Fastening devices and systems and methods thereof

• US 9,820,535 B2
• Filed: 06/08/2012
• Issued: 11/21/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 02/06/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Hickies OPCO LLC, Meta Platforms, Inc. (f/k/a Facebook, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Hickies, Inc.
• Inventors: Frydlewski, Gaston, Waingarten, Maria R., Legette, Brian, Reeb, David, Tipp, Alan
• Primary Examiner(s): Lavinder, Jack W
• Application Number:
  US14/377,103
• Publication Number:
  US 20150074955A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,992 Days
• Field of Search: 247153, 24712, 24 17 R, 24 17 B, 24300, 24301, 24265 CD, 24265 AL
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 3/0078 provided with logos, letters, signatures or the like decoration A43B23/24 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A43C 11/22 Fastening devices with elastic tightening parts between pairs of eyelets, e.g. clamps, springs, bands
• CPC Class Codes: A44B 17/0023 Press-button fasteners in which the elastic retaining action is obtained by the own elasticity of the material constituting the fastener
• CPC Class Codes: A44B 17/0064 Details
• CPC Class Codes: F16B 45/035 the hook forming a loop or ring when interlocked with the closing member, i.e. the entire structure of the hook being loop shaped
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 24/26 Slit closing means including guides on opposite edges of slit and slidable bridging component
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 24/268 having separate, independently movable, bridging components
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 24/314 Elastic connector
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 24/37 Drawstring, laced-fastener, or separate essential cooperating device therefor
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 24/3787 having elastic segment in lacing
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 24/45251 Resilient element [e.g., with spring]
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 24/45277 Entire projection member forms loop or ring when interlocked
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49947 by applying separate fastener

Abstract

Fastening devices and systems and methods thereof. Fastening devices and systems and methods thereof can include a unitary or one-piece body having first and second ends configured and operative to be coupled together or to be coupled to their respective complement in another of said fastening devices. The first end can include a ring or annular portion and a projection that are sized and shaped to fit around an anchor and in an orifice, respectively, of the second end. Fastening devices and systems and methods thereof according to embodiments may be used with items, including footwear, apparel, luggage, a backpack, a bag, a purse, a boxing glove, a punching bag, football or lacrosse shoulder pads, or the like.

Claims

1. A flexible fastening device for fastening a first hole, eyelet, loop, or hook on an article of footwear or apparel and a second hole, eyelet, loop, or hook on the article of footwear or apparel, the fastening device comprising:

a first portion including a ring;

a second portion including a first face and a second face opposite the first face;

a body portion between the first portion and the second portion, the body portion defining an axis;

a projection extending from the first face, the first face surrounding a base of the projection and the projection including a sidewall; and

a wall extending upward from the first face,

wherein the body portion is flexible,

wherein a tip end member extends from the ring along the axis of the body portion, and

wherein the sidewall comprises a groove extending therearound and the groove is sized to receive a portion of an inside of the ring.

2. The flexible fastening device according to claim 1,

wherein the fastening device is one-piece,

wherein the tip end member comprises a single, flexible elongate digit as an extremity of the fastening device,

wherein said second portion is coupled to said first portion via said body portion and the second portion defines a first opening which provides access to a channel surrounded by said second portion, and

wherein the first opening and the channel are sized such that the digit fits therethrough and therein, respectively, with a base of the digit arranged adjacent to the first opening.

3. The flexible fastening device according to claim 2, wherein the channel is a dead end channel having an end thereof formed by said second portion.

4. The flexible fastening device according to claim 2, wherein said second portion further includes a second opening on a side of said flexible fastening device opposite a side of said flexible fastening device associated with the projection, the second opening providing access to the channel.

5. The flexible fastening device according to claim 4, wherein the digit does not project from a plane defining the second opening when a body of the digit is inside the channel and the base of the digit is arranged adjacent to the first opening.

6. The flexible fastening device according to claim 2, wherein the flexible fastening device is for use as a fastener for footwear or apparel when said first portion and second portion are coupled together, or as a piece of jewelry when either said first portion and second portion are coupled together or one of said first portion and said second portion of said flexible fastening device is coupled to the other of a second portion and a first portion of a second flexible fastening device.

7. The flexible fastening device according to claim 1, wherein a portion of the first face comprises a flange around some or all of the base of the projection in plan view.

8. The flexible fastening device according to claim 1,

wherein the sidewall of the projection in plan view is one of oval, circular, rectangular, or square, and

wherein the inside of the ring in plan view is one of circular, oval, rectangular, or square.

9. The flexible fastening device according to claim 8, wherein the plan view of the sidewall of the projection does not match the plan view of the inside of the ring.

10. The flexible fastening device according to claim 1,

wherein said second portion is coupled to said first portion via the body portion and the projection defining an anchor portion for coupling with the ring of said first portion,

wherein the inside of the ring of said first portion is sized to fit around the anchor portion.

11. The flexible fastening device according to claim 1, wherein said groove extends completely around the sidewall of the projection.

12. The flexible fastening device according to claim 1,

wherein said first portion has an extremity portion,

wherein said body portion has a bifurcated body which defines a void region between each of two portions of the bifurcated body,

wherein the void region runs from said first portion to said second portion, and

wherein said second portion has a Y-shaped channel formed on its upper face defined in-part by a projection.

13. The flexible fastening device according to claim 12, wherein, when the first portion and the second portion are coupled together, said first portion is arranged inside the channel such that a juncture where said body portion and said first portion meet is arranged at a fork of the channel, with the extremity portion of said first portion facing inwardly, toward said body portion.

14. The flexible fastening device according to claim 1, further comprising a collar adapted to attach to the body portion.

15. The flexible fastening device according to claim 14, wherein the collar encompasses an entirety of the body portion.

16. The flexible fastening device according to claim 1, wherein the projection comprises a different material than the second portion.

17. The flexible fastening device according to claim 1, wherein the first portion and the second portion are at opposing ends of the body portion.

18. The flexible fastening device according to claim 1, wherein the projection is separable from the body portion.

19. The flexible fastening device according to claim 1, wherein a portion of the first face comprises a flange.

20. A set of flexible fastening devices, each flexible fastening device according to claim 1.

21. The set of flexible fastening devices according to claim 20, wherein the set of said flexible fastening devices includes at least two flexible fastening devices each with different overall lengths.

22. The set of flexible fastening devices according to claim 20, wherein the set of said flexible fastening devices includes at least two flexible fastening devices each with a same overall length.