Patent Application
20080184538
1. Field of the Invention
It is well known to sew fabric together. This invention provides an alternative to sewing. This anchor also permits attachment of a hard object to a fabric which is especially useful in securely mounting various objects to web structures of web gear or to the fabrics of apparel such as hunting jackets. Though useful in the hunting field, allowing the mounting of accessories needed by a hunter in the field, this invention may also be useful to the military. There are many other uses that may be considered in many other fields of endeavor that require attachment of one element to another, especially when one or both elements comprise fabric.
2. Prior Art of Interest
U.S. Pat. No. 6,347,435 to Davignon et al. for Rivet Tie discloses a plastic fastener with catches on one side.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,617,702 to Diederich, Jr. for Tie Mount discloses a plastic fastener with catches in a channel on one side.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,704,972 to Pyle for Fastener Assembly discloses mirror elements with barbs that are combined together to function as a fastener.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,508,355 to Au et al. for Jewelry Box With Security Locker discloses a jewelry box with an elongated plastic lock with catch and multiple teeth.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,578,240 to Fortenberry for Paper Binder Fastener has radially oriented catches 42 engaging circular teeth 60.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,490,309 to Velasquez et al. for Fastener Assembly discloses a fastener for fabric without sewing.
U.S. Pat. No. 974,059 to Haynes has a rounded post with edge grippers.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,653,197 to Massaro has rectangular posts with side teeth 82.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,643,296 to Kahn for 2 Part Snap Fastener has a squared shank 10.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,119,306 to Antonucci et al. for Automatic Deck Lid Bumper has a rounded shank 24 with circumferential ribs 28.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,776,739 to Hamman for Plastic Drive Fastener has transverse fins 28 on the shank and is a one-piece member to be inserted in apertures in members to be attached.
What appears to be lacking in the art is a zip tie member that is rigid enough to be pushed through a tiny aperture in fabric in order to attach another member to it. This would allow attachment of other fabrics or other rigid members.
The zip tie anchor, hereafter referred as the anchor, has a head and integral to that head is an essentially rigid spike with a pointed end. The spike has multiple splines and a pointed end. The pointed end enables the anchor to be pushed through fabric so that the head is firmly seated against one side of the fabric and the spike is penetrated through. Each of the splines is provided with at least one row of teeth. Each tooth has an inclined face and another face essentially perpendicular to the spline so that the teeth of each row provide a series of steps.
As there are a number of rows of teeth, they are meant to be engaged by the clasp for the device. The clasp has a channel for each of the splines and each channel has a burr to engage the corresponding row of teeth.
The anchor is intended to be used by pushing the spike through a cloth or aperture in a cloth or web gear fabric then through another fabric to be secured, then the clasp is run downward toward the head and pushed firmly together so that the burrs of the clasp engage a set of teeth and prevent separation of the two items joined. Though the preferred material of construction is plastic, the mating faces of the burrs and teeth prevent inadvertent removal. If removal is desired sufficient force to overpower the teeth/burr interface usually deforms the burr to such an extent that the clasp is unable to function reliably. At the very least, a new clasp would be essential for reliable attachment.
It has been stated that the zip tie anchor is intended to be used for fabric, but it should be clear that this anchor/clasp duo can be used to attach elements with apertures in other fields.
The zip tie anchor has a spike body 1 depending from a head 2. Due to the cruciform shape of the spike, the head and spike are essentially rigid. What flexibility there is provided by the material of construction. Though this material is usually plastic of various types such as polyethylene or polypropylene or PVC or others, this anchor could be produced from varied metals.
The spike 1 is provided with at least three splines 3, 4, 5, a fourth spline 6 is not seen in
The head 2 is shown as round but may be square or rectangular. It is also shown as to have fabric engaging nodules 8 which have a dual purpose. The nodules are to function to prevent undue fraying in the fabric that has been penetrated by the spike and also to help hold the anchor in one position relative to the fabric.
The spike is intended to be engaged by the clasp 10 where the clasp is provided with a plurality of channels 11, 12, 13, 14, one channel for each spline. Each channel has at least one tapered and rigid burr 15 oriented in toward the center of the channel to engage the teeth of the mating row on the mating spline, when placed onto the spike. In the depicted embodiment each channel has two opposed burrs to engage the dual rows of teeth on each of the splines. The burrs are intended to only engage one tooth of the row of teeth as the clasp is firmly seated against the members placed against the head of the anchor. However each tooth is brought into contact with the burr as the clasp is pushed into place. The clasp is also provided with fabric engaging nodules 8 on the face toward the head 2 but these are not shown as they are identical to those shown on the head.
The anchor depicted and discussed comprises a 4 spline spike with a count of eight rows of teeth with clasp of four channels, each channel with opposing burrs. It is well within the concept of the invention to have a spike with three splines or five splines, or more. It is also within the concept of the invention to have only one row of teeth upon each of the splines and for the appropriate clasp to have only those burrs needed for engagement with the rows of teeth comprising that specific spike.
