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 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 has 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. In 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 itelf 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 D1 which complements the inner diameter D2 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 yanking on one of the flags 12 or 14 attached to the buckle 122, there is audible report or &#34;pop&#34; 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 α 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 &#34;pop&#34; 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 &#34;pop.&#34; 
     Referring now to FIG. 9, there is shown suction coupling 100&#39; in accordance with a second embodiment of the couplings 16 attaching the flags 12 to the belt 10. The second suction coupling 110&#39; is substantially identical to the first suction coupling 100, but includes a projection 152 in the suction cup 110&#39; which is received in a socket 154 in the suction cup 120&#39;. 
     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 further 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 mid-portion 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 to 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 D4 which is less than the width D5 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 theloop 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 &#34;pop&#34; 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.