U.S. patent number 3,837,049 [Application Number 05/385,852] was granted by the patent office on 1974-09-24 for brassiere fastener.
Invention is credited to Alfred G. Corrado.
United States Patent |
3,837,049 |
Corrado |
September 24, 1974 |
BRASSIERE FASTENER
Abstract
A two-piece, plastic separable fastener assembly is disclosed
having particular utility as a fastener assembly for use with a
nursing brassiere. The fastener assembly is comprised of a first
plastic member having a slot and a second plastic fastener member
having projection means thereon adapted to be introduced through
the slot in a manner whereby the two members are releasably
interengagable. The two members are provided with guide and
positioning means cooperable to position the projection relative to
the slot to facilitate introducing the projection through the slot,
whereby manipulation of the fastener assembly during
interengagement of the two members is facilitated. One of the
fastener members is attachable to a strap associated with the
shoulder strap of a brassiere and the other fastener member is
attachable to a strap associated with a movable cover portion of
the brassiere cup.
Inventors: |
Corrado; Alfred G. (Cleveland,
OH) |
Family
ID: |
26888225 |
Appl.
No.: |
05/385,852 |
Filed: |
August 6, 1973 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
Issue Date |
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192613 |
Oct 26, 1971 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
450/82; 24/702;
24/578.1; 24/DIG.51 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A41F
1/006 (20130101); A44B 11/2588 (20130101); Y10S
24/51 (20130101); Y10T 24/45995 (20150115); Y10T
24/45037 (20150115) |
Current International
Class: |
A44B
11/25 (20060101); A41F 1/00 (20060101); A44b
017/00 () |
Field of
Search: |
;24/75-78,225,226,77,21CF,23B,23G ;128/506,510,482 |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Foreign Patent Documents
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358,771 |
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Jan 1962 |
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CH |
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466,863 |
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Oct 1928 |
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DD |
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Primary Examiner: Gelak; Bernard A.
Attorney, Agent or Firm: Meyer, Tilberry & Body
Parent Case Text
This is a continuation of application Ser. No. 192,613 filed Oct.
26, 1971, and which application is now abandoned.
Claims
I claim:
1. A brassiere fastener assembly comprising a female member and a
male member releaseably interengageable in a longitudinal
direction, said female member including a first plate or plastic
material having an attachment end connectable to a first brassiere
portion and an entrance end longitudinally spaced from said
attachment end, said first plate having top and bottom surfaces and
an aperture spaced from said entrance end and opening between said
surfaces, said aperture having longitudinally spaced apart end
edges and laterally spaced apart side edges, said first plate
further including an abutment wall extending upwardly from said top
surface adjacent the end edge of said aperture farthest from said
entrance end and a pair of laterally spaced apart sidewalls
extending upwardly from said top surface and in a direction away
from said aperture and toward said entrance end, each said
sidewalls having an inner surface laterally opposed with respect to
the corresponding side edge of said aperture, said inner surfaces
being spaced apart a distance at least equal to the distance
between said side edges of said aperture, said male member
including a second plate of plastic material having an attachment
end connectable to a second brassiere portion and a second end
longitudinally spaced from said attachment end, said second plate
further having top and bottom surfaces and laterally spaced apart
side edges extending from said second end toward said attachment
end and receivable between said sidewalls on said first plate, a
projection on said second end of said second plate including a
first portion extending downwardly from said bottom surface at said
second end of said second plate and a second portion extending
longitudinally outwardly from said first portion and second end,
said second portion being spaced below and parallel to the plane of
the bottom surface of said second plate, said projection having a
width no greater than the distance between said side edges of said
aperture and said first portion having a longitudinal dimension
receivable between said end edges of said aperture and
approximately equal to the spacing between said end edges, said
first and second plates being interengaged by introducing said
second portion of said projection through said aperture from said
top surface of said first plate and in the direction from said
entrance end toward said attachment end of said first plate, for
said second portion to be beneath said first plate, said first
portion to extend through said aperture and said second plate to
overlie said first plate in the area between said aperture and
entrance end, said second portion of said projection having an end
edge spaced longitudinally outwardly from said second end of said
second plate, said end edge being slidable on said top surface of
said first plate in the direction from said entrance end toward
said aperture, and said abutment wall and sidewalls being engaged
by said end edge during sliding movement to longitudinally and
laterally position said second portion of said projection for
introduction through said aperture.
2. The brassiere fastener assembly according to claim 1, wherein
said abutment wall is generally coextensive laterally with said
farthest edge of said aperture and each of said sidewalls includes
a portion extending divergingly from a corresponding end of said
abutment wall toward said entrance end.
3. The brassiere fastener assembly according to claim 2, wherein
said diverging wall portions have ends spaced from said abutment
wall and said sidewalls each further include a second portion
extending from said end of a corresponding one of said diverging
portions to said entrance end of said first plate, said second
sidewall portions being parallel to one another.
4. The brassiere fastener assembly according to claim 1, wherein
said first portion of said projection has a laterally extending
face opposite the end wall of said aperture nearest said entrance
end of said first plate when said first and second plates are
interengaged, said face including a portion extending below said
bottom surface of said first plate, and a dimple on said portion of
said face and extending longitudinally toward said entrance end,
said longitudinal dimension of said first portion of said
projection and the longitudinal extent of said dimple together
being slightly greater than the distance between said end edges of
said aperture for said dimple to releaseably hold said first and
second plates interconnected.
5. The brassiere fastener assembly according to claim 1, wherein
said brassiere is a nursing brassiere having strap means including
shoulder strap means, a lower breast cup attached to said strap
means, and an upper breast cover having a first edge attached to
said cup and a second edge releaseably attached to said shoulder
strap means, said breast cover defining said first brassiere
portion and said shoulder strap means defining said second
brassiere portion.
6. The brassiere fastener assembly according to claim 5, wherein
said abutment wall is generally coextensive laterally with said
farthest edge of said aperture and each of said sidewalls includes
a portion extending divergingly from a corresponding end of said
abutment wall toward said entrance end.
7. The brassiere fastener assembly according to claim 6, wherein
said first portion of said projection has a laterally extending
face opposite the end wall of said aperture nearest said entrance
end of said first plate when said first and second plates are
interengaged, said face including a portion extending below said
bottom surface of said first plate, and a dimple on said portion of
said face and extending longitudinally toward said entrance end,
said longitudinal dimension of said first portion of said
projection and the longitudinal extent of said dimple together
being slightly greater than the distance between said end edges of
said aperture for said dimple to releaseably hold said first and
second plates interconnected.
Description
The present invention relates to the art of brassieres and, more
particularly, to fasteners for releasably holding brassiere
portions in closed relationship to one another.
The fastener assembly of the present invention finds particular
utility and will be described in conjunction with nursing
brassieres which are worn by women to facilitate the breast feeding
of babies. Brassieres of this character include a lower breast cup
and an upper breast cover adapted to be moved to a position which
exposes the breast for feeding. The upper breast cover is
releasably interconnected with a shoulder strap of the brassiere by
a fastener assembly manipulatable by hand.
In the fastening of cup and cover portions of a nursing brassiere,
it is often desirable, and sometimes necessary, to manipulate the
components of the fastener assembly using only the fingers of one
hand. For example, when a mother is preparing to breast feed her
child she is often carrying or supporting the child in one arm.
Thus, the mother has but one hand free to manipulate the fastening
means which is generally provided on the nursing brassiere to
maintain the upper or cover portion thereof in its position
covering the breast during non-feeding periods. When it is desired
to feed the child, the fastener is manipulated to release the cover
so that the breast may be exposed for feeding purposes. While
release of the fastener components by the use of one hand generally
is not too difficult, the interengagement thereof by the use of one
hand following the feeding period is often extremely difficult. In
this respect, the mother, while holding the child in one arm, must
grasp both fastener components between the fingers of the other
hand and manipulate the fastener components with her fingers into
both lateral and longitudinal alignment and then must move the
components relative to one another while maintaining proper
alignment in order to achieve interengagement thereof. To add to
the difficulty of aligning and interengaging the components with
one hand, it will be appreciated that the position of the fastener
components between the shoulder and upper chest area renders it
extremely difficult if not impossible to observe the interengaging
operation. Moreover, even if the woman can strain her head and eyes
to see in the area of her shoulder the fastening components are
often disposed beneath an outer garment such as a blouse, dress or
robe which may block her view. Accordingly if a woman is to readily
re-engage the fastening components she must lay the child down in
order to be able to use both hands to achieve interengagement of
the fastening component. Often, however, it is not possible or
desirable to lay the child down and, moreover, even if the child is
laid down, proper alignment and interengagement of the fastening
components may still be difficult to achieve if the mother can not
observe the interengaging operation.
In view of the foregoing disadvantages attendant to the
manipulation of components of a separable fastener assembly for a
nursing brassiere to achieve interengagement thereof, it will be
appreciated that it would be most desirable to provide a fastener
assembly comprised of components including means to facilitate
proper alignment thereof during an interengaging operation so that
one hand manipulation thereof is facilitated. Such a brassiere
fastener assembly is achieved in accordance with the present
invention by providing one of the components of the assembly with a
slot and the other with a cooperable projection by which
interengagement of the components is achieved. Further, structure
of the fastener components is such as to facilitate the relative
positioning of the projection and slot to assure proper alignment
therebetween during an interengaging operation. Accordingly, once
the projection and slot are aligned it is only necessary to
introduce the projection through the slot to accomplish
interengagement.
In accordance with one aspect of the present invention, the two
fastener components are adapted to be moved longitudinally relative
to one another, and a slot locating stop is provided on the slotted
component which is engagable by the projection in the longitudinal
direction between the two fastener components to denote the
longitudinal slot location. On engagement of the projection with
the slot locating stop one of the components is manipulated to tilt
the projection relative to the slot for passage of the projection
through the slot to achieve interengagement between the fastener
components.
In accordance with another aspect of the present invention lateral
guides are provided between the two fastener components and are
cooperable to relatively position the slot and projection laterally
of the direction of interengaging movement therebetween. The guides
may be defined, for example, by wall elements on one of the
fastener components and the side edges on the other of the fastener
components. The wall elements are spaced apart a distance
substantially corresponding to the distance between the side edges
of the other component, whereby the latter component is receivable
between the walls to laterally position the components relative to
one another and to facilitate guiding the relative longitudinal
movement therebetween which may be necessary to bring the
projection adjacent the slot for introduction therethrough.
Thus, it will be seen that in accordance with the present invention
a fastener assembly is provided comprised of a pair of fastener
components which are releasably interengagable and which are
readily positionable relative to one another by feel to facilitate
manipulation of the fastener components into interengaging
relationship.
An outstanding object of the present invention is the provision of
a fastener assembly for a brassiere comprised of a pair of
interengagable fastener components and wherein manipulation of the
components to achieve interengagement therebetween is
facilitated.
A further object of the present invention is to provide a fastener
assembly of the above character comprised of fastener components
having cooperable structures by which interengagement thereof is
achieved and wherein proper relative positioning of the components
for interengagement is provided for.
Yet another object of the present invention is the provision of a
fastener assembly of the above character wherein the components are
cooperable to laterally position the components relative to one
another.
Still a further object of the present invention is the provision of
a fastener assembly of the above character wherein the components
are cooperable to guide longitudinal movement of the components
relative to one another.
Another object of the present invention is the provision of a
fastener assembly of the above character wherein the fastener
components are movable longitudinally relative to one another to
achieve interengagement and are cooperable to position a projection
on one component relative to a slot in the other for introduction
of the projection into the slot.
Another object of the present invention is the provision of a
fastener assembly of the above character adapted to releasably
interengage strap and cover portions of a nursing brassiere and
wherein proper relative orientation of the fastener components for
interengagement therebetween advantageously can be readily achieved
by one hand manipulation of the fastener components.
These objects and others will in part be obvious and in part more
fully pointed out hereinafter in conjunction with the description
of the drawing of preferred embodiments of the present invention
and in which:
FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a nursing brassiere having one
embodiment of a fastener assembly made in accordance with the
present invention between shoulder strap and breast cover
components thereof;
FIG. 2 is a plan view of one component of the fastener assembly
illustrated in FIG. 1;
FIG. 3 is a side view of the component illustrated in FIG. 2;
FIG. 4 is a plan view of the other of the fastener components of
the fastener assembly illustrated in FIG. 1;
FIG. 5 is a side elevation view of the component illustrated in
FIG. 4, the view being taken along line 5--5 in FIG. 4;
FIG. 6 is an end view of the component illustrated in FIG. 4, the
view being along line 6--6 in FIG. 4;
FIG. 7 is a plan view illustrating the fastener components in
partially assembled relationship;
FIG. 7A is a side view, in section, of the assembly of FIG. 7, the
view being along line 7A--7A in FIG. 7;
FIG. 8 is a side view, in section, of the components of the
fastener assembly and illustrating the components in further
partially assembled relation;
FIG. 9 is a plan view of the components of the fastener assembly
illustrating the components in fully interengaged relationship;
FIG. 10 is a side elevation, in section, of the assembly
illustrated in FIG. 9, the section being taken along line 10--10 in
FIG. 9;
FIG. 11 is a plan view of one component of another embodiment of
fastener assembly in accordance with the present invention;
FIG. 12 is a side view of the component illustrated in FIG. 11;
FIG. 13 is a plan view of the other component of the modified
fastener assembly;
FIG. 14 is a side elevation view of the component illustrated in
FIG. 13, the view being along line 14--14 in FIG. 13; and
FIG. 15 is an end view of the component illustrated in FIG. 13, the
view being along line 15--15 in FIG. 13.
Referring now in greater detail to the drawing in which the
showings are for the purpose of illustrating preferred embodiments
of the invention only and not for the purpose of limiting the same,
a nursing brassiere 10 is illustrated in FIG. 1 which is comprised
of a suitable body encircling band 12, a pair of breast cups 14,
and corresponding shoulder straps 16. The structure of body
encircling band 12 and breast cups 14 do not form a part of the
present invention and, accordingly, a detailed description thereof
is not necessary. Generally, however, the body encircling band
portion of such a nursing brassiere will include upper breast
engaging portions 18, and the breast cups will include upper breast
cover or shield members 20 which are sewn or otherwise secured to
lower breast cup portions 22 along a line 24 therebetween. Upper
cover or shield portions 20, as is well known, are adapted to be
releasably maintained in the position illustrated in FIG. 1 by
suitable fastening means between the cover portion and
corresponding shoulder strap. Upon release from the shoulder strap,
the cover portion 20 is adapted to be moved to a position which
exposes the breast for feeding.
In accordance with the present invention, each cover or shield
portion 20 is adapted to be releasably retained in the position
thereof illustrated in FI. 1 by a corresponding fastener assembly
26 comprised of releasably interengagable fastener members 28 and
30. Fastener member 28 has one end thereof suitably interconnected
with shield or breast cover 20 such as by a strap 32 which
preferably is stitched both to member 28 and cover 20. It will be
appreciated, however, that other securing means such as an adhesive
for example, could be employed in place of stitching and that
member 28 could be directly attached to cover 20. Fastener member
30 is attached to one end of a strap 34 which has its opposite end
fixed to the upper marginal edge of breast engaging portion 18.
Preferably, one end of fastener member 30 is slotted and the
corresponding end of straps 34 extends through the slot and back
upon itself and is stitched as at 34a, and the other end of strap
34 is stitched to brassiere portion 18. Strap 34 and the
corresponding shoulder strap 16 are adjustably interconnected by an
adjusting component 35 which has a slot 35a through which strap 34
loosely extends and slots 35b, 35c and 35d through which shoulder
stra 16 is threaded in a well known manner to provide for adjusting
the length of the shoulder strap to suit the wearer. The loose fit
between strap 34 and component 35 permits the latter to slide along
strap 34, whereby the closed positional relationship between cover
20 and brassiere portion 18 can readily vary to accommodate
expansion and contraction of breast size which occurs during
pregnancy and the period of breast feeding. In view of the
foregoing description, it will be appreciated that upon separation
of fastener member 30 from fastener member 28 cover or shield
portion 20 is adapted to be moved so as to expose the breast.
The structure of fastener member 28 is illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 3
of the drawing. In this respect, fastener member 28 is in the form
of a flat plate component preferably of plastic material having
opposite ends 36 and 38 between which a slot 40 is provided.
Preferably slot 40 is of rectangular configuration, but it will be
appreciated that other configurations may readily be used. Slot 40
extends transversely through fastener member 28 and preferably is
located along the longitudinal center line thereof. End 38
preferably is flat and of a thickness which permits stitching
thereof to strap 32. Fastener member 28 has an upper surface 42 and
a stop wall 44 extends upwardly from surface 42 and laterally along
the side of slot 40 which is nearest end 38 of the fastener member.
Fastener member 28 is further provided with guide walls 46 and 48
extending upwardly from surface 42 and longitudinally of member 28
along the side edges thereof and from end 36 toward end 38 thereof.
In the embodiment illustrated, walls 46 and 48 are continuous from
end 36 and include inner portions 46a and 48a, respectively, which
diverge laterally inwardly toward slot 40 and terminate at the
corresponding lateral ends of wall 44. Diverging wall portions 46a
and 48a are generally of equal length and extend at equal angles
relative to the corresponding outer wall portions 46b and 48b which
are generally parallel to one another. It will be appreciated,
however, that the diverging wall portions could be arcuate rather
than straight and gently merge with wall portions 46b and 48b. The
juncture between wall portions 46a and 46b and between wall
portions 48a and 48b is intermediate the length of the
corresponding wall 46 or 48 and, preferably, is approximately
midway of the wall length. Further, wall portions 46a and 48a
preferably are integral with wall 44 in the areas of juncture
therebetween. The foregoing structure of member 28 facilitates the
production of the component as a one piece integral unit. As
mentioned hereinabove, slot 40 extends transversely through
fastener member 28 and, in this respect, is open from upper surface
42 to the lower surface 43 of the fastener member. Walls 44, 46 and
48 preferably extend above upper surface 42 a distance
corresponding substantially to the thickness of a plate portion of
fastener member 30 which s disposed therebetween when the fastener
components are assembled, as pointed out more fully
hereinafter.
Fastener member 30 is illustrated in FIGS. 4, 5 and 6 of the
drawing and preferably is also produced from a plastic material.
Fastener member 30 includes a generally flat body portion 31 having
opposite ends 58 and 60, a top 62 and a bottom 64. As mentioned
hereinabove, fastener member 30 is adapted to be attached to strap
34 of a brassiere such as that illustrated in FIG. 1, and to
facilitate such connection body portion 31 is provided adjacent end
58 with a slot 66 through which the corresponding end of strap 34
is adapted to be looped and stitched as described above. It will be
appreciated, however, that strap 34 and fastener member 30 can be
connected in any suitable manner such as by stitching or adhesively
bonding the strap directly to member 30, in which case slot 66
could be omitted. End 60 of fastener member 30 is provided
laterally centrally thereof with projection means 68 which in the
illustrated embodiment includes a flat plate portion 70 which is
laterally narrower than fastener member 30 and is spaced below body
portion 31 by a connecting portion 72 which extends downwardly from
end 60 of the fastener member. Further, rear edge 74 of plate
portion 70 is provided with a dimple 76 which extends therefrom
toward end 58 of the fastener member. Plate portion 70 has a
lateral width corresponding substantially to the lateral width of
slot 40 in fastener member 28. Further, plate portion 70 has a
longitudinal length from front edge 78 of connecting portion 72 to
the point on dimple 76 farthest removed from edge 78 which
corresponds substantially to the longitudinal dimension of slot 40
in fastener member 28. These dimensional relationships between slot
40 and plate portion 70 provide for interengagement between
fastener members 28 and 30 to be achieved in the manner set forth
more fully hereinafter. While connecting portion 72 is illustrated
as being of a lateral width corresponding to that of plate portion
70 it will be appreciated that connector portion 72 could be of a
lateral width less than the width of plate portion 70. Moreover,
plate portion 70 could have a peripheral contour other than the
rectangular contour illustrated and, in this respect could be
round, elliptical or of other suitable configurations.
Body portion 31 of the fastener member preferably has a thickness
which corresponds generally to the height of walls 44, 46 and 48 of
fastener member 28 above surface 42 thereof. Moreover, body portion
31 is defined in part by side edges 82 and 84 extending
longitudinally of the fastening member from a point adjacent end 58
thereof toward end 60. Side edges 82 and 84 include outer generally
parallel portions 82a and 84a, respectively, and inner portions 82b
and 84b which diverge toward the sides of plate portion 70 at end
60 of body portion 31. The lateral spacing and longitudinal
contours of side edges 82 and 84 correspond generally with the
spacing between and longitudinal contout of walls 46 and 48
respectively of fastener member 28. More particularly, side edges
82 and 84 define guide means for fastener member 30 cooperable with
walls 46 and 48 of fastener member 28 to facilitate interengagement
of fastener members 28 and 30, as set forth hereinafter.
The positional relationships between fastener members 28 and 30
during manipulation thereof into interengagement is illustrated in
FIGS. 7, 7A, 8, 9, and 10 of the drawing. More particularly, during
the initial assembly procedure fastener components 28 and 30 are
moved into the relative positions thereof illustrated in FIGS. 7
and 7A. In this respect, fastener member 30 is disposed in
overlying relationship with surface 42 of fastener member 28 and
has its opposite side edges 82 and 84 disposed between walls 46 and
48 of fastener member 28. Moreover, the front edge of plate portion
70 of the projection means is disposed in engagement with slot
locating wall 44 of fastener member 28. Fastener members 28 and 30
may be moved into the disposition illustrated in FIGS. 7 and 7A in
a number of different ways, such as by moving member 30 laterally
across one of the walls 46 and 48 until side edges 82 and 84 of
member 30 drop therebetween, and then longitudinally shifting the
members relative to one another until plate portion 70 of the
projection means engages wall 44. As another example of such
movement, fastener member 30 may be longitudinally introduced
between outer portions 46b and 48b of walls 46 and 48 at the
entrance end of member 28 adjacent end 36 thereof, and the two
components then moved longitudinally to bring plate portion 70 into
abuting relationship with wall 44. Regardless of the manner in
which the two components are initially positioned, it will be
appreciated that walls 46 and 48 of member 28 together with side
edges 82 and 84 of member 30 define guide means between the
fastener members cooperable to relatively position slot 40 and
projection means 58 in a direction lateral to the direction between
the opposite ends of the two fastener members. Moreover, the front
edge of plate portion 70 of the projection means engages wall 44,
whereby the latter wall defines positioning means to denote the
location of slot 40 in the direction between the opposite ends of
fastener member 28. Accordingly, proper relative positioning of
fastener members 28 and 30 can readily be achieved employing only
the sense of touch or feel.
When fastener members 28 and 30 are properly positioned relative to
one another as illustrated in FIGS. 7 and 7A, plate portion 70 of
the projection means is introduced through slot 40 in member 28 by
first tilting fastener member 30 relative to fastener member 28 as
illustrated in FIG. 8 of the drawing. During such tilting movement,
the front edge of plate portion 70 slides downwardly along rear
surface 45 of wall 44 and front surface 41 of slot 40, whereby
proper longitudinal positioning of the fastening members is
maintained. Further, during such tilting movement proper lateral
positioning of the components is maintained by the relationship
between walls 46 and 48 of member 28 and side edges 82 and 84 of
member 30, and by the side edges of plate portion 70 and the
adjacent side edges of slot 40.
Once the forward edge of plate portion 70 of the projection means
has cleared the bottom edge of slot 40 the fastener elements are
displaced longitudinally relative to one another to move plate
portion 70 of the projection means through slot 40 in the direction
of end 38 of fastener member 28. When plate portion 70 has moved
through slot 40, fastener members 28 and 30 are pivoted relative to
one another in the direction to move fastener element 30 toward
surface 42 of fastener element 28. Such movement brings fastener
elements 28 and 30 into the fully interengaged relationship thereof
illustrated in FIGS. 9 and 10 of the drawing. In this respect,
plate portion 70 of the projection means is disposed in underlying
relationship with regard to bottom 43 of fastener member 28, body
portion 31 of fastener member 30 is disposed in overlying
relationship with regard to upper surface 42 of fastener member 28,
front edge 78 of connecting portion 72 of the projection means is
disposed closely adjacent surface 41 of slot 40, and side edges 82
and 84 of fastener member 30 are disposed between walls 46 and 48
of fastener member 28. It will be noted too that the plate portion
70 is spaced below bottom 64 of fastener member 30 a distance
corresponding generally to the distance between surfaces 42 and 43
of member 28, whereby undesirable looseness between the fastener
members is avoided. When the fastener members are so disposed,
dimple 76 on the rear edge of projection means 68 overlies bottom
surface 43 of fastener member 28 adjacent the corresponding edge of
slot 40. Accordingly, dimple 76 prevents unintended pivotal
displacement of fastener member 30 in the direction which would
move body portion 31 thereof away from surface 42 of fastener
member 28. With further regard to the function of dimple 76 it will
be seen in FIGS. 9 and 10 that a narrow space 86 exists between
inner surface 41 of slot 40 and front edge 78 of connecting portion
72 of the projection means. Space 86 permits longitudinal movement
of fastener member 30 toward end 38 of fastener member 28 to carry
dimple 76 forwardly of the corresponding edge of slot 40 so that
fastener member 30 may be tilted to the position illustrated in
FIG. 8 to achieve withdrawal of the plate portion of the projection
means through slot 40. Preferably, space 86 is slightly less than
the distance which dimple 76 projects longitudinally from the rear
edge of plate portion 70. Such a dimensional relationship provides
for dimple 76 to frictionally engage the corresponding edge of slot
40 during assembly and disassembly of fastener members 28 and 30,
whereby a snap action occurs during assembly and disassembly
operations. It will be appreciated, however, that such a frictional
engagement relationship between the dimple and adjacent edge of
slot 40 is not essential to maintenance of the fastener members in
the interengaged dispositions thereof.
FIGS. 11-15 of the drawing illustrate a further embodiment of
cooperable fastener members for releasably interengaging brassiere
portions in the manner described hereinabove with regard to FIG. 1.
In this respect, FIGS. 11 and 12 illustrate a fastener member 128
adapted to be connected to the breast shield portion of a brassiere
in the manner described hereinabove with regard to fastener
component 28, and FIGS. 13, 14 and 15 illustrate a fastener member
130 adapted to be interconnected by a strap component to the other
breast engaging portion of the brassiere in the manner described
hereinabove with regard to fastener component 30.
Fastener member 128 is similar in many respects to fastener member
28 and, in this respect, includes opposite ends 136 and 138 and a
slot 140 intermediate the opposite ends. Further, fastener member
128 is in the form of a flat plate component preferably of plastic
material, and slot 140 is of a rectangular configuration and
extends transversely through the fastener member. End 138
preferably is flat and relatively thin to facilitate stitching
interconnection thereof with the corresponding brassiere portion.
Further, the fastener has an upper surface 142 and a stop wall 144
extends upwardly from surface 142 and laterally along the side of
slot 140 which is nearest end 138 of the fastener member. Guide
walls 146 and 148 extend upwardly from surface 142 and
longitudinally of the fastener member from end 136 toward end 138
thereof. In this embodiment, guide walls 146 and 148 are continuous
from end 136, are generally parallel throughout the length thereof
and terminate at the corresponding lateral sides of stop wall 144.
Preferably, walls 146 and 148 are integral with stop wall 144 in
the areas of juncture therebetween.
Fastener member 130 is similar in certain respects to fastener
member 30 described hereinabove and, in this respect, includes a
body portion 131 having opposite ends 158 and 160, a top 162 and a
bottom 164. Further, body portion 131 is provided adjacent end 158
with a slot 166 to facilitate interconnection of the fastener
member with the corresponding brassiere portion.
End 160 of fastener member 130 is provided laterally centrally
thereof with projection means 168 which includes a flat plate
portion 170 which is laterally narrower than fastener member 130
and is spaced below body portion 131 by a connecting portion 172
which extends downwardly from end 160 of the fastener member.
Further, rear edge 174 of plate portion 170 is provided with a
dimple 176 which extends therefrom toward end 158 of the fastener
member. Plate portion 170 has a lateral width corresponding
generally to the lateral width of slot 140 and has a longitudinal
length from front edge 178 of connecting portion 172 to the point
on dimple 176 farthest removed from edge 178 which corresponds
substantially to the longitudinal dimension of slot 140. As
mentioned hereinabove, connector portion 172 could be of a lateral
width less than the width of plate portion 170, and the latter
plate portion and slot 140 could have a peripheral contour other
than the rectangular contours illustrated therefor. Moreover, the
connecting portions could have a lateral width up to that of the
slot 140 and plate portion 170 could be laterally narrower than the
connecting portion.
Body portion 131 of fastener member 130 includes side edges 182 and
184 extending longitudinally of the fastening member from end 158
thereof toward end 160. Side edges 182 and 184 are generally
parallel to one another and define guide surfaces on fastener
member 130 cooperable with guide walls 146 and 148 of fastening
member 128 to facilitate interengagement of the fastener members in
a manner similar to that described hereinabove with regard to
fastener members 28 and 30.
The positional relationships between fastener member 128 and 130
during manipulation thereof into interengagement is the same as
that described hereinabove with regard to fastener members 28 and
30 and, accordingly, it is not believed necessary to reiterate the
interengaging procedure. It should be noted, however, that during
positioning and interengagement of the fastener members, guide
walls 146 and 148 receive guide surfaces 182 and 184 of fastener
member 130 therebetween and the guide walls and surfaces cooperate
to laterally position the projection means relative to slot 130.
Further, upon relative longitudinal movement between the members to
move projection means 168 toward slot 140 the front edge of plate
portion 170 of the projection means engages the stop wall 144 on
member 128, thus to properly position the projection means
longitudinally of member 128 for introduction of the projection
means through slot 140.
In the embodiments of the present invention described hereinabove,
it is to be noted that the slotted fastening member 28 or 128 is
interconnected with the breast shield or cover portion of the
brassiere and that fastener member 30 or 130 carrying the
projection means is interconnected with the upper breast engaging
portion of the brassiere. This relationship is preferred in that
easy manipulation of the fastener components is facilitated
thereby, especially during interengagement of the fastener members.
In this respect, the slotted fastener member can be positioned
against the chest of the wearer and pressed thereagainst by one or
both of the little finger and ring finger of one hand to hold the
slotted component in a fixed position. The fastener member carrying
the projection means can then be grasped between the thumb and
first or second fingers of the same hand, laterally positioned
relative to the slotted component by means of the guide walls and
guide edges and tilted to introduce the projection means through
the slot. Once the projection means has been introduced through the
slot the first or second finger can be employed to press the
fastening member carrying the projection means toward the chest to
snap lock the fastener members together in the manner described
hereinabove. While the above disposition of the fastener members is
preferred, it will be appreciated that the location of the fastener
members relative to the portions of the brassiere to be
interconnected could readily be reversed. When so reversed, the
guide wall and side edges of the fastener members are still
cooperable to laterally align the fastener members by feel thus to
achieve proper location of the projection means relative to the
slot to facilitate introduction of the projection means through the
slot.
While considerable emphasis has been placed hereinabove on the fact
that the fastener members have cooperable guide means and that stop
means is provided to denote longitudinal slot locations, it will be
understood that either of the guide means or stop means can be
employed without the other. Moreover, while the guide means for the
fastener members is defined by walls on the slotted fastener member
and side edges on the fastener member carrying the projection
means, it will be appreciated that such guide means could readily
be defined by providing similar walls on the member carrying the
projection means for receiving guide edges on the slotted fastener
member. Further, it will be appreciated that the guide walls need
not be continuous or interconnected with the stop wall, and that
means other than walls could be provided to define guide means on
one number cooperable with guide surfaces on the other. For
example, a plurality of dimples or projections could be provided
which would be positioned to receive guide edges therebetween, and
which could be integral with or separate components attached to the
corresponding fastener members. Many forms of guide means could be
devised for achieving lateral positioning and longitudinal guiding
of relative movement between the fastener members, the guide means
herein illustrated and described merely being a preferred form.
Moreover, while the plate portion of the projection means and the
cooperable slot are illustrated in one embodiment as having a
lateral width generally corresponding to the distance between the
inner ends of the converging portions of the guide walls, it will
be appreciated that the plate portion and slot could have a lateral
width less than the lateral distance between the inner ends of the
converging wall portions, and that the plate portion of the
projection means could have a lateral width considerably less than
the lateral width of the slot. Similarly, while the plate portion
of the projection means and the cooperable slot in the other
embodiment are illustrated as being laterally narrower than the
distance between the parallel guide walls, it will be appreciated
that the slot and plate portion could have a lateral width
corresponding generally to the distance between the guide walls,
and that the plate portion could be considerably narrower than the
slot. It will be appreciated too that the slot and projection means
could be located along a longitudinal line laterally of the center
line of the components. It will be further appreciated that stop
means or slot locating means can be provided other than by a wall
or the like disposed adjacent and along one side of the slot. For
example, stop means could be defined by providing the fastener
members with other interengaging components which would cooperate
to denote that the projection means is properly positioned
longitudinally for introduction through the slot. It will be still
further appreciated that the slot and projection means could be
cooperably contoured to interengage one another in a manner other
than by snap lock action. For example, the plate portion could be
provided with a longitudinal flange in place of the dimple thereon
and which would slidingly overlap the bottom of the slotted
component to prevent unintended separation thereof. Many designs of
cooperable projections and slots will be readily apparent and can
be employed within the present invention.
As many possible embodiments of the invention may be made and as
many possible changes may be made in the embodiment herein
disclosed, it is to be distinctly understood that the foregoing
descriptive matter is to be interpreted merely as illustrative of
the present invention and not as a limitation.
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