ACCOUTERMENT

Abstract

Accouterment includes one or more accouterment components, and male and female parts secured onto separate locations of the one or more accouterment components, the male and female parts being engageable with one another so as to allow the accouterment to be kept fitted around a portion of human body, and a relative position between the male and female parts being adjustable to allow adjustment of a pressure applied from the accouterment to the portion of the human body when the male and female parts are engaged. The male part includes a first base layer, and a multiplicity of male engagement elements including male engagement elements arranged one-dimensionally or two-dimensionally on a main surface of the first base layer, each of the male engagement elements including a stem that stands on the main surface of the first base layer, and one single protrusion.

Claims

1. An accouterment comprising: one or more accouterment components; and male and female parts secured onto separate locations of the one or more accouterment components, the male and female parts being engageable with one another so as to allow the accouterment to be kept fitted around a portion of human body, and a relative position between the male and female parts being adjustable to allow adjustment of a pressure applied from the accouterment to the portion of the human body when the male and female parts are engaged, wherein the male part includes a first base layer, and a multiplicity of male engagement elements including male engagement elements arranged one-dimensionally or two-dimensionally on a main surface of the first base layer, each of the male engagement elements including a stem that stands on the main surface of the first base layer, and one single protrusion that protrudes along the main surface from the stem at a height away from the main surface of the first base layer, the female part includes a second base layer and a multiplicity of female engagement elements formed on a main surface of the second base layer as a multiplicity of regular or random loops, in a state where the accouterment is fitted around the portion of the human body, the protrusions of the respective male engagement elements of the multiplicity of male engagement elements protrude from the stems respectively toward one side along a circumferential direction of the portion of the human body for inhibiting the accouterment from being loosen.

2. The accouterment of claim 1 in which the multiplicity of female engagement elements is formed as a multiplicity of regular loops, wherein in the state where the accouterment is fitted around the portion of the human body, the respective loops of the multiplicity of regular loops are open in the circumferential direction or in a direction along the circumferential direction.

3. The accouterment of claim 1 in which the multiplicity of female engagement elements is formed as a multiplicity of regular loops, wherein the multiplicity of male engagement elements and the multiplicity of female engagement elements are oriented so as to allow an operation to impart increased tightening pressure to the accouterment while the multiplicity of male engagement elements and the multiplicity of female engagement elements are at least partially engaged.

4. The accouterment of claim 1 in which the multiplicity of female engagement elements is formed as a multiplicity of regular loops, wherein in a state where the male part and the female part are engaged with one another, one of the male and female parts is slideable relative to the other of the male and female parts so as to increase a pressure effected by the accouterment.

5. The accouterment of claim 4, wherein an engagement area between the male and female parts changes as said one of the male and female parts slides.

6. The accouterment of claim 4, wherein each of the male and female parts is configured not to restrict said one of the male and female parts from sliding.

7. The accouterment of claim 4, further comprising an adjustment instrument for causing said one of the male and female parts to slide.

8. The accouterment of claim 7, wherein the adjustment instrument includes: a belt that surrounds the portion of the human body at least partially, the accouterment being interposed between the portion of the human body and the belt in the state where the accouterment is fitted around the portion of the human body; and an annular part through which one end of the belt is inserted so as to adjust a length of the belt directly around the portion of the human body.

9. The accouterment of claim 1, wherein the multiplicity of male engagement elements and the multiplicity of female engagement elements are oriented so as to maximize a shear strength of a laminate of the male and female parts in the state where the accouterment is fitted around the portion of the human body.

10. The accouterment of claim 1, wherein each of the loops of the multiplicity of loops has a height from the main surface of the second base layer which is equivalent to a height of each male engagement element of the multiplicity of male engagement elements from the main surface of the first base layer.

11. The accouterment of claim 1 in which the multiplicity of female engagement elements is formed as a multiplicity of random loops, wherein the multiplicity of loops is random at least in a size of opening, a direction of opening, and a shape of opening.

12. The accouterment of claim 1, wherein the male part consists of a thermoplastic resin having a modulus of elasticity in a range of 250-450 MPa.

13. The accouterment of claim 1, wherein the multiplicity of regular loops includes lock loops, and the multiplicity of random loops includes mohair loops.

14. The accouterment of claim 1, wherein the accouterment is designed to be fitted around a portion of a human body.

15. The accouterment of claim 1, wherein the accouterment is designed to be fitted around a neck, torso, upper limb, or lower limb of a human body.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

[0029] FIG. 1 is a schematic view showing a use example of an accouterment according to an aspect of the present disclosure.

[0030] FIG. 2 is a schematic partial perspective view of a male part.

[0031] FIG. 3 is a schematic partial side view of the male part.

[0032] FIG. 4 is a schematic partial side view of a female part.

[0033] FIG. 5 is a side view showing a separated condition before engagement of the male and female parts.

[0034] FIG. 6 is a side view showing an engaged condition of the male and female parts.

[0035] FIG. 7 is a schematic diagram illustrating that the male part is slideable relative to the female part after the engagement of the male and female parts.

[0036] FIGS. 8A and 8B each is a schematic diagram of an embodiment where the locations of the male and female parts are reversed. FIG. 8A shows a state before the female part slides. FIG. 8B shows a state after the female part slides.

[0037] FIG. 9 is a schematic partial side view of a female part of another example.

[0038] FIG. 10 is a comparative graph of engagement-initiation loads of comparative and working examples.

[0039] FIG. 11 is a comparative graph of peel strengths of comparative and working examples.

[0040] FIG. 12 is a comparative graph of shear strengths of comparative and working examples.

[0041] FIG. 13 is a schematic perspective view of an accouterment of another example.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0042] Hereinafter, non-limiting embodiments and features would be discussed with reference to drawings. Circumferential direction, inward direction, and outward direction would be understood based on a portion of human who has worn the accouterment 1. The inward direction matches a direction directed from the periphery of the portion of human toward the portion of the human. The outward direction matches a direction directed from the portion of the human toward the periphery of the portion of human.

[0043] FIG. 1 shows an accouterment 1 according to a non-limiting example. The accouterment 1 is a type of medical device that is fitted around a portion of the human body (the waist in the illustrated example,) and typically, surrounds and applies a pressure to that portion. The accouterment 1 has one or more accouterment components 2, and a male part 3 (see FIGS. 2 and 3) and a female part 4 (see FIG. 4) which are secured onto separate locations on the one or more accouterment component 2. The male and female parts 3 and 4 are engageable with one another to allow the accouterment 1 to be kept fitted around the portion of the human body. Moreover, a relative position between the male and female parts 3 and 4 is adjustable to allow adjustment of a pressure applied from the accouterment 1 to the portion of the human body when the male and female parts 3 and 4 are engaged. In FIG. 1, a single strip member having a sufficient length to surround the portion of the human body is used as the accouterment component 2, but there is no limitation on a number and a form of the accouterment component 2. It is naturally possible to use the accouterment 1 shown in FIG. 1 for other parts of the human body (for example, upper limb, lower limb) with required changes in size and/or configuration. In addition, it is also possible to change the accouterment 1 from a soft type to a hard type. The soft type may be made of highly cushioned components, while the hard type may include hard components such as metal or resin plates.

[0044] Firstly, an embodiment will be discussed where a male part 3 (see FIGS. 2 and 3) is secured (e.g. sewn) onto an inner side of a first portion (particularly a first end) 2a of the accouterment component 2, and a female part 4 (see FIG. 4) is secured (e.g. sewn) onto an outer side of a second portion (particularly a second end) 2b of the accouterment component 2. The second portion 2b of the accouterment component 2 is positioned at a given position around the waist, followed by moving the first portion 2a of the accouterment component 2 around the waist and then stacking the first portion 2a onto the second portion 2b so that the female part 4 and the male part 3 face one another and are engaged, thereby the accouterment 1 being fitted around the waist. A relative position between the male part 3 and the female part 4 wherein they are engaged with one another may be adjustable to allow adjustment of the pressure applied from the accouterment 1. An embodiment where the locations of the male and female parts 3 and 4 are reversed will be discussed below with reference to FIGS. 8A and 8B.

[0045] The male and female parts 3,4 are typically male and female parts of hook-and-loop fastener (i.e. hook part and loop part) which may be repeatedly engaged and disengaged. However, there is no requirement that engagement elements are to be arranged in a plane (two-dimensionally). The male part 3 may be produced through a common injection molding using upper and lower molds, or produced using an extruder and a die-wheel having an outer circumferential surface where molding cavities are formed. The female part 4 may be produced from multiple threads using an automatic loom. There is no limitation on number of the male and female parts 3,4 included in the accouterment 1. Note that the male part 3 may consist of a thermoplastic resin preferably having a modulus of elasticity in a range of 150-600 MPa, more preferably 250-450 MPa. If the modulus of elasticity is less than 150 MPa, there is a possibility of reduced engagement force; and if the modulus of elasticity is greater than 600 MPa, there is a possibility that the male part 3 becomes too hard with unpleasant texture and poor operability.

[0046] Optionally, the accouterment 1 may further have an adjustment instrument 5. The adjustment instrument 5 is used for a purpose of imparting increased tightening pressure to the accouterment 1, particularly for a purpose of sliding discussed hereinafter. In an exemplary embodiment, the adjustment instrument 5 may have a belt 6 that surrounds the portion of the human body at least partially, and an annular part 7 to which an end of the belt 6 is inserted so as to adjust the length of the belt directly around the portion of the human body. The belt 6 is secured (e.g. sewn) onto the outer side of the accouterment component 2 in any length between the first and second portions 2a,2b of the accouterment component 2, and has a first end, to which the annular part 7 is attached, and a free end on the opposite side of the first end which may be inserted into the annular part 7. The free end of the belt 6 is inserted into the annular part 7 and is pulled so as to adjust the length of the belt directly around the human body, thereby increasing the tightening pressure effected by the accouterment 1. Note that, the accouterment component 2 is preferably made of cushioning material (e.g. a highly breathable mesh fabric with cushioning material inside) as being interposed between the portion of the human body and the belt 6. The adjustment instrument 5 may take a wide varieties of forms and may be just a pull sewn onto the first portion 2a, for example. By arranging a male-type part of hook-and-loop fastener on the inner side of the free end of the belt 6, the free end may be stacked and attached onto a portion of the belt 6 around the portion of the human body.

[0047] As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the male part 3 has a first base layer 31, and a multiplicity of the male engagement elements G32 including male engagement elements 32 arranged one-dimensionally or two-dimensionally on a main surface of the first base layer 31. The first base layer 31 is secured onto the inner side of the first portion 2a of the accouterment component 2 such as by sewing, adhering, welding or the like, and the respective ones of the male engagement elements 32 of the multiplicity of the male engagement elements G32 protrude inward from the first portion 2a of the accouterment component 2. The first base layer 31 is typically formed to have a constant thickness but may be thinned partially, or slits may be formed for a purpose of increasing the flexibility thereof.

[0048] The multiplicity of the male engagement elements G32 are arranged in M columns*N rows, where M and N each indicating a natural number of 2 or more. Typically, the multiplicity of the male engagement elements G32 are arranged two-dimensionally with a density in a range of 20-100 pieces/cm.sup.2. In a case of less than 20 pieces/cm.sup.2, there is a possibility that the accouterment 1 has insufficient peel and shear strengths which are effected based on engagement between the male and female parts 3 and 4. In a case of over 100 pieces/cm.sup.2, an operation to impart increased tightening pressure to the accouterment 1 described hereinafter may possibly be impeded.

[0049] Note that, the peel strength is indicated by a force required to separate one from the other of the engaged male and female parts 3 and 4 in the out-of-plane vertical direction (e.g. a force required to remove the male part 3 off the female part 4 measured while grasping one end of the male part 3 and pulling the male part 3 off the female part 4). The shear strength is indicated by a force required to displace one from the other of the engaged male and female parts 3 and 4 in the in-plane direction. The engagement-initiation load (load required for the initial engagement) is indicated by a force required to cause the separate male and female parts 3 and 4 to start to engage with one another, while one of the separate parts 3 and 4 is moved toward the other of the separated parts 3 and 4 in a vertical direction of plane.

[0050] FIG. 2 shows total 16 male engagement elements 32 of 4 columns*4 rows; however, this number is just an example only. FIG. 2 shows a column direction D.sub.column and a row direction D.sub.row, which may be referred if needed. The male engagement elements 32 are arranged in the column direction D.sub.column, with adjacent male engagement elements 32 defining an accommodation space for the loop 43 of the female part 4 described hereinafter. The male engagement elements 32 are arranged in the row direction D.sub.row, forming a space via which the loops 43 are allowed to access to the male engagement elements 32.

[0051] Each of the male engagement elements 32 of the multiplicity of the male engagement elements G32 is not a mushroom-type where a direction of engagement is not restricted with respect to the circumferential direction of the element, but is a hook-type of hook with a direction of engagement restricted in one direction with respect to a circumferential direction of the element. Each male engagement element 32 has a stem 32a that stands on the main surface of the first base layer 31, and one single protrusion 32b that protrudes along the main surface from the stem 32a at a height away from the main surface of the first base layer 31. The male engagement element 32 has a height direction that matches a thickness direction D1 of the first base layer 31. As the protrusion 32b protrudes from the stem 32a, there is a space SP1 formed between the protrusion 32b and the main surface of the first base layer 31. Typically, the protrusion 32b protrudes from the top portion of the stem 32a which is farthest from the main surface of the first base layer 31, thereby increasing the flatness of the top portion of the stem 32a and reducing irritation to the human skin. The protrusion 32b has a protruding direction D2 that may be in parallel to the main surface of the first base layer 31 and may match the column direction D.sub.column.

[0052] The male engagement element 32 has a first side surface 91 on a same side as the protrusion 32b, and a second side surface 92 on the opposite side of the first side surface 91. The first side surface 91 rises substantially vertically from the main surface of the first base layer 31, and the second side surface 92 rises obliquely toward the first side surface 91 from the main surface of the first base layer 31. The sloping of the second side surface 92 may contribute in facilitating sliding discussed below. The male engagement element 32 further has a top surface 93 in the standing direction of the stem 32a, a distal surface 94 in the protruding direction of the protrusion 32b, and an arc surface 95 extending between the distal surface 94 and the first side surface 91. The top surface 93 and the second side surface 92 are connected so as to form a curve, and the top surface 93 and the distal surface 94 are connected to form a curve, thus reducing irritation to the human skin. The arc surface 95 suppresses easier disengagement of the loop 43 noted below from the male engagement element 32. Note that the male engagement element 32 has two side surfaces 96,97, by which its width is defined, in a lateral direction D3 that is orthogonal to the thickness direction D1 of the first base layer 31 and the protruding direction D2 of the protrusion 32b (see FIG. 2). The male engagement element 32 may further has auxiliary protrusions 39a,39b on the both sides of the stem 32a in the lateral direction D3 but which may be omitted.

[0053] As shown FIG. 4, the female part 4 includes a second base layer 41 and a multiplicity of female engagement elements G42 formed on the main surface of the second base layer 41, as a multiplicity of regular loops G43. The second base layer 41 is secured onto the outer side of the second portion 2b of the accouterment component 2 such as by sewing, adhering, welding or the like, and the respective ones of the female engagement elements 42 of the multiplicity of the female engagement elements G42 protrude outward from the second portion 2b of the accouterment component 2. The second base layer 41 is typically formed to have a constant thickness but may be thinned partially, or slits may be formed for a purpose of increasing the flexibility thereof. Likewise the multiplicity of the male engagement elements G32, the multiplicity of the female engagement elements G42 are arranged two-dimensionally with a density in a range of 20-100 pieces/cm.sup.2 and typically, has a same density as the multiplicity of the male engagement elements G32. Needless to say, the female part 4 may have a different planar size from the male part 3 (a different width in the column direction and/or a different width in row direction), and there is no requirement for the parts 3 and 4 to have a same total number of elements.

[0054] In an embodiment where the multiplicity of the loops G43 are formed regularly on the main surface of the second base layer 41, the direction of engagement would be restricted to one direction likewise the male engagement element 32, unlike a non-woven fabric (aggregate of fibers) which has no directionality of engagement. An exemplary case of such embodiment may include lock loops. Each loop 43 is preferably a closed loop, and has a height in the thickness direction D1 of the second base layer 41 (see FIG. 4), and has a width in the width direction D3 which is one of the two directions orthogonal to the thickness direction D1. Also, the loop 43 is open in the opening direction D2 which is orthogonal to the thickness direction D1 and the width direction D3. The opening direction D2 may match a circumferential direction of the portion of the human body or may match a direction extending along the circumferential direction in a state where the accouterment 1 has been fitted around the portion of the human body. Each loop 43 may have a height that is equivalent to the height of the male engagement element 32. The opening of the loop 43 may be formed at a sufficient area to receive the protrusion 32b. Note that, equivalent incorporates a difference between two values to be compared which is in a range of 5% of the greater value of the two values, or incorporates the perfect matching of the two values.

[0055] Typically, the multiplicity of the loops G43 is formed while the second base layer 41 is woven or knitted, and threads (or filaments) of the second base layer 41 are continuous with the threads (or filaments) of the loops 43, but should not be limited to this. The loop 43 may have an intersection of threads (e.g. bundles of filaments) nearby the second base layer 41, and may have a minimum width at the portion. The loop 43 may have a maximum width at a position between the intersection and the top portion.

[0056] In the present embodiment, the female part 4 includes a multiplicity of regular loops G43 and in a state where the accouterment 1 is fitted around a portion of the human body, the protrusions 32b of the respective male engagement elements 32 (typically all of the male engagement elements 32) of the multiplicity of the male engagement elements G32 protrude from the stems 32a respectively toward one side along the circumferential direction of the portion of the human body for inhibiting the accouterment 1 from being loosen. This allows the accouterment 1 to be more user-friendly, and particularly facilitates smoother operation to impart increased tightening pressure to the accouterment 1 while maintaining or enhancing the attachment stability of the accouterment 1. Note that, in the present specification, the state where the accouterment 1 is fitted around a portion of the human body is caused as a result of engagement between the male part 3 and the female part 4. The protrusions 32b may protrude from the stems 32a respectively in a same or uniform direction (orientation), but should not be limited to this.

[0057] The circumferential direction would be understood in view of an imaginary circle IC set for the portion of the human body (the waist in the illustrated example) around which the accouterment 1 is fitted (see FIG. 1). The male part 3 is secured at the first portion 2a, and is moved in the direction B based on the operation of the adjustment instrument 5. As such, the operation to impart increased tightening pressure to the accouterment 1 is smoothly conducted. The direction B is directed toward one side along the circumferential direction for increasing the pressure effected by the accouterment 1, regarding the movable portion (the first portion 2a and the male part 3 secured thereon). The direction B is directed toward the other side of the circumferential direction for decreasing the pressure effected by the accouterment 1, regarding the movable portion (the first portion 2a and the male part 3 secured thereon).

[0058] In the embodiment where the male part 3 is secured on the inner side of the first portion 2a of the accouterment component 2 and the female part 4 is secured on the outer side of the second portion 2b of the accouterment component 2, the protruding direction D2 of the protrusion 32b (also the above-noted one side along the circumferential direction of the portion of the human body for inhibiting the accouterment 1 from being loosen) matches the direction B. In an embodiment where the locations of the male and female parts 3 and 4 are reversed, the protruding direction D2 of the protrusion 32b (also the above-noted one side along the circumferential direction of the portion of the human body for inhibiting the accouterment 1 from being loosen) matches the direction B.

[0059] The multiplicity of the male engagement elements G32 and the multiplicity of the female engagement elements G42 are oriented so as to allow the operation to impart increased tightening pressure to the accouterment 1. More concretely, after the male part 3 and the female part 4 are engaged with one another, one of the male and female parts 3 and 4 may be slideable relative to the other of the male and female parts 3 and 4 so as to increase the tightening pressure of the accouterment 1 (i.e. the male part 3 may be slideable in the direction B). These features will be described in more detail with additional reference to FIGS. 5-7. Note that, regarding how the adjustment instrument 5 is used, the laminate of the male and female parts 3 and 4 is pushed inward by the belt 6, and thus the sliding is caused while the male and female parts 3 and 4 are in intimate contact with one another.

[0060] The second portion 2b of the accouterment component 2 is positioned at a given position around the waist, followed by moving the first portion 2a of the accouterment component 2 around the waist and then stacking the first portion 2a onto the second portion 2b so that the female part 4 and the male part 3 face one another and are engaged, thereby the accouterment 1 being temporarily fitted around the waist (see FIGS. 5 and 6). Next, the adjustment instrument 5 is operated and in particular, the free end of the belt 6 is inserted through the annular part 7 so as to shorten the length of the belt directly around the waist and to increase the tightening pressure of the accouterment 1. At this instance, the first portion 2a and the male part 3 shift in the direction B to smoothly achieve to impart the increased tightening pressure to the accouterment 1 (see FIG. 7). For example, comparing FIGS. 6 and 7, the male engagement element 32z is disengaged from the loop 43z, and is moved to a position where it can be engaged with another loop (e.g. 43z-2) in the same column as the loop 43z. The operation using the adjustment instrument 5 for imparting the increased tightening pressure to the accouterment 1 would be smoothly performed without being interrupted by the initial engagement between the male and female parts 3 and 4 at the time of the temporal fitting of the adjustment instrument 5.

[0061] In a state where the accouterment 1 is fitted around the portion of the human body, it is preferable, for each or every male engagement element 32 of the multiplicity of the male engagement elements G32, that the protruding direction D2 of the protrusion 32b from the stem 32a matches or substantially matches the one side along the circumferential direction, i.e. the direction B. Substantially matching incorporates an angular difference between the protruding direction D2 and the direction B which is less than 15 or less than 10 or less than 5. Regarding the female part 4, in a state where the accouterment 1 is fitted around a portion of the human body, the respective loops 43 of the multiplicity of the loops G43 are typically open in the circumferential direction or in a direction along the circumferential direction. It is most suitable that each of the protruding direction D2 of the protrusion 32b and the opening direction D2 of the loop 43 matches or substantially matches the circumferential direction in the state where the accouterment 1 is fitted around a portion of the human body. In this situation, the laminate of the male and female parts 3 and 4 would have a maximum shear strength, and the attachment strength of the accouterment 1 would also be maximized. Simultaneously, the sliding resistance of the above-noted sliding would be minimized.

[0062] As understood by referring to FIGS. 6 and 7, the engagement area between the male and female parts 3 and 4 may change in accordance with the above-noted sliding. Of course, an embodiment is envisioned where the engagement area between the male and female parts 3 and 4 is constant regardless of the sliding depending on the sizes of the male and female parts 3 and 4. The former case allows the use of smaller parts and reduced cost which may be sufficient for the temporal fitting of the accouterment 1. The male and female parts 3 and 4 both may be configured not to restrict the above-noted sliding. This would simplify the configuration of each part, and reduces a burden in carefully confirming the directionality of the parts when securing them.

[0063] In a case where the locations of the male and female parts 3 and 4 are reversed, the female part 4 would be moved in the circumferential direction relative to the male part 3 but similar results would be obtained as long as the above-noted features are incorporated. By way of precaution, this will be discussed with reference to FIGS. 8A and 8B. In FIGS. 8A and 8B, the locations of the male and female parts 3 and 4 are reversed. However, positions of the first and second portions 2a and 2b are also reversed accordingly, and the first portion 2a is arranged on the inner side and the second portion 2b is arranged on the outer side. In such case, the first portion 2a and the male part 3 are stationary, and the second portion 2b and the female part 4 are slideable relative to the first portion 2a and the male part 3 in the circumferential direction (see FIGS. 8A and 8B for comparison) but similar results would be obtained as long as the above-noted features are incorporated.

[0064] Alternative embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. 9-13. As shown FIG. 9, likewise the above-noted embodiment, the female part 4 includes the second base layer 41 and the multiplicity of the female engagement elements G42 formed on the main surface of the second base layer 41 as the multiplicity of the loops G43, but the multiplicity of the female engagement elements G42 is formed as a multiplicity of random loops G43. This may effectively reduce the load required for initial engagement between the male and female parts 3 and 4 and to provide the more user-friendly accouterment 1, even though the above-noted sliding is not realized. For example, easier operation may be allowed such that the accouterment 1 is fitted around a left leg just by a right-hand based operation.

[0065] The multiplicity of the loops G43 may be random at least in a size of opening, a direction of opening, and a shape of opening. The loop 43 is a closed loop but may be an open loop. In some cases, there is a difference in a thread length (filament length) of one loop, thereby enhancing the degree of randomness of the loops. Likewise the above-noted embodiment, the loops 43 may be formed while the second base layer 41 is woven or knitted. The filaments of the second base layer 41 may be continuous with the filaments of the loops 43, but should not be limited to this and threads for forming the loops may be planted so as to be intertwine with ground threads (e.g. warp or weft thread) of the second base layer 41. Typically, the female part 4 is a so-called mohair-type fastener. The multiplicity of the random loops G43 may include mohair loops. A mohair loop is a common technical term in this technical field, and its material is not limited to a mohair.

[0066] Advantageously, the load required for initial engagement between the male and female parts 3 and 4 may be 0.3 N/cm.sup.2 or less, preferably in a range of 0.01-0.3 N/cm.sup.2. The load required for the initial engagement will be measured as follows. Firstly, the male part 3 is placed remotely and separately above the female part 4, and a downward load is applied to the male part 3 while the multiplicity of the male engagement elements G32 and the multiplicity of the female engagement elements G42 are opposed to one another. The area of the male engagement element of the male part 3 is 4.9 cm.sup.2. In this situation, a load required to cause the multiplicity of the male engagement element and the multiplicity of the female engagement element to start to engage with one another is referred to as a load required for the initial engagement. Regarding this point, we now refer to FIG. 10. In the working example, the load required for the initial engagement is largely reduced approximately to 0.1 N/cm.sup.2, compared with the comparative example. This is a result of combination of the male part 3 shown in FIG. 2 and the female part 4 shown in FIG. 9. Note that, the comparative example used a combination of a male part having male engagement elements each of which having a dual-headed hook shape and a female part with lock loops. The duel-headed hook shape indicates a shape including a pair of protrusions protruding from the top portion of the stem on the opposite sides (in the directions B and B) along the circumferential direction. In the working example, compared with the comparative example, an integrated value of the peel strength (N/cm) decreased slightly (see FIG. 11) but a maximum value of the shear strength (N/cm.sup.2) increased (see FIG. 12). The reduction of the initial engagement load sufficiently compensates the reduction of the peel strength. Also, the increase of the shear strength allows downsizing of the male part 3, and this may facilitate the reduced cost of the accouterment 1.

[0067] The combination of the male part 3 shown in FIG. 2 and the female part 4 shown in FIG. 9 is not limited to be used for the accouterment 1 shown in FIG. 1 but may be used in an accouterment 1 shown in FIG. 13. The accouterment 1 shown in FIG. 13 consists of 6 components, particularly a metal-made or resin-made curved plates 71,72, a connection bands 73,74, and opening-and-closing bands 75,76. The opening-and-closing band 75 is folded back at an annular part 7, which is secured on the curved plate 72, after passing its free end 75a through the annular part 7, and then the outer portion of the opening-and-closing band 75 is stacked onto the inner portion thereof (e.g. a portion near the secured end 75b thereof). The male part 3 may be secured, for example, onto an inner side of the portion of the opening-and-closing band 75 which has been passed through the annular part 7 and folded back (e.g. the portion near the free end 75a); and the female part may be secured onto an outer side of the inner portion of the opening-and-closing band 75 (e.g. the portion near the secured end 75b) (vice versa). When the male part 3 is about to be engaged with the female part 4, they are more easily engaged with one another as the load required for the initial engagement is lower as noted above, allowing easier fitting of the accouterment 1. As described above, in an embodiment where the male part 3 is secured onto the inner side of the portion of the opening-and-closing band 75 nearer to the free end 75a and the female part 4 is secured onto the surface opposed to it, respective protrusions 32b of the male engagement element 32 of the multiplicity of the male engagement elements G32 protrude from the stems 32a respectively toward one side (right-side when FIG. 13 is viewed in front) such that the multiplicity of the male engagement elements G32 inhibits the accouterment 1 from being loosen.

[0068] Based on the above disclosure, those skilled in the art may make various changes to the respective features and the respective embodiments. The codes incorporated in the claims are for reference only and should not be referred to for a purpose of limiting the scope of claims.

REFERENCE CODES

[0069] 1: Accouterment [0070] 2: Accouterment component [0071] 2a: First portion [0072] 2b: Second portion [0073] 3: Male part [0074] 4: Female part [0075] 5: Adjustment instrument [0076] 6: Belt [0077] 7: Annular part [0078] 31: First base layer [0079] 32: Male engagement element [0080] 32a: Stem [0081] 32b: Protrusion [0082] 41: Second base layer [0083] 42: Female engagement element [0084] 43: Loop