Buckles, and footwear, leather goods, containers, or travel bags having buckles.

Abstract

The present invention relates to a buckle and a shoe or leather product having a buckle for holding a retaining strap (3), the buckle comprising a buckle body (2) having a strap passage (8) for the retaining strap (3), a retaining pin (9), and a strap guide embodied such that the retaining pin (9) is pressed into an opening in the retaining strap (3) even under low tension. The disclosed buckle is complex to operate. The present invention is characterized in that the buckle body (2) comprises a front cover region (4) having a retaining device (6) for the retaining strap (3) and an offset rear underlay region (5), the strap passage (8) being provided in the offset region (15). The strap guide passes over the top of the cover region (4), through the strap passage (8), and under the bottom of the underlay region (5).

Description

Technical Field

[0001]

[0001] The present invention relates to a buckle according to the preamble of claim 1, and to footwear, leather goods, containers, or travel bags having such a buckle.

[0002]

[0002] The present invention relates to a buckle for holding a flat retaining strap, the buckle having a buckle body with a strap passage for the retaining strap, a retaining pin for fixing the retaining strap, and a strap guide for the retaining strap, the strap guide being configured such that the retaining pin is pushed into the opening of the retaining strap even when the tension in the retaining strap is low. The present invention also relates to footwear or leather goods provided with such a buckle.

Background Art

[0003]

[0003] Such a buckle is disclosed in EP0285022A1. This buckle comprises a buckle body having a passage opening as a strap passage for a retaining strap embodied as a flat strap, and the retaining strap can be inserted in the tightening direction through this passage opening. The inserted retaining strap is then fixed by a retaining pin that engages the opening of the retaining strap. The buckle body constitutes a strap guide for receiving the retaining strap in a leading manner, the strap guide being configured such that the retaining pin is pushed into the opening of the retaining strap even in a state where the tension in the retaining strap is low, so that the buckle itself does not come off even when no tension is applied to the retaining strap. A similar solution is shown in Utility Model No. 61194308.

[0004]

[0004] The disclosed buckle has the disadvantages of being relatively thick and having a high design complexity. In addition, attaching the buckle to a leather product by a push button is relatively laborious, and the connection part is subjected to tension, and as a result, there is a risk that the connection area of the leather product will break when used frequently.

[0005]

[0005] Other buckles are disclosed in DE102008050784B3, FR2805132A3, or U.S. Patent No. 8769774(BB). These disclosed buckles feature a typical encircling buckle frame with a central bar, and the retaining strap must pass from below through a front opening positioned parallel to the tightening direction, over the central bar, and then return to the bottom of the buckle frame through an opening positioned behind the central bar. A retaining pin is rotatably mounted on the central bar, or a tightening element is provided to tighten the retaining strap. These buckles often have the disadvantage of being unattractive in design, requiring readjustment of the retaining strap length when unfastened and refastened, and not always being easy to fasten.

[0006]

[0006] Another buckle is described in U.S. Patent No. 4,747,165(A). This buckle is part of a belt having a buckle end having at least one hole and a free end having a series of holes that can fasten the belt at different lengths, and comprises a buckle body supported so as to slide on the buckle end of the belt. A removable auxiliary in the form of a bottle opener having a retaining pin projecting toward the belt is attached to the buckle body, so that the buckle body and the auxiliary constitute a typical buckle. This buckle also requires the belt to be bent several times along the guide as it passes through the passage opening of the auxiliary that forms the bottle opener.

[0007]

[0007] FR1089231A discloses a belt buckle having a buckle body embodied as a rectangle made of thick metal wire. The fastener consists of a simple retaining pin on one side of the rectangle that snaps into the holes of the belt. A drawback is that while the belt can be passed straight through this buckle, it does not provide sufficient security against the belt coming loose from its locked state, as the fastener may bend relative to the belt if there is not enough tension on the belt to maintain tension on the buckle. This is just one example. This specification should disclose the invention clearly and completely so that those skilled in the art can carry out the invention. [Overview of the Initiative] [Problems that the invention aims to solve]

[0008]

[0008] The disclosed buckles are complex in design or cannot be released without adjusting the retaining strap. The present invention improves this by optimizing the strap guide.

[0009]

[0009] The object of the present invention is to create a visually modern and attractive buckle that is inexpensive to manufacture and, in particular with minimal design effort, allows the buckle to be removed from a leather product or footwear together with the retaining strap attached to the buckle, without the retaining strap becoming loose within the buckle. [Means for solving the problem]

[0010]

[0010] According to the present invention, this objective is achieved by the buckle described in claim 1. With respect to leather products, this objective is achieved by the leather product described in claim 12, and with respect to footwear, it is achieved by the footwear described in claim 13. This is just one example. One of the improvements provided by the present invention is that the buckle body comprises a front cover region having a retainer for a retaining strap, and a rear support region provided offset from the front cover region, wherein a strap passage is provided in the offset region, a strap guide passes over the top of the front cover region and through a strap passage below the bottom of the rear support region, and a retaining pin is provided below the rear support region. [Effects of the Invention]

[0011]

[0011] According to the present invention, the buckle body comprises, on the one hand, a front cover region having a retaining device on its upper side for loosely holding a retaining strap, which is usually made of relatively hard leather or plastic, when viewed in the tightening direction, and on the other hand, a rear support region. When the retaining strap is inserted into the strap receiving portion as intended, the rear support region is offset from the front cover region at an angle with respect to the flat side of the retaining strap, particularly at a right angle. The rear support region and the front cover region are connected to each other via an offset region having a strap passage in the form of a passage opening. When in use, the rear underlay region is below the retaining strap and the front cover region is above the retaining strap.

[0012]

[0012] The buckle body is embodied such that the strap guide follows a straight or curved path over the top of the front cover area, passes through the strap passage, and passes under the bottom of the rear support area. Conventional buckles usually require bending a flat strap multiple times, but this can be avoided with the buckle according to the present invention. The retaining pin is provided on the bottom of the rear underlay area, so that the length of the rear underlay area, or the distance from the retaining pin to the passage opening, is selected so that the retaining strap does not fall from the bottom of the rear underlay area and detach from the retaining pin, due to the stability of the retaining strap.

[0013]

[0013] Preferably, the distance between the retaining pin and the passage opening of the strap passage that holds the retaining strap is between 5 mm and a maximum of 25 mm for a retaining strap with a thickness of approximately 2 mm to 5 mm. The purpose of this is to ensure that even when the tensile force on the retaining strap is removed, for example when the buckle to which the retaining strap is attached is removed from the leather product, the connection between the retaining strap and the buckle is maintained, and as a result, the user can connect via the buckle as with a conventional buckle, or by removing the buckle from the leather product.

[0014]

[0014] The distance between the retaining pin and the passage opening required for the above effect depends on the thickness and elasticity of the retaining strap, as well as the guide of the retaining strap in the area of ​​the front cover region. When the retaining strap is held flat on the surface of this front cover region, it can be likened to a cantilever beam fixed on one side from a static or dynamic viewpoint. The length of this cantilever beam is determined by the adjustment range of the buckle fastener, i.e., the length of the portion of the retaining strap that protrudes beyond the retaining pin when adjusted to the narrowest setting. This portion should not protrude a distance longer than the length of the retaining pin from the bottom side of the rear underlay region.

[0015]

[0015] Alternatively, instead of or in addition to a rigid connection, a retaining pin can be used to prevent the retaining strap from coming off the retaining pin by fitting, even if there is no tensile force and the bending stability of the retaining strap is insufficient. For this purpose, the retaining pin may have an abutment portion that is elastically insertable through the passage opening of the retaining strap, but can also hold the retaining pin to the retaining strap without tensile force. Of course, a similar effect can also be achieved by friction-based retention. Ultimately, this depends on the choice of materials and application, and in many cases it is preferable to combine the effects described above.

[0016]

[0016] In principle, the buckles according to the present invention can be used for any purpose that seeks to attach a flat strap to an object. These can be plastic straps, leather straps, or any other possible type of strap, which may have rectangular, elliptical, circular, or other cross-sections. A preferred application is the use of buckles in relation to footwear. The present invention can also be used in relation to other leather products or cloth bags, such as backpacks, bags, and other travel luggage. For example, the material of the body of the carry-on to which the buckle is attached and which is fastened or secured by the buckle is not important. The sole important purpose of the buckle is to hold the strap securely while protecting it. Thus, the buckle can also be used as an alternative for fastening backpack straps.

[0017]

[0017] A preferred application is the use of the buckles according to the present invention in connection with footwear. These include, for example, low shoes, boots, ankle boots, sandals, slippers, mules, or so-called clogs made from leather, plastic, such as polyurethane, or any other material. Here, the buckles according to the present invention are used in particular to fasten retaining straps that pass over and around the instep or heel area of ​​the wearer's foot.

[0018]

[0018] For the above applications, it is desirable that the fastening be as easy as possible. Furthermore, it is often desirable that the length of the retaining strap only needs to be adjusted once, and that the retaining strap can then be loosened or tightened without needing to readjust its length. Finally, especially in relation to fashionable footwear, the buckle should, of course, have an attractive and modern appearance, offer a high degree of design freedom, and be different from typical designs.

[0019]

[0019] Preferably, the buckle is embodied such that the buckle body comprises three functional core regions: a rear support region, a front cover region, and an offset region positioned between them. The rear support region and the front cover region are offset from each other and connected to each other directly or indirectly through the offset region. This means that when viewed from the side, the rear support region and the front cover region are offset from each other. When "front" is referred to in relation to this application, it means the front side of the buckle body as viewed from the direction in which a flat strap is inserted when fastening the buckle.

[0020]

[0020] The front cover region is offset vertically and horizontally from the rear underlay region, allowing the flat strap to be fastened with the buckle to be first pushed under the front cover region. The offset region is provided with a strap passage in the form of a passage opening, and the flat strap is pushed through the strap passage so as to be positioned in the rear underlay region. In a preferred embodiment of the buckle, the front cover region and the rear support region are embodied as flat surfaces provided on offset but parallel planes. This means that the flat strap can be pushed through the buckle body along a straight strap guide.

[0021]

[0021] In particular, in the case of rigid, flat straps, such as plastic, synthetic leather, or genuine leather straps, this eliminates the need to bend the flat strap multiple times, thereby making it easier to thread the flat strap through the buckle body, and preventing damage to the flat strap from repeated bending and / or excessive bending during continuous use of the buckle. Damaged edges often observed in the bent area of ​​a typical buckle, and marks often caused by the central bar of the buckle body, are eliminated by a straight or gently curved strap guide. Even damp or cold leather straps can be threaded through the strap guide much more easily. In addition, a straight or gently curved strap guide along the outer circumference of a leather product, for example, can keep the buckle height low.

[0022]

[0022] The front cover area is positioned flat over a relatively large area of ​​the flat strap used as a retaining strap, so this area can be used to create an attractive design for the buckle. Thus, the buckle can be more than just an aid for fastening the flat strap; it can be a sophisticated and modern design element for leather products. Attractive colors can be used for the base material of the buckle body, or the buckle body can be decorated with additional ornaments and fashionable or reflective finishes.

[0023]

[0023] Furthermore, the buckle can, of course, be made by mixing materials. For this reason, the buckle body may be partially coated for technical reasons such as to create a visual effect, increase friction, or generate reflective properties. However, the buckle body can also be realized in several parts, such as being composed of two or more individual parts. A pure cover may also be placed over the functional part.

[0024]

[0024] In a preferred use, for example, the buckle is used to fasten a leather strap between 2 mm and 5 mm in thickness. A particularly preferred use is for a retaining strap 4 mm thick. However, the buckle can also be sized to adapt the invention for other sizes of retaining straps and other applications. For this purpose, the sizes of the front cover area, the rear underlay area, and the passage opening can be adapted to the thickness of the retaining strap.

[0025]

[0025] The aforementioned applications are typical areas that can be considered, for example, in footwear, belts, or travel bags. In a preferred embodiment for this purpose, the width of the buckle can be based on the width of a flat retaining strap having a rectangular cross-section. However, this is not necessarily the case, and if desired for visual or other reasons, the front cover area can also be embodied to be larger and more prominent.

[0026]

[0026] For example, if a flat strap has a width of 10 mm and the aforementioned thickness, and the dimensions of the buckle are limited to the width required for its function, the front cover area can have a flap, for example, with dimensions from 15 mm to 20 mm in width. The front can be rounded. As described above, the front cover area can be used both for visual appeal and for functional purposes.

[0027]

[0027] The retaining pin is preferably provided on the bottom side of the front cover area, which engages with one of the openings of the flat strap, similar to a typical buckle. This retaining pin can be embodied, for example, in a cylindrical shape and can have a catch portion protruding rearward at its free end. When there is a passage opening in the flat strap, this catch portion engages under the flat strap, thus ensuring the connection. The length of the catch portion is, of course, chosen such that the user can remove the flat strap from the retaining pin by elastically deforming the opening area of the flat strap.

[0028]

[0028] For example, to adjust the length or to completely remove the buckle from the retaining strap embodied as a flat strap, to remove the buckle from the retaining strap, the user tilts the buckle body by lifting the front cover area from the flat strap. Here, the front cover area can be used as an easy-to-grip tab. However, the user usually completely removes the buckle to release it from being fastened by the buckle. For this purpose, the buckle is detachably held by a latch connection to a carrier, such as a leather product. This latch connection can be constituted by a retaining means receiver provided in the rear underlay area of the buckle body, which interacts with a snap pin of the carrier on which the buckle is provided and by which the carrier is held or fastened.

[0029]

[0029] In a preferred embodiment, the retaining means receiver is a passage opening in the rear underlay area. This rear underlay area is located between the carrier, such as a footwear, and the retaining strap, and when the buckle is fastened, the retaining means receiver is only visible at its edge, if even seemingly, so as to be covered by the retaining strap. This passage opening is designed to form a snap-in receiver. This can be achieved by conventional means, and in particular, the material of the buckle body can be made elastic, at least in the area of the retaining means receiver. Instead of this, the snap-in pin can of course also be made elastic.

[0030]

[0030] A particularly preferred, permanently stable and user-friendly embodiment of the latch connection between the buckle body and the carrier is constituted by a rigid snap pin and the passage opening in the rear underlay area. This passage opening in the rear underlay area allows, on the one hand, the pin to be inserted without substantially contacting it, due to its inherent elasticity and shape, and on the other hand, subsequently, to lock the pin in the rear underlay area by moving the buckle body at right angles to the insertion direction of the pin. This passage opening can be provided, for example, in the shape of an "8", i.e., an ellipse with a constriction in the central part.

[0031]

[0031] In the central constricted area, the edge region of the passage opening is elastic, and as a result, when the buckle body is moved relative to the pin, the constricted area is subjected to a spring load by the pin, providing a locking effect. The pin may have, for example, an outwardly projecting plate-shaped or cap-shaped upper cover region. In this embodiment, the passage opening region on one side of the constricted area is large enough for the pin with the cover region to pass through with slight deformation or without contact, while on the other side of the constricted area, the passage opening is large enough to accommodate only the base body of the pin, but the upper outwardly projecting cover region overlaps with the rear underlay region to form a mating connection.

[0032]

[0032] In the above embodiment, the user can move the buckle body longitudinally relative to the pin, overcoming the locking force, and detach the buckle body and the end of the retaining strap held therein from the item being carried, such as footwear. When the buckle is reattached to the pin, the same length setting is maintained, and as a result there is no need to readjust the length of the retaining strap or to avoid accidentally overtightening the retaining strap when reattaching it.

[0033]

[0033] Further fields of application and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following description of preferred embodiments with reference to the drawings. It should be understood that the descriptions of the whole and specific embodiments herein are for illustrative purposes only and are not intended to limit the scope of the invention.

[0034] [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0034] [Figure 1]

[0035] This is a diagram of a foot object according to the present invention. [Figure 2]

[0036] Figure 1 is a side view of the footwear. [Figure 3]

[0037] This is a detailed view of section "Z" in Figure 1. [Figure 4]

[0038] Figures 1 to 3 are three-dimensional diagrams of footwear buckles. [Figure 5] Figure 4 shows a bottom view of the buckle as seen from the footwear side. [Figure 6] Figures 4 and 5 are top views of the buckle. [Figure 7] Figures 4 to 6 are side views of the buckle. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0035]

[0039] Figure 1 shows footwear 1 in the form of a so-called cloq according to the present invention, which may be made of polyurethane, for example, but of course, it does not necessarily have to be. Footwear 1 includes a rear strap 3 that covers the rear area of ​​the wearer's heel and is fastened by a buckle according to the present invention. Figure 2 is a view of footwear 1 shown in Figure 1 from the opposite side. It can be seen that the retaining strap 3 is articulatedly connected to footwear 1 on the side shown in Figure 2 by a strap hinge 14.

[0036]

[0040] On the opposite side shown in Figure 1, detachable fastening is achieved by the buckle according to the present invention. The fastening by the buckle is shown in detail in an enlarged view as Z in Figure 3. Figures 4 to 7 individually show the buckle without the retaining strap 3.

[0037]

[0041] As can be seen in particular from Figure 4, the buckle comprises a buckle body 2 having a rear underlay region 5 and a front cover region 4. The two regions are directly connected to each other via an offset region 15, which is composed of two lateral supports connecting the outside of the front cover region 4 and the outside of the rear underlay region 5. As a result, a strap passage 8 is formed in the form of a rectangular passage opening when viewed from the front end of the retaining strap 3, and this passage 8 is bounded by the supports, the rear edge of the front cover region 45, and the front edge of the rear underlay region 5.

[0038]

[0042] The front cover region 4 and the rear underlay region 5 are embodied as flat surface regions on planes parallel to each other. This is not necessarily required, and the invention can also be implemented in curved regions, which is often determined by the shape of the retaining strap 3 when the buckle is fastened. When the buckle body 2 and the retaining strap 3 are in contact with a curved surface when the buckle is in use, the buckle body 2 is preferably embodied such that the front cover region 4 and the rear underlay region 5 conform to the curvature of the contact surface. As a result, damage to the retaining strap 3 or deterioration of its appearance is avoided, as repeated bending or reduction of the radius of curvature and the pulling of the retaining strap 3 when it is passed through the buckle body 2 (tension is applied to the retaining strap 3 in a typical buckle) are avoided.

[0039]

[0043] In the embodiments shown in Figures 1 to 3, the buckle body 2 may be embodied as a flat surface having a horizontal plane. The thickness of the front cover area 4 and the rear underlay area 5 depends on the expected mechanical load and the material used, and can be between 2 mm and 5 mm, for example, when a plastic buckle is used to fasten the retaining strap 3 of a shoe 1.

[0040]

[0044] In the design shown in Figure 4, the retaining strap 3 can be inserted into the buckle along the bottom of the front cover area 4, the top of the rear underlay area 5, and the straight strap guide that forms the strap passage 8. As can be seen in Figures 5 and 7, the retaining pin 9 is located on the bottom of the rear underlay area 5. When the buckle is fastened, this retaining pin 9 engages with a recess in the form of the passage opening of the retaining strap 3, as can be seen in Figures 1 and 3. The retaining pin 9 has a basic cylindrical shape with a rearward-projecting hook portion 10 at its free end.

[0041]

[0045] The retaining pin 9 can be elastically but snugly connected to the retaining strap 3 by the hook portion 10. For this purpose, the hook portion 10 is sized to allow the retaining strap 3 to be pulled away from the retaining pin 9 by elastically deforming the edge region of each passage opening of the retaining strap 3. To do this, the user grasps, pushes, or pulls the front cover region 4 away from the retaining strap 3. This can be done by pulling the front cover region 4 to tilt the buckle body 2, or by pushing down on the retaining strap 3 while holding the buckle body 2 in place.

[0042]

[0046] In the rear underlay region 5, the buckle body 2 includes a retaining device 6 in the form of a bracket that protrudes upward from the edge region of the rear underlay region 5. The retaining strap 3 is pressed under this retaining device 6. This, along with the cover in the front cover region 4, holds the retaining strap 3 in the strap guide.

[0043]

[0047] The retaining device 6 can also be designed to appear in any desired manner to make the buckle body 2 more attractive. For example, the retaining device 6 can cover the entire area of ​​the rear support region 5, and as a result, the rear support region 5 can also be embodied in the form of an insertion sleeve in this case. The front end of the retaining strap 3 is then inserted into this insertion sleeve, which is closed at the front, and becomes invisible. Alternatively, the retaining device 6 can also consist only of a larger plate area that covers the upper side of the retaining strap 3, which, like the front cover region 4, can be painted and decorated.

[0044]

[0048] The embodiment of the pressing device 6 described above, when combined with the embodiment of the corresponding front cover area 4, enables additional visual effects. For example, the visual effect of a plug / socket connection can be achieved by molding or printing two surfaces, or the visual effect of two outstretched hands can be achieved by appropriately designing the surfaces. Of course, these surfaces can also be used purely as advertising space to display, for example, the brand name of the manufacturer of footwear 1, or the company name in the case of work clothes. These surfaces can also be used as signal surfaces, particularly those with a reflective surface.

[0045]

[0049] The buckle body 2 is connected to the footwear 1 by a retaining mechanism receiver 7 shown in Figures 4, 5, and 6. The retaining mechanism receiver 7 has a shape characterized by two round passage openings offset from each other in the longitudinal direction of the buckle body 2. These openings are offset from each other such that there is a constriction in the transition area between the openings. The smaller of the two openings shown at the bottom of Figures 5 and 6 is slightly larger in dimensions than the pin provided for securing the buckle body 2 to the footwear 1.

[0046]

[0050] The pin of the footwear 1 preferably has an abutment rim in the upper region, which covers the outer region of the smaller passage opening when the buckle is fastened. The second opening of the retaining means receiving portion 7 shown in Figures 5 and 6 above is sized to allow a pin having an abutment rim, which may be formed by a rim protruding around the upper end of the pin, to pass through the opening easily without contact. In this way, the pin can be easily inserted into the upper opening, and then, when the buckle body 2 is in the orientation shown in Figures 5 and 6, the buckle body 2 is pushed upward so that the pin passes through the constriction between the two openings and engages with and is held in place by the smaller opening.

[0047]

[0051] The constricted portion of the retaining means receiving portion 7 is selected to provide sufficient locking force on the one hand, and to be elastically displaceable by the pin on the other hand. The latter depends on the elasticity of the edge region of the retaining means receiving portion 7, or the material of the rear underlay region 5 of the buckle body 2. In the illustrated embodiment, the buckle body 2 is made of a rigid plastic material. This can be, for example, polypropylene or ABS material. Alternatively, the buckle body 2 can be made from any other rigid plastic or metal.

[0048]

[0052] When the buckle body 2 is made of a rigid material, in the embodiments shown in Figures 4 to 7, a spring slot 13 is provided adjacent to the edge of the retaining means receiving portion 7 to give the locking mechanism the necessary elasticity. The resulting gap creates a thin spiderweb-like structure on the edge of the retaining means receiving portion 7, which can be displaced outward by the pin and then elastically spring back.

[0049]

[0053] Figures 4, 5, 6, and 7 further illustrate the surface finish of the buckle body 2 in the areas of the strap support portion 11 and the grip portion 12. The strap support portion 11 may have both raised and recessed portions, which may be for visual reasons or may serve a functional purpose. For example, protruding spikes or ribs can increase friction between the retaining strap 3 and the buckle body 2. The opposite effect can be achieved by recesses. On the other hand, the grip portion 12 can make it easier for the user's fingers to grasp the buckle body 2.

[0050]

[0054] Figure 7 shows, in particular, the shape of the retaining spike 9 having a hook portion 10 located at its lower end, which penetrates the retaining strap 3, indicated by the dotted line, and engages with its underside. In the orientation of the buckle body 2 shown in the figure, the tensile force is to the right, so when the footwear 1 is worn, the hook portion 10 engages under the retaining strap 3, thereby enhancing the fixing effect. When this tensile force is removed, the retaining strap 3 can be pulled out from the retaining pin 9 within its elastic limit.

[0051]

[0055] In addition to, or as an alternative to, the hook portion 10, magnetic force can also be used to hold the front region of the retaining strap 3 to the buckle body 2, particularly under the front cover region 4, and thus prevent the buckle from loosening. For this purpose, magnets can be incorporated into the buckle body 2, or, if the buckle body 2 is made of metal, the buckle body 2 can be embodied as a magnetic material. The retaining strap 3 can also be magnetized, for example, by a metal core or other metallic element. Furthermore, magnetic force can also be used to facilitate threading.

[0052]

[0056] The present invention has been described in the context of the illustrations, using preferred applications of footwear and the clock shown in Figure 1, which may include plastics, such as polyurethane, but is not limited to these applications. The above description and the individual features of the claims can also be combined independently of each other in advantageous embodiments.

[0053]

[0057] By attaching the retaining strap to the buckle and securing the pin positioned on the shoe with the retaining means receiving portion 7 of the buckle body 2, a long service life can be achieved regardless of material by adjusting the dimensions of the retaining means receiving portion 7, as well as the pin and its attachment to the shoe, to withstand the load. This, of course, also applies to all other uses of the buckle, which can be used not only for the illustrated use of holding the retaining strap to the body, but also, for example, to hold the carrying strap of a backpack or to fasten any kind of container. For example, the carrying strap or other fastening device may constitute the retaining strap, or alternatively, the retaining strap may be provided and fastened to these elements as part of a fastening portion or holder.

[0054]

[0058] Where the term “about” is used herein, it indicates a tolerance that would be considered standard by those skilled in the art. In particular, the term “about” should be understood as a tolerance of up to ±20 percent, preferably ±10 percent.

[0055]

[0059] Features described in connection with the description of embodiments or drawings may also be implemented independently of other features of these embodiments or features shown in the drawings, and may be the subject of an independent invention.

[0056]

[0060] It is understood that the descriptions and specific examples are for illustrative purposes only and are not intended to limit the scope of the invention. [Industrial applicability]

[0057]

[0061] This invention relates to the manufacture and use of a novel nut for use in any technical field. [Explanation of Symbols]

[0058] 1. Footwear 2 Buckle body 3. Retaining straps 4. Front cover area of ​​the buckle body 5. Rear underlay area of ​​the buckle body 6. Retaining device 7. Retaining device holder 8 Belt aisle 9 Retaining pins 10. The part that catches 11 Belt support section 12 Grip Area 13 spring slots 14. Strap attachment point 15. Offset area of ​​the buckle body

Claims

1. Buckles, particularly for leather goods, other travel bags, or footwear, for holding a retaining strap (3) which is embodied in a flat strap having flat sides, The strap passage (8) for the retaining strap (3) has a through opening into which the retaining strap (3) can be inserted in the tightening direction, A retaining pin (9) for securely engaging with the opening of the retaining strap (3), A strap guide for receiving the retaining strap (3), wherein the retaining pin (9) is pushed into the opening of the retaining strap (3) even when the tension of the retaining strap (3) is low, and The buckle body (2) has the following A buckle characterized in that the buckle body (2) has a front cover region (4) when viewed in the tightening direction, a retaining device (6) for holding the retaining strap (3) on the upper side of the front cover region (4), and a rear support region (5) offset from the front cover region (4) perpendicular to the flat side of the retaining strap (3) when the retaining strap (3) is inserted into the strap receiving portion as intended, and the passage opening constituting the strap passage (8) is positioned in an offset region (15) that connects the front cover region (4) to the rear underlay region (5) connected by a provided shift region, and the buckle body (2) is embodied such that the strap guide follows a straight or curved path under the bottom side of the rear underlay region (5), passes through the belt passage (8), covers the upper side of the front cover region (4), and the retaining pin (9) is provided on the bottom side of the rear underlay region (5).

2. The buckle according to claim 1, characterized in that the front cover region (4) and the rear underlay region (5) are realized to be flat, are provided on two planes parallel to each other, and are offset from each other by a distance between 3 mm and 15 mm, preferably between 5 mm and 10 mm.

3. The buckle according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the retaining device (6) is formed by a bracket provided on the upper side of the front underlay region (4), and the retaining strap (3) can slide under the retaining device (6).

4. The buckle according to claim 3, wherein the retaining device (6) comprises a bridge region having a straight bottom side facing the upper side of the front cover region (4), and the distance between the bottom side of the bridge region and the upper side of the front cover region (4) corresponds to the gap height of the strap passage (8) perpendicular to the tightening direction, and the offset between the plane on which the front cover region (4) is provided and the plane on which the rear underlay region (5) is provided.

5. The buckle according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the retaining pin (9) extends downward from the bottom side of the rear underlay region (5), and when the retaining strap (3) is inserted, the retaining pin body, particularly a cylindrical retaining pin body, passes through the opening of the retaining strap (3), and a hook portion (10) is positioned at the free end of the locking body and protrudes in the direction of the front cover region (4).

6. The buckle according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the buckle body (2) is made integrally from metal or plastic, the front cover region (4) and the rear underlay region (5) are made of two flat plates, and the connection offset region (15) is made of two connection support portions (16) that together with the rear edge of the front cover region (4) and the front edge of the rear support region (5) form the strap passage (8).

7. The buckle according to any one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that the front cover region (4) is provided with fixing means for fixing the buckle body (2) to its surface.

8. The buckle according to claim 7, characterized in that the fixing means is configured in part by a retaining means receiving portion (7) in the form of a passage opening or insertion groove for inserting a retaining pin in a snap-in manner.

9. The buckle according to any one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that the retaining means receiving portion (7) is configured by a passage opening having a central constriction, a pin having an abutment edge protruding laterally at its upper end can be inserted into a first region, and then the buckle can be displaced relative to the pin by overcoming the locking force given by the constriction, such that the pin covering the edge of the retaining means receiving portion (7) enters a second region opposite to the constriction and is held there in a locked state.

10. The buckle according to claim 8 or 9, characterized in that, in order to enhance the elastic deformability of the retaining means receiving portion (7), a spring slot (13) is provided around the retaining means receiving portion (7) at a distance of less than 10 mm from the retaining means receiving portion (7) and extending at least to one side, preferably both sides.

11. The buckle according to any one of claims 1 to 10, characterized in that the buckle body (2) comprises a non-slip grip area (12) having a plurality of raised areas, particularly outside the offset area (15) and provided around the offset area (15).

12. A leather product, container, or travel bag having the buckle according to any one of claims 1 to 11.

13. Footwear (1) comprising a buckle according to any one of claims 1 to 11, characterized in that it is particularly embodied as an ankle boot, boot, ankle bootie, sandal, slipper, or mule.

14. The footwear (1) according to claim 13, wherein the footwear (1) comprises a retaining strap (3) that passes over the instep or heel area of ​​the wearer's foot, the retaining strap (3) is hinged on one side to one side of the footwear (1) by a strap hinge (14), and can be fastened at the opposite end using a buckle located on the other side of the footwear (1) and detachably connected to the footwear (1) by a pin attached to the footwear (1).

15. The leather product, container, or travel bag according to claim 12, or the footwear (1) according to claim 13, or the footwear (1) according to claim 14, characterized in that the strap passage (8) has a gap width and / or gap height that is at most 4 mm, preferably at most 2 mm, larger than the width or thickness of the retaining strap (3).

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