GB2512388A

GB2512388A - Fastening device

Info

Publication number: GB2512388A
Application number: GB201305786A
Authority: GB
Inventors: James Gair
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2013-03-28
Filing date: 2013-03-28
Publication date: 2014-10-01
Also published as: GB201305786D0

Abstract

A fastening device 1 comprises a pair of separable fastener elements 2, 3 each comprising a layer of magnetic material 4, 5 that causes attraction between the two elements 2, 3. One of the fastener elements 2 has a second surface comprising a plurality of closely spaced hooking elements 6, while the other fastener element 3 has a second surface comprising a layer of loop elements 7. The peeling apart of hook and loop fasteners creates a distinctive sound which may be undesirable in certain circumstances such as military use, hunting or bird-watching. In use, the fastening device may be attached to a hook and loop fastener providing a means of adapting existing hook and loop fasteners to magnetic fasteners when used in connection with garments, cases, bags, or holders.

Description

Fastening Device

Field of the Invention

The invention relates to a fastening device. In particular, the invention relates to a separable fastening device having both magnetic elements and hook and/or ioop type fastening elements.

The invention also relates to a garment, case, bag or holder comprising the separable fastening device.

Background to the Invention

Hook and loop type fasteners are generally sold under the trade mark Velcro®. They commonly comprise closely spaced hooking elements that engage with loop elements to releasably attach two sections when pressed together. The sections can be easily detached by manually peeling the hook and loop elements apart There are numerous advantages to such fastenings and they are very common on pockets, flaps and openings on bags, holders, cases and garments.

However, in certain applications, there may be disadvantages associated with the use of such fastenings. In particular, the peeling apart of hook and loop type fasteners creates a distinctive sound, as the hook elements disengage from the loop elements. There are many applications in which this is undesirable.

Examples of some applications in which noisy fastenings would be undesirable include garments or equipment for military use or for hunting, fishing or bird-watching.

Some conventional garments and equipment for use in these applications include hook and loop fasteners. Sometimes the same garments or equipment can have multiple uses and as such may be occasionally used in such applications. Therefore it would also be useful to provide a way of adapting existing fastenings.

It would be desirable to provide an improved fastening device.

Summary of the Invention

One aspect of the invention provides a separable fastening device as claimed in Claim 1.

Another aspect of the invention provides a garment, case, bag or holder as claimed in Claim 13. 1.

The invention provides a separable fastening device comprising a first fastener element and a second fastener element adapted to engage each other in face-to-face relationship, wherein the first fastener element and the second fastener element each comprise a first surface having a magnetic material, the magnetic material on the first surface of the first fastener element adapted to attract the magnetic material on the first surface of the second fastener element, and wherein the first fastener element further comprises a second surface comprising a plurality of closely spaced hooking elements thereon.

Preferably, the second fastener element comprises a second surface comprising a plurality of closely spaced hooking elements thereon.

Optionally, the second fastener element comprises a second surface comprising plurality of closely spaced loop elements thereon.

In a preferred embodiment, the separable fastening device is removably attachable to a hook and loop type fastening by the interengagement of the hooking elements with a loop portion of the hook and loop type fastening and the interengagement of the loop elements with a hook portion of the hook and loop type fastening.

This provides the advantage that the separable fastening device may be retro-fitted to a conventional hook and loop type fastener.

Preferably, in a closed position the first and second fastener elements engage each other in face-to-face relationship and are biased together by magnetic attraction.

The first and second fastener elements maybe separable from a closed position by applying a force against the bias of the magnetic attraction.

In a preferred embodiment, the first and second fastener elements comprise flexible material.

The fastener elements may be resiliently flexible.

The flexibility of the first and second fastener dements facilitates attachment to a variety of surfaces, including flexible or uneven surfaces, for example fabric of garments.

In a preferred embodiment, the magnetic material itself is flexible.

The magnetic material may comprise a magnet or ferromagnetic material.

In a preferred embodiment, the magnetic material extends across substantially the entire length and width of a surface of both the first and second fastener elements. Preferably, this corresponds to the entire length and width of the separable fastening device.

In a preferred embodiment, the magnetic material on the first fastener element and the magnetic material on the second fastener element comprises a pair of magnets having opposing poles.

Preferably, the first surfaces of each of the first and second fastener elements comprises a substantially smooth face.

This provides the advantage that the first and second fastener elements are detachable from one another in a single and simultaneous, substantially silent movement The first and/or second fastener elements may be provided as strips.

This provides a large surface area of magnetic material, which is in contact when in a closed position. Preferably the strips are of corresponding size and shape.

The first and/or second fastener elements maybe provided as sheets.

This provides the advantage that the fastener elements maybe easily cut to a desired size and shape.

Optionally, the first fastener element and second fastener element are removably attachable to one another in a storage position by the interengagement of the hooking elements on the first fastener element with the loop elements on the second fastener element.

This provides the advantage that the first and second fastener elements can be easily stored, without attaching to an inner surface of a storage case or pocket Another aspect of the invention provides a garment, case, bag or holder comprising the separable fastening device.

Brief Description of the Drawings

In the drawings, which illustrate embodiments of the invention byway of example only: Figure 1 shows a perspective view of one embodiment of the fastening device.

Figure 2 shows a cross-sectional view of the embodiment of Figure 1.

Figure 3 shows a cross-sectional view of the embodiment of Figure 1 in a closed position in use.

Figure 4a shows a cross-sectional view of an alternative embodiment of the fastening device.

Figure 4b shows a cross-sectional view of an alternative embodiment of the fastening device.

Detailed Description of the Preferred Embodiments

As illustrated in Figures 1 and 2, a fastening device 1 comprises a pair of separable parts 2 and 3. The part 2 has magnetic layer 4, which is magnetically attracted to a magnetic ayer 5 of the part 3.

The magnetic layer 5 maybe a magnet having opposing poles to that of a magnet on magnetic layer 4, or one of the magnetic layers may alternatively be formed of a ferromagnetic material.

A layer of hooking elements 6 are adhered to the magnetic layer 4, such that the part 2 has a magnetic fastening face 4' and a second, hook and loop type fastening face 6'.

Similarly, a layer of loop elements 7 are adhered to the magnetic layerS, such that the part 3 has a magnetic fastening faceS' and a hook and loop type fastening face 7'.

The hooking elements 6 and the loop elements 7 are of the type generally known to those skilled in the art in hook and loop type fastenings.

The magnetic layers 4, 5 are thin flexible layers of magnetic material, thus allowing flexion of the parts 2 and 3.

In the embodiment shown in Figures 1 and 2, the magnetic layer 4 comprises a continuous layer of magnetic material, which extends across the entire length and width of the part 2.

Similarly the magnetic layerS comprises a continuous layer of magnetic material, which extends across the entire length and width of the part 3. However, in an alternative embodiment, one or more of the magnetic layers could include discrete magnetic elements and/or discontinuous sections of magnetic material. It is preferable that the magnetic material or arrangement of magnetic elements allows ulexion, such that the fastening device can be attached to various surfaces.

The magnetic fastening faces 5',6' of the magnetic layers S and 6, respectively, have smooth faces, which are magnetically attracted towards to one another, as indicated by the arrows in Figure 2.

Figure 3 shows the fastening device 1 in use attached to a fabric pocket 10 via a conventional hook arrangement 8 and loop arrangement 9 on the pocket 10.

S

The hooking elements 6 are attached to the pocket 10 by engaging with the conventional loop arrangement 9 on the pocket 10. The ioop elements 7 are attached to a corresponding part of the pocket 10 by engagement with the pocket hook arrangement 8.

In the closed position shown in Figure 3, the magnetic fastening faces 4', 6' are in face to face contact with one another, and biased in this position by the attraction of the magnetic layers 4, 5. Thus the pocket 10 is held closed under the force of attraction between the magnetic layers 4,5. In order to open the pocket, an opposing force must be applied.

Opening and closing of the magnetic fastening faces in order to open or close the pocket is substantially silent.

The fastening device 1 maybe easily removed from the pocket 10 by peeling the hooking elements 6 and loop elements 7 from their corresponding hook arrangement Band loop arrangement 9 on the pocket 10.

Although not shown in the drawings, the hooking elements 6 and loop elements 7 may themselves interengage, such that the magnetic fastening faces 4'6' are positioned on opposite external sides of the fastening device 1.

In an alternative embodiment, as illustrated in Figure 4a and 4b, the fastening device may comprise two layers of hooking elements, or two layers of loop elements.

The fastening device may be provided as strips or sheets of suitable thickness to be cut to size using scissors, in order to adapt the device to suit particular desired dimensions.

While the invention has been described with reference to use with hook and loop type fasteners, it will be understood that it is not limited thereto. For example, a variation of the invention may be provided in the form of a separable fastening device adapted for use with items comprising a snap type fastener, or push fit type fastener, rather than a look and loop type fastener. In such embodiments, rather than the second surfaces of the first and second fastener elements comprising hooking elements or loop elements, they would respectively comprise the male and female half of a snap or push fit type fastener.

Claims

Claims 1. A separable fastening device comprising a first fastener element and a second fastener element adapted to engage each other in face-to-face relationship, wherein the first fastener element and the second fastener element each comprise a first surface having a magnetic material, the magnetic material on the first surface of the first fastener element adapted to attract the magnetic material on the first surface of the second fastener element, and wherein the first fastener element further comprises a second surface comprising a plurality of closely spaced hooking elements thereon.
2. A separable fastening device as claimed in Claim 1, wherein the second fastener element comprises a second surface comprising a plurality of closely spaced hooking elements thereon.
3. A separable fastening device as claimed in Claim 1, wherein the second fastener element comprises a second surface comprising plurality of closely spaced loop elements thereon.
4. A separable fastening device as claimed in Claim 3, wherein the separable fastening device is removably attachable to a hook and loop type fastening by the interengagement of the hooking elements with a loop portion of the hook and loop type fastening and the interengagement of the loop elements with a hook portion of the hook and loop type fastening.
5. A separable fastening device as claimed in any of claims ito 4, wherein in a closed position the first and second fastener elements engage each other in face-to face relationship and are biased together by magnetic attraction.
6. A separable fastening device as claimed in ClaimS, wherein the first and second fastener elements are separable from a closed position by applying a force against the bias of the magnetic attraction.
7. A separable fastening device as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the first and second fastener elements comprise flexible material.
8. A separable fastening device as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the magnetic material comprises a magnet or ferromagnetic material.
9. A separable fastening device as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the first surfaces of each of the first and second fastener elements comprises a substantially smooth face.
10. A separable fastening device as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the first and/or second fastener elements are provided as strips.
11. A separable fastening device as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the first and/or second fastener elements are provided as sheets.
12. A separable fastening device as claimed in any of claims 3 to 11, wherein the first fastener element and second fastener element are removably attachable to one another in a storage position by the interengagement of the hooking elements on the first fastener element with the loop elements on the second fastener element
13. A garment, case, bag or holder comprising the separable fastening device of any of Claims 1 to 12.
14. A separable fastening device substantially as shown in and described with reference to the drawings.
15. A garment, case, bag or holder substantially as shown in and described with reference to the drawings.