Tongueless buckle

April 16, 1935.

L. REITER

TONGUELESS BUCKLE Filed Nov. 24, 1933

1,997,653

<img file="US1997653A_D0001.tif" />

<img file="US1997653A_D0002.tif" />

<img file="US1997653A_D0003.tif" />

<img file="US1997653A_D0004.tif" />

Patented Apr. 16, 1935

1,997,653

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE

1,997,653 TONGUELESS BUCKLE Lues Reiter, Providence, R. I. Application November 24, 1933, Serial No. 699,512

JI. 24—193) terial, being provided with the end bars. 1.8 and 19 arid the side bars 20 and 21 integral at their ends with the end bars and surrounding the opening 33. From the inner edge 22 of the end bar 18 extends laterally the. loop-forming flange 23 5 in a substantially perpendicular direction, said flange being integral with the end bar and being provided preferably with suitable rounded corners ds 24 to prevent said flange from cutting into the strap. It will be understood that the periph- io eral edge 25 of the flange may also be rounded if desired, for the same purpose.

To assemble the frames 10 and 11, the end bar 19 of the longer frame 10 is arranged preferably underneath the end bar 14 of the shorter frame 15 if, whereafter the extension 16 is bent into its final cylindrical form about the bar 19 to enclose said bar and to pivotally secure the frames together. In their assembled positions, the outer edge of the end bar 13 is spaced from the flange 20 23 to provide a belt-receiving space or opening 35.

It will be understood, however, as shown in Fig. 4, that the extension for pivoting the frames together may project from the frame 10 instead of from the frame 11. In this form of my invention, 25 the loop or cylinder 26 extends from the inner edge 21 of the end bar 19 of the frame 10, said material 26 being bent about arid encompassing the end bar 14 of the frame 11. In either case, the space 35 may be of the size sufficient to receive 30 the strap or belt end of the least thickness with which the buckle is to be used, or less if desired, the space being increased to receive a belt of thicker material by merely swinging the buckle frames slightly apart. ³⁵

In use, one of the straps as 30 has its end portion passed about the hinge cylinder or loop 16 or 26, as the case may be, and is secured thereto as by means of suitable stitching 31, staples or the like, the curved shape of said cylinder permit- ⁴⁰ting the belt to move freely thereabout to adjust itself to the direction of stress. The other strap 32 is adjustably secured to the buckle by first passing the end portion thereof through the open- ₄₅ings 33 and 34 in the respective frames IB and II, then around the end bar 13 of the frame II, then through the space 35 between the outer edge of the end bar 13 and the inner surface of the flange 23 and then finally, under the end bar 18 back in 50 the same direction as that of the remainder of the strap 32.

The portion 36 of the strap 32 thereby becomes looped as at 31 to form a return bend in the strap, and comes back in the same direction as the part 55

Claims.

This invention relates to strap or belt buckles and particularly, to the type wherein prongs and strap-piercing tongues are omitted.

My invention contemplates the provision of a 5 simple and efficient buckle adapted to be economically manufactured and adapted to be applied to a great variety of articles, such as articles of apparel including knickerbockers, belts, shoes, garters, gloves, over-gaiters and the like, 10 as well as to luggage, automobile curtains and other goods wherein adjustable buckles are employed.

My invention further contemplates the provision of a pair of frames adapted to cooperate 15 to secure a strap firmly and adjustably in place to the buckle formed by the frames, at a loop formed in the strap, and without any sewing or stitching operations.

My invention further contemplates the pro20 vision of strap-holding means for exerting sufficient friction upon a strap folded on itself, not only to firmly hold the strap against slipping under tension applied thereto, but to increase its grip as the tension is increased, while neverthe25 less permitting ready adjustment of the effective strap length.

The various objects of my invention will be clear from the description which follows, and from the drawing, in which,

Fig. 1 is an elevational view of my improved buckle as it appears in operative position, with one strap end secured thereto as by sewing, and the other strap end adjustably secured thereto by a looped fold.

Fig. 2 is a longitudinal section of the same.

Fig. 3 is a rear elevational view of the buckle.

Fig. 4 is a section of the buckle similar to Fig. 2 showing a modified form of the pivot thereof.

In that practical embodiment of my invention 40 which I have illustrated by way of example, my improved buckle consists of a pair of superimposed frames 10 and I I pivoted together at their adjacent ends. In the frame if, there is provided an opening 34 bounded by the side bars 12, 45 joined at one end by the curved end bar 13, and at the other end by the narrower end bar 14; At its inner edge 15, the end bar 14 is extended to provide a hollow, substantially cylindrical projection or closed loop 16 having the opening 11 50 therein. It will be understood that the frame 1I may be made of a single piece of sheet metal or other suitable material preferably made convex longitudinally, as is best seen in Fig. 2.

The frame 10 is also preferably made of a 55 single piece of sheet metal or other suitable ma1,997,653 of the strap, said strap being completely folded on itself after its passage around the end bar 13. When tension is put upon the straps 30 and 32, the tension on the loop 37 is increased but any 5 movement or slipping of said loop and of the strap relatively to the buckle is prevented by the friction developed at the flange 23.

The effective length of the strap 32, however, can be quickly and easily shortened by pulling on 10 the strap end 36, or lengthened by loosening said end and thereby enlarging and pulling back the loop 37. There is no possibility of the loop 37 slipping about the bar 13, said loop being effectively confined in place by the frictional engage¹⁵ ment of the strap part 37 with the bar 13 and the flange 33 and particularly, the edge 35 thereof, the pressure of the strap bends 38 and 39 below the flange 23 against each other causing sufficient friction or resistance to hold the parts against movement during tension on the strap.

It will be seen that my improved buckle is selfadjusting to various thicknesses of strap material. When comparatively thick material is passed ₂- through the space 35, said space is increased ' since the frame 11 is raised about its pivot relatively to the frame 10. Similarly, for thinner material, the frame ί I under tension on the strap swings down closer to the frame 10 to decrease ₃₀ the space 35. Increased tension on the strap merely serves to draw the members ί 0 and 11 closer together without any danger of the strap slipping.

It will further be seen that I have provided a 35 simple, economical and efficient buckle adapted to be rapidly and securely attached to a strap by merely folding the strap thereabout, that my improved buckle is self-adjusting to various thicknesses of material, that it eliminates the neces₄₀ sity for the use of strap-piercing prongs or tongues on the buckle, that the strap may be readily adjusted thereabout to increase or decrease the effective length of the strap, that my buckle has no parts which might tend to mutilate 45 the straps attached thereto, that it may be applied to a variety of articles such as articles of apparel, to leather straps, automobile curtain straps and the like, and that it is well adapted to meet the severe requirements of practical use. 50 While I have shown and described certain specific embodiments of my Invention, I do not wish to be understood as limiting myself thereto since I intend to claim my invention as broadly as may be permitted by the state of the prior art and 55 the scope of the appended claims.