Fastening system(s)

Abstract

Various fastening systems for an object (e.g., a wearable such as footwear) are disclosed, including a buckle assembly and a prong for adjusting tension. The buckle assembly may a pawl. The prong includes an array of teeth to engage with the 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.

We claim: 
     
         1 . A fastening system for an object, the fastening system comprising:
 a prong assembly configured to selectively draw two portions of the object together, the prong assembly comprising:
 a first anchor disposed at a proximal end of the prong assembly, the first anchor being fixedly attachable to the object; 
 a prong disposed at a distal end of the prong assembly, the prong having a row of teeth formed on a surface thereof; and 
   a buckle assembly that is engageable with the prong, the buckle assembly being fixedly attachable to the object, the buckle assembly comprising:
 a base including a pawl configured such that tension on the prong assembly is adjustable via ratcheting engagement or selective disengagement of the pawl with the row of teeth of the prong; 
 a second anchor disposed at a proximal end of the buckle assembly, the second anchor being fixedly attachable to the object; 
   a tension member connecting: the first anchor to the prong, or the second anchor to the base, the tension member having a tension member shape;   at least one tension member guide being fixedly attachable to the object, the tension member guide including a slot configured to allow the tension member to pass therethrough such that the tension member shaped tension member may fold back on itself such that an edge of the tension member may form an angle as it passes through the tension member guide, the angle having a vertex;   wherein the slot forms an arc, the arc curving away from the vertex of the angle formed by the tension member passing through the tension member guide.   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the tension member guide acts as a pulley to draw the two portions of the object together in response to increased tension on the prong assembly applied via ratcheting engagement of the pawl of the buckle assembly with the row of teeth of the prong. 
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 2 , wherein the tension member guide provides a mechanical advantage. 
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 3 , wherein the mechanical advantage is at least 2:1. 
     
     
         5 . A fastening system for an object, the fastening system comprising:
 a prong assembly configured to selectively draw two portions of the object together, the prong assembly comprising:
 a first anchor disposed at a proximal end of the prong assembly, the first anchor being fixedly attachable to the object; 
 a prong disposed at a distal end of the prong assembly, the prong having a row of teeth formed on a surface thereof; 
   a buckle assembly that is engageable with the prong, the buckle assembly being fixedly attachable to the object, the buckle assembly comprising a base including a pawl and configured such that tension on the prong assembly is adjustable via ratcheting engagement or selective disengagement of the pawl with the row of teeth of the prong;   wherein the buckle assembly is configured to allow a distal end of the prong to pass into a front side of the buckle assembly and protrude out a back side of the buckle assembly; and   a sheath member proximal to the back side of the buckle assembly, the sheath member comprising:
 an opening configured to receive the distal end of the prong after the distal end of the prong has passed through the buckle assembly; and 
 a channel configured to cover at least a portion of the prong. 
   
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 5 , wherein the sheath member is configured to confine the proximal end of the prong therein. 
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 5 , wherein the sheath member is fixedly attachable to the object. 
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 5 , wherein the sheath member is integrally formed in the object. 
     
     
         9 . A fastening system for an object, the fastening system comprising:
 a prong assembly configured to selectively draw two portions of the object together, the prong assembly comprising:
 a first anchor disposed at a proximal end of the prong assembly, the first anchor being fixedly attachable to the object; 
 a prong disposed at a distal end of the prong assembly, the prong having a row of teeth formed on a surface thereof; and 
   a buckle assembly that is engageable with the prong, the buckle assembly being fixedly attachable to the object, the buckle assembly comprising:
 a base including a pawl configured such that tension on the prong assembly is adjustable via ratcheting engagement or selective disengagement of the pawl with the row of teeth of the prong; 
   a second anchor disposed at a proximal end of the buckle assembly, the second anchor being fixedly attachable to the object;   a tension member connecting: the first anchor to the prong, or the second anchor to the base, such that a proximal end of the tension member is free;   a sheath member proximal to the first anchor, the sheath member comprising:   an opening configured to receive and restrain the proximal end of the tension member; and
 a channel configured to cover at least a portion of the proximal end of the tension member. 
   
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 9 , wherein the first anchor comprises a cam buckle configured to adjust a useable length of the tension member. 
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 9 , wherein the sheath member is fixedly attachable to the object. 
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 9 , wherein the sheath member is integrally formed in the object. 
     
     
         13 . A fastening system for an object, the fastening system comprising:
 a prong assembly configured to selectively draw two portions of the object together, the prong assembly comprising:
 a first anchor disposed at a proximal end of the prong assembly, the first anchor being fixedly attachable to the object; 
 a prong disposed at a distal end of the prong assembly, the prong having a row of teeth formed on a surface thereof; 
   a buckle assembly that is engageable with the prong, the buckle assembly being fixedly attachable to the object, the buckle assembly comprising a pawl and configured such that tension on the prong assembly is adjustable via ratcheting engagement or selective disengagement of the pawl with the row of teeth of the prong; and   a buckle guard disposed proximal the buckle assembly, the buckle guard configured to protect the buckle assembly from impact.   
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 13 , wherein the buckle guard comprises first and second embankment members, the first embankment member flanking a first side of the buckle assembly and the second embankment member flanking a second side of the buckle assembly. 
     
     
         15 . The system of  claim 14 , wherein the first and second embankment members have a height, the height of the embankment members corresponding to a depth of the buckle assembly, the depth of the buckle assembly being the distance from a top face of the buckle assembly to a bottom face of the buckle assembly. 
     
     
         16 . The system of  claim 13 , wherein the buckle guard is integral to the buckle assembly. 
     
     
         17 . The system of  claim 13 , wherein the buckle guard is a separate component from the buckle assembly. 
     
     
         18 . A fastening system for an object, the fastening system comprising:
 a prong assembly configured to selectively draw two portions of the object together, the prong assembly comprising:
 a first anchor disposed at a proximal end of the prong assembly, the first anchor being fixedly attachable to the object; 
 a prong disposed at a distal end of the prong assembly, the prong having a row of teeth formed on a surface thereof; 
   a buckle assembly that is engageable with the prong, the buckle assembly being fixedly attachable to the object, the buckle assembly comprising a pawl and configured such that tension on the prong assembly is adjustable via ratcheting engagement or selective disengagement of the pawl with the row of teeth of the prong;   the buckle assembly further comprising first and second digit surfaces, the first digit surface comprising a protrusion extending from a first side of the buckle assembly, the second digit surface comprising a protrusion extending from a second side of the buckle assembly, opposite the first; where the first and second digit surfaces are individually configured to engage with a distal phalanx of an index finger of a user, a distal phalanx of a middle finger of the user, or a distal phalanx of a ring finger of the user; and   the prong assembly further comprising a third digit surface, the third digit surface configured to engage with a thumb of the user such that the user may use one hand to engage with the first, second, and third digit surfaces and squeeze the prong into the buckle assembly.   
     
     
         19 . The system of  claim 18 , wherein the third digit surface comprises a depression or ledge formed in the prong assembly. 
     
     
         20 . A fastening system for an object, the fastening system comprising:
 a prong assembly configured to selectively draw two portions of the object together, the prong assembly comprising:
 a first anchor disposed at a proximal end of the prong assembly, the first anchor being fixedly attachable to the object; 
 a prong disposed at a distal end of the prong assembly, the prong having a row of teeth formed on a surface thereof; 
   a buckle assembly that is engageable with the prong, the buckle assembly being fixedly attachable to the object, the buckle assembly comprising a pawl and configured such that tension on the prong assembly is adjustable via ratcheting engagement or selective disengagement of the pawl with the row of teeth of the prong;   wherein the buckle assembly further comprises a cap slidably engaged with a base, and a biasing member configured to bias the buckle assembly into a locked condition, the biasing member having a long axis oriented parallel to a long axis of the prong when the prong is engaged with the buckle assembly; and   wherein the prong has a linear groove formed on a side opposite the row of teeth, the linear groove being configured to provide clearance for the biasing member.   
     
     
         21 . A fastening system for an object, the fastening system comprising:
 a prong assembly configured to selectively draw two portions of the object together, the prong assembly comprising:
 a first anchor disposed at a proximal end of the prong assembly, the first anchor being fixedly attachable to the object; 
 a prong disposed at a distal end of the prong assembly, the prong having a row of teeth formed on a surface thereof; 
   a buckle assembly that is engageable with the prong, the buckle assembly being fixedly attachable to the object, the buckle assembly comprising a pawl and configured such that tension on the prong assembly is adjustable via ratcheting engagement or selective disengagement of the pawl with the row of teeth of the prong;   wherein the buckle assembly is configured to allow a distal end of the prong to pass into a front side of the buckle assembly and protrude out a back side of the buckle assembly; and   the prong further comprising at least one prong retention member disposed on a distal end of the prong, the at least one prong retention member being configured to compress laterally toward a centerline of the prong upon entering the front side of the buckle assembly and expand upon exiting the back side of the buckle assembly to trap the prong in the buckle assembly.   
     
     
         22 . The system of  claim 21 , wherein the at least one prong retention member comprises:
 a ramp configured to engage the front side of the buckle assembly upon the prong entering the buckle assembly and translate a longitudinal force applied to the prong for pressing the prong into the buckle assembly into a later force compressing the prong retention member toward the centerline of the prong; and   a ledge configured to engage with the back side of the buckle assembly and trap the prong in the buckle assembly.   
     
     
         23 . The system of  claim 22 , wherein the fastening system further comprises:
 a sheath member proximal to the back side of the buckle assembly, the sheath member comprising:
 an opening configured to receive the distal end of the prong after the distal end of the prong has passed through the buckle assembly; and 
 a channel configured to cover at least a portion of the prong. 
   
     
     
         24 . The system of  claim 23 , wherein the at least one prong retention member is set back from a distal tip of the prong, such that when the ledge is engaged with the back side of the buckle, the distal tip of the prong is inside the sheath member.