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US-12622491-B2 - Fastening system and method(s)

US12622491B2US 12622491 B2US12622491 B2US 12622491B2US-12622491-B2

Abstract

A fastening system for an object (e.g., a wearable such as footwear) is disclosed that includes a buckle assembly and a strap for adjusting tension. The buckle assembly includes a base and a slider engaged with the base. The strap includes an array of teeth to engage with a pawl formed on the base. The fastening system is configurable between an engaged condition and a released condition based on the positioning of the slider relative to the base.

Inventors

  • Mark S. Soderberg

Assignees

  • ZIPZON, LLC

Dates

Publication Date
20260512
Application Date
20250402

Claims (9)

  1. 1 . A fastening system for an object, the fastening system comprising: a strap comprising: a proximal end; a distal end oppositely disposed to the proximal end; a front surface disposed between the proximal end and the distal end; a back surface parallel to and offset from the front surface; and an array of teeth formed between the proximal end and the distal end; a buckle assembly comprising: a base comprising: a bottom configured to be adjoined to the object; a top oppositely disposed from the bottom; a first wall protruding from the top; a second wall protruding from the top and is parallel-to and offset-from the first wall; and a first digit surface configured to receive a first force from a first digit of a hand; wherein the second wall is separated from the first wall by a distance that is greater than a width of the strap; a slider slidingly engaged with the first wall and the second wall between a first position and a second position, the slider comprising: a first guide slidingly engaged to the first wall; a second guide slidingly engaged to the second wall; and a second digit surface configured to receive a second force from a second digit of the hand; and a lifter comprising a channel, wherein the channel allows passage of the strap therethrough; a pawl configured to engage with the array of teeth; a biasing member biasing the slider relative to the base; an engaged condition wherein: the slider is at the first position; the biasing member is at a first length; the slider is offset from the top of the base by a first distance; and the pawl is adjoining the array of teeth; and a released condition wherein: the slider is transitioned to the second position; the biasing member is at a second length that is smaller than the first length; the slider is offset from the top of the base by a second distance that is greater than the first distance; the pawl is not adjoining the array of teeth; and the strap is free to move relative to the buckle assembly.
  2. 2 . The fastening system of claim 1 , wherein the strap further comprises: a third digit surface configured to receive a third force from either the first digit or the second digit of the hand during the engaged condition.
  3. 3 . The fastening system of claim 1 and further comprising: a first attachment formed on the buckle assembly and configured to interface with the object; and a second attachment formed on the strap and configured to interface with the object.
  4. 4 . The fastening system of claim 3 and further comprising: a first webbing attached to the first attachment, the first webbing being configured to attach to the object; and a second webbing attached to the second attachment, the second webbing being configured to attach to the object.
  5. 5 . The fastening system of claim 1 , wherein the lifter comprises either: a clamp, or a pair of L-shaped members.
  6. 6 . The fastening system of claim 1 and further comprising: in the engaged condition: the first force and the second force are zero; and the slider is in the first position; and in the released condition: the first force and the second force are equal and opposite; the slider is transitioned to the second position; and the lifter is configured to lift the strap to disengage the array of teeth from the pawl.
  7. 7 . The fastening system of claim 1 and further comprising: a first hold pin formed on the base and extending towards the slider; and a second hold pin formed on the slider and extending towards the base, wherein the biasing member is adjoined to the first hold pin and the second hold pin.
  8. 8 . The fastening system of claim 1 and further comprising: a first protrusion formed on the strap, wherein the first protrusion limits motion of the strap relative to the buckle assembly.
  9. 9 . A method of fastening a fastening system on an object, the method comprising: providing a strap comprising: a proximal end; a distal end oppositely disposed to the proximal end; a front surface disposed between the proximal end and the distal end; a back surface parallel to and offset from the front surface; and an array of teeth formed between the proximal end and the distal end; providing a buckle assembly comprising: a base comprising: a bottom configured to be adjacently adjoined to the object; a top oppositely disposed from the bottom; a first wall protruding from the top; a second wall protruding from the top, parallel-to and offset-from the first wall, wherein the second wall is separated from the first wall by a distance that is greater than a width of the strap; and a first digit surface configured to receive a first force from a first digit of a hand; a slider slidingly engaged with the first wall and the second wall between a first position and a second position, the slider comprising: a first guide slidingly engaged with the first wall; a second guide slidingly engaged with the second wall; a second digit surface configured to receive a second force from a second digit of the hand; and a lifter comprising a channel, wherein the channel allows a passage of the strap through therethrough; a biasing member disposed between the base and the slider; and a pawl configured to engage with the array of teeth; releasing the fastening system, the releasing comprising: transitioning the slider from the first position to the second position wherein: the biasing member is compressed from a first length to a second length, the second length being smaller than the first; the slider is offset from the top of the base by a distance that is greater in the second position than in the first position; the pawl is disengaged from the array of teeth; and the strap is free to move relative to the buckle assembly.

Description

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION(S) The present application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 19/045,405 entitled “FASTENING SYSTEM AND METHOD(S),” filed 4 Feb. 2025 by MARK S. SODERBERG, which is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 18/943,797 (now U.S. Pat. No. 12,232,577) entitled “FASTENING SYSTEM AND METHOD(S),” filed 11 Nov. 2024 by MARK S. SODERBERG, which is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 18/217,433 (now U.S. Pat. No. 12,156,573) entitled “FASTENING SYSTEM AND METHOD(S),” filed 30 Jun. 2023 by MARK S. SODERBERG, which claims priority to and is a Continuation-In-Part (CIP) of U.S. Non-Provisional patent application Ser. No. 17/974,697 (now U.S. Pat. No. 11,805,855), entitled “FASTENING SYSTEM AND METHOD(S),” and filed 27 Oct. 2022 by MARK S. SODERBERG. The entirety of the applications above are incorporated herein by reference for all purposes. TECHNICAL FIELD This disclosure relates generally to fastening devices, and particularly to a ratchet-based fastener device and methods of fastening, for example, wearables such as footwear. BACKGROUND Conventional fastening systems for wearables (e.g., footwear) include laces, straps, belts, hook-and-loop, buckles, etc. These conventional fastening systems have limitations ranging from low binding force to difficulty of use. SUMMARY The disclosed fastening system (and variants thereof) may be used in many applications ranging from wearables (e.g., footwear, clothing, baggage, helmets, etc.) to industrial applications (e.g., closure mechanisms, attachment devices, security devices, etc.). The fastening system may be configured for tightening footwear or for bundling and attaching individual objects (e.g., electrical cables, wires, etc.). In its simplest form, the fastening system includes a strap and a buckle assembly adjustable relative to each other. While the buckle and strap may be formed together (i.e., in a circular configuration), one configuration has the strap and buckle assembly as separate components (e.g., for use as a fastening system for footwear). If configured for footwear (e.g., a shoe, boot, sandal, ski boot, work boot, etc.), the strap is attached to one portion of a shoe while the buckle assembly is attached to a different portion of the shoe. Actuating the strap and buckle assembly causes the two different areas of the shoe to move closer or further away from each other. While specific examples, configurations, and/or applications of the present fastening system are provided, it is to be understood that granted claims ultimately define the breadth and depth of the present disclosure. The following example(s) on footwear are meant to illustrate the present fastening system. In one illustrative configuration of the present disclosure, the fastening system includes a buckle assembly and a strap attached to a shoe such that the strap passes through the buckle assembly. The buckle assembly is configured to engage or disengage the strap, thereby respectively enabling the preservation or increase and decrease of the tightness of the shoe. The buckle assembly can be manipulated by a user, for example, by using digits on their hands such as an index finger and a thumb to tighten or release the strap the buckle assembly may hold. The buckle assembly may include a lifter movable relative to the strap when the strap is engaged with the buckle assembly. The user can manipulate the lifter by acting on components (e.g., a slider) of the buckle assembly to selectively engage or disengage holding components, thereby tightening, loosening, or releasing the strap. Further, the buckle assembly allows the strap to be inserted or moved relative to the buckle assembly without fully releasing tension in the strap. Further, the fastening system provides for ready access and easy manipulation by the user (e.g., using the index finger and a thumb) to partially or fully release the strap from the buckle assembly. The fastening system is a low-cost, intuitive, and easy-to-use device that provides binding strength suitable for many other applications. The fastening system may be made of a flexible material, for example, a plastic (e.g., thermoplastics such as nylon, urethane, etc.). The strap of the fastening system is an elongated structure defining a distal end and a proximal end and may include a plurality of teeth provided to position the strap. The buckle assembly may include at least one pawl that selectively engages the plurality of teeth for adjustably positioning the buckle assembly relative to the strap. It is noted that the term ‘pawl’ may mean one or more pawls (e.g., the illustrated configuration with 3 individual pawls that are referred to herein as a ‘pawl’). When the strap is moved (e.g., pulled, pinched, or pushed) relative to the buckle assembly, the strap is tensioned and stays tensioned until a trigger/slider (of the buckle assembly) is actioned to disengage the strap away from the pawl (e.