Patent Abstract:
A pressure snap fastener with a bivalent closure comprises a first portion, to be associated with a first flap, and a second portion, to be associated to a second flap; where the portions, as associated with one another join the flaps. The pressure snap fastener further includes first temporary engagement means providing a temporary closure, in which the two portions are joined by a weakly joining and are free of partially swinging, and include second stable engagement means, providing a stable closure, in which the two portions are tightly coupled.

Full Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to a pressure snap fastener with a bivalent closure. 
     The field of the invention is that of the pressure snap fasteners, also called “automatic” snap fasteners, conventionally used for mutually clamping two portions or flaps, for example of a garment or other article in general usually made of a fabric, leather, paper, plastic sheet material or other light material. 
     Pressure snap fasteners usually comprise a male portion, to be clamped on a first flap to be coupled, and a female portion, integral with the other flap. 
     Each pressure snap fastener portion comprises an active element, providing either the male or female component of the coupling arrangement, and a further element for clamping said active element on the respective fabric, leather, paper and the like flap. 
     Prior pressure snap fasteners of the above discussed type have an open snap fastener condition and a closed snap fastener condition. 
     The latter condition provides the stable mutual latching or closure of the two article flaps. 
     However, it is also frequently necessary to provide a temporary closure of the two flaps, before the end closure, for example as a garment or bag must be closed by quick and simple closing operations, without requiring those effort and manual operations which are usually necessary to properly latch the pressure snap fastener. 
     Such a possibility, in fact, may be particularly useful as, for example, a bag must be temporarily closed, and for reopening it; or, in the garment field, as it is necessary to prevent complex manual operations from being performed for latching two garment flaps including many pressure snap fasteners. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     Accordingly, the aim of the present invention is to provide a pressure snap fastener construction, with bivalent closure means, which, differently from prior pressure snap fasteners, allows to achieve, in addition to a first tight closure of the pressure snap fastener, also a temporary closure, of a less strength than the first one, and which temporary closure can also be carried out by closing operations much more easy, quick and simple than those required to provide the first tight closure. 
     Within the scope of the above mentioned aim, a main object of the invention is to provide such a bivalent closure pressure snap fastener having a compact structure, similar to that of a prior pressure snap fastener. 
     Another object of the present invention is to provide such a pressure snap fastener which, in comparison with a prior analogous pressure snap fastener, can also be applied on articles so shaped as to make difficult the operations to provide the closure of prior snap fasteners. 
     Yet another object of the present invention is to provide such a pressure snap fastener construction which can be made starting from easily commercially available elements and materials and which, moreover, is very competitive from a mere economic standpoint. 
     Yet another object of the present invention is to provide such a pressure snap fastener construction which, owing to its specifically designed structural features, is very reliable and safe in operation. 
     The above mentioned aim and objects, as well as yet other objects, which will become more apparent hereinafter, are achieved by a pressure snap fastener, with a bivalent closure, comprising a first portion, adapted to be associated with a first flap, and a second portion, adapted to be associated with a second flap; said first and second portions as associated to one another joining said flaps; said pressure snap fastener being characterized in that it further comprises first temporary engagement means, adapted to provide a temporary closure, in which said first and second portions are joined by a weak tightness joining and are free of partially swinging, and second stable engagement means, adapted to provide a stable closure, allowing said first and second portions to be tightly coupled. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       Further characteristics and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent hereinafter from the following disclosure of a preferred, though not exclusive, embodiment of the invention which is illustrated, by way of an indicative but not limitative example, in the accompanying drawings, where: 
         FIG. 1  is a cross-sectional view showing the inventive pressure snap fastener with its male and female components in a mutually detached condition, with the snap fastener being fully open and unlatched; 
         FIG. 2  is a cross-sectional view showing the pressure snap fastener of  FIG. 1 , in a temporary closure position thereof; 
         FIG. 3  is yet another cross-sectional view showing the pressure snap fasteners of the preceding Figures in a full closure condition or position thereof; 
         FIG. 4  is an exploded cross-sectional view of the pressure snap fastener according to the present invention; 
         FIGS. 5 and 6  show in a side view and a perspective view, respectively, the active male-female element of the male portion of the pressure snap fastener of the preceding Figures; 
         FIGS. 7 and 8  show in a side and a perspective view, respectively, the active female-male element of the female portion of the pressure snap fastener of the preceding Figures; and 
         FIG. 9  is a partially exploded cross-sectional view showing the component parts forming the pressure snap fastener according to the present invention, before clamping it on flaps to which it must be connected. 
     
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     With reference to the number references of the above mentioned figures, the pressure snap fastener with a bivalent closure, according to the present invention, which has been generally indicated by the reference number  1 , comprises a first snap fastener portion  2 , which can be associated with a first flap  9 , and a second snap fastener portion  3 , which can be associated with a second flap  18 . 
     Thus, said two snap fastener portions  2  and  3  can be joined to one another to connect said flaps  9  and  18 . 
     More specifically, said flaps  9  and  18  can be part of a garment, a bag, or any other articles, and can be made of different materials, such as fabrics, leather materials and the like. 
     The pressure snap fastener according to the present invention comprises first temporary engagement means, providing a temporary closure, in which the two portions are joined by a weak joining, so as to partially swing, and second stable or firm engagement means, providing a stable or firm closure, in which the two parts are tightly joined. 
     As is clearly shown in  FIG. 9 , said first portion  2  comprises an active element  4 , including an active element pin  5  having a pin head  20 , enlarged in comparison with the diameter of said pin  5 , and being integral with an advantageously disc-shaped body  8 . 
     The active element  4  comprises moreover a cap  6  which, by cooperating with a groove  7  formed in the body  8 , operates as an active female element of the second stable or firm closure means. 
     Said active element  4  is in turn clamped to the respective support or flap  9  by a head  10 , comprising a crown of tip portions  11  adapted to be engaged in a corresponding recess or seat  12 , formed in the body of the active element  4 . 
     The joining of the first active element  4  to the first flap  9  can also be achieved by other riveting and the like systems, well known in this field. 
     The second portion  3  comprises a second active element  13 , consisting of a body  14 , having an axial inner hole  15 , including a narrowed portion  25 , and designed to operate as an active female element of the first temporary engagement means. 
     The body  14  comprises a cylindric pin  16 , including a radial enlarged portion  17 , and adapted to operate as an active male element of the second stable engagement means. 
     Advantageously, said cylindric pin  16  comprises cut-outs or notches  24 , designed for facilitating a resilient deforming of said pin during the snap fastener closure operations or steps. 
     More specifically, said cut-outs or notches  24  operate, in a temporary closure operation, for facilitating the enlargement of the hole  15  engaging therein the head portion  20  of the pin  5  of the active element  4  of the pressure snap fastener. 
     In the stable closure or closing operation, said cut-outs  24  facilitate a narrowing of the pin  16  of the active element  13  as the latter is engaged in a hole  26  of the cap  6 , being counter-biased by its tightness edge portion  27 . 
     Thus, as the depth of said cut-outs and the interference effect between the enlarged or bulged portion of the pin and the tapering portion of the female element change, the tightness of the assembly will correspondingly change, to allow the enlarged portion  17  of the pin  16  of the active element  13  to pass over the tightness edge portion  27  of cap  6  of the active element  4 . 
     In the stable closing operation, the smaller diameter of the pin  5  of the first active element will be advantageously sufficiently smaller than the diameter of the hole  15  of the second active element  13 . 
     Thus, a space  28  will be left, allowing the section of the pin  16  to be freely narrowed, as said pin  16  is caused to pass through the hole  26  of the active element  4 , as clearly shown in  FIGS. 2 and 9 . 
     The second active element  13  will be clamped to the second support flap  18  by a head portion  19 , fully analogous to the above disclosed head portion  10 . 
     Moreover, as clearly shown in  FIG. 4 , the active element  4  of the male portion  2  can further comprise a contoured washer element  21  including a corresponding seat or recess  12  for the tip portions  11  of the head  10 . 
     The second active element  13  of the second portion  3  comprises a corresponding cap  22  and a respective contoured or shaped washer element  23 . 
     The above disclosed clamping elements for clamping a support and pressure snap fastener according to the present invention can also comprise other clamping devices, depending on the article to which the inventive snap fastener has to be riveted or affixed. 
     In operation, the pressure snap fastener  1  according to the present invention will provide, in a properly operating succession, two different closure or closing arrangements, that is a temporary closure and a stable closure. 
     In said temporary closure, or weak latching or joining, as shown in  FIG. 2 , the pin  5  of the first active element  4  of the first portion  2  will engage, under a minimum effort, in the axial inner hole  15  of the second active element  13  of the second portion  3 . 
     The mechanical tightness or clamping of this temporary closure is deliberately a weak one thereby allowing the two portions to partially mutually swing, since the head  20  of the pin  5  can swing in the hole  15 , advantageously in cooperation with the narrowed portion  25 , providing a projection of the inner edge part of the hole  15  of the pin  16 , as clearly shown in  FIG. 4 . 
     In the stable closure, or tight latching or coupling, as shown in  FIG. 3 , the pin  16  of the second active element  13  of the second female portion  3  will be engaged, with the required pushing pressure force, within the hole  26  of the cap  6  of the first active element  4 , so as to engage in the groove  7  of the body  8  being counter-biased by its enlarged portion  17  on the tightness edge  27  of the same crown  6 . 
     Thus, in operation, the operator can achieve, without an excessive effort and by very simple and quick operations, a first temporary closure, wherein the two supports or flaps  9  and  18  are at the start held slightly engaged at a close distance. 
     Then, for providing a stable and definitive latching, it will be sufficient to provide a further pressure for achieving the following end closure, joining the flaps  9  and  18  in a conventional manner for the disclosed type of snap fastener, with a clamping force much greater than that of the first closure or slight latching. 
     To provide the pressure snap fastener  1  with improved aesthetic characteristics, the pin  5  and cap  6  of the active element  4 , the body  14  and the cap  22  of the active element  13 , can be made of different materials and/or colored arrangements. 
     Moreover, according to possible modified embodiments of the invention, the heads  10  and  19  can also be clamped to their respective active elements  4  and  13  by other means than the mentioned tip portions  11 , cap  22  and contoured washer elements  21  and  23 . 
     It has been found that the invention fully achieves the intended aim and objects. 
     In fact, the invention has provided a pressure snap fastener which, in comparison with prior like snap fasteners, has the advantage that it allows a first closure, or temporary closure or latching, of the two portions forming it to be achieved. 
     Such a closure or closing operation can be carried out in a very quick, simple manner, without any excessive closure effort, thereby greatly simplifying the closure operations conventionally required for such a type of pressure snap fastener. 
     Accordingly, said snap fastener can be latched, though in a temporary manner, and with a minimum effort, by using only one hand, while having the possibility of performing a further end closure, of larger effort and identical to that which is conventionally used in prior pressure snap fasteners. 
     A further advantage of the invention is that it allows to use pressure snap fastener closures also on articles which usually, because of their shape or arrangement, would render difficult such an application, for example because of a lack of the space necessary to perform the latching operations, or because of a difficulty in providing the required counter-forces against the mutual closure joining of the two snap fastener portions. 
     Yet another advantage of the invention is that it allows the components of the snap fastener portions exposed to the view to be made with different colors and materials, thereby improving the aesthetic properties of the overall garment article. 
     Differently from prior snap fasteners, in which a portion is a male one and the other is a female one, in the pressure snap fastener according to the present invention the first portion  2  operates as a male portion in the temporary closure, while providing a function of the female portion in the stable closure condition. 
     Vice versa, the second portion  3  operates as the female portion in the temporary closure and as the male portion in the stable closure condition. 
     In practicing the invention, the used materials, as well as the contingent size and shapes can be any, depending on requirements.

Technology Classification (CPC): 8