US3440667A

US3440667A - Adjustable belt

Info

Publication number: US3440667A
Application number: US434889A
Authority: US
Inventors: George A Dye
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1965-02-24
Filing date: 1965-02-24
Publication date: 1969-04-29
Anticipated expiration: 1986-04-29

Description

April 29, 1959 i G. A. DYE 3,440,667

ADJUSTABLE BELT Filed Feb. 24. 1965 INvENTo/z Fm] GEORGE A. DYE

United States Patent 3,440,667 ADJUSTABLE BELT George A. Dye, 7518 Blutfton Road, Fort Wayne, Ind. 46807 Filed Feb. 24, 1965, Ser. No. 434,889 Int. Cl. A4lf 9/02 U.S. Cl. 2325 1 Claim This invention relates to an adjustable belt, and more particularly to the combination of a flexible waist-encircling band and buckle in which the band is readily adjustable for length to adapt for different waist sizes and, also to provide for an permit the interchangeability of bands and buckles.

Almost all belts which are used for trousers, skirts, etc. in mens, womens and childrens wearing apparel include provisions for adjustment of the belt. These provisions are generally in the form of a buckle having a locking finger which fits through one of a number of spaced openings in the belt with the materials required for adjustment and the necessary excess to facilitate adjustment, being in evidence by extending beyond the point of securing, overlapping a portion of the belting materials and requiring a loop either attached to the garment or the belt to hold the loose end in its proper position. The described arrangement is objectionable because tension on the belt tends, after a time and through normal use and adjustment, to produce a noticeable crease, discoloration mark as a result of the marring of the original finish, as well as the enlargement and elongation of the spaced openings. Upon adjustment these unsightly objections are obvious and it is apparent through normal daily use and adjustment the belt has become of sub-standard quality, while the loose end of the materials extending beyond the point of securing tends to bulge, become rough as well as uneven and has a substantially less attractive appearance. It is also generally provided that such buckles are permanently secured or not easily removed from the belt, therefore, they cannot be used interchangeably with other belts. Consequently, conventional belt-and-buckle combinations in or through use tend to be objectionable both because of the damage the buckle produces to the belt, and because the belts and buckles are not readily interchangeable.

It is accordingly, one of the principal objects of the present invention to provide a novel belt-and-buckle construction in which the buckle permits a number of adjustments of the flexible waist band encircling the waist in order to provide for waist adjustment but without producing the aforementioned damage to the belt in the form of crease lines and other distortions of the belt.

Another object of the present invention is to provide an improved belt-and-buckle construction which can be subjected to the required tension, continued and normal use, and without producing the aforementioned damage to the belt in the form of creases, discoloration, marred finish and enlarged or elongated spaced openings thereby assuring the user of an ever present, smooth, uniform and attractive belt surface whose original quality is still in evidence,

Another object of the present invention is to provide a novel belt-andbuckle construction which provides for and permits adjustments to a preferred size with assurance to the user that the ever present appearance will be one of neatness and simplicity as a result of the material "ice required for adjustment not being seen and having eliminated that portion of the overlapping materials used with conventional buckles, which extends beyond the point of securing, is required for adjustment, necessary to facilitate adjustment, and the loop attached to the'belt to hold the loose end in its proper position, all of which when subjected to normal daily use and adjustment becomes of sub-standard quality, as a result of bulges, roughness, being uneven and having a substantially less attractive appearance.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a novel belt-and-buckle construction which provides for and permits the easy interchanging of the belt and buckle combination. Therefore, the user is permitted to select a belt of the correct length of materials such as leather, fabrics or other composition and of a preferred or required color and/or composition to complement, match or contrast with articles of wearing apparel.

Another object of the present invention is to provide an improved belt-and-buckle construction which provides for and permits the easy interchanging of the buckle with the belt material wherein the surface of the buckle can be painted or anodized a multiple of colors, or given plated surfaces, such as platinum, gold, silver, brass or black oxide. Therefore, the user is permitted to select a buckle of a preferred or required surface preparation to complement, match or contrast with costume jewelry or ornamental items such as pins, brooches, necklaces, earrings, etc., accessories such as tie tacks, bars or clasps, cuff links, etc., belts of preferred colors, composition and/ or materials and wearing apparel.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide an improved belt-and-buckle construction which is readily adjustable, capable of forming a secure lock, durable and economically manufacturable.

Other objects and features of the present invention will become apparent from a consideration of the following description, in which certain selected examples of the invention are illustrated by way of example in the accompanying drawing, wherein:

FIGURE 1 is a front view of the belt buckle which is shown detached from the belt;

FIGURE 2 is a top view of the buckle shown in FIG- URE 1;

FIGURE 3 is a top view of the buckle in FIGURE 2, shown with the ends of the belt band secured thereto;

FIGURE 4 is a detail view of the under surface of the belt and showing details of the adjustable snap fasteners;

FIGURE 5 is a top view of the end of the belt illustrated in FIGURE 4;

FIGURE 6 is an enlarged perspective view showing the buckle, and one end of the belt positioned and secured with the other end of the belt shown prior to its positioning and securing; and,

FIGURE 7 is a perspective view of a further embodiment of the invention showing a different buckle and in which the ends of the belt have a different fastener arrangement than shown in FIGURES 1-6.

Referring now to the drawings, the belt, designated generally by reference numeral 10 (FIG. 6) includes a buckle 12 and waist band 14 with

ends

16 and 18.

The buckle 12 may be of metal or other suitable material of construction and, as shown in FIGURE 2, is convexly shaped at its side 20 in order to conform with the waist of the user. The buckle includes a slot 22 which is proportioned so that the

ends

26, 28 of the waist band can be passed through the slot 22 and then turned back to

form loops

30, 32 which are interlocked with the buckle 12. The loops are adjustable in size to provide for different waist lengths. Thus, waist lengths are shortened by drawing more of the

belt end

26 or 28 through the buckle, and conversely, the belt is made larger by shortening one or both of the loops and thereby lengthening the waist dimension. The user thus has an assortment of adjustments which can be used to accommodate any desired waist length. Once the Waist lentgh is established, the end 28 which has a snap fastener 40 (FIGS. 4, and 6) held by a clip 42, is snapped into one of the

fastener openings

46, 48, 50 or 52 which are spaced along the undersurface of the waist band. Thus, to foreshorten the belt, the male fastener is pressed into opening 46, and to lengthen the waist, the fastener 40 is fitted into any one of the

openings

48, or 52 of the female fasteners.

The slot 22 of the belt buckle 12 is dimensioned so that both of the

ends

26, 28 can be passed through the slot 22 (FIGS. 1, 3 and 6) and the ends then doubled back and the waist band drawn down to the preferred length and then clinched in that position by connecting the snap fasteners 40 into the approprliate female fastener 46 to 52. Each of the ends of the band is of identical construction and either one, or both, can be adjusted.

One of the advantages of the belt construction described, is that it provides a very neat appearance for the user. After the belt is installed, there are no bulges which tend to push the surrounding wearing apparel out of shape, thus contributing to a smoothness of the wearing apparel.

"Moreover, after the belt is installed as describbed there are no crease lines which tend to develop on the belt as in the previous conventional buckle construction. That is, the belt does not tend to become disfigured or misshaped during use. The belt after being adjusted by selecting a different combination of fasteners, does not bear any of the usual disfiguring crease lines or discoloration.

The buckle 12 can of course be embellished with other decorations or it can be plain, depending upon the design preference of the user.

After the belt is in place, there are no visible ends, all that appears is the face of the visible portion of the buckle and the confronting

loops

30, 32 which are passed through the slot 22, the appearance being one of neatness and simplicity. Since the inner surface of the buckle 20 is convexly shaped, it is contoured the same as the belt band and, therefore, the belt is smooth throughout its girth, and does not tend to produce any objectionable bulges of the wearing apparel about the waist.

Whenever it is desired to change the band 1'4, both

ends

26, 28 are snapped off to open the

loops

30, 32 and detach the loops from the buckle 12 and the band is then readily replaced with a different band of the desired color, composition, or style, still using the same buckle 12. Thus, the user has available a wide assortment of styles, shapes, colors, materials best suited for harmony with the given pattern of suit, dress or the like. In like manner, different color buckles are interchangeable with the band 14.

It is also possible to vary the buckle construction and the fastening arrangement for the loops. For example, referring to the embodiment of FIGURE 7, the band is provided with a number of spaced openings 62 to 70 which are spaced along the opposite ends 72, 74. The ends are then passed through a slot 76 of buckle 78 having a convex shape at its side 77 to conform with the waist of the user and after adjusting for the waist size, a proper one of the openings is fitted over its respective prong end 80 or 82. The ends of the belt 72, 74

are thus held in place and form loops which are held together by the buckle 78. The slot 76 in buckle 78 serves the same purpose as the slot 22 in buckle 12 illustrated in the previous embodiment in that it retains the ends of the belt which form oppositely bending loops; the ends of the loops are closed by detachable fasteners and the size of the loop is adjustable to control for waist length. The fastening for the belt, as in the previous embodiment, is reliable, strong, and cannot be accidentally removed, but is nevertheless easily adjusted as the need arises. Different bands of varying shapes, composition, color, etc. can be used by simply passing the ends through the slot 76 and securing one or the other of the spaced openings through the cooperating prong 80 or 82 to form the fastening. The buckle 78 can be plain in appearance, or it can be constructed with a multiple of surface treatments as desired.

The embodiments which are described, provide an inexpensive but readily adjustable and versatile belt construction which is not only attractive in appearance but is also structurally reliable and inexpensive to manufacture. The belt construction avoids the unattractive crease lines which are incident to wear; it provides a neat, attractive appearance producing minimal bulginess to other clothing around the Waist.

Although the present invention has been illustrated and described in connection with the two selected example embodiments, it will be understood that these are illustrative of the invention and are by no means restrictive thereof. For example, many other fasteners can readily be provided by those skilled in the art and still come within the spirit and scope of the present invention. For example, to fasten the end of the waist band in its loop around the buckle, there are many other fastening expedients which are usable, for example, hooks, stays, and other expedients, all of which are comprehended by the present invention.

It is reasonably to be expected that those skilled in this art can make numerous other revisions and adaptations of the invention, and it is intended that such reversions and adaptations be included within the scope of the following claim as equivalents of the invention.

What is claimed is:

1. A belt and buckle ensemble comprising a flexible waist encircling band having lengthwise side edges and having opposing end portions, said end portions being adapted to be turned back upon themselves to define closed loops and adjustable fastener means carried by the end portions and the adjoining portions of the band for securing the end portions in selected loop sizes, a buckle formed a single plate, said plate having a lengthwise dimension in alignment with the waist encircling band and the lengthwise side edges thereof, and said plate being formed centrally of the length thereof with a single substantially rectangular vertical slot, said slot being constituted by opposing, substantially parallel and relatively short bounding transverse end walls which are spaced apart a distance slightly greater than the transverse distance between the opposing side edges of the band and said slot being further constituted by opposing, substantially parallel bounding side walls, said side walls being spaced apart a distance slightly greater than the combined thickness of the loops, said end portions of the band being threadingly passed through the slot and turned back and secured to the band by the fasteners, so that the thusly formed loops are engaged through the slot and attached to the plate.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS (Other references on following page) UNITED 5 1 6 STATES PATENTS FOREIGN PATENTS Garbatt 24206X 655,308 9/1930 France. Sobel 24208 X 614,097 12/1948 Great Britain. Ostolaza 2474 X Kennon 27 176 X 5 JORDAN FRANKLIN, Primary Examiner. Dy 1 G. V. LARKIN, Assistant Examiner. Graf 2-317 Critchley 2-322 X Wiethorn 2 322 Caravella 24176 X

Claims

1. A BELT AND BUCKLE ENSEMBLE COMPRISING A FLEXIBLE WAIST ENCIRCLING BAND HAVING LENGTHWISE SIDE EDGES AND HAVING OPPOSING END PORTIONS, SAID END PORTIONS BEING ADAPTED TO BE TURNED BACK UPON THEMSELVES TO DEFINE CLOSED LOOPS AND ADJUSTABLE FASTENER MEANS CARRIED BY THE END PORTIONS AND THE ADJOINING PORTIONS OF THE BAND FOR SECURING THE END PORTIONS IN SELECTED LOOP SIZES, A BUCKLE FORMED A SINGLE PLATE, SAID PLATE HAVING A LENGTHWISE DIMENSION IN ALIGNMENT WITH THE WAISTE ENCIRCLING BAND AND THE LENGTHWISE SIDE EDGES THEREOF, AND SAID PLATE BEING FORMED CENTRALLY OF THE LENGTH THEREOF, WITH A SINGLE SUBSTANTIALLY RECTANGULAR VERTICAL SLOT, SAID SLOT BEING CONSTITUTED BY OPPOSING, SUBSTANTIALLY PARALLEL AND RELATIVELY SHORT BOUNDING TRANSVERSE END WALLS WHICH ARE SPACED APART A DISTANCE SLIGHTLY GREATER THAN THE TRANSVERSE DISTANCE BETWEEN THE OPPOSING SIDE EDGES OF THE BAND AND SAID SLOT BEING FURTHER CONSTITUTED BY OPPOSING, SUBSTANTIALLY PARALLEL BOUNDING SIDE WALLS, SAID SIDE WALLS BEING SPACED APART A DISTANCE SLIGHTLY GREATER THAN THE COMBINED THICKNESS OF THE LOOPS, SAID END PORTIONS OF THE BAND BEING THREADINGLY PASSED THROUGH THE SLOT AND TURNED BACK AND SECURED TO THE BAND BY THE FASTENERS, SO THAT THE THUSLY FORMED LOOPS ARE ENGAGED THROUGH THE SLOT AND ATTACHED TO THE PLATE.