Hard shell fastening device

Abstract

An apparatus includes a protective wearable article including a flexible backing layer and a semi-rigid shell layer. The hard shell layer includes a molded receptacle that acts as a female component in a dual-component fastening device. The apparatus further includes a strap for securing the protective wearable article to a user. A first end of the strap is attached to a male fastening component sized and shaped for insertion into and securement within the molded receptacle.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . Apparatus comprising:
 a protective wearable article including a flexible backing layer and a semi-rigid shell layer, the semi-rigid shell layer including a molded receptacle; and   a strap for securing the protective wearable article to a user, the strap including a male fastening component on a first end, the male fastening component sized and shaped for insertion into and securement within the molded receptacle.   
     
     
         2 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the molded receptacle includes an aperture having a first diameter at an insertion area and a second diameter at a locking area, the second diameter smaller than the first diameter. 
     
     
         3 . The apparatus of  claim 2 , wherein the diameter of the aperture at the insertion area is greater than a diameter of both ends of the male fastening component. 
     
     
         4 . The apparatus of  claim 2 , wherein the diameter of the aperture at the locking area is greater than a corresponding diameter of a first end of the male fastening component and less than a corresponding diameter of a second opposite end of the male fastening component. 
     
     
         5 . The apparatus of  claim 2 , wherein the male fastening component is rigid and has a mushroom-like shape with a stem portion and a flat base portion. 
     
     
         6 . The apparatus of  claim 5 , wherein the stem portion has a diameter that exceeds a third diameter of the aperture bridging a gap area between the insertion area and the locking area. 
     
     
         7 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the semi-rigid shell layer further includes at least one protrusion to help guide the male fastening component into the molded receptacle. 
     
     
         8 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the molded receptacle is positioned proximal to a first edge of the semi-rigid shell layer and the strap is fixedly attached to a point on the wearable protective article that is proximal to a second opposite edge of the semi-rigid shell layer. 
     
     
         9 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the protective layer includes two straps and two molded receptacles, each of the straps attached to a male fastening component for insertion into and securement within a corresponding one of the two molded receptacles. 
     
     
         10 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the strap further comprises a pull tab to assist in releasing the rigid protrusion element from the molded receptacle. 
     
     
         11 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the protective wearable article is at least one of a knee or elbow pad. 
     
     
         12 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the protective wearable article is a helmet. 
     
     
         13 . A method of attaching a protective wearable article to a user, the method comprising:
 placing the protective wearable article adjacent to a portion of a user, the protective wearable article including a semi-rigid shell layer and a flexible backing layer;   wrapping a strap around the portion of the user user, the strap including a first end fixedly attached to the protective wearable article and a second free end attached to a male fastening component;   inserting the male fastening component into an aperture formed in the semi-rigid shell layer such that a portion of the male fastening component rests between the flexible backing layer and the semi-rigid shell layer; and   sliding the male fastening component along a channel of the aperture to secure the rigid protrusion element within the channel.   
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the aperture has a first diameter at an insertion area and a second diameter at a locking area, the second diameter smaller than the first diameter. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the second diameter at the locking area is greater than a diameter of a first end of the male fastening component and less than a diameter of a second opposite end of the male fastening component. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the male fastening component has a mushroom-like shape with a stem portion and a flat base portion. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the stem portion has a diameter that exceeds a third diameter of the aperture bridging a gap area between the insertion area and the locking area. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the semi-rigid shell layer further includes at least one guiding structure forming a track or ridge for guiding the male fastening component into the molded receptacle. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the strap further comprises a pull tab for releasing the male fastening component from the molded receptacle. 
     
     
         20 . An apparatus comprising:
 a protective wearable article including a flexible backing layer and a semi-rigid shell layer, the semi-rigid shell layer including an aperture with a first diameter at an insertion area and a second diameter at a locking area, the first diameter larger than the second diameter;   a strap for securing the protective wearable article to a user, the strap including a rigid protrusion element on a first end, the rigid protrusion element sized for insertion into the insertion area of the aperture and shaped for removable securement within the locking area.   
     
     
         21 . The apparatus of  claim 20 , wherein a portion of the rigid protrusion element rests between the flexible backing layer and the semi-rigid shell layer when secured within the aperture. 
     
     
         22 . The apparatus of  claim 20 , wherein the semi-rigid shell layer further includes at least one guiding structure forming a track or ridge for guiding the rigid protrusion element into the aperture.