EYE FASTENER
An eye fastener (100, 200) of the present disclosure includes two anchor portions (102, 202) defining a base plane, and an eye (106, 206) extending from the anchor portions (102, 202), each eye (106, 206) defining a plane of opening which is displaced relative to the base plane. A tape (116, 216) including an array of eye fasteners (100, 200) is also disclosed.
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1. Technical Field
This invention relates to an eye fastener, in particular such a fastener suitable for forming an eye connector for use (but not exclusively) in garments items.
2. Related Art
Many garment items, in particular lingerie (including brassieres), include connectors having hook and eye fasteners for providing flexible but firm coupling. In general, an array of hook fasteners (in rows and columns) is sewn onto a first tape, and a complementary array of eye fasteners is sewn into a second tape, and by engaging different hook fasteners and eye fasteners, a degree of lengthwise adjustment is allowed.
In such conventional hook and eye fasteners, both the eye fasteners and hook fasteners are typically formed of a stiff metal wire. The eye fasteners are generally C-shaped with two free ends sewn and received within the tape to form an opening, in which the plane defined by the opening of each eye fastener lies against the tape. It is found that when a user seeks to engage the eye fastener with a hook fastener, one has to slightly pivot the eye fastener away from the tape to further expose the plane of opening, to facilitate engagement with the hook fastener. This is relatively difficult, in particular in the case of brassieres, where the hook and eye fasteners are at the back of the user.
It is thus an object of the present invention to provide an eye fastener and a tape including at least one such eye fastener in which the above shortcoming is mitigated, or at least to provide a useful alternative to the trade and public.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONAccording to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided an eye fastener including a base defining a base plane, and at least an eye extending from the base and defining a plane of opening, characterized in that the plane of opening is displaced relative to the base plane.
According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided a tape including at least one eye fastener, the eye fastener including a base defining a base plane, and at least an eye extending from the base and defining a plane of opening, characterized in that the plane of opening is displaced relative to the base plane.
Embodiments of eye fasteners and tapes including at least one fastener according to the present invention will now be described, by way of examples only, with reference to the present invention, in which:
An eye fastener according to a first embodiment of the present invention is shown in
The anchor portions 102 form a base, defining a base plane P-P, on which the leg portions 104 also lie. The C-shaped portion 106, which extends from the base, forms an opening (“eye”) through which a hook fastener may be releasably engaged. It can be seen from
As shown in
As shown in
Finally, as shown in
A tape 116 with three rows of eye fasteners 100 fixed thereto is thus formed. There is of course no definite restriction on the number of rows of eye fasteners 100 which may be carried by the tape 116. A manufacturer may decide on the number of rows of eye fasteners 100 for the tape 116 according to the use to which eye connectors formed from the tape 116 are to be put.
As shown in
Turning to
An eye fastener according to a second embodiment of the present invention is shown in
The anchor portions 202 form a base, defining a base plane R-R. The leg portions 204 and the C-shaped portion collectively form an opening (“eye”) through which a hook fastener may be releasably engaged. The leg portions 204 define a first plane S-S and the C-shaped portion 206 defines a second plane T-T. The first plane S-S and the second plane T-T collectively form a plane of opening. It can be seen from
As shown in
As shown in
Finally, as shown in
A tape 216 with three rows of eye fasteners 200 fixed thereto is thus formed. It should of course be understood that a manufacturer may decide on the number of rows of eye fasteners 200 for the tape 216 according to the use to which eye connectors formed from the tape 216 are to be put.
As shown in
- parallel to the base plane R-R of each eye fastener 200,
- displaced relative to the first plane S-S of the plane of opening as defined by the leg portions 204 of each eye fastener 200, and
- parallel to the second plane T-T of the plane of opening as defined by the C-shaped portion 206 of each eye fastener 200.
Turning to
It can be seen from the foregoing discussion and the accompanying drawings that as the plane of opening of the respective eye fasteners 100, 200 according to this invention is displaced relative to the respective base plane P-P, R-R (which lie against the respective backing sheet 108, 208), such allows easy engagement between eye connectors 118, 218 and complementary hook connectors.
It should be understood that the above only illustrates examples whereby the present invention may be carried out, and that various modifications and/or alterations may be made thereto without departing from the spirit of the invention.
It should also be understood that certain features of the invention, which are, for clarity, described in the context of separate embodiments, may be provided in combination in a single embodiment. Conversely, various features of the invention which are, for brevity, described in the context of a single embodiment, may also be provided separately or in any appropriate sub-combinations.
Claims
1. An eye fastener comprising:
- a base defining a base plane, and
- at least an eye extending from the base and defining a plane of opening,
- wherein the plane of opening is displaced relative to the base plane.
2. The eye fastener as claimed in claim 1, wherein the plane of opening is connected to the base plane via a bent.
3. The eye fastener as claimed in claim 1, wherein the plane of opening includes a first plane and a second plane displaced relative to the first plane.
4. The eye fastener as claimed in claim 1, wherein the plane of opening is substantially perpendicular to the base plane.
5. The eye fastener as claimed in claim 3, wherein the first plane is substantially perpendicular to the base plane.
6. The eye fastener as claimed in claim 3, wherein the second plane is substantially parallel to the base plane.
7. A tape including at least one eye fastener as claimed in claim 1.
8. The tape as claimed in claim 7, further comprising a backing sheet and at least one layer of padding material on the backing sheet.
9. The tape as claimed in claim 8, wherein the base of the eye fastener is between the backing sheet and the layer of padding material.
10. The tape as claimed in claim 7, wherein the base plane of the eye fastener is substantially parallel to the backing sheet.
Type: Application
Filed: Jan 24, 2013
Publication Date: Aug 8, 2013
Applicant: TEXCO HOOK & EYE TAPE LTD. (Kowloon)
Inventor: TEXCO HOOK & EYE TAPE LTD. (Kowloon)
Application Number: 13/749,125
International Classification: A44B 13/00 (20060101);