Belt buckle

• US 6,792,654 B2
• Filed: 09/30/2002
• Issued: 09/21/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 05/02/2000
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Batz Corporation
• Original Assignee: Batz Corporation
• Inventors: Schmitz, Hans-Jörg
• Primary Examiner(s): Sandy, Robert J.
• Application Number:
  US10/240,619
• Publication Number:
  US 20030106192A1
• Time in Patent Office: 722 Days
• Field of Search: 246/14, 246/15, 246/33, 246/34, 246/25, 246/29, 246/43, 246/47, 246/48, 246/50
• US Class Current: 24/614
• CPC Class Codes: A44B 11/266 with at least one push-button acting parallel to the main plane of the buckle and perpendicularly to the direction of the fastening action
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 24/45524 including resiliently biased projection component or surface segment
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 24/45628 for plural, oppositely shifting, similar interlocking components or segments

Abstract

The invention relates to a belt buckle, comprising two buckle members fastened on belt ends, the first (1) of said members having a receiving compartment (6) in which the second buckle member (2) is axially inserted. Said second buckle member comprises snap-fit members that are adjusted against a spring force and that interact with undercuts in the first buckle member to secure the fitted buckle members (1,2). The inventive belt buckle is further characterized in that the buckle members consist of cast metal and that the snap-fit members are impinged upon by at least one mechanical return spring.

Claims

1. A belt buckle comprising:

a first buckle member made of cast metal;

a second buckle member made of cast metal, wherein said first and second buckle members are adapted to be connected to belt ends, and wherein said first buckle member is provided with a receiving chamber for an axial insertion of said second buckle member therein;

snap-fit elements disposed in and coupled to said second buckle member and displaceable against spring force, wherein, to secure said first and second buckle members when they inter-engage one another, said snap-fit elements cooperate with undercuts provided in said first buckle member; and

at least one mechanical return spring provided in said second buckle member to effect said spring force against said snap-fit elements.

2. A belt buckle according to claim 1, wherein said first and second buckle members are made of cast brass.

3. A belt buckle according to claim 1, wherein said first and second buckle members are made of cast zinc.

4. A belt buckle according to claim 1, wherein said first and second buckle members have a surface processed by shot hardening and subsequent galvanization.

5. A belt buckle according to claim 4, wherein said first and second buckle members have a surface processed by galvanization in a nickel bath.

6. A belt buckle according to claim 4, wherein said first and second buckle members have a surface processed by galvanization in a brass bath.

7. A belt buckle according to claim 4, wherein said first and second buckle members have a surface processed by copper plating and subsequent galvanization in a chromium bath.

8. A belt buckle according to claim 1, wherein said snap-fit elements are supported against at least one compression spring.

9. A belt buckle according to claim 1, wherein each of said first and second buckle members has either an insertion element or a receiving element disposed in a first plane, and furthermore has a portion that is provided for connection to belt ends and that is disposed in a second plane that is disposed at an angle to said first plane.