Buckle

A buckle having an excellent design property is provided.[Solution] In a buckle for a belt in which a socket member and a plug member engage with each other, a buckle 10 is formed by forming the socket member including a front face portion 25 having an approximately flat surface; a back face portion 26 provided in such a way as to face a reverse face of the front face portion 25, and forming an engagement hole 21 with which the plug member engages between the back face portion 26 and the front face portion 25; a pressing piece 28 formed in the front face portion 25 by being divided by a slit 31 formed in the front face portion 25 and pressed for releasing an engagement with the plug member inserted into the engagement hole 21 to be engaged therewith; and a hinge portion 29 formed to be thinner than the pressing piece 28, connecting the pressing piece 28 to the same surface as the surface of the front face portion 25, and serving as a base point for a displacement when the pressing piece 28 is pressed.

RELATED APPLICATIONS

The present application is National Phase of International Application No. PCT/JP2013/004774 filed Aug. 7, 2013, and claims priority from Japanese Application No. 2012-175002, filed Aug. 7, 2012, the disclosure of which is hereby incorporated by reference herein in its entirety.

FIELD OF TECHNOLOGY

The present invention relates to a buckle used for a belt or a strap.

BACKGROUND ART

Conventionally, a buckle is used when both end portions of a belt binding a baggage or the like are connected, or when an ID card or a cellular phone and a strap for suspending the ID card or the cellular phone from one's neck are connected. As such a buckle, for example, a buckle, described in the following Patent Document 1 is proposed.

The buckle is formed by a male member and a female member mutually engaging. In the female member, there is formed an operation portion for releasing an engagement with the male member. The operation portion is formed by a C-shaped slit formed on a surface of the female member, and also a groove portion having a concave strip in a cross-sectional view formed on a surface of the female member in the same manner. The groove portion is provided between both ends of the C-shaped slit to form a thin hinge portion. The operation portion moves up and down as a supporting point of the thin hinge portion. Also, in the operation portion, one portion protrudes more than the surface of the female member, so that one's fingers are easily placed so as to facilitate an operation.

PRIOR ART DOCUMENT

Patent Document

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

According to the aforementioned buckle, however, in the female member, the groove portion forming the thin hinge portion of the operation portion is formed on the surface, and one portion of the operation portion protrudes more than the surface of the female member, so that concave and convex portions are formed on the surface. Therefore, it is difficult to incorporate a design on the surface of the female member.

The present invention is proposed in view of the aforementioned circumstance. Namely, an object of the present invention is to provide a buckle excellent in a design property.

Means for Solving the Problems

In order to obtain the aforementioned object, a buckle according to the present invention includes a plug member provided at one end portion of a belt, and a socket member provided at the other end portion of the belt, with which the plug member is engaged. The socket member includes a front face portion having an approximately flat surface; a back face portion provided in such a way as to face a reverse face of the front face portion, and forming an engagement hole with which the plug member is engaged between the back face portion and the front face portion; a pressing piece formed in the front face portion by being divided by a slit formed in the front face portion, and pressed for releasing an engagement with the plug member inserted into the engagement hole to be engaged therewith; and a hinge portion formed to be thinner than the pressing piece, connecting the pressing piece to the same surface as the surface of the front face portion, and serving as a base point for a displacement when the pressing piece is pressed.

Also, in the buckle, in order to form the hinge portion to be thinner than the pressing piece, a groove portion is formed on the reverse face of the front face portion, and in the back face portion, there is formed a through-hole at a portion where the groove portion is projected on the back face portion.

Also, in the buckle, on a side opposite to an opening side of the engagement hole, there are formed a belt-wrapping portion for wrapping the belt, and a circulating passage where the belt passes around the belt-wrapping portion, and the circulating passage is integrated with the through-hole.

Also, in the buckle, on the side opposite to the opening side of the engagement hole, there are formed a belt-wrapping portion for wrapping the belt, and a circulating passage where the belt wraps around the belt-wrapping portion, and the circulating passage is formed toward the back face portion side from the front face portion side.

Effect of the Invention

The buckle according to the present invention has the aforementioned structure. According to the structure, in the front face portion of the socket member which is a front face of the buckle, the slit is located close to an edge of a shape of the front face portion along the shape of the front face portion, so that the pressing piece is widely obtained, and is flat. Therefore, a design surface on which a design is applied can be ensured at the maximum in the front face of the buckle so as to improve a design property.

Especially, in the buckle, in order to form the hinge portion thinner than the pressing piece, the groove portion is formed on the reverse face of the front face portion, and the through-hole is formed on the back face portion including a projection surface where the groove portion is projected on the back face portion. According to the structure, while ensuring a flexibility of the hinge portion, the surface of the front face portion is flat. Therefore, the design surface on which the design is incorporated can be ensured at the maximum in the front face of the buckle so as to improve the design property. Also, regarding a molding of the groove portion, a die at a time of molding can be easily cut out through the through-hole so as to improve workability at the time of molding.

Especially, in the buckle, on the side opposite to the opening side of the engagement hole, there are formed the belt-wrapping portion for wrapping the belt, and the circulating passage where the belt passes around the belt-wrapping portion, and the circulating passage is integrated with the through-hole. According to the structure, the circulating passage is also used as the through-hole allowing the die to be easily cut out at the time of molding. Therefore, the workability at the time of molding can be improved.

Especially, in the buckle, the circulating passage is formed toward the back face portion side from the front face portion side. According to the structure, the circulating passage is linearly formed, and can be visually recognized from the front face portion side. Therefore, the belt can be easily passed through the circulating passage, can be easily wrapped to the belt-wrapping portion, and can be easily adjusted when the belt is wrapped.

BEST MODES OF CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

Hereinafter, the first embodiment of the present invention will be explained based on the drawings.FIGS. 1(a) to 1(e)show a buckle10according to the first embodiment.

InFIGS. 1(a) to 1(e), the buckle10according to the first embodiment has an approximately flattened square shape. In the buckle10, a design such as, for example, a logotype, a pattern, or the like, is applied on a front face, and a belt is wrapped to belt-wrapping portions22and42formed on right and left sides. The belt is not shown in the drawings. The buckle10is formed by a plug member40to which one end portion of the belt is wrapped; and a socket member20to which the other end portion is wrapped, and each of the members40and20is connected to be formed. The plug member40and the socket member20are detachable.

Next, the socket member20will be explained based onFIG. 2(a)toFIG. 3(b).FIGS. 2(a) to 2(e)show exteriors of the socket member20, andFIGS. 3(a) and 3(b)show cross sectionals of the socket member20.

InFIG. 2(a)toFIG. 3(b), the socket member20is a flattened cylindrical shape of an approximately cuboid shape, and an engaged hole21into which the plug member40is inserted to be engaged therewith is formed on an inner side. The socket member20is formed by an engaged portion23in which the engaged hole21is formed; and a socket-side belt-wrapping portion22formed on a side opposite to an opening side of the engaged hole21, to which the other end portion of the belt is wrapped. The engaged portion23and the socket-side belt-wrapping portion22are divided by a separation portion24(seeFIG. 3(b)).

The engaged portion23is formed by a front face portion25including an approximately flat surface; a back face portion26facing a reverse face of the front face portion25through the engaged hole21; side face portions27connecting both ends of the front face portion25and the back face portion26; the engaged hole21formed by being surrounded by each face portion25,26, and27; a pressing piece28formed in the front face portion25; and a hinge portion29serving as a base point for a displacement when the pressing piece28is pressed.

The front face portion25includes a flat surface. There, “flat” means that extreme convex and concave portions are not formed on the surface, and that convex and concave portions are allowed provided that they have gentle ups and downs. Namely, the surface of the front face portion25may be flat provided that it is flat to a degree not to interfere when the design such as, for example, the logotype, the pattern, or the like is applied.

The pressing piece28is one portion of the front face portion25, and is formed by being divided by an approximately U-shaped slit31formed on the surface along a shape of the front face portion25. The pressing piece28has an approximately flat square shape, and includes the hinge portion29and a free end portion30. The hinge portion29is located between end portions of the approximately U-shaped slit31on the surface of the front face portion25, and is connected to the same surface as a socket-side belt-wrapping portion22side to be approximately flat. The hinge portion29is formed to be thinner than the pressing piece28by a line of a groove portion32formed on the reverse face of the front face portion25(seeFIG. 3(b)). The free end portion30is separated from the front face portion25by the slit31on the opening side of the engaged hole21.

Incidentally, the slit31is not limited to an approximately U shape provided that the slit31is formed close to an edge of the shape of the front face portion25along the shape of the front face portion25. Accordingly, the shape of the pressing piece28is not limited to an approximately square shape as well. Namely, the slit31and the pressing piece28may have a shape provided that it ensures a wide space range in which the design such as, for example, the logotype, the pattern, or the like is applied on the surface of the front face portion25. A surface (an outer face) of the pressing piece28which is one side divided by the slit31; and a surface (an outer face) of an edge portion of the front face portion25which is the other side, are disposed in one continuous virtual face shape. The virtual face may be a flat surface, or may be a curved surface such as a convex surface or a concave surface. In other words, a face, wherein the surface (the outer face) of the pressing piece28which is one side divided by the slit31is externally inserted, is formed in such a way as to coincide with the surface (the outer face) of the edge portion of the front face portion25which is the other side.

The back face portion26extends to the side opposite to the opening side of the engaged hole21more than the front face portion25(seeFIG. 2(d)). In the back face portion26, there is formed a through-hole33near the separation portion24, which is formed at a boundary between the back face portion26and the socket-side belt-wrapping portion22. An opening portion of the through-hole33has a rectangular shape, and faces the groove portion32formed on a reverse side of the front face portion25(seeFIG. 3(b)). Namely, the through-hole33is formed within a range including a projection of the groove portion32projected on the back face portion26. Specifically, the groove portion32projected on the back face portion26is entirely disposed inside the through-hole33. In the back face portion26, there is formed a guide rib34on a face facing the reverse face of the front face portion25. The guide rib34is a plate-like piece, and is provided to stand approximately from a center of the back face portion26to be parallel to the side face portions27.

The socket-side belt-wrapping portion22is formed by a circulating passage35passing through the back face portion26. The socket-side belt-wrapping portion22has a rod shape, and both ends are connected to the back face portion26of the engaged portion23. The circulating passage35is located inside of the socket-side belt-wrapping portion22and the back face portion26of the engaged portion23, and the belt passes through when the belt is wrapped around the socket-side belt-wrapping portion22. The circulating passage35is linearly formed toward a back face portion26side from a front face portion25side of the engaged portion23.

Next, the plug member40will be explained based onFIGS. 4(a) to 4(d).FIGS. 4(a) to 4(d)show the plug member40.

InFIGS. 4(a) to 4(d), the plug member40has an approximately cuboid shape, and is formed by an engagement portion41inserted into the socket member20to be engaged therewith; and a plug-side belt-wrapping portion42formed on a side opposite to the engagement portion41, to which one end portion of the belt is wrapped.

The engagement portion41is formed by a plate-like engagement piece43, and a claw portion44connected to a surface of the engagement piece43. The engagement piece43has a size of being housed in the engaged hole21of the socket member20, and a guide slit45is formed approximately at a center. The guide slit45is formed in an insertion direction of the engagement portion41, and has a size in which the guide rib34of the socket member20can be housed. The claw portion44is connected to a tip of the engagement piece43, and gradually warps upward toward a plug-side belt-wrapping portion42side formed on a side opposite to the tip.

In the aforementioned manner, the plug member40and the socket member20are formed. The buckle10is formed in such a way that the engagement piece43of the plug member40is inserted into the engaged hole21of the socket member20to be engaged therewith. In the plug member40, the guide slit45is guided to the guide rib34of the socket member20, and the claw portion44bends and is locked in the slit31inside the engaged hole21of the socket member20. In the buckle10, the pressing piece28of the socket member20is pressed, the claw portion44of the plug member40is released from the slit31to be disengaged, and the engagement portion41of the plug member40is extracted from the engaged hole21of the socket member20to be detached.

Next, an effect of the first embodiment will be explained.

As mentioned above, according to the first embodiment, the pressing piece28is one portion of the front face portion25, and is formed by being divided by the approximately U-shaped slit31formed on the surface along the shape of the front face portion25. The hinge portion29of the pressing piece28is located between the end portions of the approximately U-shaped slit31on the surface of the front face portion25, and is flatly connected to the socket-side belt-wrapping portion22side. The hinge portion29is formed to be thinner than the pressing piece28by the line of the groove portion32formed on the reverse face of the front face portion25.

According to the structure, in the front face portion25of the socket member20, which is the front face of the buckle10, the slit31is located close to the edge of the shape of the front face portion25along the shape of the front face portion25, so that the pressing piece28is widely obtained, and is flat without concave and convex portions due to the hinge portion29and the like. Therefore, a design surface on which a design is applied can be ensured at the maximum in the front face of the buckle10so as to improve a design property.

According to the first embodiment, in the back face portion26, there is formed the through-hole33facing the groove portion32formed at the reverse side of the front face portion25. Namely, the through-hole33is formed within the range including the projection of the groove portion32projected on the back face portion26.

According to the structure, regarding a molding of the groove portion32, a die at a time of molding can be easily cut out through the through-hole33so as to improve a workability at the time of molding.

According to the first embodiment, the circulating passage35is the annular inside formed by the socket-side belt-wrapping portion22and the back face portion26of the engaged portion23, and the belt is passed through when the belt circles around the socket-side belt-wrapping portion22. The circulating passage35is linearly formed toward the back face portion26side from the front face portion25side of the engaged portion23.

According to the structure, the circulating passage35is linearly formed, and can be visually recognized from the front face portion25side. Therefore, the belt can be easily passed through the circulating passage35, can be easily wrapped to the socket-side belt-wrapping portion22, and can be easily adjusted when the belt is wrapped.

Next, a second embodiment of the present invention will be explained based on the drawings.FIGS. 5(a) and 5(b)show a socket member50of the buckle according to the second embodiment of the present invention. Incidentally, only a structure different from the structure of the first embodiment will be explained.

InFIGS. 5(a) and 5(b), in the front face portion25of the engaged portion23, an extension face portion37extends to the side opposite to the opening side of the engaged hole21, and an end of the extension face portion37is aligned on the end of the socket-side belt-wrapping portion22. On the side of the socket-side belt-wrapping portion22, there is formed a lateral hole36surrounded by the extension face portion37, the side face portions27, and the socket-side belt-wrapping portion22. In the back face portion26, there is formed the through-hole33orthogonal to the lateral hole36. The through-hole33faces the groove portion32formed on the reverse side of the front face portion25. Namely, the through-hole33is formed within the range including the projection of the groove portion32projected on the back face portion26. The circulating passage35is formed by the lateral hole36and the through-hole33.

Next, an effect of the second embodiment will be explained.

As mentioned above, according to the second embodiment, in the front face portion25of the engaged portion23, the extension face portion37extends to the side opposite to the opening side of the engaged hole21, and the end of the extension face portion37is aligned on the end of the socket-side belt-wrapping portion22. By the structure, the surface of the front face portion25is extended by the extension face portion37. Therefore, the design surface on which the design is incorporated can be ensured at the maximum in the front face of the buckle so as to improve the design property.

According to the second embodiment, the lateral hole36is formed by being surrounded by the extension face portion37, the side face portions27, and the socket-side belt-wrapping portion22. In the back face portion26, there is formed the through-hole33orthogonal to the lateral hole36. The through-hole33faces the groove portion32formed at the reverse side of the front face portion25. Namely, the through-hole33is formed within the range including the projection of the groove portion32projected on the back face portion26. The circulating passage35is formed by the lateral hole36and the through-hole33.

According to the structure, the circulating passage35is also used as the through-hole33allowing the die to be easily cut out at the time of molding. Therefore, the workability at the time of molding can be improved.

As mentioned above, the embodiments of the present invention have been described in detail; however, the present invention is not limited to the aforementioned embodiments. In the present invention, various design modifications can be carried out provided that they do not exceed the subject described in claims of the present invention.

EXPLANATION OF SYMBOLS