US20170119108A1

US20170119108A1 - Two-Piece Tarp Fastener Device

Info

Publication number: US20170119108A1
Application number: US14/927,288
Authority: US
Inventors: Steven Schlick
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2015-10-29
Filing date: 2015-10-29
Publication date: 2017-05-04

Abstract

A two-piece tarp fastener device for fastening tarps together includes a male coupler and a female coupler. The male coupler comprises includes a rod that has a first end and a second end. A knob is coupled to the first end of the rod. A pin is positioned in the rod proximate to the second end. The pin has opposing ends that extend from an outer surface of the rod. The female coupler comprises includes a tube that has a first terminus and a second terminus. The tube is hollow and complimentary to the rod. A button is coupled to the first terminus of the tube. A pair of slots, complimentary to the pin, is opposingly positioned in a wall of the tube. The slots extend from the second terminus to proximate to the first terminus. Each slot has a channel that extends transversely from a respective bottom of the slot.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE DISCLOSURE

Field of the Disclosure
The disclosure relates to fastener devices and more particularly pertains to a new fastener device for fastening tarps together.

SUMMARY OF THE DISCLOSURE

An embodiment of the disclosure meets the needs presented above by generally comprising a male coupler and a female coupler. The male coupler comprises a rod that has a first end and a second end. A knob is coupled to the first end of the rod. A pin is positioned in the rod proximate to the second end. The pin has opposing ends that extend from an outer surface of the rod. The female coupler comprises a tube that has a first terminus and a second terminus. The tube is hollow and complimentary to the rod. A button is coupled to the first terminus of the tube. A pair of slots, complimentary to the pin, is opposingly positioned in a wall of the tube. The slots extend from the second terminus to proximate to the first terminus. Each slot has a channel that extends transversely from a respective bottom of the slot.
There has thus been outlined, rather broadly, the more important features of the disclosure in order that the detailed description thereof that follows may be better understood, and in order that the present contribution to the art may be better appreciated. There are additional features of the disclosure that will be described hereinafter and which will form the subject matter of the claims appended hereto.
The objects of the disclosure, along with the various features of novelty which characterize the disclosure, are pointed out with particularity in the claims annexed to and forming a part of this disclosure.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The disclosure will be better understood and objects other than those set forth above will become apparent when consideration is given to the following detailed description thereof. Such description makes reference to the annexed drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is an isometric perspective view of a two-piece tarp fastener device according to an embodiment of the disclosure.

FIG. 2 is an isometric perspective view of an embodiment of the disclosure.

FIG. 3 is a front view of an embodiment of the disclosure.

FIG. 4 is a detail view of an embodiment of the disclosure.

FIG. 5 is an in-use view of an embodiment of the disclosure.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

With reference now to the drawings, and in particular to FIGS. 1 through 5 thereof, a new fastener device embodying the principles and concepts of an embodiment of the disclosure and generally designated by the reference numeral 10 will be described.
As best illustrated in FIGS. 1 through 5, the two-piece tarp fastener device 10 generally comprises a male coupler 12. The male coupler 12 comprises a rod 14 that has a first end 16 and a second end 18. The rod 14 is solid and circular when viewed longitudinally. A knob 20 is coupled to the first end 16 of the rod 14. The knob 20 comprises a first disc 22 that has a rounded edge 24 and a flat upper surface 26. A pin 28 is positioned in the rod 14 proximate to the second end 18. The pin 28 has opposing ends 30 that extend from an outer surface 31 of the rod 14. The pin 28 is circular when viewed longitudinally.
The device 10 also includes a female coupler 32. The female coupler 32 comprises a tube 34 that has a first terminus 36 and a second terminus 38. The tube 34 is hollow and complimentary to the rod 14. The tube 34 is circular when viewed longitudinally, such that the rod 14 is insertable into the tube 34. The tube 34 is insertable through at least two overlapping eyelets positioned in the user's tarps. A button 40 is coupled to the first terminus 36 of the tube 34. The button 40 comprises a second disc 42 that has a rounded perimeter 44 and a flat top 46. A pair of slots 48, complimentary to the pin 28 is opposingly positioned in a wall 50 of the tube 34. The slots 48 extend from the second terminus 38 to proximate to the first terminus 36. Each the slot 48 has a channel 52 that extends transversely from a respective bottom 54 of the slot 48. The channels 52 extend clockwise, such that the slots 48 are L-shaped and such that the pin 28 is frictionally engagable to the channels 52 upon clockwise rotation of the rod 14 relative to the tube 34.
The first disc 22 and the second disc 42 are substantially similarly shaped and dimensioned.
In use, each of a plurality of female couplers 56 is positionable with the tube 34 inserted into at least two overlapping eyelets of the user's tarps. Each of a plurality of male couplers 58 has a respective rod 14 insertable into a respective tube 34, such that the user can impart a clockwise twisting motion to secure a respective pin 28 into a respective channel 52 to secure two or more tarps together.
With respect to the above description then, it is to be realized that the optimum dimensional relationships for the parts of an embodiment enabled by the disclosure, to include variations in size, materials, shape, form, function and manner of operation, assembly and use, are deemed readily apparent and obvious to one skilled in the art, and all equivalent relationships to those illustrated in the drawings and described in the specification are intended to be encompassed by an embodiment of the disclosure.
Therefore, the foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the disclosure. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the disclosure to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly, all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the disclosure. In this patent document, the word “comprising” is used in its non-limiting sense to mean that items following the word are included, but items not specifically mentioned are not excluded. A reference to an element by the indefinite article “a” does not exclude the possibility that more than one of the element is present, unless the context clearly requires that there be only one of the elements.

Claims

1. A two-piece tarp fastener device comprising:

a male coupler, said male coupler comprising:

a rod having a first end and a second end,

a knob, said knob comprising a first disc, said knob being coupled to said first end of said rod, said knob tapering from said first disc to said first end of said rod, and

a pin, said pin being positioned in said rod proximate to said second end, said pin having opposing ends extending from an outer surface of said rod; and

a female coupler, said female coupler comprising:

a tube, said tube having a first terminus and a second terminus, said tube being hollow and complimentary to said rod,

a button, said button comprising a second disc, said button being coupled to said first terminus of said tube, said button tapering from said second disc to said first terminus of said tube, and

a pair of slots, said slots being complimentary to said pin, said slots being opposing, said slots being positioned in a wall of said tube, said slots extending from said second terminus to proximate to said first terminus, each said slot having a channel extending transversely from a respective bottom of said slot.

2. The device of claim 1, further including said rod being solid.

3. The device of claim 1, further including said rod and said tube being circular when viewed longitudinally.

4. The device of claim 1, further including said pin being circular when viewed longitudinally.

5. The device of claim 1, further including said first disc and said second disc being substantially similarly shaped and dimensioned.

6. The device of claim 1, further including said first disc having a rounded edge.

7. The device of claim 6, further including said knob having a flat upper surface.

8. The device of claim 1, further including said second disc having a rounded perimeter.

9. The device of claim 8, further including said button having a flat top.

10. The device of claim 1, further including said channels extending clockwise, such that said slots are L-shaped and wherein said pins are frictionally engagable to said channels upon clockwise rotation of said rod relative to said tube.

11. A two-piece tarp fastener device comprising:

a male coupler, said male coupler comprising:

a rod having a first end and a second end, said rod being solid, said rod being circular when viewed longitudinally,

a knob, said knob being coupled to said first end of said rod, said knob comprising a first disc, said first disc having a rounded edge and a flat upper surface, said knob tapering from said first disc to said first end of said rod, and

a pin, said pin being positioned in said rod proximate to said second end, said pin having opposing ends extending from an outer surface of said rod, said pin being circular when viewed longitudinally;

a female coupler, said female coupler comprising:

a tube, said tube having a first terminus and a second terminus, said tube being hollow and complimentary to said rod, such that said tube is insertable through at least two overlapping eyelets positioned in the user's tarps, and wherein said rod is insertable into said tube, said tube being circular when viewed longitudinally,

a button, said button being coupled to said first terminus of said tube, said button comprising a second disc, said second disc having a rounded perimeter and a flat top, said button tapering from said second disc to said first terminus of said tube, and

a pair of slots, said slots being complimentary to said pin, said slots being opposing, said slots being positioned in a wall of said tube, said slots extending from said second terminus to proximate to said first terminus, each said slot having a channel extending transversely from a respective bottom of said slot, said channels extending clockwise, such that said slots are L-shaped and wherein said pins are frictionally engagable to said channels upon clockwise rotation of said rod relative to said tube;

said first disc and said second disc being substantially similarly shaped and dimensioned; and

wherein each of a plurality of said female couplers is positionable with said tube inserted into at least two overlapping eyelets of the user's tarps, wherein each of a plurality of male couplers is insertable into a respective said tube, such that the user can impart a clockwise twisting motion to secure a respective said rod into a respective said channel to secure two or more tarps together.