Joining together ends of flexible belt - making two transverse grooves and matching lips at each end so that they fit together to produce strong joint which can be released by hand

The ends of a belt are bonded together by a method which uses a thin flexible high tensile strength material with a coupling part and a smooth part. The smooth part has the same width as the belt and the coupling part has at least two parallel grooves across the width; each groove has a lip on the side further from the smooth part; each lip has one part parallel to the smooth part and extending towards it. A second coupling is identical to that above, and the system has a device to connect the first or second to the corresp. ends of the belt. In the process the first coupling is permanently bonded to one end of the belt with the grooves and lips concerned running across the width; the grooves are then open towards one face of the belt; the second coupling is connected to a second section of the belt in similar manner with the grooves open to the second smooth face of the belt and opposite to the first smooth face. When the ends of the belt are brought together the grooves and lips match together so as to produce an endless belt; in this system the lips of the one coupling fit into the grooves of the other, so that the joints between belt and coupling withstand stresses but can be released by hand. Pref. materials for the coupling are vinyl or polyester elastomers. ADVANTAGE - The joining device is simple and cheap. The ends of the belt are joined easily and quickly. The ends are easy to separate again and they can be repeatedly joined/released. The joins have (partic.) high tensile strength and good wear properties. The thickness at the join is minimal and can even be the same as that of the belt itself so that it passes over pulleys, etc. without difficulty.