Method and apparatus for attaching accessories to load-bearing fabric

• US 20040104615A1
• Filed: 12/02/2002
• Published: 06/03/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 12/02/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Dahti, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Dahti, Inc.
• Inventors: Coffield, Timothy P., Krstov, Tanja
• Granted Patent: US 7,021,718 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 297/452.59
• CPC Class Codes: A47C 31/026 passing through the upholstery, e.g. upholstery nails or buttons
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/481 Method
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49833 Punching, piercing or reaming part by surface of second part
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49904 Assembling a subassembly, then assembling with a second subassembly
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49947 by applying separate fastener
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49948 Multipart cooperating fastener [e.g., bolt and nut]
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/4995 Nonthreaded
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49952 At least one part is nonmetallic

Abstract

An apparatus for attaching an item to load-bearing fabric including male and female strips that snap together on opposite sides of the fabric. The male strip is attached to the item to be secured to the fabric, and includes male prongs that are pushed through the weave of the load-bearing fabric. The female strip preferably defines a series of receptacles that snap onto the male strip. The male and female strips are elongated strips formed from a molded thermoplastic or other formable material. In a preferred embodiment, the male prongs include barbs and the receptacles include angled fingers that act as a snap, such that the barbs of the male prongs can easily be pressed through the fingers, but are retained once in place.

Claims

1. - A device for attaching an accessory to a load-bearing fabric, comprising:

a load-bearing fabric having a first side and an opposed second side;

a first strip including at least one prong, said first strip disposed on said first side of said fabric, said prong extending through said fabric and protruding beyond said second side;

a second strip including at least one receptacle, said second strip disposed on said second side of said fabric, said prong being securely retained within said receptacle; and

an accessory attached to at least one of said first strip and said second strip.

2. - The attachment device of claim 1, wherein the fabric is a load-bearing fabric having elastomeric monofilaments extending in at least one direction.

3. - The attachment device of claim 2, wherein said prong includes a stem and a barb near the end of said stem, said barb forming a ridge on said prong and tapering to a point.

4. - The attachment device of claim 3, wherein said receptacle defines an opening in said second strip, said receptacle including angled snap fingers that contact said ridge of said barbs to retain said prong.

5. - The attachment device of claim 4, wherein the load-bearing fabric is supported over an opening by a peripheral frame.

6. - The device of claim 5, wherein at least one of said first strip and said second strip is slitted to provide improved flexibility.

7. - The device of claim 6, wherein said accessory is a seat bolster.

8. - A two-piece attachment device, comprising:

first and second elongated strips;

a woven fabric;

an accessory conventionally attached to one of said elongated strips; and

means for connecting said first and second strips together while entrapping said fabric.

9. - The attachment device of claim 8, wherein said connecting means includes at least one prongs on said first strip and at least one opposing prong receptacle on said second strip, such that said prong may be pushed through said woven fabric and into said receptacle.

10. - The attachment device of claim 9, wherein said prong on said first strip includes a stem and a barb a the end of said stem, said barb tapering to a point.

11. - The device of claim 10, wherein said receptacle defines an opening on said second strip, such that said prong may be pushed into said receptacle, said receptacle retaining said prong.

12. - The device of claim 11, wherein said receptacle includes flexible angled fingers, such that said barbs can be pushed through said fingers, said fingers flexing to receive said tapered point of said barbs, said fingers then flexing back to rest under said ridge of said barbs to retain said prong.

13. - The device of claim 8 or claim 12, wherein said woven fabric is a load-bearing fabric supported over an area by a peripheral frame, said fabric provided with elastomeric monofilaments that add a degree of elasticity to said fabric.

14. - The device of claim 13, wherein said accessory is a seat bolster that provides cushioned support, said bolster conventionally attached to one of said strips.

15. - The device of claim 14, wherein said bolster has first and second edges, such that said first edge is conventionally attached to said first strip and said second edge is conventionally attached to said second strip, said bolster wrapping around said peripheral frame such that when said barbs are pushed through said fingers the bolster is held tight against said fabric and said frame.

16. - The device of claim 14, wherein said bolster is attached to one of said strips, and wherein the other of said strips is attached to said load-bearing fabric.

17. - The device of claim 16, wherein one of said first strip and said second strip is molded in place on said load-bearing fabric and the other of said first strip and said second strip is attached to said bolster.

18. - A method for attaching an item to a load-bearing fabric, comprising the steps of:

providing a first strip having at least one prong;

providing a second strip having at least one receptacle;

attaching a desired item to at least one of the first strip and the second strip;

forcing the prong of the first strip through a load-bearing fabric; and

snapping the second strip onto the prong of the first strip, such that the prong is retained by the receptacle to interlock the first strip and the second strip on opposite sides of the fabric to secure the item to the fabric.

19. - The method of claim 18, wherein the prong includes a stem and a barb at the end of said stem, the barb forming a ridge and tapering to a point.

20. - The method of claim 19, wherein the receptacle includes angled fingers for snapping to the prong by flexing to receive the tapered barb of the prong and then snapping back to fit under the ridge on the prong.

21. - The method of claim 20, wherein the load-bearing fabric includes elastomeric monofilaments extending in at least one direction.

22. - The method of claim 21, wherein the fabric is supported over an area by a peripheral frame.

23. - The method of claim 22, wherein the accessory is a seat bolster with at least one edge stitched to the first strip.

24. - The method of claim 23, further comprising the step of forming spaced slits in at least one of the first strip and the second strip to provide the strip with improved flexibility.

25. - The method of claim 24, wherein said attaching step includes the step of stitching the item to at least one of the first strip and the second strip.

26. - The method of claim 18, wherein the first strip is a male strip, the male strip including a plurality of prongs.

27. - The method of claim 26, wherein the second strip is a female strip, the female strip defining a plurality of receptacles.

28. - The method of claim 18, further comprising the steps of attaching one of the first strip and the second strip to the fabric and attaching the other of the first strip and the second strip to the item.

29. - The method of claim 28, wherein said step of attaching one of the first strip and the second strip includes the step of molding one of the first strip and the second strip in place on the fabric.

30. - The method of claim 29, wherein said step of molding one of the first strip and the second strip in place on the fabric includes the step of molding the second strip in place on the fabric.

31. - A method for attaching an item to a load-bearing fabric, comprising the steps of:

providing a first strip having at least one prong;

providing a second strip having at least one receptacle;

attaching one of the first strip and the second strip to an item;

attaching the other of the first strip and the second strip to the load-bearing fabric; and

snapping the second strip onto the prong of the first strip, such that the prong is retained by the receptacle to interlock the first strip and the second strip to secure the item to the fabric.

32. - The method of claim 31 wherein said step of attaching the other of the first strip and the second strip to the load-bearing fabric is further defined as molding the other of the first strip and the second strip in place on the load-bearing fabric.

33. - An attachment device for securing an accessory to a load-bearing fabric, comprising:

a load-bearing fabric;

a first strip attached directly to said load-bearing fabric;

an accessory;

a second strip attached to said accessory; and

means for connecting said first and second strips together to secure said accessory to said fabric.

34. - The attachment device of claim 33, wherein said first strip is directly molded to said load-bearing fabric, said strip encapsulating a portion of said load-bearing fabric.

35. - The attachment device of claim 33, wherein said connecting means includes at least one prong extending from one of said first strip and said second strip and at least one receptacle defined by the other of said first strip and said second strip.

36. - The attachment device of claim 35, wherein said connecting means includes at least one prong on said second strip and at least one opposing prong receptacle on said first strip.