FASTENER-FABRIC ASSEMBLY AND METHOD OF USE THEREOF
A fastener-fabric assembly in which a torsion member holds a section or sections of fabric securely against a rigid post, without penetrating the fabric or causing it damage.
This application claims benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 60/813 923,entitled “Fabric Fastener,” filed Jun. 15, 2006, which is incorporated by reference herein in its entirety.
BACKGROUNDThis invention relates generally to fasteners and, more particularly, to fasteners for securing a section or sections of fabric.
Many popular items of clothing, such as scarves, throws and sarongs, require a means for securing one or more fabric sections around the neck, torso or other body part. These items of clothing, which are often made of light-weight material fabric, are frequently made without the use of buttons or zippers, and therefore require securing by means of an external fastener. One common example of such a fastener is a safety-pin type fastener. The problem with such safety-pin type fasteners, however, is that they are invasive to what is often delicate fabric and may cause material damage with long term use. Furthermore, while utilitarian, safety-pins are not decorative enough to be aesthetic pleasing on a scarf, throw, sarong or other such items of fabric. Many varieties of decorative pins can also be used as fasteners, but even these may cause damage and material wear to delicate fabric when secured through it.
It would therefore be useful if the wearer of a scarf, throw or sarong, or other such items of fabric, could secure that item of fabric around the body with an aesthetically-pleasing decorative fastener that was not invasive or that would not cause material damage to the fabric being secured. Other advantages of such a fastener would include its ready availability, its ease of manipulation, and its ability to be decorated as the wearer prefers.
SUMMARYThe present invention is a fastener-fabric assembly in which a torsion member holds a section or sections of fabric securely against a rigid post, without penetrating the fabric or causing it damage. The fastener portion of this invention may be decorated with beads, ribbons, feathers and the like to suit the taste of the wearer.
Several embodiments of the fastener-fabric assembly are described below,. However, those of skill in the art will appreciate that many other configurations may be utilized other than those described.
For a better understanding of the present invention, reference is made to the accompanying detailed description and figures, wherein:
The present invention is now described more fully hereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawings. in which an illustrative embodiment of the present invention is shown. The following configuration description is presented for illustrative purposes only. Any materials and configuration of materials satisfying the requirements herein described may be suitable for implementing the fastener-fabric assembly of the present invention.
Referring now to
A back view of the fastener-fabric assembly 10 is shown in
The torsion member 102 can be circularly-shaped but other shapes are also feasible, such as ovals (not shown) or polygons, as shown in
Any of the torsion member 102, the hub 101 and the post 103 may be decorated by various means, such as plating, enameling, painting, rubberizing, dipping or coating. Various decorative objects, such as beads, crystals, stones, shells, ribbons, wire, leather, feathers, wood, felt and honeycomb may be attached to any of the torsion member 102, the hub 101 or the post 103 by means of soldering or wrapping, or other securing means.
While the invention has been described in connection with the preferred embodiments described above it is not intended to limit the scope of the invention to the particular form set forth, but on the contrary, it is intended to cover such alternatives, modifications. and equivalents as may be included within the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims.
Claims
1. A fastener-fabric assembly, comprising:
- a post integrally connected to a hub, wherein said post and said hub together form a rigid pairing;
- a torsion member having a generally rigid mid-section defining a first pin end and a second pin end directed towards each other wherein said first pin end is integrally connected to said hub at a first seat on one side of said hub and said second pin end is integrally connected said hub at a second seat on a second side of said hub opposite to said first seat wherein said first seat and said second seat are separated vertically along the axis of said hub by a first distance and horizontally along the axis of said hub by a second distance, such that the torsion member is rotatable on an axis approximately connecting said two pin ends and subject to a force tending to rotate said torsion member to a position with a portion of its mid-section abutting said post; and
- at least one sheet of fabric with a section positioned between said torsion member and said post held securely in that position as an effect of said force.
2. The fastener-fabric assembly of claim I wherein said midsection of said torsion member is of generally uniform cross-section with a single longitudinal axis connecting said two pin ends.
3. The fastener-fabric assembly of claim 1, wherein any surface of said post is covered by a fabric slip-cover.
4. The fastener-fabric assembly of claim 1, wherein any of the torsion member, the hub and/or the post is covered by decoration using processes selected from a group consisting of plating, enameling, painting, rubberizing, dipping or coating.
5. The fastener-fabric assembly of claim 1, wherein one or more decorative objects, such objects selected from a group consisting of beads, crystals, stones, shells, ribbons, wire, leather, feathers, wood, felt and honeycomb, are attached to any of the torsion member, the hub and/or the post.
6. A method of securing at least two sections of fabric to one another comprising the steps of:
- rotationally opening an assembly comprising a post integrally connected to a hub, wherein said post and said hub together form a rigid pairing and a torsion member having a generally rigid mid-section defining a first pin end and a second pin end directed towards each other wherein said first pin end is integrally connected to said hub at a first seat on one side of said hub and said second pin end is integrally connected said hub at a second seat on a second side of said hub opposite to said first seat wherein said first seat and said second seat are separated vertically along the axis of said hub by a first distance and horizontally along the axis of said hub by a second distance, such that the torsion member is rotatable on an axis approximately connecting said two pin ends and subject to a force tending to rotate said torsion member to a closed position with a portion of its mid-section abutting said post;
- positioning at least two sections of fabric between said torsion member and said post; and
- rotating said torsion member to said closed position with said at least two sections of fabric secured between said torsion member and said post.
Type: Application
Filed: May 30, 2007
Publication Date: Feb 25, 2010
Inventors: Bonita Harter (Perkasie, PA), Lisa Spudic (Brooklyn, NY)
Application Number: 12/304,867
International Classification: A44B 99/00 (20100101);