US2852831A - Curtain clasp - Google Patents

Description

Sept. 23, 1958 A. N. HANNA CURTAIN CLASP Filed Nov. 5, 1955 INVENTOR. 4770 /V. fl4/Y44 lrrak 2,852,831 Patented Sept. 23, 1952;

United States Patent Ofiiice CURTAIN CLASP Atto N. Hanna, Atlantic Highlands, N. J. Application November 3, 1955, Serial No. 544,785 1 Claim. (Cl. 24-259 The present invention relates to a clasp particularly designed for gripping fabric and for movably mounting the fabric with respect to a support rod. It is therefore adapted for use with curtains, draperies, or the like.

The present invention has for its prime object the pro vision of a unitary structure which will function to releasably grasp drapery, curtain fabric or the like and which will also be mountable on a support rod or bar and slidable thereover. It is most desirable that such a structure be attachable to and detachable from the fabric when the structure is on the support rod or bar as well as otherwise, thus facilitating adjustment of the hanging fabric to provide for uniformity of folding or draping of the fabric. Another prime consideration is to provide means for gripping the fabric with considerable reliability so that the clasp, although small and inexpensive, can be used with heavy as well as light fabrics.

Various structures have been devised in the'past with these objectives in mind, but with indiiferent success. A secure and reliable grip on the fabric has been thought to be antithetical to extremesimplicity of construction. Consequently inexpensive clasps have been unreliable, and conversely reliable clasps have been comparatively expensive.

In accordance with the present invention here disclosed these two apparently contradictory criteria have been simultaneously satisfied in a single construction.

The clasp of the present invention comprises a resilient looped body portion biased so as to tendto expand. A first of the free terminal portions of the body portion is provided with an elongated slot and, spaced from the outer extremity of that slot, an aperture. The second terminal portion has a width less than the width of the slot and extends through the slot. The outer extremities of the two terminal portions are bent so that both extend in the same direction from the body portion, the second terminal portion extending along the first terminal portion to a point beyond the outer extremity of the slot in the latter. Its tip is then bent substantially at right angles so as to enter and preferably pass through and beyond the aperture in the first terminal portion, that aperture being appreciably larger than the tip of the second terminal portion so as to provide for an appreciable clearance around that tip. When the body portion tends to expand, it urges the terminal portions against one another, the tip of the second terminal portion thus being urged into and through the aperture in the first terminal portion. The fabric to be held by the clasp is interposed between the terminal portions While the terminal portions are separated, and when the terminal portions are released the tip of the second terminal portion will force the fabric into the aperture in the first terminal portion and thus reliably hold it in place.

To the accomplishment of the above, and to such other objects as may hereinafter appear, the present invention relates to the construction of the curtain clasp or the like as defined in the appended claim and as described in this 2 specification, taken together with the following drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a three-quarter perspective view showing the clasp in use;

Fig. 2 is a three-quarter perspective view, on an enlarged scale, of the clasp itself;

Fig. 3 is an end elevational view of the clasp showing the manner in whichit is manipulated in order to secure a sheet of fabric thereto;

Fig. 4 is a cross sectional view taken along the line 4-4 of Fig. 1; and

Fig. 5 is a cross sectional view taken along the line ss of Fig. 4.

The clasp may be formed from a single strip of suitable resilient material which may readily be formed by conventional stamping operations. It comprises a body portion generally designated 2 which normally resiliently tends to assume a straightened shape but which is distorted into loop form, having a curved top 4 and spaced sides 6. The size of the loop is such as to be capable of loosely receiving therewithin the supportbar or rod 8. It

i will be understood, particularly from the drawings, that the term loop, is not limited to a circular configuration, but may take any convenient shape consistent with its intended function.

The body portion 2 has a pair of free terminal portions generally designated 10 and 12. The terminal portion 10 is provided with an elongated slot 14 and with an aperture16 spaced from the-outer extremity of the slot 14 by means of strip 18. The terminal portion 10 is bent at 20 so that its tip extends out from the body portion 2 in a given direction, the bend at 20 being across the slot 14 approximately midway of its length.

The terminal portion 12 is of reduced width, that width being less than the width of the slot 14. Where it meets the wider side 6 of the body portion 2 a ledge 22 is defined. The terminal portion 12 is bent at 24 so that its extremity extends from the body portion 2 in the same direction as the extremity of the terminal portion 18. The bend 24 is spaced outwardly an appreciable distance from the ledge 22. The terminal portion 12 extends through the slot 14, and its extremity extends outwardly beyond the strip 18 which separates the slot 14 from the aperture 16. The tip 28 of the terminal portion 12 is bent at 26 so as to extend substantially at right angles to said given direction toward and in line with the aperture 16, and the end surface of that tip 28 may be serrated to define gripping teeth.

The resiliency of the body portion 2 in tending to assume a straightened position will tend to urge the terminal portions 10 and 12 toward one another until the tip 28 of the terminal portion 12 enters and passes through and beyond the aperture 16 in the terminal portion 10. Movement in this direction will be positively limited by engagement between the terminal. portion 12 and the strip 18 on the terminal portion 10. In this position the loop defined by the body portion 2 will be sulficiently large so as to freely pass over the support bar or rod 8.

When it is desired to attach a sheet of fabric 30 thereto the clasp, even when in position on the rod 8, is gripped between the fingers and sides 6 are caused to move toward one another, as indicated in Fig. 3. The extent to which this movement is permitted Will be limited by engagement between the terminal portion 10 and the ledges 22 at the inner end of the terminal portion 12. In this position the serrated tip 28 of the terminal portion 12 will be appreciably spaced from the outer extremity of the terminal portion 10, so that there is ample room to interpose the fabric sheet 30 therebetween, that sheet being moved up into position as indicated by the arrow 32. With the fabric sheet 30 in position, pressure is released from the sides agssaset 6 of the body portion 2, that body portion will resiliently tend to straighten, the serrated tip 28 of the terminal portion 12 will once again move toward and into the aperture lfi-in-the-terminal portion10 ,-and a-porti'onbf the fabric sheet 30, designated 30 will be carried-into'the aperture- 16 thereby. The .aperture-16,' 'as may clearly be seen from Figs. 2 and 5, is appreciably -larger than the serrated tip 28,- 'sothat the-fabric "portion 3O 'maybe accommodated within the 'aperture l6-by-reason of;the clearance there. provided-r completely around the tip -28. Because the fabric is received within the aperture 16, and further because it is gripped by the serrations-'28, it is very reliably :held: in position, but without permanently damaging or penetrating the fabric, and conseguentlythe clasp-iscapableof}supporting-fabric sheets 30 f considerable weight, and of retaining them in position even whenthey may bepulled orotherwise stressed. That-the 'fabrio 30-need =not be 'penetrated is an important point,

particularly when plastic sheetsare involved, since penetration, especially of t such sheets, produces foci from which tearsor tips tend'to extend.

If it should bedesired to rearrange-the fabric sheet 30 in order to equalize the supports along the-length thereof or provide for a desired degree of draping or folding, this may easily be done while the clasps remain on the rod8 merely by compressing the clasps as shown inFiguB, readjusting the sheet-30, and then releasing the clasps.

It will be appreciated from the above that the'structure of ,the-instant invention is extremely simple, and 'consequentlythatthe claspsof the instant-invention may-be manufactured veryr'eadily-and atvery -lowcost. Nevertheless, they are simple to use and are extremely reliable in operation. I

While bflt a'single' embodiment ofthe present invention has been here disclosed,"-it*will be apparent that 'many variations may be made therein, all within the spirit .of

the instant invention as defined in the following claim.

I claim:

A curtain clasp or the like comprising a resilient body portion defining a loop and terminating in two free terminal portions, one of said terminal portions having a slot extending longitudinally therealong and having an aperture adjacent its tip and extending laterally thereof for an appreciable proportiotiof-thewidth thereof, said aperture being separatedfrom said slot-by a strip, said one of said terminal portions beingbent intermediate itsl'ength and across" saidslot Eintermedia'tethe length of 'said.::slot so that its end extends in a given direction, the other of said terminal portions-havingaWidth'less' than the width of and extending through said slot and being bent intermediate its length so that its end extends substantially in said given direction beyond said strip, the tip of said end of said -other of: said terminal portions beingbent substantially at right angles thereto and having a Width appreciably-less than the width ofsaid aperture so as to enter and pass through'andbeyond said aperture with an appreciable clearance therearound; saidbody portion biasing said terminal'portion ends toward one another.

' References Cited in the file' of this patent UNITED'STATES PATENTS 657' ;941 Hawkins "Feb. '12, 1901 '1,373,493 Dye Apr. 5, 1921 1;698,379 Taylor Jan. 8, 1929 2,215,725 Ma'rtins"on Sept. 24,1940 12,254,798 Dye Spt; 2, 1941 2,428;558 "Drucker Oot. 7, 1947 I FOREIGN PATENTS 7013624 "Fame--; rh t 'Jan. 12, 1931

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