US2634477A

US2634477A - Belt buckle

Info

Publication number: US2634477A
Application number: US89518A
Authority: US
Inventors: Clifford A Spanganberg
Original assignee: Hickok Manufacturing Co Inc
Current assignee: Hickok Manufacturing Co Inc
Priority date: 1949-04-25
Filing date: 1949-04-25
Publication date: 1953-04-14
Anticipated expiration: 1970-04-14

Description

April 14, 1953 c. A. SPANGANBERG 2,634,477

BELT BUCKLE Filed April 25, 1949 IN VEN TOR. Uffa/m A. SPA/vm M919? 6;

Patented Apr. 14, 1953 BELT BUCKLE Clifford A. Spanganberg, Rochester, N. Y., as-

signor to Hickok Manufacturing Co., Inc., Rochester, N. Y., a corporation of New York Application April 25, 1949, Serial No. 89,518

Claims.

This invention relates to belt buckles. The invention more particularly relates to an initial belt buckle.

Heretofore, belt buckles have been provided with one or more initials on the face thereof. The initial or initials, however, in the prior belt buckles were either embossed or otherwise imprinted on the face of the buckle or one or more initials were inserted in a depressed or cut out portion on the face of the buckle.

In the prior belt buckles, therefore, it will be seen that the initial or initials were simply a part of the actual face of the buckle or on the face of the buckle. Thus a definite face portion of the buckle is provided to hold or carry the initials thereon.

In the present belt buckle, there is no face portion thereof as such. The face portion of the present belt buckle is the initial, letter of the alphabet or other indicia itself which is cut-out to more clearly define the same and to allow the portion of the belt behindsarne to provide a background therefor. In other words, the initial of the present belt buckle constitutes the face portion thereof and when this face portion in the form of the initial is attached to a base portion, in spaced relationship to the latter, the free end of the belt passes in that space portion between the rear side of the initial and the front side of the base of the buckle and forms a background for the cut-out portion or portions -of the initial, letter of the alphabet or other cut-out indicia.

In the present buckle, the base portion is so formed that any one of the cut-out letters of the alphabet or other indicia or an emblem or the like may be readily secured thereto and constitute the entire or sole face portion of the buckle.

This belt buckle is so formed that when the buckle is on display or in use the only exposed part thereof will be the initial or letter of the alphabet which constitutes the entire or sole face of the buckle.

With the foregoing in mind, it is an object of the invention to provide a belt buckle wherein the face portion thereof is in the form of an initial.

Another object of the invention is to provide a buckle consisting of a base portion and an i initial or the like which constitutes the entire or sole face of the buckle, the said base and initial being associated with each other so that Another object of the invention is to provide v a belt buckle wherein the face portion is in the form of an initial and when the belt is in use the only portion thereof that is visible is the said initial.

Another object of the invention is to provide a belt buckle wherein the entire exposed face portion thereof is in the form of an initial.

Another object of the invention is to provide an initial belt buckle whereby the initial may be readily secured to the base of the buckle and maintained in proper relationship with respect to the base.

Another object of the invention is to provide a common belt buckle base so that any one of the letters of the alphabet may be readily secured to that base.

Another object of the invention is to provide an initial belt buckle which is highly practical and simple and inexpensive to manufacture and yet being highly ornamental.

Another object of the invention is to provide a belt buckle consisting of a rear and face portion connected together so as to define a through passageway for a free end of a belt therebetween and wherein the face portion of the buckle is at least co-extensive in width with the rear portion thereof and the said face portion consists entirely or solely of suitable cut-out indicia so that the free end portion of the belt back of the indicia forms a background therefor and, of course, where the belt buckle has associated therewith means to which one end of the belt is secured thus securing the belt to the buckle or vice versa.

With the above objects in mind, the invention consists in the construction and novel combination and arrangement of parts hereinafter fully described, illustrated in the accompanying drawings and pointed out in the claims hereto appended, it being understood that various changes in the form, proportions, and minor details of construction, within the scope of the claims, may be resorted to without departing from the spirit or sacrificing any of the advantages of the invention.

In the drawings wherein like numerals in the several figures thereof denote the same parts:

Fig. 1 is a front elevational View of the initial buckle.

Fig. 2 is a rear elevational View of the buckle.

Fig. 3 is a top plan view.

Fig. 4 is a longitudinal cross sectional view of the line 4 4 of Fig. 1 of the buckle showing the buckle attached to a belt and with the free end of the belt passing through the buckle.

Fig. 5 is a vertical sectional view of the buckle taken on the line 5 5 of Fig. l;

Fig. 6 is a perspective view of the rear portion or back plate or base of the buckle; and,

Fig. 7 is a perspective view of one initial or letter of the alphabet constituting the face of the buckle.

The invention will be more readily understood by referring to the drawings in detail. The buckle denoted generally at B consists of two integral parts; namely, a base or rear portion C and the cut-out initial or letter D or the like constituting4 the entire or sole front face thereof.

The base portion C` of the buckle is ofv generally rectangular shape and is preferably fabricated frorn metal, precious or other metal or alloys or other suitable material and includes and has on its front side 8 substantially diametrically disposed elongated recesses or depressions 9 and l t adjacent the upper right corner thereof and the lower left corner thereof, respectively. These recesses or depressions 9 and l@ on the face Sl of the base of the buckle result in similarly shaped elongated embossures ll and I2, respectively, on the rear face |3- of the buckle base. A belt attaching eye or loop le is formed integral with and extends at a slight angle with respect to one end of the base of the buckle. The upper and lower portions l5 andY I6 of the eye or loop l are inthe form of inwardly directed flanges ll.

As stated, the eye or loop Hl at one end of the base of the buckle is inclined with respect to-the base of thebuckle as will be clearly seen in Figs. 3, 4 and 6 and this inclination with respect to the base of the buckle is provided so that when the end of the belt is attached to the eye by means of looping the same therethrough the space between the inclined portion and the face of the base of the buckle will be sufficient to allow the turned over attached end' of the belt to be disposed in that space and when the free end of the belt is inserted through the buckle, it will lie in substantially the plane of the base of the buckle and not project forwardly when the belt is about the body of the user and which is hereinafter more fully described.

The otherv extreme end i8 of the buckle hasl buckle base and then is turned as at 2l at a rightV angle to the base and finally turned or bent as at 22 substantially parallel'with and spaced from the base. This tongue structure provides in effect a hook which engages in a selected` opening in the belt as hereinafter described.

The initial D whichconstitutes the front or face portion of thefbelt buckle, may be any initial or letter of the alphabet or other indicia such as an emblem or the like. This particular initial D is the letter R ofthe alphabet and, of course, this letter is shown for illustrative purposes only. The initial D is of the cut out type; namely, that there is a cut out portion 23 and another cut out portion 24. Of course, different letters of the alphabet will necessitate different cut out portions. However, any initial or letter may be used just so long asthat initial, letter, emblem or the like constitutes the face portionI of the buckle and that portion being that which is exposed when the buckle is properly attached to a belt in use. The particular initial shown has itsexterior contour 25beveled, which-beveling 26 iscorrespondingly carried out in the cut-out portions of the initial or letter. The portion 27 which is in between the aforesaid beveled portions of the initial is preferably at any may be suitably ornamented, as by hammering or enameling for color, etc.

As seen in Fig. '7, the initial D has upper and lower right angularly disposed

flanges

28 and 29, respectively, and integral with these flanges 28 andv 29 there are integral upper and lower webs or attaching plates or members Sil and Si. respectively, and which webs or attaching members are substantially parallel with the face of the letter or initial.

rIhe webs or attaching plates 3c and 3i which are elongated substantially correspond in shape with the diametrically disposed recesses or depressions 9 and l0 in the base of the buckle. Hereit will be, noted that the letter or the initial is slanted with respect to the vertical when the buckle is viewed in front4 elevation and thus the attaching plates or webs 3G and 3l are out of vertical alignment, so to speak, so that they may be disposed and secured in the said recesses or depressions 9 and Illl in the base of the buckle. The manner of securing the initial by means of the webs or plates 30 and 3l in the recesses or depressions 9 and la may, indeed, be varied. One means of securing the initial and the base of the buckle together is by soldering as indicated at 32 or, of course, the solder may be disposed between the walls of the recesses or depressions 9 and it and the at faces of the webs or plates 3B and 3l. Soldering is merely mentioned as exemplary of one means of securing the belt to the base. The main object, of course, is to suitably carry'or associate the initial which constitutes the face of the buckle with the base of the buckle.

When the initial orletter is secured to the base of the buckle, as hereinbefore described, by means of soldering or otherwise attaching the webs or plates 3 and 3| in the recesses or depressions 9 and IB, there will in effect be present a substantially flat inner side of the base of the buckle as the gauge of the metal' of the webs or plates 30 and 3| is of substantially the same depth as the depressions 9 and Ill wherein these webs B and 3|, respectively, are secured'. Thus, there is adjacent each of the recesses or depressions substantially flat portions 33 and' 31%' of the base of the-bucklethat are connected by the intermediate portion 35'.

With reference to Fig-..4 wherein the buckle isy 31 of the belt is inserted through the eye I4 at one endV of the bucklebase and is turnedV over on itself at 38 and stitched at 39 thereby securing that end of the belt to the buckle or vice versa. Usually, there is a slide or-loop lill at the attached end of the belt and this loop or slide for the free end of the belt may also be of leather or suitable material andis preferably secured at the end' of the belt by means of theY aforesaid stitchingv 39. The free end of theV belt 4l, as will be noted in Fig. 4, has been inserted between the inner face of the buckle rear portion C and the inner face of the face portion D, as indicated at 42, and which end of the belt' is provided with a series or plurality of openings 43, any one of the free end ofthe belt to the'buckle. furthery benoted in Fig. 4 of the drawings that the end of the belt is such that when the belt is worn the turned over end portion of the belt which is attached to the eye will not project or protrude forwardly and be unsightly when in use. This inclining or olf-setting of the eye I4 of the buckle provides the space necessary between the free end of the belt and the attached end of the belt so as to prevent any protruding forwardly of the attached end of the belt when in use.

One rather wide letter or initial constituting the face of the buckle is shown. It is obvious, however, that two or more narrow initials or letters may be combined and constitute the face of the buckle.

From the foregoing, it is believed quite clear that a highly practical belt buckle is provided and wherein the buckle consists of only the two Y integral elements; namely, the base of the buckle and the initial which constitutes the front or face portion of the buckle and which initial or letter only is visible when the belt buckle is in use on a belt.

I claim:

1. A belt buckle consisting of a substantially rectangularly shaped rear portion having oppositely disposed end edges, a loop at one of the said end edges, a hook at the other of the said end edges, a face portion of the buckle including substantially right angularly disposed flanges at the top and bottom edges thereof, the said flanges terminating in integral webs that are disposed in spaced parallel relationship with the said face portion, means for securing the webs to the rear portion of the buckle so that the face portion thereof is in the said spaced relationship to the said rear portion to define a through passageway for a free end of a belt therebetween, and the said face portion of the buckle being at least cao-extensive in width with the rear portion and consists solely of cut-out indicium whereby the portion of the free end of the belt back of the indicium forms a background therefor.

2. A belt buckle consisting of a substantially rectangularly shaped rear portion having oppositely disposed end edges, a loop at one of the said end edges, a face portion of the buckle including substantially right angularly disposed flanges at the top and bottom edges thereof, the

said fiangesterminating in integral webs thatv are disposed in spaced parallel relation with the said face portion, means for securing the webs to extensive in width with the rear portion and comprises cut-out indicium whereby the portion of the free end of the belt back of the indicium forms a background therefor, and wherein the rear portion of the buckle is provided with spaced depressions and the said webs of the face portion of the buckle are seated and secured in the said depressions.

3. A belt buckle consisting of a rigid elongated rear plate-like member having opposite end edges and including a face portion thereof, a loop integral with and extending outwardly from one of the end edges, a hook integral with the rear member and extending outwardly from the face thereof, a face member of the buckle including a substantially right-angularly disposed .flangelat the' top and bottom edges thereof, the flanges termi-: nating in integral webs that'are disposed in spaced parallel relationship with the said face I member, means for securing the webs to the rear member of the buckle so that the face member thereof is in the said spaced relationship to the said rear member to denne a through passageway for a free end of a belt therebetween, the said .face member of the buckle being at least coextensive in width with the rear member and consists solely of cut-out indicium, whereby the portion of the free end of the belt back of the indicium forms a background therefor, and the hook is adapted to engage a portion thereof and holdthe free end of the belt.

4. A belt buckle consisting of a rigid eiongatedf rear plate-like member having opposite end edges substantially right-angularly disposed flange at 1 the top and bottom edges thereof, the ilangesterminating in integral Webs thatl are disposed in spaced parallel relationship with the said face member, means for securing the webs to the rear member of the buckle so that the face member thereof is in the said spaced relationship to the said rear member to define a through passageway for a free end of a belt therebetween, the said face member of the buckle being at least coextensive in width with the rear member and consists` of a cut-out letter of the alphabet, vwhereby the l portion of the free end of the belt back of the letter of the alphabet forms a background therefor, and the hook is adapted to engage a portion thereof and hold the free end of the belt.

5. A belt buckle consisting of an elongated rigid plate-like rear member having oppositely disposed end and side edges and a front face portion, a loop at one of the said end edges and projecting therebeyond at an angle with respect to the plate-like rear member and integral therewith, a hook integral 4with the rear member and extending outwardly beyond its front face por`- tion, a face member of the buckle having a substantially right-angularly disposed flange at thetop and bottom edges thereof, the flanges terminating in integral webs that are disposed in spaced parallel relationship with the face member, the rear member having oppositely disposed elongated depressions in the face portion there-rn of and which depressions are open at the said opposite side edges and on the face portion thereof kand are substantially of the same shape and proportions as the said webs-and with the webs seated and-secured in the said depressions so that the face member of ythe buckle is in the said spaced relationship to the rear member to define a through passageway for a free end of a belt therebetween, the said face member of-the buckle being at least coextensive in width with the rear portion and consists of cut-out indicium,

whereby the portion of the free end ofthe belt back of the indicium forms a background there- Y for, and the hook-is adapted to engage a portion thereof and hold the free end of the belt.

6. A belt buckle consisting of an elongated rigid plate-like rear member having oppositely disposed end and side edges and a front face portion, aloop at one of the said end edges and projecting therebeyond at an angle with respect to the plate-like rear member and integral there- 7 with',.-a' hook integral with. the rear memberand extending; outwardly" beyond its front face portion, a. face. member of the buckle including'a substantially right-angularly disposedv flange at the top and bottom edges thereof, the flanges. terminating. in integral webs. that lare ldisposedin spaced. parallel relationship with .the face member, the rear member having oppositely disposed: elongated depressions in the face. portion there-J ofand which depressions are open at. the said" opposite side-edges and on the faceportionthere of and` are substantially of the same shape and..

proportions as4 the said Webs and with thewebs. seated and secured in the said. depressions so that. the. face` member` of the buckle;l is in the said spaced relationship to the rear member to' definev a through passageway for av freev end of a belt therebetween, the said face portion of thek buckle being, at least coextensive in width with the rear portion and consists solely of a cut-out. letter. of thealphabet, whereby theV portion of the free; end ofthe belt back of the letter of the alphabet forms a background therefor, andthe hook is' adapted to engage a portion thereof and hold the; free end of the belt. Y

7.. A belt buckle consisting of a substantially rectangnlarly shaped rear 4portion having op positely disposed end edges,; a loop at one. of the said end edges, a hook at; the other of. the. said end edges, a face portion of the buckle. including substantially right-angularly disposed anges at. the top and bottom edges thereof and said flanges terminating in integral webs that are. disposed in spaced parallel relationship with the said facel portion, means for securing the webs to therear portion of the. buckle so that the face portion. thereof isin the said spaced relationship to the said rear portionto define a through passageway for a free end of a belt. therebetween, andthe said face` portion of the buckle being at least coextensive. in. width with the. rear portion andY consists solely of a cut-out` letter of the alphabet.. wherebyV the portion of thef free end of. the` belt.v back. of. the letter of the alphabet vforms a background therefor, and the. hook is. adapted to en- .A

gage a portion thereof` and hold the free end of the belt.

LA belt buckle; consisting of av substantially rectangularlyeshaped rear plate-like. member.'v

having oppositely'disposed end. edges, a. loop at;

one of the. end edges andprojecting therebeyond.

and integral therewith. a hook. at the. other. of. they end. edges and` projecting, therebeyond, and integral therewith,` a face member -of the` buckle including a substantially right-angularly dis-1 posed-flange at the top and bottornedges thereof', theflanges terminatingv in integral websrthat are disposedin spaced parallelrelationship with the.

said face member, means forl securing the. webs to:

the.. rear member of the. buckle. so thatthe. facef member thereof is in the said spacedrelationship to the rear member to define a throughpassage way for a. free. end of a belt. therebetween,A the, said face member of the bucklel being at least.. coextensive inwidth with the rear member and. consists solely of av cut-out letter of theY alpha-bet, whereby the portion of the; free end` of the. belt. back. of, the.v letter of the, alphabet. forms a. back.-y

ground therefor, .and the. hookv is.: adapted*v to. engagea portion thereof. .and hold the free end. of' the` belt. L.

`9. A beltA buckle. consisting of a substantially rectangularly shapedrear plate-like member having. oppositely disposed end edges, a loop at one of. therend' edges and projecting therebeyond and integral therewith, a. hook at the other of the end edges and. projecting therebeyond and integral therewith, a face member of the buckle having a substantially right-angularly disposed. flange .at the. topv and bottom edges thereof, the flanges. terminating in integral webs that are disposed ini spaced parallel relationship with the said face member, means for securing the webs to the rear.`

member of the bucklev so that. the face member thereof is in the lsaidV spaced relationship t0 thei rear member to define a through passageway for a free`- end of a belt therebetween, the said. face member of the buckle beingw at least coextensive in widthY withv the rear member and consists solely of suitable cut-out indiciurn, whereby the por.- tion of the free end of the belt back of the indicium forms a background therefor, and the hook is adapted to engage a portion thereof and hold the free end of the belt.

10. A belt buckle comprising an elongated rigid.

rear member having, oppositely disposed end and side edges and a front face: portion, a loop at one of thev said end edges and projecting therebeyond to provide a belt. receiving opening so that a belt can be attached to said1loop,.a front.

member of said. buckle having a. substantially right-angularly disposed. flange at. the top andv bottom edges thereof, the said flanges terminat ing inintegral webs that are disposed in spaced parallelv relationship with the front member, said. rear member having oppositely disposed elon. gated recesses at the opposite side edge portions, saldi recesses being open at the opposite side edges, said webs being seated and secured in the said recesses so that the front member of the: buckle is in spaced relationship to the rear member to dei-lne with said flanges. a through passageway for a free end of the belt therebetween, and azxed member carriedY byY saidrear member and extending forwardlyl of said rear memberinto the' path of the passageway for a free end of the belt for engagement therewith to retain the same in position; andthe said front member of the buckle being at least' ooextensive inv width with the rear portion and comprises at least one cut-outindicium whereby the portion of the free end'of the belt back of the ind'icium formsa back-- ground therefor.

CLIFFORD' A. SPANGANBERG..

References. cited in, the. sie of this. patent.

UNITED sTATEs PATENTS Number Name Date 740,951 Uhlrig Oct. 6, 1903 11,654,805- I-Iamric Jan. 23, 1928l 1,764,175 KerkhoffA June i7, 1930 2,209,714 Chernow July 30, 194i)` 2,221,926 Quant Nov. 19, 1940 2,260,878 Wl'iitey Oct; 28, 1941