EP3148358A1

EP3148358A1 - Regulating device for clothing and accessories

Info

Publication number: EP3148358A1
Application number: EP15739675.5A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Fabrizio GIACOMOZZI; Lorenzo GIACOMOZZI
Original assignee: Accessori Val Vibrata Srl
Current assignee: Accessori Val Vibrata Srl
Priority date: 2014-03-28
Filing date: 2015-05-26
Publication date: 2017-04-05

Abstract

The present invention concerns an adjustment device (1) for adjusting the length of a perimeter of an article, comprising two flexible strips (2, 2'), which can be paired and joined to an end provided with a stop (3), coupling elements (4) on each edge (5, 5') of the two adjacent edges of the strips, at least one slider (6) sliding along said edges (5, 5') and configured to join said coupling elements (4) along a first sliding direction and to separate said strips along an opposite sliding direction, said slider (6) being connected to the end provided with said stop (3) so that the device (1) circumscribes a space. Said device is suitable to vary the length of the perimeter in question, typically garments and accessories.

Description

"REGULATING DEVICE FOR CLOTHING AND ACCESSORIES"

DESCRIPTION

The present invention relates to an adjustment device for adjusting the length of a perimeter of an article, typically, but not only, garments and accessories, to increase or decrease the length of said perimeter. In particular, the present invention relates to a zipper-type device with which the length of a perimeter is varied. More in particular, this device is of the slider zipper kind, such as zip fasteners of closed end type.

The term "slider zippers" means those zippers having flexible strips that can be paired, on the edges of which there are present elements that enable these strips to be coupled. According to the type of zipper, the central part is composed of coupling elements, which are profiles, each on the respective edge of the strip, structured to mutually interpenetrate. These profiles can be discrete, i.e. single adjacent units, such as a plurality of hooks (or teeth), as in the case of zip fasteners, or two continuous profiles, each on the respective edge of the strip, structured to mutually interpenetrate, as in closing devices for plastic bags. Said profiles can be mutually coupled and decoupled by means of a passage in a Y- shaped path inside a slider. In fact, said path divides the slider into two parts, on one side and on the other side of said path. At least one of the aforesaid parts has a shape that allows it to be grasped or has means adapted to be gripped, commonly called puller or zip puller, these means facilitating movement of the slider in order to pull it along the sliding directions. Therefore, for ease of description, hereinafter the term "visible part" indicates the part of the slider facing the outside of the article. Usually, said part is structured so that it can be grasped by the user to move the slider along the zipper. The other part is defined herein as "invisible part".

The zippers according to the present invention are of closed end type. In closed end zippers, the two strips at one of the two ends are always joined by a stop. Therefore, at this end the zipper is provided with a single terminal end against which the slider ends its travel. At the opposite end the two strips can be separated. When the zipper is open, the two strips are separated. At this end there are usually two terminal ends, one for each strip, that prevent the slider from exiting from the zipper.

In this description, the term open zipper means that the coupling elements on the edges are not mutually coupled, while the term closed zipper means that the coupling elements on the edges are mutually coupled.

Said closing device is used, in particular, in the sector of clothing, footwear and accessories, such as belts, shoes, etc. However, this device can also be used in other sectors, such as the furnishing and household article sectors.

Devices currently in use and similar in purpose to the present invention are, for example, belts and straps, with or without holes, laces and the like.

Analogously to said known devices, the device of the present invention has the purpose of varying, increasing or decreasing, the length of a perimeter, for example the width of an opening.

A known device such as, on the one hand, a belt or strap with holes or, on the other, laces or cords, enables the predetermined width to be firmly maintained once the device has been fastened. However, these devices have some drawbacks. The former have a preset adjustment of the width of the opening that depends on the number of holes and on their position on the device. The latter require a fastening operation that involves a few steps and manual dexterity. Therefore, on the one hand this operation takes time and on the other requires a certain degree of dexterity. Instead, at times it would be more advantageous and practical for said operation to be performed more rapidly.

The aforesaid drawbacks are solved by the present invention, which is a device for a fastening in the form of a closed-end zipper that enables fine adjustment and simultaneously ensures a rapid adjustment of opening of the device.

This device is provided with a slider that, in the embodiment of use of the device, is joined to the closed end of the zipper. After being joined, the zipper is no longer arranged according to a straight line, but curves on itself to take the form of a closed line.

The movement of the slider along the zipper causes a variation in the width of said closed line. In the case of completely closed zipper, the two ends of the zipper are in proximity to each other. Therefore, the maximum possible extension granted by the present invention corresponds to this position of the ends. In the opposite case, i.e. with the zipper completely open, the slider is against or in proximity of the terminal end only. Therefore, the maximum possible constriction granted by the present invention corresponds to this position of the slider.

Due to this solution, the device of the present invention also offers the advantages of being adjustable easily and with only one hand in the case in which the slider is never separated from the closed end.

The present invention therefore relates to an adjustment device for adjusting the length of a perimeter, comprising the following components:

a) two flexible strips, which can be paired and joined at one end provided with a stop,

b) coupling elements on each edge of the two adjacent edges of the strips, and c) at least one slider sliding along said edges and configured to join said coupling elements along a first sliding direction and to separate said strips along an opposite sliding direction.

In this device, the slider is connectable to the end provided with stop (hereinafter, this end is called "first end") so that when the slider is connected to said first end, the device circumscribes a space.

The components from (a) to (c) form a slider zipper.

The term "device that circumscribes a space" means that the device takes the form of a closed line, typically substantially annular, so as to be able to enclose a part of the article, for example garment or accessory, with which the device is combined or in which the device is inserted.

The slider of the device according to the present invention is connectable to the end of the zipper provided with stop, preferably through joining means; if necessary, these can be disconnectable from the slider or from the stop or from both. These joining means can therefore be integral with the slider or with said end or with both, or be removable means.

The joining means can be positioned on any part of the slider and of said end. Just as in prior art zippers, the slider has at least one part with a structure adapted to be gripped or provided with a gripping means.

Further characteristics and advantages of the invention will be more apparent from the description below, provided by way of non-limiting example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein:

- Fig. 1 is a top view of the adjustment device according to an embodiment of the present invention, when the joining means are not connected to the slider of the zipper;

- Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the adjustment device of Fig. 1 , when the joining means are coupled and the zipper is partly open; - Figs. 3a and 3b are front views of the joining means of Fig. 2 in uncoupled and coupled form, respectively;

- Fig. 3c is a front view of the joining means applied to the ends of the strips;

- Fig. 4 is a view of a detail of the adjustment device according to the present invention, and

- Figs. 5-10 are examples of application of the adjustment device according to the present invention.

In the accompanying figures, the adjustment device is indicated as a whole with the numeral 1.

Fig. 1 shows the adjustment device not in use, i.e. when the joining means are not connected to the zipper. The slider (6) is provided with a gripping means (7) positioned on the visible part of the slider.

The end provided with stop (3) is fitted with joining means (8) that are arranged, preferably, either on one side 3B of the stop (arrangements not shown in the drawings) or is on the terminal end part (T) of the stop, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2.

According to a specific embodiment of the present invention, shown in Fig. 4, the joining means (8) are configured to be connected, for example to couple, to the invisible part (6B) of the slider (6).

According to another embodiment, the joining means are on the same side of the plane with respect to the plane of the strips on which the gripping means (7) is located, or would be located if present.

According to an embodiment of the present invention shown in Fig. 4, the joining means (8) comprise a clasp (9) that supports a movable element (10) configured to close said clasp (9).

Joining means of other kind are possible, such as two hook-shaped clasps. As previously mentioned, the devices of the present invention can be configured as slider zippers, preferable zip fasteners.

As is known, zip fasteners are provided with coupling elements (4) that comprise a plurality of hooks (or teeth) that can be mutually coupled and decoupled by means of a slider (6).

Another kind of slider zippers are those zippers provided with coupling elements (4) comprising a first continuous profile and a second continuous profile on the respective strips (2, 2'). These profiles are structured to mutually interpenetrate. Zippers of this kind are typically used as closing devices for plastic bags.

The devices according to the present invention are made with the materials normally used in the prior art to produce them, such as metal or thermoplastic material.

These devices are well known to those skilled in the art and therefore will not be described in further detail.

Those skilled in the art may also introduce some modifications or variants, for example in the shape of the joining means, or slider provided with a safety stop to prevent involuntary opening of the closure, which are to be considered included in the scope of protection granted by the content of the appended claims.

Claims

1. An adjustment device (1) for adjusting the length of a perimeter, comprising the following components:

a) two flexible strips (2, 2'), which can be paired and joined to an end provided with a stop (3),

b) coupling elements (4) on each edge (5, 5') of the two adjacent edges of the strips,

c) at least one slider (6) sliding along said edges (5, 5') and configured to join said coupling elements (4) along a first sliding direction and to separate said strips along an opposite sliding direction,

said slider (6) being connectable to said end provided with stop (3) so that the device (1) takes the form of a closed line.

2. The device (1) according to claim 1 , wherein said first end is provided with joining means (8) configured to connect to any portion of the slider (6).

3. The device (1) according to the preceding claim, wherein the joining means (8) connect to the invisible portion (6B) of the slider (6).

4. The device (1) according to the preceding claim, wherein the joining means (8) comprise a clasp (9) that supports a movable element (10) configured to close said clasp (9).

5. The device (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, further comprising a gripping means (7) positioned on the visible part of the slider (6) to draw this latter along said sliding directions.

6. The device (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the coupling elements (4) comprise a plurality of hooks that can move mutually toward and away from the slider (6).

7. The device (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the coupling elements (4) comprise a first continuous profile and a second continuous profile on the respective strips (2, 2'), said profiles being structured to mutually interpenetrate.