Two part buckle

Claim 1

A two part overcenter buckle suitable for attachment to the free end of belting to fasten the ends together including: a first buckle member having a base, a pair of buckle sides mounted on opposite edges of the base each of the buckle sides having hook members formed in the sides of the first buckle member, a rectangular slot formed in each buckle side with the longitudinal axis being approximately parallel to the base member, a sliding retention bar extending transversely across the first buckle member with each end of the retention bar having one end mounted within the slot and adapted for movement along the slot, a jam bar having one end attached to each of the sides and extending transversely across the first buckle member near one end of the slot so that the sliding bar can be moved to a belt retaining position, at least one detent formed on the end of the first buckle member nearest the jam bar; and a second buckle member having a pair of complimentary arms permanently joined so the arms are maintained in a spaced parallel configuration, stub shafts are mounted near one end of the second buckle member, the stub shafts being formed so as to extend inward from the sides of the second buckle member and to engage the hook members and allow rotation of the second buckle member when engaged, means for permanently attaching one end of a belt to the second buckle member, a T-shaped spring member having one leg fixed in the second buckle member and having an arm extending transversely across the second buckle member with the ends of the arm moveably mounted in the sides of the second buckle member located at the end of the second buckle member opposite to the second retention means, and adapted to engage the detent on the first buckle member when the first and second buckle members are in a closed position.