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The specification discloses a belt buckle for holding a can of smokeless tobacco which includes a plate for attachment to a belt and a clasp to join the ends of the belt. A cylindrically-shaped recess is formed in the plate which has a diameter slightly larger than the can of smokeless tobacco, and

The specification discloses a belt buckle for holding a can of smokeless tobacco which includes a plate for attachment to a belt and a clasp to join the ends of the belt. A cylindrically-shaped recess is formed in the plate which has a diameter slightly larger than the can of smokeless tobacco, and three lugs are mounted on the plate adjacent to the recess adjacent the lower 180°portion of the recess. The can is inserted in a downward direction into the recess between the recess and the lugs. The recess and the lugs act cooperatively to compress and flex the can of smokeless tobacco during insertion and a locking action is effected on the can of smokeless tobacco when the can returns to its original configuration when disposed within the recess.

대표청구항 ▼

A buckle for a belt having two ends for receiving and holding upon insertion a can of smokeless tobacco having a bottom made of resilient material and having a lid, said buckle comprising: a plate having dimensions larger than the diameter of the can of smokeless tobacco; attachment means for attach

A buckle for a belt having two ends for receiving and holding upon insertion a can of smokeless tobacco having a bottom made of resilient material and having a lid, said buckle comprising: a plate having dimensions larger than the diameter of the can of smokeless tobacco; attachment means for attaching the ends of the belt to said plate; a shallow cylindrically-shaped recess in said plate having a diameter slightly larger than the diameter of the bottom of the can of smokeless tobacco, said recess defining a rim on said plate about said recess; a plurality of lugs mounted on said plate adjacent to the perimeter of said recess for guiding the can of smokeless tobacco into said recess when the can is inserted into the buckle and for holding the can of smokeless tobacco on said plate with the bottom of the can of smokeless tobacco being in said recess, said lugs being dimensioned to display the lid of the can of smokeless tobacco as an ornamental design on the belt buckle, said plurality of lugs includes two opposed lugs and an intermediate lug mounted on said plate, each of said lugs having a first portion extending outwardly from and in a direction generally perpendicular to said plate adjacent to the perimeter of said recess and a second portion attached to and supported by said first portion and extending inwardly over said recess in a direction generally parallel to said plate, said two opposed lugs being generally diametrically opposed relative to said recess and said second portions of said opposed lugs covering an area which is intersected by a diameter of said recess, said intermediate lug being spaced-apart from and disposed intermediate said two opposed lugs, and the distance between said second portions of each of said lugs and said plate in said recess being approximately equal and being such that area of said second portions of said two opposed lugs which are remote from said intermediate lug are operable to contact the lid of the can of smokeless tobacco when the can is partially inserted at an oblique angle into the buckle with part of the bottom of the can in contact with said plate in said recess and another part of the bottom in contact with said rim; said opposed lugs and said rim acting upon the can of smokeless tobacco during insertion to subject the can to local deformation and, upon full insertion, the return of the can to its original configuration aids in holding the can in place in said recess; and said intermediate lug being spaced-apart from and between said opposed lugs to define openings of sufficient size to allow a finger to pass between said intermediate lug and each of said opposed lugs, whereby the can may be removed from the buckle by a single hand by placing two fingers on the can at said openings, placing a thumb on the top of the can, using the thumb to cant the can away from the buckle to a position to clear said rim, and lifting the can out of the buckle with the fingers passing through said openings.