US2905994A

US2905994A - Belt buckle

Info

Publication number: US2905994A
Application number: US559632A
Authority: US
Inventors: Krasnow David; Krasnow Kenneth
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1956-01-17
Filing date: 1956-01-17
Publication date: 1959-09-29
Anticipated expiration: 1976-09-29

Description

D. KRASNOW ETAL 2,905,994

BELTBUCKLE Filed Jan. 17, 1956 Sept. 29, 1959 INVENTORS DA /D KPfiS/VO Flt/j r Un d State Patent ihvhtionrel'ates to for belt s, ;straps and the like and mer specifically to an improved-buckle for Waistb'elts affording means for releasably holding both the flexible: belt material to; the buekleand a'belt loop for receiving the free end vof the belt after engagement with the tonguea'ridlddp ofthe'buckle'i" Oiie 'ebj'ect of-theinvention resides the provision of an improved buck-1e having-a combination and arrange nie'nt of elements-forreleasably-hbldin g a flexible belt arid-belt loop' that-ischar-aeterized by its simplicity; effe otiven'ess and low-costa -While the invention is of geriefal usefulness it-is particularly adaptable for use" on mens and womens belts enabling thewearer 'to a'djust the size of the belt and at the same time giving the appearance of a conventional belt wherein the belt and buckle are permanently secured one to the other.

Another object of the invention is an improved buckle for belts, straps and the like that enables the belt, buckle and belt loop to be assembled quickly and easily without the need for special tools or equipment. In this Way belting, matching or contrasting loops and the buckle can be assembled to meet the desires of an individual purchaser without necessitating the maintenance of large stocks of belts in various sizes and colors.

Still another object of the invention resides in the provision of an improved buckle for belts wherein the buckle frame includes means pivotally attached thereto for releasably holding one end of a belt and means for securing a belt loop. In the case of waist belts forming part of one wearing apparel, the invention not only enables the wearer to adjust the belt length but also permits replacement of both the belt and belt loop should they become damaged or worn.

A still further object of the invention is a new and improved belt buckle.

The above and other objects and advantages of the invention will become more apparent from the following description and accompanying drawings forming part of this application.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of one embodiment of a buckle in accordance with the invention;

Fig. 2 is a cross sectional view of Fig. 1 taken along the line 22 thereof with the belt retaining loop in place on the buckle;

Fig. 3 is a bottom view of Fig. 2;

Figs. 4 and 5 are side elevations of a fragmentary portion of the invention illustrating a modification thereof; and

Figs. 6 and 7 are bottom and side views of still another modified form of the invention.

Referring now to the drawings and more specifically to Figs. 1 to 3 thereof, the buckle in accordance with the invention includes a frame 10, a buckle loop 12 and a cooperating tongue 14 for engagement with a belt when the latter is fed through the buckle loop 12.

The buckle loop 12 may have any desired configuration and is preferably provided with a generally cylindri- Patented" Sept 29, *1'959 eal transverse portion 13 for. coupling the loop. ,to-tlie" buckle frame10qlathe specific embodiment of-the;in-- vention the buckle loop 12 isfabricated of a=single-pieceof metalbent i n the form of-a rectangle with the transverse member 13 being formed by bending the ends "of the rod'14 and l5 inwardly one-oftheother to'form a substantially closed loop with the; gap betweentheends 1:4 and IS beingt ofiset from the center. thereof.- The frame.lll is'provided*with a pairof lugs or tabs- 16 and- 1 7Y-thlat are-ispacedone from the other toyleave agapi lstherebetween, These 'tabs are bent about the trans-- verse member 13 of the-buckle loop,12 as showninJ- igcl? to secure the frame to the loop withthe loop 16 covering thegaprb'etween" the ends; 14 and 15 ofthe loop 12 and forming part of the transverse member 13-. "The tgmgue 1'is= pivotally supported by the transverse mem ber1' 3, and"within the gap 18 and it may -be; installed either"b ef'ore,or afterthe buckle loopand frame are scured'ftogetlien The tongue 19 overlaps the outer endo fftli'elfoop. llfand'func'tions to engage-an openingdna strapfjiriserted tlirough the loop- 12';

The" frame 10 is"pro'vide'd with a pair of rearwardly. extending walls 20"and'21, each havingaslot 22'for the reception of! a"fleXible'belt-loop-2'3L The belt 106 3123 is preferably formed fofleat'he'r or: other material match h 1 t I j ai siiitabilemetaii clip with fielti ts 12 bit slot 22. The tabs 26 are preferably rounded so that they will not catch or damage any fabric that may contact the back side of the buckle. With this arrangement the flexible belt loop 23 can be readily and easily inserted within the slot 22 after fabrication of the buckle as previously described and if desired the loop 23 can be removed from the slots 22 for replacement or insertion of a different loop. In normal practice the width of the frame 10 is preferably made equal to or slightly narrower than the belt 24 with which the buckle is to be used so that when the belt end is engaged with the buckle loop 12 and tongue 19 and then inserted through the belt loop 23 it will cover the frame 10 and give the appearance of a conventional buckle wherein the belt is permanently secured to the buckle loop.

The frame 10 further includes means for releasably securing the belt 24 to the frame 10 and comprises generally an S-shaped member or clamp 27 extending between the

Walls

20 and 21 and pivoted thereto by outwardly extending pins 28 arranged to engage cooperating openings in the walls. To insert the belt 24 into the buckle the S-shaped member 27 is rotated in a clockwise direction as viewed in Fig. 2 and the end of the belt 24 is inserted between the clamp 27 and the frame body 10. The clamp 27 is then rotated in a counter clockwise direction whereupon the edge 29 of the clamp 27 engages the belt and rotates until the rounded portion 30 of the clamp 27 bears against the underside of the belt 24. This automatically locks the belt 24 in position in the buckle. The right hand end 31 of the clamping member 27 is curved outwardly as illustrated in order to facilitate release of the clamp and removal of the belt 24 from the buckle.

With the buckle as described above both the belt 24 as well as the belt loop 23 are removably secured to the buckle and enable the ultimate user of the belt to modify its length to meet his particular needs. Moreover, the belt loop 23 can be selected independently of the belt 24 so that the purchaser may have either a matching or contrasting loop. This procedure not only facilitates selection of the belt on the part of the purchaser but greatly reduces the stock a retailer must maintain in order to meet the needs of his customers. For instance, a re- Then, too, if a belt becomes worn or broken the user need' only replace the belt and belt loop and thereby avoid the cost of an additional buckle. 1

In certain instances it may be desirable to provide a complete closure for the slots 22 in the frame 10 shown in Fig. 1. One procedure for the attainment of the end is shown in Figs. 4 and 5. In this modification one of the tabs 26 is made somewhat larger and is denoted in these figures by the numeral 26'. The tab 26 actually extends slightly beyond the cooperating tab 26 and is disposed outwardly therefrom to leave a small opening 32 for insertion of the belt loop 23. After the loop is in place the tab 26' is depressed as shown in Fig. 5 to slightly overlap the tab 26 and completely close the slot 22.

Still another modification of the invention is illustrated in Figs. 6 and 7. In this modification the belt loop 23 is secured to the frame by a pair of tabs 33 and 34 punched from the metal forming the frame itself. The tab 33 in this embodiment of the invention is connected with the frame 10 along the line 33 While the tab 34 is connected to the frame 10 along the line 34'. In the fabrication of the buckle these tabs are bent outwardly from the underside of the frame 10 to form an angle of about 45 degrees and the belt loop 23 is then inserted beneath both tabs. The tabs are then pressed downwardly in place as shown in Fig. 7 with the ends 34 thereof being provided with a slight reverse bend to securely retain the loop 23 and prevent any possiiblity of the ends of these tabs snagging clothing or fabric which it may contact.

While only certain embodiments of the invention have been shown and described, it is apparent thatmodifications, alterations and changes may be made without departing from the true scope and spirit thereof.

What is claimed is:

A buckle comprising a plate having front, rear and side edges, a buckle loop pivotally secured to said front edge of the plate, side walls joined to said side edges and disposed in planes substantially perpendicular to the plane of the plate, and means carried by said side walls and positioned near the rear edge of the plate for releasably securing a belt to said buckle, each of said side walls having a slot substantially midway between the ends of the plate for accommodating and holding a belt loop in encircling relationship to theplate for receiving the end of said belt when engaged in said buckle loop, each slot extending lengthwise of its associated side wall and opening in the outer edge thereof with said edge opening being less than the width of the slot to permit engagement of the belt loop with the slot and retain it in position therein.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS