Abstract:
A switching fabric securing system and method is described. In one embodiment, the system includes a fabric rod; at least one piece of fabric draped over the fabric rod; and a pin assembly for securing at least one piece of fabric to the fabric rod. In another embodiment, the method includes draping at least one piece of fabric over a rod; and inserting at least one pin assembly through at least one piece of fabric to secure the at least one piece of fabric to the rod.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0001]     1. Field of the Invention  
         [0002]     Embodiments of the present invention generally relate to the hanging, using, and/or displaying of fabric. More particularly, the invention relates to an apparatus and method which utilize at least one pin and rack assembly to secure the fabric to a fabric support rod.  
         [0003]     2. Description of the Related Art  
         [0004]     Over the years, numerous arrangements and devices have been employed for supporting a towel, tapestry, curtains, tapestry, and various other fabric. For example, some arrangements have included merely draping a towel over a rod. However, one drawback to this type of arrangement is that the towel must be balanced on the rod so that the towel (or other fabric) does not fall off of the rod.  
         [0005]     Other arrangements have included one or more loops joined to a towel edge for fitting over an appropriate hook. In these arrangements, holes or openings are formed in a towel (or other fabric) to fit a hook through; such holes have been formed such that the towel (or other fabric) hangs at an angle from the hook. Further, when an attempt is made to center the fabric on the hook, the fabric often does not drape in a substantially normal preferred orientation. Another arrangement, as disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,565,144 of Ricci, arranges an opening or slot on the bias across the towel weave, setting that slot back a minimum distance from the towel edges at a corner.  
         [0006]     Pin and rack assemblies are typically used in tie tacks and ear rings. When used as a tie tack, an attached pin and a clutch mechanism secure the pin to a tie and shirt. A similar arrangement is sometimes used to attach earrings through pierced ears. The clutch mechanism is simply a gripper portion with either a spring or some other device to frictionally grasp the pin in a removable fashion. U.S. Pat. No. 3,698,044 of Chernow describes a gripper with a resilient plastic resin or rubber as an alternative to a spring mechanism.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0007]     The present invention relates generally to using a pin and clutch assembly in conjunction with a rod to hanging, using, and/or display of fabric. In keeping with these objects and others which may become apparent, the present invention uses a much enlarged version of a jewelry pin with a decorative front portion, long attached pin, and a suitably enlarged clutch mechanism. A fabric item draped over a fabric support rod is secured to the rod by using one or more of the removable pin assemblies with the pin portion driven through both front and back surface of the fabric. In this way, low friction fabric items need not be draped carefully over a rod in such a way as to balance the weight of the front and back portions to resist slipping from the rod. Several applications for this method are described below.  
         [0008]     For example, a single pin assembly can be used to discourage removability of a hand towel from a towel rod while permitting its use. Illustratively, when small children use the towel, it can be adjusted longer on the front surface to make it easier to reach without danger of slipping off the towel rod (if it is retained by at least one pin assembly). Another use is to display flags or tapestries on the wall of a home or public place by simply draping the fabric over a rod and retaining it near a top edge with two or more decorative pin assemblies. The display can be easily changed periodically. This arrangement can be used as well in a carpet store to display carpet samples. In a bed and bath shop, coordinated sets of comforter, sheets and pillow cases can be attractively folded and draped over a rod for vertical display. The items are adjusted for aesthetic appeal and locked in place with a number of pin assemblies. This type of display permits customers to examine the texture of each item without disturbing the displayed items. Additionally, the visible front portion of the pin assembly can display the logo or name of the manufacturer in a prominent fashion. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0009]     So that the manner in which the above recited features of the present invention can be understood in detail, a more particular description of the invention, briefly summarized above, may be had by reference to embodiments, some of which are illustrated in the appended drawings. It is to be noted, however, that the appended drawings illustrate only typical embodiments of this invention and are therefore not to be considered limiting of its scope, for the invention may admit to other equally effective embodiments.  
         [0010]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a prior art pin assembly;  
         [0011]      FIG. 2  is a side view of prior art pin assembly with clutch mechanism in cross-section;  
         [0012]      FIG. 3  is a side elevation of an embodiment of a pin assembly for use in conjunction with the invention;  
         [0013]      FIG. 4  is a front view of an embodiment of a decorative front portion of a pin assembly for use in conjunction with the invention;  
         [0014]      FIG. 5  is a perspective view of a single pin assembly used to secure a hand towel to a towel rod;  
         [0015]      FIG. 6  is a perspective view showing an embodiment of the invention to display a flag or tapestry on a wall; and,  
         [0016]      FIG. 7  is a front view showing a coordinated display of multiple fabrics draped over a rod using pin assemblies. 
     
    
       [0017]     To facilitate understanding, identical reference numerals have been used, wherever possible, to designate identical elements that are common to the figures.  
       DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT  
       [0018]     So that the manner in which the above recited features of the invention are attained and can be understood in detail, a more particular description of the invention, briefly summarized above, may be had by reference to the embodiments thereof which are illustrated in the appended drawings.  
         [0019]     It is to be noted, however, that the appended drawings illustrate only typical embodiments of this invention and are therefore not to be considered limiting of its scope, for the invention may admit to other equally effective embodiments.  
         [0020]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a prior art pin assembly. Specifically,  FIG. 1  shows a prior art pin assembly  1  with a decorative pearl  2  attached to pin  3  with a clutch mechanism  4  slideably mounted on pin  3 . The clutch mechanism  4  includes a housing  6  having a first or gripper end  10  which is substantially covered or enclosed, and which forms an integral part of the housing  6 , and a second or abutment end  8  which is open. The housing also includes a longitudinal bore  12 . The pin  3  is inserted into the housing  6  via the longitudinal bore  12 , first through the abutment end  8  towards the gripper end  10 . In addition, the pin  3  extends beyond the clutch mechanism  4  (i.e., beyond the gripper end  10 ).  
         [0021]      FIG. 2  shows a cross-section of the prior art pin assembly  1  depicted in  FIG. 1 . For brevity, those elements already described with respect to  FIG. 1  which are shown in  FIG. 2  will not be repeated. In addition, to the elements described in  FIG. 1 ,  FIG. 2  also depicts the clutch mechanism  4  having a resilient plastic or rubber material  5  rather than a typical spring gripper.  
         [0022]      FIG. 3  is a side elevation of an embodiment of a pin assembly  10  for use in conjunction with the invention. Specifically,  FIG. 3  shows the pin assembly  10  of this invention having a pin  12 , a decorative front portion  11 , and clutch mechanism  14 . The decorative front portion  11  is attached to a distal end  14  of the pin  12 . The proximal end (not shown) of the pin  12  is inserted into a bore (not shown) within clutch mechanism  14 . The clutch mechanism  14  has a closed end  16 . The decorative front end  11  is substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the pin  12 . Because the pin assembly  10  may be used to secure various types of fabric to a support rod (not shown), the length of the pin  12  will vary depending upon the fabric that the pin assembly  12  is intended to secure to the support rod. Thus, pin  12  is relatively long so as not to distort fabric (while in use) which may be draped over a reasonably large diameter support rod. The proximal end of pin  12  is fairly sharp to easily penetrate fabrics. Clutch mechanism  14  is of the design which denies through penetration of pin  12  so as to protect the user from the sharpened proximal end  12 .  
         [0023]      FIG. 4  is a front view of an embodiment of a decorative front portion  11  of the pin assembly  10  for use in conjunction with the invention. Specifically,  FIG. 4  is a front view of the decorative portion  11  having a dimension D. Dimension D varies in size depending on the fabric that the pin assembly  10  is intended to secure to the support rod. Illustratively, dimension D is typically equal to or larger than one inch (several centimeters).  
         [0024]      FIG. 5  shows the use of a single pin assembly  10  used to deny easily removal of a hand towel  17  from fabric support rod  16 . The hand towel  17  when draped over the fabric support rod  16  has a front portion  18  and a rear portion  20 . Only the front decorative portion  11  of the pin assembly  10  is visible while the pin assembly  10  is in use. The pin assembly  10  shown is  FIG. 5  operates as described with respect to  FIG. 4  and for brevity is not repeated.  
         [0025]     The pin assembly  10  may be removed to allow a user to adjust the towel  17  or to reverse the towel  17  so that the rear portion  20  is exposed to the user and the front portion  18  is behind the rear portion  20  (i.e., away from the user&#39;s view). Thus, towel  17  can be adjusted with a longer front portion  18 , if desired, since pin assembly  10  prevents the towel  17  from sliding off the towel rod  16 .  
         [0026]      FIG. 6  is a perspective view showing an embodiment of the invention to display a flag or tapestry on a wall. Specifically,  FIG. 6  illustrates the use of two pin assemblies  10  to retain a fabric (illustratively a flag or tapestry)  21  on fabric support rod  20  which is attached to wall  22 . Each of the pin assemblies  10  is inserted into the flag or tapestry  21  substantially parallel to each other. However, it is appreciated that each of the pin assemblies  10  need not be positioned substantially parallel to each other. The pin assemblies  10  operate as described above with respect to  FIGS. 4 and 5 . For brevity the operation of pin assemblies  10  is not repeated.  
         [0027]      FIG. 7  is a front view showing a coordinated display of multiple fabrics draped over a fabric support rod using multiple pin assemblies  10 . Specifically,  FIG. 7  illustrates the use of three pin assemblies  10  in a store display  25  showing a vertical display of a coordinated bedding set on rod  26 . The arrangement illustratively shows folded pillow case  29 , sheet  28 , and comforter  27  being displayed together. In various embodiments, a manufacturer&#39;s logo  30  is emblazoned on the surface of front portion  11  of each pin assembly  10 . The pin assemblies  10  operate as described with respect to  FIGS. 4 and 5 . For brevity, that description is incorporated by reference into the description of  FIG. 7 .  
         [0028]     In the foregoing description, certain terms and visual depictions are used to illustrate various embodiments of the invention. However, no unnecessary limitations are to be construed by the terms used or illustrations depicted, beyond what is shown in the prior art, since the terms and illustrations are exemplary only, and are not meant to limit the scope of the present invention. Thus, while the foregoing is directed to embodiments of the present invention, other and further embodiments of the invention may be devised without departing from the basic scope thereof, and the scope thereof is determined by the claims that follow.