BACKGROUND
The embodiments herein relate generally to adjustable buckles used to alter the length of a strap.
The majority of bags including purses, backpacks, carrying cases and duffel bags include at least one shoulder strap. This strap is often placed around a user's shoulder to help carry the bag and stored contents. Users of these bags have a need to lengthen or shorten the shoulder strap to fit around the body more comfortably or permit the strap to be effectively used as a hand strap.
There exist a variety of buckles coupled to bag straps that permit a user to shorten or lengthen the strap as desired. In these devices, one or more buckles are secured to the strap. However, these one or more buckles are limited when in use because they lack durability and/or sometimes unintentionally slip and fail to retain the strap in the desired length. In addition, these buckles do not effectively anchor a retracted loop portion of the strap during a length adjustment, which detracts from the aesthetics and/or safe use of the bag.
As such, there is a need in the industry for a buckle apparatus that addresses the limitations of the prior art.
SUMMARY
A buckle apparatus for use in adjusting a length of a strap coupled to a bag is provided. The buckle apparatus comprises an enhanced grip to secure an adjusted loop portion of the strap in place. The buckle apparatus comprises a slider buckle coupled to the strap and comprising a top face and a bottom face, the slider buckle comprising a pair of openings and a loop member coupled to the bottom face of the slider buckle, wherein the strap extends within the loop member and through the pair of openings in the slider buckle, and an anchor buckle coupled to the strap and comprising a top face and a bottom face, the anchor buckle comprising a pair of openings, a pair of loop members coupled to the bottom face of the anchor buckle and at least one clip coupled to the top face of the anchor buckle, wherein the strap extends within the pair of loop members and pair of openings in the anchor buckle, wherein a user can retract the adjusted loop portion above the pair of openings in the slider buckle and secure the adjusted loop portion to the at least one clip of the anchor buckle, thereby shortening the length of the strap.
In certain embodiments, a second clip is coupled to the top face of the anchor buckle, which permits the adjusted loop portion to be secured to the first and second clips of the anchor buckle. In certain embodiments, the loop members of the buckle apparatus may comprise teeth to enhance grip with the strap. In certain embodiments, the openings of the buckle apparatus may comprise one or more sets of teeth to enhance grip with the strap.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES
The detailed description of some embodiments of the invention will be made below with reference to the accompanying figures, wherein the figures disclose one or more embodiments of the present invention.
FIG. 1 depicts a perspective view of certain embodiments of the buckle apparatus shown in use with the strap in a lengthened configuration;
FIG. 2 depicts a perspective view of certain embodiments of the buckle apparatus shown in use with the strap in a shortened configuration;
FIG. 3 depicts a top perspective view of certain embodiments of the buckle apparatus illustrating clips buckle 20;
FIG. 4 depicts a bottom perspective view of certain embodiments of the buckle apparatus illustrating clips buckle 20;
FIG. 5 depicts a side view of certain embodiments of the buckle apparatus illustrating clips buckle 20;
FIG. 6 depicts a side view of certain embodiments of the buckle apparatus illustrating clips buckle 20;
FIG. 7 depicts a top perspective view of certain embodiments of the buckle apparatus illustrating slider buckle 10;
FIG. 8 depicts a bottom perspective view of certain embodiments of the buckle apparatus illustrating slider buckle 10;
FIG. 9 depicts a side view of certain embodiments of the buckle apparatus illustrating slider buckle 10;
FIG. 10 depicts a side view of certain embodiments of the buckle apparatus illustrating slider buckle 10;
FIG. 11 depicts a top perspective view of certain embodiments of the buckle apparatus shown in use with the strap in a lengthened configuration;
FIG. 12 depicts a bottom perspective view of certain embodiments of the buckle apparatus shown in use with the strap in a lengthened configuration;
FIG. 13 depicts a top perspective view of certain embodiments of the buckle apparatus shown in use with the strap in a shortened configuration;
FIG. 14 depicts a top perspective view of certain embodiments of the buckle apparatus shown in use with the strap in a shortened and secured configuration;
FIG. 15 depicts a section view of certain embodiments of the buckle apparatus taken along line 15-15 in FIG. 7;
FIG. 16 depicts a section view of an alternative embodiment of the buckle apparatus;
FIG. 17 depicts a section view of an alternative embodiment of the buckle apparatus;
FIG. 18 depicts a perspective view of an alternative embodiment of the buckle apparatus;
FIG. 19 depicts a section view of an alternative embodiment of the buckle apparatus taken along line 19-19 in FIG. 18;
FIG. 20 depicts a section view of an alternative embodiment of the buckle apparatus; and
FIG. 21 depicts a section view of an alternative embodiment of the buckle apparatus.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF CERTAIN EMBODIMENTS
As depicted in FIGS. 1-2, the buckle apparatus is configured for use with strap 34 coupled to bag 36 carried by operator 38. The buckle apparatus comprises slider buckle 10 and clips buckle 20, which are used in conjunction with one another to permit operator 38 to adjust the length of strap 34 to either a lengthened or shortened configuration. Although the figures depict bag 36 as a purse, it shall be appreciated that any alternative type of bag known in the field may be used instead.
As depicted in FIGS. 3-6, clips buckle 20 serves as an anchor buckle and comprises a pair of clips buckle body openings 22, clips buckle center divider 24, small clip 32, large clip 30 and a pair of clips buckle lower loops 26. Small clip 32 and large clip 30 are affixed to the top face of clips buckle 20. Clips buckle lower loops 26 are affixed to the bottom face of clips buckle 20. Each clips buckle lower loop 26 comprises clips buckle lower loop teeth 28, which are directed toward the bottom face of clips buckle 20.
As depicted in FIGS. 7-10, slider buckle 10 comprises a pair of slider buckle body openings 12, slider buckle center divider 14 and slider buckle lower loop 16. Slider buckle lower loop 16 is affixed to the bottom face of slider buckle 10 and comprises slider buckle lower loop teeth 18, which are directed toward the bottom face of slider buckle 10. In one embodiment, the slider buckle body opening 12 proximate slider buckle lower loop 16 comprises slider buckle body opening teeth (Type A) 40, which are disposed on opposing side edges of the body opening.
It shall be appreciated that clips buckle 20 and slider buckle 10 may be made from any materials known in the field including, but not limited to, any metal, wood, plastic, or the like. In addition, clips buckle 20 and slider buckle 10 may be any color and have any patterns or finishing glosses to match with bag 36 and/or each other. In certain embodiments, clips buckle 20 and slider buckle 10 may have one or more logos engraved thereto and finished with the same or different colors as the buckles.
In operation, clips buckle 20 and slider buckle 10 are coupled to strap 34 on opposing ends as shown in FIG. 1. As depicted in FIGS. 11-12, strap 34 may be configured in a lengthened configuration. In this configuration, strap 34 is inserted through the bottom side of slider buckle 10 through slider buckle lower loop 16. Strap 34 then extends up through the first slider buckle body opening 12, around slider buckle center divider 14, and down through the second slider buckle body opening 12. Strap 34 then extends to clips buckle 20 and is inserted through a first clips buckle lower loop 26. Strap 34 then extends up through the first clips buckle body opening 22, around clips buckle center divider 24, down through the second slider buckle body opening 22, and through the second clips buckle lower loop 26. Slider buckle body opening teeth (Type A) 40, slider buckle lower loop teeth 18 and clips buckle lower loop teeth 28 contact strap 34 and enhance the grip between the strap and buckles 10, 20.
As depicted in FIG. 13, the length of strap 34 can be shortened by pulling a portion of strap 34 above slider buckle body openings 12 to create a refracted adjustment loop. As such, slider buckle body opening 12 positioned closest to clips buckle 20 permits the portion of strap 34 between the buckles 10, 20 to slide through to create the retracted adjustment loop. The retracted adjustment loop is folded over and disposed around small clip 32 of clips buckle 20. As depicted in FIG. 14, the retracted adjustment loop can be further anchored into place by placing the refracted adjustment loop within large clip 30 of clips buckle 20. In this secured configuration, strap 34 is tidy and in a shortened configuration. It shall be appreciated that a user can easily return strap 34 to the lengthened configuration by removing the retracted adjustment loop from small clip 32 and large clip 30, and feeding the adjustment loop back through the slider buckle body opening 12 in the reverse direction.
The buckle apparatus may have several alternative embodiments. For example, the teeth on slider buckle 10 may have variable sizes and shapes. FIG. 15 depicts a cross-section view of slider buckle body opening teeth (Type A) 40, which are oriented substantially parallel to opposing side edges of slider buckle body opening 12. FIG. 16 depicts an alternative embodiment in which slider buckle body opening teeth (Type B) 44 are slanted relative to opposing side edges of slider buckle body opening 12. FIG. 17 depicts an alternative embodiment in which slider buckle body opening teeth (Type C) 42 are slanted relative to opposing side edges of slider buckle body opening 12, and disposed on a portion of each side edge.
As depicted in FIG. 18, alternate clips buckle 48 may be used instead of clips buckle 20. Alternate clips buckle 48 shares components substantially similar to clips buckle 20, which comprises a pair of alternate clips buckle body openings 50, alternate clips buckle center divider 52, alternate small clip 62, alternate large clip 60 and a pair of alternate clips buckle lower loops 56. In certain embodiments, alternate clips buckle 48 comprises inner divider teeth 64 and clips buckle body opening outer teeth 66 disposed on opposing side edges of each clips buckle body opening 50. FIG. 19 depicts a cross-section view of inner divider teeth 64 and clips buckle body opening outer teeth 66 on alternate clips buckle 48. It shall be appreciated that any combination of teeth may be used instead. For example, alternate clips buckle 48 may only comprise clips buckle body opening outer teeth 66 as depicted in FIG. 20. In certain embodiments, alternate clips buckle 48 may only comprise inner divider teeth 64 as depicted in FIG. 21.
It shall be appreciated that the components of the buckle apparatus described in several embodiments herein may comprise any alternative known materials in the field and be of any color, size and/or dimensions. It shall be appreciated that the components of the buckle apparatus described herein may be manufactured and assembled using any known techniques in the field.
Persons of ordinary skill in the art may appreciate that numerous design configurations may be possible to enjoy the functional benefits of the inventive systems. Thus, given the wide variety of configurations and arrangements of embodiments of the present invention the scope of the invention is reflected by the breadth of the claims below rather than narrowed by the embodiments described above.
Patent Grant
9474332
