Stretchable belt
A belt may include a buckle and a strap securable in a loop by the buckle. The strap may include a first outer layer and a second outer layer, a mounting plate secured between the first outer layer and the second outer layer, and a translating buckle mount coupled to the mounting plate. The translating buckle mount may be configured to releasably mount the buckle and to elastically translate back and forth within the mounting plate so that the buckle is movable within the strap relative to the first and second outer layers to vary the circumference of the belt when the belt is worn around a waist of a user.
1 . A belt, comprising:
a buckle; and
a strap securable in a loop by the buckle, the strap comprising:
a first outer layer and a second outer layer;
a mounting plate secured between the first outer layer and the second outer layer; and
a translating buckle mount coupled to the mounting plate, the translating buckle mount configured to releasably mount the buckle and to elastically translate back and forth within the mounting plate so that the buckle is movable within the strap relative to the first and second outer layers to vary the circumference of the belt when the belt is worn around a waist of a user.
2 . A belt, comprising:
a buckle;
a strap securable in a loop by the buckle, the strap comprising:
a first outer layer and a second outer layer;
a mounting plate secured between the first outer layer and the second outer layer, the mounting plate having a distal end and a proximal end, a ratchet slot closest to the distal end and a biasing member slot closest to the proximal end;
a buckle mount comprising a sliding rail member that is configured to translate within the ratchet slot, which buckle mount has a plurality of teeth; and
a biasing member disposed in the biasing member slot and having a first end and a second end, the first end being coupled to the sliding rail member and the second end being coupled to the proximal end of the mounting plate, wherein the biasing member exerts an elastic force on the sliding rail member that biases the sliding rail member toward the biasing member slot;
wherein the buckle is configured to selectively engage with one tooth of the plurality of teeth to establish an initial circumference of the belt; and wherein the translation of the sliding rail member against the elastic force is configured to facilitate expansion of a circumference of the belt, beyond the initial circumference.
3 . The belt of claim 2 , wherein the sliding rail member has an elongated stem portion extending away from the teeth that terminates in a mounting head.
4 . The belt of claim 3 , wherein the mounting plate includes a guide channel that engages with the elongated stem portion to facilitate translation of the sliding rail member parallel to a length of the belt.
5 . The belt of claim 4 , wherein the sliding rail member includes a lip that engages with the guide channel.
6 . The belt of claim 3 , wherein the mounting plate includes a mechanical stop that is configured to engage with the mounting head to limit translation of the sliding rail member away from the biasing member slot.
7 . The belt of claim 2 , wherein at least one of the first outer layer and the second outer layer is a non-stretchable material.
8 . The belt of claim 7 , wherein the non-stretchable material is leather.