[0001] This invention relates to a belt connector used mainly as part of a baby holder for
carrying a baby in front of the user, more particularly to a belt connector wherein
a male member and a female member of a buckle are attached to the opposite ends of
a belt passed over a shoulder or around the neck or waist of the user for enabling
one end of the belt to be releasably connected with the other by engaging the male
and female members.
[0002] Figure 5 is a perspective view showing a baby holder in use. The baby holder comprises
a belt 1 passed over a shoulder of the user, a belt connector 2 connecting the opposite
ends of the belt 1, a seat 3 and a shoulder pad 4 provided on the belt 1, and a back
support 5 provided a little above the seat 3 in the manner of a tie.
[0003] For comfortable seating of the baby, the seat 3 provided on the belt 1 is preferably
made wider than the belt 1. The seat 3 is constituted as a bag closed by a fastener
6 and can also be used as a waist bag. The bag is constituted to have a broad upper
surface and the ends of the belt 1 are attached thereto, by sewing for example. If
the ends of the belt 1 are sewn to the bag, it is preferable to make the belt wide
at the portions sewn to the bag and to sew these portions to opposite edge portions
of the bag. The seating surface of the bag can be made more comfortable by padding
it with a cushioning material. In this case, the fastness of the attachment between
the belt 1 and the bag can be increased by sewing the belt 1 to the interior of the
bag, namely at portions inward of the seating surface.
[0004] The belt 1 is formed into a closed loop by connecting its opposite ends 1a, 1b through
the belt connector 2. The connector 2 comprises two connectable/disconnectable buckle
members, namely a male member and a female member. A cover or sheet protector is provided
over the connector 2 for preventing the buckle from being unintentionally released.
[0005] However, the provision of such a protector does not completely eliminate the possibility
of accidental buckle release. Since recent buckles have plastic male and female members
designed to be released by a one-touch operation, there is a risk of buckle release
owing to breakage or fatigue of the engaging portions. When such an unexpected buckle
release occurs, the baby is likely to fall and be injured.
[0006] This invention was accomplished in light of the foregoing circumstances and aims
at providing a belt connector capable of maintaining the connection even if an engaging
portion should release contrary to the intention of the user.
[0007] For achieving this object, the invention provides a belt connector comprising
a buckle having a male member for fastening to a first end of a belt and a female
member for fastening to a second end of the belt,
a first auxiliary belt having a first end fastened to the first end of said belt and
overlying the buckle when the buckle is engaged, and
a releasable security clasp having one end fastened to a second end of the first auxiliary
belt and another end fastened to the second end of said belt.
[0008] The security clasp can be a buckle member having engageable male and female members.
The member of the buckle fastened to the first end of the belt is preferably provided
with belt length adjustment means and with a slot for fastening the first auxiliary
belt so that the first auxiliary belt can be fastened to the one end of the belt through
the member of the buckle by attachment at the slot.
[0009] Since the belt connector connects a belt into a closed loop by the engagement of
the male and female members of the buckle and also by the engagement of the security
clasp, even if the buckle, for instance, should release, the closed loop can still
be maintained by the security clasp fastened to the auxiliary belt, which remains
engaged. When the belt connector is applied to the belt of a baby holder, therefore,
falling of the baby can be reliably prevented.
[0010] When the belt connector according to the invention is applied to the belt of a baby
holder, the provision of the belt length adjustment means on the buckle male or female
member fastened to one end of the belt, the effective length of the belt can be adjusted
to the body of the user and so as to position the seat at the level that is least
tiring. Since one end of the first auxiliary belt is fastened to the slot in the male
or female member of the buckle, moreover, the security clasp or the male and female
members constituting the security clasp can be engaged while the length of the first
auxiliary belt is maintained the same even after the effective length of the belt
has been adjusted.
[0011] The above and other objects and features of the present invention will become apparent
from the following description made with reference to the drawings.
[0012] Figure 1 is a plan view of the belt connector according to the invention showing
its buckle and its security clasp in the released state.
[0013] Figure 2 is a side view, partially in section, showing the engaged state of the buckle
and the security clasp of Figure 1.
[0014] Figure 3 is a perspective view showing the engaged state of another embodiment of
the buckle usable in the belt connector according to the invention.
[0015] Figure 4 is a perspective view showing the buckle of Figure 3 in the released state.
[0016] Figure 5 is a perspective view showing the belt connector applied to a baby holder.
[0017] Figure 1 is a plan view of a belt connector 2 which is a first embodiment of the
invention showing its buckle 11 and its security clasp 21 in the released state and
Figure 2 is a side view, partially in section, showing the engaged state of the buckle
11 and the security clasp 21. Similarly to in the conventional example shown in Figure
5, a male member 12 of the buckle 11 is fastened to one end la of the belt 1 and a
female member 13 of the buckle 11 is attached to the other end 1b of the belt 1. The
male member 12 has a base 16, a pair of flexible arms 17, 17 projecting from the base
16 at its opposite sides, and a guide arm 18 projecting from the base 16 between the
flexible arms 17, 17. The tip of each flexible arm 17 is formed with a sloped portion
17a which narrows the flexible arm 17 inward toward its distal end and, at an outer
portion midway of its length, with a catch 17b. The tip of the guide arm 18 has a
generally sagittal shape. The base 16 of the male member 12 is formed with lateral
slots 16a, 16b for attachment of the one end la of the belt 1 in a manner enabling
adjustment of the effective length of the belt 1 and, outward of the slots 16a, 16b
(on the side opposite from the flexible arms 17, 17 etc.), with a belt fastening slot
16c for a first auxiliary belt 14.
[0018] As shown in Figure 2, the male member 12 can be fastened to the one end la of the
belt 1 by passing the tip of the belt 1 through the slot 16a from the rear to the
front and then turning it back and passing it through the slot 16b from the front
to the rear. When the male member 12 is fastened to the belt in this manner, the point
at which the belt 1 turns back is the fastening point of the male member 12. Since
the position of the fastening point can be moved by sliding the portion of the belt
1 passing through the slots 16a, 16b, the effective length of the belt 1 can be varied
as desired. The one end la of the belt 1 is fixed to the belt 1 by a retaining buckle
51.
[0019] The first auxiliary belt 14 is fastened to the male member 12 by passing one end
(the proximal end) of the first auxiliary belt 14 from the front of the base 16 to
the rear thereof by wrapping it around the proximal end of the base 16 (the lower
end in Figure 1), passing it through the belt fastening slot 16c from the rear to
the front and sewing it to the rear of the first auxiliary belt 14 at the portion
thereof overlying the male member 12. The fastening of the belt to itself can also
be done with rivets or other fastening means rather than by sewing.
[0020] A male member 22 of the security clasp 21 is fastened to the distal end of the first
auxiliary belt 14. The male member 22 is configured similarly to the male member 12.
It has a base 24, a pair of flexible arms 25, 25 projecting from the base 24 at its
opposite sides, and a guide arm 26 projecting from the base 24 between the flexible
arms 25, 25. The tip of each flexible arm 25 is formed with a sloped portion 25a which
narrows the flexible arm 25 inward toward its distal end and, at an outer portion
midway of its length, with a catch 25b. The tip of the guide arm 26 has a generally
sagittal shape. The base 24 of the male member 22 is formed with a lateral slot 24a
for attachment of the distal end portion of the first auxiliary belt 14. The end portion
of the first auxiliary belt 14 can be fastened to the male member 22 by passing it
through the slot 24a from the front to the rear, turning it back, and sewing the turned
back portion to the rear of the first auxiliary belt 14.
[0021] The female member 13 is a flattened cylinder having an opening 31 at its forward
end for insertion of the flexible arms 17, 17 and the guide arm 18 of the male member
12. It is cut away at the opposite sides to form slots 32, 32, formed internally with
guide walls 33, 33, and formed at its rearward end portion (top portion in Figure
1) with a slot 34 for attachment of the belt 1. The so-constituted female member 13
can be fastened to the other end 1b of the belt 1 (opposite end from the male member
12) by, as shown in Figure 2, passing the other end 1b through the slot 34 from the
front to the rear, turning it back to wrap around the rear end of the base 35, and
sewing it to the back of the belt 1. The point at which the belt 1 turns back is the
fastening point of the female member 13. The female member 13 does not require belt
length adjustment means since the male member 12 has belt adjustment capability, but
it can be provided with such means if desired.
[0022] The proximal end of a second auxiliary belt 15 is sewn to the front of the belt 1
at an appropriate distance from the fastening point of the female member 13 thereon,
so as to extend toward the female member 13. A female member 23 of the security clasp
21 is fastened to the distal end of the second auxiliary belt 15. The proximal end
of the second auxiliary belt 15 is preferably sewn to the belt 1 far enough back to
ensure that the female member 23 attached to the distal end of the second auxiliary
belt 15 does not overlap the female member 13.
[0023] The female member 23 is configured similarly to the female member 13. It is a flattened
cylinder having an opening 41 at its forward end for insertion of the flexible arms
25, 25 and the guide arm 26 of the male member 22. It is cut away at the opposite
sides to form slots 42, 42, formed internally with guide walls 43, 43, and formed
at its rearward end portion (top portion in Figure 1) with a slot 44 for attachment
of the second auxiliary belt 15. The so-constituted female member 23 can be fastened
to the second auxiliary belt 15 by passing the distal end of the second auxiliary
belt 15 through the slot 44 from the front to the rear, turning it back to wrap around
the rear end of the base 45, and sewing it to the back of the auxiliary belt 15.
[0024] In order to form the belt 1 into a closed loop using the belt connector 2 constituted
with the buckle 11 and the security clasp 21 in the foregoing manner, the flexible
arms 17, 17 of the male member 12 are first inserted into the opening 31 of the female
member 13. This causes the sloped portions 17a, 17a of the flexible arms 17, 17 to
contact with side wall end portions 31a, 31a of the female member 13. With further
insertion, the flexible arms 17, 17 advance while flexing inward and the guide arm
18 enters the space between the guide walls 33, 33, which guide the direction of advance.
When the penetration has proceeded sufficiently, namely to the point that the catches
17b, 17b of the flexible arms 17, 17 have passed by forward edges 32a, 32a of the
slots 32, 32 of the female member 13, the flexible arms 17, 17 spring outward to bring
the catches 17b, 17b into engagement with the forward edges 32a, 32a. Since the force
of the engagement between the catches 17b, 17b and the forward edges 32a, 32a of the
slots 32, 32 of the female member 13 prevents extraction of the male member 12, the
male member 12 and the female member 13 are maintained in engagement. The belt 1 is
therefore formed into a closed loop by the engagement between the male member 12 and
the female member 13 at its opposite ends.
[0025] Next, the flexible arms 25, 25 of the male member 22 are inserted into the female
member 23 through the opening 41, thereby joining the male member 22 and the female
member 23 and connecting the first auxiliary belt 14 and the second auxiliary belt
15.
[0026] When the belt connector 2 is applied to the belt of a baby holder and the buckle
11 and the security clasp 21 are both connected to form the belt 1 into a closed loop,
the user can wear the belt 1 in the manner of a sling, with the pad 4 resting on the
shoulder, as shown in Figure 5. The user can then adjust the effective length of the
belt 1 to position the seat 3 just above and forward of one hip. Since one end of
the first auxiliary belt 14 is fastened to the male member 12, the adjustment of the
effective length of the belt 1 does not affect the positional relationship of the
male members 12 and 22 or the female members 13 and 23. As a result, the adjustment
neither prevents engagement between the male member 22 and the female member 23 nor
necessitates other troublesome operations such as adjustment of the lengths of the
auxiliary belts 14 and 15.
[0027] As shown in Figure 5, the child (baby) is carried seated on the seat 3 facing the
user with its legs straddling the user's waist. The back support 5 is adjusted to
support the child's lower back. When the baby is carried using the baby holder in
this manner, most of the child's weight is borne by the user's shoulder. The burden
on the user is therefore much lighter than in the case of carrying the child in the
arms only. In addition, one of the user's arms is freed and can be used for carrying
a bag or the like.
[0028] When a child is carried in this manner, the child's weight produces tension in the
belt 1 which acts in the direction of separating the buckle 11 and security clasp
21. The buckle 11 and the security clasp 21 are prevented from separating, however,
by the engagement between the catches 17b, 17b of the male member 12 and the forward
edges 32a, 32a of the female member 13 and the engagement between the catches 25b,
25b of the male member 22 and the forward edges 42a, 42a of the female member 23.
[0029] Even if the engagement between the male member 12 and the female member 13 of the
buckle 11 should release owing to breakage of one or both of the flexible arms 17,
17, the engaged state of the security clasp 21 will be maintained to keep the belt
1 in its looped condition and protect the child from injury by falling or the like.
On the other hand, if the security clasp 21 should break, the continuing engagement
of the buckle 11 will keep the child from falling. Thus, if one or the other of the
buckle 11 and the security clasp 21 should separate, the other will remain connected
and keep the child safe from falling. If the engagement of the buckle 11 should release,
the male member 12 will flip over and the belt end la will be subject to a strong
force tending to separate it from the male member 12. Since the end la is fixed to
the belt 1 by the retaining buckle 51, however, this danger does not arise. The means
for fixing the belt end la to the belt 1 is not limited to the retaining buckle 51
and can instead be any of other variously configured fasteners.
[0030] To facilitate the engagement of the female member 23 and the male member 22 of the
security clasp 21 after the buckle 11 has been engaged, the lengths of the first and
second auxiliary belts 14 and 15 are preferably made slightly longer than the minimum
required. Giving them a little extra length not only makes the security clasp 21 easy
to connect and disconnect but also reduces the tension in the auxiliary belts 14 and
15 by causing most of the child's weight to be borne by the thick belt 1. Since this
has the effect of reducing the fatigue of the auxiliary belts 14 and 15, particularly
at their sewn portions, it enhances the safety of the belt connector by ensuring that
the auxiliary belts 14, 15 connected by the security clasp 21 will be in optimum condition
for reliably supporting the child should something go wrong with the buckle 11.
[0031] When the child is to be taken out of the baby holder, its weight is first transferred
to another surface. The user then presses inward with the fingers on the portions
of the flexible arms 25, 25 located in the slots 42, 42 of the female member 23 so
as to release the catches 25b, 25b from the forward edges 42a, 42a of the slots 42,
42. The male member 22 can then be easily pulled out of the female member 23 to release
the security clasp 21.
[0032] The buckle 11 can then be easily released by a similar operation.
[0033] In the embodiment described in the foregoing, the male member 12 of the buckle 11
is fastened to the one end la of the belt 1, the male member 22 of the security clasp
21 is fastened to the male member 12 by a first auxiliary belt 14, the female member
13 of the buckle 11 is fastened to the other end 1b of the belt 1, and the female
member 23 of the security clasp 21 is fastened to the other end of the belt 1 by the
second auxiliary belt 15. Instead, however, it is possible to fasten the female member
23 to the male member 12 by the first auxiliary belt 14 and to fasten the male member
22 to the other belt end 1b by the second auxiliary belt 15. It is also possible to
fasten the male member 12 having the slots 16a, 16b constituting the belt length adjustment
means and the belt fastening slot 16c for the first auxiliary belt to the one belt
end la, fasten the first auxiliary belt 14 to the male member 12 and fasten the female
member 23 or the male member 22 to the end of the first auxiliary belt 14.
[0034] As shown in Figures 3 and 4, for example, the male and female members of one or both
of the buckle 11 and the security clasp 21 can be constituted by integrally forming
one half of the male member 12 and the other half of the female member 23 side by
side on a first common base 61 and integrally forming one half of the female member
13 and the other half of the male member 22 side by side on a second common base 62.
With the buckle member of this configuration, the first common base 61 is held in
one hand and the second common base 62 in the other, whereafter the one half of the
male member 12 is inserted into the one half of the female member 13 and the other
half of the male member 22 is inserted to the other half of the female member 23.
As a result, the catches 17b, 25b engage with the forward edges 32a, 42a. The configuration
thus enables simple connection of the buckle 11 and the security clasp 21.
[0035] While in the embodiment of the invention described in the foregoing the security
clasp 21 is described as being a buckle comprising the male member 22 and female member
23, the security clasp 21 does not have to be a buckle but can instead be any of various
types of connecting means such as a tear-drop fastener, hook fastener, or a D-shaped
or polygonal ring fastener or the like.
[0036] As explained in the foregoing, the belt connector according to the present invention
connects a belt into a closed loop by connecting the opposite ends of the belt through
the engagement of a buckle and a security clasp. Thus, if one of the buckle and the
security clasp should accidentally disengage, the other will remain engaged to maintain
the belt in a closed loop. When the belt connector is used to connect the ends of
a belt of a baby holder, therefore, the baby is reliably prevented from falling even
if one of the buckle members should be released by mistake or should disengage due
to breakage. Owing to this feature, the user can employ the baby holder without anxiety.
[0037] Since the belt connector according to the invention is provided with a belt length
adjustment means on the buckle to which the proximal end of the first auxiliary belt
is fastened, the effective length of the belt can be adjusted as desired by use of
this belt length adjustment means. The effective length of the belt can therefore
be adjusted according to the height and girth of the user, and so as to position the
seat at the level that is least tiring. Since one end of the first auxiliary belt
is fastened to a member of the buckle, moreover, this adjustment of the effective
belt length does not change the positional relationship of the two male members or
that of the two female members. As a result, the adjustment neither prevents engagement
of the security clasp nor necessitates other troublesome operations such as adjustment
of the lengths of the auxiliary belts.
1. A belt connector comprising a buckle (11) having a male member (12) for fastening
to a first end (1a) of a belt (1) and a female member (13) for fastening to a second
end (1b) of the belt and enabling the first and second ends (1a, 1b) of the belt to
be releasably connected by engagement of the male member and the female member, characterized
in that
a first auxiliary belt (14) is fastened at a first end thereof to the first end (1a)
of said belt to overlie the buckle (11) when the buckle is engaged, and a releasable
security clasp (21) is fastened between a second end of the first auxiliary belt and
the second end (1b) of said belt.
2. A belt connector according to claim 1, characterized in that the security clasp (21)
is a buckle member having engageable male and female members (22, 23).
3. A belt connector according to claim 1, characterized in that the male member (12)
of the buckle (11) for fastening to the first end (1a) of the belt is provided with
belt length adjustment means (16a, 16b).
4. A belt connector according to claim 1, characterized in that the male member (12)
of the buckle (11) for fastening to the first end (1a) of the belt is provided with
a slot (16c) for fastening the first end of the first auxiliary belt (14).
5. A belt connector according to claim 1, characterized in that the second end (1b) of
said belt (1) and the security clasp (21) are connected by a second auxiliary belt
(15).
6. A belt connector according to claim 1, characterized in that the first end (la) of
said belt fastened to the male member (12) of the buckle (11) is fastened to said
belt by a retaining buckle (51).