Abstract:
A buckle includes a buckle body, and a holder member for holding an article. The holder member is rotatably and detachably attached to the buckle body. Thus, the article can be attached to the buckle body if required.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION AND RELATED ART STATEMENT  
       [0001]     The present invention relates to a buckle for connecting a strap.  
         [0002]     As a buckle comprising a base and a tool holder, Patent Reference 1 is available. A lip and a resilient arm are formed in the base and a flange is included in the tool holder; the tool holder is combined with the base by inserting the flange below-the lip.  
         [0003]     In the buckle disclosed in Patent Reference 1, however, either the outline of the flange is polygonal in shape, or the inner contour of the lip is polygonal in shape. Thus, the tool holder cannot be turned when combined with the base. That is, once the tool holder is combined with the base, unless it is removed, the orientation of the holder section of the tool holder cannot be changed.  
         [0004]     Patent Reference 1: Japanese Patent Publication (Kokai) No. 2002-112810.  
         [0005]     In view of the problem described above, an object of the present invention is to provide a buckle, in which a strap connected via the buckle appropriately holds an article of various types so that the article can be turned to achieve an easy-to-use orientation by utilizing the buckle.  
         [0006]     Further objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following description of the invention.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0007]     In order to achieve the objects described above, according to the present invention, a buckle comprises a buckle body and a holder member rotatably and detachably attached to the buckle body for holding an article of various types.  
         [0008]     According to such a construction, a strap connected via the buckle body holds an article of various types, so that the article can turn to achieve an easy-to-use orientation. When there is no need to hold any article, the holder member can be removed from the buckle body, so that the buckle body can be used by itself.  
         [0009]     According to the present invention, a buckle may comprise a buckle body and a holder member rotatably and detachably attached to the buckle body for holding an elongated article, such as a strap, string, linear, bar, or tubular material.  
         [0010]     With the above construction, the elongated article can be held by the buckle body without difficulty when oriented so that the lengthwise direction of the elongated article not only coincides but also intersects with the direction in which the straps connected via the buckle body extend. In other words, when the elongated article has to be moved or relatively moved so as to change the angle formed by the center line of the article and the center lines of the straps, which are connected via the buckle body, in order to use the elongated article in the held state, the holder member can be turned accordingly. In such an instance, deformation or the like of the elongated article being held can be prevented. When there is no need to hold any elongated article, the holder member can be removed from the buckle body, so that the buckle body can be used by itself.  
         [0011]     According to the present invention, a buckle may comprise a female part included in either the buckle body or the holder member and a male part in the other of the two. The male part has a head and a neck. The female part has an insertion space communicating with an insertion opening for the head of the male part; a through hole formed integrally in one of a wall forming the insertion space, communicating with the insertion space, and having an inner peripheral surface formed along an arc having a diameter for passing the neck of the male part and not passing the head therethrough; and a guide groove for the neck of the male part communicating with the through hole, connected to an edge on a side of the insertion opening of the wall, having an opening opened outwardly at the edge. The neck of the male part is inserted into the through hole while resiliently spreading the guide groove, and the head is fitted into the insertion space through the insertion opening.  
         [0012]     With such a construction, the holder member can be rotatably and detachably combined with the buckle body connecting the strap in an appropriate manner, thereby allowing it to tolerate, with a high degree of flexibility, changes in the orientation of the elongated article so held according to the use by allowing the holder member to turn. In other words, the female part and the male part can be combined by fitting the head of the male part into the insertion space of the female part so as to prevent the head from easily slipping out.  
         [0013]     Since the through hole of the female part has the inner peripheral surface, the male part is smoothly turned using the through hole as a shaft hole. When there is no need to have the buckle body hold an article, the head can be pulled out by pulling out the neck of the male part which has been located in the through hole through the guide groove, while allowing the neck to resiliently spread the guide groove, thereby separating the buckle body from the holder member in a one-touch operation.  
         [0014]     The holder member may be formed of a clamp for receiving and holding an elongated article from a lengthwise side into a clamp interior while allowing the elongated article being inserted to resiliently spread the clamp entrance.  
         [0015]     With such a construction, the holder member is allowed to appropriately hold an elongated article, such as a tube or pipe, in a one-touch operation, and tolerate, with a high degree of flexibility, changes in the orientation of the elongated article so held according to the use by allowing the holder member to turn.  
         [0016]     The buckle body may comprise a male buckle and a female buckle constructing a side release buckle. One of the male part and the female part is disposed on an outer surface of the female buckle.  
         [0017]     With such a construction, engaging the male buckle and the female buckle connects the strap fastened to the male buckle and the strap fastened to the female buckle, enables the female buckle so connected to the male buckle to appropriately hold an elongated article via the holder member, and tolerates, with a high degree of flexibility, changes in the orientation of the elongated article so held according to the use by allowing the holder member to turn.  
         [0018]     The buckle body may have a strap fastening section comprising strap inserting or passing sections on both sides of a middle cross bar.  
         [0019]     With such a construction, the straps can be connected via the buckle body in the condition where the position in which the buckle is fastened to at least one of the straps to be connected  4 . via the buckle body is made adjustable by the fastening section of the buckle. At the same time, the buckle body is capable of appropriately holding an elongated article via the holder member, and tolerating, with a high degree of flexibility, changes in the orientation of the elongated article so held according to the use by allowing the holder member to turn.  
         [0020]     According to the present invention, the straps that are connected via the buckle body are allowed to hold an article of various types so that the article can turn to achieve an easy-to-use orientation. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0021]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view showing a holder member;  
         [0022]      FIG. 2  is a left side view of the holder member;  
         [0023]      FIG. 3  is a plan view of the holder member;  
         [0024]      FIG. 4  is a front view of the holder member;  
         [0025]      FIG. 5  is a bottom view of the holder member;  
         [0026]      FIG. 6  is a right side view of the holder member;  
         [0027]      FIG. 7  is a sectional view taken along line  7 - 7  in  FIG. 2 ;  
         [0028]      FIG. 8 (A) is a perspective view showing another holder member, and  FIG. 8 (B) is a perspective view of the holder member in  FIG. 8 (A) in a reversed state;  
         [0029]      FIG. 9 (A) is a perspective view showing a different holder member, and  FIG. 9 (B) is a perspective view of the holder member in  FIG. 9 (B) in a reversed state;  
         [0030]      FIG. 10  is a perspective view showing a buckle body;  
         [0031]      FIG. 11  is a front view showing a buckle body;  
         [0032]      FIG. 12  is a sectional view taken along line  12 - 12  in  FIG. 11 ;  
         [0033]      FIG. 13  is a sectional rear view showing a buckle body;  
         [0034]      FIG. 14  is a perspective view showing a female buckle;  
         [0035]      FIG. 15  is a front view of the female buckle attached to a holder member;  
         [0036]      FIG. 16  is a plan view of the female buckle attached to the holder member;  
         [0037]      FIG. 17  is a right side view of the female buckle attached to the holder member;  
         [0038]      FIG. 18  is a bottom view of the female buckle attached to the holder member;  
         [0039]      FIG. 19  is a sectional view taken along line  19 - 19  in  FIG. 15 ;  
         [0040]      FIG. 20  is a perspective view of the female buckle attached to the holder member;  
         [0041]      FIG. 21  is a partially sectional view showing the holder member for explaining a rotated state indicated by a phantom line;  
         [0042]      FIG. 22  is a perspective view showing a buckle body;  
         [0043]      FIG. 23  is a rear perspective view of the buckle body in  FIG. 22 ;  
         [0044]      FIG. 24  is a sectional view of the buckle body in use; and  
         [0045]      FIG. 25 (A) is a perspective view showing a still different holder member, and  FIG. 25 (B) is a perspective view of the holder member in  FIG. 25 (A) in a reversed-state. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS  
       [0046]     Hereunder embodiments of the present invention will be explained based on FIGS.  1  to  25 ( a ) and  25 (B). FIGS.  1  to  7  illustrate one example of a holder member  2  comprising the buckle, FIGS.  8 (A) and  8 (B) show another example the holder member  2 , FIGS.  9 (A) and  9 (B) show another example, and FIGS.  25 (A) and  25 (B) show yet another example.  
         [0047]      FIG. 10  illustrates one example of a buckle body  1  comprising the buckle, FIGS.  11  to  13  show another example of the buckle body  1 ,  FIG. 14  shows a female buckle  13  comprising another example of the buckle body  1 , FIGS.  15  to  21  show a female buckle  13  comprising another example of the buckle body  1  in the state wherein it is combined with the holder member  2  shown in FIGS.  1  to  7 . FIGS.  22  to  24  show yet another example of the buckle body  1 .  
         [0048]     The buckle in these embodiments is used to connect straps W. Such a buckle is typically used to connect two straps W, W via the buckle. More specifically, when used in a backpack, for example, the buckle is used to detachably connect a pair of right and left waist straps or chest straps via the buckle, or position adjustably fasten and connect the lower ends of pad sections, which comprise shoulder straps whose upper ends are secured to the upper section of the backpack, and the upper ends of lower draw-out tapes whose lower ends are secured to the lower section of the backpack, via the buckle.  
         [0049]     Such a buckle includes a buckle body  1  that connects the straps W together and a holder member  2  that holds an article of various types.  
         [0050]     In the examples shown in the figures, the buckle includes a holder member  2  having a structure that is suited for holding an elongated article, such as a strap, string, linear, bar, or tubular material. The holder member  2 , moreover, is rotatably and detachably provided in the buckle body  1 .  
         [0051]     As for an elongated article, a tube, a pipe, a rod, a cord, a string, a wire or the like is anticipated. More specifically, anticipated applications in a backpack, for example, include holding at the position where the buckle is disposed a tube that functions as a straw connected to a container for supplying drink to a backpack user, or a reel that reels in and out a string constructed so as to tie or fasten an article of various types at the end of the string.  
         [0052]     According to such a construction, the straps W connected via the buckle body  1  can hold an article of various types so that the article can turn to achieve an easy-to-use orientation. When there is no need to hold an article, the holder member  2  can be removed from the buckle body  1 , so that the buckle body  1  can be used by itself.  
         [0053]     When such an article is elongated in shape, in particular, the buckle body  1  is able to hold the article without difficulty when the article is oriented so that the lengthwise direction not only coincides but also intersects with the direction in which the straps W connected via the buckle  1  extend. In other words, when the elongated article has to be moved or relatively moved so as to change the angle formed by the center line of the article and the center lines of the straps W, which are connected via the buckle body  1 , in order to use the elongated article in the held state, the holder member  2  can be turned accordingly. In such an instance, deformation or the like of the elongated article being held can be prevented. When there is no need to hold any elongated article, the holder member  2  can be removed from the buckle body  1 , so that the buckle body  1  can be used by itself.  
         [0054]     In this embodiment, more specifically, a female part  3  is provided in either the buckle body  1  or the holder member  2 , and a male part  4  is provided in the other of the two. In the examples shown in the figures, the male part  4  is provided in the holder member  2 , while the female part  3  is provided in the buckle body  1 .  
         [0055]     The male part  4  has a head  40  and a neck  41 . In the examples shown in the figures, the male part  4  is composed of a disc-shaped head  40  and a cylindrical shaft-shaped neck  41  whose one shaft end is integrally connected to one face of the head  40  substantially in the center and the other shaft end is integrally connected to the holder member  2 .  
         [0056]     In the examples shown in the figures, moreover, a substantially square sheet base  42  with one surface integrally connected to the holder member  2  is provided, and the other shaft end of the neck  41  is connected to the other surface of the base  42  substantially in the center. On that surface of the base  42 , a rise  43  that projects from that surface is formed on each of a pair of opposing sides at a substantially mid position lengthwise. The projecting end surface of the rise  43  forms a gradual curve.  
         [0057]     The female part  3  has the following: 
        (1) an insertion space  31  continued from an insertion opening  30  for the head  40  of the male part  4 ,     (2) a through hole  33  created in one of the walls  32  that forms the insertion space  31 , connected to the insertion space  31 , and has an inner peripheral surface that follows the arc of a phantom circle having a diameter to allow the neck  41  of the male part  4  pass through but not the head  40 , and     (3) a guide groove  34  for the neck  41  of the male part  4  that is connected to the through hole  33 , continued to the edge of the wall  32  on the side of the insertion opening  30 , and opened outwardly at that edge.        
 
         [0061]     In the examples illustrated in the figures, the female part  3  is formed by supporting a top plate  35  having an outline that is substantially shaped after the outline of the base  42  of the male part  4  with a support plate  36 , which is integrally connected to a pair of opposing sides of the top plate, so as to form the insertion space  31  below the inner surface of the top plate  35 . In the examples shown in the figures, moreover, the through hole  33  is formed substantially in the center of the top plate  35 . The insertion opening  30  is formed on one side of the remaining pair of sides of the top plate  35 , which are not supported by the aforementioned support plate  36 . The aforementioned guide groove  34  is formed between the substantial center of that side of the remaining pair of sides and the through hole  33 .  
         [0062]     In the examples shown in the figures, the groove width of the guide groove  34  in the center is slightly smaller than the diameter of the neck  41  of the male part  4 . The diameter of the aforementioned phantom circle where the inner peripheral surface of the through hole  33  is positioned is substantially equal to the outer diameter of the neck  41  of the male part  4 . At the free end of the guide groove  34 , i.e., the entrance, both groove walls are tilted in the direction to gradually spread the groove width of the guide groove  34  as they gain distance from the center of the guide groove  34  to make the insertion of the neck  41  of the male part  4  into the groove  34  easier. In the examples shown in the figures, moreover, recesses  37  having the depth and width for the rises  43  formed in the base  42  of the male part  4  to enter are formed in the substantial centers of the sides supported by the support plate  36  in the aforementioned top plate  35 .  
         [0063]     In this embodiment, moreover, the neck  41  of the male part  4  is inserted to the aforementioned through hole  33  while resiliently spreading the guide groove  34 , and the head  40  is fitted into the insertion space  31  through the insertion opening  30 .  
         [0064]     In this embodiment, therefore, the holder member  2  can be rotatably and detachably combined with the buckle body  1  that has connected to the straps W, thereby allowing the buckle to tolerate, with a high degree of flexibility, changes in the orientation of the elongated article so held according to the use by allowing the holder member  2  to turn. In other words, the female part  3  and the male part  4  are combined without allowing the head  40  of the male part  4  to easily slip out of the insertion space  31  by inserting the head  40  into the insertion space  31  of the female part  3 . Since the through hole  33  of the female part  3  has the aforementioned inner peripheral surface, the male part  4  is smoothly rotated using the through hole  3  as a shaft hole. When there is no need to have the buckle body  1  hold an elongated article, the buckle body  1  and the holder member  2  can be separated with a one-touch operation by pulling out the neck  41  of the male part  4  that has been located in the through hole  33  from the insertion space  31  through the guide groove  34 .  
         [0065]     In the examples shown in the figures, the male part  4  and the female part  3  are combined as described above when the outer surface of the top plate  35  contacts the lower surface of the base  42  so that the pair of rises  43  formed in the base  42  of the male part  4  respectively fits into the pair of recesses  37 ,  37  from above (the state shown in the section with the solid line in  FIG. 21 ).  
         [0066]     When the male part  4  is turned or relatively turned using the through hole  33  as a shaft hole from this state, the base  42  is flexibly deformed so as to allow the pair of rises  43  to slip out of the recesses  37 , and, as a result, the rises  43  slip out of the recess  37 . Then, the base  42  regains its original shape at the turned position where one of the pair of rises  43  slips into the side of the pair of sides of the top plate  35  where the recesses  37  are not formed, while the other of the pair of rises  43  slips into the entrance of the guide groove  34 . As a result, the inner surface of one of the pair of rises  43  is caused to have a planar contact with the side of the pair of sides of the top plate  35  where no recesses  37  are formed, while the other of the pair of rises  43  is housed in the entrance of the guide groove  43 .  
         [0067]     When the male part  4  is further turned or relatively turned from this state (shown in  FIG. 21  in the section with imaginary line), the base  42  is flexibly deformed again and regains its original shape in the turned position where one of the pair of rises  43  slips into the aforementioned recess  37 . As a result, the pair of rises  43  fits into the corresponding recesses  37 . That is, in this embodiment, the holder member  2  can be temporarily fastened at the positions where it is turned about 90 degrees normally and in reverse.  
         [0068]     FIGS.  1  to  9 (A) and  9 (B) show an example of a clamp-shaped holder member  2  for receiving and holding an elongated article from the lengthwise side into the clamp interior  21  while allowing the elongated article being inserted to resiliently spread the clamp entrance  20 .  
         [0069]     More specifically, in the example shown in FIGS.  1  to  7 , the holder member  2  can hold the elongated article as described above by integrally providing the male part  4  to the holder member  2 , and integrally connecting the upper face of the base  42  of the male part  4  to the lower parts of a pair of clamp pieces  23  that are curved except for the upper sections so that the opposing sides become the inner sides of the curve. The distance between the upper ends  23   a  of the pair of clamp pieces  23  is slightly smaller than the diameter of the elongated article to be held. That is, in this example, the space between the curved sections  23   b  of the pair of clamp pieces  23  forms the aforementioned clamp interior  21 , and the space between the upper ends  23   a  forms the clamp entrance  20 .  
         [0070]     In the example shown in FIGS.  8 (A) and  8 (B), the male part  4  is also integrally disposed to the holder member  2 . In this example, the holder member  2  is composed of base pieces  24 , which project sideways from both of the side sections where rises  43  are formed on the base  42  of the male part  4 , support pieces  25 , which project upwardly from the projecting ends of the base pieces  24 , and clamp pieces  26 , which extend downwardly from the projecting ends of the support pieces  25  so that a space is created between each clamp piece and the inner surface of the support piece  25 . The pair of clamp pieces  26  disposed as above is curved so that the opposing sides become the inner sides of the curve. The distance between the connections  26   a , which connect the clamp pieces  26  and the support pieces  25 , is slightly smaller than the diameter of an elongated article to be held. That is, in this example, the space between the curved sections  26   b  of the pair of clamp pieces  26  forms the aforementioned clamp interior  21 , and the space between the connections  26   a  forms the clamp entrance  20 .  
         [0071]     Likewise, in the example shown in FIGS.  9 (A) and  9 (B), the male part  4  is integrally disposed to the holder member  2 . In this example, the holder member  2  is composed of a base piece  27 , which projects sideways from one of the side sections where the rises  43  are formed on the base  42  of the male part  4 , and a clamp piece  28 , which rises to form a curve so that the side that turns from the other side section to the first side section becomes the inner side of the curve, and the distance between the end of curve  28   a  and the upper surface of the base piece  27  is slightly smaller than the diameter of the article to be held. That is, in this example, the inner area of the curved section  28   b  of the clamp piece  28  forms the aforementioned clamp interior  21 , and the space between the end of curve  28   a  and the upper surface of the base piece  27  located directly below forms the clamp entrance  20 .  
         [0072]     In these embodiments, therefore, the holder member  2  is allowed to appropriately hold an elongated article, such as a tube or pipe, with a one-touch operation, and tolerate, with a high degree of flexibility, changes in the orientation of the elongated article so held according to the use by allowing the holder member  2  to turn.  
         [0073]     In the example shown in  FIG. 10 , moreover, an open section  10  through which the strap W is threaded is provided at each end of the buckle body  1 , and the female part  3  in the middle.  
         [0074]     In the example shown in FIGS.  11  to  21 , the buckle  1  is composed of a male buckle  12  and a female buckle  13 , comprising a side release buckle, and the aforementioned female part  3  is disposed on the outer surface of the female buckle  13 .  
         [0075]     In the examples shown in the figures, the female buckle  13  is constructed to form a flat tube with one tube end open where the legs  121  of the male buckle  12  are introduced therein. The female buckle  13  has a window  131  on each side where the width is narrowed in the direction the legs  121  are introduced. The open section  10  for the strap W is formed at the other end of the female buckle  13 . The male buckle  12  has a base  122  that includes two paralleled open sections  10  for the strap W, and a pair of legs  121  that is integrally connected with the base  122  at one end, both legs projecting from the base  122  in the same direction. A rise  123  for catching is formed in each of the pair of legs  121  on the side not facing the other leg.  
         [0076]     In the examples shown in figures, when the pair of legs  123  of the male buckle  12  is inserted into the female buckle  13 , the rises  123  for catching are deflected inwardly once by the inner surfaces of the narrowed sides of the female buckle  13 , and resiliently regain their original shapes at the location where the rises  123  are allowed to enter the windows  131 . When the rises  123  of the pair of legs  121  fit into the corresponding windows  131 , the strap W passing through the open sections  10  of the male buckle  12  and the strap W passing through the open section of the female buckle  13  are connected via the buckle. The base  122  of the male buckle  12  has a middle cross bar  124  and an end cross bar  125  defined by the two open sections  10 .  
         [0077]     By passing the strap W from the back side of the male buckle  12  around the middle cross bar  124  to pull it out on the front side of the male buckle  12 , and pulling this pulled-out section again towards the male buckle  12  past the back side of the end cross bar, the portion of the middle cross bar  124  and the portion of the end cross bar  125  that face the open section  10  located between the middle cross bar  124  and the end cross bar  125  abut closely against the strap W so long as tension works against the strap W, thereby negating any change to occur in the position where the buckle body  1  is fastened to the strap W ( FIG. 12 ). In other words, in the examples shown in the figures, the male buckle  12  has a fastening section  11  for the strap W.  
         [0078]     In the examples shown in the figures, moreover, the aforementioned female part  3  is formed on the broad-width surface at one tubular end of the female buckle  13 . In the examples shown in the figures, the guide groove  34  of the female part  3  is formed towards the edge of that tubular end of the female buckle  13 . The insertion space  31  for the head  40  of the male part  4  is formed between the top plate  35  and the broad-width surface of the female buckle  13 . In other words, in the examples shown in the figures, the female part  3  is configured as a rise formed on the outer surface of the female buckle  13 . In the examples shown in the figures, moreover, the broad-width surface of the female buckle  13  that forms the insertion space  13  is provided with a slit  132  which is open at that tubular end of the female buckle  13  and formed directly below and along the guide groove  34 . The slit  34  makes it easier for the guide groove  34  to flexibly spread.  
         [0079]     In these embodiments, therefore, engaging the male buckle  12  and the female buckle  13  connects the strap W fastened to the male buckle  12  and the strap W fastened to the female buckle  13 , enables the female buckle  12  so connected to the male buckle  13  to appropriately hold an elongated article via the holder member  2 , and tolerate, with a high degree of flexibility, changes in the orientation of the elongated article so held according to the use by allowing the holder member  2  to turn.  
         [0080]     In the example shown in FIGS.  22  to  24 , the buckle body  1  has a fastening section  11  for the strap W that has two passing sections  10  for the strap W on both sides of the middle cross bar  141 .  
         [0081]     In the example shown in the figures, the middle cross bar  141  is disposed to span over the two opposing sides of a frame-shaped portion  14 , and the two passing sections  10  are formed in the frame-shaped portion  14 . One strap W passes around and is connected to one of the end cross bars  142  (one end of the frame-shaped portion  14  formed substantially in parallel with the middle cross bar  141 ).  
         [0082]     By passing another strap W from the back side of the buckle body  1  around the middle cross bar  141  to pull it out once on the front side of the buckle body  1 , and pulling this pulled-out section out again to the side of the buckle body  1  past the back surface of the other end of the frame-shaped portion  14  formed substantially in parallel with the middle cross bar  141 , namely, the end cross bar  143 , the portion of the middle cross bar  141  and the portion of the end cross bar  143  that face the passing section  10  located between the middle cross bar  141  and the end cross bar  143  abut closely against the strap W so long as tension works against that strap W, thereby negating any change in the position where the buckle body  1  is fastened to the strap W. That is, in the example shown in the figures, the fastening section  11  for the strap W is constructed with the middle cross bar  141  and the adjacent end cross bar  143  of the buckle body  1 . Moreover, an overhang  144  is formed from the end on the surface of the end cross bar  143 , and the aforementioned female part  3  is formed on the surface of this overhang  144 .  
         [0083]     In this embodiment, therefore, the straps W can be connected via the buckle body  1  in the condition where the position in which the buckle is fastened to at least one of the straps W to be connected via the buckle body  1  is made adjustable by the fastening section  11  of the buckle  1 . At the same time, the buckle body  1  is capable of appropriately holding an elongated article via the holder member  2 , and tolerating, with a high degree of flexibility, changes in the orientation of the elongated article so held according to the use by allowing the holder member  2  to turn.  
         [0084]     FIGS.  25 (A) and  25 (B) illustrate an example wherein the holder member  2  is constructed with a case  29  that houses a reel (omitted in the figure) for reeling in and out a string  28  including a fastening section  28   a  at the end of the string for an article of various types. The case  29  houses the reel so as to cause the reel to perform normal rotation by pulling the string  28  out of the case  29 , and also contains biasing means, such as a spiral spring, to accumulate bias force to cause the reel to perform reverse rotation utilizing the normal rotation of the reel. When the pull-out operation of the string  28  ceases, the string  28  that has been pulled out is reeled in and rewound within the case  29  using the reverse rotational bias. In the example shown in the figure, the male part  4  is formed on one surface of the case  29 . The male part  4  of the case  29  is combined with the female part  3  of the buckle body  1  to configure the buckle. By pulling the string  28 , the case  29 , namely, the holder member  2  for the string  28 , is turned in a direction easiest for pulling the string  28 .  
         [0085]     The disclosure of Japanese Patent Application No. 2004-211550, filed on Jul. 20, 2004, is incorporated in the application.  
         [0086]     While the invention has been explained with reference to the specific embodiments of the invention, the explanation is illustrative and the invention is limited only by the appended claims.