Abstract:
The present invention is a jaw track for affixing fabric to a planer surface having a base, a housing surrounding a chamber that is divided into two cavities by a movable divider; and two movable jaws attached to the movable divider which moves to allow access to an inner cavity.

Description:
[0001]    This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application 61/053,515 filed May 15, 2008, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. 
       BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    The present invention is a jaw hook having two cavities each with a separate jaw holder. 
         [0003]    The use of the two different jaws: 
         [0004]    The upper jaw is used primarily although each jaw is functional. Jaw tracks, as are known in the art, are used for the installation of stretched fabric mounting system for walls, ceilings and other interior surfaces. 
         [0005]    The installation of mounting fabric presents unique difficulties that can vary based upon the environment of installation. 
         [0006]    By way of a non-limiting example, installation may vary dependent on any of the following placements of a jaw track:
       Where the track meets the ceiling/coving;   Where the track meets a door frame/jamb/molding;   Where the track meets baseboard/chair rail;   In a corner seam/join; and   Where the need for vertical or horizontal seams occurs.       
 
         [0012]    The lower jaw of the custom jaw track of the present invention can be used, but would not be limited to:
       Where the fabric line stops short of a corner, a doorframe, the baseboard, or the ceiling;   Where the fabric line surrounds a frameless window opening; and   where the fabric line surrounds a speaker opening.       
 
         [0016]    In one embodiment, the jaw track for affixing fabric to a planer surface comprises
       (a) a base;   (b) a housing surrounding a chamber that is divided into two cavities by a movable divider;   (c) two movable jaws attached to the movable divider, wherein each movable jaw allows access to an inner cavity; wherein said movable jaw, when engaged with a fabric to be placed within a cavity, secures a planer fabric within either of the two cavities.       
 
         [0020]    The base includes a flange extending away from the housing and a pair of movable jaws for securing a planer fabric in the cavity is a jaw configured with at least one protrusion. 
         [0021]    Each movable jaw has at least one protrusion that is configured to urge in a direction outward from the divider by tension with memory such that when pressure is applied in a direction against the tension, the jaw moves along a living hinge to allow access to an internal cavity. When pressure is released, the jaw returns substantially to an initial resting position. 
         [0022]    Additionally, each end portion of the base and upper member of the jaw track assembly may also have spring like tension and urge inward towards the central divider. 
         [0023]    Also contemplated is a method of installing stretched fabric on a mounting system comprising the steps of:
       a. providing a mounting with a jaw track of claim  1 ;   b. providing fabric to be secured to said mounting;   c. using a fabric mounting installation tool to move any one or more of a jaw track, an end portion of a base of said jaw track, or an end portion of a member of said jaw track in order to access an internal cavity of said jaw track;   d. inserting fabric into said accessed cavity;   e. removing said fabric mounting installation tool;   f. allowing said jaw track to return to a resting position and urge against an end portion to secure said fabric into position.       
 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0030]      FIG. 1  is a side cross-section view of the jaw track. 
       
    
    
       [0031]    FIG.  1 —Detail A is a side cross-section view of the jaw track with placement of material in second or upper cavity. 
       DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
       [0032]    Jaw track  10  has base  11  that partially encompasses a fixing flange  12 . Wall  19  is perpendicular to base  11  and supports member  26 . Divider  15  is in the shape of a “T” with a base  15   a  that connects to wall  19  at the midpoint of wall  19 . Divider  15  additionally includes a top portion  16  having a lower jaw  17  and an upper jaw  18 . Each of lower jaw  17  and upper jaw  18  are similarly configured and the detail of upper jaw  18  is depicted in detail “A” of  FIG. 1 . 
         [0033]    Upper jaw  18  has protrusions  21   a  and  21   b . The protrusions define jaw channel  24 . Upper edge  20  has protrusions  23   a  and  23   b  that define upper edge channel  22 . 
         [0034]    Each of base  11 , wall  19  and member  26  define an interior region that is divided into a first cavity area  13  and a second cavity area  14  by divider  15 . 
         [0035]    In use, jaw track  10  is secured to a wall surface along base  11 . Track  10  may be secured by any acceptable means that may include but would not be limited to an adhesive, tacks, staples, and the like. Tacks and staples may pass through base  11  along fixing flange  12  and into the surface to be covered. Each of upper jaw  18  and lower jaw  17  are constructed and arranged such that, in a normal state, they are urged by tension in the direction outward from divider  15  in the direction of base  11  and member  26  respectively. The tension is a spring like tension and has memory such that each of lower jaw  17  and upper jaw  18  return to a similar position when applied pressure of installation is released. When it is desired to insert a fabric material into a cavity of jaw track  10 , the following steps occur: 
         [0036]    (These steps will be described in relation to upper jaw  18  however it is understood that the identical procedure may be followed if lower jaw  17  is to be moved in order to access first cavity  13  with inserted fabric  25  therein). 
         [0037]    Pressure is applied to urge upper jaw  18  in a direction away from member  26 . End portion  27 , or end portion  28 , can also be moved with outward pressure i.e. outward from divider  15 , in order to access respective cavities  13  and  14 . Each of base  11  and member  26  may also impart tension being a spring like tension inward towards divider  15 . In regards to accessing cavity  14 , after separating end portion  27  from upper jaw  18 , a desired fabric material  25  is then placed into cavity  14 . Typically, a fabric tool, which is outside the scope of the invention but known in the art, is used to both move or open upper jaw  18  and insert a portion of the fabric  25  into a cavity. Pressure from upper jaw  18  and protrusions  21   a  and  21   b  is applied against member  26  and protrusions  23   a  and  23   b  on end portion  27 . The fabric material  25  is pushed into cavity  14 . Protrusion  21   b  nests within channel  22 . Protrusion  23   b  nests within channel  24 . The tension applied by upper jaw  18  in the direction of member  26  with the contact of each of protrusions  21   a ,  21   b ,  23   a , and  23   b , grasps the material and holds it in place between upper jaw  18  and end portion  27 . 
         [0038]    The arrangement of protrusions and channels on each of jaws  17  and  18  and on the interior of base  11  and member  26  increase the surface area and more effectively provide for a securing of material  25  to track  10 . 
         [0039]    Jaw track  10  of the present invention improves upon previously used tracks by providing first cavity  13  and second cavity  14  that are divided from a single larger chamber. The user than selects either first cavity  13  or second cavity  14  by urging either lower jaw  17  or upper jaw  18  from a resting position to provide access to the desired first cavity  13  or second cavity  14 . Additionally, divider  15  has some flexibility to accommodate the excess fabric  25  to be held within one of the first cavity  13  or second cavity  14 . 
         [0040]    As seen in  FIG. 1 , cavity  13  is closer to base  11  and cavity  14  is further from base  11  than cavity  13 . Thus, a single track device  10  can accommodate multiple mounting needs by providing the user with the choice of selecting an appropriate cavity based on the mounting needs of a particular configuration. 
         [0041]    As shown in Detail A of  FIG. 1 , second cavity  14  holds material  25 . 
         [0042]    The jaw track of the present invention may be formed of any suitable material. In a preferred embodiment, the jaw track is formed of a plastic having a durometer type “D” hardness of between about 65-90. A more preferred range has a durometer type “D” hardness of 67-83. Also preferred is durometer type “D” hardness of 72-78. One suitable plastic found to be particularly suitable has a durometer type “D” hardness of 75. 
         [0043]    While the invention has been described in its preferred form or embodiment with some degree of particularity, it is understood that this description has been given only by way of example and that numerous changes in the details of construction, fabrication, and use, including the combination and arrangement of parts, may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.