BUCKLE OF SYNTHETIC RESIN

Abstract: A buckle comprises a base plate (A), a locking hook (B), and a retainer (C) which are simultaneously molded of polymeric organic synthetic resin. The base plate (A) includes a pair of spaced support members (2) having respective bearing holes (6) and respective ridges (3) on inner surfaces thereof. Similarly, the retainer (C) includes a pair of spaced support members (13) having respective bearing holes (16) and respective ridges (14) on inner surfaces thereof. The locking hook (B) has pairs of support shafts (8, 9) on opposite ends thereof which are angularly movably fitted in the bear­ ing holes (6, 16) of the base plate (A) and the retainer (C). The locking hook (B) also has a pair of legs (10, 11) on the opposite ends thereof, the legs (10, 11) hav­ ing respective successions of teeth (10a, 11a) at their respective distal edges and opposite ends engageable with the ridges (3, 14) on the support members (2, 13) of the base plate (A) and the retainer (C).

Description: The present invention relates to a buckle which is composed of various components that are simultaneously molded of polymeric organic synthetic resin. US-A-3,608,158 discloses a buckle of synthetic resin comprising a base plate having a pair of side flanges with respective bearing holes, and a locking hook having a pair of pivot pins fitted respectively in the bearing holes. The base plate and the locking hook are separately molded by injection molding, and they are combined together by putting the pivot pins respectively into the bearing holes. US-A-4,631,784 reveals a similar buckle with a base plate comprising, on the inner confronting sides of its flanges or cheeks, wedge-shaped projections tapered so as to return the locking hook or cover, as it is opened, by spring action to its closed position. Another buckle of synthetic resin disclosed in each of Japanese Laid-Open Utility Model Publications Nos. 61-102109 and 61-102110 and in EP-A-0 186 810 also comprises a base plate and a locking hook. The base plate and the locking hook are however simultaneously injection-molded in a single mold while they are placed substantially in a plane with pivot pins on the base plate being fitted respectively in bearing holes in the locking hook. Since the buckle is molded in a single process, it is not necessary to combine or assemble the base plate and the locking hook at a later time. With the known simultaneously molded buckles referred to above, the difference between the inside diameter of the bearing holes and the outside diameter of the pivot pins is selected to be considerably larger for manufacturing reasons than would be if the pivot pins were closely fitted in the bearing holes. Since there is a relatively large gap between the base plate and the locking hook, therefore, the locking hook tends to wobble laterally with respect to the base plate. As a result, when a belt coupled to the buckle is fastened, belt ends coming together, one over the other, across the buckle are liable to be positionally displaced, making the fastened belt unsightly. The present invention seeks to provide a buckle comprising a plurality of components which are simultaneously molded of synthetic resin, the buckle serving as a belt fastener that allows a belt coupled thereto to be positionally aligned at its opposite ends across the buckle so that the belt fastened by the buckle is made sightly. The buckle of polymeric organic synthetic resin as defined in the preamble of claim 1 and in accordance with EP-A-0 186 810 comprises a base plate including a substantially flat base having an engaging tooth and a pair of spaced support members disposed on the base at respective sides thereof, the support members having respective bearing holes defined therein, The buckle further comprises a locking hook including a substantially flat base having a leg projecting substantially perpendicularly therefrom, the leg being engageable with the tooth when the locking hook is turned down against the base plate, and a pair of support shafts projecting from opposite sides of the base and angularly movably fitted respectively in the bearing holes, the base plate and the locking hook being simultaneously molded as a single assembly with the support shafts fitted respectively in the bearing holes. According to the characterising portion of claim 1, the support members have respective ridges disposed on respective inner confronting surfaces thereof, said leg located at one end of said base having opposite ends engageable with said ridges, respectively, when said locking hook is turned down against said base plate, thus preventing said locking hook from wobbling in this position. The buckle may further include a retainer including a substantially flat base having an engaging tooth at one end thereof and a pair of second spaced support members disposed on the base at respective sides thereof, the second support members having respective second bearing holes defined therein, and respective second ridges disposed on respective inner confronting surfaces thereof, the base of the locking hook having a second leg projecting substantially perpendicularly therefrom at the opposite end thereof remote from the first-mentioned leg and extending fully across the opposite end, the second leg having opposite ends engageable with the second ridges, respectively, when the retainer is turned down against the locking hook, and a pair of second support shafts projecting from opposite sides of the base of the locking hook and angularly movably fitted respectively in the second bearing holes, the base plate, the locking hook, and the retainer being simultaneously molded as a single assembly with the second support shafts fitted respectively in the second bearing holes. Many other advantages and features of the present invention will become manifest to those versed in the art upon making reference to the detailed description and the accompanying sheets of drawings in which preferred structural embodiments incorporating the principles of the present invention are shown by way of example. Figure 1 is a front elevational view of a buckle according to an embodiment of the present invention; Figure 2 is a side elevational view of the buckle shown in Figure 1; Figure 3 is a rear elevational view of a base plate of the buckle of Figure 1; Figure 4 is plan view of a locking hook of the buckle of Figure 1; Figure 5 is a plan view of a retainer of the buckle of Figure 1; Figure 6 is a side elevational view of the buckle of Figure 1 with a belt fastened thereby; Figure 7 is a plan view of a buckle according to another embodiment of the present invention; Figure 8 is a front elevational view of the buckle illustrated in Figure 7; and Figure 9 is a side elevational view of the buckle of Figure 7 with a belt fastened thereby. Figures 1 and 2 show a buckle according to an embodiment of the present invention, the buckle comprising a base plate A, a locking hook B, and a retainer C. As also shown in Figure 3, the base plate A comprises a substantially flat rectangular base 1 having a central through hole 1d. The base 1 includes an upper transverse member 1a at an upper end, a lower transverse member 1b at a lower end remote from the upper transverse member 1a, and a pair of laterally spaced side members 1c. These members 1a, 1b, 1c jointly define the hole 1d therebetween. The base plate A also includes a pair of laterally spaced support members 2 mounted on a rear side thereof and extending from intermediate portions of the side members 1c toward the upper transverse member 1a. The support members 2 project perpendicularly to the base 1. The support members 2 include respective confronting ridges 3 projecting on their inner surfaces and having respective slanted surfaces 4 progressively inclined toward the support members 2 in a direction away from the upper transverse member 1a. A narrow engaging tooth 5 of triangular cross section is disposed on the rear side of the upper transverse member 1a, the engaging tooth 5 extending along the upper transverse member 1a substantially the full length thereof. The support members 2 have respective circular bearing holes 6 defined therein near the engaging tooth 5. As illustrated in Figures 1, 2, and 4, the locking hook B comprises a substantially flat rectangular base 7 including an upper transverse member 7a at an upper end, a lower transverse member 7b at a lower end, a pair of laterally spaced side members 7c, and an intermediate transverse member 7d extending between and joined to the side members 7c with a pair of through holes 7e defined between these members 7a, 7b, 7c, 7d. The locking hook B also includes a pair of upper support shafts or pivot pins 8 projecting away from each other from the laterally opposite end of the upper transverse member 7a, and a pair of lower support shafts or pivot pins 9 projecting away from each other from the laterally opposite ends of the lower transverse member 7b. As better shown in Figure 2, a first upper leg 10 is disposed on the rear surface of the upper transverse member 7a and extends along the entire length thereof, the upper leg 10 projecting substantially perpendicularly from the base 7 in one direction. The upper leg 10 has a succession of teeth 10a disposed on its distal end and each extending transversely across the distal end. The teeth 10a may be in the form of serrations, surface irregularities, or a knurled surface. A second lower leg 11 is disposed on the front surface of the lower transverse member 7b and extends along the entire length thereof, the lower leg 11 projecting substantially perpendicularly from the base 7 in the direction opposite to the upper leg 10. The lower leg 11 has a succession of teeth 11a disposed on its distal end and each extending transversely across the distal end. The teeth 11a may also be in the form of serrations, surface irregularities, or a knurled surface. As shown in Figures 1, 2, and 5, the retainer C comprises a substantially flat rectangular base 12 including a pair of opposite transverse edges 12a, and a pair of laterally spaced side edges 12b. A pair of support members 13 is disposed on the rear surfaces of the respective side edges 12b, the support members 13 projecting perpendicularly from the base 12. The support members 13 include respective confronting ridges 14 projecting on their inner surfaces and having respective slanted surfaces 15 progressively inclined toward the support members 13 in a direction away from upper the transverse edge 12a. The support members 13 have respective circular bearing holes 16 defined therein near the transverse edge 12a. A narrow engaging tooth 17 of triangular cross section is disposed on the rear side of the transverse edge 12a, the engaging tooth 17 extending between the support members 13 along the transverse edge 12a substantially the full length thereof. As shown in Figure 1, the distance W₁ between the inner confronting surfaces of the ridges 3 of the base plate A, the length W₂ of the leg 10 of the locking hook B, the length W₃ of the leg 11 of the locking hook B, and the distance W₄ between the inner confronting surfaces of the ridges 14 of the retainer C are substantially the same as each other. In the illustrated embodiment, each of the bearing holes 6, 16 has an inside diameter of 3.5 mm, and each of the support shafts 8, 9 has an outside diameter of 2.5 mm. However, bearing holes 6, 16 and the support shafts 8, 9 are not limited to these dimensions. The base plate A, the locking hook B, and the retainer C are simultaneously molded, as by injection molding, of polymeric organic synthetic resin such as polyamides, polyacetals, or the like. More specifically, a single mold has a mold cavity which is complementary in shape to the base plate A, the locking hook B, and the retainer C which are assembled as shown in Figure 2, and the mold is set in an injection molding machine or the like. The material is then injected into the mold for forming the buckle assembly as shown in Figure 2 in a single molding process. Therefore, the buckle shown in Figure 2 with the support shafts 8 fitted in the the bearing holes 6 and the support shafts 9 in the bearing holes 16 is molded at one time. Since the base plate A, the locking hook B, and the retainer C as they are molded are already assembled or combined together, it is not necessary to put them together at a later time. Figures 7, 8, and 9 illustrate a buckle according to another embodiment of the present invention. Those parts which correspond to those shown in Figures 1 through 6 are denoted by corresponding reference characters. The buckle shown in Figures 7, 8, and 9 comprises a base plate A′ and a locking hook B′. The base plate A′ shown in Figure 7 is basically the same as the base plate A shown in Figure 3 except that a transverse member 18 extends between and is joined to the side members 1c with a pair of holes 1d defined one on each side of the transverse member 18. The locking hook B′ shown in Figure 8 differs from the locking hook B of Figure 4 in that the locking hook B′ does not have support shafts 9 and a leg 11, but has a grip 19 on an end thereof remote from the leg 10. The grip 19 has a recess 20 defined in one surface thereof for putting a user's finger therein when gripping the grip 19. The buckle of Figures 7, 8, and 9 can be molded in the same manner as the buckle of the previous embodiment is molded. The buckle shown in Figures 1 and 2 is used as follows: As shown in Figure 6, the buckle may be employed as a fastener for fastening a belt V to be worn around the waist portion of a lady's garment such as a one-piece dress, for example. First, with the buckle held as shown in Figure 2, a lefthand end of the belt V is inserted, to the right, into the retainer C vertically between the support members 13 of the retainer C and horizontally between the leg 11 of the locking hook B and the engaging tooth 17 of the retainer C. Then, as shown in Figure 6, the belt end, denoted by V₂, is placed opposite to the engaging tooth 17, and while the retainer C is being held in position, the locking hook B is turned clockwise about the support shafts 9 to pinch the belt end V₂ betwen the engaging teeth 11a on the leg 11 and the engaging tooth 17, thus fixing the belt end V₂ to the retainer C. The belt V is then placed around the waist of the user, and a righthand end V₁ of the belt V is inserted through the base plate A vertically between the support members 2 of the base plate A and horizontally between the engaging tooth 5 of the base plate A and the leg 10 of the locking hook B while the base plate A is being held at a right angle or a smaller angle to the locking hook B. After the belt end V₂ is pulled tightly around the waist, the transverse member 1e is pressed against the user's body, i.e., the retainer C, whereupon the base plate A is turned counterclockwise about the support shafts 8. The belt V is now forcibly pinched between the engaging tooth 5 of the base plate A and the engaging teeth 10a of the locking hook B thus holding the belt V fastened. As described above, the distances W₁, W₄ between the inner surfaces of the ridges 3, 14 of the base plate A and the retainer C are substantially equal to the lengths W₂, W₃ of the transverse members 7a, 7b of the locking hook B. Therefore, when the belt V is fastened and locked by the buckle which is folded as shown in Figure 6, the ridges 3, 14 engage the ends of the legs 10, 11 of the locking hook B to prevent the legs 10, 11 of the locking hook B from laterally wobbling. Even if the difference between the diameters of the bearing holes 6, 16 and the support shafts 8, 9 is large to avoid difficulty in molding the base plate A, the locking hook B, and the retainer C simultaneously in one mold, the locking hook B is not moved with respect to the base plate A and the retainer C. As a consequence, the belt end portions passing through the buckle are not positionally displaced from each other, i.e., remain aligned with each other, so that the fastened belt V is kept neatly and sightly. The locking hook B can also be positionally limited in directions across its thickness to prevent itself from wobbling in those directions by adjusting the extent of projection of the legs 10, 11. Inasmuch as the locking hook B is not displaced with respect to the base plate A and the retainer C, the belt V remains securely and reliably fastened in position. The slanted surfaces 4, 15 of the ridges 3, 14 serve to cam the locking hook B and the retainer C into a central position on the base plate A while guiding the legs 10, 11 progressively onto the ridges 3, 14. Since the legs 10, 11 do not hit the ridges 3, 14 but rather smoothly ride onto the ridges 3, 14 from the slanted surfaces 4, 15, the ridges 3, 14 are prevented from being damaged or broken by the legs 10, 11. The buckle shown in Figures 7, 8, and 9 is used in substantially the same manner as described above with reference to the buckle of the previous embodiment, except that the belt end V₂ is either passed through one of the holes 1d near the edge 1e and folded on itself around the edge 1e, or passed through one of the holes 1d near the edge 1e, turned around the transverse member 18, passed through the other hole 1d, and folded on itself around the transverse member 18, and then finally fastened to a belt portion V₃ by eyelets or stitches.

Claims: A buckle of polymeric organic synthetic resin comprising: a base plate (A; A') including a substantially flat base (1) having an engaging tooth (5) and a pair of spaced support members (2) disposed on said base (1) at respective sides thereof, said support members (2) having respective bearing holes (6) defined therein, and a locking hook (B; B') including a substantially flat base (7) having a leg (10) projecting substantially perpendicularly therefrom, said leg (10) being engageable with said tooth (5), when said locking hook (B; B') is turned down against said base plate (A; A'), and a pair of support shafts (8) projecting from opposite sides of said base (7) and angularly movably fitted respectively in said bearing holes (6), said base plate (A; A') and said locking hook (B; B') being simultaneously molded as a single assembly with said support shafts (8) fitted respectively in said bearing holes (6), characterized in that said support members (2) have respective ridges (3) disposed on respective inner confronting surfaces thereof, said leg (10) located at one end of said base (7) having opposite ends engageable with said ridges (3), respectively, when said locking hook (B; B') is turned down against said base plate (A; A'), thus preventing said locking hook (B, B') from wobbling in this position. A buckle according to claim 1, wherein the distance between inner confronting surfaces of said ridges (3) is substantially the same as the length of said leg (10) between said opposite ends. A buckle according to claim 1, wherein said ridges (3) have respective slanted surfaces (4) for allowing said opposite ends of said leg (10) to slide thereover into engagement with said ridges (3). A buckle according to claim 1, further including a retainer (C) including a substantially flat base (12) having an engaging tooth (17) at one end thereof and a pair of second spaced support members (13) disposed on said base (12) at respective sides thereof, said second support members (13) having respective second bearing holes (16) defined therein, and respective second ridges (14) disposed on respective inner confronting surfaces thereof, said base (7) of said locking hook (B) having a second leg (11) projecting substantially perpendicularly therefrom at the opposite end thereof remote from said first-mentioned leg (10) and extending fully across said opposite end, said second leg (11) having opposite ends engageable with said second ridges (14), respectively, when said retainer (C) is turned down against said locking hook (B), and a pair of second support shafts (9) projecting from opposite sides of said base (7) of the locking hook (B) and angularly movably fitted respectively in said second bearing holes (16), said base plate (A), said locking hook (B), and said retainer (C) being simultaneously molded as a single assembly with said second support shafts (9) fitted respectively in said second bearing holes (16). A buckle according to claim 4, wherein the distance between inner confronting surfaces of said second ridges (14) is substantially the same as the length of said second leg (11) across said opposite end. A buckle according to claim 3, wherein said second ridges (14) have respective slanted surfaces (15) for allowing said opposite ends of said second leg (11) to slide thereover into engagement with said second ridges (14). A buckle according to claim 1 or 4, wherein said leg (10; 11) has a succession of teeth (10a; 11a) on a distal edge thereof.

Inventors: KASAI, KAZUMI
Applicants: YOSHIDA KOGYO K.K.
Application year: 1988
Main classification: A44B11
IPC codes: A44B11