A FASTENING RIBBON PRODUCT AND A PROCEDURE FOR THE MANUFACTURE OF SUCH A PRODUCT

Abstract: A fastening ribbon product comprising two longitudinal ribbons (10, 10'). The ribbons are made of flexible woven material and fitted with fastening items, which interlock the ribbons (10, 10') of the ribbon pair, i.e. couple them together. Both ribbons (10, 10') of the ribbon pair are fitted with separate male and/or female fastening items located at certain distances. The fastening items comprise individual and independent fastening item pairs that are arranged so as to make them interlock in such a way that the edges of the ribbons of the ribbon pair will either overlap or be adjacent. When guided against each other, the fastening item rows are locked by a pressing movement whose direction is essentially at right angles in respect to the plane of the ribbon pair and opened by a pulling movement whose direction is essentially the opposite. The fastening item rows of the ribbons of the ribbon pair are alternatively locked by moving the ribbons of the ribbon pair in the plane of the ribbon pair to one direction and opened by moving the ribbon pair to the opposite direction. The application also discloses various fastening tape combinations, procedures for the manufacture of such fastening ribbons, and different fastening item pairs and fastening ribbon products.

Description: ribbon, resulting a male ribbon and a female ribbon being coupled with each other in such a way so as to make it quick and easy to fasten this kind of ribbon pair to garments or similar products. A combi¬ nation in accordance with this patent has certain advantages; however, this solution does not eliminate the drawbacks connected with the use and manufacture of press buttons or snap fasteners in general. It should be repeated that the material and manufacturing technique of press buttons or snap fasteners limits the choice .of their structure and shape and makes it difficult to produce buttons individually adapted for each application. Another known fastener is the slide fastener or zipper, which varies in design and structure. A characteristical feature to all zippers is that they comprise two ribbons, whose edges are fitted with rows of fastening items, which are laterally interlocked and separated by means of a special lock. In spite of the development of slide fasteners or zippers, press button or snap fastener rows are, in some applications, preferred to zippers. In some applications both snap fasteners and zippers are used. Various types of touch-and-close fasteners are also known. As to these, reference is made to US patent No. 3.778.870 and CH patent No. 495.122. Touch-and-close fasteners can be secured to garments or similar rather easily, but their fastening power is not nearly as good as that of snap fastener rows. Another drawback of touch- and-close fasteners is that their fastening power will gradually reduce by age. As to the State of Art, a reference is also made to US patent No. 3.890.679, in which such a procedure is described in which plastic press buttons are moulded into small pieces of fabric to make them adhere to the fabric during the moulding procedure. These pieces of fabric are then sewn to garments or similar one by one in order to create a row of press buttons. As said above, such a way to fasten press buttons is slow and clumsy and implies space, special machinery and specialized personnel. A fastening ribbon product and a procedure for the manufacture of such a product The present invention relates to a fastening ribbon product com¬ prising a pair of longitudinal ribbons made of flexible woven material and fitted with fastening items for interlocking said ribbons together. The invention also relates to a procedure for manufacturing such fastening ribbons, in which procedure continuous flexible woven ribbon, for instance textile ribbon, is made use of. There are many well-known types of press buttons or snap fasteners intended for various purposes. The most usual way to produce press buttons is to punch them out of metal sheet. The known press buttons are riveted to fabric, leather, or similar material with special tools. Manufactured of metal, the material and manufacturing techni- que of press buttons or snap fasteners considerably limit the choice of their structure and design. Another drawback is that the press buttons must be fastened to garments one by one, which increases the expensive manual part of the work. The securing of known press buttons is often loosened; usually they are torn off the garment, and a new one can be secured to the garment only by means of special tools and often by an expert only. Regarding the State of Art, reference is made to GB patent No. 1.058.097 and DE patent application No. 19 19 098, which disclose procedures for manufacturing press buttons as a continuous ribbon, from which ribbon single snap fasteners are cut to be secured to garments with methods fasteners are cut to be secured to garments with methods known as such. As to press buttons or snap fasteners, reference is also made to US patent No. 3.181.219, which discloses such a combination in which finished press buttons made of metal are secured to an auxiliary An object of this invention is to provide a product and a procedure in which the drawbacks mentioned above are eliminated. A specific object of the invention is to afford a product which provides advantages in textile industry and generally when securing rows of fastening items, so as to make it possible to use the methods, often highly automatized, developed for securing zippers. Another objective of the invention is to provide a new-type ribbon product that can practically and economically be manufactured and which combines the advantages of zippers, press button rows and touch-and-close fasteners, at the same time eliminating their drawbacks. For attaining the objectives mentioned above and to be expressed later^- the principal characteristic feature of a product in accordance with the invention is that both ribbons of the ribbon pair are fitted with separate male and/or female fastening items, located at certain distances from each other, moulded of plastic or similar material so to be secured to the ribbons during the moulding procedure, comprising individual and separate pairs of fastening items, and arranged so as to be interlocked with each other so that the two ribbons of the ribbon pair are positioned flatwise their edges overlapping and that the fastening item rows, when guided against each other, are made interlock by pressing movement essentially applied at right angles in respect to the plane of the ribbon pair, and are made open by a drawing movement whose direction is essentially the opposite. As the pairs of fastening items are individual and independent, and the distance between them has no influence whatsoever on the inter¬ locking procedure as is the case with zippers, the distance between the fastening items can be freely selected, and as the ribbons (male ribbon and female ribbon) are moulded simultaneously, exact distance tolerances are no more required. The principal characteristic feature of the procedure in accordance with the invention is that the textile ribbon is fed through a plastic moulding machine, and that in this plastic moulding machine female and male fastening items are moulded into the textile ribbon at certain distances, preferably at equal distances, by arranging the ribbon to pass through mould spaces located opposite to each other on both sides of the ribbon and by feeding suitable plastic material into said mould spaces through a mould channel with suitable feeding equipment. Most ribbon products in accordance with the invention differ from a zipper in that, in the invention, the ribbons of the ribbon pair, which are either male and/or female ribbons, will usually overlap at their edges which is not the case with a zipper. Therefore most pairs of fastening unit ribbons in accordance with the invention can be closed and opened in the same way as the known press button rows. Thus each pair of fastening items is an individual and independent fastening unit. When required, locks resembling those of zippers can be used together with a pair of fastening item ribbons (which are from now on called fastening ribbons). These locks usually function as follows: they press or open the ribbons of the ribbon pair at right angles in respect to the plane of the ribbon pair, whose direction is the same as the direction of the ribbon pair. As is clear, the difference from a zipper is that a zipper is closed by pulling the lock in the direction of the zipper ribbons. The advantages of a product in accordance with the invention are obvious both when manufacturing the ribbon and when using the ribbon product in. textile industry or similar. Another important advantage is that the actual fastening items of the ribbon product can, because of the manufacturing method, i.e. plastic moulding, be shaped very freely in order to meet the special requirements of the application, as will detailedly be described below by several embodiments. The simultaneous materialization of these three advantages, which are different in nature, is an indication of an essential inventive step. Embodiments of the invention will now be described in detail, by way of examples only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, with no intention to restrict the invention to these details. Fig. 1 shows a diagrammatic vertical section view of a continuous- action moulding machine using a method in accordance with the invention and producing a product in accordance with the invention. Fig. 2 shows a centric sectional view of a male fastening item for a ribbon product in accordance with the invention. Fig. 3 shows a female fastening item to be used together with a fastening item illustrated in Fig. 2. Fig. 4 shows section IV-IV in Fig. 3. Fig. 5 shows section V-V in Fig. 3. Fig. 6 shows a slide view of a button ribbon in accordance with the invention. Fig. 7 shows the same as Fig. 6, seen from the side of the buttons. Fig. 8 shows the use of a button row shown in Figs. 6 and 7 and the matching female hole ribbon for buttoning a shirt or similar. Fig. 9 shows a single-use fastening ribbon. Fig. 9 also shows section view IX-IX in Fig. 10. Fig. 10 shows section X-X in Fig. 9. Fig. 11 shows a fastening ribbon which is tightened when locked by a lateral pull. Fig. 11 also shows section view XI-XI in Fig. 12. Fig. 12 shows section view XII-XII in Fig. 11. Fig. 13 shows a plan view of a combined male/female fastening ribbon in accordance with the invention. Fig. 14 shows section view XIV-XIV in Fig. 13. Fig. 15 shows in the same way as Fig. 14 two interlocked male/ female ribbons one on top of the other. Fig. 16 shows a plan view of another male/female fastening ribbon. Fig. 17 shows section view XVII-XVII in Fig. 16. Fig. 18 shows two interlocked male/female ribbons one on top of the other. Fig. 19 shows a plan view of a ribbon, which is, on one side, fitted with male fastening items, on the other side with female fastening items, i.e. a fastening ribbon that is male on one side and female on the other side. Fig. 20 shows section view XX-XX in Figs. 19 and 21. Fig. 21 shows the same as Fig. 19 seen from the other side, i.e. from the side of the female fastening items. Fig. 22 shows such a ribbon combination in accordance with the invention, in which there are, in the edges of the folding ribbon, male and female fastening items, and between them a row of female fastening items secured to the edge of another ribbon. Fig. 23 sbows such a fastening ribbon whose fastening items comprise several adjoining rows and lines (rows and lines are at right angles in r.espect to each other) of plug-shaped fastening items and fastening cavities between the plugs. Fig. 24 shows section view XXIV-XXIV in Fig. 23. Fig. 25 shows a fastening ribbon that can be opened and closed in a certain direction only. Fig. 26 shows section view XXVI-XXVI in Fig. 25. Fig. 27 shows an alternative section XXVII-XXVII in Fig. 25. Fig. 28 shows such an application of a fastening ribbon in accordance with the invention which is opened and closed with a lock resembling the lock of a .zipper. Fig. 29 shows the same as Fig. 28 seen from the opposite direction. Fig. 30 shows the use of a fastening ribbon in accordance with the invention in a wind-resistant coat, the front of the coat being open. Fig. 31 shows the same as Fig. 30 when the fastening ribbons are closed. Fig. 32 shows the same as Figs. 30 and 31 when the fastening ribbons are single-closed or closed to the first phase. Fig. 33 shows section view XXXIII-XXXIII in Fig. 31, i.e. the situation in which the fastening ribbons are wind-resistantly double-closed. Fig. 34 shows how a fastening ribbon in accordance with the invention can be used in a shoe. Fig. 35 shows a section view of Fig. 34 at the fastening ribbons. Fig. 36 shows the plan view of- the same as Fig. 35. Fig. 37 shows another variation of how a fastening tape in accordance with the invention can be used in a shoe. Fig. 38 shows section view of a shoe shown in Fig. 37 at the fastening item rows. Fig. 39 shows the plan view of the same as Fig. 38. Fig. 40 shows a fastening ribbon in accordance with the invention used in a slalom shoe. Fig. 41 shows section view of a slalom shoe illustrated in Fig. 40, at its closing flap. Fig. 42 shows the plan view of the same as Fig. 41. Fig. 43 shows a procedure by means of which a fastening item pair of the slalom shoe shown in Figs. 40,41 and 42 is made of fastening ribbons in accordance with the invention. Fig. 43 also shows section XXXXIII-XXXXIII in Fig. 44. Fig. 44 shows the plan view of the same as Fig. 43. Fig. 45 shows another part of a laterally closed fastening item pair. Fig. 45 also shows section XLV-XLV in Fig. 46. Fig. 46 shows the plan view of the same as Fig. 45. Fig. 47 shows a laterally opening fastening item couple illustrated in Figs. 45 and 46 in the fastened position. Fig. 47 also shows section view XLVII-XLVII in Fig. 48. Fig. 48 shows section view XLVIII-XLVIII in Fig. 47. Fig. 49 shows a laterally opened and closed fastening ribbon pair that is wind— and water-resistant. Fig. 50 shows the centric section view of the adjusting lock of the ribbons. Fig. 51 shows section view LI-LI in Fig. 50. Fig. 52 shows another example of the ribbon adjusting lock. Fig. 52 also shows section view LII-LII in Fig. 53. Fig. 53 shows section view LIII-LIII in Fig. 52. A favourable exemplary embodiment of the invention will now be described, with reference to Fig. 1. In order to produce a ribbon product in accordance with the invention, fastening items 210 are moulded onto a flexible ribbon, for example a textile ribbon, at certain distances, preferably at equal distances. As illustrated in Fig. 1, textile ribbon W moves from the starting roll to the collecting roll (not shown) through the moulding machine. Fastening items 210, which in the figure are male fastening items, are produced in mould spaces 205 and 206 of the moulding machine. The female fastening items of the other part of the ribbon pair are produced in a similar manner. Several embodiments and variations of different fastening items will be described below. The moulding machine also comprises drawing equipment, by means of which the textile ribbon W is periodically pulled. The length of one phase is related to distance H between two consecutive fastening items. The tightness of ribbon W is maintained during operation by braking rolls 200. The moulding machine comprises two opposite mould units 203 and 208, which move vertically so that mould spaces 205 and 206 are made close tightly in association with the stopped ribbon W for moulding the fastening item. Before mould spaces 205 and 206, the machine has perforating devices 201 and 202, by means of which a hole is cut into the ribbon for moulding fastening item 210 in the next phase. A spraying cylinder 209 with piston 211 is arranged in association with the top moulding unit 208. Piston 211 is for supplying plastic compound through channel 207 into mould spaces 205,206. The thermo¬ element of spraying cylinder 209 is indicated with reference number 213. After moulding fastening item 210, ribbon W is moved one step forwards. For this, the top moulding unit 208 is at first opened in the direction of arrow G. Ribbon W is thereafter lifted by guide 214 clear of the bottom moulding unit 203. As shown in Fig. 1, guide 214 can be turned upwards around link 215 by means of actuator 216. Ribbon W is then moved one space H forwards. In the next phase, after returning the bottom moulding unit 203 by means of actuator 204 to its operating position and after turning guide 214 by means of actuator 216 to the horizontal position, mould spaces 205 and 206 are closed against each other in association with ribbon W and the next fastening item 210 is moulded. The machine also comprises a core-remover 217 and actuators 218 and 219. The ribbon product comprising two ribbons is thus produced as a continuous process by moulding fastening items 210 into a flexible ribbon W at certain distances, preferably at equal distance. During the moulding procedure the fastening items 210 are reliably and solidly enough secured to the ribbon. Ribbon W need not always be perforated before the moulding phase; particularly when using a ribbon W made of man-made fibres, the items being moulded and the ribbon can reliably be made "fuse" together. We shall now describe several feasible examples of how a fastening ribbon pair in accordance with the invention can be designed, and various feasible applications. In the following we will, for short, only say "ribbon", when we mean a flexible pair of ribbons, preferably made of textile material, in which there are at certainj preferably equal distances male and/or female fastening items, moulded of plastic or similar, which are, when molded, reliably secured to the ribbon as described above. As illustrated in Figs. 2,3,4 and 5, the male section of the fastening item pair (Fig. 2) comprises a foot section 11, by means of which the male fastening item is secured to ribbon 10. The foot section is extended by a plug section, which at its top end widens out to form a cap section 12, under which there is a fastening groove 13. The shape of fastening item 11-13 is rotational; the shape of the outer surface of its cap section 12 is a hemisphere. Figs. 3,4, and 5 illustrate a female fastening item to be used together with a male fastening item illustrated in Fig. 2. This fastening item comprises an annular section 14 with hole 15. Hole 15 has a U-shape extension 15'. Hole 15,15' is surrounded by a bevelled surface 16, which guides the hemispherical cap section of the male part when being inserted into hole 15. The fastening items are thus interlocked with each other. As the overlapping ribbons 10 and 10' are pulled into directions indicated in Fig. 3, grooves 13 of the male fastening item row are wedged into the U-shape extension 15' of hole 15 thus creating a reliable interlocking that can be opened only by moving center line K..-K.. at the center point K„ of hole 15, which is the same position in which the fastening item pair was locked. The fastening ribbon pair illustrated in Figs. 2-5 can be used for instance in shirts, blousons and similar garments. In Figs. 6 and 7 such a button ribbon is illustrated in which the buttons 20 are secured to textile ribbon 10 at equal distances H. Buttons 20 comprise foot section 21, neck section 22 and cap section 23 whose surface 24 is rounded. Buttons 20 are moulded in the fashion described above or with some other method so as to make buttons 20 be secured to ribbon 10 by foot section 221 and the root of neck section 22. In Figs. 6 and 7, a button ribbon is illustrated in scale 2:1. Thus distance H between buttons 20 is approx. 3,5 cm, the width of ribbon 10 is approx. 2,1 cm, and diameter D of the cap section 23 is approx. 1,1 cm. In the figure, button row 20 is positioned on the center line of ribbon 10. In some cases an unsymmetrical securing of buttons 20 to ribbon 10 is possible and may be preferable to a symmetrical securing. Fig. 8 illustrates a female hole ribbon 10' used in association with a button ribbon illustrated in Figs 6 and 7. Generally the ring section 25 is sewn in the well-known fashion and therefore sufficiently flexible. Ring parts 25 of holes 26 can also be moulded to into ribbon so that the space between each ring part is H. Ribbons 10 and 10' are sewn to the shirt fabric. Thus such a buttoning or similar has been created that is essentially more feasible and faster to produce than known buttons and button holes. When using a ribbon pair 10 and 10' in accordance with the invention, the automatization of the buttoning is easier and more feasible. It should also be stated that button ribbon 10 alone also belongs to the sphere of the invention. A button ribbon 10 like this can, as said, be also used together with traditional button holes. Therefore hole ribbon 10' illustrated in Fig. 8 is not necessary; instead of a hole ribbon it is possible to use button holes made into the edge of the garment without any particular ribbon. Figs. 9 and 10 illustrate such a fastening ribbon pair that is of the single-use type in that after ribbons of the ribbon pair have been coupled to each other they cannot be separated without breaking the structure. The ribbon is fitted with such male fastening items which are secured to the ribbon by its foot section 28. Neck section 30 with tapered cap section 31 is attached to foot section 28. Female ribbon 10' comprises hole items 32 with longitudinal slots 33. Hole item 32 is made of such a flexible material that neck 30 and cap sextion 31 of items 28 are locked in slots 33. The fastening method shown in Figs. 9 and 10 can be used for instance in bags of cloth filters, wires of paper machines, in various belts and other similar applications, in which the fastening item rows need not be opened. In Figs. 11 and 12 there is a ribbon pair 10,10' . In ribbon 10 there are male items 34 which comprise a foot section 25, neck section 36 and cap section 37. In the female ribbon 10' there are hole items 38 with noncentric holes 39, through which the cap section 37 can be inserted. In association with holes 39 there is a narrower hole section 39' , into which the neck section goes. In Figs. 13,14, and 15 is a laterally self-locking combined male- female ribbon, whose advantage is that one ribbon type only is required for a ribbon pair in accordance with the invention. The "hermaphrodite" ribbon illustrated in these figures comprises elements 40, which, when put against a similar elements 40', comprise a fastening item pair that is self-locked when laterally tightened. In both elements 40 and elements 40', adjacent to hole section 43 there is a protruding section, which comprises neck section 41 and cap section 42. The section of neck part 41 is semicircular and is, at the side of hole 43, bounded by bevelled surface 47. The hole section is such as to allow the insertion of cap section 42. Behind hole section 47 there is a plane-formed extension 45, against which the shoulder of the cap section 42 is locked. The plane-formed extension 45 is continued by the bevelled surface 46. Fig. 15 shows how the identical "hermaphrodite" items 40 and 40' are interlocked when guided by plane-formed surfaces 47. When, as illustrated in Fig. 15, a pull is applied to ribbon 10 in the direction of arrow A and to ribbon 10' in the direction of arrow B, a laterally selfplocking fastening item pair is created..Now there is play Δ between opposite bevelled surfaces 47. As the item pair 40,40' is opened, surfaces 47 are brought together so to make cap section 42 be detached from the shoulder surface and the locking is opened. Surfaces 47 and the roundings 48 of cap section 42 function as guide surfaces which makes it easier to insert items 40 and 40' in association with each other and to lock them into the position shown in Fig. 15. Figs. 16,17, and 18 illustrate a modification of the application described above. This modification comprises identical "herma¬ phrodite" fastening items 50 and 50' which are interlocked as shown in Fig. 18. The main design characteristics of this modification are identical to those described above: the item comprises only a neck section 51 attached to the foot section, which neck section is extended by a cap section 52. The foot and neck section 51,52 is bounded by bevelled surface 57, which joins to the round surface 58. The hole section comprises a wider section located in association with surface 57 and a narrower section 53' , into which the neck section 51 is inserted and locked as ribbons 10 and 10' are tensioned to opposite directions A and B as shown in Fig. 18. In association with hole 53,53' there is a plane-formed shoulder surface 54 and its bevelled extension 55. As shown in Fig. 18, the structure is self- locking, and between surfaces 58 there is a relatively large play Δ 1 , which makes it possible that when said surfaces 57 are brought against each other by pressing ribbons 10 and 10' in the direction opposite to that of arrows A and B, the locking is very easily opened. In the same way, the self-guiding locking takes place very easily due to roundings 58 of the cap section 52. Figs. 19,20, and 21 also show a "hermaphrodite" male/female fastening ribbon 10. At the side shown in Fig. 19, this ribbon is fitted with protruding sections 62, i.e. male items. In protruding sections 62 there is a plane-formed outer surface 65 and in association with it protruding sections which bound a groove section 66. Said fastening items 60 are moulded from plastic to ribbon 10 with the procedure and means described above or with a similar procedure and means. At the side shown in Fig. 21, the items 60 are female organs 61 which comprise an annular section 64 which surrounds hole 63. Under hole 63 there is groove 67, which makes the hole elastic. The annular section 64 is connected by necks 68 to other parts of the item. As shown in Figs. 19,20, and 21, such a fastening item ribbon is provided in which only one type of ribbon is required for a ribbon pair, as the male section 62 is locked to the female section 61 of the adjacent fastening item row. In this way it is possible to connect unlimited number of cloths or similar on top of each other. The design of this embodiment is simple and in many applications particularly feasible also because the topmost male parts may function as press buttons, by means of which the structure can easily be locked and freely opened, as, when opening the coupling, one can insert one's fingertips into grooves 66. Fig. 22 illustrates a special embodiment by means of which a wind- resistant closing can be provided for instance for parkas and other outdoor garments. The combination comprises ribbon 10 fitted with hole reinforcements 70 with holes 71. Holes 71 may also be formed by perforating the fabric and sewing the edges of the holes. Ribbon 10 is sewn at 79 to fabric 77. At the edge of the opposite fabric 78 a folded ribbon 10" is sewn at 79; the parts of this folded ribbon being, starting from fold 69, located opposite to each other in the V-shape on both sides of the first ribbon 10. In other fold of the folded ribbon 10" there are male fastening items 72, which comprise a neck section 73 and a cap section. At the edge of the opposite fold there are female items 74 which comprise hole parts 76 and extension section fitted with bevelled surfaces 75. As neck sections 73 are inserted through holes 71 of ribbon 10 and locked into holes 75,76 of the female parts 74 of folded ribbon 10", a very tight and wind-resistant fastening tape combination is provided. Figs. 23 and 24 also show a "hermaphrodite" fastening item pair 80, 80'. Fastening items 80 comprise foot sections 82, by means of which fastening items 80 are secured to ribbon 10,10'. In foot sections 82 there are several rows and lines (rows and lines being at right angles in respect of each other) of plug-like protruding parts 81, at the end of which there are bevelled extensions 83. Between plug¬ like parts there are spaces into which the similar plug-like parts 81 of the opposite similar locking item 80' are locked. Thus such a structure is created whose locking can be stepwise adjusted both to direction A and direction B (Fig. 24) . In direction A the locking can be adjusted by steps a and in direction B by steps b provided that in fastening items 80 and 80' there are several rows and lines of plug-shaped items 81. The design shown in Figs. 23 and 24 is feasible in that it can easily be locked as it has several different locking positions stepped as described above. The design is also feasible in that it makes it possible to lock ribbons 10 and 10' in two opposite directions A and B to different positions for instance to adjust the tightness of a garment. Therefore this application of the invention has, in addition to the general advantages of the invention, some advantages identical to those provided by well-known touch-and-press ribbons, even though their construction is essentially different from the known touch-and-press ribbons. Figs. 25,26, and 27 illustrate a fastening ribbon pair 10,10' that can be closed and opened only in a certain direction; the ribbons of this ribbon pair 10,10' are interlocked as illustrated in Fig. 25. Ribbon pairs 10 and 10' comprise, at equal distances, bended hook- shaped male items 90; of these, item 90' is shown in semi-closed position. In the opposite ribbon 10 there are female items 85 fitted with bevelled holes 86 which have extension parts 87. The protruding parts 91 of male parts 90 are bevelled and hook-shaped, and they have rounded heads 92, which also function as locking shoulders, which are locked into the extension parts 87 of holes 86. Figs. 26 and 27 illustrate two alternative sections XXVII-XXVII in Fig. 25. Fig. 27 illustrates a usual model which has square male and female sections 90 and 85; the protruding section 91 also has an essentially square section. Fig. 26 illustrates a model that is laterally (direction A) tightened; in this model sections 90',85' are rounded. The section of the protruding part 91' is also round and its head 92' laterally expands. In the same way, the section of hole 86 is laterally (direction A) tapered; therefore fastening item pair 85' and 90" is laterally (direction A) tightening. Figs. 28 and 29 show such an application of the invention which can be closed and opened by lock 100, as a zipper. Fig. 28 illustrates the section of ribbons 10 and 10' and lock 100. In one ribbon 10' of the ribbon pair there are male fastening items 93 fitted with protruding sections 94, and the other ribbon 10 has female fastening items 95 fitted with holes 96. Lock 100 has edge pro¬ trusions 101, which guide the lock along the edges of fastening items 93 and 95. As lock 100 is moved by pull 103, in Fig. 29 in the direction of arrow A, the interlocked ribbons 10s and 10s' are opened, and, in the same way, as the lock 100 is pulled to the direction of arrow B (Fig."29) the opened ribbons 10a and 10a' are closed. Thus, in accordance with the invention, such a fastening ribbon pair is provided which essentially has all the advantages of a zipper, but whose structure is essentially different from that of the known zippers. Figs. 30,31,32 and 33 illustrate a special application of the invention in which a combined male/female locking ribbon is used. Coat 105 illustrated in Figs. 30 and 31 is intended to be a wind- resistant coat. In one edge 110 of the front of the coat there is one fastening item row 10b and in the other end 102 two parallel fastening item ribbons 10c and lOd, which are in accordance with the invention, for instance similar to those shown in Figs. 19,20, and 21. Figs. 31 and 33 illustrate fastening item rows ϊn closed position 10s. As shown in Fig. 30, this position is provided by, starting from the opened position, interlocking the fastening item rows 10b' and 10c to form a locked item pair 10s' . Thereafter the female items 97 of the fastening item row 10b are turned in association with the male items 108 of the fastening item row lOd, thus providing the final double and wind-resistant interlocking. Now we shall describe the use of fastening ribbons in accordance with the invention in various shoes, referring to Figs. 34-44. As illustrated in Figs. 34,35 and 36, the edges of the vamps 111 and 112 of shoe 110 are fitted with fastening ribbons 10 and 10'. In ribbons 10 and 10' there are male and female fastening items 113 and 114 which are interlocked as described above. The interlocking of ribbons 10 and 10' may preferably be opened so that one grips the top or bottom end of the topmost ribbon 10', and pulls the ribbon row open by one pull. The ribbons can be interlocked by, after positioning the first fastening item row 113,114, quickly pressing all the fastening item pairs together making use of the fittings described above, for instance the self-guiding arrangements fitted with various bevelled and tapered surfaces. Figs. 37,38 and 39 show another way to apply a ribbon pair in accordance with the invention to shoes. As shown in these figures, a concealed locking is provided by securing by sewing or glueing one fastening ribbon 10 to the edge of the vamp 114 of the shoe 110, and under the edge of the topmost vamp 115 another fastening ribbon 10' . Ribbon 10 is fitted with either male or female fastening items 116, and analogously ribbon 10' is fitted with either female or male fastening items 117 that can be locked and opened as described above. Figs. 40,41 and 42 illustrate the use of fastening ribbons in accordance with the invention in a slalom shoe. Figs. 43 and 44 illustrate the procedure and means for manufacturing the fastening item pair 129 illustrated in Figs. 40,41 and 42. As shown in Figs. 20,41 and 42 the edge sections 118- and 119 of the vamp of slalom shoe 120 are equipped with a fastening item combination 129. A fastening item ribbon 10 fitted for instance with female fastening items 123 is secured under the edge sections 118 and 119 of the vamp by sewing and/or glueing. Several pieces of ribbon 122 that are at their free ends fitted with fastening items 124 are, by means of an auxiliary ribbon 121, analogously secured to the opposite edge 119 of the vamp. Ribbon pieces 122 are manufactured of a continuous ribbon 10' in accordance with the invention as shown in Figs. 43 and 44. Ribbon pieces should preferably be flexible, which is indi¬ cated in Fig. 42 by arrow C. Figs. 43 and 44 are diagrammatic illustrations of how fastening" item sets 129 can be manufactured. The process makes use of three different ribbon rolls 125,126 and 130 which are supported by bearings on shafts 127, whose operation is controlled and synchro¬ nized by means of controlling equipment known as such (not illustrated) . The ribbon 10' unwound from roll 125 is fitted for i instance with female fastening items 124, and ribbon pieces 122 are cut from this ribbon. These pieces are connected to each other by the auxiliary ribbon unwound from roll 126 so as to create a continuous combination 129 (Fig. 44), from which suitable pieces are cut. From 130 is unwound ribbon 10 which is sewn and/or glued to the edge of vamp 118 of shoe 120. Ribbon 10 is fitted for instance with male fastening items 124. Figs. 45-53 illustrate a few possible applications of another direction to which the invention can be developed. The embodiments of the invention illustrated in these figures differ from what has been said above in that the fastening item sets are closed laterally, i.e. in the plane of ribbons 10 and 10', and opened to the oppo¬ site direction. As shown in Figs. 45-48, several fastening items 200 are moulded one after another into ribbon 10. The other ribbon 10' has analogous fastening items 200'. Figs. 47 and 48 illustrate how fastening item pairs 200 and 200' are interlocked. Fastening items 200 have protruding sections 201, and between the protruding sections recessions 202 which fit into the analogous parts 201' and 202' of the other protruding section 200'. The interlocking edges of fastening items 200;200' have grooves 203. As dimension d. indicated in Fig. 48 is somewhat larger than dimension d„, a kind of "snapping mechanism" is provided for interlocking items 200 and 200'. As the ribbon pair 10 and 10' is tensioned, as shown in Fig. 47, in the direction of arrow F, such a fastening item pair is created whose locking is self-tightening and opens to the direction opposite to that of arrows F, i.e. in the plane of the ribbons, and, as is clear of Figs. 45 and 48, crosswise in respect to the direction of the ribbons. Fastening items in accordance with Figs. 45-48 may also be positioned onto ribbons 10 and 10', turned 90 degrees in their plane, in which case the fastening item pairs 200,210 will open and close in the plane of the ribbon by a longitudinal movement between the two parts of the ribbon. Fig. 49 illustrates a laterally closed and opened wind-resistant or water-resistant fastening item pair 10 and 10'. At the edges of ribbons 10 and 10', separate fastening items 210 and 210' are made at certain distances, their edges fitted with protruding parts 211 and 211' which are interlocked between each other with a "snapping mechanism" similar to the one described above. At their edges, the fastening items 210,210' have grooves 213. Figs. 50 and 51 illustrate an adjusting lock of a ribbon pair 10 and 10' equipped with such adjusting locks 220 and 220'. Locks 220 and 220' are identical. A fastening item 220 and 220' comprises a foot section 221, resp. 221', by means of which the fastening item is fastened to its ribbon 10, resp. 10'. A fastening item has a plane-formed end section, which, at its both sides, has grooves 223, resp. 223 r , which, in the way of a "snapping mechanism", are locked onto plugs 222, resp. 222'. When loading the ribbons in the direction of arrows F a self-tightening lock pair is provided. Fastening item pairs 220 and 220' can also be secured to a position turned 90 degrees in the plane of ribbons 10,10*. Figs. 52 and 53 illustrate an adjusting lock for ribbon 10 fitted with fold 245. The lock comprises two identical closing item pairs 240 and 240', of which one is inserted into another. Closing items 240,240' comprise a neck part 241, which has at its end a flange- type end section 243. In neck section 243 there is a groove- protrusion fitting 244, which functions as a locking "snapping mechanism". Fastening item pairs 240 and 240' are closed in the direction of arrow G and the locking cannot be opened in the direction of arrows F and in the opposite direction when tensioning ribbons 10 in the direction of their plane. The adjusting locks illustrated in Figs. 50,51,52 and 53 may be locked into two different positions, the adjusting step being in the direction of the plane of ribbons 10,10' (Figs. 50 and 51) 2 x D_; in Figs. 52 and 53 the corresponding step is 2 x D, . Thus the interlocking position of the ribbons can be adjusted by the above steps. A few feasible embodiments and applications of the invention has been described above. It should, however, be understood that fastening ribbons and ribbon pairs in accordance with the invention can also be used in other applications that what has been discussed above. An example of the other applications are all those appli¬ cations in which zippers and various hook and eye rows have so far been used. In addition to applications mentioned above, a fastening ribbon pair in accordance with the invention can also be used in bags, upholstering of furniture, leatherware, belts, ribbons, harnesses, packings, carpets, bedclothes, load coverings, tents, various play and fishing nets, covers and file binders and other analogous applications. The various details of the invention may vary within the framework of the inventional idea as defined in the following claims.

Claims: Claims 1. A fastening ribbon product comprising two longitudinal ribbons (10,10') made of flexible woven material which ribbons have fastening items that interlock ribbons (10,10') of the ribbon pair, characterized in that both ribbons (10,10') of the ribbon pair are 5 fitted with separate male and/or female items, located at certain distances from each other, moulded of plastic or similar material into continuous ribbons (W) so to be secured to the ribbons during the moulding procedure, comprising individual and separate pairs of fastening items, and arranged so as to be interlocked with each 0 other so that the two ribbons (10,10') of the ribbon pair are positioned flatwise their edges overlapping and that the fastening item rows, when guided against each other, are made - interlock by pressing movement essentially applied at right angles — in respect to the plane of the ribbon pair, and are made open by 5 a drawing movement whose direction is essentially the opposite, or are locked as the ribbons are moved in the plane of the ribbon pair to one direction and opened when moved to the other direction. 2. A ribbon " product in accordance with claim 1, characterized in 0 that one ribbon (10,10') of the ribbon product is fitted with a row of male fastening items, and the other ribbon (10,10') of the ribbon product is fitted an analogous and combatible row of female fastening items. 5 3. A ribbon product in accordance with claim 1 or 2, characterized in that said fastening items moulded and secured to continuous textile ribbons are longitudinally located in the ribbon at equal distances (H) , which distance is selected according to the appli¬ cation. 0 4. A ribbon product in accordance with claim 1, characterized in that both ribbons (10,10') of the ribbon pair are identical comprising "hermaphrodite" male/female' fastening items (for instance Figs. 13,14,15,16,17,18,19,20,21,23,24,30,31,32,33). OMPI 5. A ribbon product in accordance with claim 2, characterized in that one ribbon of the ribbon pair is a button ribbon (10) , whose ribbons (20) comprise a foot section (21), a neck section (22), and a cap section (23), wherein said buttons (20) are closed to a continuous flexible woven ribbon by their foot sections (21), and wherein the other ribbon of the ribbon pair is a female hole ribbon (Figs. 6,7 and 8) fitted with hole items (25,26) compatible with the button ribbon described above, which female hole ribbon can be for instance a perforated cloth, the edges of the holes being for instance sewn or fused. 6. A ribbon product in accordance with one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the fastening items are so shaped as to make the interlocking of ribbons (10,10') self-tightening when submitted to a tension applied to the ribbons essentially in the direction of their plane. 7. A ribbon product in accordance with claim 6, characterized in that in the female locking items (38;50;85') of ribbons (10,10') there is a wider hole section and an adjoining U-shaped hole section, through which wider hole section the plug-like protrusion (36;51,52; 91,92) of the male fastening item (34;50;90) can be inserted when locking the ribbon pair (10,10') its edges overlapping, and wherein the plug-like protrusion of said male fastening item is wedged into said U-shaped hole section when the two ribbons of the ribbon pair (10,10') are submitted to said lateral pull. 8. A ribbon product in accordance with one of claims 1-7, characterized in that the fastening items of the ribbon product comprise a foot section (80,80'), in which there are several rows and lines (rows and lines being at right angles in respect to each other) of plug-like fastening items (81), at whose ends there are bevelled or rounded extensions (83), and wherein between said plug- shaped items (81) there are spaces into which said plug-shaped .items (81) can be stepwise locked in two opposite directions so that the two opposite coupling items (80,81) have, at two opposite directions, several alternative locking positions 9. A ribbon product in accordance with one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that one ribbon of the ribbon product is a folded ribbon (10") or a similar combination combined of two ribbons attached to each other, at whose edges there are fastening items, preferably compatible female and male fastening items (72,74) r and wherein one ribbon (10) of the ribbon product is a fastening item ribbon fitted with fastening items (70), preferably hole items, or a perforated textile ribbon, which is locked between the folds of said folded ribbon (10) in association with the fastening items (72,73,74,75,76) of the folded ribbon to provide a tight sealing, such as a wind-resistant sealing. 10. A ribbon product in accordance with claim 3, characterized in that in the ribbon product there are combined "hermaphrodite" male/female fastening items (40,40' ;50,50*) , which have essentially a disk-shaped foot section and a protruding male section (41,42; 51,52), and wherein said male section has a bevelled surface (47;57), which, at its one side, bounds the hole (43;53,53') of the foot section, which hole functions as the female section of the "hermaphrodite" fastening item (Figs. 13-18). 11. A ribbon product in accordance with claim 3, characterized in that the essentially identical ribbons (10,10') of the ribbon pair of the ribbon product are fitted with such "hermaphrodite" fastening items (60), which, at one side of the ribbon, are protruding male items (62,65,66), and at the other side of the ribbon, recessed female items (61,63,64,67,68), or wherein there are both male and female sections on one side of the fastening item. 12. A ribbon product in accordance with claim 11, characterized in that the "hermaphrodite" fastening items (60) are button-shaped comprising a protrusion (62) located at one side of the ribbon (10), fitted with an annular shoulder and a groove (66) located behind this shoulder, and wherein the section of the fastening items (60) located on the other side of the ribbon (10) comprises a hole (63) surrounded by ring section (64) (Figs. 19,20,21). 13. A ribbon product in accordance with one of claims 1 to 12, characterized in that the fastening items of the ribbon product can be opened only in sequence so that closing of one fastening item prevents the previous fastening item from opening or from being opened. 14. A ribbon product in accordance with claim 13, characterized in that in order t,o provide a fastening item pair that can be closed only in one direction, the male items (90) of the ribbon product comprise a preferably disk-shaped foot section and an adjoining bent and hook-shaped protrusion (91,92), which has a head (92), preferably rounded, and wherein the compatible female parts (85) mainly comprise a disk-shaped foot section with a bevelled hole (86), which foot section has a recess (87) which matches the head (92) of the hooked section (91) of the male item (90) (Figs. 25, 26,27). - 15. A ribbon product in accordance with one of claims 1-14, characterized in that the overlapping fastening item rows (10,10') of the ribbon couple (10,10') are equipped with a suitable lock item (100) that fits to the fastening item rows, said lock being so installed as to be moved on top of the fastening item rows in such a way that, by means of the lock item (100) , the fastening item rows (93,94,95,96) can be pressed together to the coupled position in the direction that is at right angles in respect to the direction of the plane of ribbon sections (10,10'), and that the interlocking of ribbons (10,10') can be opened by pulling the lock (100) to the opposite direction (Figs. 28,29). 16. A fastening ribbon item which comprises two longitudinal ribbons (10,10'), made of flexible woven material, in which ribbons there are fastening, items which interlock the ribbons (10,10') of the ribbon pair, characterized in that both ribbons (10,10') of the ribbon pair are equipped with separate male and/or female fastening items moulded of plastic or similar materials at certain distances into continuous ribbons (W) , which fastening items form independent and individual fastening item pairs, and CM?I which are so installed as to be so interlocked that the ribbons (10,10') are positioned their edges overlapping, and that the fastening item rows guided against each other are locked by moving the ribbons, essentially in the plane of the ribbons, to one direction, and opened, by moving the ribbons to the opposite direction (Figs. 45-53). 17. A fastening item product in accordance with claim 16 and/or an adjusting lock product, characterized in that the product comprises fastening item pairs or adjusting lock pairs (200,200' ;210,210' ; 220,220' ;240,240'), in which there are groove/protrusion fittings or similar, preferably so shaped as to be tightened in the plane of the ribbons, which are interlocked to one direction and opened to the opposite direction. 18. The use of one of ribbon products in accordance with one of claims 1 to 17, characterized in that for the provision of a wind- tight sealing, one edge (107) of a garment (105), for instance of a blouson, is fitted with two adjoining parallel fastening ribbons (10c,lOd), and the other edge (106) of the garment (105) is fitted with a compatible two-sided fastening ribbon (10b), wherein the outermost fastening ribbon (10c) of the first-mentioned edge (107) of the garment (105) to be closed is coupled to the inside of the fastening ribbon (10b) of the opposite edge (106), and wherein the other side of the fastening ribbon (10b) is coupled to the outermost fastening ribbon (lOd) (Figs. 30,31 and 32). 19. A fastening ribbon- combination made up of fastening ribbons in accordance with one of claims 1-17, characterized in that in order to provide a fastening item combination (129) for a shoe or similar fastening ribbon (10') pieces (122), at their one end fitted with a - fastening item (127), are coupled together by means of an auxiliary ribbon (121) or similar, and wherein there is another fastening item ribbon (10) positioned crosswise to said pieces (122), compatible with the fastening items (124) of said pieces (122) (Figs. 4-44). 20. A procedure for manufacturing fastening item ribbons, in which procedure a flexible woven ribbon, for instance a textile ribbon (W) is fitted with fastening items (21) , characterized in that the woven ribbon (W) is fed through a plastic moulding machine (200-219) , wherein male and/or female fastening items (210) are moulded onto the woven ribbon (W) at certain distances, preferably at equal distances by making the textile ribbon (W) pass between moulding spaces (205,206) located against each other on both sides of the woven ribbon (W), and wherein suitable plastic compound is fed to said moulding spaces through a moulding channel (207) by means of suitable feeding equipment (209,211,212,213), from which compound the fastening items are moulded and at the same time secured to the woven web (W). 21. A procedure in accordance with claim 20, characterized in that before the moulding spaces (205,206) a hole or a set of holes are perforated to the woven web (W) by means of a special device (201,202), through which hole/holes a fastening item (210) is partially moulded to form a neck or necks for connecting the fastening item to the woven web (W). 22. A procedure in accordance with claim 20 or 21, characterized in that the woven ribbon (W) is moved stepwise at a suitable tightness through the moulding machine, and wherein the length of said step corresponds to the distance (H) between consequent fastening items (210) being moulded to the web ribbon in accordance with the procedure. 23. A procedure in accordance with claim 20,21 or 22, characterized in that the fastening items (210) moulded in accordance with the invention to a continuous woven web (W) , such as a textile web, are in accordance with one of claims 1 to 15. 24. A fastening item pair comprising an individual male/female press button, characterized in that the fastening item pair is, in the coupled position, self-tightening toward one side or both sides, and wherein the fastening item pair is closed by pressing it essentially at right angles and opened by pulling it to the opposite direction (Figs. 2,3,4,5 and Figs. 11,12). 25. A fastening item product comprising a longitudinal ribbon (10) made of flexible woven material and fitted with male fastening items, by means of which the ribbon is fastened to the row of conventional button holes, characterized in that said ribbon (10) is fitted with separate, male button-type fastening items (20) moulded of plastic or similar material at certain distances, which button-type fastening items (20) are so arranged as to be locked to conventional button holes. 26. A fastening item pair comprising individual male/female fastening item pairs or similar adjusting locks, characterized in that the fastening item pairs (200,200' ;210,210' ;220,220';240,240') are fitted with interlocking groove/protrusion fittings that are closed essentially in the direction of their fastening material and opened in the opposite direction.

Inventors: STENHAELL TURO, STENHAELL, TURO
Applicants: SALMI REISSVERSCHLUSS GMBH, STENHAELL TURO, SALMI-REISSVERSCHLUSS GMBH, STENHAELL, TURO
Application year: 1982
Main classification: A41F1
IPC codes: A41F1, A41H37, A44B17