U.S. patent application number 14/448990 was filed with the patent office on 2015-03-05 for connector assembly.
The applicant listed for this patent is ST. ANTONI LLC. Invention is credited to DEWI SCHOENBECK, JOHN SCHOENBECK.
Application Number | 20150059060 14/448990 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 52470070 |
Filed Date | 2015-03-05 |
United States Patent
Application |
20150059060 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
SCHOENBECK; DEWI ; et
al. |
March 5, 2015 |
CONNECTOR ASSEMBLY
Abstract
A portion of an article of clothing has a reinforced strip, such
as an embroidered strip. A first connector member has a male or
female connector on its front face and a rearwardly-projecting
member on its rear face. The rearwardly-projecting member passes
through the strip to the opposite side of the article of clothing
and into an opening in a second connector member. It is secured
therein by an elastic snap-fit, for example. A complementary
article of clothing (such as the other sock of a pair of socks) has
a similar construction but with the other of the male or female
connectors on the first connector member. The male connector of the
one article snap fits into the female connector of the other to
releasably connect them together, such as for washing or storage.
To separate the articles the strip of the one article is grasped in
one of the user's hands and the strip of the other article in the
user's other hand and they are pulled apart. The first and second
connector members of both articles remain attached to their
respective article.
Inventors: |
SCHOENBECK; DEWI;
(Calabasas, CA) ; SCHOENBECK; JOHN; (Calabasas,
CA) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
ST. ANTONI LLC |
Woodland Hills |
CA |
US |
|
|
Family ID: |
52470070 |
Appl. No.: |
14/448990 |
Filed: |
July 31, 2014 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
62015087 |
Jun 20, 2014 |
|
|
|
Current U.S.
Class: |
2/239 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A44B 17/0052 20130101;
D06F 95/008 20130101; A41B 11/002 20130101; A43B 17/00 20130101;
A44B 17/0023 20130101; A44B 17/0035 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
2/239 |
International
Class: |
D06F 95/00 20060101
D06F095/00; A43B 17/00 20060101 A43B017/00 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Sep 4, 2013 |
DE |
102013014735.2 |
Claims
1. An assembly, comprising: an article of clothing; a portion of
the article of clothing includes a reinforced strip; a first
connector member having a front face having a female or male
connector; the first connector member having at a rear face thereof
outwardly-projecting prongs extending through the strip from a
front thereof to a back thereof; and a second connector member
positioned on a back side of the strip and into which the at least
one prong extends and is secured.
2. The assembly of claim 1 wherein the prong has an end hook, the
second connector member has a through-hole with an inset ledge at
the through-hole, and the end of the hook engages the ledge with
the first and second connector members attached together.
3. The assembly of claim 2 wherein with the first and second
connector members attached together, a curved rounded portion of
the hook is flush with or extends out from an outer back surface of
the second connector member less than 1.0 cm.
4. The assembly of claim 1 wherein the prongs are outwardly or
inwardly slanted.
5. The assembly of claim 1 wherein the strip is a strip of fabric
or plastic material that is secured to the article of clothing by
gluing, sewing, heat sealing or punching.
6. The assembly of claim 1 wherein the strip is an embroidered
strip.
7. The assembly of claim 1 wherein the prongs bend outwardly into
respective pockets in the second connector member and are thereby
secured, and wherein the prongs before securement to the second
connector member are vertically disposed and parallel to one
another.
8. An assembly, comprising: a first connector member having a front
face with a female or male connector thereat and a rear face having
a plurality of outwardly-projecting prongs; each of the prongs
having an end lip; each of the prongs slanting outwardly or
inwardly; and a second connector member having a plurality of
through-holes; each of the through-holes configured to receive
therein a respective one of the prongs with a respective end lip
engaging a respective outward ledge at each through-hole to affix
the first and second connector members together.
9. The assembly of claim 8 wherein the prongs are configured to
snap outwardly into place with the respective lips engaging
respective outward ledges as the prongs are inserted into
through-holes to attach the connector members together.
10. The assembly of claim 8 wherein each of the prongs slants
outwardly at an angle of between 5 and 20 degrees.
11. The assembly of claim 8 wherein a forward face of the second
connector member has a raised portion surrounding the through-holes
and spaced inwardly from a perimeter of the forward face.
12. The assembly of claim 8 wherein the male or female connector is
a female connector that includes two longitudinally aligned
openings.
13. The assembly of claim 8 wherein the male or female connector is
a male connector that includes two longitudinally aligned
mushroom-shaped posts.
14. The assembly of claim 8 wherein the through-holes are
configured to receive therein a respective one of the prongs with
the prongs passing through a piece of material to affix the first
and second connector members together on and to the piece of
material; and wherein the first and second connector members when
affixed on the piece of material have a total thickness of 3.5
+5/-3 mm.
15. The assembly of claim 8 further comprising: a third connector
member having a front face with a female connector thereat and a
rear face having outwardly-projecting prongs; each of the prongs
having an end lip and each slanting outwardly; the prongs being
symmetrically disposed about a central vertical axis through the
third connector member; a fourth connector member having
through-holes, each configured to receive therein a respective one
of the prongs of the third connector member with a respective lip
engaging a respective ledge at each through-hole to affix the third
and fourth connector members together; the female or male connector
of the first connector member being a male connector; and the
female connector of the third connector member being configured to
receive and releasably hold the male connector of the first
connector member.
16. The assembly of claim 15 wherein the through-holes of the
second connector member are configured to receive therein a
respective one of the prongs of the first connector member with the
prongs passing through a first piece of material to affix the first
and second connector members together on and to the first piece of
material; and wherein the through-holes of the fourth connector
member are configured to receive therein a respective one of the
prongs of the third connector members with the prongs passing
through a second piece of material to affix the third and fourth
connector members together on and to the second piece of material;
and wherein the connection of the first and second connector
members and the connection of the third and fourth connector
members are stronger than the connection of the male and female
connectors so that the connection of the male and female connectors
releases before that of the first and second connector members and
the third and fourth connector members when the first and second
strips are grasped and pulled apart.
17. An assembly, comprising: an article of clothing; a portion of
the article of clothing including an embroidered strip; and a first
connector member having a front face with a male or female
connector thereat and a rear face positioned on and held to the
strip.
18. The assembly of claim 17 wherein the embroidered strip includes
a stabilizer layer on a backside of the material of the article of
clothing.
19. The assembly of claim 17 wherein the embroidered strip has a
width of 5 to 30 mm and a length of 10 to 80 mm.
20. The assembly of claim 17 wherein the embroidered strip has a
density of 200 to 2000 stitches per square centimeter.
21. The assembly of claim 17 further comprising: a second connector
member positioned on a back side of the strip and having a
plurality of forwardly-disposed posts; and the posts extending
through the strip into respective openings in the rear face of the
first connector member and secured therein to hold the first
connector member to the strip.
22. The assembly of claim 17 wherein the first connector member is
at and on an end of the strip.
23. The assembly of claim 17 wherein the male or female connector
is a male connector that includes a male snap.
24. The assembly of claim 17 further comprising: the first
connector member having at the rear face outwardly-projecting
prongs penetrating through the strip from a front thereof to a back
thereof; and a second connector member positioned on a back side of
the strip and into which the at least one prong extends and is
affixed.
25. The assembly of claim 17 wherein the male connector is a metal
or plastic snap and the female connector is a receiving ring or
cavity for the snap.
26. The assembly of claim 17 wherein the first connector member has
a male connector on the front face and a female connector at the
front face.
Description
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This application claims the filing date benefit of U.S.
Provisional Application Ser. No. 62/015,087, filed Jun. 20, 2014,
and of German application 10 2013 014 735.2, filed Sep. 4, 2013.
The entire contents of both of these applications are hereby
incorporated by reference.
BACKGROUND
[0002] Numerous attempts to fit socks with connecting elements that
allow the two socks of a pair of socks to be detachably connected
to prevent the loss of a sock when washing and storing the socks
are known. Examples are disclosed in International Application
PCT/EP/2012/00106 (which was filed on Jan. 11, 2012 and published
on Jul. 19, 2012 as WO 2012/095310) and in related U.S. application
Ser. No. 13/941,348 (which was filed Jul. 12, 2013, and published
on Nov. 14, 2014 as US 2013/0302558). The entire contents of both
of these applications and publications are hereby incorporated by
reference.
SUMMARY
[0003] Disclosed herein is an assembly that includes: an article of
clothing, a portion of which includes a reinforced strip; a first
connector member having a front face having a female or male
connector; the first connector member having at a rear face thereof
outwardly-projecting prongs extending through the strip from a
front thereof to a back thereof; and a second connector member
positioned on a back side of the strip and into which at least one
prong extends and is secured.
[0004] Also disclosed herein is an assembly that may include: a
first connector member having a front face with a female or male
connector thereat and a rear face having a plurality of
outwardly-projecting prongs, each of which has an end lip; and a
second connector member having a plurality of through-holes, each
of which is configured to receive therein a respective one of the
prongs with a respective lip engaging a respective outward ledge
(bearing surface) at the through-hole to thereby affix the first
and second connector members together. Each of the prongs may be
slanted outwardly (or inwardly, or perpendicular and thereby not
slanted at all). The prongs may be configured to snap outwardly (or
inwardly) into place with the respective lips engaging respective
outward ledges as the prongs are inserted into the through-holes to
thereby attach the connector members together.
[0005] Further disclosed herein is an assembly that may include: an
article of clothing, a portion of which includes an embroidered
strip; and a first connector member that has a front face with a
male or female connector thereat and a rear face positioned on and
held to the strip. The strip may have, for example, a width of 10
mm, a length of 30 mm, and a thickness of 1.5 mm. A number of
different constructions for securing the first connector member to
the strip are disclosed herein. If the clothing article is a sock,
the strip may be positioned longitudinally on the calf portion of
the sock. As an example only the top end of the strip may be at
least one mm from the top edge of the sock.
[0006] The above embroidered strip may include a stabilizer layer
on a backside of the material of the article of clothing and for
example, through which embroidering threads may pass. The
stabilizer layer may be non-woven, woven, mesh, film or foil and
may be applied to the backside by adhesive, an adhesive backing or
the embroidery threads themselves. The connector member (or
connecting element) may be connected to the embroidery
advantageously by sewing, ultrasonic welding, a groove/tongue
connection and/or a riveted connection.
[0007] The embroidery strip may be constructed using various
densities. A denser and/or multi-layered embroidery may provide
additional stability. For example, a (first) (black) embroidery
layer may underlie a (second) embroidery layer having a pattern
that may include different colored contours/highlighted areas. The
embroidery design may vary from a unicolor (any color) embroidery
of any shape (such as a square, heart or star) to any pattern or
image embroidery of various colors of any shape.
[0008] Even further disclosed herein is a method that may include:
(a) grasping an embroidered reinforcing first strip of a portion of
a first article of clothing; (b) grasping an embroidered
reinforcing second strip of a portion of a second article of
clothing; and (c) pulling the grasped first and second strips apart
to thereby release a male connector secured (directly) to the first
strip from a female connector secured (directly) to the second
strip. The two articles of clothing are thereby separated and the
male and female connectors remain secured on and to their
respective strips, and thereby to their respective clothing
articles.
[0009] Referring to the above method one way to secure the male
connector to the first strip is for the connector to be part of a
front face of a first connector member, which on a rear face
thereof has outwardly-projecting first prongs. The first prongs
pass through the first strip and into a second connector member on
the opposite side of the first strip (and the clothing material).
The female connector may be secured to the second strip in a
similar fashion as the male connector, that is, with third/first
and fourth/second connector members. The prongs may have hooked
ends and snap into place in the second connector members with the
ends engaging (bearing against) ledges at the receiving holes in
the second connector members. Alternatively, the prongs may be
bendable and fit into pockets (or bearings) in the second connector
members and bend into holding configurations, such as by using a
metallic tongue-and-groove construction.
[0010] Disclosed herein is a connector assembly that affixes a
front plate of a first connector member of the assembly on and to a
reinforcing strip of a sock with a snap-together permanent
connection in a very small device and without compromising the
comfort to the user wearing the sock. A back second connector
member of the assembly may extend inwardly towards the user's skin
no more than a millimeter, according to one embodiment. Four prongs
of the first connector member lean outwards to provide a resilient
snap/spring effect to permanently secure the two connector members
together. The rounded heads of the prongs (or snaps) facilitate the
insertion of the prongs into the through-holes of the second
connector member. The forwardly facing ends of the prongs bias
against the bearing ledge surfaces of the through-holes to secure
the lock. This lock is stronger than the releasable connection of
the male connector (mushroom-shaped posts) to the female connectors
(openings) and thereby does not disassemble when the socks are
pulled apart. In other words, the load bearing capacity of the sum
of the four prongs is greater than that of the mushroom-shaped
posts and holes.
[0011] The connecting member may be secured to its reinforced strip
at, to and on an end portion of the strip, and the rest of the
reinforced strip (that is, the other end) forms a gripping (or
handle) portion of the strip. It is the gripping portions that the
user grips and pulls on to separate the connected clothing
articles. The (embroidered) gripping portion thereby serves a
number of purposes and has a number of advantages. Being adjacent
to the connector members the user's grasping fingers will be
adjacent to the connector members thereby reducing the stress and
tearing tendencies exerted on the underlying material of the
clothing. The gripping portion being reinforced, such as with an
integral embroidering, and continuous with the end portion for the
connector, increasing assembly integrity.
[0012] The gripping portions may be configured, colored or the like
to be readily identified by the user so that the user intuitively
knows where to grasp on the clothing article. The user is thereby
less likely to grasp an unreinforced and more distant location on
the clothing article, increasing the likelihood of the article
tearing. Further, using embroidery the gripping portion may be
easily customized by the manufacturer to match or complement the
article (sock) and/or for identification, advertising or trade
dress purposes.
[0013] The (embroidered) reinforcing strip may be positioned
generally at any location on the article of clothing (such as
socks, gloves and gauntlets). (Socks in the sense of the present
disclosure are understood to mean any hosiery goods.) For example,
the strip may be located on the calf portion of a sock, facing
outwardly. It thereby is visible when being worn, such as when the
user is crossing his legs, thereby being decorative and/or source
identifying. The calf portion of the sock often has a looser fit on
the user than other portions of the sock, and thus the strip and
connectors are less tactilely noticeable to the user when the sock
is worn. The connector member may be positioned at and on the lower
end of the strip and thereby be more visible to the public when the
socks are worn (and particularly when the user's legs are crossed),
which may be advantageous when a logo (trademark) is on the outer
surface of the connector member. The logo may be formed
thereon/therein in a two-plastic injection molding process with the
rest of the first connecting member. The logo may incorporate the
connector members (the posts and the openings) within it.
[0014] Instead of having prongs extending rearwardly from the
(front) first connector members, posts may be provided on the
(rear) second connector members. The posts extend forwardly,
through the reinforced strips, and into openings in the first
connector members in which they may be secured with glue,
ultrasonic welds, interference fits or the like.
[0015] Another construction is to not have second connector
members, but rather just have the first connector members secured
directly to the strips with glue, sewing, welding or the like. For
example, the male and female connectors may be snap and
ring/opening connectors. (Or they may be mushroom-shaped posts and
corresponding openings.) The connectors may be configured such that
when connected together the respective clothing (or similar)
articles cannot rotate relative to one another.
[0016] The unique configurations and constructions of the first and
second connector members allow for easy and secure attachments of
the members on and through the reinforced strips. Additionally, the
members may be made with very small dimensions and in an injection
molding or a 3D printing process. The first connector member may be
made, for example, with dimensions of 10 by 10 mm on the top plate
and a thickness of 1.0 +2/-0.5 mm. The total thickness of the
connector members and the (embroidered) reinforced strip may be
very small, on the order of 3.5 +5/-3 mm. Where the article of
clothing is a sock, for example, the second connector member may
extend a distance backward/inward relative to the material of the
unreinforced portion less than three mm and thereby be barely
perceptible by the wearer.
[0017] The reinforced strip may be an embroidered strip formed on
and through the material of the article of clothing. Embroidering
does not cause the material to bunch or stretch and an embroidered
strip is permanently affixed and will not separate from the
clothing material. By selecting the threads, their colors and the
stitching patterns used, attractive patterns may be formed on the
strips. The patterns may also be selected to form trademark/trade
dress designs.
[0018] Also disclosed herein are: a pair of complementary articles
of clothing; methods of making and using the clothing articles
including any portions thereof; each of the components, members and
elements disclosed herein (individually or in combination) and
methods and making and using them; and any combination or
subcombinations of the components, members, steps and elements.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0019] FIG. 1 is a plan view of a pair of socks embodying connector
assemblies of the present disclosure.
[0020] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the socks of FIG. 1, showing
the socks in a connected condition and being grasped and pulled
apart by a user according to the disclosure.
[0021] FIG. 3 is a perspective view similar to FIG. 2 and showing
the two socks separated.
[0022] FIG. 4 is an enlarged top plan view of a male first
connector member of one of the connector assemblies of FIG. 1
illustrated in isolation.
[0023] FIG. 5 is a bottom plan view of the connector member of FIG.
4.
[0024] FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view taken on line 6-6 of FIG.
4.
[0025] FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view taken on line 7-7 of FIG.
4.
[0026] FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view taken on line 8-8 of FIG.
4.
[0027] FIG. 9 is an enlarged top plan view of one of the (bottom)
second connector members of the connector assemblies of FIG. 1
illustrated in isolation.
[0028] FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view taken on line 10-10 of
FIG. 9.
[0029] FIG. 11 is a cross-sectional view taken on line 11-11 of
FIG. 9.
[0030] FIG. 12 is a bottom plan view of the second connector member
of FIG. 9.
[0031] FIG. 13 is an enlarged top plan view of a female first
connector member of the connector assemblies of FIG. 1 illustrated
in isolation.
[0032] FIG. 14 is a cross-sectional view taken on line 14-14 of
FIG. 13.
[0033] FIG. 15 is a bottom plan view of the connector member of
FIG. 13.
[0034] FIG. 16 is a perspective exploded view of the connector
assemblies of FIGS. 1 and 2.
[0035] FIG. 17 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of the male
connector assembly of
[0036] FIG. 16 shown assembled.
[0037] FIG. 18 is an enlarged, perspective cross-sectional view
showing a portion of the connection of the first connector member
to the second connector member.
[0038] FIG. 19 is a longitudinal cross-sectional view of the male
connector assembly on a sock.
[0039] FIG. 20 is a longitudinal cross-sectional view of the female
connector assembly on another sock.
[0040] FIG. 21A shows the assemblies of FIGS. 19 and 20 releasably
connected together.
[0041] FIG. 21B is an enlarged view taken on circle 21B of FIG.
21A.
[0042] FIG. 22 is a view similar to FIG. 19 but showing an
alternative embroidered strip.
[0043] FIG. 23 is an enlarged view taken on circle 23 of FIG.
22.
[0044] FIG. 24 is a perspective view similar to FIG. 3 but showing
a snap button alternative embodiment of the disclosure.
[0045] FIG. 25 is a top plan view similar to FIG. 1 but showing an
enlarged view of the snap button alternative embodiment of FIG.
24.
[0046] FIG. 26 is an exploded perspective view showing an
alternative connector assembly of the present invention.
[0047] FIG. 27 is a perspective view of the assembly of FIG. 26
shown assembled.
[0048] FIG. 28 is an enlarged cross-sectional view taken on line
28-28 of FIG. 27.
[0049] FIG. 29 is a top plan view (similar to FIG. 1) of a pair of
socks embodying further alternative connector assemblies of the
disclosure.
[0050] FIG. 30 is an enlarged exploded perspective view of the
connector assemblies of FIG. 29 including their strips.
[0051] FIG. 31 is a longitudinal cross-sectional view of the male
connector assembly of FIGS. 29 and 30.
[0052] FIG. 32 is a longitudinal cross-sectional view (similar to
that of FIG. 31) of the female connector assembly of FIGS. 29 and
30.
[0053] FIG. 33 is a cross-sectional view showing a further
alternative male connector assembly with the members separated.
[0054] FIG. 34 is a view similar to that of FIG. 33 but showing the
corresponding female connector assembly.
[0055] FIG. 35 is a view similar to FIG. 33 but showing the members
connected together.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0056] The present disclosure according to an aspect thereof allows
the temporary connection of articles of clothing, in particular
socks, such as during the washing process and/or during storage, by
a connecting system attached to the articles of clothing.
[0057] A complementary pair of articles of the disclosure is
indicated in FIG. 1 generally at 50. The pair 50 is depicted as
first and second socks shown generally at 54 and 58. Sock 54
includes a first connector assembly 62 and sock 58 includes a
complementary second connector assembly 64. Each of the connector
assemblies may include a respective reinforcing strip 68, 72 and a
respective connector 76, 80 secured to its respective reinforcing
strip by various alternative constructions/means as discussed in
detail herein.
[0058] The first connector 76 may have a male connector on its
front face as shown generally at 84 in FIGS. 4 and 6-8, and which
may include first and second spaced mushroom-shaped posts 88, 92.
Similarly, the second connector 80 may have a female connector on
its face as shown generally at 96 in FIG. 13 and which may include
first and second spaced openings or through-holes 100, 104. The
(resilient plastic) openings 100, 104 are configured to receive
therein and releasably hold the (resilient plastic) posts 88, 92,
as can be understood from FIGS. 16 and 21A, for example.
Alternatively, the first connector may have a male connector (e.g.,
post) and a female connector (e.g., opening) on its front face and
the second connector may have a corresponding female connector and
a corresponding male connector on its front face.
[0059] One construction for securing the male and female connectors
84, 96 (or the first and second connectors 76, 80) to the
respective reinforcing strips 68, 72 is by using a first connector
member 112 on the outside of the strip and a second connector
member 116 on the inside of the strip with a connection
means/mechanism extending between them and passing through the
reinforcing strip.
[0060] The connection means/mechanism may include a plurality of
prongs (or snaps) 130, 134, 138, 142. The prongs may be integrally
formed as part of the first connector member 112, extending
rearwardly from a back face of the front plate 146 and arranged
concentrically about a central axis of the front plate. One
embodiment has four prongs, as shown in the drawings and an
alternative has three. Each of the prongs 130, 134, 138, 142 may be
identical, slanted outwardly (or inwardly) and have an end crook or
hook 152 with a distal end 156, as shown for example in FIGS.
6-8.
[0061] The (bottom) second connector member 116, as shown in FIGS.
9-12, may be formed as a plate or disc 166 with rounded corners,
and having four concentric identical through-holes 170, 174, 178,
182. Each of the through-holes may have a respective
outwardly-facing recessed ledge, as shown in FIGS. 11 and 12 at
190. With the four prongs 130, 134, 138, 142 positioned in a point
symmetrical arrangement, the second connector member advantageously
can be snapped on in any orientation without prior alignment. The
forward face of the second connector member may have a raised
portion surrounding the through-holes 170, 174, 178, 182 and spaced
inwardly from a perimeter of the forward face.
[0062] With the prongs 130, 134, 138, 142 passing rearwardly
through the reinforced strip 68 and into the respective
through-holes 170, 174, 178, 182, the resilient prongs snap into
place such that each distal end 156 engages or bears against a
respective ledge 190. The first connector member 112 is thereby
affixed to the second connector member 116 and on the reinforced
strip 68 at the desired location thereon. The engagement of the
ends 156 against the ledges 190 can be seen in and understood from
FIGS. 17 and 18. The rounded portions of the hooks 152 may extend
out the back face of the second connector member 116 only a slight
distance (FIGS. 17 and 18) (or not at all) so as to be barely
perceptible by the wearer. For example, it may extend less than two
mm relative to the surrounding un-reinforced (sock) material.
[0063] The rearwardly-disposed prongs 130, 134, 138, 142 of FIGS.
16 and 17 have the advantage that they may be completely customized
for the purpose. Since they may use an injection molding or 3D
printing process, they are shaped to snap fit into a very slim
plastic disc (e.g., the second connector member). The dimensions
and thermoplastic material may be chosen according to the occurring
forces. The prongs may be positioned spaced a distance from the
edge of the embroidery of the strips 68, 72 to prevent fraying of
the embroidery.
[0064] Exemplary dimensions for the connector follow: [0065] with
the first and second connector members attached together, the
curved rounded portion of the hooks may be flush with or extend out
from the outer back surface of the second connector member less
than 1.0 cm (see FIG. 17, for example); that is, with the first and
second connector members connected together, the rounded hook
portions of each of the prongs may extend 0.1-0.8 mm, or less than
1.0 cm, out beyond the back face of the second connector member.
[0066] the first connector member may be rectangular and have a
width of 5-30 mm and a length of 5-30 mm. [0067] the first
connector member may have a width of 10 mm and a length of 10 mm.
[0068] each of the prongs may slant outwardly (or inwardly) at an
angle of between 5 and 30 degrees, or 10 degrees. [0069] the first
connector member may include a disc (front plate 146) having a
rectangular configuration with a width of 10 +20/-5 mm, a length of
10 +20/-5 mm and a thickness of 1.0 +2/-0.5 mm, and the second
connector member may have a width of 8 +20/-5 mm, a length of 8
+20/-5 mm and a thickness of 0.8 mm+2/-0.5 mm. [0070] the first and
second connector members when affixed on the piece of material
(e.g., a sock or a reinforced strip portion of a sock) may have a
total thickness of 3.5 +5/-3 mm.
[0071] The reinforced strips 68, 72 may be embroidered strips and
may have the following properties, materials or dimensions. They
may include a stabilizer layer 210 as shown in FIG. 21B on the
backside of the material 214 of the article of clothing (sock). The
stabilizer layer 210, in turn, may be a layer of non-woven, woven,
mesh, film or foil and may be applied to the backside by
self-adhesive (backing), adhesive or embroidery threads.
[0072] One or both of the embroidered reinforced strips are shown
in FIGS. 16, 17, 19, 20, 21A, 21B, 22 and 23. The strips 68, 72 may
have, for example, a width of 10 mm, a length of 30 mm, and a
thickness of 1.5 mm. They may have a width of 5 to 50 mm and a
length of 5 to 100 mm. They may have a thickness of 1.5 +2/-0.5 mm.
An exemplary strip may have a width of 10 mm +20 mm/-5 mm with a
length of 30 mm +50/-20 mm. The embroidered strips may have a
density of 700 to 1300 stitches per square centimeter or 40 (or
200) to 2000 stitches per square centimeter. The strips may use
polyester, rayon or cotton embroidering threads, for example.
[0073] The articles of clothing (complementary articles) may be
socks, which may be made of wool, cotton, modal, cotton blends
(e.g., with modal, polyamide, spandex, nylon, acrylic, polyester,
olefins, bamboo, spandex, cashmere, silk, linen, mohair,
synthetics, semi-synthetics, rayon, lyocell, or cellulose fiber).
The connector assemblies may be secured to the calf part of the
socks facing laterally outwardly (or laterally inwardly). The
connector assemblies thereby are visible when being worn, such as
when the user is crossing his legs, thereby being decorative and/or
source identifying. The calf portion of the sock often has a looser
fit on the user than other portions of the sock, and thus the strip
and connectors are less tactilely noticeable to the user when
worn.
[0074] The connector member 76, 80 may be positioned at/near the
lower end of the strip 68, 72 and thereby be more visible to the
public when the socks 54, 58 are worn (and particularly when the
user's legs are crossed). This may be advantageous when a logo
(trademark) is on the outer surface of the member 76, 80. The logo
may be formed thereon/therein in a two-plastic injection molding or
3D printing process with the rest of the first connecting member.
The logo may incorporate the connector members (the posts and the
openings) within it.
[0075] The sock 54, 58 may be a men's or woman's dress, crew,
sports or medical sock and in the worn state the bottom edge of the
first connector member 76, 80 may be 7 to 30 cm or 12 to 17 cm from
the sock bottom. The top of the strip 68, 72 may be between 0 cm
and 30 cm from a top edge of the sock. The sock may be a baby's
sock or a child's sock and in the worn state the bottom edge of the
first connector member is 3-20 cm or 4-10 cm from the sock bottom.
The top of the strip may be between 0.5 cm and 30 cm from a top
edge of the sock.
[0076] As stated above, the connecting member 76, 80 may be secured
to its reinforced strip 68, 72 at an end portion of the strip and
the rest of the reinforced strip (e.g., the other end) forms a
gripping (or handle) portion 230 of the strip. It is the gripping
portion 230 that the user 240 grips and pulls on to separate the
connected clothing articles, e.g., socks 54, 58. This is
illustrated in and apparent from FIGS. 2 and 3. The (embroidered)
gripping portion 230 thereby serves a number of purposes and has a
number of advantages. Being adjacent to the connector members 76,
80 the user's grasping fingers 240 (FIGS. 2, 3 and 24) will be
adjacent to the connector members thereby reducing the stress and
tearing tendencies exerted on the underlying material of the
clothing. The gripping portion 230 being reinforced, such as with
the integral embroidering, and continuous with the end portion for
the connector increases the integrity of the socks.
[0077] Another reinforcing strip of the present disclosure is a
strip of material 250 secured to the top surface of the fabric of
the article of clothing, e.g., sock. An example thereof is
illustrated in FIGS. 30-32. The strip of the material 250 may be
formed, for example, of fabric or flexible plastic, and be secured
by gluing, sewing, stitching or punching to the clothing material
(e.g., the sock knit), as shown generically by reference numeral
260. The strip 250 may have the same width and length dimensions as
the above-described embroidered strip, such as shown in FIGS. 19,
20, 21A and 21B.
[0078] An alternative connector assembly of the disclosure is
illustrated in FIGS. 26-28 generally at 270. It may have small
dimensions similar to the above-described connector assemblies.
This assembly 270 may include a front first connector member 276
having male or female connectors such as described above, for
example the four posts as shown in FIGS. 26-28 at 280 and four
openings, similar to those shown in FIGS. 13-15 at 100, 104. The
back second connector member 310 may have perpendicular posts 320
(FIGS. 26 and 28). On the back side/face of the first member 276,
openings/holes 290 may be provided and alignable with the posts 320
(FIGS. 26 and 28) of the second member 310. The posts 320 then are
passed forwardly through the clothing article 330 (or more
particularly a reinforced strip thereof), which is shown
generically in FIGS. 26-28 and into the openings 290 in the back of
first connector member 276. They are secured therein using glue,
ultrasonic welds, interference fits or the like, and as shown
generically in FIG. 28 at 340.
[0079] For the embodiment of the assembly 270 in FIGS. 26-28 the
disc or plate 344 of the back second connector member 310 may be
extra thin. This is because it is only holding the posts 320, and
does not supply the snap-fit / riveting bearing for prongs as the
second connector member 116 of connection assembly 62 does.
[0080] Instead of the male mushroom-shaped posts and the
corresponding openings in the opposing connection assembly, a snap
arrangement may be used. Specifically, and referring to FIGS. 24
and 25, the male connector may include a metal or plastic snap 330
and the female connector may include a receiving ring or cavity
340. The round snap button may have a diameter of 2-20 mm. The
metal or plastic snap 330 and metal or plastic receiving ring 340
(FIGS. 24 and 25) may be based on a system used in the apparel
industry for which many factories already have suitable assembly
machinery.
[0081] The prong ring/socket pieces of FIGS. 24 and 25 may be
attached to the fabric with a kick press machine with a respective
mold. In other words, the principle of a capped prong ring and the
receptor being a socket piece inside the socks may be employed. An
embroidered strip may be used for this system or the separately
formed strips in FIG. 30.
[0082] A further connection assembly is illustrated in FIGS. 33-35
generally at 400. It includes a forward first connection member 410
and a back second connection member 420. A male connection member
is illustrated in FIG. 33 with one or more posts 430. And a female
connection member is illustrated in FIG. 34 with one or more
corresponding openings 440. The first connection member has a
plurality of prongs 450 preferably made of a bendable metal in
contrast to the plastic of the plate portion of the member. The
metal prongs advantageously may simply be pierced through the
embroidery (reinforcing strip), while for the previously-described
plastic prongs the embroidery (reinforcing strip) may need to be
pierced with a machine before the snap/prong assembly.
[0083] The second connection member 420 has one continuous circular
or a plurality of pockets or bearings 470, which receive a
respective prong 450 when the connection members are assembled
together, such as on a reinforced strip. The prongs 450 thereby
bend as they are pushed into the pockets 470, as illustrated in
FIG. 35, to secure the two members 410, 420 together. (The clothing
material and reinforced strip are not illustrated in these figures
for explanatory purposes.)
[0084] The prong connection assembly embodiment of FIGS. 33-35 may
have at least two connection points for a redundant safe
connection. The non-twistable connection keeps the socks and their
(gripping area) reinforcing strips positioned towards each other.
Generally any color or graphic may be integrated in the molded cap
piece in a print/two-injection molding manufacturing process.
Additionally, the snaps may be custom designed as needed for
specific forces.
[0085] The terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing
particular example embodiments only and is not intended to be
limiting. As used herein, the singular forms "a," "an" and "the"
may be intended to include the plural forms as well, unless the
context clearly indicates otherwise. The terms "comprises,"
"comprising," "including" and "having" are inclusive and therefore
specify the presence of stated features, integers, steps,
operations, elements and/or components, but do not preclude the
presence or addition of one or more other features, integers,
steps, operations, elements, components and/or groups thereof. The
method steps, processes and operations described herein are not to
be construed as necessarily requiring their performance in the
particular order discussed or illustrated, unless specifically
identified as an order of performance. It is also to be understood
that additional or alternative steps may be employed.
[0086] Although the terms first, second, third and so forth may be
used herein to describe various members, elements, components,
regions, layers and/or sections, these members, elements,
components, regions, layers and/or sections should not be limited
by these terms. These terms may be used to distinguish one element,
component, region, layer or section from another region, layer or
section. Terms such as "first," "second" and other numerical terms
when used herein do not imply a sequence or order unless clearly
indicated by the context. Thus, a first member, element, component,
region, layer or section discussed below can be termed a second
member, element, component, region, layer or section without
departing from the aspects of the present teachings.
[0087] When an element or layer is referred to as being "on,"
"engaged to," "connected to" or "coupled to" another element or
layer, it may be directly on, engaged, connected or coupled to the
other element or layer, or intervening elements or layers may be
present. In contrast, when an element is referred to as being
"directly on," "directly engaged to," "directly connected to" or
"directly coupled to" another element or layer, there may be no
intervening elements or layers present. Other words used to
describe the relationship between elements should be interpreted in
a like fashion (such as "between" versus "directly between," and
"adjacent" versus "directly adjacent"). As used herein, the term
"and/or" includes any and all combinations of one or more of the
associated listed items.
[0088] Although the present inventions have been described herein
in terms of preferred and alternative embodiments, numerous
modifications and/or additions to the above-described embodiments
would be readily apparent to one skilled in the art. The
embodiments may be defined as pairs of complementary articles, one
or the other of the articles, a set of two connecting assemblies
having connecting elements for a pair of complementary articles of
clothing, one or the other of the connecting assemblies, methods of
using or assembling, and/or subassemblies or sub-methods. The
inventions may further include each of the individual components
separately. Thus, it is intended that the scope of the present
inventions extends to all such modifications and/or additions and
that the scopes are limited solely by the claims set forth
herein.
* * * * *