Button for fastening fabrics

Abstract

Button for fastening fabrics, for instance clothing, wherein the button comprises a body and is provided with attachment means at a central location of the body, arranged for attaching, for instance by sewing, the button to a fabric, wherein the body of the button has a tapering width, seen in a direction parallel to the plane of the lower surface of the body, wherein the button is further provided with attachment means at or near the circumferential edge of the body and wherein the width of the body tapers towards the location of the attachment means at or near the edge.

Claims

1. A mechanism for fastening fabrics, comprising: a first fabric section, and a second fabric section; the first fabric section comprising a button (1) having a body (10) and first attachment means (2) attached at a central location (5) of the body (10), attaching the button (1) to the first fabric section, wherein the body (10) of the button (1) has a tapering width (w), seen in a direction parallel to a plane of a lower surface (13) of the body (10), wherein the button (1) is further provided with second attachment means (3) at or near a circumferential edge (11) of the body (10) and wherein the tapering width (w) of the body (10) tapers towards the location (6) of the second attachment means (3) at or near the edge (11); the second fabric section comprising a slit-shaped opening to receive the button (1) to fasten the first fabric section to the second fabric section; wherein the button can be removed from the slit-shaped opening by pulling the two fabric sections apart.

2. The mechanism for fastening fabrics according to claim 1, wherein the button (1) is provided with the second attachment means (3) at a single location (6) at or near the circumferential edge (11).

3. The mechanism for fastening fabrics according to claim 1, wherein the body (10) of the button (1) has a tapering height (h), seen in a direction perpendicular to the plane of the lower surface (13) of the body (10), towards the location (6) of the second attachment means (3) at or near the edge (11).

4. The mechanism for fastening fabrics according to claim 1, wherein the body (10) tapers along at least half of the length (1) of the body (10), wherein the length (1) is measured along the line (100) extending through the second attachment means (3) at or near the edge (11) of the body (10) and the center-(5) of the body (10).

5. The mechanism for fastening fabrics according to claim 1, wherein the body (10) tapers substantially rectilinearly or planarly.

6. The mechanism for fastening fabrics according to claim 1, wherein the second attachment means (3) at or near the circumferential edge (11) comprise at least one through hole extending between the upper surface (12) and the lower surface (13) of the body (10) of the button (1).

7. The mechanism for fastening fabrics according to claim 6, wherein the body (10) is provided with a single through hole at or near the circumferential edge (11).

8. The mechanism for fastening fabrics (1) according to claim 7, wherein the circumferential edge (11) of the body (10) near the through hole comprises a recess (8) extending between the upper (12) and lower (13) surfaces.

9. The mechanism for fastening fabrics (1) according to claim 1, wherein the second attachment means (3) at or near the circumferential edge (11) comprise a passage having two ends (3a, 3b) extending through the body, wherein the ends (3a, 3b) are located at the lower surface (13) and/or the circumferential edge (11) of the body (10).

10. The mechanism for fastening fabrics (1) according to claim 1, wherein, seen in a cross sectional plane perpendicular to the line (100) extending through the second attachment means (3) at or near the edge (11) of the body (10) and the center-(5) of the body (10), the body has a tapering surface (12a, 13a) extending from one surface (12, 13) with decreasing height towards a lateral edge with the other surface (12, 13).

11. The mechanism for fastening fabrics (1) according to claim 10, wherein the body has a first tapering surface (13a) extending from a first surface (13) with decreasing height towards a lateral edge with the second surface (12) and a second tapering surface (12a) extending from the second surface (12) with decreasing height towards the opposed lateral edge with the first surface (13).

12. The mechanism for fastening fabrics (1) according to claim 10, wherein, seen in the cross sectional plane, the tapering surface (12a, 13a) makes an angle with the respect to the other surface (12, 13), wherein the angle increases from a first lower value near the edge (11) with the second attachment means (3) to a second larger value in a direction away from the edge (11) with the second attachment means (3).

13. The mechanism for fastening fabrics (1) according to claim 1, wherein the button (1) is further provided with third attachment means (3e) at or near the circumferential edge (11b) substantially opposite the second attachment means (3d) at the first edge (11a) of the body (10) and wherein the width (w) of the body (10) also tapers towards the location of the third attachment means (3e) at or near the edge (11b).

14. The mechanism for fastening fabrics (1) according to claim 10, wherein the body comprises four lateral edges sections (14c,d), wherein two first lateral edges sections (14c) extend towards the first attachment means (3d) at the first edge (11a) and wherein two second lateral edges sections (14d) extend towards the third-attachment means (3e) at the first edge (11b), wherein the body at least comprises tapering surfaces (13a, 12a) at a first lateral edge section (14c) and at a second lateral edge section (14d) opposite said first lateral edges section (14c).

15. The mechanism for fastening fabrics (1) according to claim 14, wherein the two tapering surfaces (12a, 13a) are mirror symmetrical with respect to a plane extending through said line (100) and perpendicular to the bottom surface (13).

16. The mechanism for fastening fabrics according to claim 6, wherein the circumferential edge near the through hole comprises a recess extending between the upper and lower surfaces.

Description

(1) The present invention is further illustrated by the following Figures, which show a preferred embodiment of the button according to the invention, and are not intended to limit the scope of the invention in any way, wherein:

(2) FIG. 1 shows a first embodiment of the button in top view;

(3) FIG. 2 shows the button of FIG. 1 in side view;

(4) FIGS. 3-5b show further embodiments in top view;

(5) FIG. 6 shows a further embodiment in side view;

(6) FIG. 7 shows a further embodiment of the button in bottom view;

(7) FIGS. 8 and 9 show cross sections of the button;

(8) FIG. 10 shows a further embodiment of the button in top view;

(9) FIGS. 11a and b show cross sections of the button as shown in FIG. 10 along lines A and B;

(10) FIG. 12 corresponds to the button of FIG. 1;

(11) FIGS. 13A and B show cross sections of the button of FIG. 12 along lines A, respectively line B;

(12) FIGS. 14-16 schematically show products provided with different embodiments of slits;

(13) FIG. 17 shows another embodiment of the button according to the invention;

(14) FIG. 18 shows another embodiment of the button in bottom view;

(15) FIG. 19 show a cross section of the button of FIG. 18 along line C; and

(16) FIG. 20 schematically shows an another embodiment of the button in bottom view.

(17) A button 1 according to the invention is shown in FIG. 1 which is formed by a body 10. At the centre 5, the body 10 is provided with four traditional holes 2 for sewing the button 1 to a fabric. Provided near an edge 11 of the button is provided an extra hole 3 which extends through the body 10 from an upper surface 12 to a lower surface 13, see FIG. 2. The region with the through hole 3 is indicated with 6 in FIG. 2.

(18) FIG. 2 further shows that the body 10 is tapered towards the edge 11 provided with the extra hole 3. The height h of the body 10 at the location of the hole 3 is smaller than at a location at the opposite side, indicated with 4. The body 10 is tapered along more than half of the length 1 of the body 11.

(19) This length 1 is measured along the line 100, see FIG. 1, extending through the extra hole 3 and the centre 5 of the button 1. Also the width w of the body 10 is tapered. The body 10 is provided with two linear sections 14a and 14b which also extend along at least the half of the length 1 of the button 1. The outer edge 11 is hereby formed by an arc shaped section 15, two linear sections 14a, 14b and again an arc shaped section near the extra hole 3, near the reference numeral 11 in FIG. 11. This shape of the body 11 allows an enhanced guidance through a button hole which facilitates unbuttoning.

(20) In FIG. 3 the button 1 is shown with a thread 7 for attaching the extra hole 3 to the fabric. It goes without saying that also the holes 2 are provided with suitable threading. As the button 1 is only provided with a single hole 3 at the edge region, the loop of the thread 7 extends along the outer edge 11. The edge 11 of the embodiment as shown in FIG. 4 is provided with a recess 8 to receive the thread such that the thread is countersunk in the edge 11.

(21) As an alternative as shown in FIGS. 5a and 5b, the body 10 can be provided with two extra holes 3 for securing the button 1 to the fabric. In FIG. 5a the holes 3 extend adjacently in the width direction of the body 10, whereas the holes 3 in the embodiment of FIG. 5b extend adjacently along the length of the body 10.

(22) To hide the extra connection of the button 1 according to the invention, the edge 11 self can be provided with a curved passage 3a, see FIG. 6. The passage 3a extends between the surface forming the edge 11, such that threading extending through this passage 3a is difficult to see from the top side 12.

(23) As an alternative as shown in FIG. 7, a passage 3b extends between the lower surface 13, wherein both ends of the passage 3b are located on the lower surface 13. The passage 3b is hereto also suitably curved.

(24) In FIG. 8, the button 1 is shown in cross section, the cross section taken in a plane perpendicular to the line 100 in FIG. 1, which is shown as a plane 100a in FIG. 8. As can be seen, the bottom surface 13 is provided with a tapering surface 13a which tapers, i.e. has a decreasing height h towards lateral edge 14a. The tapering surface 13a hereby forms an edge surface, wherein this surface is under an angle of approximately 45 with the lower surface 13. The top surface 12 hereby extends substantially planar. The tapering surface 13a tapers from the plane of the lower surface 13 substantially towards the plane of the upper surface 12. In this example, the tapering surface 13a extends from a location near to the line 100 towards said lateral edge 14a. However, in case of buttons having a smaller height, the surface may not extend until the line 100, if the surface is to extend at an angle of approximately 45. The surface 13a induces a rotational movement upon unbuttoning, which makes unbuttoning more easily.

(25) The other lateral edge 14b as shown in FIG. 8 is normal edge 14b and may be somewhat rounded as is custom in the art. However, to further improve the rotational movement, it is preferred if also the other lateral edge 14b is provided with a tapering surface 12a, which tapering is opposite the tapering of the first tapering surface 13a. Indeed, as can be seen in FIG. 9, the top surface 12 is also provided with a tapering surface 12a which extends from the upper surface 12 downwardly towards the edge 14b in the plane of the lower surface 13. The surface 12a again covers almost half of the upper surface 12, seen in cross section.

(26) The button 1 as shown in FIG. 10 can be easily unbuttoned by pulling in any direction along line 100. The body is thereto provided with two tapered ends, i.e. towards edge 11a with additional attachment means 3d and towards edge 11b with additional attachment means 3e. At least in top view, the button is mirror symmetrical along plane 101, also extending through centre 101. The button 1 comprises four lateral, tapering edges 14c, d which form the outer edges of the button 1. As is shown in FIG. 11a, which shows a cross section along line A in FIG. 10, the left lateral edge 14c is provided with a tapering surface 13a similar to the surface as shown in FIG. 8. The surface 13a extends from the plane of the top surface 12 towards the plane of the lower surface 13. It is noted that the right lateral edge 14c as shown in FIG. 9a may also be provided with a tapering surface as is indicated with 12a in FIG. 9, such that the cross section along line A in FIG. 10 corresponds to the cross section as shown in FIG. 9.

(27) The right lateral edge 14d on the lower side of the button, lower as seen in FIG. 10, i.e. opposite the plane 101, is at least provided with a tapering surface 12a at the top surface 12. Optionally, also the left edge 14d may be provided with a surface 13a.

(28) The shape of a tapering surface 13a will further be elucidated with reference to FIGS. 12 and 13, wherein the button 1 as shown in FIG. 12 corresponds to the button 1 as shown in FIG. 1. FIG. 13A shows a cross section perpendicular to line 100 along line A in figure A, i.e. at a location away from the edge or point with the additional attachment means 3. The surface 13a at that location is under an angle .sub.2 of 45 which is larger than the angle .sub.1 that the surface 13a makes at the location B near the edge 11. The angle at which the surface 13a extends with respect to the upper surface 12 therefore decreases towards the edge 11. This induces a smooth rotational movement of the button upon unbuttoning, which facilitates unbuttoning. A tapering surface 12a provided at the top surface 12 may have a similar configuration.

(29) It is noted that the tapering surfaces as such as shown in FIGS. 8, 9 and 13 can be also be used in buttons having other circumferential shapes, such as a round button as shown in FIG. 17. A first lateral edge section 14a may for instance be provided with a first tapering surface 13a similar to the surface 13a as shown in FIG. 9, while a second lateral edge section 14b opposite a plane 100a extending through the centre 5 may be provided with the surface 12a as shown in FIG. 9. The button may, or may not be, provided with attachment means 3 at the edge 11.

(30) With reference to FIGS. 14-16 a product 20, in particular a piece of clothing, provided with a slit 21 for receiving a button. The slit is specifically suitable to cooperate with any of the buttons as shown in any of the earlier figures, or FIGS. 18 and 19 as will be discussed later, but can also be used with a traditional shaped button.

(31) To allow easy passage of a button upon unbuttoning, the slit 21 is provided with extra slits 22a and 22b which open up when a pulling force is exerted on the product and/or the button accommodated in the slit 21. The slits 22a, 22b extend at both sides of the slit 21 and perpendicularly with respect to the longitudinal axis of the slit 21.

(32) The slits 22a, 22b then open up in a direction indicated with the arrows in FIG. 14 which increases the area for passage of a button. To prevent accidental unbuttoning, elastic sheets 23a and 23b are arranged behind the slits 22a and 22b on both sides of the slit 21. The elastic sheets 23a and 23b are sowed with sowing lines 24 along the outer perimeter and along the perimeters of the slits 22a,b. The elastic sheets 23a,b bias the slits 22a and 22b in their closed position, i.e. in a direction against the arrows shown in FIG. 14. The sowing lines 24 should preferably not cross the slits at any point.

(33) The product 20 of FIG. 15 is different with respect to the product in FIG. 14 in that both ends of the slit 21 are provided with widening means, each of the widening means in the form of two smaller slits 22a and 22b extending under an angle with respect to the longitudinal axis of the slit 21. Each of the slits 22a, 22b is again backed by an elastic sheet 23 sowed 24 to the product 20 to prevent accidental unbuttoning. In particular this embodiment is also suitable to be used without elastic sheets 23. The length of the slits 22a, 22b is then preferably in the range of 5-15% of the length of the main slit 21.

(34) The extra slits 22a, b do not necessarily extend under an angle with respect to the longitudinal axis of the slit. As shown in FIG. 16, the extra slits 22 as provided at the ends of the main slit 21 extend in the same direction as the main slit 21, i.e. dependent on the orientation of main slit which may for instance be horizontal or vertical. Elastic sheets 23 are again provided.

(35) An alternative for the attachment means 3 provided in addition to the central attachment means at the centre 5 of a button to allow easy unbuttoning, it is possible to provide attachment means 21 which are moveable with respect to the body 10b of a button 1b, see FIGS. 18 and 19, wherein FIG. 19 shows the button 1b as shown in bottom view in cross sectional view along line C.

(36) The attachment means are ring shaped, see in particular FIG. 19, and are provided with a protrusion 21 which is received and arranged to slide in a groove 16 provided in the lower surface 13 of the button 10b along the longitudinal direction 100 of the button 1b.

(37) The attachment means 2a are connected with springs 15a and 15b near ends 11a, b on opposite ends on the longitudinal axis 100. Springs 15a, b bias the attachment means towards the centre 5. It is also possible to use a single spring, wherein the attachment means are connected to a central section thereof. The body 10b of the button 1b is further tapered twice, similar to the embodiment of FIG. 10.

(38) Upon exerting an unbuttoning force, the attachment means 2a will move in a direction indication with A or B, dependent on the direction of the pulling force, thereby moving the attachment means to a location at or near the edge 11a, b of the body 10b of the button 1b. In this position, the button 1b is easily guided to a slit for easy unbuttoning. Upon releasing the button 1b, the springs 15a, b will force the attachment means 2a towards the initial, i.e. central location.

(39) In FIG. 20, an alternative for the moveable attachment means 2a are shown. In this figure, which shows a part of the bottom of a body 10b of a button, a ring shaped member 2b is attached to a central section of a spring 15. The spring 15 extends between points on a distance from each other seen on the line 100 through edges 11a and 11b, which may be tapered edges 11a and 11b as shown in FIG. 18. The spring 15 is arranged in a groove, similar to the groove 16 as shown in FIG. 19, such that the spring 15 is countersunk in the body 10b, while the button can be connecting by threading through ring 2b. The spring again allows the movement of the attachment means, wherein the attachment means 2b are biased towards the initial, i.e. central location.

(40) The present invention is not limited to the embodiment shown, but extends also to other embodiments falling within the scope of the appended claims.