Adjustable belt buckle for garments

Abstract

A belt and belt buckle are described which provide circumferential expansion while retaining desirable styling. The buckle provides first and second attachment points which are configured to move in relation to the one another. A biasing member urges the first and second portions toward a first position which corresponds to a small circumference. In response to a desired level of expansion pressure, the circumference of the belt increases in response to urging of movement between the first and second attachment points. The invention is particularly well-suited for use on belts comprising traditional materials, such as leather, cloth, and so forth, which provide limited circumferential stretching. The circumferential compliance within the buckle provides for comfortable fitting of the belt without the unsightly and negative connotations currently associated with so called “stretch belts” which utilize a stretchy material for the elongated section of belt material.

1 . A garment belt, comprising: 
 an elongated strip of material;    a buckle configured for retaining said elongated strip of material in a loop about a garment being worn;    a first portion of said buckle configured for attachment to a first end of said elongated strip of material;    a second portion of said buckle configured for selectively engaging a second end of said elongated strip of material; and    means for applying a biasing force to alter the separation between said first and second portions of said buckle;    wherein the circumference of said elongated material closed into said loop by said buckle changes in response to relative movement between said first portion and second portion of said belt buckle which occurs in response to applied pressure.    
   
   
       2 . A garment belt as recited in  claim 1 , wherein said first portion and said second portion of said belt buckle are configured to move, relative to one another, at least one eighth of an inch while not more than two inches.  
   
   
       3 . A garment belt, comprising: 
 an elongated strip of material; and    a buckle configured for retaining said elongated strip of material in a loop about a garment being worn;    a first portion of said buckle configured for attachment to a first end of said elongated strip of material;    a second portion of said buckle configured for selectively engaging a second end of said elongated strip of material;    wherein said first portion, said second portion, or both, are movable retained in relation with each other; and    a compliant element within said buckle configured for applying a biasing force between said first and second portions of said buckle;    wherein said elongated material, closed into a loop by said buckle, is biased toward a first circumference, but can extend up to a second circumference in response to the relative movement between said first portion and second portion of said belt buckle, as pressure is applied.    
   
   
       4 . A garment belt as recited in  claim 3 , wherein said buckle is sufficiently rigid to maintain the positional relationship between said first and second portions.  
   
   
       5 . A garment belt as recited in  claim 4 , wherein said buckle comprises a metal frame to provide sufficient rigidity.  
   
   
       6 . A garment belt as recited in  claim 4 , wherein the rigidity of said buckle is derived from a material structure selected from the group of rigid materials consisting essentially of metals, resins, polymeric materials, thermoplastics, phenolic, bone, horn, wood, glass, minerals, or combinations.  
   
   
       7 . A garment belt as recited in  claim 3 , wherein said first portion and said second portion of said belt buckle are configured to move, relative to one another, a sufficient distance to ease constriction of an individual wearing said garment belt.  
   
   
       8 . A garment belt as recited in  claim 3 , wherein said first portion and said second portion of said belt buckle are configured to move, relative to one another, at least one eighth of an inch while not more than two inches.  
   
   
       9 . A garment belt as recited in  claim 3 , wherein said first portion and said second portion of said belt buckle are configured to move, relative to one another, between one eighth of an inch up to about three-quarters of an inch.  
   
   
       10 . A garment belt as recited in  claim 3 , wherein said elongated strip of material comprises a material which is not substantially lengthwise compliant.  
   
   
       11 . A garment belt as recited in  claim 3 , wherein said elongated strip of material comprises leather, or a combination of other materials and leather.  
   
   
       12 . A garment belt as recited in  claim 3 , wherein said first portion of said buckle is configured with means for permanent or semi-permanent attachment to said elongated strip of material.  
   
   
       13 . A garment belt as recited in  claim 3 , wherein the relative movement between said first portion and said second portion is either hidden or not readily discernable to a viewer while said garment belt is being worn.  
   
   
       14 . A buckle for attaching the ends of an elongated strip of material, comprising: 
 a frame member configured for attaching two ends of an elongated strip of material;    a first portion of said frame member configured for retaining a first end of an elongated strip of material;    a second portion of said frame member configured for selectively engaging a second end of the elongated strip of material;    wherein said first portion, said second portion, or both, are movably retained in relation with each other; and    a compliant element configured for applying a biasing force between said first and second portions of said frame member;    wherein the distance between the first end and the second end of the elongated material is responsive to the pressure applied between the first and second end.    
   
   
       15 . A buckle as recited in  claim 14 , wherein said frame member is sufficiently rigid to maintain the positional relationship between said first and second portions.  
   
   
       16 . A buckle as recited in  claim 15 , wherein said frame member comprises a metal.  
   
   
       17 . A buckle as recited in  claim 15 , wherein the rigidity of said frame member is derived from a material structure selected from the group of rigid materials consisting essentially of metals, resins, polymeric materials, thermoplastics, phenolic, bone, horn, wood, glass, minerals, or combinations thereof.  
   
   
       18 . A buckle as recited in  claim 15 , wherein said second portion of said frame member is configured for selectively engaging the second end of the elongated strip of material at one of a plurality of positions.  
   
   
       19 . A buckle as recited in  claim 18 , wherein said second portion is configured with at least one protrusion for engaging at least one aperture located proximal the end of the length of the elongated strip of material.  
   
   
       20 . A buckle as recited in  claim 14 , further comprising a decorative element attached or covering at least a portion of said buckle.