Abstract:
The disclosure relates to a buckle assembly suitable for headgear such as swimming goggles of a type provided in combination with an elastic strap having a set of equally spaced teeth, projections, transverse ridges, arranged along the strap at least on the end portions of the strap, which enables easy adjustment of the length of the elastic strap. The disclosure also relates to a swimming goggle having such a buckle assembly.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     This invention relates to buckle assemblies for headgear adjustment straps, and in particular, to buckle assemblies for adjusting elastic straps for swimming goggles. 
     2. Description of the Prior Art 
     Currently available buckle assemblies for swimming goggles generally include a strap length-adjusting piece  17  which is formed on either, outer side portions of a lens frame  18  as shown in FIG.  1 . Such strap length-adjusting piece  17  has at least two elongated openings through which ends of strap  15  pass. These through openings are disposed in a side-by-side relationship as shown in FIG.  2 . Strap  15  is wrapped around a wall portion  17   a  between the two through openings. In order to enable strap  15  to be easily removed from the strap length-adjusting piece  17  to adjust length, the center portion of an outermost wall portion  17   b  is partially cut-out. Strap  15  is disposed in the strap length-adjusting piece  17  by passing a free end  15   a  of strap  15  through one of the openings which is adjacent to the lens part from the rear side of the piece, and then passing the same free end of the strap through the outermost opening. 
     A swimming goggle generally includes a lens assembly  13  having two lens frames  18  each having a lens part  11  fixed therein, with a nose bridge  14  connecting the inner sides of the lens frames. Head strap  15  connects the outer sides of the lens assembly  13 . Each of the lens parts  11  generally has a silicon packing  12  provided on the wearer facing side thereof. Silicon packing  12  has a face engaging surface which is adapted to comfortably engage the wearer&#39;s face and compliantly follow the contour of the wearer&#39;s face due to its compressibility. 
     Accordingly, the wearer adjusts the length of the elastic strap by pulling one end  15   a  of the elastic strap  15  which is wrapped around strap-supporting portion  17   a  of the strap length adjusting piece  17 , usually before wearing the swimming goggle. Once worn, silicon packing  12  seals to the skin of the face so that water does not leak into the interior of each lens part. If the elastic strap is too tightly adjusted, silicon packing  12  presses excessively around the eyes, which may result in pain in the skin around the eyes. If elastic strap  15  is too loosely adjusted, water may leak into lens part  11  past the silicon packing  12 . For these reasons, adjustments to the length of the elastic strap  15  is required before a swimming goggle is put on to apply adequate pressure to the face. 
     In swimming goggles having the above-described buckle assembly, a wearer cannot adjust the length of the elastic strap  15  while wearing the swimming goggle on his head. The wearer must take off the swimming goggle from his head to adjust the length of the elastic strap. This adjusting operation is often repeated several times which may be extremely inconvenient. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     One object of the present invention is to overcome such problems with prior art buckle assemblies, and to provide a buckle assembly which makes tightening and loosening operations simpler, quicker and more convenient with a simple arrangement such that the operations may be accomplished with only one hand and ensures the highest functional reliability of the buckle assembly. 
     Another object of the present invention is to provide a swimming goggle provided with such a buckle assembly which enables the wearer to perform the tightening and loosening operations while wearing the swimming goggle on his head. 
     The invention achieves the above objects by providing a buckle assembly for releasably fixing a strap and having a plurality of width-wise ridges, comprising a buckle body further comprising a strap-supporting portion around which the strap is wrapped; a slider, slidable between a first position and a second position with respect to the strap-supporting portion; the slider further comprising a strap-pressing piece which presses down the strap against the strap-supporting portion in its first position; and wherein, when the strap is pulled, one of the ridges engages with the strap-pressing piece to move the slider to the second position and, when the strap is released, another one of the ridges is engaged with the strap-pressing piece to move the slider to the first position. 
     Other objects, features and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following detailed descriptions of the various embodiments taken in connection with the accompanying drawings. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a prior art swimming goggle having a conventional strap length-adjusting piece. 
     FIG. 2 shows the prior art swimming goggle of FIG. 1 with its strap disengaged from the strap length adjusting piece. 
     FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the swimming goggle provided with a buckle assembly according to the first embodiment of the present invention. 
     FIG. 4 is an exploded perspective view of the different components of the swimming goggle shown in FIG.  3 . 
     FIGS. 5 and 6 are elevated side views of a portion of the present swimming goggle for illustrating the operations of the buckle assembly according to a first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 5 illustrates the fixed state of the buckle assembly after the length of the elastic strap has been adjusted, and FIG. 6 illustrates the released state allowing the adjustment of the length of the strap. 
     FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view taken along line VII—VII in FIG. 5, depicting the slider in its first position. 
     FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view taken along line VIII—VIII in FIG. 6, depicting the slider in its second position. 
     FIGS. 9 and 10 show the relative movements of the slider with respect to the buckle body of the buckle assembly of the first embodiment. FIG. 9 shows the first position of the slider, and FIG. 10 shows the second position of the slider. 
     FIGS. 11A,  11 B and  11 C are side, plan and bottom views, respectively, of the buckle body of the buckle assembly. 
     FIGS. 12A,  12 B and  12 C are side, plan and bottom views, respectively, of the slider of the buckle assembly. 
     FIG. 13 is a bottom view of a lens frame of the buckle assembly according to the first embodiment of the present invention. 
     FIG. 14 is a perspective view of a swimming goggle having a buckle assembly according to a second embodiment of the present invention. 
     FIG. 15 is an exploded perspective view of the different components of the swimming goggle shown in FIG.  14 . 
     FIG. 16 is a perspective view of a swimming goggle having a buckle assembly according to a third embodiment of the present invention. 
     FIG. 17 is an exploded perspective view of the different components of the swimming goggle shown in FIG.  16 . 
     FIG. 18 is a perspective view of a swimming goggle having a buckle assembly according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention. 
     FIG. 19 is an exploded perspective view of the different components of the swimming goggle shown in FIG.  18 . 
     FIG. 20 is a perspective view of a swimming goggle having a buckle assembly according toga fifth embodiment of the present invention. 
     FIG. 21 is an exploded perspective view of the different components of the swimming goggle shown in FIG.  20 . 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     Various embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. The buckle assembly is described with particular reference to embodiments which are applied to swimming goggles. However, it should be understood that the buckle assembly of the present invention can also be used in combination with any strap which has to be repeatedly tightened and loosened for adjusting its length. 
     The term “longitudinal” referred to herein is used to indicate the circumferential direction of a fully assembled swimming goggle as shown in FIG.  3 . The term “transverse” referred to herein is used to indicate the direction perpendicular to the “longitudinal” direction. 
     First Embodiment 
     FIGS. 3 and 4 illustrate perspective and exploded views of a swimming goggle having a buckle assembly  100  of the first embodiment of the present invention. 
     The swimming goggle comprises a lens assembly  113  comprised of a pair of lens parts  111  and a pair of lens frames  118  each combining a lens part  111  therein. and an elastic strap  115  for holding the swimming goggle on a person&#39;s head. 
     According to this embodiment, the buckle assembly  100  is detachably attached on each outer side portion of the lens assembly  113  to connect the lens assembly  113  and the elastic strap  115 . In order to fasten the buckle assembly  100  on the outer side portion of the lens assembly  113  as shown in FIG. 4, fastening means such as spaced apart projections  118   a  are provided on each outer side portion of the lens parts  111 . Between these projections  118   a  are press fitted spaced ribs  118   b  (FIG. 13) integrally formed on the bottom side of the lens frame  118 , which will be further described hereinbelow. In this manner, the slider  117  can be maintained in a slidable relationship with respect to the buckle body  119  between the outer side portion of a lens part  111  and a lens frame  118 . 
     The buckle assembly  100  of this embodiment comprises a buckle body  119  including a strap-supporting portion  119   a  around which a strap  115  is wrapped, and a slider  117  which is slidable between a first position and a second position with respect to the strap-supporting portion  119   a  and which also has a strap-pressing piece  117   b  (FIG. 12C) integrally formed on its bottom side for pressing down strap  115  against the strap-supporting portion  119   a  when the slider  117  is in its first position. The lens frame  118  is fastened on the outer side portion of the lens assembly  113  by means of the spaced ribs  118   b  so as to prevent the buckle body  119  and the slider  117  from being removed from the lens assembly  113 . 
     The buckle body  119 , the slider  117  and the lens frame  118  adapted for the buckle assembly  100  of this embodiment will next be described in greater detail. 
     Referring to FIGS. 11A,  11 B and  11 C, side, plan and bottom views of the buckle body  119  according to this embodiment are shown. As shown in FIG. 11B, the buckle body  119  is comprised of a generally rectangular flat plate member having an elongated first guide rail  119   b  which extends longitudinally along a center line of the plate member and projects outwardly therefrom, and a pair of second guide sections  119   i  extending parallel to and on both sides of the first guide rail  119   b . On one side end of the buckle body  119 , a rectangular opening  119   c  is provided to define the strap-supporting portion  119   a . The outwardly directed latch hook  119   d  is provided at the distal end of the first guide rail  119   b  for interengagement with the lens frame  118 . Intermediate of the first guide rail  119   d , a raised boss  119   e  is provided. The raised boss  119   e  has an angled or chamfered surface  119   f  on the side facing the latch hook  119   d . A pair of first stoppers  119   h  are protruded from the outside corner at one end of each second guide section  119   i . The pair of first stoppers  119   h  define the slider&#39;s first position. At the corner of the other end of each second guide section  119   i , a pair of second stoppers  119   g  are formed opposite to the pair of first stoppers  119   h . The pair of second stoppers  119   g  define the slider&#39;s second position. An upper surface of the body between the first stoppers  119   h  and the second stoppers  119   g  defines a sliding surface over which the slider described hereinafter slides. 
     Referring to FIGS. 12A,  12 B and  12 C, side, plan and bottom views of the slider  117  which slides on the above-described buckle body  119 , are shown. Referring to FIG. 12C illustrating the bottom side of the slider  117 , the slider  117  comprises a pair of first sliding elements  117   a  sliding on the second guide sections  119   i  between the first position (FIG. 9) in which the sliding elements  117   a  abut against the pair of first stoppers  119   h , and the second position (FIG. 10) in which the sliding elements  117   a  abut against the pair of second stoppers  119   g  with the first guide rail  119   b  guiding the sliding motion of the slider  117 . The slider  117  also comprises a center second sliding element  117   c  sliding along the first guide rail  119   b  of the buckle body  119 . An arched common portion  117   d  interconnects the pair of first sliding elements  117   a  and the second sliding element  117   c . When the slider  117  is slidably located on the buckle body  119 , the first sliding elements  117   a  of the slider  117 , slide on the second guiding sections  119   i  between the pair of first and second stoppers. From the bottom side of a slider  117 , an integrally formed strap-pressing piece  117   b  extends downwardly at a position facing the strap-supporting portion  119   a  when the slider  117  is positioned in the first position with respect to the buckle body  119 . 
     Referring to FIG. 12A, it is shown that the arched common portion  117   d  interconnects outer ends of the pair of first sliding elements  117   a  and a second sliding element  117   c . As shown in FIG. 5, the arched portion  117   d  is shaped to mate with the lens frame  118  in a fully assembled buckle assembly. When the lens frame  118  is positioned onto the slider  117 , the outer surface of a lens frame  118  forms a smooth curved surface together with that of the arched common portion  117   d , thereby providing a simple and functional design, which is preferable for a swimming goggle. Additionally, a triangular projection  117   e  may be provided on the outer surface of the common portion  117   d  which may be engaged by a finger of a user. This triangular projection  117   e  may enhance friction between the outer surface of the common portion  117   d  and the finger of the user, and thus, may assist in sliding the slider  117 . 
     In the first position, the sliding elements  117   a  abut against the pair of first stoppers  119   h  (FIG.  9 ). In the second position, the sliding elements  117   a  abut against the pair of second stoppers  119   g  (FIG.  10 ). 
     In the first position shown in FIG. 9, the strap-pressing piece  117   b  integrally formed on the bottom side of the slider  117  is positioned opposite to the strap-supporting portion  119   a  with a distance to press more than a half width of the strap  115 . In this position, the strap  115  wrapped around the strap-supporting portion  119   a  is pressed against the strap-supporting portion  119   a  by the strap-pressing piece  117   b  as shown in FIG.  7 . In addition, when the length of the strap  115  is loosened, the slider  117  can be moved to slide to a second position as shown in FIG.  10 . In this position, the clearance between the strap-pressing piece  117   b  and the strap-supporting portion  119   a  becomes larger, thus the strap  115  can move more easily therebetween. 
     In the following, the details of the lens frame  118  will be described. The lens frame  118  is fastened in the above-described spaced apart projections  118   a  provided on the outer side portion of the lens part  111  with the buckle body  119  and the slider  117  interposed therebetween. On the bottom side of the outer side portion of the lens frame  118 , a mounting piece for press-fitting between the projections  118   a  is provided as shown in FIG.  13 . The mounting piece is shaped as spaced ribs  118   b  so as to be relatively flexible to the more rigid projections  118   a . A groove  118   c  in which the second sliding element  117   c  engages when a slider  117  slides over a buckle body  119  in a fully assembled state, extends longitudinally on the bottom side of the outer side portion of the lens frame  118 . In addition, a recess  18   d  is formed in the groove  118   c  at a position where the raised boss  119   e  provided on the center rail  119   b  is located. A mating portion  118 f which engages the latch hook  119   d  in a mechanical interlocking engagement is formed between the spaced ribs  118   b.    
     On both ends of the elastic strap  115 , a plurality of transverse ridges  115   a  are equally spaced on the surface opposing the strap-pressing piece  117   b . When at least one end of the elastic strap  115  is pulled in a tightening direction, one of the ridges on the stretching strap engages the strap-pressing piece on the bottom side of the slider and moves the slider to its second position. When the strap is released, the strap contracts and simultaneously one of the other ridges pushes the strap-pressing piece  117   b  to move the slider  117  to its first position. These ridges  115   a  have a height sufficient to be engaged by the strap-pressing piece. While the strap-pressing piece  117   b  moves by engagement with one of the ridges  115   a  on the contracting strap  115 , the slider  117  having the strap-pressing piece  117   b  integrally formed on the bottom side thereof slides from its second position to its first position. In the first position of the slider, the length of the elastic strap  115  is fixed since the strap-pressing piece  117   b  is pressed against the strap-supporting portion  119   a.    
     Same parts may be used to provide two opposite buckle assemblies, for example to the right and to the left of the swimming goggle. The parts employed for each of the buckle assembly are substantially identical to each other. 
     When the strap is used to tighten the lens assembly to the head of a wearer, for example in a swimming goggle, the strap contacts the head with its smooth face. Teeth, projections, ridges or the like are provided only on a predetermined portion at both ends of the strap. 
     The wearer may perform the tightening and loosening operations while wearing the swimming goggle of this embodiment on his head, in a simpler, quicker and more convenient way. 
     Second Embodiment 
     Referring to FIGS. 14 and 15, a swimming goggle having a buckle assembly  200  according to a second embodiment of the present invention is shown in perspective and exploded views, respectively. 
     As shown in the drawings, two straps  215  and  215 ′ each of which having a plurality of width-wise ridges  215   a  and  215   a ′ are coupled to each end of respective lens part  211 . Each of the elastic straps  215  and  215 ′ is wrapped around respective first and second strap-supporting portions  219   a  and  219   a ′ both formed in a single buckle assembly  200 . The buckle assembly  200  of this embodiment is separately formed from the lens assembly  213 . 
     The buckle assembly  200  of this embodiment comprises a buckle body  219  having the first and a second strap-supporting portions  219   a  and  219   a ′ wrapped around by the first and second straps  215  and  215 ′, respectively. A first and a second sliders  217  and  217 ′ are slidable between the first position and second position with respect to a first and a second strap-supporting portions  219   a  and  219   a ′, respectively. The first and second sliders  217  and  217 ′ have the first and second strap-pressing pieces  217   b  and  217   b ′ integrally formed on each of their bottom side in order to press first and second straps  215  and  215 ′ against the first and second strap-supporting portions  219   a  and  219   a ′ when first and second slider  217  and  217 ′ are in their first positions, such that straps  215  and  215 ′ are prevented from being released in their loosening direction. The buckle assembly  200  further comprises a slider cover  218  which prevents the first and second sliders being disengaged from the buckle body  219 . 
     The buckle body  219  is generally a rectangular flat plate member. Two openings  219   c  and  219   c ′ are formed at both ends of the buckle body  219  to provide the first and second strap-supporting portions  219   a  and  219   a ′ around which the first and second straps  215  and  215 ′ are wrapped, respectively. A guide section  219   b  extends longitudinally along the center of the buckle body  219  between the two openings  219   c  and  219   c ′. A pair of first stoppers  219   h  are formed on both sides at one end of the guide section  219   b . These first stoppers  219   h  have a height higher than that of the guide section  219   b . A second stopper  219   g  is formed on the other end of the guide section  219   b . The range of the sliding motion of the first slider  217  is defined between the first stopper pair  219   h  and the second stopper  219   g.    
     As shown in FIG. 15, the first slider  217  comprises a longitudinally extending body  217   a  having a surface facing the guide section  219   b  of the buckle body  219 , a first transverse extension  217   c  provided on one end of the body  217   a , and a second transverse extension  217   c ′ provided on the other end of the body  217   a . The first transverse extension  217   c  abuts against the second stopper  219   g  in its first position and against the first stopper pair  219   h  in its second position. The second transverse extension  217   c ′ abuts against the first stopper pair  219   h  in its first position, and has a height higher than the other portions of the first slider  217 . In addition, the first strap-pressing piece  217   b  is integrally formed on the bottom side of the first transverse extension  217   c , and the second strap-pressing piece  217   b ′ is integrally formed on the bottom side of the second transverse extension  217   c′.    
     When the first slider  217  slides along the guide section  219   b , the body  217   a  of the first slider  217  passes between the first stopper pair  219   h  and slides until it abuts against the second stopper  219   g.    
     The second slider  217 ′ is a generally rectangular frame composed of four frame elements, two longitudinal frame elements and two transverse frame elements. Opposing surfaces of a pair of longitudinal elements  217   a ′ support both ends of the first transverse extension  217   c  of the first slider  217 . One of the transverse frame element has a cut-out portion  217   d  dimensioned in such a way as to allow the passage of the body  217   a  of the first slider  217  while preventing the passage of the first transverse extension  217   c  therethrough. After the first slider  217  is positioned on the buckle body  219 , the second slider  217 ′ is placed on the first slider  217  such that the first transverse extension  217   c  cannot pass through the cut-out portion  217   d  of the second slider  217 ′ while sliding to their second positions. 
     In addition, the slider cover  218  holds the first and second sliders  217  and  217 ′ in their assembled state with respect to the above-described buckle body  219 . The slider cover  218  in this embodiment is a tube like element having a rectangular cross-section. In one of its four sides, a longitudinal cut-out  218   b  extending the entire length is formed. This longitudinal cut-out  218   b  may be elastically opened apart, for the receipt of the buckle body  219  and the first and second sliders  217  and  217 ′. 
     The swimming goggle of this embodiment also enables the wearer to tighten and loosen adjustments while wearing the swimming goggle on his head. 
     Third Embodiment 
     Referring to FIGS. 16 and 17, a swimming goggle having a buckle assembly  300  according to the third embodiment of the present invention is shown in a perspective view and an exploded perspective view, respectively. 
     In this embodiment, a strap-supporting portion  319   a  is formed on each end of a lens part  311 , together with two spaced projections  318   a  for fastening a lens frame thereto, as shown in FIG.  17 . 
     A pair of parallel guideways  317   c  are formed on an outer side portion of the lens frame  318  for guiding the sliding motion of the slider  317  between its first and second positions. A slider  317  comprises a pair of leg portions  317   e  slidable along the guideways  317   c  with each of leg portions inserted therein. A strap-pressing piece  317   b  is separately formed from the slider  317 , and is coupled to the leg portions  317   e  of the slider  317  inserted into the guideways  317   c . Strap-pressing piece  317   b  is adapted to press the strap  315  against the strap-supporting portion  319   a  when the slider  317  is in its first position. 
     When the elastic strap  315  is pulled, the strap stretches and simultaneously one of said ridges  315   a  engages with said strap-pressing piece  317   b  to move said slider  317  to said second position, and when the elastic strap  315  is released, the strap contracts and simultaneously another one of the ridges  315   a  engages with the strap-pressing piece  317   b  to move the slider  317  to the first position. Thus, strap  315  is automatically fixed in the adjusted length when the strap  15  is released. 
     Fourth Embodiment 
     Referring to FIGS. 18 and 19, a swimming goggle having a buckle assembly  400  according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention is shown in a perspective view and an exploded perspective view, respectively. 
     As depicted in the drawings, two straps  415  and  415 ′ each of which has a plurality of width-wise ridges  415   a  and  415   a ′ are coupled to each end of respective lens part  411 . Each of the elastic straps  415  and  415 ′ is wrapped around respective first and second strap-supporting portions  419   a  and  419   a ′ both formed in a single buckle assembly  400 . The buckle assembly  400  of this embodiment is separately formed from the lens assembly  413 . 
     A swimming goggle of this embodiment comprises a lens assembly  413  comprised of a pair of lens parts  411  and a pair of lens frames  418  each of which is coupled to respective lens part  411 . two elastic straps  415  and  415 ′ each of which is coupled to an end of respective lens part  411  and has a plurality of width-wise ridges  415   a  and  415   a ′, and a buckle assembly  400  to which two straps  415  and  415 ′ are connected. 
     A buckle body  419  of the buckle assembly  400  comprises a flat plate, a slider guiding plate  419   k  extending in a spaced, parallel relationship with respect to the flat plate, and a post  419   j  maintaining the flat plate and the slider guiding plate  419   k  in such a spaced relationship. The slider guiding plate  419   k  is provided with a pair of longitudinal first guideways  417   c  and a pair of longitudinal second guideways  417   c ′ guiding the sliding motions of the first and second sliders  417  and  417 ′ between their first position and second positions, respectively. 
     A first slider  417  comprises a pair of first leg portions  417   e  slidable along the first guideways  417   c  with each of the first leg portions inserted therein. A second slider  417 ′ comprises a pair of second leg portions  417   e ′ along the slidable second guideways  417   c ′ with each of the second leg portions inserted therein. 
     First and second strap-pressing pieces  417   b  and  417   b ′ are separately formed from the first and second sliders  417  and  417 ′ and are coupled to the first and second leg portions  417   e  and  417   e ′ of the first and second sliders  417 ,  417 ′ inserted into respective first and second guideways  417   c  and  417   c′.    
     Each of the first and second slider  417  and  417 ′ slides along respective first and second guideways  417   c  and  417   c ′ between a first position and a second position, respectively. When the first and second sliders  417  and  417 ′ are in their first positions, their first and second strap-pressing pieces  417   b  and  417   b ′ press the straps  415  and  415 ′ against the first and second strap-supporting portions  419   a  and  419   a ′ and fix the length of the straps, respectively. 
     Fifth Embodiment 
     Referring to FIGS. 20 and 21; a swimming goggle having a buckle assembly  500  according to a fifth embodiment of the present invention is shown in a perspective view and an exploded perspective view, respectively. 
     According to this embodiment, a strap-supporting portion  519   a  is formed on an outer side end of a lens part  511 . On an outer side portion of the lens part  511 , a post  519   b  for sliding along an elongated guiding slot  517   c  of a slider  517  is provided. From an end of the guiding slot  517   c , an integrally formed band pressing piece  517   b  extends downwardly and is adapted to press the strap  515  wrapped around the band supporting portion  519   a  against the strap-supporting portion  519   a . A lens frame  518  is adapted to be snap fitted on each lens part  511 . A slider  517  is placed between the lens frame  518  and an outside surface of the lens part  511 . 
     The above description clearly shows the advantages of the present invention. The advantageous effects are the simplicity and easiness of the tightening and loosening operations. Moreover, the considerable simplicity of the parts comprising the buckle assembly contributes to operational reliability and extended life, as well as simplicity for the buckle assembly itself. The parts comprising the buckle assembly may all be manufactured as molded plastic parts made of a durable material, generally little affected by influences of external factors such as chlorine, salt water and the like. However, the materials used to fabricate the buckle assembly may also be of other types, depending on the field of use. Such alternate materials are considered within the scope and spirit of the present disclosure. 
     From the foregoing, it is also appreciated that the buckle assemblies are not confined to be used with any particular types of straps. Rather, specific materials for particular purposes can be used for the straps. By way of example, an elastic strap was shown. 
     In addition, the buckle assemblies of the present invention do not have excessive space or volume requirements and can be advantageously used in an article such as a swimming goggle having limited space for buckle assembly attachment. A buckle assembly according to the present invention can be fabricated of a size at least equal to or slightly smaller than usual buckle assemblies. 
     Although the buckle assembly of the present invention is described for use in combination with a swimming goggle, its use is not limited thereto, and may be provided on any article in combination with any strap which has to be repeatedly tightened and loosened. 
     The invention is not intended to be limited to the embodiments described and illustrated herein and may be greatly varied especially with regard to construction without departing from the guiding principles disclosed above and claimed below.