Abstract:
A fastener-fabric assembly in which a torsion member holds a section or sections of fabric securely against a rigid post, without penetrating the fabric or causing it damage.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS  
       [0001]    This application claims benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 60/813 923,entitled “Fabric Fastener,” filed Jun. 15, 2006, which is incorporated by reference herein in its entirety. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND 
       [0002]    This invention relates generally to fasteners and, more particularly, to fasteners for securing a section or sections of fabric. 
         [0003]    Many popular items of clothing, such as scarves, throws and sarongs, require a means for securing one or more fabric sections around the neck, torso or other body part. These items of clothing, which are often made of light-weight material fabric, are frequently made without the use of buttons or zippers, and therefore require securing by means of an external fastener. One common example of such a fastener is a safety-pin type fastener. The problem with such safety-pin type fasteners, however, is that they are invasive to what is often delicate fabric and may cause material damage with long term use. Furthermore, while utilitarian, safety-pins are not decorative enough to be aesthetic pleasing on a scarf, throw, sarong or other such items of fabric. Many varieties of decorative pins can also be used as fasteners, but even these may cause damage and material wear to delicate fabric when secured through it. 
         [0004]    It would therefore be useful if the wearer of a scarf, throw or sarong, or other such items of fabric, could secure that item of fabric around the body with an aesthetically-pleasing decorative fastener that was not invasive or that would not cause material damage to the fabric being secured. Other advantages of such a fastener would include its ready availability, its ease of manipulation, and its ability to be decorated as the wearer prefers. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0005]    The present invention is a fastener-fabric assembly in which a torsion member holds a section or sections of fabric securely against a rigid post, without penetrating the fabric or causing it damage. The fastener portion of this invention may be decorated with beads, ribbons, feathers and the like to suit the taste of the wearer. 
         [0006]    Several embodiments of the fastener-fabric assembly are described below,. However, those of skill in the art will appreciate that many other configurations may be utilized other than those described. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES  
         [0007]    For a better understanding of the present invention, reference is made to the accompanying detailed description and figures, wherein: 
           [0008]      FIG. 1A  is a front view of the fastener-fabric assembly in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0009]      FIG. 1B  is a back view of the fastener-fabric assembly in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0010]      FIG. 2A  is a front view of the fastener in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0011]      FIG. 2B  is a back view of the fastener in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0012]      FIG. 2C  is a top view of the fastener in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0013]      FIG. 2D  is a side view of the fastener in the closed position in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0014]      FIG. 3  is a side view of the fastener in the open position in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0015]      FIG. 4  is a front view of the fastener in accordance with another embodiment of the present invention. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
       [0016]    The present invention is now described more fully hereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawings. in which an illustrative embodiment of the present invention is shown. The following configuration description is presented for illustrative purposes only. Any materials and configuration of materials satisfying the requirements herein described may be suitable for implementing the fastener-fabric assembly of the present invention. 
         [0017]    Referring now to  FIG. 1A , a fastener-fabric assembly in accordance with the present invention is shown and indicated generally by the numeral  10 . A section of a sheet of fabric  20  is secured to another section of the sheet of fabric  20  (not shown), or to a second sheet of fabric  30 . (It is to be understood that “fabric” as used herein includes all materials used for clothing, including textiles, woven or unwoven, as well as leather and leather substitutes.) Also shown are a hub  101  and, in one embodiment, a decorative layer  104  covering a torsion member  102  The torsion member  102  consists of a mid-section surrounded by a first end  105  and a second end  106 , both of which ends are integrally connected to the hub  101 . The connection of the first end  105  and the second end  106  to the hub  101  is shown in more detail in  FIGS. 2A and 2B . The torsion member  102  may be composed of metal but can also be composed of any one of a number of materials, such as plastic or wood, that has adequate rigidity, strength and resilience for the fastener&#39;s intended use. An assembly that has been found to be useful for the present invention is a particular industrial lynchpin sold by Innovative Components, Inc., Schaumburg, Ill., USA, in its “Quick Release Pins” catalog as “Lynch Pins.” 
         [0018]    A back view of the fastener-fabric assembly  10  is shown in  FIG. 1B . A post  103  is integrally connected to the hub  101  such that the post  103  and hub  101  form a rigid pairing. In one embodiment, a slip-cover  107 , which may be composed of a soft material, such as felt, suede or leather, is secured to the post  103 , such that any part of the post  103  is covered by the slip-cover  107 . The post  103  may be straight in configuration and have a smooth surface, but other shapes and surface designs may be used within the scope of this invention. 
         [0019]      FIG. 2A  is front view of the fastener portion of the fabric-fastener assembly  10  and  FIG. 2B  is a back view of the fastener portion of the fabric-fastener assembly  10 . As shown in  FIGS. 2A and 2B , the first end  105  of the torsion member  102  is integrally connected to a surface of the hub  101  at seat  121  and the second end  106  of torsion member  102  is integrally connected to an opposite surface of the hub  101  at seat  122 . Seats  121  and  122  are separated vertically along the axis of the hub  101  by a distance  125  as shown in  FIGS. 2A and 2B , and horizontally along the axis of the hub by a distance  126  as shown in  FIG. 2C . The vertical distance  125  and the horizontal distance  126  between seat  121  and  122  provide a force to the torsion member  102  to hold the torsion member  102  against the post  103  and resisting separation from the post  103 . 
         [0020]      FIG. 3  is a side view of the fastener portion of the fastener fabric-assembly  10  in an open position. The torsion member  102  may be separated from the post  103  to insert the fabric  20  or  30  (not shown) being secured, or reconnected to post  103  to hold the fabric  20  or  30  (not shown) against the post  103 , as shown in  FIG. 2D . 
         [0021]    The torsion member  102  can be circularly-shaped but other shapes are also feasible, such as ovals (not shown) or polygons, as shown in  FIG. 4 . In this embodiment, a torsion member  102 ′ having a first end  105 ′ and a second end  106 ′ is integrally connected at said first end  105 ′ to the hub  101  at seat  122  and at said second end  106 ′ at seat  121 . 
         [0022]    Any of the torsion member  102 , the hub  101  and the post  103  may be decorated by various means, such as plating, enameling, painting, rubberizing, dipping or coating. Various decorative objects, such as beads, crystals, stones, shells, ribbons, wire, leather, feathers, wood, felt and honeycomb may be attached to any of the torsion member  102 , the hub  101  or the post  103  by means of soldering or wrapping, or other securing means. 
         [0023]    While the invention has been described in connection with the preferred embodiments described above it is not intended to limit the scope of the invention to the particular form set forth, but on the contrary, it is intended to cover such alternatives, modifications. and equivalents as may be included within the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims.