Buckle parts of a belt buckle

Abstract

A buckle part (2) of a belt buckle (1), wherein the buckle part (2) comprises at least one connecting part (4) for releasably connecting the buckle part (2) to another buckle part (3) of the belt buckle (1) and at least one bar (5) for fastening a belt (26) on the bar (5) of the buckle part (2), wherein the buckle part (2) also comprises at least one clevis type eyelet (6) for hooking a karabiner into the clevis type eyelet (6).

Claims

1. A belt buckle for releasably connecting a first belt to a second belt, the belt buckle comprising: a first buckle part fastenable to the first belt; and a second buckle part fastenable to the second belt, the first buckle part comprising: a basic body including a connecting part for releasably connecting the first buckle part to the second buckle part, a bar configured to fasten the first belt to the first buckle part, and a clevis type eyelet for hooking a karabiner into the first buckle part, wherein the clevis type eyelet is fastened so as to be pivotable about a pivot axis, and the pivot axis is arranged coaxially with respect to a longitudinal axis of the bar, wherein the bar is part of the clevis type eyelet, wherein the bar is guided through a sleeve, the sleeve including a first side and a second side opposite from the first side, and wherein the first buckle part further includes an opening defined by the clevis type eyelet and the first side of the sleeve, and a gap defined between the basic body and the second side of the sleeve, the gap configured to receive the first belt therethrough.

2. The belt buckle as claimed in claim 1, wherein the bar and a leg form the clevis type eyelet.

3. The belt buckle as claimed in claim 2, wherein the bar is guided through holes in the leg.

4. The belt buckle as claimed in claim 3, wherein the sleeve is arranged between regions of the leg comprising the holes and supports the regions of the leg comprising the holes.

5. The belt buckle as claimed in claim 4, wherein the sleeve is a multi-part sleeve.

6. The belt buckle as claimed in claim 4, wherein the sleeve exerts forces on the regions of the leg comprising the holes in a direction away from one another.

7. The belt buckle as claimed in claim 1, wherein the clevis type eyelet comprises at least one pivot position and in said pivot position latches in the first buckle part.

8. The belt buckle of claim 7, wherein there are a plurality of pivot positions.

9. The belt buckle as claimed in claim 1, wherein a circle which inscribes said opening comprises a minimum radius of at least 5 mm.

10. The belt buckle of claim 9, wherein the opening is bordered by the clevis type eyelet in a circumferentially closed manner.

11. The belt buckle as claimed in claim 1, wherein upon being connected together, the first and second buckle parts latch onto one another by a latching device of the belt buckle and a latching element of the latching device is actuatable to release the first and second buckle parts from one another.

12. A belt buckle for releasably connecting a first belt to a second belt, the belt buckle comprising: a first buckle part fastenable to the first belt; and a second buckle part fastenable to the second belt, the first buckle part comprising: a basic body including a connecting part for releasably connecting the first buckle part to the second buckle part, a bar configured to fasten the first belt to the first buckle part, and a leg of a clevis type eyelet defining an opening on one side of the bar, the opening configured to receive a karabiner, wherein a gap is defined between the bar and the basic body on a side of the bar opposite from the opening, the gap being configured to receive the first belt therethrough, and wherein the leg is fastened so as to be pivotable about a pivot axis, and the pivot axis is arranged coaxially with respect to a longitudinal axis of the bar.

13. The belt buckle as claimed in claim 12, wherein the gap includes a height approximately equal to a height of the opening.

14. The belt buckle as claimed in claim 1, wherein the sleeve is an individual component separable from the clevis-type eyelet and the basic body.

15. The belt buckle as claimed in claim 11, wherein the latching device includes: a projection having an undercut; and a projection receiver adjacent the latching element; wherein the latching element is biased by a spring, and wherein the latching device is configured such that when the projection is inserted into the projection receiver, the projection moves the latching element against the force of the spring until the spring forces the latching element into the undercut.

16. The belt buckle as claimed in claim 15, wherein the latching device includes a pair of latching elements and the projection includes a pair of undercuts.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) Further features and details of preferred configurations of the invention are explained as an example by way of the variants according to the invention which are shown in the Figures, in which:

(2) FIG. 1 shows an isometric view of a belt buckle according to the invention, with the buckle parts in the separated state;

(3) FIG. 2 shows an exploded drawing in the region of the clevis type eyelet;

(4) FIGS. 3 and 4 show views of a belt buckle according to the invention in the connected and latched-in state;

(5) FIG. 5 shows the section C-C according to FIG. 4;

(6) FIGS. 6 to 8 show the basic body of the buckle part with the clevis type eyelet, and

(7) FIGS. 9 to 12 show different pivot positions of the clevis type eyelet.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

(8) FIG. 1 shows an isometric view of a belt buckle 1 according to the invention. It is easy to see the buckle part 2 according to the invention and the other buckle part 3, said buckle parts 2, 3 being shown in FIG. 1 in an arrangement where they are not connected together. The other buckle part 3 comprises a plug-in projection 18, the other buckle part 3 being a male buckle part. The buckle part 2 according to the invention comprises a plug-in projection receiver 19 as the connecting part 4 and consequently forms a female buckle part. This arrangement is not compulsory. It is possible in an equally good manner for the other buckle part 3 to comprise a plug-in projection receiver 19 and the buckle part 2 according to the invention to comprise a plug-in projection 18. Connecting parts which are completely different can also be provided, such as, for example, hooks and hooks or hooks and eyes.

(9) The buckle part 2 is consequently part of a belt buckle 1 with at least one connecting part 4 which is realized as a plug-in projection receiver for releasably connecting the buckle part 2 to the other buckle part 3 of the belt buckle 1, and comprises a bar 5 for fastening a belt on the bar 5 of the buckle part 2, the buckle part 2 additionally comprising a clevis type eyelet 6 for attaching a karabiner hook into the clevis type eyelet 6. In said exemplary embodiment, the bar 5 is part of the clevis type eyelet, but, as already stated, this does not have to be the case.

(10) As can also be seen in FIG. 1, the buckle part 2 comprises a basic body 11 which, in this case, once again comprises the connecting part 4, which is female in said exemplary embodiment, for releasably connecting the buckle part 2 to the other buckle part 3 of the belt buckle 1. The bar 5 shown in FIG. 1 serves for fastening the belt 26 on the buckle part 2. As already mentioned, the belt 26 can also be a strap or a rope or similar. The belt 26, as also the other belt 27 which is fastened on the other buckle part 3, is only shown in FIG. 3 and is only shown there by a broken line. The fastening of the belt 26 on the bar 5 and also the fastening of the other belt 27 on the other bar 28 of the other buckle part 3 can be effected in all manners that are known per se. Both bars 5 and 28 can be realized as fixed bars or as clamping bars which are displaceable relatively to the respective basic body or also to other bars of the respective buckle part 2, 3. The bar 5, in this case, is guided through two opposite holes 29 of the basic body 11 of the buckle part 2 and is plastically deformed in the end regions of the bar 5 lying outside in each case in order to prevent the bar 5 from falling out. The bar 5 can naturally also be fastened in another manner on the basic body 11, or can even also be a fixed part of the basic body 11. It is also conceivable and possible to realize the bar 5 as a screw-type element, such as, for example, a screw, it being possible for one of the two opposite holes 29 of the basic body 11 to be realized as a threaded bore. In this connection, it is naturally also possible for the bar 5 which is realized as a screw-type element to penetrate the two opposite holes 29 of the basic body 11 and to be secured by way of at least one nut. In order to prevent the screw-type connection being unintentionally released, reference is made to common nut and screw retaining elements and/or materials that are known per se. The bar 5, the multiple-part sleeve 10 and the leg 8 form the clevis type eyelet 6 in this exemplary embodiment.

(11) In this exemplary design, it is provided that the clevis type eyelet 6 is fastened on the remaining buckle part 2 or the basic body 11 thereof so as to be pivotable about a pivot axis 7. It is consequently provided that the clevis type eyelet 6 is able to rotate or pivot with reference to the remaining buckle part 2, it being possible to pivot relatively between the bar 5 and the basic body 11, and/or between the bar 5 and the leg 8 and/or the between the leg 8 and the multiple-part sleeve 10 and/or between the bar 5 and the multiple part sleeve 10. In principle, it would also be conceivable and possible for the clevis type eyelet 6 to be connected to the remaining buckle part 2 in particular in a rotationally fixed manner and/or to be realized separately from the bar 5 and/or the sleeve 10. In particular in the case of a design of the clevis type eyelet 6 where it is rotationally fixed in relation to the remaining buckle part 2 or the basic body 11 thereof, it is conceivable and possible for the at least one clevis type eyelet 6 and the remaining buckle part 2 or the basic body 11 thereof to be realized integrally or in one piece.

(12) In the exemplary embodiment shown, the buckle part 2 also additionally comprises the latching device 16 for latching the two buckle parts 2, 3 together. More details of the function of the latching device 16 will be given further below.

(13) It is also easy to see in FIG. 1 that the pivot axis 7, about which the clevis type eyelet is pivotable, is arranged coaxially with respect to the bar 5. This is not compulsory; however, as a result of said arrangement advantages are produced with regard to a compact design of the buckle part according to the invention. It is conceivable and possible in an equally good manner for the leg 8 to be aligned, or arranged independently of the bar 5, at another position with the remaining buckle part, and in particular the pivot axis 7.

(14) FIG. 2 shows a partially exploded drawing of a belt buckle 1 according to the invention. The buckle part 2 is now connected to the other buckle part 3 and latched thereto. The design of the exemplary embodiment of a clevis type eyelet 6 which is realized in this case can be seen particularly well in FIG. 2. As already mentioned, for fastening the belt 26 to the basic body 11 the bar 5 is fixedly connected with regard to its position. This is naturally not compulsory as the bar 5, as mentioned above, could be a displaceable clamping bar. It can also be easily seen that the bar 5 forms the clevis type eyelet 6 with the leg 8 of the clevis type eyelet 6 by the bar 5 being guided through holes 9 in the leg 8. The holes 9 are situated on the opposite sides, in this case end regions, of the leg 8. It can easily be seen that the pivot axis 7 shown is arranged coaxially with respect to the bar 5 in said exemplary embodiment. FIG. 2 also shows the design of the sleeve 10 which, in this case, is realized in multiple parts. In the exemplary embodiment shown, the sleeve 10 comprises two portions 30 which are substantially rigid per se and an elastic ring 31 lying in between them. As one unit, the sleeve 10 assumes its function, already mentioned in the introduction, of supporting the two ends of the bent leg 8 in the event of high tensile loads on the clevis type eyelet 6. In said exemplary embodiment, the elastic ring 31 serves for the described preloading and ensures, as explained again below, that the leg 8 and consequently the clevis type eyelet 6 latch-in in the pivot positions in which this is provided. In addition, the elastic ring 31 also serves for preventing gaps which sometimes occur between the portions 30 of the sleeve 10 and/or between the leg 8 and the sleeve 10 during pivoting or in the pivot positions of the clevis type eyelet. These gaps can otherwise result in ingress of dirt or dust or even in the belt 26 jamming or hooking on the bar 5 or the sleeve 10. This can then subsequently result in damage to the belt 26, or can impair the adjustability of the belt 26. To complete the picture, it must be mentioned that this naturally also applies to an integral, elastic design of the sleeve. It is pointed out that the sleeve 10 can comprise all but also only part of the named functions. For example, the preloading function of the sleeve 10 can be omitted if the preloading is applied by the leg 8 itself or by the basic body 11.

(15) Looking at the assembled state of the buckle part 2 in FIG. 1 and the exploded drawing in FIG. 2, it is easily comprehensible that the bar 5 in the exemplary embodiment is guided through the multiple-part sleeve 10 and the sleeve 10 is arranged between the regions of the leg 8 comprising the holes and supports the regions of the leg 8 comprising the holes 9 or preloads them in the direction 25 away from one another. In this case, it is possible for the sleeve 10 to be realized completely or in regions in an elastic manner, where applicable also in an integral manner. The sleeve 10 is a preferably tubular body, through which the bar 5 is guided. FIG. 2 shows the directions 25 in which the sleeve 10 acts on the leg 8 for supporting and/or preloading. The sleeve 10, in this case, along with the job of preloading the leg 8, also has the supporting function where it is a question of ensuring the geometry of the leg 8 even when large tensile loads act on it. It is easy to imagine that a tensile load produced by a karabiner which is hooked in the clevis type eyelet 6 could result in a reduction in the spacing between the regions of the leg comprising the holes 9 depending on the effective direction. The sleeve 10 prevents this by preventing the leg 8 possibly deforming elastically or plastically and consequently permanently in the region of the bar 5. In said exemplary embodiment, the clevis type eyelet 6 comprises an elevation 13 in the region of the leg 8, the function of which elevation is explained further below.

(16) FIG. 3 and FIG. 4 show views of a belt buckle 1 according to the invention with the buckle parts 2 and 3 in the connected and latched state. It can seen particularly well that the clevis type eyelet 6 of the buckle part 2 includes in a circumferentially closed manner an opening 24 for attaching the karabiner hook, an imaginary circle 23 inscribed in said opening 24 in a favorable manner comprising a minimum radius 22 of at least 5 mm, preferably of at least 7 mm. In said exemplary embodiment, the opening 24 is defined by the sleeve 10 and the leg 8.

(17) FIG. 4 shows a side view of the belt buckle 1 according to the invention and the line of intersection C-C. In order to show in a better manner the functionalities of the buckle part 2 and of the latching device 16 as well as the connection to the other buckle part 3, as is realized in the variant shown here, the section along the line of intersection C-C is shown in FIG. 5. It can also easily be seen here that the bar 5 is connected in a positive locking manner to the basic body 11. It can also easily be seen in the sectioned representation in FIG. 5 that the leg 8 and the bar 5 or the sleeve 10 border the opening 24 in a circumferentially closed manner.

(18) The connecting part 4 of the buckle part 2 is realized, in this case, as a female plug-in projection receiver 19. The buckle part 2 is consequently a female buckle part. In this exemplary embodiment, the buckle part 2 additionally comprises a latching device 16, the buckle parts 2, 3 latching into one another when connecting together by means of said latching device 16 and the latching elements 17, realized in this case as a latching lever, of the latching device 16 having to be actuated, preferably by hand, for releasing the buckle parts 2, 3 from one another. In order to secure the latching-in of the latching element 17, springs 20 are built in the latching device 16. Said springs 20 can be metal helical springs, but also elastomer springs or other suitable spring elements or spring materials. It is easily comprehensible that when inserting the plug-in projection 18 into the plug-in projection receiver 19, the latching elements 17 are pivoted about the pivot axis of the bolts 21 and the springs 20 are compressed as soon as the T-shaped plug-in projection 18 slips along the latching elements 17. When moved further closer together, the undercut of the T-shaped region of the plug-in projection 18 passes the latching elements 17, as a result of which the latching elements 17 latch in the undercut under the influence of the spring-preloading of the springs 20 and consequently secure a positive locking connection between the buckle parts 2 and 3. In said exemplary embodiment, it is provided that the latching elements 17 have to be moved by hand, as a result of a targeted actuation, in order to release the T-shaped plug-in projection 18 or the undercut thereof and to release the positive locking connection between the buckle parts 2, 3 again in order to be able to separate said buckle parts from one another.

(19) In general, it must be stressed that all the components of the belt buckle 1 can be formed of metal, metal alloys or other suitable materials or can comprise said materials at least in part. It is conceivable and possible, in particular, for the named parts also to be able to consist at least in part of plastics material, in particular fiber-reinforced plastics material. The sleeve 10 can be formed of at least in part of an elastomer, for example rubber or a metal spring element. In particular rubber/metal elements but also plastics materials, fiber-reinforced plastics materials and also two-component plastics materials are conceivable and possible.

(20) It is pointed out once again at this point that the latching device 16 can also be part of the other buckle part 3, that is in particular of a male buckle part. In this case, it is not compulsory for the preloading of the latching element 17 to be realized by a spring 20. Rather, it is also conceivable and possible to develop the latching element 17 itself as a resilient element and/or to realize it integrally with the plug-in projection 18 or the plug-in projection receiver 19.

(21) The realizing of the pivot positions of the buckle part 2 according to the invention is now shown by way of FIGS. 6 to 12. In one or a few of the possible pivot positions the clevis type eyelet 6 can latch onto the remaining buckle part 2 or the basic body 11. In the exemplary embodiment, the basic body 11 has several indentations 12 for this purpose.

(22) The arrangement of said indentations 12 in the case of the exemplary embodiment shown in this case can be seen particularly well in FIG. 7. The leg 8 comprises, as can be seen in FIG. 2, at least one elevation 13 which is able to latch into the corresponding indentation 12. Consequently, it is possible for the clevis type eyelet 6 to latch into individual or several preferred pivot positions. When adjusting from one pivot position into the other pivot position, a certain torsional resistance has to be overcome. The elevation 13 has to be pivoted out of the indentation 12 for this purpose, the elevation 13 slipping along the indentation. This subsequently leads to the leg 8 deforming elastically. The preloading required for this purpose in the directions 25 is provided in the exemplary embodiment shown in part by the leg 8 itself, but also in part by the sleeve 10 or the elastic ring 31 thereof. In other words, it is consequently possible to deform the sleeve 10 in its longitudinal extension and thereby to enable the transition from one pivot position to the other pivot position of the clevis type eyelet 6. When the clevis type eyelet 6 reaches the next pivot position, the elevation 13 of the clevis type eyelet 6 latches in the indentation 12 and the sleeve 10, or the ring 31 relaxes again in a corresponding manner. FIGS. 9 to 12 show the two pivot positions of the exemplary embodiment in which latching-in occurs. The clevis type eyelet 6 can naturally be pivoted in relation to the remaining buckle part 2 in any arbitrary position lying between the two latched-in pivot positions and also beyond both pivot positions and can be positioned on the basic body 11 without latching-in. As already mentioned, it is also possible to arrange the elevations 13 on the basic body 11 and the corresponding indentations 12 on the leg 8.

(23) TABLE-US-00001 Key to the Reference Numerals: 1 Belt buckle 2 Buckle part 3 Other buckle part 4 Connecting part 5 Bar 6 Clevis type eyelet 7 Pivot axis 8 Leg 9 Hole 10 Sleeve 11 Basic body 12 Indentation 13 Elevation 16 Latching device 17 Latching element 18 Plug-in projection 19 Plug-in projection receiver 20 Spring 21 Bolt 22 Radius 23 Circle 24 Opening 25 Direction 26 Belt 27 Belt 28 Other bar 29 Hole 30 Portion 31 Elastic ring