EYELET

Abstract

The invention concerns an eyelet (O) of the type constituted by two half-shells (100 and 200) assembled by clipsage used as border and/or reinforcement of perforations in curtains, textiles or similar materials, the two half-shells (100 and 200) coming mutually into grasp by clipsage, one of the two half-shells (100 and 200) having a plurality of fins (120) projecting from its face turned towards the interior of the other half-shell (200) and the points (121) of which are introduced into the circular annular groove (220) laid out for this purpose in the interior surface of the other half-shell (200). This eyelet is notably characterized in that the aforementioned fins (120) have a body adopting a polygonal cross-section.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to the field of eyelets capable of serving as borders and/or reinforcements for perforations made in any material (curtains, textiles or similar materials, etc. . . . ) and notably to the adaptations enabling optimization of their mounting, their manufacture and their functions.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PRIOR ART

There exists in the prior art eyelets formed from two half-shells assembled by clipsage to serve notably as border at holes made in textiles or similar materials such as for example at the curtain top end.

The two half-shells enter into mutual engagement by clipsage.

Furthermore, one of the two half-shells includes protruding fins, the points of which enter into a groove or annular circular channel of the other half-shell.

Furthermore, there exists eyelets where the two half-shells include in the area of their small diameter a preformed cylindrical projection for cooperating in a manner to enable the clipsage.

The applicant noticed that this type of eyelet was not being adapted to the different thicknesses of the fabrics or similar existing materials. In fact, once clipped on each other, the two half-shells have, at the area of their annular part, a fixed separation defining the thickness on which the eyelet can be installed.

The applicant furthermore noticed that the behavior of the fabric in the area of the fins, their penetration and their passage through the aforementioned material were presenting disadvantages.

Furthermore, the exterior appearance of the eyelets made of plastic material appears exclusively defined by the injection constraints, which reduces the possibilities of change of its shape.

DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Given this situation, the applicant conducted research studies to optimize the eyelets known from the prior art with regards to their adaptability to several thicknesses, the behavior of the curtain, fabric or of the material on which they come to be installed, and their aesthetic.

These research studies led to the conception of an eyelet offering improvements obviating the disadvantages of the prior art.

The eyelet of the invention is of the type constituted by two half-shells assembled by clipsage used as border and/or reinforcement of a perforation in curtains, textiles or similar materials, the two half-shells coming mutually into grasp by clipsage of the two sides, one of the two half-shells having a plurality of fins projecting from its interior face turned towards the interior of the other half-shell and the points of which are introduced into the circular annular groove laid out for this purpose in the interior surface of the other half-shell.

In accordance with the invention, this eyelet is characterized in that the aforementioned fins have a body having a continuous polygonal cross-section terminated by a point and that a part of the body having continuous cross-section is introduced into the annular groove when the two half shells are in the assembled state.

This cross-section contributes to a better penetration of the body of the fins through the textile or through the material on which the eyelet is installed. While the fins of the prior art were making do with a conical body and thus making the hold of the eyelet dependent on the length of the fin traversing the textile, a continuous polygonal cross-section guarantees the same hold. This new cross-section thus resolves one of the disadvantages of the prior art.

In order to facilitate the first penetration of the point of the fin, the aforementioned fins have a first end coupled to the interior surface of a half-shell and another end that is terminated by a point having the shape of a pyramid. The fins thus have two parts, a part having continuous polygonal cross-section and a pointed part.

Still, to respond to the ongoing concern of the applicant about a good hold of the eyelet on the textile or material on which it forms the border around a hole, a part of the polygonal body of the aforementioned fins is introduced into the aforementioned groove or annular channel. Thus, contrary to what the prior art offers, it is not only the point that comes to be introduced into the annular groove but a part of the body supporting the point, which reinforces the attachment offered by the fins.

According to a technical choice, the cross-section of the fins is quadrangular and the aforementioned fins are oriented such that the flat surfaces of the fins are in contact with the cylindrical surfaces of the annular groove of the other half-shell.

In order to better take into account the variations in thickness of the supports on which they are installed, the applicant conceived that at least one of the two half-shells has at its outer rim, that is on the part the most distant from the center of the attachment, a plurality of teeth projecting from its interior face towards the interior face of the other half-shell in the space defined between the two half-shells in order to maintain the eyelet in position, up to its outer rim. These supplemental teeth furthermore allow the border of the eyelet to come into contact with the textile even if the latter is of a thickness less than the distance separating the two assembled half-shells. According to a technical choice the interior faces of the two half-shells are equipped with the aforementioned teeth.

An object of the invention is constituted by an eyelet combining several of the features cited above, this combination guaranteeing good holding of the two half shells between themselves and of the eyelet on the textile. Thus, according to the invention, this eyelet is characterized in that the aforementioned fins include a body having continuous polygonal cross-section terminated by a point and that a part of the body having continuous cross-section is introduced into the annular groove when the two half shells are in the assembled state,

that at least one of the two half-shells has at its outer rim a plurality of teeth projecting from its interior face and

that each half-shell includes a cylindrical projection around the hole of which they secure the border, the cylindrical projections being preformed from complementary shapes for clipping into each other, a half-shell being preformed from projecting stops (160) guiding the end of the clipsage movement.

According to another particularly advantageous feature, the eyelet is fabricated in ABS, that is in plastic material based on acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene. This material offers the mechanical features necessary to assure the function of the eyelet and offers the characteristic of enabling its mixture with the flakes capable of bringing a metallized aesthetic to the eyelet.

The fundamental concepts of the invention have just been explained above in their most elementary form. Other details and features will reemerge more clearly at the reading of the description that follows and with regards to the annexed drawings giving, by way of non-limiting example, an implementation mode of an eyelet in accordance with the invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a schematic drawing of a side, cross-section view of an implementation mode of an eyelet in accordance with the invention,

FIG. 2a is a schematic drawing of an exterior side view of a first half-shell forming the eyelet of FIG. 1,

FIG. 2b is a schematic drawing of an exterior perspective view of the interior surface of the half-shell of FIG. 2a,

FIG. 2c is a schematic drawing of an exterior perspective view of the exterior surface of the half-shell of FIG. 2a,

FIG. 3a is a schematic drawing of an exterior side view of the second half-shell forming the eyelet of FIG. 1,

FIG. 3b is a schematic drawing of an exterior perspective view of the interior surface of the half-shell of FIG. 3a,

FIG. 3c is a schematic drawing of an exterior perspective view of the exterior surface of the half-shell of FIG. 3a,

FIG. 4 is a schematic drawing of a detailed side view of the assembly of the two half-shells of the eyelet illustrated in FIG. 1.

DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED IMPLEMENTATION MODES

As illustrated on the drawing of FIG. 1, the eyelet of the invention referenced O in its entirety is used as border of a hole made in textiles or similar materials not illustrated and is constituted by two half-shells or half-molds 100 and 200 that are assembled by clipsage. The two half-shells 100 and 200 come mutually into grasp, once made coaxial by clipsage of their respective interior faces 110 and 210 preformed for this purpose each having a cylindrical projection the shapes of which complement each other. Furthermore, in order to maintain the eyelet in position in the hole of which it forms the border and in order notably to avoid its rotation, one of the two half-shells, namely the half-shell 100, includes a plurality of fins 120 projecting from its interior face 110 turned towards the interior face 210 of the other half-shell 200.

As illustrated in more detail on the drawing of FIG. 4, the points 121 and a part of the body of the fins 120 are introduced into the circular annular groove 220 laid out for this purpose in the interior surface 210 of the other half-shell 200. In accordance with the geometry of the eyelets of the invention, the fins 120 and the annular groove 220 are arranged according to a common diameter in order that, once the half-shells 100 and 200 are placed opposing each other and made coaxial, the aforementioned fins 120 can penetrate into the aforementioned annular groove 220.

According to another feature of the invention, the aforementioned fins 120 have a body adopting a polygonal cross-section. According to the adopted technical choice appearing on FIGS. 2a, 2b, and 2c, the fins 120 have a square profile. Thus, in accordance with the invention, the cross-section of the fins is rectangular and the aforementioned fins are oriented so that the flat faces of fins are in contact with the cylindrical surfaces of the annular groove 220 of the other half shell 200.

As illustrated in the drawings of FIGS. 1 and 4, two flat faces 122 and 123 of the body of the fin 120 penetrate the annular groove 220 and come into contact with the cylindrical surfaces that constitute the body respectively 221 and 222, which optimizes the coupling between the fins 120 and the annular groove 220 relative to a circular profile.

As illustrated on the drawing of FIG. 4, the aforementioned fins 120 have a first end coupled to the interior surface of a half-shell and the other end of which is terminated by a point 121 adopting the shape of a pyramid. According to the illustrated implementation mode, the pyramid has four faces.

In order to optimize the hold of the rim of the eyelet with respect to the fabric, at least one of the two half-shells has at its outer rim a plurality of teeth projecting from its interior face. According to the illustrated implementation mode, the two half-shells 100 and 200 have, on their interior surface, teeth 130 and 230 projecting towards the interior surface of the other half-shell. As illustrated, the aforementioned teeth 130 and 230 have a height less than half of the distance separating the peripheral parts of the half-shells supporting them. These peripheral parts are flat parts situated on the largest diameter of the eyelet O and serve as an edge for it. The presence of these teeth avoids sliding of the fabric and allows adjustment for the larger separation of the two half-shells in case of thinner fabric. Thus, in comparison with the eyelets composed of two half-shells of the prior art, the eyelet of the invention offers greater possibilities by offering a larger separation of the two half-shells to allow the installation in optimum conditions of the eyelets on thick fabrics.

Another disadvantage resolved by the eyelet O of the invention resides in the lack of rigidity of the eyelets made of plastic of the prior art. According to the invention, at least a half-shell is preformed to have an annular groove 140 and 240 on their exterior surface. As illustrated, the two half-shells are preformed to have an annular groove 140 and 240 on their exterior surface that creates a fold in the thickness of the half-shell 100 and 200. Thus, this groove is not realized by removal of material, which contributes to a better rigidity of the entirety of the eyelet O. According to the illustrated implementation mode, each half-shell 100 and 200 thus shows externally, starting from its center:

• • an approximately vertical surface ensuring the cylindrical border of the hole,
  • a first padding or bulge,
  • a second padding or bulge having larger dimension and coupled to the first by the aforementioned fold,
  • an approximately flat annular surface.

This exterior form adopted then by the eyelet of the invention is known only from metallic eyelets while the intended non-limiting implementation mode is defined in plastic.

The principal central attachment of the two half-shells was also the object of a study by the applicant. These studies dealt with the fatigue of this attachment due notably to the operations of the successive mounting/dismounting of the two half-shells as well as a possible miss mounting. As known in the prior art, the principal attachment of the two half-shells between themselves is, as illustrated, constituted by a cylindrical clipsage. To do this, the two half-shells 100 and 200 are preformed, in the area of their smallest diameter, having projections, the shapes of which complement each other, once placed in position, to form an edgeless inner cylinder to border the hole made in the fabric or similar material.

Thus, each half-shell 100 and 200 includes a cylindrical projection 150 and 250 around the hole of which they secure the edge, the cylindrical projections being preformed of complementary shapes 151 and 251 for clipping into each other.

In order to guide the clipsage movement and to maintain the coupling in position, one of the half-shells is preformed having projecting stops 160 that, distributed angularly around the center of the half-shell 100, guide the end of the clipsage movement and maintain the aforementioned projections 150 and 250 in position between themselves.

To do this, the non-coupled end of the half-shell 100 having the aforementioned stops 160 is preformed having an inclined plane 161 oriented so that, during the movement in translation of the clipsage operation, the deformation of the complementary part 251 of the half-shell 200, tending to separate it from the center, is guided to return the aforementioned complementary shape towards the center.

The eyelet of the present invention has a symmetric structure, the plane of which separates the two half-shells perpendicularly at the axis of the cylindrical edge that they form. According to the illustrated technical choice, the two half-shells differ in the area of their internal part as a result of the presence of projecting stops 160 and of fins 120 for the first half-shell 100 and by the presence of an annular groove 120 for the second half-shell, the two projections 150 and 250 coming to complete themselves.

According to a preferred implementation mode, the half-shells of the invention are realized by a plastic injection process. Furthermore, the exterior surface can be subjected to a metallization, when it is not realized in the body, according to another preferred implementation mode of the invention.

One understands that the eyelet, that has just been described and represented above, was in view of a disclosure rather then a limitation. Of course, various arrangements, modifications and improvements can be applied to the example above, without departing from the framework of the invention.

Claims

1. An eyelet of the type constituted by two half-shells assembled by clipsage used as border and/or reinforcement of perforations in curtains, textiles or similar materials, the two half-shells coming mutually into grasp by clipsage, one of the two half-shells having a plurality of fins projecting from its face turned towards the interior of the other half-shell and the points of which are introduced into a circular annular groove laid out for this purpose in the interior surface of the other half-shell, CHARACTERIZED BY THE FACT THAT the aforementioned fins have a body with continuous polygonal cross-section terminated by a point and that a part of the body of the continuous cross-section is introduced into the annular groove when the two half shells are in the assembled state.

2. The eyelet according to claim 1, CHARACTERIZED BY THE FACT THAT the aforementioned fins have a first end coupled to the interior surface of a half-shell and a second end that is terminated by a point adopting the shape of a pyramid.

3. The eyelet according to claim 1, CHARACTERIZED BY THE FACT THAT a part of the polygonal body of the aforementioned fins is introduced into the aforementioned annular groove.

4. The eyelet according to claim 3, CHARACTERIZED BY THE FACT THAT the cross-section of the fins is quadrangular and that the aforementioned fins are oriented in a manner such that the flat surfaces of the fins are in contact with the cylindrical surfaces of the annular groove and the other half-shell.

5. The eyelet according to claim 1, CHARACTERIZED BY THE FACT THAT one of the two half-shells has at its outer rim a plurality of teeth projecting from its interior face.

6. The eyelet according to claim 1, CHARACTERIZED BY THE FACT THAT each half-shell includes a cylindrical projection around the hole, the border of which they secure, the cylindrical projections being preformed having complementary shapes to clip into each other, a half-shell being preformed having projecting stops guiding the end of the clipsage movement.

7. The eyelet according to claim 6, CHARACTERIZED BY THE FACT THAT the end not coupled to the half-shell having the aforementioned stops is preformed having an inclined plane oriented such that, during the movement in translation of the clipsage operation, the deformation of the complementary part of the half-shell tending to separate it from the center is guided to return the aforementioned complementary shape towards the center.

8. The eyelet according to claim 1, CHARACTERIZED BY THE FACT THAT at least a half-shell is preformed to have an annular groove on its exterior surface.

9. The eyelet according to claim 1, CHARACTERIZED BY THE FACT THAT it is fabricated in ABS.

10. The eyelet according to claim 1, CHARACTERIZED BY THE FACT THAT it is characterized in that the aforementioned fins have a continuous polygonal cross-section terminated by a point and that a part of the body having continuous cross-section is introduced into the annular groove when the half shells are in the assembled state

that one of the two half-shells has at its outer rim a plurality of teeth projecting from its interior face, and

that each half-shell includes a cylindrical projection around the hole of which they secure the border, the cylindrical projections being preformed having complementary shapes to clip into each other, a half-shell being preformed having projecting stops guiding the end of the clipsage movement.