EP1634508A2

EP1634508A2 - System for fastening the competition numbers or "bibs" on the garment of an athlete

Info

Publication number: EP1634508A2
Application number: EP05019747A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Giuseppe Castellan
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2004-09-13
Filing date: 2005-09-12
Publication date: 2006-03-15
Also published as: EP1634508A3; ITVI20040215A1

Abstract

This relates to a system for fastening competition numbers or "bibs" on the garment of an athlete, which is characterised in that it foresees the engagement of a plurality of devices which, utilising the automatic button operation principle, maintain the bib sheet layer and the garment fabric layer mutually adherent, without requiring stitching and without the piercing of the fabric itself (Fig.5).

Description

The present finding relates to a system for fastening competition numbers on the garment of an athlete, according to the general part of claim 1.
As is known, in sporting events, whether amateur or professional, participant identification occurs through a number, the so-called "bib", which must be attached on the front and/or back of the athlete's garment.
At the current state of the art, the bib, constituted by a flexible sheet of thin thickness, in paper or plastic material, is held to the garment through the employment of safety pins, by adhesion or by way of adhesive strips such as "Velcro".
All of these systems, however, have drawbacks; indeed the safety pins constitute a danger for the safety of the athlete, in case of their accidental opening, following, for example, a fall of the athlete himself/herself, while the adhesive strips do not always ensure a perfect adherence, with the consequent detachment of the bib during the competition.
Another drawback, manifested with the employment of known devices adapted to the abovedescribed object, is constituted by the possible damaging of the garment fabric, as a result of the holes made with the pin and the tearing which may take place during the detachment of the adhesive parts.
The object of the present invention is to realise a system for fastening the competition numbers on the garment of an athlete which lacks the drawbacks manifested with the employment of devices of known type.
A further object of the finding is to realise a system for fastening the competition numbers on the garment of an athlete without the need for stitching or other operations which may damage the fabric.
Such object is obtained by the employment of a device which maintains the bib sheet layer and the garment fabric layer mutually adherent, utilising the automatic button operation principle, where two small discs are present which, when pressed, are fit one over the other.
The constructional and functional characteristics of such device are made clear through the description of one of its possible embodiments, given as a non-limiting example, with the help of the drawing tables wherein:

Figure 1 (Table 1) represents the perspective view of the fastening system of the finding;
Figure 2 (Table 2) represents an exploded perspective view of the fastening device;
Figures 3 and 4 represent the section view of the fastening position of the bib, respectively lacking and equipped with hole;
Figures 5 and 6 (Table III) represent two uses of the system of the finding.

As is visible in figure 1, the numbered bib 1 is held to the garment 2 through the devices 3, referred to below with the generic term "buttons".
As is visible in figures 3 to 5, the bottom 3 is constituted by two disc- shaped bodies 4 and 5 which, mutually fitting, tighten the portion 1.1 of the numbered bib 1 against the portion 2.1 of the garment.
Constructionally, the disc-shaped body 4 comprises a head 4.1 (figure 5), equipped with a shank 4.2, which terminates with an annular projection 4.3, while the disc-shaped body 5 is constituted by a washer with central hole 5.7., of diameter substantially equal to the diameter of the abovesaid projection, which is equipped with a shaped external collar 5.2 which serves to strengthen the washer itself.
As is visible in the figures 3 and 4, a coaxial cavity 4.4 is obtained on the shank 4.2 which has the function of facilitating the elastic deformation of the shank itself in the two operational conditions, with or without the hole 10 made on the numbered bib 1, and therefore to always ensure an optimum fastening.
Button forms different from that described are obviously possible, as the material employed for its realisation may also be different, without leaving the context of the claims defined below.

Claims

SYSTEM FOR FASTENING THE COMPETITION NUMBERS OR "BIBS" ON THE GARMENT OF AN ATHLETE,
said system characterising in that it foresees the employment of a plurality of devices which, utilising the automatic button operation principle, maintains the bib sheet layer and the garment fabric layer mutually adherent, without requiring stitching and without the piercing of the same fabric.
SYSTEM FOR FASTENING COMPETITION NUMBERS, according to claim 1, characterised in that the numbered bib (1) is held to the garment (2) through devices (3) composed of two disc-shaped bodies (4,5) which, mutually fitting, tighten the portion 1.1 of the numbered bib against the portion (2.1) of the garment.
SYSTEM FOR FASTENING COMPETITION NUMBERS, according to claim 2, characterised in that the disc-shaped body (4) comprises a head (4.1) equipped with a shank (4.2), which terminates with an annular projection (4.3).
SYSTEM FOR FASTENING COMPETITION NUMBERS, according to claim 2, characterised in that the disc-shaped body (5) is composed of a washer with central hole (5.1) of diameter substantially equal to the diameter of the annular projection (4.3).
SYSTEM FOR FASTENING COMPETITION NUMBERS, according to claim 4, characterised in that the disc-shaped body (5) is equipped with a shaped external collar (5.2) with strengthening functions.
SYSTEM FOR FASTENING COMPETITION NUMBERS, according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterised in that a coaxial cavity (4.4) is obtained on the shank (4.2) which has the function of facilitating the elastic deformation of the shank in the two operational conditions, with or without the hole (10) made on the numbered bib (1).