Buckle construction and method for incrementally adjusting tightness/looseness of a band, such as a belt, strap or the like

Abstract

A buckle construction for adjusting the desired length of a band, such as a belt, strap or the like includes a buckle/tongue construction where the tongue is modified to engage a selected aperture on one end of a band, such as a belt. Tightening or loosening of the belt can be achieved over a distance less than that between two adjacent apertures on the band. In one preferred embodiment, the tongue is provided with a retainer portion formed intermediate the end of the tongue, dimensioned to releasably engage a selected aperture and hold it in position away from the free end of the tongue, to incrementally shorten or lengthen the loop distance of the band or belt.

1 . An adjustable buckle/band assembly for detachably interconnecting first and second ends of an elongate band to form a loop of desired length for encircling an object, wherein the first end of the band includes a plurality of spaced-apart apertures, the assembly comprising: 
 a buckle member connected to the second end of the band;    a tongue member having a free end and an opposite end pivotally connected to the buckle member so that the free end can be oriented for insertion into and extension through a selected one of the apertures; and    a retainer portion provided on the tongue member intermediate its ends configured for releasably engaging the sides of a selected aperture to retain the first and the second ends of the band fixed relative to one another thereby to preselect the length of a loop different from the length obtained when the aperture is moved away from the retainer portion toward the free end.    
     
     
         2 . The buckle/band assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the retainer portion is configured to define tongue sections which are offset from one another.  
     
     
         3 . The buckle/band assembly of  claim 2 , wherein the tongue sections transition into an abutment element configured to engage and detachably retain a selected aperture of the first end.  
     
     
         4 . The buckle/band assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the tongue member includes an abutment element mounted thereon substantially spherical in form for releasably engaging a selected aperture.  
     
     
         5 . The buckle/band assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the tongue member includes an abutment member mounted thereon formed as a flange element configured for releasably engaging a selected aperture.  
     
     
         6 . The buckle/band assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the tongue member is provided with a pair of retainer portions intermediate the ends of the tongue member, each retainer portion spaced-apart from the other and each configured for individual insertion into and releasable engagement with a selected aperture to retain the first and second ends of the band fixed relative to one another to preselect a desired length of loop.  
     
     
         7 . In a buckle/band assembly, wherein the band includes opposed first and second ends, with a plurality of spaced-apart apertures provided adjacent the first end, and a buckle/tongue assembly mounted on the second end, the improvement comprising: 
 a tongue member having a retainer portion provided intermediate its length configured for releasably engaging the sides of a selected aperture to retain the first and the second ends of the band fixed relative to one another thereby to preselect the length of a loop different from the length obtained when the aperture is moved away from the retainer portion toward the free end.    
     
     
         8 . The improvement of  claim 7 , wherein the retainer portion is configured to define tongue sections which are offset from one another.  
     
     
         9 . The improvement of  claim 8 , wherein the tongue sections transition into an abutment element configured to engage and detachably retain a selected aperture of the first end.  
     
     
         10 . The improvement of  claim 7 , wherein the tongue member includes an abutment element mounted thereon substantially spherical in form for engaging a selected aperture.  
     
     
         11 . The improvement of  claim 7 , wherein the tongue member includes an abutment member mounted thereon formed as a flange element configured for engaging a selected aperture.  
     
     
         12 . The improvement of  claim 7 , wherein the tongue member is provided with a pair of retainer portions intermediate the ends of the tongue member, each retainer portion spaced-apart from the other and configured for individual insertion into and releasable engagement with a selected aperture to retain the first and second ends of the band fixed relative to one another to preselect a desired length of loop.  
     
     
         13 . A buckle/tongue construction adapted for detachably interconnecting first and second ends of an elongate band to form a loop of desired length for encircling an object, wherein the first end of the band includes a plurality of spaced-apart apertures, the assembly comprising: 
 a buckle member adapted for connection to the second end of a band;    a tongue member having a free end and an opposite end adapted to be pivotally connected to the buckle member so that the free end can be oriented for insertion into and extension through a selected aperture on a band; and    a retainer portion provided on the tongue member intermediate its ends configured for releasably engaging the sides of a selected aperture to retain the first and the second ends of the band fixed relative to one another thereby to preselect the length of a loop different from the length obtained when the aperture is moved away from the retainer portion toward the free end.    
     
     
         14 . The buckle/tongue construction of  claim 13 , wherein the retainer portion is configured to define tongue sections which are offset from one another.  
     
     
         15 . The buckle/tongue assembly of  claim 14 , wherein the tongue sections transition into an abutment element configured to engage and detachably retain a selected aperture of the first end.  
     
     
         16 . The buckle/tongue assembly of  claim 13 , wherein the tongue member includes an abutment element mounted thereon substantially spherical in form for releasably engaging a selected aperture.  
     
     
         17 . The buckle/tongue assembly of  claim 13 , wherein the tongue member includes an abutment member mounted thereon formed as a flange element configured for releasably engaging a selected aperture.  
     
     
         18 . The buckle/tongue assembly of  claim 13 , wherein the tongue member is provided with a pair of retainer portions intermediate the ends of the tongue member, each retainer portion spaced-apart from the other and each configured for individual insertion into and releasable engagement with a selected aperture to retain the first and second ends of the band fixed relative to one another to preselect a desired length of loop.  
     
     
         19 . A method for selectively adjusting the length of a band to form a loop for encircling an object, wherein the band includes a first end provided with a plurality of spaced-apart apertures, and a second end connected to a buckle/tongue assembly, the method comprising: 
 providing a buckle member connected to a tongue member having a free end and an opposite end pivotally connected to the buckle member;    positioning the first end of the band adjacent the buckle;    inserting the free end of the tongue member into a selected aperture; and    displacing the first end of the band member relative to the tongue member until the aperture engages an intermediate portion of the tongue member.    
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 19  wherein the inserting step includes releasably engaging a retainer portion on the tongue member against the sides of the selected aperture.