.

7. Closure according to one of the foregoing claims, characterized in that the meshing part (6, 7) has an oblique surface (22, 23) and that the unlocking part (16, 17) has a corresponding wedge surface (20, 21).

8. Closure according to claim 7, characterized in that the oblique surface (22, 23) is next to the tooth (4, 5).

9. Closure according to claim 7 or 8, characterized in that on the side of the closure (1), which is opposite the meshing part (6), a corresponding part (7) is provided with a corresponding oblique surface, according to one of the claims 9 or 10.

10. Closure according to claim 9, characterized in that the teeth (4, 5) of the meshing parts (6, 7) point in the same direction.

11. Closure according to claim 9 or 10, characterized in that the oblique surfaces (22, 23) point away from each other.

12. Closing strip characterized by a tooth strap (32; 69) and a closure (1; 53) according to one of the foregoing claims.