Fastener clamp for attachment to textiles
This application is related to a clamp that can provide, for an associated fastener (e.g., hook and receiver or other male/female style fastener), a robust connection to a textile (e.g., a strap or other textile portion that is releasably attachable to another textile portion). For example, the fastener can include a first connector (e.g., hook) for releasably mating with a corresponding second connector (e.g., receiver). In addition, the first connector can include a clamp for providing a fixed connection to a first textile, and the second connector can include a clamp for providing a fixed connection to another textile (e.g., the first and second textiles to be releasably connected to each other via the fastener). In at least some examples, the clamp can include a first clamping plate and a second clamping plate. In addition, a portion of the textile can be secured in a clamping groove between the first clamping plate and the second clamping plate. For instance, the clamping plates can be bonded and/or stitched to the textile portion.
1 . A fastener comprising:
a hook and a receiver that releasably connect to one another;
the hook comprising:
a first clamp, the first clamp comprising:
a first clamping plate configured to be affixed to a first side of a first textile portion; and
a second clamping plate configured to be affixed to a second side of the first textile portion; and
the receiver comprising:
a rim surrounding an aperture, the aperture being configured to receive the hook; and
a second clamp, the second clamp comprising:
a third clamping plate configured to be affixed to a first side of a second textile portion; and
a fourth clamping plate configured to be affixed to a second side of the second textile portion,
wherein the hook and the receiver are spaced away from an underlying surface when the hook is received by the receiver, the first clamping plate and the second clamping plate extending downwardly towards the underlying surface and away from the receiver when the hook is received by the receiver, and the third clamping plate and the fourth clamping plate extending downwardly towards the underlying surface and away from the hook when the hook is received by the receiver.
2 . The fastener of claim 1 , wherein:
the second clamping plate is attached, via a first hinge, to the first clamping plate; and
the third clamping plate is attached, via a second hinge, to the fourth clamping plate.
3 . The fastener of claim 2 , wherein:
the second clamping plate comprises a first thickness and the first hinge comprises a second thickness that is less than the first thickness; and
the fourth clamping plate comprises a third thickness and the second hinge comprises a fourth thickness that is less than the third thickness.
4 . The fastener of claim 1 , wherein:
the first clamping plate comprises a proximal portion and a distal portion, the proximal portion being closer, relative to the distal portion, to a portion of the hook that mates with the receiver; and
the first clamping plate tapers in width as the first clamping plate extends from the proximal portion to the distal portion.
5 . The fastener of claim 1 , wherein:
the third clamping plate comprises a proximal portion and a distal portion, the proximal portion being closer, relative to the distal portion, to a portion of the receiver that mates with the hook; and
the third clamping plate tapers in width as the third clamping plate extends from the proximal portion to the distal portion.
6 . The fastener of claim 1 , wherein:
the fastener releasably connects a first portion of an article to a second portion of the article; and
the article includes an upper-torso garment, a pant garment, a belt, a footwear article, or a bag.
7 . The fastener of claim 1 , wherein the hook further comprises a second aperture, and wherein, when the hook is inserted into the aperture of the receiver, the second aperture of the hook and the aperture of the receiver are axially aligned.
8 . The fastener of claim 7 , wherein the second aperture of the hook and the aperture of the receiver are centered around a common central point when axially aligned.
9 . A fastener comprising:
a first connector that releasably mates with a second connector;
the first connector comprising a clamp configured to attach to a textile portion, and a hook configured to releasably mate with the second connector;
the clamp comprising a first clamping plate extending from the hook to a first free end having a first end and a second end and a second clamping plate extending from the first clamping plate to a second free end having a first end and a second end; and
the first clamping plate and the second clamping plate comprising opposing sides of a clamping groove configured to receive a segment of the textile portion,
wherein the first end of the second clamping plate is joined to the first clamping plate between the hook and the first free end,
wherein the first clamping plate and the second clamping plate extend downwardly toward an underlying surface and away from the second connector when the hook is mated with the second connector
at an intermediate point of the first clamping plate between the first end and the second end of the first clamping plate, and
wherein the fastener is offset from the underlying surface.
10 . The fastener of claim 9 , wherein the second clamping plate is attached, via a hinge, to the first clamping plate.
11 . The fastener of claim 10 , wherein:
the second clamping plate comprises a first thickness; and
the hinge comprises a second thickness that is less than the first thickness.
12 . The fastener of claim 9 , wherein:
the first clamping plate comprises a first proximal portion and a first distal portion, the first proximal portion being closer, relative to the first distal portion, to a portion of the first connector that mates with the second connector,
the first clamping plate tapers in width as the first clamping plate extends from the first proximal portion to the first distal portion;
the second clamping plate comprises a second proximal portion and a second distal portion, the second proximal portion being closer, relative to the second distal portion, to a portion of the second clamping plate that connected to the first clamping plate; and
the second clamping plate tapers in width as the second clamping plate extends from the second proximal portion to the second distal portion.
13 . The fastener of claim 9 , wherein the fastener releasably connects a first portion of a support-garment underband to a second portion of the support-garment underband.
14 . The fastener of claim 9 , wherein the second clamping plate extends from the underlying surface to the intermediate point on the first clamping plate.
15 . A fastener comprising:
a first connector that releasably mates with a second connector;
the first connector comprising a first clamp configured to attach to a textile portion and a body having a first elongated cross-sectional profile defined by a first diameter and a second diameter, wherein the first diameter is different than the second diameter;
the second connector comprising a second clamp configured to attach to another textile portion and a rim defining an aperture having a second elongated cross-sectional profile defined by a third diameter and a fourth diameter, wherein the third diameter is different than the fourth diameter,
wherein the body of the first connector is configured to be inserted into the aperture of the second connector in a first rotational orientation and rotated into a second rotational orientation such that the first and second elongated cross-sectional profiles are axially aligned to secure the fastener in a closed position,
wherein the body and the rim are spaced away from an underlying surface when the body is received by the rim, the first clamp extending downwardly towards the underlying surface and away from the rim when the body is received by the rim, and the second clamp extending downwardly towards the underlying surface and away from the body when the body is received by the rim.
16 . The fastener of claim 15 , wherein each of the clamps comprise a first clamping plate and a second clamping plate, and wherein the second clamping plate is angled at an angle that ranges from 15 degrees to 65 degrees.
17 . The fastener of claim 16 , wherein the second clamping plate is coupled, via a hinge, to the first clamping plate.
18 . The fastener of claim 15 , wherein:
the first diameter is greater than the second diameter;
the third diameter is greater than the fourth diameter;
the third diameter is greater than the first diameter; and
the fourth diameter is less than the second diameter.