An item

Abstract

Item comprising inter-linked parts with apertures and linking members Item comprising component part 1 assembled with one or more like component parts to form part of said item without component parts

Description

Field This disclosure relates, in one aspect, to an item comprising a component part that 5 is assembled with one or more like component parts to form at least a part of the item. In another aspect the disclosure relates to a component part that can be assembled with one or more like component parts to form at least a part of a garment. Another aspect of the disclosure relates to a garment formed from a plurality of coupled component parts of the type disclosed herein. 10 Although the component part disclosed herein is described in detail below in the context of a garment, it should be noted that the teachings of this disclosure are not limited solely to this particular application and that the component part herein disclosed may be employed in the assembly of a large variety of other types of items, for example bags, screens (such as shower screens), curtains, blankets, lamp shades or bedcoverings. It 15 should also be noted that items comprising component parts of the type disclosed herein may be wholly formed from component parts, or at least partly formed from component parts. Background 20 Garments made from sheets of material, for example from an animal skin (in the context of a leather garment) or a length of fabric, are typically fashioned by cutting a number of shapes from the material and then joining those shapes together. For example, a shirt will likely comprise - inter alia - a panel for the rear of the shirt, panels for the front of the shirt, and panels for the sleeves of the shirt. 25 As these panels tend not to be rectangular, square or otherwise regular in shape, it is commonplace for small pieces of material to be left over once the panels of a given garment pattern have been cut. Whilst these left-over pieces of material can sometimes be recycled, it remains the case that significant amounts of energy are required to recycle such material. It would be advantageous if the amount of left-over material could be 30 reduced, or if left-over material could be utilised. United States Patent no. 7028871 discloses a guitar strap which employs a plurality of links that are folded back on themselves to provide aligned holes through which another link can be fed, and so on to form the strap. A disadvantage with this arrangement is that folding links introduces a point of weakness, particularly if the strap should be made 35 of a natural material such as leather. Folded links are also necessarily less pliable, and hence stiffer. 03 07 24 United States Patent no. 665043 discloses a pair of suspenders formed from a plurality of individual links. Each link is folded back on itself to align a set of openings, following which the legs of another link are passed through the openings. United States Patent no. 1847182 discloses a belt that is formed from a plurality of links. In this instance 5 the links are again folded over themselves to align sets of holes before a second link is threaded through them. United States Patent no. 1871785 discloses leather articles formed from individual units that are folded back on themselves to couples adjacent units together. All of these US patents suffer from similar disadvantages to those associated with US7028871, mentioned above. 10 UK Patent No. 2074843, in contrast to the US Patents mentioned above, does not require the looped members disclosed in the patent to be folded back on themselves. In this instance the looped members are linear components that are linked together to form straps and the like. In the finished article a plurality of linked looped members lie on top of one another so that at least three looped members are stacked upon one another. As 15 a result of this arrangement the articles are relatively thick (in a dimension generally perpendicular to the plane in which the looped members lie), less pliable and hence relatively stiff. Aspects of this disclosure have been devised with the foregoing in mind. 20 Summary One implementation of the teachings of this disclosure provides an item as claimed in Claim 1. Preferred features of this item are set out in the claims that depend from Claim 1. Another implementation provides an item comprising a component part that has 25 been assembled with one or more like component parts to form at least a part of said item without any of said component parts having been folded back on themselves before being coupled to another said component part, wherein each component part comprises: a plurality of loops arranged adjacent to one another along a notional line in a common plane, said loops each defining an aperture and each comprising a proximal portion and 30 a distal portion, the proximal portions of adjacent loops co-operating to form at least a part of a proximal side of said component part, and a plurality of solid, aperture-less elongate members that co-operate to form at least a part of a distal side of said component part, each said elongate member forming a link extending in a direction generally parallel to said notional line that couples the distal portion of one said loop to the distal portion of an 35 adjacent loop, each said loop being otherwise separate from adjacent loops; the arrangement being such that loops of a first said component part can be passed - in a 03 07 24 direction generally orthogonal to said notional line - through the apertures of the loops of a second said component part to form a layer of said item in which the first and second component parts are coupled together in such a way that the otherwise separate loops of the second component part are coupled together by the elongate members of the first 5 component part. Another presently preferred implementation of the teachings of this disclosure provides a component part for assembly with one or more (preferably, like) component parts to form at least a part of an item, the component part comprising: a plurality of loops arranged adjacent to one another in a common plane, said loops each defining an aperture 10 and each comprising a proximal portion and a distal portion, the proximal portions of adjacent loops co-operating to form at least a part of a proximal side of said component part, and a plurality of links that co-operate to form at least a part of a distal side of said component part, each said link coupling the distal portion of one said loop to the distal portion of an adjacent loop, each said loop being otherwise separate from adjacent loops; 15 the arrangement being such that loops of a first said component part can be passed through the apertures of the loops of a second said component part to couple the first and second component parts together in such a way that the otherwise separate loops of the second component part are coupled together by the links of the first component part. One advantage of such an arrangement is that as the item is assembled from 20 component parts, the amount of wastage can be greatly reduced. For example, in the context of an item that comprises an article of clothing, the amount of waste material generated after a number of component parts have been cut from a piece of material is reduced as compared with the waste that would have been generated from a traditional manufacturing process where larger shapes are cut from the 25 material. Another advantage, again in the context of an item that comprises an article of clothing, is that wastage can be reduced by cutting or pressing component parts from pieces of material that are left-over from traditional clothing manufacturing processes. In one arrangement the adjacent loops of said component part co-operate with the 30 links that couple said adjacent loops together to define a plurality of recesses. The recesses may open towards the proximal edge of said component part. The recesses may all have substantially the same shape. The recesses may have a shape that is at least similar to the shape of the apertures defined by the loops. In one implementation, adjacent loops of said plurality are provided side-by-side. 35 Alternatively, adjacent loops of said plurality may be spaced from one another. The links may be of a constant thickness in a direction from said distal edge to said proximal edge. 03 07 24 The component part may comprise first and second couplers provided, respectively, in the vicinity of opposite ends of the component part. The couplers may be configured so that end regions of the component part can be joined to an end region of another component part. The couplers may be configured so that respective end regions 5 of one component part can be coupled together to form a tubular structure. In one envisaged implementation the first coupler may comprise a barb-shaped lateral extension to a loop adjacent a first end of the component part, and the second coupler may comprise a tab that extends laterally from a loop adjacent a second end of the component part opposite to the first end. The tab may include a slot that is capable of 10 receiving the barb shaped lateral extension. In one implementation, at least part of said component part is formed from an animal skin, for example leather. In another implementation at least part of said component part is formed from a sheet or roll of fabric or textile, or from a sheet or roll of plastic or metal. In another implementation at least part of said component part is formed 15 by moulding a suitable material or mix of materials in an appropriately shaped mould. Another implementation of the teachings of this disclosure provides an item or part thereof comprising a least a first component part of the type disclosed herein assembled together with a second component part of the type disclosed herein. In one envisaged implementation, said first and second component parts may be similarly shaped. The item 20 may comprise at least a part of a garment, a bag, a screen (such as a shower screen), a curtain, a blanket or a bedcovering. Another implementation of the teachings of this disclosure provides a method of assembling at least part of an item, the method comprising the steps of: providing first and second component parts of the type disclosed herein, and passing the loops of said first 25 component part through the apertures of the loops of said second component part to couple the first and second component parts together in such a way that the otherwise separate loops of the second component part are coupled together by the links of the first component part. Yet another implementation of the teachings of this disclosure provides a method 30 of manufacturing a component part of the type disclosed herein, the method comprising the steps of: providing an animal skin, or a roll or sheet of fabric, textile, plastic or metal; and cutting or stamping a component part of the type disclosed herein from said animal skin, or roll or sheet of fabric, textile, plastic or metal. Other features, advantages and aspects of the component part disclosed herein 35 will be apparent from the detailed description provided below. 03 07 24 Brief Description of the Drawings The teachings of this disclosure, and arrangements embodying those teachings, will hereafter be described by way of illustrative example with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: 5 Fig. 1 is a schematic plan view of a component part that embodies the teachings of the present disclosure; Fig. 2 is schematic illustration of one way that component parts can be assembled to form at least part of an item; Fig. 3 is a schematic representation of two assembled component parts; 10 Fig. 4 is a schematic representation of four assembled component parts; Fig. 5 is a schematic representation of another way of assembling two component parts; Fig. 6 is a schematic representation of another way of assembling four component parts; 15 Fig 7 is a schematic representation of another component part; Fig. 8 is a schematic representation of an animal skin from which a plurality of component parts can be cut, stamped or otherwise formed; Figs. 9 to 12 are schematic representations of other illustrative component parts; Fig. 13 is a schematic representation of an illustrative functional component part; 20 Fig. 14 is a schematic representation of the part depicted in Fig. 13 assembled with other component parts; Fig. 15 is a schematic representation of another functional component part; Fig. 16 is a schematic representation of the part depicted in Fig. 15 assembled with other like component parts; 25 Fig. 17 is a schematic representation of an item, in this instance a tunic shirt; Fig. 18 is a schematic representation of another item, in this instance a dress; Fig. 19 is a schematic representation of another item, in this instance a pair of trousers, and Fig. 20 is a schematic representation of another illustrative item, in this instance a 30 lamp. Detailed Description Referring now to Fig. 1, there is depicted a component part 1 that embodies the teachings of the present disclosure. In this particular example, the component part 1 is of 35 leather, and has been formed by cutting or stamping the component part from a larger piece of leather. In other envisaged implementations, the component part may be cut, 03 07 24 stamped or otherwise formed from a sheet or roll of fabric or textile, or from a sheet or roll of plastic or metal. It is also envisaged for the component part to be formed by moulding a suitable material or mix of materials in an appropriately shaped mould. In one implementation, the component part could be laser cut. An advantage of 5 such an arrangement, for example in the context of a textile component part, is that the laser cuts tend to fuse the edge of the textile, thereby making it less likely to fray or unravel. In another implementation, the component part could be cut, for example die cut, or cut with a CNC oscillating knife, from a larger sheet of material. The component part 1 includes a plurality of loops 3 that are arranged adjacent 10 one another along a notional line A—A in a common plane (which in this instance is the plane of the paper). In the particular arrangement illustrated in Fig. 1 the loops 3 are provided next to one another so that they lie side-by-side along the notional line in the common plane. In other contemplated arrangements the loops may be spaced from one another along the notional line in the common plane. 15 Each loop 3 comprises a proximal portion 5 and a distal portion 7, and each loop 3 defines an internal aperture 9 (in this particular instance, a tear-drop or plectrum shaped aperture). In the particular example depicted in Fig. 1 the proximal portions 5 of adjacent loops co-operate to form a proximal edge 11 of the component (represented by the notional dashed line in Fig. 1). As will be appreciated by persons skilled in the art, in 20 implementations where the loops are spaced from one another, the proximal portions of the loops form only part of the proximal edge of the component. Distal portions 7 of the loops 3 are coupled together by means of a plurality of solid, aperture-less elongate members - in one implementation in the form or rods, arms, limbs or bars - that extend generally in parallel with said notional line to form links 13 25 between adjacent loops 3. As depicted, each link connects the distal portion 7 of one loop 3 to the distal portion 7 of an adjacent loop 3. Other than having their distal portions 7 connected by a link 13, adjacent loops 3 are otherwise separate from one another. In the particular example depicted in Fig. 1 the links 13 connecting the distal portions 7 of adjacent loops 3 co-operate to form a distal edge 15 of the component (represented by 30 the notional dashed and dotted line in Fig. 1). The links 13 co-operate with the adjacent loops 3 that they each join to define a plurality of recesses 17 that each open towards the proximal edge 11 of the component 1. In this particular arrangement, a major portion 19 of each recess 17 has, at least approximately, a similar shape to that of each of the apertures 9. In other envisaged arrangements, the major portion of each recess may be 35 differently shaped to each of the apertures. Referring now to Figs. 2 and 3 of the drawings, there is depicted a schematic 03 07 24 representation of how one said component part 1 can be assembled with another like component part 21 to form a layer of an item in which any one component part is or has been passed through another component part. As shown in Fig. 2, each loop 3 of the first said component part 1 is pulled - in a direction B generally orthogonal to the notional line A—A - through the aperture 29 in the corresponding loop 23 of the second like component part 21 until - as shown in Fig. 3 -the otherwise separate loops 23 of the second like component part 21 are coupled together by the links 13 of the first component part 1 (which links 13 extend down (in the orientation depicted) through the aperture 29 of one loop 23 of the second component part and up through the aperture 29 of the adjacent loop of the second component part (so that the links lie under adjacent parts of the loops of the second component part 21)). As shown schematically in Fig. 4, this process can be repeated for third and fourth component parts 31,41 (and additional component parts, if desired) to form a larger item. In an alternative arrangement depicted schematically in Fig. 5, each loop 3 of the first said component part 1 could be pulled downwardly (into the plane of the paper in the orientation depicted) through the aperture 29 in the corresponding loop 23 of the second like component part 21 until - as shown in Fig. 3 - the otherwise separate loops 23 of the second like component part 21 are coupled together by the links 13 of the first component part 1 (which links 13 extend up (in the orientation depicted) through the aperture 29 of one loop 23 of the second component part and down through the aperture 29 of the adjacent loop of the second component part (so that the links lie on top of adjacent parts of the loops of the second component part 21)). In another envisaged implementation, shown schematically in Fig. 6, the loops of a first component part 1 could be pulled downwardly through the loops of a second component part 21 (as shown in Fig. 5) to couple the first and second component parts 1, 21 together. The loops of a third component part 31 could then be pulled upwardly through the apertures in the loops of the first like component part 1 (in accordance with the arrangement shown in Fig. 2) to couple the third component part 31 to the first 1. The loops of a fourth component part 41 could then be pulled downwardly through the loops of the third component part 31 (again as shown in Fig. 2) to couple the fourth component part to the third. In such an implementation the links of one component part would alternate between lying under and lying over adjacent parts of the loops of the component part to which the one component part is coupled. As will be appreciated, it is not necessary for adjacent component parts to be engaged with one another in alternating directions - one could, if desired, couple two (or more) component parts together by passing loops through apertures in an upward 03 07 24 direction, say, and then couple one or more additional component parts by passing loops through apertures in a downward direction. Irrespective of whether the loops are passed through apertures in an upward or downward direction, or indeed in a mixture of the two, it is important to note that the 5 component parts disclosed herein can be joined to one another without having to be folded over on themselves. This is advantageous as it avoids introducing points of weakness associated with the fold - especially in the context of component parts made from natural materials such as leather. It is also important to note that in the vicinity of the join between one component 10 part and another (one such region being labelled "C" in Fig. 3), a maximum of two pieces of material overlap in any given layer. This is advantageous as compared with other previously proposed arrangements, as the thickness of the joined components (in a dimension perpendicular to both the line A—A and direction B) is reduced, and the resulting join is more pliable - which in turn provides the joined components with 15 behavioural characteristics (such, as, for example, the way the joined components hang) that are more like those of a single piece of material. Referring now to Fig. 7, the component part 51 in this particular implementation of the teachings of this disclosure comprises first and second couplers 53, 55 provided, respectively, in the vicinity of opposite ends of the component part (in the particular 20 example shown, at left and right ends of the component part 51). In this particular example, the couplers 53, 55 are configured so that either end region of the component part could be joined to the end region of another like component part, or so that respective end regions of one component part could be coupled together to form a tubular structure. In another envisaged arrangement, the couplers could be 25 configured so that they cannot be joined to one another and can only be joined to couplers of another like component part. In the particular example depicted in Fig. 7, one coupler 53 comprises a barbshaped lateral extension 57 to a loop adjacent a first end of the component part 51. The other coupler 55 comprises a tab 59 that extends laterally from a loop adjacent a second 30 end of the component part 51 opposite to the first end, the tab including a slot 61 for receiving the barb shaped lateral extension 57 of the depicted component part (to form a tubular structure) or the barb-shaped lateral extension of another like component part. As will be appreciated, a variety of different couplers could be provided if desired. For example, one end region could be provided with a button that can be mated with a 35 button hole formed in another end region. Alternatively, or additionally, respective parts of a two-part mechanical fastening mechanism, such as press-studs or a mechanical 03 07 24 hook-and-loop fastener, could be provided - one part in one region and the complementary part in another region (of the same or a different component part). As aforementioned, an advantage of the teachings of this disclosure is that wastage can be reduced by cutting or pressing component parts from pieces of material 5 that are left-over from traditional manufacturing processes. Fig. 8 is a schematic representation of an animal skin 62 from which a number of panels 64 have been cut for the manufacture of an item of clothing. The remaining animal skin 62 is too small for any additional panels to be cut from it, and as such would normally be discarded or recycled. Happily, however, the remaining animal skin 62 is sufficiently large to allow a number of 10 components parts 1 to be cut stamped or otherwise formed from it, which component parts can then be assembled together. It will be appreciated that whilst various aspects and embodiments of the present invention have heretofore been described, the scope of the present invention is not limited to the particular arrangements set out herein and instead extends to encompass all 15 arrangements, and modifications and alterations thereto, which fall within the scope of the appended claims. For example, whilst in the aforementioned arrangements the recess and aperture are each generally tear-drop or plectrum shaped, it will be appreciated that the component parts may be differently configured, and that it is not necessary for the apertures in the 20 loops to have the same or similar shape to the recesses between adjacent loops. For example, in the component part 63 depicted in Fig. 9, the apertures in the loops 65 are generally circular, whereas the recesses 67 between adjacent loops are generally tear-drop shaped. Fig. 10 depicts another contemplated component part 69 where the apertures 71 and recesses 73 are generally rectangular. In this instance, the apertures 25 71 in the loops 75 may include a slit 77 that extends towards the links 79, the slits 77 allowing the apertures to increase in size whilst the loops of one component part are pulled through the loops of another (thereby making it easier to couple component parts together). Figs. 11 and 12 depict component parts 81, 87 where the loops 83, 89 are adjacent but no longer side-by-side so as to space the loops 83, 89 from one another. In 30 Fig. 11 the links 85 are of constant thickness (in the plane of the paper), whereas in Fig. 12 the links 91 vary in thickness (again in the plane of the paper) between adjacent loops 89. Fig. 13 is a schematic representation of an illustrative functional component part 93, that is to say a component part that serves some function in addition to being capable 35 of being assembled with other component parts. In this particular implementation some of the links have been extended, in a distal direction, to form a functional part that 03 07 24 comprises a pocket 95. The pocket 95 includes a portion 97 that comprises a sheet of material 97 that has been folded back on itself and joined at its' peripheral edges 97(i), 97(ii) and 97(iii). The sheet of material forms an internal void that can be accessed via slit 99, and which functions as a pocket. Fig. 14 shows the component part 93 of Fig. 13 5 assembled with other component parts in such a way that the pocket 95 overlies some of those component parts. Fig. 15 is a schematic representation of another illustrative functional component part 101. In this instance several adjacent links co-operate to provide a functional part where the links have been extended in a distal direction to form first and second generally 10 triangular tabs 103, 105 (it being appreciated, of course, that the tabs could be differently shaped if desired). When functional components of the type shown in Fig. 15 are assembled together the tabs of one functional component overlap at least part of the adjacent component (which need not necessarily be a functional component) to form a modesty panel or to form a showerproof part of a garment. 15 Fig. 16 is a schematic representation of an item that is comprised of a plurality of assembled components of the type shown in Fig. 15 where the tabs of adjacent components increase in length in a distal to proximal direction. In this example, the tabs overlap in two regions 107, 109 to form a structure that resembles chainmail or the scales of a fish or lizard, which structure can function as a modesty panel and / or to enhance 20 weatherproofing of the item. It is also envisaged, although not shown in the drawings, for adjacent loops / apertures of a component part to be differently shaped. For example, a first loop could be tear-drop shaped with a circular internal aperture and be joined to a second teardrop shaped loop with a tear-drop shaped internal aperture. Alternatively, in another 25 envisaged arrangement, a generally tear-drop shaped loop of a component part could be connected by a link to a differently shaped loop, for example a circular, triangular or rectangular loop. It is also envisaged for the component parts of an item or part of an item to be of different materials, for example one component part could be of denim and another component part could be of leather. It is also envisaged for component parts to be formed 30 of a plurality of materials. For example, the loops of a component part could be formed from leather and the links could be formed from a fabric, the links being joined (for example, sewed or bonded) to the loops. As aforementioned, the component parts herein disclosed may be employed in the assembly of a variety of different items, or parts of items. For example, a plurality of 35 component parts could be assembled to form a garment (in whole or part), bags, screens (such as shower screens), curtains, blankets or bedcoverings. It is envisaged both for the 03 07 24 entire item to be formed from component parts of the type disclosed herein, as well as for only part of the item to be formed from component parts of the type disclosed herein. For example, the item could comprise a shirt with sleeves and a back cut from a length of material, and a front formed by coupling together a plurality of component parts of the type 5 disclosed herein - the assembled component parts being joined (for example, sewed, bonded or fused) to the remaining parts to form the shirt. Fig. 17 is a schematic representation of an illustrative item, in this instance a tunic shirt where the sleeves and a portion of the front of the shirt have been formed from a layer of component parts of the type disclosed herein, and joined (for example, sewed, 10 bonded or fused) to conventional panels of material to form the shirt. Fig. 18 is a schematic representation of another item, in this instance a dress that has been constructed entirely from a layer of component parts of the type disclosed herein. Fig. 19 is a schematic representation of another item, in this instance a pair of trousers, where part of the right hand leg of the trousers includes a panel that consists of a layer of joined 15 component parts of the type disclosed herein. Fig. 20 is a schematic representation of another item that is not a garment. In this instance, the item comprises a lamp where the lampshade has been formed entirely from a layer of component parts of the type disclosed herein. In addition, whilst in the foregoing the component parts have been described in the 20 context of being assembled with a like component part, it will be appreciated that this is not an essential feature of the invention. For example, component parts with increasingly spaced loops could be coupled together to form a fan shaped item. It is also not necessary for component parts to have the same number of loops and links. For example, it is envisaged for one component part to have more loops and links than a second component 25 part that it can be coupled to. In addition, whilst component parts are generally planar bodies, they do not need to be completely flat. It is envisaged, for example, for the component part to have a profiled outwardly facing surface. Whilst the items shown in the drawings have been formed, at least in part, from a single layer of interconnected component parts, it is also contemplated to form items that 30 have a number of layers of interconnected component parts. Those layers may be stitched, glued or otherwise connected together, and / or at least one pair of component parts from one said layer may be coupled together through holes between component parts that form another said layer of the item to thereby interlace the two layers of the item. 03 07 24

Claims

1. An item comprising a component part that has been assembled with one or more like component parts to form at least a part of said item without any of said component 5 parts having been folded back on themselves before being coupled to another said component part, wherein each component part comprises:a plurality of loops arranged adjacent to one another along a notional line in a common plane, said loops each defining an aperture and each comprising a proximal portion and a distal portion, the proximal portions of adjacent loops co-operating to form 10 at least a part of a proximal side of said component part, anda plurality of solid, aperture-less elongate members that co-operate to form at least a part of a distal side of said component part, each said elongate member forming a link extending in a direction generally parallel to said notional line that couples the distal portion of one said loop to the distal portion of an adjacent loop, each said loop being 15 otherwise separate from adjacent loops;the arrangement being such that loops of a first said component part can be passed - in a direction generally orthogonal to said notional line - through the apertures of the loops of a second said component part to form a layer of said item in which the first and second component parts are coupled together in such a way that the otherwise 20 separate loops of the second component part are coupled together distally by the elongate members of the second component part and proximally only by the elongate members of the first component part.

2. An item according to Claim 1, wherein the adjacent loops of a said component part 25 co-operate with the links that couple said adjacent loops together to define a plurality of recesses.

3. An item according to Claim 2, wherein said recesses open towards the proximal side of said component part.

304. An item according to Claim 2 or 3, wherein said recesses all have substantially the same shape5. An item according to Claim 2 or 3, wherein said recesses have a shape that is at 35 least similar to the shape of the apertures defined by the loops.03 07 246. An item according to any preceding claim, wherein adjacent loops of said plurality of loops are provided side-by-side.

7. An item according to any of Claims 1 to 5, wherein adjacent loops of said plurality 5 of loops are spaced from one another.

8. An item according to any of Claims 1 to 7, wherein said links are of a constant thickness in a direction from said distal side to said proximalside.10 9. An item according to any preceding claim, further comprising first and secondcouplers provided, respectively, in the vicinity of opposite ends of a said component part.

10. An item according to Claim 9, wherein said couplers are configured so that end regions of the component part can be joined to an end region of another like component 15 part.

11. An item according to Claim 9 or 10, wherein said couplers are configured so that respective end regions of one component part can be coupled together to form a tubular structure.2012. An item according to any of claims 9 to 11, wherein the first coupler comprises a barb-shaped lateral extension to a loop adjacent a first end of the component part, and the second coupler comprises a tab that extends laterally from a loop adjacent a second end of the component part opposite to the first end, the tab including a slot that is capable 25 of receiving the barb shaped lateral extension.

13. An item according to any preceding claim, wherein at least part of a said component part is formed from an animal skin, for example leather.30 14. An item according to any of Claims 1 to 12, wherein at least part of a saidcomponent part is formed from a sheet or roll of fabric or textile, or from a sheet or roll of plastic or metal.

15. An item according to any of Claims 1 to 12, wherein at least part of a said 35 component part is formed by moulding a suitable material or mix of materials in an appropriately shaped mould.03 07 2416. An item according to any of Claims 1 to 15, wherein at least some of said links are extended in a distal direction to form a functional part of said component part.5 17. An item according to any preceding claim, comprising a first component partassembled together with a second component part, said first and second component parts being similarly shaped.

18. An item according to any preceding claim, wherein in the vicinity of a join between 10 one component part and another component part a maximum of two pieces of material overlap.

19. An item according to any preceding claim, wherein the item comprises at least a part of a garment, a bag, a screen such as a shower screen, a curtain, a blanket, a 15 lampshade or a bedcovering.

20. A method of assembling at least part of an item according to any preceding claim, the method comprising the steps of:providing first and second component parts that each comprise a plurality of loops20 arranged adjacent to one another along a notional line in a common plane, said loops each defining an aperture and each comprising a proximal portion and a distal portion, the proximal portions of adjacent loops co-operating to form at least a part of a proximal side of said component parts, and a plurality of solid, aperture-less elongate members that cooperate to form at least a part of a distal side of said component parts, each said elongate25 member forming a link extending in a direction generally parallel to said notional line that couples the distal portion of one said loop to the distal portion of an adjacent loop, each said loop being otherwise separate from adjacent loops; the arrangement being such that loops of said first component part can be passed - in a direction generally orthogonal to said notional line - through the apertures of the loops of said second component part to30 couple the first and second component parts together in such a way that the otherwise separate loops of the second component part are coupled together distally by the elongate members of the second component part and proximally only by the elongate members of the first component part, andpassing the loops of said first component part through the apertures of the loops35 of said second component part to couple the first and second component parts together in such a way that the otherwise separate loops of the second component part are coupledtogether distally by the elongate members of the second component part and proximally by the links of the first component part.03 07 2421. A method of manufacturing a component part for an item according to any of 5 Claims 1 to 19, the method comprising the steps of:providing an animal skin, or a roll or sheet of fabric, textile, plastic or metal; and cutting or stamping a component part from said animal skin, or roll or sheet offabric, textile, plastic or metal, wherein said component part comprises a plurality of loops arranged adjacent to one another along a notional line in a common plane, said loops10 each defining an aperture and each comprising a proximal portion and a distal portion, the proximal portions of adjacent loops co-operating to form at least a part of a proximal side of said component part, and a plurality of solid, aperture-less elongate members that cooperate to form at least a part of a distal side of said component part, each said elongate member forming a link extending in a direction generally parallel to said notional line that15 couples the distal portion of one said loop to the distal portion of an adjacent loop, each said loop being otherwise separate from adjacent loops; the arrangement being such that loops of a first said component part can be passed - in a direction generally orthogonal to said notional line - through the apertures of the loops of a second said component part to couple the first and second component parts together in such a way that the otherwise20 separate loops of the second component part are coupled together distally by the elongate members of the second component part and proximally only by the elongate members of the first component part.

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