Abstract:
Adjustable belts include new and improved belt buckles which allow for convenient adjustment of belt lengths, as well as secure and easily adjustable couplings of the two ends of the belts. This is accomplished by providing the belt buckles with an arrangement of slots and struts around which the belt is looped to selectively accumulate its length thereon and through which the belt is trained, so as to frictionally retain the belt on the buckle while determining the length of the belt.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED PATENTS 
     This is a continuation of application Ser. No. 09/223,786 filed Dec. 31, 1998 U.S. Pat. No. 6,141,835. 
     This application is related to U.S. Pat. Nos. 2,966,356, 3,251,109, 3,279,745, 4,304,403, 4,651,989 and 5,456,462 issued to the inventor of this application. The disclosures of these patents are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     This invention relates to belts having adjustable buckles which, as an example of use, may be used in flag tag games but which may also be used for many other purposes. 
     Belts such as specialty tool belts and flag-tag belts generally need to be constructed of several different sizes. First sizes are provided for smaller users with smaller waists who are not be able to wear larger sizes. Second sizes are provided for larger people which when used on smaller users result in dangling extensions of the belt. These extensions can be dangerous as well as inconvenient. 
     One belt design which attempts to correct this problem is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 3,355,744 and describes a belt and engaging member onto which the excess belt amount can be looped to prevent the belt end from flopping. However, it is often the case that the user will forget to engage the belt in said element, thereby defeating the purpose of this provision. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     It is an object of this invention to provide a safe plastic flexible belt buckle or fastener that is economical to manufacture, and which further, can be used effectively by users of all sizes. The buckle can be used with wide or thin belting. The buckle provides for automatically securing excess loose running and belting in at least one loop on the buckle. Thus, users are less likely to forget to secure loose ends of the belting. 
     The invention in its broadest aspect utilizes belt buckles which have pluralities of slots allowing substantial portions of belting to be accumulated on the buckles in overlapping loops. 
     In accordance with one embodiment of the present invention, a belt comprises a length of flexible material in the form of a web, sufficiently long to encircle the waist of a player of the game and having at least one removable flag attached thereto. A first end portion of the belt has a slot therein wherein the belt is inserted through the slot to form an adjustable loop which is connected to a buckle, while a second end portion of the belt has a leading edge which is detachably connected to the buckle. The buckle comprises a body portion having a mid-portion, a first end and a second end. The first end has a pair of closed slots separated by an intermediate strut and a first partially open slot outboard of the closed slots. The body further has a single closed slot adjacent the second end with a friction element associated with the single slot, as well as a second partially open slot outboard of the single closed slot. The loop formed at the first end of the belt extends through the pair of closed slots and is looped around the intermediate strut, separating the pair of closed slots. In order to attach the second end of the belt to the buckle, the leading edge of the second end is fed through the single closed slot at the second end, over the mid-portion of the body and strut separating the pair of first slots, through one of the first slots and around the strut separating the pair of first slots from the first partially open slot in the first end. The belt is then passed through the partially open slot at the first end, back over the body and through the second partially opened end slot. Consequently, the belt as an adjustable length selected by accumulating a substantial selected length of the belt in the loop and a frictional coupling with the buckle that maintains the selected length when lateral stress is applied to the belt in an attempt to move the flag. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     Various other features and attendant advantages of the present invention will be more fully appreciated as the same becomes better understood when considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which like reference characters designate the same or similar parts throughout the several views, and wherein: 
     FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a first embodiment of the flag-tag belt in accordance with the present invention shown in an open condition; 
     FIG. 2 is a front view of a buckle used with the belt of FIG. 1 having a second end portion of the belt attached thereto; 
     FIG. 3 is a side view of the buckle of FIG. 2; 
     FIG. 4 is a side view showing attaching the free end to the buckle; 
     FIG. 5 is a view similar to FIG. 4, but showing the belt trained through slots in the buckle; 
     FIG. 6 is a side view showing a first embodiment of a coupling arrangement for coupling a flag to the flag-tag belt, showing the coupling connected; 
     FIG. 7 is a side view similar to FIG. 6, showing the coupling oriented at 90° to FIG. 6; 
     FIG. 8 is a side view similar to FIG. 6, showing the coupling disconnected; 
     FIG. 9 is a side view similar to FIGS. 6 and 8, showing another embodiment of the coupling arrangement for flags which uses a socket and projection. 
     FIG. 10 is a perspective view of a second embodiment of the flag-tag belt in accordance with the present invention shown in an open condition; 
     FIG. 11 is a front view of a buckle used with the belt of FIG. 10; 
     FIG. 12 is a rear view of the buckle of FIG. 10; 
     FIG. 13 is a side view of the buckle showing attaching the free end of the belt to the buckle by training the belt through slots in the buckle; 
     FIG. 14 is a view similar to FIG. 13, but showing the belt pulled taught; 
     FIG. 15 is a perspective view of a second embodiment of a flag coupling arrangement showing a flag being inserted in a loop on the belt; 
     FIG. 16 is a view similar to FIG. 15 showing the flag being pulled through the loop; 
     FIG. 17 is a view similar to FIGS. 15 and 16 showing the flag positions in the loop and ready for play; and 
     FIG. 18 is a view similar to FIGS. 15-17 showing the flag being pulled from the loop during play. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     Referring now to FIG. 1, there is shown a first embodiment of a belt  10 , in accordance with the present invention, which is used in play flag tag games wherein at least one flag  12  is detachably mounted to the belt by a coupling  16 . The belt  10  has an elongated web portion  20  having a first end portion  22  and a second end portion  24 , which are joined by a buckle  26 . The belt  10  is preferably made of a plastic material such as polyethylene terafilate, reinforced polyvinyl chloride (PVC) or vinyl resins including PVC. In the embodiment of FIGS. 1-5, the belt has four ribs  27  extending along the outside surface  28  thereof with the inside surface  29  being smooth. Referring now mainly to FIGS. 2-5, the buckle  26  includes a first end  30  and a second  31  joined by a middle section  32 . The belt buckle  26  has a first slot  35 , a second slot  36 , a third slot  37 , a fourth slot  38 , a fifth slot  39 , a sixth slot  40  and a seventh slot  41 . Separating the slots  35 - 41  are first strut  42 , second strut  43 , third strut  44 , a fourth strut  45  and a fifth strut  46 . Adjacent the first end  30  of the buckle  26 , there is a land  55  and adjacent the second end  31  there is a land  56  which has a hole  57  therethrough for hanging the belt  10  on a wall hook, or the like. A central land  58  is disposed between the slots  35  and  36  and has a stud  59  projecting therefrom which has a head  60  The head  60  is used to secure the end  24  of the belt  10  to the first land  60  by passing through an aperture  62  in the first end of the belt. A rim  64  extends around the periphery of the belt buckle  26 . 
     As is seen in FIGS. 3,  4  and  5 , the end  24  of the belt  10  is passed through the first slot  35  either prior to or after anchoring the end with the belt with the head  60  of the stud  59 . The end  22  of the belt is then attached to the belt buckle  26 . This is done so that a substantial length of the belt  10  may be accumulated on the belt buckle  26 , if the length of the belt is such that in order for it to fit on the player, the free end  22  of the belt will dangle loosely from the buckle. The order to accumulate a substantial portion of the belt&#39;s length on the buckle, it is threaded back and forth through the buckle as is seen in FIG.  5 . 
     As is seen in FIG. 4, the free end  22  of the belt  10  is initially threaded through the second slot  36 , passed over the head  60  of the stud  59 . Depending on the waist size of the wearer, the end  22  of the belt  10  may then be passed out through the seventh slot  41  or may be passed through the second slot  37 . The belt  10  can then loop around the strut  45 , passed through the third slot  38  and then over itself and through the fourth slot  39 . If there is still excessive length in the belt  10 , the belt can then be looped around the strut  44  and passed through the fifth slot  40  before again being passed over itself and inserted through the sixth slot  41  in the belt buckle  26 . Consequently, the belt buckle  26  can accumulate about one foot of belt length thereon and thus keep the end  22  of the belt from dangling if the player has a relatively narrow waist. For larger players, the belt need not be threaded through all of the slots and the end of the belt can rather be inserted through a loop or other fitting such as the bracket  70  shown in FIG. 1 which has a couple of inwardly projecting pins  71  an  72  beneath which the free end  22  of the belt can be retained. 
     By having the belt buckle retained to the end  24  on the middle land  58  by the stud with the head  60 , the buckle  26  can be pivoted adjacent its ends  30  and  31  so as to alternatively expose the back side of the buckle in order to facilitate ease of inserting the belt  10  through the slots  36 - 41 . 
     Referring now to FIGS. 6-9, there is shown a first embodiment of a suction coupling  100  for coupling at least one of the flags  12  to the belt  10  The suction coupling  100  includes a slider support  102  which receives the web  20  of the belt  10  through a slot  104 . The slot  104  has a sufficient width to receive a relatively thick, one inch width belt or a relatively thin but wider belt, which extra width is accommodated by the bends  106  and  108  in the slot  104 . Projecting at an oblique angle ∝ with respect to the slider support  102  is a first suction cup  110  which is unitary with and molded from the same material as the slider support. By orienting the opening  112  of the suction cup  110  outwardly or away from the slider support  102 , the expense of making the coupling, which is attached to the belt  10 , is greatly reduced. This is because there is no need to weld the cup  110  to the slider  102 , which was necessary in the prior art suction cup couplings. 
     The suction cup  110  has a cylindrical side wall  114  which is relatively thin and a base  116 . The cup  110  and mounting slider  102  form a first portion of the suction coupling  100 . 
     The second portion of the suction coupling  100  is the attachment comprised of a suction cup  120  and a flag attachment buckle  122  which is attached to the suction cup  120  by a stem  124 . Suction cup  120  has a cylindrical wall  126  which is relatively flexible base  128 . As is seen in FIG. 8, the suction cup  120  has an outer diameter DI which complements the inner diameter D 2  of the suction cup  110 . Consequently, the suction cup  120  is snugly received within the suction cup  110 . In order to facilitate easy insertion of the suction cup  120  into the suction cup  110 , an air hole  130  is formed in one or both of the bases  128  or  116 , of the suction cups  120  and  110 . When the suction cups are inserted and pressed together, air trapped within the confines thereof vents through the air hole  130  as the suction cups are axially slid together. When the suction cups are pulled apart by yanldng on one of the flags  12  or  14  attached to the buckle  122 , there is audible report or “pop” as the suction cup  120  rapidly disengages from the suction cup  110 . 
     As is seen in FIG. 7, in order to enhance the pop, the buckle  122  is also offset at an angle Θ from the suction cup  120 . This increases friction between the walls  126  and  114  when the  12  flag attached to the buckle  122  is yanked, thus increasing the force and, therefore, the loudness of the sonic pop, Further to this point, by having the flag attachment buckle  122  offset by both angle Θ and angle a with respect to the slider support  102 , the flag  12  extends at a double oblique angle with respect to the belt which results in a louder “pop” when the suction cups  110  and  120  separate. When the slider support  102  is on the belt  10  as is shown in FIG. 1, with the slots  136  and  138  of the attachment buckle  102  extending at 90° as is seen when comparing FIGS. 6 and 7, there are twisting and bending forces on the suction coupling  16  which result in an increased separation force and in the louder “pop.” 
     Referring now to FIG. 9, there is shown suction coupling  100 ′ in accordance with a second embodiment of the couplings  16  attaching the flags  12  to the belt  10 . The second suction coupling  110 ′ is substantially identical to the first suction coupling  100 , but includes a projection  152  in the suction cup  110 ′ which is received in a socket  154  in the suction cup  120 ′. 
     Referring now to FIG. 10, there is shown a second embodiment of the invention which uses a belt wherein at least one flag  212  or  214  is detachably mounted thereon by a suction coupling  216  or optionally, by a second type of coupling  218  to be farther discussed hereinafter. The belt  210  has an elongated web portion  220  having the first end free end portion  222  and a second end portion  224  which are joined by a buckle  226 . The belt  210  is preferably made of a plastic material such as polyethylene terephthalate, reinforced polyvinyl chloride (PVC), or vinyl resins including PVC. 
     Referring now to FIGS. 11 and 12, where the front and back views of the buckle  226  are shown. The buckle includes a first end  228  and a second end  230  joined by a mid-section  232 . A pair of slots  234  and  236  are disposed proximate the first end  228  and are separated by an intermediate strut  238 . An open slot  240  is positioned outboard the pair of slots  234  and  236  and is separated therefrom by a strut  242 . The open slot  240  has its ends defined by lips  244  and  246 , which define recesses  248  and  250  therebehind and are spaced by an opening  252 . 
     At its second end  230 , the buckle  226  has a single slot  256  which is separated from an end slot  258  by a strut  260 . The single slot  256  has a pair of teeth  262  therein with rounded ends which oppose a pair of indentations  264  in the strut  260 . The second open slot  258  is similar to the first open slot  240  in that it has lips  266  and  268  that are separated by a space  270  and which define recesses  272  and  274  thereunder. As is seen in FIG. 12, the buckle  226  has a row of conical projections  276  thereon which are pointed for engagement with the web  20  (FIG. 10) of the belt  210 . The buckle  226  also has an aperture  278  therethrough which receives a hook (not shown) for hanging the belt  220 . 
     Referring now to FIG. 13, it is seen that the first end of the belt  210  is formed into a loop  280  by inserting the tapered leading edge  282  of the second free end  224  of the belt through a slit  284  adjacent the tapered free edge  286  of first end  222 . The loop is formed around the strut  238  with the web  220  of the belt passing through the slots  234  and  236 . By adjusting the length of the loop  280  so as to accumulate either more or less of the web  220  of the belt  210 , the length of the belt is selected. 
     In order to attach the second end  224  of the belt  210  to buckle  226 , second end  282  is first passed through the single slot  256  at the second end  230  of the buckle from the underneath or backside of the buckle. The leading edge  282  of the web  220  is then passed through the slot  236  of the pair of slots  234  and  236  from the front side of the buckle over the loop  280 . The web  220  is then inserted in the open slot  252  at the first end  228  of the buckle  226  and then passed back over belt portion  288  and the midportion  232  buckle and inserted through the second open slot  258  at the second end  230  of the buckle. If there is substantial length of the second end portion  224 , it is simply tucked behind the web  220  of the belt. 
     When the web  220  of the belt  210  is inserted through the single slot  256  and pulled so as to be slightly tensioned about the wearer&#39;s waist, the frustoconical projections  276  on the rear face of the buckle  226  bite into the web to help restrain the web. The portion of the web  288  formed when the end  224  is passed through the slot  236  is tensioned when the second end  224  is pulled tight. This causes the teeth  262  to press into the web  220  and firmly fix the length of the belt  210 . The end  224  is then passed through the open slot  40  and again pulled tight it flatten the belt portion  288 , as is shown in FIG.  14 . Finally, the end portion  224  is folded over the portion  288  and passed through the second open slot  258  and tensioned. If the end portion  224  is excessively long, then it can be tucked beneath the web  220  of the belt  210 . 
     Referring now to FIGS. 15-18, there is shown a second embodiment of structure for attaching the flags  312  to the belt  210 , which is considerably less expensive than the embodiments of FIGS. 6-9. In this embodiment, a buckle  360  having slots  362  and  364  therein for receiving the web  320  of the belt  210  has a relatively rigid loop  366 . The relatively rigid loop  366  has a selected fixed diameter D 4  which is less than the width D 5  of the flag  312 . The flag  312  has a tapered leading edge  370  which is passed through the loop  366  to attach the flag  312  to the belt  210 . The flag  312  has a trailing end  372  which includes a tapered trailing edge  374  having a pair of slits  376  which extend laterally inward from the edges of the flag  312 . Behind the slits  376  is a slot  378  in the flag  312  through which the tapered trailing edge  374  is inserted so that the slits hold this trailing end  372  in a loop  379 . As is seen in FIG. 17, the trailing end  372  of the flag  312  is enlarged by the loop  379  in order to hold the flag in the loop  366  of the buckle  360 . As is seen in FIGS. 15 and 16, the flag  312  is pulled through the loop  366  of the buckle until the loop  379  of the flag engages the loop  366  of the buckle. As is seen in FIG. 18, when tension is applied to the flag  212 , the enlarged portion formed by the loop  379  is squeezed so as to slide through the loop  366  and free the flag  212  from the belt  210 . While this approach does not provide for the “pop” of the suction coupling of FIGS. 6-9, it does provide a relatively inexpensive flag-tag arrangement. 
     From the foregoing description, one skilled in the art can easily ascertain the essential characteristics of this invention and, without departing from the spirit and scope thereof, can make various changes and modifications of the invention to adapt it to various usages and conditions.