Patent Publication Number: US-4584743-A

Title: Belt buckle

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     This invention relates to belt buckles and particularly a belt buckle which can be utilized with a number of belts and further can have top members which are interchangeable. The belt buckle construction of the present invention is particularly adapted for use with belt straps having a plurality of longitudinally spaced holes extending therethrough and a butt end. 
     Belt straps of the above general nature are exemplified by constructions such as that seen in the Kjelden Pat. U.S. No. 1,062,715, for example, and in my prior Pat. U.S. No. 4,477,949. It is desirable to have a buckle construction which may be readily mass produced by die casting without any undercut portions and one in which the decoration may be readily changed by the user. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     According to the present invention, a two piece belt buckle construction is provided by separate body and top members that may be disconnected from each other. The body member has a pair of side plates that are interconnected by a shelf member and a depending cross bar at one end thereof, while the other end of the side plates are connected by a cam bar. Pivoted between the side plates is a locking plate that carries a jaw at one end to lie juxtaposed to the shelf and a hood at the other end adapted to engage one of a plurality of spaced holes in a belt strap. The top member has one end detachably engagable with the cam bar, the top plate having a caming surface that engages the locking plate to pivot the same and move the jaw up towards the shelf so that the butt end of a belt may be engaged at that location and positively gripped. Means are provided on the top plate that depend therefrom and engage locking means that may be conveniently located adjacent to shelf. 
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1 is a side elevational view of the buckle of the present invention; FIG. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view showing the buckle in open position and with the belt strap members in position; 
     FIG. 3 is a similar view with the buckle in closed position; 
     FIG. 4 is a bottom plan view with the locking plate removed for clarity; 
     FIG. 5 is a sectional view taken on lines 55 of FIG. 4; and 
     FIG. 6 is an end view taken from the left side of FIG. 2 with the belt removed 
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     The belt buckle has a body member with a pair of side plates 12 and 14 which are joined together at one end by a cam bar 16 that has a recess 17 therein opening from the bottom. At the opposite end of the side plates there is formed an integral shelf 20 and depending from the lower edge of the side plates is a cross bar 22. As will be seen particlarly in FIGS. 2 and 3, the strap provides an opening between the side plates from the end of the buckle as viewed from the left as seen in the drawings. Made as part of the shelf is a stop plate 21 and affixed thereto is a bracket 24 which receives a spring 25, the purpose of which will be presently described. 
     Pivotally located within the side plates is a locking plate 30 which is pivoted to the side plates by a pivot pin 34 that extends through the side plates and a pair of ears 32 on the plate 30. The locking plate provided with a hook pin 36 extending downwardly therefrom at one end, the hook pin being adapted to engage an aperture in a belt. The other end of the locking plate is provided with a jaw portion 38, the action of which will be presently described. 
     The top member 40 is a generally planer body which may be provided on its outer surface with suitable decoration. Depending from the under surface 41 is a pin 44 with an enlarged head 45. The top member includes a hook-like cupped portion 46 at one end thereof which is adapted to engage the groove 17 and the cam bar 16. Extending below the cupped portion 46 is a protrusion 48, which protrusion acts to bear against one end of the locking plate 30. The top member as can be readily seen is free from any under cut portions and may be easily die cast in a two part mold. Also it is apparent that the various top members 40 may be provided with different decorations, colors, shapes and the like to create the impression of having a number of belt buckles for different occasions. 
     In operation the butt end of a belt is inserted against the shelf 20 as seen in FIG. 2. The top member 40 is then pivoted counter clockwise as seen in the drawings to the position as seen in FIG. 3 and as this occurs the protrusion 48 engages the locking plate 30 rocking the same and the jaw 38 will press the butt end of the belt against the shelf 20. In addition the pin 44 will pass down in to the spring 25 that forms a locking member with the enlarged head 45 being gripped beneath the spring member 25. The other end of the belt with the apertures will then be selectively engaged by the pin 36.