ADJUSTABLE STRAPS AND STRAP FITTINGS

Abstract: An adjustable strap (1) has overlying portions (8 and 9) that are releaseably attachable together in a plurality of positions with respect to each other to vary the length of the strap. The overlying portions (8 and 9) are adapted to co-operate to define said plurality of positions and be held in said positions by means of a one-piece adjustment fitting (12) which is releaseably attachable to the overlying portions (8 and 9). A strap fitting (12) retains a part of a strap portion (8) or parts of overlying strap portions (8 and 9) therein to prevent detachment from the fitting (12) and permits detachment of the strap portion (8) or overlying strap portions (8 and 9) by the application of a squeezing pressure that reduces the width thereof and enables retention of the part of the strap portion (8) or parts of the overlying strap portions (8 and 9) when the squeezing pressure is released.

Description: ADJUSTABLE STRAPS AND STRAP FITTINGS This invention relates to adjustable straps for use in holding up clothing, in luggage, bags and saddlery, or in holding on items of footwear, jewellery, watches etc and to strap fittings. The most common form of belt used for holding up clothing has a buckle attached at one end by sewing together overlying portions of an end portion that has been folded back on itself to form a buckle retaining loop. Generally, the buckle retaining loop has a hole in the form of a slot in its folded end through which the buckle prong projects. The belt is fastened, for example around the waist of a wearer, to hold up an article of clothing such as a skirt or a pair of trousers, by threading the other end portion of the belt through the buckle and inserting the buckle prong through one of a plurality of holes in the other end portion that is consistent with the waist size and comfort of the wearer. The length of the belt is varied by inserting the buckle prong in different holes to accommodate variations in waist sizes of a particular wearer or other wearers having different waist sizes. However, there is a limitation on the number of holes in a particular belt length and therefore a limitation on the number of waist sizes that one belt can comfortably accommodate, even if further holes are punched in with a hole punch by the wearer. Therefore, it is usual for a manufacturer to make belts in a range of lengths and for the retailer to stock the entire range. The problem of having to manufacture and stock a range of belt lengths with belts of the above mentioned kind has been addressed by the use of a two-part releasable screw- threaded attachment to effect the adjustment. The two parts of the screw-threaded attachment have flat heads with milled peripheral edges to facilitate grip and from which project an externally-threaded male projection and an internally threaded hollow female projection respectively. The belt buckle has a U-shaped flap with a slot in the base of the U for the buckle prong and the sides of the U have two aligned holes with which a hole in one end portion of the belt is aligned. The three aligned holes are engaged by the female projection of the screw-threaded attachment in which the male projection is threadedly engaged to attach the buckle to the belt with their flat heads abutting against the visible surfaces of the flap. Normally, the U-shaped flap has a thickness which is halfthat ofthe belt. In order to effect an adjustment to suit a particular wearer's waist, the screw-threaded attachment is detached from the belt end portion by unscrewing the male and female projections and detaching them from the end portion of the belt. A suitable length is then cut off the belt end portion which is then hole punched, the new hole in the cut belt end portion is aligned with the flap holes, the female projection of the screw-threaded attachment passed through the holes in the flap and the male projection screwed into the female projection to attach the belt to the buckle. Whilst the requirement for a one-size belt is met, because screw-threaded adjustment belts are sold in the largest size available, for sizes short of the largest size, it is essential for those purchasers, usually themselves, to unscrew the attachment to disassemble the belt, cut the belt end portion to the required length and hole punch it using tools that may not be readily available, and screw up the attachment to the flap and cut belt end portion. But there are further disadvantages: screw-threaded adjustment involves moving parts which are fiddley to operate and can easily jam, thereby rendering the whole object of further adjustment shorter impossible and the parts can work loose with wear and can become detached and lost. One-size belts have also been made with adjustable buckles incorporating pivotable clamps to effect the adjustment but these belts suffer from the disadvantage that is common to screw-threaded adjustment belts, namely that, once shortened, they cannot be adjusted longer again lengthened to take into account any increases in a wearer's waist size.. The belt is assembled by threading an appropriate length of one belt end portion through a "clamping" slot in the buckle to form a belt length corresponding to the wearer's waist size and pivoting the clamp into a clamping position in which it grips the belt and thus holds the buckle on the belt. The end portion of the belt is not folded back on itself for obvious reasons and therefore any excess length of the threaded through length must be cut-off close to the clamp. Unfortunately, over the passage of time with clamp being continuously under pressure during wear, the clamp grip weakens and can loose grip. Loss of grip can occur even if belt length engaging serrations are provided, because there is no positive engagement of the belt end portion with the clamp and this adjustment is not permanent. Therefore, the above mentioned one-size variable length belts have not enjoyed acceptance and the common form of belt referred to above is still the belt of choice. Accordingly, it is an object of the invention to provide an adjustable strap such as a belt, that is of one length but can be adjusted to be a one-size belt for any of a number of particular users, irrespective of that person's waist size, without the adjustment being permanent and/or involving any moving parts, that can be used with existing buckles and which does not interfere with the aesthetics of any products such as fashion bags with which the straps are used. To this end and from one aspect, the present invention resides in an adjustable strap having overlying strap portions that are releaseably attachable together in a plurality of adjustment positions with respect to each other to vary the length of the strap, characterised in that the overlying portions are adapted to co-operate to define said plurality of positions and be held in said positions by means of a one-piece adjustment fitting which is releaseably attachable to the overlying portions. By adapting the overlying portions to co-operate to define said plurality of positions by means of the adjustment fitting which because of its one-piece nature does not involve any moving parts and can simply be releaseably attached to the overlying portions, a one-size adjustable strap can be provided. The required length can be made by positioning the end fold at an appropriate position along the strap and then arranging for the overlying portions positively to engage with the one-piece strap fitting and be retained releaseably together. There is no need to use adjustable buckles, to clamp, to cut or to screw, or to punch additional holes in the strap thereby avoiding their disadvantages. The invention provides a system that is continually adjustable throughout the lifetime of the strap. Moreover, the invention has applicability to traditional buckles including half buckles, full buckles and plaque buckles and is at ease with these three classifications of fitting. Indeed, an advantage of the invention from the aesthetic point of view, is that it can make use of traditional half buckles and full buckles that have a "classic" look, which are very popular and which have been around for over 120 years. Expressed in another way, the invention resides in an adjustable strap which has overlying strap portions that are releaseably attachable together in a plurality of positions with respect to each other to vary the length of the strap by means of a strap fitting which permits said overlying portions to be moved with respect thereto to enable the length of the strap to be varied without necessarily detaching the strap fitting from the strap. For simplicity of construction, ease of operation and to facilitate varying the length of the strap, the overlying portions are adapted to co-operate to define said plurality of positions by means of respective holes therein which are placed in registration to provide pairs of registered holes that define said plurality of positions and the strap fitting is adapted to hold a selected pair of said registered holes in registration to fix the length of the strap. The holding of the selected pair of holes in registration by the strap fitting advantageously involves the use of integral projection means forming part of the strap fitting, for example in the form of at least one pin, which engages in the selected pair of said registered holes. In order to ensure that the projection means is maintained in engagement with the selected pair of registered holes in the overlying portions, yet can be disengaged therefrom, preferably, the strap fitting is provided with means for retaining the overlying portions in the registered holes. The invention also resides in a strap fitting defining a channel for receiving a strap portion having a hole therein, means projecting from the channel bottom for engagement in the hole in the strap portion and means for retaining the projection means in engagement with the hole, yet permitting said projection means to be disengaged from the hole by the application of a squeezing pressure to the strap portion edges. Expressed in yet another way, the invention resides in a strap fitting for retaining a part of a strap portion or parts of overlying strap portions therein to prevent detachment from the fitting and permits detachment of the strap portion or overlying strap portions by the application of a squeezing pressure that reduces the width thereof and when the squeezing pressure is released enables retention of the part of the strap portion or parts of the overlying strap portions. Moreover, from a further aspect, the invention resides in a method of attaching and detaching a strap portion having a hole therein from a strap fitting, in which the strap portion is reduced in width by a squeezing pressure to enable it to enter a channel in the fitting and releasing the squeezing pressure to retain the fitting on the strap with the hole in the strap portion engaging with means projecting from the channel bottom and applying the squeezing pressure to reduce the width of the strap portion to permit disengagement of the projection means with the hole and detachment of the strap portion from the strap fitting. In a preferred embodiment, the retaining means includes a channel opening having a width that is less than the width of the channel, whereby a part of the strap portion can be reduced in width by a squeezing pressure to exit the channel through the channel opening and to enter the channel through the channel opening yet be retained within the channel with the hole in engagement with the projection means when the squeezing pressure is released. The channel opening can be defined by inwardly projecting retaining tabs which may conveniently be assisted in their retention by having the projection means terminating with its free end substantially at the level of the channel opening. By applying a squeezing pressure to bend the strap portion to form a hump and to reduce its width, the hole in the strap portion is disengaged from the projection means sufficiently for the strap portion to be detached from the projection means. When the strap portion comprises overlying strap portions, as defined above, squeezing pressure is applied to those parts of the overlying portions that are retained in the channel of the strap fitting which acts as an adjustment fitting to reduce their width sufficiently for the said parts to enter into and be retained in the channel with the projection means engaging in the said selected pair of registered holes and for at least one of said parts to be disengaged from the projection means and be removed from the channel and the other of said parts either to be disengaged from the projection means and moved in the channel to effect the adjustment or disengaged from the projection means and removed from the channel to effect the adjustment, or for both of said parts to be disengaged from the projection means and removed from the channel to effect the adjustment. By applying a squeezing pressure to bend the overlying strap portions to form a hump and to reduce their width, the registered holes in the overlying portions are disengaged from the projection means sufficiently for the overlying portions to be detached from the projection means and moved relatively thereto to effect the adjustment and by releasing the squeezing pressure, the projection means can be inserted into another pair of registered holes to alter the length of the strap. Depending upon the use of the strap fitting, for example to support a mobile phone from a strap or for use as an adjustment fitting for an adjustable strap, or the use to which the adjustable strap is put, for example as a belt or a bag strap, the projection means may be a single pin, two pins, a ridge or a plate that projects from the channel bottom and towards the channel opening. For example, when a single pin, is used, for a relatively narrow strap, such as a belt, the pin preferably projects from the channel bottom at a location that is equidistant from the channel sides. By arranging for the channel to have a depth that is slightly larger than the thickness of the strap portion or overlying portions, as the case may be, bending of the strap portion to disengage the hole from, and engage the hole with, the projection means or bending of the overlying portions to disengage the selected pair of holes from, and engage the selected pair of holes with, the projection means is considerably facilitated. The holes which adapt the overlying portions may be of any convenient shape and are generally dependant upon the shape of the projection means. For example, for round or oval projection means, round or oval holes are used and for elongate projection means, the holes are in the form of slots. In order to restrain the other end portion of the strap, the strap preferably includes a loop restrainer which is attached, in use, on said oppositely facing lengths as a free loop or alternatively is integral with the adjustment fitting. After adjustment has been completed, it is desirable to prevent the excess length of that one of the overlying portions that projects freely from the adjustment fitting from wandering. To this end, the strap is conveniently provided with a keeper ring that encircles both the free length and the other overlying portion projecting from the adjustment fitting. The overlying portions are conveniently formed by folding one end portion of the strap back on itself to form a loop with an end fold. Means may be provided additionally for varying the length of the strap from the other end portion of the strap, such as a fastener, conveniently a buckle, which is retained by the loop and co-operates with the other end portion of the strap. This other end portion of the strap is preferably provided with a plurality of holes in which a prong on the fastening means can be selectively inserted, for example, where the adjustable strap is used as a belt for holding up clothing or for use as a watch strap. In such a case, the fastener may be provided with a separate slot which accommodates the loop end fold and through which the end portion of the strap is threadable and foldable back on itself to form the overlying portions of the loop. Whilst this specific design enables the features of a fastener in the form of the traditional pronged half buckle referred to above to be retained, alternatively, the provision of buckle prong holes such as slots in combination with other holes, enables the use of the traditional half plaque buckles which are readily available and commonly in use, thereby to avoid modification of such existing half buckles and thus reduce costs. In applications of the invention to fashion bags, footwear and luggage, buckle fasteners may or may not be required or necessary. The invention also comprehends a kit of parts comprising a strap and an adjustment fitting, and optionally any one or all of the other parts of the strap as defined above. The invention also resides in methods of adjusting a strap involving the use of any of the adjustment fittings defined above in any of the ways herein referred to. Preferably, to avoid moving parts, the adjustment fitting is of one piece construction It will be appreciated that the adjustment of the length of strap through the adjustable fitting and optionally the fastener makes available an extended range of strap sizes that allows a one-size strap to be manufactured and sold to suit wearers of many varying waist sizes and which can be adjusted continuously throughout the life of the strap. This is of particular significance where the adjustable straps are used as belts. In order that the invention can be more readily understood, reference will now be made, by way of example only, to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 is a perspective view of an adjustable strap having a buckle type fastener attached to one end portion, which is shown assembled and looped back on itself and broken away for ease of illustration, and made in accordance with the present invention; Figure 2 is a partial cross-section to an enlarged scale taken along the line II-II of Figure 1 and looking in the direction of the illustrated arrows; Figure 2a shows the partial cross-sectional view of Figure 2 but with overlying portions of the strap in a bent position after having been squeezed to reduce their width; Figure 3 is a side view of the one end portion of the strap of Figures 1 and 2 to a reduced scale, with the one end portion broken away, with the buckle having been removed for the sake of clarity and with the one end portion folded as shown in Figures 1 and 2; Figure 4 is a plan view of the one end portion of the strap shown in Figures 1 to 3, broken way from the strap and unfolded; Figure 5 is a perspective view of an adjustment fitting, to an enlarged scale, which has been detached from the one end portion of the strap of Figures 1 to 3; Figure 6 is a perspective view of a keeper ring which has been detached from the one end portion of the strap of Figures 1 to 3; Figure 7 is a plan view of the buckle shown on the strap in Figure 1 and which has been detached from the one end portion of the strap; Figure 8 is a detail perspective view of a modification of the strap of Figures 1 to 7 and showing an alternative adjustment fitting; Figure 9 is a partial cross-section, to an enlarged scale, taken along the line VIII- VIII of Figure 8 looking in the direction of the illustrated arrows; Figure 10 is a perspective view of the adjustment fitting of Figures 8 and 9; Figure 11 is a detail perspective view of another modification of the strap of Figures 1 to 7 and showing another alternative adjustment fitting and an alternative buckle fastener; Figures 12 and 13 are front and perspective views respectively of the alternative adjustment fitting of Figure 11, detached from the strap; Figure 14 is a plan view of the alternative buckle fastener, detached from the strap of Figure 11; Figure 15 is a plan view of a strap end portion of the strap of Figures 11 to 14; Figures 16 and 17 are detail perspective views of two further modifications respectively of the embodiments of Figures 1 to 7 or Figures 1 1 to 14, showing alternative buckle fasteners; Figure 17a is a detail view of the another modification of the embodiment of Figures 1 to 7, showing yet another alternative buckle fastener; Figure 17b is a plan view of one end portion of the strap shown in Figure 17a, broken away from the strap and unfolded; Figures 18, 19 and 20 are diagrammatic perspective views of the end portion of the any of the adjustable straps of Figures 1 to 7 or Figures 1 1 to 14, without the buckle fasteners, as applied to sports luggage (Figure 18), and a fashion bag (Figures 19 and 20); Figures 21 and 22 are diagrammatic plan views of watches using the straps of Figures 1 to 7 and Figures 11 to 14 respectively; and Figure 23 is diagrammatic perspective view of an article of footwear in the form of a sandal and having overlapping strap portions retained by the adjustment fitting shown in Figures 1 to 5. In the drawings, the same reference characters are used to designate the same or similar parts. Referring to Figures 1 to 7 of the drawings, there is shown an adjustable strap, which is generally indicated at 1 and is in the form of a belt and of which the strap proper is made of leather. One end portion 3 of the strap 1 is folded back on itself to form a loop 5 with an end fold 7 and overlying strap portions 8 and 9 that are releaseably attachable together in a plurality of adjustment positions with respect to each other to vary the length of the strap 1. The overlying portions 8 and 9 are adapted to co-operate by means of holes 10 to define the plurality of adjustment positions. As Figure 4 shows, the end portion 3 of the strap 3 bears a plurality of such holes 10 which are equally spaced and in the working embodiment are at 50 mm intervals. A selected pair of holes 10 are held in register in these adjustment positions, as will be appreciated from Figure 2, by means of a one-piece strap fitting 12 of metal acting as an adjustment fitting 12. The adjustment fitting 12 is releaseably attachable to the overlying portions 8 and 9 of the loop 5 in a manner to be described. The loop 7 restrains a metal half buckle 14 having a prong 16 and a separate slot 18 defined between the illustrated prong supporting bar and an end bar 19 (Figure 7) which accommodates the loop end fold 7. Through the separate slot 18, the end portion 3 of the strap 1 has been threaded and folded back on itself to form the overlying portions 8 and 9 of the loop 5. The other end portion 20 of the strap 1 is provided with a plurality of holes 22 in which the buckle prong 16 is engageable additionally to vary the length of the strap 1. A free retainer loop 24 of leather is attached in the loop 5 for retaining the strap end portion 20 after the prong 16 has been inserted in the appropriate hole 22. A keeper ring 25 of leather is threaded onto the loop 5 to accommodate the loose tail 26 of the overlying portion 9 of the loop 5 that extends beyond the adjustment fitting 12 to prevent it from wandering and keep it tidily against the overlying portion 8 of the loop 5 (see Figures 1 and 6). The adjustment fitting 12 and its operation will now be more fully described with reference to Figures 1, 2, 2a, 3, 4 and 5. As best shown in Figures 1 and 3, the adjustment fitting 12 is attached to the overlying portions 8 and 9 as near to the buckle bar 19 as is allowed by the position of a selected pair of registered holes 10 so that the smallest possible size of loop 5 is formed in order to constrain movement of the buckle 14 relative to the end fold 7 of the loop 5. The adjustment fitting 12 has a bar 28 which extends across the visible surface 30 of the overlying portions of the loop 5 and has a channel 31 with sides 32. A channel opening 33 is defined by two inwardly directed tabs 34 and projection means in the form of an integral pin 35 projects from the channel bottom 36 at a location which is substantially equidistant from the free ends of the tabs 34. Referring more particularly to Figure 2, the pin 35 has been inserted in the illustrated selected pair of registered holes 10 in those parts of the overlying portions 8 and 9 which are accommodated in the channel 31. The pin 35 is maintained in engagement with the pair of registered holes 10 by the channel opening 33, as defined by the tabs 34, being of a width which is less than that of the channel 31. As can be seen from Figure 2, retention in the channel 31 of the parts of the overlying portions 8 and 9, is assisted by the free end of the pin 35 terminating substantially at the level of the channel opening 33 which is somewhat outwardly beyond those parts of the overlying portions 8 and 9 accommodated in the channel 31. The tabs 34 are spaced from the bar 28 so that the channel 31 has a depth corresponding to twice the thickness of the strap 3 (i.e. the combined thickness of the overlying portions 8 and 9) plus 10% to allow for ease of attachment of the attachment fitting 12 to. and detachment of the attachment fitting 12 from, the overlying portions 8 and 9 of the loop 5. In this specific embodiment, the strap proper is 3 mm thick and the channel 31 is 6.6 mm deep. In order to vary the length of the strap 1, the adjustment fitting 12 is detached from the overlying portions 8 and 9 of the loop 5 of the strap 1 by squeezing together with the fingers of both hands, the longitudinal edges of the overlying portions 8 and 9 on opposite sides respectively of the adjustment fitting 12 as shown by the four illustrated arrows in Figure 1. This squeezing pressure causes the longitudinal edges of the overlying portions 8 and 9 to move towards each other as shown Figure 2a to reduce their width and form a hump 40 so that the pair of registered holes 10 in the overlying portions 8 and 9 can be disengaged from the pin 35 and the overlying portions 8 and 9 removed from the channel 31 through the channel opening 33. Another pair of holes 10 is selected, placed in registration, the squeezing pressure is applied as before to form the hump 40 and reduce the width of overlying portions 8 and 9 to enable them to be inserted through the channel opening 33 and the squeezing pressure is released to engage the registered holes 10 with the pin 35 and the retain the overlying portions 8 and 9 in the channel 31, as will be appreciated from Figure 2a. Actually, applicants have found that there is no need to remove the overlying portion 9 from the channel 31 which means that the adjustment fitting 12 does not necessarily have to be removed from the strap. This is because there is enough room for the overlying portion 9 to be moved in the channel to the next selected hole 10 and then the length 8 can be squeezed to reduce its width, inserted with its hole 10 on the pin 35, so that the holes 10 for the adjusted length of strap are placed in register on the pin 35. Whichever method is used, the narrower width of the channel opening 33 defined by the retaining tabs 24 as compared to that of the channel 31 ensures that the lengths 8 and 9 remain on the pin 35 and thus the adjustment fitting 12 on the strap. The modification of Figures 8 to 10 differs from that of Figures 1 to 7 only in that the free loop retainer 24 between the adjustment fitting 12 and the end buckle bar 19 is omitted and replaced by a loop retainer 42 which is integral with the adjustment fitting 12 and has a slot 44 for receiving the other end portion 20 of the strap 1 (Figure 1) when the buckle prong 16 is engaged in a hole 22. Referring to Figures 11 to 14, this modification involves wider (say 50mm) and thinner (say 4 to 5mm internal clearance) straps 1 than with the belt type straps of the embodiments of Figures 1 to 7 and Figures 8 to 10. The main difference from the previous embodiments is the use of two pins 35 on the adjustment fitting 12 which engage in two side by side pairs of holes 10 in the oppositely facing portions 8 and 9 of the strap 1 to provide required additional resistance to detachment for thinner, wider straps. In situations where length variations are required to be minimal which is usual with wider straps, a conventional half buckle 16 with the strap end portion 3 provided with prong hole slots 10a can be used. The modifications of Figures 16 and 17 differ from that of Figures 1 to 7 by locating the free loop restrainer 24 between the overlying portions 8 and 9 of the loop 5 on that side of the attachment fitting 12 which is remote from the buckle 16. Also, the buckles are different in being a full buckle 16 in Figure 16 and a plaque buckle 16 in Figure 17. In the modification of Figures 17a and 17b, the buckle is a half buckle 16 and the buckle prong passes through prong holes in the form of slots 10a. The Figure 16 and Figures 17a and 17b modifications are significant because they avoid the use of the buckle 16 with the built in loop restraining slot 18 which has to be specially made. In particular the prong slot and hole arrangement shown in Figures 17a and 17b, enables the use of the traditional half plaque buckles which are readily available and commonly in use. Figures 18 to 20 are modifications that show applications of the adjustable strap that involve the one end portion 3 only with its loop 5 formed of the overlying portions 8 and 9 but without the buckle 16 and the other end portion 20 with its holes 22. In Figure 18, the sports luggage 50 and in Figure 20, the fashion bag 60 the strap 1 is attached as by their respective loops 5 at both ends of the strap 1 to respective holding loops 51 and 61. As will be appreciated, there are two adjustment fittings 12 at each end of the strap. By contrast, in Figure 19, the strap 1 is attached to the bag 60 at its other end portion (not visible) and by its one end portion 3 whose loop 5 is provided with two adjustment fittings 12. In the modification of Figure 21, the strap 1 is a watch strap with two loops 5 attached to conventional watch spindles (not shown) on opposite sides respectively of the watch 70. The loops 5 carry two adjustment fittings 12 respectively with the right- hand end portion 20 having holes 22 which are engageable in the buckle prong 16 of the buckle 14 at the left-hand side of the watch. On the other hand, the watch 70 in the modification of Figure 22 has one adjustment fitting 12 disposed nearer the buckle 14 than in Figure 21 and a conventional strap end portion 22. Referring to Figure 23, this modification showing a sandal 80 has a sandal strap la which is made of two overlying portions 8 and 9 which are not formed by loops as in the embodiment of Figures 1 to 7 for example, but are separately attached to opposite sides 81 of the sandal 80. In this instance the adjustment fitting 12 is attached to. and joins together the overlying portions 8 and 9 to attach the sandal 80 to a wearer's foot as well as adjusting the combined effective length of the strap la to suit the size of a particular wearer's foot. Whilst the invention has been described with reference to a number of different embodiments, it should be appreciated that many variations are possible within the inventive concepts as defined in the appended claims. For example, instead of the strap fitting 12 being used as an adjustment fitting, it could be used for supporting an article such as a mobile phone from a strap with the projection means of the fitting engaging in a hole in a strap portion. The choice of materials for the strap, buckle and adjustment fitting can be changed as desired and the shape and kind of buckle and the shape of the adjustment fitting can be varied as desired to suit current fashion. Moreover, the belt form of strap may be used in purely decorative applications. Furthermore, the straps described may be used in other applications.

Claims: CLAIMS 1. An adjustable strap having overlying strap portions that are releaseably attachable together in a plurality of positions with respect to each other to vary the length of the belt, characterised in that the overlying portions are adapted to co-operate to define said plurality of positions and be held in said positions by means of a one-piece strap fitting which is releaseably attachable to the oppositely facing lengths. 2. An adjustable strap having overlying strap portions that are releaseably attachable together in a plurality of positions with respect to each other to vary the length of the belt by means of a strap fitting which permits said overlying portions to be moved with respect thereto to enable the length of the strap to be varied without necessarily detaching the adjustment fitting from the strap. 3. An adjustable strap according to claim 1 or claim 2, characterised in that the overlying portions are adapted to co-operate by means of respective holes therein which are placed in registration to provide pairs of registered holes that define said plurality of positions. 4. An adjustable strap according to claim 3, characterised in that the selected pair of registered holes are held in registration by means of the strap fitting by engagement with said selected pair of registered holes to fix the length of the length of the strap. 5. An adjustable strap according to claim 4, characterised in that the strap fitting has projection means for engaging in the selected pair of registered holes to hold the selected pair of holes in registration. 6. An adjustable strap according to claim 5, characterised in that the strap fitting has a channel which accommodates those parts of the overlying portions that define said selected pair of registered holes and in a position in which the projection means engages in said selected pair of registered holes. 7. An adjustable strap according to claim 6, characterised in that the projection means projects from the channel bottom at a location that is equidistant from the channel sides. 8. An adjustable strap according to claim 6 or claim 7, characterised in that the channel has an opening with a width which is less than that of the channel bottom to retain the said parts of the overlying portions in the channel with the projection means engaged in said selected pair of registered holes. 9. An adjustable strap according to claim 8, characterised in that the channel opening is defined by inwardly projecting tabs for retaining the said parts of the overlying portions in the channel 10. An adjustable strap according to any one of claims 6 to 8, characterised in that the said parts of the overlying portions are squeezeable to reduce their width sufficiently for the said parts to enter into and be retained in the channel with the projection means engaging in the said selected pair of registered holes and for at least one of said parts to be disengaged from the projection means and removed from the channel and the other of said parts either to be disengaged from the projection means and moved in the channel to effect the adjustment or disengaged from the projection means and removed from the channel, or for both of said parts to be disengaged from the projection means and removed from the channel. 1 1. An adjustable strap according to claim 10, characterised in that the channel has a depth which is greater than the thickness of the overlying portions, whereby to facilitate squeezing of the overlying portions to reduce their width. 12. An adjustable strap according to any one of claims 1 to 11, characterised in that the strap fitting has an integral loop retainer for receiving at least a part of the other end portion of the strap. 13. An adjustable strap according to any one of claims 1 to 11, characterised in that a keeper ring encircles the overlying portions projecting from the strap fitting. 14. An adjustable strap according to any one of claims 1 to 13, characterised in that the overlying portions are formed by folding one end portion of the strap back on itself to form a loop with an end fold. 15. An adjustable strap according to claim 14, characterised in that the loop acts as a means of attaching the strap to, or retaining it on, an article with which the strap is to be used, or acts as a retaining loop for a fastener such as a buckle. 16. An adjustable strap according to claim 14 or claim 15, characterised in that means are provided for additionally varying the length of the strap from the other end portion of the strap. 17. An adjustable strap according to claim 16, characterised in that the means for additionally varying the length of the strap comprises a or the fastener, such as a or the buckle, which is retained by the loop and co-operates with the other end portion of the strap. 18. An adjustable strap according to any one of claims 15 to 17, characterised in that the buckle is a half buckle with the overlying portions having holes for accommodating a prong of the buckle. 19. An adjustable strap according to any one of claims 15 to 17, characterised in that the buckle is a full buckle or a plaque buckle. 20. An adjustable strap according to any one of claims 15 to 17, characterised in that the fastener has a slot which accommodates the loop end fold and through which the end portion of the strap is threadable and foldable back on itself to form the overlying portions of the loop. 21. An adjustable strap according to claim 16 or any one of claims 17 to 19 as appendant to claim 16, characterised in that the other end portion of the strap is provided with a plurality of holes in which a prong of the fastening means is selectively inserted additionally to vary the length of the strap. 22. An adjustable strap substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to Figures 1 to 7 of the accompanying drawings. 23. An adjustable strap substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to Figures 1 to 7, as modified by Figures 8 to 10 of the accompanying drawings. 24. An adjustable strap substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to Figures 1 to 7, as modified by Figures 11 to 15 of the accompanying drawings. 25. An adjustable strap substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to Figures 1 to 7, as modified by Figure 16, Figure 17, or Figures 17a and 17b of the accompanying drawings. 26. An adjustable strap substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to Figures 1 to 7, as modified by any one of Figures 18 to 20 of the accompanying drawings. 27. An adjustable strap substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to Figures 1 to 7, as modified by Figure 21 or Figure 22 of the accompanying drawings. 28. An adjustable strap substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to Figures 1 to 7, as modified by Figure 23 of the accompanying drawings. 29. A kit of parts comprising a strap and a strap fitting as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 28. 30. A strap fitting defining a channel for receiving a strap portion having a hole therein, means projecting from the channel bottom for engagement in the hole in the strap portion and means for retaining the projection means in engagement with the hole, yet permitting said projection means to be disengaged from the hole by the application of a squeezing pressure to the strap portion edges. 31. A strap fitting for an adjustable strap, said strap fitting defining a channel, means projecting from the channel bottom for engagement in a pair of registered holes in overlying portions of the strap, said channel having an opening which is less than the width of the channel, whereby the overlying portions can be reduced in width by a squeezing pressure to enter the channel through the channel opening yet be retained within the channel with the registered holes in engagement with the projection means when the squeezing pressure is released. 32. A strap fitting according to claim 30 or claim 31, characterised by being of one-piece construction. 33. A strap fitting according to any one claims 30 to 32, characterised in that the channel opening is defined by inwardly projecting tabs for retaining a part of the strap portion or parts of the overlying strap portions in the channel. 34. A strap fitting according to any one of claims 30 to 33, characterised in that the projection means projects from the channel bottom at a location that is equidistant from the channel sides. 35. A strap fitting according to any one of claims 30 to 34, characterised in that the channel has a depth which is greater than the thickness of the strap portion or the overlying strap portions, whereby to facilitate squeezing of the strap portion or overlying strap portions to reduce its or their width. 36. A strap fitting according to any one of claims 30 to 35, characterised in that the fitting defines a slot for receiving at least an end portion of the strap. 37. A strap fitting according to any one of claims 30 to 36, characterised in that the projection means has a free end that terminates substantially at the level of the channel opening. 38. A strap fitting according to any one of claims 30 to 37. characterised in that the projection means is a single pin. 39. A strap fitting according to any one of claims 30 to 38, characterised in that the projection means is constituted by two pins. 40. A strap fitting substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to Figures 1 to 7, Figures 8 to 10 or Figures 11 to 15 of the accompanying drawings.

Inventors: NOVELLI STEPHEN, NOVELLI, STEPHEN
Applicants: ANGLOBAL LTD, NOVELLI STEPHEN, ANGLOBAL LIMITED, NOVELLI, STEPHEN
Application year: 2000
Main classification: A44B11
IPC codes: A43C11, A44B11, A45C13, A45F3