Abstract
A reversible belt having an elongated strap having top and bottom surfaces, and two rows of notches on the top surface of the strap, and two rows of notches on the bottom surface of the strap. The buckle having teeth for engaging the rows of notches on the top surface of the strap, and for engaging the rows of notches on the bottom surface of the strap, when the strap is reversed.
Claims
1. A reversible track belt, comprising: a) an elongated reversible strap (12) having a top surface (14) with spaced apart top edges, wherein each of said top edges has a row of top notches (20), and a bottom surface (16) with spaced apart bottom edges, wherein each of said bottom edges has a row of bottom notches (22), and wherein said top surface (14) and said bottom surface (16) are reversible in use; and b) a buckle having an upper buckle body (32) pivotally connected at one end to a lower buckle body (34) through a transversal bar (32b), wherein said transversal bar (32b) has a tooth (36, 38) at each end of the bar, wherein each of said teeth (36, 38) engages said top notches (20) on the top surface (14) of said strap (12), or engages said bottom notches (22) on the bottom surface (16) of said strap (12) when said belt strap is in the reversed position, wherein each of said teeth (36, 38) is attached to said transversal bar (32b) by a tooth attachment post (36a, 38a).
2. A reversible track belt in accordance with claim 1, wherein said lower buckle body receives therein said upper buckle body, and said upper buckle body and said lower buckle body are spaced apart at one end for receiving said reversible strap therein.
3. A reversible track belt in accordance with claim 1, wherein said upper buckle body has a u-shape.
4. A reversible track belt in accordance with claim 1, wherein said lower buckle body has a U-shape.
5. A reversible track belt in accordance with claim 1, wherein said top and bottom surfaces of said elongated strap are reversible.
6. A reversible track belt in accordance with claim 1, wherein said buckle is detachably attached to either the top surface or the bottom surface of said elongated strap.
Description
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
(1) FIG. 1 is a top perspective view showing the buckle in the closed position;
(2) FIG. 2a is a top perspective view showing the showing the buckle and spring actuated teeth of the buckle in the closed position;
(3) FIG. 2b is a first exploded view showing the upper buckle body, the lower buckle body, the spring actuated teeth of the buckle, and the buckle loop of the buckle;
(4) FIG. 3a is a second exploded view showing the upper buckle body, the lower buckle body, the spring actuated teeth of the buckle, and the buckle loop of the buckle;
(5) FIG. 3b is a second exploded view showing the upper buckle body, the lower buckle body, the spring actuated teeth of the buckle, and the buckle loop of the buckle;
(6) FIG. 4 is a side perspective view of the reversible belt strap showing the row of notches on the top and bottom surfaces of the belt strap;
(7) FIG. 5 is a side perspective view of the present invention showing the buckle in the closed position and showing the row of notches on the top and bottom surfaces of the belt strap;
(8) FIG. 6 is a side perspective view of the present invention showing the buckle in the partial open position and showing the row of notches on the top and bottom surfaces of the belt strap;
(9) FIG. 7 is a side perspective view of the present invention showing the buckle in the open position and showing the row of notches on the top and bottom surfaces of the belt strap;
(10) FIG. 8a is a partial side perspective view of the present invention showing the bottom tooth of the buckle engaging the notch on the bottom surface of the belt strap;
(11) FIG. 8b is an enlarged partial side perspective view of the present invention showing the bottom tooth of the buckle engaging a notch on the bottom surface of the belt strap;
(12) FIG. 9a is a partial cross sectional view of the present invention showing the spring actuated teeth of the buckle engaging two notches on the belt strap when the buckle is in the closed position;
(13) FIG. 9b is a side perspective view of the present invention showing the buckle and a spring actuated tooth of the buckle in the closed position;
(14) FIG. 9c is a partial cross sectional view of the present invention showing the spring actuated teeth of the buckle disengaging two notches on the belt strap when the buckle is in the partial open position;
(15) FIG. 9d is a side perspective view of the present invention showing the buckle and a spring actuated tooth of the buckle in a partial open position;
(16) FIG. 9e is a partial cross sectional view of the present invention showing the spring actuated teeth of the buckle totally retracted and disengaged from the two notches on the belt strap when the buckle is in the open position; and
(17) FIG. 9f is a side perspective view of the present invention showing the buckle and a spring actuated tooth of the buckle in the open position
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
(18) As shown in FIGS. 3 through 9f, the present invention provides a reversible belt 10 that has a belt strap 12. The belt strap has top and bottom surfaces 14 and 16, with rows of notches 20 in the top surface 14 of the belt strap 12 and with notches 22 in the bottom surface 16 of the belt strap 12. As additionally shown in FIGS. 1 to 3b, and in FIGS. 4 through 9f, the belt 10 includes a buckle 30 having upper buckle body 32 and lower buckle body 34.
(19) Thus, the reversible belt 10 is constructed to be freely reversible so that either the top surface 14 or bottom surface 16 of belt 12 may be visible when worn. This is accomplished by simply detaching the buckle 30 from the top surface 14 and reattaching it to bottom surface 16.
(20) As shown in FIGS. 1 through 3b, and 5 through 8a, upper buckle body 32 preferably in the shape of a u-shaped loop, optionally has a pin 32a in the middle of the loop at its distal end so as to penetrate one of the perforations of the corresponding extremity of the belt strap 12 while it is articulated relative to the transversal bar 32b at the proximal end of the upper buckle body 32. As shown in FIGS. 3a and 3b, the transversal bar 32b further includes transversal hinges 32c and 32d for hingedly attaching the upper buckle body 32 to the lower buckle body 34. In addition, the transversal body 32b has teeth 36 and 38 at each end for engaging either notches 20 in the top surface 14 of the belt strap 12 or notches 22 in the bottom surface 16 of the belt strap.
(21) As shown in FIGS. 1 through 3b, and 5 through 8a, lower buckle body 34 is also preferably in the shape of a u-shaped loop. It has a base 34a at its proximal end with two tooth recesses 34b and 34c for receiving teeth 36 and 38 and a recess 34f for attaching actuating spring 33. Actuating spring 33 in recess 34f causes the teeth 36 and 38 to move up and down in a perpendicular direction. In this manner, the teeth 36 and 38 will selectively engage either notches 20 in the top surface 14 of the belt strap 12 or notches 22 in the bottom surface 16 of the belt strap.
(22) In addition, the lower buckle body 34 has hinge pins 34d and 34e which hingedly engage the transversal hinges 32c and 32d of the upper buckle body 32 so as to hingedly attach the tipper buckle body 32 to the lower buckle body 34. This allows the upper buckle body 32 to be lifted relative to the lower buckle body 34. Furthermore, a buckle loop 40 is attached to the base 34a of the lower buckle body 34 for guiding and securing the extremity of the leather belt strap 12 after it passes through the buckle 30.
(23) As shown in FIGS. 2b through 3b and 7b, each tooth 36 and 38 is attached to the transversal bar 32b of the upper buckle body 32 by tooth attachment posts 36a and 38a, respectively. Furthermore, as shown in FIGS. 2b through 3b and 7b, the bottom end of each tooth 36 and 38 also includes a tooth actuating post 36b and 38b, respectively. The tooth actuating posts 36b and 38b are the part of each tooth that is inserted in the tooth recesses 34b and 34c of the base 34a of the lower buckle body 34 and which engage with and are actuated in an up and down direction. Each tooth 36 and 38 further features a curved or inclined portion 36c and 38c. Curved portions 36c and 38c are shaped in such a fashion so as to easily slide in and out of, and thereby engage and disengage from either notches 20 in the top surface 14 of the belt strap 12 or notches 22 in the bottom surface 16 of the belt strap. Specifically, each individual notch of notches 20 and 22 has an angular shape or inclined shape in order to slide in or out of the notches to mateably engage with and disengage with the curved portions 36c and 38c of teeth 36 and 38.
(24) In operation, and as shown in FIGS. 5 through 9f, the upper extremity of the belt strap 12 passes into and through the open end 50 of the buckle 30. The extremity of the belt strap 12 then passes over the transversal bar 32b and through the buckle loop 40 so that the teeth 36 and 38 of the transversal bar 32b then mateably engage the selected notches 20 on one side of the strap, or engage notches 22 when the strap is reversed. In order to loosen or tighten the belt strap 12 after it is locked in place, the user merely lifts the upper buckle body 32. Once the upper buckle body 32 is lifted it acts as a lever to cause the tooth actuating posts 36b and 38b, which results in teeth 36 and 38 being retracted from and disengage the selected notches. Once the user pulls the strap 12 through buckle 30 to achieve a desired “tightness” of the strap 12, the upper buckle body 32 is released and it returns to its downward closed position. This causes the actuating spring 33 to cause the teeth 36 and 38 to mateably engage the selected upper or lower notches 20 and 22 in the top or bottom surface of the belt strap 12. This process can be repeated until the desired “tightness” of the belt strap 12 is achieved.
(25) In the specification the terms “comprise, comprises, comprised and comprising” or any variation thereof and the terms “include, includes, included and including” or any variation thereof are considered to be totally interchangeable and they should all be afforded the widest possible interpretation.
(26) In addition, other modifications, alterations, and changes to the described embodiments are possible without departing from the scope of the claimed invention, as defined in the claims and their equivalents thereof. Thus, it is intended that the claimed invention not be limited by the described embodiments above, but that it be defined by the have the full scope of the following claims.
ADVANTAGES OF THE PRESENT INVENTION
(27) It is an advantage of the present invention to provide a reversible belt strap that has notches on the surfaces of the strap to adjust the belt.
(28) It is an advantage of the present invention to provide a buckle for adjustably engaging notches on the surfaces of the strap.
(29) It is advantage of the present invention to provide a reversible belt having the above features.
(30) A latitude of modification, change and substitution is intended in the foregoing disclosure, and in some instances, some features of the invention will be employed without a corresponding use of other features. Accordingly, it is appropriate that the appended claims be construed broadly and in a manner consistent with the spirit and scope of the invention herein.
