Removable Belt Buckle System

Abstract

A removable belt buckle system has a belt band, with interior and exterior surfaces, as well as a first end and second end. The first end has a hook-and-loop component on the interior surface and the second end has a corresponding hook-and-loop component on the exterior surface allowing for each end to releasably engage one-another. A clip releasably engages the belt band. The clip is defined by a first member connected to a second member by a spring portion. The spring portion biases the second member toward the first member until a contact point is reached. A lip portion extends at an obtuse angle from an opposite end of the second member relative to the spring portion. The clips first member releasably engages a buckle at the back side of the buckle.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of Invention

The present invention relates to the field of belt buckles, and more specifically to the field of reliable belt buckles that can disengage from the belt.

2. Description of Related Art

Belts are a common accessory with both aesthetic and function features. Waist belts can be worn as a fashion statement and are required most formal attire. They also function to cinch the waist and hold pants or shorts above the waist. It can be difficult to find an entire wardrobe of trousers that do not need a belt, as waist size differs between brands. Further, users often gain or lose weight, changing the circumference of the waist, and therefore the fit of their trousers.

Belts are typically made of leather or synthetic mixtures and come in varieties of lengths and thicknesses. Belts have two ends that typically meet at the front of the user. In prior art, a buckle is affixed to one end of the belt, while the opposing end is insertable into the belt buckle.

Belt buckles are available in a wide range of shapes, sizes, themes, and materials. Some come highly decorated, and some are minimalist and professional. Metals are the most common material used due to their strength, durability, and appearance. This causes a problem for those who travel frequently. Security now mandates that all metal items, including belts, be removed when walking through metal detectors and body scanners. While simply taking off ones belt does not cause too much distress, the traveler may need the belt to hold their trousers at an appropriate height in order to avoid their pants falling down. If this is the case, the user can be made very uncomfortable in an already stressful setting.

To mitigate this problem, belt buckles made from alternate materials such as plastics have been made, however these do not have the same timeless aesthetic appeal of a metal buckle, and are not formal enough to wear with business attire. A suitable solution is desired.

Based on the foregoing, there is a need in the art for a removable belt buckle that has the aesthetic appeal of a standard belt buckle, but can be removed without hindering the function of the belt. The solution should allow the user to maintain the function of their belt with or without the use of the buckle.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In an embodiment, a removable belt buckle system has a belt band with an interior surface and an exterior surface. The belt band also has a first end, which has a hook-and-loop component on an interior surface, and a second end, which has a corresponding hook-and-loop positioned on an exterior surface. The hook-and-loop components are configured to releasably engage one another.

A clip configured to engage the belt band has a first member and a second member. The second member has a lip portion extending at an obtuse angle from an opposite end of the second member. Further, the clip has a spring portion connecting the first and second member. The spring portion biases the first member toward the second member. A belt buckle has a back side adapted to releasably engage the first member of the clip.

In an embodiment, the buckle and first member of the clip magnetically engage. In alternate embodiments the buckle and first member of the clip may engage by a snap fastener, keyhole fastener, or screw and bolt.

In an embodiment, the first member and second member of the clip are positioned at an acute angle toward one another. Further, the first and second member have a contact point.

In an embodiment, the lip portion is adapted to receive the belt band.

A method of use of the belt buckle includes; engaging the hook-and-loop system components to form a loop, inserting the belt band between each of the first and second members, and engaging the backside of the buckle with the first member of the clip.

The foregoing, and other features and advantages of the invention, will be apparent from the following, more particular description of the preferred embodiments of the invention, the accompanying drawings, and the claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

For a more complete understanding of the present invention, the objects and advantages thereof, reference is now made to the ensuing descriptions taken in connection with the accompanying drawings briefly described as follows.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the belt, belt clip, and belt buckle, according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the belt clip and belt buckle, according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the belt with the belt buckle fully engaged, according to an embodiment of the present invention; and

FIG. 4 is a flowchart of a method of use of the belt buckle system, according to an embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Preferred embodiments of the present invention and their advantages may be understood by referring to FIGS. 1-4, wherein like reference numerals refer to like elements.

The invention described herein refers to a system comprising a belt band with a removable buckle. Disengaging the buckle does not hinder the function of the belt. In general, the system comprises a strap or belt band. The belt has two ends that releasably engage one another. The middle section of the belt band extends around the circumference of the waist of the user, preferably through the belt loops of a users pant. Each end of the belt comprises one or more attachment components. In a preferred embodiment a hook-and-loop system is used to releasably engage each end of the belt around the users waist to secure the pants at a desirable point.

In reference to FIGS. 1-3, the belt band 6 component is shown, wherein two sides; an inside 1 and an outside 2, define the belt band 6. The inside 1 is positioned to contact the user while the outside 2 is positioned to face away from the user when the belt is being worn. The belt has a first end 11 and a second end 12, which once the belt is extended around the user, will meet and overlap to engage an attachment mechanism such as a hook-and-loop system.

In a preferred embodiment, the first end 11 has a hook-and-loop component 5 positioned on the inside 1. Further, the second end 12 has a corresponding hook-and-loop component 15 positioned on the outside 2. As the user positions the belt around their waist, the user positions the outside 2 of the second end 12 at a proximal position to the body compared to the inside 1 of the first end 11. The hook-and-loop component 5 and corresponding hook-and-loop component 15 are oriented to face one another. Upon contact, each hook-and-loop component 5,15, will releasably engage one another and hold the belt band 6 in position. Other means of fabric attachment known in the art may be used, as long as the connection can support the pants at the users waist and maintain connectivity during movement.

The belt can be fastened and used as is, such that the users pants are held at an appropriate height at the waist of the user. To achieve the aesthetic appeal of a standard belt with an integrated buckle 40, the buckle 40 with integrated clip 30 can be releasably engaged at the connection of the first and second ends 11,12.

In a preferred embodiment, a clip 30 integrates, or attaches to the buckle 40 such that the front side 21 of the buckle 40 is positioned facing outside the user. The clip 30 has a first member 31, a second member 32 wherein the second member 32 is defined by a spring portion 33. Each component forms a continuous band of material such as metal. In an embodiment, the spring portion 33 can be formed to a lip at the end to facilitate the insertion of the belt between the first and second members 31,32. The members are biased toward one another such that the belt is retained between each of the members 31,32. The first member 31 is substantially flat to rest against the buckle 40 and provide a large area of contact. The clip 30 allows for a buckle 40 to be releasably engaged, such that the buckle 40 is facing away from the user and hides the clip 30, and underlying first and second ends of the belt band.

The buckle 40 may have the form of any known in the art such as but not limited to; frame-style buckle, plate-style buckle, box-out, or box-frame buckle. In general, the buckle has a front side 21 and a backside 22. The front side faces away from the user, and has aesthetic features that can change in different embodiments of the buckle 40. The backside 22 of the buckle 40 is positioned to releasably engage the first member of the clip 30. A threaded bolt, or other mating engagement may accomplish the releasable connection of the buckle 40 and clip 30.

Each member has an opening direction, and closing direction. The opening direction allows for the insertion of the belt components and the closing directions retains the belt within the clip 30. The closing direction enables friction between the clip 30 and the belt, keeping the position and orientation of the belt.

Bending the single continuous band of the material into a semicircle forms the spring. A bend is positioned, as known in the art, between the spring portion and the first member to increase the force applied by the spring and further increase the bias between the members.

In use, the user disposes the belt between the first and second members 31,32. Once the user positions the belt about the waist and releasably engages the first and second ends 11,12 via each of the hook-and-loop components 5,15, the user inserts the belt between the first and second member 31,32. A contact point 36 of the first member 31 and spring portion 33 is separated by the user, allowing the belt to be further inserted into the clip 30. Once the belt contacts the spring portion 33 at the top of the clip 30, the belt is then fully engaged and the device may be worn until no longer needed.

A lip portion at the end of the second member 32 allows for the easy insertion of the belt and acts as a handle for the user to bend the biased members apart if needed.

As mentioned, the first member is integrated into the belt buckle 40. In a preferred embodiment, the clip 30 is releasably attached to the buckle 40 by a bolt or screw. The bolt or screw secures the clip 30 to the buckle 40 while still retaining the ability for the user to change the buckle as desired. In alternate embodiments, the clip 30 and buckle 40 releasably engage with a magnet 20.

In an embodiment, the clip 30 is matingly engaged with the buckle 40. In this embodiment, the clip 30 has one or more protrusions, which matingly engage with egresses, or protrusions of the buckle 40. This allows the user to easily interchange the buckle without using tools.

In an embodiment, the clip 30 and buckle 40 are adhered to one another by a clamping mechanism, wherein a clamp on the clip 30 releasably engages a protrusion on the buckle.

In an embodiment, the buckle 40 is made of nylon, leather, rubber, heavy cloth, or other material known in the art. Further, the buckle is made of metal, plastics, rubber, synthetics, or other material known in the art. Style of buckle is selectable by the user and is only aesthetic, as the hook-and-loop system serves to join each end of the belt band.

In reference to FIG. 4 a flowchart depicts the method of use, wherein in step 10, a user first engages the hook-and-loop components to form a loop. In step 15, the user inserts the belt band between the first and second members of the clip, and in step 20, the user engages the backside of the buckle with the first member of the clip.

The invention has been described herein using specific embodiments for the purposes of illustration only. It will be readily apparent to one of ordinary skill in the art, however, that the principles of the invention can be embodied in other ways. Therefore, the invention should not be regarded as being limited in scope to the specific embodiments disclosed herein, but instead as being fully commensurate in scope with the following claims.

Claims

1. A removable belt buckle system comprising:

a. a belt band having an interior surface and an exterior surface, the belt band further defined by; i. a first end, wherein the first end has a hook-and-loop component positioned on the interior surface; and ii. a second end, wherein the second end has a corresponding hook-and-loop component positioned on the exterior surface, and wherein the first end hook and loop component is configured to engage the second end corresponding hook and loop component;

b. a clip having two members defined by; i. a first member; ii. a second member having lip portion; and iii. a spring portion, wherein the first member and second member are connected by the spring portion, and wherein the spring portion biases the second member towards the first member, and wherein the lip portion extends at an obtuse angle from an opposite end of the second member relative to the spring portion, and wherein the clip is configured to engage the belt band;

c. a buckle having a back side adapted to releasably engage the first member of the clip.

2. The removable belt buckle of claim 1, wherein the buckle and first member of the clip magnetically engage.

3. The removable belt buckle of claim 1, wherein the buckle and first member of the clip engage by a snap fastener.

4. The removable belt buckle of claim 1, wherein the buckle and first member of the clip engage by a keyhole fastener.

5. The removable belt buckle of claim 1, wherein the first member and second member are positioned at an acute angle toward one another.

6. The removable belt buckle of claim 5, wherein the first member and second member have a contact point.

7. The removable belt buckle of claim 1, wherein the lip potion is adapted to receive the belt band.

8. The removable belt buckle of claim 1, wherein the hook-and-loop component and corresponding hook-and-loop component engage to configure the belt band to form a loop.

9. The removable belt buckle of claim 1, wherein a method further comprises the steps consisting of:

a. engaging the hook-and-loop components to form a loop;

b. inserting the belt band between the first and second members of the clip; and

c. engaging the backside of the buckle with the first member of the clip.