Patent Application
20100077576
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to a rotatable interlocking pin system, and more particularly, pertains to a rotatable interlocking pin system that decorates as well as secures two or more pieces of fabric together, such as, securing a duvet cover and comforter together.
2. Description of the Related Art
The use of pin systems in the apparel, upholstery, and the like industries for securing fabrics is known in the prior art. More specifically, pin systems heretofore devised and utilized are known to consist of expected, obvious, and familiar structural configurations, notwithstanding the wide variety of designs encompassed by the crowed prior art which have been developed for the fulfillment of a myriad of objects and requirements.
While the devices heretofore fulfill their respective, particular objectives and requirements, they do not provide an improved rotatable interlocking pin system for securing together layers of fabric, such as a duvet cover and comforter wherein the pin system prevents the fabric from being bunched, distorted, torn or otherwise damaged. In this respect, the rotatable interlocking pin system according to the present invention substantially departs from the concepts and designs of the prior art, and in doing so provides an improved rotatable interlocking pin system of a design and configuration heretofore not devised.
In view of the foregoing disadvantages inherent in the known types of interlocking pin systems now present in the prior art, the present invention provides an improved rotatable interlocking pin system wherein the same can be used for securing several layers of fabric together, such as, a duvet cover and a comforter while allowing the interlocking pin system and fabric to freely rotate respectively in order to prevent tearing, bunching or otherwise damaging the fabric.
In general, in one aspect, a rotatable interlocking pin system is provided. The rotatable interlocking pin system includes a first and second member, each having a body defining an outward facing side, an inward facing side, and a shaft hole extending through the inward facing side and terminating at position within the body. The shaft hole having an inner diameter. A coupling pin having opposed first and second ends, and a shaft extending therebetween. The shaft having a first shaft portion and a second shaft portion. The first and second shaft portions being conjoined at an intermediate location along the shaft. The first shaft portion extending to the first end, and the second shaft portion extending to the second end. The first shaft portion having a first diameter and the second shaft portion having a second diameter. The first diameter of the first shaft portion being less than the second diameter of the second shaft portion. The first end of the coupling pin is captively receivable by and is freely rotatable about a long axis of the coupling pin within the shaft hole of either of the first and second members. The second end of the coupling pin is frictionally receivable by the shaft hole of the opposite member of the first and second members.
The first end of the coupling pin can been enlarged. The first end of the coupling pin can be conically shaped, and taper from narrow to wide in a direction from the first end to the shaft, and the shaft hole of each of the members can define a shoulder narrower than the wide end, thereby preventing withdrawal of the coupling pin from the shaft hole. Each outward facing side of the body of each of the first and second members can have a decorative appearance, and the decorative appearance of each outward facing side can be different from the other. The first diameter cab less than the inner diameter of said shaft hole, and said second diameter can be greater than the inner diameter of said shaft hole.
In general, and in another aspect, a system for securing a plurality of fabrics together is provided. The system includes multiple layers of adjacent fabrics to be secured together. A first and second member, each having an outward facing side, an inward facing side, and a shaft hole extending through the inward facing side and terminating at position within the body. The shaft hole having an inner diameter. A cylindrical coupling pin having opposed first and second ends, and a shaft extending therebetween. The shaft having a first shaft portion and a second shaft portion. The first and second shaft portions being conjoined at an intermediate location along the shaft. The first shaft portion extending to the first end, and the second shaft portion extending to the second end. The first shaft portion having a first diameter and the second shaft portion having a second diameter. The first diameter of the first shaft portion being less than the second diameter of the second shaft portion. The first end of the coupling pin being captively receivable by and being freely rotatable about a long axis of the coupling pin within the shaft hole of either of the first and second members. The second end piercing completely through the plurality of layers of adjacent fabrics, and being frictionally received by the shaft hole of the opposite member of the first and second members such that the first and the second members are rotatably connected together.
Each outward facing surface of said body of each of said first and second members can have a decorative appearance, and further wherein the decorative appearance of each outward facing surface can be different from the other. The first and said second members can be free from fixed engagement with said plurality layers of adjacent fabrics such that said first and said second members are free to rotate about said plurality of layers of adjacent fabrics. The shaft can be of a length such that said inward facing sides of each of said first and second members are disposed in a spaced relationship of a distance that is greater than the thickness of said plurality layers of adjacent fabrics.
There has thus been outlined, rather broadly, the more important features of the invention in order that the detailed description thereof that follows may be better understood and in order that the present contribution to the art may be better appreciated.
With the foregoing in mind, it is an object of the present invention to provide a rotatable interlocking pin system that decorates as well as secures two or more pieces of fabric together, such as, a duvet cover to a comforter.
It is another object of the present invention to provide a rotatable interlocking pin system where the first and second members may have a decorative or simulative appearance on the outward facing sides displaying a variety of shapes, colors, or characters. Therefore, the outer appearance of the first member may be coordinating or contrasting from the appearance of the outer facing side of the second member, and thus making the rotatable interlocking pin system reversible and interchangeable in nature.
It is another object of the present invention to provide a rotatable interlocking pin where the first member's shaft hole defines a shoulder narrower than the coupling pin's enlarged or conically shaped end, thereby captivley and rotatably securing and preventing withdrawal of the coupling pin from the first member's shaft hole.
It is another object of the present invention to provide a rotatable interlocking pin system that is capable of quickly and easily being removed from the fabric to facilitate washing or cleaning the fabric.
It is yet another object of the present invention to provide a rotatable interlocking pin system for decorating and securing apparel, upholstery, towels, and the like.
It is another object of the present invention to provide a system for securing a plurality of fabrics together where both of the members are temporarily removable and free from fixed engagement with the layers of adjacent fabrics. Further, both of the members are free to rotate about the layers of adjacent fabrics, thus preventing the layers of adjacent fabrics from bunching or tearing.
It is yet another object of the present invention to provide a system for securing a plurality of fabrics together where the coupling pin's shaft is of a length such that the member's inward facing sides are disposed in a spaced relationship of a distance that is greater than the thickness of the layers of adjacent fabrics.
Numerous other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will be readily apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art upon a reading of the following detailed description of presently preferred, but nonetheless illustrative, embodiments of the present invention when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. The invention is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced and carried out in various ways. Also, it is to be understood that the phraseology and terminology employed herein are for the purpose of descriptions and should not be regarded as limiting.
As such, those skilled in the art will appreciate that the conception, upon which this disclosure is based, may readily be utilized as a basis for the designing of other structures, methods and systems for carrying out the several purposes of the present invention. It is important, therefore, that the claims be regarded as including such equivalent constructions insofar as they do not depart from the spirit and scope of the present invention.
For a better understanding of the invention, its operating advantages and the specific objects attained by its uses, reference should be had to the accompanying drawings and descriptive matter in which there is illustrated preferred embodiments of the invention.
The invention will be better understood and objects other than those set forth above will become apparent when consideration is given to the following detailed description thereof. Such description makes reference to the annexed drawings wherein:
In
Referring to
The coupling pin 28 is a double ended pin with opposed ends 30 and 32, and a shaft 34 extending between the opposed ends. The opposed ends 30 and 32 are axially receivable by shaft holes 36 and 38 in members 16 and 18 respectively. Each shaft hole 36 and 38 are identical in construction to simplify manufacture. Shaft holes 36 and 38 and the first end 30 of the coupling pin 28 have cooperating structures such that the first end can be captively received by either shaft hole for axially rotation, but cannot be withdrawn from the shaft hole which it was inserted. The second end 32 of the coupling pin 28 is constructed to be frictionally received by either shaft hole 36 and 38, but removable from the shaft hole which it was inserted by overcoming the frictional force. The length of the shaft 34 is divided into two shaft portions 46 and 48. The shaft first portion 46 is diametrically reduced from the second shaft portion 48. The first shaft portion 46 extends substantially from an intermediate location 50 along the shaft 34 to the first end 30, and the second shaft portion 48 extends substantially from the intermediate location to the second end 32.
The shaft holes 36 and 38 can include a first portion 40 of an inner diameter, and a second portion 42 of a inner diameter greater than the inner diameter of the first portion, and a shoulder 44 between the first and second portions. The first end 30 of the coupling pin 28 can be enlarged and insertable through the first portion 40 and into the second portion 42 of either shaft hole 36 and 38, which when fully inserted into the second portion, the shoulder 44 prevents withdrawn from the shaft hole. The diameter of the first shaft portion 46 of the coupling pin 28 is less than the diameter of the first portion 40 of either shaft hole 36 and 38 permitting the free rotation of the coupling pin within the respective shaft hole about a long axis of the coupling pin. The diameter of the second shaft portion 48 is slightly greater than the diameter of the first portion 40 of either shaft hole 36 and 38 such that the second end 32 is insertable into shaft hole by is frictionally retained through engagement of the second shaft portion 48 with the shaft first portion 40.
The first end 30 of the coupling pin can be conically shaped and taper from narrow to wide in a direction from the first end towards the shaft 34, and shoulder 44 being narrower than the wide end of the conically shaped end, thereby preventing withdrawal of the coupling pin 28 from the shaft hole 36, 38.
The second end 32 of the coupling pin 28 may taper to a point, facilitating the second end in piercing through the fabric layers.
Each outward facing side 24 and 26 can be formed to have a decorative or simulative appearance or otherwise treated to have a decorative or simulative appearance. The outward facing sides 24 and 26 can have the same or a dissimilar decorative or simulative appearance providing an interchange and reversible feature to the rotating interlocking pin system 10.
The inward facing sides 20 and 22 of the first and second members 16 and 18 are substantially smooth free from any surfaces that could possible engagement with the fabric layers that would prevent rotation of either or both members on the surfaces of fabric layers about the long axis of the coupling pin 28 in order to prevent tearing, bunching, or otherwise damaging the fabrics.
Referring now to
In use, it can now be understood, several layers of fabric, such as a duvet cover 12 and a comforter 14 are secured together by the rotatable interlocking pin system 10 according to the present invention by position the first member 16 on one side of the layers of fabric with the inward facing side 20 thereof facing the fabric, piercing the layers of fabric with the coupling pin 28 by completely passing the second end 32 through the fabric, and attaching the second member 18 to the first member by inserting the coupling pin into the shaft hole 38 of the second member, thereby rotatably connecting the first and second member together and securing the layers of fabric together.
A number of embodiments of the present invention have been described. Nevertheless, it will be understood that various modifications may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Accordingly, other embodiments are within the scope of the following claims.
