Plurality of devices for preventing crease and wrinkles

Abstract

A plurality of devices for preventing creases and wrinkles in articles of clothing best suited for hanging in combination or individually onto a horizontal arm and or a plurality of side arms of a clothes hanger in existing collections. Such wrinkles caused by a smaller hanging surface. The devices having a large cylindrical hanging surface removably install and securely contour onto the arms through a molded gap.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

This invention relates mainly to devices used to prevent unwanted creases and wrinkles for a portion of clothing resting on a clothes hanger.

2. Description of the Prior Art

As a result of the standard wire, plastic, and wooden clothes hangers currently manufactured, many people are discouraged by the prospect of having to re iron already ironed pieces of clothing, in order to straighten out unwanted creases and wrinkles, resulting from the ironed pieces being placed onto a standard manufactured clothes hanger for future use. Over the years there have been several clothes hangers developed, as well as several attachments developed to be used in combination with a clothes hanger in an effort to counteract this problem, however at the same time overlooking several prevalent concerns that some consumers have.

Applicants are aware of the below listed attachments used in combination with a clothes hanger:

• Sieradzki, U.S. Pat. No. 3,179,315, Patented April 1965.
• Michalik, U.S. Pat. No. 5,056,694, Patented October 1991.
• Murray U.S. Pat. No. 6,012,620, Patented January 2000.
• Gish, U.S. Pat. No. 6,126,049, Patented October 2000.
• Gish, U.S. Pat. No. 6,213,359, Patented April 2001.
• Cameron U.S. Pat. No. 6,840,413 Patented January 2005.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Our invention comprises a plurality of innovated light weight crease and wrinkle prevention devices that quickly and efficiently connect to, and disconnect from a horizontal arm and a plurality of side arms of a clothes hanger. They are used for preventing unwanted creases and wrinkles in articles of clothing best suited for hanging in combination or individually onto the horizontal arm and or the side arms of the clothes hanger. Such creases and wrinkles caused by a smaller cylindrical surface, or a non-cylindrical surface of a standard manufactured clothes hanger. Our devices are effectively capable of solving the problem that consumers have, of how to easily make existing clothes hangers in their vast collections, completely crease and wrinkle proof. Various other advantages and features of novelty which characterize our invention are pointed out with particularity in the claims annexed hereto and forming a part hereof. However, for a better understanding of the invention, its advantages, and objects obtained by its use, reference should be had to the drawings which forms a further part hereof, and to the accompanying descriptive matter, in which there are illustrated and described certain preferred embodiments of the invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The invention can be best understood by those having ordinary skill in the art by reference to the following detailed description when considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which:

FIGS. 1, 2, 3, 5, 6, 7, 8, and 13 are perspective views of the present invention in operation on a clothes hanger.

FIGS. 2A, 3A, 3B, 9, 10, and 11 are cross sectional views of preferred embodiments of the present invention.

FIGS. 4 and 12 are orthographic bottom views of a preferred embodiment of the present invention.

REFERENCE NUMERALS IN THE DRAWINGS

• 20 devices for preventing crease and wrinkles.
• 22 exterior surface section.
• 22A fitting adjustment portion of device.
• 23 Plurality of ends.
• 24,24A plurality of side arms of a clothes hanger.
• 24B, 24C plurality of transitional sections.
• 25 plurality of removably mountable caps.
• 26,26A horizontal arm of a clothes hanger.
• 27 plurality of ends.
• 28 28A made opening.
• 29 exterior surface section.
• 30 cylindrical interior surface section.
• 30A, 30B non-cylindrical interior surface sections.
• 32 cylindrical interior surface section.
• 32A, 32B non-cylindrical interior surface sections.
• 34 removably mountable weight bar device.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

FIGS. 1, 2, 2A, 3, 3A, 3B, 4, 5, and 6 show a plurality of devices for preventing crease and wrinkles of the current invention, and show the devices 20 utilizing a formed material each integrally comprising, an exterior surface section 22 having a plurality of ends 23, a made opening 28 in section 22 spanning from one of the ends 23 to the other end 23, opening 28 transitioning to a cylindrical interior surface section 30, or a non cylindrical interior surface section 30A,30B, made in the center interior of the devices 20. Section 22, opening 28, and section 30, 30A, 30B, made proportionately in length. As shown in FIGS. 1, 2, and 3, the devices 20 having a fitting adjustment portion 22A, giving them a longer length than the horizontal arm 26,26A, and the plurality of side arms 24,24A of the clothes hanger. As shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, section 22, opening 28, and section 30, 30A, 30B, made proportionately in length without the fitting adjustment portion 22A to fit the horizontal arm 26, 26A, and the plurality of side arms 24,24A of the clothes hanger. FIGS. 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, and 12 further including a plurality of removably mountable caps of the current invention, and show the caps 25 utilizing a formed material each integrally comprising, an exterior surface section 29 having a plurality of ends 27, a made opening 28A in section 29 spanning from one of the ends 27 to the other end 27, opening 28A transitioning to a cylindrical interior surface section 32, or a non cylindrical interior surface section 32A,32B, made in the center interior of the caps 25. Section 29, opening 28A, and section 32, 32A, 32B, made proportionately in length. In the preferred embodiment, the devices 20 and the caps 25 proof of concept models, were created by gluing together, a plurality of extruded foam rollers each roller having a formed hollow center, then establishing a cut line with a marker and a ruler and cutting to the hollow center with a razor knife, while using the ruler as a straight edge. Manufacturing processes including at least but not limited to: dip molding, extruding, injection molding, pour molding, die cutting, contour saw cutting, hot wiring, drilling and razor cutting, making a cylindrical tube having a slit, fabricating, utilizing polyethylene, polyvinyl, chloride, rubber, pomalux, acetyl copolymer, polypropylene, nylon, vinyl, further including any other forming materials and manufacturing processes, which produces results within the scope and spirit of discovery of the invention.

The plurality of devices for preventing crease and wrinkles 20 is a means for preventing unwanted creases and wrinkles in articles of clothing best suited for hanging in combination or individually, onto horizontal arm 26,26A, and or side arms 24,24A, of the clothes hanger, by allowing the article of clothing to be installed and to rest onto a portion of section 22 that is cylindrical and larger than arm 26,26A, and arms 24,24A, giving the installed portion of clothing a perfectly round, and larger surface to rest on, thus preventing unwanted creases and wrinkles caused by a smaller cylindrical surface of arm 26, and arms 24, or the non cylindrical surface of arm 26A, and arms 24A. The devices 20 install onto the clothes hanger, after cutting off a portion of each of the devices 20 exceeding the length of whichever arm of the clothes hanger they are being installed onto. The longer length of the devices allowing their installation onto horizontal arms and side arms that vary in length resulting from differently manufactured clothes hangers, thus allowing the devices 20 to be easily installed onto a clothes hanger in an existing collection, and used when hanging articles of clothing such as pants and shirts in combination or individually on the hanger as many consumers do with regularity. The devices 20 can be made to install directly onto arm 26,26A, and arms 24,24A, of the clothes hanger without the fitting adjustment. The plurality of removably mountable caps 25 further prevents unwanted creases and wrinkles in a portion of an article of clothing best suited for hanging onto side arms 24,24A, of the clothes hanger, by allowing the article of clothing to be installed and to rest onto a portion of caps 25 that is cylindrical and larger than arms 24,24A, giving the installed portion of clothing a perfectly round, and larger surface to rest on, thus preventing unwanted creases and wrinkles caused by a smaller cylindrical surface of arms 24, or the non cylindrical surface of arms 24A. As shown in FIGS. 5, 6, 7, and 8 caps 25 are formed to be installed through opening 28A, onto a plurality of transitional sections 24B, 24C, transitioning the side arms 24,24A to the horizontal arm 26,26A of the clothes hanger. Arm 26,26A arms 24,24A and sections 24B, 24C resting within interior surface section 30, 30A, 30B, and 32, 32A, 32B. Section 30, 32 can be made larger, smaller, or the same in diameter of the cylindrical surface of arm 26, and arms 24. Section 30A, 30B, 32A, 32B can be made larger, smaller, or the same in diameter of the non cylindrical surface of arm 26A, and arms 24A. Devices 20 contouring to arm 26,26A and arms 24,24A. Caps 25 contouring to sections 24B, 24C. Section 30, 30A, 30B, 32, 32A, 32B maintaining the cylindrical shape of section 22,22B by leaving no empty space to collapse in section 30, 30A, 30B of each of the installed devices 20, and section 32, 32A, 32B when hanging heavier articles of clothing, such collapsing creating a tendency for section 22,22B to have a less than perfect cylindrical shape, thus causing unwanted creases and wrinkles in installed articles of clothing. The devices 20 and caps 25 uninstall by pulling off and away from the clothes hanger with arm 26,26A arms 24,24A and sections 24B,24C exiting through opening 28,28A allowing the clothes hanger to return to its natural state, also allowing the removed devices and caps to be used in combination on another clothes hanger.

From the description above, a number of advantages of our plurality of removably mountable crease and wrinkle prevention devices become evident. Our devices are lightweight and quickly and efficiently connect to and disconnect from, the horizontal arm and the side arms of the clothes hanger. Users may utilize the devices wherever and whenever they may travel.

The design of our devices allows them to be used on clothes hangers having cylindrical or non-cylindrical surfaces. Our devices are effectively capable of solving the problem that consumers have, of how to make existing clothes hangers in their vast collection completely crease and wrinkle proof. The design of our devices allows a consumer to hang articles of clothing such as pants and shirts in combination, or individually on the hanger. The simplicity of design, along with various manufacturing methods currently available, allows our crease and wrinkle prevention devices to be truly cost effective, therefore reasonable to buy. Thus the reader will see that the crease and wrinkle prevention devices of the invention provide simple, lightweight, and integral devices, that are highly reliable as well as economical, that can be used by persons of almost any age, that have an interest in keeping their clothes free of unwanted creases, and wrinkles.

While our above description contains several specificities, these should not be construed as limitations on the scope of the invention, but rather as an exemplification of one preferred embodiment thereof. Other variations are possible. For example: (1) The fitting adjustments of the devices could be omitted, or the devices could be made larger, and longer, to accommodate larger articles of clothing, or pieces of fabrics. (2) The interior surface section could be made to accommodate the shape, and size, of a plurality of side arms, and a horizontal arm, of any clothes hanger, currently manufactured, or, any clothes hanger manufactured in the future. (3) The made openings of the devices and caps could be larger, or smaller, and could be brought together and closed, utilizing hook and loop fasteners. (4) The exterior surface section and the plurality of ends could be made in any shape, as long as the portion of the exterior surface section in which the article of clothing rests on is cylindrical. (5) The crease and wrinkle prevention devices can be made from any applicable forming materials currently available, or available in the future. (6) The structure of the crease and wrinkle prevention devices can be made larger, and used as a removably mountable weight bar device, mounting onto a section of a weight bar, providing padding support for various parts of a person's body when exercising with the weight bar. (7) The plurality of removably mountable caps could be omitted, or they could be formed to install onto the plurality of transitional sections of the clothes hanger having at least round, square, rectangular, triangular, and oval shapes, or any other shape conceivable of a manufactured clothes hanger which produces results within the scope and spirit of discovery of the invention. (8) The preferred result of the installed caps is that they are at least contiguous the installed devices for preventing creases and wrinkles.

Therefore, without departing from the spirit and scope of this invention, one of ordinary skill in the art can make the foregoing modifications, and other changes and modifications to the plurality of crease and wrinkle prevention devices of the present invention, to adapt them to specific usages and conditions. As such, these changes and modifications are properly, equitably, and intended to be, within the full range of equivalents of the following claims.

Claims

1-42. (canceled)

43-86. (canceled)

87. A plurality of removably mountable crease and wrinkle prevention devices for attaching to a horizontal arm and a plurality of side arms of a clothes hanger, for preventing unwanted creases and wrinkles in articles of clothing when hanging in combination or individually onto said clothes hanger, each said device integrally comprising;

an exterior surface section having a plurality of ends, an opening in the exterior section spanning from one of the ends to the other end, said opening transitioning to an interior surface section in the center interior of the devices, the exterior surface section, the opening, and the interior surface section made proportionately in length creating a fitting adjustment portion, giving the devices a longer length than said horizontal arm or said plurality of side arms of said clothes hanger, the longer length of the devices allowing their installation onto horizontal arms and side arms that vary in length resulting from differently manufactured clothes hangers, said devices further including a plurality of removably mountable caps for attaching to a plurality of transitional sections, said transitional sections transitioning said side arms to said horizontal arm of the clothes hanger, said plurality of caps for further preventing unwanted creases and wrinkles in a portion of an article of clothing hanging onto said side arms of the clothes hanger, said plurality of caps each integrally comprising, an exterior surface section having a plurality of ends, a made opening in said exterior surface section spanning from one of the ends to the other end, said opening transitioning to an interior surface section made in the center interior of said caps, said exterior surface section, said opening, and said interior surface section of said caps made proportionately in length, said caps installing through said opening onto said plurality of transitional sections of the clothes hanger.

88. The plurality of devices for preventing creases and wrinkles of claim 87 wherein, the horizontal arm and the side arms rest within the interior surface section made the same in diameter as a surface of the horizontal arm and the side arms said devices contouring to said horizontal arm and said side arms.

89. The plurality of devices for preventing creases and wrinkles of claim 87 wherein, the horizontal arm and the side arms rest within the interior surface section made larger in diameter than a surface of the horizontal arm and the side arms, said devices contouring to said horizontal arm and said side arms.

90. The plurality of devices for preventing creases and wrinkles of claim 87 wherein, the horizontal arm and the side arms, rest within the interior surface section made smaller in diameter than a surface of the horizontal arm and the side arms, said devices contouring to said horizontal arm and said side arms.

91. The plurality of devices for preventing creases and wrinkles of claim 87 wherein, said interior surface section is cylindrical.

92. The plurality of devices for preventing creases and wrinkles of claim 87 wherein, said interior surface section is non cylindrical.

93. The plurality of devices for preventing creases and wrinkles of claim 87 wherein, said devices prevent unwanted creases and wrinkles in articles of clothing by allowing the articles of clothing to be installed and to rest onto a portion of the exterior surface section that is cylindrical and larger than the horizontal arm and the side arms, giving the installed portion of clothing a round and larger surface to rest on.

94. The plurality of devices for preventing creases and wrinkles of claim 87 wherein, each of the devices install onto the clothes hanger through the opening, after cutting off a portion of each of the devices exceeding the length of whichever arm of the clothes hanger they are being installed onto.

95. The plurality of devices for preventing creases and wrinkles of claim 87 wherein, the interior surface section maintains the cylindrical shape of the exterior surface section, by leaving no empty space to collapse in the interior surface section of each of the installed devices when hanging heavier articles of clothing, such collapsing creating a tendency for the exterior circumference section to have a less than perfect cylindrical shape.

96. The plurality of devices for preventing creases and wrinkles of claim 87 wherein, the devices uninstall by pulling off and away from the clothes hanger with the horizontal arm and the side arms exiting through the opening of each of the devices, allowing the clothes hanger to return to it's natural state, also allowing the removed devices to be used in combination on another clothes hanger.

97. The plurality of devices for preventing creases and wrinkles of claim 87 wherein, said caps further prevent unwanted creases and wrinkles in said portion of said article of clothing hanging onto said side arms of the clothes hanger, by allowing the article of clothing to be installed and to rest onto a portion of said caps that is cylindrical and larger than said transitional sections, giving the installed portion of clothing a perfectly round, and larger surface to rest on.

98. The plurality of devices for preventing creases and wrinkles of claim 87 wherein, said interior surface section of said caps maintains the cylindrical shape of said exterior surface section by leaving no empty space to collapse in said interior surface section of each of the installed caps when hanging heavier articles of clothing, such collapsing creating a tendency for said exterior surface section to have a less than perfect cylindrical shape, thus causing unwanted creases and wrinkles in installed articles of clothing.

99. The plurality of devices for preventing creases and wrinkles of claim 87 wherein, said caps uninstall by pulling off and away from the clothes hanger with said transitional sections exiting through said opening, allowing the clothes hanger to return to its natural state, also allowing the removed caps to be used in combination on another clothes hanger.

100. The plurality of devices for preventing creases and wrinkles of claim 87 wherein, said interior surface section of said caps is cylindrical.

101. The plurality of devices for preventing creases and wrinkles of claim 87 wherein, said interior surface section of said caps is non cylindrical.

102. The plurality of devices for preventing creases and wrinkles of claim 87 wherein, said plurality of transitional sections rest within the interior surface section of said caps made the same in diameter as a surface of said plurality of transitional sections, said caps contouring to said transitional sections.

103. The plurality of devices for preventing creases and wrinkles of claim 87 wherein, said plurality of transitional sections rest within the interior surface section of said caps made larger in diameter than a surface of said plurality of transitional sections, said caps contouring to said transitional sections.

104. The plurality of devices for preventing creases and wrinkles of claim 87 wherein, said plurality of transitional sections rest within the interior surface section of said caps made smaller in diameter than a surface of said plurality of transitional sections, said caps contouring to said transitional sections.

105. The plurality of devices for preventing creases and wrinkles of claim 87 wherein, said opening of said devices and said caps is brought together and closed utilizing fasteners.

106. The plurality of devices for preventing creases and wrinkles of claim 87 wherein, the structure of said devices can be made larger, and mounted onto a section of a weight bar, providing padding support for various parts of a person's body when exercising with the weight bar.

107. The plurality of devices for preventing creases and wrinkles of claim 106 wherein, said opening is brought together and closed utilizing fasteners.

108. A plurality of removably mountable crease and wrinkle prevention devices for attaching to a horizontal arm and a plurality of side arms of a clothes hanger, for preventing unwanted creases and wrinkles in articles of clothing when hanging in combination or individually onto said clothes hanger, each said device integrally comprising;

an exterior surface section having a plurality of ends, an opening in the exterior section spanning from one of the ends to the other end, said opening transitioning to an interior surface section in the center interior of the devices, the exterior surface section, the opening, and the interior surface section molded proportionately in length to fit said horizontal arm, and said plurality of side arms of said clothes hanger, said devices further including a plurality of removably mountable caps for attaching to a plurality of transitional sections, said transitional sections transitioning said side arms to said horizontal arm of the clothes hanger, said plurality of caps for further preventing unwanted creases and wrinkles in a portion of an article of clothing hanging onto said side arms of the clothes hanger, said plurality of caps each integrally comprising, an exterior surface section having a plurality of ends, a made opening in said exterior surface section spanning from one of the ends to the other end, said opening transitioning to an interior surface section made in the center interior of said caps, said exterior surface section, said opening, and said interior surface section of said caps made proportionately in length, said caps installing through said opening onto said plurality of transitional sections of the clothes hanger.

109. The plurality of devices for preventing creases and wrinkles of claim 108 wherein, the horizontal arm and the side arms rest within the interior surface section of said devices made the same in diameter as a surface of the horizontal arm and the side arms, said devices contouring to said horizontal arm and said side arms.

110. The plurality of devices for preventing creases and wrinkles of claim 108 wherein, the horizontal arm and the side arms rest within the interior surface section of said devices made larger in diameter than a surface of the horizontal arm and the side arms, said devices contouring to said horizontal arm and said side arms.

111. The plurality of devices for preventing creases and wrinkles of claim 108 wherein, the horizontal arm and the side arms, rest within the interior surface section of said devices made smaller in diameter than a surface of the horizontal arm and the side arms, said devices contouring to said horizontal arm and said side arms.

112. The plurality of devices for preventing creases and wrinkles of claim 108 wherein, said interior surface section of said devices is cylindrical.

113. The plurality of devices for preventing creases and wrinkles of claim 108 wherein, said interior surface section of said devices is non cylindrical.

114. The plurality of devices for preventing creases and wrinkles of claim 108 wherein, said devices prevent unwanted creases and wrinkles in articles of clothing by allowing the articles of clothing to be installed and to rest onto a portion of the exterior surface section that is cylindrical and larger than the horizontal arm and the side arms, giving the installed portion of clothing a round and larger surface to rest on.

115. The plurality of devices for preventing creases and wrinkles of claim 108 wherein, each of the devices install onto the clothes hanger through the opening, after cutting off a portion of each of the devices exceeding the length of whichever arm of the clothes hanger they are being installed onto.

116. The plurality of devices for preventing creases and wrinkles of claim 108 wherein, the interior surface section maintains the cylindrical shape of the exterior surface section, by leaving no empty space to collapse in the interior surface section of each of the installed devices when hanging heavier articles of clothing, such collapsing creating a tendency for the exterior circumference section to have a less than perfect cylindrical shape.

117. The plurality of devices for preventing creases and wrinkles of claim 108 wherein, the devices uninstall by pulling off and away from the clothes hanger with the horizontal arm and the side arms exiting through the opening of each of the devices, allowing the clothes hanger to return to it's natural state, also allowing the removed devices to be used in combination on another clothes hanger.

118. The plurality of devices for preventing creases and wrinkles of claim 108 wherein, said plurality of transitional sections rest within the interior surface section of said caps made the same in diameter as a surface of said plurality of transitional sections, said caps contouring to said transitional sections.

119. The plurality of devices for preventing creases and wrinkles of claim 108 wherein, said plurality of transitional sections rest within the interior surface section of said caps made larger in diameter than a surface of said plurality of transitional sections, said caps contouring to said transitional sections.

120. The plurality of devices for preventing creases and wrinkles of claim 108 wherein, said plurality of transitional sections rest within the interior surface section of said caps made smaller in diameter than a surface of said plurality of transitional sections, said caps contouring to said transitional sections.

121. The plurality of devices for preventing creases and wrinkles of claim 108 wherein, said interior surface section of said caps are cylindrical.

122. The plurality of devices for preventing creases and wrinkles of claim 108 wherein, said interior surface section of said caps are non cylindrical.

123. The plurality of devices for preventing creases and wrinkles of claim 108 wherein, said caps further prevent unwanted creases and wrinkles in said portion of said article of clothing hanging onto said side arms of the clothes hanger, by allowing the article of clothing to be installed and to rest onto a portion of said caps that is cylindrical and larger than said transitional sections, giving the installed portion of clothing a perfectly round, and larger surface to rest on.

124. The plurality of devices for preventing creases and wrinkles of claim 108 wherein, said interior surface section of said caps maintains the cylindrical shape of said exterior surface section by leaving no empty space to collapse in said interior surface section of each of the installed caps when hanging heavier articles of clothing, such collapsing creating a tendency for said exterior surface section to have a less than perfect cylindrical shape, thus causing unwanted creases and wrinkles in installed articles of clothing.

125. The plurality of devices for preventing creases and wrinkles of claim 108 wherein, said caps uninstall by pulling off and away from the clothes hanger with said transitional sections exiting through said opening, allowing the clothes hanger to return to its natural state, also allowing the removed caps to be used in combination on another clothes hanger.

126. The plurality of devices for preventing creases and wrinkles of claim 108 wherein, said opening of said devices and said caps is brought together and closed utilizing fasteners.

127. A plurality of removably mountable crease and wrinkle prevention devices for attaching to a horizontal arm and a plurality of side arms of a clothes hanger, for preventing unwanted creases and wrinkles in articles of clothing when hanging in combination or individually onto said clothes hanger, each said device integrally comprising;

an exterior surface section having a plurality of ends, an opening in the exterior section spanning from one of the ends to the other end, said opening transitioning to an interior surface section in the center interior of the devices, the exterior surface section, the opening, and the interior surface section molded proportionately in length to fit said horizontal arm, and said plurality of side arms of said clothes hanger.

128. The plurality of devices for preventing creases and wrinkles of claim 127 wherein, the horizontal arm and the side arms rest within the interior surface section of said devices made the same in diameter as a surface of the horizontal arm and the side arms, said devices contouring to said horizontal arm and said side arms.

129. The plurality of devices for preventing creases and wrinkles of claim 127 wherein, the horizontal arm and the side arms rest within the interior surface section of said devices made larger in diameter than a surface of the horizontal arm and the side arms, said devices contouring to said horizontal arm and said side arms.

130. The plurality of devices for preventing creases and wrinkles of claim 127 wherein, the horizontal arm and the side arms, rest within the interior surface section of said devices made smaller in diameter than a surface of the horizontal arm and the side arms, said devices contouring to said horizontal arm and said side arms.

131. The plurality of devices for preventing creases and wrinkles of claim 127 wherein, said interior surface section of said devices is cylindrical.

132. The plurality of devices for preventing creases and wrinkles of claim 127 wherein, said interior surface section of said devices is non cylindrical.

133. The plurality of devices for preventing creases and wrinkles of claim 127 wherein, said opening is brought together and closed utilizing fasteners.