Abstract: According to one embodiment, the plastic fastener comprises a flexible filament having a length of about 4.3 mm and a tensile strength of about 2 pounds, a first transverse bar located at one end of the flexible filament, and a second transverse bar located at the opposite end of the flexible filament. The fastener clip, which preferably does not contain a runner bar, comprises a plurality of identical fasteners of the aforementioned type, each of the fasteners being arranged in a parallel, side-by-side, spaced relationship. A connector post connects the first transverse bars of adjacent fasteners, and a connector post connects the second transverse bars of adjacent fasteners. An extra transverse bar is connected by a connector post to the first transverse bar of the last fastener, and another extra transverse bar is connected by a connector post to the second transverse bar of the last fastener, the extra transverse bars not being interconnected by a flexible filament.

Abstract: Plastic fastener, fastener clip, fastener dispensing tool and method of fastening objects. According to one embodiment, the plastic fastener comprises a flexible filament having a length of about 4.3 mm and a tensile strength of about 2 pounds, a first transverse bar located at one end of the flexible filament, and a second transverse bar located at the opposite end of the flexible filament. The fastener clip, which preferably does not contain a runner bar, comprises a plurality of identical fasteners of the aforementioned type, each of the fasteners being arranged in a parallel, side-by-side, spaced relationship. A connector post connects the first transverse bars of adjacent fasteners, and a connector post connects the second transverse bars of adjacent fasteners.

Abstract: A fastener dispensing tool for dispensing individual loop fasteners of the type comprising a flexible filament having a socket at one end and an inserting element at the opposite end. The tool comprises a housing and a hollow, slotted needle extending outwardly from the housing, the needle being dimensioned to dispense a fastener inserting element. An arm assembly extends outwardly from the housing, the arm assembly defining a feed channel dimensioned to receive a fastener socket and to define a stop engageable with the rear end of the socket to align the socket with the inserting element that has been dispensed through the needle. A piston is removably insertable into the needle for dispensing an inserting element through the needle. A belt is removably insertable into the arm assembly for feeding a socket through the feed channel. A trigger is operatively coupled to each of the piston and the belt.

Abstract: A self-lockable loop fastener adapted for attaching tags and the like to articles of commerce. According to one embodiment, the fastener includes an elongated flexible filament, a receiving part disposed at one end of the flexible filament and an inserting part disposed at the opposite end of the flexible filament. The receiving part has a longitudinal axis extending generally perpendicular to that of the filament and includes a socket. The socket is provided with an aperture, the aperture having a longitudinal axis extending generally parallel to that of the filament. A circumferential flange is disposed within the aperture to reduce the diameter of a portion of aperture. The inserting part, which has a longitudinal axis extending generally perpendicular to that of the filament but generally parallel to that of the receiving part, includes a plug, the plug being insertable into the aperture and past the flange.

Abstract: A loop fastener well-suited for attaching tags to articles of commerce. In one embodiment, the loop fastener comprises a flexible filament having a first end and a second end. In addition, the loop fastener comprises a socket, the socket having a top surface, a bottom surface and a side surface, the side surface being generally octagonal in shape and having a front end. The socket is also shaped to include a channel and a circumferential flange, the channel being generally circular in transverse cross-section and extending from the top surface to the bottom surface, the flange extending partially into the channel and being shaped to include an arcuate surface extending convexly downwardly from the top surface. The first end of the flexible filament is joined both to the top surface and the front end of the socket, the flexible filament extending away from the socket generally perpendicularly relative to the channel.

Abstract: Method of maintaining an article of clothing, such as a dress shirt, in a folded condition and a plastic fastener well-suited for use in the method. According to one embodiment, the plastic fastener is a unitary structure made of polypropylene and comprises a flexible filament having a first cross-bar at a first end thereof and a second cross-bar at a second end thereof. The filament has a length of about 7 mm and has a tensile strength of about 4 pounds. Preferably, the fastener is molded as part of a clip, the clip comprising a plurality of identical such fasteners arranged side-by-side, with the respective first cross-bars parallel to one another and the respective second cross-bars parallel to one another, each of the first cross-bars being joined to a common, orthogonally-disposed runner bar by a severable connector.

Abstract: A self-lockable loop fastener adapted for attaching tags and the like to articles of commerce. According to one embodiment, the fastener includes an elongated flexible filament, a receiving part disposed at one end of the flexible filament and an inserting part disposed at the opposite end of the flexible filament. The receiving part has a longitudinal axis extending generally perpendicular to that of the filament and includes a socket. The socket is provided with an aperture, the aperture having a longitudinal axis extending generally parallel to that of the filament. A circumferential flange is disposed within the aperture to reduce the diameter of a portion of aperture. The inserting part, which has a longitudinal axis extending generally perpendicular to that of the filament but generally parallel to that of the receiving part, includes a plug, the plug being insertable into the aperture and past the flange.

Abstract: A loop fastener well-suited for attaching tags to articles of commerce. In one embodiment, the loop fastener comprises a flexible filament having a first end and a second end. In addition, the loop fastener comprises a socket, the socket having a top surface, a bottom surface and a side surface, the side surface being generally octagonal in shape and having a front end. The socket is also shaped to include a channel and a circumferential flange, the channel being generally circular in transverse cross-section and extending from the top surface to the bottom surface, the flange extending partially into the channel and being shaped to include an arcuate surface extending convexly downwardly from the top surface. The first end of the flexible filament is joined both to the top surface and the front end of the socket, the flexible filament extending away from the socket generally perpendicularly relative to the channel.

Abstract: A loop fastener well-suited for attaching tags to articles of commerce. In one embodiment, the loop fastener comprises a flexible filament having a first end and a second end. In addition, the loop fastener comprises a socket, the socket having a top surface and a bottom surface, the socket being provided with a channel and a flange, the channel extending transversely from the top surface to the bottom surface, the flange extending partially into the channel, the first end of the flexible filament being disposed on top of the top surface of the socket, the flexible filament extending away from the socket generally perpendicularly relative to the channel. The loop fastener further comprises an inserting element disposed at the second end of the flexible filament, the inserting element including a plug insertable into the channel and past the flange, the plug being engageable with the flange after the plug has been inserted therepast so as to keep the plug from being easily withdrawn back past the flange.

Abstract: An apparatus for dispensing plastic fasteners from a clip of fastener stock, each fastener having a cross bar coupled to a common runner bar by a stub. The apparatus includes a gun shaped casing made of plastic. A hollow needle having an inlet opening and an outlet opening is mounted on the front of the casing. A guide groove is formed in the casing for receiving the fastener stock, the guide groove being in communication with the inlet opening of the hollow needle. The guide groove includes a stub receiving portion bounded by a front wall. The apparatus also includes a feed member mounted on the casing behind the guide groove. The feed member includes a tooth having a lower surface which engages the stub of an individual fastener to advance the fastener stock so that the cross bar of the fastener to be dispensed is advanced into alignment with the inlet opening of the hollow needle.

Abstract: An apparatus for use in tying together a pair of opposing shoelace eyelets of a shoe upper with a plastic fastener of the type comprising a flexible filament having a cross-bar disposed at one end thereof and a paddle comprising an opening disposed at the opposite end thereof. The apparatus includes a hollow slotted needle insertable through the pair of opposing shoelace eyelets and the opening in the paddle, a paddle positioning assembly for aligning the opening in the paddle with the pair of opposing shoelace eyelets, a cross-bar feeding assembly for loading the cross-bar into the needle, and a cross-bar ejecting assembly for ejecting the cross-bar from the needle.

Abstract: A device for dispensing plastic attachments of the type which are formed as part of a roll of continuously connected ladder stock. In one embodiment, the device includes a pair of hollow slotted needles each having a tip, a rear end and a longitudinal axis. A feed wheel, placed proximate to the rear ends of the pair of needles, is used to feed individual attachments of a roll of ladder stock into the pair of needles through their respective rear ends at angles relative to the longitudinal axes thereof. Once inserted into the needles, an attachment is severed from the remainder of the ladder stock by a knife and is then expelled from the needles by a pair of ejector rods movable along the longitudinal axes of the pair of needles. Because attachments are fed into the pair of needles at angles relative to their longitudinal axes, no shuttling of the needles between an attachment feeding position and an attachment ejecting position is required.

Abstract: Disclosed is an eyeglass frame and method of assembling such a frame which provides for quick and easy assembly. The eyeglass frame includes a lens supporting structure and at least one temple. For each temple the lens supporting structure includes a temple receiving member having a ramped slot. Each temple includes a means for supporting a pin so that the pin extends beyond the surfaces of the temple. In assembling the frame, the pin is aligned with slots in the temple receiving member of the lens supporting structure, and the temple is forced through these slots forcing the upper and lower walls of the temple receiving member apart until the pin is captured by a hole at the end of the ramped slots.

Abstract: A spectacle assembly kit with a lockable custom fitting nosepiece is disclosed wherein a wearer is able to select an appropriately sized nosepiece, manually attach it to the spectacle frame without tools, check for correct fit, then lock the nosepiece in place permanently. Also disclosed is an alternative nosepiece attachment wherein the nosepiece is manually attached and locked to the frame in one step.

Abstract: A universal fit protective spectacle and assembly kit therefor are disclosed. The protective spectacle is especially adapted for use by eyeglass wearers since it includes an inner spectacle that holds corrective lenses removably mounted to an outer protective spectacle. The protective spectacle also includes removably mountale and interchangable nosepieces of various sizes to achieve a comfortable fit.

Abstract: A system for attaching a replaceable, customizable nosepiece to an eyeglass frame is disclosed where the eyeglass and nosepiece fit together through a snappable attachment. The eyewires of the eyeglass frame are provided with a notch and adjacent projection. The nosepiece is roughly horseshoe shape, sized and shaped to fit between the eyewires under the connecting bridge of the frame. The tips of the horseshoe are shaped to snap into the notches on the eyewires, and be retained by the adjacent projections. In this manner, the nosepiece may be specifically selected for or customized to the particular size and shape of the user's nose.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for molding polycarbonate lenses is disclosed in which the lenses are formed in a single injection molding operation. Polycarbonate is injected into a cavity between two movable dies which are forced apart by the injected polycarbonate. These dies are then urged together forcing a portion of the injected polycarbonate back through the same port through which the polycarbonate was injected. The finished lens does not have the knit line normally associated with injection molded lenses.

Abstract: A safety goggle including a one-piece wrap-around front with hinged temples continuing rearwardly therefrom. The goggle features improved anti-fogging ventilation and universal nasal area face fitting.