US2377287A - Buckle - Google Patents

Description

May 29, 1945.

P. w. WHITE ET AL BUCKLE Filed June 8, 1942 Patented May 29, 1945 BUCKLE Paul W. White, Waterbury, and Lester Raymond Ryan, Plymouth, Conn., assignors to Parva Products Company, Chicago, 111., a corporation of Delaware Application June 8, 1942, Serial No. 446,184

18 Claims.

This invention relates to buckles, more particularly to two-piece buckles adapted to be adjustably associated with straps, bands, or the like, for the support of garments or other objects upon the person, and the invention has for an object the provision of a simple and reliable buckle of this character which is inexpensive to manufacture.

Although buckles embodying the invention are particularly intended for use in association with a strap for lingerie or similar garments and are particularly applicable thereto because of their simplicity, reliability and adaptability to manufacture in small sizes, the invention is not limited to lingerie buckles but may be embodied in hose-supporter buckles, suspended buckles, belt buckles, or the like, and in fact the invention is capable of universal application where detachable connections are desired. v

Two-piece buckles of the so-called slide buckle type have of course heretofore been proposed for association with lingerie straps, and certain of said prior slide buckles have, to a large extent, been found satisfactory. Difiiculties have been encountered, however, in the manufacturing and. assembly or threading operations for such bucklesv due, in a large part, to the small sizesinvolved, and substantially all prior efforts to simplify any or all of these operations have resulted in unsatisfactory buckle constructions from the standpoint of ease of adjustment and nonslippage during clamping. I

Other types of two-piece buckles have also been proposed, but in so far as the applicant is aware such other types have been found objec-. tionable either because of unsightly appearance, difficulty of adjustment, or insecure clamping of the strap, and accordingly something is yetto be desired in a completely satisfactory and inexpensive lingerie buckle. It is therefore a further object of this invention to provide a two-piece buckle formed from simple, substantially fiat cooperating parts, which parts require no mechanical assembly operation, which may be readily manufactured in large quantities, which may be quickly and easily threaded and secured to a strap, which will permit ready adjustment of a strap with respect thereto, and which will at the same time firmly and securely clamp the trap in nonslipping relation upon the application. of tension to the strap.

In carrying out the invention in one form, a buckle is provided comprising a pair of frames having spaced side and end bars, one of the frame.

side bars so as to form strap-receiving slots adjacent each of the end bars. The. second frame, which is adapted to loosely overlie the first frame, is provided with cross barsso spaced that When one of the cross bars on the second frame lies opposite one of the slots in the first frame, the inner edge of the other cross bar on the second frame is disposed inwardly of the inner edge of the end cross bar on the first frame which defines the other one'of the slots in this frame.

With this arrangement a strap may be threaded through th first slot of the first frame and looped around the cross bar of the second frame disposed opposite thereto, theend of the strap being returned through the same slot in the first Preferably this cross bar on thesecond frame isof less width than the co-operating slot, so that adjustment of the strap threaded therethrough may be easily accomplished. In order further to facilitate ease of adjustment, means may be provided for maintaining this cross bar on the'second frame in transversely spaced relation to the slot which it overlies.

Another portion of the strap is threaded through the second slot of the first frame and encircles the other cross bar on the second frame, so that the application of tension tothe strap will cause the strap to engage the inner edge of this second cross bar and move the second frame in a direction such that the inner edges of this second cross bar and the co-operating end cross bar on the first frame approach each other, while at the same time the first cross bar on the second frame moves from its position over the one slot to a position over the center cross bar of the first frame to clamp the strap therebetween.

For a more complete understanding of the invention reference should now be had to the drawing, in which:

Figs. 1 and 2 are somewhat diagrammatic representations of a buckle construction embodying the present invention, Fig. 1 showing the buckle in its clamping position and Fig. 2 showing the bucklein its adjusting position;

Fig. 3 is a front face view of a physical embodiment of the buckle shown in Figs. 1 and 2;

Fig. 4 is a sectional view taken substantially along the line 4-4 of Fig. 3 showing the buckle in' a clamping position;

Fig. 5 is a sectional view similar to Fig. 4 showing the buckle in another clamping position;

Fig. 6 is a similar sectional view showing the buckle in adjusting position;

frames having a center cross bar connecting the 55, 7 is an explo d p rspe ve Vi w h w n the two parts the buckle before assembly with each other and with a strap; and

Figs. 8 and 9 are diagrammatic views similar to Fig. 2 but showing further embodiments of the invention.

Referring first to the embodiment of the invention illustrated in Figs. 1 to 7, inclusive,,of the drawing, the invention is shown as embodied in a buckle comprising a pair of substantially fiat frames l8 and I adapted to be disposed, as shown inFigs. 1 to 6, in loosely overlying face-to-face relation. The frame 18 comprises spaced side bars l2 and 3 connected together at their-opposite ends by spaced end cross bars l4 and I5, re-

spectively, which co-operatewith acenter cross bar IE to form a pair of spaced apart strap-receiving slots I1 and I8. The frame I l, as shown bestv in Fig. 7, comprises side bars l8 and 28 connected by spaced apart cross bars 2| and 22 toprovide a strap-receiving slot 23. Although the cross bar 22 is shown as being of substantially greater width than the cross bar 2|, these cross bars may, if desired, be of substantially equal width, although from the standpoint of styling the provision of the wide cross bar 22 is believed advantageous. The advantageof forming the cross bars 2| and 22 of equal width would lie in the fact that during assembly of the buckle, the frame could be disposed with either side uppermost and care would not therefore be required to insure proper disposition of this frame.

As shown somewhat diagrammatically in Figs. 1 and 2, the cross bars 2| and 22 of the frame II are so spaced that when the frame I is disposed in overlying relation with respect to the frame "I, with the cross bar 2| opposite slot H, the inner edge 24 of the cross bar 22 is disposed inwardly of the inner edge 25 on the cross bar l which defines the lower edge of the slot |8 in the frame In Fig. 2 the buckle is shown as associated with the usual lingerie strap which comprises a garment-supporting portion 26 extending through slot l8 and encircling the cross bars I5 and 22, which strap'portion' is sewed or stitched, as indicated by the reference numeral 21, to form a closed loop about these cross bars. It will of course be understood that this portion 26 is securedto the upperfront edge of a suitable garment to be supported, and the other strap portion 28,shown in Fig. 2, extends from another portion of the'garment about the portion of the body on which the garment is to be supported and includes a free end portion 28. The strap portion 28 is adapted to be threaded, as shown in Fig. 2, through the slot II in a forwardly direction, about the cross bar 2| and back through the slot I], so that the free end portion 29 is disposed behind the buckle and behind the garment supporting portion 26.

Preferably the cross bar 2| is of less width than the slot so that the adjustment of the strap relative to the buckle may readily beaccomplished merely by exerting a pulling force in the proper direction on either of the portions 28 or 29. During such adjustment, the frames l0 and H are preferably grasped between, the fingers of the user so as to prevent relative movement between the frames.

When tension is applied in opposite directions on the strap portions 26 and 28, the loop portion 26 engages the inneredge 24 of the cross bar 22 and tends to move'the frame l'l downwardly so that this inner edge 24 approaches the inner edge 25 on the cross bar l5. At the same time the strap portion 28 engages the lower edge of the cross bar I4 and tends to move the frame ID in an upward direction. Consequently the cross bar 2| moves from the position shown in Fig. 2 to the position shown in Fig. 1, so that the cross bar 2| now overlies the center cross bar l6 of the frame Ill. As will'be apparent from inspection of Fig. 1, the strap portion 28, when the buckle parts are in the clamping position, is distorted about the lower edge of the cross bar I4 on the frame It) and about the respective edges of the cross bar 2| on the frame At the same time, a portion of the strap is clamped between the cross bars l6 and 2| so as to prevent slippage of the strap relative to the buckle parts.

Whenever tension on the strap portions 28 and 26 is released, the frames l0 and II, due to the inherent resiliency of the strap portions, will tend to return to the positions shown in Fig. 2, and it will be apparent that any adjusting force thereafter asserted'on either of the portions 28 or 29 will likewisetend to return the frames to the adjusting position shown in Fig. 1.

In the diagrammatic illustrations of Figs. 1 and 2, the various cross bars of the buckle frames have been illustrated with the bars of each frame respectively disposed in coplanar relation with respect to each other, but it will of course be understood that in the physical embodiment of the invention any of these bars may be embossed as desired to provide greater strength with relatively thin materials. In the preferred physical embodiment shown in Figs. 3 to 7, inclusive, the buckle is provided with means for insuring transverse separation of the frames whenin the adlusting position of Fig. 2, so as further to facilitate ease of adjustment. Thus, as shown in the drawing, the side bars l2 and I3 of the frame I are provided with embossments 38 and 3|, respectively, which embossments are located opposite the ends of the slot l1 and extend only over the upper portions of the side bars. As shown best in Figs. 5 and 6, these embossments 30 and 3| engage the frame II when the frames are in the adjusting position of Fig. 6 and thus space the cross bar 2| from the slot l1 transversely so as to insure that no clamping action occurs with the frames in this position. When the frames are moved from the position of Fig. 6 to the position of Fig. 4 by application of tension to the strap portions 28 and 26, the upper edge of the frame passes beyond the lower edges of the embossments 30 and 3|, so that the cross bar 2| may lie closely adjacent the center cross bar l6 and tightly clamp the strap portion 28 therebetween.

The relative positions to which the frames l0 and H move upon the application of tension to the strap depends of course upon the manner in which the tension is applied and upon the amount of such tension, andin Fig. 5 there is shown a second clamping position to which the frames may move upon the application of a greater amount of tension. The position of Fig. 5 is of course the extreme position to which tension will move the frames, inasmuch as the inner edges 24 and25 respectively of the cross bars 22 and I5 lie opposite each other. Any position of the frames intermediate the position shown in Figs. 4 and 5 will of course effect satisfactory clamping of the strap relative to the frames.

While the strap portions associated with the buckle have thus far been described as constituting lingerie straps, it will of course be appreelated that these strap portions may be varied was to be effective in various other applications,

extended and connected together to form the usual suspender loop, and the respective ends of this loop and of the portion 28 may be secured in the usual manner to the garment to be supported. Similarly, if the strap portions are intended for use as a belt or band, the. portions 26 and 28 may be extended and connected together to form a loop encircling a portion of the body, and it is intended in the claims to include all of such variations whether the term strap portions designates the opposite ends of a single strap, or the ends of separate straps respectively connected to the garment or other object to be detachably supported or connected.

In the embodiment shown diagrammatically in Fig. 8, the frames represented respectively by the cross bars 33, 34, and 35 and the cross bars 36 and 31 may be identical with the frame members l and II heretofore described, but the manner of threading the strap through the buckle differs in that the loop portion 38 shown in Fig. 8 extends through the slot between the cross bars 34 and 35 in two directions and encircles only the cross bar 31 corresponding to the cross bar 22 of Figs. 1 to 7, inclusive. A second strap portion 39, corresponding to the strap portion 28 of Figs. 1 to 7, is threaded through the slot between the cross bars 33 and 34 and around the cross bar 36 in the same manner as heretofore described, and it will be apparent that the application of tension on the strap portions .38 and 39 will cause the cross bar 36 to move from the position shown in Fig. 8 overlying the slot to a position overlying the cross bar 34 so as to clamp the strap therebetween. In Fig. 9 a buckle construction is shown which is substantially the same as the construction shown in Fig. 8 in so far as its threading and operation is concerned, but differs from Fig. 8 in that both of the frames include three cross bars. Thus an additional cross bar 40 is provided on the overlying frame to eliminate any tendency for this frame to pull through the slot between the cross bars 34 and 35 upon an initial application of tension to the strap portions when the two frames are loosely associated with each other.

The buckle constructions heretofore described may be quickly and economically manufactured in large quantities by a simple stamping operation when it is desired to form the buckles from sheet metal or the like, and, as heretofore indicated, any or all of the various cross bars may be embossed to provide additional strength where thin sheet metal is used. These buckle constructions may also be readily and inexpensively manufactured from plastic materials, and of course require no complicated or expensive molds, since each of the frames comprises only a substantially flat element.

While we have shown particular embodiments of our invention, it will be understood, of course, that We do not wish to be limited thereto since many modifications may be made, and we, therefore, contemplate by the appended claims to cover any such modifications as fall within the true spirit and scope of our invention.

Having thus described our invention, what We claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A buckle comprising a first frame having spaced side bars and end cross bars and a center cross bar connecting said sidebars to form a pair of strap-receiving slots adjacent said end cross bars; a second frame adapted to loosely overlie said first frame having cross bars so spaced that when one 0f..said cross bars on said second frameis disposed opposite one of said slots the inner edge ofthe other cross bar on said second frameis disposed inwardly of the inner edge of the one of said end cross bars on said first frame whichforms one side of the other of saidslots, and means on one of said frames for maintaining said one cross bar in transversely spaced relation to said first frame while overlying said one slot.

2. A buckle comprising a first frame having spaced side bars and end cross bars and a center cross bar connecting said side bars to form a pair of strap-receiving slots adjacent said end cross bars, a second frame adapted to loosely overlie said first frame having cross bars so spaced that when one of said cross bars on said second frame is disposed opposite one of said slots the inner edge of the other cross bar on said second frame is disposed inwardly of theinner edge ofv the one of said end cross bars on said first frame which forms. one side of the other of said slots, and means on one of said frames for maintaining said one cross bar in transversely spaced relation to said first frame while overlying said one slot, the width of said one cross bar being less than the width of said one slot.

3. A buckle comprising a first frame having spaced side bars and end cross bars and a center cross bar connecting said side bars to form a pair of strap-receiving slots adjacent said end cross bars, and a second frame adapted to loosely overlie said first frame having cross bars so spaced that when one of said cross bars on said second frame is disposed opposite one of said slots the inner edge of the other cross bar on said second frame is disposed inwardly of the inner edge of the, oneof said end crossbars on said first frame which forms one side of the other of said slots, and embossments on the portions of said side bars on said first frame defining the ends of said one slot to maintain said one cross bar on said second frame transversely spaced from said one slot when in overlying relation thereto.

4. A buckle comprising a first frame having spaced side bars and end cross bars and a center cross bar connecting said side bars to form a pair of strap-receiving slots adjacent said end cross bars, and a second frame adapted to loosely overlie said first frame having cross bars so spaced that when one of said cross bars on said second frame is disposed opposite one of said slots the inner edge of the other cross bar on said secondframe is disposed inwardly of the inner edge of the one of said end cross bars on said first frame which forms one side of the other of said slots, and embossments on the portions of said sidebars on said first frame defining the ends of said one slot to maintain said'one cross bar on said second frame transversely spaced from said one slot when in overlying relation theretmthe width of said one cross bar being less than the width of said one slot. 4

5. A buckle comprising a first frame having spaced sidebars and end cross bars and a center cross bar connecting said side bars to form a pair of strap-receiving slots adjacent said end cross bars, a second frame adapted to loosely overlie said first frame having cross bars so spaced that when one of said cross bars on said second frame is disposed opposite one of said slots the inner edge of the other cross bar on said second frame is disposed'inwardly of the inneredge of the corresponding end cross bar on said first frame forming one side of the other of said-slots, flexible means encircling said other crossbar and said corresponding end cross .bar effective when tensioned to cause relative movement of said inner :edgest'oward each 'other to movesaid onecross bar to a position overlying said center cross-bar thereby to clamp between said one cross bar and said center cross bar a strap threaded through said oneslot and looped about said one cross bar, saidone cross bar be of less width than said one slot, and embossments on the side bars :of said first frame adjacent the ends of said one slot to cause transverse separation of said one cross bar and .said one slot when in overlying relation.

6. A buckle for association with a strap comprising a pair of frames adapted to "be loosely disposed in face-to-iace relation one of said frames having: spaced side bars connected by spaced end bars and a center cross bar to form a pair of strap-receivingslots, the other of said frames having spaced side bars connected by spaced cross bars oneof which is adapted to substantially overlie one of said slots whereby one strap portion may extend through said one slot around said one crossbar and back through said slot, another cross bar on said frame bei spaced from said one crossbar to permit'another strap portion to form .aloop about said other crossbar and the one' of said end cross bars bounding said other slot in said one frame, the inner edge of said other cross bar being disposed inwardly of the inner edge of said one "end bar when said one cross bar overlies said one slot, whereby tensioning of said strap portions causes said loop to engage said-inner edges and effect relative longitudinal movement of said frames in a direction such that'said-inner edges approach each other and said one cross bar moves from said position overlying-said one slot to a position overlying'said center cross bar to clamp said one strap portion in adjusted position between said one cross bar and said center-bar, and embossments on the portions of said side bars on said one frame adjacent the ends of said one slot to cause transverse separation of said frames when said onecross bar overlies said slot and to permit said one crossbar to closely overlie said center cross bar upon said longitudinal movement.

'7. A buckle for association with a strap comprising a-pair of frames adapted to be loosely disposed in face to facerelation, one of *said frames having spaced side bars connected by spaced end bars ands *c'enter cross bar to form a'pairof strap -receivings'lots, the other of said 7 frames having spaced-side bars connected by spaced crossbars'one of which is adapted to substantiallyoverlie one of said slots whereby one strap portion may extend through said one slot around said one cross bar and back through said slot, another cross bar on said frame being spaced from said one cross bar to perm-it'an'other strap portion to forms. loop-about said other cross bar and theone of said end 'c'ross bars bounding said other slot in said one frame, the inner edge of said other cross bar being disposed inwardly of the inner edge of saidone'end bar when said one cross bar overlies said one slot, whereby tensioning of said strap'portions causes said loop to engage said inner edges and effect relative longitudinal movement of said frames in a direction such that said inneredges approach each other and said one cross bar moves from said posltidnoverlying sir-lemme slot to apositionover lying said center cross bar to clamp said one strap portion in adjusted position between said one cross bar and said center bar, and embossments on the portions of said side bars on said one frame adjacent the ends of said one slot to cause transverse separation of said frames when said one cross bar overlies said slot and to permit said one cross bar to closely overlie said center cross bar upon said longitudinal movement, said one cross bar being of less width than said one slot to facilitate adjustment of said strap 'when said onecross bar overlies said slot in separated relation thereto.

'8..A buckle comprising a pair of substantially flat :frames adapted to be disposed in loosely overlying face-to-face relation and to be held in said relation solely by a strap, each of said frames comprising substantially coplanar spaced side bars and spaced cross bars connecting said side bars to form strap-receiving slots, the cross bars of one of said frames including a center cross bar intermediate the opposed end bars thereof to provide a slot on either side of said center cross bar, the other of said frames having the cross bars thereof spaced so that when one cross bar thereof overlies one of said slots in said one frame another cross bar of said other frame has an inner edge thereof disposed inwardly of the inner edge of the one of said end cross bars which bounds the other of said slots in said one frame, and a loop in said strap encircling said other crossbar and said one end bar loosely to hold said frames in assembled relation, and 'embossments on the portions of the side bars on said one frame which bound the opposite ends of said one slot extending out of the plane of said frame to effect transverse separation of said frames when said one cross bar overlies said one slot, said loop when 'tensioned co-operating with said inner edges to move said other frame out of engagement with said embossments and thereby clamp between said one cross bar andsaid center cross bar a strap portion threaded through said one slot and about said one crossbar.

-9. A buckle for gripping a strap comprising a first framehaving spaced sidebars and end crossbars and a center crossbar connecting said sidebars to form strap-receiving slots adjacent said end crossbars, and'a second framev loosely overlying said first frame and having a pair of spaced strap-engaging crossbars, at least one edge of one of said pair of strap-engaging crossbars on said second frame being disposed between the edges of said center crossbar of said first frame in the strap gripping position, and the spacing between said pair of crossbars'belng such that when said one of said pair of strapengaging crossbars is disposed opposite one of said pair of strap-receiving slots on said first frame, the inner edge of the other of said'pair of crossbars is "disposed inwardly of the inner edge of the one of said end crossbars on said first frame which definesthe other of said strapreceiving slots.

10. A buckle for gripping a strap comprising a first frame having spaced side bars and end crossbars and a center crossbar connecting said side' bars to iormstrap-receiving slots adjacent said'endcross'ba-rs, and a second frame loosely overlying said first frame and having a pair of spaced strap-engaging crossbars, at least one edge of one of said pair of strap-receiving crossbars on said second f-rarne being disposed between the edges of said center crossbar of said first frame in the strap gripping position, and the spacing between said pair of crossbars being such that when said one of said pair of strap-engaging crossbars is disposed opposite one of said pair of strap-receiving slots on said first frame, the inner edge of the other of said pair of crossbars is disposed inwardly of the inner edge of the one of said end crossbars on said first frame which defines the other of said strap-receiving slots, the width of said one of said strap-engaging crossbars on said second frame being less than the width of said one slot.

11. A buckle for gripping a strap comprising a first frame having spaced side bars and end crossbars and a center crossbar connecting said side bars to form strap-receiving slots adjacent said end crossbars, and a second frame loosely overlying said first frame and having a pair of spaced strap-engaging crossbars, one of said pair of strap-engaging crossbars being disposed opposite the center crossbar of said first frame in the strap gripping position, and the spacing between said pair of crossbars being such that when said one of said pair of strap-engaging crossbars is disposed opposite one of said strap-receiving slots, the inner edge of the other of said pair of strap-engaging crossbars is disposed inwardly of the inner edge of the one of said end crossbars on said first frame which defines the other of said strap-receiving slots.

12. A buckle for gripping a strap comprising a first frame having spaced side bars and end crossbars and a center crossbar connecting said side bars to form strap-receiving slots adjacent said end crossbars, a second frame adapted to loosely overlie said first frame and. having a pair of crossbars spaced to form a strap-receiving slot, at least one edge of one of said pair of strap-engaging crossbars being disposed between the edges of said center crossbar on said first frame in the strap gripping position, and the spacing between said pair of strap-engaging crossbars being such that when said one of said pair of strap-engaging crossbars is disposed opposite one of said strap-receiving slots on said first frame, the inner edge of the other of said pair of strap-receiving crossbars is disposed inwardly of the inner edge of the one of said end crossbars which defines the other of said strap-receiving slots on said first frame, flexible means encircling the other strap-engaging crossbar on said second frame and extending through said other strap-receiving slot on said first frame for causing relative longitudinal movement of said frames to a strap gripping position, and means for effecting transverse separation of said frames when said one strap-engaging crossbar overlies said one strap-receiving slot.

13. A buckle for association with straps comprising a first frame having spaced side bars and end crossbars and a center crossbar connecting said side bars to form strap-receiving slots ad;

jacent said end crossbars, a second frame looselyoverlying said first frame having a pair of spaced strap-engaging crossbars, at least one edge of one of said pair of strap-engaging crossbars being disposed between the edges of said center crossbar of said first frame in the strap gripping position, the spacing between said pair of strapengaging crossbars being such that when said one of said pair of strap-engaging crossbars is disposed opposite one of said strap-receiving slots on said first frame, the inner edge of the other of said pair of strap-engaging crossbars is disposed inwardly of the inner edge of the one of said end crossbars which defines the other of said strap-receiving slots'on said first frame,

strap means encircling said other of said pair of strap-engaging crossbars and extending through said other strap-receiving slot, and strap means extending through said one of said strap-receiving slots on said first frame extending around said one strap-engaging crossbar of said second frame and extending back through said one of said strap-receiving slots.

14. A buckl for association with straps com prising a first frame having spaced side bars and end crossbars and a center crossbar connecting said side bars to form strap-receiving slots'adjacent said end crossbars, and a second frame loosely overlying said first'frame having a pair of spaced strap-engaging crossbars, at least one edge of one of said pair of strap-engaging crossbars being disposed between the edges of said center crossbar of said first frame in the strap gripping position, the spacing between said pair of strap-engaging crossbars being such that'when said one of said pairof strap-engaging crossbars is disposed opposite one of said strap-receiving slots on said first'frame, the inner edge of the other of said pair of strap-engaging crossbars is disposed inwardly of the inner edge of the one of said end crossbars which defines the other of said strap-receivin Slots on said first frame, strap means encircling said other of said pair of strap-engaging crossbars and extending through said other strap-receiving slot and strap means extending through said one of said strap receiving'slots on said first frame extending around said one strap-engaging crossbar of said second frame and extending back through said. one of said strap-receiving slots, and means forcaus ing separation of said frames when said one of said strap-engaging crossbars overlies said one slotto permit ready adjustment of said first mentioned strap.

15. A buckle for association with straps comprising a first frame having spaced side bars and end crossbars and a center crossbar connecting said side bars to form strap-receiving slots adjacent said end crossbars, and a second frame loosely overlying said first frame having a pair of spaced strap-engaging crossbars, one of said pair of strap-engaging crossbars-being disposed opposite said center crossbar of said first frame in the strap gripping position, the spacing between said pair of strap-engaging crossbars being such that when said one of said pair of strap engaging crossbars is disposed opposite one of said strap-receiving slots on said first frame, the inner edge of the other of said pair of strap-engaging crossbars is disposed inwardly of the inner edge of the one of said end crossbars which defines the other of said strap-receiving slots on said first frame, strap means encircling said other of said pair of strap-engaging crossbars and extending through said other strap-receiving slot, and strap means extending through said one of said strap-receiving slots on said first frame extending around said one strap-engaging crossbar of said second frame and extending back through said one of said strap-receiving slots.

16. A buckle for association with straps comprising a pair of frames disposed in face to face relation and adapted to move between a clamping position and an unclamping position, one of said frames having spaced side bars connected by spaced end crossbars and a center crossbar to form a pair of strap-receiving slots, the other of said framesfhaving spaced side bars connected by a pair of"spaced,strap=engaging 'crossbars, one of which is' adapted to substantially overlie one of said strap-receivingrslots in: said unclamped, position, the between said pair of slots being such that when said'one strapengaging crossbar of said other frame'overlies said one strap-'rcceivingyslot, the inner edge of the other strap-engaging. crossbar of'saidother frame is disposed inwardly. of the" end crossbar adjacent the otherstr'ap-receiving slot on said one frame, strap meansextending through said one strap-receiving slot on said one frame and around said one strap-engaging crossbar on said other frame and back through said one strapreceiving slot, and strap means extending through said other strap-receiving slot on said one frame and around said other strap-engaging crossbar of said other frame whereby tensicning said strap means causes'said respective inner edges of said other crossbar and said correponding end crossbar to approach each other andsaid one strap-engaging crossbar moves from said unclamped position overlying said one: slot to a position overlying said center 'crossbarto clamp said first mentioned strap means between said one strap-engaging crossbar and 'said'center crossbar.

17, A buckle for association with straps comprising a' pair of frames disposed in face to face relation and adapted to move between a clamping position and an unclamping position, one-of said frames having spaced side bars connected by spaced end bars and a center crossbar to form a pair of strap-receiving slots, the other'of said frames having spaced side bars connected by a pair of spaced strap-engaging crossbars, one

of whichis adapted to substantially overlie one of said strap-receiving slots in said unclamped position, the spacing between said pair of slotsbeing such that when said one strap-engaging crossbar of said other frame overlies said one strap-receiving slot, the inner edge of the other crossbar of said other frame is disposed inwardly of the end crossbar adjacent theother strap receiving slot on said one frame, strapmeans ex tending through said one strap-receiving slot on said one frame and around said one strap-engaging crossbar on said otherframe and back through said one strap receiving slot, and strap means: extending through said other strap-receiving slot on said one frame and around said other strap-engaging crossbar of said other frame whereby tensioning said strap means causes said respective inner edges of said other strap-engaging crossbar and said corresponding end cross bar to approach each other and said one strap-engaging crossbar moves from said unclamped position overlying said one strap-receiving slot to a position overlying said center crossbar to clamp said first mentioned strap means between said one crossbar and said center crossbar, the width of said one strap-engaging crossbar being less than the width of said one strap-receiving slot to permit ready adjustment of said'first mentioned strap means when said one strap-engaging cross bar overlies said one strap-receiving slot.

18. A buckle for gripping a strap comprising a pair of substantially flat frames adapted to be disposed in loosely overlying face to face relation and to be held in said relation solely by a strap, each of said frames comprising substantially coplanar-spaced side bars and spaced crossbars connecting said side bars to form strap-receiving slots, the crossbars of one of said frames including a,- center crossbar intermediate the opposed end bars thereof to provide a slot on each side of said center crossbar, the other of said frames having strap-engaging crossbars spaced to form a strap-receiving slot, at least one edge of one of said strap-engaging crossbars on said other frame lying between the edges of said center crossbar of said one frame in the strap gripping position, the spacing between the strap-engaging crossbars of said second frame being such that when said one of said strap-engaging crossbars' overlies one of the strap-receiving slots on said first frame, the inner edge of said other strap-engaging crossbar i disposed inwardly of the inner edge of the one of said end crossbars which bounds the other of said strap-receiving slots in said one frame, and a. loop in said strap encircling said other strap-engaging crossbar and said one end crossbar to hold said frames in assembled relation.

PAUL W. WHITE.

L. RAYMOND RYAN.

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