US3432895A - Adapter for connecting a belt buckle with a belt - Google Patents

Description

March 18, 1969 s. A. NYBERG E AL ADAPTER FOR CONNECTING A BELT BUCKLE WITH A BELT Filed May 15, 1967 /2 FIG. I.

is STANLEY ANYBERG FIG. 3. JOE osr INVENTORS A T TORNE Y United States Patent Office 3,432,895 Patented Mar. 18, 1969 1 Claim ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE An adapter for connecting a belt buckle with a belt and comprised of a rectangular body plate and a hinge plate of substantially the same width, hinge means pivotally connecting corresponding ends of said plates in spaced relation at the sides thereof, inwardly projecting belt engaging teeth along the end of one of said plates adjacent said hinge means, at least one inwardly turned buckle engaging hook on one said plate at the end thereof opposite said hinge means, and an inwardly directed perpendicular spacer along the edge of the plate other than the one including said hook and positioned opposite the latter when both said plates are closed relative to each other.

This invention relates to belt buckle adapters of the type having a body plate and a toothed hinge element for engaging one end of a belt and arranged whereby the remaining end of the belt may be engaged in the buckle carried thereby.

An object of the invention is to provide a belt buckle adapter capable of engaging either tongue or trophy buckles.

Another object is to provide a belt buckle adapter of the type referred to including friction means for holding the hinge plate in its closed position.

A further object is to provide a spacer on the hinge plate where-by the latter will be parallel with the body plate when the hinge plate is closed, and at the same time cover the end portion of the belt received therebetween.

Another object is to provide side walls on the body plate to cover the edges of the received portion of the belt, yet provide means receiving a conventional belt loop.

A further object is to provide a belt buckle adapter which, when connected with a belt and buckle, is relatively thin and fiat for appearance and comfort.

These and other objects of the invention will become apparent from the following description and the accompanying drawing, in which:

FIGURE 1 is a broken side elevational view of a belt showing the present adapter connected with a trophy type buckle.

FIGURE 2 is an enlarged inverted perspective view of the present adapter in its open position.

FIGURE 3 is an end view of the adapter in its closed position, and

FIGURE 4 is a longitudinal sectional view similar to FIGURE 1, but showing the adapter connected with a tongue type buckle.

An adapter according to the invention includes a rectangular body plate having perpendicular side walls 11 along the sides of the body plate extending from one end of the body plate to substantially two-thirds the length thereof. At the end of the remaining length of the body plate 10 there are two spaced inwardly turned buckle engaging hooks 12, and in the body plate between the hooks there is a buckle tongue receiving slot 13. At the ends of the side walls 11 opposite the hooks 11, and in the same plane as the side walls, there are projecting ears 14 which have to do with a hinge action to be described. Similarly, at the remaining ends of the side walls 11 there are projecting friction tabs 15. The material of the body plate 10 and its integral parts, including the tabs 15 and hooks 12, is capable of some spring action.

A hinge plate 16 is pivotally connected at one end with the ears 1'4, and for this purpose there are holes 17 in the ears which receive laterally projecting pins 18 on the end of the plate. On the end of the hinge plate 16 adjacent the pins 18 there is a row of perpendicular teeth 19 which are directed toward the body plate 10 when the hinge plate is closed. Similarly, there is a perpendicular spacer 20 on the remaining end of the hinge plate, the width of which spacer is such that the two plates 10 and 16 are parallel in their closed position. When closed, the tabs 15 frictionally engage the sides of the hinge plate 16 and the hooks 12 frictionally engage the spacer 20. The hinge action of the adapter provides for accommodating a conventional belt loop 21 which is positioned around the body plate 10 between the ears 14 and the tabs 15.

When using the present adapter the belt 22 to be worn may be initially cut to length at its buckle end, which end is inserted between the teeth 19 and the body plate 10, and through the loop 21, while the adapter is in its open position. The adapter is then closed, which action causes the teeth 19 to grip the belt 22. When fully closed the tabs 15 frictionally engage the sides of the hinge plate 16 and the books 12 frictionally engage the spacer 20. The spacer 20 also provides a closure at the ends of the hooks 12.

A trophy type buckle, such as shown in FIGURE 1, is usually comprised of a slightly arcuate ornamental plate 23, an elongate ring 24 on the back and near one end thereof where it is pivotally held in place by eyes 25, and an arcuate pointed pin 26 on the back and near the other end of the plate. The pin 26 is inclined inwardly for engaging the usual holes, not shown, in the free end of the belt 22. Thus, the portion of the elongate ring 24 opposite the eyes 25 may be engaged in the hooks 12 by opening and then closing the hinge plate 16. A tongue type buckle 26 having a pintle 27 or other cross bar on which a tongue 28 is pivotally mounted is similarly attached to the adapter by placing the pintle or cross bar in the hooks 12 when the adapter is open.

What is claimed is:

1. An adapter for connecting a belt buckle with a belt, said adapter being comprised of a rectangular body plate and a hinge plate of substantially the same width, hinge means pivotally connecting corresponding ends of said plates in spaced relation at the sides thereof, inwardly projecting belt engaging teeth along the end of one of said plates adjacent said hinge means, at least one inwardly turned buckle engaging hook on one said plate at the end thereof opposite said hinge means, an inwardly directed perpendicular spacer along the edge of the plate other than the one including said hook and positioned opposite the latter and closing the hook when both said plates are closed relative to each other, and friction tabs on the sides of one said plate positioned to engage the sides of the other said plate when the adapter is in its closed position, said hinge means and References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 10/1904 Smith 24l92 9/1907 Sude1l 24192 4 Kreisler.

Signorelli 24192 X Rufihead et al. Rust. Mendosa. Roy.

DONALD A. GRIFFIN, Primary Examiner.

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