Fastening device

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SPANISH OFFICE OF

PATENTS AND TRADEMARKS

SPAIN

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© Int. Cl .:

B33Y 80/00 ​​(2015.01)

TRANSLATION OF EUROPEAN PATENT

T3 © Date of submission and number of the international application: 22.09.2014 PCT / US2014 / 056824 © Date and number of international publication: 26.03.2015 WO15042541 © Date of submission and number of the European application: 22.09.2014 E 14845433 (3 ) © Date and publication number of the European concession: 06.03.2019 EP 3046438 © Title: Fixing device © Priority:

20.09.2013 US 2013 61880204 P

30.09.2013 US 2013 61884840 P

04.11.2013 US 201361899445 P © Date of publication and mention in BOPI of the patent translation:

22.10.2019 © Owner / s:

HICKIES, INC. (100.0%) 134 North 4th St., 2nd Fir. Brooklyn, NY 11249, US © lnventor / es:

FRYDLEWSKI, GASTON; WAINGARTEN, MARIA RAQUEL and REEB, DAVID © Agent / Representative:

TORNER LASALLE, Elisabet

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Notice: Within nine months from the date of publication in the European Patent Bulletin, of the mention of granting the European patent, any person may object to the European Patent Office to the granted patent. The opposition must be in writing and be motivated; It will only be considered as formulated once payment of the opposition fee has been made (art. 99.1 of the Convention on the Grant of European Patents).

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DESCRIPTION

Fixing device

Technical field

The present invention relates, in general, to fixing devices and systems using fixing devices. More in particular, the present invention provides fixing devices that secure opposite sides of a selected article to allow safe coupling and reliability against involuntary separation and breakage.

Background

Industrial applications of fasteners include the use of thread or rope, including shoelaces. Unfortunately, during use, particularly during the practice of rough sports or intense work activities, these conventional fixing devices often break, destroy or become unreliable, or even dangerous for users.

Consequently, there is a need for an improved fixing device that provides improved reliability and use. In addition, there is also a need to improve a method of using a fixing device in which the installation and application of a fixing device allow adaptive use to a variety of alternative couplings with items that need to be fixed.

From FR 958 758 a fixing device is known for a connection of two openings identified in an article of footwear comprising an elongated main body member having a first pointed end portion and a second pointed end portion opposite the first portion extreme, which can specifically have the shape of arrowheads.

Summary

In response, it is now recognized that there is a need for a higher performance fixing system that adapts to the needs of a user and is durable and robust in use.

The invention discloses an independent fixing device according to claim 1. Preferred embodiments are disclosed in the attached dependent claims.

A method of connecting two identified openings may include: providing a fixing device that includes an elongated main body member defining a longitudinal axis, and first and second end tip members located at opposite ends of the longitudinal axis; insert the first tip end member through one of the identified openings; pulling on the first pointed end member, thereby pulling a first deformable portion of interference through one of the identified openings; insert the second tip end member through the other of the identified openings; and pulling on the second pointed end member, thereby pulling a second deformable portion of interference through the other of the identified openings; whereby the first and second deformable interference portions retain the fixing device in the two identified openings.

The foregoing and other aspects, features and advantages of the present invention will be apparent from the following description read together with the accompanying drawings, in which similar reference numbers designate the same elements.

Brief description of the drawings

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a fixing device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Fig. 2 is a top view of the device shown in Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a side view of the device shown in Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is an elevation view of the device shown in Fig. 1.

Fig. 5 is a perspective view of an embodiment of the invention.

Fig. 6 shows a decorative insert for use with the embodiment of Fig. 5.

Fig. 7 is a top view of a third embodiment of the invention.

Fig. 8 shows the view of Fig. 2, with one of the deformable regions being stretched by the tension "T", which results in a reduction in the diameter from d1 to d2.

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FIG. 9 shows a device according to one embodiment, in which the first tip is inserted into an eyelet of a sports shoe.

Fig. 10 shows the device of Fig. 9 after the first deformable region has been pulled through the buttonhole.

Fig. 11 shows the device of Fig. 10, after being installed by pulling the second deformable region through an eyelet on the opposite side of the shoe.

Detailed description

Reference will now be made in detail to embodiments of the invention. Whenever possible, the same or similar reference numbers are used in the drawings and in the description to refer to the same or similar parts or stages. The drawings are shown in simplified form and are not to precise scale. The words "couple," "fit," "connect," and similar terms do not necessarily denote direct and immediate connections, but also include connections through intermediate elements or devices. For purposes of convenience and clarity only, directional expressions (up / down, etc.) or movement (forward / backward, fold / fold, push / pull, etc.) may be used with respect to the drawings .

In turn, various operations can be described as multiple individual operations, in a way that may be useful for understanding embodiments of the present invention; however, it should not be interpreted that the order of the description implies that these operations depend on the order.

As mentioned above, the embodiments comprise a unit elongated body or a part having respective first and second ends. Each end ends in a tip portion that has a cross section that allows the tip to be inserted through the eyelet for which it is intended. The tip may have a suitable length to grip it with the fingers. According to one embodiment, interposed between the tip portion and the elongated body, and connecting them, there may be a resilient deformable region that circumscribes and defines an opening. The deformable region may have a circular shape and defines a substantially circular opening, but, according to embodiments, is arc-shaped and defines an arc-shaped opening. The convex side of the arch may be oriented towards the body, while the concave side may be oriented towards the tip portion.

In use, the tip can be inserted through a buttonhole, and then grabbed and pulled so that tension is applied substantially along the major axis of the device. This tension can cause the deformable region, and the opening it defines, to stretch along the major axis of the device. The tension and the resulting deformation can cause the sides of the deformable region to move towards the axis, reducing the effective cross-section of the deformable region until it can pass through the eyelet. After the release of tension, the deformable region returns to its relaxed state, in which it can no longer pass through the eyelet. This procedure is repeated with the second end portion of the device, pulling it through a second buttonhole of the article to be fixed, or through a buttonhole of a second article that the user wishes to fix to the first article.

The fixing tension provided by an installed device of the invention is carried by the central body of the device. In the eyelets, this tension is created by an outwardly directed force applied axially to the deformable regions, at the point where contact is made with the surface of the article immediately surrounding the eyelets. According to embodiments, this outward force does not cause a reduction in the cross section of the deformable region, however, and the device resists being pulled through the eyelet. In embodiments, when the deformable region and the opening it defines are arc-shaped, the deformable region may be particularly resistant to compression because the inner portion of the arc, adjacent to the tip, is located within the radius of the outer portion of the arc, in which it physically blocks the deformation required for a reduction in cross section. Although it is resistant to be pulled through the eyelet in the inward direction, the device can be easily removed by pulling the tip in the outward direction, thereby reversing the installation procedure.

For ease and economy of manufacture, embodiments of the invention can be molded from a single elastomeric material. Suitable materials include, without limitation, synthetic rubbers, silicone rubbers and polyurethanes. In devices that have such a monolithic construction, the desired amount of stretching or stiffness in any particular portion of the device will be obtained by varying the thickness of that portion. In alternative embodiments, reinforcing or stiffening elements can be inserted, rolled or molded into the elastomer. Such elements include, without limitation, monofilament reinforcing materials, of spun or woven fiber, rigid or semi-rigid inserts and elastomeric inserts or layers having a different modulus and / or elasticity. The devices can also be formed directly from two or more different materials, for example by bi-injection or double injection molding, so that they have the desired distribution of physical properties over the entire length of the device. The embodiments can be made by three-dimensional printing or additive manufacturing.

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Referring now to Fig. 1, a perspective view of an embodiment of the invention without numbering is provided to clearly convey the general appearance of the device.

Fig. 2 is a top view of the same device. The device includes an elongated central body 31, which ends in necks 32 and 32a. The deformable regions 33 and 33a are fixed in the necks. In the embodiment shown, the deformable regions have an arc shape and circumscribe and define bounded openings 34 and 34a with an arc shape. The deformable regions have outer portions 35 and 35a, and inner portions 36 and 36a that have a smaller radius. On the sides opposite the necks, the deformable regions are fixed to tips 37 and 37a. The devices are not limited to any particular dimension. The length of the central body 31 is chosen according to the desired separation between buttonholes in the fixed articles. The length of the tips 37 and 37a can be chosen to be sufficient to provide a suitable grip for the fingers, after the tip has been inserted through an eyelet. The diameter of the tips, and the dimensions of the deformable regions can be determined by the dimensions of the eyelets through which they must pass after installation, and through which they must not pass when the device is in use and under tension .

It will be appreciated that the arc shape of the deformable region shown in the drawings only represents one of numerous equivalent embodiments. The openings 34 and 34a defined by the deformable regions can also have any geometric shape. In embodiments, the inner portions 36 and 36a of the deformable regions are positioned such that they interfere with the deformation into the outer portions 35 and 35a, thereby avoiding a reduction in the cross section. This function only requires that the internal portions occupy the space in which the external portions collapse after the application of tension, as described below. It will be appreciated that this is a matter of relative location and that the invention is not limited to any particular geometric shape for the inner and outer portions of the deformable region. Therefore, the inner portion 36 may have a generally convex shape, and the outer portion 35 may have a generally concave complementary shape. For example, a convex inner portion 36 may have the shape of a wedge, the concave outer portion 35 having a complementary V-shape. The portion 36 may take the form of a rectangular block, and the portion 35 may have a complementary rectangular cavity. . Other combinations of forms will occur immediately to those skilled in the art. According to embodiments, openings 34, 34A can be omitted.

Fig. 3 is a side view of the device shown in Fig. 1. Fig. 4 is an elevation view. It can be seen from these views that the cross-section of the tips and the central body are substantially rectangular in this particular example. It will be appreciated that a round cross section may be preferred for the tips when used with eyelets or circular holes. The cross section of the central body can be varied for the sake of manufacturing convenience, or for cosmetic purposes, within the limits imposed by the desired strength and elasticity of the fixation.

Fig. 5 is an alternative embodiment in which the central body has a hole 38, in which a decorative button 39 can be snapped in (Fig. 28). The button 39 can be decorated in any desired way, for example, it can be in a contrasting color or have an attractive pattern; it can be jeweled; Or you can have a team or university logo. You can build a small battery and one or more LED lights on the button, if desired.

Fig. 7 shows an alternative embodiment in which the tips 37 and 37a are arranged at an angle to the central body of the device. This embodiment may be easier to insert into the eyelets in crowded environments, which may lack a clear path for a perpendicular entry or exit.

Fig. 8 shows the same view from above as Fig. 2, but illustrates the deformation of the opening 34a after the application of tension T. The tension causes the inner portion 36a to be pulled away from the outer portion 35a, and the sides of the opening are free to collapse into the enlarged opening 34a. As the deformable region is stretched, it becomes narrower, and the width of the deformable region, originally d1, is reduced to d2. With sufficient tension and sufficient stretching, the deformed region can be pulled through an eyelet. The release of tension allows the deformed region to return to its original shape, with the eyelet now trapped around the neck of the device.

Figures 9-11 show a method of using a fastener of the invention, to close a sports shoe 41 by fastening. The tip 37 of the device is inserted into the buttonhole 40 (Fig. 31), and then the tip is pulled up that the deformable region 33 has been pulled through the buttonhole, leaving the neck of the device in the buttonhole 40, as shown in Fig. 32. The tip at the other end of the device can then be inserted into a buttonhole 40a on the opposite side of the shoe. Then, the deformable region can be passed through traction, and after the release of tension, the device is installed. It will be appreciated that the device can be installed diagonally if the user wishes; This will result in a shoe set with greater tightening.

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