Belt buckle

[0001] The invention relates to a belt buckle that is comprised of two buckle members that can be secured to belt ends, with the first buckle member having a receiving means for the axial insertion of the second buckle member, which contains latching or snap-fit elements that are adjustable against spring force and that, to secure the inter-engaging buckle members, cooperate with undercuts in the first buckle member.

[0002] Such belt buckles are conventionally made of plastic, whereby the snap-fit elements of the second buckle member essentially have the shape of tongues, whereby the spring force, depending upon the material, is respectively a function of the plastic that is used.

[0003] The drawback of such plastic belt buckles is that they can break under abrupt shocks.

[0004] It is an object of the present invention to provide a belt buckle that is improved in this respect.

[0005] To realize this object, the buckle members are made of cast metal, whereby the snap-fit elements are pivotable about a rigid axis, and are supported by a mechanical spring, preferably a compression spring.

[0006] The buckle members are preferably made of cast brass or cast zinc, and have a surface that is processed or finished by shot hardening and subsequent galvanization.

[0007] The invention will be described in greater detail subsequently with the aid of the drawing.

[0008] FIG. 1 shows a side view of the two buckle members, which can be inserted into one another in the direction of the arrow f1;

[0009] FIG. 2 shows a plan view of the two buckle members;

[0010] FIG. 3 shows a plan view of the two inter-engaging buckle members.

[0011] Each buckle member is provided at its back end with an eye or loop like opening 3 and 4 respectively for the securement of the buckle members 1 and 2 to the belt ends 5 that are schematically illustrated in FIG. 1. The buckle member 1 is provided with a receiving chamber 6 that is open toward the front end of the buckle member and that is delimited by upper and lower wall portions 7 and 8 as well as side walls 9 and 10. Pursuant to FIG. 2, the upper and lower wall portions 7 and 8 are provided with aligned cutouts or notches 11 and 12 respectively.

[0012] The dimensions of the second buckle member 2 are coordinated with the first buckle member 1 in such a way that the second buckle member can be inserted or pushed into the receiving chamber 6 of the first buckle member, and it accordingly comprises a tongue-like main body 13 to which are articulated or coupled two latching or snap-fit elements 14,15 in such a way that when the buckle member 2 is inserted into the buckle member 1, the snap-fit elements can pivot inwardly. As soon as the snap-fit elements 14 and 15 enter the notches 11,12, they are moved or pivoted outwardly by the (not illustrated) compression spring that acts upon them, so that their rearwardly facing corners 14.1 and 15.1 come to rest against the side wall portions 9 and 10 that are located in the front portion of the buckle member 1. These side wall portions 9 and 10 thus essentially have the function of undercuts behind which the corners 14.1 and 15.1 catch.

[0013] To release the buckle, the snap-fit elements 14 and 15 are manually pressed inwardly in a direction of the arrow f2, so that the rear corners 14.1 and 15.1 are released from the undercuts.

[0014] The inventive buckle members are preferably made of die cast brass or sand cast brass or of die cast zinc. The outer surfaces are preferably finished by shot hardening and subsequent galvanization. The galvanization is preferably carried out in a nickel or brass bath. In the event that the galvanization is effected in a chromium bath, a galvanic copper plating preferably takes place first.