Device for mutually adjusting or fixing part of garments, shoes or other accessories

• US 6,954,968 B1
• Filed: 12/03/1999
• Issued: 10/18/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 12/03/1998
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Eric Sitbon
• Original Assignee: Eric Sitbon
• Inventors: Sitbon, Eric
• Primary Examiner(s): Brittain, James R.
• Application Number:
  US09/857,347
• Time in Patent Office: 2,146 Days
• Field of Search: 243/03, 231/1, 231/2, 233/8, 232/7, 2 8/5, 2 9/6, 2 9/3, 226/9, 227/0, 225/1, 222/7, 221/9, 221/8, 223/7, 223/6, 223/5, 210/8, 214/11, 36/501, 36/505, 340/568.1, 340/568.2
• US Class Current: 24/303
• CPC Class Codes: A41F 1/002 Magnetic fastening devices
• CPC Class Codes: A43C 11/00 Other fastenings specially adapted for shoes dress fastenings in general A44B
• CPC Class Codes: A44D 2203/00 Fastening by use of magnets
• CPC Class Codes: A45C 13/1069 magnetic
• CPC Class Codes: H01F 7/0263 Closures, bags, bands, engagement devices with male and female parts
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 24/32 having magnetic fastener

Abstract

The invention relates to a device (1) for holding together, adjusting, fitting or fastening parts of a garment, shoe or any other accessory. It contains a first part (2) comprising a sheath (3) in which a first magnet or ferromagnetic element (4) is inserted, these being movable inside the first sheath, and a second part (5) containing a second magnet or ferromagnetic element (6) subject or submitted to the magnetic attraction of the first magnet or ferromagnetic element of the first part, and is used to hold together, adjust, fit or fasten the garment, shoe or accessory when one of the said first and second parts (2, 5) is activated by a user to work in conjunction or alterations is thus possible through the sliding (7) of the first magnet or ferromagnetic element (4) in the first sheath (3).

Claims

1. A device for holding together, adjusting, fitting or fastening parts of a garment, shoe, or any other accessory, comprising:

a first part containing at least one first sheath in which at least one first magnetic or ferromagnetic element is inserted, the first element being movable inside said first sheath, and

a second part containing at least one sheath magnetic or ferromagnetic element subject or submitted to the magnetic attraction of the first magnetic or ferromagnetic element of the first part,

wherein the first and second parts used to hold together, adjust, fit or fasten the garment, shoe or accessory when one of the first and second parts is activated by a user to work in conjunction with the other part, a multitude of adjustments or alterations being possible through the sliding of the first magnetic or ferromagnetic element in said first sheath, and

wherein the second magnetic or ferromagnetic element is included and movable in a second sheath belonging to the second part.

2. A device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the first part and/or second part have two sheathes.

3. A device as claimed in claim 1, wherein one of the first and second parts is at least in part formed by a strap or braces.

4. A device as claimed in claim 3, wherein at least one of the first and second magnetic or ferromagnetic elements is formed by a magnetized or ferromagnetic area on said braces or strap belonging to the first or second corresponding part.

5. A device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the at least one magnetic or ferromagnetic element of one of the first or second parts of the device is concave in shape, and the at least one magnetic or ferromagnetic element of the other of the first and second parts is convex in shape and complementary to the concave shape of the at least one magnetic or ferromagnetic elements of the one of the first or second parts.

6. A device as claimed in claim 1, wherein in one or more of the magnetic or ferromagnetic elements are flat, trapezoid, rectangular, circular or triangular in shape.

7. A device as claimed in claim 6, wherein at least one magnetic or ferromagnetic element of one part is cylindrical.

8. A device as claimed in claim 7, wherein the corresponding magnetic or ferromagnetic element of the other part is flat.

9. A device as claimed in claim 7, wherein the corresponding magnetic or ferromagnetic element of the other part is cylindrical.

10. A device as claimed in claim 1, further including a means for mechanically moving the first sheath.

11. A device as claimed in claim 1, wherein at least one of the elements is surface-polarized.

12. A device as claimed in claim 1, wherein a polarization of at least one of the elements in axial, parallel to the sheath.

13. A device as claimed in claim 1, wherein at least one of the elements is multipolar.

14. A device as claimed in claim 1, further including at least two of the first elements in the first sheath, which two first elements are of opposite polarization.

15. A device as claimed in claim 1, wherein each element is associated with an anti-magnetic protection component.

16. A device as claimed in claim 1, wherein at least one element is multipolar, and said at least one element is sandwiched between two blocking parts used to block the magnetic flux.

17. A device as claimed in claim 1, wherein one of the first and second elements has a width ‘

d’

, and wherein a structural thickness of the device between the first and second elements is less than d/12.

18. A device as claimed in claim 1, wherein at least one magnetic or ferromagnetic element is glued, welded or embedded on a support plate.

19. A device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the first sheath also has a strip of ferromagnetic cloth along all or part of a length thereof.

20. A device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the first sheath also has stitches sewn with ferromagnetic conductor wire along at least part of a length thereof.

21. A device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the magnetic or ferromagnetic elements have rounded edges.

22. A device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the elements are produced from Neodymium Iron Boron rare earth magnets.

23. A device as claimed in claim 1, wherein at least one element is a magnet which is formed from a block drilled along an axis thereof with at least one cylindrical hole and containing, on a side of one of the surfaces thereof, a transverse channel parallel to said surface and through which sewing thread can be run entirely below said surface.

24. A device as claimed in claim 23, wherein the magnet has two cylindrical holes.

25. A device as claimed in claim 23, wherein the magnet is covered with an anti-magnetic sheath on at least one surface.

26. A device as claimed in claim 1, wherein at least one magnetic element is formed from a block drilled along an axis thereof with at least one cylindrical hole and containing, on a side of one of the surfaces thereof, a cupel through which sewing thread can be run entirely below said surface.

27. A device as claimed in claim 1, further including a means for detecting and signalling that the parts of the garment, shoe or any other accessory are correctly fastened or fitted.

28. A device as claimed in claim 27, wherein the detection and signalling means contains a circuit or conductor wires connected to the magnetic or ferromagnetic elements, said magnetic or ferromagnetic elements acting as contactors to close the circuit.

29. A device as claimed in claim 27, further including a means for triggering an alarm or sending a command if specific preset conditions are complied or not complied with.

30. A device as claimed in claim 1,

wherein the accessory is a garment with a hem which is adjusted;

and

wherein the first sheath is extended by a piece of fabric to which the second magnetic or ferromagnetic element is attached.

31. A device as claimed in claim 30, wherein the garment is weighted inside the hem.

32. A shoe containing a device as claimed in claim 1, further including:

three solid sections, namely a right section, a left section and a central section,

two open sections, each respective open section separating two respective solid sections on either side thereof, and

at least one strap fixed to a middle on the central section and fitted on both sides with sheathes containing movable magnets, which said strap is used to bring the right and left sections towards the central section, in order to adjust tightening of the shoe.

33. A garment, containing a device as claimed in claim 1.

34. A garment as claimed in claim 33, further including a cloth, a weft of which said cloth is threaded with conductor wire connected to an alarm used to signal if the wire is cut and therefore that the garment is damaged.

35. An accessory, wherein the accessory contains a device as claimed in claim 1.

36. A device for holding together, adjusting, fitting or fastening parts of a garment, shoe, or any other accessory, comprising:

a first part containing at least one first sheath in which at least one first magnetic or ferromagnetic element is inserted, the first element being movable inside said first sheath, and

a second part containing at least one second magnetic or ferromagnetic element subject or submitted to the magnetic attraction of the first magnetic or ferromagnetic element of the first part,

wherein the first and second parts are used to hold together, adjust, fit or fasten the garment, shoe or accessory when one of the first and second parts is activated by a user to work in conjunction with the other part, a multitude of adjustments or alterations being possible through the sliding of the first magnetic or ferromagnetic element in said first sheath, and

wherein at least one of the first and second parts has a series of at least two magnetic or ferromagnetic elements hinged together.

37. A device as claimed in claim 36, wherein the second magnetic or ferromagnetic element is attached to the second part.

38. A device for holding together, adjusting, fitting or fastening parts of a garment, shoe, or any other accessory, comprising:

a first part containing at least one first sheath in which at least one first magnetic or ferromagnetic element is inserted, the first element being movable inside said first sheath, and

a second part containing at least one second magnetic or ferromagnetic element subject or submitted to the magnetic attraction of the first magnetic or ferromagnetic element of the first part,

wherein the first and second parts are used to hold together, adjust, fit or fasten the garment, shoe or accessory when one of the first and second parts is activated by a user to work in conjunction with the other part, a multitude of adjustments or alterations being possible through the sliding of the first magnetic or ferromagnetic element in said first sheath, and

further including a means for activation in the fist movable magnetic or ferromagnetic element remotely including a means for motorization of the at least one first movable magnetic or ferromagnetic element, allowing a mechanical movement of the corresponding first sheath and a means for locking said means for motorization in multiple positions.

39. A device as claimed in claim 38, further including a means for motorization of at least one first and at least one second magnetic or ferromagnetic element which is capable of working in conjunction with the at least one first element.

40. A device as claimed in claim 39, wherein the means for remote activation include a microprocessor which is used for automatic adjustment so that an item can be adapted during use, by limiting tightening, and thus ensuring optimum adjustment.

41. A device as claimed in claim 40, wherein the means for remote activation also include a means for storing different adjustments, corresponding to different users or situations.

42. A device as claimed in claim 38, wherein the means for remote activation include a photoelectric sensor, and/or a temperature sensor, and/or a humidity sensor.

43. A device as claimed in claim 38, wherein the means for remote activation include an elastic or spring-operated traction system attached or connected to the first movable magnetic or ferromagnetic element, and capable of acting through the corresponding first sheath, and a system for locking the said traction system in one or more preset positions.

44. A device as claimed in claim 43, wherein the traction system is attached to the first sheath, or passes through said first sheath.

45. A device as claimed in claim 38,

wherein the accessory is a shoe;

and

wherein the means for remote activation include a switch located in a sole of the shoe, which can be activated by the user when he puts his foot in the shoe, this allowing automatic adjustment of the shoe.

46. A device as claimed in claim 38,

wherein the accessory is a shoe;

and

further including;

three solid sections, namely, a right section, a left section and a central section,

two open sections, each respective open section separating two respective solid sections on either side thereof,

at least one strap fixed to a middle on the central section and fitted on both sides with sheathes containing movable magnets, which said strap is used to bring the right and left sections towards the central section, in order to adjust tightening of the shoe; and

at least one adjustment strap containing a magnetic or ferromagnetic part which disappears into a wall of the shoe, such that the motorization means is capable of pulling or releasing the said adjustment strap automatically.