BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of Invention
The invention relates to a bundling device and, in particular, to a belt pincher.
2. Related Art
When shipping an object, one often needs to use a bundling device 2 with a constraining belt 1 therein to package the object. The structure of a conventional bundling device 2 is shown in FIG. 12. The bundling device 2 is pivotally provided with a constraining element 3. One end of the constraining element 3 is provided with several constraining teeth 4 to press and position the belt 1.
In the above-mentioned mechanism, however, the constraining teeth 4 are likely to damage the surface of the belt 1 and even break it. Therefore, to elongate the lifetime of the belt 1, one usually adopts a belt that can sustain a larger tension. This inevitably increases the cost.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
An objective of the invention is to provide a belt (rope) pincher with a simple structure to constrain and position the belt.
Another objective of the invention is to provide a belt pincher that can prevent the belt from too much erosion in order to elongate the lifetime thereof. The belt used in the invention does not need to sustain large tensions. The cost can thus be reduced.
To achieve the above-mentioned objectives, the disclosed belt pincher has a belt penetrating through and the loop formed from the belt constrains an object. Moreover, the disclosed belt pincher has two opposite sidewalls. A restricting rod is fixedly interposed between the two sidewalls. A rotating arm is pivotally interposed between the two sidewalls. An elastic element is mounted on the rotating arm to impose a resilient force on the rotating arm toward the restricting rod. One end of the rotating arm is formed with an acting part. One end of the belt is hooked onto the acting part and penetrates between the acting part and the restricting rod to urge against the restricting rod. When the belt is pulled by the reaction from the constrained object, the belt swings the rotating arm so that the acting part and the restricting rod pinch to restrict and position the belt.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
The invention will become more fully understood from the detailed description given herein below illustration only, and thus is not limitative of the present invention, and wherein:
FIG. 1 is a three-dimensional exploded view of the invention;
FIG. 2 is a schematic view showing the structure of the invention after assembly;
FIG. 3 is a schematic view of the invention in use, showing that when the belt is driven by a reaction to pull the rotating arm the acting part and the restricting rod pinch together;
FIG. 4 is a schematic view of a second embodiment of the invention;
FIG. 5 is a schematic view of the second embodiment in use, showing that when the belt is driven by a reaction to pull the rotating arm the acting part and the restricting rod pinch together;
FIG. 6 is a schematic view of a third embodiment of the invention;
FIG. 7 is a schematic view of the third embodiment in use, showing that when the belt is driven by a reaction to pull the rotating arm the acting part and the restricting rod pinch together;
FIG. 8 is a schematic view of a fourth embodiment of the invention;
FIG. 9 is a schematic view of the fourth embodiment in use, showing that when the embodiment is used in a suspension system and the belt pulls the rotating arm to swing toward the restricting rod using the weight of the object hanging thereon, the acting part of the rotating arm and the restricting rod pinch together;
FIG. 10 is a plot showing the test result of the belt in a conventional bundling device;
FIG. 11 is a plot showing the test result of the belt of the invention; and
FIG. 12 is a schematic view of a conventional bundling device.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
The present invention will be apparent from the following detailed description, which proceeds with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein the same references relate to the same elements.
Please refer to FIGS. 1 and 2 for a first embodiment of the invention. It is used for the purpose of explanation. The scope of the invention is not restricted by this particular example.
The disclosed belt pincher is installed with a belt 20 (or a rope). The loop formed from the belt 20 constrains an object. The belt pincher includes a base 11, a rotating arm 21, and an elastic element 31.
The base 11 is formed by punching a plate into one with a U-shaped cross section. The base 11 thus has two opposite sidewalls 12 and a bottom face 13 between them. A restricting rod 14 is interposed between the two sidewalls 12. Each of the sidewalls 12 is formed with a pivotal hole 15. The bottom face 13 of the base 11 has a fixing end 16 on one end. The fixing end 16 is used to fix one end of the belt 20. In this embodiment, one end of the belt 20 is fixed to the fixing end 16 of the bottom face 13 by sewing. The other end of the bottom face 13 of the base 11 is formed with a notch 17 for the other end of the belt 20 to go through. One side of the notch 17 is bent upward, opposite to the bottom face 13, to form a guiding section 171.
Each side of the rotating arm 21 is extended with a connecting section 22. Each of the connecting sections 22 is formed with a through hole 23 corresponding to the pivotal holes 15 on the base 11. A pivotal element 24 simultaneously goes through the pivotal holes 15 and the through holes 23, so that the rotating arm 21 can be pivotally connected between the two sidewalls 12 of the base 11. The end of the rotating arm 21 corresponding to the restricting rod 14 of the base 11 is formed with an acting part 25. The other end is formed with a pressing part 26. A connecting hole 27 is formed between the acting part 25 and the pressing part 26.
The elastic element 31 is a torsional spring mounted on the pivotal element 24. One end of the elastic element 31 urges against the bottom face 13 of the substrate 11. The other end urges against the urging part 28 on one side of the rotating arm 21. The rotating arm 21 thus experiences a resilient force from the elastic element 31 toward the restricting rod 14.
Please further refer to FIG. 2. When the invention is in use, one end of the belt 20 is fixed to the fixing end 16 of the base 11. The other end of the belt 20 is inserted through the notch 17 on the bottom face 13 of the base 11, and winded on the acting part 25 of the rotating arm 21 via the connecting hole 27. It further penetrates between the acting part 25 and the restricting rod 14 to urge against the bottom edge of the restricting rod 14. This forms a movable belt 20. Therefore, in practice, one can adjust the belt 20 to change the length of belt to fit the object.
After the user tightens the belt 20, as shown in FIG. 3, the belt 20 produces a reaction toward the constrained object (as indicated by the arrow). This reaction enables the belt 20 to swing the rotating arm 21. As a result, the acting part 25 and the restricting rod 14 pinch together to restrict and position the belt 20. When the belt 20 is pulled by the reaction, it produces a frictional force as the acting part 25 and the restricting rod 14 pinches. Moreover, as shown in the drawing, the overlapped part of the belt 20 winding around the acting part 25 and the restricting rod 14 also provides a resistance due to the belt motion. This further enhances the positioning of the belt 20.
FIG. 4 shows a second embodiment of the invention. It differs from the first embodiment in that both the base 11 and the rotating arm 21 are integrally formed by casting. Afterwards, the rotating arm is pivotally connected to the base 11 using a pivotal element 24. After the user tightens the belt 20, as shown in FIG. 5, the belt 20 also produces a reaction toward the constrained object. This reaction enables the belt 20 to swing the rotating arm 21. As a result, the acting part 25 and the restricting rod 14 pinch together to restrict and position the belt 20. Moreover, the overlapped part of the belt 20 winding around the acting part 25 and the restricting rod 14 also provides a resistance due to the belt motion. This achieves the positioning of the belt 20 too.
FIG. 6 shows a third embodiment of the invention which differs from the second embodiment in that both the base 11 and the rotating arm 21 are manufactured by punching a metal plate (e.g., iron plate) whose cost is lower. This greatly reduces the cost for making the mold and thus facilitates mass production. After the user tightens the belt 20, as shown in FIG. 7, the belt 20 also produces a reaction toward the constrained object. This reaction enables the belt 20 to swing the rotating arm 21. As a result, the acting part 25 and the restricting rod 14 pinch together to restrict and position the belt 20. The overlapped part of the belt 20 winding around the acting part 25 and the restricting rod 14 also provides a resistance due to the belt motion. This achieves the positioning of the belt 20 too.
It should be emphasized that the invention can also be used in a suspension system. FIG. 8 shows a fourth embodiment of the invention. The base 11 also consists of two opposite sidewalls 12. A shaft 18 goes through one end of the base 11 to form the fixing end 16. The fixing end 16 is installed with a hooking element 41. The end of the base 11 opposite to the fixing end 16 is formed with a penetrating end 19. The rotating arm 21 is pivotally interposed between the two sidewalls 12 using its one end. Its other end is formed with the acting part 25. The restricting rod 14 is disposed opposite to the acting part 25 of the rotating arm 21.
In the disclosed structure mentioned above, one end of a rope (belt) 30 is inserted into the penetrating end 19 of the base 11 and then winds around the acting part 25 of the rotating arm 21. The same end goes in between the acting part 25 and the restricting rod 14, so that it goes out of the penetrating end 19 of the base 11 again for hanging an object (not shown). Therefore, as shown in FIG. 9, the rope (belt) 30 is pulled by the weight of the hanging object to rotate the rotating arm 21 toward the restricting rod 14. The acting part 25 of the rotating arm 21 and the restricting rod 14 pinch together to hold the rope (belt) 30, thereby restricting and positioning the rope (belt) 30.
To adjust the hanging object on the rope (belt) 30, as indicated by the arrow in FIG. 8, one only needs to press the pressing part 26 extended from one side of the rotating arm 21. The acting part 25 of the rotating arm 21 and the restricting rod 14 slightly depart from each other. As a result, the restriction of the rope (belt) is removed. When the user exerts a force on the other end of the rope (belt) 30, the hanging object on the rope (belt) 30 can be adjusted.
Please refer to FIGS. 10 and 11. They show the pulling tests performed on the conventional bundler and the disclose belt pincher using the same belt with a tension limit of about 800 kgf. It is clear in FIG. 10 that the conventional bundler causes some damages on the surface of the belt. Therefore, when being under a force, the belt is likely to be stretched and deformed into an extremely unstable state. Eventually, its bundling effect may be lost. Moreover, the surface of the belt is destroyed by the conventional bundler. Therefore, the belt originally having a tension limit of 800 kgf breaks under a pulling force of only 646 kgf.
According to FIG. 11, the surface of the belt used in the disclosed belt pincher is not damaged. Therefore, the belt keeps a very stable deformation under a pulling force and breaks only at 800 kgf. Therefore, the invention does not require a belt with a higher tension limit. This effectively reduces the cost.
From the above detailed explanation, it is evident that the disclosed belt pincher has a simple structure that can firmly restrict and position the belt. Moreover, the disclosed belt pincher uses the acting part on its rotating arm and the restricting rod to produce a pinching effect. Consequently, it can effectively prevent the belt from erosion, effectively elongating its lifetime. The disclosed belt does not require using a belt with a higher tension limit. This reduces the production cost. Obviously, the invention has sufficient novelty and utilities.
Although the invention has been described with reference to specific embodiments, this description is not meant to be construed in a limiting sense. Various modifications of the disclosed embodiments, as well as alternative embodiments, will be apparent to people skilled in the art. Therefore, it is contemplated that the appended claims will cover all modifications that fall within the true scope of the invention.
Patent Application
20100192336
