EP0976338A1

EP0976338A1 - Buckle for sandals provided with interchangeable camouflage cover

Info

Publication number: EP0976338A1
Application number: EP99830484A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Angelo Sagripanti
Original assignee: Flli Sagripanti SpA
Current assignee: Flli Sagripanti SpA
Priority date: 1998-07-31
Filing date: 1999-07-28
Publication date: 2000-02-02
Also published as: ITAN980042U1; ITAN980042V0; IT244864Y1

Abstract

The present invention relates to a buckle provided with an interchangeable camouflage cover (6) fixed under pressure to the external bearing frame (2) of the buckle, which remains hidden under the camouflage cover (6).

Description

The present patent application relates to a buckle for sandals provided with an interchangeable camouflage cover.
The model of buckle according to the present invention was designed to convert a functional component, such as the fastening buckle of sandal straps, into a decorative element, thanks to the introduction of a cover for the total camouflage of the body and the tongue of the buckle.
To tell the truth, some models of buckle provided with a collapsible covering plate to conceive the buckle tongue already exist on the market. The plate, however, is firmly fixed to the frame of the buckle, usually by means of one or more pivoting pins that allow for turning over the cover, but not for removing it.
This means that the buckle must be used as it is sold, since the user cannot exchange the cover with another cover from a different buckle, or apply covers with different shape and/or dimensions and/or colours on the same model of buckle.
The model according to the present invention consists in a buckle of the type comprising a body composed of an external bearing frame, which features a central transversal bar designed to be applied on the sandal upper by means of traditional fixing means, such as screws, rivets, stitching or gluing.
The transversal bar features a central peg suitable for being inserted in one of the holes for fixing and adjustment provided on the sandal strap, which is inserted through the buckle in such a way to pass over the bar, which remains hidden under the strap, which in turn remains firmly fixed to the buckle thanks to the fixing peg.
The peculiarity of the model of buckle according to the present invention is represented by the fact that the buckle is provided with an interchangeable cover, suitable for being engaged, by simply pushing it, over the external frame of the buckle, which remains completely hidden under the camouflage cover.
In order to adjust the strap the user will only have to push the cover of the underlying buckle slightly to disengage it and comfortably adjust the strap.
For major clarity the description of the buckle according to the present invention continues with reference to the enclosed drawings, which are intended for purposes of illustration and not in a limiting sense, whereby:

Figure 1 shows a sandal with a pair of buckles according to the present invention, the first one without the camouflage cover in non-fastened position with respect to the strap, the second one complete with cover and fastened to the strap.
Figure 2 is the same as Figure 1, with the only difference that both straps are fastened;
Figure 3 is a cross-section with a transversal plane of the buckle according to the present invention.

With reference to the above figure, the buckle (1) comprises a body preferably made of moulded plastic material, made up of an external bearing frame (2) with circular profile, which features a transversal bar (3) provided with a pair of holes (3a) on which two rivets (4) are applied to fix the buckle (1) to the upper (T) of the sandal, as shown in Figure 1.
A peg (5) projects from the centre of the transversal bar (3) and is inserted into one of the holes (F) for fixing and adjustment drilled on the strap (C) of the sandal, which is inserted through the buckle (1) in such a way to pass over the bar (3), which therefore remains hidden under the strap (C), as shown in Figure 2.
The model of buckle (1) according to the present invention is characterised by the fact that it is provided with an interchangeable cover (6) capable of being engaged, by pushing it, over the external frame (2) of the buckle (1), which remains completely hidden under the cover (6), which in this case has a circular shape.
In the preferred embodiment shown in the enclosed drawings the profile of the cover (6) is exactly identical to the external frame (2), to which is fixed under pressure thanks to the suitable shape of the lower edge (6a) of the cover (6), as shown in Figure 3.
However, it is understood that, always in the scope of the present invention, the camouflage cover can feature - for pure ornamental reasons - different shapes of the external frame (2), as long as the cover (6) is provided with fixing means type to fix it to the frame (2) under pressure. The fixing means can be an annular groove suitable for embracing and fastening the frame (2), or an annular series of elastic teeth capable of fastening the frame (2), which in turn can have any shape - as long as compatible with the function of the buckle - such as square, rectangular, elliptical, etc.

Claims

Buckle for sandals provided with a collapsible camouflage cover, of the type comprising a body composed of an external bearing frame (2), which features a central transversal bar (3), from which a peg (5) centrally projects and is inserted in one of the holes (F) for fixing and adjustment provided on the sandal strap (C), the buckle being characterised by the fact that it is provided with an interchangeable camouflage cover (6) with fixing means that are engaged to the external frame (2) under pressure.
Buckle according to the previous claim, characterised by the fact that the fixing means provided on the interchangeable cover (6) are represented by the edge (6a) of the cover, with suitable shape.
Buckle according to claim 1, characterised by the fact that the fixing means provided on the interchangeable cover (6) are represented by an annular groove capable of embracing and fastening the frame (2).
Buckle according to claim 1, characterised by the fact that the fixing means provided on the interchangeable cover (6) are represented by an annular series of elastic teeth suitable for fastening the frame (2).
Buckle according to the previous claims, characterised by the fact that the interchangeable cover (6) features the same shape and dimensions as the external frame (2) to which it must be fastened.