Belt Buckle, in Particular of Leather Goods, and Belt, in Particular of Leather Goods, Comprising Such a Buckle

The invention relates to a belt buckle, in particular of leather goods.

It also relates to a belt, in particular leather goods, comprising such a buckle.

A leather belt generally comprises a belt strip and a buckle configured to be connected to the belt strip and to form a belt closure mechanism.

The belt strip extends between a first end and a second end opposite the first end, and is provided with a first hole on the first end and a plurality of second holes provided at a distance from each other according to a determined spacing extending along the second end.

The buckle comprises a body having a prong mechanically connected on one side and a loop mechanically connected to the body on the same side as the prong.

To close the belt, the buckle is mechanically connected at the first end of the belt strip, with the prong cooperating with the first hole provided at the first end of the belt strip, the second end of the belt strip is passed through the loop and the buckle is mechanically connected at the second end of the belt strip, with the prong also cooperating with one of the second holes to adjust the belt to the wearer's size.

French patent FR 3052960 describes such a belt buckle, with the body forming a frame and which comprises an ornamental plate mechanically connected rotationally in the frame.

The ornamental plate has a first pattern on a first face and a second pattern on a second face opposite the first face.

Thus, the face of the ornamental plate, which is visible when the belt is worn, can be changed by rotating the ornamental plate relative to the buckle frame.

The invention aims to provide a leather belt buckle, of a type similar to those described above, which is particularly simple and convenient to use.

To this end, the invention relates to a belt buckle, in particular of leatherware, comprising a body having a first face and a second face opposite the first face, a prong mechanically connected to the body and a loop mechanically connected to the body, characterised in that the prong and the loop are movably mounted relative to the body, and the buckle is configured to accommodate a first configuration in which the prong and the loop protrude from the second face and a second configuration in which the prong and the loop are displaced relative to the body and protrude from the first face.

In the belt buckle according to the invention, the prong and the loop are both movable relative to the body of the buckle.

Indeed, as the prong is movable relative to the body so as to switch from one to the other between the first face and the second face and between the second face and the first face, and the loop is movable relative to the body so as to switch from one to the other between the first face and the second face and between the second face and the first face, the buckle is thus configured to switch between its first configuration where the prong and the loop protrude from the second face and its second configuration where the prong and the loop protrude from the first face.

Thus, the prong and the loop of the buckle can be positioned protruding from both the first face and the second face, i.e. on either side of the body of the buckle.

In other words, it is very easy to move the belt buckle according to the invention from its first configuration where the first face is visible and the prong and the loop protrude from the second face, to its second configuration where the second face is visible and the prong and the loop protrude from the first face.

It is therefore very easy to change the appearance of the belt buckle according to the invention when the first face of the body has a first pattern and the second face of the body has a second pattern that differs from the first pattern.

The preferred, simple, convenient and economical features of the belt buckle according to the invention are presented below.

The prong may be rotatably mounted relative to the body, and the buckle may be configured to switch from one to the other between the first configuration and the second configuration and between the second configuration and the first configuration by rotating the prong.

The loop may be mounted so as to be translatably movable relative to the body, and the buckle may be configured to switch from one to the other between the first configuration and the second configuration and between the second configuration and the first configuration by sliding the loop.

The buckle may comprise an actuating mechanism configured to lock the prong in a first stable position where the prong protrudes from the second face and in a second stable position where the prong protrudes from the first face when the actuating mechanism is disengaged, and to release the prong to switch it between its first stable position and its second stable position, or vice versa, when the actuating mechanism is engaged.

The actuating mechanism may comprise a push button movable between a disengaged position and an engaged position and provided with a guide pin around which the prong is movably mounted, and a retractable stop that is is movably mounted under the action of the push button between a stable locking position of the prong when the push button is in the disengaged position and an unlocking position of the prong when the push button is in the engaged position.

The prong may comprise a base having a through-hole in which the guide pin slides, and a notch where the guide pin opens and where the retractable stop is partially housed.

The actuating mechanism may comprise a return member configured to place the retractable stop into its stable locking position and to return the push button to its disengaged position.

The body may be provided with a first cavity opening onto either side of the first face and second face, and the prong may comprise a base which is mounted in an articulated manner in the first cavity.

The body may be provided with at least one second cavity opening into the first cavity and in which the actuating mechanism is at least partially housed.

The body can be provided with at least one third cavity opening on either side of the first face and the second face, and the loop can be movably mounted through at least one third cavity.

The at least one third cavity can be formed by a first recess provided in the first face, a second recess provided in the second face, a wall separating the first recess and the second recess, at least one opening provided in the wall, and the loop can have a frame shape forming a first bridge connector located on the side of the first recess, a second bridge connector located on the side of the second recess, and link arms joining the first bridge connector and the second bridge connector and movably mounted through the at least one opening provided in the wall.

The buckle may comprise at least one friction ring mounted around at least one link arm in the at least one opening provided in the wall.

In the first configuration of the buckle, the first bridge connector of the loop may be housed in the first recess abutting against the wall while the second bridge connector is protruding from the second face of the body, and in the second configuration of the buckle, the second bridge connector of the loop may be housed in the second recess abutting against the wall while the first bridge connector is protruding from the first face of the body.

The body of the loop may be H-shaped and have a first branch, a second branch substantially parallel to the first branch, and a third branch joining the first branch and the second branch, with the prong which is partially housed in the first branch and/or the loop which is partially housed in the second branch.

The invention also relates, according to a second aspect, to a belt, in particular of leather goods, comprising a buckle as described above, and a belt strip extending between a first end and a second end opposite to the first end, and provided with a first hole provided on the first end and a plurality of second holes provided at a distance from each other according to a determined spacing towards the second end, the buckle being configured, in either its first configuration or second configuration, to be mechanically connected at the first end of the belt strip, with the prong that cooperates with the first hole provided at the first end of the belt strip, and at the second end of the belt strip, with the second end of the belt strip that passes through the loop and the prong that cooperates with a second hole chosen from the plurality of second holes provided at the second end of the belt strip, so that the belt strip is closed.

The prong may comprise a base and a pin provided with a first section extending from the base and a second section extending from the first section, with the first section which is configured to cooperate with the first hole of the belt strip so as to mechanically connect the first end of the belt strip to the buckle, and the second section that is configured to cooperate with the second hole selected from the plurality of second holes so as to mechanically connect the second end of the belt strip to the buckle.

illustrates a leather beltcomprising a belt stripand a belt buckleconfigured to be connected to the belt stripand to form a closure mechanism of the leather belt.

The belt stripextends longitudinally between a first endand a second endopposite the first end.

The belt stripis provided with a first hole (not visible in) provided on the side of the first endand with a plurality of second holesprovided at a distance from each other according to a determined spacing on the side of the second end.

The belt striphere comprises eight second holes.

Alternatively, the belt strip may comprise more than eight or less than eight second holes and the belt strip may further comprise a plurality of first holes.

The belt striphere has a predetermined width.

The bucklecomprises a body, a prongmechanically connected to the bodyand a loopmechanically connected to the body.

In, the leather beltis shown in a closed configuration where the buckleensures the closure of the leather beltby being connected with both the first endand the second endof the belt strip.

In particular, the buckleis mechanically connected, on the one hand to the first endof the belt strip, with the prongcooperating with the first hole provided at the first endof the belt stripand, on the other hand, to the second endof the belt strip, with the second endof the belt strippassing through the loopand the prongcooperating with a second holechosen from the plurality of second holesprovided at the second endof the belt strip.

The leather beltcan be moved into an open configuration (not shown) where the buckleno longer ensures the closure of the leather belt, by disengaging the prongfrom the second holeand removing the second endof the belt strip from the loopso as to mechanically release the bucklefrom the second endof the belt strip.

Thus, the buckleforms a mechanism for opening and closing the leather belt.

show the bucklein more detail.

The buckleis metallic here. It may or may not be a precious metal.

Alternatively, the buckle may not be metallic, but instead made at least partially of plastic, or even of another material suitable for its use.

The bodyof the buckleis described hereinbelow.

The bodyof the bucklehas a first faceand a second faceopposite the first face.

The first facehere has a first pattern and a first shade, while the second facehere has a second pattern that differs from the first pattern and a second shade that differs from the first shade.

As explained below, the buckleis configured to be mounted on the belt with either its first facevisible, i.e. visible even when the belt is worn, or with its second facevisible.