Abstract:
A handicraft clip is provided for forming a pleat in a cloth. The clip includes a relatively wide base plate and a narrower fastening plate connected to the base plate via a connecting hinge portion having a reduced thickness for allowing pivotal movement of the fastening plate relative to the base plate. The base plate is formed with a generally elliptical through-hole, while the fastening plate is provided with a locking protrusion to be fitted into the through-hole of the base plate when the base plate and the fastening plate are superposed on each other. The fastening plate includes a cloth holding portion of -a generally constant width. The cloth holding portion is formed with a slit for insertion of a cloth. The slit extends from the distal end of the cloth holding portion toward the locking protrusion.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    1. Field of the Invention 
         [0002]    The present invention relates to a handicraft clip suitably used for handicraft work such as patchwork. 
         [0003]    2. Description of the Related Art 
         [0004]    In the field of handicraft works such as patchwork, a technique so called “puff quilt” is known as one of the methods that provide excellent ornamental effects. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,899,160 discloses a conventional puff quilt square maker and a method for fabricating a puff quilt square. Generally, the puff quilt is performed with a plurality of square-shaped quilting materials (puffs). The puff is made through superposing a pleated cloth over a base cloth and sewing these cloths together, which allows forming various design patterns depending on the pleating form, and also stuffing padding in between the cloths, to thereby form a three-dimensionally swollen shape. To practically form the puff, for example, two pieces of square cloths that are different in size are prepared. Each of the four sides of the larger cloth is pleated so as to make the size thereof the same with the smaller cloth, and the pleats are temporarily fixed with marking pins. Then the two cloths are laid on each other and a sewing margin is defined so as to sew the perimeter of the stacked cloths. In the case where the puff is to be stuffed with padding, for example a portion of the perimeter is left open for inserting the padding therethrough, instead of sewing the entire perimeter, and then the cloths are turned inside out through the opening, after which the padding is stuffed and the opening is sewn to close. The puff thus made up obtains a shape swelling toward the upper side, as shown in  FIG. 11 . The puff quilt is made up by combining a plurality of such puffs and sewing the edges together, or sewing the puffs onto another base cloth. 
         [0005]    When performing the patchwork with the puff quilt, a large number of puffs are often employed according to the design. In this case, it is so difficult to make pleats of the same size and same form on all of the large number of puffs. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0006]    The present invention has been proposed in the foregoing circumstances. It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a handicraft clip that facilitates, when making a pleated quilt material such as a puff, efficient forming of pleats in generally the same size. 
         [0007]    According to the present invention, there is provided a handicraft clip for forming a pleat in a cloth. The clip comprises: a base plate including a first portion and a second portion of a predetermined width, the first portion having a basal end portion, the second portion being integral with the first portion and having a distal end portion; and a fastening plate including a first portion and a second portion, the first portion of the fastening plate having a basal end portion, the second portion of the fastening plate being integral with the first portion of the fastening plate and having a distal end portion, the fastening plate being pivotally connected, at the basal end portion thereof, to the basal end portion of the base plate. The base plate and the fastening plate are foldable to face each other in a manner such that the first portions of the respective plates are superposed on each other, and that the second portions of the respective plates are superposed on each other. The second portion of the fastening plate is formed with a slit extending from the distal end portion of the fastening plate toward the basal end portion of the fastening plate. 
         [0008]    Preferably, the slit formed in the fastening plate may be located at a widthwise center of the second portion of the base plate when base plate and the fastening plate are superposed on each other. 
         [0009]    Preferably, the second portion of the base plate may be formed with a slit extending from the distal end portion of the base plate toward the basal end portion of the base plate. 
         [0010]    Preferably, the slit formed in the base plate may be located at a widthwise center of the second portion of the base plate. 
         [0011]    Preferably, the handicraft clip of the present invention may further comprise a lock for keeping the base plate and the fastening plate superposed on each other. 
         [0012]    Preferably, the lock may include a through-hole and a protrusion to be fitted into the through-hole. The through-hole may be formed in one of the first portions of the respective plates, while the protrusion on the other of the first portions of the respective plates. 
         [0013]    Preferably, the protrusion may be fitted in the through-hole in a manner such that an end portion of the protrusion sticks out beyond an end portion of the through-hole. 
         [0014]    Preferably, the second portions of the respective plates may have cloth holding surfaces brought into facing relation when these second portions are superposed on each other, where each of the cloth holding surfaces is formed with an elongated projection extending widthwise of the second portions. 
         [0015]    Other features and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent through the following detailed description given with reference to the -accompanying drawings. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0016]      FIG. 1  is a plan view showing a handicraft clip according to the present invention; 
           [0017]      FIG. 2  is a sectional view taken along a line II-II in  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0018]      FIG. 3  is a plan view showing the handicraft clip of  FIG. 1 , with the fastening plate superposed over the base plate; 
           [0019]      FIG. 4  is a sectional view taken along a line IV-IV in  FIG. 3 ; 
           [0020]      FIG. 5  is a perspective view for explaining a procedure in using the handicraft clip shown in  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0021]      FIG. 6  is a perspective view for explaining the procedure in using the handicraft clip shown in  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0022]      FIG. 7  is a schematic view showing in section the handicraft clip shown in  FIG. 1  forming a pleat on a cloth; 
           [0023]      FIG. 8A  is a front-side, schematic view for illustrating the procedure of use of the handicraft clip shown in  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0024]      FIG. 8B  is a back-side, schematic view for illustrating the procedure of use of the handicraft clip shown in  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0025]      FIG. 9  is a plan view for explaining a procedure of use of the handicraft clip shown in  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0026]      FIG. 10  is a plan view for explaining a procedure of use of the handicraft clip shown in  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0027]      FIG. 11  is a perspective view showing a quilt material made up by the handicraft clip shown in  FIG. 1 ; and 
           [0028]      FIG. 12  is a schematic cross-sectional view showing the handicraft clip shown in  FIG. 1  forming a pleat on a cloth in another manner. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
       [0029]    Preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. 
         [0030]      FIG. 1  is a plan view showing a handicraft clip according to the present invention.  FIG. 2  is a cross-sectional view taken along a line II-II in  FIG. 1 . As shown in  FIG. 1 , the handicraft clip Al according to this embodiment, including a base plate  1 , a fastening plate  2 , and a lock or locking means L (see  FIG. 4 ), is integrally formed as a single unit made of a synthetic resin (such as polypropylene) having an appropriate strength. The handicraft clip A 1  serves to form a pleat on the perimeter of a cloth, when making a quilt material such as a puff. 
         [0031]    The base plate  1  includes a thin base portion  11  of a predetermined thickness, and a clip element  12  extending from the base portion  11 . The base portion  11  is of a shape stretched widthwise thereof (left and right direction in  FIG. 1 ), so as to enable the user to easily hold the portion in his or her hand. The base portion  11  is formed with a generally elliptical through-hole  13 , located in a central region and penetrating throughout the thickness of the base portion. As is apparent from  FIG. 2 , the inner wall of the through-hole  13  includes an engaging stepped portion  131  formed at a lower portion thereof, along the entire inner circumferential surface of the through-hole. 
         [0032]    The clip element  12  extends from an edge portion of the base portion  11  toward a distal end, and has a predetermined width and length. The clip element  12  is formed with three slits  121  to  123  of a predetermined width, extending from the distal end portion toward the base portion  11 . In this embodiment, the slit  121  is located at the widthwise center of the clip element  12 , and the slits  122 ,  123  are spaced from the central slit  121  by the same distance. Also as shown in  FIGS. 1 and 2 , the clip element  12  is formed with a plurality of elongated projections  124 ,  125  extending widthwise on the upper and lower surfaces of the element  12 , provided for preventing slippage of the cloth. 
         [0033]    The fastening plate  2  includes a main plate  21  and a clip element  22  extending from the main plate  21 . The main plate  21  is generally the same in thickness as the base portion  11  of the base plate  1 , and connected to the basal end portion of the base portion  11  via a joint portion  3  having a reduced thickness and extending in the widthwise direction along the basal end portion. Such configuration permits the fastening plate  2  to pivot about the joint portion  3  toward or away from the base plate  1 . The main plate  21  includes a generally elliptical protrusion  23  formed substantially in a central region thereof. The protrusion  23  is made slightly smaller than the through-hole  13  of the base plate  1  in a plan view, so as to be fitted into the through-hole  13  when the fastening plate  2  is folded onto the base plate  1 . Thus, as shown in  FIGS. 3 and 4 , the fastening plate  2  can be folded upon the base plate  1  such that the main plate  21  and the base portion  11 , as well as the clip element  22  and the clip element  12 , are respectively superposed over each other. The height of the protrusion  23  is made greater than the thickness of the base portion  11 . Accordingly, when the protrusion  23  is fitted into the through-hole  13 , the end portion of the protrusion  23  sticks out beyond the lower end portion of the through-hole  13 . The protrusion  23  includes an engaging stepped portion  231  projecting from the upper end portion thereof, along the entire outer circumferential surface thereof. 
         [0034]    The clip element  22  extends from an end portion of the main plate  21  toward a distal end portion, and has a predetermined width and length. The clip element  22  is made smaller in width than the clip element  12  of the base plate  1 , and substantially the same in length as the clip element  12 . The clip element  22  includes a slit  221  of a predetermined width extending from the distal end portion thereof toward the main plate  21 . The slit  221  is located at the widthwise center of the clip element  22 . Here, the widthwise center of the clip element  22  coincides with the widthwise center of the clip element  12 . Thus, as shown in  FIG. 3 , once the clip element  22  is superposed over the clip element  12 , the slit  221  of the clip element  22  is located at the center of the clip element  12 , and communicates with the slit  121 . Also as shown in  FIG. 1 , the clip element  22  includes a plurality of elongated projections  222  extending widthwise on the upper surface thereof, provided for preventing slippage of the cloth. 
         [0035]    The lock L serves to keep the fastening plate  2  superposed over the base plate  1 , and includes the engaging stepped portion  131  formed along the inner circumferential surface of the through-hole  13  of the base plate  1 , and the engaging stepped portion  231  formed along the outer circumferential surface of the protrusion  23  of the fastening plate  2 , which constitute the operative portion of the lock L. When the fastening plate  2  is superposed over the base plate  1 , the protrusion  23  is introduced into the through-hole  13 . Upon pressing the fastening plate  2  against the base plate  1  with a predetermined or a greater force, the engaging stepped portion  231  is elastically deformed slightly so as to pass through the inner circumferential surface of the through-hole  13 , to be thereby engaged with the engaging stepped portion  131 . Such action causes the main plate  21  of the fastening plate  2  to be completely superposed over the base portion  11  of the base plate  1 , such that the fastening plate  2  is inhibited from moving away from the base plate  1 . 
         [0036]    Now, a method of making up a puff with the handicraft clip A 1  thus configured will be described referring to  FIGS. 5 to 10 . The following refers to the case of making a basic puff utilizing four pieces of handicraft clips A 1 . 
         [0037]    To start with, two pieces of square cloths of different sizes are cut out, to form the puff. The larger cloth (hereinafter, top cloth C 1 ) is used to form pleats, to be finally located on the upper face of the puff. The small cloth (hereinafter, base cloth C 2 ) is to be superposed over the top cloth C 1  with the pleats formed, to be thereby sewn together. 
         [0038]    When cutting out the top cloth C 1  and the base cloth C 2 , employing a template (not shown) facilitates efficiently performing the job. The template may be two square frames of the same dimensions as the top cloth C 1  base cloth C 2  respectively. In this case, putting markings on the back of the cloth along the perimeter of the respective templates, and cutting the cloth along the markings leads to preparation of the top cloths C 1  and the base cloths C 2  in uniform dimensions. Regarding the template for the base cloth C 2 , it is convenient to provide a stitch line along the inner perimeter of the frame. 
         [0039]    The handicraft clip Al is now employed to form the pleats. The top cloth C 1  is folded in half face to face, and the edge portion of the cloth on the respective sides of the folded point is inserted into the left and right slit  122 ,  123  of the base plate  1  as shown in  FIG. 5 , and the end portions of the folded cloth are put together and lifted upward. Then as shown in  FIG. 6 , the fastening plate  2  is lifted and folded onto the base plate  1 . At this step, the edge portion of the top cloth C 1  now folded in double is introduced into the slit  221  of the fastening plate  2 . Upon pressing the back of the protrusion  23  on the fastening plate  2  against the base plate  1 , the engaging stepped portion  231  of the protrusion  23  is engaged with the engaging stepped portion  131  of the through-hole  13 , thereby actuating the lock L. At this stage, a pleat is formed on the top cloth C 1  by the handicraft clip Al, as shown in  FIG. 7 . Another handicraft clip A 1  is then applied to the opposite side of the top cloth C 1  in the same way, to thereby form the pleat. Then to the remaining two sides of the top cloth C 1  also, the handicraft clip Al is likewise attached.  FIGS. 8A and 8B  are schematic plan views showing the top cloth C 1  to which the four pieces of handicraft clips A 1  are attached, and  FIG. 8A  shows the front side and  8 B the back side. 
         [0040]    Then the top cloth C 1  and the base cloth C 2  are sewn together. As shown in  FIG. 9 , the top cloth C 1  and the base cloth C 2  are stacked face to face, and the sewing margin is fixed with a marking pin N as shown in  FIG. 10 . On the base cloth C 2 , for example a stitch line M is marked, so that the base cloth C 2  and the top cloth C 1  are sewn together along the stitch line M over a predetermined region. In this embodiment, a position designated by (1) in  FIG. 10  is the starting point of the stitch, and (2) designates the finishing point. The region between the starting point (1) and the finishing point (2) is an unsewn region (opening  01 ). Regarding the stitch method, for example a back stitch may be employed at the starting point and the finishing point, and a running stitch may be employed in the remaining portion. The sewing may be performed either with a sewing machine or by hand. Upon completing the sewing process, the four handicraft clips A 1  are removed and a surplus portion of the sewing margin is cut off. 
         [0041]    Then the cloths sewn together is turned inside out through the opening O 1 , and padding is introduced therethrough. Finally, the opening O 1  is sewn to close. That is how a padded puff P as shown in  FIG. 11  can be obtained. 
         [0042]    As may be understood from  FIG. 7 , when forming a pleat with the handicraft clip A 1  according two this embodiment, the clip element  12  of the base plate  1  serves to determine a first folding position, and the slit  221  of the fastening plate  2  serves to determine a second folding position. Thus, the handicraft clip A 1  permits sequentially and efficiently forming pleats of substantially the same size. Also, the slits  122 ,  123  on the left and right side of the base plate facilitate forming the first folding position. 
         [0043]    The handicraft clip A 1  also includes the lock L. This device serves to maintain the pleated portion of the top cloth C 1  in the state of being held between the clip elements  11 ,  12 . Accordingly, the handicraft clip A 1  can be prevented from accidentally coming off from the top cloth Cl. 
         [0044]    Further, in the handicraft clip A 1 , simply superposing the fastening plate  2  over the base plate  1  causes the engaging stepped portions  131 ,  231  to be mutually engaged, thereby actuating the lock L. Such arrangement enhances the usefulness of the handicraft clip A 1 . 
         [0045]    In the handicraft clip A 1 , the clip elements  11 ,  12  each include a plurality of projections  124 ,  125 ,  222 . These projections serve to restrict a relative positional shift between the clip element  11 ,  12  and the top cloth C 1  held therebetween. 
         [0046]    In the handicraft clip A 1 , to use the lock L, the protrusion  23  is inserted into the through-hole  13  until the end portion of the protrusion  23  protrudes beyond the end of the through-hole  13 . Thereafter, the user can easily release the lock L simply by pushing the button-shaped end portion of the protrusion  23  back into the through-hole  13  with the thumb, for example. 
         [0047]    The base plate  1  of the handicraft clip A 1  includes the plurality of slits  121  to  123 . Such configuration allows forming pleats of a plurality of different types according to how the top cloth C 1  is inserted through the slits  121  to  123 .  FIG. 12  illustrates a different pleating pattern of the top cloth C 1  formed around the clip elements  12 ,  22 , so as to make a puff of a different design from that of the foregoing basic shape. In this case, a pleat folded back in an S-shape is formed, which provides a puff of a different design from that of the basic shape. 
         [0048]    The present invention being thus described, it is obvious that the same may be varied in many ways. Such variations are not to be regarded as a departure from the spirit and scope of the present invention, and all such modifications as would be obvious to those skilled in the art are intended to be included within the scope of the following claims.