Buckle for Fastening a Belt

Abstract

A buckle-belt assembly includes a buckle and a belt. The buckle includes two frames and a pivot. The first frame includes a crossbar, a sleeve extending parallel to the crossbar, and a tongue extending from the sleeve so that the tongue extends substantially parallel to a plane defined by the first frame. The second frame includes two lateral bars each formed with an eye and a crossbar formed between the lateral bars. The pivot is inserted in the sleeve and the eyes to pivotally connect the first frame to the second frame. The belt includes a first end connected to the crossbar of the first frame, a second end, and punch holes located near the second end.

Description

CROSS REFERENCE

[0001] The present application is a continuation-in-part application of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/444,861 of which the entire disclosure is incorporated herein for reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0002] 1. Field of the Invention

[0003] The invention relates to a belt and, more particularly, to a buckle for fastening a belt.

[0004] 2. Description of the Prior Art

[0005] A buckle is often used to fasten a belt such as a waist belt and a harness. A conventional buckle includes a frame for pivotally supporting a tongue. The belt includes a first end secured to the frame, a second end passed through the frame, and several punch holes made near the second end. The tongue is selectively inserted in one of the punch holes. It requires a user to use one hand to hold the second end of the belt and the other hand to pivot and insert the tongue in the selected punch hole, and this is inconvenient.

[0006] As closed in U.S. Pat. No. 303,112, another conventional buckle includes a frame (A) and a bail (B). The frame (A) includes a stay bar (f) and crossbar (n) formed between two lateral bars. Each of the lateral bars includes an eye (j) formed at a free end. The stay bar (f) extends parallel to the crossbar (n). The bail (B) includes two lateral bars, a crosspiece (I) formed between the lateral bars, and a tongue (m) formed on the crosspiece (I). The tongue (m) extends perpendicular to a plane defined by the bail (B). Each of the lateral bars of the bail (B) includes an eye (k) formed at a free end. The tongue (m) extends perpendicular to the crosspiece (I). A bolt (i) is inserted in the eyes (j) and (k) to pivotally connect the frame (A) to the bail (B). A belt includes a first end, a second end, and punch holes made near the second end. The first end of the belt is connected to the bolt (i), which is used to pivotally connect the frame (A) to the bail (B). The second end of the belt is passed through an opening defined by the stay bar (f), the crossbar (n) and the lateral bars of the frame (A). The second end of the belt is further passed through an opening defined by the bolt (i), the crosspiece (I) and the lateral bars of the bail (B). The belt must be properly tensioned before the insertion of the tongue (m) in the selected punch hole. To this end, the second end of the belt is wound on the crosspiece (I) of the bail (B), which is formed with the tongue (m), and pulled away from the bolt (i) as a common practice. However, premature insertion of the tongue (m) in the first encountered punch hole before the belt is properly tensioned is inevitable. Hence, a user has to use one hand to lift the crosspiece (I) to pull the tongue (m) out of the first encountered punch hole and use the other hand to pull the second end of the belt away from the bolt (i) to increase the tension in the belt. The pulling of the tongue (m) out of the first encountered punch hole however conflicts with the tensioning of the belt because the pressing of the crosspiece (I) onto the belt is harder when the tension in the belt is increased. Hence, it is difficult to pull the tongue (m) out of the first encountered punch hole when the second end of the belt is pulled away from the bolt (i). Moreover, the maneuver of the buckle requires both hands of the user, and this is troublesome.

[0007] Therefore, the present invention is intended to obviate or at least alleviate the problems encountered in prior art.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0008] The primary object of the invention is to provide a convenient-to-use buckle for fastening a belt that includes a first end connected to the crossbar of the first frame, a second end, and punch holes located near the second end.

[0009] To achieve the above-identified object, the buckle includes two frames and a pivot. The first frame includes a crossbar, a sleeve extending parallel to the crossbar, and a tongue extending from the sleeve so that the tongue extends substantially parallel to a plane defined by the first frame. The second frame includes two lateral bars each formed with an eye and a crossbar formed between the lateral bars. The pivot is inserted in the sleeve and the eyes to pivotally connect the first frame to the second frame.

[0010] It is an advantage that the second end of the belt is passed through an opening defined by the second frame and the sleeve of the first frame as the tongue is inserted in a selected one of the punch holes.

[0011] It is another advantage that the first and second frames are located on two different sides of the pivot as the tongue is inserted in the selected punch hole so that the belt brings the tongue into tighter contact with the crossbar of the second frame as the tension in the belt is increased.

[0012] It is another advantage that the belt is tensioned as the second end of the belt is wound on the crossbar of the second frame and pulled away from the first frame in a direction substantially parallel to the tongue without the risk of prematurely inserting the tongue in any other punch hole than the selected punch hole.

[0013] Other objectives, advantages and features of the present invention will be apparent from the following description referring to the attached drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0014] The present invention will be described via detailed illustration of two embodiments referring to the drawings wherein:

[0015] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a buckle according to the first embodiment of the invention;

[0016] FIG. 2 is an exploded view of the buckle shown in FIG. 1;

[0017] FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a belt and the buckle shown in FIG. 1;

[0018] FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of the belt and the buckle shown in FIG. 3;

[0019] FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of the belt and the buckle in another position than shown in FIG. 4;

[0020] FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view of the belt and the buckle in another position than shown in FIG. 5; and

[0021] FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view of a buckle in accordance with the second embodiment of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

[0022] Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, a buckle 1 includes a first frame 10, a second frame 20 and a pivot 30 in accordance with a first embodiment of the present invention. A user can conveniently use only one hand to operate the buckle 1 to fasten a belt 40 (FIGS. 3 through 6).

[0023] The first frame 10 is substantially a rectangular frame that includes a sleeve 11 and a crossbar 14 formed between two lateral bars (not numbered). A tongue 12 extends from the sleeve 11. The tongue 12 extends substantially parallel to a plane defined by the first frame 10. The crossbar 14 extends parallel to the sleeve 11. Two positioning portions 13 are formed on a lower face of the first frame 10, in the vicinity of the sleeve 11.

[0024] The second frame 20 is substantially a U-shaped frame that includes an crossbar 22 formed between two lateral bars 24. A bushing 26 is rotationally placed on the crossbar 22. The bushing 26 is made with an annular groove 28. Each of the lateral bars 24 includes an eye 21 formed at a free end.

[0025] The sleeve 11 is placed between the lateral bars 24 before the pivot 30 is inserted in the eyes 21 and the sleeve 11. Thus, the first frame 10 is pivotally connected to the second frame 20.

[0026] Referring to FIG. 3, the belt 40 is typically a leather belt formed with two ends. The first end of the belt 40 is tied to the crossbar 14. In detail, the first end of the belt 40 is made a loop supported on the crossbar 14. The belt 40 is made with several punch holes 41 near the second end.

[0027] Referring to FIG. 4, the belt 40 is wound on a trunk of a horse for example. The second end of the belt 40 is passed through an opening defined by the sleeve 11 of the first frame 10, the bushing 26 and the lateral bars 24 of the second frame 20.

[0028] Referring to FIG. 5, to increase the tension in the belt 40, the second end of the belt 40 is turned, wound on the bushing 26 and pulled away from the tongue 12 in a direction substantially parallel to the tongue 12, which is formed on the first frame 10. In the process of pulling the second end of the belt 40 from the first frame 10, the punch holes 41 are moved, one after another, past the free end of the tongue 12. Thus, it is impossible to prematurely insert the tongue 12 in any of the punch holes 41.

[0029] Referring to FIG. 6, when the tension in the belt 40 is deemed adequate and a selected one of the punch holes 41 is aligned with the free end of the tongue 12, the second end of the belt 40 is moved towards the tongue 12 to allow the insertion of the tongue 12 in the selected punch hole 41. The tip of the tongue 12 is placed in the annular groove 28 when the second end of the belt 40 is released. Thus, the tongue 12 is retained in position.

[0030] The pulling of the second end of the belt 40 away from the tongue 12, which is formed on the first frame 10 is smooth for the use of the bushing 26, which is rotationally supported on the crossbar 22. The second end of the belt 40 is prevented from abrasion against the crossbar 22 due to the use of the bushing 26.

[0031] The insertion of the tongue 12 in the selected punch hole 41 is easy because the selected punch hole 41 is located close to the free end of the tongue 12. In the process of pulling the second end of the belt 40 towards the tongue 12, the tension in the belt 40 is not reduced since the free end of the tongue 12 is located very close to the belt 40, which is placed against the bushing 26.

[0032] Advantageously, the first frame 10 and the second frame 20 are located on different sides of the pivot 30. The tension in the belt 40 is increased as the second end of the belt 40 is pulled away from the first frame 10 in a direction substantially parallel to the tongue 12. Hence, a user can use only one hand to maneuver the buckle 1 to fasten the belt. In detail, the user can use only one hand to pass the second end of the belt 40 through the opening defined by the sleeve 11 and the second frame 20, tension the belt 40, and insert the tongue 12 in the selected punch hole 41. Hence, the maneuver of the buckle 1 to fasten the belt 40 is more convenient than the use of the conventional buckle disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 303,112 in which the user has to use one hand to lift the crosspiece (I) to pull the tongue (m) out of the first encountered punch hole and use the other hand to pull the second end of the belt away from the bolt (i) to increase the tension in the belt.

[0033] Referring to FIG. 7, there is a buckle according to a second embodiment of the present invention. The second embodiment is like the first embodiment except that a bushing 16 is rotationally supported on the crossbar 14 of the first frame 10. The loop formed at the first end of the belt 40 is supported on the bushing 16. The loop formed at the first end of the belt 40 is prevented from abrasion against the crossbar 14 due to the use of the bushing 16.

[0034] The present invention has been described via the detailed illustration of the preferred embodiment. Those skilled in the art can derive variations from the preferred embodiment without departing from the scope of the present invention. Therefore, the preferred embodiment shall not limit the scope of the present invention defined in the claims.

Claims

1. A buckle-belt assembly comprising: a buckle including: a first frame including a crossbar, a sleeve extending parallel to the crossbar, and a tongue extending from the sleeve so that the tongue extends substantially parallel to a plane defined by the first frame; a second frame including two lateral bars each formed with an eye and a crossbar formed between the lateral bars; and a pivot inserted in the sleeve and the eyes to pivotally connect the first frame to the second frame; and a belt including a first end connected to the crossbar of the first frame, a second end, and punch holes located near the second end; wherein the second end of the belt is passed through an opening defined by the second frame and the sleeve of the first frame as the tongue is inserted in a selected one of the punch holes; wherein the first and second frames are located on two different sides of the pivot as the tongue is inserted in the selected punch hole so that the belt brings the tongue into tighter contact with the crossbar of the second frame as the tension in the belt is increased; wherein the belt is tensioned as the second end of the belt is wound on the crossbar of the second frame and pulled away from the first frame in a direction substantially parallel to the tongue without the risk of prematurely inserting the tongue in any other punch hole than the selected punch hole.

2. The buckle-belt assembly according to claim 1, further including a bushing rotationally placed on the crossbar of the second frame to avoid abrasion of the second end of the belt against the crossbar of the second frame.

3. The buckle-belt assembly according to claim 2, wherein the bushing is made with an annular groove for receiving the tongue.

4. The buckle-belt assembly according to claim 1, further including a bushing rotationally placed on the crossbar of the first frame to avoid abrasion of the first end of the belt against the crossbar of the first frame.

5. The buckle-belt assembly according to claim 1, wherein the tongue extends substantially parallel to a plane defined by the first frame.