Closure device particularly for items of clothing for motorcycling

Abstract

 A closure device particularly for items of clothing for motorcycling (1), comprising a first closure element (2), which is associated with a first flap to be joined (3), and a second closure element (4), which is associated with a second flap to be joined (5) and can be coupled detachably to the first closure element (2), and means for varying the position of the second closure element (4) with respect to the border (6) of the second flap (5) to be joined which is directed toward the first flap to be joined (3), for adjustment of the fastening between the first flap to be joined (3) and the second flap to be joined (5).

Description

[0001] The present invention relates to a closure device particularly for items of clothing for motorcycling.

[0002] As is known, in order to perform the closure of two flaps of an item of clothing for motorcycling closure devices are generally used which are constituted by buttons or zip fasteners, which make it possible to keep the two flaps together during use of the item of clothing.

[0003] Generally, closure devices of the known type have the drawback of achieving the joining of the two flaps exclusively with the flaps arranged in a determined mutual position, with the consequence that no adjustment of the fastening between the two flaps is possible, so as to vary the snugness of fit of the body of the garment to the user's body.

[0004] Currently, for adjusting the snugness of fit of items of clothing for motorcycling, tapes are used which connect two points of the same flap and whose length can be adjusted, so as to be able to tighten the corresponding flap on the user's body.

[0005] With this solution in general there is a difficulty in precisely restoring a desired level of snugness of fit of the item of clothing, when the user has intervened to modify it.

[0006] Another drawback arises from the fact that the current solutions require the user to perform a long series of operations in regions of the item of clothing which normally are not easily reachable once the item of clothing has been put on.

[0007] The aim of the present invention is to solve the above-mentioned problems, by providing a closure device particularly for items of clothing for motorcycling that, in addition to offering the possibility of easily performing the closure, also makes it possible to perform a precise adjustment of the fastening of the item of clothing to the user's body.

[0008] Within this aim, an object of the invention is to provide a closure device particularly for items of clothing for motorcycling that makes it possible to quickly and precisely identify the desired level of fastening of the item of clothing.

[0009] Another object of the invention is to provide a closure device particularly for items of clothing for motorcycling that makes it possible to effect a closure that is extremely reliable and safe and which, moreover, is convenient to use by the user.

[0010] Another object of the present invention is to provide a closure device particularly for items of clothing for motorcycling that can easily be made from elements and materials that are readily available on the market and that, moreover, is competitive from a purely economical viewpoint as well.

[0011] This aim and these and other objects which will become better apparent hereinafter, are achieved by a closure device particularly for items of clothing for motorcycling, according to the invention, that comprises a first closure element, which is associated with a first flap to be joined, and a second closure element, which is associated with a second flap to be joined and can be coupled detachably to said first closure element, and is characterized in that it comprises means for varying the position of said second closure element with respect to the border of said second flap to be joined which is directed toward said first flap to be joined, for adjustment of the fastening between said first flap to be joined and said second flap to be joined.

[0012] Further characteristics and advantages of the invention will become better apparent from the description of a preferred, but not exclusive, embodiment of the closure device particularly for items of clothing for motorcycling, according to the invention, which is illustrated for the purposes of non-limiting example in the accompanying drawings wherein:

Figure 1 is an exploded schematic view of the closure device according to the invention applied to a motorcycling jacket;

Figure 2 is a view of the closure device according to the invention in the open state;

Figure 3 is a view of the closure device according to the invention in the closed state.

[0013] With reference to the figures, a closure device particularly for items of clothing for motorcycling, according to the invention, generally designated with the reference numeral 1, comprises a first closure element 2, which is associated with a first flap to be joined 3, and a second closure element 4, which is, on the other hand, associated with a second flap to be joined 5 and, moreover, can be coupled detachably to the first closure element 3.

[0014] One of the peculiar aspects of the invention is constituted by the fact that it comprises means for varying the position of the second closure element 4 with respect to the border 6 of the second flap to be joined 5 which is directed toward the first flap to be joined 3, so as to make it possible to adjust the fastening between the first flap to be joined 3 and the second flap to be joined 5, consequently modifying the snugness of fit of the item of clothing on the user's body.

[0015] Advantageously, the above mentioned means for varying the position of the second closure element 4 comprise a slider 7, which supports the second closure element 4 and which can be moved along a longitudinal adjustment guide 8, which is connected to the second flap to be joined 5.

[0016] The longitudinal adjustment guide 8 extends, for example, from a portion of the second flap to be joined 5 in proximity to the border 6, extending in the direction opposite to the border 6 itself.

[0017] Conveniently, the slider 7 can be fixed in any position desired, along the longitudinal adjustment guide 8, by means of detachable locking means.

[0018] Advantageously, the longitudinal adjustment guide 8 is associated with a graduated scale 9 for controlling the position of the slider 7.

[0019] In this way the user, by referring to the graduated scale 9, is able to precisely position the slider 7 along the longitudinal adjustment guide 8, so as to be able to restore any degree of fastening desired between the first flap to be joined 3 and the second flap to be joined 5, after any change to the snugness of fit of the item of clothing.

[0020] The graduated scale 9 is, conveniently, provided with a plurality of notches 9a, which are arranged mutually spaced apart, along the longitudinal adjustment guide 8, and which can be impressed on the longitudinal adjustment guide 8, for example, by means of molding.

[0021] In the embodiment shown, the longitudinal adjustment guide 8 is, conveniently, constituted by a strip of hook-and-loop tape 10, for example of the type known in commerce as the VELCRO® brand, which is fixed to the second flap to be joined 8, for example by means of stitching, adhesive bonding or the like.

[0022] The strip of hook-and-loop tape 10 in practice also forms the detachable locking means of the slider 7.

[0023] In particular, the slider 7 is, conveniently, constituted by a base 11 that supports the second closure element 4 and can be fastened to the strip of hook-and-loop tape 10.

[0024] More specifically, the base 11 has, preferably, a sheet-like body that supports, on one face thereof, the second closure element 4 and is provided, on the opposite face, with a coupling portion of the VELCRO® type, complementing the strip of hook-and-loop tape 10, so as to be easily attached to, or detached from, the strip of hook-and-loop tape 10.

[0025] For the purposes of example, the coupling part of the VELCRO® type associated with the base 11 is constituted by a hook part, whereas the strip of hook-and-loop tape 10 can be constituted, for example, by the eyelet part.

[0026] As shown, the first closure element 2 can be, conveniently, constituted by a part 12 of a press-stud, for example by the female part, and the second closure element 4 can be constituted by the other part 13, for example the male part, of the press-stud.

[0027] In this way, the closure can be performed by the user very conveniently and easily.

[0028] Alternatively, the second closure element 4 can also be constituted by a traditional button and, in this case, the first closure element 2 will be constituted by a hole formed in the first flap to be joined 3.

[0029] It should be noted that it is possible, optionally, for the first closure element 2 to also be associated with means of adjusting its position, which can be organized similarly to the above-mentioned means for varying the position of the second closure element 4, so as to obtain a wider range of possible adjustments of the fastening between the first and the second flap to be joined 3 and 5.

[0030] Advantageously, the closure device according to the invention can be applied to motorcycling jackets, in order to achieve for example the closure at the neck, as shown in the figures, at the cuffs or at the front of the jacket, or it can be applied to motorcycling trousers, in order to effect, for example, the closure at the waist or at the ankles.

[0031] The use of the closure device according to the invention is as follows.

[0032] Before proceeding to close the first and the second flap to be joined 3 and 5, the user, depending on the degree of snugness of fit desired, positions the slider 7 along the longitudinal adjustment guide 8.

[0033] In particular, the user can detach the sheet-like element 11 from the strip of hook-and-loop tape 10 and then reattach it in a different position along the strip of hook-and-loop tape 10, using the graduated scale 9 as a reference.

[0034] At this point, the user can proceed with the closure of the first and second flaps to be joined 3 and 5, by coupling the first closure element 2 and the second closure element 4 to each other.

[0035] In practice it has been found that the invention is capable of fully achieving the set aim and objects, in that it makes it possible, in a very simple and convenient way, to effect the adjustment of the snugness of fit of items of clothing for motorcycling on the user's body.

[0036] All the characteristics of the invention, indicated above as advantageous, advisable or similar, may also be lacking or be substituted by equivalent characteristics.

[0037] The individual characteristics set out with reference to general teachings or to specific embodiments may all be present in other embodiments or may substitute characteristics in such embodiments.

[0038] The invention, thus conceived, is susceptible of numerous modifications and variations, all of which are within the scope of the appended claims.

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

[0040] Moreover, all the details may be substituted by other, technically equivalent elements.

[0041] The disclosures in Italian Patent Application No. VR2010A000154 from which this application claims priority are incorporated herein by reference.

[0042] 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, particularly for items of clothing for motorcycling (1), comprising a first closure element (2), which is associated with a first flap to be joined (3), and a second closure element (4), which is associated with a second flap to be joined (5) and can be coupled detachably to said first closure element (3), characterized in that it comprises means for varying the position of said second closure element (4) with respect to the border (6) of said second flap to be joined (5) which is directed toward said first flap to be joined (3), for adjusting the fastening between said first flap to be joined (3) and said second flap to be joined (5).

2. The closure device according to claim 1, characterized in that said means for varying the position of said second closure element (4) comprise a slider (7), which supports said second closure element (4) and can be moved along a longitudinal adjustment guide (8) which is connected to said second flap (5) to be joined, means being provided for the detachable locking of said slider (7) in any position along said longitudinal adjustment guide (8).

3. The closure device according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that a graduated scale (9) for controlling the position of said slider (7) is associated with said longitudinal adjustment guide (8).

4. The closure device according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said longitudinal adjustment guide (8) comprises a strip of hook-and-loop tape (10), which is fixed to said second flap to be joined (5), said slider (7) comprising a base (11) which can be fastened to said strip of hook-and-loop tape (10).

5. The closure device according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said first closure element (2) is constituted by a part (12) of a press-stud, said second closure element (4) being constituted by the other part (13) of said press-stud.

Drawing