Abstract:
A fastening system, of the type having a female piece provided with a housing and an opening for the housing, and a male piece capable of being received within the female piece, both pieces being provided with complementary latching mechanisms with a device to control the opening of the fastening system. The fastening system includes a flexible sheath capable of housing the fastening system, and the control device can be actuated from the outside through the flexible sheath. The invention encompasses various articles which incorporate the fastening system, such as garments, including trousers, jackets, coats, shoes, as well as bags, including backpacks, for example.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION  
       [0001]     This application is based upon French Patent Application No. 03.09104, filed Jul. 25, 2003 the disclosure of which is hereby incorporated by reference thereto in its entirety and the priority of which is hereby claimed under 35 U.S.C. §119. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0002]     1. Field of the Invention  
         [0003]     The invention relates to a fastening system, in particular a fastening system of the so-called buckle type, adapted to ensure the fastening and, optionally, the tightening of an article such as a garment, a bag, a backpack carrying system, etc., by means of an element such as a tightening strap, a belt, etc.  
         [0004]     2. Description of Background and Relevant Information  
         [0005]     It is currently known to use buckle-type fastening systems associated with tightening straps for the elements (shoulder straps, belts) for carrying a backpack, with compression straps for backpacks, travel bags, with belts for garments such as trousers, etc.  
         [0006]     In these known examples, the so-called buckle fastening systems are generally constituted of a female piece provided with a housing and with an inlet opening for such housing, as well as a male piece capable of being received within the housing of the female piece, these male/female pieces being provided with complementary latching mechanisms and with a device for controlling the opening of the fastening system.  
         [0007]     The latching mechanisms are generally of the snap type, and the devices for controlling the opening are either a lever, a snap fastener, or a portion, accessible from the outside, of the latching mechanisms.  
         [0008]     The male and female piece assemblies of a buckle fastening system are known to be made of various materials.  
         [0009]     Thus, it is known to have two male and female pieces of the buckle that are made of polyamide (PA), which material is relatively flexible and, therefore, not very susceptible to shocks. However, because it is not particularly hard, the latching of the buckle is not always true, or complete. As a result, such buckles can be plagued with ill-timed unfastening, which can present problems, for example, when used with fastening or compression straps for travel bags, buckles of backpacks, belt buckles for sports clothing, which can be subject to more or less substantial shocks during use.  
         [0010]     It is also known to have the two male and female pieces of the buckle made of polyoxymethylene or polyacetal resin (POM). Polyoxymethylene has the advantage of being a rigid polymer and therefore of allowing a snap, and therefore a clean and sure closure of the buckle.  
         [0011]     However, the sliding of POM on POM is inefficient (squeaks, abrasion), such that a substantial force must be applied to the buckle, particularly for the fastening.  
         [0012]     Moreover, polyoxymethylene is a particularly stiff material. The female piece, due to its sheath-like hollow shape, is fragile to transverse forces T and therefore breaks relatively easily, for example when someone steps on it.  
         [0013]     Furthermore, because the buckles are exposed, they are also susceptible to dirt, which is particularly true for buckles used on backpacks, which are often placed on the ground or subject to frequent shocks during handling, climbing, etc.  
         [0014]     Another drawback is the lack of support for the fastening and tightening systems provided with such buckles in the open position.  
         [0015]     Indeed, because each male and female piece is attached to one end of a strap, the ends hang loosely when the buckle is open. Even if keepers are provided in the vicinity of these ends, it is necessary, each time, to join both free ends of the strap in order to be able close and tighten the latter.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0016]     An object of the present invention is to overcome the aforementioned drawbacks, and to provide an improved fastening system that is easy to use, and/or less susceptible to shocks and dirt, and/or has an improved aesthetic effect.  
         [0017]     This object is achieved in the fastening system according to the invention, which is of the type having a female piece provided with a housing, and a male piece capable of being received within the housing of the female piece, the male and female pieces being provided with complementary latching mechanism and with a mechanism for controlling the opening of the fastening system, in that it has a flexible sheath capable of housing the fastening system, and in that the control means can be actuated from the outside through the flexible sheath.  
         [0018]     Thus, the fastening system remains protected from shocks and dirt, while being hidden by the flexible sheath, and thereby being more aesthetic.  
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS  
       [0019]     The invention will be better understood, and other characteristics thereof will become apparent by means of the following description, given with reference to the attached schematic drawings showing, by way of non-limiting examples, several preferred embodiments, and in which:  
         [0020]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a garment having a fastening system according to the invention;  
         [0021]      FIG. 2  is an enlarged detailed view, partially broken-away, showing the fastening system in an open position;  
         [0022]      FIG. 3  is a view, similar to  FIG. 2 , but showing the fastening system in a closed position;  
         [0023]      FIG. 4  is a view, similar to  FIG. 1 , showing the application of the fastening system according to the invention to a bag. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
       [0024]     A garment according to the invention is shown in  FIG. 1 , which, in the example shown, takes the form of shorts  5  that are equipped at the waist  5   a  with a belt  4  provided with a fastening and tightening system  3  according to the invention, this fastening and tightening system  3  being housed within a flexible housing or sheath  30  of the shorts  5 .  
         [0025]      FIG. 2  shows the fastening and tightening system  3  itself in more detail.  
         [0026]     The fastening system  3  includes a female piece  10  and a male piece  20 . The female piece  10  is attached by a connection zone  11  to a first end  1  of the belt  4 , which, in this case, is formed by a strap or the like. The male piece  20  is attached by a connection zone  21  to a second end  2  of the belt or strap  4 .  
         [0027]     The strap  4  can be made of an inextensible textile material. However, depending on the effects desired, it can be made of a more or less extensible material, or of a non-textile material.  
         [0028]     At its end opposite its zone  11  for attachment to the strap  4 , the female piece  10  has a housing  12  provided with an exterior opening  12   a , with a shape complementary to an associated portion  22  of the male portion, as well as two lateral holes  13  opening out within the housing  12 .  
         [0029]     The male piece  20  has, opposite its connection zone  21 , a zone  22 ,  23  for cooperating with the female piece, namely, in the present case, two lateral elastic tongues  22  defining a volume complementary to that of the housing  12  of the female piece, each tongue  22  being further provided at its free end with a bulged portion  23 , which, in this case, has a domed shape but could have any other shape, for example, the shape of a tooth or of a notch, and whose lateral volume exceeds that of the housing  12  of the female piece.  
         [0030]     When it is desired that the buckle be closed, the male piece  20  is inserted into the housing of the female piece, by elastic deformation, due to the bulged portions  23 , in the direction of the median axis A of the piece, of the tongues  22 . When the bulged portions  23  reach the lateral holes  13  of the female piece, the tongues  22  again spring apart outwardly (see  FIG. 3 ) and the bulged portions penetrate into the holes  13  and produce a snap that guarantees the closure of the system.  
         [0031]     The closure is reversible, and it suffices to press laterally (along the arrows B of  FIG. 3 ) on the two bulged portions  23  laterally overlapping the female piece in order again to deform the tongues  22  elastically in the direction of the A axis and to allow the opening of the system.  
         [0032]     The bulged portions  23  of the elastic tongues  22  therefore constitute a type of latching levers that are elastically biased in the closure position and which can be actuated through the openings or lateral holes  13  of the female piece  10 .  
         [0033]     Other latching methods can be provided, and in particular, a latching with a single central tongue that can be actuated by an elastically biased central snap fastener/lever.  
         [0034]     The connection zone  11 ,  21 , respectively, of each female  10  and male  20  piece, respectively, can be a single connection lug, not shown in the drawing, allowing the attachment of the piece, for example, by sewing or riveting, to the associated end  1 ,  2 , respectively, of the strap  4 .  
         [0035]     In this case, the fastening system  3  only allows the fastening of the two ends of the strap  4 , and a system for adjusting the length of the strap can be further provided on the latter.  
         [0036]     In the example shown in  FIGS. 1 and 2 , the connection zone  11  of the female piece  10  is constituted by a single opening allowing the mere passage of the associated end  1  of the strap  4 , this end  1  being folded back and sewn over itself by a stitched seam  14 .  
         [0037]     In such a construction, the position of the female piece  10  is not adjustable along the strap  4 .  
         [0038]     Conversely, the connection zone  21  of the male piece includes two openings  21   a  demarcating two bars  21   b,  about which the end  2  of the strap passes, top/bottom alternately, thus performing a blockage by friction of the strap and allowing the adjustment of the position of the male piece  20  on the strap  4  and, therefore, the adjustment of the tightening.  
         [0039]     In such an embodiment, the position of the male piece  20  on the end  2  of associated straps is adjustable, and it is therefore possible to adjust the tightening force after latching the fastening system  3  by a mere traction on the free end  2  of the strap.  
         [0040]     In the present case, the bars of the connection zone  21  therefore also serve as a tightening zone.  
         [0041]     Such a connection zone  21  of the male piece is known in itself and can have teeth or any other breaking/gripping surface on one of the bars  21   b  to improve the blocking effect by friction.  
         [0042]     In the example shown, which is the preferred embodiment, the seam  14  makes the assembly of the female piece  10  not only to the associated strap end  1 , but also to the garment. The female piece  10  is therefore attached to the garment and maintained in position. As a result, the fastening and tightening operation is simplified, since it suffices to insert the male piece  20  into the female piece and to pull on the free end  2  of the strap until the desired tightening tension is obtained.  
         [0043]     As shown in the drawing figures, the sheath  30  has the form of a pocket horizontally arranged on the garment so as to receive the female piece  10 , this sheath or pocket  30  being oriented such that its bottom  30   a  is located on the side of the connection zone  11  of the female piece, and that its opening  30   b  is located on the side of the opening of the housing  12  of the female piece.  
         [0044]     This sheath  30  is preferably closed in the area of its bottom so as to ensure an optimum protection of the fastening system, but it could also be open in this area.  
         [0045]     The sheath  30  receives the entire female piece  10 , such that when the fastening system is latched, i.e., when the male piece  20  is engaged in the female piece  10 , the entire assembly of the latching mechanism is completely hidden. In the case where the male piece  20  also has an arrangement to adjust the length of the strap (bars  21   b ), this portion can remain outside of the sheath  30 , as shown in the drawings, for a greater ease of adjustment.  
         [0046]     There results an aesthetic aspect that is particularly desired. Furthermore, the entire fastening system is protected from dirt and major shocks from the outside.  
         [0047]     The sheath  30  is made of a relatively flexible textile material, for example, a woven PES (polyester), such that when unlatching is desired, it suffices to actuate the tongues  22  through the material of the strap (see arrows B of  FIG. 3 ).  
         [0048]     It is noted that the sheath  30  also protects the portions  23  of the tongues  22  from shocks coming from the outside and therefore prevents risks of ill-timed unlatching of the fastening system.  
         [0049]     The sheath  30  could also be made of a more or less elastic material, such as a mixture of PA (polyamide)/LYCRA® or PES (polyester)/LYCRA®.  
         [0050]      FIG. 4  shows the application of the present invention to the fastening of the belt  100  of a backpack  105 , provided with a tightening strap  104 . The similar or identical elements are designated by the same reference numerals increased by 100.  
         [0051]     In this case, the fastening and tightening system  103  is capable of being housed within a flexible sheath  130  attached to one of the ends of the belt  100  and of the tightening sheath  104 , this flexible sheath  130  being attached at the same time as the female piece  110  of the fastening system to the belt. The male piece  120  is attached non-adjustably lengthwise to the associated end  102  of the tightening strap  104 . In this case, the system for tightening the strap includes a buckle  121   b  distinct from the male piece  120 .  
         [0052]     The functioning is the same as described previously.  
         [0053]     In this case, contrary to what is usually done in backpacks, the fastening system is arranged asymmetrically. It could however be arranged symmetrically if the associated belt were longer. An advantage of this construction, except those that have been described previously, is that the free strap lengths that hang loosely are limited, because only the end  102  of the strap  104  remains free.  
         [0054]     Furthermore, the tightening is done after the latching relative to the fixed point constituted by the female piece and is much easier to carry out.  
         [0055]     The present invention could be used in other areas of a backpack, for example, in the area of the compression straps, of the straps for tightening the shoulder straps, etc.  
         [0056]     Similarly, the invention could be used for the fastening/tightening of travel bags, shoes, garments such as jackets, coats, etc., without leaving the scope of the present invention.