BUCKLE FOR A BELT OR STRAP SUCH AS A WATCH STRAP

Abstract

The buckle for a belt or strap has at least two articulated levers via an axis, wherein a first of the levers is further articulated to a base of the buckle and a second of the levers is articulated to a pin unit carrying at least one pin, and a releasable locking mechanism between the levers, wherein by relative rotation of said the second lever with respect to the first lever, the pin unit is moved from a first position to a second position, one of the positions being a tight position and the other being a loose position of the belt.

Description

REFERENCE TO EARLIER APPLICATIONS

The present application claims priority to earlier Swiss application N° CH 00718/13 filed on Apr. 4, 2013 in the name of Roland Iten Mechanical Luxury SA, the content of this earlier application being incorporated in its entirety by reference in the present application.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention concerns the field of buckles for belts or straps, such as watch straps.

More specifically, the present invention concerns a buckle that makes it easy to adjust the length of the belt or strap and also to open or close the buckle.

BACKGROUND ART

Belt buckles are well known in the art and have been made for ages. Some are very simple and only allows definite size of the belt. Other a little more complicated allow a continuous adjustment of the size of the belt.

A belt or watch strap generally comprises two parts: a buckle and a leather belt. The belt itself may also be made out of materials other than leather. In the case of a watch strap, this comprises a leather strap rather than the leather belt, whereby this may also be made out of materials other than leather.

FIG. 1a shows an example of a buckle 1 from prior art which comprises a belt clip 3 and a conventional buckle pin 4. The buckle 2 further comprises a belt loop 5 and a belt beginning cavity 2. The buckle pin 4 is ended at its end opposite from the buckle by a stopper element. It is mounted on a belt 6.

In FIG. 1a the buckle is open and in FIG. 2a the buckle is closed. In this illustration a belt end 6′ fills the cavity 2.

Other products are made of complicated mechanism that can be made of precious metals for example.

An example of such a “complicated” buckle is disclosed in publication WO 2012/117326, the content of which is incorporated by reference in the present application in its entirety.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

An aim of the present invention is to improve the buckle from prior art when used with a belt or a watch strap or any other device using such a buckle.

In particular, an aim of the present invention is to provide a buckle that is simple and convenient to use.

Embodiments of the invention are defined in the appended claims.

In one embodiment the present invention concerns buckle for a belt or a strap, wherein said buckle comprises at least two articulated levers via an axis, wherein a first of said levers is further articulated to a base of the buckle and a second of said levers is articulated to a pin unit carrying at least one pin, and a releasable locking mechanism between said levers, wherein by relative rotation of said second lever with respect to said first lever, the pin unit is moved from a first position to a second position, one of said position being a tight position of the belt and the other of said position being a loose position of the belt.

In one embodiment the buckle or strap may comprise a belt loop lever articulated on the buckle base via a spring axis and which can be locked in position with respect to the base via a releasable locking mechanism.

In one embodiment the pin unit may comprise two pins or nipples.

In one embodiment the second lever makes approximately a 180° rotation between its end positions when it rotates relatively to the first lever.

In one embodiment the locking mechanism may comprise a cage with a spring acting against a pin or a ball and an unlocking lever which is used to unlock the locking mechanism between the first and second levers.

In one embodiment the cage may be placed in said second lever and the unlocking lever is placed on said first lever.

In one embodiment the parts of the buckle or strap are made of metal, or alloys, or synthetic materials or precious materials, such as precious metals, or any combination therefrom.

In another embodiment the invention concerns an object in combination with a buckle as defined herein.

In one embodiment, the object combined with the buckle is a belt or a strap, for example a watch strap. Any other object using such buckle may of course be envisaged.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIGS. 1a and 2a illustrate side cut views of a buckle of the prior art;

FIGS. 1b, 2b to 2c, 3a to 3c, 4a, 4b, and 5a to 5c illustrate side cut views of the principle of embodiments of the invention;

FIGS. 6a-6d illustrate details of embodiments of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The invention will be explained now by reference to the figures with the following description.

FIG. 1b illustrate in a general way all the elements of the invention in a partially cut side view. It comprises a buckle base 10 on which are mounted a belt loop lever 50 connected to the base 10 by a spring actuated axis 51 which pushes the lever 50 downwards with respect to the base 10 as illustrated in FIG. 1b.

The base 10 further comprises a belt end 6 chamber 2 (as in the prior art) to attach one end of the belt to the buckle, with belt clip 3.

The system further comprises a first locking lever 13 articulated on the base 10 by axis 12, a second lock lever 15 articulated on the first locking lever 13 via axis 14 and a belt pin unit 40 articulated on the second lock lever 15 via axis 16. Said pin unit 40 comprises two pins 41 (or nipples).

Lever 15 comprises a locking mechanism 150 (for example a ball and a spring or an axis on a spring) that cooperates with an unlocking lever 130 on the lever 13 as will be explained later.

In addition, base 10 also comprises a locking mechanism 11 that cooperates with an unlocking lever 52 of the belt loop lever 50 for locking the lever 50 with the base 10 and unlocking them as will be explained later.

FIGS. 2b-2c illustrate a belt with the buckle of the invention in a closed position in side partial cut views, when the belt is worn by a user, i.e. the size of the belt is the “small” one.

The end 6′ of the belt 6 is attached in the chamber 2 by clip 3, the lever 50 is locked to the base 10 via locking mechanism 11 and the levers 13 and 15 are aligned with the pin 41 underneath the base 10. In such situation, the belt is worn with the buckle and serves to its normal use.

If the wearer of the belt wishes to take away the belt or at least to increase its size, the succession of operations and movements of parts is illustrated in FIGS. 3a, 3b and 3c (starting from FIGS. 2b/2c as an initial position).

By unlocking the locking mechanism 150, that is by pressing on the unlocking levers 130 (one on each side of the buckle), a relative rotation of levers 13 and 15 is allowed via axis 14. This movement is illustrated in FIG. 3a. This relative rotation also moves the belt pin unit 40 to the right of the figures (compare FIGS. 3a and 3b) which has the effect of opening the belt 6, increasing its size.

Further relative rotation of the levers 13 and 15 brings them in the position illustrated in FIG. 3b where they are aligned as in FIG. 2b, but the lever 15 has made a 180° degree rotation and the locking mechanism 150 is now on the left side of axis 14 (in the closed position of FIG. 2b, the locking mechanism 150 is on the right side of the axis 14). This 180° rotation of the lever 15 has the effect that the pin unit 40 is now on the right side of the buckle rather than on the left side (as in FIGS. 2b/2c illustrating the closed position). The movement of the pin unit 40 is preferably guided, for example in a slit as illustrated in WO 2012/117326 or guided via rolls/wheels or any other equivalent means such that is has a longitudinal movement between the positions illustrated in FIGS. 2b and 3b.

The belt is now in FIGS. 3b/3c in an open position with an increased size.

To come back into the position of FIGS. 2b/2c, the lever 15 is pulled in rotation to effect its 180° rotation, brought in the position of FIG. 3a and then locked in the position of FIGS. 2b/2c via the locking mechanism 130.

It is therefore very easy to put the belt in two different stable positions, one tight and the other one loose as desired by the user.

FIG. 4a shows again, a side view in partial cut, a position similar to the one of FIG. 1b, but with the levers 13 and 15 aligned in the open position of FIG. 4a, if a wearer wishes to remove the belt. In such case, the belt loop lever 50 is unlocked from the base 10 by pressing on the unlocking levers 53 (preferably one on each side of the buckle) and the pins 40, 41 may be disengaged from the openings of the belt and the belt may then be removed as illustrated in FIG. 4b.

FIGS. 5a to 5c illustrate side views of the 180° movement of lever 15 as described previously hereabove and this description applies correspondingly here.

FIGS. 6a to 6d illustrate details in partial cut views of the locking mechanism 130/150 discussed above between the lever 15 and the lever 13. This locking mechanism may comprise at 150 a cage with a spring acting against a pin or a ball which are place in lever 15. Lever 13 carries the unlocking lever 130 which is used to unlock the locking mechanism between the levers 13 and 15.

The same locking mechanism may be used between the belt loop lever 50 and unlocking lever 52.

The examples given in the present specification are only for illustrative purposes and should not be construed in a limiting manner. Other constructions within the spirit and scope of the present invention are possible using equivalent means.

As mentioned, the buckle of the present invention may be used for a belt or for a strap such as a watch strap. Other uses are of course possible.

The parts of the present invention may be made in any suitable materials: metals, alloys, precious metals or alloys, plastic materials etc.

Claims

1. A buckle for a belt or a strap, wherein said buckle comprises at least two articulated levers via an axis, wherein a first of said levers is further articulated to a base of the buckle and a second of said levers is articulated to a pin unit carrying at least one pin, and a releasable locking mechanism between said levers, wherein by relative rotation of said second lever with respect to said first lever, the pin unit is moved from a first position to a second position, one of said position being a tight position of the belt and the other of said position being a loose position of the belt.

2. The buckle of claim 1, further comprising a belt loop lever articulated on the buckle base via a spring axis and which can be locked in position with respect to the base via a releasable locking mechanism.

3. The buckle of claim 1, wherein the pin unit comprises two pins.

4. The buckle of claim 1, wherein the second lever rotates approximately a 180° between a first end position and a second end position.

5. The buckle of claim 1, wherein the locking mechanism comprises a cage with a spring acting against a pin or a ball and an unlocking lever which is used to unlock the locking mechanism between the levers.

6. The buckle of claim 5, wherein the cage is placed in said second lever and the unlocking lever is placed on said first lever.

7. The buckle of claim 1, wherein its parts are made of metal, or alloys, or synthetic materials or precious materials or a combination therefrom.

8. An object in combination with a buckle as defined in claim 1.

9. The object of claim 8 wherein said object is a belt or a strap.