Belt buckle

Abstract

A buckle can include a first strap engaging device and a second strap engaging device. The first strap engaging device can include a first engaging structure extending rearward from the front portion, with the first engaging structure defining a first hole through a first surface of the first engaging structure that faces outward in a first side direction from the buckle. The first engaging device can also include a buckle protrusion configured to press against a first strap end extending through the first hole to engage the first strap end without the buckle protrusion extending through the first strap end. The second engaging device can be configured to engage a second strap end. A technique can include securing first and second strap ends using a buckle, which can include engaging the first strap end using a buckle protrusion without the buckle protrusion extending through the first strap end.

I/We claim: 
     
         1 . A buckle comprising:
 a front portion;   a first strap engagement device comprising:
 a first engaging structure extending rearward from the front portion, the first engaging structure defining a first hole through a first surface of the first engaging structure, with the first surface facing outward in a first side direction from the buckle; and 
 a buckle protrusion secured to the front portion and located in a second side direction from the first hole, with the second side direction being opposite the first side direction, such that the buckle protrusion is configured to cooperate in forcing a first bend in a first strap end extending through the first hole, and with the buckle protrusion being configured to press against the first strap end to engage the first strap end without the buckle protrusion extending through the first strap end; and 
   a second strap engagement device, with the second strap engagement device being configured to a engage a second strap end, with the buckle being configured to secure the first strap end to the second strap end.   
     
     
         2 . The buckle of  claim 1 , wherein the first strap engagement device is configured to force a second bend in the first strap end adjacent to the first hole and to press an edge of the first engaging structure against the first strap end on a side of the first strap end that is opposite from the buckle protrusion. 
     
     
         3 . The buckle of  claim 2 , wherein the first strap engagement device comprises a first edge proximate to the first surface, wherein the edge is configured to engage the first strap end. 
     
     
         4 . The buckle of  claim 1 , wherein the buckle is configured to press the buckle protrusion against the first strap end by using tension in the first strap end and the second strap end to press the first strap end against a body that is separate from the buckle and is located behind the buckle. 
     
     
         5 . The buckle of  claim 1 , wherein the buckle protrusion comprises an edge that is configured to bite into the first strap end and cooperate in forcing the first bend. 
     
     
         6 . The buckle of  claim 1 , wherein the buckle protrusion is a ridge extending rearward from the front portion of the buckle. 
     
     
         7 . The buckle of  claim 1 , wherein the second strap engagement device comprises a second engaging structure extending rearward from the front portion opposite from the first engaging structure, with the second engaging structure defining a second surface that faces in the second side direction away from the first engaging structure, with the second engaging structure defining a second hole through the second surface of the second engaging structure, with the second hole being configured to receive the second strap end, and with the second engaging structure being configured to engage the second strap end. 
     
     
         8 . The buckle of  claim 7 , wherein the second engaging structure is configured to engage a strap protrusion on the second strap end, with the second engaging structure being configured to inhibit movement of the strap protrusion outward through the second hole. 
     
     
         9 . A belt comprising:
 a strap comprising a first strap end and a second strap end that is opposite the first strap end;   a buckle configured to secure the first strap end to the second strap end, the buckle comprising:
 a front portion; 
 a first strap engagement device on a first side of the buckle, the first strap engagement device configured to secure the first strap end to the buckle, and the first strap engagement device comprising:
 a first engaging structure extending rearward from the front portion, the first engaging structure defining a first hole through a first surface of the first engaging structure, with the first surface facing outward in a first side direction from the buckle; and 
 a buckle protrusion secured to the front portion and located in a second side direction from the first hole, with the second side direction being opposite the first side direction, such that the buckle protrusion is configured to cooperate in forcing a first bend in the first strap end extending through the first hole, and with the buckle protrusion being configured to press against the first strap end to engage the first strap end without the buckle protrusion extending through the first strap end; and 
 
 a second strap engagement device on a second side of the buckle that is opposite the first side of the buckle, with the second strap engagement device being configured to a engage the second strap end. 
   
     
     
         10 . The belt of  claim 9 , wherein the first strap end comprises a thin section of the first strap end that extends to a terminus of the first strap end, and a thick section of the first strap end that extends away from the terminus along the strap from the thin section, with the thick section being thicker than the thin section. 
     
     
         11 . The belt of  claim 9 , wherein the strap comprises an elastomeric material. 
     
     
         12 . The belt of  claim 11 , wherein the strap comprises a textured surface having a plurality of raised portions thereon, and wherein the buckle protrusion is configured to engage the textured surface. 
     
     
         13 . The belt of  claim 12 , wherein the textured surface comprises threads extending along an elastomeric core. 
     
     
         14 . The belt of  claim 9 , wherein the second strap engagement device comprises a second engaging structure extending rearward from the front portion on the second side of the buckle that is opposite to the first engaging structure, with the second engaging structure defining a second surface that faces in the second side direction outward and away from the first engaging structure, with the second engaging structure defining a second hole through the second surface of the second engaging structure, with the second hole being configured to receive the second strap end, and with the second engaging structure being configured to engage a strap protrusion on the second strap end, with the second engaging structure being configured to inhibit movement of the strap protrusion outward to the second side of the buckle through the second hole. 
     
     
         15 . A method comprising:
 inserting a first strap end of a strap through a first hole that extends through a first surface of a first engaging structure of a buckle, with the first engaging structure extending rearward from a front portion of the buckle, and with the first surface facing outward in a first side direction from the buckle; and   engaging the first strap end using a buckle protrusion that extends rearward from the front portion of the buckle adjacent to the first hole without the buckle protrusion extending through the first strap end, and with the engaging of the first strap end comprising forcing a first bend in the first strap end using the buckle protrusion.   
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein engaging the first strap end using the buckle protrusion comprises engaging a first side of the first strap end with the buckle protrusion, and wherein the engaging of the first strap end further comprises engaging a second side of the first strap end that is opposite the first side using an edge of the first engaging structure, with the edge of the first engaging structure being located away from the buckle protrusion, and with the engaging of the second side forcing a second bend in the first strap end using the edge of the buckle. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the engaging of the first strap end comprises using the buckle protrusion to force the first bend in the first strap end, and wherein the engaging of the first strap end using the buckle protrusion comprises using the buckle protrusion to cooperate with a body that is separate from the buckle to force the first bend in the first strap end. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein the first strap end and the buckle are each part of a belt, and wherein the body is a person wearing the belt. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein the engaging of the first strap end comprises forcing the buckle protrusion and the edge of the first engaging structure of the buckle to bite into the strap without extending through the strap. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the engaging of the first strap end using the buckle protrusion comprises stretching the strap to produce tension in the strap.