Buckle

Claim 2

A buckle for securing together two objects; a male member connected to one of said objects and a female member connected to the other of said objects; said male member having a first cutout; a male flexible portion located over said first cutout and hinged to one side of said cutout for movement in said cutout; a rigid locking bar located at another side of said cutout; said female member having a second cutout; a female flexible part located over said second cutout and hinged to one edge of said second cutout for movement in said second cutout; said female flexible part having a bar engaging edge located opposite said locking bar when said members are in position to lock said buckle, said female part being moved by said flexible male portion to move said engaging edge away from said locking bar.

Claim 3

A buckle as defined in claim 1; said engaging edge having a projection thereon for contacting said locking bar and maintaining said edge opposite said locking bar when said members are in the locked position.

Claim 4

A buckle as defined in claim 1; said female member comprising front and back plates having a slot therebetween for guiding the insertion of said male member into said female member, said locking bar being moved in said slot past said engaging edge into buckle locking position.

Claim 5

A buckle as defined in claim 3 wherein said objects comprise the ends of a belt; opposite openings in said front and back plates; an attaching member inserted through said slot and into a passage formed by said opening; a belt slot in said attaching member; and one end of said belt being passed around one end of said attaching member and through said belt slot so that movement of said attaching member binds said belt end between said attaching member and at least one of said plates of said female member and thereby maintains the length of the belt.

Claim 6

A buckle as defined in claim 4; a handle on another end of said attaching member for moving said belt slot in said passage to permit adjustment of belt length.

Claim 7

A buckle for securing together the two ends of a belt comprising; a male member connected to one end of the belt and a female member attachable to the other end of the belt; said male member comprising a plate having an opening therein and a rigid locking bar at one side of said opening; a flexible male portion located over said opening and hinged to said male member at an edge of said opening opposite said bar; said female member comprising front and back plates spaced apart to form a slot therebetween; said front plate having a cutout for access to said male flexible portion; a cutout in said back plate; a female flexible part located over said cutout and hinged to said back plate at an edge of said cutout; an edge of said female part opposite said hinge edge for engaging said bar and locking said buckle; said male flexible portion overlying said female flexible part when said members are in locked position with said rigid bar opposite said engaging edge; and downward movement of said flexible male portion moving said engaging edge of said female flexible part away from said rigid bar to permit said male member to be removed from said female member.

Claim 8

A buckle for securing together the two ends of a belt comprising; a male member connected to one end of the belt and a female member attachable to the other end of the belt; said male member comprising a plate having an opening therein and a rigid locking bar at one side of said opening; a flexible male portion located over said opening and hinged to said male member at an edge of said opening opposite said bar; said female member comprising front and back plates spaced apart to form a slot therebetween; said front plate having a cutout for access to said male flexible portion; a cutout in said back plate; a female flexible part located over said cutout and hinged to said back plate at an edge of said cutout; an edge of said female part opposite said hinge edge for engaging said bar and locking said buckle; said male flexible portion overlying said female flexible part when said members are in locked position with said rigid bar opposite said engaging edge; and downward movement of said flexible male portion moving said engaging edge of said female flexible part away from said rigid bar to permit said male member to be removed from said female member.

Claim 9

A buckle as defined in claim 6; a projection on said engaging edge of said female flexible part for engagement with said bar and holding said engaging edge opposite said bar after said male member is inserted through said slot into locking position.

Claim 10

A buckle as defined in claim 6; opposite openings in said front and back plates providing a passage through said female member; an attaching member inserted through said slot and into said passage; a belt slot in said attaching member; and one end of said belt being passed around one end of said attaching member and through said belt slot so that movement of said attaching member binds said belt end between said attaching member and at least one of said plates of said female member and thereby maintains the length of the belt.

Claim 11

A buckle as defined in claim 8; a handle on another end of said attaching member for moving said belt slot in said passage to permit adjustment of belt length.