Low profile shank fastener

Abstract

A shank fastener includes a head having a first side and a second side having a circular recess extending around the second side, a post extending from a center of the second side, and a base for attachment to a distal end of the post.

Description

Attorney Docket: FHB.8029.WOU2LOW PROFILE SHANK FASTENERFIELD

[0001] The disclosed embodiments generally relate to a shank fastener for fastening portions of clothing together.BACKGROUND

[0002] Conventional shank fasteners used in the apparel industry have a relatively long shaft for compatibility with apparel manufacturing techniques and apparel applications, that is problematic when used to fasten portions of an apparel together, for example, portions of a waistband together on a pair of pants. The conventional shank fastener 102 may become undone, and as shown in Figure 1, may contribute to gapping 104 at the top end of the fly. The conventional shank fastener 102 may also cause discomfort during various activities because of excess protrusion from the body of the wearer as shown in Figure 2, which may result in excess pressure being applied to a point on the body of a wearer by the conventional shank fastener 102, as shown in Figure 3, for example, when the wearer is laying on their stomach, or other activities as shown in Figure 4. The problems may be aggravated when the conventional shank fastener 102 is used on activewear, where the wearer may be involved in exercise, sports, or other physical activities, or on lounge wear where the wearer may be laying down or may be in a non-upright position. It would be advantageous to utilize a shank fastener that overcomes these and other disadvantages.SUMMARY

[0003] In one aspect, the disclosed embodiments are directed to a shank fastener including a head having a first side and a second side having a circular recess circumscribing the secondAttorney Docket: FHB.8029.WOU2 side, a post extending from a center of the second side, and a base for attachment to a distal end of the post.

[0004] The head may be cylindrical and the first side may be flat.

[0005] The first side may have a dome shape.

[0006] The first side may include a decorative design, an artistic work, or a designation of a source of origin of apparel to which the shank fastener is attached.

[0007] The circular recess may have a ring or toroidal shape.

[0008] The circular recess may be defined by a wall extending around a perimeter of the second side enclosing a portion of the post.

[0009] The distal end of the post may include a receptacle for receiving an end of the base.

[0010] The base may include a first end and a second end, where the second end is configured to pass through a portion of a garment to which the shank fastener is attached and into the receptacle of the post.

[0011] The second end may be tapered to facilitate insertion into the receptacle.

[0012] In another aspect, the disclose embodiments may be directed to a method of fastening portions of apparel together including extending a post of a shaft fastener through a first side of an opening in an individual one of the portions of apparel, the shaft fastener having a head having a first side and a second side having a circular recess circumscribing the second side, wherein the post extends from a center of the second side, extending a tapered end of a base through a second side of the opening in the individual one of the portions of apparel, pressing the taperedAttorney Docket: FHB.8029.WOU2 end into a receptacle on a distal end of the shaft, and extending the head of the shaft fastener through an opening in another one of the portions of apparel.BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0013] The foregoing aspects and other features of the embodiments are explained in the following description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, wherein:

[0014] Figures 1 A and IB illustrate views of gapping at the top end of the fly when using a conventional shank fastener;

[0015] Figure 2 depicts typical excess protrusion from the body of the wearer by a conventional shank fastener;

[0016] Figure 3 shows how pressure on a conventional shank fastener may cause discomfort to a wearer;

[0017] Figure 4 shows examples of activities in which a wearer may engage, where a conventional shank fastener may also cause discomfort;

[0018] Figure 5 illustrates an exemplary novel shank fastener according to the disclosed embodiments;

[0019] Figure 6 illustrates an embodiment where a base of the shank fastener is pressed into a shaft of the shank fastener;

[0020] Figure 7 illustrates another exemplary novel shank fastener according to the disclosed embodiments; and

[0021] Figure 8 shows an application of the novel shank fastener.Attorney Docket: FHB.8029.WOU2DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0022] The disclosed embodiments are generally directed to a shank fastener with a head with a side having a circular recess, a post extending from the center of the side with the circular recess, and a base for attachment to a distal end of the post.

[0023] Figure 5 illustrates a novel shank fastener 500 according to the disclosed embodiments. The shank fastener 500 has a head 502, a post 510, and a base 512. The head 502 may include a first side 504, and a second side 506 having a circular recess 508 extending around, or circumscribing, the second side 506. The shank fastener 500 may also have a post 510 extending from a center of the second side 506, and may further include a base 512 for attachment to a distal end 514 of the post 510.

[0024] The novel shank fastener may be constructed of metal or any other material suitable for use in garment manufacturing processing.

[0025] In some embodiments, the head 502 may be cylindrical, however, it should be understood that the head may have any shape suitable for use in fastening as described herein.

[0026] The first side 504, also referred to as the top side or the front side, may be flat or may have a domed shape. The first side 504 may have a design printed, etched, engraved, molded attached, or otherwise presented on the first side 504. As an example, the design may be a decorative design, an artistic work, or may designate a source of origin of the apparel to which the shank fastener is attached.

[0027] As mentioned above, the second side 506 may have a recess 508 that is circular and generally extends around the second side. In some embodiments, the recess 508 may be in the shape of a circular ring or may have a toroidal shape. In some embodiments, the recess 508 mayAttorney Docket: FHB.8029.WOU2 be defined by a wall 514 extending around a perimeter of the second side 506 enclosing a portion of the post 510.

[0028] As also mentioned above, the post 510 generally extends from a center of the second side 506 and may be approximately centered within the recess 508. The distal end 514 of the post 510 may include a receptacle 516.

[0029] The base 512 may include a first end 518 and a second end 520, where the second end 520 is configured to pass through a portion of a garment to which the shank fastener 500 is to be attached and into the receptacle 516 of the post 510. The second end 510 may be tapered to facilitate insertion into the receptacle 516.

[0030] Figure 6 illustrates an example of the shank fastener where the base of the shank fastener is pressed into the shaft of the shank fastener.

[0031] Figure 7 illustrates another version of the novel shank fastener 600, where the wall 614 extending around a perimeter of the second side 506 and enclosing a portion of the post 510 is in the shape of a lobe where the recess 608 has a tapered shape.

[0032] Figure 8 shows an application of the novel shank fastener with less exposure of the post, where buckling and gapping is almost completely eliminated.

[0033] In some embodiments, the length of the post 510 is determined such that the length of the post is marginally longer than the thickness of the apparel portions being fastened together. In some embodiments the length of the post may exceed the thickness of the apparel portions by 10%. In other embodiments the length of the post may exceed the thickness of the apparel portions within an integer percentage increment in a range of 25% to 50%.Attorney Docket: FHB.8029.WOU2

[0034] The disclosed shank fastener is advantageous because the post does not protrude as a conventional shank fastener thus keeping the closure area locked in with a flat appearance and a flush profile and without gapping. As a result:8during movement, the shank fastener is very unlikely to become undone in contrast to a conventional shank fastener with a higher section of the post visible;8there is less digging into the wearer in contrast to a conventional shank fastener due to the shape of the shank fastener head that conceals a percentage of the post that is normally exposed on conventional shank fastener that causes point pressure on the wearer causing discomfort;• the disclosed shank fastener is designed to have a short partially exposed post to allow for ease of the shank fastener entrance and exit through button holes;• the length of the post remains adequate for compatibility with garment manufacturing techniques; and• the disclosed shank fastener is distraction free and engineered to maximize comfort, enhance performance, and durability.

[0035] It is noted that the embodiments described herein can be used individually or in any combination thereof. It should be understood that the foregoing description is only illustrative of the embodiments. Various alternatives and modifications can be devised by those skilled in the art without departing from the embodiments. Accordingly, the present embodiments are intended to embrace all such alternatives, modifications and variances that fall within the scope of the appended claims.

Claims

Attorney Docket: FHB.8029.WOU2CLAIMS1. A shank fastener comprising: a head having: a first side; and a second side having a circular recess circumscribing the second side; a post extending from a center of the second side; and a base for attachment to a distal end of the post.

2. The shank fastener of claim 1, wherein the head is cylindrical.

2. The shank fastener of claim 1, wherein the first side is flat.

3. The shank fastener of claim 1, wherein the first side comprises a dome shape.

4. The shank fastener of claim 1, wherein the first side comprises a decorative design, an artistic work, or a designation of a source of origin of apparel to which the shank fastener is attached.

5. The shank fastener of claim 1, wherein the circular recess has a ring or toroidal shape.

6. The shank fastener of claim 1, wherein the circular recess is defined by a wall extending around a perimeter of the second side enclosing a portion of the post.

7. The shank fastener of claim 1 , wherein the distal end of the post comprises a receptacle for receiving an end of the base.

8. The shank fastener of claim 7, wherein the base comprises a first end and a second end, the second end configured to pass through a portion of a garment to which the shank fastener is attached and into the receptacle of the post.

9. The shank fastener of claim 8, wherein the second end is tapered to facilitate insertion into the receptacle.

10. A method of fastening portions of apparel together comprising: extending a post of a shaft fastener through a first side of an opening in an individual one of the portions of apparel, the shaft fastener having a head having a first side and a second sideAttorney Docket: FHB.8029.WOU2 having a circular recess circumscribing the second side, wherein the post extends from a center of the second side; extending a tapered end of a base through a second side of the opening in the individual one of the portions of apparel; pressing the tapered end into a receptacle on a distal end of the shaft; and extending the head of the shaft fastener through an opening in another one of the portions of apparel.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the head is cylindrical.

12. The method of claim 10, wherein the first side is flat.

13. The method of claim 10, wherein the first side comprises a dome shape.

14. The method of claim 10, wherein the first side comprises a decorative design, an artistic work, or a designation of a source of origin of apparel to which the shank fastener is attached.

15. The method of claim 10, wherein the circular recess has a ring or toroidal shape.

16. The method of claim 10, wherein the circular recess is defined by a wall extending around a perimeter of the second side enclosing a portion of the post.

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