The present invention relates to attachment devices, and, in particular, to attachment devices suitable for use with fabric items.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION It is often desirable to attach a fabric item to another article in a secure yet removable manner. For example, it is desirable to be able to secure a child's blanket to their car seat, to attach a small towel to a golf bag, or to provide a reliable attachment for a waiter's towel.

Existing attachment devices are usually permanently attached to the fabric item, and usually include spring loaded clips, or press fit fasteners. Such clips and fasteners can be inconvenient to use, and add to the cost and complexity of the manufacture of the fabric items.

It is, therefore, desirable to provide an attachment device that can attach a fabric item to another article in a releasable manner, without the need for the provision of clips or fasteners on the fabric item itself. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

According to one aspect of the present invention, there is provided an attachment device adapted for receiving a flexible item therein, for releasable attachment of that flexible item to an article, the device comprising a body including an outer portion that defines an aperture therethrough, and a substantially planar inner portion that extends across the aperture, the inner portion defining a plurality of inter-engaging slots therethrough, the slots being spaced apart around the inner portion and being arranged to form a contiguous through the inner portion, and being of resilient material, and a tab which extends from the body portion, and which is adapted to be the sole means of attachment of the device to an article, wherein the outer portion of the body forms a ring surrounding the inner portion, and the inner portion is more flexible than the outer portion, and wherein the tab extends from an edge region of the outer portion and is adapted for attachment to an article by means of sewing.

In one example, the inner and outer portions are formed from a single piece of material.

In one example, the outer portion is formed over the inner portion by an over-moulding process. In one example, the tab is provided with a locating region for guiding a sewing needle.

In one example, the inner portion is such that, in use, a flexible item which extends through the device is held in place in the device by the inner portion.

According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided an article comprising an article body, and an attachment device for releasable attachment of a flexible item to the article, wherein the device is as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, and wherein the device is attached to the article body only by the tab by means of sewing.

In one example, the tab is sewn into an existing stitching line of the article. In another example, the tab is attached using a stitching line specific to the device.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Figure 1 illustrates an attachment device embodying the present invention;

Figure 2 illustrates the attachment device of Figure 1 in place on an article;

Figure 3 illustrates the attachment device of Figures 1 and 2 in use;

Figure 4 illustrates an example attachment device; and

Figure 5 illustrates another example attachment device.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Figure 1 illustrates an attachment device 1 embodying the present invention and comprising a body 10 and a tab 12 which extends from the body 10. The tab 12 is configured to enable the attachment device 1 to be attached to an article, as will be described in detail below with reference to Figure 2.

The body 10 of the attachment device 1 comprises an outer portion 14 and an inner portion 16. The outer portion 14 extends from the tab 12 and defines an aperture across which the inner portion 16 extends. The inner portion 16 is provided by a substantially planar sheet of resilient material. In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the outer portion 14 and the inner portion 16 are manufactured from a single material, in a single injection moulding, or similar, process. The outer portion 14 has less flexibility than the inner portion 16, due to the relative dimension of the inner and outer portions. In the example shown in Figure 1 , the outer portion 14 is provided by a ring shaped moulding that extends from the tab 12.

The inner portion 16 has at least one elongate slot 18 defined therethrough. Each slot extends through a first side of the inner portion 16 to a second side of the inner portion 16. In the example shown in Figure 1 , the inner portion 16 has three inter-engaging slots, evenly spaced around the inner portion 16. It will be readily appreciated that the inner portion could define any number of slots 18, and that the three slots shown in Figure 1 is by way of example only. In addition, in the cases of multiple slots being provided, the slots need not be evenly distributed around the inner portion, but may be arranged in any pattern. In addition, it is preferable that the slots form a contiguous aperture through the inner portion 16, but that need not be the case. For example, the inner portion 16 may define a plurality of discrete slots.

The outer portion 14 and inner portion 16 may be provided by a single material moulded in a single step. As an alternative, the outer portion 14 may be formed over the inner portion by means of an over-moulding technique. In such a case, the outer portion 14 and inner portion 16 may be of the same material or may be of different materials. Different materials may be chosen when the desired characteristics of the inner and outer portions are not able to be fulfilled by a single material. For example, it is important that the inner portion is flexible and resilient, whilst the outer portion 16 needs to be strong enough to withstand use, but flexible enough to allow stitching to pass through.

The tab 12 can be provided with a locating guide 13 which is arranged to guide a sewing needle when the device 1 is being attached to an article by means of sewing. In one example, the tab is sewn into an existing stitching line of the article, which enables the attachment device to be attached to the article without the need for an additional processing step. In another example, the attachment device is attached to the article by way of a stitching line specific to the device. This allows the device to be placed at any desirable position on the article.

It is to be appreciated that sewn or stitched fixings of an article may be provided by equivalent welded seams, and that references to sewn or stitched attachment should be understood to include such welding techniques as well.

The attachment device of Figure 1 is shown in Figure 2 in use attached to an article 20. Devices embodying the present invention are attached to articles by way of the tab 12, such that the outer portion14 and the inner portion 16 are not directly attached to the article, and are accessible from both sides. In the example shown in Figure 2, the tab 12 is sewn onto an edge region 22 of the article 20. The article 20 may be any suitable article, such as a portion of a backpack, a portion of a child's car seat, a portion of a golf bag and the like. The article may be flexible, semi flexible, or substantially rigid. The example shown in Figure 2 is such that the tab is attached by sewing, since this provides a convenient and cost effective method of attachment.

Since the inner portion 16 is relatively more flexible than the outer portion 14, and the slots 18 are provided in the inner portion 16, a fabric item can be inserted into the attachment device 1 through the slots 18. Such a fabric item is shown being held in the attachment device 1 in Figure 3. The fabric item 24 is shown having been pushed through the slots 18 in the device 1 , from one side of the device 1 to the other. The resilient nature of the flexible inner portion 16 means that the fabric item 24 is held in place in the attachment device 1 , and so in place on the article 20. The fabric item is held in place because the material of the inner portion 16 flexes as the fabric item 24 is pushed through the slots 18. The slots 18 displace to allow the fabric item 24 to pass through the device 1. The material of the inner portion 16 resists this

displacement, so that the inner portion 16 is forced into contact with the fabric item 24, thereby holding it in place in the attachment devicel . In such a manner, an attachment device 1 embodying the present invention can attach a fabric item to an article in a releasable manner, without the need for the whole or part of the attachment device to be included in the fabric item. The attachment device is itself attached to the article to which the fabric item is to be attached. Another advantage of such an attachment device is that only one device is needed for a given article, and that device can be used with any fabric or suitably flexible item. For example, an item of a flexible plastics material could also be attached to the article in question using the attachment device embodying the present invention.

It will be readily appreciated that an attachment device embodying the present invention has wide application. Figure 4 illustrates an example attachment device. In a similar manner to the device shown in Figure 1 , the device of Figure 4 has a body 10 and a tab 30 which extends from the body 10. The body 10 of the attachment device 1 comprises an outer portion 14 and an inner portion 16. The outer portion 14 extends from the tab 12 and defines an aperture across which the inner portion 16 extends. The inner portion 16 is provided by a substantially planar sheet of resilient material.

In the device of Figure 4, the tab 30 provides an attachment loop 31which is adapted to enable the device to be attached to a loop of material or similar on the article (not shown). The tab 30 includes a releasable hook arrangement having first and second parts 32 and 34. The first part 32 of the hook arrangement releasably engages with the second part 34, so that the loop 31 can be opened up to allow the device to be attached to the article. The open tab can then be passed through the loop of material or similar on the article, and then the first and second hook parts 32 and 34 re-engaged to secure the device to the article.

The device of Figure 4 is suited, for example, to attachment to a belt loop on clothing, or to a webbing loop on a backpack.

Figure 5 illustrates another example attachment device. As before, the device of Figure 5 has a body 10 and a tab 40 which extends from the body 10. The body 10 of the attachment device 1 comprises an outer portion 14 and an inner portion 16. The outer portion 14 extends from the tab 12 and defines an aperture across which the inner portion 16 extends. The inner portion 16 is provided by a substantially planar sheet of resilient material.

The example device of Figure 5 is adapted for attachment to a loop 46 of a zip fastener 48, by the provision of an attachment ring 44 which extends from the tab 40. The attachment ring is engaged with the loop 46 of the zip fastener 48. The device of Figure 5 thereby enables the attachment of a fabric or flexible item to a zip fastener in a releasable manner, without the need for the fabric item to have any fastening or attachment component located thereon.

Although the present invention has been described with reference to the embodiments shown in the accompanying drawings, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to the precise embodiments shown and that various changes and modifications may be effected without further inventive skill and effort.