Abstract: A strap adjustment assembly generally comprises an open or hollow connector frame integrally molded of synthetic resin and a strap retainer integrally molded of synthetic resin and assembled in the hollow connector frame. The hollow connector frame includes a grip base having a strap bearing surface, a pair of spaced legs extending from the grip base and having a pair of oblong slots, respectively, and a connecting bar joining the legs remotely from the grip base by a distance. The strap retainer includes a central strap engagement portion, and a pair of arms extending from the central strap engagement portion and being non-rotatably loosely fitted in the slots, respectively. The central strap engagement portion has a strap pressing surface for frictionally pressing a strap end portion against the strap bearing surface. The strap pressing surface is transversely spaced from the arms at least by said distance. The connector frame and the strap retainer are simultaneously molded in an assembled condition.

Abstract: A swivel hook assembly for attachment to a carrying strap of a bag, for example, includes a connector, an elongate support rotatably mounted on the connector, and a hook mounted on the elongate support. The connector, the support and the hook are all molded of synthetic resin. The hook has a head rotatably fitted in a central hole defined in the support and locked against removal therefrom. The connector and the support are simultaneously molded in a single step of molding operation in an assembled condition. The hook may be molded integrally with the support. The swivel hook assembly is composed of a relatively reduced number of parts, can be assembled easily and less costly, and may be colored to meet user's various preferences for fashionable color combinations.

Abstract: A tiltable button has a two-piece interior part of rigid material including a disk-like member non-turnably held between a cap and a button back, and a separate socket member extending through a hollow hub of the button back and joined with a tack member with a garment fabric therebetween. The disk-like member has at least one unyielding off-center leg. The socket member has a collar portion which is loosely received in the hollow hub and through which collar portion there extends at least one groove receptive of the leg so that the disk-like member and hence the button body can be manually tilted with respect to the axis of the socket member but are prevented from turning about their own common axis.

Abstract: In a swivel snap hook of synthetic resin, a unitary hook member has a hook body and a resiliently deformable closure tongue molded integrally therewith, a free end of the closure tongue being, as the latter is in a free form, disposed inwardly of a free end of the hook body with a relatively small gap therebetween. In use, as the closure tongue is depressed inwardly against its resilience by a ring-shaped article to be threaded onto the hook body, the free end of the closure tongue is spaced wider from the free end of the hook body to open the latter. In production, the unitary hook member is molded on a specific mold in such a state or condition that the free end of the closure tongue is disposed inwardly of the free end of the hook body with the small gap therebetween.

Abstract: An eyelet assembly comprising a plastic eyelet body including a hollow cylindrical portion and a flange formed on the upper end of the cylindrical portion and a plastic seat plate including a center hole in which the cylindrical portion of the eyelet body is fitted is disclosed. The eyelet body includes a plurality of vertically spaced arcuate projections of a predetermined thickness formed on the external peripheral surface of the cylindrical portion. The seat plate includes an engaging portion formed along the inner peripheral edge of the center hole for engaging the projections of the eyelet body. Each of the arcuate projections extends by an angular distance which is less than a quarter of the circumference of the cylindrical portion and the arcuate projections at vertically adjacent levels are staggered horizontally so that they do not vertically overlap each other when viewed from the front side of the eyelet body.

Abstract: A positioning device comprises a reciprocably movable support table having a surface extending in a plane above a clinching die of a button setting machine for supporting a garment fabric to which a button is to be attached, and a pair of guide members disposed on the surface in perpendicular relation. The table includes a recess which is registry with the clinching die when the table is in an advanced position. One of the guide member is positionally adjustable in a direction perpendicular to the direction of movement of the table and the other guide member is positionally adjustable in a direction parallel to the direction of movement of the table. Thus the garment fabric can be positioned accurately and easily with respect to the clinching die by simply putting two adjacent edges of the garment fabric into guided engagement with the respective guide members.

Abstract: In a garment-fastener-assembling apparatus, a drive mechanism for moving an upper or punch unit toward and away from a lower or die unit includes an air cylinder having a piston rod, and a toggle joint for transferring reciprocating motion from the piston rod to a punch of the upper unit as the toggle joint is contracted and extended. A contact member is mounted on the toggle joint so as to actuate a limit switch when the toggle joint is fully extended to a predetermined extent. The limit switch, upon actuation, produces an electrical signal for de-energizing the air cylinder to terminate the extension of the piston rod.

Abstract: A parts supplying apparatus for use with a button assembling and setting machine includes a chute having a longitudinal guide track in and along which parts slide down one at a time, and a loading unit having a guide groove communicating with the guide track and a pusher disposed in the guide groove and slidably movable toward and away from a working station in the machine for feeding a part which has fallen from the guide track into the guide groove, in and along the latter to the working station. The chute has an exhaust nozzle disposed adjacent to a discharge end of the guide track and opening in such a direction that compressed air issued from the nozzle impinges against the underside of the part to force the latter to move smoothly from the guide track to the guide groove without stopping at a junction therebetween.

Abstract: A hook for a hook-and-eye fastener includes a one-piece hook body having at least one pair of prongs, and a retainer having openings through which the prongs extend, respectively. The hook body includes a locking tongue and a base underlying the locking tongue, and an arcuate portion joining the locking tongue and the base, the prongs projecting substantially perpendicularly from the base in a direction away from the locking tongue. The hook body has a plurality of cold-pressed elongated recesses defined in an inner surface of the hook body and extending from the base through the arcuate portion to the locking tongue, thereby giving resilience and strength that are large enough to withstand forces tending to permanently deform the hook body at the arcuate portion. The openings in the retainer are spaced from one another by a distance which is larger than the distance between the prongs. Each of the prongs has a bent end portion retained on the retainer with a space defined therebetween.

Abstract: A buckle comprises a male and a female member releasably engageable therewith. The junction between the male and female members is substantially closed or minimized to prohibit intrusion or accumulation of foreign matters. The male member includes a gripping ear for manipulation by fingers which is located beyond the width of the female member.

Abstract: A molded strap fastener of a generally rectangular shape includes a first cross bar for retaining therearound a looped end portion of a strap, a retainer portion disposed laterally adjacent to the cross bar and frictionally engageable with the strap end portion, and a second cross bar fixedly connected to the other strap end. The first cross bar includes a pair of diametrically opposite sharp corners and the retainer portion has a sharp corner, these sharp corners serving as stops to retain the strap in position against accidental displacement even under heavy tensioning forces. To provide a greater resistance to strap loosening, the first and second cross bars lie in different levels so that a rotational force is created upon the fastener when the latter is in actual use, said force growing greater the larger the tension and thus urging the retainer portion to firmly grip the strap end at its sharp corner.

Abstract: A mechanism, for delivering two different kinds of fastener elements to a fastener-assembling apparatus, comprises a pair of hoppers for containing the two different fastener elements separately, and a pair of pick-up plates pivotally and vertically movable in the respective hoppers for picking up the fastener elements therein to deliver the same to a pair of separate chutes. The two pick-up plates are driven by a single drive, such as an air-cylinder or oil-cylinder.

Abstract: In a swivel snap hook of synthetic resin, a unitary hook member has a hook body and a resiliently deformable closure tongue molded integrally therewith, and a free end of the closure tongue, as the latter is in a free form, is disposed in the general plane of a free end of the hook body with a relatively small gap therebetween. In use, as the closure tongue is depressed inwardly against its resilience by a ring-shaped article to be hooked, the free end of the tongue is spaced away from the free end of the hook body in a direction perpendicular to the general plane of the hook body's free end to open the hook body.

Abstract: An apparatus, for assembling a pair of fastener elements of a garment fastener, including a lower or die unit having a retainer which is disposed immediately upstream of a die and which is vertically movable between a retracted position in which an upper end portion of the retainer is retracted below a top of the die to allow one fastener element to be supplied onto the die, and a projected position in which the upper end portion of the retainer projects from the top of the die to engage a peripheral edge of the head of the fastener element to thereby prevent the latter from being displaced on the die.