1000921591 1B] «2 United States Patent (10) Patent No.: US 9,215,911 BI Carnley (45) Date of Patent: Dec. 22, 2015, (4) BELT BUCKLE WITH STORAGE 48060 4 719 Fld a 106 COMPARTMENT a eat (71) Applicant: Christopher W. Carnley, Pesnacola, FL ee gee an ws) 5026861 A + 1901 Yower te ath a0 stopher ‘arnley snacol [esse (72) Ioveuor: Cheaper W. Carle, Pesca FL ‘1pa29 A * 71902 Coline “naan EIS wus) nest (4) Notice: Subject to any disclaimer, theterm ofthis SQHL6S) A. S994. Mik Adan Patent is extended or aijusted under 38 USC. 180) by 378 da SEER A | tose Met (21) Appl. Now 13/974,873 “ apne arnt 48878 A + 81996 Romagna (1) Inch 557.300 A * 111996 Gutragianios Adie i100 (2006.01) (2) Us.c So1s4s9 A * 41997 Wa cee Ad4B 11/005 (2013.01) $,687,890 A 11/1997 Wanner ($8) Field of Clasitcation Search Sei 4 21399 tonommes CPC ss A T/00; ASAD 11/05; SAB 1102 ‘eeso1) Bee 132008 Kook ASB 1104, ASS 11/0; AaaB 11283 2007016078 AI 72007 Santos A418 11/2525 20080155793 AL* 72008 Chen See application efor complet seach history. 6) References Cited 20140208569 A1* 72014 Rowland aaron Ss USS. PATENT DOCUMENTS A 411905 Dodge A 1908 Johnson A 94034 Dow 121925 Cindeam Ustsaee A '5 1926. Rankin e064 111926. Spear L588 765 ‘41930 Withers R762 Lesseret a A 91968 essere S dives: Lesser eta B27AMd A ADVTS. Foster Baawiots 8101977 Wayne etal AUDI) A '91078 Woodtury 200117 A * 61980. Covina MAB 11008 20037 4260087 841981 Leaver AS80390, 4 ° S198 Hayakawn AMAB 1 1 008 220163 4608735 4 * 911986. Kasei AMBILIO Duin 4953377 A 61986 Potuhowich AS05204 + IBS Keamey ASIF 8005 "007 * cited by examiner Primary Examiner — Brian D Nash (74) Attornes, Agent, oF Firm — Peter Loffer 6 ABSTRACT A belt buckle wit a storage compartment uses typical box frame buckle architecture with a storage compartment hingedly attached toa back side of the box frame on a side ‘opposite a grab bar of the box frame. The storage compart- ‘ment articulates between a closed postion against the box frame and an open positon. In the closed position, a pin is removably received within a receiver in onder to secure the ‘compartment in the elosed position. When the storage com- partment isin the elosed positon, pivot posts that hold the rab bar are within the storage compartment and the grab bar partially overlays an open side ofthe storage compartment 8 Claims, § Drawing SheetsU.S. Patent Dec. 22, 2015 Sheet 1 of 5 US 9,215,911 B1 FIG, 1US. Patent Dee. 22, 2015, Sheet 2 of 5 US 9,215,911 BI FIG.2U.S. Patent Dec. 22, 2015 Sheet 3 of 5 US 9,215,911 B1 FIG.3US 9,215,911 BL Sheet 4 of 5 Dec. 22, 2015 U.S, Patent + OldU.S. Patent Dec. 22, 2015 Sheet 5 of 5 US 9,215,911 B1 FIG. 5US 9,215,911 BI 1 BELT BUCKLE WITH STORAGE ‘COMPARTMENT BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field ofthe Invention ‘The present invention relates to box-frame belt buckle with ‘9 rear postioaed storage compartment for holding various items such as a magnesium block, Hint, and striker for use ‘during outdoor survival maneuvers 2, Background ofthe Prior Ar ‘When deep in the outdoors, whether on military exercises, hunting, or during survival maneuvers, certain items are ‘essential, Among the many items that are needed to survive in the wilderness for an extended period of time, are tools that allow a fret be started. A Fieisindispensablevo cook meals, possibly sterilize water, and provide wan and light. While matetes and lighters are the fire starters of ehoce for many, ‘each has cern deawhacks, Matches need 1 bo kept dry in ‘onde o ignite and renin ignited for stficien dation. Wet matches need aconsiderable length of ini in onder ory out HTthat iseven posible, in ordero become usable io start fie Similarly, if lipher gets wet, the smal in, which tends to be somewhat internal 10 most lighters, also needs a consider- ableamount of ime to dry ou prior to becoming effective for its intended job. This means that care must be taken to keep such implertents dy, which care is not always available dur ing wilderness survival. Additionally, both matches an light- ‘rs, with thee ater bulky uel requirements, are essentially ‘finite resource. Asa result, many tre survivalist rely on the ancient fin and striker method of fire stating wherein a sirike materia, such as a piece ofstel such as the person's knife, i struck wns fre block, namely Hin, onto smal pile of tinder, ‘which may be produced using the stel blade by shaving of ‘mall Bits off of small magnesium block, The stike of the steel apains the fin produces sparks, which ignite the tinder ‘and thereby str fire. This fire starting system takes litle time o lear, and ean beused in almost any conditions. I the flint becomes wet, the surface ean he quickly dried inorder allow sparks to he generated therefrom, As the fire staring uc s compact yet voluminous in its fire starting ability, the system dacs not run out of feline way’ ligter does, Fit, eel and a magnesium block make the survivalist sels ‘ea in terms of lire stating capability. “The next question forthe survivals is where to store the ‘int and magnesium block. Whilea camper ean simply throw the tems into his orher backpack without much thought, tre wilderness survivalist travel light and do aot have the some luxuries ofa typical eamperor hiker. the lint and magnesium block nto teie pants poc ‘ever, this valuable area of clothing real estate is often occu Pied by other necessities such as compass or canteen. Addi- tionally, as the flit and magnesium block tend to be very ‘small, they ean unknowingly fll out of their storage pocket ‘when the survivalist retrieves another lager item fram the ame pocket, ‘Whit is nceded isu storage system for storing a lint and ‘magnesium block fora lean equipped wiklemess survivalist hich does not take up on-person storage realestate that is reserved for other needed items and which minimizes the risk thatthe lint and magnesium block will inadvertently become Jost. Such a stomige system must aot hinder the sr ivalist ia anyway and must be easy to utlize. SUMMARY OP THE INVENTION ‘Te belt buckle with storage compartment of the present “addresses the aforementioned needs inthe art by 9 storage system tat conveniently holds apiece of 0 o 2 ‘lint andl a magnesium block on the person of @ wilderness survivalist who is relatively minimally loaded with needed ‘equipment, The belt huckle with storage compartment, by utilizing the belt buckle of the pans of the user, allows other, ‘more valuable clothing real estate ofthe user tobe utilized for storing other required stems such as compass, canteen ec The belt buckle with storage compartment is designed to prevent inadvertent los ofits fire starting cargo and allows retrieval ofthe cargo from, and replacement of thecaryo back into thestorage compartment tobe quick and easy so tht sch unetions ean be quiekly performed even in adverse con ‘ions. The belt buckle with storage compartment is of re vely simple design and consiruction being produced using Standaed manufacturing techniques ‘The belt buckle with storage compartment of the present invention iscomprised of a box frame that has front, back, a first side, a second side, atop and a bottom, and a stra {intemal passage tht receives abel therethrough. A grah ba, faving serrated tooth is pivotally aac tothe back ofthe box frame, proximate the first side in order to grabbingly secure one end of the belt A slide post is slidably disposed ‘within a first areuate channel disposed within the top and a sovond coextensive arcuate channel disposed within the bot tom in orderto frictionally secure the beh portion that passes through the intemal passage of the box frame. A storage ‘compartment is hingedly attached to the back of the box {fame proximate the second side. The storage comparizien is capable of articulating between a closed position positioned ‘aginst the back ofthe box frame and an open position, A elosure means is attached to box frame and to the strate ‘compartment for securing the storage compartment in the closed position, which closure means comprises a pin located ‘on the box frame and a receiver located onthe storage com- partment (or vice versa) wherein the pin is removably rece fable within the receiver, The pin may’ be threadably received within the receiver The storage compartment has at least one ‘pen side. The arab bari attached tothe box frame via pair ‘of spaced apart pivot posts, one pivot post located proximate {just below) the top Of the box frame, the ether pivot post Tocated proximate (jst above) the bottom of the box fre, sch that the pivot posts are located within the storage com- partment whenever the storage compartment sin the elosed position such thatthe grab bar partially covers the open side ff the storage compartment BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS. FIG. 1 isa perspective view ofthe bolt buckle with storage ‘compartment ofthe present ivention installed on 2 belt TFIG. 2 isa perspective view o the belt buckle with storage ‘compartment with te storage compartment open. FIG. 3 isa perspective view ofthe belt buckle with storage compartment in a closed configuration FIG. 4 isa rotated perspective view ofthe belt buckle with storage compartment in a closed configuration FIG. § i a parially exploded perspective view of the belt buckle with storage compartment ‘Similar reference numerals reer to similar parts through ‘ut the several views ofthe drawings, DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring now tothe drawings, itis seen thatthe belt buckle ‘with stomige compartment ofthe present invention, generally ‘denoted by reference numeral 10, is comprised of typical boxsirame buckle that has a box:shaped body member 12 witha front 14, a back 16a first side 18, a second side 20,3 top 22 and a bottom 24 with a Tateral internal passage 26 through the body member 12. A grab bar 28 is pivotallyUS 9,215,911 BI 3 attache tothe back 160f the body member 12 atthe fist side 418, between the top 22 and the bottom 24 between two pivot posts 30, Fah pivot post s ose from is respective top 22 ‘or bottom 24 of the body member 12, The grab bar 28 is 3 typical gra bar that as a row oF seerated toth 32 thereon sch that one end of the belt M positioned between the wo pivot posts 30 and between the grab bar 28 and the body member 12 and the arab bar 28 is rotated so that the teeth 32 ‘ofthe grab bar 28 dig into the belt 4 and thereby secure this first end of the belt 34 tothe belt buckle with storage com parimeat 10, The opposing end of the belt 34 is passed through the intemal passage 26 of the body member 12 through the second side 20, the end ofthe belt 34 being pulled ‘out of the intemal passa 26 through the fist side 18. The belt 34s size adjusted about the user and a slide post 36 that is slidably disposed in a pair of parallel arcuate channels 38, ‘one channel 38 located within the tap 22 of the body eiember 12, the other channel 38 located within the bottom 24 of the body member 12 is slid from proximate the front 14 of the body member 1 toward apostreceiver 40 located onthe back 16 ofthe body member 12 inorder to fitionally engage the belt 34 and socured the belt 34 in its user desieod sized posi- tion within the body member 12. Post heads 42 located on the top and bottom of the slide post 36 prevent the slide post 36 fiom falling out ofthe channels 38 “A storage compartment 44 is hingedly attached tothe back 16 of the body member 12 atthe second side 20 and as at leastone open side 46, The storage compartment 4 hingedly eulates between an open position, as best seen in FIG, 2, allowing access into the storage compartment 44, and 3 ‘’losed position, as best seen in FIGS. 1,3 and 4, wherein the storage compartment 44 is closed and its contents F are secured therein. Inthe closed positon, the back 24 ofthe body member 12 acts as one of the walls of the storage compat- ment 44. Additionally, the open side 46 ofthe storage com- partment 4 is located a the fest side 18 of the body member 12, As the pivot posts 30 are offset from both the top 22 and bottom 24 ofthe body member 12, the storage compartment 44 straddles the pivot posts 30 so that the pivot posts 30 are within the storage compartment 44, The grab bar 28 extend- Jing between these posts 30, partially overs the open side 46 ‘of the storage compartment 44 and helps secure its cargo F therein, ‘A closure pin 48 s secured to pin holderS0 located onthe top 22 ofthe body member proximate the first side 18 thereof. ‘The end $2 f the closure pin 48 is threadably received within spin ceiver 54 located an atop ofthe storage compartment “44 in onderto secure the storage compartment 44in its closed Position against the body member 12-—it being expressiy Fecognized that the close pin can have means other than threadable attachment to secure th closure pin within the pin receiver, such as by being frictionally received therein, or can has a spring ball on the closure pia’s distal end, ete. The ‘closure pin 48 has appropriate means (ot illustrate to pre= vent the closure pin 48 from being expelled from the pia holder 50. The head $6 ofthe closure pin 48ean be knurled or otherwise texture for easy grasping of the closure pin 4. Tnordero use the belt buckle with storagecompartment 10 ‘of the present invention, the belt 34 is sscured to the body ‘member 12 inthe usual way. Te storage compartment 44 is ‘opened by removing the closure pin 48 fromm the pin receiver ‘4 and swinging the storage compartment 44 open, Desired ‘cargo F is placed into the storize compartment 44 and the storage compartment 44 is swing closed against the body ‘member 12. The closure pin 48 is appropriately secured tothe pin receiver 54 in order to close the storage comparinient 44 The user wears the belt 4 inthe usal way. When access to 0 o 4 the cargo F within the storage compartment 44is uid the closure pins removed fom the pintecelver 54 the storage compartment 44s swung open, and the ergo Femoved as needed: Obviously, during Homage compartment acces 44 theuser may need to loosen or even paraly remove the belt $M trom about his or her body. "The varius component othe body member 12a well as the stomge compartnent 44 including the closite pin 4 as ‘elas the hinge kavekles) $8 onthe sloroge ompariment 44 (these hinge knuckles 58 may’ be monolithic with the storagecompartnent 48), he hinge knuckle(s) 60 on tibody ‘member 12 (hese hinge kekles 60 maybe monolithic with the body member 12), and the hinge pin 62 areal made fem napproprite sturdy material, sich os skin or ses, or can even be made fom a ard plastic, ete "While the invention fas heen patcuarty shown and describe with reference oan embestiment thereof iil he pprecined by thos led in the art that various changes in {Drmanddeai may bemnade witout departing fom te spit aa scope of te iention, 1 eli LEA belt buelde comprising «box frame having 8 fr aback, a fist side, a second sid, atop anda botiom, and lateral intemal passage, agin bar faving serrated txt, pivotally tached vo the ack ofthe box fame, proximate the fist se a slide post slidably disposed withina fist arcuate channel lsposed wilin the top ofthe box fame and a second ‘coextensive arcuate channel disposed within the boom ofthe box fame and a storage eompartnent hingedly attached the bck of the ‘box frame proximate the second sie, the storage com> partment capable of articulating berweon a closed po tion positioned agit he hack of the box frame ad aa open postion 2.Thebalt buckle asin claim 1 further comprising closure ‘means attached to box frame and tothe storage compartment {brsectring the storage compartment in the elosed poston 5. The bel buckle asin claim 2 wierein the closure means 1 Pit located on the box fame; and a recvver located on the storage compartment wherein the i removably receivable within the receive. 4. The belt buckle ain claim 3 wherein the pine thread- ably ocived within the receiver. 5. Tho belt buckle ain cai 4 wherein the storage com partment has at east one open side. 6. The storage comparmientsin claim § wherein the arab buarisatachedbox frame visa pair ofspacsd pan pivot posts, cone pivot post located proximate the topo the box fame, the chr pivot post located proximate the bottom of the box Tame, sh that the pivot posts relocated within he storage compartment whenever the storage compartseat isin the ‘osed postion such thatthe grab bar paral coversheopen Side ofthe storage compart, 7. The belt buckle a it lain 1 wherein the storage om partment has at east one open side. 2. The storage compart in lama 7 wherein the gab tarisattachedbo famcviaa pairofspaccd aor pvat posts cone pivot post located proximate the topo the box fame the cher pivot post located proximate the bottom of the box frame such that the pivot posts ae located within the storage compartment whenever the storage compartieat is inthe osed position such thatthe grab barpatalycoversheopen Side ofthe storage compart,