CA2151258C - Fastener attaching tool and fastener clip for use therewith - Google Patents
Fastener attaching tool and fastener clip for use therewithInfo
- Publication number
- CA2151258C CA2151258C CA002151258A CA2151258A CA2151258C CA 2151258 C CA2151258 C CA 2151258C CA 002151258 A CA002151258 A CA 002151258A CA 2151258 A CA2151258 A CA 2151258A CA 2151258 C CA2151258 C CA 2151258C
- Authority
- CA
- Canada
- Prior art keywords
- fastener
- transverse
- pair
- bar
- bars
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Expired - Fee Related
Links
Classifications
-
- D—TEXTILES; PAPER
- D05—SEWING; EMBROIDERING; TUFTING
- D05B—SEWING
- D05B97/00—Hand sewing processes or apparatus for special work or not otherwise provided for
- D05B97/10—Hand sewing processes or apparatus for special work or not otherwise provided for for attaching buttons or fasteners
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- A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
- A44—HABERDASHERY; JEWELLERY
- A44B—BUTTONS, PINS, BUCKLES, SLIDE FASTENERS, OR THE LIKE
- A44B9/00—Hat, scarf, or safety pins or the like
- A44B9/02—Simple pins
-
- A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
- A41—WEARING APPAREL
- A41H—APPLIANCES OR METHODS FOR MAKING CLOTHES, e.g. FOR DRESS-MAKING OR FOR TAILORING, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
- A41H37/00—Machines, appliances or methods for setting fastener-elements on garments
- A41H37/005—Hand implements
- A41H37/008—Hand implements provided with a needle tube
-
- A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
- A43—FOOTWEAR
- A43D—MACHINES, TOOLS, EQUIPMENT OR METHODS FOR MANUFACTURING OR REPAIRING FOOTWEAR
- A43D100/00—Setting or removing eyelets, buttons, lacing-hooks, or elastic gussets in shoes
- A43D100/08—Setting buttons on footwear
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- A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
- A44—HABERDASHERY; JEWELLERY
- A44B—BUTTONS, PINS, BUCKLES, SLIDE FASTENERS, OR THE LIKE
- A44B1/00—Buttons
- A44B1/18—Buttons adapted for special ways of fastening
- A44B1/185—Buttons adapted for special ways of fastening with quick, thread-like, anchoring means avoiding the use of a separate needle and thread
Abstract
A fastener attaching tool (51, 101) and fastener clip (11, 131) for use therewit h. The fastener clip (11, 131) includes a plurality of fasteners (13, 133) which may be used, for example, in attaching a button to a garment or a piece of fabric, each fastener (13, 133) comprising a filament having a foot (17-1, 137) at one end. The fastener clip (11, 131) also comprises at least one runner bar (19-1, 141), each fastener (13, 133) being connected to the runner bar (19-1, 141) by a severable connector post (23-1, 143). The fastener attaching tool (51 , 101) includes a pair of needles (57-1, 57-2). Each needle (57-1, 57-2) has a knife edge formed on its side which is adapted to sever a connector post (23-1, 143) from its associated runne r bar (19-1, 141). The fastener attaching tool (51, 101) also includes an ejector mechanism (61) w hich is slidably mounted back and forth within the body of the fastener attaching tool (51-101) a nd is rearwardly biased by a spring (59). The ejector mechanism is manually operable from the re ar of the body of the fastener attaching tool (51-101) and includes a pair of ejector rods (931, 93-2) which are slidable back and forth within the bores of the needles (57-1, 57-2).
Description
FASTENER ATTACHING TOOL AND
FASTENER C-IP FOR USE THEREWITH
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a new and novel fastener attaching tool and ~ fastener clip for use therewith particularly well-suited for use in coupling or recoupling buttons or the like to a garment or similar material or in other consumer applications.
The conventional method of attaching buttons to garments or fabrics, either by machine or by hand, is with thread. The button is held in place and a needle containing thread is inserted through each of two, three or more holes in the button and into the material several times until sufficient strands of thread exist to securely hold the button to the material. The thread must then be tied or otherwise fastened so that it will not unravel. In some instances, where it is desired to elevate the button from the material, a pedestal effect is achieved by laterally wrapping the strands with additional thread. The disadvantages to this method of securing buttons to fabric or garments are several. First of all, it is a slow and tedious job and the button can soon become detached if only one of the threads is severed orif the ends of the thread are not secured properly.
FASTENER C-IP FOR USE THEREWITH
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a new and novel fastener attaching tool and ~ fastener clip for use therewith particularly well-suited for use in coupling or recoupling buttons or the like to a garment or similar material or in other consumer applications.
The conventional method of attaching buttons to garments or fabrics, either by machine or by hand, is with thread. The button is held in place and a needle containing thread is inserted through each of two, three or more holes in the button and into the material several times until sufficient strands of thread exist to securely hold the button to the material. The thread must then be tied or otherwise fastened so that it will not unravel. In some instances, where it is desired to elevate the button from the material, a pedestal effect is achieved by laterally wrapping the strands with additional thread. The disadvantages to this method of securing buttons to fabric or garments are several. First of all, it is a slow and tedious job and the button can soon become detached if only one of the threads is severed orif the ends of the thread are not secured properly.
2 0 In the commonly assigned U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,399,432, 3,470,834, and 3,494,004, all of which are incorporated herein by reference, there is described a plastic fastener which may be used instead of thread to attach a button to an article of clothing. The fastener typically comprises a flexible filament having a head at one end and a transverse bar at the opposite end. A plurality of such fasteners are typically manufactured as part of a clip in which the fasteners are interconnected in a row to a stringer or runner bar connected to the transverse bars of the fasteners by corresponding necks or connector posts. To sever an individual fastener from the fastener clip and to attach the severed fastener to a desired article (e.g., through a button hole and into an article of clothing), a fastener attaching device is typically used. Such a device typically comprises a casing, a needle projecting from the casing, the needle and~the casing having longitudinal bores in alignment with each other, a plunger slidable back and forth within said bores, a handle telescoping over the rear of the casing for sliding said plungerwithin said bores, and means for feeaing fasteners into the device successively with the transverse bars in alignment with said bores ahead of the plunger so that 5 they may be projected through the needle by reciprocating the plunger. Typically, the rear end of the needle is shaped to define a knife edge so that insertion of the transverse bar into the longitudinal bore of the needle using the plunger causes the knife edge of the needle to sever the connector post connecting the fastener to the remainder of the fastener clip.
While the above-described fasteners have been found to be generally satisfactory for attaching buttons to certain articles of clothing, they have not found universal application for the following reasons: First, when placed in direct contact with a person's skin, the transverse bar of the fastener has a tendency to be irritating. This is in part because the above-described severing of the connector post often leaves a burr on the bottom of the transverse bar and is in part because of the somewhat sharp ends and large size of the transverse bar. Second, the fasteners are often too big to be used with many buttons and, therefore, require the use of specially designed buttons having large holes. Third, the fasteners tend to be conspicuous in appearance due to the fact that a separate fastener is used for 20 every button hole, as opposed to being looped between two or more button hol s in the same way that thread typically is.
WO 94/13167 21~12 5 8 PCTtUS93tl2112 . , SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is an object of the present invention to provide a new and novel fastener clip including one or more fasteners particularly well-suited for attaching a button or the like to a garment or similar material.
It is another object of the present invention to provide a fastener clip as described above whose fasteners are less irritating than existing like fastenerswhen used in such a way that they are placed in direct contact with a person's skin.
It is still another object of the present invention to provide a fastener clip as described above whose fasteners are sized for use with conventional buttons.
It is still yet another object of the present invention to provide a fastener clip as described above whose fasteners, when used to attach buttons to a garment or the like, can achieve a look similar to that achieved with thread.
It is a further object of the present invention to provide a fastener clip as described above whose fasteners are designed for maximum strength while still permitting installation through very small holes such as are found in fine garments.
It is still a further object of the present invention to provide a fastener clip as described above which can be mass produced and which is capable of including a plurality of fasteners.
It is yet still another object of this invention to provide a fastener attachingtool which is adapted for use with the fastener clip refer,ed to above.
Additional objects, features, and advantages of the present invention will be set forth in part in the description which follows, and in part will be obvious from the description or may be learned by practice of the invention. The objects, features and advantages of the invention may be re~li7ed and attained by means of the instrumentalities and combinations particularly pointed out in the appended claims.
In a preferred embodiment of the fastener clip aspect of the invention, the fastener clip is a molded plastic structure defining a pair of runner bars and at least one fastener, the fastener comprising a U-shaped filament having a foot at each end, each foot being sized and shaped both to fit through a button hole and, once 3 o inserted through the button hole and an underlying garment, to securely engage the WO 94/13167 PCT/US93il2112 underside of the garment. Because cf its loop design, the fastener is permitted to extend between adjacent button holes, thereby creating the illusion of thread.
To minimize contact with a person's skin, the feet of the present fastener are preferably shorter than the transverse bars of existing button fasteners and are5 preferably comparable in overall size to a knot of thread used to secure a button to a sheet of clothing material. In addition, the feet preferably have rounded ends and a flat top surface to minimize irritation of and contact with a person's skin. The filament portion of the fastener is preferably rectangular in cross-section and has a non-uniform thickness, i.e., being thinner at the ends and thicker in the arcuate 10 region, to maximize the strength of the fastener.
The fastener is preferably connected to the pair of runner bars by a pair of severable connector posts, each connector post extending between the side of oneof the feet and a corresponding runner bar so that, when the connector post is severed, a burr is not left on the underside of the feet where it may irritate a15 person's skin.
The outer edges of the runner bars are preferably provided with indentations which, as will be disc~ssed below, are used to properly feed the fastener clip into a fastener attaching tool.
In a preferred embodiment of the fastener attaching tool of this invention, the 20 fastener attaching tool comprises a body, a needle block, a pair of needles, a spring, and an ejector mechanism.
Each of the pair of needles includes a longitudinally extending slotted bore adapted to receive one of the transverse bars of the fastener, with the adjacent end of the filament extending through the slot in the bore. The needles are mounted 25 in a parallel arrangement in the needle block which, in turn, is removably mounted in a cavity formed in the front end of the body. Each needle has a knife edge formed on its outer side which is adapted to sever a connector post from its associated transverse bar as the transverse bar is pushed by it.
The body is also shaped to include a transverse feed slot disposed just tn 30 the rear of the needles down through which the above-described fastener clip is manually inserted. To assist in properly aligning the fastener clip within the feed .
slot so that the transverse bars of a desired fastener are aligned with the longitudinal bores of the needles, the inner walls of the slot are shaped to include a pair of feed bars which engage corresponding indentations formed on the outer sides of the fastener clip.
The ejector mechanism, which is slidably mounted back and forth within the body and is rearwardly biased by the spring, is manually operable from the rear of the body. Actuation of the ejector mechanism is preferably achieved using one's thumb, and the body is provided with a pair of finger openings so that the device may be held and used like a syringe. The ejector mechanism includes a pair of ejector rods which are slidable back and forth within the longitudinal bores of the needles and are used both to load the transverse bars of the aligned fastener into the longitudinal bores of the needles and to push the transverse bars therethrough into a desired article.
In one broad aspect, therefore, the present invention relates to a fastener for attaching a button to a piece of fabric, the button having two or more holes, said fastener comprising a flexible filament U-shaped prior to use in connectionwith attaching said button to said piece of fabric, a first transverse bar at one end of said flexible filament and perpendicular thereto, and a second transverse bar at the opposite end of said flexible filament and perpendicular thereto, said flexible filament and said pair of transverse bars being appropriately dimensioned so that said pair of transverse bars may be inserted through a corresponding pair of holes in the button and then through the piece of fabric in such a way as to be retained by the underside of the piece of fabric, with said U-shaped filament looping between the pair of holes.
In another broad aspect, the present invention relates to a fastener clip adapted to be fed into a fastener attaching tool, said fastener clip comprising: a fastener, said fastener comprising a flexible filament and a first transverse bar at one end of said flexible filament and perpendicular thereto, wherein said first transverse bar has a side and a bottom; a first runner bar spaced from said fastener; and a first connector post projecting out transversely from said first runner bar and having a first end and a second end, said first connector post being connected at said first end to said first runner bar and severably connected at said second end to the side of said first transverse bar of said fastener, said second end of said first connector post not being connected to the bottom of said first transverse bar of said fastener so that, when severed from said first transverse bar, said second end of said first connector post does not leave a burr on the bottomof said first transverse bar.
In yet another broad aspect, the present invention relates to a fastener clip adapted to be fed into a fastener attaching tool, said fastener clip comprising: a fastener, said fastener comprising a flexible filament and a first transverse bar at one end of said flexible filament and perpendicular thereto, wherein said first transverse bar has a side; a first runner bar spaced from said fastener; and a first connector post projecting out transversely from said first runner bar at right angles thereto and having a first end and a second end, said first connector post beingconnected at said first end to said first runner bar and severably connected at said second end to said side of said first transverse bar of said fastener, said second end of said first connector post not being connected to the bottom of said firsttransverse bar of said fastener so that, when severed from said first transverse bar said second end of said first connector post does not leave a burr on the bottomof said first transverse bar.
In still another broad aspect, the present invention relates to a fastener adapted for attachment to a sheet of material, said fastener comprising a unitary plastic member shaped to define a flexible filament U-shaped prior to attachmentto said sheet of material, a first transverse bar at one end of said flexible filament, and a second transverse bar atthe opposite end of said flexible filament, said first and said second transverse bars extending generally parallel to one another, said flexible U-shaped filament and said pair of transverse bars being appropriately dimensioned so that said pair of transverse bars may be inserted through the sheet of material in such a way as to be retained by the underside of the sheet of material, with said U-shaped filament looping over the top of the sheet of material.
5(a) In yet another broad aspect, the present invention relates to a fastener attaching tool for attaching a fastener to a desired article, the fastener comprising a flexible filament and a pair of transverse bars disposed at opposite ends thereof, said fastener attaching tool comprising: a body, said body having a front and a rear and including means for receiving a user's fingers; a pair of needles projecting from the front of the body, each of said needles having a front end remote from said body which is adapted for insertion into the article, a longitudinally extending bore in each of said needles, said longitudinally extending bore being appropriately dimensioned to permit one of the transverse bars of the fastener to slide lo therethrough and a longitudinal slot in each of said needles, said longitudinal slot communicating with said longitudinally extending bore to permit the end of the filament adjacent to the transverse bar to extend therethrough; and ejector means manually operable from the rear of said body, said ejector means including a pair of ejector rods slidable back and forth through said pair of needles for pushing the transverse bars of the fastener into and through said longitudinally extending bores and into the desired article.
In a further broad aspect, the present invention relates to a tool for dispensing individual fasteners from a fastener clip into a desired article, thefastener clip comprising a pair of generally parallel runner bars and one or more fasteners, each fastener comprising a flexible filament and a pair of transverse bars disposed at opposite ends thereof, the flexible filament having a longitudinal axis and being disposed in the plane of the pair of generally parallel runner bars, each of the pair of transverse bars being connected to a corresponding runner bar by a connector post, the connector posts being severably connected to the outer sidesof their respective transverse bars, each connector post extending at right angles to the longitudinal axis of the flexible filament, said tool comprising: a body having a front end, a top, a rear end and a channel, said rear end having an opening, said channel extending inward from said opening; a pair of needles projecting from the front end of the body, each of said needles having a front end adapted for insertion into the article, a side, a longitudinally extending bore appropriately dimensioned 5(b) to permit one of the transverse bars of the fastener to slide therethrough, a knife edge and a longitudinal slot, said longitudinal slot communicating with said longitudinally extending bore to permit the end of the filament adjacent to the transverse bar to extend therethrough, said knife edge being on the side of saidneedle spaced from said front end to cut the connector post as the transverse bar passes by; an ejector mechanism slidably mounted in said channel and manually movable back and forth in said channel through the opening in the rear end of the body, said ejector mechanism including a pair of ejector rods for pushing the transverse bars of the fastener into and through said longitudinally extending bores lo of said needles into the desired article; said body having a feed slot, said feed slot extending inwardly from the top and located behind said needles through which the fastener clip is inserted for positioning the transverse bars of a desired fastener directly behind said needles and in alignment with said longitudinally extendingbores in said needles; said feed slot in said body of said fastener attaching tool being provided with registration elements for assisting proper alignment of the transverse bars of the fasteners of said fastener clip with said longitudinally extending bores of said needles, and wherein said feed slot includes inside walls and wherein said registration elements on said feed slot include bars formed on the inside walls of said feed slot.
In still another broad aspect, the present invention relates to a fastener clip adapted to be fed into a fastener attaching tool, said fastener clip comprising a molded plastic structure shaped to define: a plurality of fasteners, each fastener comprising a flexible U-shaped filament having a first transverse bar at one end and a second transverse bar at the other end, each transverse bar having an outer side and an inner side; first and second parallel disposed runner bars; a plurality of first connector posts, each first connector post being connected at a first end to said first runner bar and severably connected at a second end to said outer side of said first transverse bar on one of said fasteners; and a plurality of second connector posts, each second connector post being connected at a first end to said second 3 o 5 (c) runner bar and severably connected at a second end to said outer side of said second transverse bar on one of said fasteners.
In another broad aspect, the present invention relates to a fastener clip adapted to be fed into a fastener attaching tool, said fastener clip comprising a molded plastic structure defining: a plurality of fasteners, each fastener comprising a flexible U-shaped filament having a first transverse bar at one end and a second transverse bar at the other end, each transverse bar having an outer side and aninner side; first and second parallel disposed runner bars, and means for severably connecting the outer side of each first transverse bar to said first runner bar and the outer side of each second transverse bar to said second runner bar.
In still another broad aspect, the present invention relates to a fastener clip comprising a unitary structure made of a flexible plastic material and shaped todefine: a pair of parallel disposed, spaced apart runner bars, and a plurality of fasteners disposed between said pair of parallel disposed, spaced apart runner bars, each fastener comprising a U-shaped filament having a transverse bar at each end, said transverse bar at one end being severably connected to said first runner bar and said transverse bar at said other end being severably connected to said other runner bar.
In yet another broad aspect, the present invention relates to a tool for dispensing individual fasteners from a fastener clip into a desired article, thefastener clip comprising a pair of generally parallel runner bars and one or more fasteners, each fastener comprising an elongated flexible filament and a pair oftransverse bars, one transverse bar being disposed at each end of said elongatedflexible filament, the elongated flexible filament having a longitudinal axis and being disposed in a plane of the pair of generally parallel runner bars, each of the pair of transverse bars being connected to a corresponding runner bar by a connector post, the connector posts being severably connected to outer sides of their respective transverse bars, each connector post extending at right angles to thelongitudinal axis of the elongated flexible filament, said tool comprising: a body having a front end, a top, a rear end and a channel, said rear end having an 5(d) opening, said channel extending inward from said opening; a pair of needles projecting from the front end of the body, each of said needles having a front end which is adapted for insertion into the article, a side, a longitudinally extending bore appropriately dimensioned to permit one of the transverse bars of the fastener to slide therethrough, a knife edge and a longitudinal slot, said longitudinal slot communicating with said longitudinally extending bore to permit the end of the filament adjacent to the transverse bar to extend therethrough, said knife edge being on the side of said needle spaced from said front end to cut the connectorpost as the transverse bar passes by; an ejector mechanism slidably mounted in said channel and manually movable back and forth in said channel through the opening in the rear end of the body said ejector mechanism including a pair of ejector rods for pushing the transverse bars of the fastener into and through said longitudinally extending bores of said needles into the desired article; and said body further including a feed slot through which the fastener clip is inserted, said feed slot extending inwardly from the top and terminating behind said needles such that the transverse bars of a desired fastener to be disposed are positioned directlybehind said needles and in alignment with said longitudinally extending bores insaid needles, said feed slot in said body of said fastener attaching tool havingregistration elements for assisting proper alignment of the transverse bars of the fasteners of said fastener clip with said longitudinally extending bores of saidneedles, said registration elements on said feed slot including bars formed on the inside walls of said feed slot, said body further including a pair of openings, each opening sized for insertion of one or two fingers of a user for holding said fastener attaching tool while actuating the ejector mechanism with a thumb of a user.
2 5 In another broad aspect, the present invention relates to a tool for dispensing individual fasteners from a fastener clip into a desired article, thefastener clip comprising a pair of generally parallel runner bars and one or more fasteners, each fastener comprising a flexible filament and a pair of transverse bars disposed at opposite ends thereof, the flexible filament being co-planar with the 5(e) pair of generally parallel runner bars, each of the pair of transverse bars having an outer side and being connected to a corresponding runner bar by a connector post, the connector posts being severably connected to the outer sides of their respective transverse bars, said tool comprising: a body, said body having a front;
a pair of needles projecting from the front of the body, each of said needles having a front end remote from said body which is adapted for insertion into the article, a longitudinally extending bore in each of said needles, said longitudinally extending bore being appropriately dimensioned to permit one of the transverse bars of thefastener to slide therethrough, an outer side on each of said needles, a longitudinal slot in each of said needles, said longitudinal slot communicating with said longitudinally extending bore to permit the end of the filament adjacent to the transverse bar to extend therethrough, and a knife edge integrally formed on theouter side of each of said needles to cut the connector post as the transverse bar passes by; and a pair of ejector rods slidable back and forth through said needle for pushing the transverse bars of the fastener into and through said longitudinally extending bores of said needles and into the desired article.
In another broad aspect, the present invention relates to a fastener attaching tool for dispensing fasteners from a clip, said clip being a unitary structure and comprising a pair of runner bars and at least one fastener disposed between saidrunner bars, each fastener comprising a pair of transverse bars and a filament connected therebetween, said fastener attaching tool comprising: a body having a front end, a rear end having an opening, a top, a channel extending inward toward said front end from said opening in said rear end, and a feed slot; a pair of needles projecting out forwardly from the front end of the body, each of said needles having a front end which is adapted for insertion into the article, a longitudinally extending bore appropriately dimensioned to permit one of the transverse bars of the fastener to slide therethrough and a longitudinal slot communicating with said longitudinal bore to permit the filament adjacent to thetransverse bar in the fastener to extend therethrough; said feed slot having an inlet in said top of said body and extending inward such that a clip can be manually 5(f) inserted into said feed slot through said inlet and be manually pushed inward sothat the transverse bars of a fastener in said clip which is to be dispensed arealigned with said bores in said needles; an ejector mechanism for pushing the transverse bars of the fastener to be dispensed and which is aligned with said bores in said needles through said longitudinally extending bores, said ejector mechanism being slidably mounted in said channel in said body and extending out from said opening in said rear end such that it is manually movable within said channel from said opening in the rear end of said body, said ejector mechanism including a pair of ejector rods slidable back and forth through said pair of needles;
and a spring in said channel in contact with said ejector mechanism for biasing said ejector mechanism rearwardly.
In a further broad aspect, the present invention relates to a fastener attaching tool for dispensing a fastener from a clip, said clip being a unitary structure and comprising a pair of runner bars and at least one fastener disposed between said runner bars, each fastener comprising a flexible filament and a transverse bar disposed at one end thereof, the transverse bar being severably connected on its side to a runner bar by a connector post, said fastener attaching tool comprising: a body having a front end, a rear end, a top, a bottom and a feed slot, said feed slot having an inlet on said top of said body, said rear end having an opening; a needle projecting out from the front end of the body, said needle having a front end, a side, a longitudinally extending bore appropriately dimensioned to permit the transverse bar of the fastener to slide therethrough, and a knife edge integrally formed on the side of said needle for severing the transverse bar of the fastener from the connector post, said longitudinally extending bore having a longitudinal slot to permit the end of the filament adjacent to the transverse bar to extend therethrough; said feed slot being located in said body and shaped such that said fastener clip is pushed into said feed slot from said inlet in said top of said body so that the transverse bar of said fastener is in alignment with the bore in said needle; and an ejector mechanism supported in said body and 5(9) extending out through said opening in said rear end of said body, said ejector mechanism including an ejector rod slidable back and forth through said longitudinally extending bore in said needle for pushing the transverse bar of the fastener through said longitudinally extending bore.
In yet a further broad aspect, the present invention provides a fastener attaching tool for attaching a fastener to a desired article, the fastener comprising a flexible filament and a transverse bar, said transverse bar being disposed at one end of said flexible filament, the transverse bar being severably connected to arunner bar by a connector post, said fastener attaching tool comprising: a needle, lo said needle having a front end, a side and a longitudinally extending bore, said front end of said needle being adapted for insertion into the desired article, said bore being appropriately dimensioned to permit the transverse bar of the fastener to slide therethrough, said needle having a longitudinal slot to permit said one end of the filament having said transverse bar to extend therethrough, and a knife edgeintegrally formed along said side of said needle; a body having a front end, a rear end having an opening, a channel extending inward from said opening toward said front end and a top, said front end of said needle projecting out forwardly from said front end of said body, said body being provided with a feed slot extending inward from the top through which the fastener is inserted, said feed slot being located such that the transverse bar of the fastener can be pushed therein into alignment with said longitudinally extending bore of said needle, said feed slot extendinginwardly from said top of said body; and an ejector mechanism disposed in said channel in said body and extending out from said opening in said rear end such that it is manually movable back and forth within said channel from the opening in the rear end of said body for pushing the transverse bar of the fastener through said longitudinally extending bore and into the desired article, said ejector mechanism including an ejector rod.
In another broad aspect, the present invention relates to a tool for dispensing individual fasteners from a fastener clip into a desired article, thefastener clip comprising a pair of generally parallel runner bars and one or more 5(h) fasteners, each fastener comprising an elongated flexible filament and a pair oftransverse bars, one transverse bar being disposed at each end of said elongatedflexible filament, the elongated flexible filament having a longitudinal axis and being disposed in a plane of the pair of generally parallel runner bars, each of the pair of transverse bars being connected to a corresponding runner bar by a connector post, the connector posts being severably connected to outer sides of their respective transverse bars, each connector post extending at right angles to thelongitudinal axis of the elongated flexible filament, said tool comprising: a body having a front end, a top, a rear end and a channel, said rear end having an opening, said channel extending inward from said opening; a pair of needles projecting from the front end of the body, each of said needles having a front end which is adapted for insertion into the article, a side, a longitudinally extending bore appropriately dimensioned to permit one of the transverse bars of the fastener to slide therethrough, a knife edge and a longitudinal slot, said longitudinal slot communicating with said longitudinally extending bore to permit the end of the filament adjacent to the transverse bar to extend therethrough, said knife edge being on the side of said needle spaced from said front end to cut the connectorposts as the transverse bar passes by; and an ejector mechanism slidably mountedin said channel and manually movable back and forth in said channel through the opening in the rear end of said body, said ejector mechanism including a pair ofejector rods for pushing the transverse bars of the fastener into and through said longitudinally extending bores of said needles and into the desired article.
5(i) BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
The accompanying drawings, which are hereby incorporated in and constitute a part of this specification, illustrate the preferred embodiments of the invention and, together with the description, serve to explain the principles of the invention. In the drawings, wherein like reference numerals represent like parts:
Fig. 1 is a front view of one embodiment of a fastener clip constructed according to the teachings of the present invention;
Fig. 2 is a bottom view of the fastener clip shown in Fig. 1;
Fig. 3 is an enlarged front perspective view of one of the fasteners shown in Fig. 1 after it has been separated from the remainder of the fastener clip;
Fig. 4 is a top view of one embodiment of a fastener attaching device constructed according to the teachings of the present invention for attaching anindividual fastener from the fastener clip of Fig. 1 to a garment through a pair of button holes in such a way as to attach the button to the garment;
Fig. 5 is a partially exploded top view of the fastener attaching device shown in Fig. 4 with the body being broken away in part;
Fig. 6 is a section view of the body shown in Fig. 5 taken along line A-A;
Figs. 7(a) through 7(d) are front, rear, top and right side views, respectively,of the needle block shown in Fig. 5;
Fig. 8 is a section view of the body shown in Fig. 5 taken along line B-B;
Figs. 9(a) through 9(d) are top, right side, left side and rear views, respectively, of one of the needles shown in Fig. 5;
Figs. 10(a) and 10(b) are bottom and right side views, respectively, of the ejector mechanism shown in Fig. 5;
Fig. 11 is a top view, broken away in part, of a second embodiment of a fastener attaching device constructed according to the teachings of the present invention for attaching an individual fastener from the fastener clip of Fig. 1 to a garment through a pair of button holes in such a way as to attach the button to the garment;
3 0 Fig. 12 is an enlarged section view of the front end of the fastener attaching device of Fig. 4 shown with the pair of ejector rods in an advanced position to illustrate how one of the fasteners shown in Fig. 1 may be inserted through a pair of button holes and secured to a garment;
Fig. 13 is an enlarged section view similar to Fig. 12 but after the fastener attaching device has been removed showing how one of the fasteners shown in 5 Fig. 1 is used to attach a button to a garment;
Fig. 14 is a top view of the co",bi,)dlion of the button, garment and fastener shown in Fig. 13;
Fig. 15 is a fragmentary front view of a second embodiment of a fastener clip constructed according to the teachings of the present invention;
Fig. 16 is a left side view of the fastener clip shown in Fig. 15; and Fig. 17 is a top view of the fastener clip shown in Fig. 15.
WO 94113167 . . ~ PCT/US93il2112 21~1258 DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
Referring to the drawings and in particular to Figs.1 and 2, there are shown front and bottom views, respectively, of a fastener clip constructed according to the teachings of the present invention, the fastener clip being represented generally by reference numeral 11.
Clip 11 is a unitary structure preferably molded from polyurethane or similar materials. Clip 11 comprises five identical fasteners 13, the number of fasteners being illustrative only. Each fastener 13 includes a flexible U-shaped filament 15 and a pair of transverse bars or feet 17-1 and 17-2 disposed at opposite ends thereof. To maximize the strength of the fastener, filament 15 is preferably rectangular in cross-section and has a non-uniform thickness, i.e., the arcuate region 16 has a thickness t, greater than the thickness t2 at the ends. Feet 17-1 and 17-2 are appropriately dimensioned so that they may be inserted into a desired garment through a pair of button holes of conventional size and thereafter be retained by the underside of the garment.
Clip 11 also comprises a pair of runner bars 19-1 and 19-2, the top ends of which are joined to form a handle 21. The outer edges of runner bars 19-1 and 19-2 are provided with indentations 24 which, as will be seen below, assist in properly feeding clip 11 into a fastener attaching tool.
Each fastener 13 is connected to runner bars 19-1 and 19-2 by severable connector posts 23-1 and 23-2, respectively. For reasons to be discussed below, connector posts 23-1 and 23-2 are connected to the outer sides 25-1 and 25-2 of feet 17-1 and 17-2, respectively.
In order that fastener 13 may be used with garments in which feet 17-1 and 17-2 may be placed in direct contact with a person's skin, fastener clip 11 includes the following features which are designed to minimize irritation of a person's skin.
First, as noted above, connector posts 23-1 and 23-2 are connected to the outer sides 25-1 and 25-2 of feet 17-1 and 17-2. In this manner, when posts 23-1 and 23-2 are severed, burrs 27-1 ar,d 27-2 (see Fig. 3) are left on outer sides 25-1 and 25-2, where they are not as likely to come into contact with a person's skin as they would be if they were left on the bottom surface of feet 17-1 and 17-2. Second, wo 94/13167 21512 5 8 PCT/US93112112 feet 17-1 and 17-2 have a length I which is comparatively small, i.e., approximately 2 mm as compared to 6 mm for the transverse bars of existing like fasteners, andan overall size which is comparable to that of a knot of thread. Consequently, feet 17-1 and 17-2 have relatively little surface area which may come into contact with a person's skin. Third, the top surfaces 29-1 and 29-2 of feet 17-1 and 17-2, respectively, are generally flat. This gives feet 17-1 and 17-2 a low profile and inhibits the rotational movement of feet 17-1 and 17-2 relative to the underside of a garment to which fastener 13 has been attached (see Fig.13). Fourth, feet 17-1and 17-2 have rounded ends 31-1/31-2 and 33-1/33-2, respectively.
To use fastener 13 to couple a button to a garment, an individual fastener 13 is first detached from fastener clip 11 by severing connector posts 23-1 and 23-2. Feet 17-1 and 17-2 of the severed fastener 13 are then inserted first througha corresponding pair of button holes and then through the desired garment. Both the severing and inserting steps may be done manually or with the aid of an appropriate fastener attaching tool.
Referring now to Figs. 4 and 5, there is shown one embodiment of a fastener attaching tool suitable for use with fastener clip 11 in the above-described manner, the fastener attaching tool being represented generally by reference numeral 51.
Tool 51 includes a body 53, a needle block 55, a pair of needles 57-1 and 57-2, a spring 59, and an ejector mechanism 61.
Body 53 is a unitary structure preferably molded from a lightweight durable plastic. Body 53 is shaped to define a pair of transverse openings 63-1 and 63-2which are provided so that a user may operate tool 51 like a syringe by placing the index and middle fingers through openings 63-1 and 63-2 while actuating ejector mechanism 61 with the thumb. Body 53 is also provided with a transversely extending feed slot 64 down through which fastener clip 11 may be inserted in a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of body 53. As can be seen best in Fig. 6, slot 64 is shaped to include a pair of feed bars 64-1 and 64-2 which, as will 3 c be discussed below in greater detail, are used to engage indentations 25 on runner bars 19-1 and 19-2, respectively, to properly align fastener clip 11 within tool 51.
WO 94/13167 2 15 i 2 5 8 : ~ PCTIUS93/12112 Needle block 55, which is removably mounted in a cavity 65 formed in body 53 and accessi~le from the front end thereof, is shown in greater detail in Figs. 7(a) through 7(d). As can be seen therein, block 55 is a generally rectangular unitary structure having a pair of generally cylindrically shaped grooves 67-1 and 67-2 adapted to receive needles 57-1 and 57-2, respectively. Block 55 is retained within opening 65 by means of a plurality of outwardly biasing tabs 69-1 through 69-3 which snap into place in corresponding slots 71-1 through 71-3 (see Fig. 8) in cavity 65.
Block 55 is also preferably molded from a lightweight durable plastic.
Needle 57-1, which is a mirror image of needle 57-2 reflected along its longitudinal axis, is shown in greater detail in Figs. 9(a) through ~(d). As can be seen therein, needle 57-1 is a unitary structure shaped to include a generally cylindrical slotted bore 73-1. Bore 73-1 has a cross-sectional diameter slightlylarger than that of foot 17-1 of fastener 13. The forward end 75-1 of needle 57-1 iS pointed to permit its insertion through garments and button holes of conventional size. The rearward end 77-1 of needle 57-1 is open and is appropriately dimensioned to permit foot 17-1 to be loaded into bore 73-1 with the adjacent end of filament 15 extending through the slot of bore 73-1. Needle 57-1 is retained within groove 67-1 of block 55 by means of a downwardly-angled fin 79-1 which engages a corresponding slot 81-1 in groove 67-1 (see Figs. 7(b) and 7(c)).
The left side of needle 57-1 (viewing needle 57-1 from its rearward end 77-1 as opposed to its forward end 79-1) is shaped to define a knife 83-1. As will bedescribed below in greater detail, knife 83-1 is used to sever the connecting post 23-1 connecting a desired fastener 13 to runner bar 19-1. (A corresponding knifeedge formed on the right side of needle 57-2 is similarly used to sever the connecting post 23-2 connecting the same fastener to runner bar 19-2.) Needles 57-1 and 57-2 are preferably cut and stamped from sheet metal.
Ejector mechanism 61, which is shown in greater detail in Figs. 10(a) and 10(b), is slidably mounted within a longitudinally extending channel 89 formed in body 53 and accessible from the rear end thereof. As can be seen therein, mechanism 61 comprises an elongated generally rectangular ejector block 91 WO 94/13167 21512 5 8 PCTtUS93tl2112 _ having a front portion 91-1 of comparatively smaller cross-section and a rear portion 91-2 of comparatively larger cross-section. A pair of ejector rods 93-1 and 93-2 are fixedly mounted on the forward end of front portion 91-1. As will hereinafter be described in greater detail, ejector rods 93-1 and 93-2 are appropriately dimensioned and properly positioned so that, as ejector block 91 moves through channel 89, the front ends of ejector rods 93-1 and 93-2 cause feet 17-1 and 17-2 of a fastener 13 which is properly disposed within slot 64 to be loaded onto needles 57-1 and 57-2 and thereafter to be ejected therefrom. A disc-shaped base 95 is fixedly mounted on the rearward end of rear portion 91-2 to facilitate manipulation of mechanism 61.
Ejector rods 93-1 and 93-2 are preferably made of metal, and the remainder of ejector mechanism 61 is preferably molded from lightweight durable plastic.
Longitudinal movement of mechanism 61 within channel 89 is restricted by base 95 and by a pair of integrally formed posts 97-1 and 97-2 disposed on the top and bottom surfaces, respectively, of rear portion 91-2 which travel in corresponding guide slots 99-1 and 99-2 (see Fig. 5) formed in body 53. Posts 97-1 and 97-2 are made to be depressible inwardly to permit insertion of block 91 into channel 89. Spring 59, which engages the front of channel 89 at one end and the forward end of rear portion 91-2 at the opposite end, biases ejector mechanism 61 towards the rear of channel 89.
A fastener dispensing tool similar in construction to tool 51 is shown in Fig.
11, the tool being represented generally by reference numeral 101. The differences between tool 101 and tool 51 are few, the principal differences being the shape of body 103, the lack of a base 95 in tool 101, and the construction of spring 105. Tool 101 is operated in the same way as tool 51.
In use, a desired fastener clip 11 is loaded into tool 51 by grasping handle 21 and pushing the clip down through slot 64 until the indentations 24 on runnerbars 19-1 and 19-2 corresponding to a desired fastener 13 are engaged by bars 64-1 and 64-2. With this done, feet 17-1 and 17-2 of the desired fastener 13 are3c positioned behind needles 57-1 and 57-2, respectively, and are in alignment with their corresponding bores 73-1 and 73-2.
WO 94/13167 - ~ PCT/US93112112 To attach a button to a piece of fabric using the fastener loaded in the above manner, the tips 75-1 and 75-2 of needles 57-1 and 57-2, respectively, are inserted first through a pair of holes in the button and then through the piece of fabric.
Ejector mechanism 61 is then advanced through channel 89 towards the front of body 53. The initial advancement of ejector mechanism 61 causes ejector rods 93-1 and 93-2 to push feet 17-1 and 17-2 of the desired fastener 13 into bores 73-1and 73-2. As the advancement of ejector mechanism 61 continues, ejector rods 93-2 and 93-2 push feet 17-1 and 17-2 past knife edges 83-1 and 83-2 of needles 57-1 and 57-2, causing connector posts 23-1 and 23-2 to be severed thereby.
Finally, as the advancement of ejector mechanism 61 terminates, ejector rods 93-1 and 93-2 cause feet 17-1 and 17-2 to be ejected from the front ends of needles 57-1 and 57-2. Ejector mechanism 61 is then allowed to retract and needles 57-1 and57-2 are withdrawn.
Fig.12 shows a fastener 13 being inserted through a pair of button holes B
and B2 and into a piece of fabric F using tool 51.
Referring now to Figs. 13 and 14, there are shown section and top views, respectively, of a button B which has been coupled to a piece of fabric F using fastener 13. As seen best in Fig.13, the advantages resulting from gating fastener 13 to runner bars 19-1 and 19-2 on the outer sides of feet 17-1 and 17-2 are 2 0 substantial as burrs 27-1 and 27-2 are not left on the bottoms of feet 17-1 and 17-2 where they are most likely to irritate a person's skin. The consequences of making the top surfaces of feet 17-1 and 17-2 flat, as opposed to curved, to give feet 17-1 and 17-2 a low profile as well as to keep feet 17-1 and 17-2 from rocking in thedirections indicated by arrows C and D can also be seen in Fig. 13. As seen bestin Fig. 14, another benefit to fastener 13 is that, by having filament 15 extendbetween button holes B1 and B2 in a looped fashion, it creates the appearance that thread, as opposed to a plastic fastener, is being used to secure the button to the fabric.
Referring now to Figs. 15 through 17, there are shown various views of ~
3 0 second embodiment of a fastener clip constructed according to the teachings of the present invention, the fastener clip being represented generally by reference numeral 131.
Fastener clip 131 includes a plurality of identical fasteners 133, each fastener 133 including a flexible filament 134 having a head 135 at one end and a foot 137 at the opposite end. Foot 137 is similar in size and shape to feet 17-1 and 17-2 of fastener 13. Fastener clip 131 also includes a runner bar 141 which is severably connected to fasteners 133 by connector posts 143, each connector post 143 being connected to the side of its corresponding foot 137.
The embodiments of the present invention recited herein are intended to be merely exemplary and those skilled in the art will be able to make numerous variations and modifications to it without departing from the spirit of the present invention. All such variations and modifications are intended to be within the scope of the present invention as defined by the claims appended hereto.
While the above-described fasteners have been found to be generally satisfactory for attaching buttons to certain articles of clothing, they have not found universal application for the following reasons: First, when placed in direct contact with a person's skin, the transverse bar of the fastener has a tendency to be irritating. This is in part because the above-described severing of the connector post often leaves a burr on the bottom of the transverse bar and is in part because of the somewhat sharp ends and large size of the transverse bar. Second, the fasteners are often too big to be used with many buttons and, therefore, require the use of specially designed buttons having large holes. Third, the fasteners tend to be conspicuous in appearance due to the fact that a separate fastener is used for 20 every button hole, as opposed to being looped between two or more button hol s in the same way that thread typically is.
WO 94/13167 21~12 5 8 PCTtUS93tl2112 . , SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is an object of the present invention to provide a new and novel fastener clip including one or more fasteners particularly well-suited for attaching a button or the like to a garment or similar material.
It is another object of the present invention to provide a fastener clip as described above whose fasteners are less irritating than existing like fastenerswhen used in such a way that they are placed in direct contact with a person's skin.
It is still another object of the present invention to provide a fastener clip as described above whose fasteners are sized for use with conventional buttons.
It is still yet another object of the present invention to provide a fastener clip as described above whose fasteners, when used to attach buttons to a garment or the like, can achieve a look similar to that achieved with thread.
It is a further object of the present invention to provide a fastener clip as described above whose fasteners are designed for maximum strength while still permitting installation through very small holes such as are found in fine garments.
It is still a further object of the present invention to provide a fastener clip as described above which can be mass produced and which is capable of including a plurality of fasteners.
It is yet still another object of this invention to provide a fastener attachingtool which is adapted for use with the fastener clip refer,ed to above.
Additional objects, features, and advantages of the present invention will be set forth in part in the description which follows, and in part will be obvious from the description or may be learned by practice of the invention. The objects, features and advantages of the invention may be re~li7ed and attained by means of the instrumentalities and combinations particularly pointed out in the appended claims.
In a preferred embodiment of the fastener clip aspect of the invention, the fastener clip is a molded plastic structure defining a pair of runner bars and at least one fastener, the fastener comprising a U-shaped filament having a foot at each end, each foot being sized and shaped both to fit through a button hole and, once 3 o inserted through the button hole and an underlying garment, to securely engage the WO 94/13167 PCT/US93il2112 underside of the garment. Because cf its loop design, the fastener is permitted to extend between adjacent button holes, thereby creating the illusion of thread.
To minimize contact with a person's skin, the feet of the present fastener are preferably shorter than the transverse bars of existing button fasteners and are5 preferably comparable in overall size to a knot of thread used to secure a button to a sheet of clothing material. In addition, the feet preferably have rounded ends and a flat top surface to minimize irritation of and contact with a person's skin. The filament portion of the fastener is preferably rectangular in cross-section and has a non-uniform thickness, i.e., being thinner at the ends and thicker in the arcuate 10 region, to maximize the strength of the fastener.
The fastener is preferably connected to the pair of runner bars by a pair of severable connector posts, each connector post extending between the side of oneof the feet and a corresponding runner bar so that, when the connector post is severed, a burr is not left on the underside of the feet where it may irritate a15 person's skin.
The outer edges of the runner bars are preferably provided with indentations which, as will be disc~ssed below, are used to properly feed the fastener clip into a fastener attaching tool.
In a preferred embodiment of the fastener attaching tool of this invention, the 20 fastener attaching tool comprises a body, a needle block, a pair of needles, a spring, and an ejector mechanism.
Each of the pair of needles includes a longitudinally extending slotted bore adapted to receive one of the transverse bars of the fastener, with the adjacent end of the filament extending through the slot in the bore. The needles are mounted 25 in a parallel arrangement in the needle block which, in turn, is removably mounted in a cavity formed in the front end of the body. Each needle has a knife edge formed on its outer side which is adapted to sever a connector post from its associated transverse bar as the transverse bar is pushed by it.
The body is also shaped to include a transverse feed slot disposed just tn 30 the rear of the needles down through which the above-described fastener clip is manually inserted. To assist in properly aligning the fastener clip within the feed .
slot so that the transverse bars of a desired fastener are aligned with the longitudinal bores of the needles, the inner walls of the slot are shaped to include a pair of feed bars which engage corresponding indentations formed on the outer sides of the fastener clip.
The ejector mechanism, which is slidably mounted back and forth within the body and is rearwardly biased by the spring, is manually operable from the rear of the body. Actuation of the ejector mechanism is preferably achieved using one's thumb, and the body is provided with a pair of finger openings so that the device may be held and used like a syringe. The ejector mechanism includes a pair of ejector rods which are slidable back and forth within the longitudinal bores of the needles and are used both to load the transverse bars of the aligned fastener into the longitudinal bores of the needles and to push the transverse bars therethrough into a desired article.
In one broad aspect, therefore, the present invention relates to a fastener for attaching a button to a piece of fabric, the button having two or more holes, said fastener comprising a flexible filament U-shaped prior to use in connectionwith attaching said button to said piece of fabric, a first transverse bar at one end of said flexible filament and perpendicular thereto, and a second transverse bar at the opposite end of said flexible filament and perpendicular thereto, said flexible filament and said pair of transverse bars being appropriately dimensioned so that said pair of transverse bars may be inserted through a corresponding pair of holes in the button and then through the piece of fabric in such a way as to be retained by the underside of the piece of fabric, with said U-shaped filament looping between the pair of holes.
In another broad aspect, the present invention relates to a fastener clip adapted to be fed into a fastener attaching tool, said fastener clip comprising: a fastener, said fastener comprising a flexible filament and a first transverse bar at one end of said flexible filament and perpendicular thereto, wherein said first transverse bar has a side and a bottom; a first runner bar spaced from said fastener; and a first connector post projecting out transversely from said first runner bar and having a first end and a second end, said first connector post being connected at said first end to said first runner bar and severably connected at said second end to the side of said first transverse bar of said fastener, said second end of said first connector post not being connected to the bottom of said first transverse bar of said fastener so that, when severed from said first transverse bar, said second end of said first connector post does not leave a burr on the bottomof said first transverse bar.
In yet another broad aspect, the present invention relates to a fastener clip adapted to be fed into a fastener attaching tool, said fastener clip comprising: a fastener, said fastener comprising a flexible filament and a first transverse bar at one end of said flexible filament and perpendicular thereto, wherein said first transverse bar has a side; a first runner bar spaced from said fastener; and a first connector post projecting out transversely from said first runner bar at right angles thereto and having a first end and a second end, said first connector post beingconnected at said first end to said first runner bar and severably connected at said second end to said side of said first transverse bar of said fastener, said second end of said first connector post not being connected to the bottom of said firsttransverse bar of said fastener so that, when severed from said first transverse bar said second end of said first connector post does not leave a burr on the bottomof said first transverse bar.
In still another broad aspect, the present invention relates to a fastener adapted for attachment to a sheet of material, said fastener comprising a unitary plastic member shaped to define a flexible filament U-shaped prior to attachmentto said sheet of material, a first transverse bar at one end of said flexible filament, and a second transverse bar atthe opposite end of said flexible filament, said first and said second transverse bars extending generally parallel to one another, said flexible U-shaped filament and said pair of transverse bars being appropriately dimensioned so that said pair of transverse bars may be inserted through the sheet of material in such a way as to be retained by the underside of the sheet of material, with said U-shaped filament looping over the top of the sheet of material.
5(a) In yet another broad aspect, the present invention relates to a fastener attaching tool for attaching a fastener to a desired article, the fastener comprising a flexible filament and a pair of transverse bars disposed at opposite ends thereof, said fastener attaching tool comprising: a body, said body having a front and a rear and including means for receiving a user's fingers; a pair of needles projecting from the front of the body, each of said needles having a front end remote from said body which is adapted for insertion into the article, a longitudinally extending bore in each of said needles, said longitudinally extending bore being appropriately dimensioned to permit one of the transverse bars of the fastener to slide lo therethrough and a longitudinal slot in each of said needles, said longitudinal slot communicating with said longitudinally extending bore to permit the end of the filament adjacent to the transverse bar to extend therethrough; and ejector means manually operable from the rear of said body, said ejector means including a pair of ejector rods slidable back and forth through said pair of needles for pushing the transverse bars of the fastener into and through said longitudinally extending bores and into the desired article.
In a further broad aspect, the present invention relates to a tool for dispensing individual fasteners from a fastener clip into a desired article, thefastener clip comprising a pair of generally parallel runner bars and one or more fasteners, each fastener comprising a flexible filament and a pair of transverse bars disposed at opposite ends thereof, the flexible filament having a longitudinal axis and being disposed in the plane of the pair of generally parallel runner bars, each of the pair of transverse bars being connected to a corresponding runner bar by a connector post, the connector posts being severably connected to the outer sidesof their respective transverse bars, each connector post extending at right angles to the longitudinal axis of the flexible filament, said tool comprising: a body having a front end, a top, a rear end and a channel, said rear end having an opening, said channel extending inward from said opening; a pair of needles projecting from the front end of the body, each of said needles having a front end adapted for insertion into the article, a side, a longitudinally extending bore appropriately dimensioned 5(b) to permit one of the transverse bars of the fastener to slide therethrough, a knife edge and a longitudinal slot, said longitudinal slot communicating with said longitudinally extending bore to permit the end of the filament adjacent to the transverse bar to extend therethrough, said knife edge being on the side of saidneedle spaced from said front end to cut the connector post as the transverse bar passes by; an ejector mechanism slidably mounted in said channel and manually movable back and forth in said channel through the opening in the rear end of the body, said ejector mechanism including a pair of ejector rods for pushing the transverse bars of the fastener into and through said longitudinally extending bores lo of said needles into the desired article; said body having a feed slot, said feed slot extending inwardly from the top and located behind said needles through which the fastener clip is inserted for positioning the transverse bars of a desired fastener directly behind said needles and in alignment with said longitudinally extendingbores in said needles; said feed slot in said body of said fastener attaching tool being provided with registration elements for assisting proper alignment of the transverse bars of the fasteners of said fastener clip with said longitudinally extending bores of said needles, and wherein said feed slot includes inside walls and wherein said registration elements on said feed slot include bars formed on the inside walls of said feed slot.
In still another broad aspect, the present invention relates to a fastener clip adapted to be fed into a fastener attaching tool, said fastener clip comprising a molded plastic structure shaped to define: a plurality of fasteners, each fastener comprising a flexible U-shaped filament having a first transverse bar at one end and a second transverse bar at the other end, each transverse bar having an outer side and an inner side; first and second parallel disposed runner bars; a plurality of first connector posts, each first connector post being connected at a first end to said first runner bar and severably connected at a second end to said outer side of said first transverse bar on one of said fasteners; and a plurality of second connector posts, each second connector post being connected at a first end to said second 3 o 5 (c) runner bar and severably connected at a second end to said outer side of said second transverse bar on one of said fasteners.
In another broad aspect, the present invention relates to a fastener clip adapted to be fed into a fastener attaching tool, said fastener clip comprising a molded plastic structure defining: a plurality of fasteners, each fastener comprising a flexible U-shaped filament having a first transverse bar at one end and a second transverse bar at the other end, each transverse bar having an outer side and aninner side; first and second parallel disposed runner bars, and means for severably connecting the outer side of each first transverse bar to said first runner bar and the outer side of each second transverse bar to said second runner bar.
In still another broad aspect, the present invention relates to a fastener clip comprising a unitary structure made of a flexible plastic material and shaped todefine: a pair of parallel disposed, spaced apart runner bars, and a plurality of fasteners disposed between said pair of parallel disposed, spaced apart runner bars, each fastener comprising a U-shaped filament having a transverse bar at each end, said transverse bar at one end being severably connected to said first runner bar and said transverse bar at said other end being severably connected to said other runner bar.
In yet another broad aspect, the present invention relates to a tool for dispensing individual fasteners from a fastener clip into a desired article, thefastener clip comprising a pair of generally parallel runner bars and one or more fasteners, each fastener comprising an elongated flexible filament and a pair oftransverse bars, one transverse bar being disposed at each end of said elongatedflexible filament, the elongated flexible filament having a longitudinal axis and being disposed in a plane of the pair of generally parallel runner bars, each of the pair of transverse bars being connected to a corresponding runner bar by a connector post, the connector posts being severably connected to outer sides of their respective transverse bars, each connector post extending at right angles to thelongitudinal axis of the elongated flexible filament, said tool comprising: a body having a front end, a top, a rear end and a channel, said rear end having an 5(d) opening, said channel extending inward from said opening; a pair of needles projecting from the front end of the body, each of said needles having a front end which is adapted for insertion into the article, a side, a longitudinally extending bore appropriately dimensioned to permit one of the transverse bars of the fastener to slide therethrough, a knife edge and a longitudinal slot, said longitudinal slot communicating with said longitudinally extending bore to permit the end of the filament adjacent to the transverse bar to extend therethrough, said knife edge being on the side of said needle spaced from said front end to cut the connectorpost as the transverse bar passes by; an ejector mechanism slidably mounted in said channel and manually movable back and forth in said channel through the opening in the rear end of the body said ejector mechanism including a pair of ejector rods for pushing the transverse bars of the fastener into and through said longitudinally extending bores of said needles into the desired article; and said body further including a feed slot through which the fastener clip is inserted, said feed slot extending inwardly from the top and terminating behind said needles such that the transverse bars of a desired fastener to be disposed are positioned directlybehind said needles and in alignment with said longitudinally extending bores insaid needles, said feed slot in said body of said fastener attaching tool havingregistration elements for assisting proper alignment of the transverse bars of the fasteners of said fastener clip with said longitudinally extending bores of saidneedles, said registration elements on said feed slot including bars formed on the inside walls of said feed slot, said body further including a pair of openings, each opening sized for insertion of one or two fingers of a user for holding said fastener attaching tool while actuating the ejector mechanism with a thumb of a user.
2 5 In another broad aspect, the present invention relates to a tool for dispensing individual fasteners from a fastener clip into a desired article, thefastener clip comprising a pair of generally parallel runner bars and one or more fasteners, each fastener comprising a flexible filament and a pair of transverse bars disposed at opposite ends thereof, the flexible filament being co-planar with the 5(e) pair of generally parallel runner bars, each of the pair of transverse bars having an outer side and being connected to a corresponding runner bar by a connector post, the connector posts being severably connected to the outer sides of their respective transverse bars, said tool comprising: a body, said body having a front;
a pair of needles projecting from the front of the body, each of said needles having a front end remote from said body which is adapted for insertion into the article, a longitudinally extending bore in each of said needles, said longitudinally extending bore being appropriately dimensioned to permit one of the transverse bars of thefastener to slide therethrough, an outer side on each of said needles, a longitudinal slot in each of said needles, said longitudinal slot communicating with said longitudinally extending bore to permit the end of the filament adjacent to the transverse bar to extend therethrough, and a knife edge integrally formed on theouter side of each of said needles to cut the connector post as the transverse bar passes by; and a pair of ejector rods slidable back and forth through said needle for pushing the transverse bars of the fastener into and through said longitudinally extending bores of said needles and into the desired article.
In another broad aspect, the present invention relates to a fastener attaching tool for dispensing fasteners from a clip, said clip being a unitary structure and comprising a pair of runner bars and at least one fastener disposed between saidrunner bars, each fastener comprising a pair of transverse bars and a filament connected therebetween, said fastener attaching tool comprising: a body having a front end, a rear end having an opening, a top, a channel extending inward toward said front end from said opening in said rear end, and a feed slot; a pair of needles projecting out forwardly from the front end of the body, each of said needles having a front end which is adapted for insertion into the article, a longitudinally extending bore appropriately dimensioned to permit one of the transverse bars of the fastener to slide therethrough and a longitudinal slot communicating with said longitudinal bore to permit the filament adjacent to thetransverse bar in the fastener to extend therethrough; said feed slot having an inlet in said top of said body and extending inward such that a clip can be manually 5(f) inserted into said feed slot through said inlet and be manually pushed inward sothat the transverse bars of a fastener in said clip which is to be dispensed arealigned with said bores in said needles; an ejector mechanism for pushing the transverse bars of the fastener to be dispensed and which is aligned with said bores in said needles through said longitudinally extending bores, said ejector mechanism being slidably mounted in said channel in said body and extending out from said opening in said rear end such that it is manually movable within said channel from said opening in the rear end of said body, said ejector mechanism including a pair of ejector rods slidable back and forth through said pair of needles;
and a spring in said channel in contact with said ejector mechanism for biasing said ejector mechanism rearwardly.
In a further broad aspect, the present invention relates to a fastener attaching tool for dispensing a fastener from a clip, said clip being a unitary structure and comprising a pair of runner bars and at least one fastener disposed between said runner bars, each fastener comprising a flexible filament and a transverse bar disposed at one end thereof, the transverse bar being severably connected on its side to a runner bar by a connector post, said fastener attaching tool comprising: a body having a front end, a rear end, a top, a bottom and a feed slot, said feed slot having an inlet on said top of said body, said rear end having an opening; a needle projecting out from the front end of the body, said needle having a front end, a side, a longitudinally extending bore appropriately dimensioned to permit the transverse bar of the fastener to slide therethrough, and a knife edge integrally formed on the side of said needle for severing the transverse bar of the fastener from the connector post, said longitudinally extending bore having a longitudinal slot to permit the end of the filament adjacent to the transverse bar to extend therethrough; said feed slot being located in said body and shaped such that said fastener clip is pushed into said feed slot from said inlet in said top of said body so that the transverse bar of said fastener is in alignment with the bore in said needle; and an ejector mechanism supported in said body and 5(9) extending out through said opening in said rear end of said body, said ejector mechanism including an ejector rod slidable back and forth through said longitudinally extending bore in said needle for pushing the transverse bar of the fastener through said longitudinally extending bore.
In yet a further broad aspect, the present invention provides a fastener attaching tool for attaching a fastener to a desired article, the fastener comprising a flexible filament and a transverse bar, said transverse bar being disposed at one end of said flexible filament, the transverse bar being severably connected to arunner bar by a connector post, said fastener attaching tool comprising: a needle, lo said needle having a front end, a side and a longitudinally extending bore, said front end of said needle being adapted for insertion into the desired article, said bore being appropriately dimensioned to permit the transverse bar of the fastener to slide therethrough, said needle having a longitudinal slot to permit said one end of the filament having said transverse bar to extend therethrough, and a knife edgeintegrally formed along said side of said needle; a body having a front end, a rear end having an opening, a channel extending inward from said opening toward said front end and a top, said front end of said needle projecting out forwardly from said front end of said body, said body being provided with a feed slot extending inward from the top through which the fastener is inserted, said feed slot being located such that the transverse bar of the fastener can be pushed therein into alignment with said longitudinally extending bore of said needle, said feed slot extendinginwardly from said top of said body; and an ejector mechanism disposed in said channel in said body and extending out from said opening in said rear end such that it is manually movable back and forth within said channel from the opening in the rear end of said body for pushing the transverse bar of the fastener through said longitudinally extending bore and into the desired article, said ejector mechanism including an ejector rod.
In another broad aspect, the present invention relates to a tool for dispensing individual fasteners from a fastener clip into a desired article, thefastener clip comprising a pair of generally parallel runner bars and one or more 5(h) fasteners, each fastener comprising an elongated flexible filament and a pair oftransverse bars, one transverse bar being disposed at each end of said elongatedflexible filament, the elongated flexible filament having a longitudinal axis and being disposed in a plane of the pair of generally parallel runner bars, each of the pair of transverse bars being connected to a corresponding runner bar by a connector post, the connector posts being severably connected to outer sides of their respective transverse bars, each connector post extending at right angles to thelongitudinal axis of the elongated flexible filament, said tool comprising: a body having a front end, a top, a rear end and a channel, said rear end having an opening, said channel extending inward from said opening; a pair of needles projecting from the front end of the body, each of said needles having a front end which is adapted for insertion into the article, a side, a longitudinally extending bore appropriately dimensioned to permit one of the transverse bars of the fastener to slide therethrough, a knife edge and a longitudinal slot, said longitudinal slot communicating with said longitudinally extending bore to permit the end of the filament adjacent to the transverse bar to extend therethrough, said knife edge being on the side of said needle spaced from said front end to cut the connectorposts as the transverse bar passes by; and an ejector mechanism slidably mountedin said channel and manually movable back and forth in said channel through the opening in the rear end of said body, said ejector mechanism including a pair ofejector rods for pushing the transverse bars of the fastener into and through said longitudinally extending bores of said needles and into the desired article.
5(i) BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
The accompanying drawings, which are hereby incorporated in and constitute a part of this specification, illustrate the preferred embodiments of the invention and, together with the description, serve to explain the principles of the invention. In the drawings, wherein like reference numerals represent like parts:
Fig. 1 is a front view of one embodiment of a fastener clip constructed according to the teachings of the present invention;
Fig. 2 is a bottom view of the fastener clip shown in Fig. 1;
Fig. 3 is an enlarged front perspective view of one of the fasteners shown in Fig. 1 after it has been separated from the remainder of the fastener clip;
Fig. 4 is a top view of one embodiment of a fastener attaching device constructed according to the teachings of the present invention for attaching anindividual fastener from the fastener clip of Fig. 1 to a garment through a pair of button holes in such a way as to attach the button to the garment;
Fig. 5 is a partially exploded top view of the fastener attaching device shown in Fig. 4 with the body being broken away in part;
Fig. 6 is a section view of the body shown in Fig. 5 taken along line A-A;
Figs. 7(a) through 7(d) are front, rear, top and right side views, respectively,of the needle block shown in Fig. 5;
Fig. 8 is a section view of the body shown in Fig. 5 taken along line B-B;
Figs. 9(a) through 9(d) are top, right side, left side and rear views, respectively, of one of the needles shown in Fig. 5;
Figs. 10(a) and 10(b) are bottom and right side views, respectively, of the ejector mechanism shown in Fig. 5;
Fig. 11 is a top view, broken away in part, of a second embodiment of a fastener attaching device constructed according to the teachings of the present invention for attaching an individual fastener from the fastener clip of Fig. 1 to a garment through a pair of button holes in such a way as to attach the button to the garment;
3 0 Fig. 12 is an enlarged section view of the front end of the fastener attaching device of Fig. 4 shown with the pair of ejector rods in an advanced position to illustrate how one of the fasteners shown in Fig. 1 may be inserted through a pair of button holes and secured to a garment;
Fig. 13 is an enlarged section view similar to Fig. 12 but after the fastener attaching device has been removed showing how one of the fasteners shown in 5 Fig. 1 is used to attach a button to a garment;
Fig. 14 is a top view of the co",bi,)dlion of the button, garment and fastener shown in Fig. 13;
Fig. 15 is a fragmentary front view of a second embodiment of a fastener clip constructed according to the teachings of the present invention;
Fig. 16 is a left side view of the fastener clip shown in Fig. 15; and Fig. 17 is a top view of the fastener clip shown in Fig. 15.
WO 94113167 . . ~ PCT/US93il2112 21~1258 DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
Referring to the drawings and in particular to Figs.1 and 2, there are shown front and bottom views, respectively, of a fastener clip constructed according to the teachings of the present invention, the fastener clip being represented generally by reference numeral 11.
Clip 11 is a unitary structure preferably molded from polyurethane or similar materials. Clip 11 comprises five identical fasteners 13, the number of fasteners being illustrative only. Each fastener 13 includes a flexible U-shaped filament 15 and a pair of transverse bars or feet 17-1 and 17-2 disposed at opposite ends thereof. To maximize the strength of the fastener, filament 15 is preferably rectangular in cross-section and has a non-uniform thickness, i.e., the arcuate region 16 has a thickness t, greater than the thickness t2 at the ends. Feet 17-1 and 17-2 are appropriately dimensioned so that they may be inserted into a desired garment through a pair of button holes of conventional size and thereafter be retained by the underside of the garment.
Clip 11 also comprises a pair of runner bars 19-1 and 19-2, the top ends of which are joined to form a handle 21. The outer edges of runner bars 19-1 and 19-2 are provided with indentations 24 which, as will be seen below, assist in properly feeding clip 11 into a fastener attaching tool.
Each fastener 13 is connected to runner bars 19-1 and 19-2 by severable connector posts 23-1 and 23-2, respectively. For reasons to be discussed below, connector posts 23-1 and 23-2 are connected to the outer sides 25-1 and 25-2 of feet 17-1 and 17-2, respectively.
In order that fastener 13 may be used with garments in which feet 17-1 and 17-2 may be placed in direct contact with a person's skin, fastener clip 11 includes the following features which are designed to minimize irritation of a person's skin.
First, as noted above, connector posts 23-1 and 23-2 are connected to the outer sides 25-1 and 25-2 of feet 17-1 and 17-2. In this manner, when posts 23-1 and 23-2 are severed, burrs 27-1 ar,d 27-2 (see Fig. 3) are left on outer sides 25-1 and 25-2, where they are not as likely to come into contact with a person's skin as they would be if they were left on the bottom surface of feet 17-1 and 17-2. Second, wo 94/13167 21512 5 8 PCT/US93112112 feet 17-1 and 17-2 have a length I which is comparatively small, i.e., approximately 2 mm as compared to 6 mm for the transverse bars of existing like fasteners, andan overall size which is comparable to that of a knot of thread. Consequently, feet 17-1 and 17-2 have relatively little surface area which may come into contact with a person's skin. Third, the top surfaces 29-1 and 29-2 of feet 17-1 and 17-2, respectively, are generally flat. This gives feet 17-1 and 17-2 a low profile and inhibits the rotational movement of feet 17-1 and 17-2 relative to the underside of a garment to which fastener 13 has been attached (see Fig.13). Fourth, feet 17-1and 17-2 have rounded ends 31-1/31-2 and 33-1/33-2, respectively.
To use fastener 13 to couple a button to a garment, an individual fastener 13 is first detached from fastener clip 11 by severing connector posts 23-1 and 23-2. Feet 17-1 and 17-2 of the severed fastener 13 are then inserted first througha corresponding pair of button holes and then through the desired garment. Both the severing and inserting steps may be done manually or with the aid of an appropriate fastener attaching tool.
Referring now to Figs. 4 and 5, there is shown one embodiment of a fastener attaching tool suitable for use with fastener clip 11 in the above-described manner, the fastener attaching tool being represented generally by reference numeral 51.
Tool 51 includes a body 53, a needle block 55, a pair of needles 57-1 and 57-2, a spring 59, and an ejector mechanism 61.
Body 53 is a unitary structure preferably molded from a lightweight durable plastic. Body 53 is shaped to define a pair of transverse openings 63-1 and 63-2which are provided so that a user may operate tool 51 like a syringe by placing the index and middle fingers through openings 63-1 and 63-2 while actuating ejector mechanism 61 with the thumb. Body 53 is also provided with a transversely extending feed slot 64 down through which fastener clip 11 may be inserted in a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of body 53. As can be seen best in Fig. 6, slot 64 is shaped to include a pair of feed bars 64-1 and 64-2 which, as will 3 c be discussed below in greater detail, are used to engage indentations 25 on runner bars 19-1 and 19-2, respectively, to properly align fastener clip 11 within tool 51.
WO 94/13167 2 15 i 2 5 8 : ~ PCTIUS93/12112 Needle block 55, which is removably mounted in a cavity 65 formed in body 53 and accessi~le from the front end thereof, is shown in greater detail in Figs. 7(a) through 7(d). As can be seen therein, block 55 is a generally rectangular unitary structure having a pair of generally cylindrically shaped grooves 67-1 and 67-2 adapted to receive needles 57-1 and 57-2, respectively. Block 55 is retained within opening 65 by means of a plurality of outwardly biasing tabs 69-1 through 69-3 which snap into place in corresponding slots 71-1 through 71-3 (see Fig. 8) in cavity 65.
Block 55 is also preferably molded from a lightweight durable plastic.
Needle 57-1, which is a mirror image of needle 57-2 reflected along its longitudinal axis, is shown in greater detail in Figs. 9(a) through ~(d). As can be seen therein, needle 57-1 is a unitary structure shaped to include a generally cylindrical slotted bore 73-1. Bore 73-1 has a cross-sectional diameter slightlylarger than that of foot 17-1 of fastener 13. The forward end 75-1 of needle 57-1 iS pointed to permit its insertion through garments and button holes of conventional size. The rearward end 77-1 of needle 57-1 is open and is appropriately dimensioned to permit foot 17-1 to be loaded into bore 73-1 with the adjacent end of filament 15 extending through the slot of bore 73-1. Needle 57-1 is retained within groove 67-1 of block 55 by means of a downwardly-angled fin 79-1 which engages a corresponding slot 81-1 in groove 67-1 (see Figs. 7(b) and 7(c)).
The left side of needle 57-1 (viewing needle 57-1 from its rearward end 77-1 as opposed to its forward end 79-1) is shaped to define a knife 83-1. As will bedescribed below in greater detail, knife 83-1 is used to sever the connecting post 23-1 connecting a desired fastener 13 to runner bar 19-1. (A corresponding knifeedge formed on the right side of needle 57-2 is similarly used to sever the connecting post 23-2 connecting the same fastener to runner bar 19-2.) Needles 57-1 and 57-2 are preferably cut and stamped from sheet metal.
Ejector mechanism 61, which is shown in greater detail in Figs. 10(a) and 10(b), is slidably mounted within a longitudinally extending channel 89 formed in body 53 and accessible from the rear end thereof. As can be seen therein, mechanism 61 comprises an elongated generally rectangular ejector block 91 WO 94/13167 21512 5 8 PCTtUS93tl2112 _ having a front portion 91-1 of comparatively smaller cross-section and a rear portion 91-2 of comparatively larger cross-section. A pair of ejector rods 93-1 and 93-2 are fixedly mounted on the forward end of front portion 91-1. As will hereinafter be described in greater detail, ejector rods 93-1 and 93-2 are appropriately dimensioned and properly positioned so that, as ejector block 91 moves through channel 89, the front ends of ejector rods 93-1 and 93-2 cause feet 17-1 and 17-2 of a fastener 13 which is properly disposed within slot 64 to be loaded onto needles 57-1 and 57-2 and thereafter to be ejected therefrom. A disc-shaped base 95 is fixedly mounted on the rearward end of rear portion 91-2 to facilitate manipulation of mechanism 61.
Ejector rods 93-1 and 93-2 are preferably made of metal, and the remainder of ejector mechanism 61 is preferably molded from lightweight durable plastic.
Longitudinal movement of mechanism 61 within channel 89 is restricted by base 95 and by a pair of integrally formed posts 97-1 and 97-2 disposed on the top and bottom surfaces, respectively, of rear portion 91-2 which travel in corresponding guide slots 99-1 and 99-2 (see Fig. 5) formed in body 53. Posts 97-1 and 97-2 are made to be depressible inwardly to permit insertion of block 91 into channel 89. Spring 59, which engages the front of channel 89 at one end and the forward end of rear portion 91-2 at the opposite end, biases ejector mechanism 61 towards the rear of channel 89.
A fastener dispensing tool similar in construction to tool 51 is shown in Fig.
11, the tool being represented generally by reference numeral 101. The differences between tool 101 and tool 51 are few, the principal differences being the shape of body 103, the lack of a base 95 in tool 101, and the construction of spring 105. Tool 101 is operated in the same way as tool 51.
In use, a desired fastener clip 11 is loaded into tool 51 by grasping handle 21 and pushing the clip down through slot 64 until the indentations 24 on runnerbars 19-1 and 19-2 corresponding to a desired fastener 13 are engaged by bars 64-1 and 64-2. With this done, feet 17-1 and 17-2 of the desired fastener 13 are3c positioned behind needles 57-1 and 57-2, respectively, and are in alignment with their corresponding bores 73-1 and 73-2.
WO 94/13167 - ~ PCT/US93112112 To attach a button to a piece of fabric using the fastener loaded in the above manner, the tips 75-1 and 75-2 of needles 57-1 and 57-2, respectively, are inserted first through a pair of holes in the button and then through the piece of fabric.
Ejector mechanism 61 is then advanced through channel 89 towards the front of body 53. The initial advancement of ejector mechanism 61 causes ejector rods 93-1 and 93-2 to push feet 17-1 and 17-2 of the desired fastener 13 into bores 73-1and 73-2. As the advancement of ejector mechanism 61 continues, ejector rods 93-2 and 93-2 push feet 17-1 and 17-2 past knife edges 83-1 and 83-2 of needles 57-1 and 57-2, causing connector posts 23-1 and 23-2 to be severed thereby.
Finally, as the advancement of ejector mechanism 61 terminates, ejector rods 93-1 and 93-2 cause feet 17-1 and 17-2 to be ejected from the front ends of needles 57-1 and 57-2. Ejector mechanism 61 is then allowed to retract and needles 57-1 and57-2 are withdrawn.
Fig.12 shows a fastener 13 being inserted through a pair of button holes B
and B2 and into a piece of fabric F using tool 51.
Referring now to Figs. 13 and 14, there are shown section and top views, respectively, of a button B which has been coupled to a piece of fabric F using fastener 13. As seen best in Fig.13, the advantages resulting from gating fastener 13 to runner bars 19-1 and 19-2 on the outer sides of feet 17-1 and 17-2 are 2 0 substantial as burrs 27-1 and 27-2 are not left on the bottoms of feet 17-1 and 17-2 where they are most likely to irritate a person's skin. The consequences of making the top surfaces of feet 17-1 and 17-2 flat, as opposed to curved, to give feet 17-1 and 17-2 a low profile as well as to keep feet 17-1 and 17-2 from rocking in thedirections indicated by arrows C and D can also be seen in Fig. 13. As seen bestin Fig. 14, another benefit to fastener 13 is that, by having filament 15 extendbetween button holes B1 and B2 in a looped fashion, it creates the appearance that thread, as opposed to a plastic fastener, is being used to secure the button to the fabric.
Referring now to Figs. 15 through 17, there are shown various views of ~
3 0 second embodiment of a fastener clip constructed according to the teachings of the present invention, the fastener clip being represented generally by reference numeral 131.
Fastener clip 131 includes a plurality of identical fasteners 133, each fastener 133 including a flexible filament 134 having a head 135 at one end and a foot 137 at the opposite end. Foot 137 is similar in size and shape to feet 17-1 and 17-2 of fastener 13. Fastener clip 131 also includes a runner bar 141 which is severably connected to fasteners 133 by connector posts 143, each connector post 143 being connected to the side of its corresponding foot 137.
The embodiments of the present invention recited herein are intended to be merely exemplary and those skilled in the art will be able to make numerous variations and modifications to it without departing from the spirit of the present invention. All such variations and modifications are intended to be within the scope of the present invention as defined by the claims appended hereto.
Claims (34)
OR PRIVILEGE IS CLAIMED ARE DEFINED AS FOLLOWS:
1. A fastener for attaching a button to a piece of fabric, the button having two or more holes, said fastener comprising a flexible filament U-shaped prior to use in connection with attaching said button to said piece of fabric, a first transverse bar at one end of said flexible filament and perpendicular thereto, and a second transverse bar at the opposite end of said flexible filament and perpendicular thereto, said flexible filament and said pair of transverse bars being appropriately dimensioned so that said pair of transverse bars may be inserted through a corresponding pair of holes in the button and then through the piece of fabric in such a way as to be retained by the underside of the piece of fabric, with said U-shaped filament looping between the pair of holes.
2. The fastener as claimed in claim 1 wherein said flexible U-shaped filament and said pair of transverse bars are integrally formed as a molded plastic structure.
3. The fastener as claimed in claim 1 wherein said fastener is made of plasticand wherein said flexible filament is rectangular in cross-section and has a greater thickness in its arcuate region than at its ends to provide for increased strength in its arcuate region.
4. The fastener as claimed in claim 1 wherein each of said first and said second transverse bars has a flat top surface.
5. The fastener as claimed in claim 1 wherein each of said first and said second transverse bars has rounded ends.
6. The fastener as claimed in claim 1 wherein each of said feet has an overall size comparable to a knot of thread used to secure a button to a piece of fabric.
7. A fastener clip adapted to be fed into a fastener attaching tool, said fastener clip comprising:
(a) a fastener, said fastener comprising a flexible filament and a first transverse bar at one end of said flexible filament and perpendicular thereto, wherein said first transverse bar has a side and a bottom;
(b) a first runner bar spaced from said fastener; and (c) a first connector post projecting out transversely from said first runner bar and having a first end and a second end, said first connector post being connected at said first end to said first runner bar and severably connected at said second end to the side of said first transverse bar of said fastener, said second end of said first connector post not being connected to the bottom of said first transverse bar of said fastener so that, when severed from said first transverse bar, said second end of said first connector post does not leave a burr on the bottom of said first transverse bar.
(a) a fastener, said fastener comprising a flexible filament and a first transverse bar at one end of said flexible filament and perpendicular thereto, wherein said first transverse bar has a side and a bottom;
(b) a first runner bar spaced from said fastener; and (c) a first connector post projecting out transversely from said first runner bar and having a first end and a second end, said first connector post being connected at said first end to said first runner bar and severably connected at said second end to the side of said first transverse bar of said fastener, said second end of said first connector post not being connected to the bottom of said first transverse bar of said fastener so that, when severed from said first transverse bar, said second end of said first connector post does not leave a burr on the bottom of said first transverse bar.
8. A fastener clip adapted to be fed into a fastener attaching tool, said fastener clip comprising:
(a) a fastener, said fastener comprising a flexible filament and a first transverse bar at one end of said flexible filament and perpendicular thereto, wherein said first transverse bar has a side;
(b) a first runner bar spaced from said fastener; and (c) a first connector post projecting out transversely from said first runner bar at right angles thereto and having a first end and a second end, said first connector post being connected at said first end to said first runner bar and severably connected at said second end to said side of said first transverse bar of said fastener, said second end of said first connector post not being connected to the bottom of said first transverse bar of said fastener so that, when severed from said first transverse bar said second end of said first connector post does not leave a burr on the bottom of said first transverse bar.
(a) a fastener, said fastener comprising a flexible filament and a first transverse bar at one end of said flexible filament and perpendicular thereto, wherein said first transverse bar has a side;
(b) a first runner bar spaced from said fastener; and (c) a first connector post projecting out transversely from said first runner bar at right angles thereto and having a first end and a second end, said first connector post being connected at said first end to said first runner bar and severably connected at said second end to said side of said first transverse bar of said fastener, said second end of said first connector post not being connected to the bottom of said first transverse bar of said fastener so that, when severed from said first transverse bar said second end of said first connector post does not leave a burr on the bottom of said first transverse bar.
9. The fastener clip as claimed in claim 8, wherein said flexible filament is U-shaped, said fastener further comprising a second transverse bar at the opposite end of said flexible filament.
10. The fastener clip as claimed in claim 9, further comprising a second runner bar and a second connector post, said second connector post being connected at a first end to said second runner bar and severably connected at a second end tothe side of said second transverse bar.
11. The fastener clip as claimed in claim 10, wherein said first connector post and said second connector post are connected to the outer sides of said first transverse bar and said second transverse bar, respectively.
12. The fastener clip as claimed in claim 11, wherein at least one of said firstrunner bar and said second runner bar is provided with means for properly aligning said fastener within a fastener attaching tool.
13. The fastener clip as claimed in claim 12, wherein said aligning means comprises an indentation formed along the outer side of at least one of said first runner bar and said second runner bar.
14. A fastener adapted for attachment to a sheet of material, said fastener comprising a unitary plastic member shaped to define a flexible filament U-shaped prior to attachment to said sheet of material, a first transverse bar at one end of said flexible filament, and a second transverse bar at the opposite end of said flexible filament, said first and said second transverse bars extending generally parallel to one another, said flexible U-shaped filament and said pair of transverse bars being appropriately dimensioned so that said pair of transverse bars may beinserted through the sheet of material in such a way as to be retained by the underside of the sheet of material, with said U-shaped filament looping over the top of the sheet of material.
15. The fastener as claimed in claim 14, wherein said flexible U-shaped filamentis rectangular in cross-section and has a greater thickness in its arcuate region than at its ends.
16. A fastener attaching tool for attaching a fastener to a desired article, thefastener comprising a flexible filament and a pair of transverse bars disposed at opposite ends thereof, said fastener attaching tool comprising:
(a) a body, said body having a front and a rear and including means for receiving a user's fingers;
(b) a pair of needles projecting from the front of the body, each of said needles having a front end remote from said body which is adapted for insertion into the article, a longitudinally extending bore in each of said needles, said longitudinally extending bore being appropriately dimensioned to permit one of the transverse bars of the fastener to slide therethrough and a longitudinal slot in each of said needles, said longitudinal slot communicating with said longitudinally extending bore to permit the end of the filament adjacent to the transverse bar to extend therethrough; and (c) ejector means manually operable from the rear of said body, said ejector means including a pair of ejector rods slidable back and forth through said pair of needles for pushing the transverse bars of the fastener into and through said longitudinally extending bores and into the desired article.
(a) a body, said body having a front and a rear and including means for receiving a user's fingers;
(b) a pair of needles projecting from the front of the body, each of said needles having a front end remote from said body which is adapted for insertion into the article, a longitudinally extending bore in each of said needles, said longitudinally extending bore being appropriately dimensioned to permit one of the transverse bars of the fastener to slide therethrough and a longitudinal slot in each of said needles, said longitudinal slot communicating with said longitudinally extending bore to permit the end of the filament adjacent to the transverse bar to extend therethrough; and (c) ejector means manually operable from the rear of said body, said ejector means including a pair of ejector rods slidable back and forth through said pair of needles for pushing the transverse bars of the fastener into and through said longitudinally extending bores and into the desired article.
17. The fastener attaching tool as claimed in claim 16, further comprising a needle block, said pair of needles being mounted on said needle block, said needle block being removably mounted within a cavity in said body.
18. A tool for dispensing individual fasteners from a fastener clip into a desired article, the fastener clip comprising a pair of generally parallel runner bars and one or more fasteners, each fastener comprising a flexible filament and a pair of transverse bars disposed at opposite ends thereof, the flexible filament having a longitudinal axis and being disposed in the plane of the pair of generally parallel runner bars, each of the pair of transverse bars being connected to a corresponding runner bar by a connector post, the connector posts being severably connected tothe outer sides of their respective transverse bars, each connector post extending at right angles to the longitudinal axis of the flexible filament, said tool comprising:
(a) a body having a front end, a top, a rear end and a channel, said rear end having an opening, said channel extending inward from said opening;
(b) a pair of needles projecting from the front end of the body, each of said needles having a front end adapted for insertion into the article, a side, a longitudinally extending bore appropriately dimensioned to permit one of the transverse bars of the fastener to slide therethrough, a knife edge and a longitudinal slot, said longitudinal slot communicating with said longitudinally extending bore to permit the end of the filament adjacent to the transverse bar to extend therethrough, said knife edge being on the side of said needle spaced from said front end to cut the connector post as the transverse bar passes by;
(c) an ejector mechanism slidably mounted in said channel and manually movable back and forth in said channel through the opening in the rear end of the body, said ejector mechanism including a pair of ejector rods for pushing the transverse bars of the fastener into and through said longitudinally extending bores of said needles into the desired article;
(d) said body having a feed slot, said feed slot extending inwardly from the top and located behind said needles through which the fastener clip is inserted for positioning the transverse bars of a desired fastener directly behind said needles and in alignment with said longitudinally extending bores in said needles;
(e) said feed slot in said body of said fastener attaching tool being provided with registration elements for assisting proper alignment of the transverse bars of the fasteners of said fastener clip with said longitudinally extending bores of said needles, and wherein said feed slot includes inside walls and wherein said registration elements on said feed slot include bars formed on the inside walls of said feed slot.
(a) a body having a front end, a top, a rear end and a channel, said rear end having an opening, said channel extending inward from said opening;
(b) a pair of needles projecting from the front end of the body, each of said needles having a front end adapted for insertion into the article, a side, a longitudinally extending bore appropriately dimensioned to permit one of the transverse bars of the fastener to slide therethrough, a knife edge and a longitudinal slot, said longitudinal slot communicating with said longitudinally extending bore to permit the end of the filament adjacent to the transverse bar to extend therethrough, said knife edge being on the side of said needle spaced from said front end to cut the connector post as the transverse bar passes by;
(c) an ejector mechanism slidably mounted in said channel and manually movable back and forth in said channel through the opening in the rear end of the body, said ejector mechanism including a pair of ejector rods for pushing the transverse bars of the fastener into and through said longitudinally extending bores of said needles into the desired article;
(d) said body having a feed slot, said feed slot extending inwardly from the top and located behind said needles through which the fastener clip is inserted for positioning the transverse bars of a desired fastener directly behind said needles and in alignment with said longitudinally extending bores in said needles;
(e) said feed slot in said body of said fastener attaching tool being provided with registration elements for assisting proper alignment of the transverse bars of the fasteners of said fastener clip with said longitudinally extending bores of said needles, and wherein said feed slot includes inside walls and wherein said registration elements on said feed slot include bars formed on the inside walls of said feed slot.
19. A fastener clip adapted to be fed into a fastener attaching tool, said fastener clip comprising a molded plastic structure shaped to define:
(a) a plurality of fasteners, each fastener comprising a flexible U-shapedfilament having a first transverse bar at one end and a second transverse bar at the other end, each transverse bar having an outer side and an inner side;
(b) first and second parallel disposed runner bars;
(c) a plurality of first connector posts, each first connector post being connected at a first end to said first runner bar and severably connected at a second end to said outer side of said first transverse bar on one of said fasteners; and (d) a plurality of second connector posts, each second connector post being connected at a first end to said second runner bar and severably connected at a second end to said outer side of said second transverse bar on one of said fasteners.
(a) a plurality of fasteners, each fastener comprising a flexible U-shapedfilament having a first transverse bar at one end and a second transverse bar at the other end, each transverse bar having an outer side and an inner side;
(b) first and second parallel disposed runner bars;
(c) a plurality of first connector posts, each first connector post being connected at a first end to said first runner bar and severably connected at a second end to said outer side of said first transverse bar on one of said fasteners; and (d) a plurality of second connector posts, each second connector post being connected at a first end to said second runner bar and severably connected at a second end to said outer side of said second transverse bar on one of said fasteners.
20. A fastener clip adapted to be fed into a fastener attaching tool, said fastener clip comprising a molded plastic structure defining:
(a) a plurality of fasteners, each fastener comprising a flexible U-shaped filament having a first transverse bar at one end and a second transverse bar at the other end, each transverse bar having an outer side and an inner side;
(b) first and second parallel disposed runner bars, and (c) means for severably connecting the outer side of each first transverse bar to said first runner bar and the outer side of each second transverse bar to said second runner bar.
(a) a plurality of fasteners, each fastener comprising a flexible U-shaped filament having a first transverse bar at one end and a second transverse bar at the other end, each transverse bar having an outer side and an inner side;
(b) first and second parallel disposed runner bars, and (c) means for severably connecting the outer side of each first transverse bar to said first runner bar and the outer side of each second transverse bar to said second runner bar.
21. The fastener clip of claim 20, wherein each transverse bar has an outer sideand wherein said transverse bars are connected to said runner bars at said outersides.
22. The fastener clip of claim 20, wherein said means comprises a plurality of connector posts.
23. A fastener clip comprising a unitary structure made of a flexible plastic material and shaped to define:
(a) a pair of parallel disposed, spaced apart runner bars, and (b) a plurality of fasteners disposed between said pair of parallel disposed, spaced apart runner bars, each fastener comprising a U-shaped filament having a transverse bar at each end, said transverse bar at one end being severably connected to said first runner bar and said transverse bar at said other end being severably connected to said other runner bar.
(a) a pair of parallel disposed, spaced apart runner bars, and (b) a plurality of fasteners disposed between said pair of parallel disposed, spaced apart runner bars, each fastener comprising a U-shaped filament having a transverse bar at each end, said transverse bar at one end being severably connected to said first runner bar and said transverse bar at said other end being severably connected to said other runner bar.
24. The fastener attaching tool as claimed in claim 18 and further including a spring located in said channel in said body in contact with said ejector mechanism for biasing the ejector mechanism rearwardly.
25. The fastener attaching tool as claimed in claim 24, wherein the pair of needles are projecting outwardly and forwardly from the front of the body.
26. A tool for dispensing individual fasteners from a fastener clip into a desired article, the fastener clip comprising a pair of generally parallel runner bars and one or more fasteners, each fastener comprising an elongated flexible filament and apair of transverse bars, one transverse bar being disposed at each end of said elongated flexible filament, the elongated flexible filament having a longitudinal axis and being disposed in a plane of the pair of generally parallel runner bars, each of the pair of transverse bars being connected to a corresponding runner bar by a connector post, the connector posts being severably connected to outer sides of their respective transverse bars, each connector post extending at right angles to the longitudinal axis of the elongated flexible filament, said tool comprising:
(a) a body having a front end, a top, a rear end and a channel, said rear end having an opening, said channel extending inward from said opening;
(b) a pair of needles projecting from the front end of the body, each of said needles having a front end which is adapted for insertion into the article, a side, a longitudinally extending bore appropriately dimensioned to permit one of the transverse bars of the fastener to slide therethrough, a knife edge and a longitudinal slot, said longitudinal slot communicating with said longitudinally extending bore to permit the end of the filament adjacent to the transverse bar to extend therethrough, said knife edge being on the side of said needle spaced from said front end to cut the connector post as the transverse bar passes by;
(c) an ejector mechanism slidably mounted in said channel and manually movable back and forth in said channel through the opening in the rear end of the body said ejector mechanism including a pair of ejector rods for pushing the transverse bars of the fastener into and through said longitudinally extending bores of said needles into the desired article; and (d) said body further including a feed slot through which the fastener clip is inserted, said feed slot extending inwardly from the top and terminating behind said needles such that the transverse bars of a desired fastener to be disposed are positioned directly behind said needles and in alignment with said longitudinally extending bores in said needles, said feed slot in said body of said fastener attaching tool having registration elements for assisting proper alignment of the transverse bars of the fasteners of said fastener clip with said longitudinally extending bores of said needles, said registration elements on said feed slot including bars formed on the inside walls of said feed slot, said body further including a pair of openings, each opening sized for insertion of one or two fingers of a user for holding said fastener attaching tool while actuating the ejector mechanism with a thumb of a user.
(a) a body having a front end, a top, a rear end and a channel, said rear end having an opening, said channel extending inward from said opening;
(b) a pair of needles projecting from the front end of the body, each of said needles having a front end which is adapted for insertion into the article, a side, a longitudinally extending bore appropriately dimensioned to permit one of the transverse bars of the fastener to slide therethrough, a knife edge and a longitudinal slot, said longitudinal slot communicating with said longitudinally extending bore to permit the end of the filament adjacent to the transverse bar to extend therethrough, said knife edge being on the side of said needle spaced from said front end to cut the connector post as the transverse bar passes by;
(c) an ejector mechanism slidably mounted in said channel and manually movable back and forth in said channel through the opening in the rear end of the body said ejector mechanism including a pair of ejector rods for pushing the transverse bars of the fastener into and through said longitudinally extending bores of said needles into the desired article; and (d) said body further including a feed slot through which the fastener clip is inserted, said feed slot extending inwardly from the top and terminating behind said needles such that the transverse bars of a desired fastener to be disposed are positioned directly behind said needles and in alignment with said longitudinally extending bores in said needles, said feed slot in said body of said fastener attaching tool having registration elements for assisting proper alignment of the transverse bars of the fasteners of said fastener clip with said longitudinally extending bores of said needles, said registration elements on said feed slot including bars formed on the inside walls of said feed slot, said body further including a pair of openings, each opening sized for insertion of one or two fingers of a user for holding said fastener attaching tool while actuating the ejector mechanism with a thumb of a user.
27. A tool for dispensing individual fasteners from a fastener clip into a desired article, the fastener clip comprising a pair of generally parallel runner bars and one or more fasteners, each fastener comprising a flexible filament and a pair of transverse bars disposed at opposite ends thereof, the flexible filament being coplanar with the pair of generally parallel runner bars, each of the pair of transverse bars having an outer side and being connected to a corresponding runner bar by a connector post, the connector posts being severably connected to the outer sides of their respective transverse bars, said tool comprising:
(a) a body, said body having a front;
(b) a pair of needles projecting from the front of the body, each of said needles having a front end remote from said body which is adapted for insertion into the article, a longitudinally extending bore in each of said needles, said longitudinally extending bore being appropriately dimensioned to permit one of the transverse bars of the fastener to slide therethrough, an outer side on each of said needles, a longitudinal slot in each of said needles, said longitudinal slot communicating with said longitudinally extending bore to permit the end of the filament adjacent to the transverse bar to extend therethrough, and a knife edge integrally formed on the outer side of each of said needles to cut the connector post as the transverse bar passes by; and (c) a pair of ejector rods slidable back and forth through said needle for pushing the transverse bars of the fastener into and through said longitudinally extending bores of said needles and into the desired article.
(a) a body, said body having a front;
(b) a pair of needles projecting from the front of the body, each of said needles having a front end remote from said body which is adapted for insertion into the article, a longitudinally extending bore in each of said needles, said longitudinally extending bore being appropriately dimensioned to permit one of the transverse bars of the fastener to slide therethrough, an outer side on each of said needles, a longitudinal slot in each of said needles, said longitudinal slot communicating with said longitudinally extending bore to permit the end of the filament adjacent to the transverse bar to extend therethrough, and a knife edge integrally formed on the outer side of each of said needles to cut the connector post as the transverse bar passes by; and (c) a pair of ejector rods slidable back and forth through said needle for pushing the transverse bars of the fastener into and through said longitudinally extending bores of said needles and into the desired article.
28. A fastener attaching tool for dispensing fasteners from a clip, said clip being a unitary structure and comprising a pair of runner bars and at least one fastener disposed between said runner bars, each fastener comprising a pair of transversebars and a filament connected therebetween, said fastener attaching tool comprising:
(a) a body having a front end, a rear end having an opening, a top, a channel extending inward toward said front end from said opening in said rear end, and a feed slot;
(b) a pair of needles projecting out forwardly from the front end of the body, each of said needles having a front end which is adapted for insertion into the article, a longitudinally extending bore appropriately dimensioned to permit one of the transverse bars of the fastener to slide therethrough and a longitudinal slot communicating with said longitudinal bore to permit the filament adjacent to the transverse bar in the fastener to extend therethrough;
(c) said feed slot having an inlet in said top of said body and extending inward such that a clip can be manually inserted into said feed slot through said inlet and be manually pushed inward so that the transverse bars of a fastener in said clip which is to be dispensed are aligned with said bores in said needles;
(d) an ejector mechanism for pushing the transverse bars of the fastener to be dispensed and which is aligned with said bores in said needles through said longitudinally extending bores, said ejector mechanism being slidably mounted in said channel in said body and extending out from said opening in said rear end such that it is manually movable within said channel from said opening in the rear end of said body, said ejector mechanism including a pair of ejector rods slidable back and forth through said pair of needles; and (e) a spring in said channel in contact with said ejector mechanism for biasing said ejector mechanism rearwardly.
(a) a body having a front end, a rear end having an opening, a top, a channel extending inward toward said front end from said opening in said rear end, and a feed slot;
(b) a pair of needles projecting out forwardly from the front end of the body, each of said needles having a front end which is adapted for insertion into the article, a longitudinally extending bore appropriately dimensioned to permit one of the transverse bars of the fastener to slide therethrough and a longitudinal slot communicating with said longitudinal bore to permit the filament adjacent to the transverse bar in the fastener to extend therethrough;
(c) said feed slot having an inlet in said top of said body and extending inward such that a clip can be manually inserted into said feed slot through said inlet and be manually pushed inward so that the transverse bars of a fastener in said clip which is to be dispensed are aligned with said bores in said needles;
(d) an ejector mechanism for pushing the transverse bars of the fastener to be dispensed and which is aligned with said bores in said needles through said longitudinally extending bores, said ejector mechanism being slidably mounted in said channel in said body and extending out from said opening in said rear end such that it is manually movable within said channel from said opening in the rear end of said body, said ejector mechanism including a pair of ejector rods slidable back and forth through said pair of needles; and (e) a spring in said channel in contact with said ejector mechanism for biasing said ejector mechanism rearwardly.
29. A fastener attaching tool for dispensing a fastener from a clip, said clip being a unitary structure and comprising a pair of runner bars and at least one fastener disposed between said runner bars, each fastener comprising a flexible filament and a transverse bar disposed at one end thereof, the transverse bar being severablyconnected on its side to a runner bar by a connector post, said fastener attaching tool comprising:
(a) a body having a front end, a rear end, a top, a bottom and a feed slot, said feed slot having an inlet on said top of said body, said rear end having an opening;
(b) a needle projecting out from the front end of the body, said needle having a front end, a side, a longitudinally extending bore appropriately dimensioned to permit the transverse bar of the fastener to slide therethrough, and a knife edge integrally formed on the side of said needle for severing the transverse bar of the fastener from the connector post, said longitudinally extending bore having a longitudinal slot to permit the end of the filament adjacent to the transverse bar to extend therethrough;
(c) said feed slot being located in said body and shaped such that said fastener clip is pushed into said feed slot from said inlet in said top of said body so that the transverse bar of said fastener is in alignment with the bore in said needle; and (d) an ejector mechanism supported in said body and extending out through said opening in said rear end of said body, said ejector mechanism including an ejector rod slidable back and forth through said longitudinally extending bore in said needle for pushing the transverse bar of the fastener through said longitudinally extending bore.
(a) a body having a front end, a rear end, a top, a bottom and a feed slot, said feed slot having an inlet on said top of said body, said rear end having an opening;
(b) a needle projecting out from the front end of the body, said needle having a front end, a side, a longitudinally extending bore appropriately dimensioned to permit the transverse bar of the fastener to slide therethrough, and a knife edge integrally formed on the side of said needle for severing the transverse bar of the fastener from the connector post, said longitudinally extending bore having a longitudinal slot to permit the end of the filament adjacent to the transverse bar to extend therethrough;
(c) said feed slot being located in said body and shaped such that said fastener clip is pushed into said feed slot from said inlet in said top of said body so that the transverse bar of said fastener is in alignment with the bore in said needle; and (d) an ejector mechanism supported in said body and extending out through said opening in said rear end of said body, said ejector mechanism including an ejector rod slidable back and forth through said longitudinally extending bore in said needle for pushing the transverse bar of the fastener through said longitudinally extending bore.
30. The fastener attaching tool as claimed in claim 29, wherein said ejector rodis slidably mounted in a channel, said channel extending inward from said opening in the rear end of said body, said ejector rod being manually operable from the rear end of said body.
31. A fastener attaching tool for attaching a fastener to a desired article, thefastener comprising a flexible filament and a transverse bar, said transverse bar being disposed at one end of said flexible filament, the transverse bar being severably connected to a runner bar by a connector post, said fastener attachingtool comprising:
(a) a needle, said needle having a front end, a side and a longitudinally extending bore, said front end of said needle being adapted for insertion into the desired article, said bore being appropriately dimensioned to permit the transverse bar of the fastener to slide therethrough, said needle having a longitudinal slot to permit said one end of the filament having said transverse bar to extend therethrough, and a knife edge integrally formed along said side of said needle;
(b) a body having a front end, a rear end having an opening, a channel extending inward from said opening toward said front end and a top, said front end of said needle projecting out forwardly from said front end of said body, said body being provided with a feed slot extending inward from the top through which the fastener is inserted, said feed slot being located such that the transverse bar of the fastener can be pushed therein into alignment with said longitudinally extending bore of said needle, said feed slot extending inwardly from said top of said body; and (c) an ejector mechanism disposed in said channel in said body and extending out from said opening in said rear end such that it is manually movable back and forth within said channel from the opening in the rear end of said body for pushing the transverse bar of the fastener through said longitudinally extending bore and into the desired article, said ejector mechanism including an ejector rod.
(a) a needle, said needle having a front end, a side and a longitudinally extending bore, said front end of said needle being adapted for insertion into the desired article, said bore being appropriately dimensioned to permit the transverse bar of the fastener to slide therethrough, said needle having a longitudinal slot to permit said one end of the filament having said transverse bar to extend therethrough, and a knife edge integrally formed along said side of said needle;
(b) a body having a front end, a rear end having an opening, a channel extending inward from said opening toward said front end and a top, said front end of said needle projecting out forwardly from said front end of said body, said body being provided with a feed slot extending inward from the top through which the fastener is inserted, said feed slot being located such that the transverse bar of the fastener can be pushed therein into alignment with said longitudinally extending bore of said needle, said feed slot extending inwardly from said top of said body; and (c) an ejector mechanism disposed in said channel in said body and extending out from said opening in said rear end such that it is manually movable back and forth within said channel from the opening in the rear end of said body for pushing the transverse bar of the fastener through said longitudinally extending bore and into the desired article, said ejector mechanism including an ejector rod.
32. A tool for dispensing individual fasteners from a fastener clip into a desired article, the fastener clip comprising a pair of generally parallel runner bars and one or more fasteners, each fastener comprising an elongated flexible filament and apair of transverse bars, one transverse bar being disposed at each end of said elongated flexible filament, the elongated flexible filament having a longitudinal axis and being disposed in a plane of the pair of generally parallel runner bars, each of the pair of transverse bars being connected to a corresponding runner bar by a connector post, the connector posts being severably connected to outer sides of their respective transverse bars, each connector post extending at right angles to the longitudinal axis of the elongated flexible filament, said tool comprising:
(a) a body having a front end, a top, a rear end and a channel, said rear end having an opening, said channel extending inward from said opening;
(b) a pair of needles projecting from the front end of the body, each of said needles having a front end which is adapted for insertion into the article, a side, a longitudinally extending bore appropriately dimensioned to permit one of the transverse bars of the fastener to slide therethrough, a knife edge and a longitudinal slot, said longitudinal slot communicating with said longitudinally extending bore to permit the end of the filament adjacent to the transverse bar to extend therethrough, said knife edge being on the side of said needle spaced from said front end to cut the connector posts as the transverse bar passes by; and (c) an ejector mechanism slidably mounted in said channel and manually movable back and forth in said channel through the opening in the rear end of said body, said ejector mechanism including a pair of ejector rods for pushing the transverse bars of the fastener into and through said longitudinally extending bores of said needles and into the desired article.
(a) a body having a front end, a top, a rear end and a channel, said rear end having an opening, said channel extending inward from said opening;
(b) a pair of needles projecting from the front end of the body, each of said needles having a front end which is adapted for insertion into the article, a side, a longitudinally extending bore appropriately dimensioned to permit one of the transverse bars of the fastener to slide therethrough, a knife edge and a longitudinal slot, said longitudinal slot communicating with said longitudinally extending bore to permit the end of the filament adjacent to the transverse bar to extend therethrough, said knife edge being on the side of said needle spaced from said front end to cut the connector posts as the transverse bar passes by; and (c) an ejector mechanism slidably mounted in said channel and manually movable back and forth in said channel through the opening in the rear end of said body, said ejector mechanism including a pair of ejector rods for pushing the transverse bars of the fastener into and through said longitudinally extending bores of said needles and into the desired article.
33. The fastener attaching tool as claimed in claim 31 wherein said slot and therunner bar are provided with cooperative registration elements for assisting proper alignment of the transverse bar with said longitudinally extending bore of said needle.
34. The fastener attaching tool as claimed in claim 27, wherein said ejector rodis manually operable from the rear of said body.
Applications Claiming Priority (4)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| US98919792A | 1992-12-11 | 1992-12-11 | |
| US07/989,201 US5383260A (en) | 1992-12-11 | 1992-12-11 | Fastener clip including one or more fasteners adapted for attaching buttons to a garment or like material |
| US07/989,201 | 1992-12-11 | ||
| US07/989,197 | 1992-12-11 |
Publications (2)
| Publication Number | Publication Date |
|---|---|
| CA2151258A1 CA2151258A1 (en) | 1994-06-23 |
| CA2151258C true CA2151258C (en) | 1998-09-29 |
Family
ID=27130643
Family Applications (1)
| Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA002151258A Expired - Fee Related CA2151258C (en) | 1992-12-11 | 1993-12-10 | Fastener attaching tool and fastener clip for use therewith |
Country Status (11)
| Country | Link |
|---|---|
| EP (1) | EP0677993B1 (en) |
| JP (1) | JPH08507329A (en) |
| KR (1) | KR950703878A (en) |
| AT (1) | ATE193967T1 (en) |
| AU (1) | AU678424B2 (en) |
| BR (1) | BR9307628A (en) |
| CA (1) | CA2151258C (en) |
| DE (1) | DE69328905T2 (en) |
| FI (1) | FI952860A (en) |
| NZ (1) | NZ259250A (en) |
| WO (1) | WO1994013167A1 (en) |
Families Citing this family (2)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| EP0790789A4 (en) * | 1994-10-11 | 1998-01-14 | Avery Dennison Corp | Self-contained button attachment assembly |
| CA2754815A1 (en) * | 2009-03-06 | 2010-09-10 | Avery Dennison Corporation | Button attachment kit |
Family Cites Families (7)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| US3900925A (en) * | 1973-10-23 | 1975-08-26 | Torraca Gerard A | Button attacher |
| US4111347A (en) * | 1976-09-07 | 1978-09-05 | Dennison Manufacturing Company | Fastener attachment apparatus |
| US4229930A (en) * | 1978-11-29 | 1980-10-28 | Ostermaier Albert E | Flexible link fastener |
| US4456123A (en) * | 1979-08-31 | 1984-06-26 | Dennison Manufacturing Company | Method and apparatus for dispensing fasteners |
| US4611740A (en) * | 1985-03-29 | 1986-09-16 | Kunreuther Steven J | Universal needle assembly for fastener attachers |
| CA2013539C (en) * | 1989-03-31 | 1999-07-06 | Thomas W. Sander | Absorbable surgical fastener with bone penetrating elements |
| US5020713A (en) * | 1989-05-04 | 1991-06-04 | Kunreuther Steven J | Assembly of attachments and device for attaching same |
-
1993
- 1993-12-10 EP EP94903616A patent/EP0677993B1/en not_active Expired - Lifetime
- 1993-12-10 AT AT94903616T patent/ATE193967T1/en not_active IP Right Cessation
- 1993-12-10 DE DE69328905T patent/DE69328905T2/en not_active Expired - Fee Related
- 1993-12-10 BR BR9307628-2A patent/BR9307628A/en not_active Application Discontinuation
- 1993-12-10 AU AU57498/94A patent/AU678424B2/en not_active Ceased
- 1993-12-10 WO PCT/US1993/012112 patent/WO1994013167A1/en active IP Right Grant
- 1993-12-10 JP JP6514464A patent/JPH08507329A/en active Pending
- 1993-12-10 KR KR1019950702381A patent/KR950703878A/en not_active Application Discontinuation
- 1993-12-10 CA CA002151258A patent/CA2151258C/en not_active Expired - Fee Related
- 1993-12-10 NZ NZ259250A patent/NZ259250A/en unknown
-
1995
- 1995-06-09 FI FI952860A patent/FI952860A/en not_active Application Discontinuation
Also Published As
| Publication number | Publication date |
|---|---|
| DE69328905T2 (en) | 2001-01-18 |
| ATE193967T1 (en) | 2000-07-15 |
| NZ259250A (en) | 1997-01-29 |
| JPH08507329A (en) | 1996-08-06 |
| AU678424B2 (en) | 1997-05-29 |
| FI952860A0 (en) | 1995-06-09 |
| KR950703878A (en) | 1995-11-17 |
| DE69328905D1 (en) | 2000-07-27 |
| AU5749894A (en) | 1994-07-04 |
| BR9307628A (en) | 1999-08-31 |
| EP0677993B1 (en) | 2000-06-21 |
| EP0677993A4 (en) | 1996-02-07 |
| FI952860A (en) | 1995-07-13 |
| EP0677993A1 (en) | 1995-10-25 |
| WO1994013167A1 (en) | 1994-06-23 |
| CA2151258A1 (en) | 1994-06-23 |
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Legal Events
| Date | Code | Title | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| EEER | Examination request | ||
| MKLA | Lapsed |