Brassiere fastener

{
  "publication_number": "US3837049A",
  "country": "US",
  "kind": "A",
  "title": "Brassiere fastener",
  "abstract": "A two-piece, plastic separable fastener assembly is disclosed having particular utility as a fastener assembly for use with a nursing brassiere. The fastener assembly is comprised of a first plastic member having a slot and a second plastic fastener member having projection means thereon adapted to be introduced through the slot in a manner whereby the two members are releasably interengagable. The two members are provided with guide and positioning means cooperable to position the projection relative to the slot to facilitate introducing the projection through the slot, whereby manipulation of the fastener assembly during interengagement of the two members is facilitated. One of the fastener members is attachable to a strap associated with the shoulder strap of a brassiere and the other fastener member is attachable to a strap associated with a movable cover portion of the brassiere cup.",
  "claims": [
    "1. A brassiere fastener assembly comprising a female member and a male member releaseably interengageable in a longitudinal direction, said female member including a first plate or plastic material having an attachment end connectable to a first brassiere portion and an entrance end longitudinally spaced from said attachment end, said first plate having top and bottom surfaces and an aperture spaced from said entrance end and opening between said surfaces, said aperture having longitudinally spaced apart end edges and laterally spaced apart side edges, said first plate further including an abutment wall extending upwardly from said top surface adjacent the end edge of said aperture farthest from said entrance end and a pair of laterally spaced apart sidewalls extending upwardly from said top surface and in a direction away from said aperture and toward said entrance end, each said sidewalls having an inner surface laterally opposed with respect to the corresponding side edge of said aperture, said inner surfaces being spaced apart a distance at least equal to the distance between said side edges of said aperture, said male member including a second plate of plastic material having an attachment end connectable to a second brassiere portion and a second end longitudinally spaced from said attachment end, said second plate further having top and bottom surfaces and laterally spaced apart side edges extending from said second end toward said attachment end and receivable between said sidewalls on said first plate, a projection on said second end of said second plate including a first portion extending downwardly from said bottom surface at said second end of said second plate and a second portion extending longitudinally outwardly from said first portion and second end, said second portion being spaced below and parallel to the plane of the bottom surface of said second plate, said projection having a width no greater than the distance between said side edges of said aperture and said first portion having a longitudinal dimension receivable between said end edges of said aperture and approximately equal to the spacing between said end edges, said first and second plates being interengaged by introducing said second portion of said projection through said aperture from said top surface of said first plate and in the direction from said entrance end toward said attachment end of said first plate, for said second portion to be beneath said first plate, said first portion to extend through said aperture and said second plate to overlie said first plate in the area between said aperture and entrance end, said second portion of said projection having an end edge spaced longitudinally outwardly from said second end of said second plate, said end edge being slidable on said top surface of said first plate in the direction from said entrance end toward said aperture, and said abutment wall and sidewalls being engaged by said end edge during sliding movement to longitudinally and laterally position said second portion of said projection for introduction through said aperture.",
    "2. The brassiere fastener assembly according to claim 1, wherein said abutment wall is generally coextensive laterally with said farthest edge of said aperture and each of said sidewalls includes a portion extending divergingly from a corresponding end of said abutment wall toward said entrance end.",
    "3. The brassiere fastener assembly according to claim 2, wherein said diverging waLl portions have ends spaced from said abutment wall and said sidewalls each further include a second portion extending from said end of a corresponding one of said diverging portions to said entrance end of said first plate, said second sidewall portions being parallel to one another.",
    "4. The brassiere fastener assembly according to claim 1, wherein said first portion of said projection has a laterally extending face opposite the end wall of said aperture nearest said entrance end of said first plate when said first and second plates are interengaged, said face including a portion extending below said bottom surface of said first plate, and a dimple on said portion of said face and extending longitudinally toward said entrance end, said longitudinal dimension of said first portion of said projection and the longitudinal extent of said dimple together being slightly greater than the distance between said end edges of said aperture for said dimple to releaseably hold said first and second plates interconnected.",
    "5. The brassiere fastener assembly according to claim 1, wherein said brassiere is a nursing brassiere having strap means including shoulder strap means, a lower breast cup attached to said strap means, and an upper breast cover having a first edge attached to said cup and a second edge releaseably attached to said shoulder strap means, said breast cover defining said first brassiere portion and said shoulder strap means defining said second brassiere portion.",
    "6. The brassiere fastener assembly according to claim 5, wherein said abutment wall is generally coextensive laterally with said farthest edge of said aperture and each of said sidewalls includes a portion extending divergingly from a corresponding end of said abutment wall toward said entrance end.",
    "7. The brassiere fastener assembly according to claim 6, wherein said first portion of said projection has a laterally extending face opposite the end wall of said aperture nearest said entrance end of said first plate when said first and second plates are interengaged, said face including a portion extending below said bottom surface of said first plate, and a dimple on said portion of said face and extending longitudinally toward said entrance end, said longitudinal dimension of said first portion of said projection and the longitudinal extent of said dimple together being slightly greater than the distance between said end edges of said aperture for said dimple to releaseably hold said first and second plates interconnected."
  ],
  "cpc": [
    "A41F 1/006",
    "A44B 11/2588",
    "Y10S 24/51",
    "Y10T 24/45037",
    "Y10T 24/45995"
  ],
  "assignees": [
    "LEADING LADY FOUNDATION INC"
  ],
  "filing_date": "1973-08-06",
  "publication_date": "1974-09-24",
  "grant_date": "1974-09-24",
  "priority_date": "1971-10-26",
  "application_number": "US-38585273-A",
  "family_id": "26888225",
  "citations": [
    "CH358771A",
    "DE466863C",
    "US1509002A",
    "US1570130A",
    "US1642105A",
    "US2904866A",
    "US3078538A",
    "US3418700A",
    "US3445901A",
    "US389960A",
    "US540931A"
  ]
}