US3225404A

US3225404A - Fastener for loth material

Info

Publication number: US3225404A
Application number: US308599A
Authority: US
Inventors: Ralph R Gunderson
Original assignee: VARI PRODUCTS CO
Current assignee: VARI PRODUCTS CO
Priority date: 1963-09-12
Filing date: 1963-09-12
Publication date: 1965-12-28
Anticipated expiration: 1982-12-28

Description

Dec. 28, 1965 R. R. GUNDERsoN 3,225,404

FASTENER FOR CLOTH MATERIAL Filed sept. 12,l 1963 Z0 54 44 37 l Z4 FII-EE;

l 37 El!! United States Patent O 3,225,494 FSTENER FR CLOTH MATERIAL Ralph R. Gunderson, Vari Products Co., .331) N. Harding, Chicago, 1li. Filed Sept. 12, 1963, Ser. No. 308,599 4 Ciaims. (Cl. 24-162) This invention relates to a fastening device for securing together multiple plies of cloth material or the like, and more particularly to a fastening device suited for use in securing diapers upon a baby.

The commonly known means of securing diapers upon a baby has been with the use of the conventional safety pin. The hazards attendant in using such a pin to secure diapers upon even a passive infant are well known. Even when extreme care is being taken, occasionally either the infant or person changing the diaper on the infant may be pierced. A fastener which has been developed for such a use which substantially eliminates the possibility of injury is disclosed in my Patent No. 3,136,015 entitled A Locking Assembly for Cloth Material, and this application is an improvement upon the device disclosed therein.

It is therefore a primary object of this invention to provide a new and improved fastening device for securing cloth material together.

It is another object of this invention to provide a new and improved method for producing a fastening device for securing cloth material.

It is further object of this invention to provide a new and improved fastening device for securing cloth material together having improved locking means for securing the slidable pin thereof in an operative closed position or inoperative open position.

It is still another object of this invention to provide a new and improved locking device for securing cloth material together having a large opening in the projecting insert of the base member for facilitating passage of the needle therethrough to an operative position.

It is still a further object of this invention to provide a new and improved fastener for securing cloth material together having a recessed portion on the underside of the top hinge thereof for serving as a guide for the slidable main body portion so that substantially none of the slidable body portion will be exposed on the underside of the top portion.

It is yet a further object of this invention to provide a new and improved fastening device for cloth material having a dome at the free end of the top end of the hinge portion for providing stability to the top of the hinge and a convenient surface for the application of the digital pressure thereto when the cloth material is being pushed into the interior of the dome under influence of the projecting insert of the base member.

It is yet another object of this invention to provide a new and improved method for producing a fastening device for securing diapers which comprises the steps of separately forming a body blank with top and bottom hinge portions and top and bottom pin carrier portions, placing the stud of one pin carrier portion through a slot formed in the top hinge of the body blank, positioning the eye of a fastening pin about the stud of the one pin carrier portion, placing the other pin carrier portion about the projecting stud, and applying heat to the projecting stud to unite the pin carrier portions and form the fastening device having a carrier member slidably mounted thereon.

The invention is illustrated in a preferred embodiment in the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIGURE 1 is a top plan View of the fastener of this invention;

3225,44 Patented Dec. 28, 1965 ice FIGURE 2 is a longitudinal section view of the fastener taken along the line 2 2 of FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 3 is a sectional View of the fastener with the slidable pin in retracted position and showing the layers of cloth material being forced within the dome of the assembly by the projecting insert of the base member;

FIGURE 4 is a sectional view similar to FIGURE 3 showing the slidable pin moved forwardly to locking position to impale the cloth material pushed into the dome by the projecting insert;

FIGURE 5 is a sectional View taken along the line --S of FIGURE 3;

FIGURE 6 is a broken view of the top portion of the fastener of this invention;

FIGURE 7 is a sectional view of the top portion of the pin carrier member of the fastener device of this invention prior to assembly with the bottom portion thereof; and

FIGURE 8 is an elevational view of the bottom portion of the pin carrier member of the fastener device of this invention prior to assembly with the top portion thereof.

Referring now to the drawings, the fastener device of this invention includes a main body 1i) having a base member 12 and a top member or housing 14. The top member is provided with a slidably mounted carrier member 16. The hinged connecting means 18 Connects the base 12 and top 14 to each other and permits the base and top to be swung about each other into superposed relation as shown in FIGURES 3 and 4. Preferably, the body 10 including the base 12, top 14 as well as the hinged connection 18, are formed from a single piece of plastic material or the like.

The base member 12 includes a generally flat elongate arm or strap 2t). At one end of the arm 20 there is provided a projecting insert 22 which extends generally upright or transverse to the plane of the base. The insert 22 is preferably an arch-like element having a relatively large opening 24 therethrough.

The purpose of the insert 22 is to push cloth material 26 into an annular oblate dome 28 formed at one end of the top member when the top and bottom are swung about the hinge 18, as shown in FIGURE 3. The dome 28 has an inner periphery 3() affording a recess or opening into which the cloth material 26 is forced by the insert 22. The insert 22 is of a size relative to the cloth material to be used and to the interior or recess of the dome Z8 so that when cloth material is forced therein the cloth may be held in frictional engagement between the outer surface of the insert and the inner surface of the dome.

The top .portion 14 consists of a generally elongate strap 32 having a narrow elongate slot or guide 34 formed substantially along the longitudinal centerline thereof. The carrier 16 is adapted for slidable movement in the slot, toward and away from the dome end of the strap 32, with the opposite ends of the slot affording stops for the carrier. A locking pin 36 is held in the carrier by a stud 37 which projects through an eye 36a of the pin. The carrier mounts the pin 36 so that the pin may be pushed through and away from the interior of the dome 23 as the carrier 15 is moved forwardly and rearwardly in the slot. The dome 28 has a rearwardly extending boss 28a and forwardly extending boss 2Sb, both of which are substantially coaxial with the slot 34;. Boss 28a is provided with an aperture 33 and boss Zb is .provided with an aperture 40 both of which are generally coaxial with the pin 36. When the carrier is in a rearward or inoperative position, as shown in FIGURES 1, 2, 3 and 6, the free or sharp end of the pin 36 is housed within the boss 23a. When the carrier member 16 is moved forwardly in the slot 34, the pin advances through the interior of the dome 28 and lodges in the aperture 40 of the boss 28h. As clearly illustrated in FIGURES 3 and 4, when cloth material 25 has been forced into the interior of the dome by the projecting insert, the opening 24 of the insert permits the pin to impale the cloth material 26 on either side of the insert as well as passing therethrough and into the opening 4i) of the boss 28b.

The carrier 16 consists of a top portion 42 having an opening 42a in the bottom thereof and a bottom portion 44 having the stud 37 on the top thereof which is adapted to mate with the opening 42a in the portion 42. In forming the fastener of this invention, the body thereof is molded to produce a one-piece structure lacking only the carrier member 16. The top and

bottom portions

42 and 44, respectively, of the carrier member are separately formed and the fastener may be assembled in merely one step. This is accomplished by placing the bottom portion 44 under the bottom side of the top member 14 so that the stud 37 projects upwardly through the slot 34 thereof placing the eye 36a of the pin over the stud 37 and then placing the top portion 42 over the top member 14 so that the stud 37 is inserted in the opening 42a and the pin is held therebetween with the sharp end in the opening 40 of the boss 28a. With the top and bottom portions of the carrier so positioned, heat and pressure are applied thereto so that the stud 37 melts in the opening 42a and the top and bottom carrier portions are bonded together as a unit slidable in the slot 34.

The fastener of this invention is provided with improved latching means for positively retaining the carrier in an operative or locking position and in an inoperative or retracted position. As herein shown, the

tianges

46 and 46a are formed at either side of the top arm 32 and project thereabove substantially normal to the plane of the top. The

flanges

46 and 46a include two pairs of mutually cooperating opposed spaced nodes 48 and 48a and 5t) and 56a which project inwardly toward each other from the interior wall of the flanges. These nodes are adapted to cooperate with the

latch nodes

52 and 52a on either side of the carrier 16 for appropriately positioning the carrier. When the carrier is in the most rearward position of travel permitted by the length of the slot 34, the

nodes

52 and 52a are preferably situated immediately behind the nodes 5o and 50a as clearly illustrated in FIGURE 6. The cooperating nodes positively retain the carrier in this retracted or inoperative position so that the pointed end of the pin is safely housed within the rear boss 28a.

When the carrier is pushed forwardly to impale cloth material as shown in FIGURE 4, so that the front end of the carrier abuts the boss 28a near the dome 28 with the pin point safely housed within the boss 28b, the front nodes 48 and 43a will be located immediately to the rear of the carrier nodes S2 and 52a. thereby locking the carrier in an operative or forward position so that the pin may not be dislodged from the fabric.

A feature of this latch means is that it provides a detinite audible click which serves as a signal to one who is pinning the diaper that the carrier is home in either a locked operative or inoperative position. Moreover, movement of the carrier with its side nodes past the restricted portions formed by the projecting nodes of the flanges provides a sensation to the touch of the party manipulating the pin, further informing him when the carrier is pushed home and locked in a forward operative position or rearward inoperative position.

Another feature of the fastener of this invention is the recess 54 formed on the underside of the arm 32 of the top member 14. The recess 54 forms a channel housing the bottom portion 44 of the carrier 16 so that it is contained substantially within the plane of the bottom of the strap 32. By eliminating any substantial projection of the underside of the carrier below the line of the top strap, the carrier may be pushed to an operative forward position more easily with little likelihood that the carrier will snag or catch in a portion of the cloth material as it is being advanced.

The fastener of this invention may be produced by a new and improved method which results in a substantial savings in production cost by eliminating steps in the production thereof. Furthermore, this yfastener possesses advantages of structure unknown before. The domed opening in the free end of the top strap lends rigidity and strength thereto as well as providing a surface for the application of digital pressure during use of ythe fastener. The recess in the underside of the top portion serves to safely engage the underside of the carrier member so that movement of the carrier member is more easily effectuated with less likelihood of snagging the cloth material being held thereby. The improved latching means provides an audible as well as physical signal to the user of the pin producing a dual indication that the carrier has locked in either a forward operative position or rearward inoperative position.

The foregoing detailed description is given for clearness of understanding only, and no unnecessary limitations n should be understood therefrom for some modifications x housing; a slidable carrier provided with a locking pin,

the carr-ier being mounted on the guide for slidable movement to carry the locking pin between a retracted position and a forward locking position in which the pin is disposed across the cloth-receiving opening; latching i nodes on the carrier and on the housing positioned for contact during slidable movement of the carrier, one of the nodes being resiliently deformable and positioned in relation to the other of the nodes so that the nodes can be yieldably forced past each other in moving the carrier to a position of latching engagement to releasably latch the carrier against slidable movement and to hold the locking pin in locking position; and a stop member positioned at the forward end of the guide to arrest forward movement of the carrier, the nodes being positioned relative to the stop so that the node on the carrier lies intermediate the stop member and the node on the housing when the locking pin is in locking position.

2. A fastener device for cloth material, comprising: a lhousing having a cloth-receiving opening; a guide on the housing; a slidable carrier provided with a locking pin, the carrier being mounted on the guide for slidable movement to carry the locking pin between a retracted position and a forward locking position in which the pin is disposed across the cloth-receiving opening; latching nodes on the carrier and on the housisng positioned for contact during slidable movement of the carrier, one of the nodes being resiliently deformable and positioned in relation to the other of the nodes so that the nodes can be yieldably forced past each other in moving the carrier to a position of latching engagement to releasably latch the carrier against slidable movement and to hold the locking pin in locking position; and a second latching node positioned on the housing adjacent the rear of the guide for contact with the node on the carrier during slidable movement of the carrier, said second node and said carrier node forming a second pair of latching nodes, one node of said second pair being resiliently deformable and positioned in relation to the other node of the second pair that the nodes of said second pair can be yieldingly forced past each other in moving the carrier to a position of latching movement and to hold the locking piu in retracted position.

3. A fastener device for cloth material, comprising: a housing having a forward end with a cloth receiving opening adjacent the forward end; a guide on the housing; a slidable carrier provided with a locking pin, the carrier being mounted on the guide for slidable movement to carry the locking pin between a retracted position and a forward locking position in which the pin is disposed across the cloth receiving opening; latching nodes on the carrier; latching nodes on the housing positioned for con tact with the carrier nodes during slidable movement of the carrier, said housing nodes spaced from the forward end of the housing a distance suicient to permit at least a portion of the carrier including the carrier nodes to occupy a position between the housing nodes and the cloth receiving opening, at least one of the nodes being resiliently deformable and positioned in relation to the other of the nodes so that the nodes can be yieldably forced past each other in moving the carrier to a position of latching engagement wherein the carrier nodes extend forwardly of the housing nodes to releasably latch the carrier against slidable movement and to hold the locking pin in locking position.

4. A fastener device for cloth material as specified in claim 3, in which the carrier has cooperative portions making a close t with the guide to direct the locking pin in a straight line sliding movement between retracted and locking position.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 776,684 12/ 1904 Pilcher 24-46 830,368 9/1906 Robinson 24-46 2,373,586 4/1945 Marinetti 24-162 2,425,299 8/1947 -Ballou 29-160.6 2,449,419 9/ 1948 Shatkin 24-162 2,553,782 5/1951 Orchard et al 24-162 2,772,472 12/1956 Ballou 29-160.6 2,823,434 2/ 1958 Van Buren 24-238 2,861,312 11/1958 Buchwald et al. 24-162 2,900,696 8/1959 Bacon 24-206.1 3,035,573 5/1962 Morton et al 24-206 ALBERT H. KAMPE, Primary Examiner.

DONLEY J. STOCKING, BOBBY R. GAY, Examiners.

Claims

1. A FASTENER DEVICE FOR CLOTH MATERIAL, COMPRISING: A HOUSING HAVING A CLOTH-RECEIVING OPENING; A GUIDE ON THE HOUSING; A SLIDABLE CARRIER PROVIDED WITH A LOCKING PIN, THE CARRIER BEING MOUNTED ON THE GUIDE FOR SLIDABLE MOVEMENT TO CARRY THE LOCKING PIN BETWEEN A RETRACTED POSITION AND A FORWARD LOCKING POSITION IN WHICH THE PIN IS DISPOSED ACROSS THE CLOTH-RECEIVING OPENING; LATCHING NODES ON THE CARRIER AND ON THE HOUSING POSITIONED FOR CONTACT DURING SLIDABLE MOVEMENT OF THE CARRIER, ONE OF THE NODES BEING RESILIENTLY DEFORMABLE AND POSITIONED IN RELATION TO THE OTHER OF THE NODES SO THAT THE NODES CAN BE YIELDABLY FORCED PAST EACH OTHER IN MOVING THE CARRIER TO A POSITION OF LATCHING ENGAGEMENT TO RELEASABLY LATCH THE CARRIER AGAINST SLIDABLE MOVEMENT AND TO HOLD THE LOCKING PIN IN LOCKING POSITION; AND A STOP MEMBER POSITIONED AT THE FORWARD END OF THE GUIDE TO ARREST FORWARD MOVEMENT OF THE CARRIER, THE NODES BEING POSITIONED RELATIVE TO THE STOP SO THAT THE NODE ON THE CARRIER LIES INTERMEDIATE THE STOP MEMBER AND THE NODE ON THE HOUSING WHEN THE LOCKING PIN IS IN LOCKING POSITION.