U.S. patent application number 14/592174 was filed with the patent office on 2016-07-14 for belt buckle.
The applicant listed for this patent is Merrimack River Precision Industrial Corporation. Invention is credited to Tzu-Hsuan Lin.
Application Number | 20160198807 14/592174 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 56366554 |
Filed Date | 2016-07-14 |
United States Patent
Application |
20160198807 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Lin; Tzu-Hsuan |
July 14, 2016 |
BELT BUCKLE
Abstract
A belt buckle comprises an engaging axis, a pressing axis, a
pulling axis perpendicular to the engaging axis, a female buckle
member, a male buckle member; a holding mechanism disposed between
the male buckle member and the female buckle member and disposed on
the pulling axis. The female and male buckle member each comprises
a connecting portion; an engaging portion. The engaging portion of
the female buckle member comprises a bottom surface, an engaging
recess, an inner surface; two engaging holes. The engaging portion
of the male buckle member comprises two inner pressing components
respectively comprising an engaging protrusion. The pulling force
of straps mounted on the connecting portions is balanced by the
holding mechanism and the combination of the engaging protrusions
and the engaging holes when the belt buckle is in use, thereby
improving the engaging strength of the male and female buckle
members; ensuring the connection between straps.
Inventors: |
Lin; Tzu-Hsuan; (Taipei
City, TW) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
Merrimack River Precision Industrial Corporation |
Taipei City |
|
TW |
|
|
Family ID: |
56366554 |
Appl. No.: |
14/592174 |
Filed: |
January 8, 2015 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
24/615 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A44B 11/263 20130101;
A44B 11/266 20130101; A44B 11/258 20130101 |
International
Class: |
A44B 11/25 20060101
A44B011/25; A44B 11/26 20060101 A44B011/26 |
Claims
1. A belt buckle comprising: an engaging axis; a pressing axis
intersecting with the engaging axis; a pulling axis intersecting
with the pressing axis and being perpendicular to the engaging
axis; a female buckle member comprising a connecting portion; and
an engaging portion connected with the connecting portion, disposed
along the pulling axis with the connecting portion, and comprising
a bottom surface; an engaging recess formed on the bottom surface
and extending along the engaging axis; an inner surface surrounding
the engaging recess and connected with the bottom surface; and two
engaging holes formed through the inner surface and arranged along
the pressing axis; a male buckle member detachably engaged with the
female buckle member, located at a bottom side of the female buckle
member, and comprising a connecting portion; and an engaging
portion connected with the connecting portion of the male buckle
member, disposed along the pulling axis with the connecting portion
of the male buckle member, and comprising two inner pressing
components disposed along the pressing axis and respectively
disposed on two sides of the engaging portion of the male buckle
member, each of the inner pressing components comprising an
engaging protrusion permanently positioned in each of the engaging
holes; and a holding mechanism disposed on the pulling axis and
between the male buckle member and the female buckle member,
wherein the engaging portion of the male buckle member is embedded
in the engaging recess.
2. The belt buckle as claimed in claim 1, wherein the holding
mechanism comprises a holding recess formed between the connecting
portion of the male buckle member and the engaging portion of the
male buckle member, and the holding recess extending along the
engaging axis; and a holding block detachably embedded in the
holding recess, wherein the holding block is disposed on the
engaging portion of the female buckle member, and extends along the
engaging axis.
3. The belt buckle as claimed in claim 1, wherein the holding
mechanism comprises a holding recess formed on the engaging portion
of the female buckle member; and a holding block detachably
embedded in the holding recess, wherein the holding block is
disposed between the connecting portion of the male buckle member
and the engaging portion of the male buckle member, and extends
along the engaging axis.
4. The belt buckle as claimed in claim 2, wherein the engaging
portion of the female buckle member comprises an end surface
connected with the bottom surface; and an opening formed along the
pulling axis through the end surface and connected with the
engaging recess; wherein the holding block is disposed at the
opening of the engaging portion of the female buckle member.
5. The belt buckle as claimed in claim 1, wherein the engaging
portion of the female buckle member comprises two first guiding
surfaces connected between the bottom surface and the inner
surface, wherein the first guiding surfaces are inclined toward the
engaging recess and respectively connected with the engaging holes;
and each of the engaging protrusions of the male buckle member
comprises a second guiding surface inclined at a same angle as each
of the first guiding surfaces.
6. The belt buckle as claimed in claim 2, wherein the engaging
portion of the female buckle member comprises two first guiding
surfaces connected between the bottom surface and the inner
surface, wherein the first guiding surfaces are inclined toward the
engaging recess and respectively connected with the engaging holes;
and each of the engaging protrusions of the male buckle member
comprises a second guiding surface inclined at a same angle as each
of the first guiding surfaces.
7. The belt buckle as claimed in claim 3, wherein the engaging
portion of the female buckle member comprises two first guiding
surfaces connected between the bottom surface and the inner
surface, wherein the first guiding surfaces are inclined toward the
engaging recess and respectively connected with the engaging holes;
and each of the engaging protrusions of the male buckle member
comprises a second guiding surface inclined at a same angle as each
of the first guiding surfaces.
8. The belt buckle as claimed in claim 4, wherein the engaging
portion of the female buckle member comprises two first guiding
surfaces connected between the bottom surface and the inner
surface, wherein the first guiding surfaces are inclined toward the
engaging recess and respectively connected with the engaging holes;
and each of the engaging protrusions of the male buckle member
comprises a second guiding surface inclined at a same angle as each
of the first guiding surfaces.
9. The belt buckle as claimed in claim 1, wherein the engaging
portion of the female buckle member comprises two outer pressing
components disposed along the pressing axis and respectively on two
sides of the engaging portion, each of the outer pressing
components comprises an abutting block mounted on an end of each of
the outer pressing components, and the abutting block of each of
the outer pressing components is selectively positioned in each of
the engaging holes and selectively abuts against a corresponding
engaging protrusion of the male buckle member.
10. The belt buckle as claimed in claim 2, wherein the engaging
portion of the female buckle member comprises two outer pressing
components disposed along the pressing axis and respectively on two
sides of the engaging portion, each of the outer pressing
components comprises an abutting block mounted on an end of each of
the outer pressing components, and the abutting block of each of
the outer pressing components is selectively positioned in each of
the engaging holes and selectively abuts against a corresponding
engaging protrusion of the male buckle member.
11. The belt buckle as claimed in claim 3, wherein the engaging
portion of the female buckle member comprises two outer pressing
components disposed along the pressing axis and respectively on two
sides of the engaging portion, each of the outer pressing
components comprises an abutting block mounted on an end of each of
the outer pressing components, and the abutting block of each of
the outer pressing components is selectively positioned in each of
the engaging holes and selectively abuts against a corresponding
engaging protrusion of the male buckle member.
12. The belt buckle as claimed in claim 4, wherein the engaging
portion of the female buckle member comprises two outer pressing
components disposed along the pressing axis and respectively on two
sides of the engaging portion, each of the outer pressing
components comprises an abutting block mounted on an end of each of
the outer pressing components, and the abutting block of each of
the outer pressing components is selectively positioned in each of
the engaging holes and selectively abuts against a corresponding
engaging protrusion of the male buckle member.
13. The belt buckle as claimed in claim 5, wherein the engaging
portion of the female buckle member comprises two outer pressing
components disposed along the pressing axis and respectively on two
sides of the engaging portion, each of the outer pressing
components comprises an abutting block mounted on an end of each of
the outer pressing components, and the abutting block of each of
the outer pressing components is selectively positioned in each of
the engaging holes and selectively abuts against a corresponding
engaging protrusion of the male buckle member.
14. The belt buckle as claimed in claim 6, wherein the engaging
portion of the female buckle member comprises two outer pressing
components disposed along the pressing axis and respectively on two
sides of the engaging portion, each of the outer pressing
components comprises an abutting block mounted on an end of each of
the outer pressing components, and the abutting block of each of
the outer pressing components is selectively positioned in each of
the engaging holes and selectively abuts against a corresponding
engaging protrusion of the male buckle member.
15. The belt buckle as claimed in claim 7, wherein the engaging
portion of the female buckle member comprises two outer pressing
components disposed along the pressing axis and respectively on two
sides of the engaging portion, each of the outer pressing
components comprises an abutting block mounted on an end of each of
the outer pressing components, and the abutting block of each of
the outer pressing components is selectively positioned in each of
the engaging holes and selectively abuts against a corresponding
engaging protrusion of the male buckle member.
16. The belt buckle as claimed in claim 8, wherein the engaging
portion of the female buckle member comprises two outer pressing
components disposed along the pressing axis and respectively on two
sides of the engaging portion, each of the outer pressing
components comprises an abutting block mounted on an end of each of
the outer pressing components, and the abutting block of each of
the outer pressing components is selectively positioned in each of
the engaging holes and selectively abuts against a corresponding
engaging protrusion of the male buckle member.
17. The belt buckle as claimed in claim 1, wherein the engaging
axis, the pressing axis, and the pulling axis are perpendicular to
each other.
18. The belt buckle as claimed in claim 5, wherein the engaging
axis, the pressing axis, and the pulling axis are perpendicular to
each other.
19. The belt buckle as claimed in claim 8, wherein the engaging
axis, the pressing axis, and the pulling axis are perpendicular to
each other.
20. The belt buckle as claimed in claim 16, wherein the engaging
axis, the pressing axis, and the pulling axis are perpendicular to
each other.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] 1. Field of the Invention
[0002] The present invention relates to a belt buckle; especially
relates to a belt buckle mounted with straps.
[0003] 2. Description of the Prior Art(s)
[0004] Referring to FIGS. 8 and 9, the conventional belt buckle
comprises an engaging axis P, a pressing axis Q, a female buckle
member 50, and a male buckle member 60. The engaging axis P
intersects with the pressing axis Q. The female buckle member 50
comprises a connecting portion 51 and an engaging portion 52
connected with connecting portion 51. The engaging portion 52 and
the connecting portion 51 are arranged along the engaging axis P.
The engaging portion 52 comprises an insert slot 521 extending
along the engaging axis P and two engaging holes 522 arranged along
the pressing axis Q. Each engaging hole 522 is connected with the
insert slot 521. The male buckle member 60 comprises a connecting
portion 61 and an engaging portion 62 connected with the connecting
portion 61. The connecting portion 61 and the engaging portion 62
are arranged along the engaging axis P. The engaging portion 62
comprises two pressing components 621 separated from each other and
disposed along the pressing axis Q. Each pressing component 621
comprises a protrusion 622 extending along the pressing axis Q.
[0005] When the conventional belt buckle is in use, the pressing
components 621 are pressed toward each other along the pressing
axis Q to allow the engaging portion 62 of the male buckle member
60 to be plugged in the insert slot 521 of the engaging portion 52
of the female buckle member 50. At last, the pressing components
621 are released and separated from each other along the pressing
axis Q to engage each protrusion 622 with each engaging hole 522,
so as to connect the strap mounted on the connecting portion of the
male buckle member with the strap mounted on the connecting portion
of the female buckle member. Also, the female buckle member 50 and
male buckle member 60 are pulled by the straps along the engaging
axis P when in use; that is, the engaging axis P of the
conventional belt buckle also serves as a pulling axis.
[0006] However, when the pulling force that the straps exert on the
conventional belt buckle is too large to be sustained by the
protrusion 622 of the pressing components 621, the male buckle
member 60 with fractured or deformed pressing components 621 is
separated from the female buckle member 50 by the pulling force,
thereby eventually failing to connect these two straps.
[0007] Therefore, the conventional belt buckle fails to connect two
straps when encountering a pulling force greater than its maximum
engaging strength.
[0008] To overcome the shortcomings, the present invention provides
a belt buckle to mitigate or obviate the aforementioned
problems.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0009] The objective of the present invention is to provide a belt
buckle having an improved engaging strength that can sustain strong
pulling force, so as to effectively ensure the connection of the
straps.
[0010] The belt buckle in accordance with the present invention
comprises an engaging axis, a pressing axis, a pulling axis, a
female buckle member, a male buckle member, and a holding
mechanism. The engaging axis, the pressing axis, and the pulling
axis intersect with each other. The pulling axis is perpendicular
to the engaging axis. The female buckle member and the male buckle
member are detachably engaged with each other and the male buckle
member is located at the bottom side of the female buckle member.
The female buckle member and the male buckle member each comprise a
connecting portion and an engaging portion connected with the
connecting portion. The engaging portion of the female buckle
member and the connecting portion of the female buckle member are
disposed along the pulling axis. The engaging portion of the female
buckle member comprises a bottom surface, an engaging recess formed
on the bottom surface and extending along the engaging axis, an
inner surface surrounding the engaging recess and connected with
the bottom surface, and two engaging holes formed through the inner
surface and disposed along the pressing axis. The engaging portion
of the male buckle member and the connecting portion of the male
buckle member are arranged along the pulling axis. The engaging
portion of the male buckle member is embedded in the engaging
recess and comprises two inner pressing components respectively
arranged on two sides of the engaging portion of the male buckle
member. The inner pressing components are arranged along the
pressing axis and respectively comprise an engaging protrusion. The
engaging protrusions are respectively positioned in the engaging
holes permanently. The holding mechanism is disposed between the
male buckle member and the female buckle member and is disposed on
the pulling axis.
[0011] When the belt buckle in accordance with the present
invention is in use, the male buckle member and the female buckle
member are engaged along the engaging axis. The pulling force
applied on the female buckle member and the male buckle member by
the straps mounted on the connection portions of the female buckle
member and the male buckle member is along the pulling axis and is
perpendicular to the engaging axis. The pulling force can be
balanced by the combination of the engaging protrusions and the
engaging holes and the holding mechanism spontaneously, thereby
providing the belt buckle in accordance with the present invention
an improved engaging strength that can sustain a greater pulling
force and ensure the effectiveness to connect the straps.
[0012] Other objectives, advantages, and novel features of the
invention will become more apparent from the following detailed
description when taken in conjunction with the accompanying
drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0013] FIG. 1 is a schematic perspective view of a belt buckle in
accordance with the present invention;
[0014] FIG. 2 is an exploded view of the belt buckle in FIG. 1;
[0015] FIG. 3 is another exploded view of the belt buckle in FIG.
1;
[0016] FIG. 4 is a sectional view along Z-X plane of the belt
buckle in FIG. 1;
[0017] FIG. 5 is a sectional view along X-Y plane of the belt
buckle in FIG. 1;
[0018] FIG. 6 is a schematic operational view of a first usage
state of the belt buckle in FIG. 1;
[0019] FIG. 7 is a schematic operational view of a second usage
state of the belt buckle in FIG. 1;
[0020] FIG. 8 is a schematic perspective view of a conventional
belt buckle; and
[0021] FIG. 9 is an exploded view of the conventional belt buckle
in FIG. 8.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0022] With reference to FIGS. 1 to 3, a belt buckle comprises an
engaging axis Z, a pressing axis X, a pulling axis Y, a female
buckle member 10, a male buckle member 20, and a holding mechanism.
The engaging axis Z, the pressing axis X, and the pulling axis Y
intersect with and are perpendicular to each other.
[0023] With reference to FIGS. 1 to 5, the female buckle member 10
comprises a connecting portion 11 and an engaging portion 12
connected with the connecting portion 11. The engaging portion 12
and the connecting portion 11 of the female buckle member 10 are
arranged along the pulling axis Y. The engaging portion 11 of the
female buckle member 10 comprises a bottom surface 121, an end
surface 122, an engaging recess 123, an inner surface 124, two
engaging holes 125, two first guiding surfaces 126, and two outer
pressing components 127. The bottom surface 121 is connected with
the end surface 122. The engaging recess 123 is formed in the
bottom surface 121 and extends along the engaging axis Z. The inner
surface 124 surrounds the engaging recess 123 and is connected with
the bottom surface 121. The two engaging holes 125 are formed
through the inner surface 124 and are disposed along the pressing
axis X. The first guiding surfaces 126 are connected between the
bottom surface 121 and the inner surface 124. The first guiding
surfaces 126 are inclined toward the engaging recess 123 and are
respectively connected with the engaging holes 125. The outer
pressing components 127 are respectively arranged on two sides of
the engaging portion 12. The outer pressing components 127 are
arranged along the pressing axis X. Each of the outer pressing
components 127 comprises an abutting block 1271 mounted on the end
of each of the outer pressing components 127. The abutting blocks
1271 of the outer pressing components 127 are respectively
positioned in the engaging holes 125 selectively. In an embodiment,
with reference to FIG. 3, the female buckle member 10 further
comprises an opening 13. The opening 13 is formed along the pulling
axis Y through the end surface 122. The opening 13 is connected
with the engaging recess 123.
[0024] With reference to FIGS. 1, 2, 4, and 5, the male buckle
member 20 is detachably engaged with the female buckle member 10
and is located at the bottom side of the female buckle member 10.
The male buckle member 20 comprises a connecting portion 21 and an
engaging portion 22 connected with the connecting portion 21. The
engaging portion 22 and the connecting portion 21 of the male
buckle member 20 are arranged along the pulling axis Y. The
engaging portion 22 of the male buckle member 20 is embedded in the
engaging recess 123 and comprises two inner pressing components 221
respectively disposed on two sides of the engaging portion 22 of
the male buckle member 20. The inner pressing components 221 are
arranged along the pressing axis X and between the outer pressing
components 127. Each of the inner pressing components 221 comprises
an engaging protrusion 2211 mounted on the end of each of the inner
pressing components 221. The engaging protrusions 2211 are
respectively positioned in the engaging holes 125 permanently and
respectively abut against the abutting blocks 1271 selectively. The
engaging protrusions 2211 each comprise a second guiding surface
2212. The second guiding surfaces 2212 are respectively inclined at
the same angle as the first guiding surfaces 126.
[0025] The holding mechanism is disposed between the male buckle
member 20 and the female buckle member 10 and is disposed on the
pulling axis Y to strengthen engagement of the male buckle member
20 and the female buckle member 10. With reference to FIGS. 2, 3,
and 5, in one embodiment, the holding mechanism comprises a holding
block 31 and a holding recess 32. The holding block 31 is disposed
at the opening 13 of the engaging portion 12 of the female buckle
member 10 and extends along the engaging axis Z. The holding recess
32 is formed between the connecting portion 21 and the engaging
portion 22 of the male buckle member 20 and extends along the
engaging axis Z. The holding block 31 is detachably embedded in the
holding recess 32. In another embodiment, the holding block 31 is
disposed between the connecting portion 21 and the engaging portion
22 of the male buckle member 20. The holding recess 32 is formed on
the engaging portion 12 of the female buckle member 10.
[0026] With reference to FIGS. 2, 3, and 6, to connect the straps
mounted on the female buckle member 10 and male buckle member 20,
the female buckle member 10 is mounted with the male buckle member
20 along the engaging axis Z to make the first guiding surfaces 126
respectively flush with the second guiding surfaces 2212 of the
inner pressing components 221. By forcing the male buckle member 20
toward the female buckle member 10, the second guiding surfaces
2212 slide relative to the first guiding surface 126 for allowing
the inner pressing components 221 to approach close to each other.
Then, referring to FIGS. 4 and 6, the engaging portion 22 of the
male buckle member 20 is embedded into the engaging recess 123 of
the female buckle member 10. The engaging protrusions 2211 are also
respectively embedded into the engaging holes 125 along the
pressing axis X by the recovery elasticity of the inner pressing
component 221, and the holding block 31 is embedded in the holding
recess 32, so as to engage the female buckle member 10 with the
male buckle member 20 for the connection of the straps. After the
female buckle member 10 and male buckle member 20 are engaged, the
pulling force applied through the straps by users is along the
pulling axis Y.
[0027] With reference to FIGS. 1, 5, and 7, to disconnect the
straps, the outer pressing components 127 are pressed along the
pressing axis X to force the abutting blocks 1271 to respectively
abut on the engaging protrusions 2211 of the inner pressing
components 221. After further pressing the outer pressing
components 127, the engaging protrusions 2211 of the inner pressing
components 221 are forced to leave the engaging holes 125. Then,
referring to FIGS. 2 and 3, the female buckle member 10 and male
buckle member 20 are separated along the engaging axis Z, such that
the holding block 31 and the holding recess 32 are separated along
the engaging axis Z, thereby disconnecting the straps.
[0028] With the configurations that the engaging recess 123 is
formed on the bottom surface 121 of the female buckle member 10 and
extends along the engaging axis Z, and that the connecting portion
11, 21 and the engaging portion 12, 22 are arranged along the
pulling axis Y perpendicular to the engaging axis Z, the holding
mechanism is disposed between the male buckle member 20 and the
female buckle member 10 and on the pulling axis Y. Not only the
engaging protrusions 2211 disposed in the engaging holes 125 but
also the holding mechanism can sustain the pulling force when the
belt buckle is in use. Therefore, the belt buckle has an improved
engaging strength to sustain a large pulling force and ensure the
connection between the straps.
[0029] In addition, referring to FIGS. 4 and 6, the engaging
protrusions 2211 are allowed to respectively enter the engaging
holes 125 easily by the first guiding surface 126 and the second
guiding surface 2212, thereby improving the convenience of the belt
buckle in use.
[0030] Even though numerous characteristics and advantages of the
present invention have been set forth in the foregoing description,
together with details of the structure and features of the
invention, the disclosure is illustrative only. Changes may be made
in the details, 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.
* * * * *