CLOSURE SYSTEM

Description

RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 63/664,735 filed Jun. 27, 2024, and Taiwan Application Serial Number 114116615, filed May 2, 2025, the disclosures of which are incorporated herein by reference in their entireties.

BACKGROUND

Technical Field

The present disclosure relates to a closure system. More particularly, the present disclosure relates to a closure system with pulling a gear rack.

Description of Related Art

In order to allow articles to satisfy the requirements of lots users, the articles may be adjusted to change a size thereof. For example, an annular belt (fastening article) of a bicycle helmet may adapt a fastening device to adjust a size of the annular belt to match a head circumference of the user.

However, conventional fastening devices have complex structures and pool stability, and unbalance between the left side and right side may be occurred after the annular belt is adjusted, and an improvement thereof are required.

SUMMARY

According to one aspect of the present disclosure, a closure system includes a fastening article, a fastening device and a lace. The fastening article is disposed at a to-be-fastened article and includes a main frame and at least one guiding portion, and the at least one guiding portion is independent from the main frame. The fastening device is disposed at the main frame and includes at least one gear rack covered by the main frame and including an inner end and an outer end, a gear engaged with the inner end of the at least one gear rack, a knob operably coupled to the gear, and an engaging unit located between the gear and the knob. The lace passing through the main frame and the at least one guiding portion, and one end of the lace is connected to the outer end of the at least one gear rack. As the knob is rotated in a tensioning direction by a force, the gear is rotated to drive the at least one gear rack, and the lace pulls the at least one guiding portion to move close to the main frame. As the force is removed, the engaging unit prohibits the gear from rotating in a releasing direction to fix a position of the at least one gear rack.

According to another aspect of the present disclosure, a closure system includes a fastening article, a fastening device and a lace. The fastening article is disposed at a to-be-fastened article and includes a main frame and at least one guiding portion, and a distance is included between the at least one guiding portion and the main frame. The fastening device is disposed at the main frame and includes at least one gear rack including an inner end and an outer end, a gear engaged with the inner end of the at least one gear rack, a knob operably coupled to the gear, and an engaging unit located between the gear and the knob and including an elastic pawl, and a housing engaging with the knob and being for accommodating the engaging unit. The housing includes a plurality of housing teeth surrounding the engaging unit, and the elastic pawl is selectively engaged with the housing teeth. The lace passing through the main frame and the at least one guiding portion, and one end of the lace is connected to the outer end of the at least one gear rack. As the knob is rotated in a tensioning direction by a force, the elastic pawl separates from the housing teeth to allow the gear to drive the at least one gear rack, and the lace pulls the at least one guiding portion to move close to the main frame; as the force is removed, the elastic pawl is engaged with at least one of the housing teeth, thereby prohibiting the gear from rotating in a releasing direction to fix a position of the at least one gear rack.

According to still another aspect of the present disclosure, a closure system includes a fastening article, a fastening device and a lace. The fastening article is disposed at a to-be-fastened article and includes a main frame and at least one guiding portion, and a distance is included between the at least one guiding portion and the main frame. The fastening device is disposed at the main frame and includes at least one gear rack including a plurality of protruding teeth, a driving wheel including a plurality of driving pins which correspond to the protruding teeth, a knob operably coupled to the driving wheel, and an engaging unit located between the driving wheel and the knob. The protruding teeth respectively includes a plurality of edge curves, and each of the edge curves is selected from one of a logarithmic spiral curve, an Archimedean spiral curve, a Limaçon de Pascal curve, an elliptic curve, a higher order curve, a combined curve and a combination thereof. The lace passing through the main frame and the at least one guiding portion, and one end of the lace is connected to the at least one gear rack. As the knob is rotated in a tensioning direction by a force, the driving wheel is rotated to drive the at least one gear rack, and the lace pulls the at least one guiding portion to move close to the main frame; as the force is removed, the engaging unit prohibits the driving wheel from rotating in a releasing direction to fix a position of the at least one gear rack.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The present disclosure can be more fully understood by reading the following detailed description of the embodiment, with reference made to the accompanying drawings as follows:

FIG. 1 is a three-dimension schematic view of a closure system according to a first embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 2 is a partial three-dimension schematic view of the closure system of the first embodiment of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is one exploded view of a fastening device and a lace of the closure system of the first embodiment of FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is another exploded view of the fastening device and the lace of the first embodiment of FIG. 1.

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of the fastening device of the first embodiment of FIG. 1 taken along line 5-5.

FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view of the fastening device of the first embodiment of FIG. 1 taken along line 6-6.

FIG. 7 is a three-dimension schematic view of a closure system according to a second embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 8 is a three-dimension schematic view of a closure system according to a third embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 9 is one partial exploded view of a closure system according to a fourth embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 10 is another partial exploded view of the closure system of the fourth embodiment of FIG. 9.

FIG. 11 is one partial cross-sectional view of the closure system of the fourth embodiment of FIG. 9.

FIG. 12 is another partial cross-sectional view of the closure system of the fourth embodiment of FIG. 9.

FIG. 13 is one exploded view of a fastening device of a closure system according to a fifth embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 14 is another exploded view of the fastening device of the fifth embodiment of FIG. 13.

FIG. 15 is one partial cross-sectional view of the fastening device of the fifth embodiment of FIG. 13.

FIG. 16 is another partial cross-sectional view of the fastening device of the fifth embodiment of FIG. 13.

FIG. 17 is one exploded view of a fastening device of a closure system according to a sixth embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 18 is another exploded view of the fastening device of the sixth embodiment of FIG. 17.

FIG. 19 is a cross-sectional view of the fastening device of the sixth embodiment of FIG. 17.

FIG. 20 is a partial top view of the fastening device of the sixth embodiment of FIG. 17.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

It will be understood that when an element (or mechanism or module) is referred to as being “disposed on”, “connected to” or “coupled to” another element, it can be directly disposed on, connected or coupled to the other element, or intervening elements may also be present. In contrast, when an element is referred to as being “directly disposed on”, “directly connected to” or “directly coupled to” another element, there are no intervening elements present.

In addition, the terms first, second, third, etc. are used herein to describe various elements or components, these elements or components should not be limited by these terms. Consequently, a first element or component discussed below could be termed a second element or component.

FIG. 1 is a three-dimension schematic view of a closure system 1000 according to a first embodiment of the present disclosure. FIG. 2 is a partial three-dimension schematic view of the closure system 1000 of the first embodiment of FIG. 1. FIG. 3 is one exploded view of a fastening device 1200 and a lace 1300 of the closure system 1000 of the first embodiment of FIG. 1. The closure system 1000 includes a fastening article 1100, the fastening device 1200 and the lace 1300.

The fastening article 1100 is disposed at a to-be-fastened article and includes a main frame 1110 and at least one guiding portion 1130, and the at least one guiding portion 1130 does not directly contact the main frame 1110. The fastening device 1200 is disposed at the main frame 1110 and includes at least one gear rack 1210 (two gear racks 1210 being included in the first embodiment) which includes an inner end (not labeled) and an outer end (not labeled), a gear 1220 engaged with the inner ends which face each other, a knob 1240 operably coupled to the gear 1220, and an engaging unit 1230 located between the gear 1220 and the knob 1240. The lace 1300 passing through the main frame 1110 and the at least one guiding portion 1130, and two ends 1310, 1320 of the lace 1300 are respectively connected to the outer ends of the two gear racks 1210. As the knob 1240 is rotated in a tensioning direction R1 (shown in FIG. 6) by a force, the gear 1220 is rotated to drive the two gear racks 1210 to move close to each other, and the lace 1300 pulls the at least one guiding portion 1130 to move close to the main frame 1110. As the force is removed, the engaging unit 1230 prohibits the gear 1220 from rotating in a releasing direction R2 (shown in FIG. 6) to fix a relative position between the two gear racks 1210.

Therefore, with rotating the knob 1240 to stably rotate the gear 1220 to move the gear racks 1210, the lace 1300 may be pulled to move the guiding portion 1130. Since the lace 1300 is connected to the two gear racks 1210 and passes the guiding portion 1130, the guiding portion 1130 may move close to the main frame 1110 in a balance way, and the unbalance between the left side and right side is avoided.

A number of the at least one guiding portion 1130 is larger than or equal to two, and the guiding portions 1130 may be divided into two groups. One group is located at a left side of the main frame 1110 and a distance is included therebetween. The other group is located at a right side of the main frame 1110 and a distance is included therebetween. As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, a number of the guiding portions 1130 is eight. The guiding portions 1130 are equally divided into two groups which are dependent from the main frame 1110. The fastening article 1100 may further include a sub-frame 1120, four guiding portions 1130 are disposed at one end of the sub-frame 1120, and another four guiding portions 1130 are disposed at another end of the sub-frame 1120. The guiding portions 1130 located at the same side may form a curved shape to reduce a friction generated as the lace 1300 is slid. In other embodiments, the guiding portion may be fixed at any position according to the demands, and the lace is pulled to allow the guiding portion to move close to the main frame, but the present disclosure is not limited thereto.

FIG. 4 is another exploded view of the fastening device 1200 and the lace 1300 of the first embodiment of FIG. 1. FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of the fastening device 1200 of the first embodiment of FIG. 1 taken along line 5-5. the main frame 1110 includes a placing board 1111, a connecting portion 1112 and two holes 1113, the placing board 1111 and the connecting portion 1112 are connected to form an inverted T shape, the two holes 1113 are respectively disposed at two ends of the placing board 1111, and the lace 1300 passes through the two holes 1113 to connect to the two guiding portions 1130. The main frame 1110 may further include two gear rack grooves 1115 disposed at the placing board 1111 and spaced apart from each other, and the two gear rack grooves 1115 are configured for the two gear racks 1210 to respectively insert therein.

Precisely, the placing board 1111 may include a center portion 1111a and two wings 1111b. Each of the wings 1111b is a curve sheet and two ends thereof respectively connected to an upper end and a lower end of the center portion 1111a. The two wings 1111b are lateral symmetrical. The connecting portion 1112 may connect to the end of each of the wings 1111b located at the upper side.

The main frame 1110 may further include a cavity 1117 and a passage 1114. The cavity 1117 is recessed on the front side of the center portion 1111a. The placing board 1111 may further include a plurality of ribs protruding from the back side of the center portion 1111a, thereby forming two respectively recessed gear rack grooves 1115 that are respectively communicated with an upper half portion and a lower half portion of the cavity 1117, and the passage 1114 located above the cavity 1117. The passage 1114 may be configured for the lace 1300 to pass therethrough. Hence, for each of the gear racks 1210, as the gear rack 1210 inserts the gear rack groove 1115, a part of the gear rack 1210 is located within the cavity 1117 to engage with the gear 1220, the gear rack 1210 is partially covered by the main frame 1110, and the lace 1300 is also partially covered by the main frame 1110. The main frame 1110 may further include a back cover 1116 assembling with the center portion 1111a to protect the elements inside.

As shown in FIG. 1, a number of the holes 1113 is eight. Two of the holes 1113 are located at a left side of the center portion 1111a, two of the holes 1113 are located at a right side of the center portion 1111a, two of the holes 1113 are located at a tip of the curved sheet of one of the wings 1111b, and two of the holes 1113 are located at a tip of the curved sheet of another one of the wings 1111b. At least some of the holes 1113 correspond to the two gear rack grooves 1115, and at least some of the holes 1113 correspond to the passage 1114, thereby facilitating for the lace 1300 to passing through the passage 1114 and entering the gear rack groove 1115 to connect to the gear rack 1210 therewith via the holes 1113. In other embodiments, a number of the holes is not limited thereto. The lace may connect the gear rack even without the holes.

For each of the gear racks 1210, the gear rack 1210 may include a gear rack body 1211, a plurality of protruding teeth 1212 and a lace coupling portion 1213. Each of the protruding teeth 1212 protrudes outward from the gear rack body 1211, and each of the protruding teeth 1212 has an inclined-toothed or a helical toothed structure. The lace coupling portion 1213 is connected to the gear rack body 1211 and is served as the outer end. The lace coupling portion 1213 may include two through holes (not labeled) to allow the two ends 1310, 1320 of the lace 1300 to be insertedly connected.

The gear 1220 may be received in the cavity 1117 and include a plurality of rotating teeth 1221 and a plurality of coupling teeth 1222. The rotating teeth 1221 correspond to the protruding teeth 1212, and each of the rotating teeth 1221 has an inclined-toothed or a helical toothed structure, thereby increasing the pulling force. The coupling teeth 1222 may face toward the engaging unit 1230.

The engaging unit 1230 may include an elastic pawl 1231. The fastening device 1200 may further include a plurality of housing teeth 1251 surrounding the engaging unit 1230. The elastic pawl 1231 may be selectively engaged with at least one of the housing teeth 1251.

To be more specific, the fastening device 1200 may further include a housing 1250 assembling with the fastening article 1100, especially the cavity 1117. The housing 1250 may be engaged with the knob 1240 and is for accommodating the engaging unit 1230. The housing 1250 may further include a housing wall 1252. The housing teeth 1251 are located at the housing wall 1252 to surround the engaging unit 1230. The housing 1250 may further include a housing annular groove 1255, a partition 1253 and four lags 1254. The housing annular groove 1255 is recessed at an outer surface of the housing wall 1252. The partition 1253 is connected to one end of the housing wall 1252 and the end is near the gear 1220. The four lags 1254 extend from the partition 1253 toward a direction away from the housing wall 1252. Hence, as the housing 1250 is engaged with engaging grooves in the cavity 1117 by the four lags 1254, the gear 1220 may be sandwiched between the partition 1253 and a cavity surface of the cavity 1117. The engaging unit 1230 may be disposed in a space formed by the partition 1253 and the housing wall 1252.

FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view of the fastening device 1200 of the first embodiment of FIG. 1 taken along line 6-6. Please refer to FIG. 6 with references of FIGS. 1 to 5, the engaging unit 1230 may further include an engaging disc 1232, a blocking portion 1234, a plurality of driving teeth 1235 and a plurality of depressions 1233. The elastic pawl 1231 includes an arm portion (not labeled) and a toothed portion (not labeled), the arm portion is extended from the engaging disc 1232 outward along a circumference direction, the toothed portion is connected to a distal end of the arm portion, and the blocking portion 1234 protrudes outward from the engaging disc 1232 and is below the arm portion along an axis X1. As the elastic pawl 1231 is deflected radially inward, the toothed portion corresponds to the blocking portion 1234. The driving teeth 1235 protrude from a surface of the engaging disc 1232 to couple to the coupling teeth 1222, and the surface where the driving teeth 1235 protrude faces toward the gear 1220. The depressions 1233 are recessed at a surface of the engaging disc 1232, and the surface where the depressions 1233 are recessed faces toward the knob 1240. A number of the depressions 1233 may be three, but the present disclosure is not limited thereto.

The engaging disc 1232 may be circular-shaped. A number of the elastic pawls 1231 is three. For each of the elastic pawls 1231, a proximal end of the elastic pawl 1231 is connected to a periphery of the engaging disc 1232, and the toothed portion is integrally formed at the distal end of the arm portion. A number of the blocking portions 1234 is also three. The blocking portions 1234 are fin-shaped and an inner side thereof is connected to the periphery of the engaging disc 1232. One end of the toothed portion, facing toward the blocking portion 1234, is extended further outward than the arm portion along the axis X1. Hence, as the elastic pawl 1231 is pressed to deflect radially inward, the toothed portion may be abutted against the blocking portion 1234, thereby preventing from releasing and avoiding the elastic pawl 1231 form being broken by the force. Therefore, the life time of the fastening device 1200 is increased and the securing capability (tension force) of the fastening device 1200 is remained.

The knob 1240 may include three driving tabs 1241 and three deflecting tabs 1242. The three driving tabs 1241 respectively protrude into the depressions 1233, and the deflecting tabs 1242 respectively protrude into gaps between the elastic pawl 1231 and the housing teeth 1251. As the knob 1240 is rotated in the tensioning direction R1, the driving tabs 1241 drive the engaging unit 1230 to rotate the gear 1220 in the tensioning direction R1. As the knob 1240 is rotated in the releasing direction R2, the driving tabs 1241 are respectively moved in the depressions 1233, the deflecting tabs 1242 respectively push the elastic pawl 1231 to deflect radially inward, thereby separating the elastic pawl 1231 and the housing teeth 1251. Hence, the elastic pawl 1231 will not prohibit the gear 1220 from rotating in the releasing direction R2.

As shown in FIGS. 4 and 6, the three driving tabs 1241 and the three deflecting tabs 1242 all protrude from an inner top surface of the knob 1240 toward the engaging unit 1230, the deflecting tabs 1242 are located at outer sides of the driving tabs 1241. A cross-sectional surface of each of the deflecting tabs 1242 is triangle-shaped, and a tip thereof faces the toothed portion. Since a length of the driving tab 1241 is smaller than a length of the depression 1233, the driving tab 1241 may move in the depression 1233. The knob 1240 may further include a knob engaging portion 1243 protruding inward from an inner side surface of the knob 1240 for coupling with the housing annular groove 1255.

In the first embodiment, the end 1310 of the lace 1300 is tied at the lace coupling portion 1213 of one of the gear racks 1210, and the end 1320 passes through one hole 1113 of one side of the center portion 1111a and one hole 1113 of the wing 1111b, and then passes through the four guiding portions 1130 of one side of the sub-frame 1120 to return to another hole 1113 of the same wing 1111b and another hole 1113 of the same side of the center portion 1111a to enter the passage 1114. After which, the end 1320 passes through one hole 1113 of another side of the center portion 1111a and one hole 1113 of another wing 1111b, and then passes through the four guiding portions 1130 of another side of the sub-frame 1120 to return to another hole 1113 of the same wing 1111b and another hole 1113 of the same side of the center portion 1111a to be tied at the lace coupling portion 1213 of another gear rack 1210. Hence, the main frame 1110, the sub-frame 1120, the guiding portions 1130 and the two gear racks 1210 may be connected. A hardness of each of the gear racks 1210 is larger than or equal to 50 D. The gear rack 1210 may be made of Nylon or fiber-reinforced plastics (FRP). The hardness is larger enough to generate a larger pulling force.

The fastening article 1100 may surround the to-be-fastened article. If the user would like to adjust the fastening article 1100 to match the size of the to-be-fastened article, the knob 1240 may be rotated in the tensioning direction R1. Each of the driving tabs 1241 may push one side of each of the depressions 1233, causing the elastic pawls 1231 of the engaging unit 1230 to keep being disengaging from the housing teeth 1251. The gear 1220 may rotate in the tensioning direction R1 to drive the two gear racks 1210 to move close to each other and cause the lace 1300 to pull the sub-frame 1120 toward the main frame 1110, thereby reducing the diameter of fastening article 1100. If the user would like to release the fastening article 1100, the knob 1240 may be rotated in the releasing direction R2. The driving tabs 1241 respectively move in the depressions 1233, and the deflecting tabs 1242 respectively push the elastic pawls 1231 to separate from the housing teeth 1251. Consequently, the elastic pawls 1231 will not prohibit the gear 1220 to rotate in the releasing direction R2. If the user keeps rotating the knob 1240 in the releasing direction R2, each of the driving tabs 1241 will push another surface of each of the depressions 1233, and the gear 1220 may rotate in the releasing direction R2 to drive the two gear racks 1210 to move away from each other. In the first embodiment, an upper end of the connecting portion 1112 and the sub-frame 1120 of the fastening article 1100 may be connected to an inner side of a helmet, and the size of the fastening article 1100 may be adjusted by the fastening device 1200 to match the head circumference of the user. In other embodiments, the fastening article may be connected to other to-be-tension articles, and the present disclosure is not limited to the helmet.

FIG. 7 is a three-dimension schematic view of a closure system 2000 according to a second embodiment of the present disclosure. The closure system 2000 is similar to the closure system 1000, but the structure of a sub-frame 2120 is slightly different, and the details will not be repeated.

FIG. 8 is a three-dimension schematic view of a closure system 3000 according to a third embodiment of the present disclosure. The closure system 3000 is similar to the closure system 1000, but the closure system 3000 does not include the sub-frame 1120 of the first embodiment; instead, two guiding members 3140 are included. Four guiding portions 3130 may be disposed at one of the guiding members 3140, and another four guiding portions 3130 may be disposed at another one of the guiding members 3140. The two guiding members 3140 may be connected to different positions of a cap, but the present disclosure is not limited thereto.

FIG. 9 is one partial exploded view of a closure system according to a fourth embodiment of the present disclosure. FIG. 10 is another partial exploded view of the closure system of the fourth embodiment of FIG. 9. The closure system (not labeled in the fourth embodiment) of the fourth embodiment is similar to the closure system 1000 of the first embodiment. The differences will be described hereinafter, while the identical or similar structure is not repeated.

FIG. 11 is one partial cross-sectional view of the closure system of the fourth embodiment of FIG. 9. FIG. 12 is another partial cross-sectional view of the closure system of the fourth embodiment of FIG. 9. A fastening article (not labeled in the fourth embodiment) includes a placing board 4111. A fastening device 4200 may include two gear racks 4210, a knob 4240, an engaging unit 4230, a gear 4220 and a housing 4250 which is integrally connected to the placing board 4111. A number of housing annular grooves 4255 is two, and the two housing annular grooves 4255 are arranged at an interval along the axis X1.

The fastening device 4200 may further include a transmission wheel 4260 linked with the knob 4240 along an axis X1 and rotatably restricted with the engaging unit 4230. The transmission wheel 4260 includes a plurality of transmission teeth 4262 facing toward the gear 4220 to engage with coupling teeth (not labeled in the fourth embodiment) of the gear 4220. As the knob 4240 is pulled upward along the axis X1, the transmission wheel 4260 is disengaged from the gear 4220.

Precisely, the transmission wheel 4260 may further include four clamping arms 4261 protruding toward the knob 4240. The knob 4240 may include a knob hole (not labeled) and a knob engaging ring 4244. The knob hole penetrates a top of the knob 4240. The knob engaging ring 4244 protrudes radially inward from a hole wall of the knob hole. The four clamping arms 4261 of the transmission wheel 4260 may be engaged with the knob engaging ring 4244 for connecting the transmission wheel 4260 to the knob 4240.

The engaging unit 4230 does not include the driving teeth 1235 as the first embodiment, but includes a polygon hole. A shape of the transmission wheel 4260 corresponds to a shape of the polygon hole, and the transmission wheel 4260 is put into the polygon hole of the engaging unit 4230 to be rotatably restricted with the engaging unit 4230. The transmission teeth 4262 of the transmission wheel 4260 protrude from the polygon hole to engage with the coupling teeth.

As shown in FIG. 11, the knob 4240 is located at a first position, and a knob protrusion 4243 is engaged with one of the housing annular groove 4255, being near the placing board 4111. Rotating the knob 4240 in the tensioning direction R1 may rotate the gear 4220 to drive the two gear racks 4210 to move close to each other for reducing a diameter of the fastening article. The user may rotate the knob 4240 in the releasing direction R2 to rotate the gear 4220 in the releasing direction R2, and the two gear racks 4210 may move away from each other. As shown in FIG. 12, the knob 4240 may be pulled upward along the axis X1 to a second position, and the knob protrusion 4243 is engaged with another one of the housing annular groove 4255, being away from the placing board 4111. The transmission wheel 4260 is also moved to disengage from the coupling teeth of the gear 4220. Therefore, the gear 4220 will not be prohibited by the engaging unit 4230, and the user may pull any portion of the fastening article to move the two gear racks 4210 away from each other, thereby achieving a full release effect.

FIG. 13 is one exploded view of a fastening device 5200 of a closure system according to a fifth embodiment of the present disclosure. FIG. 14 is another exploded view of the fastening device 5200 of the fifth embodiment of FIG. 13. The closure system (not labeled in the fifth embodiment) of the fifth embodiment is similar to the closure system 1000 of the first embodiment, but the fastening device 5200 of the closure system is different.

FIG. 15 is one partial cross-sectional view of the fastening device 5200 of the fifth embodiment of FIG. 13. FIG. 16 is another partial cross-sectional view of the fastening device 5200 of the fifth embodiment of FIG. 13. The fastening device 5200 may include two gear racks 5210, a knob 5240, an engaging unit 5230, a gear 5220 and a housing 5250. The engaging unit 5230 does not include the driving teeth 1235 as the first embodiment, but the knob 5240 may include a plurality of knob teeth 5246 to couple to the coupling teeth (not labeled in the fifth embodiment) of the gear 5220 for rotating the gear 5220.

Precisely, the knob 5240 may include a protruding post (not labeled) and a connecting post 5245. The protruding post extends from an inner top surface of the knob 5240 toward the engaging unit 5230 and passes the engaging unit 5230. The knob teeth 5246 may be located at an end surface of the protruding post to correspond to the coupling teeth. The connecting post 5245 may extend from the end surface of the protruding surface along the axis X1.

The gear 5220 may include a gear hole (not labeled) and two flexible clamping portions 5223. The flexible clamping portions 5223 protrude from a hole wall of the gear hole. The connecting post 5245 of the knob 5240 may protrude into the gear hole to be coordinated with the flexible clamping portions 5223.

As shown in FIG. 15, the knob 5240 is located at a first position, a head portion of the connecting post 5245 may be located at one side of the flexible clamping portions 5223, being near the placing board 5111. Rotating the knob 5240 in the tensioning direction R1 may rotate the gear 5220 to drive the two gear racks 5210 to move close to each other for reducing a diameter of the fastening article. The user may rotate the knob 5240 in the releasing direction R2 to rotate the gear 5220 in the releasing direction R2, and the two gear racks 5210 may move away from each other. As shown in FIG. 16, the knob 5240 may be pulled upward along the axis X1 to a second position, the knob teeth 5246 separate from the coupling teeth of the gear 5220. The connecting post 5245 pushes and deforms the flexible clamping portions 5223 to move upward to another side of the flexible clamping portions 5223, being away from the placing board 5111. Therefore, the gear 5220 will not be prohibited by the engaging unit 5230, and the user may pull any portion of the fastening article to move the two gear racks 5210 away from each other, thereby achieving a full release effect.

FIG. 17 is one exploded view of a fastening device 6200 of a closure system according to a sixth embodiment of the present disclosure. FIG. 18 is another exploded view of the fastening device 6200 of the sixth embodiment of FIG. 17. The closure system (not labeled in the sixth embodiment) of the sixth embodiment is similar to the closure system 1000 of the first embodiment, but a fastening device 6200 of the closure system of the sixth embodiment is different.

FIG. 19 is a cross-sectional view of the fastening device 6200 of the sixth embodiment of FIG. 17. FIG. 20 is a partial top view of the fastening device 6200 of the sixth embodiment of FIG. 17, and the knob 6240 is omitted in FIG. 20. Please refer to FIGS. 17 to 20, the fastening device 6200 may include two gear racks 6210, a knob 6240, an engaging unit 6230, a driving wheel 6220 and a housing 6250.

For each of the gear racks 6210, the gear rack 6210 includes a plurality of protruding teeth 6212. The protruding teeth 6212 respectively includes a plurality of edge curves 6212a, and each of the edge curves 6212a is selected from one of a logarithmic spiral curve, an Archimedean spiral curve, a Limaçon de Pascal curve, an elliptic curve, a higher order curve, a combined curve and a combination thereof. The driving wheel 6220 may include a plurality of driving pins 6224 for coordinated with the protruding teeth 6212. The engaging unit 6230 does not include the driving teeth 1235 of the first embodiment and is integrally connected to the driving wheel 6220.

The housing 6250 may include a bottom 6257 connected to one end of the housing wall 6252. The driving wheel 6220 may be sandwiched between a partition (not labeled in the sixth embodiment) and the bottom 6257. The housing 6250 may further include four gear rack holes 6256, the four gear rack holes 6256 are symmetrically located at the housing wall 6252, and the four gear rack holes 6256 are symmetrically arranged in a two-by-two configuration. Each of the gear racks 6210 may pass two of the gear rack holes 6256 to enter the space surrounded by the housing wall 6252.

As shown in FIG. 20, since each of the protruding teeth 6212 includes a respective edge curves 6212a, as the driving wheel 6220 rotates, the driving pins 6224 pushes the protruding teeth 6212 to move the gear rack 6210 linearly, thereby tensioning or releasing the fastening article.

Although the present disclosure has been described in considerable detail with reference to certain embodiments thereof, other embodiments are possible. Therefore, the spirit and scope of the appended claims should not be limited to the description of the embodiments contained herein.

It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various modifications and variations can be made to the structure of the present disclosure without departing from the scope or spirit of the disclosure. In view of the foregoing, it is intended that the present disclosure cover modifications and variations of this disclosure provided they fall within the scope of the following claims.