Weightlifting belt and buckle therefor

Abstract

A buckle for use with strength training belts, the buckle including a housing, a latch with button and a top plate. A spring is positioned in the housing to bias the latch downwardly and against a ribbed portion of the strength training belt. To lock the belt in a certain size, the second end of the belt is inserted into an opening of the buckle, and the ribbed portion engages the latch to lock the belt in place. The button can then be pressed to pivot the latch and unlock the latch from the ribbed portion. The top plate is also removeable from the buckle to allow easy cleaning and maintenance of the buckle, and to customize and personalize the buckle.

1 . A buckle for use with a strength training belt comprising:
 a housing to receive and secure a first end of the belt; and,   an actuatable latch secured within the housing, the latch lockable to and unlockable from the belt,   wherein the latch engages with a ribbed surface of the belt.   
     
     
         2 . The buckle of  claim 1 , wherein the housing comprises a recess to receive a removeable plate. 
     
     
         3 . The buckle of  claim 1 , wherein the latch comprises a button to actuate the latch. 
     
     
         4 . The buckle of  claim 1 , wherein the latch has a lateral edge, the lateral edge configured to abut and lock against the ribbed surface. 
     
     
         5 . The buckle of  claim 4 , comprising a compressible coil, the compressible coil configured to bias the latch downwardly toward the ribbed surface. 
     
     
         6 . The buckle of  claim 1 , wherein the housing comprises a first opening and a second opening, the first opening to receive and secure a first end of the belt, the second opening configured to receive and releasably secure a second end of the belt, the first end opposed to the second end. 
     
     
         7 . The buckle of  claim 1 , comprising a dowel, wherein the latch is pivotable about the dowel. 
     
     
         8 . A belt for strength training comprising:
 a buckle secured to a first end of the belt; and   a ribbed surface attached to a second end of the belt, the buckle configured to engage the ribbed surface and lock the belt in a position.   
     
     
         9 . The belt of  claim 8 , wherein the buckle comprises:
 a housing to receive and secure the first end of the belt; and   an actuatable latch secured within the housing, the actuatable latch lockable to and unlockable from the belt,   wherein the latch engages with the ribbed surface.   
     
     
         10 . The belt of  claim 9 , wherein the housing comprises a recess to receive a removeable plate. 
     
     
         11 . The belt of  claim 9 , wherein the latch comprises a button to actuate the latch. 
     
     
         12 . The belt of  claim 9 , wherein the latch has a lateral edge, the lateral edge configured to abut and lock against the ribbed surface. 
     
     
         13 . The belt of  claim 12 , comprising a compressible coil configured to bias the latch downwardly toward the ribbed surface. 
     
     
         14 . The belt of  claim 9 , wherein the housing comprises a first opening and a second opening, the first opening configured to receive and secure the first end of the belt, the second opening configured to receive and releasably secure the second end of the belt, and where the first end is opposed to the second end. 
     
     
         15 . The belt of  claim 9 , comprising a dowel, wherein the latch is pivotable about the dowel.