WO2013171778A2 - Hand coupling and fixing device, in particular button fixing device - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention relates to a coupling and fixing device (10) comprising a rigid tip (11) adapted to pierce, actionable as a needle, arranged at a first end of a flexible filiform body (12, 12'), preferably with a cylindrical section, and a locking element (15) disposed at a second end of said flexible filiform body (12, 12'), said second end being opposite to said first end, said locking element (15) comprising a through hole (16) of asize suitable to allow the passage of said flexible filiform body (12, 12'), characterized in that said locking element (15) comprises a spacer element (14), alternately disposed between said flexible filiform body (12, 12') and said through hole (16) or on the side of said through hole (16) opposite to said flexible filiform body (12, 12'), said spacer element (14) comprising a rigid stem at the end of which is present a foot, arranged transversely with respect to said rigid stem.

Description

HAND COUPLING AND FIXING DEVICE, IN PARTICULAR BUTTON

FIXING DEVICE

The present invention relates to a hand coupling and fixing device, in particular a button fixing device .

More specifically, the invention relates to a device suitable to fix two or more elements to one another, such as two or more tissues or other materials that can be needled and secured to one another, or one or more tissues or other materials that can be needled and insured to other objects previously needled, such as purely by way of example buttons, or more objects perforated to one another, in a fast, durable and aesthetically pleasing way.

As it is well known, a needle is a tool used for sewing, elongated and pointed at one end. On its end opposite to that on which the tip is located a hole is present called the eye, in which the thread is passed. The function of the needle is to constitute a transport element of the wire, able if necessary to pierce the materials to be sewed.

Depending on the use to which it is intended, the needle can be made with different materials and have different shapes and sizes. For example, the sewing needles can be more or less thick depending on the thread to be inserted into the eye (and therefore the size of the eye) or depending on the type of material or fabric to be sewn, the needles for wool are larger than those for sewing and often have an elongated eye and a rounded tip, leather needles have a triangular cross section and sharp, so to be able to pierce the leather. There are also so-called bodkins, needles larger than sewing needles, sometimes flattened, for threading a tape or a rubber band.

According to the present prior art, one of the main problems of the needles is the difficulty to insert the thread inside the eye. In fact, if on one hand it would be sufficient to realize needles with eye of larger dimensions, on the other hand these needles, because of these increased dimensions, could damage the tissue at the time of pearcing it. A further problem is the need to carry out, during the operation of sewing, different and laborious procedures. Preliminarily, in fact, one or more knots must be tied at the height of the terminal part of the thread of cotton, for ensuring its anchoring to the fabric. Subsequently, specifically in the case of the button sewing, there is the need to pass and repass several times the thread in the cloth and into the holes of the button (about eight times) so that the thread purchases the resistance necessary to guarantee the seal of the button. It is then necessary to provide, at the end of the seam, for the fixing of the thread that is still free, to avoid a rapid unse.

DE29820846U1 discloses a button attacher made of a flexible material, preferably plastic, with an arm or rod provided with a tip with an eyelet with an eye at one end and a hooked portion which extends for at least part of said arm, wherein the button attacher is provided with a support .

Using the solution proposed in DE29820846U1 , however, it is obtained a non manageable button because too tightly fixed to its fabric and deprived of the space necessary to insert, superimposed on the first, a second fabric. Furthermore, this solution does not allow to center the position of the button compared to filamentary bodies for fastening, and therefore does not allow to stabilize the position.

In light of the above, it appears evident the importance of having a coupling and fixing device that allows to enjoy the typical advantages of the seam in the mounting of two or more elements between them, such as two or more fabrics or other materials that can be needled and secured between them, or one or more tissues or other materials that can be needled and secured to other objects previously needled, which purely by way of example buttons, or more objects perforated between them, in a quick (and aesthetically pleasant ) .

In this context it is included the solution according to the present invention, which aims at providing a coupling and fixing device, in particular a device for fixing buttons, the shapes and sizes of which are such as to aesthetically integrate with the generally available fabrics and the seams, without altering their external appearance, and without having to give up the strength and reliability of the resulting coupling or fixing, but constituting a coupling system that is particularly simple, reliable and quickly executable by anyone.

Purpose of the present invention is therefore to provide a coupling and fixing device, in particular a fixing device of buttons, which allows to overcome the limitations of the solutions according to the prior art and to obtain the technical and aesthetic results, previously described, in particular required by the garment industry.

Further object of the invention is that said device is industrializable with substantially contained costs .

Moreover, object of the invention is also to provide a coupling and fixing device, in particular a fixing device of buttons that is substantially simple, safe and reliable, constituting not a simple emergency remedy for the possible loss of a button preliminary to a subsequent operation of re-stitching, but that qualifies the invention on one hand as a real alternative to traditional fixing systems.

It is therefore a specific object of the present invention a coupling and fixing device comprising a rigid tip adapted to pierce, actionable as a needle, arranged at a first end of a flexible filiform body, preferably with a cylindrical section, and a locking element arranged at a second end of said flexible filiform body, said second end being opposite to said first end, said locking element comprising a through hole of a size suitable to allow the passage of said flexible filiform body, wherein said locking element includes a spacer element, alternately arranged between said flexible filiform body and said through hole or on a side of said through hole opposite to said flexible filiform body, said spacer element comprising a rigid stem at the end of which is present a foot, arranged transversely with respect to said rigid stem.

Preferably, according to the invention, said flexible filiform body comprises a portion, also called interfering portion that is covered with protrusions, indentations, spines, hooks, or different forms of thicknesses adapted to exert interference with respect to said through hole.

Alternatively, according to the invention, said coupling and fixing device can be made with a single material or at least one between said rigid tip, said flexible filiform body, said interfering portion, said locking element and said spacer element is made of materials different with respect to the others, or with different mixtures of the same base material.

Moreover, always according to the present invention, said flexible filiform body and/or said interfering portion, and said through hole have a cross section of any shape compatible with the unidirectional sliding of said flexible filiform body and/or said interfering portion in said through hole, the walls of said through hole optionally being rounded on one side and with angled tips converging between them on the other side, or said through hole optionally having a slotted shape hole, with a greater length and a smaller width than the measures in section of said flexible filiform body and/or of said interfering portion.

In particular, according to the invention, said coupling and fixing device can have predetermined breaking points on said interfering portion and/or the foot of said spacer element can have a symmetrical development relative to the axis of said rigid stem and have grooves at its ends.

Furthermore, according to the present invention, said locking element can be integral with a final element shaped as a true button, or said locking element can be integral with a final element provided with coupling means for bonding or of the type male/female, or magnetic or interlocking, with a buttoncover .

Preferably, according to the invention, said final element may comprise an excavated portion for collecting the yarn of said button covers. The advantages achieved according to the present invention, which will not only allow to pursue the aims which were set, but also make innovative aesthetic solutions in the field of fashion possible, offering the ability to change the appearance of the button without having to unpick and sew the part fixed to the fabric (in the case of the adoption of the embodiment with support/base and button covers) or making the sewing operation very quick and easy, in case it is desirable to simply provide for quick changeovers of buttons .

The present invention will now be described, for illustrative but not limitative purposes, according to some of its preferred embodiments, with particular reference to the figures of the accompanying drawings, in which:

- Figure 1 shows a coupling and fixing device, in particular a device for fixing buttons, according to an exemplification of a first possible embodiment of the present invention in which the various functional parts of the device are highlighted;

- Figure 2 shows a view in greater detail of some elements of a coupling and fixing device, in particular a device for fixing buttons, according to a second embodiment of the present invention, such as to highlight the structure of the parts functional;

Figure 3 shows an embodiment of the device according to the present invention, with incisions which determine predetermined breaking points as alternative cutting system with respect to traditional systems (scissors) ;

- Figure 4 shows a phase of use of the device of Figure 1, during the attachment of a button to a fabric ;

- Figure 5 shows the device of Figure 4 from a different perspective;

- Figure 6 shows the locking element of a coupling and fixing device according to a different embodiment of the present invention;

- Figure 7 shows four different embodiments of the locking element of the coupling and fixing device according to the present invention,-

- Figures 8-11 show further embodiments of the locking element of a coupling and fixing device according to the present invention.

Referring to Figures 1 and 2, according to one embodiment of the present invention, the coupling and fixing device is generally indicated by the reference number 10 and is composed of different parts produced in continuity and more in particular by: a rigid tip 11, also said needle, which can be made of rigid plastic and is similar to the common sewing needles but devoid of the eye, i.e. is constituted by a tip and a portion near said tip. To follow, at the side opposite to the apex of the rigid tip 11 follow a flexible filiform body 12, 12' which, optionally, in the embodiment shown with reference to Figure 1, comprises a portion 13, called the interfering part or interfering portion 13, also flexible, which divides said flexible filiform body into a first part 12 and a second part 12' . At the other end of the flexible filiform body 12, 12' a locking element 15 is present, the characteristics of which will be exposed in the following description.

The rigid tip 11, together with the flexible filiform body 12 and a portion of the interfering part 13 constitutes the disposable part of the coupling and fixing device 10 of the present invention, as will be better specified in the following description. The filiform body 12 which begins from the terminal part of the rigid tip 11 and in continuity therewith is made of a filament of plastic or other flexible and bendable material; in addition, said interfering portion 13 may be provided with indentations or, alternatively of protrusions, spines, hooks, or different forms of thicknesses adapted to exert interference with a through hole 16 of said locking element 15. The terminal part of the flexible filiform body 12' is smooth, for not having toothed or annoying elements potentially in contact with the skin or in any case, in some embodiments of the present invention, in an internal position with respect to the cloth.

From the first characteristics of the hand operated coupling and fixing device, in particular for fixing of buttons shown with reference to Figures 1 and 2 it is evident that the solution according to the present invention is derived from a systemic and phenomenological analysis of the action of hand sewing through an overall device constituted by needle, thread, knots, cloth, and possibly buttons.

Each of these elements, in common practice, is considered a separate object.

Placing focus on the complex action of sewing as operation aimed at fixing in relation to the current technological possibilities of processing of materials, especially plastics or metal (whether they are considered as alternatives to the normal use of natural fibers such as wool and cotton or integrated into the manufacturing process of said fibers) and, at the same time, conceiving the direction in which the needle is primarily inserted as a variable under the control of the user, the inventors have been able to treat the relationship between the parts as a system of interconnected modules that can be realised jointly or separately depending on the need. These modules can be assembled from time to time according to the identified variants, also in a manner substantially different from the use according to the known technique . The system acquires that way a notable flexibility in realization. Indeed, one thing is, for example, to insert the needle from the inside of the fabric to the outside (which imposes the necessity that a part performs the function of the node at the end of the wire, as it happens in the current systems of use of the yarn of cotton) and another thing is, having previously coupled (or even realized as a single body) the yarn to the button, insert the needle from the outside, letting the button performs the same task previously performed by the node. The possible combinations derive therefore not only by the possibility of jointly carry portions of the device, but also by the combinatorial of these parts with the direction of insertion of the needle, and by variations of the materials used for the production.

Referring again to Figures 1 and 2, the coupling and fixing device of the present invention therefore consists of a rigid tip 11, adapted to pierce, actionable as a needle, followed by a filiform flexible body 12, 12', preferably having cylindrical section, said flexible filiform body 12, 12' for its part being covered with protrusions, indentations, spines, hooks, or different forms of thicknesses adapted to exert interference with a locking element 15 of the coupling and fixing device 10 of the present invention, disposed in the terminal part of the flexible filiform body 12, 12', said portion of the flexible filiform body being called interfering part or interfering portion 13.

Said locking element 15 is provided with a through hole 16, within which it is possible the sliding of said flexible filiform body 12, 12' and of said interfering portion 13 with an irreversible movement at least as regards the latter, and being preferably constituted by a small eyelet, also suitable for functionally replacing the usual node of the cotton yarn when sewing, whatever the direction of insertion of the rigid tip 11 in the cloth, but could be realized in other forms, both in the solid part and in the through hole 16, provided that the requirement is respected of dimensions such as not to be an additional encumbrance and/or not too much higher than normal node of the yarn.

In a position preceding or, alternatively, following to that of the hole 16 of the locking element 15 with respect to the flexible filiform body 12, 12' a spacer element 14 is placed, comprising a cylindrical thickening, provided with a head perpendicular to the body, such as to constitute as a whole a foot, the button being applicable by means of the coupling and fixing device 10, which keep the fabric to which it is attached apart, ensuring the handling of said button. Such a spacer element has not only the function of spacing the button from the fabric to which it is attached, allowing the insertion of the cloth bearing the slot (the device without a spacer element would not in fact provide for a manageable button because too tightly fixed to its fabric and deprived of the space required to insert, superimposed on the first, a second fabric) , but also to center the position of the button compared to filamentary fixing bodies, thus stabilizing the position.

To follow it is possible, according to one of the variants proposed below with reference to the figures, to place a real button, produced in conjunction with the rest of the device, or a support base for buttoncovers (covers) fully removable and replaceable. Such a support base for buttoncovers can be of different types, able to be attachable to the cloth either by the fastener presented here or, when produced as device in itself intended to increase the variability of aesthetics of buttons, by means of operations of traditional seam. Such a support base, in one of the variants presented below with reference to the figures, provides an accommodation of collection for the cotton yarn introduced in the holes of the buttoncovers so to reproduce the aspect of a normal button, differing from it at the same time for the operation, extremely simple, of substitution with other buttoncovers different in the visible outer part also only for color or even for shape and material .

The coupling and fixing device can be made in alternative of metal or thermoplastic material (characterized by the possibility of varying the percentage composition of the compounds in function of the necessary hardness and flexibility of the functional components) or even by a combination of the two materials, it is possible also to make a variation in natural material (cotton, wool etc..) which can be treated by means of technical processes (polymerization) that can modify its hardness, thickness, flexibility and shape.

Figure 3 shows an embodiment of the coupling and fixing device already shown with reference to Figure 2, which includes in addition the incisions 17 that determine predetermined breaking points of the interfering portion 13 of the filiform body 12, 12', so as to realize a cutting system alternative to traditional systems (scissors) .

Figure 4 shows a phase of use of the coupling and fixing device 10 shown with reference to Figure 1, during the attachment of the button 22 to a fabric 23, in which it is shown how, introducing primarily the rigid tip 11 from the outside toward the inside of the fabric 23 the locking element 15 is left between the fabric 23 and the button 22, avoiding any discomfort to the body of the person wearing the garment of which the fabric 23 is a part; in order to make it possible it is necessary that the locking element 15 is of such size as to remain hidden under the button 22.

Figure 5 highlights, in the operation of the coupling and fixing device 10 already shown with reference to Figure 4, the function performed by the spacer 14, which in the embodiment shown in this figure is provided with grooves 18 which have the function of confining the flexible filiform body 12, 12' intended to ensure the button 22 to the locking element 15, balancing the traction forces to center and stabilizing the button 22 with respect to the first input hole of the coupling and fixing device 10 in the fabric 23.

Figure 6 shows only the locking element 15 in an embodiment of the present invention according to which, instead of having a circular shape and being equipped with the through hole 16 of circular shape, it has an elongated shape (15') with an elongated hole (16').

Figure 7 shows four variants of the coupling and fixing device shown in Figure 1 wherein the first two 14A differ from the second two 14B for the position of the spacer element 14 with respect to the locking element 15, and one 14A' from the other 14A" in the first pair and one 14B' from the other 14B" in the second pair in the length of the spacer element 14; such different length being required in relation to the use of the coupling and fixing device 10 with fabrics to be superimposed for coupling of different thickness, as for example in the case of a light jacket instead of a heavy coat.

Figure 8 shows a coupling and fixing device 10 according to one embodiment of the present invention, in which it has in continuity its own button 22' made in one piece with the remaining part of the device and ready for use. According to this embodiment, the coupling and fixing device 10 according to the present invention is configured as an emergency button of universal type.

Figure 9 shows the terminal part of a coupling and fixing device 10 according to one embodiment of the present invention, in which it has in continuity a base/support 19 possibly made of one piece with the remaining part of the device and ready to use, this base/support 19 being made according to one of the possible forms with enlargement for hook closure, shown together with the removable device 20 having the accommodation for the enlargement on the base as in normal closure devices of the type male/female. Alternatively, according to a further embodiment (not shown) a buttoncover (cover) , made of a valuable material previously perforated in at least one point or several points is provided with interlocking dovetails (and/or by gluing) inserted in the hole (or holes) present, said dovetails remaining projected for a thickness sufficient to be used as an engagement means, being themselves provided with indentations or other locking means at the end of the device intended to receive them, inside the final element. In this case, the device should be equipped with release means for the recovery of the buttoncover (cover) . According to this embodiment, to a base/support can correspond more than one buttoncover (cover) also of different colors and materials. According to this embodiment of the present invention its aesthetic potential will be accentuated.

Figure 10 shows the terminal part of a coupling and fixing device 10 according to one embodiment of the present invention, which shows the locking element 15 provided in continuity of a button base/support 19' possibly made of one piece with the remaining part of the device 10 and ready for use, this base/support 19' being shown together with a removable device 20' to be fixed to said base/support 19' alternately with interlocking systems, to obtain a removable cover, or by gluing, to obtain a single button ready for use as shown in Figure 8. The figure also shows a housing 21 in the base/support 19', but also obtainable according to one alternative embodiment of the present invention on the removable device 20', if provided with a suitable thickness, which performs the function of containment of the yarn passing through the holes of the removable device 20' solely for aesthetic purposes, or to replicate in the view, but not in the mode of operation, a normal button.

Figure 11 shows the terminal part of a coupling device 10 according to one embodiment of the present invention, which shows a button base/perforated support 19" ready for use and also possibly fixable with traditional sewing methods being such base/support 19" provided with holes, typical of buttons; such base/support 19" is here made according to one of the possible shapes with enlargement for closure, shown together with the removable device 20 having the slot for the enlargement in the base as in the normal closure devices of the male/female type. Even here, then, thanks to the modification of the final element which becomes an interface for coupling with buttons or buttoncovers or similar to be applied over the same, the coupling device according to the present invention is also usable with special buttons (with stitching of fabric, with reported threads or other solutions typically of fine tailoring) .

The advantages of the solution according to the present invention are immediately evident.

In fact, differently from the traditional system with needle and yarn, the solution proposed according to the present invention does not require to insert a stitching yarn inside the eye of the needle, does not need to carry knots at the end of the cotton yarn, does not require to pass and repass the yarn several times between the two materials to be coupled in order to acquire resistance and even to pass it and wipe again from one side, to the end of the operation, in order to permanently fix the seam and avoid rapid unsewing, with obvious advantages of time and ease of use. It is true that, in areas outside the sector, the need to tie together two objects has been addressed by proposing the use of cable ties usually consisting of a strip of nylon from 10 to 50 cm long, a few millimeters wide (the smallest in trade are usually 2mm wide) , notched on one side, to one end of which a system of ratchet block is made, consisting of a rectangle containing a tooth in which the other end is inserted, the tooth allowing the sliding of the strip in one direction and preventing it in the opposite direction, the tooth engaging with the notched part of the strip. This type of solution, if on one side is definitely convenient in use, on the other would not be usable, firstly to the excessive size of the object, but also for all the other characteristics such as the shape and the absence of a tip adapted to pierce, in all cases in which the coupling or fixing should respect special aesthetic requirements, such as those typical of the sector of clothing. Moreover, differently from cable ties according to the prior art, the shape of the filiform body of the device according to the present invention is such as to be confused with any wire, integrating perfectly even in the case of application in replacement of an unstitched button, all other buttons remaining the same previously sewn with needle and thread. It will be sufficient to acquire a sufficient number of coupling and fixing devices according to the present invention, with different color, to be able to choose from time to time one of the color more responsive to the needs.

A considerable advantage of the filiform form is also to not necessarily having to pay attention to not twist the flexible filiform body of the coupling and fixing device according to the present invention during use, on the flexible filiform body there being no provision of preferential insertion side.

The locking element can be realized in various ways, all included within the scope of protection of the present invention. The passage of the flexible filiform body through the through hole must in all cases be allowed a pass in one direction only, so as to prevent the filiform body 12 slipping out by the locking. Depending on the final use which the coupling and fixing device according to the present invention is intended, this result can be ensured in several ways, such as to prevent the slipping in a more or less severe way.

In the most simple embodiment according to the present invention, the through hole has the same shape in section of the filiform body, preferably a circle, and the same size of the flexible filiform body, the insertion of the latter into the through hole being allowed by the fact that the rigid tip fits snuggly into the through hole and leads behind the flexible filiform body, pulling it to win the resistance made by the walls of the through hole.

In conclusion, the object of the present invention is a coupling and fixing device consisting of a flexible filiform body, having cylindrical section, alternately made of metal, a thermoplastic material (such as nylon) or also combining different compounds in the production process characterized by different coefficients of hardness (purely by way of example: nylon 6.6 and nylon reinforced with fiberglass), or of cotton, wool or other pre-existing fibers, soaked in a liquid substance, which can become solid by means of, but not limited to, a thermal process, infrared or polymerization, increasing the resistance in general and, in proportion to the substance applied to it in particular at certain points, functional, while creating the forms necessary to the operation of the different functional parts that will be also equipped with different rigidity coefficients. Said device will be equipped at one end of a rigid tip 11, adapted to pierce and to be gripped like a needle, which is part of a portion of the device that, at the end of the operation of fixing, will be disconnected by a simple tear that exerts force on special preset breaking points 17 (but in alternative the locking system could also incorporate a cutting device consisting of a portion of said device shaped as a blade, at the top of a V-shaped groove disposed on the outer edge of the eyelet) or even be cut off by means of the normal cutting systems (scissors) . At the opposite end of the device with respect to the rigid tip 11 a locking element 15 is placed in, said locking element 15 being provided with a through hole 16 of shape and size such as to allow both the passage of said rigid tip 11 and that of the flexible filiform body 12, 12' with interference. This embodiment has the advantage that both sides of insertion into the through hole 16 of the locking element 15 are equally usable, freeing the end user from having to control the insertion side. Alternatively, according to the present invention, the walls of the through hole 16 may be rounded on one side, and angled with peaks converging between them on the other side, so as to facilitate the insertion and the sliding of the flexible filiform body 12, 12' and to close on the outer surface of the flexible filiform body 12, 12' and prevent it from sliding in the opposite direction. This variant has the characteristic of providing a direction of insertion and sliding of the rigid tip 11 and the flexible filiform body 12, 12' inside the through hole 16. This requires that the shape (or other characteristics easily controllable by a user such as the color) of the locking element 15 are such as to make evident the proper direction of insertion. Otherwise said through hole 16' may have a slotted shape, a length exceeding and a width of less than the measures in section of said flexible filiform body 12, 12' .

Always according to the present invention, the outer surface of at least a portion 13 of said flexible filiform body 12, 12' is provided with symmetric or asymmetric indentations, with tips facing in the opposite direction to that of said tip to one end of the device. In the present invention it is also provided, in all embodiments, but alternatively in a more external position with respect to the locking element 15, or placed between the locking element 15 and the flexible filiform body 12, 12' , a spacer element 14, which introduces a space between the button and fabric to which it is attached, which is essential to handle the button, once fixed, for a smooth introduction of the button in the eyelet or subsequent extraction of the same from the eyelet. The body of such a spacer element 14 also has the function of channeling and stabilizing the flexible filiform body 12, 12' of the device 10 ensuring the centering of the button with respect to the fixing points.

Furthermore, according to the present invention, said locking element 15 (or alternatively said spacer element 14 of the button) can be integral with a final element shaped as a complete real button, or with a support element/base provided with means for coupling, by final gluing or movable interlocking, with a buttoncover (cover) . By support element/base it is meant here the final element, of similar shape in size with respect to the buttoncover (cover) corresponding to it, that can adhere to it in its lower part and thus not be visible from the other side, and adapted to form subsequently or previously a support to fix the buttoncover (cover) through different possible modes, such as gluing, screwing, clamping, pressure type stud or hook, magnetic attraction. Always according to the invention, said final element support/base may also include an excavated portion of collection of the yarn that can pass through the holes of said buttoncover (cover) for purely aesthetic aims. These buttoncover (cover) support bases can be fixed to the cloth either by the fastener 10 presented here or, when produced as device in itself intended to increase the variability of aesthetics of buttons, by means of operation of traditional seam. Such base/support in the variant which provides an accommodation of collection for cotton inserted in the holes of the button covers (cover) , corresponds to a button covers (cover) that plays a normal button in aesthetics, while differenziandosene for easy maneuvering replacement with other buttoncovers (cover) different in the outer part also visible only for color or even to shape and material .

According to the present invention it is therefore possible to realize, according to different embodiments included within the present invention: (1) a unitary system of yarn and needle, wherein the needle, being disposable, is removed after the perforation of the materials to be coupled and once the passage of the filiform body in the fabric is completed;

(2) a system needle-yarn-node , including an enlargement in the terminal part of the filiform body, in order to prevent the extraction of the same;

(3) a system needle-yarn-node/lock in which the lock system, which coincides with the node, allows to find pre- installed in the device the overall mechanism of insurance of the yarn to the coupled materials;

(4) a system needle-yarn-node/lock-spacer;

(5) a system needle-yarn-node/lock-spacer-button;

(6) a system needle-yarn-node/lock-spacer- base/support-buttoncover (cover) : in this case the button qualifies as a cover of the final element, in this configuration, listed by way of example, the node is not present since the direction in which the needle is inserted controls the need for an internal anchoring only if the first pass in the fabric takes place from the inside outwards, and instead uses to this end the final element, if that pass takes place from the outside inwards; the locking system of the filiform body can be understood as an element in itself, or be a single piece with the final element.

The support/base final element may also be understood as a disc of plastic material with a diameter slightly smaller than the button covers (cover) of which it is a support for attachment, and in one of its embodiments the system alternately the block with ring is thick such as to be crossed at the center, in the horizontal direction, by a tubular hole viable from the tip and from the filiform body once, in the direction required, as a tooth or ratchet placed within the hole acts as a tubular lock system acting in cooperation with the teeth present on the filiform body (in this case, the engagement point of the filament in the body of the final element is located in a position diametrically opposite to the inlet hole of the tip in the same body, and in a position attached to the hole output of the tip and of the filiform body from the body of the final element, the exit hole of the tip and of the filiform body from the body of the final element will preferably be placed in a staggered position with respect to the engagement point, more centrally with respect to the body of the final element in any useful position after overpassing the ratchet block interior, in such a way that the exceeding parts, which must be eliminated by a cut, are well clearly distinguished from those required for keeping the operation of fixing) .

All the above elements can be implemented as modular elements not necessarily present in sequence in the device: for example, it would be possible to create a system needle-yarn-button deprived, for specific executive purposes, other modular elements, or it would be possible to choose to make the device intended as a unit according to one of the variants of association of the modules described above. It is possible also to duplicate some parts. For example it is possible to realize a system of button or button/support and counter button/cover equipped with double filiform body and double locking system for safety fasteners, for example in the case of buttons of pants.

The present invention has been described for illustrative but not limitative purposes, according to its preferred embodiments, but it is to be understood that variations and/or modifications can be made by those skilled in the art without departing from the relevant scope of protection, as defined by the appended claims. In particular, it is evident how the section of the filiform body may take forms different from the circular one, without affecting the effectiveness of the device.

Claims

1) Device for coupling and fixing (10) comprising a rigid tip (11) adapted to pierce, actionable as a needle, arranged at a first end of a flexible filiform body (12, 12'), preferably with a cylindrical section, and a locking element (15) disposed at a second end of said flexible filiform body (12, 12'), said second end being opposite to said first end, said locking element (15) comprising a through hole (16) of asize suitable to allow the passage of said flexible filiform body (12, 12'), characterized in that said locking element (15) comprises a spacer element (14), alternately disposed between said flexible filiform body (12, 12') and said through hole (16) or on the side of said through hole (16) opposite to said flexible filiform body (12, 12'), said spacer element (14) comprising a rigid stem at the end of which is present a foot, arranged transversely with respect to said rigid stem.

2) A coupling and fixing device (10) according to claim 1, characterized in that said flexible filiform body (12, 12') comprises a portion (13), called interfering portion (13) that is covered with protrusions, indentations, spines, hooks, or different forms of thicknesses adapted to exert interference with respect to said through hole (16) .

3) The coupling and fixing device (10) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that it is made all with a single material.

4) The coupling and fixing device (10) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that at least one between said rigid tip (11) , said flexible filiform body (12, 12'), said interfering portion (13), said locking element (15) and said spacer element (14) is made with materials different with respect to the others, or with different mixtures of the same base material .

5) A coupling and fixing device (10) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that said flexible filiform body (12, 12') and/or said interfering portion (13) , and said through hole (16) have a cross section of any shape compatible with the unidirectional sliding of said flexible filiform body (12, 12') and/or said interfering portion (13) in said through hole (16) .

6) A coupling and fixing device (10) according to claim 5, characterized in that the walls of said through hole (16) are rounded on one side and with angled tips converging between them on the other side.

7) Coupling and fixing device (10) according to claim 5, characterized in that said through hole (16') has a slotted shape hole, with a greater length and a smaller width than the measures in section of said flexible filiform body (12, 12') and/or of said interfering portion (13) .

8) Device for coupling and fixing according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized by the fact of having predetermined breaking points (17) on said interfering portion (13) .

9) Coupling and fixing device (10) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized by the fact that the foot of said spacer element (14) has a symmetrical development relative to the axis of said rigid stem and has grooves (18) at its ends.

10) Coupling and fixing device (10) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that said locking element (15) is integral with a final element shaped as a true button.

11) A coupling and fixing device (10) according to any one of claims 1-9, characterized in that said locking element (15) is integral with a final element (19, 19') provided with coupling means for bonding or of the type male/female, or magnetic or interlocking, with a buttoncover (20, 20').

12) A coupling and fixing device (10) according to claim 10, characterized in that said final element (19') comprises an excavated portion (21) for collecting the yarn of said button covers (20') .