Patent Application
20180084869
The invention relates to a fastening system useful for a clothing article, and more particularly to the fastening system used in connection with footwear, such as boots, dress or casual shoes, and/or athletic shoes.
Footwear and clothing are generally provided with zipper, buttons or lace in order to fasten separable portions of the footwear or clothing. For example, with respect to the footwear fastening system, laces threaded through lace holes are generally used to fasten the footwear, such as a casual shoe, dress shoe, boot or athletic shoe.
The majority of lace fastening systems, in order to provide a convenient way of securing a shoe onto the foot, use a lace or fiber through which the tension is applied.
Problems inherent in the lace fastening systems include unwanted knots caused by the tension in laces occurring through everyday use of the shoe, weakening and eventual breakage of laces at the points where laces rub against the shoe holes through which the laces are threaded.
Laces are not resilient and may stretch during use allowing the foot to move. Laces break or become untied and can present a hazard to the wearer. When the tension of laces is weakened from overuse, the tongue of the shoe may be wrinkled or displaced so that distracting or even painful discomfort may result during the use.
The lace fastening systems may also be impractical and undesirable by persons with physical limitations, such as rheumatoid arthritis, weight problems, or physical injuries that make it difficult and undesirable for such individuals to bend over for the period of time that is required to perform lace fastening.
Accordingly, there is a need for eliminating and replacing the use of laces for fastening of the footwear and clothing. Generally, when eliminating the use of laces, support, aesthetic appeal and/or the effectiveness of securing the shoe to the foot is sacrificed.
The fastening system of the present invention provides improved support with an adjustable fastening system to secure the shoe to the foot without the use of laces. The fastening system provides easy and quick fastening means that allow for a proper tightening and securing of the shoe on the user's foot.
In addition, recently, the use of variety of colorful laces, rather than laces matching the color of the shoe, gained popularity among consumers. It is not uncommon for the individual to substitute the laces that match the color of the shoe with contrasting laces to express an individual style.
The fastening system of the present invention allows the consumers to further express their individuality. The fastening system of the present invention enhances the shoe or clothing's appearance. It lets individuals to express their personal style by easily switching from laces to the stylish and unique fastening system that allows for virtually unlimited modifications and variations with respect to colors and materials used.
Further, with respect to clothing, the fastening system of the present invention can be used, for example, instead of cufflinks or to secure two separable portions of a jacket or other garment.
The invention is directed to the fastening system for use in shoes and articles of clothing. The fastening system comprises at least one fastening strap that has an opening on each of its two ends and a rivet with a button and a retainer.
The button has a base with a recess on a first side and a stem on a second side. The stem extends from the base. The stem further has a first diameter. The button has a top portion at one end of the stem that is opposite to the base. The top portion has a second diameter that is larger than the first diameter of the stem.
The retainer has a shank that extends from a clamping head of the retainer. The shank is configured to securely fasten within the recess of the button. The retainer is adapted to extend through the shoelaces holes of a shoe or clothing for fastening with the button. The openings of the fastening strap are adapted to fit over the top portion of the button.
In an embodiment, the fastening system may be installed by the user through the preexisting the shoelaces holes of the shoe that were originally designated by a manufacture for laces in the upper portion of the shoe.
In another embodiment, at least three fastening straps are used in connection with a chukka boot. Each strap is different length, depending on its position, the shortest strap being closest to the user's ankle. Such positioning and corresponding length of the straps allow for the most support with the fastening system to secure the shoe to the foot.
The fastening strap is preferably fabricated from durable plastic, leather or rubber, such as molded plastic, impact-resistant plastic, flexible plastic, plastic, leather, rubber, and/or elastomeric material, e.g. silicone rubber. The fastening strap material can also include non-metallic, fabric, cloth, or elastomeric material, or combinations of any of the forgoing.
The rivet is preferably fabricated from durable light metal alloy or durable plastic, such as injection-molded polypropylene or polyethylene, or other suitable plastics or metals. The rivet may be crafted from a precious or semi-precious metal alloy or other colored materials to provide a unique appearance.
In yet another embodiment, the recess of the base of the button has a screw thread in its interior. The shank that extends from the clamping head of the retainer has a thread that is configure to engage with the screw thread of the recess of the base.
Accordingly, the shank of the retainer can be threadably screwed into the recess of the base. Thus, the interior thread of the recess is configured to allow the base of the button to be securely engaged with the shank of the retainer.
In yet another embodiment, the shank that extends from the clamping head of the retainer has a sharp tip configured to making holes in the shoe or article of clothing.
In yet another embodiment, the fastening system comprises at least one fastening strap that has an opening on each of its two ends and a rivet with a button and a retainer.
According to this embodiment, the button has a plurality of protrusions on the first side, each of the protrusions having a sharp tip configured to making holes in the shoe or article of clothing.
Further, according to this embodiment, the button has a base and a stem, extending from the base on the second side. The stem further has a first diameter. The button has a top portion configured at one end of the stem that is opposite to the base. The top portion has a second diameter that is larger than the first diameter.
In addition, according to this embodiment, the retainer has a retainer diameter that is smaller than a base diameter of the base of the button. The protrusions of the base of the button are adapted to bend inward in order to secure the retainer. Thus, according to this embodiment the need for the preexisting holes is eliminated.
Further, according to this embodiment, the openings of the fastening strap are adapted to fit over the top portion of the button.
Furthermore, holes may be formed by using a punch, leather awl, or the like instrument, permitting the rivets to be installed in the upper portion of a shoe.
Further scope of applicability of the present invention will become apparent from the detailed description given hereinafter. However, it should be understood that the detailed description and specific examples, while indicating preferred embodiments of the invention, are given by way of illustration only, since various changes and modifications within the spirit and scope of the invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art from this detailed description.
The present invention will become more fully understood from the detailed description given herein below and the accompanying drawings which are given by way of illustration only, and thus, are not limitative of the present invention, and wherein:
The
The
In an embodiment shown on
The rivets (20) are installed through the preexisting shoelaces holes (as further detailed below). The openings (18) of the fastening straps (12) fit over each of the rivets (20) to securely engage the fastening straps (12). In addition, the shoelaces holes in the footwear or clothing may be formed by using a punch, leather awl, or the like instrument, permitting the rivets to be installed on the upper portion of a shoe.
The
In accordance with the exemplary embodiment, the diameter of the stem (30) is at least 3 mm. The second diameter of the top portion (32) is at least 5 mm. The stem (30) length, including the top portion (32) is about 6.2 mm. The diameter of the base (26) is about 9.5 mm.
The
In accordance with the exemplary embodiment, the shank (34) has a thread (42) shown in the
Accordingly, the shank (34) of the retainer (24) can be threadably screwed into the recess (28) of the base (26). Thus, the interior thread of the recess (28) is configured to allow the base (26) of the button (22) to be securely engaged with the shank (34) of the retainer (24).
Further, the retainer (24) is adapted to extend through holes of the shoe or clothing for fastening with the button (22). The openings (18) of the fastening strap (12) are adapted to fit over the top portion (32) of the button (22).
In yet another embodiment, the shank (34) that extends from the clamping head (36) of the retainer (24) has a sharp tip configured to making holes in the shoe or article of clothing for the use of the fastening system.
The clamping head (36) may contain a groove (48) configured to be used with a tip of the screw driver. It is understood that the groove (48) may be shaped to be used with a variety of screw drivers, such as “Slot,” “Phillips” and “Robertson,” as well as various screw driver sizes.
In accordance with the exemplary embodiment, the diameter of the shank (34) is at least 2.88 mm, and the length is 8 mm. The diameter of the clamping head (36) is 9 mm with the width of the groove (48) being 1.6 mm.
In accordance with the exemplary embodiment, as shown on the
In yet another embodiment, at least three fastening straps (12) are used as shown on the
The fastening strap (12) according to the invention may be fabricated from durable plastic or rubber, such as molded plastic, impact-resistant plastic, flexible plastic, plastic, leather, rubber, and/or elastomeric material, such silicone rubber. The fastening strap material can also include non-metallic, fabric, cloth, or elastomeric material, or combinations of any of the forgoing.
The rivet (20) according to the invention may be fabricated from durable light metal alloy or durable plastic, such as injection-molded polypropylene or polyethylene, or other suitable plastics or metals. Further, the rivet (20) may be made from a precious or semi-precious metal alloy or colored metals to provide a unique appearance. For example, the rivet (20) may be manufactured from copper alloy to provide for corrosion resistance and durability.
In yet another embodiment shown in the
The button (122) has a plurality of protrusions (140) on a first side. The protrusions (140) have a sharp tip (142) configured to be able to make holes in the shoe or article of clothing.
Further, the button (122) has a base (126) and a stem (130) that extends from the base (126) outward. The button (122) also has a top portion (132) on one end of the stem (130) that is opposite to the base (126).
The protrusions (140) of the base (126) are adapted to bend inward in order to secure the retainer (124). Thus, according to this embodiment the need for the preexisting holes is eliminated.
Further, according to this embodiment, the openings (18) of the fastening strap (12) are adapted to fit over the top portion (132) of the button (122).
The diameter of the base (126) is about 9.5 mm. The diameter of the retainer (124) is smaller than the diameter of the base (126) and is about 8.7 mm.
The stem (130) has the diameter about 3 mm, where the diameter of the top portion (132) is about 5 mm. The protrusions (140) have the length of about 17 mm. The length of the stem (130) is about 6.15 mm.
In yet another embodiment shown on
Further, the rivet (220) has the retainer (224) with the shank (234) and the clamping head (236). The clamping head (236) may be configured to move laterally or rotate in order to permit the clamping head (236) to extend through a shoe or garment's preexisting holes. The shank (234) may be curved to provide for a more secure fastening.
The length of the stem (230) is about 6.15 mm. The length of the shank (234) is about 6.15 mm. The diameter of the top portion (232) is about 5 mm, and the diameter of the clamp head (236) is about 5 mm. The stem (230) has the diameter about 3 mm. The thickness of the base (226) is, preferably, 1.15 mm.
In yet another embodiment shown on the
The fastening system according to this embodiment further includes a socket (326) for releasably engaging with the stud (324) and a post (328) for attaching the socket (326) to a shoe or an article of clothing. The post (328) includes a base (329) and a pole (331) extending from the base (329). The pole (331) is configured to extend through the shoe or article of clothing and fixedly attach to the socket (326).
The fastening system according to the invention can be used with different footwear. One of the embodiments shown in the
Further, the fastening strap (12) may be configured to incorporate different sensors, such as body motion sensors, that would communicate a body motion signal to a wearable electronic device like a watch or another mobile device. Such information can be used in order to determine, for example, a calorie expenditure by the user.
The invention being thus described, it will be obvious that the same may be varied in many ways. Such variations are not to be regarded as a departure from the spirit and scope of the invention, and all such modifications as would be obvious to one skilled in the art are to be included within the scope of the following claims.
