US2495870A

US2495870A - Trim attaching device

Info

Publication number: US2495870A
Application number: US562201A
Authority: US
Inventors: George J Soukup
Original assignee: Lockheed Aircraft Corp
Current assignee: Lockheed Corp
Priority date: 1944-11-06
Filing date: 1944-11-06
Publication date: 1950-01-31
Anticipated expiration: 1967-01-31

Description

Jan. 31, 1950 G` J. soUKUP 2,495,870

TRIM ATTACHING DEVICE Filed N0v. 6, 1944 INVENTOR.

GEORGE J. SOUKUP AGENT Patented Jan. 31, 195o TRIM ATTACHING DEVICE George J. Soukup, Burbank, Calif., assignor to Lockheed Aircraft Corporation, Burbank, Calif.

Application November 6, 1944, Serial No. 562,201

12 Claims. (Cl. 189-88) This invention relates to means for attaching fabric trim, leather, imitation leather, etc., in structures such as aircraft, automotive vehicles, furniture, buildings, and the like. It is a general object of the invention to provide simple, practical and effective trim attaching means which facilitates the securing or attaching of fabric, leather and similar materials.

Heretofore it has been the general practice to sew the' sections of fabric or other trim material together and then tack the material to the supporting structure. These sewing and tacking operations are time consuming and can only be properly performed by experienced workmen. When it becomes desirable to repair a worn, soiled or torn portion of the trim material, it has been necessary to remove the entire fabric trim. -Be cause the material had been secured by tacks, the fabric is seldom suitable for re-use, and in most instances, must bediscarded, with the result that the entire structure must be retrimmed with new material.

Another object of the invention is to provide a device o1' means for attaching fabric trim, and the like, that permits the rapid installation of the trim material by inexperienced workmen. The device of the invention is such that no sewing or tasking is required, and the fabric may be correctly tensioned in both directions and speedily secured in place under the desired tension without special skill or care.

Another object of the invention is to provide a trim attaching means in which the fabric or trim material may be installed either in panels or in a continuous unbroken section, and when occasion arises, may be removed in panels to facilitate the repair or replacement of worn, torn or soiled portions. The attaching means makes it possbleto install the material in panels of suitable selected width and length. and in the` event a portion of the material requires repair or replacement, that portion may be readily removed and, if necessary, replaced without the need of completely retrimming the structure as has been the practice in the past.

Another object of the invention is to provide a trim attaching device that is simple and inexpensive to manufacture. Each unit of the invention embodies only two readily constructed inexpensive parts; namely, an attaching strip and a cap strip or moulding.

A further object of the invention is to provide a trim attaching means of the character referred to in which the attaching strip is formed with 2 of retaining the fabric or trim material and of removably securing the moulding strip, which in turn, conceals the lugs and the splices in the material and assists in preventing displacement of the material.

Other objects and features of the invention will be readily understood from the following detailed description of a typical preferred form of the invention wherein reference will be made to the accompanying drawing in which:

which the strip may be equipped with flanges;

Figure 5 is a fragmentary .perspective view lllustrating the manner in which several attaching means of the invention may be employed to secure trim material to a structure, and showing one moulding strip partially removed; and,

Figure 6 is a view similar to Figure 1 illustrating a splice in the material at the attaching means.

The attaching means of the invention has many applications and is capable of substantial modification to adapt it for given uses, and for the mounting or attaching of specific materials. In the drawingf'I have illustrated a form of the invention suitable for attaching fabric, or the like, 'te the interiors of buildings, land vehicles, aircraft cabins, etc. It is to be understood that the invention is not to be construed as limited to this' particular form, but is to be considered as including any features or modications that may fall within the scope of the claims.

simple tabs or lugs which serve the dual function 55 The attaching device or means of the invention comprises, generally, attaching strip l0 and a cap strip or moulding Il. The attaching strip I0 is an elongate member that is preferably, though not necessarily, constructed of sheet metal of suitable gauge. Where weight is a factor, the strip I0 may be formed of aluminum of aluminum alloy sheet stock. The attaching strip l0 is preferably flexible so that it may be made to conform to curved or contoured supporting structures. lThus in Figure 5 of the drawing, the spaced attaching strip l0 is secured to the members I2 of a curved or contoured supporting structure. In practice the strip Il may be sufiiciently flexible to be curved and flexed in various directions to conform to its support. The attaching strip I may be of uniform width and is readily cut to any required length. It is a feature that the strip It may be readily secured to the supporting structure by nails, screws I3, or the like. The attaching elements or screws I3 may be engaged in the openings I8, as in Figure 2. ,Other openings 30. spaced between the openings I6 may be provided to receive the screws or other attaching means. The strip I0 presents a smooth rear surface for bearing on the support members I2 and a plain regular surface for receiving the trim material M.

In most installations, it will be desirable to employ two or more spaced attaching means, and the attaching means may extend along the several borders of the trim material M as well as across the space to be covered by the material. Figure illustrates the manner in which a plurality of spaced parallel attaching means of the invention are used in securing the trim material M across an area. of substantial extent. In such r a situation the attaching strips I0 are nailed or otherwise secured to the supporting structure I2 along spaced parallel lines. As indicated by the broken lines of Figure 4 of the drawing, the attaching strip I0 may be constructed with a longitudinal iiange I4 extending along one of its edges to facilitate the installation of the strip in a corner portion of the supporting structure. The flange I4 may extend either from the forward face or the rear face of the strip, and may be disposed at any required angle. The left hand portion of Figure 5 illustrates the manner in which an attaching strip Ill provided with an edge flange I4 may be installed in a corner of the structure.

The attaching strip I0 is provided with a multiplicity of tabs or lugs I5- of special construction for securing the material M and for removably retaining the moulding strip Il. In accordance with the invention, the lugs I5 are integral with the strip I0. The strip I0 may be pierced and stamped to have its integral projecting lugs I5. As best illustrated in Figure 2 of the drawing, spaced openings I6 are formed in the strip I0 and the metal within the openings I6 is bent outwardly to form the lugs I5. The openings I 6 are generally T-shaped and the strip I 0 is preferably provided with relatively small openings I1 at the ends of the arms of the openings IB to prevent the material of the strip from cracking during the stamping operation. 'Ihe lugs I5 preferably project at right angles to the forward surface of the strip I0 and are preferably uniformly spaced throughout the length of the strip. The several lugs I5 all project from the same side of the strip I0, leaving the opposite side of the strip plain for ready attachment to the supporting structure.

The several lugs I5 are preferably all of the same configuration and proportions, and are shaped to dependably retain both the material M and the moulding strip .I I. In accordance with the invention the lugs I5 are substantially T- shaped having broadened outer ends or heads presenting inwardly or downwardly facing shoulders 26 at the opposite edges of the lugs. The outer edges of the Tshaped lugs I5 may be rounded to some extent, and while the shouders 26 are qute abrupt they nevertheless are roinded. The roots of the T-shaped lugs I5 curve so as to gradually merge into the strip III adjacent the openings I1. 'nie row of lugs Il is preferably spaced between the longitudinal edges of the strip Il to leave ample material at opposite sides of the openings If.

The material M is handled and arranged so as to have the desired tautness in both directions and so as to conform to the supporting structure and the attaching strips I0. When a. portion of the material M has been properly positioned and tensioned. it is engaged on the lugs I5 of an attaching strip Ill, for example, on a portion o! the strip at one end or corner of the space to be covered. In the case of some materials. it may be possible to merely press or force the material against the lugs I5 to cause the lugs to cut their own openings in the material. In most instances a suitable cutting instrument is employed to cut openings or slits 21 at proper points in the material M to receive the lugs I5. The openings or slits 21 thus formed need be only of sumcient length to receive the lugs when the material is forcibly pressed over the lugs and it is undesirable to make the slits of excessive length. When the material M has been engaged over the lugs I5. it rests on or engages the= face of the attaching strip I'II and the supporting structure. The tensioned fabric or material M, when engaged on the lugs I5, has little or no tendency to become disengaged. It will be apparent how the material M may be engaged on the multiplicities of lugs I5 on the several spaced strips I0 to be secured to the supporting structure.

The strips I0 may be located or the sections of the material M may be dimensioned so as to have edge portions of the material occur at the strips I0. In other words, the material M may be cut in sections or panels and the panels may be anchored along their several edges and at other points, by the lugs I5 of the strips IB. This will often effect a substantial savings in the cutting of the material. Splices will occur where the adjoining edge portions of the two sections or panels of the material are both engaged on the lugs I5 of a single strip I0. Thus in Figure 6 the edge por- I tions of two sections of the material M are engaged on the lugs I5 of a strip I0 and the edge parts of the sections are in overlapping relation at the strip.

The configuration of the T lugs I5 and the en gagement of the moulding strips II on the lugs assure dependable uniform retention of the material. In some installations, however, additional means may be employed to retain the material. In the drawings I have shown flexible elements Il in the form of wires, strings or cords extending across the face of the material M and engaged under the shoulders 26 of the attaching lugs I5. Each flexible element I 8 is laced so as to pass from the right edge of one lug to the left edge of the second lug, thence to the right edge of the third lug, and so on, and the two cords or elements are engaged with the opposite edges of given lugs I5 so as to cross one another between the pairs of adjacent lugs. This is clearly illustrated in Figure 2. The crossed' tensioned cords I9 assist in holding the material M in full engagement with the attaching strips I0 and supporting structure. The use of the cords or elements I9 is optional and will depend upon the character of the installation and material M. In situations where the appearance of the exposed lugs I5 is not objectionable the cords IS may be employed to assure continued retention of the material on the lugs in the event the moulding strip II is omitted.

The moulding strips I I serve to assist in retaining the material M on the lugs I5, conceal the lugs I5 and the edges of the material and form ornamental trim strips of the nal installation.

The moulding strips II are preferably formed of a flexible material and may be moulded or extruded lengths of plastic, aluminum alloy or other metal. In other cases the strips II may be constructed of sheet metal. The strips are elongate continuous parts of uniform cross section throughout their lengths. They are channel-like members each having an outer or main wall arching or curving outwardly from longitudinal edge portions 2|. The edge portions 2| may be substantially parallel with one another and present edge surfaces 22 for engaging againstthe material M. The main wall 2B is sulciently thin to be capable of substantial iiexure so that'the moulding may conform to various contours. The exterior of the main wall 20 may be ornamented and finished to have the selected appearance. The width of the strips I is such that the longitudinal edge portions 2| lie in planes coincident with or slightly inward of the longitudinal edges of the attaching strips I0. Thus the channel shaped moulding strips are sufficiently wide to completely cover the lapped edges of the material M.

The moulding strips I are provided with intermediate longitudinal channels 23 defined by longitudinally extending internal flanges or tongues 24. Where the mouldings are extrusions of plastic material or metal, the tongues 24 are integral with the mouldings. In cases where the moulding strips are formed of sheet stock. a channel member may be secured to the interior of each strip by spot welding, or the like, to provide the channel 23 and tongues 24. The tongues 24 preferably curve inwardly and toward one another. The channel 23 is shaped and proportioned to receive and substantially conform to the heads of the T lugs I5. The mouths or entrances of the channels 23 are considerably narrower than the heads of the T lugs. The parts are related and proportioned so that upon the application of suitable pressure, the heads of the T lugs I5 may be snapped into the channels 23 and withdrawn in a like manner. The main walls 20 and the tongues 24 both flex outwardly and laterally when the moulding strips are snapped onto and disengaged from the lugs I5. When a moulding strip II is in place as illustrated in Figure 1, the shoulders 26 cooperate with the tongues 24 to hold the edge surfaces 22 against the material M and to prevent movement or vibration of the moulding,r strip relative to the lugs I5. As shown in Figure 1, the material M is clamped or coniined between the edge surfaces 22 and the face of the attaching strip Ill.

In applying the moulding I I, subsequent to the installation of the material M as above described, the moulding strip is engaged on the lugs I5 and is then pressed inwardly so that the lugs snap into the channel 23. In practice, it may be preferred to start at one end of the strip II Aand apply pressure at that point to initially latch a few of the lugsin the channel 23. By progressing along the length of the strip while applying the required pressure, the entire moulding strip II may be readily secured in place. In a likev manner, when removing a moulding strip II it may be grasped at one end and pulled free from the adjacent lugs I5. The right hand portion of Figure 5 illustrates the manner in which a moulding strip II may be readily disengaged from the capable of repeated re-use and may be re-applied following replacement of worn or soiled material M.'

Having described only a typical form of the" invention, I do not wish to be limited to the speciflc details herein set forth, but wish to reserve to myself any variations or modifications that may appear to those skilled in the art or fall within the scope of the following claims.

I claim: I

1. Means for attaching fabrieor similar material to a support comprising an elongate attaching strip to be secured to the support where it is covered by the material, longitudinally spaced lugs projecting from the attaching strip and received in openings in the material to hold the material on the support, and a mould strip having snap engagement on the lugs and holding the material on the lugs.

2. Means for attaching material to a support comprising an .elongate attaching strip to be secured to the support where it is covered by the material, longitudinally spaced outwardly projecting lugs on the attaching strip engaged through openings in the material to hold the material on the support, and a mould strip having a channel receiving the lugs so as to retain the` mold strip and material on the lugs.

3. Means for attaching material to a support comprising elongate attaching strip to be secured to the support, longitudinally spaced rigid outwardly'projecting lugs on the attaching strip engaged through openings in the material to hold the material on the support, the outer ends of the lugs having enlargements, and a mould strip engaged over the lugs to hold the material on the lugs and having a flexible channel in snap engagement with the enlargements of the lugs to retain the mold strip and material on the lugs.

4. Means for attaching material to a support comprising a metallic sheet strip having longitudinally spaced integral substantially rigid lugs extending outwardly from it and `engaged in openings in the material, and a mould strip having spaced tongues in removable snap engagement with the lugs to retain the mold strip and material thereon.

5. Means for attaching material to a support comprising a metallic sheet strip having longitudinally spaced integral substantially rigid lugs extending outwardly from it and adapted to be engaged in openings in the material to hold the material against the support, the lugs being of T shape to have heads, and a mould strip applied to the lugs to retain the material on the lugs, the mould strip including flexible lips defining a channel in snap engagement with the heads of the lugs.

6. Means for attaching material to a support comprising an attaching strip to be secured to the support, longitudinally spaced outwardly projecting rigid lugs on the attaching strip engaged through openings in the material, the lugs being of T shape to have heads, a generally channel shaped mould strip engaged over the lugs, and spaced longitudinally extending iiexible tongues on the inner side of the mould strip defining a channel having removable snap engagement with 15 outwardly from it and engaged in openings in the material, the lugs being of T formation to have heads on their ends, a flexible mould strip" of channel shaped cross section mounted on the projecting lugs, and spaced opposing longitudinally extending flexible tongues on the interior of the mould strip defining a channel having snap engagement with the heads of the lugs to retain the mould strip in the position where its longitudinal edges engage the material to hold it against the first named strip.

8. In a trim structure, an elongate attaching strip, rigid lugs projecting outwardly from the attaching strip at points spaced longitudinally thereof, the lugs having broad surfaces facing axially of the attaching strip and having their edges facing toward the side edges of the attaching strip, shoulders on said edges of the lugs spaced inwardly from the outer ends of the lugs and facing toward the attaching strip, a mould strip adapted to overlie the attaching strip, flanges extending along the longitudinal edges of the mould strip and projecting toward the attaching strip, and a pair of flexible resilient lon# gitudinally extending tongues on the inner side of the mould strip spaced one from the other to provide a channel having a restricted entrance for receiving the lugs of the attaching strip, the tongues curving inwardly and toward one another so that they may be sprung away from one another and away from their normal positions and then snap under said shoulders when forced inwardly against the lugs, said tongues acting against said shoulders after said lugs have entered said channel, and as the tongues tend to return to their normal positions, to urge said flanges in the direction of said attaching strip.

9. In a trim structure, an elongate attaching strip, longitudinally spaced lugs projecting outwardly from the face of the attaching strip, the lugs having broad surfaces facing axially of the attaching strip and having their edges facing laterally toward the longitudinal edges of the attaching strip, shoulders on said edges of the lugs facing toward said face of the attaching strip, a mould strip for overlying the attaching strip, flanges extending along the longitudinal edges of the mould strip and projecting toward the attaching strip, and a pair of flexible longitudinally extending tongues on the inner side of the mould strip spaced from said flanges and spaced from one another to provide a channel having a restricted entrance for receiving said lugs, the tongues curving toward the attaching strip and toward one another and adapted to be sprung apart and away from their normal positions and then to snap under said shoulders upon being forced over the lugs, said tongues acting against said shoulders after said lugs have entered said channel, and as the tongues tend toV return to their normal positions, to urge said flanges in the direction of said attaching strip.

10. In a trim structure, an elongate attaching strip, longitudinally spaced lugsI projecting outwardly from the face of the attaching strip, the lugs having broad surfaces facing axially of the attaching strip and having their edges facing laterally toward the longitudinal edges of the attaching strip, shoulders on said edges of the lugs 8 facing toward said face of the attaching strip, the outer ends of the lugs being rounded, a mould strip for overlying the attaching strip, flanges extending the longitudinal edges of the mould strip and projecting toward the attaching strip, and a pair of longitudinally extending tongues on the inner side of the mould strip spaced from said flanges and spaced from one another to provide a channel having a restricted entrance for receiving said lugs, the tongues being curved inwardly and toward one another, the tongues and the portions of the mould strip adjacent thereto being flexible so that the tongues may be sprung away from one another and away from their normal positions to thereafter snap under said shoulders upon being forced against the rounded ends of the lugs, said tongues acting against said shoulders after said lugs have entered said channel, and as the tongues tend to return to their normal positions, to urge said flanges in the direction of said attaching strip.

11.- In a trim structure, an elongate sheet metal attaching strip, and a plurality of longitudinally spaced lugs integral with the strip and projectlng outwardly from a face of the strip, the lugs having broad side surfaces facingv axially of the strip and having their edges facing laterally .toward the longitudinal edges of the strip, said lugs being generally T shaped to each have a leg extending outwardly from the strip and a broadened head on the leg, the edges of said heads providing abrupt shoulders which face inwardly toward the strip.

12. In a trim structure, an elongate attaching strip having a row of longitudinally spaced openings spaced substantially midway between the longitudinal edges of the strip, and a lug joining the strip at a margin of each of said openings and projecting outwardly from the rface of the strip, the lugs having broad side surfaces facing axially of the strip and having their edges facing laterally toward the longitudinal edges of the strip, the lugs being alike and each including a leg extending outwardly from the strip and a broadened head on the outer end of the head having inner edges facing inwardly toward the strip and having rounded outer edges.

GEORGE J. SOUKUP.

` REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in th file of this patent: e

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,804,831 Hardesty May l2, 1931 1,970,785 Walters Aug. 21, 1934 1,972,412 Van Dresser Sept. 4, 1934 1,998,366 Geyer Apr. 16, 1935 2,000,466 Howard May 7, 1935 2,019,111 Ball Oct. 29, 1935 2,192,309 Hall Mar. 5, 1940 2,196,417 Kelsen Apr. 9, 1940 2,208,541 .Churchill July 16, 1940 2,208,542 Doppleb July 16, 1940 2,275,127 Brown Mar. 3. 1942 2,308,134 Westrope Jan. 12, 1943