Buckle apparatus

A combination belt buckle and decorative instrument housing comprising:

• a generally rectangular first base portion having means formed on a back surface thereof adapted to receive and attach the ends of a belt and a second portion extending upwardly therefrom to form a decorative surface;
• a chamber formed in said second portion, said chamber being generally centrally located in said second portion and adapted to receive an instrument;
• means associated with at least one of said first and second portions for securing an instrument in said chamber such that the instrument may be read directly from the exterior of said buckle and housing combination without manipulation or handling, said second portion adapted to generally extend around an instrument when secured in said chamber to protect the instrument;
• said first portion including a generally smooth, planar front surface;
• said second portion including a separate second member fixed to said planar front surface;
• said generally planar front surface of said base member being bounded by a peripheral upstanding wall means, said planar surface being formed as a recess in said front surface, said second member being positioned in said recess and secured to said planar surface, said decorative surface thereon extending above said peripheral wall means;
• an instrument positioned in said chamber, cushioning means positioned between said instrument and said planar surface, said securing means including said base member having a pair of spaced apart openings extending therethrough from said planar surface to said back surface, said instrument including an elonagated flexible band member having end portions thereof extending through said openings, and fastening means on said end portions adapted for attachment at said back surface to thereby hold said instrument in said chamber.

A combination decorative belt buckle and instrument housing comprising:

• a base member having front and back surfaces and means thereon for receiving and attaching the ends of belt;
• a raised decorative portion on said front surface of said base member;
• an instrument receiving chamber formed in said raised decorative portion and generally centrally located in said front surface, said instrument receiving chamber being defined by wall means forming a part of said decorative surface, opening to said front surface and adapted to receive an instrument therein through said front surface, said wall means extending entirely around the periphery of an instrument such as a watch when received in said chamber and forming a protective case for an instrument into which the component elements of the instrument may be assembled;
• means on said wall means for receiving a transparent cover for an instrument within said recess to cover and protect the instrument in cooperation with said wall means;
• said wall means including receiving means for receiving an adjustment mechanism from an instrument when the instrument is received in said instrument receiving chamber, said receiving means being sufficiently large to allow access to and adjustment of said adjustment mechanism without removal of the instrument from said chamber and without changing the position of the instrument on said belt buckle and housing while protecting the instrument, said receiving means including means for locating and positioning the instrument therein, a portion of said wall means extending beyond the end of any instrument adjustment mechanism when an instrument is mounted in said receiving means.

An article of manufacture comprising:

• a metallic base member having a first surface adapted to receive and engage the ends of a belt and a second surface adapted to receive an inlay;
• a nonmetallic inlay member having a rear surface adapted for engagement with said second surface of said base member, said inlay having a decorative front surface;
• an instrument receiving chamber formed in said front surface of said inlay, said chamber adapted to receive an instrument such as a time piece therein such that the face of the instrument is visible without moving the instrument, said chamber extending around the instrument when fitted therein to protect the instrument;
• means for securing said inlay in a fixed position relative to said base with said decorative surface being exposed to view, said inlay being generally coextensive with said second surface of said metallic base member with said decorative surface extending around said chamber;
• and
• means formed in said base for securing said instrument in said chamber.