Clasps with interlocking arms and related clasp members

Abstract

Clasp members may include a strap connector located on a first lateral side of the clasp member, the strap connector for connecting to a strap or a portion of a garment. The clasp member may include an interlocking fastener on a second lateral side of the clasp member, the second lateral side opposite the first lateral side. The interlocking fastener may be for connecting to a further interlocking fastener. The interlocking fastener may include a body defining a mating surface. The mating surface of each strap connector may be positioned to come into contact and hold in contact when the clasp is in a joined position. When the clasp is transitioning from joined position to a non-joined position, separation methods may assist to guide the strap connectors apart

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A clasp comprising:
 a first clasp member comprising:
 a first strap connector located on a first lateral side of the first clasp member, the first strap connector for connecting to a strap or a first portion of a garment: and 
 a first interlocking fastener on a second lateral side of the first clasp member, the second lateral side opposite the first lateral side, the first interlocking fastener comprising:
 a first body, defining a first mating surface; and 
 first interlocking arms adjacent to the first mating surface, proximate to the second lateral side of the first clasp member, each of the first interlocking arms extending from the first body away from the first mating surface and toward the first lateral side of the first clasp member to define a first ledge; and 
 
   a second clasp member comprising:
 a second strap connector located on a first lateral side of the second clasp member, the second strap connector for connecting to the strap or a second portion of the garment; and 
 a second interlocking fastener on a second lateral side of the second clasp member, the second lateral side opposite the first lateral side, the second interlocking fastener for connecting to the first interlocking fastener, the second interlocking fastener comprising:
 a second body defining a second mating surface positioned and shaped to contact the first mating surface of the first body of the first interlocking fastener when the clasp is in a connected state; and 
 second interlocking arms adjacent to the second mating surface proximate to the second lateral side of the second clasp member, each of the second interlocking arms extending from the second body away from the second mating surface and toward the first lateral side of the second clasp member to define a second ledge. 
 
   
     
     
         2 . The clasp of  claim 1 , wherein the first ledge of the first interlocking arms and the second ledge of the second interlocking arms are configured to contact one another and to secure the first clasp member and the second clasp member one to another when the clasp is in the connected state. 
     
     
         3 . The clasp of  claim 1 , wherein the first interlocking fastener is at least substantially identical to the second interlocking fastener. 
     
     
         4 . The clasp of  claim 1 , wherein a distance between the first interlocking arms is at least substantially the same as a width of the second body between a first lateral side of the second body and a second lateral side of the second body. 
     
     
         5 . The clasp of  claim 1 , wherein, when the clasp is in the connected state, a portion of the second body is interposed between the first interlocking arms and a portion of the first body is interposed between the second interlocking arms. 
     
     
         6 . The clasp of  claim 1 , wherein each of the first interlocking arms comprises a first extending portion and a first receiving portion, the first extending portion extending toward the first lateral side of the first clasp member, and the first receiving portion recessed toward the second lateral side of the first clasp member, the first ledge defined between the first extending portion and the first receiving portion,
 wherein each of the second interlocking arms comprises a second extending portion and a second receiving portion, the second extending portion extending toward the first lateral side of the second clasp member, and the second receiving portion recessed toward the second lateral side of the second clasp member, the second ledge defined between the second extending portion and the second receiving portion, and   wherein when the clasp is in the connected state, the first extending portions of the first interlocking arms are positioned in the second receiving portions of the second interlocking arms and the second extending portions of the second interlocking arms are positioned in the first receiving portions of the first interlocking arms.   
     
     
         7 . The clasp of  claim 1 , wherein the first body comprises a ramp extending from the first mating surface to a location above the first mating surface proximate to the first strap connector, the ramp shaped and positioned to cause the second mating surface to move away from the first mating surface when the second interlocking fastener is moved toward the first strap connector. 
     
     
         8 . The clasp of  claim 1 , a width of the first body is greatest proximate to the second lateral side, as measured in a direction between the first interlocking arms at the first mating surface. 
     
     
         9 . The clasp of  claim 8 , wherein the width of the first body is sized and shaped to enable the second interlocking arms to receive a portion of the first body therebetween and to engage with the second interlocking arms when the clasp is transitioning from a disconnected state to the connected state. 
     
     
         10 . The clasp of  claim 8 , wherein the first body is sized and shaped to cause the second interlocking arms to move laterally toward the first interlocking arms as the clasp is transitioning from a disconnected state to the connected state. 
     
     
         11 . The clasp of  claim 1 , wherein the first body further comprises a first magnet, wherein the second body further comprises a second magnet, and wherein the first magnet is to attract the second magnet when the clasp is in the connected state. 
     
     
         12 . The clasp of  claim 11 , wherein the first magnet and the second magnet are oriented to exert force tending to cause the second magnet to move laterally toward the first magnet as the clasp is transitioning from a disconnected state to the connected state. 
     
     
         13 . The clasp of  claim 1 , wherein the first strap connector is offset from a second surface of the first body, the second surface opposite the first mating surface, and wherein the second strap connector is offset from a second surface of the second body, the second surface opposite the second mating surface. 
     
     
         14 . The clasp of  claim 13 , wherein when the clasp is in the connected state, the first strap connector is at least substantially aligned with the second strap connector. 
     
     
         15 . The clasp of  claim 1 , wherein the first strap connector comprises posts for connecting to eyes of the strap and wherein the second strap connector defines eyes for connecting to hooks of the strap. 
     
     
         16 . The clasp of  claim 1 , wherein the first strap connector comprises first posts for connecting to eyes of the strap, wherein the second strap connector comprises second posts, wherein the first strap connector is at least substantially identical to the second strap connector, wherein the second strap connector additionally comprises a loop sized, shaped and configured to wrap around the second posts and to define one or more eyes for connecting to hooks of the strap; and
 a first cover for retaining the eyes of the strap around the first posts and the second strap connector further comprises a second cover to retain the loop around or over the second posts.   
     
     
         17 . The clasp of  claim 1 , wherein the first strap connector comprises first posts for connecting to eyes of the strap, wherein the second strap connector comprises a loop sized, shaped and configured to define one or more eyes for connecting to hooks of the strap; and
 a first cover for retaining the eyes of the strap around the first posts and the second strap connector further comprises a second cover to retain the loop around or over the loop.   
     
     
         18 . A clasp member comprising:
 a strap connector located on a first lateral side of the clasp member, the strap connector for connecting to a strap or a portion of a garment; and   an interlocking fastener on a second lateral side of the clasp member, the second lateral side opposite the first lateral side, the interlocking fastener for connecting to a further interlocking fastener, the interlocking fastener comprising:
 a body defining a mating surface, the mating surface positioned and shaped to contact a further mating surface of a further body of the further interlocking fastener when the clasp member is in a connected state with a further clasp member; and 
 interlocking arms adjacent to the mating surface, proximate to the second lateral side of the clasp member, each of the interlocking arms extending from the body away from the mating surface and toward the first lateral side of the clasp member to define a ledge. 
   
     
     
         19 . The clasp member of  claim 18 , wherein the ledges of the interlocking arms are configured to contact further ledges of further interlocking arms of the further interlocking fastener to secure the interlocking fastener to the further interlocking fastener when the clasp member is in the connected state. 
     
     
         20 . The clasp member of  claim 18 , wherein each of the interlocking arms comprises an extending portion and a receiving portion, the extending portion extending toward the first lateral side of the clasp member, and the receiving portion recessed toward the second lateral side of the clasp member, the ledge defined between the extending portion and the receiving portion and
 wherein when the clasp member is in the connected state, the extending portions of the interlocking arms are positioned in further receiving portions of further interlocking arms of the further interlocking fastener and further extending portions of the further interlocking arms are positioned in the receiving portions of the interlocking arms.