Method and apparatus for attaching accessories to load-bearing fabric

• US 7,490,395 B2
• Filed: 01/12/2006
• Issued: 02/17/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 12/02/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Illinois Tool Works Inc.
• Original Assignee: Illinois Tool Works Inc.
• Inventors: Krstov, Tanja, Coffield, Timothy P.
• Primary Examiner(s): Omgba; Essama
• Application Number:
  US11/331,809
• Publication Number:
  US 20060145527A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,132 Days
• Field of Search: 294/32, 294/69, 295/25, 295/250.1, 295/250.2, 295/250.3, 295/250.4, 29/91, 29/910.1, 246/14, 246/15, 246/18, 246/971, 297/218.1, 297/218.5, 297/452.6, 297/452.59, 297/218.3, 383/63, 211/87.01, 211/59.1, 211/85.2, 411/450, 411/457, 411/469
• US Class Current: 29/432
• 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 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, 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, 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, wherein the accessory is a seat bolster with at least one edge stitched to the first strip 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.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein said attaching step includes the step of stitching the item to one of the first strip and the second strip.

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

supporting the load bearing fabric over an opening with a peripheral frame;

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 and attaching the other of the first strip and the second strip to the fabric;

forcing the prong of the first strip through the weave of 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 on opposite sides of the fabric to secure the item to the fabric, 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, 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.

4. The method of claim 3, 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.

5. A method for attaching an item to a load-bearing fabric having interwoven monofilaments, comprising the steps of:

supporting the load-bearing fabric over an opening with a peripheral frame;

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 though 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, 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, 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.