Abstract:
A utility buckle apparatus on which accessories can be fastened without inhibiting intentional buckle release or permitting accidental buckle release having a buckle body; a latch secured to the body at a latch rotation location; and an accessory loop secured at a loop location on the body, and by a securing mechanism, selected to maintain free rotation of the latch with respect to the buckle body. The accessory loop can be rotating or non-rotating, and can be attached coaxially with the latch or apart, so long as the loop does not interfere with the operation of the latch.

Description:
BACKGROUND  
       [0001]     1. Field of the Invention  
         [0002]     This invention relates to buckles having a device for fastening or holding an article to be carried about, especially SCUBA diving belt buckles, but is not so limited.  
         [0003]     2. Description of the Related Art  
         [0004]     A self-contained underwater breathing apparatus (“SCUBA”) diver typically uses a buckle to securely carry a weight belt or backplate/backpack by fastening it around the user&#39;s waist. In the case of using a canister light on a backplate/backpack harness, a buckle can be used to retain a canister light on the waist strap via threading a buckle so the strap passes between the body of the buckle and the latch onto the harness strap and then closing the locking latch so the buckle will not move unless the latch is opened. In all of these cases, the sole purpose of a buckle is to allow the user to securely carry a weight belt or backplate/backpack by closing the buckle, or to securely retain the canister light.  
         [0005]     Additionally, if it is desired to clip gear to one&#39;s harness or weight belt, it is customary to utilize a “D” ring. These “D” rings can be kept in place with what is known as a tri-glide or “keeper” although there are versions with integral keepers. These are typically known as “Billy rings.” In either case, the sole purpose of the “D” ring is to provide a location for clipped gear and room must be found, or made, for it on one&#39;s harness or weight belt and once in place they are not easily relocated.  
         [0006]     The problem with this arrangement is that a D-ring permanently mounted on the canister light side (typically the right) of the harness, and in front of the canister light, will interfere with easily adding or removing the canister light. If a permanent d-ring is placed on the harness in such a location as to be behind the canister light the d-ring will not be easily accessed. In either case the user has no convenient, stable, easily accessed, location near the canister light to which gear can be clipped. If one were to place a “D” ring close to the buckle, one may accidentally release the weight belt, resulting in a dangerous, uncontrolled ascent, or loosen the backplate/backpack harness. Another problem is that one may not be able to release the weight belt because of interference with the “D” ring. What is needed, therefore, is a utility buckle with an accessory loop that permits clipping on accessories, but will not risk releasing the belt accidentally, and will not risk interfering with releasing the belt.  
       SUMMARY  
       [0007]     The invention is an apparatus that satisfies the need for a utility buckle with an accessory loop that permits clipping on accessories, but will not release the belt accidentally, or hinder releasing the belt. The invention is a utility buckle with a loop that combines both items into one. It serves as a buckle and additionally provides a convenient attachment point, via an integral loop, to which other items of gear can be clipped. Additionally, when used to retain a canister light, or alone, by simply sliding the buckle over the harness webbing and “locking it down,” the position of the utility buckle is easily adjusted. The invention is well adapted to be a SCUBA diving utility buckle, but the invention is not limited to this particular use. These and other features, aspects, and advantages of the present invention will become better understood with regard to the following description, claims, and accompanying drawings. 
     
    
     DRAWINGS  
       [0008]      FIG. 1  is a side elevation of a utility buckle with a non-rotating accessory loop according to the present invention, showing the various components of the buckle.  
         [0009]      FIG. 2  is a plan view of the utility buckle showing the various components of the buckle.  
         [0010]      FIG. 3  is a bottom view of the utility buckle showing the various components of the buckle.  
         [0011]      FIG. 4  is a side elevation of the utility buckle showing how to thread the utility buckle of  FIGS. 1, 2 , and  3  onto the harness of a SCUBA diving backplate/backpack in order to use the buckle&#39;s accessory loop as an easily adjustable or removable location for which to clip SCUBA diving accessories.  
         [0012]      FIG. 5  is a plan view of the utility buckle with a canister light on the harness of a SCUBA diving backplate/backpack. This shows how the buckle, when closed, is used to retain the canister light on the harness.  
         [0013]      FIG. 6  is a side elevation of the utility buckle with rotating accessory loop, showing how to thread the SCUBA diving utility buckle of  FIGS. 1, 2 , and  3  onto a SCUBA diving weight belt or backplate/backpack harness to use in place of a conventional, non-utility, SCUBA diving weight belt buckle.  
         [0014]      FIG. 7  is a side elevation of the latch of the utility buckle with rotating loop showing the holes into which the rotating loop is inserted.  
         [0015]      FIG. 8  is a side elevation of the body of the utility buckle with a rotating loop showing the holes into which the rotating loop is inserted.  
         [0016]      FIG. 9  is a plan view of a rod after it has been bent into, for this illustration, a “D” shaped loop.  
         [0017]      FIG. 10  is a plan view of the utility buckle with rotating loop showing the final product when the buckle is closed.  
         [0018]      FIG. 11  is a plan view of an open utility buckle with rotating loop. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION  
       [0019]     The invention is an apparatus that satisfies the need for a utility buckle with an accessory loop that permits clipping on accessories, but will not release the belt accidentally, or hinder releasing the belt in an emergency. The invention is a utility buckle with a loop that combines both features into one. It serves as a buckle and additionally provides a convenient attachment point, via an integral loop, to which other items of gear can be clipped. It is suitable for use with SCUBA diving or other recreational equipment, and as a type of tool belt for industrial use. Although this description describes situations where it is used for SCUBA diving, it is for illustrative purposes and is not intended to limit the scope of the invention to only this use.  
         [0020]     In one embodiment the accessory loop is fixed onto the body of the buckle. In another embodiment, the accessory loop rotates coaxially with the latch. The SCUBA diving utility buckle with rotating loop replaces the conventional, non-utility, SCUBA diving buckle with a buckle incorporating a shaped loop to which gear can be clipped that is designed in such a manner that the buckle can still be opened and closed, as needed, by the user. The design of the SCUBA diving utility buckle with rotating loop allows it to be used as a conventional, non-utility, buckle as well as provide an attachment point for miscellaneous items of SCUBA diving gear that the user might wish to clip to the buckle&#39;s utility loop. The rotating loop does not interfere with the operation of the buckle&#39;s latch.  
         [0021]     Therefore, the embodiment with the rotating accessory loop can be used as a primary release buckle. The embodiment with the non-rotating accessory loop cannot be used as a primary release buckle, but serves as a very convenient attachment point like the rotating loop does.  
         [0022]     Prototypes of the non-rotating accessory loop were tested by the inventor. That model was designed to solve problems encountered by the inventor. Afterward, a prototype of the rotating accessory loop was developed to solve similar problems. The prototype rotating accessory loop was fabricated via disassembling an existing weight-belt buckle, bending a ⅛ inch rod, and then inserting the ends of the rod through the pivot-pin holes in the buckle latch and buckle body. Subsequent prototypes were fabricated in a similar manner using a variety of rod widths and buckle parts. It is intended that an efficient, less labor intensive, method of manufacturing the SCUBA diving utility buckle with rotating loop be developed or procured.  
         [0023]     The accompanying drawings depict the basic design of the SCUBA diving utility buckle with non-rotating and rotating loops, as well as illustrate and describe some of the ways the buckle can be utilized.  
         [0024]      FIG. 1  is a side elevation of a utility buckle assembly  11  with a non-rotating loop according to the present invention. The figure shows its five components: a body  12 , a latch  13 , the latch rotation location  14 , and an accessory loop  15 . The accessory loop  15  can be placed in a spaced relationship in any location along the side of the body  12  in the non-rotating loop embodiment provided it does not interfere with the operation of the latch  13 . This figure shows one of the two securing mechanisms disclosed in this specification, which are non-rotatably affixing the accessory loop  15  to the body  12 , and rotatably affixing the accessory loop  15  to the body  12 .  
         [0025]     Note that the non-rotating accessory loop  15  is oriented in the direction of the latch when the latch is closed. In this position, the loop is less likely to interfere with any part of the latch in operation.  
         [0026]     The non-rotating accessory loop  15  is attached at to the body  12  at a loop location  22 , which is spaced from the latch  13  to prevent interference. The loop  15  can be affixed to the body  12  by welding, brazing, bolting, riveting, or other equivalent method.  
         [0027]      FIG. 2  is a plan view of the utility buckle showing five different elements: a body  12 , a latch  13 , the latch rotation locations  14 , the utility loop  15 , and a first slot  16   a.    
         [0028]      FIG. 3  is a bottom view of the SCUBA diving utility buckle showing several features: a body  12 , a latch  13 , the accessory loop  15 , and the parallel slots  16   a,    16   b,    16   c,    16   d  via which the buckle would be threaded onto a weight belt or backplate/backpack harness. The number of slots  16  can vary (four are shown) but there must be a minimum of two in order to use the SCUBA diving utility buckle in place of a conventional, non-utility, SCUBA diving buckle. The slots  16  are sized to permit a strap or belt material to be threaded through them.  
         [0029]      FIG. 4  is a side elevation of the SCUBA diving utility buckle depicting how to thread the waist strap of a backplate/backpack through the SCUBA diving utility buckle in order to use the buckle&#39;s accessory loop as an easily adjustable or removable location for which to clip SCUBA diving accessories. The strap  17  is passed through the opening between the SCUBA diving utility buckle body  12  and latch  13 . The latch  13  is then pressed down in order to lock the buckle into position on the strap  17 .  
         [0030]      FIG. 5  is a plan view showing the SCUBA diving utility buckle in place on a backplate/backpack  18  harness along with a canister light  19 . Note the SCUBA diving utility buckle latch  13  and non-rotating accessory loop  15  face toward the free end of the waist strap  17 . This is to allow the user substantially unrestricted access to the buckle latch  13  and accessory loop  15 . If the buckle latch  13  and non-rotating utility loop  15  abut the canister light  19  they will not be easily accessible. The free end  17  of the waist strap will be placed through a SCUBA diving utility buckle used as depicted in  FIG. 6  in order to securely retain the backplate/backpack  18  on the user. The buckle can, of course, be used with or without the canister light  19 .  
         [0031]      FIG. 6  is a side elevation of the SCUBA diving utility buckle with rotating accessory loop showing how to use the SCUBA diving utility buckle in place of a conventional, non-utility, weight belt buckle, either on a weight belt or a backplate/backpack harness. Note that the strap  17  passes through at least two of the threading slots  16   b,    16   d  in the body  12  of the SCUBA diving utility buckle, although it could pass through other slots. The webbing is preferably two-inch wide nylon webbing.  
         [0032]      FIG. 7  is a side elevation of the latch  13  of the SCUBA diving utility buckle with rotating accessory loop showing the holes into which the loop  15  can be inserted. The holes in this view define the latch rotation location  14 . The loop  15  is preferably made of cylindrical material, such as metal wire or rod, formed into a loop, although other elongated material can be used.  
         [0033]     It is not necessary that the loop be round at all. In fact, the loop  15  can be round, oval, polygonal, or any other shape. A “V” shape has been shown to work well.  
         [0034]      FIG. 8  is a side elevation of the body of the SCUBA diving utility buckle with rotating loop showing the holes into which the loop  15  will be inserted coaxially with the latch rotation location  14 .  
         [0035]      FIG. 9  is a plan view of the rotating accessory loop  15 . Also shown are the straight portions  18  of the loop  15  that will be inserted in the holes in the buckle body  12  and buckle latch  13  at the latch rotation location  14  shown in  FIG. 10 .  
         [0036]      FIG. 10  is a plan view showing the SCUBA diving utility buckle with rotating accessory loop  15  in the closed position. The accessory loop  15  must fit snugly enough in the pivot holes of the rotation location  14   a,    14   b  of the buckle latch  13  and buckle body  12  that that movement is smooth and the buckle is not loose in its construction. It should be a smooth sliding fit. Additionally, the accessory loop  15  must not be so long that it will allow any clipped-off item of gear to slide under the buckle latch  13  and unintentionally open the buckle.  
         [0037]      FIG. 11  is a plan view showing an open SCUBA diving utility buckle with rotating loop assembly  11  fabricated via assembling the buckle latch  13 , buckle body  12 , and rotating loop  15 . Depicting an open buckle clearly shows the straight portions  18  of the rotating loop  15  that are inserted into the pivot hole/rotation locations  14   a,    14   b  in the buckle latch  13  and buckle body  12 .  
         [0000]     Operation  
         [0038]     Used to fasten a weight belt or backplate/backpack harness, the SCUBA diving utility buckle with rotating loop assembly  11  can be opened and closed, even with items of gear clipped to the accessory loop  15 . Because the buckle latch  13  rotates coaxially with the accessory loop  15 , simply opening the buckle will push the loop in an arc and the loop will not impede opening or closing the buckle.  
         [0039]     When used to retain a canister light  19 , the buckle can be re-positioned, removed, or replaced, along with the items that might be attached, by opening the latch and using the accessory loop  15  as a convenient handle (via which to grasp the buckle. This works better with the non-rotating loop embodiment. When used alone, i.e., there is no canister light  19 , the buckle fulfills all of the same utility as though it were also retaining the canister light, and it provides a convenient and easily adjusted location for clipping whatever gear might be deemed useful during a dive. The embodiment with the rotating accessory loop can be used as a primary release. However, the embodiment with the non-rotating accessory loop should not.  
         [0040]     Because the utility buckle is intended for use in water, the SCUBA diving utility buckle must be constructed of quality corrosion resistant material, preferably metal, because of its strength components. Stainless steel is the preferred material.  
         [0041]     Although the preferred embodiments of the present invention have been described herein, the above description is merely illustrative. Further modification of the invention herein disclosed will occur to those skilled in the respective arts and all such modifications are deemed to be within the scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims.