US20080301912A1

US20080301912A1 - Button and Slot Webbing Fastener

Info

Publication number: US20080301912A1
Application number: US11/946,888
Authority: US
Inventors: Ian James Maley
Original assignee: CROSSFIRE AUSTRALIA Pty Ltd
Current assignee: CROSSFIRE AUSTRALIA Pty Ltd
Priority date: 2006-11-29
Filing date: 2007-11-29
Publication date: 2008-12-11

Abstract

An article (10) has a fastener button (12) formed of a one or more layers (26) of relatively stiff material that is secured to the article by one or more lines of stitching (40) passing through the pad and into the article thereby securing the pad to the article and thereby defining a stitched region of the pad and side portions of the pad extending transversely from either side of the stitched region In use, a fastener member (14) having an elongate slot (16 b) closed at one end may be placed between the article (10) and the side portions, with at least part of the stitched region in the slot (16 b), the stiffness and configuration of the pad and the slot being such that in normal use the pad cannot be bent double and pulled through the slot (16 b).

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD

This invention relates to fastener means for releasably anchoring or fastening strips of webbing to one another or to other articles or members. The invention also relates to methods for securing the ends of webbing, and to fastener means used in such methods. The fasteners of the invention can be referred to as button-and-slot fasteners because one part includes a button-like protrusion and the other part includes a ring or slotted plate shaped to engage the button.
The methods and fastener means of the invention are well suited to securing helmets, knee and elbow pads, packs, backpacks, luggage, containers and other equipment—hereafter referred to generally as ‘articles’—used by the armed services, by police, rescue and paramilitary personnel, as well as by hikers and the transport industry.
In this specification, ‘webbing’ generally refers to an elongate flexible band, strip or tape of woven textile material intended for use where tensile strength, light weight and flexibility are desired. However, the invention may also be applicable to non-woven flexible bands, strips or tapes having good tensile strength and rip-stop qualities. Thus, ‘webbing’ will be used to indicate both woven and unwoven strips of textile material or sheet in this specification.

BACKGROUND TO THE INVENTION

Button and slot fasteners are well known and have probably been in use for well over a century to secure the ends of shoulder straps to the bib of overalls. In that application, a steel mushroom-form button is riveted to the bib and a plate or ring having a tapered aperture is attached to the strap so that the length of the strap can be easily adjusted. The aperture that engages the button is generally of triangular or T-shape so that the head of the button can be passed through the wider part of the aperture and the neck of the button can slip into the narrower part. Where, as in the case of overalls, the end of the strap tension is substantially vertical, the wider part of the aperture of the ring or plate is uppermost and the narrow part is lowermost.
There are disadvantages associated with metal buttons riveted to cloth because of the radically different nature of the materials. The strong and rigid steel button is attached to the much weaker soft and flexible cloth over a narrow area so that it is prone to tearing out or wearing through. The use of washers to widen the attachment area not only makes a bulky fastener but leads to the washers catching on or abrading other items of clothing. Of course, conventional disc-like buttons that are sewn in place have been used with tapered-slot fasteners for centuries as well but the attachment threads were highly prone to abrasion and, because of that problem, conventional buttons have largely been replaced by riveted metal buttons. Moreover, the concentration of attachment forces in a very confined area at the center of a conventional button again makes the conventional button prone to be torn off the substrate cloth under strong force. That is, the threads by which the conventional button is attached simply tear or pull though the cloth in much the same way as occurs with the rivet of a metal button.

OUTLINE OF THE INVENTION

From one aspect at least, this invention is based on the realization that a button-like protrusion can be formed on a suitable substrate article (including a webbing strap) by sewing one or multiple layers of material, preferably webbing, to the substrate article using an elongate line or lines of stitching. The ‘button’ thus formed is attached to the substrate by an elongate central seam or seams of stitches that—because they are elongate—can be made much stronger than if the same thread was used to attach a conventional button to the substrate. Moreover, because of the similarity of material properties between the webbing button and a cloth substrate, forces are not concentrated but are distributed much more effectively as would be the case with either the conventional or riveted button. When multiple layers are used, these can be created by folding or coiling a single length of webbing.
As will be clear from the above, it is envisaged that a webbing button of the type indicated can be formed by simply coiling or folding the end of a webbing strap upon itself and running one or more seams along the central portion of the folded webbing. Thus, in such a case, the webbing button is integral with the webbing strap, which then forms the substrate. By forming a button on the end of one strap and attaching a ring or plate to the end of another strap, fasteners formed in accordance with the present invention can be readily used to join a pair of webbing straps.
In most cases, however, the substrate material will be part of an article and will not itself be a webbing strap. So, the webbing button will be formed from a separate webbing strap or webbing pieces and sewn to the article or substrate. For example, the button may be sewn to the material lining of a helmet and the aperture plate or ring may be attached to the end of a webbing chinstrap.
The webbing strap or other material from which the button is formed needs to be of a thickness so that the finished button cannot be bent double and pulled through the slot of the aperture plate or ring without failure of the plate or ring. A narrow slot in the plate or ring allows the pad to be formed of a single layer. It is desirable, but not essential, that the material be reasonably stiff so that in use the button remains generally planar with the substrate, so aiding attachment and removal of the plate or ring.
It is generally be desirable to have a least two layers.
The ring or plate that engages such a webbing button can be much the same as that used for a riveted or conventional button but, because the webbing button is rectilinear rather than round or disc-like, the narrow portion of the aperture that engages the button will normally be more elongate—i.e., slot-like—so that the entire length of the webbing button is encompassed by the narrow slot-like portion of the aperture. Also, the wider portion of the aperture will normally be larger than that required for a rivet button because the width of a webbing button will normally be greater than that of a rivet (or even a disc) button.
If the button-and-slot fastener of the present invention is intended to handle a large load or if it is intended to join two webbing straps, two buttons can be used—one on each side of one strap or substrate—and two rings or plates can be used on the other strap, one to engage each respective button. The two webbing buttons can be affixed to the first strap or substrate by common seams and the two rings or plates can be attached to the second strap by a common loop formed at the end of that strap. Advantages of such a double-button fastener are greater strength and improved symmetry. As noted earlier, where the button substrate is formed by a strap of the same width as the button, the strap and button can be integral; that is, the button may be formed by folding the end of the substrate strap. One of the buttons on a double-button strap may therefore be formed in this way.
Accordingly, in one broad form the invention provides an article having a fastener button, the fastener button comprising:

- a pad of relatively stiff material, and
- at least one line of stitching passing through the pad and into the article thereby securing the pad to the article and defining a stitched region of the pad,
- wherein
- the at least one line of stitching located so as to delineate side portions of the pad extending transversely from either side of the stitched region,

wherein, in use,
a fastener member having an elongate slot closed at one end may be placed between the article and the side portions, with at least the stitched region in the slot, the stiffness and configuration of the pad and the slot being such that in normal use the pad cannot be bent double and pulled through the slot.
In another broad form the invention provides a webbing fastener comprising:

- a length of webbing,
- a portion of the webbing at a first free end being coiled about itself or folded back on itself to form a pad of at least one layer overlying a part of the remainder of the webbing;
- at least one line of stitching passing through the pad and into the webbing underneath the pad thereby securing the pad to the webbing and defining a stitched region of the pad,

the at least one line of stitching located so as to delineate side portions of the pad extending transversely from either side of the stitched region,
and

- a fastener member having an elongate slot closed at one end mounted on the webbing remote from the first end

wherein, in use,
the fastener member may be placed between the article and the side portions, with at least the stitched region in the slot, the stiffness and configuration of the pad and the slot being such that in normal use the pad cannot be bent double and pulled through the slot.
The pad may be formed of multiple layers of material. When formed of multiple layers, the pad is preferably formed of a strip of material coiled about itself or folded back on itself.
The pad is preferably secured to using at least two lines of stitching, and preferably the se are generally parallel.
In preferred forms the pad is generally rectangular.
The line or lines of stitching preferably extend from or adjacent a rear edge of the pad toward a front edge.
Preferably the line or lines of stitching are located generally centrally relative to side edges of the pad, so as to define two side portions that are generally the same size.
If the pad is formed of multiple layers of material and the layers are preferably stitched together at or adjacent side edges of the pad, at least. Stitching may also extend along or adjacent the front and/or rear edges.
Unless the context clearly requires otherwise, throughout the description and the claims the words ‘comprise’, ‘comprising’, and the like are to be construed in an inclusive sense as opposed to an exclusive or exhaustive sense; that is to say, in the sense of “including, but not limited to”.

DESCRIPTION OF EXAMPLES

Having portrayed the nature of the present invention, a particular example of the application of the principles thereof will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. However, those skilled in the art will appreciate that many variations and modifications can be made to the example without departing from the scope of the invention as outlined above. In the accompanying drawings:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of portion of a kneepad having a webbing button attached thereto.

FIG. 2 is a plan view of an aperture plate adapted to engage the webbing button shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a plan view of the webbing button and kneepad portion of FIG. 1 with the aperture plate of FIG. 2 engaged therewith.

FIG. 4 is a plan view of the webbing button of FIG. 1 with a T-ring engaged therewith.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the button and T-ring of FIG. 4.

FIG. 6 is a side cross section of a webbing button formed by folding rather than coiling the webbing.

FIG. 7 is a side cross section of a webbing strap having a webbing button according to the invention at one end thereof.

With reference to FIGS. 1-3, the illustrated webbing fastener 10 basically comprises a webbing button 12 and a triangular aperture plate 14 that has a roughly T-shape aperture 16 formed therein, aperture 16 having a triangular proximal portion 16 a and a narrow slot-like distal portion 16 b. The external shape of the plate 14 is not important. A webbing strap 18 passes through the widest part of portion 16 a and is looped around and sewn back onto itself with transverse seams 19 shown in FIG. 3. In FIG. 2, seams 19 are not shown as the looped portion has been cut away to more clearly show the shape of aperture plate 14. A narrow pull-tab 20, formed by a folded length of narrow tape 22 sewn closed by seam 24, is threaded through aperture 16 so that it can be pulled into the distal end of slot 16 b and used to assist in pulling plate 14 over button 12. The tab also assists in removing the plate 14 from the button 12.
Button 12 is formed by a coil of webbing tape or strap 26 and, in this example, is of rectilinear form and somewhat longer than it is wide. The coiled strap 26 is held together by two seams 28, one near each edge, that (in this example) pass through four layers of strap 26. The outer end of coiled strap 26 extends proximally from the coiled portion to form a tail 30. While seams 28 serve to conveniently ‘pre-assemble’ button 12 to facilitate its attachment to articles, they also serve the function of stiffening the edges of the button and prevent separation of the edges, particularly the corners, that otherwise tend to bulge. In this example, the substrate 31 to which button 12 is attached forms is the outer layer or cover of a kneepad 32, only portion of which is shown in FIGS. 1 and 3. Tail 30 of button 12 is attached to kneepad 32 by being sewn into the hem 34 by means of the hem 36. A reinforcing seam 38 is added proximally of hem seam 36 to firmly anchor tail 30 into kneepad 32.
Importantly, the coiled portion of button 12 is secured to substrate 31 (i.e., the surface of kneepad 32) by at least one central seam—in this example, two parallel spaced seams 40 are employed, each extending right to the distal end 12 a of button 12. Use of multiple seams is not essential but it can strengthen fastener 10 and also aids in stability. Assuming substrate 31 has only one layer of material, central button seams 40 extend through five layers of material.
To assemble fastener 10, plate 14 is aligned with button 12 and pulled distally using pull-tab 20 until the distal end of the coil of button 12 fits within wide portion 16 a of aperture 16, whereupon plate 14 is pressed down onto substrate 31 so that the plate can be pulled or pushed back (proximally) while passing under the sides of the coil of button 12 to enter central button seams 40 into slot 16 b of plate 14. The assembly is shown in FIG. 3. Finally, it will be appreciated that the most important function of pull-tab 20 is to make undoing fastener 10 easy, this being done by pulling on tab 20 to slide plate 14 distally, while assisting the wide portion 16 a of aperture 16 of plate 14 to slide up on tail 30, until plate 14 has been moved distally of button 12.
FIGS. 4 and 5 show a modified fastener 10 a having the same button 12 as in FIGS. 1-3 attached to the same substrate 31 that forms the outer layer of a kneepad 32. In this case, however, aperture plate 14 is replaced by a T-shape ring 14 b which, in this case is bent out of flat at 50 so as to better conform to the contour of kneepad and substrate 31 and to better retain ring 14 b in engagement with button 12. For the sake of clarity, no pull-tab or attachment webbing strap has been shown, though it will be convenient to employ essentially the same ones as described with reference to FIGS. 1-3.
While a button may be made by coiling a webbing strap as described above, the necessary thickness can also be made by folding the strap in a zigzag fashion. FIG. 6 shows a button 100 formed of a strip of webbing 108 folded back on it self in a zigzag manner to form layers 102. A generally central line or lines of stitches 106 secures the button 100 to the substrate 104.
FIG. 7 shows a webbing strap 120 comprising a length of webbing 121 having a folded webbing button 122 according to the invention formed at one end and having a slotted fastener 124, with slot 126, mounted at the other end. The fastened may be substantially the same as fastener 14 or 14 a of FIGS. 1 to 5. Adjustment means, such as a three bar plate, not shown, may be used to adjust the effective length of the webbing strap. In use the fastener 126 may be attached to the webbing button 122 as previously described.
Whilst the embodiments described have multiple layers of material in the button, the number of layers ranges from one upwards. This depends in part on the material used and the application. The number of layers in the pad is, in part, dependent on what is a reasonable slot width in relation to the thickness of the material of the plate or ring. Plate or ring thickness is a function of what is required by way of strength and stiffness in the fitting. Since the plate sits underneath the button, in practice the slot needs to be wider than the stitched area to allow the button material to gently rise upwards from the stitched area within the slot to clear the top surface of the plate without significant “folding” upwards. This also eases engagement of the plate to the button. Multiple layers in the pad provide the thickness in the pad so that, when folded together, the button cannot pass through the slot whilst allowing for both a wider slot and a thicker, stronger plate or ring.
While the examples and variants described offer substantial benefits over the button and slot fasteners of the prior art for the kneepad (and many other) applications, it will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that many alterations can be made thereto without departing from the scope of the invention as outlined above. For example, one or two transverse slots may be formed in the proximal portion of plate 14 so as to form a conventional ‘three-bar plate’ through which webbing strap 18 may be threaded to permit the effective length of strap 18 to be adjusted. Ring 14 a can be similarly modified, of course. Similarly, while a button made by coiling a webbing strap as described, the necessary thickness can also be made by folding the strap in a zig-zag fashion, by the use of separate short-length pieces of strap or by using one or more pieces of non-woven plastic material, provided it can be sewn. It is not necessary to form the button with a tail, though this not only assists in anchoring to the button to the substrate but it also provides a convenient ramp over which the plate can be pushed to effect coupling with the button.
As already noted, where a webbing strap forms the substrate, the button can be formed integrally with the substrate by simply folding or coiling its end and then sewing. As also noted, a button can easily be formed on each side of a strap-like substrate and two rings or plates can be provide on the other fastener component to couple with the buttons to make a stronger and symmetrical fastener.

Claims

1. An article having a fastener button thereon, the fastener button comprising:

a pad of relatively stiff material, and

at least one line of stitching passing through the pad and into the article thereby securing the pad to the article and thereby defining a stitched region of the pad,

wherein

the at least one line of stitching located so as to delineate side portions of the pad extending transversely from either side of the stitched region,

wherein, in use,

a fastener member having an elongate slot closed at one end may be placed between the article and the side portions, with at least the stitched region in the slot, the stiffness and configuration of the pad and the slot being such that in normal use the pad cannot be bent double and pulled through the slot.

2. The article of claim 1 wherein the pad is formed of multiple layers of material.

3. The article of claim 1 wherein the pad is formed of a strip of material coiled about itself or folded back on itself.

4. The article of claim 1 having at least two lines of stitching.

5. The article of claim 1 having at least two generally parallel lines of stitching.

6. The article of claim 1 wherein the pad is generally rectangular.

7. The article of claim 1 wherein the line or lines of stitching extend from or adjacent a rear edge of the pad toward a front edge

8. The article of claim 1 wherein the line or lines of stitching are located generally centrally relative to side edges of the pad.

9. The article of claim 1 wherein the pad is formed of multiple layers of material and the layers are stitched together at or adjacent side edges of the pad, at least.

10. The article of claim 1 wherein the fastener button is formed from the free end portion of a length of webbing, the remainder of the webbing comprising the article to which the button is attached by said stitching.

11. A webbing fastener comprising:

a length of webbing,

a portion of the webbing at a first free end being coiled about itself or folded back on itself to form a pad of at least one layer overlying a part of the remainder of the webbing;

at least one line of stitching passing through the pad and into the webbing underneath the pad thereby securing the pad to the webbing, thereby defining a stitched region of the pad,

and

a fastener member having an elongate slot closed at one end mounted on the webbing remote from the first end

wherein, in use,

the fastener member may be placed between the webbing and the side portions, with at least the stitched region in the slot, the stiffness and configuration of the pad and the slot being such that in normal use the pad cannot be bent double and pulled through the slot.

12. The webbing fastener of claim 11 wherein the pad is formed of multiple layers of material.

13. The webbing fastener of claim 11 wherein the pad is formed of a strip of material coiled about itself or folded back on itself.

14. The webbing fastener of claim 11 having at least two lines of stitching.

15. The webbing fastener of claim 11 having at least two generally parallel lines of stitching.

16. The webbing fastener of claim 11 wherein the pad is generally rectangular.

17. The webbing fastener of claim 11 wherein the line or lines of stitching extend from or adjacent a rear edge of the pad toward a front edge

18. The webbing fastener of claim 11 wherein the line or lines of stitching are located generally centrally relative to side edges of the pad.