CH716395B1 - Buckle. - Google Patents

Abstract

Belt buckle (1) comprising: a base assembly (2; 3, 5) arranged to be attached to a belt strap (9) to allow opening and closing of said belt (9); a removable decorative element (15) having a first pair of rails (15a) arranged to cooperate with a second pair of rails provided on said base assembly (2; 3, 5) in order to allow the assembly and disassembly of the decorative element (15) with respect to the base assembly (2; 3, 5); at least one locking system (17) arranged to lock said decorative element (15) on said base assembly (2; 3, 5) and allow removal of said decorative element (15) from said base assembly (2); 3, 5) under the command of a user; characterized in that said locking system (17) comprises at least one hook (17a) pivotally mounted in a recess (3c) provided in a face of the base assembly (2; 3, 5), said hook (17a ) being arranged on the one hand to block a blocking element integral with said decorative element and on the other hand to be retracted manually against a restoring force in order to release said blocking element.

Description

Technical area

The present invention relates to the field of belt buckles. It relates, more particularly, to a belt buckle provided with a removable decoration.

State of the art

[0002] Various variants of buckles provided with a removable decoration are known from the prior art.

[0003] For example, document FR 2863150 discloses a buckle, the body of which is provided with a housing made in its front outer surface, that is to say its surface intended to oppose the body of the wearer when the belt is carried. A decorative element, which may also include additional functional elements, such as a compass or a lamp, is held in the service position in the housing by means of magnets.

In the loop of document FR 2713055, the housing crosses the entire height of the loop, and is provided with lateral grooves. The decorative element comprises complementary rails, which slide into these grooves, the decoration being held there in the service position by means of ball detents.

[0005] The buckle revealed by the document US 1429641 has a decoration carried by a plate, which is held in position in grooves carried by the body of the buckle by simple friction.

[0006] A problem common to all of these arrangements and a relatively low limit against untimely separation of the decorative element from the body of the buckle, in the event of impact, striking against a object or by hanging clothes. On the one hand, this imposes limits on the size and weight of the decor element, on the other hand, the risk of loss of the decor element is significantly too high in the event that the decor in question is expensive.

The object of the invention is therefore to provide a belt buckle in which the aforementioned defects are at least partially overcome.

Disclosure of Invention

More specifically, the invention relates to a belt buckle comprising:

[0009] - a base assembly comprising at least one element and being arranged to be fixed to a belt strap in order to allow the opening and closing of said belt;

[0010] - a removable decorative element having a first pair of rails arranged to cooperate with a second pair of rails provided on said base assembly in order to allow the mounting and dismounting of the decorative element on the base assembly ;

[0011] - at least one locking system (typically two) arranged to lock said decorative element on said base assembly in a service position and to allow the removal of said decorative element from said base assembly following an action of 'an user.

According to the invention, said locking system comprises at least one hook pivotally mounted in a recess provided in one face of the base assembly, in particular its front face, said hook being arranged on the one hand to block a blocking element, such as a stud, integral with said decorative element and on the other hand to be retracted manually against a restoring force in order to release said blocking element and thus allow the removal of the element of decor. The hook is advantageously movable in the direction of one of the lateral sides of the base element, that is to say substantially parallel to the front face of the base element in the direction of the extension of the belt.

[0013] By these means, the decorative element is fixed very securely to the base assembly in its service position, and can thus be heavy and/or expensive, without risk of loss. However, its removal to interchange it or to show it to people is easy, by manipulating the hooks and by sliding the decorative element relative to the basic assembly.

[0014] Advantageously, said hook defines, in cooperation with a wall of said recess, a locking housing arranged to block said locking element when the latter is located in said housing.

[0015] Advantageously, said restoring force is provided by a leaf spring integral with said hook.

[0016] Advantageously, said blocking element is located on one face of said decorative element intended to be opposite the base assembly in the service position.

[0017] Advantageously, one of said pairs of rails forms a tenon, the other pair forming a mortise of complementary shape to said tenon.

Advantageously, the rails of said first pair extend towards each other, while the rails of said second pair extend in opposite directions, the rails of the base assembly thus overlapping between those of the decorative element, allowing the latter to hide the base assembly when the decorative element is in its service position.

[0019] Advantageously, said decorative element further comprises a stop pin arranged to abut against said base assembly when said decorative element is in its service position.

[0020] Advantageously, said decorative element comprises a cavity inside it as well as a window which is at least partially transparent and is arranged to allow a view of the interior of said cavity. Said decorative element may further comprise a support which may carry a decoration visible through said window. A decoration can thus be housed in the cavity, while being visible from the outside.

[0021] Advantageously, said base assembly comprises a frame as well as a cover pivotally mounted on said frame in order to form a folding loop, said recess being provided in said cover. Such a folding loop can also include at least one locking system (typically one or two locking systems) arranged to hold the base assembly in a folded state and allow it to be unfolded. Furthermore, said frame can also comprise a system for adjusting the effective length of a belt.

Brief description of the drawings

Other details of the invention will appear more clearly on reading the following description, given with reference to the appended drawings in which: Fig. 1 is an isometric view of the front face of a belt buckle according to the invention, the decorative element having been shown in a position where it is ready to be mounted on the main body; Fig. 2 is an isometric view similar to Figure 1, seen from the rear side; and Fig. 3 is an exploded isometric view of the decorative element of Figures 1 and 2.

Embodiment of the invention

[0023] According to the non-limiting embodiment illustrated, a loop 1 according to the invention comprises a base assembly 2 composed of a cover 3, pointing in an outward direction (that is to say the front face which opposes the body of the wearer when the buckle 1 is worn) as well as a frame 5, intended to be located between the cover 3 and the body of the wearer. In the variant illustrated, the cover 3 and the frame 5 are slightly curved in order to follow the curvature of the belt when it is worn, but can alternatively be rectilinear. In the present text, the so-called "front" side of the buckle 1 or its components is intended to point outwards and therefore to be visible when the buckle 1 is worn, the so-called "back" side being intended to be worn facing the wearer's body. The side or side called "upper" is intended to be worn facing upwards, the side or side called "lower" is opposite the upper side and is intended to be worn facing down and the sides or side/side faces link the top side to the bottom side.

The cover 3 is pivotally mounted on the frame 5 via a pair of hinges 7 located at one end of these two elements 3, 5, so that the base assembly 2 can be unfolded by removing the cover 3 angularly relative to the frame 5 as generally known.

[0025] A first end 9a of a belt strap 9 is attached to a carriage 11 slidably mounted in the frame 5, and is able to be locked in one of a plurality of stable positions, in order to adjust the effective length of the belt 9. By pressing push buttons 11 a carried by the frame against a restoring force provided by an elastic element arranged in an ad-hoc manner, locking means (not shown) are released, which allows the sliding of the carriage 11 in the frame 5. By releasing the push buttons 11a, said return force is used to replace a corresponding notch, lug, stud or pin (not shown) integral with each push button 11a in one of a plurality of corresponding notches (not shown) or the like provided in the face of the frame 5 facing the carriage 11 in order to block the latter in a desired position. This type of adjustment system is well known, in particular in watch strap clasps, and should therefore not be described in more detail. Other systems for adjusting the effective length of a belt or of a watch strap are also known to those skilled in the art, and can also find application here. Moreover, a system for adjusting the effective length of the belt is not mandatory, and the first end 9a of the strap 9 can simply be attached to the frame 11 at any fixed point.

The second end 9b of the strap 9 passes between the frame 5 and the cover 3, and cooperates with a pin (not shown) integral with one or the other of the frame 5 or the cover 3, typically of the frame 5, at one of a plurality of holes 9c made in the strap, one of which is visible in Figures 1 and 2. Alternatively, the strap can be held in position by friction, for example by being wedged between gears, as generally known.

The base assembly 2 is held in the closed position by means of a pair of locking systems 13 located on either side of the end of the base assembly 2 opposite to that comprising the hinges 7. These locking systems each comprise a push button 13a mounted on the frame 11 and provided with a lug 13b, which takes place in a corresponding opening 3a provided in the cover 3 and is held there under the effect of a force recall provided by an ad hoc elastic element. Alternatively, the positions of the push buttons 13a and the openings 3a can be reversed so that the push buttons 13a are carried by the cover 3 and the openings 3a are part of the frame 5. Still alternatively, any other known locking system 13 can to be used. Furthermore, a one-piece and therefore non-foldable base assembly of known type can be used. Furthermore, the principle of the invention can also be applied to buckles with three articulated elements, which bend in a "Z".

The loop 1 also includes a removable decorative element 15, illustrated in a position where it is ready to be mounted on the cover 3, as will clearly follow later.

The decorative element 15 has a shape generally complementary to that of the cover 3, and defines a housing on its rear face, intended to accommodate part of the cover 3.

For this purpose, the decorative element 15 comprises a pair of first side rails 15a, located on the lateral sides of the decorative element 15 on the rear side and extending at an angle of 80° to 90° by relative to the strap 9. The rails 15a extend towards each other in superposition of the rear face of the element 15, and define a dovetail mortise which cooperates with a tenon formed by a pair of second rails 3b extending laterally outwards on the lateral sides of the cover 3. The first rails 15a and the second rails 3b have complementary shapes so that they fit into each other (this is that is to say the first rails 15a fit into the second rails 3b and vice versa) in order to maintain the decorative element 15 on the cover 3 in a direction perpendicular to the front face of the cover 3, while allowing the decorative element to slide on the cover 3 in a vertical direction according to the orientation of the figures. In the variant illustrated, the rails 3b, 15a have a triangular section, but round, rectangular or similar sections can also be used.

[0031] The rails 15a, 3b of each pair may be parallel or may have a non-zero angle between them in order to define a mortise respectively an inverted "V" tenon, the rails of each pair being closer to each other. relative to each other towards the upper side than towards the lower side in such a case. In doing so, the mounting of the decorative element 15 in one direction towards the lower side, as well as its dismounting in the other direction is permitted, the cooperation between the rails 15a, 3b defining a direction of sliding, in which the decorative element 15 can slide relative to the base assembly 2 during its insertion or its removal.

[0032] The decorative element 15 also includes a stop lug 15b extending rearwards from its upper side, which is arranged to abut against the upper side of the cover 3 and thus position the decorative element in the direction of its assembly relative to the cover 3 when it is in the service position. In this way, said abutment lug prevents the decorative element 15 from exceeding its service position in the downward direction (according to the orientation of the figures and of use).

To ensure that the decorative element 15 is retained on the cover 3, the latter also comprises two locking systems 17, arranged symmetrically in recesses 3c formed in the front face of the cover 3. Even if two locking systems 17 are illustrated and are advantageous, it is possible to have only one system 17, or to have more.

Each locking system 17 comprises a hook 17a pivotally mounted on the cover 3 via a screw 17b, which also serves as a pivot pin for the corresponding hook 17a. This pivot axis is substantially orthogonal to the front face of cover 3, such that each hook 17a pivots in a plane substantially parallel to said front face at the location of the respective screw 17b.

The guiding of each hook is ensured by a guide stud 17g which takes place in a corresponding slot and cooperates with a shoulder 17h that each hook 17a has so that the latter is held in its recess 3c.

The hook 17a as well as the adjacent wall of the respective recess 3c defining a respective locking housing 17c arranged to receive a respective locking element 15c with which the rear face of the decorative element is provided at an appropriate location. In the variant illustrated, the blocking element 15 is illustrated as a stud, but other ad hoc shapes are also possible.

The hooks 17a are held in their illustrated positions by means of respective elastic elements 17d, each of which being a leaf spring integral with its respective hook 17a and exerted against a wall side of the recess 3c to push the hook 17a in the direction of the opposite side wall.

When mounting the decorative element 15, each stud 15c raises the respective hook against the restoring force provided by the respective elastic element 17d, the upper face of each hook 17a being bevelled in order to allow this uprising. Each stud 15c can thus enter its locking housing 17c, each hook 17a falling back into its illustrated position, the beak of each hook 17a thus blocking the corresponding stud 15c in the locking housing 17c. The decorative element 15 is thus locked on the cover 3.

In order to remove the decorative element 15, each hook 17a is provided with a handling lug 17f on its upper face, accessible to the user when the decorative element 15 is mounted on the cover 3. By manipulating each handling lug 17f with the fingers or with an ad hoc tool to lift the hooks 17a, the locking housings 17c can be opened upwards and the decorative element 15 can be removed by sliding it upwards.

It goes without saying that other arrangements of locking systems can be provided. For example, the hooks 17a can be oriented in the other direction, that is to say in two opposite directions instead of facing each other, the elastic element can be a separate element or other arrangements for handling and/or lifting the hooks may be provided. Alternatively, a single hook 17a can be provided.

[0041] Even if the hooks 17a as well as the positioning lug 17b are already sufficient to prevent the decorative element from being able to separate untimely according to the direction of assembly, the use of a mortise and a tenon in „ V“ as described above further increases the stability of the system in the service position.

As regards the construction of the decorative element 15, the latter is dimensioned in the variant illustrated to hide the entirety of the cover 3, by presenting a surface of greater size in height and in width than the latter. , but other arrangements are possible. For example, the second rails 3b can be superimposed on the front face of the cover and extend towards each other, while the first rails 15a extend outwards, the height and/or the width of the decorative element can thus be less than those of the cover 3.

[0043] The decorative element may have a conventional shape, consisting of one or more solid elements, sheet metal or the like. However, it is particularly interesting to provide a 15 o'clock cavity inside it, in which a craft decoration can be mounted, such as enamelling, engraving, marquetry, painting, shakudô, one or more dried flowers or any other decoration.

This cavity 15h is defined on the one hand by a support 15d in sheet metal, located on the rear face of the decorative element 15, on the other hand by a window 15f which is at least partially transparent, for example glass, sapphire, transparent polymer or similar, colored or not. It makes it possible to visualize said decoration (not shown) mounted on the support 15d and can have an ad hoc shape.

In the illustrated construction, the window 15f is rectangular and is carried by a frame 15g which carries the first rails 15a. The latter are secured to the frame 15g by means of screws, welding, brazing, gluing or by any other appropriate means. The support 15d is also screwed, glued, welded, brazed or the like to the frame 15g. Cavity 15 o'clock can be made watertight by the use of seals, glue or the like, as is well known in watchmaking to prevent moisture and/or dirt from penetrating inside a case of show.

It goes without saying that other constructions of the decorative element 15 can be envisaged by the person skilled in the art.

Although the invention has been particularly shown and described with reference to particular embodiments, in particular to a particular construction, other variants are possible without departing from the scope of the invention as defined in the claims.

Claims (13)

1. Belt buckle (1) comprising: – a base assembly (2; 3, 5) arranged to be fixed to a belt strap (9) in order to allow the opening and closing of said belt (9); – a removable decorative element (15) having a first pair of rails (15a) arranged to cooperate with a second pair of rails (3b) provided on said base assembly (2; 3, 5) in order to allow assembly and disassembly of the decorative element (15) relative to the base assembly (2; 3, 5); – at least one locking system (17) arranged to lock said decorative element (15) on said base assembly (2; 3, 5) and allow the removal of said decorative element (15) from said base assembly (2 3, 5) under the control of a user; characterized in that said locking system (17) comprises at least one hook (17a) pivotally mounted in a recess (3c) provided in one face of the base assembly (2; 3, 5), said hook (17a ) being arranged on the one hand to block a blocking element (15c) integral with said decorative element and on the other hand to be retracted manually against a restoring force in order to release said blocking element (15c ). 2. Buckle (1) according to claim 1, wherein said hook (17a) defines, in cooperation with a wall of said recess (3c), a locking housing (17c) arranged to lock said locking element (15c). 3. Buckle (1) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein said restoring force is provided by a leaf spring (17d) integral with said hook (17a). 4. Buckle (1) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein said hook (17a) is arranged to be retracted towards one of the lateral sides of the base assembly (2; 3, 5). 5. Buckle (1) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein said locking element (15c) is located on one side of said decorative element (15) which is intended to be located opposite the base assembly ( 2; 3, 5) in service position. 6. Buckle (1) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein one of said pairs of rails (15a; 3b) forms a tenon, the other pair of rails (3b; 15a) forming a mortise of complementary shape to said tenon. 7. Buckle (1) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the rails (15a) of said first pair extend towards each other, while the rails (3b) of said second pair extend in opposite directions. 8. Buckle (1) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein said decorative element (15) further comprises a stop pin (15b) arranged to abut against said base assembly (2; 3, 5) when said decorative element (15) is in its service position. 9. Buckle (1) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein said decorative element (15) comprises a cavity (15h) inside it as well as a window (15f) which is at least partially transparent and is arranged to allow a view of the interior of said cavity (15h). 10. Buckle (1) according to the preceding claim, wherein said decorative element (15) comprises a support (15d) arranged to carry a decoration which is visible through said window. 11. Buckle (1) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein said base assembly (2; 3, 5) comprises a frame (5) and a cover (3) pivotally mounted on said frame (5) , said recess (3c) being provided in said cover (3). 12. Buckle (1) according to the preceding claim, further comprising at least one locking system (13) arranged to hold the base assembly (2; 3, 5) in a folded state and to allow it to be unfolded. 13. Buckle (1) according to one of claims 11 and 12, wherein said frame (5) comprises a system (11, 11a) for adjusting the effective length of said belt.