Patent Grant
10537934
The invention relates to a die for attaching a washer to a grommet. More particularly, the invention relates to a die for attaching a washer to a grommet to create a combined grommet-washer assembly such as those for use in systems for opening and closing window treatments.
Various devices exist for opening and closing window treatments such as curtains and vertical blinds. Grommets are used in some types of window treatment closure devices. Such grommets may rotate when installed on a device for opening and closing window treatments. Such rotation may interference with the normal operation of the device for opening and closing window treatments, and therefore, is undesirable.
A need exists for a grommet that does not rotate when in use as part of a device or system for opening and closing window treatments. A need also exists for devices, systems, and methods for creating grommets that do not rotate when in use as part of a device or system for opening and closing window treatments.
The invention relates to a die for attaching a washer to a grommet to create a grommet-washer assembly for use in a system for opening and closing window treatments is described. Such systems for opening and closing window treatments include, for example, systems as described in U.S. Pat. No. 9,730,541, which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. A window treatment device of an opening and closing system can include a main body, an elongated rod, a secondary body, a curtain rod, and a grommet. The grommet is used to attach the window treatment such as, for example, a curtain, a drape, or a vertical blind. The elongated rod can be locatable at least partially within the main body. The secondary body can be slidably positionable about the elongated rod. The main body can be at least partially insertable into the curtain rod. The grommet can be attachable to the main body. The main body may include an upper main body receiver slot to receive the grommet. The grommet may include a grommet tab insertable into an upper main body retainer clip. The upper main body retainer clip may be insertable into the upper main body receiver slot to attach the grommet. The curtain rod may include a curtain rod opening extending substantially between a curtain rod front end and a curtain rod rear end of the curtain rod. At least part of the grommet can be at least partially passable through the curtain rod opening. The main body that is removably attached to the grommet via insertion of the upper main body retainer clip into the upper main body receiver slot can be at least partially passable through the curtain rod opening with the grommet.
To prevent the grommet from rotating when installed in such a window treatment opening and closing system, a washer can be attached to the grommet. The washer can include teeth that clamp down on the grommet when the washer is attached. The washer is attached to the grommet using the die by installing the die on a die press.
The die device includes a top die and a bottom die. The grommet is placed onto a top surface of the bottom die, and the washer is placed on top of the grommet. When the press is actuated, the top and bottom dies press together to attach the washer to the grommet. A system and methods are also described that features the die and a press on which the top die and the bottom die are installed so that the combined grommet-washer assembly is creatable when the press is actuated to attach the washer to the grommet. The invention also relates to a die device as described herein and a press to which it is attachable for attaching a washer to a grommet.
The devices, systems, and methods described herein provide an advantage in that they are useful for creating a combined grommet-washer assembly that does not rotate when used as a part of a device or system for opening and closing window treatments.
Accordingly, the invention features a die for attaching a washer to a grommet. The die includes a top die and a bottom die. The top die features a shaping element for pressing a washer onto a grommet. The bottom die is for receiving the grommet for attachment of the washer thereto and includes a stabilization element and a central annular ridge surrounded by a planar surface. The central annular ridge includes a converging outer side wall, wherein the side wall's diameter at a base of the side wall is greater than the side wall's diameter at a top of the side wall. The central annular ridge defines a bore centrally located in a top surface of the bottom die, and the shaping element of the top die is receivable into the bore of the bottom die.
In another aspect, the invention can feature the top die further including a stabilization element.
In another aspect, the invention can feature the stabilization element of the top die including a threaded pin that connects to a press to maintain the top die in a fixed position when the press is in use.
In another aspect, the invention can feature the shaping element of the top die being round.
In another aspect, the invention can feature the shaping element of the top die including a top wall and a side wall, and wherein the shaping element further includes a cut-out that extends through the top wall and the side wall and terminates at the planar surface of the top die.
In another aspect, the invention can feature the stabilization element of the bottom die including at least two pins that connect to a press to maintain the bottom die in a fixed position when the press is in use.
In another aspect, the invention can feature a side surface of the top die including a first sight line and a side surface of the bottom die including a second sight line. The sight lines of the top and bottom dies are positionable to align the top and bottom dies when they are connected to the press.
In another aspect, the invention can feature the side wall of the bottom die being flat or concavely curved as it converges from the larger diameter of the side wall's base to the small diameter of the side wall's top.
The invention also features a die for attaching a washer to a grommet. The die includes a top die and a bottom die. The top die is for pressing a washer onto a grommet. The top die features a stabilization element and a round shaping element attached on a planar surface of the top die, wherein the round shaping element includes a top wall and a side wall. The round shaping element further includes a cut-out that extends through the top wall and the side wall and terminates at the planar surface of the top die. The bottom die is for receiving the grommet for attachment of the washer thereto, and includes a bore into which the round shaping element of the top die is receivable.
In another aspect, the invention can feature the bottom die further including a stabilization element.
In another aspect, the invention can feature the stabilization element of the bottom die including at least two pins that connect to a press to maintain the bottom die in a fixed position when the press is in use.
In another aspect, the invention can feature the bottom die further including a central annular ridge surrounded by a planar surface.
In another aspect, the invention can feature the central annular ridge including a converging outer side wall, wherein the side wall's diameter at a base of the side wall is greater than the side wall's diameter at a top of the side wall. The central annular ridge defines the bore centrally located in a top surface of the bottom die.
In another aspect, the invention can feature the stabilization element of the top die including a threaded pin that connects to a press to maintain the top die in a fixed position when the press is in use.
In another aspect, the invention can feature a side surface of the top die including a first sight line and a side surface of the bottom die including a second sight line. The sight lines of the top and bottom dies are positionable to align the top and bottom dies when they are connected to the press.
In another aspect, the invention can feature the side wall of the bottom die being flat or concavely curved as it converges from the larger diameter of the side wall's base to the small diameter of the side wall's top.
The invention also features a system for attaching a washer to a grommet, wherein the combined grommet-washer assembly is for use with a system for opening and closing window treatments. The system for attaching the grommet to the washer includes a top die, a bottom die, and a press. The top die is for pressing a washer onto a grommet. The top die includes a stabilization element and a round shaping element attached on a planar surface of the top die. The round shaping element includes a top wall and a side wall, and further includes a cut-out that extends through the top wall and the side wall and terminates at the planar surface of the top die. The bottom die is for receiving the grommet for attachment of the washer thereto. The bottom die includes a stabilization element and a central annular ridge surrounded by a planar surface. The central annular ridge includes a converging outer side wall, wherein the side wall's diameter at a base of the side wall is greater than the side wall's diameter at a top of the side wall. The central annular ridge defines a bore centrally located in a top surface of the top die, and the round shaping element of the top die is receivable into the bore of the bottom die. The top die and the bottom die are installable on the press so that a combined grommet-washer assembly is creatable when the press is actuated to attach the washer to the grommet.
In another aspect, the invention can feature a side surface of the top die including a first sight line and a side surface of the bottom die including a second sight line. The sight lines of the top and bottom dies are positionable to align the top and bottom dies when they are connected to the press.
In another aspect, the invention can feature the side wall of the bottom die being flat or concavely curved as it converges from the larger diameter of the side wall's base to the small diameter of the side wall's top.
In another aspect, the invention can feature the washer including teeth that are pressed into the grommet when the press is actuated.
A method of the invention can be used for attaching a washer to a grommet, wherein the combined grommet-washer assembly is for use with a system for opening and closing window treatments. The method includes the steps of: (a) connecting a top die to a press, wherein the top die is for pressing a washer onto a grommet, and wherein the top die features: (i) a stabilization element; and (ii) a round shaping element attached on a planar surface of the top die, wherein the round shaping element includes a top wall and a side wall, and wherein the round shaping element further includes a cut-out that extends through the top wall and the side wall and terminates at the planar surface of the top die; (b) connecting a bottom die to the press, wherein the bottom die is for receiving the grommet for attachment of the washer thereto, and wherein the bottom die features: (i) a stabilization element; and (ii) a central annular ridge surrounded by a planar surface, wherein the central annular ridge includes a converging outer side wall, wherein the side wall's diameter at a base of the side wall is greater than the side wall's diameter at a top of the side wall, wherein the central annular ridge defines a bore centrally located in a top surface of the top die, and wherein the round shaping element of the top die is receivable into the bore of the bottom die; (c) placing the grommet onto the planar surface of the bottom die and the washer on top of the grommet; and (d) actuating the press to press the top die and the bottom die together thereby attaching the waster to the grommet.
Unless otherwise defined, all technical terms used herein have the same meaning as commonly understood by one of ordinary skill in the art to which this invention belongs. Although methods and materials similar or equivalent to those described herein can be used in the practice or testing of the present invention, suitable methods and materials are described below. All publications, patent applications, patents and other references mentioned herein are incorporated by reference in their entirety. In the case of conflict, the present specification, including definitions will control.
The present invention is best understood by reference to the detailed drawings and description set forth herein. Embodiments of the invention are discussed below with reference to the drawings; however, those skilled in the art will readily appreciate that the detailed description given herein with respect to these figures is for explanatory purposes as the invention extends beyond these limited embodiments. For example, in light of the teachings of the present invention, those skilled in the art will recognize a multiplicity of alternate and suitable approaches, depending upon the needs of the particular application, to implement the functionality of any given detail described herein beyond the particular implementation choices in the following embodiments described and shown. That is, numerous modifications and variations of the invention may exist that are too numerous to be listed but that all fit within the scope of the invention. Also, singular words should be read as plural and vice versa and masculine as feminine and vice versa, where appropriate, and alternative embodiments do not necessarily imply that the two are mutually exclusive.
The present invention should not be limited to the particular methodology, compounds, materials, manufacturing techniques, uses, and applications, described herein, as these may vary. The terminology used herein is used for the purpose of describing particular embodiments only, and is not intended to limit the scope of the present invention. As used herein and in the appended claims, the singular forms “a,” “an,” and “the” include the plural reference unless the context clearly dictates otherwise. Thus, for example, a reference to “an element” is a reference to one or more elements and includes equivalents thereof known to those skilled in the art. Similarly, for another example, a reference to “a step” or “a means” may be a reference to one or more steps or means and may include sub-steps and subservient means.
All conjunctions used herein are to be understood in the most inclusive sense possible. Thus, a group of items linked with the conjunction “and” should not be read as requiring that each and every one of those items be present in the grouping, but rather should be read as “and/or” unless expressly stated otherwise. Similarly, a group of items linked with the conjunction “or” should not be read as requiring mutual exclusivity among that group, but rather should be read as “and/or” unless expressly stated otherwise. Structures described herein are to be understood also to refer to functional equivalents of such structures. Language that may be construed to express approximation should be so understood unless the context clearly dictates otherwise.
Unless otherwise defined, all terms (including technical and scientific terms) are to be given their ordinary and customary meaning to a person of ordinary skill in the art, and are not to be limited to a special or customized meaning unless expressly so defined herein.
Terms and phrases used in this application, and variations thereof, especially in the appended claims, unless otherwise expressly stated, should be construed as open ended as opposed to limiting. As examples of the foregoing, the term “including” should be read to mean “including, without limitation,” “including but not limited to,” or the like; the term “having” should be interpreted as “having at least”; the term “includes” should be interpreted as “includes but is not limited to”; the term “example” is used to provide exemplary instances of the item in discussion, not an exhaustive or limiting list thereof; and use of terms like “preferably,” “preferred,” “desired,” “desirable,” or “exemplary” and words of similar meaning should not be understood as implying that certain features are critical, essential, or even important to the structure or function of the invention, but instead as merely intended to highlight alternative or additional features that may or may not be utilized in a particular embodiment of the invention.
Those skilled in the art will also understand that if a specific number of an introduced claim recitation is intended, such an intent will be explicitly recited in the claim, and in the absence of such recitation no such intent is present. For example, as an aid to understanding, the appended claims may contain usage of the introductory phrases “at least one” and “one or more” to introduce claim recitations; however, the use of such phrases should not be construed to imply that the introduction of a claim recitation by the indefinite articles “a” or “an” limits any particular claim containing such introduced claim recitation to embodiments containing only one such recitation, even when the same claim includes the introductory phrases “one or more” or “at least one” and indefinite articles such as “a” or “an” (e.g., “a” and “an” should typically be interpreted to mean “at least one” or “one or more”); the same holds true for the use of definite articles used to introduce claim recitations. In addition, even if a specific number of an introduced claim recitation is explicitly recited, those skilled in the art will recognize that such recitation should typically be interpreted to mean at least the recited number (e.g., the bare recitation of “two recitations,” without other modifiers, typically means at least two recitations, or two or more recitations). Furthermore, in those instances where a convention analogous to “at least one of A, B, and C” is used, in general, such a construction is intended in the sense one having skill in the art would understand the convention (e.g., “a system having at least one of A, B, and C” would include but not be limited to systems that have A alone, B alone, C alone, A and B together, A and C together, B and C together, and/or A, B, and C together, etc.).
All numbers expressing dimensions, quantities of ingredients, reaction conditions, and so forth used in the specification are to be understood as being modified in all instances by the term “about” unless expressly stated otherwise. Accordingly, unless indicated to the contrary, the numerical parameters set forth herein are approximations that may vary depending upon the desired properties sought to be obtained.
The invention provides a die device 10 for attaching a washer 12 to a grommet 14. As shown in
The top die 16 is for pressing a washer 12 onto a grommet 14 and is connectable to a top portion of the die press. The top die 16 features a stabilization element 20 and a shaping element 22 attached on a planar surface 16a of the top die, wherein the shaping element includes a top wall 22a and a side wall 22b. The shaping element 22 presses the washer 12 onto the grommet 14 when the die press is actuated to press the top die and bottom die together. The shaping element 22 of the top die 16 can be round or any other suitable shape that corresponds to a bore 24 of the bottom die 18. The round shaping element 22 further includes a cut-out 22c that extends through the top wall 22a and the side wall 22b and terminates at the planar surface 16a of the top die 16. The bottom die 18 is for receiving the grommet 14 for attachment of the washer 12 thereto, and as referenced above, includes the bore 24 (i.e., a generally cylindrical cavity) into which the round shaping element 22 of the top die 16 is receivable.
In exemplary embodiments, the stabilization element 20 of the top die 16 includes a threaded pin 20 that connects to the press to maintain the top die in a fixed position when the press is in use.
The bottom die 18 is for receiving the grommet 14 for attachment of the washer 12 thereto and is connectable to a bottom portion of the die press. The bottom die 18 includes a stabilization element 26 and a central annular ridge 28a attached generally centrally to a top planar surface 28b of a cylindrical element 28. The central annular ridge 28a includes a converging outer side wall, wherein the side wall's diameter at a base of the side wall is greater than the side wall's diameter at a top of the side wall. The central annular ridge 28a defines the bore 24 centrally located on the top planar surface 28b of the bottom die 18, and the shaping element 22 of the top die 16 is receivable into the bore 24 of the bottom die 18.
In exemplary embodiments, the stabilization element 26 of the bottom die 18 includes at least two pins 26 that connect to a press to maintain the bottom die in a fixed position when the press is in use. For example, the stabilization element of the bottom die can include two, three, four, five, six, or more pins. In one exemplary embodiment, the stabilization element 26 of the bottom die 18 includes three pins as shown in
A side wall (or side surface) of the cylindrical element 28 of the bottom die 18 can be flat or concavely curved as it converges from the larger diameter of the side wall's base to the small diameter of the side wall's top.
In exemplary embodiments, a side wall (or side surface) 16b of the top die 16 can include a first sight line 30a and the side wall of the bottom die 18 can include a second sight line 30b. The sight lines 30a and 30b of the top and bottom dies 16 and 18 are positionable to align the top and bottom dies when they are connected to the die press.
The invention also features a system for attaching a washer to a grommet, wherein the combined grommet-washer assembly is for use with a system for opening and closing window treatments. The system for attaching the grommet to the washer includes a die press and a die device having a top die a bottom die as described above.
The invention also features a method for attaching a washer to a grommet, wherein the combined grommet-washer assembly is for use with a system for opening and closing window treatments. The method includes the step of connecting a top die to a press. The top die can be one that includes any of the features of a top die as described elsewhere herein. The method also features the step of connecting a bottom die to the press. The bottom die can be one that includes any of the features of a bottom die as described elsewhere herein. Next, the invention includes the step of placing a grommet onto the planar top surface of the bottom die and the washer on top of the grommet as shown in
As shown in
The lower annular base 14b is generally planar and is attached to an outer surface of a bottom portion of the upper annular wall 14a generally perpendicularly. In some embodiments, an outer edge of the lower annular base 14b may include a lip, rim, flange, or collar 14e (each hereafter referred to as a flange for convenience). In other embodiments, the outer edge of the grommet's lower annular base 14b does not include a lip, rim, flange, or collar. In exemplary embodiments, the flange 14e turns upward slightly in relation to a top surface of the lower annular base 14b so that the flange is oriented upward in the same or generally the same direction as the upper annular wall 14a and extends away from the lower annular base. In this manner, a shallow annular trough 14f is formed between an inner side of the flange 14e and the outer wall of the upper annular wall 14a, with the top portion of the lower annular base 14b forming a bottom of the annular trough 14f. The top portion of the lower annular base 14b (and thus, also the annular trough 14f and the flange 14e in embodiments that include a flange) encircle the bottom portion of the upper annular wall 14a.
As shown in
In exemplary embodiments and as described elsewhere herein, the bottom side 12b of the washer 12 can include a plurality of teeth 12e protruding out and away from the bottom side 12b. The grommet 14 is placed onto the bottom die 18 so that the upper annular wall 14a of the grommet is facing upward, and the washer 12 is placed onto the top surface of the grommet so that the bottom side of the washer contacts the top surface of the grommet's lower annular base 14b. The teeth 12e can be arranged concentrically on the washer's bottom side 12b at regular or irregular intervals around the bottom side. When the washer 12 and grommet 14 are pressed together by the die 10 and die press, the teeth 12e of the washer clamp down on the grommet to create the combined grommet-washer assembly, which will not rotate when installed in a device or system for opening and closing window treatments thereby improving the functionality of that other system in opening and closing window treatments like curtains, drapes, and vertical blinds.
It is to be understood that while the invention has been described in conjunction with the detailed description thereof, the foregoing description is intended to illustrate and not limit the scope of the invention, which is defined by the scope of the appended claims. Other aspects, advantages, and modifications are within the scope of the following claims.
| Number | Name | Date | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| 5422202 | Spiegelberg | Jun 1995 | A |
| 5814421 | Spiegelberg | Sep 1998 | A |
