GRIPPING ASSEMBLY FOR SECURING A SHEET OF MATERIAL

• US 20130061433A1
• Filed: 09/13/2011
• Published: 03/14/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 09/13/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Cynthia S. Sublette
• Original Assignee: Cynthia S. Sublette
• Inventors: Sublette, Cynthia S.
• Granted Patent: US 8,621,726 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 24/305
• CPC Class Codes: A47C 21/022 Sheet holders; Bed cover holders
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 24/13 Article holder attachable to apparel or body
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 24/1379 Key ring holder
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 24/1397 Article held by flexible connector [e.g., chain]
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 24/31 Plural fasteners having intermediate flaccid connector
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 24/314 Elastic connector
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 24/318 Strap connector
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 24/34 Combined diverse multipart fasteners
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 24/44034 Dissociable gripping members

Abstract

An apparatus and method of using a gripping assembly for gripping a sheet of material and attaching the sheet of material to an object is provided. The gripping assembly has a continuous ring-like member having an opening defined by an interior tapered engagement surface, a disk-like member positionable within the opening. The disk-like member has an exterior tapered engagement surface which cooperates with the tapered surface of the ring-like member. A sheet of material, threaded between the engagement surfaces is gripped by the surfaces. The disk-like member has an attachment means with at least one passageway there through. A flexible tie member extends through at least one passageway of the attachment means and is for attaching the gripping assembly to an object.

Claims

1. A gripping assembly for gripping a sheet of material and attaching the sheet of material to an object, the gripping assembly comprising:

a continuous ring-like member having an opening there through defined by an interior tapered engagement surface, the ring-like member having a top surface, and a bottom surface;

a disk-like member having an exterior tapered engagement surface, a top surface, and a bottom surface, the disk-like member having an attachment means defining at least one passageway there through, the disk-like member positionable in the opening of the ring-like member, the exterior tapered surface of the disk-like member and the interior tapered surface of the ring-like member cooperating with one another to grip a sheet of material; and

a flexible tie member extending through at least one passageway of the attachment means, the tie member for attaching the gripping assembly to an object.

2. The gripping assembly according to claim 1, wherein at least one of the ring-like member and disk-like member is made of plastic, nylon, rubber, or metal.

3. The gripping assembly according to claim 1, wherein the flexible tie member extends through at least one opening of the disk-like member and is attached to the disk-like member, the flexible tie member having a single free end.

4. The gripping assembly according to claim 1, further comprising a tie lock member.

5. The gripping assembly according to claim 1, wherein said flexible tie member is a cord, strap, string, rope, band, or belt.

6. The gripping assembly according to claim 4, wherein the tie member lock adjustably attaches to the flexible tie member.

7. The gripping assembly according to claim 6, wherein the tie member lock is in sliding engagement with the flexible tie member.

8. The gripping assembly according to claim 4, wherein the flexible tie member has two free ends, the tie member lock engaging each free end of the flexible tie member.

9. The gripping assembly according to claim 4, wherein the tie member lock is a cord lock, spring-loaded lock, clamp, buckle, clasp, locking slide, cam buckle, strap adjuster, snap hook, bolt snap, double ring, or ratchet.

10. The gripping assembly according to claim 1, wherein at least one of the attachment means passageways has one end of terminating at the top surface and one end terminating at the bottom surface of the disk-like member.