Fastener

An article of clothing defining an opening for receiving a human body part, the article of clothing including a fastener for allowing adjustment to the size of the opening, the fastener comprising:

• a first fastener counterpart coupled to a first edge portion of the article of clothing that defines a portion of the opening;
• and
• a second fastener counterpart coupled to a second edge portion of the article of clothing that defines a portion of the opening so that the first fastener counterpart and the second fastener counterpart are disposed opposite to one another;
• wherein:
• the first and second fastener counterparts are co-operatively configured to define a plurality of co-operating connection systems so that the first fastener counterpart and the second fastener counterpart are co-operatively configured for connection in a plurality of connected configurations;
• each one of the plurality of co-operating connection systems, independently, includes a plurality of first interlocking counterparts and a plurality of second interlocking counterparts;
• for each one of the plurality of co-operating connection systems, independently:
• the plurality of first interlocking counterparts are defined by the first fastener counterpart and disposed along a longitudinal axis, of the first fastener counterpart, that is respective to one of the plurality of cooperating connection systems;
• and
• the plurality of second interlocking counterparts are defined by the second fastener counterpart and disposed along a longitudinal axis, of the second fastener counterpart, that is respective to one of the cooperating connection systems, and that corresponds to the respective longitudinal axis of the first interlocking counterparts of the first fastener counterpart so that when the first fastener counterpart and the second fastener counterpart are disposed in one of the plurality connected configurations, the respective longitudinal axis of the first interlocking counterparts of the first fastener counterpart and the respective longitudinal axis of the second interlocking counterparts of the second fastener counterpart extend relative to one another such that a longitudinal axis that is respective to the one of the plurality of co-operating connection systems is established;
• each one of the plurality of co-operating connection systems, independently, is configurable in a plurality of connected connection system configurations;
• for each one of the plurality of co-operating connection systems, independently:
• each one of the plurality of connected connection system configurations, independently, includes at least one releasably coupled relationship;
• each one of the at least one releasably coupled relationship, independently, is defined by releasable coupling between a participating one of the first interlocking counterparts that is defined along the respective longitudinal axis of the first fastener counterpart and a participating one of the second interlocking counterparts that is defined along the respective longitudinal axis of the second fastener counterpart so that the at least one releasably coupled relationship is established along the longitudinal axis of the respective one of the co-operating connection systems that is established when the first fastener counterpart and the second fastener counterpart are disposed in a connected configuration;
• the plurality of connected connection system configurations include at least one multi-coupled connected configuration;
• and
• for each one of the at least one multi-coupled connected configuration, independently:
• the at least one releasably coupled relationship is “N” releasably coupled relationships, wherein “N” is an integer that is greater than or equal to two;
• the “N” releasably coupled relationships includes “N−1” adjacent pairs of releasably coupled relationships;
• at least one of the at least one multi-coupled connected configuration is an operative multi-coupled connected configuration, so that at least one operative multi-coupled connected configuration is provided;
• and
• for each one of the at least one operative multi-coupled connected configuration, independently:
• the “N−1” adjacent pairs of releasably coupled relationships include at least one operative adjacent pair of releasably coupled relationships;
• and
• for each one of the at least one operative adjacent pair of releasably coupled relationships, independently:
• at least one non-participating second interlocking counterpart, of the second interlocking counterparts, is disposed between the participating second interlocking counterparts of the operative adjacent pair;
• each one of the participating first interlocking counterparts of the operative adjacent pair, independently, is an operative participating first interlocking counterpart;
• and
• each one of the at least one non-participating second interlocking counterpart that is disposed between the participating second interlocking counterparts of the operative adjacent pair, independently, is an operative non-participating second interlocking counterpart;
• and
• the longitudinal axis that is respective to a one of the plurality of cooperating connection systems, when the first fastener counterpart and the second fastener counterpart are disposed in a connected configuration, is parallel to and spaced apart from the respective longitudinal axis of every other one of the plurality of co-operating connection systems.

A fastener, for incorporating into an article of clothing, for allowing size adjustment of the clothing, the fastener comprising:

• a first fastener counterpart including a plurality of sets of first interlocking counterparts, each set of first interlocking counterparts, independently, being disposed along a longitudinal axis of the first fastener counterpart that is respective to a one of the plurality of sets of first interlocking counterparts;
• a second fastener counterpart including a plurality of sets of second interlocking counterparts, each set of second interlocking counterparts, independently, being disposed along a longitudinal axis of the second fastener counterpart that is respective to a one of the plurality of sets of second interlocking counterparts and corresponds to a corresponding one of the plurality of sets of first interlocking counterparts of the first fastener counterpart;
• the first fastener counterpart and the second fastener counterpart are cooperatively configured for connection in a plurality of connected configurations;
• wherein:
• for each one of the plurality of connected configurations, independently:
• the second fastener counterpart overlaps the first fastener counterpart;
• the extent of the overlap is different relative to the overlap of every other one of the other connected configurations;
• the connection is established by at least one releasably coupled relationship in at least:
• (i) a first corresponding set of first interlocking counterparts and second interlocking counterparts along a first longitudinal axis of the fasteners, while disposed in a connected configuration, and (ii) a second corresponding set of first interlocking counterparts and second interlocking counterparts along a second longitudinal axis of the fastener while disposed in the connected configuration, independently;
• and
• each one of the at least one releasably coupled relationship, independently, is established by releasable coupling between a participating one of the first interlocking counterparts and a participating one of the second interlocking counterparts;
• the plurality of connected configurations include at least one multi-coupled connected configuration;
• for each one of the at least one multi-coupled connected configuration, independently:
• the at least one releasably coupled relationship is “N” releasably coupled relationships, wherein “N” is an integer that is greater than or equal to two;
• the “N” releasably coupled relationships includes “N−1” adjacent pairs of releasably coupled relationships;
• at least one of the at least one multi-coupled connected configuration is an operative multi-coupled connected configuration;
• and
• for each one of the at least one operative multi-coupled connected configuration, independently:
• the “N−1” adjacent pairs of releasably coupled relationships include at least one operative adjacent pair of releasably coupled relationships;
• and
• for each one of the at least one operative adjacent pair of releasably coupled relationships, independently:
• at least one non-participating second interlocking counterpart, of the second interlocking counterparts, is disposed between the participating second interlocking counterparts of the operative adjacent pair;
• each one of the participating first interlocking counterparts of the operative adjacent pair, independently, is an operative participating first interlocking counterpart;
• and
• each one of the at least one non-participating second interlocking counterpart that is disposed between the operative participating second interlocking counterparts of the operative adjacent pair, independently, is an operative non-participating second interlocking counterpart;
• and
• for each set of the plurality of sets of second interlocking counterparts, independently, the second interlocking counterparts are configured so that they are spaced apart along the longitudinal axis that is respective to the set of second interlocking counterparts by a distance, as measured center-to-center between adjacent ones of the plurality of second interlocking counterparts along the second fastener counterpart, of a minimum of 3.175 mm to a maximum of 9.525 mm.