Construction for a belt buckle

• US 4,570,308 A
• Filed: 03/16/1984
• Issued: 02/18/1986
• Est. Priority Date: 03/16/1984
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Robert G. Weisgerber
• Original Assignee: Robert G. Weisgerber
• Inventors: Weisgerber, Robert G.
• Primary Examiner(s): Sakran, Victor N.
• Application Number:
  US06/590,265
• Time in Patent Office: 704 Days
• Field of Search: 24/163 K, 24/163 R, 24/163 FC, 24/645, 224/163, 40/21 C
• US Class Current: 24/163.00K
• CPC Class Codes: A44B 11/005 Buckles combined with other articles, e.g. with receptacles
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 24/40 Buckles
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 24/4095 Fabric covered
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 24/4098 Ornamental and/or object supported

Abstract

A belt buckle employing a front plate with a window and a removable rear covering which allows for the insertion of an item for its display in the window by the wearer.

Claims

1. A belt buckle for selectively displaying an article for viewing, which article is in a relatively flat form, and including a buckle assembly for connecting together the ends of a belt, comprising:

a frame having a thickness with front and rear surfaces and an opening extending through said thickness from said rear to said front surfaces, said front surface being constructed such that said opening forms a viewing window, and said rear surface being constructed such that said opening forms a cavity, which cavity is greater in size than said window for receiving said display article which is placed into said cavity in said rear surface to substantially cover said window and be retained in said cavity for its viewing,

said rear surface of said frame further constructed such that said opening has laterally opposed recessed slots, each slot communicating with and smaller than said cavity,

a relatively flat back plate consisting of a main body with laterally opposed arranged protrusions, each protrusion corresponding to said recessed slots,

said main body of said back plate constructed to be received in said cavity to completely cover the back of said article, and said protrusions each constructed to be received in a said different recessed slot in a manner said back plate fits flushly in said opening relative to said rear surface, and

fastening means insertable in said protrusions of said back plate and into said frame for securing said back plate and article in said opening in said frame.

2. A belt buckle according to claim 1, wherein said cavity and said slots have sidewalls, and wherein said back plate has sidewalls corresponding to those of said cavity and said slots, said sidewalls being free from any obstructions such that said back plate is easily placed in a relatively flat disposition into said opening from said rear surface and secured therein.

3. A belt buckle according to claim 1, further comprising:

sealing means arranged on opposing sides of said display article and constructed in a manner to take the same configuration as said display article and to close said article off from the outside air when said sealing means with said article is assembled inside said buckle between said frame and said back plate.

4. A belt buckle according to claim 3, wherein said sealing means includes a transparent pane placed on one said opposing side of said article for its viewing in said window and a rear plate sealer placed behind said article such that the perimeter of said pane and said sealer are substantially flush with the sides of said cavity in said rear surface of said frame.