[0001] The present invention relates to an assembly for fastening plates to leather goods,
fabrics and similar supports.
[0002] In the field of fashion, but also in other fields, members in relief, which reproduce
alphanumeric characters, symbols, emblems or marks, are commonly fastened to items
of clothing and to clothing accessories.
[0003] Those members, otherwise known as plates, are made of various materials, such as
metal or plastics, and in various manners, which also affect their fastening.
[0004] In particular, when the plates consist of a plurality of components joined into a
single part, they are mounted by riveting, punching or other equivalent known methods.
[0005] Although the above solution is practical and economical, it has the drawback that
it locally hinders the flexibility of the support to which the plates have been fixed.
[0006] As an alternative, it is possible to use plates constituted by individual members
that are fixed one by one to the support by means of reinforcement contrast plates
arranged on the hidden side of the support.
[0007] By doing this, the flexibility of the material that supports the plates is preserved,
but on the other hand the risk arises that lettering or strings of symbols might not
be able to preserve their original geometry.
[0008] In an attempt to overcome the above cited drawbacks, methods have been refined which
provide the various members by means of a single micro-casting, conceived so as to
allow their simultaneous application.
[0009] In greater detail, in those systems the individual plates are joined in a single
casting, which once it has hardened and cooled is joined to the support to be decorated
by riveting each individual component, which is removed from the casting channels
and from the feedhead only later.
[0010] However, as a consequence of the removal of the excess parts, some damaged surface
portions remain visible on the plates and in addition to deteriorating their aesthetic
appearance also risk ruining the support to which they are fixed.
[0011] The aim of the present invention is to solve the problems described above, by providing
an assembly for fastening plates to leather goods, fabrics and similar supports that
allows to preserve the correct configuration of the plates and simultaneously preserve
the flexibility of the material to which they are fastened.
[0012] Within the scope of this aim, a particular object of the invention is to provide
an assembly for fastening plates to leather goods, fabrics and similar supports that
allows to fasten all the plates simultaneously.
[0013] Another object of the invention is to provide an assembly for fastening plates to
leather goods, fabrics and similar supports that allows to use plates having an impeccable
aesthetic appearance, i.e., totally free from flash and manufacturing residues.
[0014] Another object of the invention is to provide an assembly for fastening plates to
leather goods, fabrics and similar supports that can be obtained easily from a suitable
blank provided in ribbon form to be cut as needed.
[0015] Another object of the invention is to provide an assembly for fastening plates to
leather goods, fabrics and similar supports that is advantageous also from a purely
economic standpoint.
[0016] This aim, as well as these and other objects that will become better apparent hereinafter,
are achieved by an assembly for fastening plates to leather goods, fabrics and similar
supports, characterized in that it comprises a laminar body made of flexible material,
said laminar body being provided with a plurality of holes for the insertion and locking
of corresponding pins that protrude from the rear face of each plate.
[0017] Further characteristics and advantages will become better apparent from the description
of preferred but not exclusive embodiments of an assembly for fastening plates to
leather goods, fabrics and similar supports, according to the invention, illustrated
by way of non-limiting example in the accompanying drawings, wherein:
Figure 1 is a perspective view of an embodiment of an assembly according to the invention,
prepared for fastening plates to a support in sheet form;
Figure 2 is another perspective view of the assembly of the preceding figure, prepared
for fastening plates to a support in sheet form;
Figure 3 is a perspective view of a string of plates fastened to a support in sheet
form by means of the assembly according to the invention;
Figure 4 is a perspective view of a string of plates fastened to a different support
in sheet form by means of the assembly according to the invention;
Figure 5 is a sectional side view of the assembly according to the invention, prepared
for fastening plates to a support in sheet form;
Figure 6 is a sectional view of a string of plates fastened to a support in sheet
form by means of the assembly according to the invention.
[0018] With reference to the cited figures, the assembly for fastening plates to leather
goods, fabrics and similar supports, according to the invention, generally designated
by the reference numeral 1, comprises a laminar body 2 made of flexible material.
[0019] The laminar body 2 has a plurality of holes 3 adapted to receive and lock pins 11
that protrude from the rear face, i.e., the hidden face, of each plate 10.
[0020] The plates 10 may be constituted by reproductions of alphanumeric characters or other
members having a different shape, preferably made of metallic material.
[0021] In the case being considered by way of example, which refers to a preferred embodiment,
the laminar body 2 is constituted by a single plate made of plastics.
[0022] In other embodiments of the invention, the laminar body 2 may be made of other materials
having substantially equivalent mechanical properties.
[0023] As shown in the figures, the laminar body 2 has a set of flexion notches 4 designed
so as to increase the flexibility of the material and render the movement of the various
plates 10 more independent.
[0024] Advantageously, the number of the flexion notches 4 varies as a function of the number
of plates 10 to be fixed.
[0025] Preferably, the shape of the flexion notches 4 schematically reproduces the profile
of the plates 10, or at least their contour.
[0026] The shape of the flexion notches may also be affected by the position of the pins
11.
[0027] In the illustrated example, the flexion notches 4 have a substantially rectilinear
shape.
[0028] Advantageously, at each hole 3 there is a concentric recess 5, i.e. a flared region,
that receives the head of the corresponding pin 11, after it has been riveted.
[0029] This allows to render the face of the laminar body 2 that is not intended to rest
on the support 20 substantially free from external protrusions.
[0030] In order to avoid the presence of unpleasant edges or sharp portions, the edges of
the laminar body 2 also are rounded and gently radiused.
[0031] The use of the fastening assembly according to the present invention is simple and
easy.
[0032] The fastening assembly 1 is preferably provided already ready for use, with a laminar
body 2 having dimensions suitable for the number of plates 10 and for their shape.
[0033] As an alternative, the fastening surface 1 may be easily obtained from an adapted
blank provided in the form of a continuous ribbon to be cut to the correct length
in order to obtain the desired laminar body 2.
[0034] After correctly preparing the plates 10, by inserting the corresponding pins 11 in
corresponding holes 21 provided in a support in sheet form 20, constituted for example
by leather goods, fabric or other similar material, it is possible to mount the fastening
assembly 1.
[0035] In greater detail, the corresponding pins 11 are first inserted into the holes 3
and then riveted or plastically deformed so as to form a locking head 12 that does
not protrude from the laminar body 2.
[0036] As regards this last aspect, the use of pins 11 having a semi-tubular cross-section,
which after riveting have locking heads with a substantially anticlastic shape that
are fully accommodated within the corresponding recesses 5, has proved particularly
advantageous. Such pins 11 are deformable with less effort, and this allows to use
even smaller and more refined plates 10.
[0037] In practice it has been found that the invention achieves the intended aim and objects,
providing an assembly for fastening plates to leather goods, fabrics and similar supports
that allows to preserve the correct configuration of the plates and at the same time
preserve the flexibility of the material to which they are fastened.
[0038] Also, the assembly allows to use plates that have an impeccable aesthetic appearance,
i.e., fully devoid of flash or manufacturing residues, which can be all fastened simultaneously.
[0039] The same assembly may have the form of a finished part that is ready for use or,
as an alternative, may be easily obtained from a suitable blank, provided in ribbon
form and adaptable to any situation by virtue of simple cutting operations.
[0040] Another important advantage of the present invention is its low cost, which ensures
a very high reception of the product.
1. An assembly for fastening plates to leather goods, fabrics and similar supports, characterized in that it comprises a laminar body made of flexible material, said laminar body being provided
with a plurality of holes for the insertion and locking of corresponding pins that
protrude from the rear face of each plate.
2. The assembly according to claim 1, characterized in that said laminar body is constituted by a monolithic plate made of plastics.
3. The assembly according to claim 1, characterized in that said laminar body comprises a plurality of flexion notches that increase the flexibility
of the material and render the movement of the various plates more independent.
4. The assembly according to claim 3, characterized in that the shape of said flexion notches schematically reproduces the profile of said plates.
5. The assembly according to claim 3, characterized in that said flexion notches have a substantially rectilinear shape.
6. The assembly according to claim 1, characterized in that said laminar body has rounded edges.
7. The assembly according to claim 1, characterized in that said laminar body comprises a plurality of recesses provided concentrically to said
holes.
8. The assembly according to claim 1, characterized in that said laminar body can be adjusted in length by blanking said laminar body from a
longer laminar blank.