Belt Buckle
An accessory attachable to a waistband of a garment having an outer surface and an inner surface includes an ornament resembling a belt buckle having a front surface and a back surface opposite the front surface. The back surface is positionable against the outer surface of the garment at the waistband of the garment. A first attachment member is secured to the back surface of the ornament. The first attachment member is positioned against the waistband of the garment when the ornament is positioned against the outer surface of the garment. A second attachment member is detachable from the first attachment member and positionable against the inner surface of the garment opposite the first attachment member to interact with the first attachment member for securing the ornament to the waistband of the garment.
The present invention generally relates to a belt buckle.
BACKGROUNDConventionally, belt buckles are used to secure a belt around a garment such as a pair of pants to hold the garment in place on a body of a wearer. Conventional accessories that are attached at the waist typically use belts. However, some women's garments (e.g., pants, skirts, shorts, etc.) do not have belt loops for receiving a belt. So a belt offers limited functionality with garments of this type. Additionally, it may not be fashionable to use a belt with certain garments. But for those garments, it may still be desirable to secure a belt buckle or an accessory ornament resembling a belt buckle to the garment. Therefore, there exists a need for a belt buckle that is securable to a garment without the use of a belt.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONIn one aspect, an accessory attachable to a waistband of a garment having an outer surface and an inner surface generally comprises an ornament resembling a belt buckle having a front surface and a back surface opposite the front surface. The back surface is positionable against the outer surface of the garment at the waistband of the garment. A first attachment member is secured to the back surface of the ornament. The first attachment member is positioned against the waistband of the garment when the ornament is positioned against the outer surface of the garment. A second attachment member is detachable from the first attachment member and positionable against the inner surface of the garment opposite the first attachment member to interact with the first attachment member for securing the ornament to the waistband of the garment.
In another aspect, a method of securing an ornament resembling a belt buckle to a waistband of a garment having an outer surface and an inner surface generally comprises positioning a first attachment member secured to a back surface of the ornament against the outer surface of the garment at the waistband of the garment. And positioning a second attachment member detachable from the first attachment member against the inner surface of the garment opposite the first attachment member so that the second attachment member interacts with the first attachment member to secure the ornament to the waistband of the garment.
In yet another aspect, an accessory attachable to a waistband of a garment having an outer surface and an inner surface generally comprises an ornament resembling a belt buckle having a front surface and a back surface opposite the front surface, the back surface being positionable opposite the outer surface of the garment at the waistband of the garment. A clip is secured to the back surface of the ornament for securing the ornament to the waistband of the garment.
Other objects and features will be in part apparent and in part pointed out hereinafter.
Corresponding reference characters indicate corresponding parts throughout the drawings.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTSReferring to
Referring to
When the second pair of attachment members 27A, 27B is positioned at the inner surface 17 of the garment 13 opposite the first pair of attachment members 25A, 25B, the second pair of attachment members interacts with the first pair of attachment members to secure the body 19 of the belt buckle 11 to the garment. In the illustrated embodiment, the attachment members 25, 27 are bar magnets. Each magnet 25, 27 has a north and south pole. The magnets 25A, 25B are secured to the body 19 such that one of the poles faces away from the body. The body 19 of the belt buckle 11 is placed against the outer surface 15 of the garment 13 so that the magnets 25A, 25B contact or are in close proximity to the outer surface of the garment. A corresponding magnet 27A, 27B, is placed against the inner surface 17 of the garment 13 such that one of the poles of the magnet 27A, 27B is directly opposite the inner surface 17 of the garment 13. Magnet 27A can be aligned with magnet 25A, and magnet 27B can be aligned with magnet 25B. As will be understood by those skilled in the art, when opposing poles of corresponding magnets 25, 27 are placed directly opposite each other; magnetic attraction between the magnets attracts or biases the magnets toward each other. The magnetic attraction between the first pair of magnets 25A, 25B and the second pair of magnets 27A, 27B holds the body 19 of the belt buckle 11 in place on the garment 13.
In the illustrated embodiment, the magnets 25, 27 are circular. However, the magnets 25, 27 can have other shapes such as rectangular or triangular without departing from the scope of the invention. It is also understood that the attachment members 25, 27 may be formed from components other than magnets. For instance, the attachment members 25, 27 can be pins or buttons or they may have a snap-fit construction without departing from the scope of the invention.
In use, a user places the body 19 of the belt buckle 11 against the outer surface 15 of the garment 13 so that the first pair of attachment members 25A, 25B contact or are in close proximity to the outer surface of the garment. The user then places a first member of the second pair of attachment members 27A, 27B against the inner surface 17 of the garment 13 opposite one member of the first pair of attachment members 25A, 25B such that opposing poles of the attachment members face each other and are magnetically attracted to each other. Finally, a second member of the second pair of attachment members 27A, 27B is placed against the inner surface 17 of the garment 13 opposite the other of the first pair of attachment members 25A, 25B in the same manner as previously described. Friction and magnetic attraction between the attachment members 25, 27 hold the body 19 of the belt buckle 11 in place on the garment. In the illustrated embodiment, the garment 13 is a pair of pants. However, the garment may be any other suitable article of clothing generally secured around a waist of a wearer's body (e.g., shorts, skirt, etc.).
Referring to
Referring to
In use, a user slides the clip 225 over the top edge of the waistband of garment 213 to secure the buckle 211 to the garment. As described above for the magnets 25A, 25B, 27A, 27B in the first embodiment, the magnets 227A, 227B provide an additional securing force to hold the buckle 211 in place on the garment. In particular, the first magnet 227A is configured for engaging an outer surface 215 of the garment 213 and the second magnet 227B is configured for engaging an inner surface 217 of the garment when the buckle 211 is secured to the waistband of the garment. Magnet 227A can be aligned with magnet 227B. As will be understood by those skilled in the art, when opposing poles of magnets 227A, 227B are placed directly opposite each other; magnetic attraction between the magnets attracts or biases the magnets toward each other. The magnetic attraction between the first magnet 227A and the second magnet 227B holds the belt buckle 211 in place on the garment 213. It is understood that more than two magnets can be used in the current embodiment.
Referring to
Having described the invention in detail, it will be apparent that modifications and variations are possible without departing from the scope of the invention defined in the appended claims.
When introducing elements of the present invention or the preferred embodiments(s) thereof, the articles “a”, “an”, “the” and “said” are intended to mean that there are one or more of the elements. The terms “comprising”, “including” and “having” are intended to be inclusive and mean that there may be additional elements other than the listed elements.
In view of the above, it will be seen that the several objects of the invention are achieved and other advantageous results attained.
As various changes could be made in the above constructions and methods without departing from the scope of the invention, it is intended that all matter contained in the above description and shown in the accompanying drawings shall be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.
Claims
1. An accessory attachable to a waistband of a garment having an outer surface and an inner surface, the accessory comprising:
- an ornament resembling a belt buckle having a front surface and a back surface opposite the front surface, the back surface being positionable against the outer surface of the garment at the waistband of the garment;
- a first attachment member secured to the back surface of the ornament, the first attachment member being positioned against the waistband of the garment when the ornament is positioned against the outer surface of the garment; and
- a second attachment member detachable from the first attachment member and positionable against the inner surface of the garment opposite the first attachment member to interact with the first attachment member for securing the ornament to the waistband of the garment.
2. An accessory as set forth in claim 1 wherein the first attachment member comprises a first magnet and the second attachment member comprises a second magnet, and wherein polarities of facing surfaces of the first and second magnets are opposites to secure the ornament to the waistband of the garment.
3. An accessory as set forth in claim 2 further comprising a third attachment member secured to the back surface of the ornament at a location spaced from the first attachment member, wherein when the ornament is positioned against the outer surface of the garment the third attachment member is positioned against the waistband of the garment.
4. An accessory as set forth in claim 3 wherein the third attachment member comprises a third magnet.
5. An accessory as set forth in claim 4 further comprising a forth magnet defining a fourth attachment member detachable from the third magnet and positionable against the inner surface of the garment opposite the third magnet to interact with the third magnet for securing the ornament to the waistband of the garment.
6. An accessory as set forth in claim 5 wherein polarities of facing surfaces of the third and fourth magnets are opposites to secure the ornament to the waistband of the garment.
7. An accessory as set forth in claim 1 wherein the ornament is one of a belt buckle or a faux belt buckle.
8. An accessory as set forth in claim 1 in combination with the garment.
9. An accessory as set forth in claim 8 wherein the garment is configured for securing around a waist of a wearer.
10. An accessory as set forth in claim 1 wherein the back surface of the ornament defines an innermost surface of the ornament.
11. A method of securing an ornament resembling a belt buckle to a waistband of a garment having an outer surface and an inner surface, the method comprising:
- positioning a first attachment member secured to a back surface of the ornament against the outer surface of the garment at the waistband of the garment; and
- positioning a second attachment member detachable from the first attachment member against the inner surface of the garment opposite the first attachment member so that the second attachment member interacts with the first attachment member to secure the ornament to the waistband of the garment.
12. A method as set forth in claim 11 further comprising positioning a third attachment member secured to the back surface of the ornament and spaced away from the first attachment member against the outer surface of the garment against the waistband of the garment.
13. A method as set forth in claim 12 further comprising positioning a fourth attachment member detachable from the third attachment member against the inner surface of the garment opposite the third attachment member so that the fourth attachment member interacts with the third attachment member to secure the ornament to the waistband of the garment.
14. A method as set forth in claim 13 wherein the attachment members are magnets.
15. A method as set forth in claim 11 wherein the garment is configured for securing around a waist of a wearer.
16. A method as set forth in claim 11 wherein the ornament is one of a belt buckle or a faux belt buckle.
17. An accessory attachable to a waistband of a garment having an outer surface and an inner surface, the accessory comprising:
- an ornament resembling a belt buckle having a front surface and a back surface opposite the front surface, the back surface being positionable opposite the outer surface of the garment at the waistband of the garment; and
- a clip secured to the back surface of the ornament for securing the ornament to the waistband of the garment.
18. An accessory as set forth in claim 17 further comprising at least two magnets attached to an inner surface of the clip.
19. An accessory as set forth in claim 18 wherein a first magnet is configured for engaging the outer surface of the garment and a second magnet is configured for engaging the inner surface of the garment when the ornament is secured to the waistband of the garment, and wherein polarities of facing surfaces of the first and second magnets are opposites to hold the ornament in place on the garment.
20. An accessory as set forth in claim 17 wherein the clip includes a hinge connecting a pair of clip members.
Type: Application
Filed: May 25, 2012
Publication Date: Nov 28, 2013
Inventor: LaTongia S. Spencer (Fairview Heights, IL)
Application Number: 13/480,933