Patent Publication Number: US-9427036-B2

Title: Adjustable fashion belt

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     There are many different types of belts into which magnets are incorporated. Such belts primarily comprise magnets utilized for therapeutic or medical purposes. Other belts have magnets to secure loose ends of the belt to the belt&#39;s surface. However, there are currently no belts which use magnets specifically for positioning and maintaining a belt to accommodate the sizes of different wearers and which allow belts to be positioned around different parts of a wearer&#39;s body. There are also no belts utilizing magnetic ornamental belt components to enhance the design and fashion appearance of the belt. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     It is thus the object of the present invention to provide an adjustable fashion belt which utilizes magnets to vary the wearing circumference of the belt to accommodate the size of the wearer and to allow the positioning of the belt around different parts of the wearer&#39;s body. 
     It is another object of the present invention to provide an adjustable fashion belt which offers the versatility of attaching a variety of belt ornament components to the belt. 
     These and other objects are accomplished by the present invention, an adjustable fashion belt having elongated outer and inner layers of material secured in adjacent alignment to each other. A strip of ferromagnetic material extends between substantially the length of the layers. Magnets are secured at the ends of the layers. The wearing circumference of the belt can be varied, according to the waist size of the user, and secured in position by encircling the wearer and then by placing the magnets on selected locations on the outer surface of the belt, where they are attracted to the ferromagnetic metal strip. One or more belt ornament components are provided, each having a magnetic section and an ornament section. The magnet section of the belt ornament component is positioned on the outer surface of the belt and is removeably attracted to the belt by the ferromagnetic metal strip. 
     The novel features which are considered as characteristic of the invention are set forth in particular in the appended claims. The invention, itself, however, both as to its design, construction and use, together with additional features and advantages thereof, are best understood upon review of the following detailed description with reference to the accompanying drawings. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is an exploded view of the components of the present invention. 
         FIG. 2  is an isometric view of the present invention. 
         FIG. 3  is an elevation of the belt component of the present invention. 
         FIG. 4  shows the present invention positioned on the waist of a wearer. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     Adjustable fashion belt  1  comprises elongated outer material layer  2  having inner surface  4 , outer surface  6 , and end sections  8  and  10 . Belt  1  also comprises elongated inner material layer  12  having inner surface  14  and outer surface  16 , and end sections  18  and  20 . Outer layer  2  and inner layer  12  can be fabricated from leather, cloth, or equivalent material. Outer layer  2  and inner layer  12  are attached to each other by glue, epoxy, sewn connection, or equivalent means such that each layer and their respective end sections are adjacently aligned. 
     Elongated metal strip  22  extends between outer layer  2  and inner layer  12 , for substantially the length of the layers. Strip  22  is made of a flexible, ferromagnetic material, which is readily attracted to a magnet. Examples of such materials are iron, nickel, cobalt, and alloys of these metals. 
     Magnet  24  is located at and secured to either end section  8  of outer layer  2  or end section  18  of inner layer  12 .  FIG. 1  shows magnet  24  secured to end section  18 . Magnet  23  is located at and secured to either end section  10  of outer layer  2  or end section  20  of inner layer  12 . Magnets  23  and  24  have sufficient magnetic force to attract and securely connect the magnet to ferromagnetic strip  22  located between outer layer  2  and inner layer  12 . It is contemplated that only one of magnets  23  and  24  could be utilized. However, the use of two magnets will provide a more secure attachment of belt  1  around the body of the wearer. 
     Fashion belt  1  can thus be adjustably positioned and secured in many different sized wearing circumferences. This allows belt  1  to accommodate the waist sizes of different wearers, depending where on outer surface  6  of outer layer  2  magnet  24  is placed. Once belt  1  is positioned such that it encircles the waist  42  or other part of the body of wearer  40 , magnets  23  and  24  are placed at the appropriate locations on outer surface  6 , where they are attracted to ferromagnetic metal strip  22  to maintain the belt on the wearer. 
     Ornamental belt component  30  comprises decorative section  32  and magnet section  34  consisting of a magnet. After fashion belt  1  is attached around wearer  40 , ornamental belt component  30  can be added simply by placing magnet section  34  against the belt. Ornamental belt component  30  is thereby maintained on belt  1  by the attraction of magnet section  34  to ferromagnet metal strip  22  within the belt. Ornamental belt component  30  can be positioned as a belt buckle or on any location on the exterior of belt  1  itself. 
     Thus fashion belt  1  of the present invention can be utilized by wearers having a multitude of different waist sizes. It can also be positioned around parts of the body other than the waist, including the upper torso and hips. In addition, ornamental belt components can be fabricated of infinite sizes, shapes, designs, and colors, to enhance the look of the belt in a vast variety of ways in any number of locations on belt  1 . The design of fashion belt  1  allows it to be reversible, providing the belt with even more versatility. 
     Certain novel features and components of this invention are disclosed in detail in order to make the invention clear in at least one form thereof. However, it is to be clearly understood that the invention as disclosed is not necessarily limited to the exact form and details as disclosed, since it is apparent that various modifications and changes may be made without departing from the spirit of the invention.