FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a fastening system for fastening two substrates together, and to methods for use of the system. Items including the fastening system are also expressly included herein.

BACKGROUND TO THE INVENTION

Zippers are well-known fastening systems that are used in a wide range of situations such as for closing the fly of trousers (e.g., jeans, woollen and cotton pants) and for closing purses, carry bags and travel luggage amongst a broad range of other applications.

Press studs are also widely used for closing the fly of trousers and like zippers, have broad application such as for fastening a jacket worn by a person as an alternative to the use of buttons. Still further known fastening systems include hook and loop tape systems and, for instance, hook and loop fasteners such as used to fasten the straps of a brassier together.

However, such systems can be difficult to use for reasons such as young age, limited eyesight, limited hand dexterity of the user as a result of injury, incapacity or arthritic conditions, and/or e.g., simply due to difficulty in manipulating the fastening system due to its location. Examples here include fastening brassiere straps together, operating a zipper or hook and loop fastening system located at the back of a dress or other item of clothing, and fastening the buttons of cuffs of long-sleeved shirts without assistance. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Broadly stated, the present invention in one or more forms relates to a fastening system for use in fastening substrates together by forming a line of connection between the substrates involving magnetic attraction between fastening components of the system.

More particularly, in an aspect of the present invention there is provided a fastening system, comprising: a plurality of magnetically attracted fastening components; and first and second backing substrates for being brought together into an opposed relationship in which the substrates face each other, the fastening components being provided on the substrates and arranged to be located between the substrates when the substrates are in the opposed relationship whereby corresponding ones of the fastening components are magnetically attracted sidewardly toward one another to fasten the substrates to together, the corresponding ones of the fastening components comprising at least one fastening magnet provided on one of the substrates and one or more further fastening components provided on the other one of the substrates.

The one or more further fastening components can be respectively selected from a further magnet and a component formed from a magnetically attracted material.

In at least some embodiments, the one or more further fastening components are respectively a said further magnet arranged to be oppositely magnetically poled to a corresponding said fastening magnet when the substrates are in the opposed relationship.

Typically, the one or more further fastening components is respectively a magnetically attracted component formed from a magnetically attracted material. In such embodiments, the one or more further fastening components can be mounted to, or be an integral component of, a magnetically attracted material comprising the other one of the substrates e.g., a sheet or layer of the magnetically attracted material. The one or more such fastening components and magnetically attracted sheet or layer comprising the backing substrate can be formed from a e.g., a suitable ferromagnetic metal.

In at least some embodiments the corresponding ones of the fastening components comprise at least two said fastening components. In at least some such embodiments, at least one magnetically attracted fastening component can be provided on one of the substrates for being received by a corresponding magnetically attracted fastening component provided on the other one of the substrates to form a pair of fastening components fastening the substrates together when the substrates are in the opposed relationship. In other embodiments of this type, a plurality of spaced apart such pairs of corresponding fastening components can be formed to fasten the substrates together.

In particularly preferred embodiments of a fastening system in accordance with the invention, the corresponding ones of the fastening components comprise at least three said fastening components.

Typically, a plurality of fastening magnets and a plurality of said further fastening components are provided on the substrates. Most typically in such embodiments, the fastening magnets are spaced apart from one another on one of the first and the second backing substrates and the further fastening components are spaced apart from one another on the other one of the substrates.

Typically, the magnetically attracted fastening components provided on the substrates are arranged to be located alternatively one after another between the substrates when the substrates are bought into the opposed relationship.

Most typically, the magnetically attracted fastening components provided on the substrates are arranged being located side by side relative to one another in the opposed relationship of the substrates.

In further embodiments of a fastening system in accordance with the invention, one or more of the magnetically attracted fastening components provided on each said substrate have an inclined side face for abutment with an inclined side face of a corresponding said fastening component provided on the other one of the substrates.

In at least some such embodiments, one of the abutting inclined side faces overlies the other for inhibiting lifting of the underlying corresponding said fastening component from position when the substrates are in the opposed relationship.

In yet further embodiments, one or more magnetically attracted fastening component(s) with an inclined side face as described above can also have an opposite inclined side face for abutment with an inclined side face of a further said corresponding fastening component, wherein the opposite side faces of the one or more fastening components have a common angle of inclination.

In further embodiments in accordance with the invention, the first and second backing substrates can be longitudinally slidable relative to another in which fastening components of one of the backing substrates are drawn over fastening components of the other backing substrate into new fastening positions for adjustment of the fastening of the backing substrates together in which different corresponding ones of the fastening components of the backing strips are magnetically attracted sidewardly toward one another.

In at least some embodiments of this type, the first and second backing substrates are slidable relative to one another in each longitudinal direction of the backing substrates for said adjustment of the fastening of the backing substrates together. In at least some embodiments of this type, the fastening components provided on each of the backing substrates are spaced apart to respectively form a corrugated face of alternating ridges and valleys for mating with the corrugated face of the other one of the backing substrates when the backing substrates are in the opposed relationship, the fastening components forming the ridges of the backing substrates. Typically, in such embodiments, each ridge of at least one of the backing substrates comprises a respective said fastening magnet.

In further embodiments of fastening systems described herein a plurality of fastening components are respectively provided on each of the first and second backing substrates, the fastening components on the first backing substrate being spaced apart from one another and the fastening components on the second backing substrate being spaced apart from one another, and wherein respective of the fastening components on the first and second backing substrates have a ramp surface wherein in the opposed relationship of the backing substrates the fastening components of one of the backing substrates lie alternatively between the fastening components of the other of the substrates one after the another with the ramp surfaces of consecutive ones of the fastening components in face to face abutment and the ramp surfaces of the fastening components of the first backing substrate being orientated in an opposite direction to the ramp surfaces of the fastening components on the second backing substrate, and the corresponding ones of the fastening components comprise a fastening magnet provided on one of the backing substrates and a further fastening component provided on the other one of the backing substrates.

In embodiments of this type, the ramp surface of respective of the fastening components of the first backing substrate and the second backing substrate can terminate in a flattened apex. Each of the backing substates can also have an inner face which faces towards the inner face of the other of the backing substrates in the opposed relationship of the backing substrates, wherein the apex of each said fastening component on each of the backing substrates is arranged to abut the inner face of the other one of the backing substrates in the opposed relationship of the backing substrates.

In such embodiments, the fastening components on the backing substrates can have an end face on an opposite side of the flattened apex to the ramp surface wherein in the opposed relationship of the backing substrates, the end face is located to abut the end face of a preceding one of the fastening components of the other one of the backing substrates in the opposed relationship of the backing substrates.

In another aspect of the invention there is provided a fastening system comprising a plurality of magnetically attracted fastening components and first and second backing substrates for being brought into an opposed relationship in which the substrates face toward one another, the fastening components being provided on the substrates and arranged to be located between the substrates when the substrates are in the opposed relationship whereby corresponding ones of the fastening components are magnetically attracted sidewardly toward one another to fasten the backing substrates together, the fastening components on the first backing substrate being spaced apart from one another and the fastening components on the second backing substrate being spaced apart from one another, and respective of the fastening components on the first and the second substrates have a ramp surface wherein in the opposed relationship of the backing substrates, the fastening components of one of the backing substrates lie alternatively between the fastening components of the other substrate one after the another with the ramp surfaces of consecutive said corresponding ones of the fastening components in face to face abutment and the ramp surfaces of the fastening components of the first substrate are orientated in an opposite direction to the ramp surfaces of the fastening components on the second substrate, the corresponding ones of the fastening components comprising a fastening magnet provided on one of the substrates and a further said fastening component provided on the other one of the substrates.

In embodiments of this type, the fastening components of one of the substrates are typically slidable over the fastening components of the other one of the substrates to adjust the fastening of the substrates together when the backing substrates are moved longitudinally relative to one another such that fastening components of each said backing substrate are drawn up ramp surfaces of fastening components of the other said substrate into new fastening positions in which different said corresponding ones of the fastening components are magnetically attracted sidewardly toward one another.

In still a further aspect there is provided a backing substrate as described herein for use with a further backing substrate in accordance with the present disclosure to provide a fastening system of the invention.

Accordingly, in yet another aspect of the invention there is provided a fastening system, comprising: a plurality of magnetically attracted fastening components; and a first backing substrate for being brought into an opposed relationship facing another backing substrate comprising one or more further magnetically attracted fastening components, the fastening components being arranged on the substrates to be located between the substrates when the substrates are in the opposed relationship whereby corresponding ones of the fastening components are magnetically attracted sidewardly toward one another to fasten the substrates to together, the corresponding ones of the fastening components comprising at least one fastening magnet provided on one of the substrates and one or more further fastening components provided on the other one of the substrates.

In particularly preferred embodiments, one or more of the magnetically attracted fastening components include a respective outer casing. Typically, the casing is formed of a compressible material. In at least some embodiments comprising multiple magnetically attracted fastening components provided on at least one of the substrates, the casings of the fastening components of that substrate can be integrally formed with one another.

Typically, in embodiments comprising more three or more magnetically attracted fastening components as described herein the fastening components are arranged to form a line of connection fastening the substrates together when the substrates are brought into the opposed relationship.

Further, at least some embodiments, a fastening system in accordance with the invention can further comprising one or more raised spacers for forming the line of connection with the magnetically attracted fastening components when the substrates are brought into the opposed relationship, the one or more raised spacers being respectively provided on the first or the second backing substrate for fitting into a corresponding space provided between successive said magnetically attracted fastening components provided on the other one of the substrates. Typically, all of the raised spacers are all located on the same one of the substrates.

Typically, such embodiments will include a plurality of raised spacers. Most typically, the raised spacers are all located on the same one of the first and the second backing substrates.

Typically, each of the first and second backing substrates on which the fastening components are provided is respectively of a stiffness for inhibiting magnetic coupling between proximate said fastening components provided on that substrate.

Most typically, at least one of the first and second backing substrates comprises a plurality of layers arranged one on another. The backing substrate can for instance include one or more of a stiffening layer for stiffening the backing substate, webbing or other layer for inhibiting stretching of the fastening strip, and a rearward most softening layer.

Typically, one or both of the first and second backing substrates on which the fastening component(s) are provided are each a respective backing strip for being fastened to one another by the line of connection formed by the fastening components in use of the system.

In embodiments provided for herein, the backing substrates can each be attached or mounted to a respective portion of an item for fastening of the respective portions together.

In still other embodiments, the first and second backing substrates can be a respective portion of two separate items. Moreover, the fastening components of a fastening system embodied by the invention can be moulded into or otherwise incorporated in the relevant respective portion of the item or items.

An item on which the fastening system is provided can for instance be selected from the group consisting of garments, articles of clothing or apparel, fashion and other wearable accessories, and other items.

In another aspect of the invention there is provided a method for fastening a first backing substrate to a second backing substrate, the method comprising: providing a fastening system comprising the first and second backing substrates, the fastening system including a plurality of magnetically attracted fastening components provided on the substrates and arranged to be located between the substrates when the substrates are brought into an opposed relationship whereby corresponding ones of the fastening components are magnetically attracted sidewardly toward one another to fasten the substrates to together, the corresponding ones of the fastening components comprising at least one fastening magnet provided on one of the substrates and one or more further fastening components provided on the other one of the substrates; aligning the substrates to face one other; and bringing the substrates together into the opposed relationship whereby the corresponding ones of the fastening components are magnetically attracted sidewardly toward one another to thereby fasten the substrates together.

In another aspect there is provided an item comprising a fastening system embodied by the invention.

In embodiments of fastening systems as described herein, in fastening components comprising a fastening magnet, the magnetic poles of respective of the fastening magnets may independently be oriented east-west or north-south, and all combinations are expressly provided for herein. For example, in some embodiments, the poles of all fastening magnets of the fastening system may be orientated east-west while in other embodiments, the poles of all fastening magnets of the fastening system may be orientated north-south. Further, still other embodiments may be provided in which the poles of one or more fastening magnets of the fastening system are orientated east-west while the poles of one or more other fastening magnets of the fastening system are orientated north- south.

A fastening system in accordance with the invention may be used as an alternative option to conventionally known fastening systems to address one or more of the short comings of such known systems or to provide a useful alternative option to such known systems, particularly in instances where the user has limited or restricted manual dexterity and/or has limited vision or is unable to clearly see the fastening system during use. Particularly advantageously, in one or more embodiments, the corresponding ones of the fastening components of a fastening system in accordance with the invention may essentially self-align when brought into proximity to another for the formation of the line of connection by virtue of magnetic interaction between fastening components provided on the first and second substrates as described further below.

Moreover, the arrangement of the fastening components on the first and the second substrates whereby the corresponding ones of the fastening components are magnetically attracted sidewardly to one another in the line of connection allows for reduced distance between the first and second elements when fastened together and thereby, a “slim line” connection between the first and second elements when viewed from the side wherein the fastening components and any spacer(s) present are arranged on the same level in the line of connection.

Throughout this specification the word “comprise”, or variations such as “comprises” or “comprising”, will be understood to imply the inclusion of a stated element, integer or step, or group of elements, integers or steps, but not the exclusion of any other element, integer or step, or group of elements, integers, integers or steps.

Any discussion of documents, acts, materials, devices, articles or the like that has been included in this specification is solely for the purpose of providing a context for the invention. It is not to be taken as an admission that any or all of these matters form part of the prior art base or were common general knowledge in the field relevant to the invention as it existed in Australia or elsewhere before the priority date of this application. The features and advantages of the present invention will become further apparent from the following detailed description of exemplary embodiments of the invention together with the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION

Figure l is a schematic plan view illustrating the arrangement of fastening components comprising fastening magnets of a fastening system of the present disclosure;

Figure 2 is a schematic side view illustrating the fastening components of the embodiment of the fastening system of Fig. 1;

Figure 3 is a schematic side view illustrating the fastening components of the fastening system of Fig. 2 forming a line of connection as described herein in use of the fastening system;

Figure 4 is a schematic side view illustrating an arrangement of fastening magnets and further magnets of a further embodiment of a fastening system of the present disclosure;

Figure 5 is a schematic side view illustrating the fastening components of the fastening system of Fig. 4 forming a line of connection in use of the fastening system;

Figure 6 is a schematic side view illustrating an arrangement of fastening magnets and further magnets of a further embodiment of a fastening system of the present disclosure;

Figure 7 is a schematic side view illustrating the fastening magnets and further magnets of the fastening system of Fig. 6 forming a line of connection in use of the fastening system;

Figure 8 is a schematic plan view illustrating the arrangement of the fastening magnets and the further magnets of the fastening system of Fig. 7 in the line of connection;

Figure 9 is a schematic side view illustrating an arrangement of fastening components comprising fastening magnets and magnetically attracted components of a further embodiment of a fastening system of the present disclosure; Figure 10 is a schematic side view illustrating the arrangement of the fastening magnets and the magnetically attracted components of the fastening system of Fig. 9 in the line of connection in use of the fastening system;

Figure 11 is a schematic side view illustrating an arrangement of fastening components comprising fastening magnets and magnetically attracted components of a further embodiment of a fastening system of the present disclosure;

Figure 12 is a schematic side view illustrating the arrangement of the fastening magnets and the magnetically attracted components of the fastening system of Fig. 11 in the line of connection in use of the fastening system;

Figure 13 is a schematic side view illustrating an arrangement of fastening components comprising fastening magnets and further magnets of a further embodiment of a fastening system of the present disclosure;

Figure 14 is a schematic plan view illustrating the arrangement of the female fastening magnets of the fastening system of Fig. 13;

Figure 15 is a schematic plan view illustrating the arrangement of the male further magnets of the fastening system of Fig. 13;

Figure 16 is a schematic side end view showing reception of a male further magnet in a female fastening magnet in the line of connection in use of the fastening system of Fig. 13;

Figure 17 is a schematic plan view illustrating an arrangement of fastening components comprising fastening magnets and further magnets in the line of connection formed in use of a further embodiment of a fastening system of the present disclosure;

Figure 18 is a schematic plan view illustrating the female fastening magnets of the fastening system of Fig. 17;

Figure 19 is a schematic plan view illustrating the male further magnets of the fastening system of Fig. 17;

Figure 20 is a schematic side view illustrating the female fastening magnets and male further magnets of the fastening system of Fig. 17;

Figure 21 is a schematic side view illustrating the female fastening magnets and male further magnets of the fastening system of Fig. 17 in the line of connection in use; Figure 22 is a schematic side view illustrating the spacing between fastening magnets mounted to a first backing strip of an embodiment of a fastening system of the present disclosure;

Figure 23 is a schematic plan view illustrating further magnets mounted to a second backing strip of the same fastening system embodiment of Fig. 22;

Figure 24 is a schematic side view illustrating the presence of raised spacers in a further embodiment of a fastening system of the present disclosure;

Figure 25 is a schematic side view illustrating the arrangement of the raised spacers in the line of connection in use of the fastening system of Fig. 24;

Figure 26 is a schematic plan view illustrating the position of the raised spacers of the fastening system of Fig. 25 in the line of connection;

Figure 27 is a schematic side view illustrating the presence of raised spacers in a further embodiment of a fastening system of the present disclosure;

Figure 28 is a schematic side view illustrating the arrangement of the raised spacers in the line of connection in use of the fastening system of Fig. 27;

Figure 29 is a schematic plan view illustrating the position of the raised spacers of the fastening system of Fig. 28 in the line of connection;

Figure 30 is a schematic plan view illustrating the arrangement of corresponding magnetically attracted fastening components of a further fastening system embodied by the invention;

Figure 31 is a schematic side view illustrating the fastening components of Fig. 30;

Figure 32 is a schematic plan view illustrating one of the fastening components of Fig. 30;

Figure 33 is a schematic side view of the fastening component of Fig. 32;

Figure 34 is a schematic plan view illustrating the other one of the fastening components of Fig. 30;

Figure 35 is a schematic side view of the fastening component of Fig. 34;

Figure 36A is a schematic plan view illustrating the arrangement of the fastening components of Fig. 30 when the backing substrates of the fastening system are in an opposed relationship in accordance with the invention; Figures 36B and 36C are schematic side views illustrating the fastening components of Fig. 36A being located together when the backing substrates are brought together into the opposed relationship;

Figure 37A is a schematic plan view illustrating the arrangement of corresponding fastening components of a further embodiment of a fastening system of the invention when the backing substrates of the system are in an opposed relationship in accordance with the invention;

Figures 37B and 37C are schematic side views illustrating the fastening components of Fig. 37A being located together when the backing substrates are brought together into the opposed relationship to form a line of connection between the backing substrates;

Figure 38A is a schematic plan view illustrating the arrangement of corresponding fastening components of a yet further embodiment of a fastening system of the invention when the backing substrates of the system are in an opposed relationship in accordance with the invention;

Figures 38B and 38C are schematic side views illustrating the fastening components of Fig. 38A being located together when the backing substrates are brought together into the opposed relationship to form a line of connection between the backing substrates;

Figure 39 is a perspective view illustrating a backing substrate and magnetically attracted fastening components thereof of another embodiment of a securing device of the invention;

Figure 40 is a side view of the backing substrate of Fig. 39;

Figure 41 is a plan view of the backing substrate of Fig. 39;

Figure 42 is perspective view of the backing substrate of Fig. 39 fastened to a complimentary backing substrate;

Figure 43 is a side view of the backing substrates of Fig. 42;

Figure 44 is a schematic side view illustrating the arrangement of fastening and further magnets of the magnetically attracted fastening components in the fastening arrangement of Fig. 43;

Figure 45A is a schematic plan view illustrating the arrangement of corresponding fastening components of a yet further embodiment of a fastening system of the invention when the backing substrates of the system are in an opposed relationship in accordance with the invention; and

Figures 45B and 45C are schematic side views illustrating the fastening components of Fig. 45A being located together when the backing substrates are brought together into the opposed relationship to form a line of connection between the backing substrates.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION

A fastening system 10 embodied by the invention is illustrated in Figs. 1-3 comprising fastening components mounted to first and second backing substrates in the form of backing strips 12 and 14. The fastening components comprise fastening magnets 16 spaced apart from one another along backing strip 12 and further magnets 18 spaced apart from one another along backing strip 14.

As shown, the fastening magnets 16 are all arranged on the backing strip 12 to have the same magnetic polarity to each other. Likewise, the further magnets 18 mounted on the backing strip 14 all have the same polarity to each other. As shown in Fig. 2 though, when the backing strips 12 and 14 are arranged to face each other, the fastening magnets 16 have an opposite polarity to the further magnets 18. As a consequence, the fastening magnets 16 and the further magnets 18 repel each other if the fastening and further magnets are aligned as the backing strips 12 and 14 are brought toward each other in use. This repulsion causes the strips to move longitudinally relative to each other as the gap between the backing strips decreases whereby the fastening magnets self-align with respective of the spaces 20 located between the further magnets 18. Similarly, the further magnets 18 self-align with the spaces 20 between the fastening magnets 16. At this point, each fastening magnet 16 and further magnet 18 enters the respective corresponding aligned space 20 and is drawn into position between adjacent ones of the magnets on the other of the backing strips by virtue of the opposite magnetic polarity of the fastening and further magnets 16 and 18 arising from the face-to-face orientation of the backing strips. When in position in spaces 20, each further magnet 18 abuts and is magnetically sidewardly attracted to the corresponding adjacent fastening magnet(s) 16 (and vice versa) due to the opposite polarity of those magnets to form a line of connection between the backing strips 12 and 14 as indicated by the numeral 22 in Fig. 3, fastening the backing strips together.

The fastening and further magnets 16 and 18 shown in Figs. 1-3 are each enclosed in a protective casing indicated by the numeral 24.

In embodiments of the invention, each individual magnet 16 or 18 can be encased in its own respective casing. In such embodiments, the casings can entirely enclose respective of the magnets or may only cover the sides 26 and the outer face 28 of the magnet whereby the inner face 30 of the magnet is mounted to the corresponding backing strip. In still other embodiments, the fastening and/or further magnets can be encased in a respective continuous casing strip (which may entirely encase each of the magnets or only each side and outer face of the magnets), that is attached to the backing strip (e.g., by stitching or by a suitable epoxy or other adhesive) thereby forming an outer layer of the backing strip or which itself can form the backing strip. The casing(s) are compressible and are formed from e.g., a suitable silicone, synthetic rubber, polymeric material, polyurethane or other suitable plastics material. In at least some embodiments described herein, the casings or casing strip(s) may be formed by suitable 3D printing process e.g., selective laser sintering (SLS) employing a sinter powder material for fabrication of the casings or casing strip(s) such as a nylon or polyamide powder material.

A further fastening system embodied by the invention in which the fastening magnets 16 and further magnets 18 have an alternative polarity orientation is illustrated in Figs. 4-5. In this embodiment, the N and S poles of respective of the magnets are orientated east- west rather than north-south as in the embodiment illustrated in Figs. 1- 3. Nevertheless, again, when the backing strips 12 and 14 are brought into an opposed relationship as shown in Fig. 5, respective of the further magnets are magnetically attracted to the corresponding fastening magnets located to either side (and vice versa) to form a line of connection between the fastening strips.

The corresponding (i.e., consecutive) ones of the fastening components in the resulting line of connection comprising the fastening magnets 16 and further magnets 18 can therefore be magnetically attracted to each other by N-S or S-N magnetic interactions as indicated in embodiments of the type shown in Fig. 5, or by a combination of N-S and S-N interactions as in embodiments of the type shown in Fig.

3.

Still another embodiment of a fastening system is illustrated in Figs. 6-8. In this embodiment, respective of the fastening magnets 16 and further magnets 18 comprising the fastening components of the system have a sloping outer face 23 and are encased in respective saw-tooth shaped casings 24a and 24b. As will be understood, the respective teeth provided on the backing strips 12 and 14 mate together when the backing strips 12 and 14 are brought together into the opposed relationship to form a line of connection between the backing strips as illustrated in Fig. 7. As with the embodiments described above, alignment of the fastening magnets and further magnets 16 and 18 in the face-to- face orientation of the backing strips as the backing strips are brought toward each other generates magnetic repulsion between the fastening magnets and the further magnets, causing the teeth on the respective backing strips to automatically move longitudinally relative to one another into the mating relationship of the teeth as shown in Fig. 7 as the distance between the backing strips 12 and 14 closes. As illustrated in Fig. 7, consecutive ones of the fastening magnets 16 and the further magnets 18 are again arranged one after another in the resulting line of connection between the backing strips and are magnetically attracted sidewardly to corresponding ones of the adjacent magnets to fasten the backing strips together.

Whilst in the above embodiments the fastening components of the respective fastening systems described comprise fastening magnets 16 and further magnets 18, in other embodiments of fastening systems provided for herein, the fastening components can comprise fastening magnets and magnetically attracted components other than further magnets.

Such an embodiment is illustrated in Figs. 9-10. In this embodiment, the backing strip 32 comprises a strip of magnetically attracted sheet material 33 and whilst spaced apart fastening magnets 16 are provided on the other backing strip 12, magnetically attracted elements 34 of the same size and shape as the fastening magnets are spaced apart from one another along the backing strip 32. The elements 34 can be integrally formed with the magnetically attracted sheet material comprising backing strip 32 or be mounted to the backing strip via e.g., a suitable epoxy or other adhesive. The inner face 36 of respective of the elements 34 therefore faces or is otherwise seated on the backing strip 32 and as above, each of the elements 34 is arranged to slidingly fit into a respective space 38 between consecutive ones of the fastening magnets 16 to form a line of connection 39 fastening the backing strips 32 and 12 together due to the sidewardly directed magnetic attraction between the fastening magnets 16 and the magnetically attracted elements 34.

Both the elements 34 and the strip of magnetically attracted sheet material 33 comprising backing strip 32 can be formed from a ferrous metal although other magnetically attracted materials may be utilised. In embodiments, the magnetically attracted material from which the backing strip is formed may be the same or different to that from which the elements 34 are formed.

Another embodiment of a fastening system in accordance with the invention that is of the same type as that in Figs. 9 and 10 but in which the polarity of each of the fastening magnets is orientated east-west rather than north-south is illustrated in Figs. 11-12.

From the above, a fastening system in accordance with the invention can, when the fastening strips or other substrates are brought together into an opposed relationship as described herein, comprise a plurality (e.g., 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8 or 9 or more) magnetically attracted fastening components arranged one after the other in a contiguous line for fastening of the opposed backing strips/substrates together.

A still further embodiment of a fastening system is illustrated in Figs. 13-16. In this embodiment, spaced apart round male fastening magnets 38 are provided along backing strip 12 as shown in Fig. 15 whilst female ring-shaped further magnets 40 are spaced apart from one another along backing strip 14 as shown in Fig. 14. In use, the male fastening magnets 38 are aligned with the female ring magnets 40 as shown in Fig.13, and are pressed together whereby the backing strips are driven into an opposed relationship such that each male magnet 38 is fully received in the centre of the corresponding aligned ring magnet 40 as illustrated in Fig. 16 forming a fastening pair of magnets, whereby the backing strips 12 and 14 are fastened together by the sidewardly directed magnetic attraction between each male magnet and its corresponding ring magnet 40. The male fastening magnets 38 are dimensioned to be received in the ring magnets 40 in a sliding fit. In this embodiment, each male fastening magnet is again oppositely poled to its corresponding female ring magnet when the backing strips are orientated so as to face each other (i.e., S-N to N-S). As a result, if the male magnets and corresponding ones of the ring magnets are not fully aligned as the backing strips are brought together, the resulting magnetic repulsion between the male magnets and the ring magnets causes longitudinal movement of magnets on the backing strips and thereby the backing strips themselves relative to one another whereby the male magnets and female ring magnets self-align for reception of the male magnets in the centre of the ring magnets. Whilst there is initial magnetic repulsion as each male magnet enters its corresponding ring magnet, the magnets magnetically attract to one another with continued travel of the male magnet into the centre of its corresponding ring magnet until a point is reached whereby the male magnet is automatically pulled into position in the ring magnet, drawing the backing strips together.

Still another embodiment of a fastening system of the invention is shown in Figs. 17-21. Rather than ring magnets as shown in Figs 13-16, this embodiment comprises half-round female magnets 42 with an open side 44 for reception of male fastening magnets 38 as best shown in Fig. 15 when the backing strips 12 and 14 are brought together. To fasten the backing strips together in this instance, the male magnets 38 are initially located in proximity to the open side of the female magnets and the resulting sideward magnetic attraction draws each male magnet into its corresponding female magnet to form a line of connection between the opposed backing strips. A side view illustrating the magnetic polarity of respective of the magnets 38 and 42 when the backing strips are fastened together is shown in Fig. 21. As can be seen, when in the position, the outer face of each magnet 38 and 42 is seated on the opposing face of the other backing strip minimising the distance between the backing strips and providing a slim connection profile between the backing strips when viewed side on.

Moreover, as shown, respective ones of the fastening components along the backing strips in the embodiments illustrated in Figs. 13-21 are received by corresponding ones fastening components and so form spaced apart pairs of fastening components along the line of connection in use of those embodiments. It will be understood that the male and female magnets of embodiments of the types illustrated in Figs. 13-21 can again be oppositely magnetically poled to those shown in those figures when the backing strips 12 and 14 are arranged to face each other. That is, in this orientation of the backing strips in use, the magnets can be magnetically poled N-S to S-N rather than S-N to N-S.

Side and plan views of a backing strip and associated fastening components in the form of spaced apart fastening magnets 16 as described herein are illustrated in Figs. 22 and 23.

In still further embodiments, a fastening strip or substrate of the type shown in Figs. 1-12 can include at least one solid raised spacer which takes the place of, or otherwise substitutes for, a fastening magnet, further magnet or magnetically attracted element in the line of connection formed when the opposed fastening strips are fastened together as described herein. The spacer can be provided on or mounted to the respective backing strip in the same manner as for the fastening component it replaces or substitutes, and can be of the same shape and dimension of the fastening component that it replaces or substitutes for fitting in the corresponding space provided on the other one of the fastening strips in use. For example, one or more of the fastening magnets 16 or further magnets 18 of a fastening strip of the type shown in Figs. 1-12 can be replaced with a respective raised spacer. Rather than replacing or substituting for a fastening magnet, further magnet or a magnetically attracted element, in other embodiments, the fastening system can be designed to include one or more raised spacers as described above for fitting in a correspondingly dimensioned space or gap provided on the other backing strip in order to distance consecutive sections of the line of connection formed in use from one another. As will be understood, the terms space and gap are used interchangeably in the context of the location in which the raised spacer is inserted in the opposing backing strip or other substrate in formation of the line of connection in use. Each respective such consecutive section or “stretch” of magnetically attracted fastening components comprising the line of connection can comprise e.g., 2, 3 or 4 or more fastening components forming the line of connection. In such embodiments, the length of the raised spacer is that required to provide the desired distance between consecutive sections of fastening components in the line of connection. By length here is meant the dimension in the longitudinal direction of the line of connection in use of the fastening system. The length of a raised spacer can therefore be longer (e.g., 2 or 3 times) the length of respective ones of the magnetically attracted fastening components.

Embodiments of this type can include a plurality of spacer elements distanced apart from one another on one of the fastening strips or substrates by intervening ones of the fastening components or otherwise, one or more of the spacers can be provided on one of the fastening strips or substrates and the remaining spacer(s) on the other of the fastening strips or substrates. As still another option, raised spacer(s) may be provided on each of the fastening strips or substrates to sit in abutment with each other to provide the desired spacing distancing when forming the line of connection as described herein to fasten the opposed backing strips together.

The raised spacer(s) described above can be formed of the same material from which the casings 24, 24a, 24b is formed, or be integrally formed with the casing(s) of the respective backing strip. Whilst in preferred embodiments the raised spacer(s) are solid this is not essential and embodiments can provided in which respective raised spacer(s) are formed by e.g., hollow plastic elements of the required size that fully or partly enclosed in a casing 24, 24a or 24b.

Examples of embodiments including raised spacers are illustrated in Figs. 24 to 29 wherein the spacers are identified by the numeral 46. Employing one or more raised spacers as described above reduces the number of fastening components required allowing for the use of magnets and/or magnetically attracted material in the fastening system to be reduced and thereby cost, with retention of the desired level of fastening strength.

A still further embodiment 62 of a fastening system in accordance with the invention is illustrated in Figs. 30 - 35 and Figs. 36A - 36C. This embodiment comprises a fastening magnet in the form of a disk magnet 54 and a further magnet in the form of horseshoe magnet 56. As best illustrated in the schematic side views of the horseshoe and disk magnets shown in Figs. 33 and 35, each of the magnets have matching inclined side faces in abutment with one another when the disk magnet 54 is received by the horseshoe magnet 56 in use as shown in Fig. 30. As shown, the inclined face 58 of the disk magnet 54 constitutes the outer circumferential face of that magnet whilst the inclined face 60 of the horseshoe magnet is defined on the open side 64 of the horseshoe magnet that receives the disk magnet. In the embodiment shown, the inclined face of each magnet flares outwardly from the respective backing strip to which the magnet 54 or 56 is mounted. The inclined face 60 of the horseshoe magnet therefore overlies the inclined face 58 of the disk magnet inhibiting lifting of the disk magnet from position. Locating the disk magnet in engagement with the horseshoe magnet is illustrated in Figs. 36A-C.

As shown in Fig. 36B, in use, the disk magnet 54 is mounted on backing strip 12 and the horseshoe magnet 56 is mounted on backing strip 14. To fasten the backing strips together the strips are arranged to face each other so that the magnets are located therebetween and in that arrangement, are oppositely magnetically poled to one another. Initially, the disk magnet 54 is in a longitudinally offset position relative to the horseshoe magnet. As the backing strips 12 and 14 are brought together the disk magnet is located rearwardly of the open side 64 of the horseshoe magnet, and is slid into the open side of the horseshoe magnet assisted by the sidewardly directed magnetic attraction between the magnets until the inclined faces of the magnets 54 and 56 are in abutment as illustrated in Fig. 36C. The inclined face 60 of the horseshoe magnet therefore forms a “cut-out” that receives the disk magnet whereby the disk magnet effectively inserted under the horseshoe magnet, assisting to retain the disk magnet in position.

Whilst an embodiment of the type illustrated in Figs. 30 to 36A-C comprises a single pair of disk 54 and horseshoe magnets 56 to fasten opposed backing strips together, other embodiments are also expressly provided in which a plurality of spaced apart horseshoe magnets are mounted to one of the backing strips whereby the open sides 64 of all of those magnets are orientated in the same direction along the backing strip. Further, a plurality of spaced apart disk magnets are mounted on the other of the backing strips for forming spaced apart pairs of corresponding ones of the horseshoe and disk magnets fastening the backing strips or other suitable such substrates together.

Such embodiments though are not limited to the use of horseshoe shaped magnets and other suitably shaped magnets can be utilised instead, e.g., crescent or U- shaped magnets. Similarly, it is not necessary that the fastening magnet 54 in these embodiments be disk-shaped and e.g., half-disk magnets or magnets of other shapes can also be employed. Still more embodiments of fastening systems in accordance with the invention are illustrated in Figs. 37A-C and Figs. 38A-C.

The embodiment illustrated in Figs 37A-C is yet another fastening system in which each fastening magnet 66 has an inclined side face 68 for abutment with the matching inclined side face 70 of a corresponding further magnet 72 when the backing strips 12 and 14 are brought into an opposed relationship as shown in Fig. 37C. As shown, the inclined side faces 68 of the fastening magnet 66 have a common angle of inclination and face in the same longitudinal direction of the backing strip 12. Likewise, the inclined side faces 70 of the further magnets 72 have a common angle of inclination and are oriented in the same direction along backing strip 14, though in the opposite direction to the side faces 68 of the fastening magnets 66 when the backing strips 12 and 14 are arranged to face each other. In each case, the inclined surfaces of each of the magnets flare outwardly from their respective backing strip. As further shown in Fig. 37C, a number of spaced apart pairs of corresponding fastening and further magnets 66 and 72 are formed between the backing strips 12 and 14 when the fastening strips are brought together, forming a discontinuous line of connection in the longitudinal direction of the backing strips fastening the backing strips one to the other.

Another fastening system embodied by the invention is shown in Figs. 38A-C. This embodiment is similar to that shown in Figs. 1 to 3 but in this instance, each of the opposite side faces 74 of respective of the casings 76 encasing each fastening magnet 78 are inclined at the same angle to match the opposite inclined side faces of the casings 80 encasing further magnets 82. As shown in Fig. 38C, when the backing strips 12 and 14 are brought together into the opposed relationship in which the backing strips are fastened together by the corresponding ones of the fastening components in accordance with the invention, the opposing inclined side faces of adjacent fastening components are placed in abutment with each other. In that position, a continuous line of connection indicated by the numeral 84 is formed by the alternating sequence of the fastening and further magnets 78 and 82 between the backing strips.

Embodiments of the type having at least one inclined face for abutment with a matching inclined side face of an adjacent magnetically attracted fastening component when the opposed backing strips or other substrates as described herein are brought into an opposed relationship are particularly suitable for use in situations where tension is applied to one backing strip or substrate in an opposite direction to tension applied to the other backing strip or substrate. In this situation, the abutting inclined faces of adjacent ones of the fastening components are thereby pressed against one another by the oppositely directed tension in each strap or substrate, inhibiting lifting of the abutting fastening components from one another and thereby separation of the opposed backing strips/substrates. An example of this is when the fastening system is used for fastening the straps of a brassiere together as discussed below. Embodiments as shown in Figs. 36A-C and Fig. 37A-C are particularly suitable for this purpose.

From the above, it will be understood that the line of connection formed between the substrates in use of embodiments of the present disclosure can be a continuous line of connection as illustrated in e.g., Figs. 1 to 12 or e.g., 24 to 29, while in other embodiments the line of connection can be discontinuous such as illustrated in Figs. 13 to 21 or Figs. 37A to 37C.

Additionally, as respective of the fastening components in each of the above embodiments is arranged for sideways magnetic attraction to their corresponding fastening elements in the line of connection in use, the fastening components and any spacer(s) present are arranged on the same level in the line of connection as distinct from a double row of overlying fastening components stacked one on other (e.g., as in two magnets located one directly over the other) for vertical (e.g., N to S or S to N) magnetic attraction between respective of the corresponding fastening components. In this way, the distance between the inwardly facing surfaces of the backing strips when fastened together is minimised and the side profile of the connection is thereby reduced. Also, arranging the fastening components as illustrated in each of the above embodiments provides increased resistance to separation of the fastening components by a shear force acting along the backing strips/substrates in at least one longitudinal direction compared to magnets stacked directly one over the other.

A backing strip or substrate e.g., 12 or 14 of an embodiment of a fastening system of the invention while typically being flexible and bendable desirably has sufficient stiffness whereby the backing strip is essentially unable in normal conditions of use to fold over on itself for a magnet on the backing strip to magnetically attract and couple to the next magnet on the backing strip or substate. To obtain the desired degree of stiffness, a backing strip or other substrate as described herein can include a stiffening layer such as the middle layer 48 in the backing strip of the embodiment shown in Fig. 22. The stiffening layer can be of any suitable material and may for instance, comprise or consist of a layer of sheet plastics material for imparting the requisite stiffness to the backing strip as may be selected from e.g., polypropylene (PP), polyethylene terephthalate (PET) and polyethylene (PE) sheet materials.

Desirably, the backing strip is also resistant to stretching in order to facilitate separation of the backing strips from each other when unfastening the backing strips. To separate the backing strips, the strips can be peeled away from one another whereby the corresponding fastening components that are magnetically attracted to one another are sequentially separated from one another in turn. By being resistant to stretching, the fastening components magnetically attracted to one another as described herein can be readily peeled apart without distorting or damaging the integrity of the respective backing strips. In particularly preferred embodiments, to facilitate this, one or both of the backing strips can also include a stretch resistant layer such as a thin layer of webbing or woven fabric or material that is essentially inelastic or otherwise stretch resistant under the normal conditions of use of the backing strip(s). The stretch resistant layer can in at least some embodiments comprise an inner most layer on which fastening components of the fastening system are provided or otherwise mounted as indicated by the numeral 50 in Fig. 22. In still other embodiments, the stretch resistant layer can be comprise an inner layer of the backing strip which underlies an inner most layer of the backing strip.

Additionally, a respective backing strip or other substrate of a fastening system in accordance with the invention can in at least some embodiments also include a rearward most cover layer that desirably, is soft to the touch of the user and/or has an attractive appearance or texture such as a layer of felt, matted fabric, velvet, leather, suede, vinyl sheet, or other suitable material that has a soft or plush texture or hand feel, or is attractive to the eye as indicated by the numeral 52 in the backing strip of Fig. 22. Such backing strips will typically be utilised in situations where the backing strip is for contact with, of for being worn close to, the skin of a user, for use on clothing or apparel, or is exposed in use. In at least some embodiments, a respective backing strip on which fastening components of a fastening system as described herein can consist of or comprise one or more layers as may be selected from a stretch resistant later, a stiffening layer, and a rearward most cover layer.

In the embodiment shown in Fig. 22, the middle stiffening layer 48 is a doublesided adhesive layer to which the innermost stretch resistant layer 50 and the rearward most cover layer, in this instance a layer of velvet, are fastened. In particularly preferred embodiments, the cover layer can be folded about the opposite longitudinal edges of the backing substrate to overlie a respective margin along each side of the innermost stretch resistant layer wherein the layers are further stitched together along each of the margins.

In still further embodiments, one or both backing strips or more broadly, the substrate on which fastening components of the fastening system are provided, can be an integrally moulded element as exemplified further below.

Yet another embodiment of a fastening system in accordance with the invention is illustrated in Figs. 39-44. This embodiment is similar to that illustrated in Fig. 6-8 above but differs in that the magnetically attracted fastening components provided on each respective backing substrate/strip are spaced apart from one another and have a flattened apex rather than coming to a sharp peak. Like the fastening components of Figs. 6-8 though, each of the respective fastening components 86 mounted to backing strip 12 comprise a fastening magnet while each of the fastening components 88 mounted to backing strip 14 comprise a respective further magnet, the fastening magnets and the further magnets being oppositely magnetically poled to one another when the backing strips are fastened together as further described below.

As shown in Fig. 39, in the illustrated embodiment, each of the respective spaced apart fastening components 86 is ramp shaped and all are orientated in the same direction along the backing strip 12. Further, the apex 90 of each is flat. Side and plan views of the backing strip 12 are shown in Figs. 40 and 41. Complementary shaped fastening components 88 are spaced apart along backing strip 14. That is, the further fastening components 88 are the same size and shape as fastening components 86 but when the backing strips 12 and 14 are brought into the opposed relationship to fasten the backing strips together as shown in Fig. 42, the fastening components 86 and 88 are orientated in opposite directions. As illustrated in Fig. 43, when the backing strips are in the opposed relationship successive ones of the fastening components 86 lie in the spaces between consecutive ones of fastening components 88 whereby the fastening components of the backing strips are again arranged on the same level in a continuous line of connection 92.

As further shown in Fig. 44, the fastening magnet 94 of each fastening component 86 is located under flat apex 90 and only extends partway along the fastening component. The further magnet 96 of each fastening component of the other backing strip is likewise arranged so that the fastening magnets 94 and the further magnets 96 of the backing strips 12 and 14 essentially do not overlap when fastening the backing strips together and the magnets 94 and 96 of adjacent ones of the fastening components are arranged next to one another. In this position, the backing strips 12 and 14 are thereby fastened together by the sidewardly directed magnetic attraction between the adjacent ones of the fastening and further magnets 94 and 96.

When the fastening strips are fastened together as shown in Fig. 43, the base 98 of each fastening component provides an essentially continuous support surface for their respective backing strip 12 or 14 in conjunction with the flat surfaces of the apexes 90 or 100 of the fastening components, and the ramp surfaces 102 of the adjacent ones of the fastening components 86 and 88 are face to face. As a result, the fastening components 86 and 88 can be drawn longitudinally relative to one other whereby fastening components of one of the backing strips are drawn over fastening components of the other backing strip. That is, when the backing strips are drawn longitudinally relative to one another, the fastening components of one of the backing strips are drawn up the ramp surfaces 102 of the other. In the embodiment shown, this occurs when backing strip 12 is drawn longitudinally to the right relative to backing strip 14. With continued longitudinal travel of the backing strips relative to one another, the fastening components 86 and 88 of each backing strip are drawn one over the other onto the next of the fastening components of the other backing strip in sequence allowing the fastening of the backing strips to be readily adjusted.

Typically, the fastening components 86 and 88 of the backing strips are orientated to allow for the fastening of the backing strips to be tightened as required or desired. In other embodiments, the fastening components can be orientated to allow for loosening of the position of the backing strips after initially being fastened together. In either case, the fastening components 86 and 88 slide over one another as each is drawn up the ramp surface 102 of the adjoining fastening component of the other fastening strip and then drops into a new fastening position with the successive fastening component of the other backing strip in turn. Further, the back-to-back abutment of the fastening components when in their respective fastening position as illustrated in Figs. 43 and 44 locks the backing strips 86 and 88 from being drawn in the opposite direction relative to one another. The adjustment of the backing strips thereby occurs in the manner of a ratchet.

Hence, the invention extends to fastening systems as described herein comprising a plurality of magnetically attracted fastening components, and first and second backing substrates for being brought into an opposed relationship in which the substrates face one another, the fastening components being provided on the substrates and arranged to be located between the substrates when the substrates are in the opposed relationship whereby corresponding ones of the fastening components are magnetically attracted sidewardly toward one another to fasten the substrates to together, the fastening components on the first backing substrate being spaced apart from one another and the fastening components on the second backing substrate being spaced apart from one another, respective of the fastening components on the first and the second substrates having a ramp surface wherein in the opposed relationship of the backing substrates the fastening components of one of the backing substrates lie alternatively between the fastening components of the other substrate one after the another with the ramp surfaces of consecutive ones of the fastening components in face to face abutment and wherein the ramp surfaces of the fastening components of the first substrate are orientated in an opposite direction to the ramp surfaces of the fastening components on the second substrate, and the corresponding ones of the fastening components comprise a fastening magnet provided on one of the substrates and a further said fastening component provided on the other one of the substrates.

In such embodiments, and as exemplified above, the ramp surface of respective of the fastening components can terminate in a flattened apex. As also exemplified, the apex of each fastening component on each backing substrate may be arranged to abut the inner face of the other one of the backing substrates in the opposed relationship of the substrates. Further, as exemplified, each ramp shaped fastening component can have a rear end face on an opposite side of the flattened apex to the ramp surface wherein in the opposed relationship of the backing substrates, the end face abuts the end face of a preceding one of the fastening components of the other one of the backing substrates. Advantageously, in such embodiments, the fastening components of one of the substrates can slide over the fastening components of the other one of the substrates to adjust the fastening of the substrates together when the substrates are moved longitudinally relative to one another such that fastening components of each said substrate are drawn up the respective ramp surfaces of fastening components of the other substrate into new fastening positions in which different said corresponding ones of the fastening components are magnetically attracted sidewardly toward one another.

In still further embodiments, the end faces of the fastening components provided on each of the backing substrates may also be shaped (e.g., respectively curved in the height direction of each fastening component) to facilitate drawing of the substrates in an opposite longitudinal direction whereby the fastening components of the substrates are drawn along one another and so moved into new fastening positions as described above with other said corresponding fastening components, in order to loosen the fitting or otherwise more suitably adjust the fastening of the backing substrates together. Embodiments of this type may be suitable for applications requiring less fastening strength or resistance to separation of the backing substrates than in embodiments in which the fastening components have substantially planar vertical end faces as best illustrated in Fig. 41 and 43-44. In embodiments, the curvature of the end faces of fastening components provided on one of the backing substrates may differ from the curvature of the end faces of the fastening components on the other of the other one of the backing substrates. Further, the curvature of respective of the fastening components of the backing substrates may be of constant or varying radius.

In the embodiment illustrated in Figs. 39-44, the fastening magnets 94 and 96 of adjacent ones of the fastening components with their ramp surfaces in face-to-face abutment do not overlap with another. However, in other embodiments, those fastening magnets 94 and 96 may at least partially overlap one another, and all such embodiments are provided for herein. A yet further fastening system embodied by the invention is illustrated in Figs. 45A-C. In this embodiment, the first and second backing strips 12 and 14 are slidable relative to each other in each longitudinal direction to adjust the fastening positions of the backing strips in use. Casings 104 and 106 housing fastening components in the form of fastening magnets 108 and further magnets 110 form respective corrugated faces 112 and 114 for being mated together when the backing substrates 12 and 14 are brought into the opposed relationship as shown in Figs. 45B and 45C. Each ridge 116 or 118 is thereby formed by a fastening magnet or further magnet with the respective casing 104 or 106 and is convex in shape, the ridges being respectively spaced apart from one another along each of the backing substrates by an intervening concave shaped valley 120 or 122. When the backing substrates are in the opposed relationship and so fastened together as shown in Fig. 45C, the fastening of the backing substrates may be adjusted by drawing the backing strips 12 and 14 along each other longitudinally whereby the fastening components 108 and 110 slide over one another into new fastening positions in which different combinations of corresponding ones of the fastening components 108 and 110 are magnetically attracted sidewardly toward one another to either loosen or tighten the fastening position of the backing substrates in use of the fastening system. That is, for example, backing substrate 12 may be drawn to the left and backing substrate 14 drawn to the right to loosen the fastening positions of the backing substrates or alternatively, backing substrate 12 may be drawn to the right relative to backing substrate 14 whereby the fastening components 108 and 110 are slid over one another into new fastening positions to tighten the fastening position of the backing substrates in use, facilitating adjustment the fastening together of the backing substrates by the user. In the embodiment shown in Figs. 45A-C, the poles of the fastening magnets 108 and 110 are orientated east- west.

In other embodiments of fastening systems of the type shown in Figs. 45A-C, the curvature of the ridges and valleys of the corrugated profile illustrated may be modified to increase or lower resistance of the backing substates being drawn along one another in either longitudinal direction. By “longitudinal” as used in the context of adjustable fastening systems as described herein is to be taken to mean the lengthwise direction in which the fastening components are spaced apart from one another on a backing substrate or fastening system in the instance of the backing substates being in the opposed relationship, or the direction(s) fastening components of the backing substrates are otherwise drawn or moved along relative to one another into fasting positions when the backing substates are being brought into their opposed relationship. While the fastening components of the fastening system shown in Figs. 45A-C are each a fastening magnet 108 or other fastening magnet 110, in other embodiments, one or more of the fastening magnets and/or further magnets may respectively be substituted with a magnetically attracted fastening component such as a mild-steel or other ferrous metal magnetically attracted fastening component as described herein.

Fastening systems in accordance with the invention have a wide range of applications and can be used on garments, articles of clothing or apparel, fashion and wearable accessories, or other items, particularly items for being worn, to provide the fastening required.

For instance, a fastening system embodied by the invention can be used for fastening the straps of a woman’s brassiere together. As an example, one backing strip of the system can be attached to one strap of the brassiere whilst the other backing strip is attached to the other strap of the brassiere (such as by stitching) for the backing strips to be fastened together as above described by the fastening components provided thereon. Advantageously, in embodiments in which the fastening components of the system comprise fastening magnets 16 and further magnets 18, respective of the magnets self-align with its corresponding space provided on the other of the backing strips by virtue of the magnetic repulsion that is generated as the backing strips are brought together, and the user need only work their hand along the exposed outermost one of the strips to press down any ones of the magnets that have not already been drawn into their final position in the line of connection between the backing strips. The user can therefore easily and readily fasten the straps of the brassiere together by simply aligning the fastening strips together by lying one over other without and feeling along the outermost one of the strips to make sure the fastening components of the system are all correctly located. In other examples, the straps of the brassiere can themselves form the backing substates though in the instance, the fastening components of the system are only provided on the overlapping ends the straps.

It will also be understood that the spacing apart of the fastening components similarly to rungs of a ladder along the respective backing strips of embodiments as described herein allows for adjustment of fastening system to suite the user. That is, the fastening strips of the fastening system of embodiments as described herein are longitudinally overlapped to the length necessary to obtain the required fastening. If the longitudinal overlapping is more than required so that if fastened together in that position the e.g., straps of the brassiere would be tight for the user, the backing strips can be longitudinally withdrawn from one another until the required degree of longitudinal overlap is obtained for the necessary fit or level of comfort, prior to the backing strips being fastened together.

Other uses of a fastening system of the invention include use as a closure system as an alternative to the use of buttons or press studs for e.g., shirt cuffs and shirt collars, for glove cuffs, for closing the rear of a dress instead of using buttons, a zipper or a hook and loop system, for closing the fly in a pair of trousers, or for closing a pocket in a jacket or other garment. Yet further uses of a fastening system as described here include for closing a purse, handbag or shoulder bag instead of using a clasp system, for fastening a belt instead of using a belt buckle, for fastening a watch band or bracelet around the wrist of a user, or for use with other such fashion accessories or wearable items. Still further examples of the use of a fastening system embodied by the invention is for use with footwear such as shoes and boots instead of using laces or hook and loop systems (e.g., Velcro™; Velcro Industries N. V.).

In such applications, one of the backing strips is fastened to one portion of the relevant item and the other backing strip is fastened to another portion of the item, for fastening of the backing strips together to hold the two portions together and/or obtain closure. For instance, when the item is a belt, one backing strip is attached to one end region of the belt and the other backing strip is attached to the opposite end region of the belt. The backing strips can be fastened in position by any suitable means or combinations of means e.g., by being sewn in position and/or by being attached in position to the relevant item by use of a suitable epoxy or other adhesive. Further, rather than being attached to the surface of the relevant item, a backing strip as described herein can instead be incorporated into the item whereby at least the fastening components or that region of the backing strip bearing the fastening components is exposed for fastening to the other of the backing strips in use. In other embodiments, one or both of the backing strips or substrates on which the fastening components are provided can be integrally moulded within the item to be an intrinsic part thereof. Examples of such items here may include e.g., watch bands moulded from a suitable plastics material e.g., a polyurethane or other plastics material. In related embodiments, the fastening components and raised spacers when present of a fastening system as described herein can be moulded directly in position in the item without being attached to a backing strip or other such substate. In such embodiments, the fastening components and raised spacer(s) when present can be anchored in position by any suitable means or method.

In still further embodiments, a fastening system in accordance with the invention can be used to fasten two separate items together. In this instance, one backing substrate and its associated fastening component(s) can be located on one of the items and the other of the backing substrates with its associated fastening component(s) can be located on the other of the items. As an example of this, a fastening system in accordance with the present disclosure can be used to fasten an item such as flashlight/torch holder/holster to the trouser belt of a user through a strap of the flashlight holder for being wrapped around the belt before being fastened by fastening components as described herein provided on opposite ends of the strap.

Whilst embodiments of fastening systems have been described herein as comprising first and second substrates in the form of backing strips for reasons of manufacture and use it is not necessary and instead, respective of the backing substrates can for instance be square, elliptical or have an irregular shape in plan view rather than being in the form of an elongate strip.

The fastening magnets and further magnets of embodiments as described herein can be selected from the group consisting of any suitable ferromagnetic and permanent rare earth magnets including neodymium (neodymium, iron and boron) magnets and samarium-cobalt magnets, and mixtures of such magnets.

The size and/or magnetic strength of the magnets utilised in embodiments of the instant disclosure is generally such that the magnetic field strength in proximity to a heart pacemaker worn by the user does not adversely impact on the operation of the pacemaker under normal conditions of use of the fastening system. In those embodiments in which the fastening system may be placed in proximity to the users chest area (such as when used for fastening the strap of a wrist watch, for closure of a shoulder bag, or for fastening the straps of a brassiere), the magnetic field strength emitted by the fastening system at any stage of use will typically be less than about 10 Gauss at a distance of about 30 mm. Most preferably, the magnetic field strength at that distance will be less than about 9 Gauss, 8 Gauss, 7 Gauss or 6 Gauss and most usually, about 5 Gauss or less.

Typically, respective of the fastening components and spacers of embodiments in accordance with the present disclosure will be in the order of from about 2 mm to about 4 mm in height measured from the inner face of the respective substrate on which they are provided. By arranging the fastening components and spacers when provided in embodiments as described herein, a lower side profile of the connection between the respective substrates is obtained compared to two rows of magnets or fastening components stacked one on the other resulting in a double height connection of 4mm-8 mm (i.e., 2 x 2 to 4 mm).

In particularly preferred embodiments, fastening magnets, further magnets and magnetically attracted components such as those shown in Figs. 1 to 12 and e.g., Figs 37A-C and 38A-C may have a width of about 4.6 mm and a height of about 1.5 to 1.6 mm. The casing 24 or e.g., 24a or 24 of a fastening magnet, further magnet or magnetically attracted component as described herein when present will typically have a thickness of about 0.5 mm. Hence, in these embodiments, the maximum height of the respective magnetically attracted components is about 2.1 mm. The length dimension (in the cross direction of the exemplified backing strips) of the fastening components is generally in a range of from about 10 mm to about 15 mm including the respective casing (if provided).

In embodiments such as the those shown in Fig. 30, the maximum width of the horseshoe magnet is about 15 mm while the disk magnet has a maximum diameter of about 10 mm.

As a result of the arrangement of the fastening components of embodiments of the present disclosure a low and attractive “slim line” connection between the opposing substrates can thereby be provided.

Further, whilst embodiments of fastening systems in accordance with the invention the backing strips or other backing substrates can be fastened together by a single pair of corresponding fastening components, in other embodiments a continuous or discontinuous line of connection fastening the backing substrates together can be formed by the alternating arrangement of the fastening components of the backing substrates.

From the above it will be apparent that embodiments of the invention may variously provide one or more of the following advantages:

• Ease of alignment and fastening together of the substrates on which the fastening components of the fastening system are provided;

• Fastening together of the substrates without the need to directly see the fastening system such as when used to fasten the back of a dress or the straps of a brassiere together;

• The provision of a secure connection between the respective substrates;

• The provision of a “slim” connection profile when the fastening components in the line of connection are viewed from the side; and

• Rapid fastening of the substrates together;

• The use of the fastening system in a wide range of applications; and

• The provision of an alternative fastening/closure system to conventionally known systems.

Aspect(s), feature(s) and/or integer(s) of one embodiment as described above may be combined or implemented in conjunction with aspect(s), feature(s) and/or integer(s) of other embodiments to realise yet further embodiments within the scope of the present disclosure, and all such arrangements and embodiments are expressly provided for herein.

Accordingly, while a number of embodiments of the invention have been described above it will be understood that various modifications and changes may be made thereto without departing from the present disclosure. The above-described embodiments are therefore only illustrative and are not to be taken as being restrictive.