GB2590180A

GB2590180A - Improvements in belt fastenings and couplings

Info

Publication number: GB2590180A
Application number: GB2017166.6A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Edward Bayliss Michael
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2019-11-22
Filing date: 2020-10-29
Publication date: 2021-06-23
Anticipated expiration: 2040-10-29
Also published as: GB2590180B; GB202017166D0; GB201917016D0

Abstract

A belt 1 fastening comprises of multiple rows of ‘L’ shaped hooks 3, 4 fixed onto or through the end surfaces of the belt. The outer surface of the belt at one end may include the prongs 4, which could interlock with prongs 3 of the inner surface at the other end. The prongs may have a straight outward member and short horizonal hook. The belt may include multiple layers to accommodate a plurality of columns of hooks. The prongs may be stitched onto a thin inner layer, such as a panel of material embedded in the belt, such that they protrude through holes in the belt surface. The belt is adjustable, where alteration of the belt may be aided by an insert groove.

Description

PATENT APPLICATION OF

MICHAEL EDWARD BAYLISS

FOR

IMPROVEMENTS IN BELT FASTENINGS AND COUPLINGS

Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to the fastening of but not exclusively trouser or jean belts.

Background

The use of belts to hold up clothing such as trousers or jeans is common and known worldwide; these tend to use a buckle or similar arrangement in the majority of examples cited. This consists of a buckle which is often of a metal or plastic material and is set into one end of the belt, from the buckle is usually a bar member known as a prong which may be static in the push through versions or a hoop pivot bar with is passed through a selected hole in the opposing end of the belt and is secured by being passed through the buckle frame.

Buckles may also be attached to the belt end using a clamping method wherein the buckle frame can be removed from the belt end by way of the clamp jaws' being released and this enables the belt to be cut to size and the buckle re-fitted or for another buckle of a different style to be added as replacement.

However, these types of belt coupling often create issues for usage and specially with people of limited or no sight or physical ability who struggle to locate the small holes within a belt and to operate the buckle. Many examples of buckles exist and attempts have been made to create alternative examples, some of these have been cited: This is shown in patent W09303643 (BREKKE) wherein a beit buckle according to the clamp principle, where the key element (2) is adapted to the buckle housing (1) and bow (3). The key element (2) with its tags constitutes the ciamps plate for the belt which is clamped against the buckle housing (1). The key element (2) is fastened through 2 pins to the buckle housing's 2 holes. The bow (3) is fastened between the buckle housing (1) and the key element (2). The key element does not necessarily have to be casted in one piece, but may be made such as figure 4 shows.

Patent US6412148 (MORRIS) discloses a device which has a buckle removably attached to a size adjustment end portion of a strap having a series of size adjustment holes in the strap. A strap receiving retainer and a hook-like tongue are integrally formed in fixed relation to opposite sides of a frame of the buckle with the tongue extending through a selected hole in the underlying size adjustment strap end portion and through an aperture in a plate attached to an opposite end portion of the strap.

Patent US5797171 (NELSON) discloses a waist belt with a first end having a hook; and a second end having an inner surface with a series of engagement wires. The hook engages one of the wires, and the second end of the belt overlaps the first end, covering and hiding the hook mechanism from the front view. This provides a smooth, fashionable appearance_ A spring-loaded sliding lock on the first end of the belt blocks the hook entrance, retaining the engagement wire without reliance on constant belt tension. The hook, loops, and sliding lock are designed for minimal thickness.

Patent CN203168113 (CHEN) discloses a trouser belt. Two edges of a belt body are coated with arc belt edges, so that the plane of the belt body and the belt edges are in arc connection. The trouser belt has the advantages that the belt edges are hardly worn, and the service life of the trouser belt can be prolonged; and when the belt edges are pressed to the waist of a body, the contact area is large, the pressure is soft, and the waist of the body is more comfortable.

Patent US4179755 (CLARK) discloses a belt that uses a fastening device other than a buckle. The belt is of the type having inner and outer plies of leather. Pins having enlarged heads are fastened to one of the plies at one end of the belt. Apertures to receive the pins are placed in the other ply at the other end of the belt A metal plate is spaced between the plies. It has apertures that are enlarged on one end and are reduced on the other end to receive and lock pins. The pins can be removed from the apertures by pressing the overlapping ends together.

Patent US391 3147 (OSTRANDER) discloses a belt strap having a first end and a second end with at least one hole extending through the first end and a plurality of holes extending through the second end. A belt buckle is provided which includes a loop and a generally S-shaped hook. The first end of the belt strap is passed through the loop and the hook is passed through one of the holes therein. The second end of the strap is passed through the loop and placed in registry with the hook. The hook is then passed through the hole in the second end to prevent the first end of the belt strap from moving relative to the second end of the belt strap.

Patent CN201995651 (ZHILI) discloses a belt, belonging to the technical field of belts. The belt comprises a metal loop, a hole, a pin ring, a pin and a belt body, and is characterized in that the metal loop with the hole is connected to the left of the belt body, the pin ring is connected to the right of the belt body, the pin is arranged under the pin ring, the length of the belt body is 1cm larder than the circumference of the human waistline. When in use, the belt body penetrates into trouser fasteners, and the pin is inserted into the hole of the metal loop. The belt is simple in design, can be customized according to needs of users, and is material-saving and quite convenient and firm when in use.

The prior art therefore shows that there is a need for a more effective coupling method for trouser or jean belts but not exclusively for that use, to enable a person with limited sight or physical ability to use a belt more easily.

The present invention aims to provide an improved coupling method for trouser or jean belts which locate and attach the two ends of a belt together far more easily therefore.

Summary of the invention

According to the present invention there is provided a fastening and coupling method for belts which enables the two ends of the belt to be held together in selected waist widths. The belt is derived in the known way mainly being of a leather or man-made material which is almost unlimited providing the material used does not limit the ability of said coupling method.

To each end of the belt are at least three or more shaped small hooks with each of them having a short straight outward member protruding from the inner face of the belt, having a short horizontal 'hook' facing away from the front tip of the belt and another row of the 1' shaped small hooks facing in the opposite direction on the other end of the belt protruding from the outer side of the belt surface, all hooks are aligned to fully engage with each other when closed, As shown in the accompanying Figures.

The amount of 'L' shaped small hooks on each inner and outer surface of the belt are equal and an example is shown in this disclosure with a total of ten L' shaped small hooks, this number can be greater or less if required but ten or more enables the interlocking holding action of said small shaped hooks to be successful. An example of a greater number of hooks is shown in Figure 9.

The hooks are set and held within the belt body which is made of three layers. The outer layers of the belt have a thin inner layer into which the small shaped hooks are stitched and protrude though openings in the belt surface at the base of each of the said hooks. It is also possible to have the hooks set onto a small material panel and the panel is then stitched or adhered to the belt outer surface in the interlocking arrangement described and as shown in the accompanying Figures herein.

The small shaped hooks and said panel onto which the hooks are mounted may also be made from a single piece of rubber or suitable material, moulded to form a panel which can be stitched inside or onto the belt outer surfaces or may be adhered to the belt outer surfaces where suitable or possible thereto.

To use the belt, the person slots the belt through their trouser or jean loops in the known way leaving the ends of the belt to the front of their leg ware. The two sides of the belt ends are then pushed together allowing the hooked ends of the small shaped hooks to pass between each other, as shown in two steps in Figures 2 and 3 with the rows moved together left to right.

When the two sides of small shaped hooks are engaged there are no 'gaps' or spaces between them and a solid coupling of the two belt ends is achieved.

The belt is then tight but should the wearer require the belt to be further adjusted, they simply move the frontal belt end to the left and the inner belt end to the right and then pull apart the two facing groups of small shaped hooks, as they are now no longer coupled and the two belt halves can be separated. An insert grove is provided for adjustment and located as shown to the inner belt end.

To make the belt looser; the user simply moves the hooks onto the next setting to then push them together and engage the coupling (as shown in the Figures) but at a wider setting. The reverse of this is done when the user is wanting to make the belt tighter as shown in Figure 8.

The use of this type of small shaped hook coupling may be extended to any belt or strap type where this quick engage and release method may be useful. This may include seatbelts, bagging straps, safety harnesses, trouser braces, industrial strapping, and other unlimited applications where this type of coupling would perform safely.

Furthermore; the application may be presented as a vertical insertion of L shaped small hooks where they interlock but with minimal gaps between the fitting, these to slide together forming a strong bond when fastened.

Even furthermore; a horizontal insertion of L shaped small hooks is an option for the fitting and when interlocked it has a small gap of 3 to 4 mm or more behind the L shape. This is shown in the accompanying Figures 11 and 12.

In this respect, before explaining at least one embodiment of the invention in detail, it is to be understood that the invention is riot limited in its application to the details of construction and to the arrangements of the components set forth in the following description or illustrated in the drawings The invention is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced and carried out in various ways. Also, it is to be understood that the phraseology and terminology employed herein are for the purpose of description and should not be regarded as limiting.

As such, those skilled in the art will appreciate that the conception, upon which this disclosure is based, may readily be utilized as a basis for the desioning of other structures, methods and systems for carrying out the several purposes of the present invention. It is important, therefore, that the claims be regarded as including such equivalent constructions insofar as they do not depart from the spirit and scope of the present invention Further, the purpose of the foregoing abstract is to enable the Patent Office and the public generally, and especially the scientists, engineers and practitioners in the art who are not familiar with patent or legal terms or phraseology, to determine quickly from a cursory inspection the nature and essence of the technical disclosure of the application. The abstract is neither intended to define the invention of the application, which is measured by the claims, nor is it intended to be limiting as to the scope of the invention in any way.

It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a new and improved belt fastening and coupling which has all the advantages of the prior art belt fastening and couplings and none of the disadvantages.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a new belt fastening and coupling which may be easily and efficiently manufactured and marketed.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a new and improved belt fastening and coupling which is of durable and reliable construction.

An even further object of the present invention is to provide a new and improved belt fastening and coupling which is susceptible of a low cost of manufacture with regard to both materials and labour, arid which accordingly is then susceptible of low prices of sale to the consuming public, thereby making such a product available to the buying public.

Still yet another object of the present invention is to provide a new and improved belt fastening and coupling which provides in the apparatuses and methods of the prior art some of the advantages thereof, while simultaneously overcoming some of the disadvantages normally associated therewith.

These together with other objects of the invention, along with the various features of novelty which characterize the invention, are pointed out with particularity in the claims annexed to and forming a part of this disclosure. For a better understanding of the invention, its operating advantages and the specific objects attained by its uses, reference should he had to the accompanying drawings and detailed descriptive matter in which there is illustrated preferred embodiments of the invention.

Brief description of figures

Figure 1 shows a plan view of a belt with the belt fastening and coupling.

Figure 2 shows a close plan view of the small shaped hooks of the belt fastening and coupling before being engaged.

Figure 3 shows a close plan view of the small shaped hooks of the belt fastening and coupling after being engaged.

Figure 4 shows a close dimensional view of he small shaped hooks on one side of the belt.

Figure 5 shows a close plan view of the small shaped hooks of the belt fastening and coupling after being engaged.

Figure 6 shows a frontal completed view of the belt with the belt fastening and coupling engaged.

Figure 7 shows a person wearing the belt,with the belt fastening and coupling engaged.

Figure 8 shows a plan view of a belt with the belt fastening and coupling moved to form a tighter fit of the belt.

Figure 9 shows a plan view of a belt with the belt fastening and coupling having more small shaped hooks.

Figure 10 shows a plan view of the belt fastening and coupling mounted onto a single material panel.

Figure 11 L) and M) shows a vertical fitting of the belt fastening and coupling. Figure 12 N) and 0) shows a horizontal fitting of the belt fastening and coupling.

Detailed description of figures

A typical embodiment of the belt fastening and coupling is shown in Figure 1. It comprises the belt 1, which has I' shaped small hooks indicated singularly as 3 to the end of the belt at the front 2 and 1: shaped small hooks indicated singularly as 4 to the end of the belt to the inside 5, as shown. The end of the belt at the front 2A is shown in Figure 2 with 1' shaped small hook 3A embedded into a thin inner layer 6. The short straight outward member 22 of the 'I: shaped small hooks is held in the inner layer 7 within the end of the belt to the inside 5A. This can be attached through a small hole through the belt surface and into the inner layer.

A shod horizontal hook 23 extends from the short straight outward ember 22 to form the I: shaped small hook.

The two rows of 'L' shaped small hooks are shown with 3A and 4A aligned prior to them engaging, as are all other hooks in both rows.

Figure 3 shows the two sides of the belt ends 2B and 5B engaged together and the rows of '12 shaped small hooks, including 3B and 5B, interlocked and moved to the left (as viewed in the Figure).

A close up view of the hook arrangement is shown in Figure 4 with the belt end 2C having the inner layer 6C with the I' shaped small hook 3C and the width 9 of the short horizontal hook.

I' shaped small hooks 3D, 4D, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15 are shown interlocked and engaged in belt ends 20 and 50 in Figure 5 with Insert groove 21 provided for adjustments.

The belt 1E is shown in full in Figure 6 with 1' shaped small hooks 3E, 4E, 8E, 9E, 10E, 11E, 12E, 13E, 14E, 15E shown from the frontal view. The view shows the 'L' shaped small hooks as broken lines, with the two rows interlocked with the belt closed, as when worn. The wearing of the belt IF is shown in Figure 7.

Figure 8 shows the position of I: shaped small hooks 8G and 15G after the belt end 2G has been moved further to the left (as viewed in the Figure) over belt end 5G to tighten the belt by one movement. This action can be repeated more to the left to increase the tightening of the belt thereto.

Figure 9 shows a belt 1H with a larger number of 1' shaped small hooks.

Figure 10 shows the 1' shaped small hooks moulded from a single material panel 24 and 25 and adhered or stitched to the surfaces of the belt ends 21 and 51.

A vertical insertion of the belt fastening is shown in Figure 11, 1..) having a female section 25 and an opposed male section 26. This enables it to adjust and fit exactly by distances that vary 27, 28, 29, 30, 31 to fit the belts purpose and no gaps in between 32, 33, 34, 35 providing an exact fit for the male and female sections. A groove 45 is provided on each to receive a male section which slides up into the female section in use. Male and female sections can be made of metal or carbon fibre and a flexible band of the desired material can be incorporated in the belt for structure and strength.

Figure 12 further shows the female section 25K and an opposed male section 26K of the horizontal fitting with distances that vary with the size of belt fitting required 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, with small gaps to fit and slide 41,42,43, 44.

For a vertical fitting from below no gap will be required; providing an exact fit, with a groove to access it, as aforementioned.

Claims

Claims 1) A belt fastening and coupling comprising; an adjustable belt which has rows of 'L' shaped small hooks to each of its end surfaces, each hook is held using fixture means onto or through said belt surface with external or internal hook holding provision.
2) A belt fastening and coupling according to claim 1 wherein said 1 shaped small hooks are located to one outer surface and one inner surface of a belts ends.
3) A belt fastening and coupling according to claim 1 wherein said 1' shaped small hooks each have a short straight outward member.
4) A belt fastening and coupling according to claim 1 wherein said short straight outward members have a short horizontal hook.
5) A belt fastening and coupling as claimed in claim 1 wherein said 1' shaped small hooks protrude through small holes in a belt surface.
6) A belt fastening and coupling as claimed in claim 1 wherein '12 shaped small hooks pass through said small holes in a belt surface and are embedded into a holding provision provided as a thin inner layer.
7) A belt fastening and coupling as claimed in claim 1 wherein '12 shaped small hooks are embedded into a thin inner layer.
8) A belt fastening and coupling as claimed in claim 1 wherein said hooks may be stitched into said thin inner layer.
9) A belt fastening and coupling as claimed in claim 1 wherein fixture means onto a belts surface may also comprise; a small material panel with said (L' shaped small hooks.
10) A belt fastening and coupling as claimed in claim 1 wherein said belt adjustment is aided by an Insert groove.
11) A belt fastening and coupling as claimed which is presented as a vertical or horizontal coupling on a belt.
12) A belt fastening and coupling according to any preceding claim; is a belt with two or three layers to accommodate rows of 'L' shaped small hooks which interlock.