Fabric clasp device

A fabric clasp comprising a single resilient wire bent into multiple convolutions that can not only be affixed to any portion of a fabric and applied as a temporary and removable grommet, but can be applicable for other uses such as a rope cinch, pen, pencil, and paper holder, and a rope connector.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
A variety of grommets are presently marketed to enable a user to hold, 
stretch, hang, or otherwise control the positioning of fabric, such as a 
tarpaulin, by inserting rope, tent stakes, or like objects through these 
grommets to grasp the fabric. Available grommets and eyelets are 
permanently attached during the manufacturing process of most tarpaulins 
but these devices are also easily obtainable at stores so that anyone may 
affix them to fabrics. In either case, holes must be punctured through 
fabric or plastic tarps to enable one to attach the grommets. However, 
thin fabric or plastic tarps may easily tear at places where the grommets 
or eyelets have been installed when pressure is exerted upon the fabric 
while cinching the attached ropes and consequently, this has been a 
continuing problem in the field. 
It is thus apparent that since standard grommets and eyelets have certain 
disadvantages, the need exists for a device that can be temporarily but 
securely attached to fabric for use as a grommet and then be easily 
removed without destroying the water resisting usefulness of the plastic 
or fabric tarpaulins. 
My invention relates to bent wire clasps for fabrics and more particularly 
to a fabric clasp which is suitable for uses over and above the usual 
fabric clasp functions. 
It is a primary object of this invention to provide an elongated wire 
fabric clasp comprising a plurality of resilent convolutions wherein said 
clasp can be manipulated to be securely attached to fabric or like 
material thus permitting great pressure or pull to be exerted from the 
clasp in opposition to the fabric without slipping loose, puncturing, or 
tearing the fabric and then can be easily removed so that other uses may 
be made of the fabric. 
It is another object of this invention to provide a fabric clasp whereby a 
plurality of these clasps can be attached at desired locations upon a 
piece of fabric thus regulating the size of the stretched fabric within 
the perimeter of the attached clasps and further, that many fabrics may be 
firmly linked together by applying said clasps at the overlapped edges of 
the joined fabrics. 
It is still another object to provide a method to relieve the tension 
placed upon light fabrics or plastic tarps stretched between attached and 
opposing clasps and to provide a clasp device with means for readily 
connecting rope, hooks, or other useful objects such as a nail-like tent 
stake to anchor said clasp to the ground. 
A still further object of this invention is to provide a fabric clasp 
device for uses other than with fabric so that said device may function, 
for example, as a fulcrum for a rope cinch, be used as a clasp for paper, 
and serve as a pen and/or pencil holder.

Referring now to my drawings, there is shown in FIG. 1 an embodiment of my 
fabric clasp invention which consists of a single, resilient wire 2 bent 
in a plurality of convolutions to form elongated component parts arranged 
so that they can be manipulated to contiguous positions for enclasping 
fabric and other useful applications. 
A side view of FIG. 1, as seen in FIG. 2, shows the wire 2 with elongated 
components resting in spaced but connected juxtaposition and in a 
substantially parallel plane relationship. 
FIGS. 3 through 6 illustrate four positions necessary to insert, clasp, and 
lock the device within the folds of fabric. 
The clasp 2 of FIG. 3 comprises elongated and convolved inner components 10 
including a substantially S-shaped leg 12, a clip-like formation 14, an 
outwardly extending eyelet-like loop 16, and leg 18 connected integrally 
by a grommet-like loop 20 to an outer elongated and convolved component 22 
comprising leg 24 located rearward of clip 14, an outwardly extending 
eyelet-like loop 26, and leg 28 connected to a hooked end 30. 
S-like convolution 12 of FIG. 4 is contracted laterally behind legs 18 and 
36 to pass clip 28 rearward of leg 24. 
In FIG. 5, clip 14 presses forward against a rear portion of leg 24 which 
represents a similar but reversed position of inner components 10 and clip 
14 as compared with inner components 10 and clip 14 of FIG. 3. 
Leg 28 of FIG. 6 is sprung laterally inward to a position indicated by 
phantom lines 32 whereby leg 28 can then be laterally unsprung to lock 
within the circumference of grommet-like component 34 which shows hook 30 
adjacent to ring 34 and nearly in alignment with the longitudinal axis of 
the device 2. 
Fabric clasp 2 of FIG. 7 illustrates a fifth positioning desirable for its 
application as a rope cinch wherein inner component 10 is twisted and held 
contiguously firm by friction created between component locking leg 28 and 
leg 24. 
In FIG. 8 there is shown a slightly modified form of fabric clasp 2 wherein 
eyelet-like loops, as shown by component parts 16 and 26 of FIG. 3, are 
omited from embodiment 2' of FIG. 8 thereby connecting outer legs 24' and 
28' with a single, semicircular curvature 22' and inner component S-like 
leg 12' connecting directly to leg 18'. 
In FIG. 9, folded fabric 38 is shown engaged by fabric clasp 2 in position 
one, as illustrated in FIG. 3, with the outer component 22 disposed on the 
underside of fabric 35 and inner component 10 disposed on the top side of 
fabric 38. The hem-like part 40 of fabric 38 has been inserted between 
component parts 12, 14, 18, and clasped rearward of curvature 42 thus 
allowing the hem-like part 40 to be pinched between clip 14, end portion 
44, and its leg 46. S-like leg 12 provides a pivot and stop at the fold of 
hem-like part 40. 
In FIG. 10, fabric clasp 2, positioned as illustrated in FIG. 5, shows that 
hem-like part 40 is pivoted rearward of and clasped between outer 
component leg 24 and inner component clip 14 illustrating that legs 24 and 
46 are used as fabric pivots. 
FIG. 11 shows a fabric clasp 2 manipulated to a fourth position, as 
illustrated in FIG. 6, and clasping fabric 38 now at both sides. Inner 
component 10 is positioned rearward of outer component 22 and secured by 
the locking action of hooked leg 28. Fabric 38 has been pivoted around 
legs 18 and 28 and clasped therebetween. One method of rope attachment is 
shown whereby rope 48 is attached to eyelet-like loop 16 therethrough, 
illustrating also the rearwardly set position of inner component 10. 
Looped rope 50, attached to hook 30, passes through grommet-like loop 20 
at a place which prevents hooked leg 28 from becoming laterally dislodged. 
If the fabric clasp arrangement of FIG. 11 were to be reversed and placed 
against a polished or painted surface such as furniture or a truck bed 
side wall, the rearwardly set position of component 10, even without 
attached rope 48, would prevent the maring or scratching of said surface 
by wire clasp 2 due to the cushion-like effect of fabric 38, hem-like part 
40, and rope 50 pressing or riding against said marable surface. 
In FIG. 12, fabric clasp 2 clasps fabric 38, as described and shown by FIG. 
11, but is reversed to expose to view hooked leg 28 and shows grommet-like 
loop 20 anchored to the earth by nail-like tent stake 52 wherein said 
stake is positioned through loop 20 so as to prevent hooked leg 28 from 
becoming laterally dislodged. 
FIG. 13 illustrates one application of FIG. 12 fabric clasp arrangement and 
positioning wherein a plurality of fabric clasp arrangement and 
positioning wherein a plurality of fabric clasps are required to set up a 
rain and wind repellent tent shelter 54. An inexpensive plastic or fabric 
tarpaulin 56 of rectangular shape is first squared and then folded from 
three corners to form overlapping ends 58 and 60 and then structured to 
fashion a pyramid-like tent shelter 54 by anchoring its triangular base to 
the ground at three corners with attached fabric clasp tentstake 
assemblies 62, 64, and 66 and held erect by a fabric clasp 68 attached to 
the tent's pyramid-like vertex. The tent's entry is opened and closed with 
triangular flap 70 which has attached thereto at its apex a fabric clasp 
hookable to the underside eyelet-like loop of fabric clasp 68 (not visable 
but later illustrated). Tent 54 is held erect by vertically placed tent 
pole 72 having attached to it ropes 74, 76, and 78 whereby rope 78 
connects from the pole top to fabric clasp 68. Rope 74, connecting the 
pole top to fabric clasp 80, passes around tent stake 82. Rope 76, 
connecting the pole top to fabric clasp 84, passes around tent stake 86. 
It is shown that fabric clasps 80 and 84 are applied as fulcrums for 
tightening and loosening ropes 74 and 76 respectively. 
In FIG. 14, there is shown an enlarged detail of fabric clasp 2 arranged in 
the fifth position, as illustrated by FIGS. 7 and 13, and applied as a 
fulcrum for a rope cinch wherein rope 88 (shown by solid and phantom 
lines), after having been passed downward from an attachment through an 
inflexible tube 90 and around another attachment below, is returned upward 
to be engaged by its looped and knotted end 92 on fabric clasp hook 30. 
Eyelet-like loop 26 holds within its circumference tube 90 at midway of 
the tube's length. As fabric clasp 2 and tube 90 are then moved upward, 
rope 88 is pulled taut as illustrated in FIG. 13 by rope 74. To prevent 
downward slipping of fabric clasp 2 and wedged tube 90, a greater bend of 
rope 88 is created for locking friction at the ends of tube 90 by hooking 
a portion of rope 88 over hook 30 adjacent to knotted and looped rope end 
92, as illustrated in FIG. 13 by rope 76. 
FIG. 15 shows an enlarged detail view of the fabric clasp arrangement 
illustrated by fabric clasp 68 of FIG. 13. In FIG. 15, there is shown a 
fabric clasp 94 attached to tent fabric 56 (shown in phantom lines) 
whereby fabric clasp 96, enclasping tent fabric 70 (shown by phantom 
lines), is hung by its hooked end to eyelet-like loop 16 of fabric clasp 
94. It should be noted that enclasped entry flap 70 produces an underhung 
relationship to tent fabric 56 thus permitting tent fabric 56 to act as an 
eave for a tent structure and thereby preventing rain water from entering 
the tent's interior. It should also be noted that sufficient air space is 
created between fabrics 56 and 70 at their vertices to allow for proper 
tent ventilation. 
FIG. 16 shows a canopy shelter 98 made from tarpaulin fabric 100 suspended 
by a rope 102 midway of the fabric's length whereupon fabric clasps 104, 
106 and 108 are attached to the top side of fabric 100 near one end with 
opposing clasps similarly attached (not visable or enumerated) at the 
other end to permit end flaps 110 and 112 to hang downward vertically and 
adjacent to the ground surface. Tent-like canopy 98 is held in place by 
rope and anchored stake assemblies 114, 116, and 118 attached to the 
grommet-like loop of fabric clasps 104, 106, and 108 respectively. It 
should be noted that similar and opposing assemblies are attached at the 
fabric's other end but are not fully viewed or enumerated. 
In FIG. 17, there is shown a water resistant fabric assembly 120 whereby 
fabrics 122, 124, and 126 are circularly engaged at overlapping sides 128 
and 130 illustrated by corner 132. To fabrics 124 and 126 there is seen 
fabric clasps 134 and 136 attached and locking together said fabrics at 
their contiguously folded edges thus illustrating a method by which a 
multiplicity of fabrics can be connected for water resisting applications. 
Fabric clasp 138 is shown to illustrate that fabric clasps may be easily 
attached to a fabric's corners. It should be noted that if, for example, 
fabric assembly 120 were placed over a pile of wood as a protective cover 
against sun light and rain, the downward bending of said fabric's 
perimeters over said wood pile's top surface, as suggested by hidden lines 
140, would help stabilize the interlocking action of folds 128 and 130. 
FIG. 18 shows a single, light weight plastic tarp 142 wherefrom there is 
attached upon its perimeter at spaced intervals and in an opposing 
relationship a plurality of fabric clasps such as fabric clasps 144 and 
146. A rope 148 is shown attached to one eyelet-like end of each fabric 
clasp and interlaced between them across the top surface of tarp 142. When 
rope 150, attached to the hooked end of said fabric clasps and adjacent 
outer hooks as illustrated by hooks 152 and 154, is tightened, the stress 
within tarp 142 is relieved by the opposing force of inner rope 148 and 
outer rope 150. If tarp 142 were applied as a protective cover for 
articles loaded in a truck bed, for example, rope 148 could also help to 
secure said truck beb articles from shifting about while the truck is in 
transit. The application above described can be accomplished by the use of 
a standard grommeted tarp if it is of correct size. However, the 
advantages derived by folding down a large tarp at its four sides to a 
desired size and then attaching fabric clasps for grommet use, as 
hereinbefore shown by FIG. 16, should now become obviously apparent. 
FIG. 19 is an enlarged view of the fabric clasp, rope, and fabric 
arrangement illustrated in FIG. 18 by fabric clasp arrangement 144. The 
detail of FIG. 19 shows fabric clasp 2 attached to fabric 156 with ropes 
158 and 160 connected to eyelet-like and grommet-like loops 26 and 20 
respectively. Rope 158 can be more easily attached for purposes of 
cinching if, as illustrated by rope 160 attachment, it were passed through 
curvature 22 and then looped over eyelet-like loop 26. It should be 
understood that if great tension is needed after connecting ropes 158 and 
160, then rope 158 may be connected directly to rope 160 thus preventing 
damage to fabric clasp 2 configuration. 
In FIG. 20 there is shown fabric clasp 2 mounted vertically within solid 
base 164 and used on a desk or table as an article holder where cup 166 
could contain paper clips, pins, or like objects. Letter envelopes 168 are 
clasped between outer component configuration 22 and inner component parts 
10 showing a memo 170 clasped within clip portion 14. Pencil 172 and pen 
174 are held by friction within eyelet-like loops 26 and 16 respectively. 
Although the device of my invention has been hereinbefore described as a 
bent and resilient wire, it is foreseeable that other material such as 
plastic could be used in a forming process to create a like, resilient 
embodiment, and further, its size and configuration having been generally 
established, it should, however, be understood that modifications 
regarding its size, shape, construction, or arrangement of integral parts 
could be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention 
as herein disclosed by the following appended claims.