WEIGHTLIFTING BELT AND BUCKLE THEREFOR

Abstract

A buckle for use with strength training belts, the buckle including a housing, a latch with button and a top plate. A spring is positioned in the housing to bias the latch downwardly and against a ribbed portion of the strength training belt. To lock the belt in a certain size, the second end of the belt is inserted into an opening of the buckle, and the ribbed portion engages the latch to lock the belt in place. The button can then be pressed to pivot the latch and unlock the latch from the ribbed portion. The top plate is also removeable from the buckle to allow easy cleaning and maintenance of the buckle, and to customize and personalize the buckle.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD

The disclosure relates to the field of strength training, and more specifically to weightlifting belt and buckle therefor.

BACKGROUND

Weightlifting belts are known in the art and are generally comprised of punch holes at one end of the belt with a buckle at the opposite end. In turn, the buckle is comprised of a frame, bar and prong to engage with the punch holes and lock the belt in a certain size around a person's waist.

Unfortunately, the punch holes are in pre-determined positions, and only allow for specific locations and therefore specific waist sizes. Further, these buckles are not comprised of removeable face plates, to help both customize the buckle and for easy maintenance and repair of the internal buckle components in case it breaks. As such, an improved weightlifting belt and buckle are required.

SUMMARY

In an aspect, the present disclosure provides a buckle for use with a strength training belt comprising: a housing to receive and secure a first end of the belt; and, an actuatable latch secured within the housing, the actuatable latch lockable to and unlockable from the belt, wherein the latch engages with a ribbed surface of the belt.

In another aspect, the present disclosure provides a belt for strength training comprising: a buckle secured to a first end of the belt; and, a ribbed surface attached to a second end of the belt, the buckle configured to engage the ribbed surface and lock the belt in a position.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The following figures serve to illustrate various embodiments of features of the disclosure. These figures are illustrative and are not intended to be limiting.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a buckle for use with a weightlifting belt, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure;

FIG. 2 is a perspective transparent view of a housing for use with the buckle of FIG. 1, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a latch and button for use with the buckle of FIG. 1, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a top plate for use with the buckle of FIG. 1, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure;

FIG. 5 is a side cross-sectional view of the buckle of FIG. 1, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure;

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a ribbed surface to be secured to a belt and cooperate with the buckle of FIG. 1, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure;

FIG. 7 is an enlarged side view of the ribbed surface of FIG. 6, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure; and,

FIG. 8 is a side view of the ribbed surface of FIG. 6, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The following embodiments are merely illustrative and are not intended to be limiting. It will be appreciated that various modifications and/or alterations to the embodiments described herein may be made without departing from the disclosure and any modifications and/or alterations are within the scope of the contemplated disclosure.

With reference to FIGS. 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5 and according to an embodiment of the present disclosure, a buckle 5 for strength training is comprised of a housing 10 to receive and secure a first end of a belt (not shown), an actuatable latch 15 secured within the housing 10, the latch 15 having a button 20 secured thereto to lock and unlock the latch 15 to the belt (not shown). In this embodiment, the latch 15 and button 20 are moulded into a single piece; however, in another embodiment, the latch 15 and button 20 could be two separate parts. The housing 10 is further comprised of first and second openings 25, 27. The first opening 25 is configured to receive the first end of the belt (not shown), whereas the second opening 27 is configured to receive and releasably secure the second end of the belt (not shown). A worker skilled in the art would appreciate that the first end of the belt (not shown) can be secured within the housing 10 by rivets, screws, or other means in the art. The housing 10 has a depression 30 on a top surface thereof, the depression 30 configured to receive the latch 15 and button 20. The depression 30 is further comprised of an opening 35 for the latch 15 to cooperate with and releasably secure the second end of the belt (not shown). The depression 30 is comprised of a circular cavity 40 to receive and position a spring or coil 42 that is compressible by the button 20. The top surface of the housing 10 is also comprised of a recess 45 to receive a removeable plate 50. During assembly, the spring 42 is positioned in the cavity 40, and the latch 15 is positioned in the opening 35 of the housing 10. As the button 20 is fused with the latch 15, this necessarily places the button 20 over the spring 42. The plate 50 is positioned and secured in place within the recess 45, such that the button 20 fits within a cavity 55 of the top plate 50. In this position at rest, when the button 20 is not pressed, the spring 42 biases the button 20 upwardly, and therefore the latch 15 and a lateral edge 60 downwardly, toward a ribbed portion (not shown) of the belt (not shown). Indeed, the lateral edge 60 of the latch 15 is configured to abut and lock against the ribbed portion (not shown) of the belt (not shown). Conversely, when the button 20 is pressed downwardly, it correspondingly pivots the latch 15 and the lateral edge 60 upwardly. The latch 15 is pivotable about dowel 65.

With reference to FIGS. 6, 7 and 8 and according to an embodiment of the present disclosure, a ribbed portion 75 is shown, the ribbed portion 75 securable to a belt (not shown) by means of screws or other means. The ribbed portion 75 is further comprised of ribs 80 to engage the lateral edge (not shown) of the latch (not shown). The ribbed portion 75 is further comprised of a flat side 85 and a sloped side 90. The flat side 90 can engage the lateral edge (not shown) of the latch (not shown) to lock the belt (not shown) in a desired size. Meanwhile, the sloped side 90 allows the later edge (not shown) to easily slide over each successive rib 80. A worker skilled in the art would appreciate that it is imperative that the buckle (not shown) remain locked in place during weightlifting by the operator, as unlocking of the belt (not shown) could seriously injure the user. As such, the ribbed portion 75 was specifically and optimally designed to withstand heavy force from the latch (not shown) to not break and prevent the belt (not shown) from unwanted circumferential expansion. It has been shown that the optimal dimensions of the ribbed portion 75 are those outlined in FIG. 8, whereby two adjacent ribs 80 are 0.25 inches apart. The angle of the sloped side 90 is optimally 36.87 degrees, but preferably between 30 and 45 degrees. Finally, the optimal height of the ribs 80 is 0.12 inches, and 0.08 inches from the base of the ribbed portion 74 to the top of the rib 80.

With further reference to FIGS. 5, 6 and 7 and according to an embodiment of the present disclosure, a worker skilled in the art would appreciate that during initial sizing of the belt (not shown), an operator slides the second end of the belt (not shown) and ribbed portion 75 along arrow X, through second opening 27 until the belt (not shown) is the right size for the operator. As the buckle 5 is in a position at rest, the lateral edge 60 of the latch 15 is biased downwardly and will contact the flat side 85 of the ribs 80 of the belt (not shown), to lock the belt (not shown). The belt (not shown) is now the desired size. To release the belt (not shown), the operator pushes the button 20, which pivots the latch 15 about dowel 65 and therefore the lateral edge 60 moves upwardly. This movement of the lateral edge 60 disengages the lateral edge 60 from the flat side 85 of the rib 80 and releases the second end of the belt (not shown) from the second opening 27. In this manner, the belt (not shown) and buckle 5 system are easily customizable and can work for a variety of waist sizes. Further, the top plate 50 is removeable to allow for easy cleaning and maintenance of the buckle 5. Finally, the top plate 50 can also be engraved or personalized easily and replaced quickly.

Many modifications of the embodiments described herein as well as other embodiments may be evident to a person skilled in the art having the benefit of the teachings presented in the foregoing description and associated drawings. It is understood that these modifications and additional embodiments are captured within the scope of the contemplated disclosure which is not to be limited to the specific embodiment disclosed.

Claims

1. A buckle for use with a strength training belt comprising:

a housing to receive and secure a first end of the belt; and,

an actuatable latch secured within the housing, the latch lockable to and unlockable from the belt,

wherein the latch engages with a ribbed surface of the belt.

2. The buckle of claim 1, wherein the housing comprises a recess to receive a removeable plate.

3. The buckle of claim 1, wherein the latch comprises a button to actuate the latch.

4. The buckle of claim 1, wherein the latch has a lateral edge, the lateral edge configured to abut and lock against the ribbed surface.

5. The buckle of claim 4, comprising a compressible coil, the compressible coil configured to bias the latch downwardly toward the ribbed surface.

6. The buckle of claim 1, wherein the housing comprises a first opening and a second opening, the first opening to receive and secure a first end of the belt, the second opening configured to receive and releasably secure a second end of the belt, the first end opposed to the second end.

7. The buckle of claim 1, comprising a dowel, wherein the latch is pivotable about the dowel.

8. A belt for strength training comprising:

a buckle secured to a first end of the belt; and

a ribbed surface attached to a second end of the belt, the buckle configured to engage the ribbed surface and lock the belt in a position.

9. The belt of claim 8, wherein the buckle comprises:

a housing to receive and secure the first end of the belt; and

an actuatable latch secured within the housing, the actuatable latch lockable to and unlockable from the belt,

wherein the latch engages with the ribbed surface.

10. The belt of claim 9, wherein the housing comprises a recess to receive a removeable plate.

11. The belt of claim 9, wherein the latch comprises a button to actuate the latch.

12. The belt of claim 9, wherein the latch has a lateral edge, the lateral edge configured to abut and lock against the ribbed surface.

13. The belt of claim 12, comprising a compressible coil configured to bias the latch downwardly toward the ribbed surface.

14. The belt of claim 9, wherein the housing comprises a first opening and a second opening, the first opening configured to receive and secure the first end of the belt, the second opening configured to receive and releasably secure the second end of the belt, and where the first end is opposed to the second end.

15. The belt of claim 9, comprising a dowel, wherein the latch is pivotable about the dowel.