DECORATIVE STRING HOLDER DEVICE AND METHOD OF USE

Abstract

The present invention discloses a decorative string holder device and its method of use. The device generally comprises an ornamental cover body and an attachment means. The attachment means is generally comprised of a tapered hole drilled into the ornamental cover body and a tapered helical spring secured into the hole. The string is secured into the decorative holder device generally using a twisting motion such that the tapered spring is able to expand into or contract onto the tip of the string.

Description

FIELD

The present invention relates to a decorative holder device designed to attach to the tip of a string.

BACKGROUND

Items such as shoes, sweatshirts, and bags often include a cord made of fiber used for fastening, tying or lacing identified herein as a “string.” While the string usually comes with a plastic or metal aglet at the end to prevent the string from fraying, many times the aglet becomes cracked or damaged, allowing the string to fray. Often times this results in the entire string being replaced. There is a need for a cap or a cover for the end of the string to increase longevity or to prevent damage. The cover should be fast and easy to apply either directly to the end of the string or on top of an already existing aglet. Additionally, the cover should be aesthetically pleasing to encourage use by children, teenagers and other fashion conscious users.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,099,552 to Kimbrough discloses a lace-decorating device wherein the end of the lace is inserted into a “U” shaped corridor and locked into place by the position of the existing aglet. The device disclosed in Kimbrough can also be easily and unintentionally detached by applying any type of unidirectional force (i.e. gravity). However, the present invention is distinguishable as the device and method of use does not require any existing aglet or plastic tubing to be useful. The present invention is locked into place by use of a tapered spring and hole within the holder such that the spring expands onto and/or contracts into the string to hold it in place and is only unlocked by applying a centrifugal force rather than a unidirectional force, which is fundamentally distinguishable from the “U” shaped corridor attachment method.

U.S. Patent Application No. 20080295305 to Hsu discloses a complicated aglet assembly for a shoelace involving a coupling mechanism in which a semi-permanent device is initially attached to the shoelaces. However, the present invention is distinguishable as the device and method of use involves a single component and does not require any elements to be pre-fitted to the string or lace tip. Further, the present invention requires only a single piece for attachment rather than a series of complicated pieces for attachment, which require a male and female combination of coupling components.

U.S. Patent Application 20080222861 to Son discloses an ornamental shoelace tip and accessory that also contains a series of complicated coupling pieces for attachment. Again, the present invention requires only a single piece for attachment, which is distinguishable from Son.

U.S. Patent Application 20090077778 to Godoy et. al. discloses an ornamental apparatus with a securing means for attachment to the tip of shoelaces. The method involves attaching a male threaded piece to the end of the shoelace and using a “press fit” method of attachment into a female threaded piece of the ornamental apparatus. In this case, the male component is described as a “substantially permanent” attachment. However, the present invention is distinguishable, as it does not require a male threaded piece (and especially not a permanent piece) to be attached to the end of the string before insertion into the ornamental cover. The present invention allows the end of the string to be fit directly into the ornamental cover using a twisting motion into a tapered spring within the holder such that the spring expands onto or contracts into the string to hold it in place when the string is twisted, with no permanent modification to the string needed.

U.S. Patent Application 20100186205 to Stehman discloses an aglet with a specialized attachment means. The method described requires the aglet to be inserted into the body of the device and a small diameter, angled opening allows the shoelace to be secured as the fabric compresses and expands into the body. However, the present invention is distinguishable as the device and method of use does not require any existing aglet or plastic tubing to be useful, and does not require the entire aglet to be inserted for the attachment to function. Further, the opening in Stehman is a fixed size, so it can only accommodate a limited range of aglet sizes and styles.

U.S. Patent Application 20060064856 to Chen discloses a decorative shoelace tip holder wherein the shoelace tip must first be bound by plastic tubing and then fitted with a corkscrew retaining piece as a separate attachment. However, the present invention is distinguishable as the device and method of use involves a single component and does not require any elements to be pre-fitted to the string or lace tip. The present invention has the advantage of condensing a three-step attachment process into a one-step process and eliminates the possibility of the three different elements failing independently of each other. As such, it is a more stable and versatile solution with a broader scope of practical uses.

The prior art fails to disclose a one-step, single piece device and method for attaching an ornamental cover to a string. Further, the present invention is capable of accommodating a range of string sizes and styles, including a variety of rigid or semi rigid materials with and without existing aglets. For example, the present invention could be attached to a leather rope string with no existing aglet, which would be impossible in the prior art inventions. The prior art is therefore significantly limited in the practical application of the invention for commercial use, and absent of a novel design, which overcomes said challenges.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention discloses a decorative string holder device and its method of use. The device generally comprising an ornamental cover body and an attachment means. The attachment means is generally comprised of a tapered hole drilled into the ornamental cover body and a tapered helical spring secured into the hole. While not required, the string can be covered with a sheath of plastic or metal. The string is generally comprised of a rigid or semi rigid material. The string is secured into the decorative holder device generally using a twisting motion such that the tapered spring is able to expand into or contract onto the tip of the string.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1. FIG. 1 shows a fully assembled side view of the present invention.

FIG. 2. FIG. 2 shows a fully assembled cut away side view of the present invention.

FIG. 3. FIG. 3 shows a cut away side view of the present invention.

FIG. 4. FIG. 4 shows an exploded side view of the fully assembled present invention.

FIG. 5. FIG. 5 shows an expanded and cropped cut away side view of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Turning to FIG. 1, when fully assembled, the string 1 is inserted into the ornamental body cover 5 at the string tip 2. As shown in FIGS. 2-4, the ornamental body cover 5 has an open end 6 and a closed end 7 wherein a hole 4 is drilled into the ornamental body cover 5 at open end 6. The hole 4 decreases in diameter as it approaches closed end 7 and the hole 4 does not extend completely through the ornamental body cover 5. As the ornamental body cover 5 can vary in size, the depth of the hole 4 is not necessarily in proportion to the ornamental body cover 5. In the preferred embodiment, the must functional depth of the hole 4 is at least 20 mm, which is capable of “hiding” a standard aglet while still leaving an area to grip the aglet for attachment and detachment purposes. As also shown in FIGS. 2-4, a tapered helical spring 3 is secured in hole 4. In the preferred embodiment, the hole 4 is lined with threads and the tapered helical spring 3 is secured into hole 4 by twisting the tapered helical spring 3 into the threads of hole 4. However, the tapered helical spring 3 could be locked into hole 4 using other means such as an adhesive device or other press type methods of insertion or manufacturing.

Turning to FIG. 2, the placement of string tip 2 into tapered helical spring 3 is shown using a cut away side view. While not required, a sheath of plastic or metal may cover the string tip 2. This sheath may be a pre-existing cover such as an aglet, or may be added to the string tip 2 prior to insertion into the ornamental body cover 5. The tapered helical spring 3 grips the string tip 2 when the string tip is twisted into the tapered helical spring 3. The tapered helical spring 3 may expand into the string tip 2 and/or contract onto string tip 2 thereby locking the string tip 2 into place, which allows for the use of varied sizes and materials of the string 1 and string tip 2. In the preferred embodiment, the string tip 2 is a rigid or semi rigid material. Examples of rigid materials include, but are not limited to, plastic or metal. Examples of semi rigid materials include, but are not limited to, cotton, nylon or leather.

Turning to FIG. 3, the placement of tapered helical spring 3 into hole 4 of the ornamental body cover 5 away from the closed end 7 is shown using a cut away side view. FIG. 4 shows an exploded view of the present invention. The tapered helical spring 3 is inserted at the open end 6 and away from the closed end 7 of the anchor shaped ornamental body cover 5. The string 1 is inserted using string tip 2 into the tapered helical spring 3, with tapered helical spring 3 already secured in hole 4 during manufacturing.

Finally, FIG. 5 shows an expanded and cropped cut away view of the hole 4, which is drilled, from open end 6 and towards closed end 7 of the ornamental body cover. In the preferred embodiment, hole 4 is lined with threads and helical tapered spring 3 is twisted and locked into hole 4. However, the tapered helical spring 3 could be secured into hole 4 using other means such as an adhesive device or other press type methods of insertion or manufacturing.

For the purposes of promoting an understanding of the principles of the invention, reference has been made to the preferred embodiments illustrated in the drawings, and specific language has been used to describe these embodiments. However, this specific language intends no limitation of the scope of the invention, and the invention should be construed to encompass all embodiments that would normally occur to one of ordinary skill in the art. The particular implementations shown and described herein are illustrative examples of the invention and are not intended to otherwise limit the scope of the invention in any way. For the sake of brevity, conventional aspects of the method (and components of the individual operating components of the method) may not be described in detail. Furthermore, the connecting lines, or connectors shown in the various figures presented are intended to represent exemplary functional relationships and/or physical or logical couplings between the various elements. It should be noted that many alternative or additional functional relationships, physical connections or logical connections might be present in a practical device. Moreover, no item or component is essential to the practice of the invention unless the element is specifically described as “essential” or “critical”. Numerous modifications and adaptations will be readily apparent to those skilled in this art without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention.

Claims

1. A decorative holder device adapted to attach to the tip of a string, comprising: an ornamental cover body with an exterior, an interior, an open end and a closed end; andan attachment means, the attachment means comprised of (1) a hole drilled into said body from said open end and wherein said hole decreases in diameter as it approaches said closed end; and (2) a tapered helical spring wherein said tapered helical spring is secured in said hole.

2. The device of claim 1 further comprising threads lining the interior of said hole.

3. The device of claim 2 wherein said tapered helical spring is secured in said hole by twisting said tapered helical spring into said threads.

4. The device of claim 1 further comprising a sheath covering said tip of string of material.

5. The device of claim 4 wherein said sheath is plastic.

6. The device of claim 4 wherein said sheath is metal.

7. The device of claim 1 wherein said spring grips said tip of the string by expanding into said tip of the string.

8. The device of claim 1 wherein said spring grips said tip of the string by contracting onto said tip of the string.

9. The device of claim 1 wherein said tip of string is comprised of a rigid material.

10. The device of claim 1 wherein said tip of string is comprised of a semi rigid material.

11. A method for attaching an ornamental cover to the tip of a string by securing the tip of the string into a decorative holder device using a twisting motion, the device comprising: an ornamental cover body with an exterior, an interior, an open end and a closed end; andan attachment means, the attachment means comprised of (1) a hole drilled into said body from said open end and wherein said hole decreases in diameter as it approaches said closed end; and (2) a tapered helical spring wherein said tapered helical spring is secured in said hole.

12. The method of claim 11 wherein said device further comprises threads lining the interior of said hole.

13. The method of claim 11 wherein said tapered helical spring is secured in said hole by twisting said tapered helical spring into said threads.

14. The method of claim 11 wherein said device further comprises a sheath covering said tip of string of material.

15. The method of claim 14 wherein said sheath of said device is plastic.

16. The method of claim 14 wherein said sheath of said device is metal.

17. The method of claim 11 wherein said spring grips said tip of the string by expanding into said tip of the string.

18. The method of claim 11 wherein spring grips said tip of the string by contracting onto said tip of the string.

19. The method of claim 11 wherein said tip of string is comprised of a rigid material.

20. The method of claim 11 wherein said tip of string is comprised of a semi rigid material.