Abstract:
A buckle for use with a belt or with strapping in which the bucket uses magnetic attraction forces to apply a clamping force on the belt or strap, when the buckle assembly components are in a first predetermined orientation. Typically, a plurality of magnets is used, and when the buckle assembly is rotated to a second predetermined position, the magnets are moved from a state where they attract one another, to a position where they repel one another. In this second predetermined orientation, the buckle components are forced apart by the repulsive forces so as to create a larger gap between the buckle components, and thus allow the belt or strap material to move freely within the gap. The buckle is preferably held in the second predetermined orientation by a restraint device such as a pin located within a recess on the corresponding rotating assembly. However, a slight depression and rotation of the buckle moves the buckle components out of the restraint device, and allows the magnets to effect rotation of the buckle assembly back to the first orientation position, and thus, decrease the size of the gap between the buckle components. This once again clamps the belt or strap material within the gap. A simple magnetic clamping device is provided.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     This invention relates to buckles, such as belt buckles and buckles that may be used to secure certain kinds of strapping, wherein the belt or strap is made of a material through which a magnetic field will pass, and wherein the clamping action of the buckle which secures the belt or strap in place comes as a consequence of establishment of a magnetic field and attraction between two principal component assemblies of the buckle. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Belt buckles have been known for ages, and typically include a prong or tongue which passes through an opening or hole formed through the material of the belt—usually leather, in order to hold the belt material in place. Other types of buckles, or more generally, closures, have also been employed for use with belts, strapping or the like, and typically require the use of a mechanical compression device, or some other mechanism, in order to secure them in place by clamping down on the belt or strapping. 
     Especially with belt buckles, and more particularly with belt buckles used together with leather belts—which is by far the most common usage of such buckles—the fact that the prong or tongue of the buckle must pass through an opening or hole in the belt or strap, means that adjustment of the belt around the waist of the wearer is not fine, because the space between the holes is typically in the range of 1 cm up to 3 cm, or so. 
     The inventor herein has unexpectedly discovered that, with the proper assembly of non-magnetic frame components, magnetic flux plates, and/or planar magnets, an extremely strong clamping action can develop between the two principal component assemblies of the buckle. This effect is provided, however, only when the material with which the buckle is employed permits the passage therethrough of a magnetic field. Certainly, leather belts and/or and fabric or plastic belts and strapping meet this criterion. 
     Moreover, the present invention takes advantage of the fact that with the employment of a number of relatively strong but small planar magnets, that if the magnets are presented in coordinated sets, and the sets are physically placed so that the face of one planar magnet having, say, the north pole thereat is held a short distance (e.g. 0.2 to 2 cm) away from the face of another magnet having the south pole thereat, there is a strong magnetic attraction between the magnet sets. While any suitable magnets might be used, such as ceramic magnets, or other permanent magnets, a most preferred form of magnet is a higher strength permanent magnet, is preferred. Most preferably, the magnet is a “Neodymium” magnet, or more precisely, a neodymium iron boron (NdFeB) magnet, which is known to those skilled in the art of magnets. 
     With the use of this type of magnet, the magnets used in the practise of the present invention, can be relatively small, namely, that each of the magnets used typically have a diameter of from about 5 mm to 25 mm, and more preferably, from about 8 mm to about 12 mm. 
     When the magnets are placed in a face-to-face arrangement, and having opposite polarity, the attractive forces between the magnets is used to create a clamping action, and thus hold the buckle assemblies together. 
     If the magnets are slightly offset, this attraction force will also cause a sideways motion of one of the magnets with respect to the other, so that the respective north and south poles will either come into contact with one another, if permitted, or at least move to a position where they will face one another, if the magnets are held apart. Further, this would be true regardless of whether a typical belt or strapping material is placed between the magnets through which the magnetic field of each of the magnets is permitted to pass. 
     Additionally, if two such planar magnets are physically placed so that the north or south poles of each magnet face each other, there will be a strong physical repulsion between the magnets, and there must be a constraint or restraining means provided so as to keep the magnets from flying apart. 
     Thus, in the present invention, it would be advantageous to provide a belt or other strapping buckle, that operates by use of the attraction and repulsive forces of magnets, and thus allow fine control of the positioning of the belt or strap being clamped. 
     A further advantage of the present invention would be to provide such a buckle that operates easily, and moves from a magnetic repulsive position to a magnetic attraction position, with minimal effort. It is a preferred feature that the buckles of the present invention move from a open to a closed position, by use of the characteristics of the magnets employed. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The advantages set out hereinabove, as well as other objects and goals inherent thereto, are at least partially or fully provided by the buckle of the present invention, as set out herein below. 
     Accordingly, in one aspect, the present invention provides a clamping buckle for non-magnetic belts and straps through which belts and straps a magnetic field will pass, comprising: 
     an optional outer escutcheon plate; 
     an optional first magnetic flux plate; 
     a set of at least two, preferably planar, first magnets, each having a north pole and a south pole at opposed planar faces; 
     a buckle plate preferably having the same number of openings formed therein as there are first planar magnets, and wherein each opening is sized so as to accommodate one magnet; 
     a set of at least two, preferably planar, second magnets, each having a north pole and a south pole at opposed planar faces; 
     a base plate preferably having the same number of openings formed therein as there are second planar magnets, and wherein each opening is sized so as to accommodate one magnet; and 
     an optional second magnetic flux plate; 
     wherein, when assembled and in its clamping condition, the north poles of the first planar magnets are in facing relation and magnetic attraction to the south poles of the second planar magnets, and vice versa, with a opening between said buckle plate and said base plate, for a belt or strap to be positioned therebetween; 
     wherein the buckle plate, the base plate, and preferably the escutcheon plate, are all preferably made of a non-magnetic material, and the optional first and second flux plates are preferably made of a magnetic material; 
     wherein said escutcheon plate and said buckle plate are secured to each other with said first set of planar magnets being secured therebetween, so that the assembly of said escutcheon plate and said buckle plate may be rotationally moved from a first predetermined orientation were said clamping condition exists to a second predetermined orientation were no clamping condition exists, and wherein, in the second predetermined orientation the north poles of said first planar magnets are in facing relation to the north poles of said second planar magnets and the south poles of said first planar magnets are in facing relation to the south poles of said second planar magnets, so that magnetic repulsion exists between said first set of magnets and said set of second magnets; 
     wherein restraining means is provided on said base plate so as to preclude complete separation of said assembly of said escutcheon plate and said buckle plate from said base plate, but so as to provide a gap between said buckle plate and said base plate through which a belt or strap may be passed; and 
     wherein slight rotational movement of said assembly of said escutcheon plate and said buckle plate from said second predetermined orientation will permit a sideways magnetic attraction between north and south poles of the respective first and second planar magnets to become effective, so as to thereby permit continued rotational movement of said assembly of said escutcheon plate and said buckle plate toward said first predetermined orientation, whereat the north and south poles of the respective first and second sets of planar magnets face each other, and vice versa, whereby the magnetic attraction therebetween will cause the escutcheon plate and buckle plate assembly to physically move toward said base plate so as to thereby establish a clamping action therebetween against a belt or strap which has been passed through said gap. 
     The present invention further provides that there will preferably be an equal and even number of planar magnets in each set of said first and second magnets. In particular, the present invention preferably requires that there may be two, four, six, eight, or more, planar magnets in each set of said first and second planar magnets. In a further preferred embodiment, the magnets are placed in substantially alternating polarity arrangement of north, south, north, south, and the like. 
     Typically, the escutcheon plate, buckle plate, and base plate, are made of non-magnetic materials, such as aluminum for example, but they may also be made from suitable non-magnetic materials such as ceramics, wood, plastics, ivory, bone, or the like. Most preferably, however, these components are all made of aluminum or a suitable hard plastics material. 
     When there are at least four planar magnets in each of said first and second sets of planar magnets, they are preferably sized and arranged around a face of the respective magnetic flux plate so that an outer portion of each magnet is at least proximate to the outer circumference of the respective magnetic flux plate; and so that the respective planar faces of adjacent planar magnets are alternately north and south poles and so that the respective planar faces of the adjacent magnets which are magnetically secured to the respective magnetic flux plate are alternately south and north poles, respectively. 
     The magnets are typically separate items to be placed into the clamping buckle, but can also be a single larger disc of a Neodymium, which has zones of different magnetic polarity. As such, a single disc of a multi-zoned Neodymium magnet could replace a plurality of separate magnets. 
     A feature of the present invention is that detent means may be provided so as to preclude inadvertent rotational movement of said assembly of said escutcheon plate and said buckle plate from said second predetermined orientation. This can be achieved by, for example, the use of recesses or indentations on the buckle plate, together with corresponding pins, or other protrusions, on the base plate which are adapted to fit into the recesses or indentations, when the buckle is in the second predetermined orientation. 
     As such, in a preferred embodiment, the buckle plate rotates with respect to the base plate, to a point where the buckle plate is in the second predetermined orientation. At this point, the pins or protrusions are aligned with the recesses or indents, and the magnets are in their repulsive positions. As a result, the buckle plate is forced further away from the base plate, so that the pins or protrusions on the base plate become fitted within the recesses or indents on the buckle plate. 
     Furthermore, by applying slight pressure on the buckle plate and a slight rotational force, the pins and protrusions are moved out of the indents, and thereby permit the magnets to cause a further rotational movement back towards said first predetermined orientation. As a result, the buckle plate snaps back to the first predetermined position, and clamps down on the belt or strapping positioned between the base plate and the buckle plate, as previously described. 
     Of course, this arrangement of the pins and recesses, and the like, can be reversed between the base plate and the buckle plate. 
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     In the present application, the term “magnet” refers to a material which provides a magnetic field. This would include permanent magnets, such as the preferred Neodymium magnets. The term “magnetic” is used to describe materials which are not magnets, but are attracted to a magnet by the magnetic forces. Devices made of steel, or the like, would be included in this category. The term “non-magnet” refers to materials which are not substantially attracted or repelled by the magnetic forces from the magnets. 
     The present application is primarily directed to the use of magnets in a non-magnetic housing, but which does preferably include magnetic plates, or the like, to facilitate positioning of the magnets, or the like. 
     Unless otherwise specifically noted, all of the features described herein may be combined with any of the above aspects, in any combination. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The novel features which are believed to be characteristic of the present invention, as to its structure, organization, use and method of operation, together with further objectives and advantages thereof, will be better understood from the following drawings in which a presently preferred embodiment of the invention will now be illustrated by way of example. It is expressly understood, however, that the drawings are for the purpose of illustration and description only and are not intended as a definition of the limits of the invention. 
       Also, throughout the following discussion, it will be understood that the same or similar components are identified by the same reference numerals. 
       Embodiments of this invention will now be described by way of example in association with the accompanying drawings in which: 
         FIG. 1  is an exploded view of a first embodiment of a belt buckle in keeping with the present invention; 
         FIGS. 2A through 2H  provide a plurality of views of a base plate of the embodiment of the belt buckle shown in  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIGS. 3A through 3F  provide a plurality of views of a buckle plate of the embodiment of the belt buckle shown in  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 4  provides a view of a typical belt buckle in keeping with the present invention when assembled to a belt; 
         FIG. 5  provides a view of a belt buckle in keeping with a second embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIGS. 6A and 6B  provide views of the embodiment of  FIG. 5 , wherein the principal components of the embodiment of  FIG. 5  are arranged in the first and the second predetermined orientations as defined herein; 
         FIGS. 7A through 7G  provide a plurality of views of a base plate according to a third embodiment; and 
         FIGS. 8A through 8F  provide a plurality of views of a buckle plate according to the third embodiment of the buckle of the present invention. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     Referring first to  FIG. 1 , a typical embodiment of a buckle is shown. While the present invention can be used with strapping (such as nylon strapping, or the like),  FIG. 1  is directed to a belt buckle, generally shown at  10 . The principal components of buckle  10  are: 
     a buckle plate  18  having  4  openings  19  therethrough, an optional escutcheon plate  12 , a first flux plate  14 , and a first set of planar magnets  16 ; and 
     a base plate  20  having four openings  21  therethrough, a second set of planar magnets  24 , and a second flux plate  26 . 
     In more specific detail,  FIG. 1  shows, first, an escutcheon plate  12  upon which any kind of design, or none at all, may be placed. For example, initials might be placed on the escutcheon plate, the logo of a sports team or club, and so on. Since the escutcheon plate  12  is typically worn at the waist, and as will be seen hereafter is the outward most component of the belt buckle  10 , it can be used as an ornamental accessory, or not. In any event, the escutcheon plate  12  is secured to the buckle plate  18  by use of any suitable materials, such as by suitable adhesives or the like. Alternatively, the escutcheon plate may be formed as part of the magnetic flux plate, or may be formed integral thereto. Within the assembly of the escutcheon plate  12  and the buckle plate  18  there is placed the first magnetic flux plate  14  and a plurality (that is, at least two) of planar Neodymium magnets identified as a group at  16 . Each magnet has a general appearance of a button cell battery, but in this case each magnet is generally quite highly magnetized with one of its planar surfaces presenting a north pole of the magnet, and the other planar surface presenting a south pole of the magnet. For the buckle plate  18  shown, four magnets  16  are shown, which are adapted to be fitted within openings  19 . 
     The flux plate  14  is optional, but it is preferred since it assists in locating and holding the magnets  16  in place. 
     It is seen that the magnets are placed so that each adjacent magnet presents the opposite pole. In this case, beginning with the magnet shown at the upper left as seen on the drawing, and going clockwise therefrom, the upward facing poles of the magnets  16  are south, north, south, north; so that the downward facing poles of the same magnets, starting at the same upper left magnet, are north, south, north, south. It is also noted that a recess  30  is formed in the buckle plate  18 , having the openings  19  formed therethrough, so that the magnets  16  are accommodated in the openings  19  and their lower faces (as seen in the drawing) are substantially coplanar with the bottom surface of buckle plate  18 . Flux plate  14  is then fitted within recess  30 , and escutcheon plate  12  attached overtop. 
     This assembly of the escutcheon plate  12 , the buckle plate  18 , together with the first magnetic flux plate  14  and the magnets  16 , forms a first principal component of buckle  10 . 
     The other principal component of the buckle  10  comprises the base plate  20 , through which four openings  21  are formed, so as to receive a second set of planar magnets  24  and an optional second flux plate  26 . The magnets  24  are placed within openings  21 , and then covered with flux plate  26 , in a manner similar to that described with respect to the magnets  16  and flux plate  14  in buckle plate  18 . 
     Openings  22  at one end of base plate  20  permit the buckle  10 , or more specifically, the base plate  20  thereof, to be secured to one end of a belt or strap, using any suitable means, such as by suitable rivets, or the like (not shown). 
     It will be noted in  FIG. 1  that the placement of the planar magnets  24  on the second flux plate  26  is such that the south poles of those magnets will face the north poles of the magnet set  16 , and vice versa (in the first orientation arrangement), so that when they are in the spatial juxtaposition one to another as shown in  FIG. 1 , there will be a significant magnetic attraction between the first magnet set  16  and the second magnet set  24 , thereby urging the assembly of the escutcheon plates  12  and buckle plate  18  to move towards the base plate  20 , and vice versa. If the other end of the belt or strap is placed between the first magnet set  16  and the second magnet set  24 , and that material will permit the passage of the magnetic field therethrough, then a significant clamping force against the material will develop. 
     Since the clamping force can be applied at any point on the belt or strap material, this buckle arrangement permits small, incremental adjustments to the placement of the belt or strapping material lengthwise of the belt buckle. 
     Referring to  FIGS. 2A to 2H , a plurality of views of base plate  20  is shown. The additional features of base plate  20  which are evident in  FIGS. 2A to 2H  are a slot  32  within a wider gap  34  formed between a surface  36  and an inturned lip of a shoulder  38 . The purpose of the slot  32  is to permit passage of a lip of the buckle plate  18  (as discussed in respect of  FIGS. 3A to 3F ), which may also have an additional slot formed therein and either or both sides thereof, whereby buckle plate  18  may be captured and held in place relative to the base plate  20 . However, gap  34  is large enough to also permit passage therethrough of the fabric of a belt or strap, prior to its being magnetically clamped in place as will be described hereafter. 
     A pin  47  on base plate  20 , is shown which is adapted to be fitted into a corresponding recess  49  (seen in  FIGS. 3C ,  3 D and  3 F). Pin  47  is pressed into position through the side of base plate  20 , and the fixed end of pin  47   a  can be seen in  FIGS. 2A and 2D . A better view of pin  47  can be seen in  FIG. 2H , which is a partial cutaway view of base plate  20 , with a reverse view from the view shown in  FIG. 2A . 
     Referring to  FIGS. 3A to 3F , a plurality of views of the buckle plate  18  is shown. The features of buckle plate  18  are as hereinabove described with respect to  FIG. 1 . Additionally though, it is seen that a surface  31  on the outer periphery of recess  30  is provided, which is subtended by a lip  44 . A pair of flat surfaces  42  on opposite sides (and opposing sides) of surface  31  are formed, so that when buckle plate  18  is assembled to the base plate  20 , lip  44  can be accommodated in the slots  32  while buckle plate  18  is in one orientation; and upon turning the buckle plate  18  relative to the base plate  20 , the buckle plate  18  is restrained in place so that complete separation of the assembly of buckle plate  18  away from base plate  20 , is precluded. 
     Recesses  49  are provided so as to interact with corresponding pins  47  on buckle plate  20 . When rotated to its second orientation, the action of inserting pins  47  into recesses  49  acts to temporary lock buckle plate  20  in position. 
     Now, it can be clearly understood that when the base plate assembly is made;—and include the second flux plate  26 , the second magnet set  24 , and the base plate  20 ; and when the assembly of the escutcheon plate  12  together with the first flux plate  14 , the first magnet set  16 , and the buckle plate  18 , is made; and those two principal components are assembled together in the manner described immediately above so as to preclude further separation of those two principal components, then a gap will be formed in the general region of the gaps  34  in the sides of the base plate  20  above the surface  36 , so that a belt or strap can be passed through that gap. Moreover, it will be understood that as soon as the orientation the of the escutcheon plate and buckle plate  18  relative to the base plate  20  is such that the north poles of the first magnet set  16  face the south poles of the second magnet set  24 , and vice versa, the magnetic attraction between the two principal components will draw them together or at least towards one another until such time as the belt or strap material between them is clamped in place due to the magnetic attraction between the magnet sets  16  and  24  in buckle plate  18 , and base plate  20 . 
     In this embodiment, rotation of the buckle plate  18  by 90° will then move the buckle plate to a second orientation, wherein the magnets  16  and  24  repel one another, and thus loosen the compressive force on the strap or belt, and thus allow it to be moved, or removed from buckle  10 . In fact, turning buckle plate  18  by approximately 45° will allow the repulsive forces of the magnets to decrease the clamping force between buckle plate  18  and base plate  20 . Continuing rotation will increase the repulsive forces, until these forces are maximized at the second orientation, and force buckle plate  18  away from base plate  20 . 
     Moreover, at the point where buckle plate  18  has reached its second orientation point, buckle plate  18  is free to move even further away from base plate  20 , because pins  47  are aligned with recesses  49 , and thus, pins  47  move into these recesses  49 . 
     This completes the description of this embodiment of the invention, and a completed belt buckle  10 , with a belt  11 , is shown in  FIG. 4 . 
     A second embodiment of a belt buckle of the present invention, is shown at  50  in  FIGS. 6 and 6A . Here, the principal components of the buckle  50  are essentially the same as described in  FIGS. 1 to 3F , except that two sets of eight magnets each are employed. In  FIG. 6A , eight openings  51 , are shown. 
     A set of magnets shown at  52  are arrayed on a flux plate  54 , as seen in  FIG. 5 . Because the flux plate and magnets can be identical, flux plate  54  and its associated magnets may comprise either the magnet set and flux plate which is associated with the assembly of the escutcheon plate and the buckle plate assembly  56 , or with the magnet set and flux plate which is base plate  58 . Once again, though, it is important to note that in the assembly of the buckle  50  of the present invention, that the north poles and the south poles of one set of magnets will normally face the south poles on the north poles, respectively, of the other set of magnets, in belt buckle  50 &#39;s first predetermined orientation. 
       FIG. 6A  illustrates this first orientation position, wherein the two principal components are aligned, and the magnets are in their magnetic attraction, first orientation. 
     Rotation of the escutcheon plate with respect to the base plate moves the buckle to the second predetermined orientation, as seen in  FIG. 6B . Once in this position, the buckle plate  18  is repulsed from base plate  80 , and the restraining device such as the pin and recess assembly, as previously described, acts to hold the buckle plate in the second predetermined orientation. Here, only a 45° rotation of the buckle plate is required to move from the first orientation position to the second orientation position. 
     Again, in the second orientation position, buckle plate  56  has been moved away from base plate  58 , and thus, the gap between them, has widened. As such, this allows a belt (or other strapping) to be inserted into, or removed from the gap, or the position of the belt to be finely adjusted. 
     While in the second predetermined orientation, a slight depression of, and a slight rotational movement of the escutcheon plate and buckle plate assembly with respect to the base plate will cause pins  47  to move out of recesses  49 , and allow the sideways magnetic attraction which exists between the north and south poles of the respective first and second planar magnet sets will come into effect, and thereby cause a rotational movement of the assembly of the escutcheon plate and buckle plate relative to the base plate, so as to return the buckle to the first predetermined orientation. At that time, the magnetic attraction between facing north poles and south poles, and vice versa, of the first and second magnet sets will once again come into effect, thereby creating a clamping action between them. 
     In  FIGS. 7A to 7G , a plurality of views of a third embodiment of an alternative base plate  80  shown which includes a modified holder for the magnets. In this example, 4 openings  81  are again used. In this example, however, the restraining device, comprises a protrusion  86  on base plate  60  which will fit into an corresponding indent  88  ( FIGS. 8A to 8F ), when the buckle is in the second predetermined orientation. The protrusions  86  are shaped to match indent  88 , and are therefore dimensioned so that they will move into indent  88 , when the escutcheon plate and buckle plate assembly is moved from the first predetermined orientation into the second predetermined orientation. Again, protrusions  86  fit into indents  88  as a result of a movement of buckle plate caused by the repulsive nature of the magnets in the second orientation. Protrusions  86  are best seen in cutaway, in  FIG. 7G , which is a partial cutaway view from the reverse side of  FIG. 7A . 
     Again, though, because the escutcheon plate buckle plate assembly is secured in place in the same or similar manner as described above with respect to  FIGS. 1 to 3F , the magnetic repulsion which exists in the second predetermined orientation is precluded from causing complete separation of the buckle assembly. Accordingly, the escutcheon plate/buckle plate assembly can rotate, but will not separate from the base plate assembly. 
     A further distinction between base plate  80  and base plate  20  is the additional of a magnet resting plate  82 , formed at the center of openings  81 , and shoulders  83  formed at the outer edges of openings  81 . Resting plate  81 , and shoulders  83 , formed in base plate  80 , assists in holding the magnets in place during manufacture of the buckle. Further, in place of flux plate  26 , a ring-shaped flux plate  84  can be used in base plate  80 , to hold the magnets in place. 
     Otherwise, base plate  80  acts in the same manner as base plate  20 , previously described. 
     In  FIGS. 8A to 8F , a plurality of views of a third embodiment of an alternative buckle plate  90  are shown. Buckle plate  90  is adapted for use with base plate  80  from  FIGS. 7A to 7G , and includes indents  88 , which are adapted to receive protrusions  86 . Otherwise, buckle plate  90  acts in the same manner as buckle plate  18 , previously described. 
     It will be realized that even when there are only two planar magnets in each magnet set, the operating principles of the present invention remains the same. When the north and south poles of the magnets face each other, an attractive force holds the buckle plate and base plate together. When the buckle plate is rotationally moved 180°, so that north poles face each other, and/or the south poles face each other, there will be magnetic repulsion. When the escutcheon plate and buckle plate assembly is rotationally moved a further 180° attraction between the magnets is again established, and the clamping action is re-instated. 
     It is evident that there should preferably be an even number of magnets in each of the first and second sets of planar magnets, so as not to have an uneven number of north or south poles in either set. Indeed, it is found convenient that each magnet set should typically include at least two magnets, and more preferably, four, six, or eight planar magnets. 
     Further, it can be seen that the magnets are preferably placed in roughly a circle arrangement, and are preferably roughly equally spaced around the optional flux plates. It will also be noted that with greater numbers of magnets, the amount of rotation required to move the buckle assembly from the first predetermined position to the second predetermined position, is decreased. 
     It can also be noted, that while not preferred, a smaller number of magnets might be positioned in only one section of the flux plate so that the attraction and repulsion forces are localized to one area of the flux plate. This would reduce the number of magnets required, but as would be expected, the total clamping force of the belt buckle would be reduced, and the attractive and repulsive forces would not be even across the buckle. As such, symmetrical placement of the magnets around the flux plate is preferred. 
     The material of the escutcheon plate, the buckle plate, and the base plate, should preferably not be made of any magnetic material. As such, it has been found particularly convenient for such components to be formed of aluminum, especially where ruggedness and a long operating life are required. However, suitable hard plastics materials such as high density nylon, polyethylene, polypropylene, or copolymers thereof, may also be used. Moreover, the magnets might be encased in plastic, or the like, to eliminate the use of a number of small individual magnets. 
     As such, there has been described a clamping buckle which is particularly useful for belts such as those worn with clothing, but may also be useful when used in association with strapping and the like. However, other modifications and alterations may be used in the design and manufacture of the apparatus of the present invention without departing from the spirit and scope of the accompanying claims. 
     Thus, it is apparent that there has been provided, in accordance with the present invention, a buckle which fully satisfies the goals, objects, and advantages set forth hereinbefore. Therefore, having described specific embodiments of the present invention, it will be understood that alternatives, modifications and variations thereof may be suggested to those skilled in the art, and that it is intended that the present specification embrace all such alternatives, modifications and variations as fall within the scope of the appended claims. 
     Additionally, for clarity and unless otherwise stated, the word “comprise” and variations of the word such as “comprising” and “comprises”, when used in the description and claims of the present specification, is not intended to exclude other additives, components, integers or steps. Further, the invention illustratively disclosed herein suitably may be practiced in the absence of any element which is not specifically disclosed herein. 
     Moreover, the words “substantially” or “essentially”, when used with an adjective or adverb is intended to enhance the scope of the particular characteristic; e.g., substantially planar is intended to mean planar, nearly planar and/or exhibiting characteristics associated with a planar element. 
     Further, use of the terms “he”, “him”, or “his”, is not intended to be specifically directed to persons of the masculine gender, and could easily be read as “she”, “her”, or “hers”, respectively. 
     Also, while this discussion has addressed prior art known to the inventor, it is not an admission that all art discussed is citable against the present application.