Adjustable fastener for clothing, especially brassieres

[0002] 1. Field of the Invention

[0003] The invention relates to fasteners for clothing. More particularly, the invention relates to an adjustable fastener for a brassier or similar garment.

[0004] 2. State of the Art

[0005] Many articles of clothing are provided with adjustable fasteners. In particular, brassieres are typically provided with an adjustable fastener for connecting right and left center backs of the garment. These fasteners usually include one or more hooks and multiple eyelets spaced apart from each other so that the snugness of the garment eye can be adjusted by mating the hook(s) with the appropriate eyelet(s).

[0006] The known brassier fasteners have several disadvantages. First, being located at the back of the garment, they are difficult to manipulate. Second, the hooks and eyelets are typically made of metal and feel uncomfortable pressing against the back of the wearer. Third, the hook is typically free to rotate in the eyelet and allow the bra back to hike up into an uncomfortable configuration. Fourth, the fastener is typically thicker than the eyes to which it is attached and is visible through outerwear as a bump.

[0007] Many attempts have been made to provide a brassier fastener which is easy to operate, comfortable to the wearer and less visible. While these fasteners may solve some of the problems described above, they typically do not solve all of the problems and often introduce new problems. For example, in attempting to overcome the problems described above, many brassier fasteners sacrifice stability for comfort. This permits the fastener from accidentally detaching. Also, some fasteners which attempt to solve the problem of visibility have actually increased the difficulty in operation of the fastener.

[0008] It is therefore an object of the invention to provide an adjustable fastener for clothing, in particular brassieres.

[0009] It is also an object of the invention to provide an adjustable fastener which is easy to operate.

[0010] It is another object of the invention to provide an adjustable fastener which is soft and comfortable.

[0011] It is still another object of the invention to provide an adjustable fastener which is stable when fastened.

[0012] It is yet another object of the invention to provide an adjustable fastener which is concealed when fastened.

[0013] In accord with these objects which will be discussed in detail below, the adjustable fastener of the present invention includes a male part and a female part, both of which are made of soft pliable, sewable plastic. The female fastener part has three spaced apart openings. Each opening has a broad portion and a narrow portion. The male fastener part has a base with an upstanding riser with a flange at the end of the riser. The flange is dimensioned to fit into the broad portion of each opening in the female fastener part and the riser is dimensioned to fit snugly into the narrow portion of each opening in the female fastener part. The narrow portion of each opening in the female fastener part is rectilinear in shape and the riser is also rectilinear in section. Thus, when the riser is in the narrow portion of an opening in the female fastener part, rotation of the male fastener part relative to the female fastener part is prevented. The back side of the male fastener part is provided with parallel grooves which enhance gripping when releasing the fastener. Both of the fastener parts have a pair of parallel flanges at one end between which the garment back end is inserted and secured to the fastener part. The fastener parts are preferably attached to the garment's center backs so that the openings in the female fastener part face the back of the wearer and the riser and flange on the male fastener part face away from the back of the wearer. The back of the female fastener part is preferable covered with fabric and/or bears a trademark or a design.

[0014] According to one embodiment of the invention, the flange on the male fastener part is substantially circular and has a centrally located nub rising from its surface. The broad portion of each opening in the female fastener part is substantially circular and the narrow portion of each opening in the female fastener part has a nub-receiving well. This structure adds stability to the fastener, preventing accidental unfastening.

[0015] According to another embodiment of the invention, the flange on the male fastener part is substantially elliptical. The broad portion of each opening in the female fastener part is substantially elliptical and a pair of ears extend between the broad portion and the narrow portion of each opening in the female fastener part. This structure also adds stability to the fastener, preventing accidental unfastening.

[0016] According to one method of manufacture, both parts are injection molded and are fastened to brassier center backs by sewing. According to another method of manufacture, the male fastener part is injection molded, but the female fastener part is made from a laminate structure which includes two outer layers and two inner layers. The outer layers are made of a soft fabric material and the inner layers are made of soft plastic. One of the plastic layers has the openings as described and the other plastic layer has thick portions which surround the openings in the other plastic layer to create a space for receiving the male fastener part. According to a presently preferred embodiment, the plastic spacer is made by embossing a plastic sheet and the outer fabric layers are made from a single layer which is folded. All of the parts preferably have rounded edges and corners to prevent poking, snagging, and skin irritation.

[0017] Additional objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art upon reference to the detailed description taken in conjunction with the provided figures.

[0018] FIG. 1 is a plan view of the non-engaging side of a male fastener part according to a first embodiment of the invention;

[0019] FIG. 2 is a plan view of the engaging side of the male fastener of FIG. 1;

[0020] FIG. 3 is an end elevation view of the male fastener of FIGS. 1 and 2;

[0021] FIG. 4 is a side elevation view of the male fastener of FIGS. 1-3;

[0022] FIG. 5 is a plan view of the engaging side of a female fastener part according to the first embodiment of the invention;

[0023] FIG. 6 is a side elevation view of the female fastener part of FIG. 5;

[0024] FIG. 7 is a transparent side elevation view of the male and female fastener parts engaged;

[0025] FIG. 8 is a plan view of the non-engaging side of a male fastener part according to a second embodiment of the invention;

[0026] FIG. 9 is a plan view of the engaging side of the male fastener of FIG. 8;

[0027] FIG. 10 is an end elevation view of the male fastener of FIGS. 8 and 9;

[0028] FIG. 11 is a side elevation view of the male fastener of FIGS. 8-10;

[0029] FIG. 12 is a plan view of the engaging side of a female fastener part according to the second embodiment of the invention;

[0030] FIG. 13 is an enlarged view of the circled portion of FIG. 12;

[0031] FIG. 14 is an exploded view of the component parts of a female fastener part according to a preferred embodiment;

[0032] FIG. 15 is a plan view of the preferred outer laminate layers;

[0033] FIG. 16 is a side elevation view of a preferred spacer layer;

[0034] FIG. 17 is a plan view of the preferred spacer layer;

[0035] FIG. 18 is a plan view of the non-engaging side of the preferred female fastener part;

[0036] FIG. 19 is a side elevation view of the preferred female fastener part; and

[0037] FIG. 20 is a plan view of the engaging side of the preferred female fastener part.

[0038] Referring now to FIGS. 1 through 7, an adjustable fastener 10 of the present invention includes a male part 12 and a female part 14, both of which are made of soft pliable, sewable plastic. As seen best in FIG. 5, the female fastener part 14 has three spaced apart openings 16, 18, 20. Each opening 16, 18, 20 has a broad portion 16a, 18a, 20aand a narrow portion 16b, 18b, 20b. Opening 16 is separated from opening 18 by a flexible rib 22 and opening 20 is separated from opening 18 by a flexible rib 24. The narrow portion 20bof opening 20 terminates at rib 26 and the broad portion 16aof opening 16 terminates at rib 28. A pair of parallel flanges 30, 32 extend from the rib 28 as seen best i n FIG. 6. At least one of the flanges 30, 32 has a live hinge 34. According to this embodiment, the broad portion 16a, 18a, 20aof each opening 16, 18, 20 is substantially circular. The narrow portion 16b, 18b, 20bof each opening 16, 18, 20 is substantially rectilinear and the narrow portion of each opening has a nub-receiving well 16c, 18c, 20c.

[0039] Referring now to FIGS. 1-4, the male fastener part has a base 40 with an upstanding riser 42 with a flange 44 at the end of the riser 42. The flange 42 is substantially circular and is dimensioned to fit into the broad portion of each opening in the female fastener part and the riser 42 is substantially rectilinear in section, as seen best in phantom line in FIG. 2, and is dimensioned to fit snugly into the narrow portion of each opening in the female fastener part. The flange 44 is provided with a centrally located nub 46 rising from its surface. The back side of the male fastener part 12 is provided with parallel grooves 48 and a finger stop 50 which enhance gripping when releasing the fastener. The male fastener part 12 is also provided with a pair of parallel flanges 52, 54, seen best in FIG. 4.

[0040] The fastener parts 12, 14 are attached to garment center backs (not shown) by inserting ends of the center backs between the flanges 30, 32, 52, 54, and stitching the center backs to the flanges. Preferably, the fastener is attached to the garment back so that the openings in the female fastener part face the back of the wearer and the riser and flange on the male fastener part face away from the back of the wearer. The back non-engaging surface 56 of the female fastener part 14 is preferable covered with fabric and/or bears a trademark or a design.

[0041] As shown in FIG. 7, when the male and female fastener parts are engaged, the nub 46 resides in the nub receiving well 20c(or 16cor 18c) impeding lateral movement of the male part. The rectilinear riser 44 resides in the rectilinear narrow portion 20b(or 16bor 18b) preventing rotation of the parts relative to each other. The flange 44 prevents the male part from exiting the narrow portion orthogonally. According to this embodiment of the invention, both of the fastener parts are unitary members made by injection molding.

[0042] Turning now to FIGS. 8-13, a second embodiment of a fastener according to the invention is similar the first embodiment with similar reference numerals (increased by 100) referring to similar parts.

[0043] The fastener includes a male part 112 and a female part 114, both of which are made of soft pliable, sewable plastic. As seen best in FIG. 12, the female fastener part 114 has three spaced apart openings 116, 118, 120. Each opening 116, 118, 120 has a broad portion 116a, 118a, 120aand a narrow portion 116b, 118b, 120b. According to this embodiment, the broad portion 116a, 118a, 120aof each opening 116, 118, 120 is substantially elliptical. The narrow portion 116b, 118b, 120bof each opening 116, 118, 120 is substantially rectilinear and a pair of ears 116c, 116d, 118c, 118d, 120c, 120dextend between the broad and narrow portions.

[0044] Referring now to FIGS. 8-11, the male fastener part 112 has a base 140 with an upstanding riser 142 with a flange 144 at the end of the riser 142. The flange 142 is substantially elliptical and is dimensioned to fit into the broad portion of each opening in the female fastener part and the riser 142 is substantially rectilinear in section, as seen best in phantom line in FIG. 9, and is dimensioned to fit snugly into the narrow portion of each opening in the female fastener part. The back side of the male fastener part 112 is provided with parallel grooves 148 and a finger stop 150 which enhance gripping when releasing the fastener. The male fastener part 112 is also provided with a pair of parallel flanges 152, 154, seen best in FIG. 11.

[0045] Turning now to FIG. 14, the female fastener part 114 is preferably formed as a laminate structure which includes two outer layers 114a, 114dand two inner layers 114b, 114c. The outer layers 114a, 114dare made of a soft fabric material and the inner layers 114b, 114care made of soft plastic. One of the plastic layers 114bhas the openings as described and the other plastic layer 114chas thick portions which surround the openings in the other plastic layer to create a space for receiving the male fastener part. As shown in FIG. 14, the plastic “spacer layer” 114chas four rectilinear through bores.

[0046] As shown in FIG. 15, the outer layers (114a, 114din FIG. 14) are preferable formed as a single fabric layer 214a, 214dfolded at fold line 214e. As shown in FIGS. 16 and 17, the plastic spacer 214c(114cin FIG. 14) is made by embossing a plastic sheet with raised bumps which surround the openings in the layer 114bin FIG. 14. The assembled female member 214 is shown in FIGS. 18-20.

[0047] There have been described and illustrated herein several embodiments of a fastener for clothing, in particular a brassier.

[0048] While particular embodiments of the invention have been described, it is not intended that the invention be limited thereto, as it is intended that the invention be as broad in scope as the art will allow and that the specification be read likewise. It will therefore be appreciated by those skilled in the art that yet other modifications could be made to the provided invention without deviating from its spirit and scope as so claimed.