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DESCRIPTION

Technical field

The present invention relates to a clasp for a container, such as a bag or a leather article.

Technological background

Different types of clasps are known, which are designed to cause two flaps or walls belonging to a container, such as a bag or a leather article, to be kept close to one another or to overlap.

For example, there are clasps that can be fixed to one of said flaps or walls and are designed to be introduced, with a portion of theirs, into a buttonhole provided on the other one of said flaps or walls, so as to allow the aforesaid flaps or walls to be closed, or anyway to get closer to one another.

A clasp of the type described above is disclosed, for example, in patent EP 0 821 894.

However, the clasps known from the prior art are affected by different drawbacks.

Summary of the invention

An object of the present invention is to provide a clasp, which is able to solve the drawbacks of the prior art and which, at the same time, can be produced in a simple and economic fashion.

In particular, one of the technical problems solved by the present invention is that of providing a clasp that is reliable, easy to be used and not too large.

According to the present invention, this and other problems are solved by means of a clasp having the features set forth in the appended independent claim.

The appended claims are an integral part of the technical teaches provided in the following detailed description concerning the present invention. In particular, the appended dependent claims define some preferred embodiments of the present invention and describe optional technical features.

Further features and advantages of the present invention will be best understood upon perusal of the following detailed description, which is provided by way of example and is not limiting, with reference, in particular, to the accompanying drawings, which are briefly described below .

Brief description of the drawings

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a clasp according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Figures 2a-2c are side views showing a sequence of operating conditions that can be assumed by the clasp shown in figure 1.

Figure 3 is a perspective view of a clasp according to a further embodiment of the present invention.

Figure 4 is a perspective view of a container, such as a bag, comprising a pair of clasps shown in figures 1, 2a- 2c.

Figures 5a, 5b, 5c are schematic views, in a side section, of the bag shown in figure 4, wherein you can see a sequence of operating conditions that can be assumed by the clasp and the bag.

Figure 6 is a partial perspective view of a bag comprising a clasp of the type shown in figure 3.

Figure 7 is a partial perspective view of the bag shown in figure 6, herein represented in another operating condition .

Figure 8 is a perspective view of a variant of the bag .

Detailed description of the invention

With reference, in particular, to figures 1, 2a-c, number 1 indicates, as a whole, a clasp (or closing device) for a container, manufactured according to an explanatory embodiment of the present invention.

According to the figures shown in the drawings by way of example, the container is a bag or a leather article. However, this aspect should not be considered as limiting for the scope of protection assigned to the present invention, since the principle of the present invention can be also applied to other items capable of containing objects or articles.

Clasp 1 comprises an anchoring portion 10, which for being fixed to a flap or a wall of the container. Furthermore, clasp 1 comprises a wide portion, such as, by mere way of example, a plaque 12, which is designed to prevent clasp 1 from moving apart from a buttonhole provided on another flap or wall of the container. Furthermore, clasp 1 comprises an intermediate connection portion, such as, by mere way of example, a rod 14, which is connected in a rotary manner, to anchoring portion 10 through a first hinge 21 and, respectively, to plaque 12 through a second hinge 12.

As you can see in figures 2a-2c, anchoring portion 10 and plaque 12 are configured to be rotated, by a user, relative to rod 14, thus moving clasp 1 among a plurality of different operating conditions.

In particular, clasp 1 can assume:

- a compact condition (figure 2a), in which plaque 12 and anchoring portion 10 are close to one another and are juxtaposed on opposite sides relative to rod 14;

- an extended condition (figure 2b), in which plaque 12 is substantially aligned relative to rod 14, thus allowing clasp 1 to move towards the buttonhole;

- a closing condition (figure 2c), in which anchoring portion 10 and plaque 12 are arranged at a distance form one another, namely plaque 12 is arranged in a direction that is substantially transverse to rod 14, thus preventing clasp 1 from moving out of the buttonhole.

Therefore, plaque 12 conveniently is a plate-shaped or mainly two-dimensional element.

At least one of said hinges 21, 22 is a flat hinge that creates a hinge constraint in which the connected parts can rotate around the hinging axis.

Preferably, hinges 21, 22 are both flat hinges.

With reference to the preferred embodiment shown in figure 1, the hinging axes of said flat hinges 21, 22 are parallel to one another. Alternatively, the hinging axes of said flat hinges 21, 22 can also not be parallel to one another, for example they can be skew.

According to a further embodiment of the invention (not shown), at least one of the hinges is a spherical hinge. The term "spherical hinge" indicates a hinge constraint in which the connected parts are able to rotate in the space around a point in a three-dimensional manner.

In the embodiment shown in figure 1, anchoring portion 10 comprises a mainly two-dimensional plate 16. In particular, plate 16 has a cross section that is substantially similar to the one of plaque 12.

Preferably, as you can see only in figure 1 for simplicity reasons, plate 16 is associated with a plurality of sheets 18, which are connected to one another so as to form a polygonal structure. Plate 10 and sheets 18 form an opening 19, which is useful to constrain device 1 to the clothing accessory.

In the embodiment shown, the first hinge 21 is arranged at an axial end of rod 14.

In the embodiment shown, the second hinge 22 is arranged at an (-other) axial end of rod 14.

Preferably, the first hinge 21 is arranged in a middle or central portion of the anchoring portion, for example of plate 16. In particular, in the closing condition, plate 16 transversely extends on opposite sides relative to rod 14.

Preferably, hinge 22 is arranged in a middle or central portion of the wide portion, for example of plaque 12. In particular, in the closing condition, plaque 12 transversely extends on opposite sides relative to rod 14.

With reference to figures 2a-c, hereinafter you will find a description of the operation of device 1.

In figure 2a, clasp 1 is in the compact or rest condition, in which plate 12 is at a minimum distance from anchoring portion 10. Plaque 12 and plate 16 are parallel to one another and are also parallel to rod 14. This arrangement allows the device to be compact, when it is not engaged with the buttonhole provided on a flap or wall of the bag.

As you can see in the drawings, the intermediate connection portion preferably is a rod 14 or, anyway, it develops longitudinally, in particular in a straight fashion .

By rotating rod 14 relative to anchoring portion 10

(in the example by 90°), clasp 1 reaches the extended or insertion condition, shown in figure 2b, in which plaque 12 and connection element 14 are parallel to one another. In this position clasp 1 can easily be introduced into/removed from the buttonhole provided on the bag.

After plaque 12 - and part of rod 14 - have been inserted through the buttonhole, the user rotates plaque 12 relative to rod 14 (in the example by 90°), thus causing the device to reach the closing position shown in figure 2c. In this position, plaque 12 is rotated relative to rod 14 (in the example they are substantially perpendicular), so as to prevent clasp 1 from moving apart from the buttonhole provided on the bag.

Preferably, at least one flat hinge 21 and/or 22 has a cam profile, for keeping a predefined mutual angular position between rod 14 and at least one between anchoring portion 10 and plaque 12, respectively. The cam is configured so as to provide a greater resistance to rotation around hinge 21, 22 when the elements connected by said hinge are in a predefined mutual angular position, so that these elements can be kept in the predefined position more firmly. Furthermore, the cam can also be made so as to offer a greater resistance in different mutual angular positions of the connected elements.

If the cam profile is obtained on the first hinge 21, the connected elements are rod 14 and anchoring portion 10. On the other hand, if the cam profile is obtained on the second hinge 22, the connected elements are rod 14 and plaque 12.

Conveniently, both hinges 21, 22 have a cam profile. Preferably, the cam profiles of hinges 21, 22 are manufactured so as to more firmly keep clasp 1 in the three operating conditions shown in figures 2a-c.

Figure 3 shows a further embodiment of clasp 1, wherein the same numerical references correspond to elements and components that are similar to the ones described in relation to the embodiment shown in the previous figures; for these elements and components reference is made to the description above.

In this embodiment, clasp 1 comprises a further wide portion, such as, by mere way of example, a further plaque 32, which is arranged on the opposite side relative to the wide portion described above. Therefore, the further plaque 32 is designed to prevent the device from moving apart from another buttonhole provided on the container. Furthermore, clasp 1 comprises a further intermediate connection portion, such as, by mere way of example, a further rod 34, which is hinged to anchoring portion 10 through a third hinge 23 and, respectively, to anchoring portion 10 through a fourth hinge 24.

Anchoring portion 10, the second plaque 32 and the second rod 34 can move to the same operating conditions (but on the opposite side) described above for anchoring portion 10, plaque 12 and rod 14.

Preferably, through not necessarily, the elements arranged on the opposite sides of anchoring portion 10 have the same features as well as the same shape; in the way, therefore, the device is substantially symmetrical relative to anchoring portion 10.

Preferably, hinges 23 and 24 are flat. More preferably, all the hinges 21, 22, 23, 24 are flat hinges. With particular reference, in particular, to figure 3, all the rotation axes of the flat hinges 21, 22, 23, 24 are mutually parallel.

Therefore, this second embodiment of clasp 1 turns out to be useful, in particular, when there is the need to move three adjacent flaps of walls of the bag close to one another. More in detail, when anchoring portion 10 is fixed to the central flap or wall, each one of plaques 12 and 32 can cross a respective buttonhole obtained on the flaps or walls arranged on opposite sides relative to the central flap or wall. In this way, sole clasp 1 can ensure a double closing on two opposite sides, thus bringing pairs of flaps or walls closer.

Figure 4 shows an example of a container, such as a bag 40. As we will explain more in detail below, bag 40 comprises a pair of clasps manufactured according to figures 1 and 2a-c.

In this example, bag 40 has a rear flap or wall 42, a central flap or wall 44 (also called "partition"), and a front flap or wall 50. In particular, the rear flap or wall 42 and the front flap or wall 50 are joined at the bottom by a bottom of the bag and on the sides by a pair of side walls (these details are not numbered in the drawings) . Furthermore, there is also provided a handle 56, which, in the example shown, is fixed to central flap or wall 44.

Preferably, central flap or wall 44 divides the inside of bag 40 into two compartments, which are separate from one another and delimited, on one side, by rear flap or wall 42 and, on the other side, by front flap or wall 50.

In particular, bag 40 is provided with one clasp lr, which is associated with rear flap or wall 42 of bag 40, and a further clasp Is, which, in turn, is associated with central flap or wall 44 (also called separator or "partition") . Clasp lr is suited to engage the first buttonhole 46 provided on central flap or wall 44; whereas clasp Is, on the other hand, is suited to engage a second buttonhole 48 obtained on front wall or flap 50. In other words, with particular reference to the example shown, bag 40 comprises:

- a pair of end flaps or walls (42, 50) ;

- an intermediate flap (44);

- a first clasp (lr) according to any of the claims from 1 to 5, wherein said anchoring portion (10) is fixed to an end flap or wall (42) and said wide portion (12) faces said intermediate flap (44) so as to move through a hole (46) provided on said intermediate flap (44); and

- a second clasp (Is) according to any of the claims from 1 to 5, wherein said anchoring portion (10) is fixed to said intermediate flap (44) and said wide portion (12) faces the other end flap or wall (50) so as to move through a hole (48) provided on the other end flap or wall (50) .

Figure 5a shows a side section of bag 40 shown in figure 4. In this figure, clasps lr and Is are in the respective compact or rest condition. Therefore, the two compartments defined on the side of the central flap or wall 44 are open and can accessed by a user, who, as a consequence, can introduce objects into bag 40 or pull them out of it .

Figure 5b shows a side section of bag 40 shown in figure 4. In this figure, clasps lr and Is are in the extended or insertion condition and, therefore, they are ready to be inserted into the respective buttonholes 46, 48.

Figure 5c shows a side section of bag 40 shown in figure 4, wherein clasps lr and Is are in the closing condition, after the respective plaques 12 and rods 14 have been inserted into the respective buttonholes 46, 48. Therefore, the compartments of the bag have been pulled closer and kept closed, or juxtaposed, by means of said clasps lr, Is.

Figures 6 and 7 show a further explanatory embodiment of a bag 40 comprising a clasp 1 designed like the one shown in figure 3.

In this embodiment, though, the structure of the bag

40 comprises a front flap or wall 51 and a rear flap or wall (not numbered), which ends with a wing 52, which can be folded over the front flap or wall 51 (figure 6) or can be lifted from the latter (figure 7) .

In this embodiment, the handle is fixed to the side walls of bag 40 (details not numbered) .

Clasp 1 is associated with the front flap or wall 51, so that plaque 12 and rod 14 face the outside of bag 40 and plaque 32 and rod 34 face the rear flap or wall carrying wing 52. More in detail, plaque 12 and rod 14 are suited to engage a buttonhole 54 provided on wing 52, when the latter is folded over front flap or wall 51. On the other hand, plaque 34 and rod 34 are suited to engage a buttonhole (not numbered) arranged on a portion of the flap or wall located in a proximal position relative to wing 52.

This embodiment is compatible with the use of a "double face" or reversible bag. As a matter of fact, if the user turns bag 40 inside out, plaque 32 and rod 34 will be suited to be inserted, this time, into buttonhole 54.

As a person skilled in the art can clearly understand, for the use of "double face" bags, the clasp shown in figure 3 can also be applied to bags without wing 52; for example even bags that have a central flap or wall that, when necessary, can be removed from the bag (in this case, the anchoring portion is fixed on a central flap or wall and the buttonholes are provided on the other flaps or walls) or bags that only have a front flap or wall and a rear flap or wall (in this case, one of the two flaps or walls carries the anchoring portion, whereas the other flap or wall carries one single buttonhole, which is suited to be crossed from one side to the other by the clasp, depending on how the bag is turned) .

Figure 8 shows a further explanatory embodiment of a bag 40 comprising a clasp 1 designed according to figures 1 and 2a-c.

In this embodiment, bag 40 comprises a rear flap or wall 42, which carries a belt 58 having one or more buttonholes 60, which are suited be engaged by clasp 1. In particular, clasp 1 is fixed on a front flap or wall 50 of bag 40 and projects with rod 14 and plaque 12 towards the outside of bag 40. Belt 58 conveniently is sewn on the outer or inner surface of the rear flap or wall 42. Optionally, belt 58 can go through an opening 66 located in the front flap or wall, before being able to be engaged by clasp 1.

Naturally, the principle of the present invention being set forth, embodiments and implementation details can be widely changed relative to what described above and shown in the drawings as a mere way of non-limiting example, without in this way going beyond the scope of protection provided by the accompanying claims.