Reversible Pet Collar with Ambidextrous Buckle

Abstract

A reversible pet collar has a buckle including a rectangular bail and a cross-bar extending between the midpoints of the top and bottom sides of the bail. A tongue having a looped end passes around the cross-bar, and the tip of the tongue seats alternatively in depressions formed one either lateral side of the bail. Thus the buckle is reversible, and a strap attached to the cross-bar and having distinctive opposite sides can be reversed to achieve alternative collar appearances simply by flipping the strap 180° about the cross-bar.

Description

This application claims benefit under 35 USC 119 (e) from provisional patent application 60/885565, filed Jan. 18, 2007.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to a reversible pet collar having an ambidextrous buckle.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

An object of the invention is enable one to make a reversible collar or belt from a strap of material having visually distinctive opposite sides (e.g., different colors or patterns).

This and other objects are attained by a reversible pet collar as described below.

The buckle of this invention has a rectangular bail and a cross-bar extending between the midpoints of the top and bottom sides of the bail. A tongue having a looped end passes around the cross-bar, and the tip of the tongue seats alternatively in depressions formed one either lateral side of the bail. The buckle is reversible, so that a strap attached to the cross-bar can be reversed to achieve alternative collar appearances simply by flipping the strap 180° about the cross-bar.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

In the accompanying drawings,

FIG. 1 is an isometric view of a buckle embodying the invention;

FIG. 2 is an isometric view thereof, with a strap of collar material secured to the cross-bar of the buckle and extending from the buckle in one lateral direction, revealing on strap surface; and

FIG. 3 is an isometric view thereof, with the strap of collar material extending in the opposite lateral direction, revealing the opposite surface of the strap.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

A reversible pet collar embodying the invention comprises a strap 10 (FIGS. 2 and 3) and a buckle 12, which is shown in detail in FIG. 1. The buckle 12 includes a metal bail or frame 14, generally rectangular in shape, having a central cross-bar 16 extending between the top and bottom sides 18, 20 of the bail. Each of the left and right sides 22, 24 of the bail has a central indentation 26 adapted to receive the tip 28 of a tongue 30 which has a looped end 32 that passes around the cross-bar. One end of the collar strap 10 (FIG. 2) is looped around the cross-bar and then is sewn at 34 to the strap near the cross-bar, permanently retaining the bail at the end of the strap. The tongue extends through a slot 36 formed in the strap; the tongue is kept substantially centered on the cross-bar by the slot, but the tongue can pivot 180°, its tip seating alternatively in one of the indentations 26.

The two sides of the strap preferably have a different appearance (e.g., different color or patterns) so that the strap can be reversed to achieve alternative effects. With the ambidextrous buckle described above, the reversal is done simply by flipping the strap 180° about the cross-bar (compare the rear views, FIGS. 2 and 3). Now the collar is placed on the pet's neck and secured by passing the tongue through one of the holes (not shown) formed in the free end of the collar.

Since the invention is subject to modifications and variations, it is intended that the foregoing description and the accompanying drawings shall be interpreted as only illustrative of the invention.

Claims

1. A reversible pet collar comprising

a strap and

a buckle affixed to the strap, said buckle having a metal bail with top, bottom, left and right sides and a cross-bar extending between the top and bottom sides of the bail and a tongue having a looped end that passes around the cross-bar whereby the tongue can pivot on the cross-bar, wherein

the cross-bar extends between midpoints of the top and bottom sides of the bail.

2. The invention of claim 1, wherein each of the left and right sides of the bail has a central indentation adapted to receive the tip of the tongue.

3. The invention of claim 1, wherein one end of the collar strap is looped around the cross-bar and then is sewn to the strap near the cross-bar, permanently retaining the bail at the end of the strap.

4. The invention of claim 1, wherein a slot is formed in the strap in a position such that the tongue extends through the slot, whereby the tongue is kept substantially centered on the cross-bar by the strap.

5. The invention of claim 1, wherein the two sides of the strap have a different appearance so that the strap can be reversed to achieve alternative effects by flipping the strap 180° about the cross-bar.