STRUCTURE OF FASTENER

Abstract

A structure of a fastener is used in an article, such as a garment, a bag, and a shoe and includes a fastener. The fastener has a surface in which at least one hollow portion is formed. The hollow portion has a corner in which a narrow slot that is in communication with the hollow portion is formed. A string is received through the hollow portion and is, after subjected to length adjustment, pressed into the narrow slot so that narrow slot securely clamps the string. As such, the drawbacks and shortcomings of a conventionally used string buckle, such as structural instability, including slipping, vibrating, skewing, and loosening, being difficult to assemble, and having a high manufacturing cost, can be overcome. The fastener may additionally function as a rivet to be mounted to an article, such as a garment, a bag, and a shoe.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention generally relates to a structure of a fastener used in an article, such as a garment, a bag, and a shoe, and more particularly to a structure of a fastener that makes use of a narrow slot to securely clamp a string, shows advantages of having excellent structural stability, being easy to mount, and having a low manufacture cost, functioning as a rivet button and a string buckle, and provides functions of displaying a trademark and decorating.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PRIOR ART

As shown in FIG. 7, a conventionally used string buckle 80 is shown. The string buckle 80 can secure a string 91 that is set around an opening of a garment 90 (such as a sleeve cuff and a bottom of the garment) or an opening of a bag at any desired location. As such, after adjustment of the size of the string 91 to wrap around the opening, the opening is kept in a condition of being re-expandable or re-shrinkable.

The string buckle 80 has a structure that comprises a first component 81 and a second component 82 that is fit into the first component 81. The first component 81 and the second component 82 have string holes in communication with each other. To achieve resilient movability between the first component 81 and the second component 82, an elastic device is arranged therein. The string 91 is received through the string holes of the first component 81 and the second component 82. By applying a force to the second component, in a spring loaded manner, after the force is removed, the spring force moves it back, making an edge of the string hole thereof to clamp the string 91 that is received through the string holes.

It can be seen from the above description that after the string buckle 80 and the string 91 are assembled together, since the string buckle 80 may get exposed outside a surface of a garment, a bag, or a shoe, it cannot be positioned in compliance with the surface of the article. Unexpected and undesired depressing of the string buckle 80 may occur to cause undesired slipping thereof, or it may get vibrated, skewed, or loosened when stretched and pulled, making the stability as a whole extremely poor. Further, the functionality and effectiveness of use are very limited. Further, the string buckle 80 occupies quite an amount of space and it is often uncomfortable if undesired contact with the string buckle 80 that is generally rigid in for example sitting down, particularly when it is mounted to a bottom of a garment.

Further, the structure of the string buckle 80 comprises a first component 81, a second component 82, and an elastic device arranged therein. A number of components are used, making the operation of assembling complicated and the manufacture difficult. Further, the manufacture cost is heightened.

Further, the holes that are formed in a garment 91 for the extension of a string 91 are often provided with rivet button rings 92 mounted around the holes. This further increases the number of the components and the manufacture cost.

Thus, the structure of the known string buckle is not perfect and it is desired to remove the drawbacks and shortcomings of the conventional string buckle, which is the challenge that the present invention is made to overcome.

The present invention aims to provide a solution that overcomes the problems discussed above.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

An object of the present invention is to provide a structure of a string buckle that makes use of a narrow slot to securely clamp a string and shows advantages of having excellent structural stability, being easy to mount, and having a low manufacture cost, and also provides a function of a trademark rivet button.

To achieve the above object, the present invention comprises a fastener. The fastener has a surface in which at least hollow portion. The hollow portion has at least one corner in which a narrow slot communicating with the hollow portion is formed so that the narrow slot may securely clamp a string. The string is set through the hollow portion and, after being subjected to length adjustment, is pressed into the narrow slot to allow the narrow slot to securely clamp the string thereby overcoming the drawbacks and shortcomings of the conventionally used string buckle, such as structural instability, including slipping, vibrating, skewing, and loosening, being difficult to assemble, and having a high manufacturing cost.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a structure that provides functions of providing use of trademark, advertisement, and decoration and may serve as a rivet button and a string buckle.

To achieve said another object of the present invention, the hollow portion may have a contour showing a pattern of a trademark or a non-hollowed portion having a portion having a contour showing a pattern of a trademark.

The foregoing objectives and summary provide only a brief introduction to the present invention. To fully appreciate these and other objects of the present invention as well as the invention itself, all of which will become apparent to those skilled in the art, the following detailed description of the invention and the claims should be read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. Throughout the specification and drawings identical reference numerals refer to identical or similar parts.

Many other advantages and features of the present invention will become manifest to those versed in the art upon making reference to the detailed description and the accompanying sheets of drawings in which a preferred structural embodiment incorporating the principles of the present invention is shown by way of illustrative example.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a top plan view of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a schematic view showing an application of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is an enlarged view of the portion marked 4 in FIG. 3 to illustrate an operation of the present invention securely clamping a string.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a third embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a schematic view showing the structure of a conventional string buckle and a rivet button ring.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

The following descriptions are exemplary embodiments only, and are not intended to limit the scope, applicability or configuration of the invention in any way. Rather, the following description provides a convenient illustration for implementing exemplary embodiments of the invention. Various changes to the described embodiments may be made in the function and arrangement of the elements described without departing from the scope of the invention as set forth in the appended claims

Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, the present invention comprises a fastener 10. The fastener 10 has a surface forming hollow portion 11. A narrow slot 12 is formed in a corner of the hollow portion 11 and is in communication therewith.

With the components of the present invention described above, the operation principle and the features will be then described as follows: Referring to FIGS. 3 and 4, the fastener 10 according to the present invention can be mounted to (for example by means of riveting) to each opening section of a garment 70. In the instant embodiment, the garment 70 is a hooded jacket and the fastener 10 can be mounted to each of the hood, sleeve cuffs, and the bottom of the garment. A plurality of strings 20 is set around the hood, the sleeve cuffs, and the bottom of the garment 70 and is received through the fasteners 10 to project out thereof.

The hollow portion 11 of the fastener 10 is of a size greater than or substantially equal to an outside diameter of the string 20 so as to allow the string 20 to extend therethrough and also to allow a user to adjust the length of the string 20. After the length adjustment of the string 20, the string 20 is stretched and pressed into the narrow slot 12 to allow the string 20 to be securely clamped by the narrow slot 12. As such, the present invention can be used in an extremely simple, easy, and efficient manner.

Similarly, to loosen the string 20, the string 20 is pulled toward the hollow portions 11 to move out of the narrow slot 12 and then the clamped condition of the string 20 can be efficiently released for a subsequent adjustment of the string 20.

In the entirety of the present invention, the fastener 10 is mounted to a garment and is not necessary to be used with other components (namely no conventionally used string buckle is necessarily used) and can additionally provide a function of the conventionally used rivet button ring (namely it can replace the conventionally used rivet button ring). In other words, integration of the conventionally used string buckle and rivet button ring is provided. Thus, the drawbacks and shortcomings of the conventionally used string buckle, such as structural instability, including slipping, vibrating, skewing, and loosening, being difficult to assemble, and having a high manufacturing cost, can be overcome.

Referring to FIG. 2, the hollow portion 11 according to the present invention can be of a contour showing the pattern of a trademark, or alternatively, a non-hollowed portion is made in the form showing a contour of the pattern of a trademark, whereby effectiveness of use of the trademark, advertisement, and decoration can be achieved. In the instant embodiment, the hollow portion 11 is of a contour that shows the pattern of a heart-like trademark.

Further, the surface of the fastener 10 in which the hollow portion is formed is a front surface of the fastener that is easily visible.

Further, the surface of the fastener 10 in which the hollow portion is formed is a side surface of the fastener that is easily visible.

Referring to FIG. 1, the fastener 10 according to the present invention comprises a bottom on which a fixing ring 13 is formed to project therefrom in order to combine with a bottom fixing ring (not shown) to be riveted to an article, such as a garment, a bag, or a shoe.

Referring to FIG. 5, a second embodiment of the present invention is such that multiple narrow slots 12 are respectively formed in corners of a hollow portion 11 to be in communication therewith. In the instant embodiment, illustration is given to an example having four such corners and four narrow slots 12.

Referring to FIG. 6, a third embodiment of the present invention is such that a hollow portion 11 is formed to show a contour having the pattern of another predetermined trademark and the a narrow slot 12 is formed to show a contour having another predetermined shape. Further, the contour shape of the narrow slot 12 can be arranged to match the contour of the trademark pattern of the hollow portion 11.

In summary, the present invention indeed achieves the expected purposes by providing a structure of a fastener, wherein the fastener can be mounted to a hood, a sleeve cuff, or a bottom of a garment with a string set around the hood, the sleeve cuff, or the bottom of the garment to provide a fastening effect and also provides an additional function of providing a structure of a string buckle that makes use of a narrow slot to securely clamp a string and shows advantages of having excellent structural stability, being easy to mount, and having a low manufacture cost and may also serve as a trademark.

It will be understood that each of the elements described above, or two or more together may also find a useful application in other types of methods differing from the type described above.

While certain novel features of this invention have been shown and described and are pointed out in the annexed claim, it is not intended to be limited to the details above, since it will be understood that various omissions, modifications, substitutions and changes in the forms and details of the device illustrated and in its operation can be made by those skilled in the art without departing in any way from the spirit of the present invention.

Claims

1. A structure of a fastener, comprising a fastener, the fastener having a surface in which at least one hollow portion is formed, the hollow portion having at least one corner in which a narrow slot in communication with the hollow portion is formed, whereby the narrow slot selectively receive and securely clamp a string therein.

2. The structure of a fastener according to claim 1, wherein the fastener has a bottom on which a fixing ring is formed to project therefrom for being combinable with a bottom fixing ring to be riveted to an article, such as a garment, a bag, or a shoe.

3. The structure of a fastener according to claim 1, wherein the hollow portion has a contour showing a pattern of a trademark.

4. The structure of a fastener according to claim 2, wherein the hollow portion has a contour showing a pattern of a trademark.

5. The structure of a fastener according to claim 1, wherein a non-hollowed portion has a portion having a contour showing a pattern of a trademark.

6. The structure of a fastener according to claim 2, wherein a non-hollowed portion has a portion having a contour showing a pattern of a trademark.

7. The structure of a fastener according to claim 1, wherein the surface of the fastener in which the hollow portion is formed is a front surface of the fastener that is easily visible.

8. The structure of a fastener according to claim 2, wherein the surface of the fastener in which the hollow portion is formed is a front surface of the fastener that is easily visible.

9. The structure of a fastener according to claim 1, wherein the surface of the fastener in which the hollow portion is formed is a side surface of the fastener that is easily visible.

10. The structure of a fastener according to claim 2, wherein the surface of the fastener in which the hollow portion is formed is a side surface of the fastener that is easily visible.