Spring-loaded belt keeper

Claim 1

A removable keeper for clamping the overlying portions of one or more belts or the like, the keeper comprising an integral strip of resilient material including an elongated front leg, a top leg at one end of the front leg, a bottom leg at the other end of the front leg, the top leg and the bottom leg each extending transversely relative to and away from the same side of the front leg, the top and bottom legs having remove ends spaced laterally from the front leg, an elongated latch-carrying leg at the remote end of the top leg extending transversely to the top leg and downwardly toward the bottom leg to a remote end spaced from the top leg, the length of the latch-carrying leg being a major portion of the length of the front leg, an elongated detent-carrying leg at the remote end of the bottom leg extending transversely to the bottom leg and upwardly toward the top leg to a remote end spaced from the bottom leg, a loop formed at the remote end of the latch-carrying leg and facing away from the front leg for providing a rounded, elongated latch member, a loop formed at the remote end of the detent-carrying leg and facing toward the front leg for providing a rounded, elongated detent member having a rounded undErsurface spaced above the bottom leg, the latch member and detent member being positioned relative to each other so that the rounded surface of the latch member can be releasably engaged with the rounded undersurface of the detent member in a snap-fit, the latch-carrying leg being longer than the minimum distance between the detent member and the top leg, and being normally curved away from the front leg when the keeper is in its unlocked position such that when the latch member is engaged with the detent member in a snap-fit to lock the keeper, the latch-carrying leg is held in a position bowed inwardly toward the front leg to apply pressure to the overlying belt portions to which the keeper is applied.