US2235794A - Fastening device - Google Patents

Description

Mmh 1s, 1941'.

o. A. HERMAN FASTENING DEVICE Filed Jan. 3, 1939 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 lrevenlon;

March 18, 1941. o. A. HERMAN 2,235,794

FASTENING DEVICE File Jan. 5, 1 59 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 IN VENZOR Patented Mar. 18, 1941 UNl'TED STA'i'ES PATENT orrier.

FASTENING DEVICE Application January 3, 1939, Serial No. 248,976

'15 Claims.

This invention relates to fastening devices for closures, particularly closures in garments, appare] and accessories, including purses, bags, brief-cases, pouches and containers of all kinds.

. It pertains especially to fastening devices of the type illustrated and described in my application, Serial No. 213,383, filed June 13, 1938, now Patent No. 2,195,385, granted Mar. 26, 1940.

The present invention, While pertaining to the clip type of fastener is designed to provide a more secure closure than is possible with any fastener of the clip type heretofore devised. Furthermore the number of clips required to maintain a secure closure is fewer than is practical with any other clip type of fastener now in use. The present invention is also designed to use stringers made of silk, rayon, or other material heretofore considered of too fine a texture for use as stringers.

The advantage of the present invention in. this respect, over the zipper type makes it particularly adaptable for use in garments utilizing silky, sheer or light weight fabrics, especially since the stringers may be dyed in color to match and harmonize with the body of the garment or other object, or the stringer may be made of the same fabric as that of the garment or other object itself.

The present invention presents a further advantage over the usual type of fastener in that the individual clips afford an opportunity for an infinite variety of adornment through the attachment of decorations of almost any form, shape, design or style, made of gems, jewels, pre- 5 cious and semi-precious stones in combination with settings of infinite variety of color. Furthermore the front of the clips provide means for easily attaching buttons or plastic or other material in regular or special colors and shapes to give the appearance of the usual button and button-hole closure.

Among the other advantages and objects of the present invention are the following: I 1. To provide means for maintaining the lips 45 of a closure in an interfolded, interlocked and wrapped-aroiuid position between the clips when they are separated while permitting the lips to spread apart when the clips are bunched together at one end of the closure.

2. To provide a plurality of clips, the Walls of which will slide between the interfolded lips of the closure to which they are applied, closing the lips if moved in one direction, and permitting the lips to open if moved in the opposite direction.

3. To provide such a clip capable of being made of a single piece of sheet metal or other material folded back upon itself, or that can be molded of metal, plastic material or other substance or that can be formed by cutting a continuous groove of the proper shape and form in a block of metal, plastic material or other substance capable of being made ornamental and decorative.

4. To accomplish one or more of the aforesaid or following objects in a closure, one end of which is adapted to be completely separable as in the front opening of a womans dress, or in the fly of a pair of trousers; or in a closure neither end ofwhich isto be completely separable, as in i a placket or side opening in a womans dress near the waistline.

5. To accomplish the aforesaid and following objects with the use of comparatively few units that present no pointed or rough edges to catch foreign matter likely to clog or jamv the parts and interfere with their smooth operation.

6. To accomplish the aforesaid and following objects Without any pointed or rough projections or surfaces at the adjacent disengaged or separated longitudinal sides, thereby avoiding the risk of subjecting any part of the body to possible injury from any part of the fastening device.

'7. To accomplish the aforesaid and following objects with a fastening device noiseless and substantially frictionless in operation and applicable to the lightest and flimsiest fabrics or other materials.

8. To accomplish the aforesaid and following objects by fastening members all but a small part of which are concealed by the material forming the closure and in. which the exposed parts may beornamental or capable of ornamentation by the attachment of precious or semiprecious stones or jewels of color or hue to harm-onize with the material in the object to which the fastener is applied, or buttons of regular or special design.

9. To accomplish the objects hereinbefore and hereinafter referred to with the aid of flexible members controlling the spaced relation of the clips, one of which members is concealed behind the lips of the object to which they, are applied.

10. To accomplish the aforesaid and following objects without the use of stringers of a special material such as are necessitated by fastening devices using interlocking metallic elements which must be clamped, stitched or otherwise attached to such special material.

11. To accomplish the aforesaid and following objects and at the same time lessen the cost of production of garments or other objects having openings to be closed, and to avoid the unsightliness of zippers or other fasteners comprising material in color, texture, substance, design, etc. different from the body of the object itself, by utilizing for the lips of the closure the identical material in the body of the object.

12. To accomplish the aforesaid and following objects and provide a practically dust-proof and heat and cold retaining closure for garments, containers, etc. through interlocking the lips of a closure and then wrapping one or more layers of fabric around them, maintaining them in that position by means of clips.

Another object of my invention is to make it possible for the lips of a closure to be formed in a single piece with the body of the object so that it is not necessary to join separate strips of material to the sides of an opening to form lips over which the clips may slide.

For example, in a front opening in a womans dress it is customary to face the edges of the opening by stitching strips of the same material as the body of the garment to the edges of the opening to provide reinforced portions on either side, one in which button holes are worked and one to which buttons are sewed.

Instead of all this, my invention makes it possible for a bead to be made along each edge of the opening to form lips. The lips are then interfolded and wrapped around each other and one or more of my clips are slipped over the beads in this position. When the clips are bunched together at the end of the opening the lips are free to separate to permit the garment to be donned. When the clips are moved into a position in which they are spaced apart they automatically interfold and wrap the corded lips around each other.

Then, too, without changing the construction of the clips, the lips may be two-ply from the beads, especially if the material is very flimsy. Furthermore, for a side placket in a womans dress the inside plies may be joined behind the back wall of the clips so that even if the beaded edges become separated when the placket is opened said inside plies prevent the exposure of any of the undergarments or any part of the body of the wearer.

Another object of my invention is to provide means whereby such a side placket may be formed of a single piece of material and yet be interfolded by my clips. This type of placket utilizes a stringer in which the cords forming the beads are set into a single piece of silk, cotton or other fabric, the beads being formed parallel to each other and approximately six inches apart.

When the clips are spaced apart the fabric is interfolded two-ply from each bead, the plies separating as they emerge from the folds of the clip, the outermost plies being stitched to the body of the garment, the innermost plies forming a covering for the innermost wall of the clip so that no part of the metal touches any undergarment, or if no undergarment is worn, no part of the metal touches the skin of the wearer.

This particular form of my invention is of special value in applications where it is not necessary for the lips of a closure to become separated to provide an opening, that is, applications where expansion of the lips is all that is necessary to permit the fabric to pass over a holes, hooks and eyes, snaps or other fasteners were provided. But there was always a tendency for the edges of the slit to gap open between the fasteners and thereby expose the undergarments or the skin of the wearer. The present invention makes possible a side placket without a slit in the fabric. With no slit in the placket there is no possibility of exposure of the undergarments or of the skin of the wearer.

The preceding statement of some of the objects of the present invention is intended merely to generally explain the same and not to limit it in any manner. The invention includes all modifications and embodiments coming within the scope of the claims. All adaptation of the generic or specific aspects of the invention are intended to be comprehended within the meaning and range of equivalency of the claims.

With the above stated and other objects in view as will be apparent as the specification proceeds my invention resides in the features of construction, in the unique relation of the members, in the relative proportioning and disposition thereof, and in their combination and arrangement, the essentials of which are herein described, are particularly pointed out in the appended claims, and are illustrated in the accompanying drawings forming a part of the specification and accompanying the same.

In these drawings several forms of the invention have been depicted as a part of this disclosure. From the following description it will be seen that in all forms of the invention the walls of the opening to be closed or the stringer themselves are interfolded and wrapped around in the closing operation and that in each form of clip illustrated and described the walls slide between the interfolded layers of material of the object or of the stringers themselves.

Referring now to the accompanying drawing in which corresponding and like parts are designated throughout the several views by the same reference characters.

Fig. 1 is a front view of a simple form of my invention showing the fastener in a closed position with the clips spaced apart over the length of the stringers;

Fig. 2 is a front view of the upper portion of Fig. 1 but with the operating handle turned up into the opposite direction to raise the cap hinged to said handle, above the top of the clip, to permit the entire cap to be moved to the front of the clip;

Fig. 3 is a front view of the upper portion of Fig. 1 but with the operating handle raised to a horizontal position and the topmost clip pulled down from the top of the stringers;

Fig. 4 is a front view of the lower portion of Fig. 1, showing the clips bunched together at the bottom of the stringers with the operating handle dropped to its normal vertical position,

and the cap dropped in front of the clips, the flexible elements at the ends of the clips taken on a loop formation at the side, and the flexible elements joining the clip-facings taking on a loop formation in front of the clips. Fig. 4 also shows the diagonal formation of the stringers, G" and 6;;

Fig. is an enlarged cross sectional view taken along the line 5 -5 of Fig. 1, omitting the front facing of the clip and showing the interfolded and wrapped around position of the stringers or lips as they are folded between the walls of the clips when the clips are spaced apart, the left side stringer or lip being folded back upon itself rearwardly and the right side stringer or lip being folded back upon itself frontwardly, the clips separatingthe walls of the stringers or lips, the beaded edge of each stringer or lip lying within the bendof the clip between the walls of the other stringer or lip.

Figs. 6, 7 and 8 are enlarged cross sectional views of three other forms of clips to be covered by the appended claims;

Figs. 9 and 10 are enlarged cross sectional views of portion of the stringers adjoining their beaded edges;

Figs. 11, 12 and 13 are cross sectional views showing the steps in the interfolding of the stringers;

Fig. 14 is a cross sectional view showing the interfolded and wrapped-around position of the stringers produced by the approach of the topmost clip, the left side stringer being folded back upon itself rearwardly and the right sidestringer being folded back upon itself frontwardly, the folds forming channels in the substantially parallel walls of the stringers, the beaded edge of each stringer lying contiguous to the bend forming the channel between the walls of the other stringer.

Fig. 15 is an enlarged cross sectional view of the operating handle 9 and the cap 1, taken along the line I5'I5" of Fig. 1;

Fig. 16 is an enlarged cross sectional View of the operating handle 9, and the cap 1, taken along the line I6'--I6" of Fig. 2.

In an embodiment of the invention as shown in the drawings, the fastener illustrated in Fig. 1 has an operating handle 9, hinged to the clip I, under cap I, which is hinged to the handle 9, at

is hinge 8. The clips 2, 3, '4 and 5 are similar to clip I except that each has instead of a cap a front facing 23, 24, 25 and, 26 movably attached by pins 21, 28, 29 and 30,0:1 which they revolve to assume horizontal positions when the clips are bunched together at one end of the stringers 6, as shown in Fig. 4.

The return to horizontal position is produced by the ends of the facings striking each other on the downward movement of the clips. For instance, when clip I is pulled down it strikes the top of facing 23, which, being curved, is pushed to either side. If to the left it causes the bottom of facing 23 to swing to the right thereby causing the flexible element 'II to pull the top facing 24 to the right, causing the bottom of facing 24 to swing to the left and. so on with all the facings, each facing successively striking the next lower facing and pushing it into a horizontal position.

The front facings are joined to each other by the fiexibleelements II, I2 and I3, and are joined to the topmost clip I, and the bottom of the stringers t, by the flexible elements II) and I4, at the eyes I5, IE, I], I8, I9, 20, 2], and 22. The front facings have prongs 3|, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 31, and 38 designed to hold setting of ornamental stones.

' The clips I, 2, 3, 4, and 5, terminate at their endsin turns 39, 40, "4|, 42,. and 43, reduced in size from the width of the clips and designed to encompass and compress flexible members 44, 45, 46, 41, and 48, which assume loop formations when the clips are bunched together as shown in Fig. 4, the narrower width of the terminii 39, 40, 4|, 42, and 43, preventing the flexible elements from obstructing the contact of the edges of the clips when the clips are bunched together as shown in Fig. 4.

The operating handle 9 is shown in Fig. 1 suspended from the hinge B. It is shown in Fig. 2 elevated to a position in which its normally lowest portion is raised above the cap I which is at the same time elevated above clip I to release the clip from the top of the interfolded stringers 6 and 6', permitting clip I to be moved down to the position shown in Fig. 3, wherein the operating handle 9 is shown in a horizontal position for greater ease in applying a pull to move said clip I downwardly until it is stopped when the clips become bunched at the bottom as shown in Fig. 4. wherein the operating handle 9 is allowed to resume its normal position.

In Figs. 1, 2, 3 and 4 are shown the outside walls 6 and 6' of the material forming what is ordinarily termed a stringer. 6" is the left side stringer folded back upon itself from a line to the right of the center of the closure. 6' is the right side stringer folded back upon itself from a line to the left of the center of the closure. The stringers 6 and 6 approach each other from opposite directions and overlap longitudi nally in substantially parallel planes. The two stringers together comprise a pair of stringers. This pair of stringers is interlocked and wrapped around by the upward and spaced movement of the clips but is left free to separate after a downward or bunched movement of the clips.

While the term pair of stringers is used throughout this specification and stringers are illustrated in the drawings, and although from the standpoint of present usage such stringers are tapes applied to the edges of an opening to form extensions over which the clips may slide, it is not necessary that these stringers be made of different material than that used in the body of the object in which the opening to be closed appears.

For example, in a womans dress stringers may be strips of the same material as the dress, stitched to the edges of an opening running all the way down from the front of the neck to the bottom of the hem in which case they would take the place of the facings ordinarily employed to reinforce the edges of the opening, and would be termed lips.

Likewise, in a side or placket opening in a woman's dress strips of the same material could be stitched on, or the dress could be so designed that instead of such strips having to be stitched on, enough of the material of the dress could be left on, or, as stated in the art, cut-on, and these extensions would themselves form the lips over which the clips would slide.

The term stringers is usually used herein when the left side member and the right side member of the fastening device are formed of separate strips attached to the side of the opening to be closed; the term lips is usually used when the left side member and the right side member are integral with the body of the garment or other object. But these terms, and the term edge of a closure are sometimes used herein interchangeably when clarity seems to be aided by so doing, the reference in each case,

the cylindrical bend 53, noncontacting therebeing to the left or right side member of the fastening device or to both of said members together.

' It should be noted that although all the different forms of clips shown in the drawings have five walls, it is not intended to limit the device to clips having five walls. The interfolding function of the clips is accomplished by three walls, but there is nothing to prevent the continuation of the metal around the three walls as many times as may be desired to produce one or more wraps of the stringers or lips around the interfolded parts.

The increase in the number of walls, however,

'. does not change the basic principle, the peculiar formation of which produces the interfolded and wrapped-around position of the stringers, or of the lips of the opening. All that the additional walls do is to wrap the material around the interfolded portions again and again, as many times as desired to increase the amount of material that must be unfolded before any separation of the interfolded and wrapped-around parts could be forced.

In Fig. 5 the successive steps in the formation of a clip of one form of my invention is indicated by the numerals as follows: a single piece of sheet metal or other material, one end at the beginning of a cylindrical bend 50, subtending an angle of less than 360, forming a terminal portion, a semi-cylindrical bend 5I, an extension 52, a cylindrical bend 53, of less than 360, an extension 54, a cylindrical bend 55 subtending an angle of less than 360 in the opposite direction, an extension 56, a third cylindrical bend 51 within with and opening in the same direction, an extension 58, a cylindrical bend 59, an extension 60, a semi-cylindrical bend 6|, a cylindrical bend 62, of less than 360 forming a terminal portion, whereby two flexible elements beaded at their edges, passing between the walls of said nonflexible member are folded back upon themselves, interfolded with each other, and wrapped-around, the beaded edges passing within the inner cylindrical bends 55 and 51, the remainder of said flexible elements passing between said extensions and between the walls of the outer and inner cylindrical bends.

In Fig. 6 the successive steps in the formation of a clip of one form of my invention is indicated by the numerals as follows: a cylindrical bend 63, of less than 360 at one side forming a terminal portion, a semi-cylindrical bend 64, an extension 65, a concave turn 66, a cylindrical bend 61, subtending an angle of less than 360, an extension 68 folded back, 69, and forth 10, upon itself to form walls integrally connecting said cylindrical bend 61 with another cylindrical bend, ll, of less than 360, a convex turn 12, an extension 13, a semi-cylindrical bend 1.4, a cylindrical bend forming a terminal portion, none of said bends or connecting walls contacting any other portion and being spaced suificiently apart to permit flexible stringers to pass between said portions without pressure therefrom whereby a bead on the face of one of said flexible stringers is positioned within cylindrical bend 61, and a bead on the face of the other of said flexible stringers is positioned within the cylindrical bend 1 I, the outer side of the first stringer passing between the walls 68 and 69 of said closure member and the outer side of the second stringer passing between the walls 69 and 10 of said closure member.

In Fig. 7 the successive steps in the formation of a clip of one form of my invention is indicated by the numerals as follows: a cylindrical bend 16, subtending an angle of less than 360 forming a terminal portion, a semi-cylindrical bend 11, a semi-cylindrical bend 18, an extension 19, a semi-cylindrical bend 80, a cylindrical bend 8I integral with bend 82 subtending an angle of less than 360, a semi-cylindrical bend 82 facing the semi-cylindrical bend 80, an extension 83, a cylindrical bend 84, subtending an angle of less than 360, an extension 85, a cylindrical bend 86, subtending an angle of less than 360, an extension 81, a semi-cylindrical bend 88, a cylindrical bend 89, subtending an angle of less than 360", a semi-cylindrical bend 90, an extension 9I, a semi-cylindrical bend 92, another semi-cylindrical bend 93, a cylindrical bend 94, subtending an angle of less than 360 forming a terminal portion, said terminal portions 16 and 94 being adapted to encompass and compress a flexible element connecting the clips.

In Fig. 8 the successive steps in the formation of a clip of another form of my invention is indicated by the numerals as follows: a single piece of sheet metal or other material, one end at the beginning of a cylindrical bend 95, forming a terminal portion, an extension 96, a rectangular bend 91, an extension 98, a downward rectangular bend 99, an extension I00, a rectangular bend IOI, an extension I02 parallel with extension 98, an upward semi-cylindrical bend I03, an extension I04, parallel with extension I02, a semicylindrical bend I05, an extension I06 parallel with extensions 98, I02 and I04, a downward rectangular bend I01, an extension I08, parallel with extension I00, a leftward rectangular bend I09, an extension I I0, parallel with extensions 98, I02, I04 and I06, a rectangular III, an extension H2, and a cylindrical bend II 3, forming a terminal portion.

In thus describing the successive steps, in the formation of the clips shown in Figs. 5, 6, 7 and 8, the start was made at one end of the piece of sheet metal with a view to enabling anyone interested to follow the drawings most easily so that even a person unskilled in the art or inexperienced in manufacturing procedure, could easily make any of these clips.

It will be observed, however, that to take the steps successively as above stated it may be necessary to open outer cylindrical or rectangular bends to permit the insertion of inner cylindrical or rectangular bends, or to form inner cylindrical or rectangular bends outside of but alongside outer cylindrical or rectangular bends and then insert them by pressure on the edge of the metal.

In actual manufacturing for quantity production on automatic machines the operation would probably start with the formation of the inner cylindrical or rectangular bends, with the successive steps being the formation of the outer cylindrical or rectangular bends, finishing at both ends of the piece of metal.

It should also be understood that the walls may be longer or shorter in various formations, the length being determined by the kind of opening to be closed. It is conceivable, for instance, that for closing a side opening in a woman's dress the walls might be reduced to such a minimum that the lower half of the cylindrical bend 51 in Fig. 5 might appear to continue into the upper half of the cylindrical bend 55, and the upper half of the cylindrical bend-51; might appear to continue into the upper half of the cylindrical bend 59, and the lower half of the cylindrical bend 55 might appear to continue into the lower half of the cylindrical bend 53.

This would make for a clip of a comparatively small size with a proportionate reduction in weight, making this form particularly suitable for closures in which the smallest possible size and the lightest possible Weight would be especially appropriate for the kind of opening to be closed and the character of the material forming the object to which the device is applied.

While stringers without any beads or stringers embodying beads on their edges alone, or on their faces alone, or on both their edges and faces have been utilized or assumed in thedrawings it is to be understood that the interiolded and wrapped-around arrangement of the stringers may be attained by stringers of any other type and my invention is not limited to these particular details of construction.

It will also be understood that changes and variations may be made in the parts and combinations of my device and I hereby reserve my right to any and all such changes asare within the spirit of the invention and the scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A fastening device of the character described, including: two members positioned at an angle of approximately 180; each of said members extending in opposite directions for attachment longitudinally to the body of an object, the free sides of said members being folded back facing each other and being adapted to hook on to each other and means for causing said foldedback portionsto hook on to each other and to be restrained from moving apart or to be freed from said restraint and allowed to be unhooked, said means comprising an interfolding element having more than three walls, adapted to slide along and between said members.

2. A fastening device of the character described, including: two members extending in a opposite directions for attachment longitudinally to the body of an object; said members overlapping each other from opposite directions; the free sides of said members being folded back and being adapted to hook on to each other; and

' means for causing said folded-back portions to hook on to each other or to be allowed to unhook, said means comprising a fastening element having five walls, three of said walls being adapted to slide between said members to force said members to hook on to each other or to allow said members to unhook.

3. In a separable fastening device divisible at one end, the combination of a left side member folded back upon itself and comprising substantially a U shaped Wall; a right side member folded back upon itself and comprising substantially a U shaped wall; said members overlapping each other from opposite sides of a closure; and means for forcing said members to interlock, said means comprising a fastening element having more than three walls, three of said walls being slidable along and between the walls of said members to force said members into interlocked engagement,

or to release said members from said engagement.

4. A closure comprising four layers of flexible material divided into two sections of two layers each, interfolding with each other, in combination with a fastening member of relatively nonflexible material having five walls, three of said walls being adapted to slide between said four layers of flexible material to cause one layer of each section to become positioned between two layers of the other section.

5. The combination of two flexible members folded back upon themselves longitudinally, the folded-back portions being adapted to engage each other, the extremities of said members being free to separate from each other a the end thereof, and means for causing said folded-back portions to become co-engaged or to be free to be* come disengaged, said means comprising a fastening element having more than three walls, three of said walls being slidable along and between the walls of said members to force said members into interlocked engagement, or to release said members from interlocked engagement.

6. In a fastening device of the character described, the oombination of two flexible members overlapping each other longitudinally from opposite sides of an opening to be closed; the free sides of said members being folded back facing each other, the folded-back portions forming substantially parallel walls and being adapted to en.- gage each other; the extremities of said members being free to separate from each other at the end thereof; and means for causing said folded-back portions to become co-engaged and restrained from moving apart, or to be free from said restraint and allowed to become disengaged; said means comprising a plurality of securing elements having more than three walls, slidable along and between said members, retaining said members in said co-engaged position when said securing elements are spaced apart over the length of said members and allowing said members to become disengaged when said elements are moved in the opposite direction.

7. A clip for closing an opening, said clip comprising four arcuate portions, two on each side, one of each group of two being disposed within the other, said clip being adaptable for slidab-le movement along beads in lips at either side of said opening, said lips being capable of being interfold-ed and interlocked with each other, said clip including three walls intermediate the cylindrical bends on either side, forming common connections for the arcuate portions between which said lips are folded, whereby one wall of each of said lips is made to slide in between the folds of the other upon the spreading apart of a plurality of said clips over the length of the closure, each of said clips including a front wall and a back wall parallel with said three intermediate walls, whereby said clips are prevented from being turned in the opposite direction by tension on said clips.

8. A closure comprising four layers of flexible material divided into two sections of two layers each, interfolding with each other, in combination with a fastening member of relatively nonflexible material having more than three walls, three of said walls being adapted to slide between said four layers of flexible material to cause one vlayer of each section to become positioned between two layers of the other section.

9. A fastening device comprising two flexible members positioned opposite each other and overlapping each other longitudinally from opposite sides of an opening to be closed; each of said members extending in opposite directions for attachment longitudinally to the body of the object of which they are to form-a part; the free sides of said members having enlarged edges longitudinal therewith, said free sides being folded back facing each other, the folded-back portions being adapted to engage each other; an operating device and a plurality of securing elements mounted on said enlarged edges, said device and said elements each having more than three walls, being connected to each other by a flexible tie, being slidable on said edges and along and between said walls, and being adapted to produce a co-engagement of said members when said device and said elements are moved in one direction and to permit a separation of said members when said device and said elements are moved in the opposite direction.

10. In a slide fastener, the combination of a pair of stringers folded back upon themselves and adapted to be united and separated, each of said stringers being provided with a bead on the edge thereof, and a plurality of clips slidably carried by said stringers and said beads and adapted to slide between the folds of said stringers, each of said clips having more than three walls spaced sufficiently apart to permit said clips to slide easily on said stringers and each having two bends encompassing said beads, said clips being adapted to automatically arrange said stringers in an overlapping and interlocking parallel position on the movement of said members along said stringers and said beads, and to maintain said stringers in such overlapping and interlocking position, providing means whereby the beaded edge of the top stringer is made to pass in between the folds of the bottom stringer, and the beaded edge of the bottom stringer is made to pass in between the folds of the top stringer.

11. In a garment or other object having an opening therein, the edges of which opening may be spread apart, and to which edges are attached lips of flexible material folded back upon themselves, one layer of each of said lips being capable of passing between two layers of the other lips, each of said lips containing a bead longitudinal to said opening, a plurality of clips having more than three walls adapted to slide along the folds of said lips, said clips being positioned along the length of said beads at spaced distances therealong and being adapted to hold the beaded lips interfolded one within the other to close said opening, a flexible element of a length approximately the length of said opening connecting said clips at spaced distances therealong and limiting the distances between said clips when in spaced position along said beads, said clips being adapted to be moved to a bunched position one against the other at one end of the opening with portions of said flexible element between said clips disposed in loop formation.

12. A fastening device of the character described, including; two members folded back facing each other and being adapted to hook on to each other, and means for causing said foldedback portions to hook on to each other and to be restrained from moving apart or to be freed from said restraint and allowed to be unhooked, said means comprising an interfolding element having more than three integral folds and being adapted to slide along and between the folds of said members.

13. In a fastening device, the combination of a left side member folded back upon itself and comprising substantially a U shaped wall; a right side member folded back upon itself and comprising substantially a U shaped wall; said members overlapping each other from opposite sides of a closure; and means for forcing said members to interlock, said means comprising a fastening element having more than three integral folds adapted to slide along and between the walls of said members.

14. A closure comprising four layers of flexible material divided into two sections of two layers each, interfolding with each other, in combination with a fastening member of relatively non-flexible material having more than three integral folds, three of said folds being adapted to slide between said four layers of flexible material to cause one layer of each section to become positioned between two layers of the other section, the balance of said fastening member sliding along the outside of said material.

15. The combination of two flexible members folded back upon themselves longitudinally, the folded-back portions being adapted to engage each other, and means for causing said folded back portions to become and remain co-engaged, or to be free to become disengaged, said means comprising a plurality of fastening elements each having more than three integral folds, three of said folds being slidable between the walls of said members to force said members into, and remain in, interlocked engagement, or to allow said members to be released from said interlocked engagement.

OSCAR A. BERMAN.

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