Abstract: The invention relates to a method and apparatus for providing an improved lacing system having a clasp with an anchoring end and a lace end, where the lace end is adapted to hold a lace. An anchoring end is also included having a first part and a second part where the first and second parts are movable away from and toward one another. The closing mechanism also has a receiver with a first receptacle and a second receptacle for engaging the first and second parts, respectively, and wherein the clasp is removably joinable to the receiver when the first and second parts are engaged with the first and second receptacles and, when the first and second parts are disengaged with the first and second receptacles, the clasp is separable from the receiver.

Abstract: A slider for a concealed type slide fastener for securing a smooth sliding operation even if a strong laterally pulling force is applied when the slide fastener is closed. The slider includes: a lower plate having a pair of flanges each having an inverted L shaped section, the flanges erected along right and left side edges perpendicular to a sliding direction of the slider; a diamond erected toward a gap between upper plate portions of the pair of flanges from a central portion of the lower plate; and element guide portions expanded outwardly toward inside end faces of the upper plate portions from an outer periphery of the diamond, wherein the front ends of the upper plate portion in an engagement direction of the fastener elements are extended forward compared with front end of the element guide portion.

Abstract: A tightening device for adjusting the degree of tautness of a strapping member.

Abstract: A lock and harness assembly includes first and second locks removably attached to each other. The locks are coextensively shaped, and are independently and simultaneously pivotal between folded and unfolded positions. Each lock has a linear medial edge conjoined to the other's medial edge when the locks are at a locked position. First and second harnesses traverse through the first and second locks. The harnesses are slidably positioned through the locks. Each lock includes a mechanism for statically holding the harnesses at a locked position such that the harnesses are prohibited from sliding through the locks after the locks have been coupled. Each lock includes a mechanism for releasably coupling the locks to each other such that the locks must be slidably adapted along a linear path defined orthogonal to the harnesses.

Abstract: The apparatus and method for releasably joining first and second elements according to the present invention include a retaining member mounted to one of the elements and a reshapeable tube near the retaining member. The reshapeable tube has at least two states, an at least partially collapsed state and an at least partially expanded state. As such, the retaining member joins the elements while the reshapeable tube is in the at least partially collapsed state. Furthermore, the retaining member releases the other element while the reshapeable tube is in the at least partially expanded state, which deflects the retaining member. Thus, because components of the apparatus are not broken during the release of the elements, the amount of constrained or potential energy that is released when the retaining member releases the elements is substantially reduced or eliminated, which protects the elements from being damaged during the release.

Abstract: A band fastener incorporating a mechanism for selectively severing the band once cinched within the housing. The band is manufactured in a polymeric or elastomeric material having serrations extending therefrom. At one end of the band is a housing with a throughbore for receiving the band free end whereupon the band can be used to cinch one or more articles within the encircling band with the curvilinear face engaging the one or more articles preventing damage thereto. The housing has substantially two parts with one rotative relative to the other. The stationary member receives the band free end, which passes through the rotative member, which incorporates a mechanism for lockingly engaging with the band serrations. The rotative portion of the housing incorporates a pair of cutters. Rotation of the housing rotative member with sufficient torque will sever the band at the cutter location freeing the cinched articles.

Abstract: A baggage fastening device includes a first snapping member, a second snapping member detachably secured on the first snapping member, a strap mounted between the first snapping member and the second snapping member, and a protruding stop member mounted on the first snapping member and extended to a side of the second snapping member. Thus, the stop member restricts movement of the strap, so that the movable portion of the strap cannot be released and moved backward after the baggage is tightened by the strap, thereby preventing the strap from being loosened from the baggage so as to provide an anti-reverse effect to prevent the baggage fastening device from being loosened from the baggage.

Abstract: A main unit includes a slider and a guide groove. A display panel includes a slider engaging portion coupled to the slider being guided by the slider and a guide-groove engaging portion slidably engaged with the guide groove being guided by the guide-groove so that the display panel can be inclined. A pressing lever presses the guide-groove engaging portion with resilient force of a resilient member. The guide-groove includes a parallel groove formed in parallel with a direction of movement of the slider; and a curved groove having a width narrower than that of the parallel groove and being connected to the parallel groove. The guide-groove engaging portion moves in the parallel groove by the movement of the slider and a pressing force of the pressing lever.

Abstract: A holding device for spherical and flat objects includes a carrier body, a clamping device held to the carrier body, a cover plate held to the carrier body, a plurality of holding elements, and an axle accommodated by the holding elements. The clamping device includes first and second clamping elements for accommodating round or angular objects. The cover plate and carrier body are partially spaced-apart to provide a guide slot, and at least one of the carrier body or the cover plate includes retention elements including formed lips extending from a basic body, each lip including an uninterrupted front edge. The cover plate is pivoted in a tiltable manner around the axle to connect the cover plate with the carrier body and is held under tension of a torsion spring against the carrier body. The cover plate is also formed so as to allow a tilt motion against the force of the spring to open the guide slot.

Abstract: The invention provides a spring body for a slide fastener and a slider having the spring body mounted thereon, comprising: the spring body made of a platy material having an opening window portion at the opposite side of a pawl portion, and entirely formed in a lateral C-shape; a spring piece having a figuration that a longitudinal center portion of the platy material is cut out outward from a side end portion of a main body of the opening window portion to be pulled up at a required height in many steps, disposed between a rear surface of a pull holding body and a pull with elastic contact, and the pawl portion engaged with or released from a portion of a coupling element row by operating the pull through an inside of the slider body. Consequently, it can get the spring body enabling a material and manufacturing cost reduced, a stable and excellent productivity; a slider with an automatic stop function acquiring and realizing inexpensive structure, miniaturization, and simple assembly.

Abstract: A device for holding flowers and ornaments to clothing, comprising a magnetic base positionable inside the clothing, a u-shaped parent holder with spike positionable outside the clothing and attracted to the magnetic base, an insert holder with spike positionable outside the clothing and within the parent holder, such that a smaller ornament is held within the insert holder. An orifice in the center of the outside of the insert holder transverse removably receives the spike of the parent holder. The holders are selectively used in combination or separately to secure large and small ornaments to clothing.

Abstract: A ball chain stopper for inhibiting movement of ball chains used in window blinds and the like for moving the blinds between operative positions is adapted to be attached to intermediate chain members which interconnect adjacent balls of the ball chain. The ball stoppers are characterized as having a maximum cross-sectional size that is equal to or less than the size of the maximum cross-section of the balls of the chain.

Abstract: A buckle having a male portion and a female portion. The male portion has two sidewalls, first and second retaining bars and at least one locking arm. There is a slidable and pivotable strap gripping bar disposed adjacent the first strap retaining bar. The strap gripping bar is adapted to slide between a release position and a gripping position. The female portion comprises a hollow body with an open end and at least one locking slot for receiving the locking arm. When the male portion is inserted into the female portion, the locking arm locks into the locking slot and the female portion pushes the strap gripping bar into a gripping position, which grips a strap threaded through the retaining bars, and prevents the strap from slipping. When the male portion is released from the female portion, the strap gripping bar slides into the release position and allows adjustment of the strap.

Abstract: A fastener chain, in which fastener elements each formed into a single unit of synthetic resin are attached at a constant interval along opposing side edges of a pair of fastener tapes, a front surface portion and a rear surface portion are provided on the front and rear sides of the fastener element, the surface of the front surface portion is formed into a curved face entirely swelling out circularly and upward while the rear surface portion is formed into a flat plane which is entirely even, and the front surface and the rear surface of the fastener element may have different shapes or the same shape so as to secure a fastener chain having an excellent tactile feel and beautiful appearance.

Abstract: A clasp for releasably fastening two objects is disclosed. The clasp includes a male member and a female member. The female member includes a displaceable member that is movable between a first position and a second position. In the first position, the displaceable member precludes insertion of the male member into or removal of the male member from the female member. In the second position, the male member may be inserted into or removed from the female member. Alternatively, the clasp may include two objects that each contain both male and female parts. Interchangeable jewelry pieces comprising the clasp and a method for removably securing two jewelry pieces are also disclosed.

Abstract: In a molded surface fastener (10) having engaging elements (2) of minute dimension of thermoplastic resin molded together with a base member (1) by continuous molding, each engaging element (2) comprises first and second engaging portions (22a, 22b) each having a different configuration extending in parallel to a surface of the base member from a top end of a pillar portion (21) rising from the base member (1) such that they intersect at right angle. The second engaging head (22b) has an ordinary hook shape structure while the first engaging head (22a) has a wing-like thin plate structure as seen in a plan view. The engaging elements having such a structure in which each engaging element has appropriate engagement force, shearing force and separation force so as to keep an excellent tactile feeling of a surface of the surface fastener, prevents itself from falling down against a pressing force, secures a high engagement ratio with mating pile pieces and satisfies a durability.

Abstract: A cord stopper (1) of the present invention includes a socket (2) and a plug (3). The plug (3) includes a pair of arms (32) and a catching section (35) arranged on facing surfaces of the pair of arms (32) to catch a cord. The catching section (35) includes a holding section (36) arranged on one of the pair of arms (32) and a pressing projection (37) arranged on the other one of the arms (32). The holding section (36) and the pressing projection (37) are arranged so as to face each other.

Abstract: A marking device for identifying an electrical conductor includes a planar generally annular marker body containing at least one opening for receiving the conductor, and a plurality of coplanar outwardly extending portions containing mutually isolated pockets for receiving planar indicia-bearing tags, respectively. In one embodiment, the body is deformable and contains at least two creased portions that permit adjustment of the size of the opening to correspond with the diametrical size of the conductor that is to be identified.

Abstract: A fitting for a harness, such as a trapeze harness for a sailboat is disclosed. The fitting comprises: a first part secured to or securable to a harness, a second part connectable to a tether, and a mechanism to releasably inter-connect the first and second parts. The mechanism comprises a plurality of locking members each having a rounded or tapered locking part, configured to be received within a respective locking aperture located on the second part. A locking element is provided which is moveable between a locking position and a release position and is configured to urge each locking member into a position in which its locking part is received within a respective locking aperture when the locking element is in the locking position. This enables the first part and the second part to be releasably locked together.

Abstract: A side release buckle includes a female buckle member, which has a front opening, two sloping sidewalls, two side holes respectively cut through the sloping sidewalls, and two retaining blocks respectively extended from the sloping sidewalls inside the female buckle member, and a male buckle member, which has two spring arms respectively insertable into the side holes of the female buckle member and a retaining groove on a free end of each spring arm, a springy brace connected between the two spring arms for forcing the retaining grooves into engagement with the retaining blocks after insertion of the spring arms into the side holes of the female buckle member, and a guide portion insertable into the front opening of the female buckle member to guide movement of the spring arms smoothly in the female buckle member.