FASTENER

Abstract

A fastener (1) comprises at least two fastener halves (3A, 3B) each of which comprises a main body (7A, 7B) and a finger (9A, 9B) depending therefrom, the finger (9A, 9B) being spaced apart from the main body (7A, 7B) so as to define a recess (13A, 13B) between the body (7A, 7B) and the finger (9A, 9B). The recess (13A, 13B) receives, in use, the finger (9B, 9A) of the other fastener half (3A, 3B) to fasten the fastener halves (3A, 3B) together. At least one of the recess (13A, 13B) of one fastener half (3A, 3B) and the finger (9A, 9B) of the other fastener half (3A, 3B) comprises a concave mating formation arranged to engage in use with a convex mating formation (15A, 15B) provided on the finger (9A, 9B) of the other fastener half (3A, 3B) or on the recess (13A, 13B) of the one fastener half (3A, 3B) respectively. The formations are arranged to resist, when so engaged and under tension in use, the fastener halves (3A, 3B) unfastening in a direction away from the longitudinal axes of the fastener halves (3A, 3B).

Description

The present invention relates to a fastener and particularly but not exclusively relates to a fastener for use with or comprising part of an item of clothing. The fastener may also be used to fasten other items, or parts of other items, together, or may be used to hang one item on another.

It has previously been proposed to provide a fastener comprising two fastener halves that can be releasably fastened together. An example is the fastener on a bra comprising a first hooked fastener half secured to one bra strap, and a second looped fastener half secured to the other bra strap. However, such fasteners can often be relatively difficult to fasten and unfasten.

According to a first aspect of the invention there is provided a fastener comprising at least two fastener halves each of which comprises a main body and a finger depending therefrom, the finger being spaced apart from the main body so as to define a recess between the body and the finger to receive, in use, the finger of the other fastener half to fasten the fastener halves together, at least one of the recess of one fastener half and the finger of the other fastener half comprising a concave mating formation arranged to engage in use with a convex mating formation provided on the finger of the other fastener half or on the recess of the one fastener half respectively, the formations being arranged to resist, when so engaged and under tension in use, the fastener halves unfastening in a direction away from the longitudinal axes of the fastener halves.

Preferably the finger of each fastener half depends from the respective main body via a stem, one of the mating formations being provided on the stem.

Preferably the finger of each fastener half is substantially parallel with the respective main body.

Both fastener halves may be provided with concave and convex mating formations. Alternatively one fastener half may be formed with only a concave mating formation, the other fastener half being formed with only a convex mating formation.

Preferably the recess of at least one fastener half is formed with the concave mating formation.

The mating formations may be arcuate. Alternatively the mating formations may be angular, the convex formation defining a projecting point, and the concave formation defining a ‘V’ shape.

The convex mating formation may comprise multiple convex sub formations. The concave mating formation may comprise multiple concave sub formations.

Preferably the bodies of the fastener halves comprise a planar portion. The bodies of the fastener halves may comprise a stepped portion arranged such that when the fastener is in a fastened condition and viewed in plan, part of each fastener half occupies the same plane.

At least one fastener half may be provided with a plurality of fingers spaced along the longitudinal axis of the body so as to enable the other fastener half to be fastened to the first fastener body at various different longitudinal positions.

According to a second aspect of the invention there is provided an item of clothing provided with a fastener comprising at least two fastener halves each of which comprises a main body attached to a respective part of the item of clothing, and a finger depending from the body so as to be spaced apart from the main body to define a recess between the body and the finger to receive, in use, the finger of the other fastener half to fasten the fastener halves together, at least one of the recess of one fastener half and the end of the finger of the other fastener half comprising a concave mating formation arranged to engage in use with a convex mating formation provided on the finger of the other fastener half or on the recess of the one fastener half respectively, the formations being arranged to resist, when so engaged and under tension in use, the fastener halves unfastening in a direction away from the longitudinal axes of the fastener halves.

Other aspects of the present invention may include any combination of the features or limitations referred to herein.

The present invention may be carried into practice in various ways, but embodiments will now be described by way of example only with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a side view of a fastener in accordance with the present invention in an unfastened condition;

FIG. 2 is a plan view of the fastener of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a plan view of the fastener of FIGS. 1 and 2 in a fastened condition;

FIG. 4 is a side view of another fastener in accordance with the present invention in an unfastened condition;

FIG. 5 is a side view of a further fastener in accordance with the present invention in an unfastened condition;

FIG. 6 is a side view of another fastener in accordance with the present invention in an unfastened condition;

FIG. 7 is a side view of yet a further fastener in accordance with the present invention in an unfastened condition;

FIG. 8 is a side view of another fastener in accordance with the present invention in an unfastened condition; and

FIG. 9 is a side view of yet another fastener in accordance with the present invention in an unfastened condition;

Referring initially to FIGS. 1 to 3, a fastener 1 comprises two identical fastener halves 3A, 3B.

The first fastener half 3A comprises a planar elongate body 7A and a shorter, planar finger 9A depending from one end of the body 7A via a stem 11A, the finger 9A and the body 7A being substantially parallel. The stem 11A spaces the finger 9A from the body 7A so as to define a recess 13A between the underside of the finger 9A and the top side of the body 7A.

The end of the finger 9A distal from the stem 11A is provided with a convex mating formation 15A which in this example comprises a rounded, arcuate finger end. The part of the stem 11A at the base of the recess 13A comprises an arcuate concave mating formation which in this example is a curve of similar radius to that of the rounded finger end 15A.

The second fastener half 3B has identical features to that of the above described first fastener half 3A.

In use, the finger 9A of the first fastener half 3A is inserted into the recess 13B of the second fastener half 3B until the rounded finger end 15A abuts and engages the arcuate concave mating formation at the base of the recess 13B. When so inserted, the finger 9B of the other fastener half 3B is in an identical position within the recess 13A of the first fastener half 3A. The fastener halves 3A, 3B can be so fastened together by moving the fastener halves 3A, 3B in towards one another in a direction generally aligned with the longitudinal axes of the fastener bodies 7A, 7B, or in a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal axes.

When so fastened any tensile forces applied in a direction generally aligned with the longitudinal axes of the fastener bodies 7A, 7B cause the convex mating formation 15A, 15B on the end of each finger 9A 9B to move into engagement with the corresponding concave mating formation at the base of the respective recess 13A, 13B. The concave and convex nature of the mating formations allows the end of each finger 9A, 9B to be partially received within the respective concave mating formation. This enables the fastener bodies 7A, 7B to rotate relative to one another without coming apart, and also resists the fastener bodies 7A, 7B being slid apart in a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal axes of the bodies 7A, 7B when the fastener halves 3A, 3B are under tension. One fastener half 3A, 3B can simply be slid in a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal axes of the bodies 7A, 7B to unfasten the two fastener halves 3A, 3B.

Thus a secure fastener 1 is provided which resists unfastening when under tension, even when the longitudinal axes of each body 7A, 7B are unaligned, but which can be simply slid apart in a direction generally perpendicular to the direction of tension.

The fastener requires no resiliently deformable clipping parts, or indeed any moving parts of any kind, and no locking mechanism is required. No part of the fastener has to pass through any other part.

Each fastener half 3A, 3B of the fastener 1 could be made in one piece or in multiple pieces from any suitable material or combination of materials which may include a metal or plastics material.

FIGS. 4 to 10 show alternative embodiments of the above described fastener.

Each finger 49A and 49B of the fastener 41 of FIG. 4 comprises a pointed convex mating formation 415A, 415B, a corresponding ‘V’ shaped concave mating formation being defined by the stem at the base of each recess. The bodies 47A, 47B are stepped so as to comprise two parallel planar portions linked by an inclined planar portion.

A first fastener half 53A of the fastener 51 of FIG. 5 comprises an arcuate concave mating formation at the stem at the base of the recess, a corresponding arcuate convex mating formation 515B being defined at the end of the finger 59B of other fastener half 53B. The base of the other recess, and the end of the other finger 59A, are square.

A first fastener half 63A of the fastener 61 of FIG. 6 comprises an arcuate concave mating formation 615A at the end of the finger 69A, a corresponding arcuate convex mating formation being defined at the stem at the base of the recess of the other fastener half 63B. The base of the other recess, and the end of the other finger 69, are square.

A first fastener half 73A of the fastener 71 of FIG. 7 comprises an arcuate convex mating formation 715A at the end of the finger 79A, and an arcuate convex mating formation at the stem of the base of the recess. The other fastener half 73B comprises an arcuate concave mating formation defined at the stem at the base of the recess and an arcuate concave mating formation 715B formed at the end of the finger 79B.

The fastener 81 of FIG. 8 is similar to that of FIG. 7 except that the two fastener halves 83A, 83B are of different width, one narrow fastener half 83A being approximately a third the width of the other wider fastener half 83B.

Each fastener half 93A, 93B of the fastener 91 of FIG. 9 comprises a respective V shaped concave mating formation 915A, 915B at the end of the fingers 99A, 99B, and a respective pointed convex mating formation at the stem of the base of the recess 913A, 913B.

The fastener halves may be attached or releasably attached to the item of clothing using any suitable means. Apertures may be provided in the body of each fastener half to enable the fastener halves to be sewed, or otherwise attached, on to the item of clothing.

The surfaces of the fastener may be textured, for example knurled, to facilitate separation of the fastener halves.

Each fastener could be used vertically with one fastener half hanging from the other so as to hang an item on a wall, rail or conveyor or the like.

It is envisaged that each concave and convex formation may comprise multiple concave and convex sub formations. For example the concave formation could be generally ‘W’ shaped, whilst the convex formations could be generally shaped.

The concave and convex formations may comprise any desired shaped including pentagonal, hexagonal or octagonal shapes for example. The arcuate formation may alternatively comprise ‘V’ shaped formations.

One or both fastener halves may be provided with a plurality of fingers and corresponding recesses, the fingers being transversely spaced apart but longitudinally aligned. The fingers are then parallel with one another and provide a stronger fastening of the two fastener halves. Preferably the space between each pair of fingers is wider than the fingers themselves.

Claims

1. A fastener (1) comprising at least two fastener halves (3A, 3B) each of which comprises a main body (7A, 7B) and a finger (9A, 9B) depending therefrom, the finger (9A, 9B) being spaced apart from the main body (7A, 7B) so as to define a recess (13A, 13B) between the body (7A, 7B) and the finger (9A, 9B) to receive, in use, the finger (9A, 9B) of the other fastener half (3A, 3B) to fasten the fastener halves (3A, 3B) together, at least one of the recess (13A, 13B) of one fastener half (3A, 3B) and the finger (9A, 9B) of the other fastener half (3A, 3B) comprising a concave mating formation arranged to engage in use with a convex mating formation (15A, 15B) provided on the finger (9A, 9B) of the other fastener half (3A, 3B) or on the recess (13A, 13B) of the one fastener half (3A, 3B) respectively, the formations being arranged to resist, when so engaged and under tension in use, the fastener halves (3A, 3B) unfastening in a direction away from the longitudinal axes of the fastener halves (3A, 3B).

2. The fastener (1) of claim 1 wherein the finger (9A, 9B) of each fastener half (3A, 3B) depends from the respective main body (7A, 7B) via a stem (11A, 11B), one of the mating formations (15A, 15B) being provided on the stem (11A, 11B).

3. The fastener (1) of claim 1 wherein the finger (9A, 9B) of each fastener half (3A, 3B) is substantially parallel with the respective main body (7A, 7B).

4. The fastener (1) of claim 1 wherein the recess (13A, 13B) of at least one fastener half (3A, 3B) is formed with the concave mating formation.

5. The fastener (1) of claim 1 wherein both fastener halves (3A, 3B) are provided with concave and convex mating formations (15A, 15B).

6. The fastener (1) of claim 1 wherein one fastener half (3A, 3B) is formed with only a concave mating formation, the other fastener half being formed with only a convex mating formation (15A, 15B).

7. The fastener (1) of claim 1 wherein the mating formations (15A, 15B) are arcuate.

8. The fastener (1) of claim 1 wherein the mating formations (15A, 15B) are angular, the convex formation defining a projecting point (415A, 415B), and the concave formation defining a ‘V’ shape.

9. The fastener (1) of claim 1 wherein the convex mating formation (15A, 15B) comprises multiple convex sub formations.

10. The fastener (1) of claim 1 wherein the concave mating formation comprises multiple concave sub formations.

11. The fastener (1) of claim 1 wherein the bodies (7A, 7B) of the fastener halves (3A, 3B) comprise a planar portion (7A, 7B).

12. The fastener (1) of claim 1 wherein the bodies (7A, 7B) of the fastener halves (3A, 3B) comprise a stepped portion (47A, 47B) arranged such that when the fastener (1) is in a fastened condition and viewed in plan, part of each fastener half (3A, 3B) occupies the same plane.

13. The fastener (1) of claim 1 wherein at least one fastener half (3A, 3B) may be provided with a plurality of fingers spaced along the longitudinal axis of the body (7A, 7B) so as to enable the other fastener half (3A, 3B) to be fastened to the first fastener body (7A, 7B) at various different longitudinal positions.

14. An item of clothing provided with a fastener (1) comprising at least two fastener halves (3A, 3B) each of which comprises a main body (7A, 7B) attached to a respective part of the item of clothing, and a finger (9A, 9B) depending from the body (7A, 7B) so as to be spaced apart from the main body (7A, 7B) to define a recess (13A, 13B) between the body (7A, 7B) and the finger (9A, 9B) to receive, in use, the finger (9A, 9B) of the other fastener half (3A, 3B) to fasten the fastener halves (3A, 3B) together, at least one of the recess (13A, 13B) of one fastener half (3A, 3B) and the end of the finger (9A, 9B) of the other fastener half (3A, 3B) comprising a concave mating formation arranged to engage in use with a convex mating formation (15A, 15B) provided on the finger (9A, 9B) of the other fastener half (3A, 3B) or on the recess (13A, 13B) of the one fastener half (3A, 3B) respectively, the formations being arranged to resist, when so engaged and under tension in use, the fastener halves (3A, 3B) unfastening in a direction away from the longitudinal axes of the fastener halves (3A, 3B).

15. The fastener (1) of claim 2 wherein the finger (9A, 9B) of each fastener half (3A, 3B) is substantially parallel with the respective main body (7A, 7B).

16. The fastener (1) of claim 2 wherein the recess (13A, 13B) of at least one fastener half (3A, 3B) is formed with the concave mating formation.

17. The fastener (1) of claim 3 wherein the recess (13A, 13B) of at least one fastener half (3A, 3B) is formed with the concave mating formation.

18. The fastener (1) of claim 2 wherein one fastener half (3A, 3B) is formed with only a concave mating formation, the other fastener half being formed with only a convex mating formation (15A, 15B).

19. The fastener (1) of claim 3 wherein one fastener half (3A, 3B) is formed with only a concave mating formation, the other fastener half being formed with only a convex mating formation (15A, 15B).

20. The fastener (1) of claim 4 wherein one fastener half (3A, 3B) is formed with only a concave mating formation, the other fastener half being formed with only a convex mating formation (15A, 15B).

21. The fastener (1) of claim 2 wherein the mating formations (15A, 15B) are angular, the convex formation defining a projecting point (415A, 415B), and the concave formation defining a ‘V’ shape.

22. The fastener (1) of claim 3 wherein the mating formations (15A, 15B) are angular, the convex formation defining a projecting point (415A, 415B), and the concave formation defining a ‘V’ shape.

23. The fastener (1) of claim 4 wherein the mating formations (15A, 15B) are angular, the convex formation defining a projecting point (415A, 415B), and the concave formation defining a ‘V’ shape.

24. The fastener (1) of claim 5 wherein the mating formations (15A, 15B) are angular, the convex formation defining a projecting point (415A, 415B), and the concave formation defining a ‘V’ shape.

25. The fastener (1) of claim 6 wherein the mating formations (15A, 15B) are angular, the convex formation defining a projecting point (415A, 415B), and the concave formation defining a ‘V’ shape.