Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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SYSTEM FOR RELEASABLY ATTACHING AN ARTICLE OF CLOTHING TO A
BODY
The invention relates to a system for releasably attaching an article of
clothing to a body, comprising a first fixing element intended for attachment
to the
article of clothing and a second fixing element intended for adhering to the
body,
wherein both fixing elements are provided with co-acting connecting means.
Such a system is known in the field and is described in American patent
application US2009/0093190. Described In this patent application is a system
of the
type described in the preamble for application in a bra. For this purpose the
user of
the bra must adhere two strips of fabric to either side of the body. The
strips of
fabric and the bra are provided with co-acting connecting means, wherein hooks
and eyes are attached to the outer ends of the two strips to attach the bra.
The known system has the drawback that the system is limited to application
in a bra. In addition, the known system has the drawback that the strips of
fabric
must be adhered to a relatively large surface area of the skin.
It is the object of the invention to provide a system of the type stated in
the
preamble which does not have said drawbacks.
The system according to the invention has for this purpose the feature that
at least the second fixing element is manufactured from substantially stiff
material,
that the second fixing element is provided with a substantially flat adhering
surface,
and the co-acting connecting means are arranged substantially centrally on the
first
and second fixing element. By embodying the second fixing element in stiff
material
the surface which adheres to the skin can remain relatively small relative to
the
article of clothing. This increases wearer comfort. In addition, suitable
types of
adhesive also perform better on a stiff surface than on a fabric surface as in
the
known system.
The system according to the invention is not limited to a bra but, owing to
the central position of the connecting means on the fixing element, can be
universally applied for any conceivable article of clothing which comes into
direct
contact with the skin.
A system according to the preamble of claim 1 is known in the field and is
described in American patent application US2003/012993. In the known system
the
first fixing element is connected to the second fixing element by means of a
press
connection or a velcro connection. In practice these connections are very
uncomfortable for a user of the system, since a pushing or a pulling movement
has
to be made in order to connect or release the system to or from the body. This
has
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the result that the skin of the user is pushed in or stretched and causes an
uncomfortable sensation.
It is an object of the invention to provide a system according to the preamble
of claim I which obviates the above stated drawback.
The system according to the invention has for this purpose the feature that
the connecting means form a sliding connection. A sliding connection has the
advantage that the article of clothing can be easily attached to the skin.
In a practical embodiment of the system the sliding connection comprises an
edging which is arranged on the first or second fixing element, and a closing
edge
which is arranged on the first or second fixing element, wherein the edging
and the
closing edge are intended for co-action. The height of the system is hereby
limited
to substantially the thickness of the edging and the height of the closing
edge, this
resulting in a flat construction. This measure further increases the wearer
comfort of
the system. Compared to the known connections, the relatively flat
construction of
the sliding connection also has the advantage that the user suffers little
inconvenience from the system during use of the system according to the
invention.
Owing to the limited and compact size of the system, the system can be fully
integrated into the clothing and is thereby almost invisible in use.
In a first preferred embodiment of the system according to the invention the
connecting means are provided with an edging around the first fixing element
and
an elevation with a closing edge on the second fixing element which are
intended to
receive the edging.
The edging is preferably circular, the elevation and the closing edge are U-
shaped, and the first fixing element is button-shaped.
In a second alternative preferred embodiment the edging is formed by the
edge of one or more channel-like recesses in the first fixing element, the
closing
edge is arranged on an elevation on the second fixing element, the width of
the
channel-like recess is smaller than the smallest width of the closing edge,
and the
greatest width of the elevation is smaller than the width of the channel-like
recess.
The channel-like recess preferably comprises an adjacent passage which is
intended for passage of the closing edge.
The shapes of the cross-section of the elevation and the channel-like recess
preferably co-act such that the first fixing part is rotatable relative to the
second
fixing part. This further enhances the wearer comfort of the system.
The flat construction of the first fixing element has the advantage that a
large sewable surface area is created, whereby the first fixing element can be
firmly
connected to the article of clothing.
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The invention also relates to an article of clothing provided with the system
according to the invention.
In addition, the invention relates to a fixing element for use as second
fixing
element as described as component of the system according to the invention.
The invention will be further elucidated with reference to the following
figures, in which:
Figures 1a-11 show the system according to the invention, wherein a bikini is
attached to the body;
Figure 2 shows the first preferred embodiment of the system according to
the invention;
Figure 3 shows the second preferred embodiment of the system according
to the invention.
Figure 4 shows alternative preferred embodiments of the first fixing part of
the second preferred embodiment of the system.
Figures 1 a-11 show the system according to a preferred embodiment of the
system according to the invention, wherein for the purpose of illustration a
bikini is
attached to the body.
Figure Ia to figure Ic show a body 1-2 to which the second fixing elements
1-1 are attached. The locations for second fixing elements 1-1 can be chosen
such
that the article of clothing to be attached is optimally supported and that
second
fixing elements 1-1 are substantially invisible after the article of clothing
has been
attached.
Figure Id to figure if show body 1-2, in which a bikini 1-3 is attached to
body 1-2 by means of the system according to the invention, wherein the system
is
embodied as in figure 2. The first and second fixing elements are here hidden
from
view.
Figure 1g to figure 1i show body 1-2, in which a bikini 1-3 is attached to
body 1-2 by means of the system according to the invention, wherein second
fixing
elements 1-1 are provided with a spherical protrusion and the corresponding
first
fixing elements 1-4 are formed in the bikini by means of a reinforced hole in
the
bikini for receiving the spherical protrusion.
Figure I j - figure 11 show body 1-2, wherein a bikini 1-3 is attached to body
1-2 by means of the system according to the invention, wherein the second
fixing
elements 1-1 are provided with a spherical protrusion and the corresponding
first
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fixing elements 1-5 are formed in the bikini by means of a loop in the bikini
for
receiving the spherical protrusion.
Figure 2 shows the first preferred embodiment 2 of the system according to
the invention. System 2 is formed by first fixing element 2-1 and second
fixing
element 2-2. First fixing element 2-1 is preferably cylindrical and embodied
in
plastic, and provided with a edging 2-3. First fixing element 2-1 is intended
for
attachment to the article of clothing (not drawn). First fixing element 2-1 is
provided
for this purpose with holes 2-4 so that the first fixing element 2-1 can be
attached to
the article of clothing using thread. In addition, it is also possible to
attach first fixing
element 2-1 to the article of clothing by means of clamping member 2-5.
Clamping
member 2-5 is pressed here through the fabric of the article of clothing,
wherein pin
2-6 of clamping member 2-5 is received clampingly in the corresponding hole 2-
7 in
first fixing element 2-1.
Second fixing element 2-2 is provided with a flat side and manufactured
from stiff material, preferably of plastic. The flat side is intended for
attachment to
the body by means of an adhesive suitable for the purpose. The adhesive can
here
already be applied to the flat side, wherein a backing film has to be removed
for the
purpose of attachment to the body. The adhesive can also be applied
separately.
The fixing element is provided with an elevation 2-8 which preferably forms a
U-
shape. A closing edge 2-9 is arranged on elevation 2-8. First fixing element 2-
1 is
fastened to second fixing element 2-2 by sliding the edging 2-3 into elevation
2-8.
First fixing element 2-1 is held in place here by at least one safety
protrusion 2-10.
Second fixing element 2-2 is in addition preferably provided with a recessed
portion
2-11 for receiving the pin 2-6 of clamping member 2-5.
Figure 3 shows the second preferred embodiment 3 of the system according
to the invention. System 3 is formed by first fixing element 3-1 and second
fixing
element 3-2. A channel-like recess 3-5 is arranged in first fixing element 3-
1. First
fixing element 3-1 is intended for attachment to the article of clothing (not
drawn).
Second fixing element 3-2 is provided with a closing edge 3-9 which is
arranged on
an elevation 3-8. Second fixing element 3-2 is intended for attachment to the
body
and is connected to the body in the same manner as second fixing element 2-2
of
the first preferred embodiment. When first fixing element 3-1 is connected to
second
fixing element 3-2, elevation 3-8 is slid through channel-like recess 3-5,
after which
the edging of channel-like recess 3-5 is secured by closing edge 3-9. First
fixing
element 3-2 preferably has a passage 3-4 for passage of closing edge 3-9. The
length of channel-like recess 3-5 can in this way remain limited. The second
preferred embodiment is preferably applied in stretch clothing, wherein the
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connection between the first and second fixing element is placed under tension
due
to the pulling action of the stretch clothing. First fixing element 3-1
preferably has a
flat surface 3-10 and is preferably embodied in plastic. First fixing element
3-1 is
preferably sewn into the article of clothing, for instance at the position
indicated with
a broken line. In order to keep the system as flat as possible it is
recommended that
the height of elevation 3-8 be approximately equal to the thickness of edging
3-3,
wherein clearance is present between edging 3-3 and closing edge 3-9 in the
assembled position of the system, this clearance being such that sliding of
first
fixing part 3-1 in second fixing part 3-2 remains possible.
Figure 4 shows alternative preferred embodiments of first fixing part 3-1 of
the second preferred embodiment 3 of the system according to the invention. In
Figure 4d fixing part 3-1 has a plurality of channel-like recesses and fixing
part 3-1
has three corresponding angular points at a different angle (Oa,Q, 8). It is
hereby
possible to manufacture fixing part 3-1 for different articles of clothing,
wherein the
most suitable angle can be chosen for attaching fixing part 3-1 to the
clothing.
As alternative to fixing part 3-2 in figure 3, fixing part 3-2 can be provided
with a plurality of closing edges 3-9, each on their own elevation 3-8. The
user of
the system hereby has a choice as to which closing edge 3-9 of fixing part 3-2
the
fixing part 3-1 is attached.
The invention is not limited to the described and shown preferred
embodiment, but extends to any embodiment falling within the scope of
protection
as defined in the claims, as seen in the light of the foregoing description
and
accompanying drawings.
