US3900934A

US3900934A - Strap and buckle combination

Info

Publication number: US3900934A
Application number: US475152A
Authority: US
Inventors: Walter Luft; Salvatore Bello
Original assignee: Jacoby Bender Inc
Current assignee: Jacoby Bender Inc
Priority date: 1974-05-31
Filing date: 1974-05-31
Publication date: 1975-08-26
Anticipated expiration: 1992-08-26

Abstract

A strap and buckle combination useful as a watchband is provided with an article-holding compartment. A cover member has a secured end pivotally mounted on the buckle means, a free end, and a generally continuous surface between. The cover member is pivotal between a closed position wherein the cover member cooperates with the buckle means to form a functionally closed compartment under and within the buckle means for maintaining an article therein, and an open position permitting the article to be inserted into and removed from the compartment.

Description

United States Patent [1 1 Luft et al.

[451 Aug. 26, 1975 STRAP AND BUCKLE COMBINATION lnventors: Walter Luft, Forest Hills, N.Y.;

Salvatore Bello, Cliffside Park, NJ.

[73] Jacoby-Bender, Inc., Woodside,

Filed: May 31, 1974 App1.No.: 475,152

Assignee:

US. Cl 24/265 WS; 24/71 .1; 40/2l C; 224/28 B Int. Cl. A43C 11/00; A44C 5/18 Field of Search 24/163 R, 163 KO, 243 SC, 24/265 BC, 265 WS, 73 WW, 71 J, 178, 188; 224/26 C, 26 D, 26 E, 26 B, 28 B, 28 W; 40/21 C, 21 R References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS l/1886 Briesen 224/28 B 12/1925 Landrum 224/26 E l/l926 Lederer 24/265 BC 9/1927 Chils0n.... 24/71 .1 10/1928 Newman 24/71 .1

2,443,805 6/1948 Sega] 24/188 2,749,634 6/1956 Bilett ct a1. 40/21 C 2,954,622 10/1960 Moore 40/21 R 3,088,234 5/1963 Lesser et 40/21 C 3,550,216 12/1970 Gandclman 24/71 .1 3,680,751 8/1972 Brook 224/28 B FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 88,934 8/1921 Switzerland 224/28 W Primary ExaminerDonald A. Griffin 5 7 ABSTRACT A strap and buckle combination useful as a watchband is provided with an article-holding compartment. A cover member has a secured end pivotally mounted on the buckle means, a free end, and a generally continuous surface between. The cover member is pivotal between a closed position wherein the cover member c0- operates with the buckle means to form a functionally closed compartment under and within the buckle means for maintaining an article therein, and an open position permitting the article to be inserted into and removed from the compartment.

5 Claims, 11 Drawing Figures PATENTEB AUG 2 61975 sum 1 BF 4 4] W T mlmum' STRAP AND BUCKLE COMBINATION BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Various devices fastenable about a limb of a wearer by a strap and buckle combination require that an article be utilized in conjunction with the device on various occasions. For example, a commercially available electronic watch is computer operated and requires use of a magnet pressed against the bottom of the watchcase to activate the computer to set and reset the time indicated by the watch. In order to avoid accidental loss of the magnet and to ensure its ready availability whenever it is desired to reset the watch, it is desirable that the magnet be removably maintained in a compartment of the watchband.

Watchbands containing compartments for other purposes are described in US. Pat. Nos. 2,954,622, No. 3,470,638 and No. 3,585,744. However, such watchbands have not proven to be entirely satisfactory in use for at least one of a number of various reasons. Where the compartment is disposed on what is otherwise a flexible portion of the watchband strap member, it imparts an additional rigidity to the strap member which is uncomfortable to the user. Even when the compartment is formed atop the already rigid buckle member of the watchband, the compartment forming means is bulky and protrudes outwardly from the outer surface of the watchband, thus impairing the smooth drop of the wearers shirt cuff over the watchband, and tending to snag the wearers apparel on the edges thereof.

Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a strap and buckle combination having a compartment forming means which does not detract from the flexibility of the strap.

It is also an object to provide such a strap and buckle combination having a compartment forming means which does not project outwardly from the outer surface of the buckle.

It is another object to provide such a strap and buckle combination having a compartment forming means which does not add to the bulk of the buckle.

It is a further object to provide such a strap and buckle combination having a compartment forming means which is not uncomfortable to the wearer, does not increases the bulk of the buckle means, and cannot project outwardly from the buckle means.

SUMMARY OF THE DISCLOSURE It has now been found that the above and related objects are obtained in a strap and buckle combination for fastening a device about a limb of the wearer comprising strap means, buckle means and a cover member disposed under and within the buckle means. The strap means are adapted to engage a device for movement therewith, and include a pair of strap portion movable relative to one another. The buckle means is secured to at least one of the strap portions for releasably engag ing the strap portions together in at least one fixed relationship about the limb, the buckle means having a limb-facing surface and a pair of longitudinal flanges adjacent the sides thereof extending towards the limb. The cover means has a secured end pivotally mounted on the buckle means, a free end, and a generally continuous and substantially planar surface therebetween. The cover member is pivotable between a closed position wherein the cover member cooperates with the buckle means to form a functionally closed compartments therebetween (and between the limb and the limb-facing surface of the buckle means) for maintaining an article therein, and an open position permitting the article to be inserted into and removed from the compartment.

The cover member preferably additionally includes longitudinal flanges adjacent the sides of the planar surface extending away from the limb towards the buckle means, and a resilient transverse lip at the free end thereof also extending away from the limb and towards the buckle means. When the cover member is in a closed position, the cover member flanges are disposed between the buckle means flanges and the limb-facing surface of the buckle means extends generally parallel to the continuous surface of the cover member and proximately abuts the cover member flanges and the lip to form the aforesaid compartment.

In the preferred embodiments the buckle means flanges define registering pairs of apertures, and a plurality of pins extend transversely across the limb-facing surface and have ends received in a respective one of the registering pairs of apertures. A first of the pins secures one of the strap portions to the buckle means, and a second of the pins passes through the secured end of the cover member to pivotally mount the cover member on the buckle means.

In a preferred embodiment utilizing a hook and eye buckling technique, the strap means comprises a pair of separate strap members, each of the strap members having first and second ends the first ends being adapted to engage the device and the second ends comprising the strap portions. In this embodiment the buckle means includes a transversely extending flange portion beneath the limb-facing surface and bearing against the transverse lip when the cover member is in the closed position to releasably maintain the cover member in the closed position.

In another preferred embodiment the strap portions are normally continuously connected to the buckle means and one of the strap portions has rigid sections which are hinged together so that they may be folded, one on top of the other, under the buckle means. In this embodiment each of. the strap members has first and second ends, each of the first ends being adapted to en gage the device and each of the second ends being secured to the buckle means by a respective one of a pair of the first pins. The second end of the first strap member comprises one of the strap portions, and a portion of the second strap member intermediate the first and second ends thereof comprises the other of the strap portions. A third pin not directly connected to either strap member is disposed between the first and second pins, and the transverse lip of the cover member bears resiliently against the third pin when the cover member is in the closed position to releasably maintain the cover member in the closed position. When the buckle means releasably engages the strap portions together in one of the fixed relationships, the second strap member overlays the cover members, thus concealing the compartment.

In a modification of the second or fold-over strap embodiment, the cover member has a spaced pair of transverse lips which bear resiliently against the first of the pins when the cover member is in the closed position to releasably maintain the cover member in the closed position, the lips receiving therebetween at least an end segment of the first strap member.

Each embodiment may additionally include a small, resiliently flexible tongue secured to the generally continuous surface of the cover member and extending towards the limb-facing surface of the buckle means, so as to bear on the article within the compartment when the cover member is in the closed position and prevent rattling thereof. Preferably the tongue is stamped from and integral with the generally continuous surface.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIG. 1 is an isometric view of a hook and eye watchband embodiment of the present invention, the compartment being shown in its closed position in solid line and in its open position in phantom line;

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary exterior or top plan view to an enlarged scale of the buckle portion of FIG. 1, one strap portion being indicated in phantom line;

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary interior or bottom plan view to an enlarged scale of the buckle portion of FIG. 1, one strap portion being indicated in phantom line;

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary interior or bottom plan view to a greatly enlarged scale of the buckle portion of FIG. 1, the cover member being shown in open position, and the article within the compartment being indicated in phantom line;

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary longitudinal section view of the buckle portion taken along the line 55 of FIG. 3 and to a greatly enlarged scale, one strap portion and the article within the compartment being indicated in phantom line, and the cover member being illustrated in its closed position in solid line and in its open position in phantom line;

FIG. 6 is a transverse sectional view of the buckle portion taken along the line 66 of FIG. 3, the article within the compartment being illustrated in phantom line;

FIG. 7 is an isometric view of a fold-over watchband embodiment of the present invention, the watchband being illustrated inan open position;

FIG. 8 is a fragmentary exterior or top plan view, to an enlarged scale of the buckle portion of FIG. 7, one strap member being illustrated in a closed or foldedover position in solid line and the other strap member being indicated in phantom line;

FIG. 9 is a fragmentary longitudinal sectional view taken along the line 99 of FIG. 7 and to an enlarged scale, one strap portion and the article of the compartment being indicated in phantom line, the cover member being illustrated in the closed portion in solid line and in the open position in phantom line;

FIG. 10 is a transverse sectional view taken along the line 10-10 of FIG. 8; and

FIG. 1 1 is a fragmentary isometric view of a modified fold-over watchband embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Referring now to the drawings and in particular to FIG. 1 thereof, therein illustrated is a hook and eye watchband including a watch 10, a pair of separate strap members generally designated by the

numerals

12 and 14, and a buckle generally designated by the numeral 16. The

strap members

12 and 14 have ends 12a and 14a adapted to engage the watch 10 at opposite ends thereof for movement therewith and a pair of separable strap portions 12b and 14b movable relative to one another when the buckle 16 is unfastened. The

strap members

12, 14 are formed of conventional materials such as leather or cloth and are connected to the watch 10 by means of conventional push pins or spring bars (not shown) which pass through the strap member ends 12a, 14a and are engaged by the watch 10. The method of connecting the

strap members

12, 14 to the watch 10 is not a part of the present invention, and a single strap member may be utilized instead, the single strap member having a portion passing over the watch spring bars and beneath the watchcase. In any case, there are provided a pair of strap portions 12b and 14b which are normally movable relative to one another, but are releasably engaged together in a fixed relationship (for example, about a wrist) by means of the buckle 16.

Referring now in particular to FIGS. 1-6, the buckle generally designated by the numeral 16 includes an inner or limb-facing surface 20 and a pair of longitudinal flanges 22a, 22b adjacent the sides of surface 20 and extending inwardly towards the wrist. The flanges 22a, 22b define a registering pair of

apertures

26a and 26b. A spring bar 30 extending transversely across the inner buckle surface 20 secures the strap portion 12b to one end of the buckle 16, an intermediate length of the spring bar 30 passing through a rolled segment of strap portion 12b and the ends thereof being received by the registering pair of

apertures

26a and 26b.

The other end of the buckle 16 comprises an articulated U-shaped member 32 and an articulated hook 34, the member 32 and hook 34 being adapted to releasably engage the strap portion 14b with hook 34 passing through an aperture therein (not shown), as illustrated in FIG. 1. The buckle l6 additionally includes an axially aligned pair of transversely extending, inwardly rolled portions 40a and 40b. A spring bar 42 extending transversely across the inner buckle surface 20 pivotally mounts the member 32 to the inner buckle surface 20, an intermediate length of the spring bar 42 passing through the rolled portions 40a, 40b and the ends thereof being received by apertures in the member 32. Articulated hook 34 is pivotally mounted on the intermediate length of the spring bar 42 between the rolled portions 40a and 40b and coacts in a conventional manner with member 32 to maintain the strap portion 14b in a fixed relationship to the buckle l6, and hence to the other strap portion 12b secured thereto.

In addition to the above described conventional aspects of the strap and buckle combination, there is also found in the longitudinal buckle flanges 22a, 22b, between the first pair of registering

apertures

26a, 26b and the rolled portions 40a, 40b, a second pair of registering apertures 50a and 50b. Another spring bar 52 extends transversely across the inner buckle surface 20 and has its ends received in this second pair of registering apertures 50a, 50b.

A cover generally designated by the numeral comprises a generally continuous and substantially planar surface 62, a pair of longitudinal flanges 62a and 62b adjacent the sides thereof, a transversely spaced pair of

resilient lips

64a and 64b at one end thereof extending transversely across the planar surface 62, and a tightly rolled hollow portion 66 at the other end thereof extending transversely across the planar surface 62. The longitudinal flanges 62a, 62b, the

transverse lips

64a, 64b, and rolled portion 66 each also extend away from the wrist and towards the inner buckle surface 20 when the cover 60 is in a closed position. The cover 60 is pivotally mounted on the buckle 16 by means of the spring bar 52 which passes through the rolled portion 66 and has its ends engaged in the registering pair of apertures 50a and 50b. The cover 6i) is configured and dimensioned so that, when it is is a closed position, its longitudinal flanges 62a and 62b fit between the longitudinal flanges 22a and 22b of the buckle 16 and its

lips

64a and 64b resiliently bear against rolled portions 40a and 40b of the buckle 16, the free edges of flanges 62a, 62b and

lips

64a, 64b proximately abutting or even contacting the inner buckle surface 20.

In the closed position illustrated in solid line in FIGS. 1-3 and 5-6, the cover 60 cooperates with the buckle 16 to form functionally closed compartment therebetween and between the inner buckle surface and the wrist. More particularly, the cover 60 including the planar surface 62 and the upstanding rolled portion 66, flanges 62a, 62b and

lips

64a, 64b from an open faced compartment which is closed by the interior buckle surface 20 when the cover is in the closed position, the compartment residing entirely within the buckle 16. In the open position illustrated in phantom line in FIGS. 1 and 5, and in solid line in FIG. 4, the compartment is functionally open sothat an article such as magnet 70 may be inserted to or removed from the compartment. I

The free end of the cover 60 from which

lips

64a, 64b depend is preferably provided with an outwardly bowed or curved portion 72 to facilitate insertion of a fingernail under the planar surface 60 for raising the cover from the closed position to the open position. The curved portion 72 may even be slightly inclined away from the limb-facing buckle surface to facilitate opening. If desired, the cover 60 may furthermore be provided with a resiliently flexible tongue 74 secured to the generally continuous and substantially planar sur face 62 and extending slightly towards the inner housing surface 20 so that it bears on the article 70 within the compartment when the cover 60 is in the closed position to minimize sliding of the article 70 within the compartment. The tongue 74 is preferably integral with the planar surface 62 and most easily formed as a stamped-out portion thereof.

Referring now in particular to FIG. 7, therein illustrated is an embodiment of a fold-over watchband including the strap and buckle construction of the present invention. In this embodiment the strap members generally designated by the

numerals

112 and 114 are connected at strap ends 1120 and 1140 to the watch 10 and at ends ll2b and 11412 to the buckle means 116. The buckle means 116 comprises an interior surface 120, a pair of inwardly extending longitudinal flanges 122a and 122b on either side thereof, and a pair of inwardly turned resilient tabs 125a and 12517 at one end thereof (see FIG. 8). The longitudinal buckle flanges 122a and l22b define a series of at least four pairs of registering apertures 128. The strap ends 112b and l14b are secured to the buckle 116 by means of spring bars 129 having intermediate lengths passing through the strap ends 1 12b and 114b, and ends received in two of the pairs of registering apertures 128. The strap members 112 and l 14 are generally formed of metal or other resilient material, with strap 112 comprising a plurality of

segments

1120, 112d, and 112e connected by hinge means 112f and 112g. To enable a wrist to be inserted into or removed from the watchband, the various hinged portions l12c112e are laid open (i.e., unfolded) as illustrated in FIG. 7; to secure the watchband upon the wrist, the strap segments 112d and 1122 are overlaid as illustrated in FIGS. 8 and 10 with the hinge means 1 12f being releasably engaged by the resilient tab means a and 12512 of the buckle 116. At least one extra pair of registering apertures 128 is desirably provided to facilitate sizing of a watchband to a given wrist by relocation of one of the spring bars 129.

Referring now to FIGS. 7-10, the cover 60 is identical to the cover 60 of the aforedescribed hook and eye embodiment, and is pivotally mounted on buckle 116 in similar fashion to wit, by means of a spring bar 152 having an intermediate length passing through a rolledportion of cover 60' and ends received in a registering pair of apertures 128 in longitudinal buckle flanges 122a, l22b. An additional spring bar extends transversely across the interior surface of the buckle 116 and has its ends receivedin a pair of registering apertures in longitudinal buckle flanges. 122a, l22b. Thespring bar 180 is sopositioned, between spring bar 152 adjacent one end of cover 60' and spring bar 129 adjacent the other end of cover 60, that the

cover lips

64a and 64b bear resiliently against spring bar 180 when the cover 60' is in the closed position to releasably maintain the cover 60 in its closed position. When the watchband is closed abouta limb the compartmentds maintained in its closed position not only by the bearing of the lips of cover 60 against spring bar 180, but also by the strap sections ll2e and 112f which overlie and, in fact, conceal the cover 60 when the buckle 116 releasably engages strap portions l1 4b and 112f in a fixed, closed relationship.

Referring now to FIG. 11 therein illustrated is an embodiment of the fold-over watchband according to thev present invention functionally similar to that described above, but modified to permit the same functions to be accomplished using only three spring bars instead of four. This is accomplished simply by combining the functions of adjacent spring bars 129 and 180 into a single spring bar 180 and utilizing a strap portion .1l4b' which is sufficiently narrow at the end thereof to fit on an intermediate length of spring bar 180 between the spaced pair of

resilient lips

64a and 64a. In this manner the

lips

64a, 64b resiliently bear on spring bar 180 on either side of the strap portion 1 14b to releasably maintain the cover 60' in the closed position, while the same spring bar 180' is acting to secure strap portion 114b to the buckle 116. The bowed portion 72 of the free end of the cover 60 is preferably more deeply recessed from

lips

64a, 64b than in other embodiments to facilitate insertion of a fingernail over the strap portion 114b' and under the bowed portion 72 for opening of the compartment.

Sizing of the watchband to a given wrist is made in the conventional manner by eliminating links from one or both of the strap members 1 12, 1 14. The dual functionality of spring bar 180' permits the buckle in this embodiment to be shorter than the buckle in the other fold-over embodiment as one less pair of apertures 128 is required, and also slightly reduces the overall cost of the watchband by reducing the buckle material cost and eliminating the cost of one spring bar.

To summarize, the present invention provides a strap and buckle combination having a pivotal cover memher which cooperates with the buckle to form a functionally closed compartment under and within the buckle for maintaining an article. The cover member is maintained in its closed position by a resilient lip bearing against a transversely extending portion of the buckle means (FIG. 1 FIG. 6), against a free spring bar (FIGS. 7-10) or against a spring bar used to con nect the buckle means to a strap portion (F IG. 1 l The cover member does not decrease the flexibility of the strap members, and does not protrude outwardly from the buckle or otherwise increase its bulk; hence a watchband using the instant strap and buckle configuration is comfortable to wear, does not interfere with proper dropping of the wearers cuff, and cannot cause snagging of the wearers clothes.

Now that the preferred embodiments of the present invention have been shown and described, various modifications and improvements thereof will become readily apparent to those skilled in the art. Accordingly, the spirit and scope of the present invention is to be considered as defined not by the foregoing disclosure, but only by the appended claims.

We claim:

1. In a strap and buckle combination for fastening a device about a limb of a wearer comprising A. strap means adapted to engate a device for movement therewith, said strap means including a pair of strap portions movable relative to one another;

B. buckle means secured to at least one of said strap portions for releasably engaging said strap portions together in at least one fixed relationship about a limb, said buckle means having a limb-facing surface and a pair of longitudinal flanges adjacent the sides thereof extending towards the limb and defining registering pairs of apertures;

C. a cover member having a secured end pivotally mounted on said buckle means, a free end having at least one resilient transverse lip extending away from the limb and towards said buckle means, and an intermediate surface between said secured and free ends, said cover member being pivotable between a closed position wherein said cover member cooperates with said buckle means to form a functionally closed compartment therebetween and between said limb-facing surface and said limb for D. a plurality of pins extending transversely across said limb-facing surface and having ends received in a respective one of said registering pairs of apertures, a first of said pins securing said one strap portion to said buckle means, and a second of said pins passing through said secured end of said cover member to pivotally mount said cover member on said buckle means;

the improvement comprising a third of said pins disposed between said first and second of said pins and adapted for engagement by said resilient lip when said cover member is in said closed position to releasably maintain said cover member in said closed position.

2. The combination of claim 1 wherein said strap means comprises first and second strap members, each of said strap members having first and second ends, each of said first ends being adapted to engage the device and each of said second ends being secured to said buckle means by a respective one of a pair of said first pins, the second end of said first strap member comprising one of said strap portions, and a portion of said second strap member intermediate said first and second ends thereof comprising the other of said strap portions.

3. The combination of claim 2 wherein said second strap member overlies said cover member when said buckle means releasably engages said strap portions together in one of said fixed relationships and conceals said cover member.

4. The combination of claim 1 wherein said strap means comprises first and second strap members, each of said strap members having first and second ends, each of said first ends being adapted to engage the device and each of said second ends being secured to said buckle means by a respective one of a pair of said first pins, said second end of said first strap member comrising one of said strap portions and a portion of said second strap member intermediate said first and second ends thereof comprising the other of said strap portions.

5. The combination of claim 1 wherein said free ends 'of said cover member has an axially aligned pair of said lips spaced apart to receive therebetween at least a segment of said first strap member.

Claims

1. In a strap and buckle combination for fastening a device about a limb of a wearer comprising A. strap means adapted to engate a device for movement therewith, said strap means including a pair of strap portions movable relative to one another; B. buckle means secured to at least one of said strap portions for releasably engaging said strap portions together in at least one fixed relationship about a limb, said buckle means having a limb-facing surface and a pair of longitudinal flanges adjacent the sides thereof extending towards the limb and defining registering pairs of apertures; C. a cover member having a secured end pivotally mounted on said buckle means, a free end having at least one resilient transverse lip extending away from the limb and towards said buckle means, and an intermediate surface between said secured and free ends, said cover member being pivotable between a closed position wherein said cover member cooperates with said buckle means to form a functionally closed compartment therebetween and between said limb-facing surface and said limb for maintaining an article therein, and an open position permitting the article to be inserted into and removed from said compartment; and D. a plurality of pins extending transversely across said limbfacing surface and having ends received in a respective one of said registering pairs of apertures, a first of said pins securing said one strap portion to said buckle means, and a second of said pins passing through said secured end of said cover member to pivotally mount said cover member on said buckle means; the improvement comprising a third of said pins disposed between said first and second of said pins and adapted for engagement by said resilient lip when said cover member is in said closed position to releasably maintain said cover member in said closed position.

4. The combination of claim 1 wherein said strap means comprises first and second strap members, each of said strap members having first and second ends, each of said first ends being adapted to engage the device and each of said second ends being secured to said buckle means by a respective one of a pair of said first pins, said second end of said first strap member comprising one of said strap portions and a portion of said second strap member intermediate said first and second ends thereof comprising the other of said strap portions.

5. The combination of claim 1 wherein said free ends of said cover member has an axially aligned pair of said lips spaced apart to receive therebetween at least a segment of said first strap member.