Locking element for a drawing-in rod for the profile-forming connection between upholstery covering materials for upholstery furniture and similar upholstered parts

• US 6,048,025 A
• Filed: 11/17/1998
• Issued: 04/11/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 03/14/1998
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Thomas Tillner
• Original Assignee: Thomas Tillner
• Inventors: Tillner, Thomas
• Primary Examiner(s): Cuomo, Peter M.
• Assistant Examiner(s): WHITE, RODNEY BARNETT
• Application Number:
  US09/193,532
• Time in Patent Office: 511 Days
• Field of Search: 297/218.1, 297/218.2, 297/218.3, 297/218.5, 297/452.58, 297/452.59, 297/452.6, 24/601.2, 24/265 H, 5/402, 5/403, 5/404, 5/406
• US Class Current: 297/218.1
• CPC Class Codes: A47C 31/023 connecting upholstery to frames, e.g. by hooks, clips, snap fasteners, clamping means or the like
• CPC Class Codes: A47C 31/026 passing through the upholstery, e.g. upholstery nails or buttons
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 24/45419 Gate and hook formed from plastic

Abstract

A locking device for upholstery is connected between an elongate holding element and an elongate drawing-in element which is connected to a sewing-on flag. The sewing-on flag in turn is connected to upholstery covering material. The locking device includes a one-piece structure having wall parts enclosing two consecutive hollow spaces, one of the hollow spaces receiving the drawing-in element, the other of the hollow spaces receiving the holding element. The wall part enclosing the one hollow space has an insertion slot for inserting the drawing-in element such that the wall part enclosing the one hollow space locks the drawing-in element in the one hollow space.

Claims

1. An upholstery device for connecting a holding element and a drawing-in element comprising, a one-piece structure having first wall parts enclosing a first hollow space for receiving the drawing-in element and for locking the drawing-in element in said one hollow space, said first wall parts having an insertion slot for inserting the drawing-in element into said first hollow space, said one-piece structure including first and second wall regions which define said insertion slot, said first and second wall regions being flexible to enable expanding of the insertion slot for inserting the drawing-in element through said insertion slot into said first hollow space, said insertion slot having outer end portions, said first and second wall regions diverging from one another as said outer end portions are approached, said one-piece structure including a main part, said outer end portions of said insertion slot forming protrusions protruding from said main part, said one-piece structure having second wall parts enclosing a second hollow space for receiving the holding element.

2. An upholstery device for connecting a holding element and a drawing-in element comprising, a one-piece structure having first wall parts enclosing a first hollow space for receiving the drawing-in element and for locking the drawing-in element in said one hollow space, said first wall parts having an insertion slot for inserting the drawing-in element into said first hollow space, said one-piece structure including first and second wall regions which define said insertion slot, said first and second wall regions being flexible to enable expanding of the insertion slot for inserting the drawing-in element through said insertion slot into said first hollow space, said insertion slot having outer end portions, said first and second wall regions diverging from one another as said outer end portions are approached, said one-piece structure having second wall parts enclosing a second hollow space for receiving the holding element, said one-piece structure having third and fourth wall regions surrounding said second hollow space, said third and fourth wall regions having opposed sections juxtaposed to one another, said opposed sections being flexible to enable movement of said opposed sections relative to one another to thereby provide a gap between said opposed sections for enabling access of the holding element to said second hollow space, said one-piece structure having a projecting leg extending from one of said opposed sections, said projecting leg being adapted to be grasped to facilitate flexing of said one opposed section to form said gap.

3. A locking device according to claim 2 wherein said one-piece structure has a central plane passing generally centrally through said two consecutive hollow spaces, said projecting leg and said insertion slot being disposed on one side of said central plane.

4. A locking device according to claim 3 wherein said projecting leg extends away from said insertion slot.

5. A locking device according to claim 2 wherein said one-piece structure has a central plane passing generally centrally through said two consecutive hollow spaces, said projecting leg and said insertion slot being disposed on opposite sides of said central plane.

6. A locking device according to claim, 5 wherein said projecting leg extends away from said central plane.