ADJUSTABLE FASTENING DEVICE

Specification

The present invention relates generally to an adjustable fastening device. More particularly, it relates to a closure device suitable for use in maintaining at a desired and adjustable distance two portions of an article of clothing or footwear.

The present invention will be described below, by way of illustration and not limitation, when applied to a shoe, but it can also be used to couple or keep adjacent, at an adjustable distance, two fabric flaps of an article of clothing, such as a jacket, or for still other applications.

As is well known, in order to close a shoe, that is, to bring the two flaps arranged above the tongue, in the area corresponding to the instep, closer together and hold them in place, laces are used that pass through eyelets or grommets arranged on those two flaps.

The operations of closing a shoe with laces, as well as those of opening them, are often long and laborious. Often the laces struggle to pass through the eyelets; moreover, in order to make an aesthetically pleasing and secure closure, or to adjust the shoe to the foot, it is always necessary to lengthen or shorten each portion of the lace that goes from one flap of the shoe to the other.

Thus, fasteners have become popular that use tabs that, attached to one of the two flaps of the footwear, mate with the other flap by means of a Velcro fastener.

Such Velcro fastenings are undoubtedly more expensive, as the footwear requires additional machining and elements, such as a ring or Velcro loop.

In addition, this mode of closure is sometimes labile, as, due to unintentional bumps, or even with normal footwear use, the tabs still come off the mating flap.

Another problem with footwear fasteners occurs in the case of safety footwear, where such devices are often unable to ensure quick footwear opening operations when necessary.

A further problem with shoe fasteners lies in the lack of precision in closing; in other words, a user may have to open and close the fastener several times to adjust the distance between the two flaps to be joined.

The purpose and function of the present invention is to provide an adjustable fastening device capable of holding two portions of an article of clothing or footwear or other article at a desired and adjustable distance, which solves the problems of the known technique.

Another purpose of the invention is to provide an adjustable fastening device that is practical and quick in both closing and releasing operations of the two portions that the device couples.

A further purpose of the present invention is to provide an adjustable fastening device that is also strong and secure, keeping the two portions of the footwear or other article, always at the desired distance.

Still another purpose of the invention is to provide an adjustable fastening device that, when used on a safety shoe, allows the shoe to be opened quickly.

A further purpose of the present invention is to provide a closure device that allows two flaps, for example of a shoe, to always be connected at the same suitably chosen distance.

These and other purposes are achieved by an adjustable fastening device suitable for attachment to a first flap and a second flap of a footwear or article of clothing, so as to keep the first flap and the second flap at a specified distance from each other or to release them from each other, said adjustable fastening device comprising a first connecting element and a second connecting element. The first connecting element comprises:

- a first fastening portion suitable for connecting the first connecting element with the first flap; and

- a tab attached to the first fastening portion.

The second connecting element comprises:

- a second fastening portion apt for the connection of the second connecting element with the second flap;

- a push-button element, movably constrained to the second fastening portion and comprising grasping means; and

- a spring body, interposed between the second fastening portion and the push-button element, so as to keep the push-button element itself raised upward.

The grasping means lock the second connection element to the first connection element when the push-button element is lifted upward.

In particular, the adjustable locking device is characterized by the fact that the tongue comprises an initial tongue and an end tongue joined together as a single body; teeth being arranged on the lower face of the end tongue, suitable for engagement by the grasping means.

Due to such a conformation, the first connecting element and the second connecting element can be coupled together according to an adjustable distance equal to the length of the end tab.

Advantageously, the initial tab can be thicker than the end tab, so that the end tab itself can be identified by the user immediately.

In addition, the initial tab can also include teeth arranged on its lower face, suitable for engagement by the grasping means. In this way, the distance adjustment between the first connection element and the second connection element is even greater.

An internal through opening apt to be passed through by the tongue and having a determined height H can be made in the push-button element, such internal through opening being arranged inferiorly to the second fastener portion, so that the tongue can be arranged inferiorly to the second fastener portion and remain concealed.

Advantageously, the thickness of the initial tab can be greater than the height H of the through interior opening of the push-button element. In this way, the first connecting element and the second connecting element are prevented from approaching each other for a distance less than the length of the initial tab.

To facilitate the coupling and uncoupling steps, a gripping body with reliefs can be arranged on the upper face of the initial tab.

In particular, the gripping body can be adjacent to the end tab, so as to make approach and coupling operations even easier.

The push-button element can be pivoted to the second fastening portion so that it still remains locked and avoids unwanted decoupling.

In addition, the push-button element can include:

- an elongated upper fin, on which a gripping portion with reliefs is defined;

- a lower fin with a pointed end;

- two side straps suitable for laterally connecting the upper fin with the lower fin, so as to define an internal through-opening; each of the two side straps comprising a laterally embossed pin.

And the second fastening portion may include:

- a strip suitable to be coupled to the second flap;

- a box body projecting inferiorly to the strip and in which a front opening and a rear opening are cut;

- two side walls protruding superiorly from the strip;

- two side strips that connect the two side walls with the box body and protrude from one edge of the strip;

A mating hole can be cut in each of the two side strips in which a respective pin can be accommodated.

The elastic body may have an "E" shape and comprise a support from which protrude two outer arms apt to go into contact with the bottom of the box body, and a central band apt to go into contact with the bottom flap.

A simple elastic body is thus used, one that is limited in wear and tear and of negligible cost.

Further features and details of the invention may be better understood from the following description, given as a non-limiting example, as well as from the accompanying drawing plates in which: fig. 1 is an axonometric view from above of an adjustable locking device, according to the invention; fig. 2 is an axonometric view from below of the device in figure 1 ; fig. 3 is an exploded axonometric top view of the figure 1 device; fig. 4 is a side sectional view of the figure 1 device sectioned according to a longitudinal plane; fig. 5 is a cross-sectional side view of a figure 4 part.

With reference to the appended figures, in particular Figures 1 to 5, 10 denotes an adjustable fastening device, suitable for application on a shoe, at the instep, in particular attached to a first flap and a second flap of the same shoe to couple such flaps together and adjust the distance between them. The adjustable fastening device 10 includes a first connection element 12 attached to the first flap of the footwear, and a second connection element 14 attached to the second flap of the footwear.

The first connecting element 12 includes:

- a first fastening portion 16, suitable for connecting the first connecting element 12 with the first flap of the footwear;

- a raised element 18 protruding from the first fastening portion 16;

- a tab comprising an initial tab 20 attached to the first fastening portion 16, and an end tab 21 , joined as a single body to the initial tab 20.

The end tab 21 , as shown particularly in Figures 2, 4 and 5, includes slide teeth 22 arranged in the lower face of the same end tab 21 and each having a ramp portion and a vertical portion.

In addition, a socket body 23 is arranged on the initial tongue 20, which is developed on an end portion of the initial tongue 20 adjacent to the end tongue 21 .

The gripping body 23 comprises a substantially oval cavity in which three linear reliefs are arranged. Due to such a conformation on the gripping body 23 the fingertip of a finger of the user of the footwear to which the adjustable fastening device 10 is applied can be placed. Acting on the gripping body 23 and the second connection element 14 proceeds, in fact, with the opening or closing of the device 10.

The second connecting element 14 comprises:

- a second attachment portion 24, suitable for connecting the second connection element 14 with the second flap of the shoe;

- a push-button element 26 constrained to the second fastening portion 24;

- a spring body 28, interposed between the second fastening portion 24 and the push-button element 26, so as to maintain the same push-button element 26 in a position of locking the second connection element 14 with the first fastening element 12.

The second fastener portion 24 includes:

- a strip 30 apt to be coupled to the second footwear flap;

- a box body 32 that protrudes inferiorly from the strip 30 and in which a front opening and a rear opening are cut out;

- two side walls 34 that protrude superiorly from strip 30;

- two side strips 36 that connect the two side walls 34 with the box body 32 and protrude from one edge of strip 30.

A mating hole 38 is cut in each of the two side strips 36.

In addition, in strip 30, internally to the two sidewall 34, two slots 40 are cut, each adjacent to a respective sidewall 34.

The push-button element 26 comprises:

- an elongated upper fin 42 on which a socket portion 44 is defined with reliefs 46;

- a lower fin 48 with a pointed end 50;

- two side epaulets 52 suitable for laterally connecting the upper fin 42 with the lower fin 48, one side epaulet 52 being arranged on each side.

Each of the two side shoulders 52 includes a laterally raised pin 54, visible in Figure 3.

The push-button element 26 is configured as a four-sided body, also having an internal through-hole 56.

The spring body 28, having an "E" conformation, includes a support 58 from which two outer arms 60 and a central band 62 protrude. The second connection element 14 provides for the push-button element 26 to be constrained to the second fastening portion 24, inserted into the box body 32 of the same second fastening portion 24 and between the two side walls 34.

Specifically, the two side brackets 52 of the push-button element 26 are arranged in the two slots 40, respectively, while each of the pins 54 of the same push-button element 26 is accommodated in a respective mating hole 38 of the side straps 36 of the second fastening portion 24.

The spring body 28 is arranged internally to the box body 32, superiorly to the lower face of the same box body 32, and inferiorly to the lower lug 48 of the push-button element 26.

Specifically, the two outer arms 60 of the elastic body 28 are resting on the box body, while the middle band 62 of the same elastic body is pushing on the lower fin 48.

In this way, the lower flap 48 of the push-button element 26 is pushed upward.

When the first connection element 12 is to be fastened to the second connection element 14, so as to connect the two flaps of the shoe, the end tab 21 is passed through the inner through opening 56 of the push-button element 26 and consequently into the front opening and the rear opening of the box body 32 of the second fastening portion 24.

The end tab 21 can easily advance, as the slide teeth 22 of the same end tab 21 are conformed so that the lower fin 48 tilts without any blockage. In fact, the ramped portion of each tooth 22 pushes on the pointed end 50 of the lower flap 48.

Otherwise, in the event that the end tab 21 is to be retracted out of the internal through opening 56 of the push-button element 26, the pointed end 50 of the lower flap 48 goes into contact with the vertical portion of a tooth 22, preventing any further movement toward that direction by the same tab.

To allow such movement, i.e., pulling the end tab 21 off the second connection element 14, it is necessary to push on the upper fin 42 so that the lower fin 48 also does not interfere with the teeth 22 of the tab 20.

The user is facilitated in this operation by acting with a fingertip of the fingers on the gripping portion 44 with the reliefs 46 and on the gripping body 23 of the initial tab 20.

The initial tab 20 has a greater thickness than the end tab 21 , so as to prevent the initial tab 20 itself from intruding into the internal through opening 56 of the pushbutton element 26.

According to a variant of the invention, while still referring to the embodiment described above, the initial tab, which lacks a gripping body, and the end tab may have the same thickness and may provide teeth along the entire development of both the end tab, as well as the initial tab.

Additional variations are possible and should be considered within the scope of protection; for example, the teeth present on the end tab may be of a different number, size, and shape from those shown.

In addition, the attachment portions to the flaps of the various connecting elements may be of different shape and configuration.

The elastic body may also be configured differently from what is described and illustrated.

In addition, multiple adjustable fasteners may also be used on a shoe according to the invention.

Among other things, multiple adjustable fasteners can be made side by side, sharing a single first fastening portion 16 and a single second fastening portion 24.