GB2286867A

GB2286867A - Eyelet or plug for fitting to sheet material

Info

Publication number: GB2286867A
Application number: GB9503363A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Peter Joseph Langdon
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1994-02-23
Filing date: 1995-02-21
Publication date: 1995-08-30
Anticipated expiration: 2015-02-21
Also published as: GB9503363D0; FR2738311B3; GB2286867B; FR2738311A1; GB9403410D0

Abstract

The eyelet (or plug) comprises a spigot 2 provided with a series of annular lips 3 and extending from a flange 4, and engageable by an apertured disc 12 formed with a tubular projection 13 and with a step 15 which retainingly engages one of the lips 3. When in use, the end 16 of the projection 13 is struck by a hammer to drive the disc 12 along the spigot 2, so as to accommodate different thicknesses of sheet material 22. The disc 12 and the flange 4 have dimples or recesses to grip the material, and radial extensions for stitching or gluing. A sucker may engage in the spigot 2. The spigot 2 may be blind, for plugging a hole. <IMAGE>

Description

EYELET The present invention relates to an improved eyelet.

A known eyelet, which is itself an improvement on a conventional brass eyelet, comprises a male member having a spigot with an annular lip and a flange extending from the base of the spigot and a female disc-like member having a step around a central aperture. The members are of injection moulded plastics material. In use, the sheet material to which the eyelet is to be attached has a hole made in it through which the spigot is passed. The female member is placed on the end of the spigot and forced towards the male member, whereby the annular lip passes along the aperture in the female member to engage the step and hold the two parts together with the material gripped between the flange and the disc. To allow for differences in the thickness of the material having the eyelet fitted to it, an elastomeric washer is provided between the flange and the disc.Where the material is thick, the washer compresses to allow the lip to reach and engage the step.

This eyelet does suffer from the disadvantage of being limited in the range of sheet material thickness which it can accommodate.

The object of the present invention is to provide an improved eyelet.

According to the invention there is provided an eyelet or plug for fitting to sheet material comprising a male member having a spigot with an annular lip and a flange extending from the base of the spigot and a female member incorporating a disc having a step around a central aperture, the spigot being receivable in use in the female member with the lip engaging the step for holding together the male and female members on opposite sides of the sheet material with the disc and the flange facing each other; characterised in that: the female member has a tubular projection from its one side of its disc opposite from the other side, which in use faces the flange, the projection being of a length to accommodate the length of the spigot when the flange abuts the disc, whereby the projection can be struck with an implement to close the female member onto the male member without the hammer touching the spigot.

Preferably, the spigot has a plurality of lips spaced along it so that each successive lip engaging with the step corresponds to a reduced gap between the flange and the disc.

To provide additional ability for the members to grip the sheet material receiving the eyelet, one or other or both of the opposing sides of the flange and the disc can carry dimples or the like formations which locally penetrate the surface of the material to enhance frictional engagement with it.

Again to provide for improved connection of the eyelet to the sheet material, the flange or the disc can be provided with radial extensions which can be stitched or glued to the material.

To help understanding of the invention, a specific embodiment thereof, with variants, will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 is an exploded perspective view of an eyelet of the invention before connection to sheet material, Figure 2 is a cross-sectional side view of the eyelet of Figure 1 connected together and to sheet material, Figure 3 -is an exploded side view of a modified eyelet incorporating dimples on the flange of the male member for improved gripping of the sheet material, Figure 4 is a plan view of an eyelet having radial extensions stitched to sheet material to which the eyelet is connected and Figure 5 is a side view of a particular use of an eyelet of the invention in combination with a sucker for securing the sheet material via the eyelet to to a support surface.

Referring first to Figures 1 and 2, the eyelet of the invention has a male member 1 of injection moulded plastics material, which has a hollow spigot 2 having a series of annular lips 3, with a saw tooth cross-section oriented to enable the spigot to enter an aperture but tending to restrain its withdrawal. The male member also has a flange 4 extending radially from the foot of the spigot. The eyelet includes a female member 11 also of injection moulded plastics material in the form of a disc 12 with a tubular projection 13 to one side. In the disc and its projection there is an aperture 14 having a step 15 with which successive ones of the lips 3 engage as the spigot 2 passes along the aperture 14.

In use, at a hole 21 in the sheet material 22, the male spigot 2 is passed through the hole 21 and the female disc is assembled to the spigot with the projection facing away from the flange 4. The latter is supported on a reaction surface 23 and the free end 16 of the projection is struck with an implement such as a hammer to drive the spigot as far into the projection as the thickness of the material 22 will allow (usually the material will be folded back to double thickness). The successive lips 3 pass over the step 15 until the eyelet is closed when the lip then at the step remains engaged with it.

An advantage of the eyelet is that it can be fitted to either flexible or rigid material of varying thickness without the need for any tools other than the impact implement or hammer.

Turning now to Figure 3, in the modified eyelet there shown, opposite faces 5,17 of the male flange 4 and the female disc 12 have dimples 6,18 which locally engage in the sheet material (not shown in Figure 3) to which the eyelet is fitted. This local engagement enhances the overall frictional engagement of the eyelet with its sheet material.

Turning on to Figure 4, in this modified eyelet, both the male flange 4 and the female disc 12 have radial extensions 7,19 with stitch holes 8,20, via which thread 24 can be passed to stitch the projections to the sheet material 22. This enhances the connection of the eyelet to the material.

Figure 5 shows the eyelet of Figures 1 & 2 fitted with a sucker 25, with its stem 26 engaged in the hollow of the male spigot, for securing of the sheet material to a surface 27.

The invention is not intended to be restricted to the details of the above described embodiment and its variations. For instance, the tubular projection may be extended in diameter to a conical form which is continuous from the end of the projection 13 to the disc 12, as shown by chain dotted line 30 in Figure 5. In this structure the projection and the disc are not distinct items. The dimples of the Figure 3 embodiment may be replaced by recesses or other contouring to enhance frictional engagement with the sheet material.

In use, the eyelet may be used with flexible sheet material in place of a conventional eyelet or indeed in rigid material in place of a conventional grommet. Further, the spigot may be blind, in which case the eyelet becomes a plug useful for plugging a hole in sheet material.

Claims

CLAIMS:

1. An eyelet or plug for fitting to sheet material comprising a male member having a spigot with an annular lip and a flange extending from the base of the spigot and a female member incorporating a disc having a step around a central aperture, the spigot being receivable in use in the female member with the lip engaging the step for holding together the male and female members on opposite sides of the sheet material with the disc and the flange facing each other; characterised in that: the female member has a tubular projection from its one side of its disc opposite from the other side, which in use faces the flange, the projection being of a length to accommodate the length of the spigot when the flange abuts the disc, whereby the projection can be struck with an implement to close the female member onto the male member without the hammer touching the spigot.

2. An eyelet or plug as claimed in claim 1, wherein the spigot has a plurality of lips spaced along it so that each successive lip engaging with the step corresponds to a reduced gap between the flange and the disc.

3. An eyelet or plug as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2, wherein one or other or both of the facing sides of the flange and the disc carry contoured formations which locally penetrate the surface of material to which the eyelet is fitted with the material between the flange and disc to enhance its frictional engagement with them.

4. An eyelet or plug as claimed in claim 1, claim 2 or claim 3, wherein the flange and/or the disc are provided with radial extensions which can be stitched or glued to material to which the eyelet is fitted.

5. An eyelet as claimed in any preceding claim in combination with a sucker having a stem engaged in the hollow of the male spigot, the arrangement being such that the sheet material can be be secured to a surface via the sucker.

6. An eyelet substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to Figures 1 and 2 of the accompanying drawings or as varied in Figures 3 or 4 or 5.