Fastener

Abstract

A fastener ( 1 ) comprises at least two fastener halves ( 3 A, 3 B) each of which comprises a main body ( 7 A, 7 B) and a finger ( 9 A, 9 B) depending therefrom, the finger ( 9 A, 9 B) being spaced apart from the main body ( 7 A, 7 B) so as to define a recess ( 13 A, 13 B) between the body ( 7 A, 7 B) and the finger ( 9 A, 9 B). The recess ( 13 A, 13 B) receives, in use, the finger ( 9 B, 9 A) of the other fastener half ( 3 A, 3 B) to fasten the fastener halves ( 3 A, 3 B) together. At least one of the recess ( 13 A, 13 B) of one fastener half ( 3 A, 3 B) and the finger ( 9 A, 9 B) of the other fastener half ( 3 A, 3 B) comprises a concave mating formation arranged to engage in use with a convex mating formation ( 15 A, 15 B) provided on the finger ( 9 A, 9 B) of the other fastener half ( 3 A, 3 B) or on the recess ( 13 A, 13 B) of the one fastener half ( 3 A, 3 B) respectively. The formations are arranged to resist, when so engaged and under tension in use, the fastener halves ( 3 A, 3 B) unfastening in a direction away from the longitudinal axes of the fastener halves ( 3 A, 3 B).

1 . A fastener ( 1 ) comprising at least two fastener halves ( 3 A,  3 B) each of which comprises a main body ( 7 A,  7 B) and a finger ( 9 A,  9 B) depending therefrom, the finger ( 9 A,  9 B) being spaced apart from the main body ( 7 A,  7 B) so as to define a recess ( 13 A,  13 B) between the body ( 7 A,  7 B) and the finger ( 9 A,  9 B) to receive, in use, the finger ( 9 A,  9 B) of the other fastener half ( 3 A,  3 B) to fasten the fastener halves ( 3 A,  3 B) together, at least one of the recess ( 13 A,  13 B) of one fastener half ( 3 A,  3 B) and the finger ( 9 A,  9 B) of the other fastener half ( 3 A,  3 B) comprising a concave mating formation arranged to engage in use with a convex mating formation ( 15 A,  15 B) provided on the finger ( 9 A,  9 B) of the other fastener half ( 3 A,  3 B) or on the recess ( 13 A,  13 B) of the one fastener half ( 3 A,  3 B) respectively, the formations being arranged to resist, when so engaged and under tension in use, the fastener halves ( 3 A,  3 B) unfastening in a direction away from the longitudinal axes of the fastener halves ( 3 A,  3 B). 
   
   
       2 . The fastener ( 1 ) of  claim 1  wherein the finger ( 9 A,  9 B) of each fastener half ( 3 A,  3 B) depends from the respective main body ( 7 A,  7 B) via a stem ( 11 A,  11 B), one of the mating formations ( 15 A,  15 B) being provided on the stem ( 11 A,  11 B). 
   
   
       3 . The fastener ( 1 ) of  claim 1  wherein the finger ( 9 A,  9 B) of each fastener half ( 3 A,  3 B) is substantially parallel with the respective main body ( 7 A,  7 B). 
   
   
       4 . The fastener ( 1 ) of  claim 1  wherein the recess ( 13 A,  13 B) of at least one fastener half ( 3 A,  3 B) is formed with the concave mating formation. 
   
   
       5 . The fastener ( 1 ) of  claim 1  wherein both fastener halves ( 3 A,  3 B) are provided with concave and convex mating formations ( 15 A,  15 B). 
   
   
       6 . The fastener ( 1 ) of  claim 1  wherein one fastener half ( 3 A,  3 B) is formed with only a concave mating formation, the other fastener half being formed with only a convex mating formation ( 15 A,  15 B). 
   
   
       7 . The fastener ( 1 ) of  claim 1  wherein the mating formations ( 15 A,  15 B) are arcuate. 
   
   
       8 . The fastener ( 1 ) of  claim 1  wherein the mating formations ( 15 A,  15 B) are angular, the convex formation defining a projecting point ( 415 A,  415 B), and the concave formation defining a ‘V’ shape. 
   
   
       9 . The fastener ( 1 ) of  claim 1  wherein the convex mating formation ( 15 A,  15 B) comprises multiple convex sub formations. 
   
   
       10 . The fastener ( 1 ) of  claim 1  wherein the concave mating formation comprises multiple concave sub formations. 
   
   
       11 . The fastener ( 1 ) of  claim 1  wherein the bodies ( 7 A,  7 B) of the fastener halves ( 3 A,  3 B) comprise a planar portion ( 7 A,  7 B). 
   
   
       12 . The fastener ( 1 ) of  claim 1  wherein the bodies ( 7 A,  7 B) of the fastener halves ( 3 A,  3 B) comprise a stepped portion ( 47 A,  47 B) arranged such that when the fastener ( 1 ) is in a fastened condition and viewed in plan, part of each fastener half ( 3 A,  3 B) occupies the same plane. 
   
   
       13 . The fastener ( 1 ) of  claim 1  wherein at least one fastener half ( 3 A,  3 B) may be provided with a plurality of fingers spaced along the longitudinal axis of the body ( 7 A,  7 B) so as to enable the other fastener half ( 3 A,  3 B) to be fastened to the first fastener body ( 7 A,  7 B) at various different longitudinal positions. 
   
   
       14 . An item of clothing provided with a fastener ( 1 ) comprising at least two fastener halves ( 3 A,  3 B) each of which comprises a main body ( 7 A,  7 B) attached to a respective part of the item of clothing, and a finger ( 9 A,  9 B) depending from the body ( 7 A,  7 B) so as to be spaced apart from the main body ( 7 A,  7 B) to define a recess ( 13 A,  13 B) between the body ( 7 A,  7 B) and the finger ( 9 A,  9 B) to receive, in use, the finger ( 9 A,  9 B) of the other fastener half ( 3 A,  3 B) to fasten the fastener halves ( 3 A,  3 B) together, at least one of the recess ( 13 A,  13 B) of one fastener half ( 3 A,  3 B) and the end of the finger ( 9 A,  9 B) of the other fastener half ( 3 A,  3 B) comprising a concave mating formation arranged to engage in use with a convex mating formation ( 15 A,  15 B) provided on the finger ( 9 A,  9 B) of the other fastener half ( 3 A,  3 B) or on the recess ( 13 A,  13 B) of the one fastener half ( 3 A,  3 B) respectively, the formations being arranged to resist, when so engaged and under tension in use, the fastener halves ( 3 A,  3 B) unfastening in a direction away from the longitudinal axes of the fastener halves ( 3 A,  3 B). 
   
   
       15 . The fastener ( 1 ) of  claim 2  wherein the finger ( 9 A,  9 B) of each fastener half ( 3 A,  3 B) is substantially parallel with the respective main body ( 7 A,  7 B). 
   
   
       16 . The fastener ( 1 ) of  claim 2  wherein the recess ( 13 A,  13 B) of at least one fastener half ( 3 A,  3 B) is formed with the concave mating formation. 
   
   
       17 . The fastener ( 1 ) of  claim 3  wherein the recess ( 13 A,  13 B) of at least one fastener half ( 3 A,  3 B) is formed with the concave mating formation. 
   
   
       18 . The fastener ( 1 ) of  claim 2  wherein one fastener half ( 3 A,  3 B) is formed with only a concave mating formation, the other fastener half being formed with only a convex mating formation ( 15 A,  15 B). 
   
   
       19 . The fastener ( 1 ) of  claim 3  wherein one fastener half ( 3 A,  3 B) is formed with only a concave mating formation, the other fastener half being formed with only a convex mating formation ( 15 A,  15 B). 
   
   
       20 . The fastener ( 1 ) of  claim 4  wherein one fastener half ( 3 A,  3 B) is formed with only a concave mating formation, the other fastener half being formed with only a convex mating formation ( 15 A,  15 B). 
   
   
       21 . The fastener ( 1 ) of  claim 2  wherein the mating formations ( 15 A,  15 B) are angular, the convex formation defining a projecting point ( 415 A,  415 B), and the concave formation defining a ‘V’ shape. 
   
   
       22 . The fastener ( 1 ) of  claim 3  wherein the mating formations ( 15 A,  15 B) are angular, the convex formation defining a projecting point ( 415 A,  415 B), and the concave formation defining a ‘V’ shape. 
   
   
       23 . The fastener ( 1 ) of  claim 4  wherein the mating formations ( 15 A,  15 B) are angular, the convex formation defining a projecting point ( 415 A,  415 B), and the concave formation defining a ‘V’ shape. 
   
   
       24 . The fastener ( 1 ) of  claim 5  wherein the mating formations ( 15 A,  15 B) are angular, the convex formation defining a projecting point ( 415 A,  415 B), and the concave formation defining a ‘V’ shape. 
   
   
       25 . The fastener ( 1 ) of  claim 6  wherein the mating formations ( 15 A,  15 B) are angular, the convex formation defining a projecting point ( 415 A,  415 B), and the concave formation defining a ‘V’ shape.