HK1181272B - Slip lock grommet - Google Patents

Description

Slide locking grommet

Technical Field

The present invention relates to a cord lock system for use on a strap, cord or the like. Such devices are particularly effective for pull cords used, for example, in clothing, luggage, athletic equipment, and shoes.

Background

Cords or pull cords are often used on articles of clothing such as jackets, pants, shoes, luggage such as backpacks or handbags, and sporting equipment. For example, on a hood for a garment including a jersey or sweater, or on a waistband for a sport, pants, swim pants, or other garment, a pull cord is provided to allow the garment to be pulled tight around the user. Such a pull cord eliminates the need for a waist belt or other additional tightening mechanism. Additionally on luggage such as backpacks or handbags, a drawstring may be provided for closing the pocket or other opening.

The draw cord is typically housed in a channel provided in the seam of the fabric and each end of the draw cord is fed out of the fabric through an orifice. In order that the orifice edges do not wear or crack when pulling the pull cord, grommets are typically provided at the two exits to reinforce the orifice. Such grommets may also allow for reduced friction when pulling the cord through the aperture.

In order to avoid the ends of the cord being pulled into the seam of the fabric, a knot is typically tied into the ends of the cord. Additionally, to hold the cord in a tightened position, the two ends of the cord may be tied together. However, such tying may be difficult or inefficient because both hands are required and may be particularly difficult for young children. Alternatively, a cord lock may be provided at each end of the cord to hold the cord in a tightened position.

Us patent 6658704 to buschart describes a cord lock 10 that can be secured to a fabric 14. The cord lock 10 includes a body 16 having a pocket 30, an extension sleeve 18, and a back plate 24 connected together. The plunger 20 is disposed within the pocket 30 and includes a spring arrangement 22. To adjust the cord 12 in the cord lock 10, the plunger is pressed by the user to align the plunger hole 64 with the apertures 50 and 44 in the body. To lock the cord in place, the pressure on the plunger is simply released. Thus, such a cord lock requires two-handed operation, one to adjust the cord and the other to press the plunger.

U.S. patent 5195218 to Joseph et al describes a flexible cord lock device configured to be secured to a single element of a garment. The cord lock 10 is formed as a single piece of flexible plastic material having an aperture 26 for receiving a cord therethrough. To adjust the length of the cord 12, the ends of the cord lock 10 are crimped together to form a bump that reduces the clamping force on the cord. In the embodiment of fig. 6, a grommet 38 may be used with the cord lock 10 to avoid loosening of the cord.

Disclosure of Invention

The present invention is a grommet locking device that combines the advantages of a grommet and a cord lock in a single, integral device. The grommet locking device of the present invention allows a user to tighten the cord with a single hand.

Drawings

FIG. 1 illustrates a grommet locking device prior to connecting front and rear components together in some embodiments of the present invention.

Figure 2 illustrates the grommet locking device after connecting the anterior and posterior components together in some embodiments of the present invention.

Fig. 3 illustrates a side view of a grommet locking device in some embodiments of the present invention in which the front and rear components are connected together without a fabric portion therebetween.

FIG. 4 illustrates a side cross-sectional view of the front component of FIG. 3 showing a locking mechanism within the front component.

Fig. 5 is a front view of certain embodiments of the locking mechanism of the present invention.

Fig. 6 is an elevation view of a grommet locking device in some embodiments of the present invention.

Fig. 7 is a cross-sectional view of a grommet locking device in accordance with certain embodiments of the present invention, showing a locking mechanism within the front piece.

Fig. 8a illustrates a grommet locking device and a cord received therethrough in an unlocked position in some embodiments of the present invention.

Fig. 8b shows the grommet locking device and the cord in an unlocked position on a fabric 5, such as a garment.

Figure 9a illustrates a grommet locking device and a cord received therethrough in a locked position in some embodiments of the present invention.

Fig. 9b shows the grommet locking device and the cord in a locked position on a fabric 5, such as a garment.

Detailed Description

Referring to fig. 1 and 2, a grommet locking device 10 (fig. 2) includes a front member 1 and a rear member 3 that can be connected to each other. The front piece 1 has a central opening 7 and an extension 4. The rear part 3 has a central opening 8 which is larger than the central opening 7 in the front part 1. In fig. 1, grommet locking device 10 is shown as two separate components prior to its attachment to fabric 5. Although the fabric 5 is shown as a single layer fabric, it should be understood that the fabric 5 may be multi-layered and may have different thicknesses.

Moreover, in the example illustrated, many of the components (e.g., the front component 1, the rear component 3, the extension 4, the flange 21 and the groove 9) are annular; it should be understood that these components may be of any suitable shape and/or size (e.g., square).

As shown in fig. 2, the front 1 and back 3 components are joined together to pass out of the aperture 6 in the fabric 5. Alternatively, the fabric 5 may have pre-cut apertures 6 therein and the front and back components 1, 3 may be connected within the pre-cut apertures 6. The aperture 6 may be shaped as an entrance/exit aperture for a waistband, cuff or hood of a garment, a pocket, or the like. The extension 4 is received through the aperture 6 and a distal portion of the extension 4 is received within a central opening 8 of the rear component 3. The extension 4 may be secured within the rear component 3 by friction fit, adhesive or any other type of connection. Figure 3 shows a side view of the front part 1 and the rear part 3 connected together. Although the front member 1 has the extension 4 in the present embodiment, the rear member 3 may alternatively have an extension (not shown) connected to the front member 1 in a similar manner. The back of the front component 1 rests on the front face of the fabric 5 to form a flange 21 (fig. 3) to prevent the grommet locking device 10 from passing completely through the aperture 6.

Located within the central opening 7 of the front member 1 is a locking mechanism 2 for locking a length of flexible material, such as a cord 20, therein. As shown in the sectional view of fig. 4, the locking mechanism 2 is fitted into a circumferential groove 9 in the flange 21 of the front piece 1. The flange 21 has a flange front 11, a flange rear 12 and a flange side 13 which together form a recess 9 for receiving the locking mechanism 2. The extension 4 extends from the flange rear portion 12. Fig. 6 and 7 show a front view of the locking mechanism 2 housed within the front part 1.

The locking mechanism may be made of an elastic material having spring-like properties. These spring-like properties allow the locking mechanism 2 to be compressed and subsequently extended during placement into the groove 9 to secure the locking mechanism 2 within the groove 9. Alternatively, the front part may be made around the locking mechanism 2. The material from which the locking mechanism 2 is constructed may comprise copper, metal alloy plate, nylon, acetal or other resilient metal or plastic material.

In one embodiment, as shown in fig. 5, the locking mechanism 2 is a unitary piece having a substantially hourglass shape 14 formed by two resilient arms. The hourglass shape 14 has a substantially triangular upper opening 15 and a substantially triangular lower opening 16. The upper opening 15 has an arc-shaped upper side 17 and the lower opening 16 has an arc-shaped lower side 18, so that the upper side 17 and the lower side 18 fit into the circumferential groove 9 of the front piece 1. The upper opening 15 is preferably larger than the lower opening 16. The lower opening 16 is sized to be equal to or slightly smaller than the circumference of the cord 20 to receive the cord 20 in a friction fit as shown in fig. 9a and 9 b. A portion of the inner surface of the locking mechanism may include grooves, teeth or ridges (not shown) to act as a gripping surface for the cord 20. Such a clamping surface may be provided only on the inner surface of the smaller lower opening or also on any surface portion of the locking mechanism 2. The neck 19 is located between the upper opening 15 and the lower opening 16. Neck 19 leaves a space between the sides of hourglass shape 14 for passage of cord 20 therebetween when moving cord 20 from an unlocked position to a locked position or vice versa as described below.

Although the hourglass shape 14 of the locking mechanism 2 has been described above, any other shape that allows for a locked position and an unlocked position may be used. For example, rather than the generally V-shaped configuration shown in the figures with two arms, the arms may be more curved to form a generally U-shaped configuration on both sides. Although shown as a single piece in this embodiment, the locking mechanism may be formed from a plurality of separate components, such as two separate arms connected to the front component 1.

Figures 8a,8b,9a and 9b show the grommet locking device 10 in use. Cord 20 is received through aperture 6, opening 7 and opening 8. Fig. 8a and 8b show the tether 20 in a first unlocked position. When the user wants to adjust the length of the cord 20, the user pulls the cord 20 upward so that it is within the larger upper opening 15. Since the opening 15 is larger than the outer circumferential dimension of the cord 20, the cord can slide freely in this position, which is referred to as the first unlocked position. Fig. 9a and 9b show the cord 20 in a second, locked position. When the user has adjusted the cord 20 to the desired length, the cord is pulled down into the smaller lower opening 16. Since the opening 16 is equal to or smaller than the outer circumferential dimension of the cord 20, the cord 20 may be tightly secured therein by a friction fit, which is referred to as a second locked position.

The grommet locking device of the present invention can be used, for example, on a coat equipped with a hood with a pull cord. To tighten the hood around the user's head, the user may pull the cord up to the unlocked position, pull the cord taut, and then pull the cord down to the locked position. To release the hood, the user may pull the cord up to the unlocked position, release the cord, and then pull the cord down to the locked position. Similar methods can be used on the pull cord of a pants or coat belt or on the pull cord of a luggage pocket.

The cord 20 may be made of any flexible material such as cotton, plastic, woven material, braided material or any other fabric. The cord 20 may further comprise an elastic material to allow for stretching. The cord 20 is not limited to a circular outer dimension but may have any longitudinal shape such as flat, rectangular or triangular. The cord 20 may include a plastic or metal head at its end to avoid fraying of the end.

The examples described herein are merely illustrative, and various other embodiments may be implemented without departing from the spirit and scope of the exemplary embodiments of the invention. Moreover, while certain features of the invention may have been illustrated in only certain embodiments or configurations, these features may be interchanged, added, and deleted between the various embodiments or configurations while remaining within the scope of the invention. Similarly, the methods described and disclosed may also be performed in a variety of sequences, some or all of which may be performed in sequences other than those described while still remaining within the spirit and scope of the present invention.

Claims (18)

1. A garment, comprising:

a length of flexible material;

a locking grommet device for receiving the length of flexible material therethrough, the locking grommet device comprising:

a front component comprising a central opening and a locking mechanism mounted within the central opening for receiving the length of flexible material therethrough, an

A back component adapted to cooperate with the front component to secure a portion of fabric therebetween; and is

Wherein the length of flexible material is movable within the locking mechanism between a first locked position and a second unlocked position to tighten or loosen a portion of the garment,

wherein the front component further comprises a flange for securing the locking grommet device to the garment; the flange includes a recess for receiving a locking mechanism therein.

2. The garment of claim 1, wherein the front component has a first central opening and the back component has a second central opening.

3. The garment of claim 2, wherein the front component further comprises an extension adapted to be received within the second central opening of the back component.

4. The garment of claim 2, wherein the flange is annular and has a diameter greater than the second central opening of the back component.

5. The garment of claim 1, wherein the length of flexible material is a cord.

6. The garment of claim 5, wherein the cord is elastic.

7. The garment of claim 1, wherein the locking mechanism is a metal spring.

8. The garment of claim 1, wherein the locking mechanism is a unitary piece that is bent into an hourglass configuration, wherein the hourglass shape has a triangular upper opening and a triangular lower opening with a neck portion therebetween.

9. The garment of claim 8, wherein the upper opening is larger than the lower opening.

10. The garment of claim 8, wherein the length of flexible material is a cord, and wherein the lower opening is adapted to be slightly smaller than an outer diameter of the cord such that the cord is in the first locked position when received therein.

11. The garment of claim 8, wherein the length of flexible material is a cord, and wherein the upper opening is adapted to be larger than an outer diameter of the cord such that the cord is in the second unlocked position when received therein.

12. The garment of claim 1, wherein the locking mechanism is elastic.

13. The garment of claim 12, wherein the locking mechanism is comprised of metal or plastic.

14. The garment of claim 12, wherein the locking mechanism is comprised of a material selected from the group consisting of copper, metal alloy plate, nylon, or acetal.

15. The garment of claim 1, further comprising a gripping surface on an inner surface of the locking mechanism.

16. The garment of claim 15, wherein the gripping surface comprises ridges, bumps, or grooves.

17. The garment of claim 1, wherein the garment is a jacket.

18. A jacket, comprising:

a length of flexible material;

a locking grommet device for receiving the length of flexible material therethrough, the locking grommet device comprising:

a front component including a central opening and a locking mechanism mounted within the central opening for receiving the length of flexible material therethrough, the front component including a flange for securing the locking grommet device to the garment; and

a back component adapted to cooperate with the front component to secure a portion of fabric therebetween;

wherein the length of flexible material is movable within the locking mechanism between a first locked position and a second unlocked position to tighten or loosen a portion of the garment, and

wherein the flange includes a recess for receiving a locking mechanism therein.