Buckle

Information

  • Patent Grant
  • 6507982
  • Patent Number
    6,507,982
  • Date Filed
    Thursday, June 28, 2001
    23 years ago
  • Date Issued
    Tuesday, January 21, 2003
    21 years ago
  • Inventors
  • Original Assignees
  • Examiners
    • Sakran; Victor
    Agents
    • Finnegan, Henderson, Farabow, Garrett & Dunner, L.L.P.
Abstract
The invention provides a buckle which is formed from a buckle main body and an insert-in body, and which has a good appearance in which a belt attaching portion is hidden from view. The buckle is formed from a buckle main body and an insert-in body. The insert-in body is provided with engaging rods and a guide rod. The engaging rods are provided at both sides of a base portion of the insert-in body and have engaging portions which engage with engaging holes of the buckle main body. The guide rod is provided at a center of the base portion and can be inserted into an insert-in hole of the buckle main body. At an opposite surface of the base portion are provided a lower surface plate having a belt attaching portion, and an upper surface plate which covers a surface of the lower surface plate. A belt insertion hole into which the belt is inserted is formed between the upper surface plate and the lower surface plate. The buckle main body is formed from an upper surface plate, a lower surface plate and side walls. The insert-in hole into which the insert-in body is inserted is provided at one end of the buckle main body. At another end of the buckle main body, a belt insertion hole into which the belt can be inserted is provided. An attaching portion to which the belt is attached is provided at an end portion of the lower surface plate. Through holes, for passage of the belt being inserted through the insertion hole, are provided at the belt attaching portions. The engaging holes, which can engage with the engaging rods of the insert-in body, are formed in the side walls.
Description




BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION




1. Field of the Invention




The invention relates to a buckle utilizing an insert-in operation of female and male members, i.e., a buckle main body and an insert-in body, and relates to a buckle for fastening a belt which is generally used in cloths, bags, helmets, strollers, sport instruments, or the like.




2. Description of the Related Art




A conventional buckle of this type formed from a buckle main body and an insert-in body is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,309,610. The buckle is formed from a flat tubular body as shown in FIG.


18


. The buckle has, at one end side thereof, a buckle main body


1


′ which is provided with openings


8


′ at both sides thereof, and a belt attaching portion having a belt folded-over portion and a fitting rod


31


′. A pair of flexible operation rods


16


′ project, at both sides, from the belt attaching portion


9


′ toward the other end side. An engaging portion


17


′ is provided at the outer side surface of each of the operation rods


16


′. The engaging portions


17


′ engage with the opening portions


8


′ of the buckle main body


1


′. In this buckle, an upper surface plate


3


′ of the buckle main body


1


′ extends such that an extended portion


32


′ is formed. When the buckle main body


1


′ and the insert-in body


2


′ are engaged, the belt catches on a fold-over rod


25


′, and the extended portion


32


′ of the upper surface plate


3


′ of the buckle main body


1


′ is compressed against the upper surface of the belt which is in a folded-over state. With such a structure, loosening of the belt is prevented, and the folded-over portion of the belt is hidden and cannot be viewed from the top surface.




Further, the buckle shown in

FIG. 19

is generally well-known. The buckle is formed from a buckle main body


1


″ and an insert-in body


2


″. The buckle main body


1


″ is formed from a flat tubular body. Opening portions


8


″, which can engage with engaging portions


17


″ provided at operation rods


16


″ of the insert-in body


2


″, are provided at both side surfaces of the buckle main body


1


″. Further, the insert-in body


2


″ is provided with a belt fitting rod


31


″, and at the inner side thereof, a belt fold-over rod


25


″ having a step portion is provided, and at the inner side thereof, a base rod


15


″ is provided. Further, a pair of operation rods


16


″ are formed to project at the insert-in body


2


″. Elastic projections


33


″ are elastically in contact toward the step portion


34


″ of the belt fold-over rod


25


″, and the pair of operation rods


16


″, having the engaging portions


17


″ outer side thereof, are protruded toward the inner side of the insert-in body


2


″. When the buckle is to be used, the belt is made to catch on the fold-over rod


25


″ and is folded over. By making the elastic projections


33


″ elastically project toward the step portion


34


″, the belt is press-contacted, and loosening of the belt is prevented.




In the above-described buckle shown in

FIG. 18

, when the insert-in body


2


′ is inserted into and engaged with the buckle main body


1


′, an attaching portion


28


′, where the belt is attached to the fold-over rod


25


′ of the insert-in body


2


′, is hidden by the upper surface plate


3


′ of the buckle main body


1


′ and cannot be seen from the surface. However, the attaching portion


9


′ of the buckle main body


1


′ to which the belt is attached, is exposed and can be seen. Further, when the insert-in body


2


′ itself is viewed, the attaching portion


28


′ of the belt is exposed, and the buckle doesn't have a structure in which the belt attaching portions


9


′,


28


′ of the buckle main body


1


′ and the insert-in body


2


′ are completely hidden. Moreover, a problem arises in that the buckle at the extended portion of the upper surface plate


3


′ of the buckle main body


1


′ is thick and unseemly, and the buckle doesn't have preferable form from the standpoint of design.




Further, in the conventionally well-known buckle shown in

FIG. 19

as well, the attaching portions for attaching of the belt to the buckle main body


1


″ and the insert-in body


2


″ are completely exposed, and the outer appearances are not good from the standpoint of ornamentation. In addition, there is the problem that the buckle itself is based on a straight line, and thus, the buckle doesn't have a preferable form from the standpoint of design.




SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION




The invention was invented in consideration of the aforementioned problems. In the invention, the main object of is to provide a buckle which is formed from a buckle main body and an insert-in body, and in which belt attaching portions provided at the buckle main body and at the insert-in body are hidden, such that the buckle is very beautiful from the standpoint of design, and furthermore, in which an attachment of the belt is easy and the strength of the attachment is ensured.




And another object of the invention is to provide a buckle in which, by specifying the form of guide rods of the insert-in body, sturdy guide rods are formed, insertion and removal operations of the insert-in body are carried out smoothly, and attaching of a logo mark or the like to the buckle main body is convenient.




Further object of the invention is to provide a buckle equipped with a function which allows easy adjustment of a belt with respect to a hidden-type belt attaching portion provided at the insert-in body.




Still further object of the invention is to provide a buckle provided with a function which allows smooth insertion and removal operations of the guide rods of the insert-in body, by specifying the form of the buckle main body.




And further object of the invention is to provide a buckle provided with a function which allows a logo mark or the like to be set easily by a post-attachment operation onto the surface of the buckle main body.




It is also another object of the invention to provide a buckle in which a belt insertion hole is provided so as to secure the insertion of the belt, and the lower surface plate may not be viewed from the top surface of the insert-in body.




And another object of the invention is to provide a buckle in which the insert-in body is effectively utilized such that a belt adjustment portion can be provided easily, and in which the buckle main body and the insert-in body are formed not on the basis of straight lines but on the basis of arc shaped curves such that the buckle has an excellent design.




In order to achieve the aforementioned objects, according to the main aspect of the invention, there is provided a buckle, wherein the buckle is formed from a buckle main body and an insert-in body, and engaging rods, which have engaging portions at outer sides thereof, are provided at both sides of a base portion of an insert-in body, and guide rods are provided at a center of the base portion, and at an opposite surface of the base portion are provided a lower surface plate having a belt attaching portion and an upper surface plate covering a surface of the lower surface plate, and a belt insertion hole in which the belt is inserted is formed between the upper surface plate and the lower surface plate, and the buckle main body is formed from an upper surface plate, a lower surface plate, and side walls, and an insert-in hole for the insert-in body is provided at one end of the buckle main body, and a belt insertion hole is provided at another end of the buckle main body, and a belt attaching portion is provided at an end portion of the lower surface plate, and through holes for a belt which communicate with the belt insertion holes are formed at the belt attaching portions, and engaging holes which engage with the engaging rods of the insert-in body are provided at the side walls. Therefore, there are the effects that the belt attaching portions provided at the buckle main body and the insert-in body are hidden and cannot be seen from the surface of a buckle. Thus, a buckle which has a pleasant appearance and is very beautiful from the standpoint of design can be obtained. Furthermore, the attachment operation of the belt is easy, and the belt can be fixed strongly.




Preferably, the guide rod is provided at the center of the base portion of the insert-in body, and the guide rod is formed in a shape such that a lateral cross sectional configuration thereof is H-shaped or a shape whose upper side is open. Thus, there is the effect that sturdy guide rods are formed, and even if a logo mark or the like is attached to the surface of the buckle main body, smooth engagement and disengagement operations may be carried out without being interfered by the guide rods.




Also preferably, the two holes for a belt are formed at least one of the belt attaching portions, and a catch rod for catching the belt is formed between the through holes, and a surface of the catch rod is formed in an uneven shape so as to form a belt adjustment portion. Further, the state of the belt placed at the belt adjustment portion is maintained in a horizontal state with respect to the upper and lower surface plates, even if an external force in any direction is applied to the belt. Consequently, an insert-in body, in which the belt does not become loose, is therefore obtained




Further preferably, a partition wall, which connects the upper and lower surface plates along a central longitudinal direction of the buckle main body and extends from the insert-in hole to the through hole of the buckle main body, is provided at the buckle main body, and guide grooves which guide the guide rods of the insert-in body are formed at both sides of the partition wall.




And further, in order to attach a logo mark or the like to the upper surface plate of the buckle main body, attachment holes for the logo mark which communicate with right and left guide grooves are drilled in the upper surface plate of the buckle main body. Thus, there is the effect that a logo mark or the like can be very easily attached to the buckle main body, and a buckle which is valuable from the standpoint of ornamentation as well can be obtained.




Further, support portions are formed to project at both of right and left sides of the insert-in body, the upper surface plate is disposed in a bridge-like manner so as to connect the surfaces of the support portions and the lower surface plate is disposed in a bridge-like manner so as to connect the rear surfaces of the support portions, and the belt insertion hole is provided between both of the supporting portions, and the upper surface plate and the lower surface plate. Thus, there is the effect that the upper surface plate and lower surface plate overlap each other, and the lower surface plate is not viewed from the top surface of the insert-in body with the existence of the upper surface plate.




Still further, the base portion of the insert-in body is swelled out in an arc shape, and the belt adjustment portion is provided at an enlarged portion of the lower surface plate, and a belt insertion hole side of the insert-in body is formed in an arc shape, and the insert-in hole side for the insert-in body of the buckle main body is cut in a curved shape, and both side end portions of the insert-in hole of the buckle main body are formed in projected configurations, and a belt insertion hole side is formed in an arc shape. Thus, there is the effect that both of the buckle main body and the insert-in body are formed in shapes based on arc shaped curves, such that the buckle is easy to grasp and operation thereof is easy. Further, the length adjustment portion provided at the buckle is formed at an enlarged portion of the rear surface of the insert-in body. Therefore, this invention achieves marked effects such as the rear surface is effectively utilized, and a buckle, which is beautiful from the standpoint of design, is obtained.











BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS





FIG. 1

is a perspective view of a buckle formed from a buckle main body and an insert-in body.





FIG. 2

is a plan view of the insert-in body.





FIG. 3

is a front view of the insert-in body.





FIG. 4

is a cross-sectional view of the insert-in body taken along the line IV—IV in FIG.


2


.





FIG. 5

is a cross-sectional view of the insert-in body taken along the line V—V in FIG.


3


.





FIG. 6

is a bottom view of the insert-in body.





FIG. 7

is a plan view of the buckle main body.





FIG. 8

is a front view of the buckle main body.





FIG. 9

is a cross-sectional view of the buckle main body taken along the line IX—IX in FIG.


7


.





FIG. 10

is a cross-sectional view of the buckle main body taken along the line X—X in FIG.


7


.





FIG. 11

is a cross-sectional view of the buckle main body taken along the line XI—XI in FIG.


8


.





FIG. 12

is bottom view of the buckle main body.





FIG. 13

is a plan view of the buckle showing a state in which the buckle main body and the insert-in body are engaged and combined.





FIG. 14

is a cross-sectional view of the buckle taken along the line XIV—XIV in FIG.


13


.





FIG. 15

is a cross-sectional view of the buckle taken along the line XV—XV in FIG.


13


.





FIG. 16

is a front view showing another embodiment of the insert-in body of the buckle.





FIG. 17

is a vertical sectional view of main portions showing a state in which the insert-in body of the FIG.


16


and an upper surface plate are combined.





FIG. 18

is a perspective view of a buckle of the second embodiment formed from a buckle main body and an insert-in body.





FIG. 19

is a cross-sectional view of the insert-in body corresponding to FIG.


4


.





FIG. 20

is a cross-sectional view of the buckle main body corresponding to FIG.


9


.





FIG. 21

is a cross-sectional view of the buckle main body corresponding to FIG.


11


.





FIG. 22

is a cross-sectional view corresponding to FIG.


19


.





FIG. 23

is a cross-sectional view of the insert-in body


2


taken along the line XXIII—XXIII in FIG.


22


.





FIG. 24

is a cross-sectional view of a well-known buckle.





FIG. 25

is a plan view of another well-known buckle.











DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS




Hereinafter, embodiments of a buckle of the present invention will be concretely described with reference to the drawings.




As shown in

FIG. 1

, according to the first embodiment of the invention, a buckle is formed from a buckle main body


1


and an insert-in body


2


, and is a buckle in which the insert-in body


2


is freely insertiable into and removable from the buckle main body


1


. The buckle main body


1


and the insert-in body


2


are respectively molded integrally by an injection molding process or an extrusion molding process by using a thermoplastic resin such as polyacetal, polyamide, polypropylene, polybutylene terephthalate, or the like.




The buckle main body


1


of the buckle is a flat tubular body which is formed from an upper surface plate


3


, a lower surface plate


4


, and side walls


5


which connect the upper surface plate


3


and the lower surface plate


4


, as shown in FIG.


1


. The buckle main body


1


is provided, at one end thereof, with an insert-in hole


6


into which the insert-in body


2


is inserted, and, at the other end thereof, with a belt insertion hole


7


for inserting a belt. The buckle main body


1


has, at each of the side walls


5


, an engaging hole


8


which has an opening shape and with which can engage an engaging portion


17


of an engaging rod


16


which is provided at the insert-in body


2


. Further, when the buckle main body


1


is seen in plan view, as shown in

FIG. 7

, the insert-in hole


6


side is cut in curved shape, and the belt insertion hole


7


side swells out in an arc shape. The engaging hole


8


is curved in a shape of cutting out, in an arc shape, the side surface at which the side wall


5


smoothly swells in an arc-shape. The entire buckle main body


1


is formed on the basis of curves.




As shown in

FIG. 12

, the lower surface plate


4


of the buckle main body


1


is provided with a belt attaching portion


9


for attaching the belt to the belt insertion hole


7


side. A through hole


24


for inserting the belt is formed at the attaching portion


9


. As shown in

FIG. 9

, a partition wall


10


is provided which connects, along the central longitudinal direction, the lower surface plate


4


which is below and the upper surface plate


3


which is above. The partition wall


10


extends from the insert-in hole


6


to the through hole


24


, and divides the interior of the buckle main body


1


. Thus, at the both sides of the partition wall


10


, guide grooves


11


are formed. Guide rods


18


which are formed to project at the insert-in body


2


are inserted into and guided in the guide grooves


11


. The guide grooves


11


are protruded by forming concave portions


12


, which are spaced apart at determined interval, in the inner surfaces of the upper surface plate


3


and the lower surface plate


4


. Further, in the upper surface plate


3


, as shown in

FIGS. 7 and 9

, attachment holes


13


which communicate with right and left of the guide grooves


11


, are drilled for attaching a logo mark


14


or the like. The buckle main body


1


is thus shaped in a flat, rugby ball shape as seen from the side of the belt insertion hole


7


.




On the other hand, as shown in

FIGS. 1 and 2

, the engaging rods


16


are protruded elastically so as to be parallel to one another at the both side ends of the base portion


15


, which swells out in an arc shape, of the insert-in body


2


. An engaging portion


17


, which is projection shaped and can engage with the engaging hole


8


of the buckle main body


1


, is formed at the outer side of the engaging rod


16


. Further, at the center of the base portion


15


, the guide rods


18


, which can be inserted into the guide grooves


11


provided at the buckle main body


1


, are formed to project in a parallel state with an interval therebetween which is equal to the thickness of the partition wall


10


. The guide rod


18


is formed such that the cross-sectional shape thereof is H-shaped. By forming the guide rods


18


to have an H-shape, the guide rods


18


can avoid attachment leg portions of the logo mark


14


or the like which are attached into the attachment holes


13


provided in the upper surface plate


3


of the buckle main body


1


. Therefore, the cross-sectional shape of the guide rod


18


does not have to be H-shaped, and, for example, may be an angular U-shape whose upper side is open in order to avoid the attachment leg portion. Further, at the front surface of the base portion


15


, a projecting portion


27


, which projects out convexly so as to cover a space between the engaging rods


16


, is provided for reinforcement.




As shown in

FIG. 5

, support portions


19


having substantially right angled triangular shape are formed to project at the both side ends of the opposite surface of the base portion


15


which is arc shaped. An upper surface plate


20


is disposed in a bridge-like manner so as to connect the surfaces of the support portions


19


, and a lower surface plate


21


is disposed in a bridge-like manner so as to connect the rear surfaces of the support portions


19


. As shown in

FIG. 4

, the upper surface plate


20


and the lower surface plate


21


overlap each other. The lower surface plate


21


cannot be viewed from the top surface side of the insert-in body


2


due to the upper surface plate


20


. Between the left and right support portions


19


, a belt insertion hole


22


is provided between the upper surface plate


20


and the lower surface plate


21


. A belt passage portion


23


is formed from the insertion hole


22


toward the base portion


15


. The insert-in body


2


is thus formed to a flat tubular body as shown in FIG.


3


.




As shown in

FIG. 2

, at each of the upper surface plate


20


and the lower surface plate


21


, the base portion


15


side is swelled out in an arc shape along the base portion


15


, and the belt insertion hole


22


side is also formed so as to swell out in an arc-shape, thus providing enlarged portions. As shown in

FIG. 6

, a belt attaching portion


28


for attaching the belt is provided at the enlarged portion of the lower surface plate


21


. Further, two through holes


24


for a belt through which the belt can be inserted are drilled at the attaching portion


28


, and a catch rod


25


for catching the belt is provided at the attaching portion


28


. The surface of the catch rod


25


is formed to have an appropriately configured uneven and control slipping of the belt, so as to form a belt adjustment portions


26


. The belt adjustment portion


26


enables the length of the belt to be easily adjusted by passing the belt through the one insertion hole


22


and the two through holes


24


. The insert-in body


2


is shaped in a flat, rugby ball shape as seen from the side of the insertion hole


22


. In plan view as well, the overall shape of the insert-in body


2


is based on curves, as a whole.




The above-described embodiment of the buckle is formed such that the adjusting of the length of the belt can be carried out at the insert-in body


2


. However, the buckle may be formed such that the adjusting of the length of belt can be carried out at the buckle main body


1


. For example, the two through holes


24


for a belt which communicate with the insertion hole


7


may be formed at the belt attaching portion


9


which is provided at the insertion hole


7


side end portion of the lower surface plate


4


in the buckle main body


1


. An uneven pattern may be formed on the surface of the catch rod


25


formed between the through holes


24


such that the slipping of the inserted-through belt is controlled and adjustment of the length of the belt can be carried out easily. Therefore, one through hole


24


for a belt, which communicates with the belt passage portion


23


, may be formed at the belt attaching portion


28


of the lower surface plate


21


in the insert-in body


2


, and one end of the belt may be inserted into the through hole


24


and folded over, and fixed by a proper stopping means. Further, the two through holes


24


for a belt may be formed at both of the belt attaching portions


9


and


28


of the buckle main body


1


and the insert-in body


2


, and the length of the belt may be adjusted at both of the buckle main body


1


and the insert-in body


2


.




The way of using the buckle will be described hereinafter. As shown in

FIGS. 13

to


15


, the belt is inserted from the belt insertion hole


7


which is provided at between the upper surface plate


3


and the lower surface plate


4


of the buckle main body


1


, and is passed through the through hole


24


for a belt which is formed at the belt attaching portion


9


, and is fixed by sewing or the like of the end portion of the belt. Further, in the insert-in body


2


, in the same way as in the buckle main body


1


, the belt may be inserted from the belt insertion hole


22


, and an end portion of the belt may be wound through the two through holes


24


and pulled out from the belt insertion hole


22


. However, preferably, one end of the belt is inserted from one of two through holes


24


which are formed in the attaching portion


28


and the other end of the belt is inserted in the other through hole


24


, and the both end portions of the belt are pulled out from the insertion hole


22


. This way is easier for attaching the belt. After the belt is caught on the catch rod


25


, if an end portion of the belt is pulled, the belt is strongly fastened and fixed by the uneven shaped adjustment portion


26


which is provided at the surface of the catch rod


25


.




After the belt is attached to the buckle main body


1


and the insert-in body


2


as described above, the guide rods


18


and the engaging rods


16


of the insert-in body


2


are inserted from the insert-in hole


6


of the buckle main body


1


. Then, the engaging portions


17


which are provided at the engaging rods


16


are engaged with the engaging holes


8


of the buckle main body


1


, such that the buckle main body


1


and the insert-in body


2


are combined and fixed together. In the state in which the insert-in body


2


is inserted into the buckle main body


1


such that the buckle main body


1


and the insert-in body


2


are fixed together, as shown in

FIG. 13

, the entire buckle is formed in a shape which is based on arc-shaped curves and is easy to hold, and engagement and disengagement operations are easy. Thus, a buckle having an excellent design is obtained. In the buckle which is in the combined state, by pressing the engaging portions of the engaging rods


16


of the insert-in body


2


, which have elasticity, toward the inner sides, the engaging portions


17


are removed from the engaging holes


8


, and the insert -in body


2


can automatically be removed from the buckle main body


1


due to the elasticity of the engaging rods


16


.





FIG. 16

is a front view showing a modification of the insert-in body


2


. In accordance with this embodiment, the support portions


19


are formed on an upper surface of the lower surface plate


21


, along the both sides of the opposite surface of the base portion


15


at one surface of which the engaging rods


16


and the guide rods


18


project. Further, a shelf portion


29


, which is formed in a step shape being lower than the surface of the support portion


19


, is provided at an inner side surface of each support portion


19


. Moreover, a through hole


30


, which passes through the side surface of the support portion


19


, is formed in each support portion


19


.




In the present embodiment, the upper surface plate


20


is formed as a member separate from the insert-in body


2


. As shown in

FIG. 17

, the upper surface plate


20


is disposed such that the rear surface thereof abuts on the upper surfaces of the shelf portions


29


. A pair of engaging pieces


31


, which have engagement projecting portions


32


at the leading ends thereof, are formed to project at the both of the right and left side edges of the rear surface of the upper surface plate


20


. The engagement projecting portions


32


are formed to be engageable with the through holes


30


which are drilled in the support portions


19


. By engaging the upper surface plate


20


with the insert-in body


2


, the belt insertion hole


22


and the passage portion


23


are formed between the upper surface plate


20


and the lower surface plate


21


. Thus, the belt which is attached to the belt attaching portion


28


is hidden and cannot be viewed from the top surface of the insert-in body


2


, and the attachment of the belt can be maintained stable.





FIGS. 18

to


21


show the buckle of the second embodiment of the invention. In these figures, the same numerals are attached to the substantially same parts with the above-described first embodiment of the invention.




In this embodiment, the belt attaching portion


9


for attaching the belt is also provided at the belt insertion hole


7


side of the buckle main body


1


and the through hole


24


for inserting the belt is also formed at the attaching portion


9


, as shown in

FIGS. 18 and 21

. And as shown in

FIGS. 20 and 21

, a guide groove


110


, which guides a later-mentioned guide rod


180


, is formed in the center of inner surfaces of the upper surface plate


3


and the lower surface plate


4


. The partition wall


10


to divide the guide groove


110


into right and left, which is formed in the first embodiment, is not formed in this embodiment, so as to form the single guide groove


110


. Therefore, the breadth of the groove of the guide groove


110


is set substantially as same as the breadth of the guide rod


180


of the insert-in body


2


. Further, in this embodiment, attachment holes


13


for attaching a logo mark or the like is not formed on the upper surface plate


3


.




In the insert-in body


2


, as shown in the

FIGS. 18 and 19

, a pair of engaging rods


160


are protruded elastically so as to be parallel to one another at the both side ends of the base portion


15


, which swells out in an arc shape, as well as in the first embodiment, and each of the engaging rods


160


have an engaging portion


170


, which can engage with the engaging hole


8


of the buckle main body


1


at a tip of the engaging rod


160


. The guide rod


180


, which is inserted into the guide groove


110


provided at the buckle main body


1


, is formed to project between the engaging rods


160


. Further, a concave portion


171


is formed in the center of the engaging portion


170


.




As shown in the

FIG. 18

, the guide rod


180


is composed of a substantially U-shaped frame portion


181


and an intermediate wall


182


, which divides the space surrounded by the intermediate wall


182


and the base portion


15


into two parts, upper and lower parts. Further, the support portions


19


having substantially right angled triangular shape are formed to project at the both side ends of the opposite surface of the base portion


15


which is arc shaped, and the front and rear surfaces of the support portion


19


is connected with the upper surface plate


20


and the lower surface plate


21


. Between the left and right support portions


19


, the belt insertion hole


22


is provided between the upper surface plate


20


and the lower surface plate


21


. The belt passage portion


23


is formed from the insertion hole


22


toward the base portion


15


.




The belt attaching portion


28


for attaching the belt is provided at the enlarged portion of the lower surface plate


21


. Further, the two through holes


24


for a belt through which the belt can be inserted are formed at the attaching portion


28


, and the catch rod


25


for catching the belt is provided between the through holes


24


. The catch rod


25


is formed to have an uneven surface, so as to control slipping of the belt. In this embodiment, the through hole


24


by the side of the base portion


15


is formed larger than the through hole


24


of the first embodiment, and the thickness of this base portion


15


is made thinner. Consequently, the belt is easily pulled put.




Thus, in this embodiment, the buckle main body


1


and the insert-in body


2


eliminate the unnecessary parts as much as possible, thereby attaining the large loss of the amount of resin used, as well as simplification of the configuration in the invention.





FIGS. 22

to


23


show the modification of the insert-in body


2


of the buckle of the aforementioned second embodiment, which is shown in

FIGS. 18

to


21


.

FIG. 22

is the cross-sectional view corresponding to

FIG. 19

, and

FIG. 23

is a cross-sectional view of the insert-in body


2


taken along the line XXIII—XXIII in FIG.


22


.




According to this modification, as shown in both of above figures, a recess portion


202


is formed in the center of the insert-in body


2


with both of right and left end portions


201


of the upper surface plate of the insert-in body


2


being left, so as to made a portion of the upper surface plate


20


thin. Thus, the recess portion


202


is formed on the inner surface of the upper surface plate


20


so as to extend from a slightly inner position of the end portion of the opposite side to the base portion


15


of the insert-in body


2


up to the end of the catch rod


25


by the side of the base portion


15


. Consequently, the space between the upper surface plate


20


and the lower surface plate


21


is expanded in the area of the recess portion


202


.




Therefore, the space between the right and left end portions


201


of the upper surface plate


20


, which is disposed so as to sandwich the recess portion


202


, and the inner surface of the lower surface plate


21


is equal to that of the belt insertion hole of the second embodiment. Thus, the belt, which is not illustrated, may easily inserted into the belt insertion hole


22


. Additionally, when the belt inserted into the belt insertion hole


22


is inserted through the two through holes


24


, wound onto the catch rod


25


and pulled out from the belt insertion hole


22


, right and left edge portions of the belt is respectively thrust through the narrow space between the right and left end portions


201


of the belt insertion hole


22


and the lower surface plate


21


. Consequently, the belt is not unstable in the belt insertion hole


22


and smooth attachment of the belt may be secured. At the same time, the amount of the resin used for forming the recess portion


202


may be reduced.



Claims
  • 1. A buckle, wherein engaging rods, which have engaging portions at outer sides thereof, are provided at both sides of a base portion of an insert-in body, and at least a guide rod is protruded at a center of the base portion, and at an opposite surface of the base portion are provided a lower surface plate having a belt attaching portion and an upper surface plate covering a surface of the lower surface plate, and a belt insertion hole is formed between the upper surface plate and the lower surface plate, and a buckle main body is formed from an upper surface plate, a lower surface plate, and side walls, and an insert-in hole for the insert-in body is provided at one end of the buckle main body, and a belt insertion hole is provided at another end of the buckle main body, and a belt attaching portion is provided at an end portion of the low surface plate, and through holes for a belt which communicate with the belt insertion holes are formed at the belt attaching portions, and engaging holes which engage with the engaging rods are provided at the side walls, and wherein the two through holes for a belt are formed at least one of the belt attaching portions, a catch rod for catching the belt is formed between the through holes, and a surface of the catch rod is formed in an uneven shape so as to form a belt adjustment portion.
  • 2. A buckle according to claim 1, wherein the guide rod is provided at the base portion of the insert-in body, and the guide rod is formed in a shape such that a lateral cross sectional configuration thereof is H-shaped or a shape whose upper side is open.
  • 3. A buckle according to claim 1, wherein at least a guide groove, which extends from the insert-in hole to the through hole on facing surfaces of the upper and lower surface plates of the buckle main body and guides the guide rod, is formed at the buckle main body.
  • 4. A buckle according to claim 3, wherein attachment holes which communicate with the guide groove are drilled in the upper surface plate of the buckle main body.
  • 5. A buckle according to claim 1, wherein support portions are formed to project at both of right and left sides of the insert-in body, the upper surface plate is disposed in a bridge-like manner so as to connect the surfaces of the support portions and the lower surface plate is disposed in a bridge-like manner so as to connect the rear surfaces of the support portions, and the belt insertion hole is provided between both of the supporting portions, and the upper surface plate and the lower surface plate.
  • 6. A buckle according to claim 1, wherein the base portion of the insert-in body is swelled out in an arc shape, and the belt adjustment portion is provided at an enlarged portion of the lower surface plate, and a belt insertion hole side is formed in an arc shape, and an insert-in hole side for the insert-in body of the buckle main body is cut in a curved shape, and both side end portions of the insert-in hole side of the buckle main body are formed in projected configurations, and a belt insertion hole side is formed in an arc shape.
Priority Claims (1)
Number Date Country Kind
2000-199478 Jun 2000 JP
US Referenced Citations (8)
Number Name Date Kind
5309610 le Gal May 1994 A
5311649 Suh May 1994 A
5459910 Anscher Oct 1995 A
5465472 Matoba Nov 1995 A
5584106 Anscher Dec 1996 A
5791026 Anscher Aug 1998 A
5926928 Lundstedt Jul 1999 A
6052875 Fudaki Apr 2000 A
Foreign Referenced Citations (4)
Number Date Country
0 681 793 Nov 1995 EP
2451175 Nov 1980 FR
2150632 Jul 1985 GB
2 262 962 Jul 1993 GB
Non-Patent Literature Citations (1)
Entry
European Search Report in Application No. 01114873.1 dated Oct. 12, 2001.