Magnetic closure fashion belt

Abstract

Provided is a fashion belt including a magnetic retention feature adapted to maintain the belt in a circular, hoop-like configuration on a wearer without a dangling end portion. The strap of the belt includes a plurality of magnets embedded therein. The magnets are positioned to allow an end portion of the strap to be magnetically secured or coupled to a central portion thereof through the magnetic interaction between the magnets.

1 . A belt comprising:
 an elongate strap defining a first end portion, an opposed second end portion, and a central portion disposed between the first and second end portions;   a first magnetic element disposed within the strap adjacent the first end portion; and   a second magnetic element disposed within the central portion of the strap;   the first end portion of the strap being magnetically securable to the central portion of the strap via the first and second magnetic elements.   
     
     
         2 . The belt recited in  claim 1 , wherein the second magnetic element includes a plurality of magnets. 
     
     
         3 . The belt recited in  claim 2 , wherein the magnets are separated from each other at substantially equidistantly spaced intervals. 
     
     
         4 . The belt recited in  claim 2 , wherein each magnet has a generally circular configuration. 
     
     
         5 . The belt recited in  claim 1 , further comprising a buckle connected to the second end portion of the strap. 
     
     
         6 . The belt recited in  claim 5 , wherein:
 the strap includes a plurality of apertures formed adjacent the first end portion, the apertures being disposed in spaced relation to each other; and   the buckle includes a frame member and a stem pivotally connected to the frame member, the stem being configured to be selectively advanceable through one of the plurality of apertures.   
     
     
         7 . The belt recited in  claim 6 , wherein the first end portion terminates at a distal end, the first magnetic element being disposed between the plurality of apertures and the distal end. 
     
     
         8 . The belt recited in  claim 1 , wherein the second magnetic element comprises an elongate magnetic strip. 
     
     
         9 . The belt recited in  claim 8 , wherein the magnetic strip has a generally quadrangular configuration. 
     
     
         10 . The belt recited in  claim 9 , wherein the first magnetic element is flexible. 
     
     
         11 . The belt recited in  claim 1 , wherein the second magnetic element comprises a magnetic slider moveably mounted to the strap. 
     
     
         12 . The belt recited in  claim 11 , wherein the magnetic slider is slidably positionable along the length of the strap. 
     
     
         13 . A belt comprising:
 an elongate strap defining a first end portion, an opposed second end portion, and a central portion disposed between the first and second end portions;   a first magnetic element connected to the strap adjacent the first end portion; and   a second magnetic element connected to the central portion of the strap;   the first end portion of the strap being magnetically securable to the central portion of the strap via the first and second magnetic elements.   
     
     
         14 . The belt recited in  claim 13 , wherein the second magnetic element includes a plurality of magnets. 
     
     
         15 . The belt recited in  claim 13 , wherein the second magnetic element comprises an elongate magnetic strip. 
     
     
         16 . The belt recited in  claim 13 , wherein the second magnetic element comprises a magnetic slider moveably mounted to the strap. 
     
     
         17 . A belt configured to be worn around the midsection of a wearer, the belt comprising:
 a strap defining a first end portion defining a distal end, an opposed second end portion and a central portion disposed between the first end portion and the second end portion; and   a buckle connected to the second end portion;   the first end portion being advanceable through the buckle and engeable therewith to define a closed loop about the wearer, the segment of the first end portion disposed between the buckle and the distal end being magnetically attractable to the central portion.   
     
     
         18 . The belt recited in  claim 17 , further comprising:
 a first magnetic element disposed within the strap adjacent the first end portion; and   a second magnetic element disposed within the central portion of the strap;   
     
     
         19 . The belt recited in  claim 18 , wherein the second magnetic element comprises a plurality of magnets. 
     
     
         20 . The belt recited in  claim 18 , wherein the second magnetic element comprises a magnetic slider moveably mounted to the strap.