Single-Piece Belt Buckle with Open-Back Strap Insertion
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing belt buckle designs are typically constructed as closed loops with multiple pieces and moving parts, preventing the strap from being easily inserted from below, which complicates the manufacturing process and user interaction.
Innovation Solution
A single-piece belt buckle design with a proximal section, middle section, and distal section, where the proximal section engages the strap with a hook region, the middle section passes around the strap from the back to the front, and the distal section engages a hole on the strap, allowing the strap to enter from below and providing secure attachment.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a closed loop buckle design is used, then the buckle provides structural strength and stability, but the strap cannot be inserted from below and the design requires multiple pieces and moving parts
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges multiple separate buckle components into a single integrated piece. The buckle comprises a body portion and a strap engagement portion formed as one continuous structure, eliminating the need for separate loops, pins, or moving parts while maintaining the ability to secure the strap effectively.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent inverts the traditional closed-loop buckle design by creating an open-backed buckle where the strap can be inserted from below. Instead of requiring the strap to pass through a closed loop from the front, the open back allows the strap to be fed upward from beneath the buckle, reversing the conventional insertion direction.
2Ease of manufacture
If a single piece buckle design is used, then manufacturing is simplified, but the buckle must still provide secure strap retention without moving parts
Solution Approach 1:
The patent incorporates a movable tongue element within the single-piece buckle structure. The tongue can move relative to the buckle body, allowing it to engage and disengage from the strap. This dynamic element provides secure retention while maintaining the single-piece construction, as the movement is achieved through elastic deformation or pivoting of integrated components rather than separate moving parts.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent utilizes elastic deformation of the buckle material to create a spring-loaded engagement mechanism. The buckle body or tongue is designed with elastic properties that allow it to flex during strap insertion and then maintain constant contact pressure on the strap, ensuring reliable retention without requiring additional fastening components.
3Adaptability or versatility
If traditional buckle designs are used, then the buckle structure is well-established, but the design does not allow strap access from below and requires complex assembly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the buckle functionality into distinct zones within a single piece: a body portion for structural support, an open back for strap access, and a strap engagement portion for securing the belt. This functional segmentation allows each area to perform its specific role while maintaining overall structural integrity and simplifying the manufacturing process.
Data Source
AI summary
A belt and belt buckle design that opens to the front where the strap enters the belt buckle from below. The buckle is made from a single buckle member that is formed and that uses force and/or guidance from the buckle to hold the belt in place. The buckle has a hook region to support the strap of the belt and has a body passing around the strap from the back region of the strap to the front region of the strap.