Abstract
The present invention provides a reversible track belt comprising an elongated strap having first and second ends, top and bottom surfaces, first and second side edges, and rows of notches on the two side edges of the strap. In addition, the present invention discloses a buckle comprising movable teeth for engaging the rows of notches on the two side edges of the strap.
Claims
1. A reversible track belt comprising: a. an elongated strap 12 having first and second ends, top and bottom surfaces 14 and 16, first and second side edges 26 and 28, and rows of notches 20 and 22 on the two side edges of the strap; and b. a buckle comprising movable teeth for engaging the rows of notches on the two side edges of the strap.
2. A reversible track belt in accordance with claim 1, wherein said movable teeth engage the rows of notches and are spring actuated.
3. A reversible track belt in accordance with claim 1, wherein said movable teeth have a curved or inclined surface.
4. A reversible track belt in accordance with claim 1, wherein said movable teeth engage the notches on the two side edges of the strap when said buckle is in a closed position, and wherein said movable teeth disengage from the notches on the two side edges of the strap when said buckle is in an open position.
5. A reversible track belt in accordance with claim 1, wherein said buckle comprises an upper buckle body connected to a lower buckle body.
6. A reversible track belt in accordance with claim 2, wherein said upper buckle body has a u-shape.
7. A reversible track belt in accordance with claim 1, wherein said buckle comprises a loop.
8. A reversible track belt in accordance with claim 1, wherein said elongated strap has perforations.
9. A reversible track belt in accordance with claim 1, wherein said front and rear surfaces of said elongated strap are reversible.
10. A reversible track belt in accordance with claim 1, wherein said front and rear surfaces of said elongated strap each have different colors.
11. A reversible track belt in accordance with claim 1, wherein said buckle can be detachably attached to either the top surface or the bottom surface of said elongated strap.
Description
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0012] FIG. 1 is a top perspective view of the of the present invention showing the buckle in the closed position;
[0013] FIG. 2 is an exploded view of the of the present invention showing the upper buckle body, the lower buckle body, and the buckle loop of the buckle;
[0014] FIG. 3 is a side perspective view of the present invention showing the row of notches on the bottom side edge of the belt strap;
[0015] FIG. 4 is a side perspective view of the present invention showing the buckle in the closed position and showing the row of notches on the bottom side edge of the belt strap;
[0016] FIG. 5 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 bottom side edge of the belt strap;
[0017] FIG. 6 is a side perspective view of the present invention showing the buckle in the open position and showing the row of notches on the bottom side edge of the belt strap;
[0018] FIG. 7 is a partial side perspective view of the present invention showing the bottom tooth of the buckle engaging the a notch on the bottom side edge of the belt strap;
[0019] FIG. 7A is an enlarged partial side perspective view of the present invention showing the bottom tooth of the buckle engaging a notch on the bottom side edge of the belt strap;
[0020] FIG. 8a 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;
[0021] FIG. 8b is a side perspective view of the present invention showing the buckle and a spring actuated tooth of the buckle in the closed position;
[0022] FIG. 8c 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;
[0023] FIG. 8d 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;
[0024] FIG. 8e 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;
[0025] FIG. 8f is a side perspective view of the present invention showing the buckle and a spring actuated tooth of the buckle in the open position;
[0026] FIG. 9a is a top perspective view of the present invention showing the tooth actuating post and the curved or inclined portions of the tooth;
[0027] FIG. 9b is a front perspective view of the present invention showing the tooth actuating post and the curved or inclined portions of the tooth;
[0028] FIG. 9c is an additional side perspective view of the present invention showing the tooth actuating post and the curved or inclined portions of the tooth.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
[0029] As shown in FIGS. 3 through 8f, the present invention provides a reversible track belt 10 that has a belt strap 12, having top and bottom surfaces 14 and 16, and rows of notches 20 and 22 on the two side edges 26 and 28 of the leather strap 12. As additionally shown in FIGS. 1 to 2, and in FIGS. 4 through 8f, the belt 10 includes a buckle 30 having upper buckle body 32 and lower buckle body 34. The notches 20 and 22 are formed on the two side edges 26 and 28 of the leather strap 12, as distinguished from conventional ratchet belts with visible notches along the center of the belt's top surface. Thus, the reversible track 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, without the notches being visible on the top or bottom surfaces 14 and 16 of the belt. This is accomplished by simply detaching the buckle 30 from the top surface 14 and reattaching it to bottom surface 16.
[0030] As shown in FIGS. 1, 2, and 4 through 7, 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. 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 notches 20 and 22 on the two side edges 26 and 28 of the leather belt strap 12.
[0031] As shown in FIGS. 1, 2, and 4 through 7, 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. The recesses 34b and 34c also each contain actuating springs 33a and 33b for actuating the teeth 36 and 38 up and down in a perpendicular direction. In this manner, the teeth will selectively engage the notches 20 and 22 on the two side edges 26 and 28 of the leather belt strap 12. 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 upper 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.
[0032] As shown in FIGS. 2 and 7A, 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. 2, 7A, and 9a through 9c, 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 by actuating springs 33a and 33b in recesses 34b and 34c. 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 notches 20 and 22 on the two side edges 26 and 28 of the leather strap 12. 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.
[0033] In operation, and as shown in FIGS. 4 through 8f, 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 and 22 of the belt strap 12. 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 to exert a downward force and to compress actuating springs 33a and 33b in recesses 34b and 34c 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 springs 33a and 33b to exert an upward force on the tooth actuating posts 36b and 38b and thereby cause the teeth 36 and 38 to mateably engage the selected notches 20 and 22 of the belt strap 12. This process can be repeated until the desired tightness of the belt strap 12 is achieved.
[0034] 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.
[0035] In addition, numerous 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
[0036] It is an advantage of the present invention to provide a reversible track belt that has notches on the two side edges of the leather strap to adjust the belt.
[0037] It is an advantage of the present invention to provide a reversible belt that has metal teeth on the buckle for adjustably engaging notches on the two side edges of the leather strap to adjust the belt.
[0038] It is an advantage of the present invention to provide a reversible belt having the above features.
[0039] 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.
