US2495029A

US2495029A - Strap or belt structure

Info

Publication number: US2495029A
Application number: US559697A
Authority: US
Inventors: Spengler Henry
Original assignee: HENRY J JACKSON
Current assignee: HENRY J JACKSON
Priority date: 1944-10-21
Filing date: 1944-10-21
Publication date: 1950-01-17
Anticipated expiration: 1967-01-17

Description

Jam. M, 950 H. SPENGLER STRAP 0R BELT STRUCTURE Filed Oct. 2l, 1944 HE/wer Pf/v6.45?.

A from/E r Patented Jan. 17, 1950 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE' STRAP OR BELT STRUCTURE Henry Spengler, New York, N. Y., assgnor to Henry J. Jackson, New York, N. Y.

Application October 21, 1944, Serial No. 559,697

7 Claims. (CL2-322) f Thisinvention relates generally to belts, straps andthe like, andl especially to fastening means for such articles. The usual belt or strap constructionccnsists of a belt body, at one end of which there is provided an adjusting element, such as a buckle or its equivalent, which latter is adapted to receive the adjustable end of the belt or strap whereupon the adjusted end is slipped through one or more loops associated with the belt body. v

The present invention contemplates the construction of a belt without such loops, and to substitute the latter by means whereby the adjustable end 'of the belt or strap is not only held closely adjacent to the body of the belt, but wherein the tip or end of the vadjustable portion is forcibly urged toward the latter.

The advantages of such improved belt or strap construction are very evident. In the rst place the loops "usually associated with a belt body project considerably beyond the latter and in addition 'require special care in their attachment. Moreoverwhen a belt stretches the adjustable portion of the belt becomes longer, and unless the loop is either moved or an additional mobile loop is provided with the belt, the adjustable end portion of the belt becomes free and will readily disengage itself from the belt body. The device thenbecomes not only unsightly, but also annoying since the loose end makes the wearing of the belt uncomfortable and even dangerous, especially to'Y workers.

An acknowledged disadvantage of the usually employed loops lies not only in the fact that they annoyingly `extend beyond the belt body, but that they often constitute a source of danger whenlcaught at the corners or projections of machineryzorothe'r protruding objects such as nails or hoolrs.

The present invention involves an entirely new constructionof belts or straps so designed that their adjustable end, and especially the tip thereof, will always adhere to and remain in closely adjacent relation with the belt or strap body. In addition to the above advantage, the absence Voi the usual loops renders the belt or strap smooth and orderly in appearance and enhancesV its safety when being worn.

One ofthe prime objects of the present invention is to provide a loop-less belt construction wherein the adjustable portion of the belt is equipped with means for an adjustable but positive engagement with the body of the belt and, when desired, with additional means for reinforcing the tip or end of the adjustable portion to forciblyurge it against the belt body.

'Another object of the present invention is to provide a belt wherein edge portions of the belt body are recessed a short distance from the'adjstin'g-meanslfor the belt, such as a beltbuckle;

CTI

and vwherein the adjustable portion of the belt is provided with substantially hook-shaped oppositely disposed clips adapted to` pass into the recessed edge portions of the belt body and to slip over the full width body portion of the belt and engage its edges, whereby the adjustable portion of the belt is brought into adjacent position in respect to the belt proper, and wherein the end of the adjustable portion is reinforced by a resilient member to forcibly urge it toward the belt body.

The foregoing and still further objects and important advantages of the present invention will become more fully apparent from the ensuing description in connection with the accompanying drawing, which latter illustrates the presently preferred forms of the present inven-Y tion, but whichillustrations are by no means intended to restrict the invention to the actual showing, and in which:

Fig. 1 is aperspective view of one form of a double clip as used with the present belt con-A struction;

Fig. 2 is another form of a double clip witha resilient extension for reinforcing the tip of the belt; l

Fig. 3 is still another modif-led form of the device with a single clip and a reinforcement for the tip of the belt; Y

Fig. 4 illustrates a front elevation of another embodiment of a double clip; Y

Fig. 5 is' a cross section taken on line 5-5 through Fig. 4;

Fig. 6 is a perspective View of a part of a belt showing the arrangement of the clip with a reinforcing extension applied to the adjustable belt portion in the process of securing the latter to the belt body;

Fig. 'l is an inside plan view of a belt or strap equipped with a modified form of edge fastening means;

Fig. 8 is a fragmental perspective view of a belt equipped with a clip as shown in Fig. 3;

Fig. 9 is a fragmental perspective view of a belt tip provided with a clip as shown in Fig. 1 and with an independent reinforcing member;

Figs. 10 and l1 illustrate perspective views of. two clip forms made from wire; f

Fig. 12 illustrates a Wire clip with a single hookshaped belt engaging portion;

Fig. 13 is a similar wire clip provided with a resilientextension made from strip material; and

Fig. 14 illustrates an adjustable belt engaging member Which may be shifted to any desired position.

Referring now to Fig. 6, there is illustrated a belt body I0, at one end of which is provided a buckle I l engaging the swung-out adjustable por!l tion I2 of the belt, priorY to assuming a position'- adjacent to the beltbody.' A- short distance fromj the buckle there are provided edge recesses I3 with which are adapted to register the substantially hook-shaped ends I4 of a clip I5, from which latter extends a tip reinforcement I5. The clip, including the reinforcement, is secured to the adjustable end of the belt by riveting or in any other suitable manner. Fig. 6 illustrates the adjustable end portion in a position'in which clip I5 is about to be slipped along the body of the belt in right hand direction so lthat hook-shaped ends III of the clip engage the edges of Vbody I0. When clip ends I4 thus engage the belt body, the adjustable end is pulled taut until it bears fully against the belt portion extending from buckle II. When the adjustable end is in position, its tip I1 is urged 'by reinforcement I6 against the belt body. When the belt is to be opened, the tip end is slid back until clip ends I4 again register with recesses I3, at which position the adjustable end becomes free to disengage the buckle.

The construction of the clip employed in Fig. 6 is shown in detail in Fig. 2, but may of course be slightly changed when it is intended for placing it between two layers of the belt material at the tip, in which case the apertures indicated in Figs. 2 and 6 may be substituted by more convenient means for securing the clip to the belt.

Fig. 1 illustrates the simplest Vform of a clip such as employed in Fig. 9. This form comprises a flat strip Il, the ends of which are bent into hook-shaped formations I8, which are adapted to pass about and engage the edges of the belt body. The hook-shaped ends of the clip are preferably cut out, as shown at I 8', to expose as little as possible of the clip body. This construction may be employed when either an individual tip reinforcing member I9 is used, such as shown in Fig. 9, or when the stiffness of the belt material may be depended upon for keeping the tip end against the belt body.

In the embodiment illustrated in Figs. 4 and 5, the edge engaging elements shown with adjustable belt portion I2 are composed of two hookshaped members 23, which are placed between two layers of the belt material and are secured therein by riveting or stitching.

Referring to Fig. '7, there is again shown a belt body It provided at one of its ends with 'buckle II' of the friction or clamping type, which is adapted to engage the adjustable portion I2 Vof the belt. A short distance from the attached buckle there is again provided a pair of oppositely disposed recesses I3, which are adapted to facilitate the engagement of clips ZI and L22 with the belt body. Clip 2l isa modified .form 4of clip I5 shown in Figs. 2 and 6, in that it is of smaller dimensions and possesses two resilient legs 23 taking the place of resilient center member I6. Resilient elements 23 are preferably disposed along the redges of the belt tip. Clip 22 has also relatively small hook-shaped lends and is independent of clip 2|. The illustration of second clip 22 is intendedto indicate that more than one edge engaging clip may be employed with a belt according to the present invention. The reason for making the hook-shaped ends of clips 2l and 22 relatively small is to lperm-it them to readily pass through friction buckle II.

In the construction illustrated .in Figs. 3 and 8 the belt fastening element comprises a clip .body 24, the upperend 25 of which is formed into a single, rather elongated resilient hook, which adapted to be slipped over and to engage -one edge of the belt and to extend .-a .fairly substantial distance over the belt body and to tensonally 4 engage the latter. A resilient extension 26, which is preferably bowed, as is extension I6 of Fig. 2, is shown forming an integral portion of the clip body, but may be either omitted or replaced by an independent member, such as member I9 of Fig. 9, depending upon the firmness of the belt material. The entire structure may either be attached to the interior face of the adjustable end of the belt, or may be placed between two .layers of the belt material as indicated in Fig. 8.

In addition 4to showing the clip secured within two layers of the belt material, as indicated at 25', the exposed portion of the resilient hook end is perforated at 25 so as to permit as little metal as possible to become visible when the belt is worn. It will be observed also that the lower end ofthe clip is bent inward so that it forcibly engages the belt body.

Another very simple form of the present .invention is illustrated in Figs. 10, 11, 12 'and 13, wherein the clips are made of resilient wire. In Fig. 10 there are provided two oppositely disposed hook-shaped ends 2l and a resilient extension 28. This construction corresponds to the clip shown in Fig. 2. A clip without a resilient extension vis illustrated in Fig. 11 at 29 and corresponds to the clip shown in Fig. 1.

Another embodiment of the clip similar to that shown in Fig. 2 is indicated in Fig. 12, wherein body 39 of the clip is made from one piece of wire which is formed into a hook-shaped end 3l and a resilient reinforcing extension 32.

Still another form of the single hook clip is shown in Fig. 13 where the main body of the clip is made from wire as indicated at 33, terminating at, the top into a hook-shaped end 34. The ends of the wire body denoted at 35 are held together by a resilient member 36 forming the tip reinforcing element for the belt.

In order to provide for the usual stretching of the belt, there is shown in Fig. 14 an adjustable clip device consisting of a Vtrack or guide 31 comprising two channel formations which `are slotted in different places as shown at 38 to allow the channels to conform with the shape of the belt when worn around the body. Within the two opposite channels of the track or guide operates a rider clip 39 intended to engage with its .hookshaped ends III the edges of a belt. The track is preferably riveted to the adjustable portion of the belt and permits the shifting of clip 39 to the most advantageous position for keeping the stretched adjustable belt portion in adjacent relation with the belt body.

It will be observed'that either the clips alone or the clips with reinforcements for the tip of the belt or strap may be attached to the belt body either at the interior face thereof by riveting. sewing or in any other suitable manner, or may be partially imbedded between two layers from which the belt or strap is made, in such a. way that its hook-shaped ends for engaging one or both edges of the belt project suiiciently to readily facilitate their intended cooperation with the belt. Thus, as indicated in Figs. 6 and 9, the device is shown on the interior face of the belt, whereas in Figs. 4, 5, 7 and 8 the article is secured between two layers from which the belt is constructed.

While the illustrations -presented indicate individual loop-less belts or straps constructed and equipped in accordance with the instant invention, it is obvious that the same principle may be adopted in the manufacture of any other similar article, such as xed strapsvforming closures for brief cases, luggage, carriers, suspenders, watch straps, arm and leg bands and many other allied devices in which the absence of loops replaced by the present invention represents a desired advantage.

In the drawing only a few embodiments of the present invention are illustrated, some of which require the provision of edge recesses to facilitate the engagement of the hook-shaped clip ends With the belt edges, while in others, such as shown in Figs. 3 and 8, the alteration of the belt body is unnecessary. It is evident however that various other forms may be constructed to achieve the purpose and advantages indicated, that is of providing simple, inexpensive and eiiicient means for keeping the adjustable end of belts, straps and similar devices neatly in closely adjacent position to the belt body without the use of loops, and of reinforcing the tip of the belt, or Strap to prevent it from swinging away or becoming loose.

For the above reasons it is to be understood that modifications, changes and improvements may be made in the device to meet different requirements, without departing from the broad scope of the invention as dened in the annexed claims.

I claim:

1. In a belt or the like, a belt body equipped with belt adjusting means at one end and having an adjustable portion adapted to be engaged by said adjusting means, at least one edge recess provided in the belt body a short distance from said adjusting means, belt edge engaging means associated with the adjustable portion and terminating in a tip reinforcement for urging the end of the belt against the belt body, said edge engaging means comprising a hook-shaped element adapted to pass into the edge recess and over the normal edge of the body.

2. A belt-end fastener for a belt body having a buckle or the like at one end, an edge recess provided in the belt body at a relatively short distance from the buckle, the adjustable end of the belt, adapted for engagement by said buckle, being provided with a tip reinforcement and a substantially hook-shaped clip, the latter being adapted to pass through said belt recess and to engage the edge of the belt body at a distance from said recess, and said tip reinforcement extending from said clip in one diture provided with a substantially hook-shaped element forming an integral part of said reinforcement, said tip reinforcement extending in one direction from the clip structure to the end of the belt tip.

4. A combination fastening and reinforcing device for the adjustable end of a belt or the like, comprising a one-piece structure including an elongated portion adapted for xed association with and for the reinforcement of the tip of the belt end, and a clip portion terminating in at least one substantially hook-shaped element adapted for engaging the edge of a belt body, said tip reinforcement extending from said clip portion in one direction only to the end of the beit tip.

5. The combination with the adjustable tip end of a belt, of a combination tip fastening and tip reinforcing device comprising an elongated tip reinforcing member, longitudinally associated with the belt tip, and a clip terminating at least at one end in a substantially hook-shaped element and forming an integral part of said tip reinforcing member and being adapted for engagement with the edge of the belt, said device being disposed at and being iixedly associated with the interior of the adjustable belt end, and said tip reinforcing member extending in one direction from the clip to the tip end of the belt.

6. The combination with the interior structure of the adjustable tip end of a belt, of a combination fastening and tip reinforcing device comprising an elongated tip reinforcing member extending longitudinally and being xedly secured to the tip end, and a transverse clip, integral with said tip reinforcing member and terminating in substantially hook-shaped ends adapted for engaging the edges of a belt, said tip reinforcing member extending from the clip in one direction to the tip end of the belt.

7. The combination with the interior structure of the adjustable tip end of a belt, of a onepiece combination fastening and tip reinforcing device, comprising a clip disposed transversely to and being fixedly secured with the tip end and terminating in hook-shaped elements bent toward one another, and an elongated tip reinforcing member extending in one direction only from the clip body, and longitudinally in respect to and substantially to the end of the tip end of the belt.

HENRY SPENGLER.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the le of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 391,763 Sherman Oct. 23, 1888 1,151,708 Neff Aug. 31, 1915 1,543,399 Smith June 23, 1925 2,257,700 Meehan Sept. 30, 1941