IMPROVEMENTS IN BUCKLES FOR BELTS, BRACES AND OTHER ARTICLES
Year: 1884

page_text: "
I, JEAN ANTOINE MALEZON, of Lyons, France, Jeweller do hereby declare
the nature of my invention for IMPROVEMENTS IN BUCKLES FOR BELTS, BRACES
AND OTHER ARTICLES to be as follows:-
"
This invention relates to buckles for belts, braces or other articles and is chiefly
designed to provide an improved buckle which can be advantageously used in place
of the buckles with tongues heretofore usually employed for the belts or straps of
articles of wearing apparel such as trousers, waistcoats, braces or garters.
My improved buckle consists of two parts, one of which is formed by stamping,
by means of dies, and has a cross-bar to which one of the parts of the belt or strap
or other article to which it is applied is sewn, or otherwise attached, for example
one of the straps of a waistcoat or a pair of trousers, or one of the ends of a garter.
This piece of the buckle I will bereinafter term the main portion.
The end of this main portion opposite the said cross bar is bent to form a right
angle with the other part and this bent portion is prolonged at each end so as to
form two stops for the buckle; the face of this bent portion presents an edge
which enables it to hold the material of the belt or other article when the buckle is
in operation.
Besides this main portion of the buckle there is another piece of oblong or other
suitable shape. This piece is carried by the main portion between the said stops
and the cross-bar. The free end of the belt or strap to which the buckle is applied
is passed under one end of this piece, then over the bent part of the main portion
and then under the other end of the said piece, so that the greater the strain that
is put upon the belt or strap to pull the ends thereof apart the more the buckle
presses upon the material of the said belt or strap to prevent the free end thereof
from slipping out of the buckle.
My improved buckle presents the following advantages, over the buckles with
tongues heretofore used, viz:-It is more easily manipulated and eliminates or
avoids the danger of the tongues catching in articles of wearing apparel or causing
injury to the wearer. Another advantage is that the belts or straps with which
my improved buckle is employed, do not require to be pierced.

page_text: The manner of loosening the buckle is very simple, it being sufficient to hold the
last named piece between the thumb and fore-finger and to pull gently the free end
of the belt or strap which then slips very easily, out of the buckle; if the buckle is
left to itself, before the said end is withdrawn it again engages with the belt or
strap. Its action is therefore automatic. The said buckle may be of any suitable
form and dimensions, and provided with ornaments if desired, and may be made of
any suitable material.

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION,
"
I, JEAN ANTOINE MALEZON, of Lyons, in the Republic of France, Manufacturer
do hereby declare the nature of my invention for IMPROVEMENTS IN BUCKLES FOR
BELTS, BRACES, AND OTHER ARTICLES and in what manner the same is to be
performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement and accompanying drawing (that is to say) :-
--
This invention has for its object a novel form of buckle to be used as a
substitute for buckles having tongues as ordinarily heretofore used, for articles
of clothing, such for example as trousers, waistcoats, braces, or garters, or for other
purposes.
0
The improved buckle (as shown in the accompanying drawing which is in
illustration of my invention) is composed of two parts shewn in figures 1 and 2.
The part shewn in figure 1 is made by stamping in suitable dies, and is provided
with a bar A to which is sewn or fastened one of the pieces or straps which
are to be buckled together, such as a waistcoat or trousers band, or one end of
a garter.
The other end of this part of the buckle is elbowed at B and its ends extended
outward at C and C¹ so that they form the stops for the other part of the buckle
shewn in figure 2. Its face or edge is made of a shape to prevent the stuff of which
the bands are made from slipping when the buckle is in use. Figure 2 shows the
other part of the buckle, by which the bands are tightened and held and which
engages or locks mechanically upon the first part figure 1, as shewn.
Figure 3 shews the complete buckle and figure 4 shews it in plan and in side
view when in use, as for instance upon the tightening bands of a pair of trousers.
It will be easily seen from figure 4 that the greater the force which is exerted to
stretch the bands apart in the direction of the arrows, the more firmly is the band
held at M by the edge of the part K. of the buckle, and the buckle cannot therefore
become undone.
Buckles made according to this invention are more easily used and adjusted than
those having tongues as ordinarily heretofore used, and the liability of the user
being scratched or injured by such tongues is avoided.
Moreover the material of which the bands or straps are made is not pierced and
weakened by the holes ordinarily required.
To unfasten the improved buckle it is only necessary to hold the part K between
the thumb and finger at the parts rands and to pull gently upon the strap
or band V which then slips very freely, although when the buckle is released the
band is again beld firmly.
The improved buckles may be made as ornamental as desired, and I do not
confine myself to the precise shape, proportions, or materials, which may be varied

page_text: to suit the purpose for which they are to be used, but having now particularly
described and ascertained the nature of my said Invention, and in what manner
the same is to be performed, I declare that what I claim is
The buckle composed of the two parts shown in figures 1 and 2, substantially as
described and shewn in the drawing.