Patent Application
20110162123
The present invention relates to a cord lock system for use on a string, cord, or the like. Such device are particularly useful on drawstrings used on, for example, clothing, luggage, sporting gear, and shoes.
Cords or drawstrings are commonly used on articles of clothing, such as jackets, pants, shoes, luggage, such as backpacks or handbags, and sporting gear. For example, on hoods of jackets, including sweatshirts or fleeces, or on waistbands of sweatpants, shorts, swim trunks, or other garments, drawstrings are provided to allow the clothing to be drawn tightly around the user. Such drawstrings avoid the need for a belt or other additional tightening mechanism. Additionally on luggage, such as backpacks or purses, a drawstring may be provided for closing pockets or other openings.
The drawstring is usually housed in a tunnel provided in the seam of the fabric, and each end of the drawstring exits from the fabric through a hole. So that the edges of the hole do not fray or tear when the drawstring is pulled, a grommet is generally provided at these two exits to reinforce the holes. Such a grommet also allows for reduced friction when the cord is pulled through the hole.
In order to prevent the ends of the cord from being pulled inside the seam of the fabric, a knot is generally tied in the end of the cord. Additionally, to hold the cord in a tightened position, the two ends of the cord may be tied together. However, such tying may be difficult or inefficient, since both hands are required and is particularly difficult for small children. Alternatively, a cord lock can be provided on each end of the cord to hold the cord in the tightened position.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,658,704 to Buscart describes a cord lock 10 that can be secured to fabric 14. Cord lock 10 includes a body 16 having a pocket 30, an extension sleeve 18, and a back plate 24, that are joined together. A plunger 20 is provided in pocket 30 and includes a spring means 22. In order to adjust the cord 12 within the cord lock 10, the plunger is depressed by the user, such that the plunger hole 64 aligns with the holes 50 and 44 in the body. To lock the cord in place, the pressure on the plunger is simply released. Thus, this cord lock requires two hands to operate, one hand to adjust the cord and the other to depress the plunger.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,195,218 to Joseph et al. describes a flexible cord lock device formed as a single piece that can be affixed to a garment. Cord lock 10 is formed as a single piece of flexible plastic material with an aperture 26 for receiving the cord therethrough. To adjust the length of the cord 12, the ends of the cord lock 10 are compressed together to create a bulge which reduces the gripping force on the cord. In the embodiment of FIG. 6, a grommet 38 can be used together with the cord lock 10 to prevent loosening of the cord.
The prevent invention is a grommet locking device, which combines the advantages of both a grommet and a cord lock in a single unitary device. The grommet locking device of the present invention allows a user to tighten a cord with one hand.
a shows the grommet locking device of certain embodiments of the present invention with a cord received therethrough in the unlocked position.
a shows the grommet locking device of certain embodiments of the present invention with a cord received therethrough in the locked position.
With reference to
Also, in the examples shown, many of the components are annularly shaped (e.g., the front piece 1, back piece 3, extension 4, flange 21, and groove 9); however, it should be understood that these components may be any suitable shapes and/or sizes (e.g., square shaped).
As shown in
Located within the central opening 7 of front piece 1 is a locking mechanism 2 for locking a length of flexible material, such as a cord 20 therein. The locking mechanism 2 fits into a circumferential groove 9 in the flange 21 of front piece 1, as shown in the cross-sectional view of
The locking mechanism can be made of a flexible material that has a spring-like qualities. These spring-like qualities allow the locking mechanism 2 to be compressed during placement in the groove 9, and to expand to hold locking mechanism 2 within the groove 9. Alternatively, the front piece can be manufactured around locking mechanism 2. The material comprising the locking mechanism 2 can include copper, a sheet metal alloy, nylon, acetal, or other flexible metal or plastic material.
In one embodiment, as shown in
Although a hourglass-shape 14 of the locking mechanism 2 has been described above, any other shape that allows for a locking position and an unlocking position may be used. For instance, rather than two arms forming a substantially V-shaped configuration as shown, two arms could be curved more to form a substantially U-shaped configuration on either side. Although a unitary piece is shown in this embodiment, the locking mechanism can be formed from a plurality of separate pieces, such as two separate arms, which are joined to front piece 1.
a, 8b, 9a and 9b shown the grommet locking device 10 in use. Cord 20 is received through hole 6, opening 7 and opening 8.
The grommet locking device of the present invention can be used, for example, on a jacket having a hood with a drawstring. In order to tighten the hood around the user's head, the user would pull the cord upwards to the unlocked position, tighten the cord, and then pull the cord downwards to the locked position. In order to loosen the hood, the user would pull the cord upwards to the unlocked position, loosen the cord, and then pull the cord downwards to the locked position. A similar method would be used on a drawstring on a waistband of pants or a jacket, or on pockets of luggage.
Cord 20 can be made of any flexible material, such as cotton, plastic, a woven material, a braided material, or any other textile. Cord 20 can further include an elastic material to allow stretching. Cord 20 is not limited to a round outer dimension, but can have any longitudinal shape, such as flat, rectangular or triangular. Cord 20 can include a plastic or metal tip on the ends thereof to prevent fraying of the ends.
The examples described herein are merely illustrative, as numerous other embodiments may be implemented without departing from the spirit and scope of the exemplary embodiments of the present invention. Moreover, while certain features of the invention may be shown on only certain embodiments or configurations, these features may be exchanged, added, and removed from and between the various embodiments or configurations while remaining within the scope of the invention. Likewise, methods described and disclosed may also be performed in various sequences, with some or all of the disclosed steps being performed in a different order than described while still remaining within the spirit and scope of the present invention.
