GB2137278A

GB2137278A - Belt buckle

Info

Publication number: GB2137278A
Application number: GB08401224A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Carlos Lazzaro
Original assignee: Amiet AG
Current assignee: Amiet AG
Priority date: 1983-01-17
Filing date: 1984-01-17
Publication date: 1984-10-03
Also published as: IT1172990B; GB8401224D0; DE3400285A1; IT8419089A0; GB2137278B; ES276851U; BR8300189A; ES276851Y

Abstract

A belt buckle includes a holder (2) with a receiving slit (34) in which both a pivot (8) of a shackle (4) is located and the end of a belt (36) is located. Furthermore, the belt buckle contains a pin (6) which is pivotable about a pivot axis (12). The distance (A) between the pivot axis (8) of the shackle (4) and the crosspiece (10) is greater than the distance (B) between the pivot axis (12) of the pin (6) and the crosspiece (10). It is thereby possible, by pivoting the shackle (4) to one side or the other, for the pin (6) to be brought from one side of the shackle to its other side. As a result of this, the belt buckle can be worn on two sides without complicated manipulation. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Belt buckle This invention relates to a belt buckle.

It is known to provide belt buckles of the type including a shackle and a pin resting at one end against a crosspiece of the shackle, the pin and the shackle each being pivotally arranged on a holder. In these belt buckles, the pivot axis of the pin is identical to the pivot axis of the shackle. Consequently, such belt buckles can only be worn on one side.

There is a need fdr belts to be worn on two sides. It is necessary, for this purpose, to detach the belt from the belt buckle, reverse it and fasten it again to the belt buckle.

According to the invention, there is provided a belt buckle including a shackle and at least one pin resting at one end against a crosspiece of the shackle, the pin and the shackle each being pivotally arranged on a holder adapted to be connectible to a belt, wherein the pivot axis of the pin is at a shorter distance from the crosspiece of the shackle than the distance between the pivot axis of the shackle and the crosspiece.

Because the pivot axis of the pin is at a shorter distance from the crosspiece of the shackle than the pivot axis of the shackle, it becomes possible in a simple way, by pivoting the shackle, to move the pin through the shackle onto the other side of the latter. By pivoting the shackle to the other side, the pin can at once be returned to the first side again.

This is achieved without any assembly work, so that a belt fastened to the belt buckle can be worn on two sides without complicated manipulation on the belt buckle.

In a preferred embodiment, the belt buckle includes a spring which interacts with the pin and which holds the pin in a centre position.

The pin is then prevented from inadvertently changing from one side of the shackle to the other.

In a particularly simple method of designing and arranging the spring, the pin is mounted at its pivot axis on the holder by means of a bearing lug, there being located between the pivot axis and the inner wall of the bearing lug a helical spring which is fastened to the holder by means of a first projecting arm and to the pin by means of a second projecting arm.

An embodiment of the invention will now be described by way of example and with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 shows a perspective view of a belt buckle according to the invention fastened to a belt; and Figure 2 shows the belt buckle of Fig. 1 in section along the line ll-ll of Fig. 1.

The belt buckle illustrated in the Figs. has a holder 2 in which a shackle 4 and a pin 6 are pivotally mounted. The pivot axis 8 of the shackle 4 is at a greater distance A from the crosspiece 10 of the shackle 4 than the distance B between the pivot axis 1 2 of the pin 6 and the crosspiece 10 of the shackle 4.

As a result, when pivoted, the pin 6 describes a circular path with the radius B, and the crosspiece 10 of the shackle 4 describes a circular path with the radius A. Since A is greater than B, the two circular paths intersect at a point C when the shackle 4 and the pin 6 are pivoted. Beyond the point C, the pin 6 can pass under the crosspiece 10 of the shackle 4 and thereby be pivoted from one side of the shackle 4 to the other side, the circular paths described by the shackle 4 and the crosspiece 10 being indicated in Fig. 2.

The holder 2 contains at its front end two bearing parts 14 with a bore 1 6 for receiving the pivot 1 2. Between the bearing parts 14 there is a recess 1 8 in which the pin 6 together with its bearing lug 20 is located.

The bearing lug 20 is formed by bending the end region of the pin 6 and has such a diameter that a helical spring 24 is arranged between the pivot axis 1 2 and the inner wall 22 of the bearing lug 20. This helical spring contains an arm 26 which engages into a receiving bore 28 in the holder 2. A further arm 30 of the helical spring 24 is located in the gap 32 which is formed in the bearing lug 20 by rolling up the end of the pin 6. The helical spring 24 is designed so that the arms stand opposite one another and hold the pin 6 in an approximately horizontal position. As a result, the pin 6 is prevented from being changed unintentionally from one side of the shackle 4 to the other side.

The holder 2 has, on its side facing away from the shackle 4, a receiving slit 34 in which, on the one hand, the pivot 8 and the shackle 4 are arranged rotatably and which, on the other hand, serves to receive the end of the belt 36. Screws 38 screwed in the holder 4 and preferably provided with a point 40 retain the end of the belt 36 in the receiving slit 34. Instead of the screws, it is also possible to provide other fastening means, such as, for example, rivets, or fastening teeth or the like, but these variations are not shown in the drawings.

The belt buckle can also be designed with two or more parallel pins. Furthermore, the pin can also be connected firmly to the pivot which is then mounted rotatably in the holder.

Other modifications within the scope of the appended claims will be apparent to those skilled in the art.

1. A belt buckle including a shackle and at least one pin resting at one end against a crosspiece of the shackle, the pin and the shackle each being pivotally arranged on a holder adapted to be connectible to a belt,

**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. SPECIFICATION Belt buckle This invention relates to a belt buckle. It is known to provide belt buckles of the type including a shackle and a pin resting at one end against a crosspiece of the shackle, the pin and the shackle each being pivotally arranged on a holder. In these belt buckles, the pivot axis of the pin is identical to the pivot axis of the shackle. Consequently, such belt buckles can only be worn on one side. There is a need fdr belts to be worn on two sides. It is necessary, for this purpose, to detach the belt from the belt buckle, reverse it and fasten it again to the belt buckle. According to the invention, there is provided a belt buckle including a shackle and at least one pin resting at one end against a crosspiece of the shackle, the pin and the shackle each being pivotally arranged on a holder adapted to be connectible to a belt, wherein the pivot axis of the pin is at a shorter distance from the crosspiece of the shackle than the distance between the pivot axis of the shackle and the crosspiece. Because the pivot axis of the pin is at a shorter distance from the crosspiece of the shackle than the pivot axis of the shackle, it becomes possible in a simple way, by pivoting the shackle, to move the pin through the shackle onto the other side of the latter. By pivoting the shackle to the other side, the pin can at once be returned to the first side again. This is achieved without any assembly work, so that a belt fastened to the belt buckle can be worn on two sides without complicated manipulation on the belt buckle. In a preferred embodiment, the belt buckle includes a spring which interacts with the pin and which holds the pin in a centre position. The pin is then prevented from inadvertently changing from one side of the shackle to the other. In a particularly simple method of designing and arranging the spring, the pin is mounted at its pivot axis on the holder by means of a bearing lug, there being located between the pivot axis and the inner wall of the bearing lug a helical spring which is fastened to the holder by means of a first projecting arm and to the pin by means of a second projecting arm. An embodiment of the invention will now be described by way of example and with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 shows a perspective view of a belt buckle according to the invention fastened to a belt; and Figure 2 shows the belt buckle of Fig. 1 in section along the line ll-ll of Fig. 1. The belt buckle illustrated in the Figs. has a holder 2 in which a shackle 4 and a pin 6 are pivotally mounted. The pivot axis 8 of the shackle 4 is at a greater distance A from the crosspiece 10 of the shackle 4 than the distance B between the pivot axis 1 2 of the pin 6 and the crosspiece 10 of the shackle 4. As a result, when pivoted, the pin 6 describes a circular path with the radius B, and the crosspiece 10 of the shackle 4 describes a circular path with the radius A. Since A is greater than B, the two circular paths intersect at a point C when the shackle 4 and the pin 6 are pivoted. Beyond the point C, the pin 6 can pass under the crosspiece 10 of the shackle 4 and thereby be pivoted from one side of the shackle 4 to the other side, the circular paths described by the shackle 4 and the crosspiece 10 being indicated in Fig. 2. The holder 2 contains at its front end two bearing parts 14 with a bore 1 6 for receiving the pivot 1 2. Between the bearing parts 14 there is a recess 1 8 in which the pin 6 together with its bearing lug 20 is located. The bearing lug 20 is formed by bending the end region of the pin 6 and has such a diameter that a helical spring 24 is arranged between the pivot axis 1 2 and the inner wall 22 of the bearing lug 20. This helical spring contains an arm 26 which engages into a receiving bore 28 in the holder 2. A further arm 30 of the helical spring 24 is located in the gap 32 which is formed in the bearing lug 20 by rolling up the end of the pin 6. The helical spring 24 is designed so that the arms stand opposite one another and hold the pin 6 in an approximately horizontal position. As a result, the pin 6 is prevented from being changed unintentionally from one side of the shackle 4 to the other side. The holder 2 has, on its side facing away from the shackle 4, a receiving slit 34 in which, on the one hand, the pivot 8 and the shackle 4 are arranged rotatably and which, on the other hand, serves to receive the end of the belt 36. Screws 38 screwed in the holder 4 and preferably provided with a point 40 retain the end of the belt 36 in the receiving slit 34. Instead of the screws, it is also possible to provide other fastening means, such as, for example, rivets, or fastening teeth or the like, but these variations are not shown in the drawings. The belt buckle can also be designed with two or more parallel pins. Furthermore, the pin can also be connected firmly to the pivot which is then mounted rotatably in the holder. Other modifications within the scope of the appended claims will be apparent to those skilled in the art. CLAIMS

1. A belt buckle including a shackle and at least one pin resting at one end against a crosspiece of the shackle, the pin and the shackle each being pivotally arranged on a holder adapted to be connectible to a belt, wherein the pivot axis of the pin is at a shorter distance from the crosspiece of the shackle than the distance between the pivot axis of the shackle and the crosspiece.

2. A belt buckle as claimed in claim 1, including a spring which interacts with the pio and which holds the pin in a centre position.

3. A belt buckle as claimed in claim 2, wheren the pin is mounted at its pivot axis on the holder by means of a bearing lug, there being located between the pivot axis and the inner wall of the bearing lug a helical spring which is fastened to the holder by means of e first projecting arm and to the pin by means of a second projecting arm.

4. A belt buckle substantially as described with reference to the accompanying drawings.