US2981994A - One-piece lingerie buckle - Google Patents

Description

y 1961 P. w. WHITE 2,981,994

ONE-PIECE LINGERIE BUCKLE Filed April 11, 1957 mvsvrroa PAUL W. WHiTE ATTORNEYS United States ONE-PIECE-LINGERIE BUCKLE Paul W. White, New Haven, Conn assignor to Parva lfroducts Company, Mount Carmel, Conn, a corporation of Delaware Filed Apr. 11, 1957, S61. No. 652,240 4 Claims. c1. 24-400 The present invention relates to one-piece lingerie buckles and, more particularly, to a one-piece buckle suitable for use with lingerie garment shoulder straps and the like.

In the lingerie field two types of buckles are presently in use, e.g., a slide buckle and a one-piece buckle. Generally, buckles of both of these types are fixedly secured to oneend of av garment strap which has its other end attached to the lingerie garment. The buckles also are adapted to engage an adjustable strap and to grip the latter strap in a plurality of selective positions, thereby providing for the adjustment of the effective length of the adjustable strap. f the various one-piece lingerie buckles on the market today, several have been developed which snugly bind the adjustable strap to the buckle when tension is applied between the garment and the adjustable strap. In several instances, however, after an extended period of use the buckle slides or moves gradually relative to the adjustable strap, thereby requiring readjustment of the strap and buckle to the annoyance of the user. In other one-piece buckles, no slippage is produced during ordinary use but when an abrupt tensive force resulting from laborious work or excessive exercise is applied between the garment and the adjustable strap, the buckle slips along the adjustable strap. In other words, thebuckle fails to hold the strap during a so-called jerk test. 4

It has been observed by wearers of the one-piece buckles that a large number of slide and single-piece buckles have exposed portions adapted to contact the skin of the wearer. During normal use, these types of buckles cause either mild or excessive irritation to the skin of the wearer, thereby causing dissatisfaction with the entire lingerie garment. Furthermore, many of those buckles which are capable of withstanding the so-called jerk test are difficult to adjust, thereby requiring an unduly long period of time to adjust the adjustable strap.

Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a new and improved one-piece lingerie buckle which would obviate all of the above-described disadvantages.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a one-piece lingerie buckle which may be simply constructed and easy to operate.

It is still a further object of the present invention to provide a one-piece lingerie buckle which fixedly grips a strap thereto in a plurality of adjustable positions yet permits ready adjustment of the strap and buckle.

Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a one-piece lingerie buckle which uses the lingerie garment strap to cushion the buckle on the skin of the user, thereby to avoid irritation of the skin.

The above and other objects are achieved in accordance with the present invention by providing a one-piece lingerie-buckle having a pair of side bars interconnected at their respective ends by a pair of end bars and between their ends by an intermediate cross bar. One of the end cross bars serves as a strap-attaching bar to which a garment strap may be secured. The intermediate cross bar and the end cross bars cooperate to define first and second strap receiving openings adapted to accommodate an adjustable lingerie supporting strap. The intermediate cross bar is offset relative to the end bars so that when the adjustable strap is threaded through the strap receiving openings and a tensive force is applied between the adjustable strap and the garment, the adjustable strap is deformed about the intermediate bar and fixedly secured to the buckle. The configuration and disposition of one of the end cross bars and the intermediate cross bar effects the deformation of the adjustable strap irrespective of its thickness or of its finish (i.e., silk, satin, etc.). The deforming force is directly proportional to the tensive force and, accordingly, as the tensive force increases in magnitude the deforming force likewise increases thereby to assure that in spite of high tensive forces, no slippage of the adjustable strap relative to the buckle occurs. When the buckle is in normal wearing position, that is, with the plane of the buckle lying in or parallel to the plane of the adjustable strap the end of the adjustable strap may be pulled to shorten the length of the body of the strap. However, in order to increase the effective length of the adjustable strap, the plane of the buckle is moved substantially perpendicular to the plane of the adjustable strap and the body portion of the adjustable strap moved relative to the buckle, thereby decreasing the length of that end of the adjustable strap which extends away from the buckle.

The invention both as to its organization and method of operation, together with further objects and advantages thereof, will best be understood by reference to the following specification taken in connection with theaccompanying drawing, in which:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a buckle embodying the features of the present invention, illustrating the buckle and garment-supporting straps in normal wearing position;

Fig. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view taken along line 2Z of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a perspective view of the buckle of Fig. 1, illustrating the disposition of the buckle and straps during adjustment;

Fig. 4 is a top plan view of the buckle of Fig. 1;

Fig. 5 is a top plan view of another embodiment of the buckle of Fig. 1;

Fig. 6 is a sectional view taken along line 6-6 of Fig. 5 with the addition of garment supporting straps shown with the buckle in normal wearing position;

Fig. 7 is a top plan view of yet another embodiment of the buckle of Fig. l;

Fig. 8 is a sectional view taken along line 88 of Fig. 7 with the addition of garment supporting straps;

Fig. 9 is a top plan view of still another embodiment of the buckle of Fig. 1;

Fig. 10 is a sectional view taken along line 10-10 of Fig. 9' and also illustrates garment supporting straps;

Fig. 11 is a top plan view of still another embodimerit of the buckle of Fig. l; and

Fig. 12 is a sectional view taken along line 12-12 of Fig. 11 shown with garment supporting straps in position.

Referring now to the drawings and particularly to Figs. 1 through 3, there is illustrated a one-piece lingerie buckle 20 attached to an end of a first lingerie-supporting or garment strap 21 which is of fixed length and has its; other end attached or fastened to a lingerie garment (not shown). A second or adjustable strap 22 likewise has one end (not shown) attached to the lingerie garment but has its other end 2 1a freely threaded through the buckle 20 in such manner that when a tensive force is applied between the straps 21 and 22 the strap '22 is deformed thereby to prevent slippage between the buckle and the adjustable strap 22.

As is best shown in Fig. 4, the buckle 20 comprises a pair of spaced side bars 23 and 24 interconnected at their respective ends by a pair of end cross bars and 26 which may be termed front and rear cross bars, respectively. These bars 22, 23, 24 and 25 lie in a common plane (or are coplanar), hereinafter called the plane of through which is threaded an end 21a of the garment strap 21. The end 21a is passed around the rear cross bar 26 and positioned adjacent to and parallel with the body 21b of the strap 21. The end 21a and body 21b of the strap 21 are suitably secured together, as indicated at 29 by sewing, stitching or the like, to provide an opening or loop 30, shown in Fig. 2, in which the bar 26 may freely rotate in order to permit shortening of the adjustable strap 22 as described hereinafter. In order to prevent the inwardly extending edge of the rear cross bar 26 from cutting or abrading the strap 21, a portion 26a of the bar 26 is bent back on itself (Fig. 2) to provide a rounded surface 31 for engagement with the strap 21. By this arrangement, tearing or rupture of the strap 21 during normal use and during adjustment of the strap, with the attendant risk of severing the buckle 20 from the lingerie garment, is obviated. A second strap-receiving opening 32 is defined between the front cross bar 25 and the intermediate cross bar 27 to accommodate the adjustable strap 22 when threaded into the buckle 20 in the manner set forth below.

In accordance with a feature of the present invention the intermediate cross bar 27 is offset from the plane of the side and end bars 23, 24, 25 and 26 so that substantially the entire length of the bar 27 is elevated with respect to the plane of the buckle. More specifically, the bar 27 includes a central or raised portion 27a lying in a plane which is offset from but parallel to the plane of the buckle. The portion 27a has a generally curved configuration, as best illustrated in Fig. 2 and is connected at its respective ends to the side bars 23 and 24 by inclined portions 27b providing a pair of spaced corners or edges 270 about which the strap 22 is adapted to be snubbed. The adjustable strap 22 is threaded on the buckle by passing its free end 22a underneath the front cross bar 25, up through the opening 28, around the intermediate cross bar 27. down through the opening 32, and under the front cross bar 25 to rest upon and extend parallel to the body 22b of the strap 22. In this manner, the strap is brought into engagement with side strapengaging surfaces 27d and 27c and top surface 27f on the intermediate bar 27 and also engages side and bottom strap- engaging surfaces 25a and 25b, respectively, on the front bar 25. The openings 28 and 32 have lengths adequate to accommodate the width of the strap 22 and the width of the opening 32 measured between the portion 27a of the bar 27 and the bar 25 is slightly greater than the thickness of the strap 22, whereby the strap may be freely, yet snugly, threaded through the opening 32. Moreover, the intermediate bar 27 is relatively thin so that the strap rather abruptly reverses itself through approximately 180 as it passes around the side and top strap- engaging surfaces 27d, 27e and 27 The side strapengaging surface 25b of the bar 25 in cooperation with the body 22b of the strap 22 effects an approximate 80 turn in the strap immediately adjacent the 180 turn effected by the bar 27. In addition, the corners 270 are respectively spaced from the side bars 23 and 24 to engage portions of the straps removed slightly from the side edges thereof, thereby to assure that the body of the strap is snubbed at two points as it passes over these corners. Specifically, so-called operative snubbing edges exclusive of the corners 270, are adapted to fn'ctionally hold the strap 22 and include the following: the right edge of the strap engaging surface 27c as viewed in Fig. 2, the common edge between the strap engaging surfaces 27d and 27), the common edge between the strap engaging surfaces 27 and 270, and the common edge between the strap engaging surfaces 25a and 25b. Clearly, only the strap engaging surfaces 27d, 27) and 25b are in flush relation with the strap 22. Thus, the strap 22 follows a very tortuous path as it is threaded through the buckle 20 and the described abrupt turns and numerous points of engagement between the strap and the buckle produce a strong binding or gripping action which eflfectively prevents slippage. In order to form the abrupt turns as close together as possible and hence, to improve the gripping action it is important that the intermediate bar 27 be relatively narrow and that it be so spaced from the front bar 25 that the strap 22 is deformed in the manner illustrated in Fig. 2.

It will be appreciated that during conventional use the strap is threaded in and oriented relative to the buckle, as shown in Figs. 1. and 2, and that when a tensive force is applied between the straps 21 and 22 the adjustable strap 22 binds relative to the intermediate cross member 27. Specifically, the strap 22 is drawn into flush engagement with the strap-engaging surfaces 27d, 27e, 27f, 25a and 25b and is snubbed over the corners 270 with the result that this strap is deformed about the intermediate cross bar 27 and the front cross bar 25. As described above, by virtue of the deformation and snubbing action developed, the strap 22 is tightly secured to the buckle 20, thereby preventing any relative slippage between the buckle and the adjustablestrap. In fact, the body of the strap 22 may suddenly be jerked and/or a sharp tensive force may be applied between the straps 21 and 22 without producing slippage of the strap 22 relative to the buckle 20. Actually, as the tensive force on the body portion 22b increases, the deformation of the strap in passing through the buckle and the snubbing action are both increased with the result that the adjustable strap is even more firmly secured to the buckle. Moreover, tensionon the body portion 22b forces the free end 22a against the front cross bar 25 and, hence, helps to prevent movement of the buckle along the adjustable strap.

In accordance with another feature of the present invention, thebuckle 20, during ordinary use, does not touch the skin of the wearer but is, instead, cushioned or spaced from the skin by the straps 21 and 22.. By this arrangement, the buckle 20 seats against the straps and does not rub against or irritate the skin and, accordingly, the garment may be worn for an extensive period of time without discomfort. Those portions of the buckle 20 and of the straps 21 and 22 which face the skin of the wearer are clearly visible in Fig. 1. More specifically, that portion of the strap 21 wrapped around the rear cross bar 26 and the portion of the strap 22 wrapped around the intermediate bar 27 both rest against the skin of the wearer and because of the fact that the intermediate bar 27 is offset from the plane of the buckle, the exposed parts of the buckle 20 are spaced from and do not contact the skin of the wearer.

As shown in Fig. 2, during normal wearing or use, the buckle lies in substantially the same plane as the straps 21 and 22. In order to decrease the effective length of the adjustable strap 22 a tensive force is applied between the free end 22a of the strap 22 and the body 21b of the strap 21 by manually holding the body portion 21b with one hand while pulling on the free end 22a with the other hand while the buckle is in normal wearing position shown in Figs. 1 and 2. Pulling upon the free end 22a of the adjustable strap releases or, at least, diminishes the frictional bind between the front bar and the free end 22a and, at the same time, the snubbing action of the buckle is reduced to permit the strap 22 to move through the buckle thereby to effect adjustment of the strap without manually touching or handling the buckle 20. After the strap 22 has been effectively shortened the body portion 21b and 22b of the straps 21 and 22 are pulled in opposite directions in order to urge the strap 22 into snug engagement with the buckle 20 and, hence, to maintain the strap 22 at its new shortened length.

In order to increase the effective length of the adjustable strap 22, the buckle is rotated apprQXiniatelyStli into a position substantially perpendicular to the- straps 21 and 22, as illustrated in Fig. 3. This result may be accomplished by manually gripping the side bars 23 and 24 with the thumb and forefinger and moving the buckle to the above-described position. The strap 22 is no longer deformed by the front cross bar 25 nor is it snubbed on the edges 270, with the result that the strap 22 may easily be moved through the openings 28 and 32 of the buckle by pulling on the body portion 22b of the adjustable strap. After the strap 22 has been adjusted to its desired length, the buckle 20 is released, whereupon the body portions 21!) and 22b of the straps 21 and 22 are pulled in opposite directions so that the buckle automatically returns to the position illustrated in Fig. 1. The tensive force applied between the body portions of the straps 21 and 22 also causes the strap 22 to engage firmly the bars 25 and 27 so that the strap becomes fixedly secured to a buckle 20 in its new adjusted position.

Buckles manufactured in accordance with the present invention are stamped or punched out of aluminum blanks by suitable dies, which, in a single operation, cut out the openings 28 and 32 and offset the bar 27. The buckles are then coated with a tough enamel to provide a smooth, durable and attractive finish. The dies are of different size and accordingly produce various sized, so-called stock buckles having openings 32 of different widths.

More particularly, stock buckles are made having a width of .040 inch or .070 inch between parallel planes passing through the parallel surfaces 25a and 27e. In the buckle shown in Figs. 1 through 4 a width of .040 inch is used to accommodate a cotton strap having a thickness of .025 inch and a width of slightly less than .625 inch. The spacing between the side bars 23 and 24 and hence the length of the openings 32 and 28 is approximately .625 inch, whereby the cotton strap 22 having a width of less than .625 inch is easily threaded into the buckle 20. Moreover, the intermediate bar 27 has a width of about .080 inch and a thickness of about .026 inch, and is elevated with respect to the side bars 23 and 24 so that the distance between parallel planes passing through the leftmost points on the surface 27f (Fig. 2) and the surface 25b is approximately .1 inch or, described in another way, so that the distance between parallel planes passing through the rightmost points on the bar 27 and the left surface of bar 25 is .045 inch. With this arrangement, a plane passing through the common edges of surfaces 25a, 25b and 27c, 27 makes an angle A of about 112 (Fig. 2) with a plane passing through the surface 25b. Also, a. plane passing through the common edge of surfaces 25a and 25b and the right edge of surface 27d makes an angle B of about 30 (Fig. 2) with a plane passing through the surface 25b.

The aluminum blanks are of such composition that either the front cross bar 25 or the intermediate cross bar 27 may be deformed at its center by a suitable die and cooperating impact member in order effectively to reduce the width of the opening 32 as in the embodiments of the invention shown in Figs. 5 to 12, inclusive. By this arrangement, the stock buckles may be used for extra and medium thick lingerie straps or, alternatively, these buckles may be transformed, by bending either on buckle 20.

of the bars 25 or 27, into so-called specialty buckles which are adapted to be used with straps of medium or thin thickness. Thus, as illustrated in Figs. 5 and 6, the buckle may be readily adapted for use with lingerie straps 121 and 122 having medium thin thickness, for example, grosgrain or transversely ribbed straps having thicknesses of approximately .016 inch. This buckle v is similar to the buckle 20 in that it comprises side bars 123 and 124 interconnected by a pair of end cross bars 12:3 and 126 and an intermediate cross bar 127,

all-ofewhich bars have the same dimensions as the bars However, in contrast to the buckle 20, in order to assure deformation of the medium thin strap 122, the central portion of the front cross bar is deformed inwardly toward the intermediate cross bars 127, thereby to reduce the width of the opening 132. The front bar 3 .25 may be deformed, as indicated above, by placing the buckle 120 in a suitable die and striking the bar 125 as, for example, with a hammer. the width between the above referred to parallel planes was .040 inch, the width between the plane passing through the inwardmost portion of the surface 125a.

and the surface 1272 is reduced to about .022 inch. Because of the deformation of the bar, angle A, defined between the plane passing through the common edge of the surfaces 127e and 127 and the rightmost point of the surface 125a and the plane passing through the surface 125b, is reduced to approximately 104. Conversely, angle B is increased to approximately 34. Hence, since the opening 132 is narrower than the opening 32, the medium thin strap is snugly retained therein but may be moved therethrough in exactly the same manner as described above in conjunction with the description of the embodiment of the invention shown in Figs. 1 to 4.

Alternatively, in accordance with another embodiment illustrated in Figs. 7 and 8, a buckle 220, which is adapted to be used with straps 221 and 222 may be originally stamped or punched with an outwardly extending portion 225a as indicated by dotted lines. Instead of striking the cross bar 225 with an impact member to move its central portion toward the cross bar 227, the portion 225a may be reversed on itself or rolled over, as shown, in order effectively to reduce the width of the opening 232. Since the effective thickness of the cross bar 225 is increased by the bent-back portion 225a and the bar 225 is effectively moved closer to the bar 227, as shown in Fig. 8, the portion 225a does not have to extend inwardly as far as the deformed bar 125 in order to reduce the width of the opening 232 by the same degree. If, however, the portion 225a extends inwardly as far as the deformed bar 125, then a somewhat thinner strap than described in connection with the buckle 120 may be used with the buckle 220 by virtue of the further reduction of the width of the opening 232. This is readily apparent by reference to Fig. 8 wherein it is clearly illustrated that the effective width of the opening 232 is determined by both the inward extent and the height of the bent-back portion 225a relative to the cross bar 227.

In accordance with still another embodiment of the present invention illustrated in Figs. 9 and 10, there is provided a buckle 32!) adapted to be used with medium thin straps 321 and 322, similar to the straps 121, 122, 221 and 222. In contrast to the buckle 120, the buckle 320, instead of having its end cross arm 325 deformed, has its intermediate cross bar 327 deformed outwardly toward the end bar 324. Thus, the opening 332 is reduced in width so that it snugly accommodates the strap 322. The strap 322 and buckle 320 operate in the same manner as described above. Hence, the width or effective size of the opening defined between the two bars may be substantially reduced either by deforming the front cross bar toward the offset intermediate bar or by moving the offset intermediate bar toward the front bar. In either case, the configuration of the intermediate Whereas -through the surface 427e,

and front bars is such that distortion and snubbing of the medium thin strap is produced so that the strap is fixedly secured to the buckle yet is still easily adjustable in the manner described above.

In accordance with yet another embodiment of the present invention, there is provided a buckle 430 illustrated in Figs. 11 and 12 which is generally similar to the buckle 120 and which is usable with very thin straps 421 and 422. However, in contrast to the buckle 126, the front cross bar 425 has its central portion deformed by an impact member inwardly toward th rear cross bar 426 so that the extreme inner end of this central portion underlies the intermediate cross bar 427.

In fact, the inwardmost portion of the end bar 425 is approximately .04 inch distant from a plane passing The intermediate bar 327 is elevated relative to the plane of the bars 423, 424, 425 and 426 by approximately .045 inch, which is the same amount that the bar 427 is offset with respect to the plane of the buckle 20. It will be apparent because of the overlapping relationship of the bars 425 and 427 an exceptionally tortuous path is provided to accommodate a very thin strap 422, for example, a nylon or rayon strap having a thickness of approximately .011 inch. With this arrangement, the angle A, which is defined between a plane passing through the lower left edge of the bar 425 (Fig. 12) and the upper right edge of the bar 427 and a plane passing through the surface 425a, is equal -to approximately 51 degrees. Conversely, the angle B as described above, is equal to approximately 58 degrees. In contrast to the buckle described in Figs. 1-4, the operative snubbing edges, exclusive of the corners 4270, are as follows: the right edge of the strap engaging surface 427d as viewed in Fig. 12, the common edge between the strap engaging surfaces 427d and 427 the common edge between the trap engaging surfaces 427 and 427e, the right edge of the strap engaging surface 427e, the left edge of the strap engaging surface 425a, and the common edge between the strap engaging surfaces 425a and 4251:. Clearly, the strap engaging surfaces 427d, 427 4272, 425a and 4251; are in flush relationship with the strap 22. Thus, it will be apparent that the strap 427 is effectively snubbed over the immediately above described edges and the corners 427a and frictionally rests upon the above described strap engaging surfaces. With a buckle constructed as described hereinabove, a very thin strap may be freely yet snugly threaded through the opening 432, and may be easily adjusted and satisfactorily operated in the manner described above.

Although the buckle 430 is described above as having a distance of .045 inch between the plane of the bars 425 and 427, it has been conclusively demonstrated that this distance may be varied from .025 to .050 inch while still providing satisfactory operation of the buckle with a thin nylon or rayon strap having a thickness of .01 inch.

Moreover, it will be appreciated that the relative positions of the end bars and the intermediate bars may be varied by the use of die and hammer arrangement, indicated above, thereby to alter the magnitude of the angles A and B and to change the severity of the tortuous path of a strap through the buckle. By this procedure regardless of the composition and thickness of a strap, a buckle embodying the features of the present invention may be modified so that the strap may be held in a plurality of selective positions while still permitting facile adjustment thereof.

While there have been described what are at present considered to be the several embodiments of the present invention, it will be understood, of course, that the invention is not limited thereto since various modifications may be made and it is, therefore, contemplated that the appended claims cover any such modifications as fall within the true spirit and scope of the invention.

What is claimed as new and is desired to be secured by Letters Patent of the United States is:

1. A one-piece lingerie buckle for securing a strap in adjusted positions comprising a frame having spaced side bars interconnected by end and intermediate cross bars spaced to define strap receiving openings therebetween, one of said end bars being adapted for attachment to a lingerie garment, said intermediate bar being offset relative to another of said end bars such that a plane in which the lower surface of said intermediate bar lies is spaced 93 to inch from a plane in which the upper surface of said other end bar lies, said other end bar being deformed to partly underlie said intermediate bar, said strap being threaded up through one of said openings, around said intermediate bar, down another of said openings and under said other end bar, said other end bar and said intermediate bar cooperating incident to application of a tension force between said strap and said lingerie garment to deform said strap around said intermediate and other end bar thereby to secure said strap to said buckle.

2. A one-piece lingerie buckle for securing a strap in adjusted positions comprising a frame having spaced side bars interconnected by end cross bars and an intermediate cross bar spaced to define strap receiving openings therebetween, one of said end cross bars being adapted for attachment to a lingerie garment, said intermediate cross bar having a portion offset wtih respect to another of said end cross bars, said portion lying in a plane parallel to and spaced from the plane in which said side and end bars lie and including a pair of side wall strap engaging surfaces and a slightly convex strap engaging surface of a Width substantially twice the thickness of said strap, said other end cross bar having a side wall strap engaging surface which in cooperation with one of said walls of said offset portion defines an opening, one of said cross bars being deformed toward another cross bar so that said two last-mentioned bars at least partially overlap each other to provide said opening with a width slightly larger than the thickness of said strap, said strap engaging surfaces cooperating with said strap to deform said strap at said intermediate and other end bars incident to application of a tension force between said strap and said lingerie garment to fixedly secure said strap to said buckle.

3. A one-piece lingerie buckle for securing a strap in adjusted positions comprising a frame having spaced side bars interconnected by first and second end cross bars and an intermediate cross bar spaced to define first and second strap deceiving openings therebetween, said first end cross bar being adapted for attachment to a lingerie garment, said intermediate cross bar having a portion offset relative to and lying in a plane parallel to the plane of said second end cross bar and having a slightly convex strap engaging surface, said second end cross bar having a central portion deformed toward said intermediate bar and lying in the same plane as said first end cross bar, which is equidistant said side bars, and which underlies said intermediate cross bar to provide said first opening between said second end cross bar and said intermediate cross bar being spaced apart to permit snug passage of said strap therebetween, said strap being threaded up through said second opening, around said intermediate cross bar, down through said first opening and under said second end cross bar, said second end cross bar and said intermediate cross bar cooperating incident to application of a tension force between said strap and said lingerie garment to deform said strap around said intermediate cross bar thereby to secure said strap to said buckle.

4. A one-piece lingerie buckle for securing a strap in adjusted positions comprising a frame having spaced side bars interconnected by first and second end cross bars and an intermediate cross bar spaced to define first and second strap receiving openings therebetween, said first end bar being adapted for attachment to a lingerie garment, said intermediate bar having a portion ofiset relative to and lying in a plane parallel to the plane of said second end bar and having a slightly convex strap engaging surface, said intermediate bar further having a pair of inclined portions interconnected by said oifset portion thereby to define a pair of spaced corners about which said strap is adapted to be snubbed during application of a tensive force between said strap and said lingerie garment, one of said cross bars having a central portion deformed toward another of said cross bars to provide said first opening between said second end bar and said intermediate bar, said first opening having a Width adequate to snugly accommodate the strap therethrough, said strap being threaded up through said second opening, around said intermediate bar, down through said first opening and under said second end bar, said second end bar and said intermediate bar cooperating incident to 10 application of a tension force between said strap and said lingerie garment to deform said strap around said intermediate bar thereby to secure said strap to said buckle.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION Patent No. 2,981,994 May 2, 1961 Paul W. White It is hereby certified'that error -appears in the above numbered patent requiring correction and that the said Letters fiatent should read as corrected below.

Column 5, line 5, for "portion'. read portions column 8 line 50 for "deceiving" read receiving 61, after bar insert intermediate cross bar I line 1 said second end cross bar and said Signed and sealed this 3rd day of. October 1961.

(SEAL) Attest: i ERNEST W. SWIDER DAVID L. LADD Attesting Officer I Commissioner of Patents USCOMM-DC"

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