Clothing fasteners

Abstract

Improved clothing fasteners include a socket having a female member with a flange member having a magnetic element, and a slot and a stud having a male member with a flange element having a magnetic element. Magnetic attraction between the magnetic elements draws the female and male members to close proximity such that an applied force on an outer portion of either the socket and the stud and their corresponding outer base portions allows for a snap fit between the male and female members. In an alternative embodiment, one of either the socket female flange member or the stud male flange member includes a magnetic element and the other is of a metallic material, and a magnetic attraction draws the socket and the stud in close proximity such that a snap fit is allowable.

1 . A clothing fastener comprising:
 a socket comprising:
 a female member having at least one female flange member and a slot; and 
 an outer socket member coupled to the female member, wherein the at least one female flange member has a socket magnetic element and the outer socket member includes an outer socket base portion; and 
   a stud comprising:
 a male member having a male flange member disposed on the male member; the male flange member having at least one stud magnetic element; and 
 an outer stud member coupled to the male member, the outer stud member including an outer stud base portion, wherein an initial magnetic attraction between the socket magnetic element and the stud magnetic element draws the at least one female flange member and the male member in close proximity such that an applied force on either the outer socket member or the outer stud member and a corresponding outer base portion allows for a snap fit between the male member and the at least one female flange member of the female member through the slot. 
   
   
   
       2 . The clothing fastener of  claim 1 , wherein the female member has an additional female flange member in addition to the at least one female flange member. 
   
   
       3 . The clothing fastener of  claim 2 , wherein the initial magnetic attraction is not sufficient for the snap fit, and the at least one female flange member and the additional female flange member are separated by the slot, such that that a snap fit between the male member and the two female flange members of the female member occurs through the slot. 
   
   
       4 . The clothing fastener of  claim 1 , wherein the initial magnetic attraction is not sufficient for the snap fit, the at least one female flange member is a singular flange member and includes a slot, such that a snap fit between the male member and the at least one female flange member of the female member occurs through the slot. 
   
   
       5 . The clothing fastener of  claim 1 , wherein the outer socket member is coupled to the female member by a socket portion. 
   
   
       6 . The clothing fastener of  claim 1 , wherein the outer socket member is coupled directly to the female member. 
   
   
       7 . The clothing fastener of  claim 1 , wherein the outer stud member is coupled to the male member by a stud portion. 
   
   
       8 . The clothing fastener of  claim 1 , wherein the outer stud member is coupled to the male member directly. 
   
   
       9 . The clothing fastener of  claim 1 , wherein both the outer stud member and the outer socket member are coupled to the respective male and female members by a stud portion and a socket portion. 
   
   
       10 . The clothing fastener of  claim 1 , wherein the outer socket base portion includes an ornament. 
   
   
       11 . The clothing fastener of  claim 1 , wherein the outer socket base portion includes a rimmed decorative element in an exterior portion of the outer socket base portion. 
   
   
       12 . The clothing fastener of  claim 1 , wherein the outer socket base portion includes a rimmed decorative element in an interior portion of the outer socket base portion. 
   
   
       13 . The clothing fastener of  claim 1 , wherein the outer stud base portion includes an ornament. 
   
   
       14 . The clothing fastener of  claim 1 , wherein the outer stud base portion includes a rimmed decorative element in an exterior portion of the outer stud base portion. 
   
   
       15 . The clothing fastener of  claim 1 , wherein the outer stud base portion include a rimmed decorative element in an interior portion of the outer stud base portion. 
   
   
       16 . The clothing fastener of  claim 1 , wherein the clothing fastener is a cuff-link. 
   
   
       17 . The clothing fastener of  claim 1 , wherein the initial magnetic attraction between the socket magnetic element and the stud magnetic element is not sufficient to allow the male flange member and the at least one female flange member to be coupled together. 
   
   
       18 . A clothing fastener comprising:
 a socket comprising:
 a female member having at least one female flange member and a slot; and 
 an outer socket member coupled to the at least one female member, and the outer socket member includes an outer socket base portion; and 
   a stud comprising:
 a male member having a male flange member disposed on the male member; and an outer stud member coupled to the male member, the outer stud member including an outer stud base portion, wherein one of the at least one female flange member or the male flange member includes at least one magnetic element, and the other of the male flange member and the at least one female flange member being of a metallic material, wherein an initial magnetic attraction between the at least one female flange member and the male member draws the female and male members in close proximity such that an applied force on either the outer socket member or the outer stud member and a corresponding outer base portion allows for a snap fit between the male member and the at least one female flange member of the female member through the slot. 
   
   
   
       19 . The clothing fastener of  claim 18 , wherein the outer socket member is coupled directly to the female member. 
   
   
       20 . The clothing fastener of  claim 18 , wherein either the outer socket base portion or the outer stud base portion or both includes an ornament. 
   
   
       21 . The clothing fastener of  claim 18 , wherein the outer socket base portion includes a rimmed decorative element in an exterior portion of the outer socket base portion. 
   
   
       22 . The clothing fastener of  claim 18 , wherein the outer stud base portion includes a rimmed decorative element in an exterior portion of the outer stud base portion. 
   
   
       23 . The clothing fastener of  claim 18 , wherein the at least one female flange member includes a magnetic element. 
   
   
       24 . The clothing fastener of  claim 18 , wherein the male flange member includes a magnetic element. 
   
   
       25 . The clothing fastener of  claim 18 , wherein the clothing fastener is a cuff-link. 
   
   
       26 . The clothing fastener of  claim 18 , wherein the initial magnetic attraction between the at least one female flange member and the male flange member is not sufficient to allow the male member and the at least one female flange member of the female member to be coupled together.