Bands with buckles & methods & apparatus for displaying band & buckle components

Abstract

In a personalized band closed by a side release buckle comprising a hook fixedly attached to each end of the band and a double-sided catch for receiving and securing the hooks. A display panel for separately displaying band straps and personalized catches.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A side release buckle comprising:
 a one piece generally tubular double-sided catch having a first end opening and a second end opening;   a first hook insertable in the first end opening of said double-sided catch and releaseably secured therein; and   a second hook insertable in the second end opening of said double-sided catch and releaseably secured therein.   
     
     
         2 . The side release buckle of  claim 1  wherein said one piece generally tubular double-sided catch comprises a generally rectangular top member having a waist section between two wider end sections wherein said waist section has a contiguous surface onto which a graphic can be inscribed or otherwise applied. 
     
     
         3 . The side release buckle of  claim 2  wherein said generally rectangular top member is convex. 
     
     
         4 . The side release buckle of  claim 1  wherein said one piece generally tubular double-sided catch comprises:
 a generally rectangular top member having a waist section between two wider end sections wherein said waist section has a portion cutout; 
 a generally rectangular bottom member underlying and spaced apart from said top member and having a waist section between two wider end sections wherein said waist section has a portion cutout; 
 wherein said top member cutout and said bottom member cutout are aligned. 
 
     
     
         5 . A band having a strap with two ends and a side release buckle comprising:
 a first hook affixed to one end of the strap;   a second hook affixed to the other end of the strap; and   a one piece generally tubular double-sided catch having a first end opening into which said first hook is insertable and a second end opening into which said second hook is insertable whereby when said hooks are inserted into said catch they are releaseably secured therein and the ends of the strap and the side release buckle are all joined together forming the band.   
     
     
         6 . The band of  claim 5  wherein said one piece generally tubular double-sided catch comprises a generally rectangular top member having a waist section between two wider end sections wherein said waist section has a contiguous surface onto which a graphic can be inscribed or otherwise applied. 
     
     
         7 . The band of  claim 6  wherein said generally rectangular top member is convex. 
     
     
         8 . The band of  claim 7  wherein said band is a bracelet and said strap is woven paracord. 
     
     
         9 . A bracelet comprising:
 a strap having ends;   a side release buckle hook affixed at each end of said strap.   
     
     
         10 . The bracelet of  claim 9  wherein said strap is woven paracord. 
     
     
         11 . The bracelet of  claim 10  wherein said hooks are attached to said strap ends by said woven paracord. 
     
     
         12 . The bracelet of  claim 9  further comprising a double-sided catch sized to receive and secure said buckle hooks. 
     
     
         13 . A bracelet components retail display comprising;
 a display panel;   a plurality of hanger rods extending from said panel;   a plurality of bracelets according to  claim 9 ;   a try-on catch attached to one said buckle hooks of each said bracelets, wherein said try on catch comprises:
 a generally rectangular top member having a waist section between two wider end sections wherein said waist section has a portion cutout; 
 a generally rectangular bottom member underlying and spaced apart from said top member and having a waist section between two wider end sections wherein said waist section has a cutout aligned with the cutout of said top member and 
   
       wherein said bracelets are removeably mounted on said hanger rods through said try-on catch aligned upper member cutout and bottom member cutout. 
     
     
         14 . The bracelet component retail display of  claim 13  wherein said bracelets are of various sizes and said try-on catches are labeled with the size of said bracelet to which they are attached. 
     
     
         15 . The bracelet components retail display of  claim 13  wherein said bracelet straps include a variety of different designs. 
     
     
         16 . The bracelet components retail display of  claim 13  further comprising:
 a plurality of double-sided catches removeably mounted on said hanger rods. 
 
     
     
         17 . The bracelet components retail display of  claim 16  wherein each said double-sided catch is labeled with a graphic and there are a plurality of different graphics among said plurality of double-sided catches. 
     
     
         18 . The bracelet components retail display of  claim 17  wherein said double-sided catch graphics included given names. 
     
     
         19 . The bracelet components retail display of  claim 16  wherein said display panel has removeably mounted thereon a plurality of each different bracelet strap design. 
     
     
         20 . The bracelet components retail display of  claim 19  wherein a said display panel has removeably mounted thereon a plurality of each different double-sided catch graphic. 
     
     
         21 . The bracelet components retail display of  claim 15  further comprising:
 a wrapper surrounding said straps with location designations thereon.