Method and apparatus for attaching accessories to load-bearing fabric

• US 20060145527A1
• Filed: 01/12/2006
• Published: 07/06/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 12/02/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Illinois Tool Works Inc.
• Original Assignee: Illinois Tool Works Inc.
• Inventors: Coffield, Timothy P., Krstov, Tanja
• Granted Patent: US 7,490,395 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 297/452.590
• 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

1-17. -17. (canceled)

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 the weave of 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 having interwoven monofilaments, 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 by forcing the prong through the interstices between adjacent interwoven strands of the fabric, 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.

33-38. -38. (canceled)

39. - A method for attaching an accessory to a load-bearing fabric, the load bearing fabric having interwoven monofilament strands and multifilament yarns, the method comprising:

providing a first strip having at least one prong;

providing a second strip having at least one receptacle;

attaching an accessory to one of the first and second strips;

forcing the prong through the interstices between the interwoven monofilaments and multifilament yarns of the load bearing fabric and into the receptacle to retain the prong in the receptacle and secure the accessory to the load bearing fabric.

40. - The method of claim 39 wherein the step of providing a first strip having at least one prong includes providing at least two prongs with an interval therebetween, the method further including selecting the interval between the at least two prongs such that the prongs align with spaces between intersecting strands of the load bearing fabric.

41. - The method of claim 39 wherein the step of providing a second strip includes providing at least two receptacles on the second strip with an interval therebetween, and the step of providing a first strip includes providing at least two prongs on the first strip, the method including selecting the spacing of the interval between the at least two receptacles such that they align with at least two prongs provided on the first strip.

42. - The method of claim 39 including providing angled fingers on the receptacle, and further including forcing at least a portion of the prong through the angled fingers on the receptacle, such that the prong is retained after the portion of the prong is forced through the fingers.

43. - The method of claim 39 including supporting the load bearing fabric on a frame over an opening such that the load bearing fabric forms the load bearing portion of a seat bottom.