Patent Publication Number: US-8522405-B2

Title: Belt buckle

Description:
The invention relates to a belt buckle with a belt outlet slot for connecting with a belt beginning and at least one inlet slot retainer engaging with openings in the belt at the opposite waist belt inlet slot. 
     The security sector and government agencies require, in particular of so-called deployment waist belts, a waist belt buckle or belt closure, which cannot be opened by potential attackers. Conventionally, belts are used that are fastened at the waist belt buckle by using hook-and-pile-fasteners that are fastened at the inner side of the waist belt. The reason for this is that at the waist belt, an immense number of containers must be attached, so that no space is available for a protruding end of the waist belt, such as is present in conventional waist belts for pants. The typically used mechanism of the waist belt buckle comprises at least two plastic parts, that are positively geared with each other in closed condition and that are provided with more than two pressure points that must be pressed for opening. An adjustment of the waist belt size due to the use of clothing depending on the season, or in deployment when using tactical and bullet-proof vests, is problematic and time-consuming, as most of the time first many or all containers must be removed from the belt and then the belt must be pulled out of the waist belt buckle. Moreover, the retention force of hook-and-pile-fasteners is very limited. 
     From WO2006/073387 A1, a safety waist belt buckle is known that also considers the magnitude of the problem discussed above, and which works without any hook-and-pile closures. Hereby, the arched hooks engage through elongated holes in the waist belt with a retention plate that is located underneath, which in turn is provided with an additional retention element in the form of a bolt extending in the opposite direction, as otherwise, safety would not be given. Hereby, the waist belt buckle with its hook must consist of metal, as these could otherwise not absorb the forces that are present. In addition, the counter piece must still be shimmed with leather, in order to prevent damage to clothing or an injury of the carrier. 
     The objective of the present invention therefore was a belt buckle that does not allow opening against the will of the carrier and is still simply designed and permits the adjustment of the belt or waist belt, without the necessity of having to make modifications at the belt. 
     To solve this problem, the belt closure in accordance with the invention is characterized thereby, that the central section of the belt closure is formed by an essentially flat element, which permits a deflection toward the belt, which attains—in the section of the, or of each inlet retainer—at least their height. In addition to the advantage, that this design cannot be opened by potential attackers, the belt closure has a very simply and functionally secure design, preferably consisting of one piece. A further advantage lies therein, that the length of the belt that is used can vary widely and the length that projects beyond the belt buckle, i.e. the excess length, does not represent any type of conflict with the pieces of equipment that are threaded on the belt. 
     According to an advantageous embodiment it is provided that the element on which the side opposite to the—or to every inlet retainer is attached elastically deflectable. 
     Preferably, the element can be designed entirely as elastically deflectable spring element. 
    
    
     
       In the following description, the invention will be explained in more detail in conjunction with the enclosed drawings. 
       Thereby,  FIG. 1  shows a view of an embodiment of the belt buckle in accordance with the invention from the outside, 
         FIG. 2  is a view from the interior, 
         FIG. 3  shows a view corresponding to that in  FIG. 2  with inserted waist belt, 
         FIG. 4  is a view corresponding to  FIG. 2  with inserted waist belt and in a condition connected with the waist belt end, and 
         FIG. 5  is a longitudinal cross section along the belt of  FIG. 4 . 
     
    
    
     As can be seen in  FIG. 1 , the belt closure preferably consists of only a single part, which has a belt outlet slot  1  for connecting with a belt beginning  6  (see  FIG. 3 ) and a belt inlet slot  2  that is opposite in the longitudinal direction of the waist belt. In the central section of the belt buckle, an essentially flat element  3  is provided, which allows a deflection toward the waist belt. On the side facing the carrier, which can be seen in  FIG. 2 , in the section of the belt outlet slot  1 , there are outlet retainers  4  for connecting the belt buckle with the belt beginning  6  that is put over the outlet retainers  4 , which thus prevents a sliding out through the belt outlet slot  1 . At the waist belt beginning  6 , an outlet plate  7  can additionally be attached, preferably by rivets, which can have advantages for production, and beyond that, can additionally positively influence the force intake and force transfer to the waist belt buckle. But the waist belt beginning  6  could also be fastened at the waist belt outlet slot  1  by sewing, riveting, adhesion or the like. 
     The end of the waist belt  8 , as shown in  FIG. 4 , is guided through the waist belt inlet slot  2 , where corresponding to the pattern of holes in the belt, inlet retainers  5  are provided that engage with the openings of the waist belt and thus accomplish the locking of the waist belt. The belt inlet slot  2  is designed in such a way that a hinging away of the waist belt buckle, as it can sometimes happen in conventional belt buckles, is made impossible. The shape of the inlet retainer  5  makes it possible to simply slide the waist belt end  8  over it, but it prevents the simple pulling out in the opposite direction, as the waist belt end  8 , due to the geometric configuration (see  FIG. 5 ) would only push more onto the inlet retainers  5  that engage with the openings—preferably designed as elongated holes—in the waist belt. The excess length of the waist belt end  8  hides, and is invisible even for a potential attacker and cannot be grasped under the waist belt beginning  6 , which is advantageous during disturbances and in combat situations. This also does not impair the attachment of pieces of equipment to the waist belt beginning  6 . 
     The essentially flat element  3  that is preferably provided in the central section of the belt buckle, which if need be, can also be designed as a separate component that is mounted elastically deflectable, permits a deflection toward the waist belt or in the direction of the carrier, which reaches at least in the section of the, or of each inlet retainer  5 , at least their height. In order to open the waist belt, the carrier must encompass the belt buckle in such a way that he can push element  3  inward toward the body of the carrier. For an attacker, the number of movements that would have to be performed would not be possible. Element  3  can, in the course of this deflection, push the waist belt end  8  off the inlet retainers  5 , and while maintaining pressure on element  3 , the waist belt end  8  can then be pulled out of the belt inlet slot  2 .