Abstract:
A kit for converting a belt and buckle fastening system to a snap-on/snap-off system includes a keeper for retaining both a main portion of the belt opposing an end portion of the belt for captively retaining a snap hook having a slotted end secured at a bent over portion of the belt, with a screw installed through opposing buckle holes in the belt nearest to the bent over portion of the belt, for securing the retention of the snap hook on the belt for snapping onto and off of the buckle.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    The present invention relates generally to belt/strap and associated buckle securement systems, and more particularly to belt/strap securement systems providing rapid attachment and detachment of the belts or straps. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    Animal blankets such as those for horses, dogs, and cats typically provide the securement of the blanket to the animal through use of belts or straps in combination with buckles. At times it can be particularly troublesome to quickly attach or detach a blanket to an animal using the standard belt/strap and buckle systems. For example, when fastening a blanket to a horse in cold winter weather one must typically remove their gloves to do so, causing one to “buckle-up” the many straps and buckles with frozen fingers and hands, contributing to lengthening the time it takes to complete the attachment. As a result, there has been a long felt need in the field for means to convert the strap and buckle systems associated with standard animal blankets, such as horse blankets, to permit rapid fastening of the blankets to an animal, even while wearing gloves in cold winter weather. Also, there is long felt need in the prior for converting a belt or strap and buckle securement systems to snap on/off securement systems for a myriad of other items besides animal blankets, such as horse blankets. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0003]    An object of the invention is to provide a kit for converting a belt or strap and associated buckle securement system to a snap on and snap off securement system. 
         [0004]    Another object of the invention is to provide a kit for permitting the conversion of the strap and buckle procurement systems of horse blankets to a snap-on/snap-off system. 
         [0005]    Yet, another object of the invention is to provide a kit for permitting any item that is fastened with a belt or strap and buckle securement system to be converted to a system for permitting the straps to be connected together or detached from one another via a snap-on and snap-off system. 
         [0006]    With these and other objects of the invention in mind, the present invention provides a conversion kit that includes at least one strap or belt keeper, a screw and locknut set, at least one snap hook, and at least one quick link. 
         [0007]    A method for using the inventive conversion kit to convert a given strap/buckle securement means includes the following conversion steps:
       (1) The keeper is installed from the strap or belt and moved passed the buckle hole that would be used to normally secure the belt to the buckle for fastening at least a particular portion of the blanket to a horse, for example, or to at least partially secure some other item;   (2) A snap buckle is installed by inserting the belt or strap through a strap slotway of the snap hook, and when a snap hook is moved to a position between the buckle hole that would normally be used and the next occurring more inward buckle hole;   (3) The free end of the belt or strap is then folded over to retain the snap hook, and fed through the keeper to the extent necessary to align the aforesaid typically used buckle hole with the next more inwardly occurring buckle hole&#39;   (4) A flat edge screw is inserted through the aligned preexisting buckle holes directly behind the snap hook, while insuring in the application for a horse blanket, for example, that the flat end of the screw is positioned opposing the horse&#39;s body;   (5) A locknut is secured to the end of the screw protruding from the belt or strap, whereby in certain installations, the snap hook can now be snapped onto or off of the existing associated buckle; and   (6) In certain conversions, it is preferred to install a quick link through the blanket loop associated with the buckle, by first rotating a captive bridge nut in a direction to open the quick link to permit its installation on the buckle&#39;s blanket loop, followed by rotating the bridge nut in the opposite direction to close the quick link and insure that it remains on the blanket loop, whereafter the snap hook can then be snapped onto or snapped off the quick link.       
 
         [0014]    The above illustrated steps for converting the strap and buckle fastenings for a horse blanket are not meant to be limiting, whereby the conversion kit can be utilized to convert any strap or belt and buckle system to a snap-on system. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0015]    Various embodiments of the invention are described below with reference to the drawings, in which like items are identified by the same reference designations, wherein: 
           [0016]      FIG. 1  shows a front elevational view of a keeper for an embodiment of the invention; 
           [0017]      FIG. 2  shows a front elevational view of another form of keeper relative to that of  FIG. 1 , for an alternative embodiment of the invention; 
           [0018]      FIG. 3  shows a pictorial view of a one-half inch long screw for one embodiment of the invention; 
           [0019]      FIG. 4  shows a pictorial view of a locknut for an embodiment of the invention; 
           [0020]      FIG. 5  shows a pictorial view of a three-quarter inch long screw for an embodiment of the invention; 
           [0021]      FIG. 6  shows a pictorial view of a quick link in an opened position for an embodiment of the invention; 
           [0022]      FIG. 7  shows a pictorial view of the quick link of  FIG. 6  in a closed position; 
           [0023]      FIG. 8  shows a pictorial view for a snap hook for an embodiment of the invention; and 
           [0024]      FIGS. 9 through 17  are pictorial views illustrating the various successive steps necessary for using the present inventive conversion kit to provide a method for converting a buckle strap fastening system to a strap-snap on/off fastening system. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0025]    The present invention provides a kit of components for converting a strap or a belt and buckle fastening system into a snap-on/snap-off fastening system. The components required are shown in  FIGS. 1 through 8 , and are described in detail below. The method or steps required in using these components for converting a belt or a strap and buckle fastening system to a snap-on/snap-off system are shown in  FIGS. 9 through 17 , and are illustrated in association with a horse blanket initially provided with strap and buckle fastening system. However, the present invention is not limited to use in association with converting strap/buckle fastening systems of horse blankets, but can be used for converting any belt or strap and buckle fastening system to a snap-on/snap-off fastening or connection system. 
         [0026]    With reference to  FIGS. 1 through 8 , the conversion kit for the present invention includes one or more of each of the components shown, with the keeper of  FIG. 2  and the quick link of  FIGS. 6 and 7  being optional components, which nonetheless will typically be included in a kit for converting at least one belt and buckle combination to a snap-on/snap-off fastening system. The conversion kit can be provided with a plurality of such components for converting a plurality of belt or strap and buckle fastening systems to snap-on/snap-off fastening systems, respectively. 
         [0027]    More specifically, the components for the present conversion kit, as shown in  FIGS. 1 through 8 , will now be described in detail. In  FIG. 1 , a belt or strap keeper  2  includes an open slot or slotway  4  for receiving a belt or strap. In  FIG. 2 , an alternative keeper  6  is shown that includes an upper belt slot  8 , and a lower belt slot  10 , as shown. In this example,  FIG. 3  shows a one-half inch flat head screw, and  FIG. 4  shows a locknut  14  for use in association with the screw of  FIG. 3 . An alternative longer screw, specifically a three-quarter inch flat head screw  16  is shown in  FIG. 5 , and is used instead of the shortest screw of  FIG. 3 , when necessary. The length shown for screws  12  and  16  are not meant to be limiting, and can be provided in other lengths depending upon the particular thicknesses of the belts or straps being converted to snap-on/snap-off fastening systems. Note that all of the components utilized in the conversion kit must be rust resistant, and are expected to be stainless steel, or provided by other suitable materials that are free from rust or other corrosive effects from use in an outdoor environment. 
         [0028]    In  FIG. 6 , a quick link  18  is shown with its associated captive rotatable closure nut  22  located to a position for opening the link. In this example, the nut  22  is female threaded for mating with the opposing nut threaded free end  20  of the quick link  18 , as shown. In  FIG. 7  the closure nut  22  has been rotated to engage and be secured to the male threaded free end  20  for closing the quick link, as shown. 
         [0029]    A snap hook  24  is shown in  FIG. 8 . The snap hook  24  includes at one end a belt slot  26 , and at its opposing end a spring biased normally closed snap finger  28  for permitting the snap hook  24  to have its hook captive area  30  snap onto a section of a quick link  18 , or a portion of a belt buckle, as will be further discussed below. 
         [0030]    With further reference to  FIGS. 1 through 8 , and with reference to  FIGS. 9 through 17 , the method for using the present conversion kit to convert a strap and buckle fastening system to a quick snap-on/snap-off fastening will now be described. Note that for purposes of this illustration, wherever use of the term strap is used, it is meant to be synonymous with the term belt. 
         [0031]    The first step in making the conversion is shown in  FIG. 9 , where a keeper  2  is installed via its belt slot  4  onto a perforated securement strap  34  of a horse blanket  32 , in this example. The keeper  2  is slid down the strap  34  passed the buckle hole  37  normally used to secure the associated strap  34  to a buckle  36  secured to the end of a buckle strap  38 , as shown. The keeper is further slid passed the next appearing inward buckle hole  37 . Note that the line  35  is meant to show a wear line expected to be found in used horse blankets near the buckle hole  37  used for a particular horse, in this example. 
         [0032]    The second step is successively shown in  FIGS. 10 and 11 . In this step, the belt slot  26  of the snap hook  24  is installed on the strap  34  and slid to a position between the buckle hole  37  that would normally be used to fasten the strap to a buckle  36 , to a position between the utilized buckle hole  37  and the next inward buckle hole  37 , as shown. As indicated, if the horse blanket  32 , in this example, has been previously used a number of times on a particular horse, wear marks  35  will be shown proximate used buckle hole  37 , permitting rapid identification of the used hole  37 . In the instance of a new horse blanket being converted, it must be first fitted on a horse via the strap  34  and associated buckle  36  in order to identify the buckle hole  37  of use, which can be marked via a pencil or pen for later identification when fitting the strap  34  and buckle  36  system to a snap-on/snap-off system via use of the present conversion kit. 
         [0033]    As shown in  FIG. 12 , the next step is to bend the free end of the strap  34  for captivating the snap hook  24 , and passing the free end of strap  34  through the keeper  2  in a manner for aligning the normally used buckle hole  37  with the next inward occurring buckle hole  37 , so that the two holes are opposing one another. 
         [0034]    As shown in  FIGS. 13 and 14 , one of the screws  12  or  16 , depending upon the thickness of the belt  34 , are passed through the opposing buckle hole  37 , with the head of screw  12  or  16  opposing the horse blanket  32 , in this example, and the threaded end of the screw  12  or  16  protruding outward from the strap  34 , as shown in  FIG. 14 . 
         [0035]    With further reference to  FIG. 14 , the next step is to secure the locknut  14  onto the protruding end of the screw  12  or  16 , as shown, and tighten the locknut  14  securely onto the screw  12  or  16 . After completing this step, if desired, the snap hook  24  can be readily snapped onto the buckle  36 , or snapped off, as desired. However, in a preferred embodiment of the invention, the next step is to install a quick link  18 , as described immediately below. 
         [0036]    With reference to  FIG. 15 , a quick link  18  is opened by rotating the closure nut  22  in the appropriate direction, to obtain an open quick link  18 , as shown in  FIG. 6 . The opening provided between the closure nut  22 , and free end  20  of the quick link  18  is utilized to install the quick link  18  onto the folded-over portion of the buckle strap  38  retaining the buckle  36 . After the quick link  18  is installed on the end of the buckle strap  38 , the closure nut  22  is rotated in a direction to secure it to the male threaded free end  20  of the quick link  18 , for closing the quick link  18  as shown in  FIG. 7 .  FIG. 16  shows the completed installation of the quick link  18  onto the buckle strap  38 . The snap hook  24  can then be snapped onto the quick link  18 , as shown successively in  FIG. 16  for initiating the connection, and in  FIG. 17  for completing the snap-on connection. To remove the strap  34  from the strap  38 , the snap hook  24  is simply snapped off the quick link  18 , or the buckle  36  if the quick link  18  is not used, to provide a very rapid disconnect. 
         [0037]    In the manner shown and described above, all of the straps  34  and their associated buckles  36  can be converted to a snap-on/snap-off system through use of a plurality of conversion kits of the present invention, or a single conversion kit that includes a plurality of the aforesaid components for permitting all of the strap  34 /buckle  36  combination to be converted, such as found on a horse blanket  32 , for example. 
         [0038]    As indicated above, the present conversion kit includes an alternative keeper  6  as shown in  FIG. 2 . In certain applications, it may be desirable to use the alternative keeper  6  rather than the keeper  2  of  FIG. 1 . The only difference between using the keeper  6  rather than the keeper  2 , is that initially the strap  34  is passed through one of the upper belt slot  8  or lower belt slot  10  of keeper  6  in the first step of conversion, followed by passing the strap through the other one of the slots  8  and  10  after the snap hook  24  has been installed on the strap  34 , as described above. 
         [0039]    If it is ever necessary to change the length of the above strap  34 , if in this example, the horse blanket  32  is used to cover a different horse than previously covered, one merely must move the locknuts  14  and screw  12  or  16  to the necessary buckle holes  37 , for lengthening or shortening strap  34 . After the desired length is determined, the appropriate buckle holes  37  are aligned with one another, and the screw  12  or  16  is reinserted, and secured via locknut  14 , as previously described. 
         [0040]    Although various embodiments of the invention have been shown and described, they are not meant to be limiting. Those of skill in the art may recognize modifications to these embodiments, which modification are meant to be covered by the spirit and scope of the appended claims. For example, if a “custom hole” is desired in a belt strap  34  to obtain a better or “custom fit” for a horse blanket  32  or other article, before using the present kit, one can make or punch another hole in the desired location. After the hole is made, the kit is applied for use as described above. Also, the quick link  18  can be replaced by a rust-free heavy duty key ring.