US1524616A - Spring-tension device for belt buckles and the like - Google Patents

Description

.Jan.27,, 9 5 4 1,524,616

T. C. ERPENBECK SPRING TENSIONDEVICE FOR BELT BUCKLES AND THE LIKE Filed April 14, 1.922

1/ C 'IHI'IH m m I THEODORE C. ER-PENBECK, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

SPRING-TENSION DEVICE FOR BELT BUCKLES AND THE LIKE.

Application filed April 14, 1822.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, THEODORE C. EnrEN- BECK, a citizen of the United States, residing in the city of Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Spring- Tension Devices for Belt Buckles and the like, of which the following is a specification.

' My invention relates to tension devices for use in belt buckles and the like devices employed for supporting the trousers and for other uses similar thereto, and the special object of my present invention is to provide a tension device for such buckle, which is easily and quickly assembled, with the other parts of belt buckles, and one which is adaptable to different styles and makes of belt buckles, and providing a tension means which automatically expands and contracts with the expansion and contraction of the waist in breathing, walking, or other bodily exertions, and adapts itself to the shape and size of the waist, without rigidity or restriction usual with belt buckles not contain ing some tension. means.

Another object. is to provide a tension device which may be easily removed from the buckle frame, and placed upon another buckle frame, or a new spring or parts supplied to replace worn or broken parts at low cost and easily and quickly.

\Vith the foregoing and other objects in view, which are more specifically set forth in the following specifications, my invention consists of the parts and arrangement of parts as hereinafter described and claimed, and while I do not wish to be restricted to the exact details of construction shown herein, yet, for'the purposes of illustrating a. particular embodiment thereof, reference is had to the accompanying drawings, in which like reference characters designate the same parts throughout the several views, and in which, Figure 1 is a plan view of the stem as blanked out and before forming as shown hereafter.

Figure 2 is a sectional view taken along Serial No. 552,751.

Figure 4t shows a variation adapted for attachment to a post on a buckle.

Figure 5 shows a variation adapted to be attached to a buckle in openings provided in the sides of the buckle.

Figure 6 shows another variation also adapted for attachment by inserting in openings in the sides of the buckle, and also provided with an opening for receiving a roller for holding the belt.

Figure 7 shows another variation, in which one end of the stem is shortened, and provided with ears adapted to engage a. slot provided in the stem for receiving said ears, and locking the said parts against diseng agement.

In Figures 1, 2 and 3 of the accompanying drawings, I have shown the style of tension device which I prefer. In this style, I have employed a double stem, folded about the crossbar of the tongue or other buckle, making the construction very strong and impossible to break or displace or disengage. The double stem is formed by stamping out of a thin piece of metal of the general shape as shown at 1 in Figure 1.

The two longitudinal openings 2, 2 are prov vided in the respective ends to receive the rivet hereinafter described, to attach the tension device and buckle attached to it to the belt, while the up-turned tongues 3, at the outer ends of the longitudinal openings are provided to engage and retain the spring hereinafter described upon the said stem after it is introduced thereon as hereinafter described. Midway of the length of the stem 1 I have provided an additional opening as 4 of a suitable size and shape to accommodate the tongue of the tongue buckle whenever my tension device is attached to a tongue buckle.

Whenever it is desired to assemble and attach my said spring tension device to a tongue-buckle, the tongue 6 of the buckle is passed through the opening 4 in said stem, and the said stem 1 is folded about the cross bar 5 of said tongue buckle, with the outer ends equal as shown in Figures 2 and 3, the tongues 8, 3 being directed out-- wardly as shown in Figures 2 and 3. A suitable tension spring as 7 is passed over the free ends of the stem, past the tongues 3, 3, which, engage the outer end of the spring and hold it against disengagement.

My said tension device and buckle are now assembled, and to attach them to the desired belt, the. free ends of the stem 1 with the spring thereon, are inserted between the upper and lower layers 9 and 10 of a tubular belt, and a rivet, as 11 passed through said belt and the openings 2 in the stem above the spring 7 as in Figure 3. This attaches the buckle and spring device securely to the belt, and whenever tension is applied upon the belt in use, the tension upon the beltand rivet is applied against the spring 7, thereby compressing said spring 7, andpermittin belt to yield as required to the tension applied thereto. i 'aenever the tension is released, the spring forces the rivet and belt back to the initial posi on as shown in Fi res 2 and 3.

l have,preterabl y made my spring device as shown in Figures .1, 2 f d 3, as the double stem, folded as shown provides a very light and strong construction, quite impossible to become accidentally disengaged, or to break, as practically the only place it can break is at its middle where it passes around the cross bar 5, and here it is spe cially reinforced by being made of additional width. However, for attachment to some styles of buckles having a post for attachment, l have provided one end of the stem with an eyelet 12, as in Figure 4c, having a narrow extension for engaging and retaining the head of the post against disengagement, the other member of the stem being constructed exactly similar to that shown in Figure 1 above described.

In Figure 5 I have shown another variation in which I have provided roller ends 13 adapted for engagement ,with suitable openings in the sides of the buckle to which it is to be attached. At Figure 6 I have provided still another variation in which one end of the stem is provided witlrroller ends as 14,.and also with a slot as 15, which may be utilized to insert the opening of a hollow roller 18 similar to those employed on roller belt buckles. In Figure 7 I have shown still another variation, in which one end of the stem is short and provided with ears as 16 adapted to engagev and be retained by the slot 17 after the end has been folded about the cross bar 5 of the tongue buckle orother buckle to which it-is attached.

In each of the foregoing variations, the spring 7 is provided similar to Figures 2 and 3, and this is retained in position upon the stem means of the outwardly turned tongue 3, as in Figures Qand 8. Also the spring tension device 1s attached to the belt by passing a rivet, or other fastening means through the belt, and through the longitudinal opening 2 as in Figures 2 and 3, and the operation of the spring; tension is exactly similar in all such variations to that above described in Figures 1, 2 and 3-above.

By employing my tension device in belt buckles, and other similar uses, it provides an elastic ieans for keeping the belt close fitting at all times, without undue restriction. Also, whenever the muscles of the waist expand in breathing, or in movement, the spring tension device permits an extension of the belt to accommodate the increased girth, and whenever such tension is relaxed, as in expelling the breath, or in other movement, the tension device takes up such slack, and adjusts the belt closely about person all times. It will also be seen "t an be adjusted to properly hold the without being too tight when breath l, or after a hearty meal, and that tree from the unhealth'ful obordinary belt which tends to encourage the aldominal muscles to relax and permit t 10 belt to hold up the abdomen in place of the muscles. lt will also be seen that my new tension device is especially valuable for use in all sports as base ball, tennis, etc, as it permits full and free movement of the muscles without the restriction of the rigid belt.

Having thus described my said invention, what I claim, and desire tosecure by Letters Patent, is the followings- 1. In a device of the character described, a stem formed of a single piece of material folded upon itself to provide relatively long spaced parallel portions and bight portion, the bight portion being adapted to embrace the cross bar of afbuckle element, the parallel portions each having a longitudinal slot therein and an outwardly directed ear at the inner end of each slot, a spring embracing the stem and its inner end engaging said ears, and means passing through said slots at the outer ends thereof and engaging the outer end of the spring whereby to prevent displacement of the spring and to secure the buckle element against displacement.

2. In a device of the character described, a stem having alongitudinal slot therein and at the inner end of the slot having an outwardly directed ear, the outer end of the stem being formed for attachment of a buckle element, a spring embracing the stem and at. its inner end-bearing against said ear, a belt enclosing the major portion of the stem, and a device passing through the belt-and through the slot of the stem at the outer end of the-latter and bearing against the outer, end of the spring whereby to secure the stem to the belt and to prevent dislodgment oi? the spring and to secure the buckle element against separation from the stem.

In testimony whereof, I. have hereunto set my hand.

THEODORE C. ERPENBECK.

Witnesses RICHARD A. GREEN, CHESTER W., BR WN.

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