US3495305A

US3495305A - Belt buckle

Info

Publication number: US3495305A
Application number: US552320A
Authority: US
Inventors: Jenoe Mezerenyi; Ilona C Mezerenyi
Original assignee: ILONA C MEZERENYI
Current assignee: ILONA C MEZERENYI
Priority date: 1966-05-23
Filing date: 1966-05-23
Publication date: 1970-02-17
Anticipated expiration: 1987-02-17

Description

J. MEZERENYII ETA!- 3,495,305

. Feb. 17, 1970 BELT BUCKLE 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed May 25, 1966 BELT BUCKLE Filed May 23, 1966 I5 Sheets- Sh eet .2

lllllll IJIF Ill l n Feb. 17, 1970 A mszsnsmlmu.

BELT BUCKLE 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed May 23, 1966 United States Patent US. Cl. 24-77 4 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A belt buckle comprising a plate having means for attachment to one end of a strap and provided with a wedge means to be pressed against one side of a slot and against a portion of a strap which is passed through said slot, so as to secure said strap portion.

This is a continuation-in-part of application Ser. No.

208,459, filed July 9, 1962, now Patent No. 3,252,191. The invention is an improvement over the buckle of former application 208,459 filed on July 9, 1962, now Patent No. 3,252,191, and it relates to such a belt buckle which has an outer slotted member adapted to be attached to one end of the belt and an inner slotted member adapted to be attached to the other end of the belt; the two members are provided with connecting means.

The present application relates to an improvement over the above mentioned buckle of said former application by providing more effective friction means to hold the belt and a wider utility of the invention.

The main object of the invention is to provide for garment belts easily attachable, adjustable and detachable hooking belt buckles which may be manufactured from nonmetallic material, which stay on the adjusted place on the belt ends, and after hooking keep the decorative common forms of buckled eyeletless belts and of prongless belt buckles.

Another object of the device is to make possible that the same attachable, detachable, prongless hooking belt buckle may be useable for thicker or thinner belts, and that the belt buckle of the invention may be applicable for soft belts also.

A further object of the invention is to provide a belt buckle which will permit the use of a belt which may be made more easily and cheaply because the belt may be eyeletless and many require no hard lining.

The above listed purposes are achieved with the outer slotted member and inner slotted member of the invention. The outer slotted member is provided with a connecting means located between two special shaped slots and it may be provided with a wedge member to fix the member to one end of the belt by the friction force of the slots and of the wedge member. The inner slotted member is attached to the other belt end and provided with a means for connecting, to attach and detach the belt end in the hooking action by the slotted members. After connecting the inner slotted member remains invisible from the outside.

The preferable material for the device is plastic which is non-rustable and does not leave soiled marks on the garment. It also follows the color of the fashion and is easy and cheap to manufacture; but any other material such as metal or wood which has the necessary thickness and rigidity for the mode of operation of the device could be used but with less success.

The foregoing and further objects will be more fully understood from the following description and the accompanying drawings in which:

3,495,305 Patented F eb. 17, 1970 FIG. 1 shows a top view of the outer slotted member which will be attached to one end of the belt.

FIG. 2 illustrates a longitudinal cross section of the slotted outer member of FIG. 1; and it shows also a wedge member with two different sizes of wedges with the inserted belt while one wedge tightens the belt to the outer wall of the slot.

FIG. 2A shows in perspective view the same outer slotted member in FIG. 1 with another wedge member of FIG. 4 while two identical wedges tighten the inserted belt to the outer wall of the same slot.

FIG. 2B shows a cross section of the outer member in FIG. 2A with the wedge member in FIG. 4 in the section plane 2B2B.

FIG. 3 shows a perspective view of a double action wedge member with two diiferent wedges, and it is used in connection with the outer slotted member of FIGS. 1, 2.

In FIG. 4 is pictured in perspective view another wedge member with two identical wedges for the buckle in FIGS. 1, 2A and 2B.

FIG. 5 illustrates the outer forms of the invention with the buckled belt and it also shows a top view of a modification of the outer slotted member of FIG. 1

FIG. 6 shows a cross section of the buckle plate in the section plane 6-6 of FIG. 5.

FIG. 7 illustrates a longitudinal cross section of the buckled belt end and 0f the outer slotted member of FIG. 5.

FIG. 8 shows a perspective view of an inner slotted member. It will be applied on the other end of the belt as a companion member of the outer slotted member of FIG. 1 in the hooking action.

FIG. 9 illustrates a perspective view of a modification of the inner slotted member of FIG. 8.

FIG. 10 shows a perspective view of a thin I-shaped plastic plate to increase the frictional force of the inner slotted member of FIGS. 8, 9.

FIG. 11 shows in longitudinal cross section the inner slotted member in FIG. 9 and the simple and general way of insertion of the belt end in the slot of the inner slotted member of FIGS. 8, 9.

FIG. 12 shows a longitudinal cross section of the inner slotted member of FIG. 8 and the usage of the I part (of FIG. 10).

In FIG. 13 is shown in longitudinal cross section and in exaggerated dimensions the inner slotted member of FIG. 8 with a modified insertion of the belt end.

In FIG. 14 is shown the inner and outer sloted members with the mounted belt and the mounted doubleaction wedge member in position for connecting the belt ends by the members.

Referring to the drawings, FIG. 1 shows the top view of the outer slotted member 33 which is a single plate formed by the outside edges into a buckle form and arched slightly as shown by FIG. 2 of the drawing. Adjacent to the edges and perpendicular to the longer center line of the plate is shown two generally parallel slots 59 which form between the longer outer walls of the slots and between the parallel outer edges of the said plate two end bars. Between the short Walls (endings) of the slots and between the two outer not mentioned edges of the plate is located and shaped the two side bars of the outer member.

The end and side bars of the outer member form with the inserted belt a similar common prongless buckle shape,-which is pictured from the outside in FIG. 5, when the belt 56 is led across the slots 59 of the member and a short belt end portion 57 is visible over the outer slotted member. This common buckle form of the outer 3 slotted member with the belt end is one of the basic elements of the device.

Between the said slots 59 of the plate in FIG. 1 15 located a large opening 79 as a means of connecting the outer member; it is provided on one side with the bottoms 67, and in between is a tongue portion 98 for the two hooks 138 and the opening 140 of the inner slotted member 35 in FIG. 8 to connect together the outer and inner slotted members. On the opposite side of said opening 79 in FIG. 1 is formed a recess 84 for one wedge of the double wedge member 86 pictured in FIG. 3. Instead of the opening 79, the outer member could have difierent known connecting means also.

In the outer slotted member in FIG. 1 are important basic elements, the slots 59. In each slot the outer longer wall 76 of the slot is continuous, while the inner longer wall 74 is interrupted and forms in the mid portion a larger section 82 for easier insertion of the belt. Astride mid portion two narrower sections are shaped between the

walls

74, 76, of the slot 59, to grip the belt by friction force. The inner walls of the slots are cogged in the narrow sections, or they may be smooth, and the mid portion is plain.

The insertion and adjusting of the belt 56 into the outer member in FIG. 1 is pictured from the inner side in FIG. 14 by the outer slotted member 33 and is similar to that shown from the outside and cross section in FIGS. 5, 7 also. The pointed end of the belt will be led across the enlarged mid portions 82 of the slots 59. When gripped by hand it can be forced across the

narrow sections

74, 76, in FIGS. 1, of the slot so that these narrow sections could have a width which is equal to the thickness of the belt. The outer slotted member stays on the adjusted place because of the friction force, which is generated in the narrow sections of the slots 59 by the way the belt is inserted and bent repeatedly over and under the

edges

74, 76 of the narrow sections.

A sharper bending of the belt provides a greater friction force, so the thicker buckle, the curved buckle, or the buckle with narrower slots produces greater friction force than if the buckle is thinner, not curved, or if it has larger slots; or if the slots are cut on a sharper angle across the buckle plate these kinds of slots bend a belt more sharply and produce greater friction force than those slots which are made 90 or at a larger angle with the outer surface of the buckle. Therefore, the buckle in FIGS. 1, 2-which is archedin its longitudinal plane has a greater friction force than an outer member without the curved shape.

T o achieve a greater friction force by the outer members in FIGS. 1, 2 or to provide the necessary frictional force by the outer member which is made from thinner material is shown in FIGS. 5, 6- and 7. In this case the whole plate of the outer slotted member is curved in its longitudinal plane and in a plane at right angle thereto. A section plane 66 in FIG. 5 sections the outer member and belt, behind the outer wall 76 of the slot and before the upwardly directed portion of the belt. The noted cross section is illustrated in FIG. 6 showing from the side the arching of the outer member 100 with the inserted and sectional belt portion 56in the slot.

The outer member in FIG. 6 bends the belt first at the lower corners 106 of its slot when the belt enters in the buckle frame. This is the low bending line of the belt. After the first bending, the top 104 of the outer member bends the belt again when it leaves the first slot and goes to the other slot. This is the upper bending line of the belt. A belt with a hard backing does not follow the convex face of the buckle plate but it bends with its whole width, almost in the same plane. So the arching of the buckle plate between side bars provides an amount of the distance 102 between the upper 104 and lower 106 bending lines of the belt, and it creates a friction force by the top and. ower corners of the s ots which originates simi- 4 lar friction force for the belt as does the depth of a thick buckle.

The above described methods provide the necessary friction force for the common garment belts to stay in the adjusted place in the outer member. But if the belt is soft or made from lighter material without hard lining, the necessary greater friction force is provided by the wedge member 86 in FIG. 3 and 37 in FIG. 4, which 15 an addition to increase the friction force of the slots of the outer member. In both cases the wedge of wedge member will be inserted from the outer face of buckle into the first slot between the inner wall of the slot and the inserted belt, with its top portion hidden under the belt and with its narrower end pointing into the direction of the pull. The wedge tightens the belt to the wall of the slot by the pull of the belt which originates during wearing.

By changing the thickness of the wedge, the necessary friction force can be provided in the same buckle for different thicknesses of belts.

The wedge member 86 in FIG. 3 has

double wedges

91, 93 with tapered sides 87. The wedges are connected with a top portion 85. This wedge member increases the utility of the outer member in FIGS. 1, 5 because it has on both ends wedges of different sizes suitable to different thicknesses of belts by which at the same time one wedge locks the belt by friction force only.

The use of the double wedge member 86 in FIG. 3 for the buckle 33 in FIG. 1 is as follows and is shown in longitudinal cross section in FIG. 2. After the desired amount of the end of belt 56 is pulled across the first slot (which is on the side of the longer portion of the belt) of the outer member 33 in FIG. 1, the wedge member 86 will be snapped on to the narrow section 88 of the buckle in such a way that one wedge 93 is located on one side of the narrow section 88 and in the recess 84 of the buckle and the other wedge 91 will be pressed on the outer and other side of narrow section 88 and into the mid portion 82 of the slot and between the belt 56 and the wall of the narrow section 88. This wedge tightens and locks the belt with its tapered side 87 to the outer wall 76 of the slot. The connecting top portion of the wedges is located over the narrow section 88 of the buckle plate so the longer center lines of the wedge member 86, the belt 56, and the buckle 33 are in the same direction.

The belt end will be lead over the top 85 of the wedge member and over the outer face of the buckle and will be inserted into the other slot. Then it can be pulled out on the inner side of the buckle, making visible the short belt end portion as is indicated by

dotted lines

56, 57 in FIG. .2. So the belt hides the wedge member from the outside. In FIG. 14 is pictured the insertion of the other end 55 of belt into the inner member 35 and the insertion of the belt end 56 and of the wedge member 86 into the outer member 33 from the inner face of the belt and the members.

Another wedge member 37 is shown in FIG. 4. It has two identical wedges 43 which are tapered at the front sides 96 only. The other sides 94 of the wedges must be in conformity in form and size with the shape of the portion of the inner wall 73 of the first slot 59 of outer member 33 in FIG. 1, into which the tapered wedges will be pressed to tighten the belt to the outer wall 76 of the slot. The wedges 43 are connected with a top or bridge portion 95 of the member; the thicker part of the wedge is the head.

The application of this wedge member 37 and a belt to the outer member 33 in FIG. 1 is pictured from the outside in perspective view in FIG. 2A and in cross section in FIG. 2B, while the section plane 2B-2B in FIG. 2A sections across the side bars. It sections also the slot of the outer member and the inserted wedge member 37 in a longitudinal plane behind the inserted belt 56. After the desired belt end is inserted in the first slot of the outer member 33 in FIG. 2A the Wedge member 37 (in FIGS.

2A and 2B) is placed with its bottom side 92 toward the buckle plate 33 with its longitudinal form parallel and over the first slot 59, with the tapered two front sides 96 of the wedges 43 toward the belt 56 and the outer wall 76 of the first slot 59. The two wedges 43 will be pressed into recesses 73 of the same slot 59 (FIG.1, FIGS. 2A, 28) to tighten the belt 56 to the outer wall 76 of the slot 59 at two points. From the above noted, it can be seen that other forms of the wedge member are also possible for the outer member.

From the point of view of the mode of operation a similar outer member to FIG. 1 is shown in three views in FIGS. 5 to 7. This outer member has a convex shape from the outside and is concave from the inside. The outer member in FIG. 1 is bent in its longitudinal plane between end bars only; the outer member in FIGS. 57 is bent in a longitudinal plane and in a plane at a right angle thereto. So the buckle plate is bent between the end and side bars also. This curving in two basic directions provides a greater friction force for the slots, which make possible the using of thinner material for this outer member than for the member in FIG. 1.

FIG. 5 of the drawings illustrates this convex outer member, with the buckled inserted belt 56 and with the belt end portion 57 in top view.

The dotted lines show, behind the inserted belt, the two slots 59 which have larger mid portions 82 and two

narrower sections

74, 76. Between the slots is located the connecting means of the outer member which is generally a rectangular opening 78 with a recess 84 for the wedge member 86 in FIG. 3, but it does not have a tongue portion (98, pictured in FIG. 1) because a common hook 134 of the inner member in FIG. 9 fits in the hooking means 78 of the outer member. Instead of the opening 78, the outer member may have the same means of booking 79 as in FIG. 1, but it could have other known hooking means also.

As the illustrated outer members indicate, any kind of known hooking means regardless of the kind may be applicable.

In FIG. 6 is illustrated in cross section the curving of the outer member between side bars by the section line 6--6 in FIG. 5. The lower 106 and higher 104 of the bending lines of the belt provide for the outer member a similar friction elfect as does a thick buckle with deep slots as was described before in connection with the friction force.

In FIG. 7 is illustrated the arching of the outer member in FIG. 5 in a longitudinal plane and in cross section. The concerning numbers in FIG. 7 show the location, the shape of the parts and the way of insertion and directions of the belt in the depth of the buckle plate.

The idea of increasing the friction force with the arching of the plane of buckle plate between end and side bars may apply for the outer slotted member in FIG. 1 and for outer members made from thicker material also.

The other important part of the belt buckle is providing the adjustable and detachable inner slotted member with a means of hooking which could be a hook or an opening or some other device which is compatible with the hooking means of the outer slotted member to which it may be fastened. For the above described outer mem bers many known kinds of inner members are possible. But the invention prefers an inner slotted member 35 in FIG. 8, which has two similar slots as the outer members in FIGS. 1, 5. In this inner member the slots are located on one end of the member and are separated by a cross bar only. The slots have larger mid portions for easy insertion of the belt and plain or cogged end sections 126 to grip the inserted belt with friction force. The hooking means of the member is a combination of an opening 140 and of two short hooks 138 connected with a bar. These short hooks will be hooked into the bottom 67 of opening 79 (hooking means) of the outer member in FIG. 1. A ready position for connecting the 6 belt ends is pictured in FIG. 14. After hooking, the tongue portion 98 of the outer member in FIG. 1 is located in the opening 140 and between the two short hooks 138 of the inner slotted member.

The mode of operation of connecting the members provides that the outer and inner members keep their places after hooking. The double short hooks 138 on the inner member in FIG. 8 support the bottom 67 of the opening 79 of the outer member 33 in FIG. 1 at two places and both sides of the tongue 98. If the outer and inner members change the above noted relation in the wearing and make an angle with each other in the plane of the belt, in this case one hook of the inner mem ber supports one side only of the bottom 67 of the opening 79 of the outer member 33, which is a center of support. Therefore, the tension of the belt generated in wearing forces the members to go back so far while the other hook of the inner member supports the other bottom of the opening of the outer member also. So the members are forced by the tension of the belt to keep their original setting after connection. The hook 138 of the inner member in FIG. 8 is a short hook which is hidden after hooking by the inserted portion of the belt between the slots of the outer member; and because it is short, does not push out the inserted belt from the outer surface of the buckle plate and does not disturb the common forms of the connected belt buckle and belt. Against the unintentional disconnection of the members in the outer member in FIG. 1 is provided a tongue 98 in its hooking means 79 which leads the double hooks into the bottom 67 of the opening and at the same time per mits a longer movability of the short hooks before disconnection. This cooperating of the two hooking devices of the outer and inner members gives the same effect as that of a common hook with a longer backwardly directed portion.

If the slotted inner member in FIG. 8 does not have a backwardly directed short hook 138 but has an opening 140 only, it may be used with a slotted outer member which has a hook.

If the slotted inner member is made from metal or very strong thin plastic, the side bar 129 of the inner member may be bent at the endings of the slots to the plane of the member. So the perpendicular plane of side bars (related to the main plane of member) begins at the endings of the slots therefore the inner member is as wide as the length of the slots, which is equal the width of the belt. Because the width of the inner member to, and the width of the belt is the same, the belt itself is able to cover the inner member from the outside without any outer member. So, if a hidden hook with nose is applied on the inner face of one end of the belt and the inner member is mounted to the other end of the belt they make an adjustable hooking belt without any visible member. After connecting the members the inner member is hidden under the other belt end, to which was fixed the mentioned hidden hook. So from the outside only the plain belt ends can be seen. The said belt is adjustable by the inner member and it is connectable by the hidden hook and the hidden inner memher.

In FIG. 9 is shown a slightly bent plastic inner slotted member with two similar slots 126 and with a friction force as the inner member has in FIG. 8. The slots have larger mid portions, narrower end sections, and between the slots is a cross bar 128 which is plain or cogged on both sides in the end sections. This inner member is provided with a hook 134 to hook it in opening 78 of the outer member in FIG. 5.

The way to insert the common belt with a hard lining into the inner slotted member in FIG. 9 is illustrated in longitudinal cross section in FIG. 11 in which 55 represents the section belt and 126 the slots of the inner member. The belt end is inserted into the first slot which is on the hook side of the inner memben'Then it is led under the member into the other slot and out on the outer face of the member and between the inner slotted member and the longer portion of the belt 55. The way to insert the same belt into the inner slotted member in FIG. 8 is the same as it is shown in FIG. 11 and in FIG. 14. If, for the inner member in FIGS. 8, 9 a soft light belt is used the frictional force must be increased and this may apply to I part 142 in FIG. 10 which is a plate provided with plain or cogged sides and ears 146.

In FIG. 12. is illustrated the use of the I part for the belt end and for the inner slotted members in FIGS. 8, 9. The I part 142 is shown in cross section viewed from its ending, the inner member and belt end are pictured in longitudinal cross sections, while the I part is slid into loop 144 of the inserted belt 55. The ears 146 are for locking the I part in place against falling out when the belt is drawn tightly over it to the inner member.

In FIG. 13 is shown in lengthwise cross section and in exaggerated dimensions the insertion of a soft belt 55 into narrow sections 126 of the two slots of the inner member. This method binds the light belt at the desired place sliding free to the inner member without any other accessory. The belt end starts on the outer face (hook side) of the inner member into the first slot which is the nearest to the hook across the slot after it is led on the back side, of the member in a large loop at the opposite end where the belt circles back and is inserted from the outer face into the second slot (which is farther from the hook) and is led again on the back side of the member into the first slot coming out on the outer face of the buckle between the inner member 35 and the longer part of the belt 55. When the inserting is finished the belt is tightened over the inner member. In order to keep the common buckle from he inner member has to be hidden under the outer member and therefore it cannot be as Wide as the outer member and in most cases could not have more than two slots although it is possible to make a removable inner member with one slot only by adding an I part or a wedge member to tighten the belt to the inner member.

From the above description can be seen that many ways are possible to fix the inner member to the belt in a detachable way.

In FIG. 14 is shown the inner and outer slotted member with the mounted belt and the mounted wedge member. It was described previously in connection with the different parts of the belt buckle.

We claim:

1. A belt buckle comprising a buckle plate and a wedge member, said buckle plate having a pair of parallel slots located adjacent the opposite ends thereof, each of said slots being of slightly greater length than the width of the belt with which the plate is associated, at least one of said slots being widened at the mid-portion of its length to permit easy insertion of a belt end through said one slot, both of said slots, at their narrowest portions being of slightly greater width than the thickness of said belt, the greater portions of the side walls of each of said slots lying in substantially parallel planes, the parallel planes of the corresponding outer and inner walls of such slots forming intersections with the upper and lower surfaces of said plate which are respectively at greater and less distances apart thereby causing one of the ends of a belt to be passed through said slots with a portion thereof lying between said slots and on said upper surface to show a portion of said belt end, and to cause said belt end to be gripped by the edges of said narrowest portions of said slots, said plate having means located between said slots and adapted to be engaged by a belt attaching means which is attached to the other of the belt ends, said means being concealed by the said belt portion when said buckle plate and attaching means are joined, said wedge member comprising a head portion and a wedge portion, said head portion being adapted to lie on said buckle plate, under said belt portion, said Wedge portion being adapted to lie in one of said slots, and said wedge portion being of such dimensions relative to the width of said one slot and to the thickness of said belt that a portion of said belt engaged in said slot will be pressed against a wall of said slot when a portion of said belt end is pressed against said head by tension in said belt.

2. A belt buckle comprising an outer buckle member, a wedge member, and an inner buckle member, said outer buckle member comprising a plate having a pair of parallel slots located adjacent the opposite ends thereof, each of said slots having a length which slightly exceeds the width of the belt which is associated with said buckle, at least one of said slots being widened at the mid-portion of its length to permit easy passage of a belt end through said one slot, both of said slots, at their narrowest portions, being of slightly greater width than the thickness of said belt, said outer buckle member having an opening between said slots which is bounded at one extremity by a reentrant portion adapted to receive a connecting means of said inner buckle member and at the opposite extremity by an extension, said Wedge member comprising a base and a pair of legs extending in generally parallel planes therefrom, the opposite sides of each of said legs lying in planes and tapering with respect to each other, said legs being so proportioned with respect to the extension of said opening and the mid-portion of the adjacent one of said parallel slots that said wedge members may be secured by wedging force of said legs within said one midportion, and said opening extension, said belt buckle being adapted to be attached to the belt which has one end thereof passed from below said outer member, up through the slot which is adjacent the extension of said opening, over the wedge member when it is placed over the portion of the buckle member which lies between said opening extension and said adjacent slot, and down through the other of said parallel slots, said belt having its opposite end attached to said inner buckle member, said belt buckle and a belt being adapted to be retained together by the tension of said belt acting upon said buckle members and said wedge member so that said belt urges one of said legs of said wedge member against the portion of said belt lying in a slot in said inner buckle and pulls the connecting means of said inner buckle member against a wali of said opening.

3. A belt buckle comprising a lengthwise and sidewise bent convex buckle plate and a wedge member, said buckle plate having a pair of parallel slots located adjacent the opposite ends thereof, each of said slots being of slightly greater length than the width of the belt with which the plate is associated, at least one of said slots being widened at the mid-portion of its length for the easy insertion of the belt and of slightly greater Width than the thickness of the belt at the narrow portions, each slot having width at no point less than slightly greater than the thickness of the belt, the greater portions of the side walls of each of said slots lying in substantially parallel planes, the parallel planes of the outer and inner walls of said slots forming intersections with the upper and lower surfaces of said plate which are respectively at greater and less distances apart, thereby causing one of the ends of a belt which is passed through said slots with a portion thereof lying between said slots and on said upper surface to reveal a portion of said one belt end and to cause said one belt end to be gripped by the edges of the narrow portions of said slots, said plate having means located between said siots and adapted to be engaged by a beltattaching means which is attached to the other of the belt ends and concealed from view, as the buckle is normally worn on a belt, when said buckle plate and belt attaching means are joined, said wedge member comprising a head portion and a wedge portion, said head portion being adapted to lie on said buckle plate, under said belt portion, said wedge portion being adapted to lie in one of said slots and said wedge portion being of such dimensions relative to the width of said one slot and to the thickness of said belt that the portion of said belt engaged in said slot will be pressed therein when said belt portion lies upon said head and said belt is tensioned.

4. A belt buckle comprising a buckle plate having a pair of parallel slots located adjacent the opposite ends thereof, each of said slots being of slightly greater length than the width of the belt with which the plate is associated and having portions of different widths, the narrower portions being of slightly greater width than the thickness of said belt and a wider portion being at the middle of the inner wall of the slot for the easy inserting of the belt, the side walls of the narrower portions of each of said slots lying in substantially parallel planes, the walls at the narrower portions of said slots which are nearer together than the other walls intersecting the upper and lower surfaces of said plate at lines Which are at a greater distance apart on the upper surface of said plate than on the lower surface of said plate, thereby causing one of the ends of a belt which is passed through said slots with a portion thereof lying between said slots and on said upper surface to reveal a portion of said belt and to cause said belt to be gripped by edges of the narrow sections of said slots, said buckle plate having an opening between said slots and providing at one end wall thereof a pair of surfaces separated by a tongue member, so as to provide areas which are adapted to receive a double hook which may be attached to the other belt end.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 183,789 10/1876 Banister 24-186 1,483,849 2/1924 Hirsh 24-77 1,088,408 2/1914 Eichberg 24-198 1,516,462 11/ 1924 Schvarcz 24-75 687,919 12/1901 Fairbrother 24-75 2,800,697 7/ 1957 Carpinella 24-77 FOREIGN PATENTS 112,860 4/ 1941 Australia.

915,657 7/1946 France.

455,973 6/1913 France.

20 BERNARD A. GELAK, Primary Examiner US. Cl. X.R. 24-163, 168, 200