Abstract: A hook and eye fastener for securing two pieces of a garment together includes a hook part for mounting on one of the pieces and an eye part for mounting on of the other of the pieces. The eye part comprises a frame having an open mouth defined by a circumferential lip. The lip has a pair of slots formed therein. The hook part comprises a body and arm. The arm comprises an inner portion connected to the body and an outer portion connected to inner portion. A plurality of ribs are provided along the rear surface of the inner portion and a pair of divider walls are provided along the front surface of the inner portion, nestled below the outer portion. The divider walls project forwardly for location in the slots of the lip. The fastener is relatively slim, easy to use, and capable of withstanding high tensile forces.

Abstract: A link or slide for a garment strap includes mutually parallel longitudinal bars and a pair of opposing transverse bars each forming a juncture with ends of the longitudinal bars. The transverse bars curve forward from the junctures away from the rear of the longitudinal bars, reducing potential discomfort to an active wearer. In embodiments, the link is formed of resilient material and the link thickness tapers to a minimum at the junctures, forming flexible zones which provide added comfort. In additional embodiments, the longitudinal bars have angled edges adjoining slots through which the garment strap passes. The angled edges resist undesirable motion of the strap, especially while the wearer is exercising.

Abstract: A fastener for a garment, particularly suited to use in a garment such as a brassiere, includes female and male parts that interlock. The female part is connected to a first garment piece and the male part is connected to a second garment piece. The fastener is an overlapping fastener of the type in which the male piece is engaged with the female piece by inserting a connector plate of a male part into an aperture of a female part at an angle and thereafter pivoting the male part relative the female part thereby snap-fitting the connector plate in place in the aperture. The female part has a socket for receiving a detent of the male part, forming a locking mechanism. Dimensioning the male part to interfere with an edge of the female when coupling creates a second locking mechanism, as the female part resiliently couples to the male.

Abstract: A fastener for a garment, particularly suited to use in a garment such as a brassiere, comprises a female part and a male part that interlock together. The female part is connected to a first garment piece and the male part is connected to a second garment piece. The fastener is an overlapping fastener of the type in which the male piece is engaged with the female piece by inserting a connector plate of a male part into an aperture of a female part at an angle and thereafter pivoting the male part relative the female part thereby snap-fitting the connector plate in place in the aperture. The male part has a recess formed therein surrounding the connector plate which provides added stability to the male part and significantly increases its tensile strength characteristic.

Abstract: A thin garment closure includes a male member with a bar having a ball each end and a female member having a trough shaped to receive the bar. The bar is positionable in the trough when the male and female members are in a substantially transverse orientation, and when one member is rotated so that both members are substantially coplanar the closure is closed. The male member has side arms angled inward and connecting the male exterior side and the bar. The length of the bar is shorter than the length of the male exterior side. The trough of the female member has a concave region to receive each ball of the bar. In an embodiment, the concave region is enlarged toward the center of the closure to accommodate movement of the bar under tension. These features improve the tensile strength of the closure.

Abstract: A fastener for a garment, particularly suited to use in a garment such as a brassiere, comprises female and male parts that interlock. The female part is connected to a first garment piece and the male part is connected to a second garment piece. The fastener is an overlapping fastener of the type in which the male piece is engaged with the female piece by inserting a connector plate of a male part into an aperture of a female part at an angle and thereafter pivoting the male part relative the female part thereby snap-fitting the connector plate in place in the aperture. The female part has a socket for receiving a detent of the male part, forming a locking mechanism. Dimensioning the male part to interfere with an edge of the female when coupling creates a second locking mechanism, as the female part resiliently couples to the male.

Abstract: This invention relates to a hook and eye fastener (1, 101, 201) for securing two straps (15, 27) of an item of clothing such as a brassiere together. The hook part (3, 103, 203) is a substantially flat body (7) mounted on the face of one strap (15) and the eye part (5, 105, 205) is a substantially flat frame (21) mounted on the face of the other strap (27). The hook part comprises an arm (9) extending outwardly therefrom and the frame defines an open mouth (23) dimensioned to receive the arm of the hook part. The hook part and the eye part are configured to provide a fastener having a thickness of between 4 mm and 5 mm in total and that is relatively simple to engage and positively disengage.

Abstract: This invention relates to a fastener (100, 400, 700, 1000, 1300) for clothing or lingerie. The fastener comprises a front element (200, 500, 800, 1100, 1400) having at least one seat cavity (201) and a back element (300, 600, 900, 1200, 1500) having at least one bump (301) for location in the seat cavity. The front element and back element each comprise magnets (235, 329) to assist in the location of the bump in the seat cavity. The front and back elements additionally comprise a plurality of complementary catch faces (203, 205, 211, 213, 501, 303, 305, 311, 313, 601) which secure the engagement of the front and back elements and are operable to prevent inadvertent release of the back element from the front element when the back element is subjected to forces in any of a plurality of disparate directions.

Abstract: A hook and eye fastener for securing two pieces of a garment together includes a hook part for mounting on one of the pieces and an eye part for mounting on of the other of the pieces. The eye part comprises a frame having an open mouth defined by a circumferential lip. The lip has a pair of slots formed therein. The hook part comprises a body and arm. The arm comprises an inner portion connected to the body and an outer portion connected to inner portion. A plurality of ribs are provided along the rear surface of the inner portion and a pair of divider walls are provided along the front surface of the inner portion, nestled below the outer portion. The divider walls project forwardly for location in the slots of the lip. The fastener is relatively slim, easy to use, and capable of withstanding high tensile forces.

Abstract: An ultra-slim fastener for a bra comprises male and female parts mounted on fabric pieces. The male part comprises a planar body having a downwardly depending leg terminating in an outwardly projecting foot extending parallel to the body. The female part comprises a substantially planar frame defining a cavity for reception of the foot. The cavity is roofed in towards the innermost end of the frame only, thereby defining an open mouth towards the outermost frame end. In embodiments, a fabric strip forms a backing for the frame and the bottom of the cavity is closed off. The second piece further comprises an overlay mounted partially above the frame and on the fabric strip, sandwiching the frame between the overlay and the fabric strip. Embodiments are provided for use with reversible garments. Such a fastener will be very thin yet very strong.

Abstract: A thin garment closure includes a male member with a bar having a ball on at least one end and a female member having a trough shaped complementary to the bar. The bar is positionable in the trough when the male and female members in a substantially transverse orientation, and when one member is rotated so that both members are substantially coplanar the closure is closed. The male and female members each have a flat surface which contacts the flat surface of the mating member when the closure is closed, enabling a thin and narrow closure. In an embodiment, the trough has sidewalls which guide the bar into position in the trough for improved manipulation of the closure. In another embodiment, a detent resists decoupling of the closure while allowing coupling over a range of insertion angles.

Abstract: A thin garment closure includes a male member with a bar having a ball each end and a female member having a trough shaped to receive the bar. The bar is positionable in the trough when the male and female members are in a substantially transverse orientation, and when one member is rotated so that both members are substantially coplanar the closure is closed. The male member has side arms angled inward and connecting the male exterior side and the bar. The length of the bar is shorter than the length of the male exterior side. The trough of the female member has a concave region to receive each ball of the bar. In an embodiment, the concave region is enlarged toward the center of the closure to accommodate movement of the bar under tension. These features improve the tensile strength of the closure.

Abstract: A fastener for a garment, particularly suited to use in a garment such as a brassiere, comprises a female part and a male part that interlock together. The female part is connected to a first garment piece and the male part is connected to a second garment piece. The fastener is an overlapping fastener of the type in which the male piece is engaged with the female piece by inserting a connector plate of a male part into an aperture of a female part at an angle and thereafter pivoting the male part relative the female part thereby snap-fitting the connector plate in place in the aperture. The male part has a recess formed therein surrounding the connector plate which provides added stability to the male part and significantly increases its tensile strength characteristic.

Abstract: An ultra-slim fastener for a bra comprises a male part mounted on a first piece and a female part mounted on a second piece. The male part comprises a planar body having a downwardly depending leg terminating in an outwardly projecting foot extending parallel to the body. The female part comprises a substantially planar frame defining a cavity for reception of the foot. The cavity is roofed in towards the innermost end of the frame only, thereby defining an open mouth towards the outermost frame end. The frame is mounted directly onto a fabric strip. The strip forms a backing for the frame and the bottom of the cavity is closed off. The second piece further comprises an overlay mounted partially above the frame and on the fabric strip, sandwiching the frame between the overlay and the fabric strip. Such a fastener will be very thin yet very strong.

Abstract: A brassiere closure for full figured brassieres or orthopedic use includes an easily operable engagement of a single large loop and hook. The loop is positionable into an open position in which the hook may readily engage the loop. When pressure is applied to the loop, the loop assumes a closed position, thereby connecting the two wings of the brassiere. In an embodiment, the loop has a D-shaped ring which is hinged to a base, and the hook is ovate and self-centering. In another embodiment, an integral double spring serves to bias the loop in an open position. In another embodiment, secondary magnetic fasteners are used for additional strength and to assist in aligning the loop and the hook. The size and novel features of the closure make it easily operable, even when located behind the wearer's back.

Abstract: An underwire for a brassiere comprises an elongate, substantially u-shaped body having a chest-engaging portion and a breast-engaging portion. The underwire is constructed from a unitary piece of plastic material. The chest-engaging portion and the breast-engaging portion are connected together along their lengths in a dogleg-shaped configuration, with, in an embodiment, an angle of between 110° and 140° with respect to each other. The breast-engaging portion has a shorter length dimension than the chest-engaging portion and thereby leaves a substantially flat chest-engaging portion at each end of the elongate body. In embodiments, these flat ends of the chest-engaging portion are rounded or thinned compared to the remainder of the chest-engaging portion. The configuration provides good support to the wearer's breast, increases comfort, and is less likely to injure than other configurations.

Abstract: A reversible locking garment closure includes male and female members each attached to an end of a garment. The male member has a pin at an acute angle and the female member receives the pin in a corresponding angled channel. The acute angle provides resistance to decoupling the male and female members, and allows the closure to function under high tensile stress. The male and female members are coupled via motion in a plane parallel to the front and rear faces of the closure, allowing the closure to be operable when worn in a reverse orientation. In an embodiment, the closure includes a locking mechanism which resiliently resists decoupling of the male and female members.

Abstract: A thin garment closure includes a male member with a bar having a ball on at least one end and a female member having a trough shaped complementary to the bar. The bar is positionable in the trough when the male and female members in a substantially transverse orientation, and when one member is rotated so that both members are substantially coplanar the closure is closed. The male and female members each have a flat surface which contacts the flat surface of the mating member when the closure is closed, enabling a thin and narrow closure. In an embodiment, the trough has sidewalls which guide the bar into position in the trough for improved manipulation of the closure. In another embodiment, a detent resists decoupling of the closure while allowing coupling over a range of insertion angles.