US964136A - Buckle. - Google Patents

Description

` .J. A; WHEELER', JR.

BUCKLE. APPLICATION FILED JUNE 25, 1909.

964,136., Patented July 12, 1910.

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NrrE s'AEs AT T FFT@ JOHN A. WHEELER, JR., OF WEST MEDFORD, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR TO ALMA MANUFACTURING COMPANY OF BALTIMORE CITY, OF BALTIMORE, MARYLAND, A

CORPORATION OF MARYLAND.

BUCKLE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed .Tune 25, 1909.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JOHN A. WHEELER, Jr., a citizen of the United States, residing at West Medford, in the county of Middlesex, Commonwealth of Massachusetts, have invented an Improvement in Buckles, of which the following description, in connection with the accompanying drawings, is a specification, like numerals on the drawings representing like parts.

This invention relates to buckles and is designed to provide a buckle of simple and cheap construction having great facility of adjustment and eifectiveness.

The character of this invention may be best understood by reference to the following description of an illustrative embodiment thereof shown in the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Figure 1 is a bottom plan View of the detached illustrative buckle; Fig. 2 is a transverse section on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is a section similar to Fig. 2 showing a strap end in process of adjustment in the buckle; and Fig. t is a section similar to Fig. 3 showing the strap end adjusted and secured in place.

Referring tothe drawings, the preferred illustrative construction consists of an integral body suitably stamped to provide a flanged rim portion 5 and a strap attaching means for preferably permanent attachment of one strap end, this being eXempli lied by the strap attaching bar 7, over which (Fig. 3) the strap end 9 is folded and stitched in the form of a loop. This bar does not lie in the plane of said rim, but de pends or is offset therefrom (Fig. 2) for a purpose to be more fully hereinafter described. The portions of the rim 5 lying on the o posite sides of said bar constitute lever en s, one of the latter being provided with strap engaging means for the free strap end 11 and in the illustrative buckle comprises spurs 15 which may be integral with the remainder of the buckle and herein project downwardly from the inner edge of one end 17 and curve outwardly or away from the opposite end 19 of the buckle.

Fig. 3 illustrates the manner in which the illustrative construction of buckle may be conveniently adjusted. The free strap end 11 is introduced under the lever or bearing end 19 over the oiset bar 7 and the fixed strap end thereon and thence downwardly under the curved spurs 15 beneath the opposite end 17. The openings at each side of said bar facilitate the insertion of the free strap end as described. This free end 'may be pulled in the direction of the arrow in Fig. 3 until adjusted as desired and since the spurs 15 are curved or project in the direction of said pull they will not materially oppose the passage of the strap, the latter being merely guided thereby. l/Vhen, however, the strap is released it will tend to draw against the points of said spurs and the latter will engage and retain said strap as shown in Fig. 4. The spurs herein project downwardly substantially to the level of the top of the bar 7, the thickness of the attached strap thereon being suiiicient to force the free strap end against said points.

The coperation of the lever end 19 with the parts above described is highly advantageous. lWhen the buckle and strap ends are assembled as shown in Fig. 4, the pull on the strap end 11, tends to rock the lever end 19 in the direction of the arrow 21. This is opposed by a like tendency to rock the spurs 15 in the general direction of the arrow 23. These opposed leverage tendencies of the buckle serve to hold the same flat against the straps and serve additionally to force the spurs into or against the strap end 11, so that in effect the greater the pull on the straps the firmer is the engagement by the spurs 15.

The operation of the described illustrative construction is very simple and edective. To secure the free strap end to the buckle it is merely necessary to pass said end under the lever end 19 over the bar 7 and under the spurs 15 without material tendency to engage the latter. When suitably tightened, the strap is released and at once the spurs 15 engage the strap and securely hold it in place.

By oifsetting the intermediate bar 7 from the plane of the rim 5 the free strap end 11 is permitted to pass through the buckle in substantially one plane (Fig. 4) and beneath the top of the buckle thereby reducing the wear on the strap to a minimum and-presenting a very neat appearance. The spurs being on the under side of the concealed and their oints protected by the attached strap end beneath the free strap end and thus there are no projecting, impaling points to catch on contiguous articles.

buckle are By introducing the free end of the strap at one side of the buckle and securing it by spurs at the opposite side there is no loose end extending across the face of the buckle with liability to work loose, but the strap end is always held fiat and tight against the bar 7, the pull on the strap ends contributing to this effect.

It is to be understood that the invention is not limited to the specific embodiment above described for purposes of illustration, but the described construction can be variously modified without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

Claim:

A buckle, having a flanged rim, a bar offset from the rim into a plane below said rim and arranged between its ends and adapted to receive the attaching strap, the ends of the rim on opposite sides of said bar being lever ends and one of said lever ends having spurs projecting downwardly therefrom substantially to the level of the top of the bar and curved away from said bar, so that the attaching strap and the attached strap when engaged by said spurs may extend level through the buckle below its top surface and the spurs concealed within the straps, the attaching strap extending inthe direction of curvature of the spurs and the attached strap engaging the spurs from the opposite direction and thereby imparting opposition strains upon the buckle and causing its lever ends to bind upon the straps.

In testimony whereof, I have signed my name to this specification, in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

JOHN A. VHEELER, JR.

Vitnesses:

HENRY T. VILLIAMS, InvING U. TowNsENn.

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