Patent Application
20210085115
The present disclosure generally relates to an accessory for phylacteries and more specifically for devices for securing the strap of an arm phylactery in place.
As part of the Jewish tradition, phylacteries are being placed, one for the head and another for the arm as part of the morning services. The phylacteries are different by design, where the head phylactery having a box containing four scribed parchment scrolls and connected to two straps that are adapted to fit around the circumference of the head, with the straps continuing downwards along both sides of the person's neck and around the person's chest.
The arm phylactery comprises a box, containing therein a single parchment scroll, and a strap connected thereto. The strap is then twisted around the upper arm and the forearm. The rest of the strap is then twisted around the hand to form a particular shape, and then the excess of the strap thereof is then wound around the palm of the hand. The excess end of the strap is then tucked between the winding of the strap and the palm of the hands.
A person who uses an arm phylactery regularly will readily appreciate the discomfort caused by the tucking in the edge of the strap of the arm phylactery between the windings of the strap and the palm of the hand.
It would therefore be advantageous to provide a solution that secures the edge of the strap of the arm phylactery in place without having to tuck it between the windings of the strap and the palm of the hand.
A summary of several example embodiments of the disclosure follows. This summary is provided for the convenience of the reader to provide a basic understanding of such embodiments and does not wholly define the breadth of the disclosure. This summary is not an extensive overview of all contemplated embodiments, and is intended to neither identify key or critical elements of all embodiments nor to delineate the scope of any or all aspects. Its sole purpose is to present some concepts of one or more embodiments in a simplified form as a prelude to the more detailed description that is presented later. For convenience, the term “some embodiments” or “certain embodiments” may be used herein to refer to a single embodiment or multiple embodiments of the disclosure.
Some embodiments disclosed herein include an apparatus for fastening a strap comprising a first workpiece that further including: a first rectangle portion, a second rectangle portion extending from a first side of the first rectangle portion, a third rectangle portion extending from a second side of the first rectangle portion, a fourth rectangle portion extending from a third side of the first rectangle portion, and a fifth rectangle portion extending from a fourth side of the first rectangle portion, wherein the first side and the third side are opposite sides of the first rectangle portion, and wherein the second side and the fourth side are opposite sides of the first rectangle portion; a first slit at a proximity of a first edge of the second rectangle, wherein the first slit is adapted to accept the strap therethrough; a second slit at a proximity of a first edge of the fourth rectangle, wherein the first slit is adapted to accept the strap therethrough; a first fastening member attached to the third rectangle portion; and a second fastening member attached to the fifth rectangular portion; wherein the third rectangle portion comprising a folding area about the second side of the first rectangle portion to allow the third rectangle portion to fold about the folding area such that the first fastening member and the second fastening member may engage such that the strap is fastened between the first rectangle portion and the third rectangle portion.
Some embodiments disclosed herein also include an apparatus for fastening a strap. The apparatus comprising: a first workpiece that further comprises: a first rectangle portion, a second rectangle portion extending from a first side of the first rectangle portion, a third rectangle portion extending from a second side of the first rectangle portion, and a fourth rectangle portion extending from a third side of the first rectangle portion, wherein the first side and the third side are opposite sides of the first rectangle portion, and wherein the second side is perpendicular to the first side; a first slit at a proximity of a first edge of the second rectangle, wherein the first slit is adapted to accept the strap therethrough; a second slit at a proximity of a first edge of the fourth rectangle, wherein the first slit is adapted to accept the strap therethrough; a first fastening member attached to the third rectangle portion; and a second fastening member attached to the first rectangular portion; wherein the third rectangle portion comprising a folding area about the second side of the first rectangle portion to allow the third rectangle portion to fold about the folding area such that the first fastening member and the second fastening member may engage such that the strap is fastened between the first rectangle portion and the third rectangle portion.
The subject matter that is regarded as the disclosure is particularly pointed out and distinctly claimed in the claims at the conclusion of the specification. The foregoing and other objects, features, and advantages of the disclosure will be apparent from the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.
The embodiments disclosed herein are only examples of the many possible advantageous uses and implementations of the innovative teachings presented herein. In general, statements made in the specification of the present application do not necessarily limit any of the various claimed embodiments. Moreover, some statements may apply to some inventive features but not to others. In general, unless otherwise indicated, singular elements may be in plural and vice versa with no loss of generality. In the drawings, like numerals refer to like parts through several views.
An apparatus is designed to be fitted to a strap of an arm phylactery using two slits therein and a locking mechanism that locks the excess end of the strap wound around the palm of the hand using magnets that are embedded in the apparatus. The arm phylactery includes of a box, containing therein a parchment scroll, and a strap connected thereto. The strap and box are made of animal hide and are connected so that the box can be placed on the upper arm. The strap is then twisted around the upper arm and the forearm. The remaining of the strap is then twisted around the hand in a particular fashion and then wound around the palm of the hand. The apparatus is then used to fasten the excess end of the strap into place. The locking mechanism may be mechanical or magnetic.
In one embodiment a pad 130 made of, for example but not by way of limitation, plastic, resin, rubber, animal hide, and like materials, is placed towards the far edge of the rectangle 110 on top of which a magnet 140 is placed thereon. The magnetic field of the magnet being directed perpendicular to the rectangle piece 110. In one embodiment a pad 180 made of, for example but not by way of limitation, of plastic, resin, rubber, animal hide and like materials, is placed at the center of the rectangle piece 170 on top which a magnet 190 is placed thereon.
The magnetic field of the magnet is perpendicular directed to the rectangle piece 170. The magnetic pole of the magnet 140 and magnet 190 are to be opposite of each other so that when brought in proximity of each other the magnet 140 and the magnet 190 are attracted to each other. In one embodiment, any one of the pads 130 and 180 may or may not be present.
It should be readily appreciated that though pads 130 and 180 are described herein as having a rectangle shape are merely for examples and other shapes are applicable. The first workpiece 100 is adapted to fold about rectangle piece 150, such that the magnet 140 can be brought into proximity of magnet 190.
It should readily appreciate that the first pole of a magnet can be a North pole and a second pole of the magnet can be a South pole, as is well known in the art of magnets. Furthermore, while the embodiment described herein requires two magnets, and embodiment where one of the first magnet and the second magnet is replaced by a ferromagnetic material.
In another embodiment, the attachment is achieved by applying pressure, which may further include the application of heat. The second workpiece 200 is designed to correspond to first workpiece 100 such that rectangle piece 210 fits over rectangle piece 110, rectangle piece 250 fits over rectangle piece 150 such that slit 255 corresponds to slit 155, rectangle piece 270 fits over rectangle piece 170; and, rectangle piece 260 fits over rectangle piece 160 such that slit 265 corresponds to slit 165. The second workpiece 200, like its counterpart first workpiece 100, is adapted to fold at rectangle piece 220 so as to bring the far end of rectangle piece 210 toward the far end of rectangle piece 270.
In one embodiment, the first workpiece 100 and the second workpiece 200 are pressed towards each other, for example but not by way of limitation, in a pressing machine, which may, in one embodiment, further involve heating of the apparatus 300. In another embodiment the attachment of the first workpiece 100 to the second workpiece 200 is achieved by stitching them together thereby securing a bonding thereto. It should be readily appreciated that combinations of attachment techniques may be used without departing from the scope of the disclosed embodiments.
Because of the nature of the animal hide of which the apparatus is preferably made of, as well as the arm strap itself, there is enough friction to safely hold the excess end of the arm strap in place, thereby solving the problem of the prior art that requires stuffing the excess end of the arm strap between the windings of the hand strap and the palm of the hand. In the case wherein insufficient friction is anticipated embodiments may use materials having a higher friction coefficient, or creating a surface that increases friction, for example a rugged surface. While preferable material for the apparatus is animal hide other materials may be used without departing from the disclosed embodiments.
A strap placed upon the longitude of rectangle piece 630 towards rectangle piece 640 is therefore secured in place. The first fastening member 660 and the second fastening member 670 may comprise of various devices that allow such forceful fastening but that also detach upon applying a separation force, allowing the release of the strap fastened between rectangle piece 610 and rectangle piece 680. Therefore, such fastening members may include, but are not limited to, an adhesive strip, a Velcro® hook, a loop fastener, a hook, a clip, a clamp, a zipper track, and the like.
A first magnet 750 having a first pole and a second pole is placed on top of area 790 of the T-shaped workpiece 700 having the first pole facing the T-shaped workpiece 700. In one embodiment a pad 740 is placed between the T-shaped workpiece 700 and the magnet 750. A second magnet 760 having a first pole and a second pole is placed on top of the rectangle piece 710 of the T-shaped workpiece 700 having the second pole facing the T-shaped workpiece 700.
In one embodiment, a pad 770 is placed between the T-shaped workpiece 700 and the second magnet 760. The magnets 750 and 760 are placed such that when the rectangle piece 710 is folded about the folding axis 780, towards rectangle area 790, the opposite poles of the magnets 750 and 760 attract and connect. A corresponding T-shaped workpiece having also slits corresponding to the slits 725 and 735 of the fourth workpiece 700 is attached to the fourth workpiece 700 to complete the fastening apparatus. Such attachment may take place in ways described herein for previous embodiments and are therefore not repeated here. It should be noted that a strap (not shown) may be inserted into slit 725 and then emerging from slit 735, similarly to the fashion explained with respect of
It should be further appreciated that the apparatus disclosed herein may be used to fasten also other kinds of straps without departing from the scope of the disclosed embodiments. Furthermore, while a particular shape of the first workpiece and the second workpiece have been disclosed herein, other shapes may be used to generally provide for the threading through a first slit and a second slit a strap and fasten it to the apparatus by means of closing thereon by magnets connecting at opposing poles.
In one embodiment material for increasing the friction between the areas of the apparatus coming in contact with the excess end of the strap may be used for the purpose of better securing of the excess end of the strap in place. Yet furthermore, although the description herein discussed the case of an arm phylactery one of ordinary skill in the art would readily appreciate that the apparatus may be used for a head phylactery which is specifically within the scope of this disclosure. The use of the apparatus in general, and specifically with respect of a phylactery is not limited for use when wearing a phylactery and, for example and without limitation, is envisioned to be used also for storage purposes. Although round magnets are shown in the drawings other shaped magnets may equally be used without departing from the scope of the disclosed embodiments.
All examples and conditional language recited herein are intended for pedagogical purposes to aid the reader in understanding the principles of the disclosed embodiment and the concepts contributed by the inventor to furthering the art, and are to be construed as being without limitation to such specifically recited examples and conditions. Moreover, all statements herein reciting principles, aspects, and embodiments of the disclosed embodiments, as well as specific examples thereof, are intended to encompass both structural and functional equivalents thereof. Additionally, it is intended that such equivalents include both currently known equivalents as well as equivalents developed in the future, i.e., any elements developed that perform the same function, regardless of structure.
This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 62/904,201 filed on Sep. 23, 2019, the contents of which are hereby incorporated by reference.
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 62904201 | Sep 2019 | US |
