GB2264978A

GB2264978A - Belt and buckle.

Info

Publication number: GB2264978A
Application number: GB9205360A
Authority: GB
Inventors: I-Chen Lee
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1992-03-12
Filing date: 1992-03-12
Publication date: 1993-09-15
Also published as: GB9205360D0

Abstract

An improved belt has a bolt portion and a buckle. A first end of the belt portion is secured by a securing device to the buckle. A second end of the belt portion has a ratchet surface 20 formed on the interior side thereof which meshes with a pawl 28 device to retain and adjust the second end of the buckle. A spring urges the paw protrusion 28 against the ratchet formations. <IMAGE>

Description

IMPROVED BELT BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a belt and, more particuia'rly 0 a belt with an improved buckle structure.

Conventional belts are buckled by means of a tongue-and-hole arrangement. A disadvantage of this is that the belts have to be sold with a predetermined length based on waist size. The holes are spaced in set increments such that an exact desired length is not possible.

An attempt to overcome this disadvantage rendered a friction bar arrangement. With this buckling structure, the belt itself is made of nylon or cotton webbing and is often sold as one length and the individual consumer is able to cut it to his or her own desired length. And the belt is readily adjustable-to any desired length. A disadvantage of this arrangement is -that the belt becomes worn at the location where the friction bar continually engages. This sometimes allows the belt to loosen during wear, requiring readjustment.

Therefore, there remains a long and unfulfilled need in the field of belts for a buckling structure which mitigates if not obviates the above-mentioned drawbacks.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION According to the present invention in one aspect, an improved belt with a buckle allows the belt to be sold at any length with the individual consumer cutting the belt to his or her own desired length, saving on manufacturing and inventory costs.

According to the present-invention in another aspect, an improved belt with a buckle allows the belt to be adjustable in small increments, thereby being more comfortable for the wearer.

According to the present invention in still another aspect, an improved belt with a buckle does not cause wear of the belt, thereby extending the life and effectiveness of the belt.

The present invention provides a belt portion which may be cut to a desired length and secured at one end to a buckle assembly. The other end of the belt has formed therein a plurality of closely-spaced segments on an interior side thereof. The buckle has a retaining means in the form of a pivotal element with a protrusion. The belt portion passes to an inside -of the pivotal element, and the protrusion is received between adjacent segments to retain the belt. Each segment and the protrusion are defined as having a first side and a second side which are designed so as to function as a pawl and ratchet arrangement.

For a better understanding of the present invention, however, reference should be made to the following detailed description in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Fig. 1 is a perspective view from a reverse side of a belt with a buckle shown in a preferred embodiment in accordänce with the present invention; Fig. 2 is an exploded view of the belt and the buckle; and Fig. 3 is a cross-sectional view of the belt and the buckle shown.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring to the drawings, initially to Figures 1 and 2, an improved belt with a buckle is shown in a preferred embodiment in accordance with the present invention. For general reference, a belt portion is indicated with numeral 10 and the buckle is indicated with numeral 12. The belt portion 10 is defined be a width, a thickness, and a length and has a first end 14 secured to the buckle 12 and a second end 16 free and passable through the buckle 12.

The second end 16 has formed in an interior side thereof catching means 18, which are not visible from an exterior side of the belt portion 10. The catching means 18 is made up of a multiplicity of longitudinally-aligned segments 20. The segments 20 are preferably closely spaced so as to allow fine adjustment in the length of the improved belt when worn.

The buckle 10 has a body portion 22 to which securing means 24 and retaining means 26 are attached.

The securing means 24 secures the first end 14 to the buckle 12. The belt portion 10 is preferably sold with a set length, and each individual user may then cut the first end 14 such that the length of the belt portion 10 is apprópriate t his or her own waist size. The securing means 24 is generally conventional.

The retaining means 26 is pivotally attached to the body portion 22 at a position such that the second end 16 passes therebetween. A longitudinal axis of rotation is defined by the pivotal attachment around which the retaining means 26 rotates. A protrusion 28 is formed on the retaining means 24 and projects inward toward the body portion 22. A spring 30 is employed to urge the retaining means 24 to rotate toward the body portion 22 around the axis of rotation, i.e., between adjacent segments 20.

With further reference to Fig. 3, each segment 20 and the protrusion 28 are defined as respeotively having a first side and a second side. The first sides are angled to allow the second end 16 to be pulled through the buckle 12 to tighten the belt, this occurring when the protrusion 28 is being urged into the catching means 18. The second sides are angled to prevent the second end 16 to be pulled out of the buckle 12 to loosen the belt. The arrangement of the catching means 18 and the retaining means 26 may be thought of as a pawl and ratchet arrangement. To loosen or remove the second end 16, a finger hold 32 is formed on the retaining means 26 for manipulation by a user to rotate the retaining means 26 against the spring 30 to move the protrusion 28 out of the catching means 18.

It is to be understood, however, that even though numerous dharacteristids'nd advantages of the present invention have been set forth in the foregoing description, together with details of the structure and function of the invention, the disclosure is illustrative only, and changes may be made in detail, especially in matters of shape, size, and arrangement of parts within the principles of the invention to the full extent indicated by the broad general meaning of the terms in which the appended claims are expressed.

Claims

I claim:

1. A belt comprising a belt portion and a buckle; said--belt portion--being-defined by a width, a thickness, and a length and having a first end secured to said buckle and a second end free and passable through said buckle; said belt portion comprising catching means formed in said second end; said buckle comprising a body portion, securing means being attached to said body portion and for securing said first end thereto, and retaining means being attached to said body portion and for retaining in conjunction with said catching means said second end therein; said catching means being formed in an interior side of said belt portion such that said catching means is not visible from an exterior side thereof.

2. A belt as claimed in claim 1, wherein said retaining means is pivotally attached to said body portion at a position allowing said second end to pass therebetween and defining a longitudinal axis of rotation and comprises a protrusion projecting inward toward said body portion and a spring urging said retaining means to rotate toward said body portion on said axis of rotation; and wherein said catching means comprises a multiplicity of segments; whereby when said second end is positioned between said retaining means and said body portion, said spring urges said protru sion between said segments, thereby retaining said second end.

3. A belt as claimed in claim 2, wherein each said segment and said protrusion are defined as respectively having a first side and a second side; said first sides being angled to allow said second end to move when said protrusion is being urged in said catching means such that said belt is tightened; said second sides being angled to prevent said second end to move when said protrusion is being urged in said catching means; whereby said catching means and said retaining means function as a pawl and ratchet arrangement.

4. A belt as claimed in claim 2, wherein said retaining means further comprises a finger hold formed thereon to facilitate manipulation by a user.