GB2521634A

GB2521634A - Belt buckle with interchangeable facia

Info

Publication number: GB2521634A
Application number: GB1322976.0A
Authority: GB
Inventors: David Andrew Marshall; Peter Robert Collins
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2013-12-24
Filing date: 2013-12-24
Publication date: 2015-07-01
Also published as: GB201322976D0

Abstract

A belt buckle 2 includes a recessed area 5 into which a fascia 1 can be inserted and fixed. Fixing means which may include magnets allow for the fascia 1 to be removable and/or interchangeable. The buckle 2 may have an aperture 6 to allow for the fascia to be pushed out of the buckle by a suitable object pushed through the hole 6.

Description

Belt buckle with interchangeable facia.

Background

This invention relates to a belt buckle that allows consumers rather than wholesalers or retailers to interchange customisable facia designs.

Existing buckle designs require the consumer to purchase either a complete buckle if they want the same type of buckle but with a different facia design, or to change an insert that forms only a small part of the buckle facia by tilting the facia to remove that can lead to accidental detachment of the facia and loss.

Statement of invention

To overcome these restrictions, the present invention proposes a recessed area in the outer face of the buckle into which a separate facia (plate) can be inserted by the consumer maximising the available customisable design area for the facia. Both the base of recessed area and back of the plate are flat to enable the use of a fixing material to either one of or both surfaces to provide a secure fixing.

Advantages / Optional features The present invention therefore allows the consumer to purchase! use just the one buckle and to simply change the facia to their desired design, including designs designed by the consumer themselves.

The facia being flat against the buckle insert area means that this cannot accidentally be knocked out from the front.

The buckle can have additional mouldings or attachments to the side edges or rear that allow for different styles of belt attachments to the buckle, the design of such mouldings or attachments already being in the public domain.

Introduction to the drawings! detailed description

The invention will now be described solely by way of example and with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 provides a front view of the buckle and facia Figure 2 provides a side elevation view of the buckle and facia In figure 1, we have the outer edge of the buckle 2 and rim edging 3 before seeing a vertical drop 4 at right angles to 3 leading to flat base area S. The hole 6 in base area Scan be positioned anywhere in the base area is to aid removal of facia 1 by allowing any object of a size less than the hole to be pushed through to push out facia 1 away from base area 5. Hole 6 can be of any shape or size that allows for another object to be pushed through to push the facia outward.

The underside of facia 1 is flat and allows for a magnet or similar fixing to be attached across the underside area of 1 and to then secure against base area 5. Facia 1 slots into the recessed area 4/5.

The front of facia 1 allows for any legal design to be printed thereon in either 2d or 3d In figure 2, buckle side elevation, recessed area of the buckle is 7 and 8. Fixing materialS is applied and securely fixed to base area 5 to provide secure fixing to the material fixed to the base (underside) of facia 1. Depending on materials used the need for a fixing material on either one of facia 1 underside or base area Scan be negated. If fixing materialS is not required the depth of the recess 7/8 is reduced to compensate.

Facia 1 slots in to recess 7and is removed by inserting an object through hole 6 pushing facia 1 out.

Claims

1 Claim 1. A belt buckle with recess to allow the consumer to interchange facia inserts of varying designs.

Dependant claims

2. A belt buckle according to claim 1, in which the recessed area is of any size or dimension.

3. A belt buckle and according to claim 1, in which the facia insert is removed by inserting an object through a hole in the base of the buckle.

4. A belt buckle and facia according to claim 1, in which a magnet is fixed to the rear (underside) of the facia insert and material with magnetic properties fixed to the base of the recessed area within the buckle for these two parts to securely attach to each other.

5. A belt buckle according to claim 4, where the magnetic type materials are replaced by other materials that allow for the facia insert to be attached to the recessed area of the buckle.

6. A belt buckle according to claim 1, with a clip, bar, slat or other housing that can form part of the buckle moulding or be attached to the moulded buckle being additional to either side or rear of the buckle for the purpose of a belt being attached.Amendments to the Claims have been filed as follows 1 Claim 1. A belt buckle with recess area and access hole to allow consumers to use interchangeable facia inserts of varying designs.Dependant claims 2. A belt buckle according to claim 1, in which the recessed area is of any size or dimension.3. A belt buckle and according to claim 1, in which the facia insert is removed by inserting an object through a hole in the base of the buckle.4. A belt buckle and facia according to claim 1, in which a magnet is fixed to the rear (underside) of the facia insert and material with magnetic properties fixed to the base of the recessed area within the buckle for these two parts to securely attach to each other.5. A belt buckle according to claim 4, where the magnetic type materials are replaced by other materials that allow for the facia insert to be attached to the recessed area of the buckle.6. A belt buckle according to claim 1, with a clip, bar, slat or other housing that can form cf part of the buckle moulding or be attached to the moulded buckle being additional to either side or rear of the buckle for the purpose of a belt being attached. (4 r (4 (4