ACCESSORY FASTENING DEVICES AND METHODS

• US 20160058168A1
• Filed: 08/29/2014
• Published: 03/03/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 08/29/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Chums Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Chums Incorporated
• Inventors: Reed, Scott McMurrin
• Granted Patent: US 9,949,558 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A45F 5/02 Fastening articles to the garment
• CPC Class Codes: A45F 5/021 to the belt
• CPC Class Codes: A45F 5/06 Holding hats or other garments
• CPC Class Codes: F16B 2/185 using levers
• CPC Class Codes: F16B 2/22 of resilient material, e.g. rubbery material F16B2/205 takes precedence

Abstract

An accessory fastening device can include a first clamping member having a first clamping surface, a second clamping member having a second clamping surface that faces the first clamping surface, and a locking arm that is rotatable between an unlocked state and a locked state. Rotation of the locking arm to transition the locking arm from the unlocked state to the locked state causes the second clamping surface of the second clamping member to advance toward the first clamping surface of the first clamping member.

Claims

1. An accessory fastening device comprising:

a first clamping member comprising a first clamping surface;

a second clamping member comprising a second clamping surface that faces the first clamping surface; and

a locking arm that is rotatable between an unlocked state and a locked state, wherein;

rotation of the locking arm to transition the locking arm from the unlocked state to the locked state causes the second clamping surface of the second clamping member to advance toward the first clamping surface of the first clamping member;

when the locking arm is in at least one position that is within the unlocked state, the second clamping surface of the second clamping member is spaced from the first clamping surface of the first clamping member to define a gap into which an accessory can be received; and

when the locking arm is in the locked state, the second clamping member is retained at a position in which the second clamping surface is in close proximity to the first clamping surface such that the first and second clamping surfaces can cooperate to hold an accessory between the first and second clamping surfaces.

2. The device of claim 1, wherein the device defines a rotational axis about which locking arm is configured to rotate, wherein the rotational axis is fixed relative to the first clamping member.

3. The device of claim 2, further comprising a pivot members coupled with the locking arm, wherein the rotational axis extends through the pivot member.

5. The device of claim 1, further comprising a support structure attached to the first clamping member, the support structure being coupled with the locking arm to permit the locking arm to rotate relative thereto.

6. The device of claim 5, wherein the first clamping member, the support structure, and the locking arm define a channel through which the second clamping member extends.

7. The device of claim 5, wherein the second clamping member is movable relative to the support structure.

8. The device of claim 7, wherein the second clamping member comprises an inner face and an outer face, wherein the inner face comprises the second clamping surface, and wherein the outer face interacts with a cam portion of the locking arm when the locking arm is rotated.

10. The device of claim 1, wherein a bias naturally urges the first clamping member and the second clamping member away from each other to a position in which the second clamping surface is spaced from the first clamping surface, and wherein rotation of the locking arm to transition the locking arm from the unlocked state to the locked state urges the second clamping surface toward the first clamping surface against the bias.

11. The device of claim 10, wherein, when the locking arm is transitioned from the locked state to the unlocked state, the bias imparts rotational energy to the locking arm.

12. The device of claim 1, wherein the locking arm comprises a bistable configuration in which, when the locking arm is in either the locked state or at least one position in the unlocked state, forces acting on the locking arm are in equilibrium such that the locking arm does not rotate relative to the first clamping member.

13. The device of claim 1, wherein, when in the unlocked state, the locking arm passes through a range of rotational angles that define an idle zone and a range of rotational angles that define a work zone, wherein, when the locking arm passes through the idle zone, the locking arm is spaced from the second clamping member so as to not contact the second clamping member, and wherein, when the locking arm passes through the work zone, a portion of the locking arm contacts the second clamping member so as to urge the second clamping member toward the first clamping member.

14. The device of claim 13, wherein the portion of the locking arm that contacts the second clamping member when the locking arm is in the work zone comprises a cam configuration.

15. The device of claim 1, further comprising a clip member.

16. The device of claim 15, wherein the first clamping member comprises a first face and a second face that are directed in opposite directions, wherein the first face comprises the first clamping surface, and wherein the second face is directed toward the clip member.

18. The device of claim 15, wherein the first clamping member and the second clamping member are coupled to each other at a first end of the device, wherein the second clamping member is biased away from the first clamping member such that the second clamping surface is spaced from the first clamping surface at a second end of the device that is opposite from the first end of the device when the locking arm is in the unlocked state, and

wherein the first clamping member and the clip member are coupled to each other at the first end of the device, and wherein the clip member is biased toward the first clamping member.

19. The device of claim 1, wherein the first clamping member comprises a first face and a second face that are directed in opposite directions, wherein the first face comprises the first clamping surface, and wherein the second face defines at least a portion of a channel into which an article of clothing may be received to secure the device to the article of clothing.

20. The device of claim 1, wherein the locking arm comprises a transverse protrusion that extends outwardly beyond a side edge of the second clamping member when the locking arm is in each of the unlocked and locked states.

22. The device of claim 1, wherein at least a portion of the first and second clamping surfaces touch each other when no accessory is positioned between the first and second clamping surfaces and the locking arm is in the locked state.

24. The device of claim 1, wherein the first and second clamping surfaces are at a first end of the device, the device further comprising an opening that extends through a second end of the device through which a fastener can be advanced for coupling the device to clothing or a body of a user.

4. (canceled)

9. (canceled)

17. (canceled)

21. (canceled)

23. (canceled)

25. An accessory fastening device comprising:

a first clamping member comprising a first clamping surface;

a second clamping member comprising a second clamping surface that is configured to cooperate with the first clamping surface to hold an accessory when the device is in a locked state, wherein the first and second clamping members are coupled to each other such that the second clamping member is biased away from the first clamping member; and

a rotatable locking arm coupled with the first clamping member, wherein rotation of the locking arm to transition the device from an unlocked state to a locked state effects movement of the second clamping member toward the first clamping member.

26-32. -32. (canceled)

33. An accessory fastening device comprising:

a first clamping member comprising a first clamping surface;

a second clamping member comprising a second clamping surface; and

a locking arm coupled with the first clamping member that is rotatable between an unlocked state and a locked state, wherein;

when the locking arm is in at least one position that is within the unlocked state, the second clamping surface of the second clamping member is spaced from the first clamping surface of the first clamping member;

when the locking arm is in the locked state, the second clamping member is retained at a position in which the second clamping surface is in close proximity to the first clamping surface such that the first and second clamping surfaces can cooperate to hold an accessory between the first and second clamping surfaces; and

when in the unlocked state, the locking arm passes through a range of rotational angles that define an idle zone and a range of rotational angles that define a work zone,

wherein, when the locking arm passes through the idle zone, the locking arm is spaced from the second clamping member so as to not contact the second clamping member, and

wherein, when the locking arm passes through the work zone, a portion of the locking arm contacts the second clamping member so as to urge the second clamping member toward the first clamping member.

34-37. -37. (canceled)