Patent Publication Number: US-6658705-B2

Title: Exchangeable self-adjusting device for use in belt

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates to an exchangeable self-adjusting device for use in a belt, and more particularly, to an exchangeable self-adjusting device for use in a belt, in which a strap is properly extended due to a slight abdominal motion, and a wearer can easily exchange the buckle to follow the fashion. 
     The present invention is based upon Korean Utility-Model Reg. No. 1996-0000072 entitled “Extension device for retractably adjusting length of strap” issued on Jan. 4, 1996 and assigned to the applicant, the contents of which are hereby incorporated by reference. 
     2. Description of the Related Art 
     As shown in FIG. 5, an extension device includes a retractable body  101  having one end securing a strap  104 , and the other end fixed to a common buckle  105  by means of screws. The body  101  is provided at one side with a strip fixing gripper  111  by securing screws  124  to secure one end of the strap  104 . A steel tape  118  is fixed to a steel tape fixing shaft  126  formed at a center of a steel tape receiving chamber  125 . Also, the body  101  is provided at the other side with a leather attaching portion  127 . A retractable strap piece  103  is guided by a steep tape spiral guide  123  of the leather attaching portion  127 , and the end of the steel tape  118  is fixed to the strap  103  by use of a fixing hole  119  formed at the end of the steel tape. The body  101  is covered by a rear cover  114 , and is fixed thereto by fastening screws  110  into threaded holes  122 . The retractable strap piece is inserted into a leather case  102 , and one end of the leather case  102  is adhered to the leather attaching portion  127 . The strap  103  is interposed between the buckle  105  and an enclosure plate  106 , and is fixed by use of screws  109   
     The conventional extension device is installed in the leather case  102  of the body  101  before the strap is worn by the wearer, as shown in FIG. 5, and then is fixed to the buckle  105  and the enclosure plate  106  by means of screws. With the construction, the tightened strap  103  is retracted, so that a length of the strap  104  may be extended. 
     When the steel tape  118  fixed to the steel tape fixing shaft  126  of the steel tape receiving chamber  125  goes out of the steel tape receiving chamber  125 , the steel tape fixing shaft  126  is released in a 90 degrees twisted shape from the steel tape fixing shaft  126 . Since the flat surface of the steel tape  118  is positioned in parallel to the flat surface of the strap  103 , the steel tape  118  may be smoothly bent and stretched in the wearing state. 
     Since the strap  103  is fixed to the body  101  by means of the steel tape  118 , even though the body is damaged due to exterior impact, it is impossible to exchange it. There is a drawback of again purchasing the strap. 
     With the construction in that the steel tape  118  is twisted at an angle of 90 degrees from the steel tape fixing shaft  126 , there is another drawback in that the release of the steel tape  118  is impossible due to the rigidity of the steel tape  118  In addition, since the steel tape  118  is coupled to the body  101  and the strap  103 , respectively, in an offset state, the strap  103  is released in the offset state, thereby causing the releasing operation to be not operated smoothly. Furthermore, upon actual operation of the strap  103 , since the strap  103  is made of flexible material such as leather, it is easily bent, so that the sliding function of the extension device is not properly performed. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     Accordingly, the present invention is directed to an exchangeable self-adjusting device for use in a belt that substantially obviates one or more problems due to limitations and disadvantages of the related art. 
     It is an object of the present invention to provide an exchangeable self-adjusting device for use in a belt, in which a strap is properly extended due to a slight abdominal motion, thereby preventing an oppressive sensation on an abdomen of a wearer. 
     Another object of the present invention is to provide an exchangeable self-adjusting device for use in a belt, capable of preventing trousers from being slip down due to the loose belt. 
     A further object of the present invention is to provide an exchangeable self-adjusting device for use in a belt, in which a wearer can easily exchange the buckle to follow the fashion, thereby saving a purchasing cost thereof. Still another object of the present invention is to provide an exchangeable self-adjusting device for use in a belt, in which a leaf spring can correctly move the self-adjusting device to improve the reliability thereof. 
     To achieve these objects and other advantages and in accordance with the purpose of the invention, as embodied and broadly described herein, there is provided an exchangeable self-adjusting device for use in a belt, one side of the self-adjusting device being coupled to an end of the belt, and the other side thereof being coupled to a buckle, the self-adjusting device comprising: a cover including a cover hook formed at a front thereof and inserted into a buckle hook provided at a rear of a buckle, and a leaf-spring hooking boss with a hooked groove formed at its center; a body including detachable bosses protruded from both sides thereof, a roller fixing shaft formed at a center of a bottom thereof for rotatably fixing a roller, and a hinge protruded from both sides of the rear thereof towards the bottom and having a hinge hole; a bottom plate including a detachable portion detachably engaged to the detachable bosses of the body, a strip biting projection formed in a spike shape for biting the strap and extended integral with a hinge boss of the bottom plate, and the hinged bosses protruded from both sides of the strip biting projection  31  and inserted into the hinge hole of the body; and a leaf-spring wound many times around the roller, and including a leaf-spring hook with its end bent in a U-shape to be inserted and secured to a hooked groove of the leaf-spring hooking boss. 
     Additional advantages, objects, and features of the invention will be set forth in part in the description which follows and in part will become apparent to those having ordinary skill in the art upon examination of the following or may be learned from practice of the invention. The objectives and other advantages of the invention may be realized and attained by the structure particularly pointed out in the written description and claims hereof as well as the appended drawings. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     The accompanying drawings, which are included to provide a further understanding of the invention and are incorporated in and constitute a part of this application, illustrate embodiment(s) of the invention and together with the description serve to explain the principle of the invention. In the drawings: 
     FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view of an exchangeable self-adjusting device for use in a belt according to the present invention; 
     FIG. 2 is a cross sectional view of a cover and a body of an exchangeable self-adjusting device shown in FIG. 1; 
     FIG. 3 is a perspective view of an exchangeable self-adjusting device according to the present invention; 
     FIG. 4 a  is a perspective view for showing the state before a device operates; 
     FIG. 4 b  is a perspective view for showing the state after a device operates; and 
     FIG. 5 is an exploded perspective view of a conventional belt. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     Reference will now be made in detail to the preferred embodiment of the present invention, an example of which is illustrated in the accompanying drawings. 
     As shown in FIG. 4, a self-adjusting device  1  for use in a belt according to the present invention includes a cover  10  being movable left and right, a slidable body  20  inserted into a bottom of the cover  10 , and a bottom plate  30  hinged to one portion of a bottom of the body  20  by means of a hinge  32 . 
     The cover  10  includes a cover hook  12  formed at a front thereof and inserted into a buckle hook  51  provided at a rear of a buckle  50 , a leaf-spring hooking boss  11  with a hooked groove  11   a  formed at its center, and “L”-shaped locking bosses  13  protruded from both sides of a rear thereof. 
     The body  20  includes detachable bosses  21  protruded from both sides thereof, a “┘”-shaped roller fixing shaft  23  formed at a center of a bottom thereof, and a hinge protruded from both sides of the rear thereof towards the bottom and having a hinge hole  22 . 
     The body  20  is made of a plate, and is inserted into the bottom of the cover  10 . The rear portion of the body  20  is supported by the locking bosses  13  of the cover  10 , so that it may be slid in front and rear direction. 
     The bottom plate  30  includes a detachable portion  33  bent in an angle of 90 degrees and detachably engaged to the detachable bosses  21  of the body  20 , a strip biting projection  31  formed in a spike shape for biting the strap  60 , and hinged bosses  32  protruded from both sides of the strip biting projection  31  and inserted into the hinge hole  22  of the body  20 . 
     The leaf-spring  40  of the present invention is wound many times in a shape of spiral spring, and has a leaf-spring hook  41  with its end bent in a U-shape. 
     The roller  70  with the leaf-spring  40  wound thereon is rotatably installed on the roller fixing shaft  23  of the body  20 , and the leaf-spring hook  41  is inserted and secured to the hooked groove  11   a  of the leaf-spring hooking boss  11  formed at the bottom portion of the cover  10 . 
     The cover hook  12  is engaged to the buckle hook  51 , and the strip  60  is fixed by the strip biting projection  31 . And then, if the buckle is pulled while holding the strip  60 , the cover  10  coupled to the end of the leaf-spring  40  is resiliently moved, and, simultaneously, the roller  70  seated on the roller fixing shaft  23  of the body  20 , so that the leaf-spring  40  wound around the roller  70  may be stretched. 
     Preferably, the roller fixing shaft  23  is provided in a shape of cylindrical column, so that when the leaf-spring  40  is stretched, the center portion of the rotating roller  70  is prevented from being abraded. 
     The leaf-spring  40  may be detached from the roller  70  and the leaf-spring hooking boss  11 , so that it is possible to exchange only the leaf-spring  40  in case that the leaf-spring  40  is relaxed. 
     Explaining the operation and effects of the present invention constructed as described above, in order to couple the self-adjusting device  1  of the present invention to the strip  60 , the bottom plate  30  is vertically rotated around the hinged boss  32 , and then is inserted into the end of the strip  60 . After that, the bottom plate  30  is again rotated horizontally. 
     At that time, the strip biting projection  31  of the bottom plate  30  bites the strap  60  to secure it. 
     The cover hook  12  formed at the front of the cover  10  is inserted into the buckle hook  51  provided at the rear of the buckle  50 . 
     At that state, the wearer inserts a buckle fixing boss  52  into a hole  61  of the strap. If the boss  52  is not properly aligned with the hole, as shown in FIG. 4 a , the wearer can easily insert the buckle fixing boss  52  into the hole  61  by moving the buckle  50  by a constant distance. 
     Upon pulling the buckle  50 , the cover  10  coupled to the end of the leaf-spring  40  is moved, and, simultaneously, the roller  70  seated on the roller fixing shaft  23  of the body  20  is rotated to resiliently stretch the leaf-spring  40 . 
     A moving range of the cover  10  is limited by the locking boss  13  of the upper cover  10 , and the locking boss  13  moves between the hole  22  and the detachable bosses  21 . 
     As the results, it prevents the leaf-spring  40  from being overly relaxed by limiting the drawing range of the leaf-spring  40 . 
     In addition, the leaf-spring is coupled to the center portions of the cover  10  and the body  20 , respectively, so that the cover  10  is correctly moved without occurring the offset. 
     In case that the abdomen of the wearer is expanded or retracted according to the wearer after meals or his/her posture&#39;s change, with the wearer putting on the belt  60 , the leaf-spring  40  is resiliently retracted, thereby preventing an oppressive sensation on the abdomen of the wearer and preventing the trousers from being slip down due to the loose belt. 
     The self-adjusting device  1  and the buckle  50  are adapted to be exchanged, so that the wearer can easily exchange the buckle  50  to follow the fashion. 
     With the constructions, in case that the abdomen of the wearer is expanded or retracted according to the wearer after meals or his/her posture&#39;s change, with the wearer putting on the belt, the leaf-spring is resiliently retracted, thereby preventing an oppressive sensation on an abdomen of the wearer to be helpful to the activation of the abdominal function and preventing the trousers from being slip down due to the loose belt. 
     In addition, the leaf-spring is coupled to the center portions of the cover and the body, respectively, so that the cover is correctly moved without occurring the offset. The roller fixing shaft is provided in a shape of cylindrical column, so that when the leaf-spring is stretched, the center portion of the rotating roller is prevented from being abraded to improve the reliability of the operation. 
     The self-adjusting device and the buckle are adapted to be exchanged, so that the wearer can easily exchange the buckle to follow the fashion changed from time to time, thereby saving the purchasing cost. 
     The forgoing embodiment is merely exemplary and is not to be construed as limiting the present invention. The present teachings can be readily applied to other types of apparatuses. The description of the present invention is intended to be illustrative, and not to limit the scope of the claims. Many alternatives, modifications, and variations will be apparent to those skilled in the art.