US 5,181,300 AGranted

Waistband fastener

AssigneeSchaeffer GmbH

InventorMichael Schwarz

Life of this patent

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Abstract

The invention relates to a waistband fastener, especially for trousers, skirts or the like, comprising a latch rail (1) fixed to a waistband portion (A) and bearing a plurality of sawtooth-like teeth (3), on which latch rail a slider (2) connected to the other waistband portion (B) is guided in an adjustable and latchable manner. To enable a simple and advantageous handling and operation of the fastener, a latch finger (12) can be selectively brought into and out of engagement with the teeth of the latch rail by means of a transverse shifting of the slider away from and toward the latch rail. In the first case, the latch finger simply slides over the teeth, by virtue of riding up on their sloping faces, when the slider is moved in one direction (arrow y) along the latch rail. In the other case, the latch finger is shifted out of the tooth gaps (4) and clear of the teeth to permit movement of the slider in the opposite direction.

Claims48

Dependent claims

A waistband fastener, especially for trousers, skirts or the like having first and second waistband portions arranged to overlie one another with said first waistband portion closer to the body of the wearer than said second waistband portion, which waistband fastener includes a latch rail fixed to said first waistband portion, a slider connected to said second waistband portion and guided on said latch rail for reciprocal movement therealong, said latch rail on a face thereof directed toward said first waistband portion being provided with a plurality of teeth of a sawtooth-like configuration spaced from each other by respective gaps bounded each by a steep flank of one tooth and a sloping flank of the next adjacent tooth, and a latch finger carried by said slider and adapted to enter into said gaps between the teeth of the latch rail;

wherein the improvement comprises that:
(a) said latch rail has (i) a pair of lateral portions disposed at a distance from said first waistband portion, and (ii) a central upstanding foot extending longitudinally of said latch rail between said lateral portions and being in contact with and secured to said first waistband portion;
(b) said lateral portions on the faces thereof directed toward said first waistband portion are provided with respective sets of said sawtooth-like teeth;
(c) said slider has at its opposite side regions respective U-shaped legs open inwardly of, and overlapping the proximate outer border regions of, said lateral portions of said latch rail for guiding said slider along said latch rail, and further has respective latch fingers adapted to coact with and enter into the gaps between said teeth of the respective sets of teeth;
(d) said slider is arranged for transverse shifting jointly with said latch fingers relative to said latch rail toward and away from said first waistband portion for selectively positioning said latch fingers out of and in contact with said teeth as well as out of and in said gaps therebetween;
and
(e) said latch fingers are constructed and arranged to ride along and over said teeth in contact therewith and hence into and out of said gaps when said slider, while transversely shifted away from said first waistband portion, is moved lengthwise of said latch rail in the direction toward said sloping flanks of said teeth, and (ii) to be brought out of contact with said teeth and hence fully out of said gaps and clear of the tops and said steep flanks of said teeth so as to move freely past the latter when said slider, while transversely shifted toward said first waistband portion, is moved lengthwise of said latch rail in the direction toward said steep flanks of said teeth.

4 more elements

wherein the improvement comprises that;
(a) said slider is arranged for transverse shifting jointly with said latch finger relative to said latch rail toward and away from said first waistband portion for selectively positioning said latch finger out of and in contact with said teeth as well as out of and in said gaps therebetween;
(b) means are associated with said slider and constructed to define a tunnel for accommodating a covering strip for said latch rail;
and
(c) said latch finger is constructed and arranged (i) to ride along and over said teeth in contact therewith and hence into and out of said gaps when said slider, while transversely shifted away from said first waistband portion, is moved lengthwise of said latch rail in the direction toward said sloping flanks of said teeth, and (ii) to be brought out of contact with said teeth and hence fully out of said gaps and clear of the tops and said steep flanks of said teeth so as to move freely past the latter when said slider, while transversely shifted toward said first waistband portion, is moved lengthwise of said latch rail in the direction toward said steep flanks of said teeth.

2 more elements

A waistband fastener, especially for trousers, skirts or the like having first and second waistband portions arranged to overlie one another with said first waistandd portion closer to the body of the wearer than said second waistband portion, which waistband fastener includes a latch rail fixed to said first waistband portion, a slider connected to said second waistband portion and guided on said latch rail for reciprocal movement therealong, said latch rail having opposite faces directed toward and away from said first waistband portion, respectively, and being provided on said face directed toward said first waistband portion with a plurality of teeth spaced from each other by respective gaps each bounded by a flank of one tooth and the proximate flank of the next adjacent tooth, and a latch finger carried by said slider and adapted to enter into said gaps between the teeth of the latch rail;

wherein the improvement comprises that:
(a) said slider is arranged for transverse shifting thereof jointly with said latch finger relative to said latch rail away from and toward said first waistband portion through a distance at least equal to the height of said teeth for selectively positioning said latch finger in and out of said gaps between said teeth so as to be either in a position to engage said flanks of said teeth or in a position to clear the tops of said teeth;
and
(b) said latch finger is constructed and arranged to be brought out of said gaps and clear of the tops and said flanks of said teeth so as to move freely past the latter when said slider, while transversely shifted toward said first waistband portion, is moved lengthwise of said latch rail.

1 more element

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 07/787,572Filed 4 Nov 1991
Priority: DE 403593312 Nov 1990
Granted: 26 Jan 1993
Term ends: Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification9 codes

A41F 1/008
Fastening devices specially adapted for garments: adjustable fasteners comprising a track and a slide member
A41F 9/025
Expansible or adjustable belts or girdles ; Adjustable fasteners comprising a track and a slide member: adjustable belts or girdles
Y10S 24/48
Selectively interlocking member having movably attached or biased interlocking component: and cavity for guiding movement of formations
Y10T 24/21
Buckles, buttons, clasps, etc.: strap tighteners