Buckles – buttons – clasps – etc. – Separable-fastener or required component thereof – Including member having distinct formations and mating...
Reexamination Certificate
1999-09-15
2001-06-19
Brittain, James R. (Department: 3626)
Buckles, buttons, clasps, etc.
Separable-fastener or required component thereof
Including member having distinct formations and mating...
C024S2650BC
Reexamination Certificate
active
06247213
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a buckle of an inserting type comprising female and male members, i.e., a buckle body and an insertion body. More particularly, it relates to a buckle for fastening a belt generally used for clothes, shoes, helmets, baby cars or sporting goods.
2. Description of the Related Art
A conventional buckle of this type comprising a buckle body and insertion body is formed into a flat cylindrical body as shown in
FIG. 14
, which is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,309,610. The buckle comprises the buckle body
1
′ having at its opposite side surfaces opening portions
8
′, and the insertion body
2
′ having at its one end a belt-mounting part having a belt-folding portion
22
′ and a belt-fastening portion
21
′ and a pair of flexible operating portions
25
′ projecting from opposite sides of the insertion body
2
′ extending from the belt-mounting part toward the other end. Each of the operating portions
25
′ has at its outer side surface an engaging portion
28
′ to be engaged with the opening portion
8
′ of the buckle body
1
′. An upper plate
3
′ of the buckle body
1
′ is extended to provide an extending portion
30
′. When the buckle body
1
′ and the insertion body
2
′ are engaged with each other, the belt B′ is caught on the belt-folding portion
22
′, and then the extending portion
30
′ of the upper plate
3
′ of the buckle body
1
′ is brought into contact with an upper surface of the folded belt B′ under pressure so as to prevent the belt B′ from being loosened.
Further, Japanese Patent Laid-open No. 9-135709 discloses a buckle as shown in FIG.
15
. This buckle comprises a buckle body
1
″ formed into a flat cylindrical shape and having at its opposite side surfaces opening portions
8
″, and an insertion body
2
″ having a belt-fastening portion
21
″, a belt-folding portion
22
″ with a step
22
a
″ at its inner side, a base portion
23
″ on a further inner side thereof. The insertion body
2
′ further has a resilient projection
40
″ urged toward the step
22
a
″ of the belt-folding portion
22
″, and a pair of operating portions
25
″ projecting from the base portion
23
″. Each of the operating portion
25
″ has at its outer side surface an engaging portion
28
″. The resilient projection
40
″ is urged toward the step
22
a
w and brought into resilient contact with the belt which is caught on the belt-folding portion
22
″ and folded, thereby fastening the belt under pressure so as to prevent the belt from being loosened.
In the case of the above-described buckle shown in
FIG. 14
, when the buckle body
1
′ and the insertion body
2
′ are engaged with each other, since the engaging state of the belt B′ between the belt-folding portion
22
′ and the belt-fastening portion
21
′ can not be checked visually, it is not possible to smoothly adjust the length of the belt B′ at the time of engagement of the buckle. Further, since the upper plate
3
′ of the buckle body
1
′ completely covers the belt-folding portion
22
′ and the belt-fastening portion
21
′ of the insertion body
2
′, and presses the belt B′ caught on the belt-folding portion
22
′, the length of the belt can not be adjusted at the time of engagement.
In the case of the buckle shown in
FIG. 15
, when the buckle body
1
″ and the insertion body
2
″ are in engagement or out of engagement with each other, the resilient projection
40
″ must be inclined so as to be separated from the belt-folding portion
22
″ when the length of the belt is adjusted. Therefore, the adjusting operation is troublesome. Further, when the belt is mounted to the insertion body
2
″, since the resilient projection
40
″ must be always operated, the inserting operation of the belt is also troublesome. Furthermore, there is a problem that it is difficult to integrally mold the buckle because of the belt-folding portion
22
″ and the resilient projection
40
″ of the insertion body
2
″.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention has been accomplished in view of the above problems, and has a main object to provide a buckle comprising a buckle body and an insertion body in which a belt is prevented from excessively swelling and loosening in the buckle when the buckle is used, the length of the belt can easily be adjusted even when the buckle body and the insertion body are engaged with each other, the belt can easily be adjusted while visually checking its fastening state, and the belt can easily be prevented from loosening with a simple structure.
Further, it is another object of the present invention to provide a buckle in which it is possible to prevent the belt from loosening and to easily adjust the length of the belt even when the belt used for the buckle is relatively thick or rigid.
Furthermore, it is another object of the present invention to provide a buckle capable of preventing the belt from loosening over the entire width of the buckle.
Still further, it is another object of the present invention to provide a buckle capable of preventing the belt from loosening more appropriately and efficiently.
Still further, it is another object of the present invention to provide a buckle whose engaging pattern between the buckle body and the insertion body is specified so that it is possible to prevent the belt from loosening and to easily adjust the length of the belt.
To achieve the above object, according to the present invention, there is provided a buckle comprising: a buckle body including an upper plate, a lower plate and both side walls, an insertion opening at one end of the buckle body, a belt-mounting part at the other end of the buckle body, opening portions at the side walls, and engaged portions; an insertion body including a belt-fastening portion at one end of the insertion body, a belt-folding portion on an inner side of the belt-fastening portion, a belt passage on an inner side of the belt-folding portion, and a base portion on an inner side of the belt passage, the insertion body further including flexible operating portions projecting from opposite sides of the base portion toward the belt-mounting part of the buckle body and having engaging portions, wherein the buckle body further includes a projection formed as an extension of the upper plate of the insertion opening so as to further project than the lower plate and to project above the belt passage of the insertion body at the time of engagement of the buckle body and the insertion body so that a belt wound around the belt-folding portion is prevented from loosening.
Further it is preferable that the projection formed on the upper plate of the buckle body is formed into an arc shape whose center portion projects most.
Alternatively, the projection formed on the upper plate of the buckle body may be formed so as to totally and uniformly project in parallel to an end of the lower plate.
Further preferably, the projection formed on the upper plate of the buckle body is formed so as to project toward a tip end edge of the belt-folding portion of the insertion body, i.e. further than the base portion of the insertion body, at the time of the engagement of the buckle.
Furthermore, it is preferable that the engaging portions are respectively formed on outer surfaces of the pair of operating portions projecting from the base portion of the insertion body, and the engaged portions to be engaged with the engaging portions of the insertion body are respectively formed on one-side ends, i.e. the ends towards the insertion opening, of the opening portions formed at the side walls of the buckle body, so that the buckle body and the insertion body can be engaged with/disengaged from each other.
Alternatively, the en
Brittain James R.
Finnegan Henderson Farabow Garrett & Dunner L.L.P.
YKK Corporation
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