Improvements in Prongless Buckles.
Year: 1895

page_text: Date of Application, 23rd Sept., 1895
Complete Specification Left, 20th June, 1896-Accepted, 25th July, 1896
Improvements in Prongless Buckles.
I, FRANK GAMESON MASON trading as Thomas Mason and Son of 11 Caldmore
Road, Walsall, in the County of Stafford, Buckle Manufacturer, do hereby declare
the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
:―
This invention relates to prongless buckles for belts, bands, wearing apparel and
other uses, and of the type in which an anchor connection is employed, and has for
one of its objects, an automatic grip, for another object, the instantaneous releasing
of the buckle, and for a further object, the easy threading into place of the loose
end of a band without lifting the frame.
According to one form of my invention, I employ a middle-bar flap, pivoted to
the frame, and having a tail arm downwardly cranked from the joint of the flap,
to the middle part of which the anchor connection is jointed. When the buckle
is in use, the anchor connection forms a supplementary lever for closing the
gripping flap.
In prongless buckles of the ordinary construction, after a band or the like has
passed between the nipping edge of the middle bar, and the frame it runs or slips
back unless arrested by the passing of the loose end between the back of the
nipping bar and the bar of the frame. When the band is tight it is difficult to
raise the frame for this purpose, or for the purpose of releasing the band.
In carrying out one form of my improvements, I take a continuous buckle frame,
and mount and joint within the said frame, a middle bar flap, with the fore and
nipping edge prevented from passing through the frame either by overlapping the
front bar of the frame or by some similar device. This middle bar flap has a
rearwardly extended and cranked arm, running under and set-down considerably
from the plane of the back bar, and forming a fulcrum by means of which the grip
of the flap bar is released.
Jointedly connected to the middle of the flap bar, and about mid-way between
the joint and its nipping edge, is the inner end of the anchor attachment, which
consists of an arm terminated by a T or crutch end, or instead of a crutch end,
may employ a hook or equivalent device.
When in use, the anchor is first connected to a band or garment by passing the
same through a hole or piercing in one end of the band and the other loose end is
passed under the front bar and between it and the nipping edge of the middle bar
Hap, and on the band being drawn up, it is held tight because any back pull causes
a tension on the band which forces the anchor attachment upon the underside of
the tail end and tends to force both anchor and tail end into the plane of the.
buckle frame, by which combined pressures the nipping edge of the flap is brought
closer to the bar of the buckle frame and nipping and firmly holding the band
between the opposed edges of the parts. The loose end is then passed over the
flap and outwardly under the back bar, which has a full and ample clearance
between itself and the back of the flap, thus rendering it easy for the passing of
the loose end there-through.
To release the band from the buckle, simply draw out the loose end and separate
the back bar of the frame and the tail end of middle bar flap when the band
becomes released.
In carrying out a still further form of my improvements, I take a continuous
buckle frame, with a like middle bar flap as before, pivotally mounted within the

page_text: said frame and with the after part of the said flap which is prolonged rearwardly
and terminated by an anchor or hook connection or equivalent device cranked
considerably downwards and passed under the back bar of the frame.
The set-down anchor end part constitutes the lever arm, so that as the band is
drawn up it is held tight because any back pull causes a tension which tends to
bring the anchor end into the plane of the buckle frame and the nipping middle
bar is made to approach the front bar of the frame hence the automatic nipping
of the band, whilst a considerable space or clearance is left between the back bar
of the frame and the extended after part of the flap for the passing therethrough of
the loose end.
To release the band, draw out the loose end, and on raising the back bar of the
frame the band is released.
Dated this 21st der of Sentember 1895
I, FRANK GAMESON MASON trading as Thomas Mason and Son, of 11 Caldinore
Road, Walsall, in the County of Stafford, Buckle 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 relates to prongless buckles for belts, bands, wearing apparel and
other uses, and of the type in which an anchor connection is employed, and has for
one of its objects, an automatic grip; for another object, the instantaneous releasing
of the buckle; and for a further object, the easy threading into place of the loose
end of a band without lifting the frame.
According to one form of my invention, I employ a middle bar-flap, pivoted to
the frame, and having a tail arm downwardly cranked from the joint of the flap,
to the middle part of which the anchor connection is jointed. When the buckle
is in use, the anchor connection forms a supplementary lever for closing the
gripping flap.
In some prongless buckles, after a band or the like has passed between the
nipping edge of the middle bar and the frame, it runs or slips back unless arrested
by the passing of the loose end between the back of the nipping bar and the bar
of the frame. When the band is tight it is difficult to raise the frame for this
purpose, or for the purpose of releasing the band.
In carrying out one form of my improvements, I take a continuous buckle frame,
and mount and joint within the same, a middle bar-flap, with the fore and nipping
edge prevented from passing through the frame either by overlapping the front
bar of the frame or by sonie similar device. This middle bar flap has a rearwardly
extended and cranked arm, running under and set-down considerably from the
plane of the back bar, and formning a fulcrum by means of which the grip of the
flap bar is released.
Jointedly connected to the middle of the flap bar, and about mid-way between
the joint and its nipping edge, is the inner end of the anchor attachment, which
consists of an arm terminated by a T or crutch end, or instead of a crutch end,
may employ a hook or equivalent device.
I
Figure 1 of the accompanying drawing represents a prongless buckle made
according to this form of my invention.
Figure 2 is a section of the same upon the dotted line & Figure 1.
Figure 3 represents a like section as Figure 2, but with the buckle shown in use

page_text: with a band and with the material of the same automatically nipped between the
gripping end of the middle bar flap and the front bar of the buckle end frame and
with the loose end of the said band being tucked in between the tail end of the said
middle bar flap and the back bar of the frame.
Figure 4 represents a back elevation of the said prongless buckle without the
band.
In Figures 1 to 4, a is a buckle frame or continuous buckle frame and mounted
and turning upon the middle bar a¹, of the same is the middle bar flap, or gripping
lever b, whose straight nipping fore edge b', overlaps the inner edge a², of the front
bar as, of the buckle frame, and between the said nipping edge 61, and front bar a³,
the material of the band is automatically held by the tension or pull of the band
turning the fore part 63, inwards or in the direction of the arrow Figure 2, through
the medium of an anchor-ended pull lever d, connected by a loop d', to an excen-
trically disposed bar 63, lying forward of the major axis a¹, of the buckle frame,
and with its tail end da, directed backwardly and with its anchor tip d³, engaging
within a slit or loop c', at an end c, of the band c, whose loose end c, is slipped
between the back part a', of the enclosed frame a, and the cranked tail end b*,
of the middle bar flap b.
Although I have described that the member d, is connected to the fast end of
the baud c, by an anchor connection, yet I wish it to be understood that the said
connection may be made in any desired way although an anchor end is an easy and
simple way of making a connection.
When in use, the anchor is first connected to a band by passing the same through
a hole or piercing in one end of the band and the other loose end c³ is passed under
the front bar a and between it and the nipping edge of the middle bar flap or
tongue lever, and on the band being drawn up, it is held tight consequent upon the
tension of the band pulling inwards the member d, which draws the top part of the
middle bar flap towards the top bar of the frame and as the tension on the band
increases so its pull tends to draw the tail end of the middle bar flap lignable with
the buckle frame and drags the nipping edge closer to the bar of the buckle frame
automatically. The locking of the band is partly accomplished by the said nipping
edge coming over the centre and partly by the material being drawn rearwardly
from the nip around the inner edge of the front bar of the buckle frame and being
returned into the line of pull represented by the dotted arrow. The loose end is
then passed rearwardly over and tucked in out of the way between the back bar at
and the anchor tail end A.
To release the band from the buckle, simply draw out the loose end and separate
the back bar of the frame and the tail end of middle bar flap or tongue lever when
the band becomes released.
In carrying out a still further form of my improvements, I take a continuous
buckle frame, with a like middle bar flap or tongue lever as before, pivotally
mounted within the said frame and with the after part of the said flap, which is
prolonged rearwardly and terminated by an anchor or hook connection or equivalent
device, cranked considerably downwards and passed under the back bar of the
frame.
The set-down anchor and part constitutes the lever arm, so that as the band is
drawn up it is held tight consequent upon any back pull producing a tension which
tends to bring the anchor end into the plane of the buckle frame and the nipping
middle bar is made to approach the front bar of the said frame hence the automatic
Dipping of the band, whilst a considerable space or clearance is left between the
back bar of the frame and the extended after part of the flap for the passing
therethrough of the loose end.
To release the band, draw out the loose end, and on raising the back bar of the
frame the band is released.
Figure 5 represents a front elevation of this last described form of my
invention.
Figure 6 is a cross section of the same upon the dotted line a¹ Figure 5.

page_text: Figure 7 is a like section as Figure 6, but showing the buckle applied to and
gripping a band.
Figure
is a like view as Figure 7 but with the band released.
Figure 9 is a back elevation of Figure 5.
In Figures 5 to 9, a is the buckle frame with front bar a³, and back bar a',
and a middle bar flap or tongue lever b, pivotedly mounted upon the middle bar a',
of the said frame by knuckles or bearings 6, and with the lip b', of the fore
part 6, overlapping the inner edge a', of the bar a³, whilst the back and cranked
end 6, of the flap is terminated by an anchor or crutch end 4, for making the
.connection of the buckle to the fast end of the band c, whilst the loose end c³, is
threaded through the buckle and held tight when tension is put upon the same.
Instead of securing the buckles to the fast end of the band by an anchor or cross
end they may be attached by a loop or equivalent or by sewing.
Instead of mounting the tongue lever upon the cross bar of the frame, the same
may be provided with opposite pivots taking into corresponding holes formed in
the inner edge of the frame.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is :-
First. A prongless buckle, consisting of a frame having pivotedly mounted
within it, a lever tongue or middle bar Hap whose tail end is cranked out of the
plane of the fulcrum and with the nip of the said lever overhanging a bar of
the frame, in combination with an excentrically connected pull lever, and with an
-end or an anchor end secured to an end of a band or the like, so that tension upon
the band or article being secured tends to bring the nip of the flap or lever closer
to the said frame bar and the tail end of the same more lignable with the joint or
fulcrum whereby the securing of the band and the formation of a clearance under
the back bar for the purpose of receiving the loose end of the said band without
lifting the said back bar is effected, substantially as described and set forth in
Figures 1 to 4.
Secondly. A prongless buckle, consisting of a frame having pivotedly mounted
within it, a lever tongue or middle bar flap whose tail end is cranked out of the
plane of the fulcrum and is secured directly to the end of a band or article by an
anchor or crutch end or equivalent so that tension or pull put upon the said band
or article being secured tends to bring the nip of the said flap or lever closer to
the said frame bar and the tail end of the same more lignable with the fulcrum or
joint, whereby the securing of the band and the formation of a clearance under the
back bar for the purpose of receiving the loose end of the said band without
lifting the said back bar, is effected, substantially as described and set forth in
Figures 5 to 8.
c
Thirdly. In prongless buckles of a like construction to those referred to iu the
preceding claims, releasing the grip on the band by lifting the back bar of the
frame, substantially as set forth.
Dated this 19th day of June 1896
FRANK GAMESON MASON,
By Henry Skerrett,
24 Temple Row, Birmingham, Agent for Applicant.