Adjustable belt

Abstract

A belt may include a strap and a multipart buckle. The strap may include a first end and a second end and a ratchet portion having a plurality of teeth. The multipart buckle may include a male buckle portion coupled to the first end and a female buckle portion adjustably secured to the second end. The female buckle portion may include a ratchet assembly that is configured to engage with a tooth in the plurality of teeth to adjustably secure the female buckle portion to the second end. The ratchet assembly may include a ratchet actuator that is disposed by a spring member in a locking configuration relative to the tooth but that can be translated against the spring member into an unlocked configuration in which the female buckle portion can be longitudinally translated along the strap to lengthen or shorten the strap.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A belt, comprising:
 a strap having a first end and a second end, and a ratchet portion having a plurality of teeth and being disposed at the second end;   a multipart buckle comprising a male buckle portion coupled to the first end and a female buckle portion adjustably secured to the second end;   wherein the female buckle portion comprises a ratchet assembly that is configured to engage with a tooth in the plurality of teeth to adjustably secure the female buckle portion to the second end, wherein the ratchet assembly comprises a ratchet actuator that is disposed by a spring member in a locking configuration relative to the tooth but that can be translated against the spring member into an unlocked configuration in which the female buckle portion can be longitudinally translated along the strap to lengthen or shorten a distance between the female buckle portion and the male buckle portion.   
     
     
         2 . The belt of  claim 1 , wherein the male buckle portion is coupled to the first end with a hinged, toothed clasp. 
     
     
         3 . The belt of  claim 1 , wherein the male buckle portion and the female buckle portion are configured to be releasably secured to each other with at least one of a hook and notch or a magnetic force. 
     
     
         4 . The belt of  claim 1 , wherein the strap comprises a plurality of layers, including outer leather layers and an inner webbing layer. 
     
     
         5 . The belt of  claim 4 , wherein the ratchet portion is disposed between the outer leather layers. 
     
     
         6 . The belt of  claim 4 , wherein the ratchet portion is fixedly secured to at least one of outer leather layers or the inner webbing layer, preventing its longitudinal translation relative to the strap. 
     
     
         7 . The belt of  claim 4 , wherein the strap is elastic along a longitudinal direction. 
     
     
         8 . The belt of  claim 7 , wherein the inner webbing layer is elastically compressed and stitched to the outer leather layers such that the outer leather layers are also elastically compressed—such that the outer leather layers and inner webbing layer can be elastically stretched relative to their elastically compressed initial state.