Patent Application
20050235462
The present invention relates to a male fixing member which is attached to clothes such as outdoor wears and various kinds of shirt and suspension cloth such as a curtain and a table skirt and has a number of male engaging elements allowing engagement and disengagement thereof to a mating member through an engaging/disengaging mechanism of a surface fastener, and relates to a sheet product such as clothes and suspension screen to which the male fixing members are attached.
Conventionally, various kinds of fixing devices have been used at an opening/closing portion of clothes and an engaging/disengaging portion for a curtain and a runner. Its typical fixing device is buttons. As extremely ordinary buttons, there are buttons used for outdoor wears, shirts and blouses. According to this device, a button main body fixed to one side of the opening/closing portion of clothes with threads is inserted into a slit-like button hole formed in the other side of the opening/closing portion or pulled out through the button hole so as to open or close the opening/closing portion. However, these ordinary buttons require opening/closing operation of inserting the button into the button hole so as to close the opening/closing portion or pulling out the button through the button hole so as to open the opening/closing portion. These operations are very difficult for infants, persons handicapped in finger action and aged persons although not for healthy adults and therefore, the buttons are fixing devices very difficult to handle.
As a fixing device capable avoiding such a complicated matter in the operation, for example, snap buttons often used for jumpers, jeans and the like are available. This snap button comprises a male device and a female device and the male and female devices are engaged or disengaged through an easy operation of pressing them against their elasticity with the fingers and pulling both in the direction of departing from each other respectively. However, the snap button cannot be in an excellent engagement unless the male device and female device are aligned with each other in the center and pressed together. That is, like the aforementioned ordinary buttons, this snap button is a very difficult fixing device for persons handicapped in the finger action or eyesight, infants and aged persons.
To eliminate such an inconvenience, fixing devices for clothes have been proposed through, for example, Japanese Utility Model Registration No. 3081450, or Japanese Utility Model Registration No. 3082944. For the latter, a surface fastener is fixed to a surface of a button made of synthetic resin having ordinary thread through hole with adhesive agent or by ultrasonic fusion, and such buttons are sewed by sewing threads to the opening/closing portion of clothes so as to oppose each other. On the other hand, regarding the former, a surface fastener comprising a substrate and engaging elements is disposed on a back side of the opening/closing portion of a side having ordinary buttons while an ordinary button having a thread through hole is disposed on a surface of the same button hole. Then, the surface fastener and button are jointed through the sewing thread so that the surface fastener is disposed on the back side of the opening/closing portion, thereby the button is attached to a surface side of the opening/closing portion through the button hole.
The invention according to each of the above-described registered Utility Models is effective in that the engagement/disengagement operation is facilitated as compared to a conventional button or snap button because their joining/separations are enabled in a wide area by using a joining mechanism based on the surface fastener. However, the attachment operation is complicated and its practical usage is difficult in terms of durability and appearance.
That is, according to the fixing device disclosed in the above-mentioned Japanese Utility Model Registration No. 3081450, a substrate made of synthetic resin having the engaging elements on a surface thereof is jointed with the button through the sewing thread and the button is attached on the clothes through the button hole formed in the opening/closing portion of the clothes. Thus, the sewing thread which joints the substrate with the button is easy to cut out due to repeated usage or washing and thus, the durability is low.
According to the fixing device disclosed in the Japanese Utility Model Registration No. 3081450, the button made of synthetic resin having the surface fastener on a surface thereof is sewed on the opening/closing portion of the clothes with the sewing thread so that respective surface fasteners oppose each other. Thus, an end of the sewing thread is exposed on the surface of clothes so that not only the appearance is damaged but also that end of the thread is likely to be caught by other things and cut out.
According to both of the above-described inventions, two buttons are always attached to the fixing device attachment portion installed on the opening/closing portion of clothes such that they overlap each other. Consequently, when the opening/closing portion is closed, only that fixing device mounting portion swells, so that the appearance beauty deteriorates, which is not suitable for practical usage.
The present invention has been achieved to solve these conventional problems and more specifically, an object of the present invention is to provide a male fixing member for sheets, which can be manufactured easily, is easy to install on clothes or a suspension cloth, is durable for long-term usage and when it is installed on clothes, does not deteriorate the appearance beauty and can be engaged or disengaged easily by even an infant.
A basic configuration of the present invention exists in a male fixing member which engages/disengages sheet faces of sheet members through a surface fastener engaging/disengaging mechanism, comprising a first base material and a second base material, which are disposed so as to oppose each other, wherein a surface of the first base material has a plurality of male engaging elements and a rear face of the first base material and the second base material are jointed together through a column-like joint portion. Preferably, the column-like joint portion is molded integrally with any one of the first base material or the second base material.
The flat first base material and second base material of the present invention may be constituted of any of synthetic resin material and metallic material and the first base material has a number of engaging elements on the surface of the first base material. This engaging element can be formed in any form of hook, palm tree, mushroom and their modified forms and as the molding figuration, it is permissible to adopt diversified well known molding methods such as ordinary injection molding, continuous injection molding, and molding from synthetic resin linear material (mono-filament).
In case not only where the column-like joint portion of a fixing portion is made of metal, but also where it is made of synthetic resin, the stability for maintenance of the configuration, its tensile strength and shearing strength are by far higher than sewing threads. Therefore, it is never removed or damaged easily after it is mounted on clothes or suspension cloths and thus, is highly durable for long-term repeated usage. Further, because the requirement of the first base material and the second base material is only to possess an appropriate stiffness (hardness), it is possible to mold them to be very thin depending on selection of material. As the material, it is permissible to use not only metallic material such as copper, aluminum alloy, but also various kinds of thermoplastic resin material such as polyolefin, polystyrene, polyamide, polyester.
Although the column-like joint portion may be formed independently of the first base material and the second base material, it is preferable that it is molded integrally with any one of the first base material and the second base material preliminarily from viewpoint of easiness of mounting on a sheet member.
Further according to the present invention, it is permissible that the male engaging elements formed on the surface of the first base material are composed of hook pieces and a number of the hook pieces are disposed on plural sectioned engaging areas on the surface of the first base material while engaging directions of the male engaging elements are different between adjacent engaging areas. Although generally the engaging elements composed of the hook pieces have a directivity, according to the present invention, these engaging elements are disposed in plural sectioned engaging areas while the engaging directions of the engaging elements are different between the adjacent engaging areas. Consequently, the engaging direction on the surface of the first base material is not deviated to one direction but engagement in all directions is enabled. According to the present invention, even for the engaging elements disposed in multiple columns in each engaging area, the engaging direction of the engaging elements can be made different between the adjacent columns.
Further according to the present invention, preferably, the first base material and the second base material are formed integrally through the column-like joint portion. That is, the characteristic feature of the present invention exists in that the male fixing member is formed such that the first and second base materials of its components are formed integrally with the column-like joint member which connects those base materials. Because the first and second base materials and the column-like joint portion which connects these base materials are formed integrally regardless of whether they are made of metal or synthetic resin, a process for jointing the second base material and the first base material through the column-like joint portion becomes unnecessary, thereby leading to a remarkable increase in productivity.
When mounting the male fixing member of the present invention, which has male engaging elements formed on the surface of the first base material with an appropriate means, on an opening/closing portion of clothes or a suspending portion of a suspension cloth, a slit-like hole is formed in the mounting portion of the male fixing member and then, the first or second base material is inserted through the hole so that the hook-like engaging elements are exposed outside.
Further, according to the present invention, under the above-described structure, the first base material and the male engaging elements are formed of synthetic resin material while the first base material and the male engaging elements are molded integrally. According to the present invention, regardless of whether the first base material is molded integrally with the column-like joint portion or the first base material is formed independently, in case of the first base material composed of synthetic resin material, a number of male engaging elements are molded integrally with the first base material at the time of molding. With such a structure, not only productivity can be raised but also as compared to a case where the male engaging elements and the first base material are formed independently and integrated later, a phenomenon that the male engaging elements may be separated from the first base material is eliminated despite repeated usage and durability can be ensured.
Further, according to the present invention, the first base material may be constituted of metallic material and a male surface fastener piece having the male engaging elements is bonded to a surface of the first base material. The first base material is constructed of, for example, circular or polygonal thin metallic piece and possesses an insertion hole, through which the front end of the column-like joint portion can be inserted, in the center of the first base material. A male surface fastener piece having a number of the aforementioned male engaging elements is bonded to a surface of the metallic piece so that they are integrated.
In this case, the joint portion is pierced into a sheet product, a front end portion of the joint portion is inserted through the insertion hole from a rear face toward the front surface of the first base material and the projecting end portion is deformed plastically so that it is expanded in a direction perpendicular to an axial direction of the joint portion. Consequently, it is attached to the sheet product under conditions in which a fixing portion and a fastening portion are integrated. Because the male fixing member of the surface fastener of the present invention attached in this way is mounted securely on the sheet product and further, the column-like joint portion has a high tensile strength and shearing strength, it is never damaged easily by repeated usage and washing. Meanwhile, not only the first base material but also the fastening portion can be formed of any one of metallic material and synthetic resin material.
Further, preferably, the front end portion of the column-like joint portion has an engaging/disengaging head portion and the joint portion of the first base material or the second base material which is to be fixed with the column-like joint portion has an engaging/disengaging portion which allows engagement/disengagement of the column-like joint portion with/from the engaging/disengaging head portion. The engaging/disengaging portion which the engaging/disengaging head portion engages or disengages is preferred to be constructed in the same structure as the snap structure in the snap button. With such a structure, after the column-like joint portion is pierced into the sheet product, the first base material and the second base material can be integrated easily with a simple action by pressing with the fingers and if necessary, they can be removed easily if they are pulled in the direction of departing.
Further, according to the present invention, the front end portion of the column-like joint portion has a structure deformable plastically in a diameter expanding direction perpendicular to the axial line of the joint portion and the joint portion of the first base material or the second base material, which is integrated with the column-like joint portion, has a attaching portion which receives the front end portion of the column-like joint portion and when the front end portion is deformed plastically, the deformed portion is attached and secured to. As for the plastic deformation of the front end portion of the column-like joint portion, if the joint portion is constituted of metallic material, the joint portion is formed cylindrically and the front end portion desired to be deformed plastically is divided to four sections along a circumference direction and then by pressing the front end portion in an axial direction, it can be bent easily in the direction of expanding the diameter. Consequently, the bent end portions are attached to the attaching portion. Further, if the column-like joint portion is formed of synthetic resin material, by heating the front end portion with a pressure, it is expanded and the expanded portion is attached to the attaching portion.
Further, preferably, the first base material or the second base material has an insertion hole for the column-like joint portion in the center, and has an expanded portion provided around the insertion hole and plural sliding preventing protrusions provided around the expanded portion at a predetermined interval. The expanded portion around the insertion hole not only secures the strength of the surrounding of the insertion hole, but also increases a nipping strength for the sheet member, so that the male fixing member of the present invention can be fastened to the sheet member firmly. Further, at the time of fastening, the plural protrusions around the expanded portion bite into the sheet member thereby preventing the male fixing member from sliding on the sheet member.
Further, the present invention concerns a sheet product characterized in that the male fixing member described above is attached to a joining portion of the sheet member through the column-like joint portion. The sheet products include clothes such as various kinds of shirts and outdoor wears and the mounting position of the male fixing member is an opening/closing portion of the clothes. In addition to clothes, a suspension cloth of a curtain or a table skirt to be attached to the periphery of a table is also included. The mounting position of the male fixing member is a suspending portion of the suspension cloth. Other sheet products include for example, tapestry.
Hereinafter, the preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail based on the represented examples.
FIGS. 1 to 4 show the male fixing portion of the male fixing member according to the first embodiment of the present invention and
As shown in
As shown in FIGS. 1 to 3, the first base material 111 of this embodiment is constituted of an octagonal flat piece and a number of engaging elements 112 molded integrally when the first base material 111 is molded stand on a flat surface in its plan view. According to the indicated example, as for the configuration of each engaging element 112, a main body 112a stands up like a hook while isosceles triangle-like reinforcement rib 112b having substantially the same height as the main body 112a is formed integrally on a side face of the main body 112a in a closely contact condition.
On the other hand, the first base material 111 has a disc-like expanded portion 113 in a center of a rear surface and a joint portion insertion hole 114, which a column-like joint portion 131 of a fastening portion 120 is inserted through and will be described in detail later, is formed in a center of the expanded portion. The joint portion insertion hole 114 comprised a circular hole portion 114a having substantially equal diameter as the outside diameter of the column-like joint portion 131 and a square hole portion 114b communicating with the circular hole portion through a step portion 114c. The length of a single side of this square hole portion 114b is set to be larger than the diameter of the circular hole portion 114a and the step portion 114c is formed on the boundary face. Further, a plurality of sliding preventing protrusions 115 are provided protrudedly at a predetermined interval around the expanded portion 113.
As shown in
When the male fixing member 100 having such a structure shown in the same Figure is attached to clothes 1 as shown in
When a face having the engaging elements 112 of the male fixing member 100 of this embodiment attached in such a manner is pressed against a female surface fastener piece (not shown) having a number of loop pieces, the female surface fastener attached to the opening/closing portion of the mating member, both can be joined together through faces securely even if there is a slight deflection in position. Further, because the male fixing portion 110 and the fastening portion 120 are integrated through the column-like joint portion 131 having a mechanical strength, once mounted, there is no fear of being damaged even if the opening/closing portion of clothes or the like is engaged or disengaged repeatedly and further even if a violent external force is applied at the time of washing.
When this is fixed to a male fixing portion 110 having the same structure as the first embodiment through base fabric of the clothes 1, first, the metallic cap 127, which is the second base material, of the fastening portion 120 is exposed outside and then, the cylindrical member 126 which is its column-like joint portion is pierced into an opening/closing portion of clothes. Further, the front end portion of the pierced cylindrical member 126 is inserted into a joint portion insertion hole 114 of the male fixing portion 110 so that it is introduced from a circular hole portion 114a to a square hole portion 114b. When this insertion ends, the front end of the cylindrical member 126 projecting from the square hole portion 114b is pressed mechanically with a pressing member (not shown) so that it is bent outward. As shown in
Although in the indicated example, the structure of the male fixing portion 110 is the same as the first embodiment, the front end portion of the column-like joint portion 131 erected integrally from the fastening portion 120 has an engaging/disengaging head portion 131a, which is expanded in a diameter direction and divided to plural sections along the axial line. The maximum diameter of this engaging/disengaging head portion 131a is larger than the diameter of the circular hole portion 114a of the joint portion insertion hole 114 of the first base material 111 and smaller than the length of a single side of the square hole portion 114b. In addition, the diameter when contracted is set to be smaller than the diameter of the circular hole portion 114a. In the meantime, according to this embodiment, although the entire male fixing member 100 is constituted of synthetic resin material, other members except the aforementioned engaging elements 112 can be constituted of metallic material or by combination of synthetic resin material and metallic material.
When attaching the male fixing member having the above-described structure to the clothes 1, a hole 1b which allows the column-like joint portion 131 to pass through, is made preliminarily in the opening/closing portion of the clothes 1 and with the second base material 121 of the fastening portion 120 exposed outside, the column-like joint portion 131 is inserted into the aforementioned hole 1b and pressed into the circular hole portion 114a of the first base material 111 by contracting the engaging/disengaging head portion 131a at the front end portion elastically. When the engaging/disengaging head portion 131a passes the circular hole portion 114a, the engaging head portion 131a is restored to its originals shape elastically and attached to the step portion 114c, so that the male fixing member 100 can be attached to the clothes 1. When detaching this from the clothes 1, the first and second base materials 111, 121 are pulled from each other in the direction of leaving each other with the fingers and consequently, the engaging head portion moves in an opposite direction, so that the second base material 121 can be separated from the first base material 111.
If as shown in
Although typical examples of the present invention have been presented in the above description, the present invention is not restricted to these embodiments and modifications, but diversified materials can be combined. In addition, needless to say, the present invention can be modified in various ways within a scope described in claims attached to this specification.
| Number | Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2002-60949 | Mar 2002 | JP | national |
| Filing Document | Filing Date | Country | Kind | 371c Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| PCT/JP03/02494 | 3/4/2003 | WO | 9/7/2004 |
