ATBECHDEDKESFRGBGRITLILUNLSEMCPTIESILTLVFIROMKCYALTRBGCZEEHUPLSKBAHRIS..MTNORSMESMMAKHTNMD..........
J
BDM Ver 2.0.14 (4th of August) - 1100000/0
3970551
EUROPEAN PATENT APPLICATION
A1
20220323
EP
20197081.1
20200919
20211207
en
en
en
20220323
202212
20220323
202212
A44B 11/22 20060101AFI20210316BHEP
A44B 11/24 20060101ALI20210316BHEP
A44B 11/00 20060101ALI20210316BHEP
A44B 11/24 20130101 LI20210309BHEP
A44B 11/001 20130101 FI20210310BHEP
A44B 11/22 20130101 LI20211125BHEP
de
GÜRTELSCHNALLE
en
WAISTBELT BUCKLE
fr
BOUCLE DE CEINTURE
1
Weiland, Karlheinz
101870871
Guertelschnalle
Ulrichweg 11
71083 Herrenberg
DE
Weiland, Karlheinz
Ulrichweg 11
71083 Herrenberg
DE
Meyer zu Bexten, Elmar
101709272
Schloßberg 10
71032 Böblingen
DE
AL
AT
BE
BG
CH
CY
CZ
DE
DK
EE
ES
FI
FR
GB
GR
HR
HU
IE
IS
IT
LI
LT
LU
LV
MC
MK
MT
NL
NO
PL
PT
RO
RS
SE
SI
SK
SM
TR
BA
ME
KH
MA
MD
TN
Problem
In sufferers of overweight or pelvic tilt, the waist is slanted forward, its front portion thus pointing slightly downward. When an individual affected by either of these conditions wears a belt, the top of the belt thus pushes forward with the tilt and the front of the belt and buckle tend to face down, impairing its esthetic appeal to onlookers.
Solution
Waistbelt buckle, preferably of metal or silicone,
characterized in that,
in cross section, the buckle forms a wedge (10).

Technical Field
The invention pertains to the products as per the first portion of the independent claims.

Background Art
A clasp or buckle is any device used for fastening two loose ends, with one end attached to it and the other held by a catch in a secure but adjustable manner.
PTL1 discloses a belt buckle having a wing-shaped front.

Summary of invention
The invention as claimed is hereinafter disclosed in such a way that the technical problem with which it deals can be appreciated and the solution can be understood.

Technical Problem
In sufferers of overweight or pelvic tilt, the waist is slanted forward, its front portion thus pointing slightly downward. When an individual affected by either of these conditions wears a belt, the top of the belt thus pushes forward with the tilt and the front of the belt and buckle tend to face down, impairing its esthetic appeal to onlookers.
While this outcome may in some cases be counteracted by tightening the belt, such practice adversely affects the wearer's health (cf. NPL1).

Solution to Problem
The problem is solved as per the second portion of Claim 1.

Advantageous effect of invention
A buckle as per the invention is adapted to rotund wearers, its wedge shape preventing the buckle's front from tilting forward. With his or her buckle standing upright and clearly visible, the wearer appears slimmer to the casual observer.
For mechanical support of the strap, different options bear specific advantages. In an embodiment as per Claim 3 - hereinafter referred to as "closed guidance" - the frame remains fully visible, lending the buckle an atypical yet harmonic appearance while eliminating the requirement for an additional loop. The alternative as per Claim 8 - hereinafter referred to as "open guidance" - accommodates belt straps of arbitrary thickness in a comparatively flat buckle.

Brief description of drawings
- Figure 1 illustrates the wedge shape of the buckle.
- Figure 2 and Figure 3 show embodiments with open guidance.
- Figure 4
,
Figure 5
, and Figure 6 show embodiments with closed guidance.
- Figure 7 illustrates the fixing of the belt with a tongue.
- Figure 8 illustrates the fixing of the belt with a prong.

Description of embodiments
Figure 1 depicts a wedge (10) whose base (11), when in use, would face the wearer's lower abdomen. Correspondingly, the vertical strap guide (12), which would face away from the wearer's body, slopes away from the base (11) such as to maximize inclination while minimizing depth between the base (11) and front face. The latter's corners may be equipped with pins engaging with mating bores of the wedge (10) to allow for easy swapping of the front face (14) at the wearer's convenience. Preferably, the wedge (10) and resulting buckle may be of arbitrary depth but should be dimensioned such as to accommodate off-the-shelf waistbelts between 3 and 4 cm in width.
Figure 2 shows an embodiment with open guidance provided by a bilateral elevation (23) opposite the wedge base (11). As may be gathered from Figure 3, the buckle may be of the center-bar or center-post variety, its center bar (17a) showing a recess (16) for supporting the buckle's tongue. In the case of an interchangeable buckle, such tongue, forming an integral part of the product, should be attached to the wedge base (11) and kept from slipping sideways.
In the variants as per Figure 4 and Figure 5, a vertical (12) or wedged strap guide (12b) and front face (14) instead delimit a guiding slot (13). As best seen in Figure 5, the wedged strap guide (12b) augments the wedge (10) and guides the belt strap close to the wearer's abdomen. As depicted in Figure 6, such "closed guidance" may be achieved by a simple frame (18), with a parallel guiding slot (13) being formed betwixt the guide (12) and front face (14). An alternative embodiment may take the form of a shield (19) exhibiting a prong (20) protruding opposite the front face (14).
The skilled person will appreciate that while the drawings place emphasis upon the edges of the wedge (10), the latter may be wholly or partially filled, such as with silicone, or fabric-covered, for example, at its base (11). Similarly, while displayed as straight, some edges may bend without departing from the scope of the invention. For instance, the wedge base (11) may be chamfered or otherwise adapted to the shape of the lower abdomen.
All variants share the physical commonality that the leather strap passes at a controlled distance from the wearer's body. While the frame (18) and shield (19) of Figure 6 provide a dedicated strap guide, the bilateral bars of the center-bar (17a, 17b) embodiments as per Figure 3 essentially serve the same purpose. As outlined above with reference to Figure 2, fixation in these embodiments may be achieved by means of a tongue (24 - Figure 7 ) or prong (20 - Figure 8).
A buckle especially suitable for air travel may be manufactured from hard plastic or any material that will pass airport security screening. An exchangeable buckle consisting of such material can be assembled using non-metallic screws and proves most comfortable both during inspection and while sitting for extended periods of time.

Industrial applicability
The invention is applicable, inter alia, throughout the apparel industry.

Reference signs list
10
Wedge
11
Wedge base
12
Vertical strap guide
12b
Wedged strap guide
13
Guiding slot
14
Front face
15
Depth
16
Recess
17
Center bar frame
17a
Center bar with recess
17b
Center bar with prong
18
Frame
19
Shield
20
Prong
22
Tongue fixing
23
Elevation
24
Tongue
25
Belt strap

Citation list
The following documents are cited hereinbefore.

Patent literature
PTL1: AT 50065 B (JAMES PERCIVAL ROBERTSON) 25.09.1911

Non-patent literature
NPL1: LEE, Y. Y., et al. Disruption of the gastroesophageal junction by central obesity and waist belt: role of raised intra-abdominal pressure. Diseases of the Esophagus. 2015, vol.28, no.4, p.318-325.
1. Waistbelt buckle, preferably of metal, silicone, or duroplastics,
characterized in that,
in cross section, the buckle forms a wedge (10).
2. Buckle as per Claim 1
characterized in that
the wedge (10) exhibits a base (11) for bearing against a wearer's lower abdomen.
3. Buckle as per Claim 2
characterized in
a guide (12, 12b) for guiding a strap at an inclination relative to the base (11).
4. Buckle as per Claim 3
characterized in
a guiding slot (13) formed betwixt the guide (12, 12b) and a front face (14) of the buckle.
5. Buckle as per Claim 4
characterized in that
the front face (14) shows a recess (16) for supporting a tongue.
6. Buckle as per Claim 4
characterized in
a shield (19) exhibiting a prong (20) protruding opposite the front face (14).
7. Buckle as per Claim 6
characterized in that
the guide (12b) slopes away from the shield (19).
8. Buckle as per Claim 2
characterized in that
the frame (12) exhibits two short sides and two long sides elevated, such as by 0.5 cm, relative to the short sides.
9. Buckle as per Claim 8
characterized in
a center bar (17a) wherein the recess (16) is formed.
10. Buckle as per Claim 8
characterized in
a center bar (17b) with a prong (20).
11. Waistbelt
characterized in
a buckle as per any of the preceding claims and
a preferably leathern strap unilaterally attached to the buckle.

Amended claims in accordance with Rule 137(2) EPC.
1. Waistbelt buckle, preferably of metal, silicone, or duroplastics, wherein,
in cross section, the buckle forms a wedge (10) exhibiting a base (11) for bearing against a wearer's lower abdomen,
characterized in
a guide (12, 12b) for guiding a strap at an inclination relative to the base (11) in a direction perpendicular to the strap.
2. Buckle as per Claim 1
characterized in
a guiding slot (13) formed betwixt the guide (12, 12b) and a front face (14) of the buckle.
3. Buckle as per Claim 2
characterized in that
the front face (14) shows a recess (16) for supporting a tongue.
4. Buckle as per Claim 2
characterized in
a shield (19) exhibiting a prong (20) protruding opposite the front face (14).
5. Buckle as per Claim 4
characterized in that
the guide (12b) slopes away from the shield (19).
6. Waistbelt
characterized in
a buckle as per any of the preceding claims and
a preferably leathern strap unilaterally attached to the buckle.
Guertelschnalle
EP
20197081.1
Weiland, Karlheinz
1
DH
20210322
A44B
US
376240
A
THOMAS C. FIELD
18880110
X
1-5,8,9,11
* figures 1,2 *
US
114184
A
GEORGE OLDHAM JR
18710425
X
1-4,6-8,10,11
* figures *
US
2017196314
A1
GLICK MICHAEL [US]
20170713
A
1
* paragraphs [0003], [0004]; figure 1 *
US
D843683
S1
GLICK MICHAEL [US]
20190326
A
1
* figure 1 *
Gallego, Adoración
The Hague
20210310
US
376240
A
18880110
NONE
US
114184
A
18710425
NONE
US
2017196314
A1
20170713
NONE
US
D843683
S1
20190326
NONE

REFERENCES CITED IN THE DESCRIPTION
This list of references cited by the applicant is for the reader's convenience only. It does not form part of the European patent document. Even though great care has been taken in compiling the references, errors or omissions cannot be excluded and the EPO disclaims all liability in this regard.

Patent documents cited in the description
- AT
50065
B
JAMES PERCIVAL ROBERTSON
19110925
[0020]

Non-patent literature cited in the description
- LEE, Y. Y. et al.
Disruption of the gastroesophageal junction by central obesity and waist belt: role of raised intra-abdominal pressure
Diseases of the Esophagus
20150000
28
4
318
325
[0021]