Cover for a strap buckle

Abstract

A cover for a buckle installed on a strap disposed about a suspension cable or similar relatively large diameter article of indefinite length exposed to the atmosphere defines a square or rectangle having thin edges and a thicker center which includes a buckle receiving opening or aperture. The thickness of the cover proximate the aperture or opening is preferably equal to or substantially equal to the projection of the strap buckle from the cable. Installed over the strap buckle, the cover smooths the region of the cable exterior adjacent the buckle, thereby improving the ease and uniformity of application of the cable wrap as well as the durability and life of the cable wrap. The cover may be fabricated of a material such as plastic and has an inside radius which matches or substantially matches the outside radius of the suspension cable.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A buckle cover for disposition on an exterior of a suspension bridge cable or the like comprising, in combination,
 a body defined by orthogonal circumferential and longitudinal directions, and having a peripheral edge, an outside surface, a face opposite said outside surface and a through opening in a center of said body,   wherein a thickness of said body increases from said peripheral edge to said center along both said circumferential and longitudinal directions and   wherein said face defines a longitudinal radius substantially equal to an outer radius of such suspension cable.   
     
     
         2 . The buckle cover of  claim 1  wherein a footprint of said through opening is substantially equal to a buckle on a strap disposed on such suspension bridge cable. 
     
     
         3 . The buckle cover of  claim 1  wherein said body of said buckle cover is one of rectangular and square. 
     
     
         4 . The buckle cover of  claim 1  further including a plurality of webs extending from said body and having outer edges curved to conform to the shape of such suspension bridge cable and defining said face. 
     
     
         5 . The buckle cover of  claim 1  wherein said body is solid and fabricated of a material selected from the group consisting of rubber, wood and paper. 
     
     
         6 . The buckle cover of  claim 1  further including a plurality of reinforcing ribs extending from an inside surface of said body and which define said face. 
     
     
         7 . The buckle cover of  claim 1  wherein said body is fabricated of talc filled polypropylene. 
     
     
         8 . A buckle cover for disposition on an exterior of a cylindrical article of indefinite length exposed to the atmosphere comprising, in combination,
 a body having a peripheral edge, an outside surface, an inside surface opposite said outside surface and a through opening in a middle of said body, said body defining a circumferential direction and a longitudinal axis,   a plurality of ribs extending from said inside surface and having outer edges defining a curve having a radius substantially equal to an outside radius of such cylindrical article, and   a thickness of said body increasing from said peripheral edges and said outer edges of said ribs along said circumferential direction and said longitudinal axis toward said through opening.   
     
     
         9 . The buckle cover of  claim 8  wherein said through opening is sized to receive a buckle of a strap disposed about such cylindrical article. 
     
     
         10 . The buckle cover of  claim 8  wherein said body is fabricated of talc filled polypropylene. 
     
     
         11 . The buckle cover of  claim 8  wherein said plurality of ribs are arranged along orthogonal axes. 
     
     
         12 . The buckle cover of  claim 8  wherein said cylindrical article is a suspension bridge cable. 
     
     
         13 . The buckle cover of  claim 8  wherein said outside surface and said inside surface are substantially parallel to one another. 
     
     
         14 . A buckle cover for disposition on an exterior of a suspension bridge cable exposed to the atmosphere comprising, in combination,
 a rectangular body having peripheral edges, an outside surface, an inside surface and a through opening in said body, said body defining a circumferential direction and a longitudinal axis,   a plurality of ribs extending from said inside surface and having outer edges defining a curved face having a radius about said circumferential direction substantially equal to an outside radius of such suspension bridge cable, and   a thickness of said body increasing from said peripheral edges and said outer edges of said ribs along said circumferential direction and said longitudinal axis toward said through opening.   
     
     
         15 . The buckle cover of  claim 14  wherein two of said peripheral edges are parallel to said circumferential direction and two of said peripheral edges are parallel to said longitudinal axis. 
     
     
         16 . The buckle cover of  claim 14  wherein said through opening is rectangular and is oriented with a longer dimension parallel to said circumferential direction. 
     
     
         17 . The buckle cover of  claim 14  wherein said plurality of ribs are arranged along said circumferential direction and said longitudinal axis. 
     
     
         18 . The buckle cover of  claim 14  wherein said body is molded of talc filled polypropylene.