Device for adjusting the fit and appearance of an article of apparel or hair and method of assembly

Abstract

A fastening device and a method of manufacturing a fastening device, the fastening device comprising a flexibly deformable length of wire, the wire substantially encased in a coating, a flexible length of tube mounted to the wire and a casing mounted to the tube and wire, whereby the wire remains encased in the coating and the tube when a break occurs in the body of the wire.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . The fastening device comprising:
 at least one flexibly deformable wire, said wire comprising a first end, a second end and a body having a length from said first end to said second end, the wire substantially encased in a flexible coating,   an elastically deformable tube mounted on said wire and substantially surrounding the body of the wire, the tube comprising a substantially cylindrical body, a first end, a second end and a length from said first end to said second end, wherein the length of the tube is substantially equal to the length of the wire,   a cover mounted on said tube, the cover comprising first and second ends, wherein said cover substantially encloses said wire and said tube, wherein the first end of the wire is coupled to the first end of the tube and the first end of the cover, collectively forming a first end of the fastening device, and a second end of the wire is coupled to the second end of the tube and the second end of the cover, collectively forming a second end of the fastening device,   wherein the user applies pressure to substantially the first and second ends of the fastening device to manipulate said device by bending or looping the device or twisting the first and second ends of the device to releasably lock said ends of said fastening device to each other into a locked position whereby the body of the tube maintains a substantially cylindrical shape when in said locked position and substantially along the entire said length of the tube,   whereby when a break occurs in the wire, the break comprising at least two sharp wire points, the at least two sharp wire points remain encased in the tube and cover so as to inhibit the sharp wire points from protruding through the tube and the cover.   
     
     
         2 . The fastening device of  claim 1 , wherein the tube comprises a polymer tube. 
     
     
         3 . The fastening device of  claim 2 , wherein the polymer tube comprises a mesh. 
     
     
         4 . The fastening device of  claim 3 , wherein the polymer tube is Nylon™. 
     
     
         5 . The fastening device of  claim 1 , wherein the wire is manufactured of a metal selected from a group comprising: copper, stainless steel, aluminum. 
     
     
         6 . The fastening device of  claim 1 , wherein the wire is of a gauge in the range of 20-22 gauge. 
     
     
         7 . The fastening device of  claim 1 , wherein the wire is 27 gauge and the wire comprises at least two wires. 
     
     
         8 . The fastening device of  claim 1 , wherein the cover is selected from a group comprising:
 sleeve, sheath, wrap, tube, braided cord.   
     
     
         9 . The fastening device of  claim 1 , wherein the coating comprises a substantially planar coating having a length and a width, wherein the coating length is substantially equal to the wire length, and wherein the coating width is greater than a diameter of the wire and lesser than or substantially equal to a diameter of the tube. 
     
     
         10 . A method of manufacturing a fastening device, comprising:
 a) selecting at least one flexibly deformable wire comprising a first end, a second end, a body having a length from said first end to said second end and a flexible coating substantially encasing the wire,   b) selecting an elastically deformable tube comprising a substantially cylindrical body having a diameter, a first end, a second end and a length from said first end to said second end, wherein the length of the tube is substantially equal to the length of the at least one wire,   c) mounting said tube onto said wire,   d) selecting a cover comprising first and second ends, wherein said cover substantially encloses said tube mounted on said wire,   e) coupling the first end of the wire to the first end of the tube and coupling the second end of the wire to the second end of the tube,   f) coupling the first end of the cover to the first ends of the wire and tube and coupling the second end of the cover to the second ends of the wire and tube.   
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 10  wherein coupling the first ends of the tube and wire and coupling the second ends of the tube and wire is selected from a group comprising: heat fusing, crimping, clamping, gluing, tying. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 10  wherein coupling the first ends of the tube and wire to the first end of the cover and coupling the second ends of the tube and wire to the second end of the cover is selected from a group comprising: heat fusing, crimping, clamping, gluing, tying, vinyl end caps, beads, rivets. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 10  wherein the coating comprises a planar coating having a length and a width, wherein the coating length is substantially equal to the wire length, and wherein the coating width is greater than a diameter of the wire and lesser than or substantially equal to a diameter of the tube. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13  wherein the width of the coating and the diameter of the tube are selected whereby the tube is snugly mounted onto the wire. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 10  wherein the tube comprises a nylon mesh tube. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 10  wherein the wire is manufactured of a metal selected from a group comprising: copper, stainless steel, aluminum. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 10  wherein the wire is of a gauge in the range of 20-22 gauge. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 10  wherein the wire is 27 gauge and the wire comprises at least two wires. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 10  wherein the cover is selected from a group comprising: sleeve, sheath, wrap, tube, braided cord.