RELATED APPLiCAIlO

The current application is related to (conttnua on of) a prior provisional application US 61 /571,029. filed on 06/20/201 1 , with the same inventors and a similar title, taking benefits of all teachings and earlier fifing date of that application. A reassignment to D4 Brands, LLC has been made and can be referred to fa the EPAS ID#: PAT376 i 603.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Belts are commonly used by uniformed professional field personnel (e.g. law enforcement, fire, park department, search and rescue, private security, utilities personnel military, etc.) to carry equipment. They are known as duly belts in the industry. In the most common configuration, the duly belt and inner belt are used together . The user threads the inner belt (also known as a trouser belt) through the belt loops of the user's pants. Commonly these have one half of a Velcro assembh' on the outward facing surface. The duty belt Itself is a wider belt positioned over the inner belt outboard of the pant belt loops (Fig 1). The duty belt is typically 2 or 2.25 inches wide. The duty belt attaches to the inner belt by means of the other half of the Velcro assembly. Because of the weight of the loaded duty belt and the fact i is critical that the uniformed professional does not become separated from his/her duty belt, supplemental mechanical straps known as "keepers ^" are used that wrap around both inner and duty belts to ensure that they are firmly attached to one another. Still on oilier belts, there is no Velcro used at all between the inner and the duty belt. ^' Hie keepers are the sole retention mechanism between the two belts in that configuration.

Equipment is carried on the duty belt by accessory holders that are threaded on the duty belt. Users commonly carry a large number of accessories and fill up almost all of the available space around the circumference of the duty belt. Because users typically spend a large amount of time traveling in vehicles in a seated position, accessories located between the user and the seat cause discomfort and can bad to long term back issues, it is important that the number of accessories located on the small of the back are minimized. Existing duty belt buckles take up a large portion of space on the front of the belt and have a large area in which the user cannot place accessories, forcing the user to locate accessories near the small of the back.

A typical duty belt Fasiex type buckle is shown in Fig 2a. To open the buckle, the center button must be pressed prior to squeezing the opposing buttons on either edge of the buckle (Fig 2b). The belt material threads through the Fastex buckle, is folded back onto itself and attaches back to itself by means of a Velcro assembly. T is creates a thick area in the belt assembly where belt accessories cannot be placed near the buckle because of interference. The buckle must be separated f om the belt in order to thread on belt accessories, which results in loose parts that can be dropped and tost (Fig 2c). Before accessories are put on, a free s!ider that is used to retain the folded over portion of the end the belt must first be removed, ^' [lis results in more toose parts and is prone to errors for users who do not freq uently reconfigure their belts.

Another popular style of buckle for a duty belt, known as a traditional buckle, is shown in Fig 3a. To assemble the bek. the buckle is slid onto the belt (Fig 3b) and the buckle prongs are engaged with the belt (Fig 3c). The end of the belt is threaded through the other half of the buckle (Fig 3d) and the central bar on the buckle engages with the prongs on the distal end of the be (Figs 3e to 3t). A stud which is integrated on the hook end of the bek is then pressed through a hole on the buckle end of the belt (Fig 3g). A keeper is then slid over the tree end of the belt (Fig 3h). Disadvantages with the design are similar to the Fastex buckle in that the buckle must be removed in order to put on accessories, resulting in a loose part that can be tost. Additionally, accessories cannot placed near the buckle due to the thickness of the buckle assembly.

Users often need to add or remove layers of ctoming. which requires that t e duty belt be adjusted in circumference to maintain a correct fit. Both of the duty belts described above have the disadvantage in that the user is requis-ed to disassemble the dut)- bek and separate the buckle from the belt to adjust the circumference.

There exists a need for a duty belt and buckle which allows tor accessories to be positioned closer to the front of the belt, makes it easier tor accessories to be added or removed, and makes it easier for the circumference of the belt, to be adjusted, all ofwhich result in a belt that is snore usable and more comfortable.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Accordingly, the advantages of one or more aspects of the present invention are:

a buckle for a duty belt which has a lo profile and narrow width that allows for accessories to be placed very close to the front of the bek;

a buckle for a duty bek which has a security feature to prevent it from becoming inadvertently detached;

a buckle for a duty ^" belt which requires no disassembly or removal of parts when installing accessories or adjusting circumference.

One embodiment features a duty belt, a buckle body and a cover. The buckle body is fixed to one end of the duty belt and has a ^' mating element on the backside of the buckle body which engages with an attachment member on the distal end of the belt. The cover features interlocking securing protrusions that prevent the mating element from disengaging with the attachment member on the distal end of the bek when in a closed position. The narrow width of the buckle and engagement with the distal end or the duty belt allows for accessories to be placed near the front of the belt, reducing the lumber o accessor s located near the back of the aser and making the belt niore comfortable for the user. A plurality of attachment members exist on the distal end ofthe belt which allow the circumference ofthe belt to be adjusted without disassembling the buckle from the duty belt

Oilier advantages of one or more aspects and a full understanding thereof will be apparent from a consideration ofthe following detailed descriptbn and claims taken together with the accompanying illustrations.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

In the drawings, close!}' related figures have the same number but different alphabetic suffixes. Like parts are given like reference numerals in each ofthe drawings.

Fig 1 shows a typical duty belt.

Fig 2a shows a typical duty belt with a Fastex buckle.

Figs 2b and 2c show the operation of a typical duty belt with a Fastex buckle.

Fig 3a shows a typical duty belt with a traditional buckle.

Fig 3b to 3h stow the operation of a typical duty belt with a traditional buckle.

Fig 4 shows an isometric view ofthe duty bek buckle in accordance with one embodiment.

Figs 5a and 5b show the duty belt buckle with cover h open position in accordance with one embodiment

Fig 6a shows a side view ofthe duty belt buckle with cover in open position in accordance with one embodiment.

Fig 6b shows a side view ofthe duty belt buckle with cover in closed position in accordance with one embodiment.

one-etnbodimetfr

I¾-9- sl vws- the riwtii g element ofthe duty belt buekle- in accordance with one embodime fe tie*ef he-di¾ ^~ feek

[[Fig S 2a]j Fjg_7a. shows a first alternative embodiment ofthe duty bek buckle with cover open position.

[[Fig 12b]] Fig 7b shows a first alternative embodiment ofthe duty bek buckle with cover in closed position.

[[ ^" Fig 13a]] Fig 8a hows a second alternative embodiment ofthe duty belt buckle with cover in open position.

[[Fig 1 b]] Fig 8b shows a second alternative embodiment ofthe duty bel buckte with cover in cfosed position. Drawings - efereix:e Numerals

10 Duty belt

12 Cover

14 Buckie Body

16 Attachment member

18 Mating element

20 Securing protrusion

22 Attachment point

24 Hinge

DETAILED DESCRIPTION - FIRST EMBODIMENT

One embodiment of a duly belt and buckle .is illustrated in Figs 4 to 6. The duty belt and buckle comprises two primary components: a duty belt 10 and a cover 12. A buckle body 14 comprises an attachment point 22 and a mating element 18. Attachment point 22 fixes buckle body 14 to a first end of duty belt 10. Mating element 18 provides a means for engaging with attachment member 16 on the distal second end of duty belt 10. Mating element 18 extends from buckle body 14 such mat, when engaged with attachment member 16, buckfe body 14 is prevented from moving in one direction axialry along the belt, and in both directions that are perpendicular but in plane with the belt. Attachment member 16 is inserted through the open end of mating element 18 (Fig 5a). The second end of duly belt 10 features multiple attachment members 16 spaced along the long axis of the duty belt (Fig 4). enabling the circumference of duty belt 10 to be adjusted. Attachment members 16 do not add any thicliness to the second end of duty belt 10 so that accessory holders can be easiK' added and removed from the belt. Cover 12 is attached to a hinge 24 on buckle body 14 and pivots with respect to buckle body 14. Cover 12 features securing protrusion 20 ([[Fig 6a]] Fig 6b) which interlocks with mating element 18 when cover 12 is closed. When cover 12 is in the closed position, securing protrusion 20 engages with attachment member .1.6 to prevent buckle body 14 from moving in the other, previously unconstrained direction along the axis of the belt. Cover 12 snaps Into a closed position win buckle body 14 such that it cannot open without a predetermined force applied by the user along the arc of rotation. Cover 12 has a lever end that allows the user to apply a force along the arc of rotation with their fingers and rotate cover 12 with respect to buckle body 14. The narrow width of the duty belt buckle allows more accessories to be placed near the front of the bek.

The belt, buckle body, cover and oilier components can be made of material such as polymers, metals, cellulosic materials, ceramics, glass, biomaterials, nanomateriais. and composites.

Operation To use the duty belt buckle, the user first places the duty belt around their waist. The user opens cover 12 {[[Fig 8]] Fig 5a) and engages mating element 18 of buckle body 14 (Fig-9) with attachment member 16 ([[Fig 10]] Fig 5b). The user chooses the attachment member 16 which creates a duty belt circumference that provides a comfortable fit around their waist, l te user then closes cover 12, which snaps into a closed position with buckle body 14 ([[Fig 1 i ] | Fig 6b).

To remove the duty belt, the user first applies a force to the lever end of cover 12 along the arc of rotation, disengaging cover 12 from the snap engagement with buckle body 14. The user rotates cover 12 to disengage securing protrusion 20 from attae!imeni member 16. The user then must move the duty belt buckle in the opposite direction of removal to disengage mating eiement 18 of buckle body 14 ^" from attachment member .16.

Should the user need to add another or subtract a layer of clothing and change the

circumference of the duly belt, the duty belt removal operation is followed as detailed above. The user then makes the circumference of the duty belt smaller or larger by choosing the attachment member 16 which provides a comfortable fit around their- waist and follows the duty belt buckle engagement operation as detailed above. No disassembly of the duty belt buckle is required and no loose parts are separated from the duty belt that can be lost.

Alternative Embodiments

There are various possibilities with regard to the configuration of die duty bek buckle. The buckle body can employ a lurality of mating elements 18 for engaging with a plurality of attachment members 1 on the distal end of the duty belt.

The first end of bek 10 can comprise a mating element IS which provides a means for engaging to attachment member 16 ([[Fig 12a] j Fig.7a). When engaged with attachment member 16, mating eiement 18 prevents the first end of belt 10 from moving with respect to the second end of bet 10 in one direction axialiy along the belt and in both directions that are perpendicular but in plane with the belt. Cover 12 is pivotaliy attached to the first end of belt 10 and comprises a protrusion such that, when closed, it prevents the first end of belt 10 from moving with respect to the second end of belt 10 in the second direction axialiy along the belt ([[Fig 12b]] FigTb).

Alternatively, mating element 18 can prevent the first end of belt 10 from moving with respect to the second end of belt 10 in one direction axialiy along the belt and in one direction perpendicular but in plane with the belt ([[Fig 13a]] Fig 8a). Cover 12 is pivotaliy attached to the first end ofbeit 10 and comprises a protrusion such that, when closed, it prevents the first end ofbeit 1 from moving with respect to tlx; second end ofbeit 10 in the second direction axialfy along the belt and in the second direction perpendicular but in plane with the belt ([[Fig 13b]] Fig 8b).

In another embodiment, cover 12 is pivotaliy attached to the first end ofbeit 19 and comprises a protrusion such that, when closed, ft prevents the first end of belt 10 from moving with respect to the second end of belt 10 in both directions axially abng the belt and in one direction perpendicular but in plane with the bet The first end of belt 1 is positioned over the second end of belt 10 so as to prevent the first end of belt 10 from moving with respect to the second end of belt 10 in the second direction perpendicular but in plane with the bet

Conclusion, Ramifications, and Scope

According!)', the reader will see that at bast one embodiment of the duty belt buckle provides a bwer profile and narrower width, allowing the user to position more accessories on the front of the duty belt, providing better access and more comfort. The duty belt buckle has the additional advantage m that it cannot be inadvertently disengaged from the duty belt. The duty belt buckle employs no loose parts that can be tost. Furthermore, the duty belt buckle can easily adjust the circumference of the duty belt without requiring the removal of parts or disassembly.

Although the above description contains many specificities, these should not be construed as Iknitbg the scope of the embodiments but ^' as merely providing illustrations of some of several

embodiments. Thus the scope of the embodiments should be determined by the appended clams and their legal equivalents, rather than by the examples given.