A fastening system

Abstract

The invention relates to a fastening system for an article. The fastening system comprises a buckle having a body and a pair of hook arms which extend from the body with the free ends of the hook arms facing each other across a gap. A retainer is provided that in use is secured to a part of the article, the retainer comprising an elongate ridge, the ridge having a first width that is less than the width of the gap between the hook arms, the retainer further comprising a transition portion that connects the ridge to a stopper which is orthogonal to the ridge, the width of the stopper in the direction orthogonal to the ridge being greater than the width of the gap between the hook arms. In use the crest of the ridge may pass into the gap between the hook arms during an initial stage of fastening of the fastening system, the transition portion functioning as a guide during a subsequent stage of fastening to guide the buckle to a position where the hook arms and the body encompass the stopper so as to limit further movement of the buckle in a direction away from the ridge.

1 . A fastening system for an article comprising:
 a buckle having a body and a pair of hook arms which extend from the body with the free ends of the hook arms facing each other across a gap, and   a retainer that in use is secured to a part of the article, the retainer comprising an elongate ridge, the ridge having a first width that is less than the width of the gap between the hook arms, the retainer further comprising a transition portion that connects the ridge to a stopper which is orthogonal to the ridge, the width of the stopper in the direction orthogonal to the ridge being greater than the width of the gap between the hook arms,   whereby in use the crest of the ridge may pass into the gap between the hook arms during an initial stage of fastening of the fastening system, the transition portion functioning as a guide during a subsequent stage of fastening to guide the buckle to a position where the hook arms and the body encompass the stopper so as to limit further movement of the buckle in a direction away from the ridge.   
     
     
         2 . The fastening system according to  claim 1 , wherein the stopper comprises a complete or a partial loop of material at one end of the retainer, which is curved around an axis that is orthogonal to the ridge, the loop defining a space that is accessible from both sides for the hook arms to project into when the fastening is in the closed position. 
     
     
         3 . The fastening system according to  claim 1 , wherein the retainer comprises a strap which is curved to form a loop defining the stopper. 
     
     
         4 . The fastening system according to  claim 3 , wherein the width of the strap forming the stopper is wider than the gap between the hook arms of the buckle at least over a length of the stopper furthest from the ridge. 
     
     
         5 . The fastening system according to  claim 3 , wherein the retainer further includes a length of strap that extends away from an uppermost surface of the complete or partial loop to form the transition portion. 
     
     
         6 . The fastening system according to  claim 3 , wherein one continuous length of strap forms the stopper, transition portion, and ridge. 
     
     
         7 . The fastening system according to  claim 3 , wherein the strap in the transition portion transitions from an unfolded state to a fully folded state along its length from the loop to the ridge using a valley fold, the underside of which guides the hook arms of the buckle onto and off the ridge as the buckle moves from and to the closed position. 
     
     
         8 . The fastening system according to  claim 7 , wherein the valley transitions along the length of the transition portion from a maximum depth where it joins the ridge down to nil where the transition portion joins the loop. 
     
     
         9 . The fastening system according to  claim 7 , wherein the underside of the valley formed by the fold provides the guiding function that helps direct the hook arms of the buckle into the loop formed by the stopper. 
     
     
         10 . The fastening system according to  claim 3 , wherein the ridge portion of the retainer is formed from a portion of strap that extends away from the transition portion, wherein the strap in the transition portion transitions from an unfolded state to a fully folded state along its length from the loop to the ridge using a valley fold, and wherein the portion of strap is a continuation of the strap that forms the ridge portion, the strap retaining the valley fold of the transition portion so that the strap forms two halves that overlap and are in contact along the length of the ridge with the fold at the bottom of the ridge. 
     
     
         11 . (canceled) 
     
     
         12 . The fastening system according to  claim 3 , wherein the ridge is stiffened to allow easy initial engagement with the hooks of the buckle. 
     
     
         13 . The fastening system according to  claim 1 , wherein the retainer comprises any one of a variety of flexible or semi-rigid or rigid materials, and wherein optionally the retainer comprises a length of woven polyester webbing, or the retainer comprises a rigid or semi-rigid component that has the required shape of the stopper, transition portion, and the ridge. 
     
     
         14 . (canceled) 
     
     
         15 . (canceled) 
     
     
         16 . The fastening system according to  claim 1 , wherein the buckle includes at least two bars which form at least two apertures through which webbing/straps/tape/sling can be run while the bars act as tension locks, wherein optionally the buckle comprises a large planar surface which forms a buckle release tab, enabling the tension acting on the webbing running through the apertures between bars to be reduced, or allowing the user to grasp the buckle between thumb and forefinger and disengage it from the retainer, or the hook arms are provided at one end of the main body of the buckle and the bars forming the slots at the other end of the main body. 
     
     
         17 . (canceled) 
     
     
         18 . (canceled) 
     
     
         19 . The fastening system according to  claim 1 , wherein the buckle is composed of plastic, metal, or a combination thereof, more preferably aluminium alloy or polyoxymethylene. 
     
     
         20 . A method of use of the fastening system according to  claim 1 , comprising the following steps performed in the order listed to close the fastening system and in reverse order to release the fastening system:
 (a) aligning the hook arms of the buckle with the ridge of the retainer and moving the buckle into a position where the ridge is located in the gap between the hook arms; and   (b) moving the buckle axially along the ridge towards the stopper across the transition portion allowing the transition portion to guide the hook arms until further movement is prevented by the hook arms engaging the stopper.   
     
     
         21 . The method according to  claim 15 , wherein, when the stopper defines a loop of the retainer, the movement will terminate when the hook arms of the buckle and the loop of the retainer are interlinked. 
     
     
         22 . The method according to  claim 15 , further comprising applying tension to the buckle and retainer to prevent accidental release of the fastening system, wherein optionally the step of applying tension may comprise applying tension to a strap that engages the buckle. 
     
     
         23 . (canceled) 
     
     
         24 . An article including the fastening system according to  claim 1 , in which the retainer is fixed to a first part of the article, and the buckle is fixed to a second part of the article, whereby, when secured, the fastening system holds the two parts of the article together. 
     
     
         25 . The article according to  claim 18 , wherein any one of the following applies:
 a) the buckle is fixed directly to the second part of the article;   b) the buckle is fixed indirectly to the second part of the article, for example using a webbing strap, the webbing strap enabling the relative position of the buckle to the second part of the article to be adjusted;   c) the retainer is secured to an outer face of the first part of the article;   d) the retainer is secured to the article by passing a lower part of the ridge through a slot in the first part of the article and fixing the lower part to an underside of the first part of the article;   e) the first part comprises a lid of the article and the second part comprises a main body of the article which is to be closed by the lid; and   f) the article comprises a rucksack, backpack, belt, or a similar article.   
     
     
         26 .- 30 . (canceled) 
     
     
         31 . A retainer that forms part of a fastening system and which, in use, is secured to a part of an article, the retainer comprising an elongate ridge which projects orthogonally away from the said part of the article, the retainer further comprising a transition portion that connects the ridge to a stopper which is orthogonal to the ridge, the length of the stopper in the direction orthogonal to the ridge being greater than the width of the ridge.