Interchangeable Belt Buckle System

Abstract

An interchangeable belt buckle system is provided. The system includes a female buckle connector and a male buckle connector that removably secure together. The female buckle connector includes a first end with a channel configured to receive and secure a pin of a belt buckle, permitting rotational movement of the buckle relative to the connector. A second end of the female buckle connector includes slots adapted to receive projections extending from latch members positioned on the male buckle connector. A spring biases the latch members laterally outwardly, maintaining a locked configuration when the projections are received within the slots. Compressing the latch members inwardly allows separation of the connectors, enabling interchangeability between belts and buckles. The second end of the male buckle connector includes apertures configured to receive fasteners for securing the male connector to a belt.

I claim: 
     
         1 . An interchangeable belt buckle system, comprising:
 a female buckle connector comprising a first end and a second end;   a male buckle connector comprising a first end and a second end;   the male buckle connector configured to removably secure the first end thereof to the second end of the female connector;   a pair of slots disposed on the second end of the female buckle fastener;   a pair of latch members disposed on the male buckle fastener, each latch member comprising a projection extending toward the second end;   a spring positioned between the latch members and configured to bias the latch members laterally outwardly;   wherein the latch members are configured to maintain a locked configuration when the projections are positioned within the slots of the female buckle connector, and wherein the latch members are inwardly compressed within the slots to disengage the locked configuration.   
     
     
         2 . The interchangeable belt buckle system of  claim 1 , wherein a belt buckle is configured to removably and interchangeable attach to the female buckle connector. 
     
     
         3 . The interchangeable belt buckle system of  claim 1 , wherein each slot of the female buckle connector includes an inner detent positioned adjacent to an interior surface of the slot. 
     
     
         4 . The interchangeable belt buckle system of  claim 3 , wherein each latch member comprises an angled portion configured to interface with an inner surface of the female buckle connector. 
     
     
         5 . The interchangeable belt buckle system of  claim 4 , wherein in the locked configuration, the angled portion of each latch member is received within the inner detent to maintain the locked configuration between the male and female buckle connectors. 
     
     
         6 . The interchangeable belt buckle system of  claim 1 , wherein the male buckle connector comprises a tongue extending toward the second end, and the female buckle connector comprises a groove positioned between the slots, the groove configured to receive the tongue when the male and female buckle connectors are secured together. 
     
     
         7 . The interchangeable belt buckle system of  claim 1 , wherein the spring extends through an aperture of a retaining block positioned between the latch members. 
     
     
         8 . The interchangeable belt buckle system of  claim 1 , further comprising a channel disposed on the first end of the female buckle connector, the channel configured to receive and secure a pin of a belt buckle. 
     
     
         9 . The interchangeable belt buckle system of  claim 8 , wherein the channel includes a slot extending along a length thereof, the slot configured to allow flexing of a wall of the channel to removably secure the pin of the belt buckle. 
     
     
         10 . The interchangeable belt buckle system of  claim 1 , wherein the second end of the male buckle connector includes an aperture configured to receive a second fastener to secure the male buckle connector to a first end of a belt. 
     
     
         11 . The interchangeable belt buckle system of  claim 10 , wherein the aperture is disposed on a panel extending from the second end thereof. 
     
     
         12 . The interchangeable belt buckle system of  claim 1 , wherein each slot on the buckle connector includes a camming shoulder at a leading edge thereof, the shoulder being configured to engage the projection of a latch member as the buckle connector and belt connector are pressed together, whereby deflecting the latch member and allowing it to automatically snap into the slot's detent to lock the buckle connector in place. 
     
     
         13 . The interchangeable belt buckle system of  claim 1 , wherein the spring comprises two separate springs, each spring biasing a respective one of the latch members outwardly toward the corresponding side of the belt connector.