Abstract:
EAS marker (181), in one embodiment, comprises a self-lockable loop fastener. The self-lockable loop fastener comprises an elongated strap (83) having a first end (84-1) and a second end (84-2), the second end (84-2) being provided with a plurality of teeth (91). The self-lockable loop fastener also comprises a paddle (93) disposed at the first end of the strap. The paddle includes a recess (95) and a locking head (85). The second end of the strap is insertable into, but not through, the locking head (85), the locking head (85) having a tang (87) for lockably engaging the teeth (91) in such a way as to prevent withdrawal of the strap from the locking head and thereby forming a locked loop of fixed size. The EAS marker (81) also includes a resonator (101) disposed within the recess (95) of the paddle (93) for emitting, when armed, a response signal in response to an interrogation signal transmitted by an EAS system, a biasing element (97) disposed within the recess (95) and positioned relative to the resonator (101) so that, when the biasing element (97) is magnetized, the resonator (101) is armed.
Abstract:
A needle (71a) for a plastic fastener dispensing tool comprises a cylindrical base portion (33a) having a front end (35a), a rear end (37a), a side surface (39a), a central bore (41a), a longitudinal slot and a stem portion extending from the front of the base portion (33a). The needle further has a knife portion (73) on a rear end (37a) of the base portion (33a) and having a rear edge (75) which includes a cutting edge in the form of a notch (77) and a pair of side edges (79, 81). The notch (77) is approximately 0.065 inches in width and extends across the majority of the length of the rear edge (75) of the knife portion (73).
Abstract:
A button attaching device (11) for attaching a button (B) to a layer of material (M) includes a C-frame (13) having a top portion (13-1), an intermediate portion (13-2) and a bottom portion (13-3). A plurality of needle block assemblies (35-1, 35-2, 35-3) are disposed inside the top portion (13-1) of the C-frame (13) in a stack. A manually operable plunger (25) is slidably mounted on the top portion (13-1) of the C-frame (13) for up and down movement and positioned to receive and move downward the lowermost needle block assembly (35-4) in the stack. Each needle block assembly (35-1, 35-2, 35-3, 35-4) includes a block (41) of elastomeric material, a pair of rodless fastener dispensing needles (43) and a fastener (45) of the type having a foot (47, 48) at each end of a filament (51). Each foot (47, 48) is removably mounted on one of pair of rodless fastener dispensing needles (43). In use, a button (B) and a layer of material (M) to which the button (B) is to be attached are positioned on top on an anvil (21) formed on the bottom portion (13-3) of the C-frame (13).
Abstract:
An apparatus for dispensing plastic fasteners (13) having a cross bar (15) at the end of a filament (19) from fastener stock (11). The apparatus includes a gun-shaped casing (25), a hollow needle (39) and a guide groove (43) to receive the fastener stock (11). The guide groove (43) includes a bevelled front wall (51-1). The front wall (51-1) includes a bottom edge (51-2) which is bevelled. Also the corner (55) formed by bevelled wall (51-11), sidewall (34) and top wall (38-1) is bevelled. The bevels minimize the likelihood of fasteners (13) jamming within the guide groove (43).
Abstract:
A fastener attaching tool (121) particularly suited for use in attaching buttons to clothing, etc. and which is constructed for use with a fastener clip (11). The tool includes a pair of needles (129, 131) pivotally mounted to the front end (165) of the body, each needle having a longitudinally slotted bore adapted to receive one of the transverse bars (17) and a knife edge for severing a connector post (23) from its associated transverse bar as the transverse bar is pushed through the needle. The body includes a transverse feed slot (143), an ejector mechanism (133) including a pair of ejector rods (189, 191), and a pair of flexible fingers (199, 201) which cooperate with a post (197) on the ejector mechanism to prevent automatic return of the ejector mechanism from its forwardmost position in the body when forward pressure on the ejector mechanism is removed.
Abstract:
A button attaching device (11) includes a top member (31) and a bottom member (17) which are hingedly connected together, the bottom member (17) including an anvil (27). The button attaching device (11) further includes a needle block assembly (15) mounted on the top member (31). The needle block assembly (15) includes a block of material (47), a pair of rodless fastener dispensing needles (55, 57) and a fastener (59, 61). In one embodiment of the present invention, the needle block assembly (15) is removably mounted on the top member (31) and is sized and shaped so as to fit within a needle block assembly storage compartment (29) formed in the bottom member (17). In another embodiment of the present invention, a plurality of needle block assemblies (129) are interconnected to form a needle carousel (105) which is rotatably mounted within a hollowed portion (125) formed in the top member (109).
Abstract:
A button attaching device for attaching a button having four holes to a layer of material includes a holder having a front end and a rear end, four rodless fastener dispensing needles (27) projecting out from the front end of the holder and two fasteners (35, 77), each having a foot at each end of an elongated filament. Each foot is removably mounted on one of the rodless fastener dispensing needles. A cover (17) is removably mounted on the front end of the holder and includes an anvil (55). In use, the cover is removed from the holder and the layer of material placed on the cover over the anvil. The button is then placed over the layer of material. The holder is then pushed in the direction of the cover so that the needles and fastener feet extend through the holes in the button and through the layer of material, with the tips of the needles striking the anvil. The tension on the filaments of the fasteners causes the feet to pop out from the needles. The needles are then withdrawn leaving the button secured to the layer of material by the fasteners.
Abstract:
A device for use in conveying information concerning an article of commerce. In one embodiment, the device (11) comprises a fastener (13), the fastener (13) comprising an elongated unitary plastic member having a first end, a second end, and a flexible filament (19). The flexible filament interconnects the first end and the second end. The first end is shaped to define a cross-bar (15) insertable through an article of commerce using a tagger gun, the tagger gun having a hollow slotted needle. The second end is sized and shaped to define a paddle (17) for preventing the flexible filament (19) from being pulled completely through the article of commerce. The device also includes a transponder (21) incorporated into the cross-bar portion of the fastener for transmitting, in response to an interrogation, a response signal communicating information concerning the article of commerce to which the fastener is attached. The transponder (21) may include a programmable chip (23) capable of encoding one or more static or varying pieces of information relating to the article of commerce. Examples of the types of information transmitted by the transponder (21) include, but are not limited to, the price of the article, inventory information, and information as to whether the article has been duly purchased.
Abstract:
Plastic fastener (11), fastener clip (31), fasterner dispensing tool (51), and method of fastening objects; comprises a flexible filament (13), a first transverse bar (15) located at one end of the flexible element (13), a second transverse bar (17) located at the opposite end of the flexible element (13). The fastener clip (31); comprises a plurality of identical fasteners (11-1) (11-3), of the aforementioned type, each of the fasteners being arranged in a parallel, side-by-side, spaced relationship. A connector post (33) connects the first transverse bar (15) of adjacent fasteners (11), and a connector post connects the second transverse bars (17) of adjacent fastener (11). An extra transverse bar (37) is connected by a connector post to the first transverse bar (15), and another extra transverse bar (39) is connected by a connector post to the second transverse bar (17) of the fastener. The tool is a handheld tool for use with the above fastener (11), comprises a casing (53) provided with a needle opening (62), a hollow, slotted needle (93) adapted to receive a transverse bar of the fastener (11); an ejector rod (143) slidably movable back and forth through the hollow, slotted needle (93), an anvil (73) coupled to the casing (53) and extending in front of the opening (62) being positioned so that the hollow, slotted needle (93), when in the extended position, does not extend therebeyond.
Abstract:
The present invention relates to a fastener and clip for use in attaching a button to a garment or a piece of fabric. In one embodiment, the fastener (11) comprises a U-shaped flexible filament (13) and a pair of transverse feet (15-1, 15-2) disposed at opposite ends of the U-shaped flexible filament (13). The U-shaped filament (13) is generally rectangular in cross section, has a substantially uniform width, a thickness greatest in its arcuate region and least towards the feet. The feet (15-1, 15-2) are sized and shaped to fit through a button hole and securely engage a garment. To minimize contact with a person's skin, the feet (15-1, 15-2) are preferably shorter that the transverse bars of existing button fasteners and comparable in overall size to a knot of thread conventionnally used to secure buttons. The feet (15-1, 15-2) have rounded ends (21-1/21-2, 23-1/23-2), a flat top surface (19-1, 19-2) and a contoured bottom surface (25-1, 25-2) to minimize irradiation of a person's skin.