Improvements in and connected with Buckles.
Year: 1897

page_text: Date of Application, 30th Nov., 1897-Accepted, 1st Jan., 1898
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION..
Improvements in and connected with Buckles.
.. I, AUGUST PRYM, of Stolberg near Aachen, Province of the Rhine, German
Empire, manufacturer do hereby declare the nature of this invention, and in what
manner the 'same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained
in and by the following statement:-
.
This invention refers to improvements in buckles of the class employed for
belts, waistbands, underwear and the, like, to connect the straps of the same, and
has for its object to produce a buckle having advantages in points of inexpensive-
ness, construction, durability, but more especially to free the parts of the buckle
from the strain of the material attached thereto and to preserve said material from
undue wear or injury by the piercing of the buckle tongues, as hereinafter more
fully described.
To this end my invention consists in the peculiar construction of the frame of
the buckle which I shall now proceed to describe, reference being had to the
accompanying drawing.
As a rule buckles of this class, such as used for this purpose, consist of two parts
movably connected to each other, such movement either being a sliding one, 'or
resembling that of a hinge. I am aware, that slide-buckles as well as clasp-
buckles are well known and exist in a large variety of forms, while the former
class, namely the slide-buckles, have not been successfully introduced, even though
they possess an advantage which is not obtainable with a clasp-buckle. Possibly
the explanation of this, will be found in the fact, that the manipulation in general
of these buckles is perhaps not properly known, or, more precisely, not familiar, a
circumstance which must not be overlooked for the apparent reason, that such
buckles, in consequence of the position of the same, are usually out of the range
of the eye.
The hereinbefore mentioned advantage appertaining to sliding-buckles, is to be
found in the fact, that the pins or tongues of the same, which pierce or penetrate
one of the waistbands are, in consequence of an especial arrangement of the same
relieved from the strain of the band or belt, whereas this advantage has not yet
been properly adapted to clasp-buckles, and to effect this, is the object of my
invention.
I am further aware, that clasp-buckles which have pins or tongues only on one
side, but on both of the hinge sides of the same, are known. It is, however, new
and herein lies the principal feature of my invention, that I employ perforations
in the part or side of the buckle opposite to the pins or tongues, (instead of pro-
viding said pins or tongues on both sides of the buckle), said perforations being so
arranged that the said pins or tongues come to rest against the sides of the per-
forated portion of the buckle, in such manner, that the strain which the belt or
band produces upon the pins or tongues is transferred to, or taken up by, that part
of the buckle which is provided with the perforations.

page_text: One construction of my improved buckle (of the clasp or hinge-class) is shown
in the accompanying drawing, figures 1-4, in which similar letters represent
similar parts throughout the said drawing wherein :
Figure 1 shows the buckle in closed condition, the waistbands being connected
to the same in any suitable manner,
Figure 2 is a horizontal section through figure 1,
Figure 3 shows a similar section, the buckle in this case being open.
Figure 4 shows a rear view, the buckle being also open.
Figure 5 shows a modification.
Referring to figure 3, e el represent the straps of the garment, said straps being
connected to a portion a¹ of the buckle by the employment of elongated slots or in
any suitable manner. The clasp or lever is provided with bent edges ¹ and
journalled at a² (figures 1-4) by means of suitable pinions.
This clasp or buckle part provided with pins 22, which penetrate the bands e¹
and hold the same. In accordance with the position of these pins (or more pre-
cisely, opposite to the same) the part a of the buckle is provided with perforations
or apertures a³ (figure 4) into which the tongue or pins, or more precisely, the
points of the same enter, upon the closing of the buckle, as shown in figure 2.
Figure 2 shows at the same time, that in this closed position the tongues (or pin
points) rest or bear against the part a of the hinge, so that, as shown by the
direction of the arrow in figure 2, the strain upon the said pins is transferred to
the said part a of the buckle and is taken up by this part, as herein before
described.
The essential arrangement of the perforations a³ gives also a further important
advantage as follows:
In the clasp-buckles, as hitherto known, in which the tongues penetrate the
straps and in which form of buckle the tongues bear the whole strain of said
straps, it is necessary, either to make the said pins or tongues of a special thick-
ness, i.e. especially strong, or the said tongues must be correspondingly increased
in number.
Both these disadvantages occasion a rapid tearing of the straps or bands, and a
serious wear of the same, especially in such cases, in which the bands are
frequently engaged or released.
My improved buckle is virtually free from these objections as the pins or
tongues of the same are almost entirely released from all strain, for which reason
not only can such tongues be less in number, but also the diameter of the same
can be considerably reduced as shown in the drawing.
Protracted experience and tests have proved that two pins or tongues suffice in
my improved buckle to fulfil all requirements. It will also be clear, that the pins
in my improved buckle cannot damage the material held by the same.
As hereinbefore stated, figure 5 shows a modification of my improvements, in
which modification the band or strap is passed over the pinion a². In such a case
This
the buckle-parts would be connected in the manner shown in figure 4.
modification, however, does not possess the advantages of the constructions shown
in figures 1-3, as in the latter construction (figures 1-3) the strain comes in the
most advantageous direction; but when instead of an axis extending through the
buckle as shown in figures 1 & 3, two pinions are employed, as shown in figure 5,
the strain is less evenly distributed.
Moreover in the position shown in figure 2, the strain tends to press the hinge
portion of the buckle together, the friction hereby occasioned tending to still
further diminish any strain still existing upon the pins or tongues of the buckle.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of this invention,
and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I claim is:
A buckle consisting of two parts hinged together; one of said parts having one
or more pins extending in a direction vertical to the strain of the belt or straps,

page_text: the other part having apertures or perforations adapted to receive the said pins,
and to relieve the same from said strain, substantially as herein described, and
shown.
AUGUST PRYM.
By G. A. De Katow,
Of the firm of De Katow & Co.,
7, Featherstone Buildings, Engineers and Patent Experts,
Agent for the Applicant.