US3606648A - Fastening strap and buckle - Google Patents

Abstract

A RUBBERLIKE SWIM FIN OR FACE MASK HAS INTEGRAL BUCKLES FORMED THEREON AND A RUBBER LIKE RIDGES STRAP HAS OPPOSITE RIDGED ENDS THREADED THROUGH THE BUCKLES SO THAT THE RIDGES MAKE LOCKING ENGAGEMENT WITH THE BUCKLES AND WITH EACH OTHER.

Description

Sept. 21, 1971 M. SCHULER 3, 0

' FASTENING STRAP AND BUCKLE Filed Oct. 8, 1969 FIG.I

INVENTOR MANFRED SC ULER ATTORNEY United States Patent US. Cl. 24-16PB 2 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A rubberlike swim fin or face mask has integral buckles formed thereon and a rubber like ridged strap has opposite ridged ends threaded through the buckles so that the ridges make locking engagement with the buckles and with each other.

This invention relates to improved strap and buckle fastening means for articles of wear such as swim fins and face masks constructed from molded resilient material such as natural or synthetic rubber or plastic.

It is an object of this invention to provide an improved strap and buckle fastening means for articles such as swim fins and face masks which is low cost, adjustable, self locking, and which requires no separate components such as wire buckles, snap fasteners, or the like.

Briefly, in the invention the buckles are integrally formed from the article material and the strap is ridged and threaded through the buckles to make locking engagement with the buckles and itself.

The invention may be best understood by reference to the following description taken in connection with the accompanying single sheet of patent drawing in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the invention as embodied in a swim face mask; and

FIG. 2 is an enlarged sectional view taken through the buckle area of the face mask.

The drawing illustrates a swim face mask having a main or body portion having a glass or other suitable transparent material front window 11. The mask is constructed from resilient like material such as natural or synthetic rubber or plastic in a manner which is well known in the art. Opposite sides of the mask have integral buckles 12 formed thereon. The buckles 12 comprises two cross bars 13 and 14 which are spaced from the mask body 10 by a pair of end notches 15 and 16 and from each other by a central notch 17. The cross bars 13 and 14 are connected to each other and the mask body 10 by two end pieces 18.

Opposite ends of a strap 19 has transverse spaced ridges 20 formed thereon. The strap is constructed from a material similar to that of the face mask. Its opposite ends are threaded through the buckles 12 in the manner illustrated in FIG. 1 and then drawn up tight as shown in FIG. 2. Briefly, the strap is threaded beneath bars 13 and 14 through the end notches 15 and 16 and then turned over on itself and then threaded over bar 14 by inserting it through center notch 17 and beneath bar 15 and then out through end notch 15. In this position of the parts the ridges 20 make locking engagement with the cross bar 14 and with each other beneath the cross bar 13 so that the face mask is securely fastened to the face of the wearer.

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The depth of the notch 15, that is, the spacial distance of the cross bar 13 from the mask body 10 is just sufficient to receive the double thickness of the strap when the ridges of one layer of the strap are nested in the spaces of the other layer. This situation is shown in FIG. 2. In other words, the end notch 15 closely receives the double layer of strap so that the ridges are interlocked. At the front or right hand end of the buckle the spacing between cross bar 14 and the mask body 10 is smaller still. Thus, in threading the strap through the buckle its tip has to be grasped with the fingernails to pull it through the notch 16. Then in threading its tip back through notch 15 this is best accomplished by inserting the strap tip part way into the notch 15 and then pulling back in a left hand direction on the strap which will carry the tip along with it through the notch 15.

What is claimed as new and desired to be secured by Letters Patent of the United States is:

1. An article of manufacture including a fastening strap and buckle for connecting the article to a part of the users body, said article being constructed from a molded rubber like material, said buckle being integrally formed on said article from said material and including two cross bars spaced from the body of said article and from each other by two end notches and a center notch, said strap being constructed from a material similar to said article material, an end of said strap being threaded between said cross bars and said article through said two end notches and then turned over on itself and threaded over one of said cross bars and through said center notch to underlie the other cross bar, said threaded strap end having a plurality of spaced flat crested transverse ridges formed thereon, said ridges being sized and spaced such that when the strap is turned over on itself the tops of the ridges are flush with the bottoms of the spaces therebetween and said other cross bar being spaced from the article a predetermined distance such that when the strap is threaded through the buckle and back on itself the two layers of the strap are closely held between the article and said other cross bar.

2. In a fastening strap and buckle as in claim 1, wherein said article has a pair of said buckles, one disposed on each of the opposite sides thereof, and each of the opposite ends of said strap have said ridges formed thereon and are threaded through said pair of buckles to retain said article in place on a part of the body of a user of said article.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,430,881 11/1947 Lehmberg 2l4D 2,979,728 4/1961 Amundsen 2-14D 3,112,496 12/1963 Dritz 2417AX 3,365,754 l/l968 Geisinger 24-l6PB DONALD A. GRIFFIN, Primary Examiner US. Cl. X.R. 2-l4D

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