Closure device, particularly for bags and items of clothing in general

Abstract

A closure device (1), particularly for bags and items of clothing in general, which comprises a fixed part (2) associable with a first flap (3) of a bag or item of clothing in general and a movable part (4) which is associated with the fixed part (2) and is engageable with a second flap (5) of the bag or item of clothing in general so as to provide a closure between the flaps (3, 5) as a result of their overlap; the movable part (4) has an engagement tooth (6 upper plate (16) which is associable with the second flap (5); the fixed and movable parts (2, 4) are hinged to each other so as to ensure that the movable part (4) is rotatable with respect to the fixed part (2) about an axis of rotation (8) between an engagement position, in which the movable part (4) is superimposed on the fixed part (2) and in which the engagement tooth (6) is engaged with the contoured cavity (7), and a release position, in which the movable part (4) is rotated with respect to the engagement position and in which the engagement tooth (6) is disengaged from the contoured cavity (7).

Description

[0001] The present invention relates to a closure device, particularly for bags and items of clothing in general.

[0002] In the sector of fashion accessories, the use is known of closure devices adapted to allow the temporary association of two flaps of fabric or the like to be joined together.

[0003] In the specific case of bags and handbags, conventional closure devices comprise a movable part and a fixed part which are associable, respectively, with a first flap and with a second flap which are to be overlapped in order to obtain the closure of the bag.

[0004] In more detail, the movable part has a contoured cavity of the through loop type, and a contoured pin protrudes from the fixed part and is engageable in the contoured cavity following its insertion into the contoured cavity and the rotation of a rotatable end portion thereof.

[0005] In this way, the contoured pin of the fixed part is fastened to the contoured cavity of the movable part, so obtaining the closure.

[0006] Although conventional closure devices do achieve the purpose for which they are designed, the manner of their design means they are very often unattractive, to the point where they negatively affect the overall impression made by the bag or, more generally, by the item of clothing on which they are used.

[0007] In fact, in the closed configuration, the rotatable part of the contoured pin remains in view.

[0008] The aim of the present invention consists in providing a closure device, particularly for bags and items of clothing in general, that makes it possible to overcome the drawback complained of above.

[0009] Within this aim, an object of the present invention consists in providing a closure device that integrates with the appearance of the bag on which it is applied.

[0010] Another object of the present invention consists in providing a closure device that is capable of offering the widest assurances of reliability, of efficiency and of operation.

[0011] A further object of the present invention is to provide a closure device that can be provided with known technology in the technical sector of interest and therefore can be produced at low cost.

[0012] This aim and these and other objects which will become more apparent hereinafter are achieved by a closure device, particularly for bags and items of clothing in general, according to claim 1.

[0013] Further characteristics and advantages of the invention will become more apparent from the detailed description of a preferred, but not exclusive, embodiment of [a] closure device, particularly for bags and items of clothing in general, illustrated by way of non-limiting example with the aid of the accompanying drawings wherein: Figure 1 is a perspective view seen from above of a closure device according to the invention; Figure 2 is a perspective view seen from below of the closure device shown in Figure 1; Figure 3 is an exploded perspective view seen from above of the closure device shown in the previous figures; Figure 4 is an exploded perspective view seen from below of the closure device shown in the previous figures; Figure 5 is a plan view from above of the closure device shown in the previous figures, in the engagement position; Figure 6 is a plan view from above of the closure device shown in the previous figures, in the release position; Figures 7 to 9 are three side views of the closure device showing the closure operations in sequence; Figure 10 is a perspective view of the closure device shown in the previous figures and applied to two flaps to be closed.

[0014] With reference to the figures, the closure device, particularly for bags and items of clothing in general, is generally designated by the reference numeral 1 and comprises a fixed part 2 associable with a first flap 3 of a bag or item of clothing in general and a movable part 4 which is associated with the fixed part 2 and is engageable with a second flap 5 of the same bag or item of clothing in general so as to provide a closure between these flaps 3 and 5 as a result of their overlap.

[0015] In the embodiment proposed, there is an upper plate 16, which is associable with the second flap 5 by means of for example adhesive bonding or the like, and has a contoured cavity 7 which is shaped to be engaged by a respective engagement tooth 6 defined by the movable part 4.

[0016] According to the invention, the fixed and movable parts 2 and 4 are hinged to each other so as to ensure that the movable part 4 is rotatable with respect to the fixed part 2 about an axis of rotation 8 between an engagement position, in which the movable part 4 is superimposed on the fixed part 2 and in which the engagement tooth 6 is engaged with the contoured cavity 7, and a release position, in which the movable part 4 is rotated with respect to the engagement position and in which the engagement tooth 6 is disengaged from the contoured cavity 7.

[0017] In more detail, in the embodiment proposed, the hinging described above is provided by a pin 20 which is partially screwed, at its end portion, into a threaded hole 21 defined on the movable part 4 and passes through, at a central portion thereof, the fixed part 2 through a through hole 22 therein.

[0018] Conveniently, the pin 20 has a radially-widened head 23 defined on the opposite end with respect to said end portion, which is adapted to retain said fixed part 2 which, in turn, has a radially-widened segment of the through hole 22 which is adapted to accommodate the head 23.

[0019] Furthermore, the movable part 4 has a geometric shape that reproduces an ornamental shape that can be ergonomically actuated by a user with their fingers so as to enable the switching thereof between the engagement and release positions.

[0020] Also according to the invention, automatic return means 9 are provided for returning the movable part 4 to the engagement position.

[0021] Advantageously, as will be better described later, the automatic return means 9 are of the magnetic type.

[0022] However, in a variation of embodiment, not shown, the automatic return means 9 can comprise elastic return elements that are technically equivalent to means of the magnetic type.

[0023] In this way, the movable part 4 is movable from said engagement position to said release position in contrast to the action of the automatic return means 9 and is movable from said release position to said engagement position by the action of the automatic return means 9.

[0024] In the embodiment proposed, as mentioned previously, the automatic return means 9 comprise a first pair of permanent magnets 10 and 11 which are accommodated, respectively, in two seats 12 and 13 defined, respectively, on two portions of said fixed and movable parts 2 and 4 which face each other in said engagement position and are adjacent in said release position.

[0025] More specifically, these permanent magnets 10 and 11 correspond to each other and have opposing polarities for their mutual magnetic attraction.

[0026] Advantageously, there is a second pair of permanent magnets 14 and 15, which are associable with the flaps 3 and 5 so as to correspond to each other and have opposing polarities for their mutual magnetic attraction in such a manner as to facilitate the positioning of the second flap 5 on the first flap 3.

[0027] In more detail, there is a bottom plate 17 which is associable integrally with the fixed part 2 and defines a first accommodation seat 18 for one of the permanent magnets 14 and 15.

[0028] Similarly, the upper plate 16 has a second accommodation seat 19 for the other one of the permanent magnets 14 and 15.

[0029] Such accommodation seats 18 and 19 conveniently correspond to each other in said engagement position.

[0030] The operation of the closure device 1 is described below.

[0031] With particular reference to Figures 7 to 10, once the fixed and movable parts 2 and 4 are assembled on the respective flaps 3 and 5, then, starting from the release position, the movable part 4, when it is brought by the user closer to the fixed part 2, is attracted to the fixed part 2 by the action of the second pair of permanent magnets 14 and 15, so ensuring the correct alignment between the parts.

[0032] At this point, in order to achieve the closure of the closure device 1, the user, acting on the movable part 4 by making it rotate clockwise as shown in Figure 10 in contrast to the action of the first pair of permanent magnets 10 and 11, enables the contact between the plates 16 and 17, and then releases the movable part 4 which automatically returns to the engagement position by means of the action of the first pair of permanent magnets 10 and 11, so allowing the engagement tooth 6 to engage in the contoured cavity 7.

[0033] Conversely, in order to achieve the opening of the closure device 1, the user, acting on the movable part 4 by making it rotate clockwise again as shown in Figure 10 in contrast to the action of the first pair of permanent magnets 10 and 11, enables the engagement tooth 6 to disengage from the contoured cavity 7.

[0034] At this point it is possible to move the plates 16 and 17 away from each other, defeating the action of the second pair of permanent magnets 14 and 15.

[0035] In practice it has been found that the closure device, according to the present invention, achieves the set aim and objects, by enabling the closure of two flaps of a bag or item of clothing in general, while remaining integrated in the ornament of that bag.

[0036] In fact, depending on the brand, the fixed part and the moveable part, and also the upper and lower plates, can be contoured to reproduce a trademark or a logo, while leaving the mechanics of the closure device substantially unaltered.

[0037] The closure device thus conceived is susceptible of numerous modifications and variations all of which are within the scope of the appended claims.

[0038] Moreover, all the details may be substituted by other, technically equivalent elements.

[0039] In practice the materials employed, provided they are compatible with the specific use, and the contingent dimensions and shapes, may be any according to requirements and to the state of the art.

[0040] The disclosures in Italian Patent Application No. 102024000014290 from which this application claims priority are incorporated herein by reference.

[0041] Where technical features mentioned in any claim are followed by reference signs, those reference signs have been included for the sole purpose of increasing the intelligibility of the claims and accordingly, such reference signs do not have any limiting effect on the interpretation of each element identified by way of example by such reference signs.

Claims

1. A closure device (1), particularly for bags and items of clothing in general, which comprises a fixed part (2) associable with a first flap (3) of a bag or item of clothing in general and a movable part (4) which is associated with said fixed part (2) and is engageable with a second flap (5) of said bag or item of clothing in general so as to provide a closure between said flaps (3, 5) as a result of their overlap; said movable part (4) having an engagement tooth (6) which is engageable in a respective contoured cavity (7) defined by an upper plate (16) which is associable with said second flap (5); characterized in that said fixed and movable parts (2, 4) are hinged to each other so as to ensure that said movable part (4) is rotatable with respect to said fixed part (2) about an axis of rotation (8) between an engagement position, in which said movable part (4) is superimposed on said fixed part (2) and in which said engagement tooth (6) is engaged with said contoured cavity (7), and a release position, in which said movable part (4) is rotated with respect to said engagement position and in which said engagement tooth (6) is disengaged from said contoured cavity (7); and characterized in that it comprises automatic return means (9) of said movable part (4) to said engagement position.

2. The closure device (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that said automatic return means (9) are of the magnetic type.

3. The closure device (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that said movable part (4) is movable from said engagement position to said release position in contrast to the action of said automatic return means (9) and is movable from said release position to said engagement position by the action of said automatic return means (9).

4. The closure device (1) according to claim 2, characterized in that said automatic return means (9) comprise a first pair of permanent magnets (10, 11) which are accommodated, respectively, in two seats (12, 13) defined, respectively, on two portions of said fixed and movable parts (2, 4) which face each other in said engagement position and are adjacent in said release position; said first pair of permanent magnets (10, 11) corresponding to each other and having opposing polarities for their mutual magnetic attraction.

5. The closure device (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that said movable part (4) has a geometric form that reproduces an ornamental shape and can be operated ergonomically by a user with their fingers.

6. The closure device (1) according to claim 4, characterized in that it comprises a second pair of permanent magnets (14, 15), which are associable with said flaps (3, 5) so as to correspond to each other and have opposing polarities for their mutual magnetic attraction in such a manner as to facilitate the positioning of said second flap (5) on said first flap (3).

7. The closure device (1) according to claim 6, characterized in that it comprises a bottom plate (17) which is integrally associable with said fixed part (2) and defines a first accommodation seat (18) for one of said second pair of permanent magnets (14, 15), and in that said upper plate (16) has a second accommodation seat (19) for the other one of said second pair of permanent magnets (14, 15); said accommodation seats (18, 19) corresponding to each other in said engagement position.

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