Hook-and-loop fastening system

Abstract

A wearable item, such as a shoe, is disclosed including a first item portion of the wearable item and a second item portion of the wearable item for securing to the first item portion. A hook patch having a plurality of hooks is secured to the first item portion and a receiver portion is secured to the second item portion and is configured to receive a selectively removable fastener. No portion of the wearable item, including the first and second item portions, includes a loop patch for engaging the hook patch. A strap having a first end portion and a second end portion is used with the wearable item. The first end portion includes a loop patch secured thereto and the second end portion has a selectively removable fastener secured thereto for engaging the receiver portion and the loop patch is selectively engaged with the hook patch.

The embodiments of the invention in which an exclusive property or privilege is claimed are defined as follows: 
     
         1 . A fastening system comprising:
 an item including
 a first item portion; 
 a second item portion for securing to the first item portion; 
 a first fastening patch secured to the first item portion; and 
 a receiver portion secured to the second item portion and configured to receive a selectively removable fastener, the receiver portion not including a corresponding fastening patch to the first fastening patch; and 
   a strap having a first end portion and a second end portion, the first end portion including a second fastening patch interfaceable with the first fastening patch and removably securing to the first fastening patch on contact, the second end portion having a selectively removable fastener secured thereto, the selectively removable fastener being selectively insertable into the receiver portion.   
     
     
         2 . The fastening system of  claim 1 , wherein the item is a shoe, the first item portion is a first side of an upper of the shoe and the second item portion is an opposite side of the upper of the shoe. 
     
     
         3 . The fastening system of  claim 1 , wherein the receiver portion is a sleeve having at least one notch for receiving a portion of a compliant fastener. 
     
     
         4 . The fastening system of  claim 3 , wherein the at least one notch comprises two opposing notches and the selectively removable fastener comprises compliant arms biased into engagement with the two opposing notches when the selectively removable fastener is positioned in the sleeve. 
     
     
         5 . The fastening system of  claim 1 , wherein the receiver portion is non-removably secured to the second item portion. 
     
     
         6 . The fastening system of  claim 5 , wherein the receiver portion is stitched to the second item portion. 
     
     
         7 . The fastening system of  claim 1 , wherein no other fastening patch is non-removably secured to the wearable item or any structure non-removably secured to the item. 
     
     
         8 . A wearable item comprising:
 a first item portion of the wearable item;   a second item portion of the wearable item for securing to the first item portion;   a hook patch comprising a plurality of hooks secured to the first item portion; and   a receiver portion secured to the second item portion and configured to receive a selectively removable fastener, the receiver portion not including a loop patch;   wherein no portion of the wearable item, including the first and second item portions, includes a loop patch non-removably secured thereto and positionable in engagement with the hook patch.   
     
     
         9 . The wearable item of  claim 8 , wherein the wearable item is a shoe, the first item portion is a first side of an upper portion of the shoe and the second item portion is an opposite side of the upper portion of the shoe. 
     
     
         10 . The wearable item of  claim 8 , wherein the receiver portion is a plastic sleeve having at least one notch for receiving a portion of a compliant fastener. 
     
     
         11 . The wearable item of  claim 8 , wherein the receiver portion is non-removably secured to the second item portion. 
     
     
         12 . The wearable item of  claim 11 , wherein the receiver portion is stitched to the second item portion. 
     
     
         13 . The wearable item of  claim 8 , wherein no loop patch is non-removably secured to the wearable item or any structure non-removably secured to the wearable item. 
     
     
         14 . A method for fastening, the method comprising:
 providing a wearable item having a first item portion and a second item portion, a first fastening patch secured to the first item portion and a receiver portion secured to the second item portion and configured to receive a selectively removable fastener, the receiver portion not including any fastening patch securable to the first fastening patch;   positioning a body member within the wearable item;   providing a strap having a first end portion and a second end portion, the first end portion including a second fastening patch secured thereto and the second end portion having a selectively removable fastener secured thereto;   securing the selectively removable fastener of the strap in the receiver portion;   extending the strap from the second item portion to the first item portion; and   interfacing the second fastening patch of the strap with the first fastening patch effective to removably secure the first fastening patch to the second fastening patch and effective to urge the first item portion toward the second item portion.   
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the wearable item is a shoe, the first item portion is a first side of an upper of the shoe and the second item portion is an opposite side of the upper of the shoe. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the receiver is a plastic sleeve having at least one notch for receiving a portion of a compliant fastener. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the at least one notch comprises two opposing notches and the selectively removable fastener comprises compliant arms biased into engagement with the two opposing notches when the selectively removable fastener is positioned in the sleeve. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the receiver portion is non-removably secured to the second item portion. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein the receiver portion is stitched to the second item portion. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein no other fastening patch is non-removably secured to the wearable item or any structure non-removably secured to the wearable item in a position engageable with the first fastening patch.