GB2103270A

GB2103270A - Securing device

Info

Publication number: GB2103270A
Application number: GB08122751A
Authority: GB
Inventors: John William Knowle Gosnell
Original assignee: Howard Wall Ltd
Current assignee: Howard Wall Ltd
Priority date: 1981-07-23
Filing date: 1981-07-23
Publication date: 1983-02-16
Also published as: GB2103270B

Abstract

A securing device comprises a snap-action gripping jaws 1 attached to an elongate closed loop of elastic tape 2 whereby the jaws can be passed through the end of the loop so that the tape is caught around a convenient strut or rod and presents the snap-action jaws for use in retaining a sheet of fabric or the like. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Securing device This invention relates to securing devices for sheets of fabric or like flexible material.

It is commonplace that there is a need to secure cover sheets of material over the top surface of articles. In the home, for example, it is often necessary to secure blankets on a cot or bed for use by a child or invalid, or to secure covers to perambulators and pushchairs. Similar covers for equipment on motor vehicles are also in use.

Since the underlying body of material is frequently irregularly shaped, and not always of the same shape, the provision of fixed attachments such as hooks and eyes or snap fasteners is not always advisable and may lead to damage or insecure fastening.

It is of course well known to provide tapes or cords which can be tied to nearby supporting members so as to immobilise a sheet of fabric or like material. This is, however inconvenient and in any case the position of the tape or cord is fixed in relation to the rest of the sheet.

The present invention sets out to provide a securing member which can be attached at one end to a fixed support of arbitrary shape, and at the other end to a selected location on a sheet or like extending area of fabric or the like.

In one aspect the invention provides a snap action gripping jaws attached to an elongate closed loop of flexible material.

Preferably the material is elastic and most preferably it is an elastic tape sewn or electrically fused, or otherwise joined into a loop. The closed loop can be from 3 to 15 inches in length, but it is more preferably from 6 to 12 inches e.g. about 10 inches. The tape can be from one quarter to one inch wide but is preferably about half an inch wide. The gripping jaws can be of a type known in the haberdashery trade used for example to grip fabric of trousers or socks. In the previous use, however, it is attached to the structure of a pair of suspenders or braces or the like, of fixed shape and function. According to the present invention the snap action jaws are attached to a loop of material. Thus, by passing the jaws through the end of the loop so that the tape is caught around a strut or rod the snap action jaws are presented for use.The elastic tape can be positioned at any point along the strut or rod, and the snap action jaws can attach to any convenient point of the edge of a sheet of material.

While it is possible to attach the snap action jaws to the loop in such a way that it siides along the loop, it is preferable for the jaws to be attached at one end and be immobilised in relation to the rest of the loop, and for the loop to be so manufactured that it extends away from the jaws as two parallel flat face-to-face tape lengths. This gives a neet appearance and facilitates subsequent use.

The invention will now be further described with reference to the accompanying drawing, in which: Figure 1 shows a general view of the device attached to a tape loop and gripping the edge of a piece of fabric and Figure 2 shows a cross-section through the gripping jaws and loop with the jaws in an opened position.

In the drawing a gripping jaws 1 is attached to a loop of tape 2 by the knot 2a. The tape loop itself is passed around a strut 3 and the jaws are closed to grip the edge of the piece of fabric 4, for example the edge of a sheet covering a bed or infants cot.

The jaws 1 are shown in more detail in Figure 2 in cross-section. They consist of a base plate 5, curled round at a rearward end 5a to accommodate firstly the transverse journal 6 of an upper jaws members 7 and secondly a flattened ring 8 serving for attachment of the elastic tape.

Above the upper jaws member 7 is positioned an operating leaf 9 with a generally right-angled lower end 9a. Jaw member 5 is provided with gripping unit 10 and jaw member is provided with gripping unit 11 of the cooperating shape.

It will be apparent from the drawing that when the operating leaf 9 is pushed to the right in Figure 2, its end 9a presses jaw member 7 downwardly to bring the cooperating gripper units 10 and 11 into close and gripping contact. The necessary elasticity is provided by the rearward end 7a flexing against the upwardly turned rearward end 5 of the lower jaws. When the operating leaf 9 is pressed fully to the right and downwards the end 9a has passed it 900 orientation with leaf 9 and thus the jaws do not open.

It will further be apparent from the drawing that the tape member 2 can be attached to struts of a wide range of diameters, whether horizontal, vertical or diagonal.

In the embodiments shown the tape 2 is immobilised in relation to ring 8, that is to say, the jaws cannot slide around the tape. This, combined with the generally face-to-face parallel nature of the two lengths of tape constituting the loop presents the device in a convenient fashion of immediately understandable use, and moreover presents a face of the elastic tape for the provision of colour coding (for example pink or blue for nursery use) or for indicia such as advertising or instructions for use.

1. A securing device comprising snap-action gripping jaws attached to an elongate closed loop of flexible material.

2. A securing device as claimed in claim 1, in which the material is elastic.

3. A securing device as claimed in claim 2 in which the material is an elastic tape joined into a loop.

4. A securing device as claimed in claim 1, 2 or 3, in which the loop is from 3 to 1 5 inches in

**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. SPECIFICATION Securing device This invention relates to securing devices for sheets of fabric or like flexible material. It is commonplace that there is a need to secure cover sheets of material over the top surface of articles. In the home, for example, it is often necessary to secure blankets on a cot or bed for use by a child or invalid, or to secure covers to perambulators and pushchairs. Similar covers for equipment on motor vehicles are also in use. Since the underlying body of material is frequently irregularly shaped, and not always of the same shape, the provision of fixed attachments such as hooks and eyes or snap fasteners is not always advisable and may lead to damage or insecure fastening. It is of course well known to provide tapes or cords which can be tied to nearby supporting members so as to immobilise a sheet of fabric or like material. This is, however inconvenient and in any case the position of the tape or cord is fixed in relation to the rest of the sheet. The present invention sets out to provide a securing member which can be attached at one end to a fixed support of arbitrary shape, and at the other end to a selected location on a sheet or like extending area of fabric or the like. In one aspect the invention provides a snap action gripping jaws attached to an elongate closed loop of flexible material. Preferably the material is elastic and most preferably it is an elastic tape sewn or electrically fused, or otherwise joined into a loop. The closed loop can be from 3 to 15 inches in length, but it is more preferably from 6 to 12 inches e.g. about 10 inches. The tape can be from one quarter to one inch wide but is preferably about half an inch wide. The gripping jaws can be of a type known in the haberdashery trade used for example to grip fabric of trousers or socks. In the previous use, however, it is attached to the structure of a pair of suspenders or braces or the like, of fixed shape and function. According to the present invention the snap action jaws are attached to a loop of material. Thus, by passing the jaws through the end of the loop so that the tape is caught around a strut or rod the snap action jaws are presented for use.The elastic tape can be positioned at any point along the strut or rod, and the snap action jaws can attach to any convenient point of the edge of a sheet of material. While it is possible to attach the snap action jaws to the loop in such a way that it siides along the loop, it is preferable for the jaws to be attached at one end and be immobilised in relation to the rest of the loop, and for the loop to be so manufactured that it extends away from the jaws as two parallel flat face-to-face tape lengths. This gives a neet appearance and facilitates subsequent use. The invention will now be further described with reference to the accompanying drawing, in which: Figure 1 shows a general view of the device attached to a tape loop and gripping the edge of a piece of fabric and Figure 2 shows a cross-section through the gripping jaws and loop with the jaws in an opened position. In the drawing a gripping jaws 1 is attached to a loop of tape 2 by the knot 2a. The tape loop itself is passed around a strut 3 and the jaws are closed to grip the edge of the piece of fabric 4, for example the edge of a sheet covering a bed or infants cot. The jaws 1 are shown in more detail in Figure 2 in cross-section. They consist of a base plate 5, curled round at a rearward end 5a to accommodate firstly the transverse journal 6 of an upper jaws members 7 and secondly a flattened ring 8 serving for attachment of the elastic tape. Above the upper jaws member 7 is positioned an operating leaf 9 with a generally right-angled lower end 9a. Jaw member 5 is provided with gripping unit 10 and jaw member is provided with gripping unit 11 of the cooperating shape. It will be apparent from the drawing that when the operating leaf 9 is pushed to the right in Figure 2, its end 9a presses jaw member 7 downwardly to bring the cooperating gripper units 10 and 11 into close and gripping contact. The necessary elasticity is provided by the rearward end 7a flexing against the upwardly turned rearward end 5 of the lower jaws. When the operating leaf 9 is pressed fully to the right and downwards the end 9a has passed it 900 orientation with leaf 9 and thus the jaws do not open. It will further be apparent from the drawing that the tape member 2 can be attached to struts of a wide range of diameters, whether horizontal, vertical or diagonal. In the embodiments shown the tape 2 is immobilised in relation to ring 8, that is to say, the jaws cannot slide around the tape. This, combined with the generally face-to-face parallel nature of the two lengths of tape constituting the loop presents the device in a convenient fashion of immediately understandable use, and moreover presents a face of the elastic tape for the provision of colour coding (for example pink or blue for nursery use) or for indicia such as advertising or instructions for use. CLAIMS

2. A securing device as claimed in claim 1, in which the material is elastic.

4. A securing device as claimed in claim 1, 2 or 3, in which the loop is from 3 to 1 5 inches in length and from 4 to 1 inch wide.

5. A securing device as claimed in any one preceding claim in which the jaws are immobilised in relation to the rest of the loop and in which the loop extends away from the jaws as two parallel face-to-face tape lengths.