Abstract:
An integrated rockably released leverage snap fastening system may be removably fastened to the male snap to hold at least one item such as a tarpaulin in place to a boat or the like. To facilitate unfastening, male snap and rockable lever snap assembly cooperatively combine to create a class 1 lever system which may permit a user to rockably release the snap while reducing risk of damage to the tarpaulin. Various embodiments are discussed.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
     The present application is a Continuation-in-Part (CIP) related to and claims priority from pending non-provisional application Ser. No. 12/901,384 filed Oct. 8, 2010 which applications are incorporated herein by reference. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates generally to the field of fastening devices and more specifically relates to snaps, to an integrated rockably released leverage pressure snap fastening system. 
     2. Description of the Related Art 
     Snaps are a fastening device used to hold devices to objects however conventional snaps are often difficult to fasten and unfasten due to inherent frictional forces. As a result an individual may have to exert an unnecessary amount of force to unfasten a snap which may lead to injury to the user. Snaps may be used to affix a canvas cover (tarpaulin) to a vehicle, these too by way of example, may become especially rigid and difficult to unfasten resulting from exposure to the elements. Further, a risk of using too much force when unsnapping a snap fastener may lead to damage to the cover. Struggling with snaps may also waste a user&#39;s time. Many times the snap will cause the tarpaulin to tear when manipulated given the small amount of surface area of the snap in contact with the tarpaulin. Thus a need exists for an ergonomic snap that is easy to be fastened and unfastened repeatedly. 
     Various attempts have been made to solve the above-mentioned problems such as those found in U.S. Pat. No. 777,043 to McLean; U.S. Pat. No. 3,414,949 to Andrews; U.S. Pat. No. 1,938,878 to Van Blankensteyn; U.S. Pat. No. 5,175,911 to Terrels et al.; and U.S. Pat. No. 4,608,734 to Schiller. This prior art is representative of fastening button snaps. None of the above inventions and patents, taken either singly or in combination, is seen to describe the invention as claimed. 
     Ideally, a snap assembly should operate reliably as a lever and be manufactured at a modest expense. Thus, a need exists for an ergonomic snap that may easily be fastened and unfastened repeatedly without damage to the tarpaulin and to avoid the above-mentioned problems. 
     BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     In view of the foregoing disadvantages inherent in the known fastening art, the present invention provides a novel snap device. The general purpose of the present invention, which will be described subsequently in greater detail, is to provide a snap with integrated leverage for facilitating the efficient snapping and un-snapping of the snap device. 
     An integrated rockably released leverage snap fastening system is disclosed herein comprising (in a first embodiment): a first rockable lever snap assembly having; a female snap; a body; and a rivet. The first rockable lever snap assembly comprises in combination the female snap, the body and the (single) rivet. The female snap is connected to the body via the rivet; the rivet passing through a first side and a second side of a tarpaulin; wherein the body is located on the first side of the tarpaulin in use, the body accessible by a user to manipulate the first rockable lever snap assembly. The female snap is located on the second side of the tarpaulin in use; wherein the tarpaulin is ‘sandwiched’ between the body and the female snap in use, the rivet passing through the tarpaulin fixedly joining the body and the female snap. 
     In this particular embodiment the body of the rockable lever snap assembly comprises a cammed-upper surface and a planar bottom surface. The cammed-upper surface comprises a lobe in a half-moon-shape such that the user is able to press down on a first-end of the cammed-upper surface and pull up on a second-end such that the first rockable lever snap assembly is able to act in a capacity of a lever when ‘rocked’. The planar bottom surface of the body comprises a flat-surface such that the body of the integrated rockably released leverage snap fastening system is able to cover an increased surface area on the tarpaulin underneath the body so as to prevent ripping of the tarpaulin when the first rockable lever snap assembly is removed from a male snap located on an object (such as a boat, RV, vehicle or the like) via levering. The male snap and the first rockable lever snap assembly in combination create a class one lever system wherein the male snap comprises a fulcrum; and wherein the first rockable lever snap assembly is removably fastened to the male snap to hold the tarpaulin in place on the object when desired. 
     The integrated rockably released leverage snap fastening system, in a second embodiment, preferably comprises: a second-rockable-lever-snap-assembly having an upper body portion (having exactly two rivets, the two rivets integral with the upper body portion); and a lower body portion having (exactly one female snap, and two rivet-receiving apertures), the female snap integral with the lower body portion; wherein the second-rockable-lever-snap-assembly comprises in combination the upper body portion, and the lower body portion. The rivets pass through a first side and a second side of a tarpaulin and through the rivet-receiving apertures (in use). 
     The upper body portion is located on the first side of the tarpaulin in use, the upper body portion accessible by a user to manipulate the second-rockable-lever-snap-assembly. The female snap is positioned (located) via the lower body portion on the second side of the tarpaulin in use; wherein the tarpaulin is ‘sandwiched’ between the upper body portion and the lower body portion in use, the rivets passing through the tarpaulin fixedly joining the upper body portion and the lower body portion. The upper body portion and the lower body portion of the second-rockable-lever-snap-assembly comprise a first planar bottom surface and a second planar bottom surface, respectively. The second-rockable-lever-snap-assembly is able to act in the capacity of a lever, the upper body portion and the lower body portion comprising a surface area significantly greater than the female snap. 
     The upper body portion and the lower body portion are held together via the exactly two rivets, a first of the rivets (first-rivet) located on a left side of the female snap and a second of the rivets (second-rivet) located on a right side of the female snap. The two rivets providing excellent securing means for durability in use and longevity of the product. The upper body portion is substantially elliptically shaped and comprises the first planar bottom surface comprising a first flat-surface such that the upper body portion of the integrated rockably released leverage snap fastening system is able to cover an increased surface area on the tarpaulin (in contact with the tarpaulin underneath the upper body portion) so as to prevent ripping of the tarpaulin when the second-rockable-lever-snap-assembly is manipulated by the user. 
     The lower body portion is also preferably elliptically shaped and comprises the second planar bottom surface comprising a second flat-surface such that the lower body portion of the integrated rockably released leverage snap fastening system is able to cover an increased surface area on the tarpaulin (above the lower body portion) so as to prevent ripping of the tarpaulin when the second-rockable-lever-snap-assembly is removed from a male snap located on an object (such as a boat, vehicle or the like) via levering. The male snap and the second-rockable-lever-snap-assembly in combination create a class one lever system wherein the male snap comprises a fulcrum. The second-rockable-lever-snap-assembly is removably fastened to the male snap to hold the tarpaulin in place on the object. 
     The present invention discloses an integrated rockably released leverage snap fastening system which may provide a user with an ergonomic snap assembly for quick and virtually effortless fastening and unfastening. In this manner, the male snap provides (is) a fulcrum and the female snap acts as a lever as designed. The user is able to rock his or her thumb (or other finger) in a downward motion from the center of the integrated rockably released leverage snap to unfasten the female portion from the male snap(s) without ripping the tarp. 
     Furthermore, in appreciation of the various services and needs of snaps, the integrated leverage snap may be available in various sizes to accommodate user preferences and needs. The exact dimensions, materials used for construction and method of operation of integrated leverage snap may vary upon manufacturing. Other embodiments may comprise different shapes. Convex and concave versions may be manufactured. 
     The present invention holds significant improvements and serves as an integrated leverage snap system. For purposes of summarizing the invention, certain aspects, advantages, and novel features of the invention have been described herein. It is to be understood that not necessarily all such advantages may be achieved in accordance with any one particular embodiment of the invention. Thus, the invention may be embodied or carried out in a manner that achieves or optimizes one advantage or group of advantages as taught herein without necessarily achieving other advantages as may be taught or suggested herein. The features of the invention which are believed to be novel are particularly pointed out and distinctly claimed in the concluding portion of the specification. These and other features, aspects, and advantages of the present invention will become better understood with reference to the following drawings and detailed description. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The figures which accompany the written portion of this specification illustrate embodiments and method(s) of use for the present invention, integrated rockably released leverage snap fastening system, constructed and operative according to the teachings of the present invention. 
         FIG. 1  shows a perspective view illustrating an integrated rockably released leverage snap fastening system used to secure a tarpaulin to a boat according to an embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 2  is a perspective view illustrating a first rockable lever snap assembly of the integrated rockably released leverage snap fastening system as attached to the boat (or other object) according to an embodiment of the present invention of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 3  is a perspective view illustrating the first rockable lever snap assembly according to an embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 4  is a perspective view illustrating different indicia and designs of another alternate embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 5  is a perspective view illustrating a second-rockable-lever-snap-assembly comprising an upper body portion and a lower body portion (with a female snap) according to an embodiment of the present invention. 
     
    
    
     The various embodiments of the present invention will hereinafter be described in conjunction with the appended drawings, wherein like designations denote like elements. 
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     As discussed above, embodiments of the present invention relate to an integrated rockably released leverage snap fastening system and more particularly to an improved fastening method and device for snappably securing at least one item in place. 
     Referring to the drawings by numerals of reference there is shown in  FIGS. 1-5 , perspective views illustrating integrated rockably released leverage snap fastening system  100  according to various embodiments of the present invention. 
     Referring now to first rockable lever snap assembly  110  (as shown in  FIGS. 1-3 ) which preferably comprises (in a first embodiment): first rockable lever snap assembly  110  having; a (single) female snap  120 ; body  130 ; and rivet  140 . First rockable lever snap assembly  110  comprises in combination female snap  120 , body  130 , and (single) rivet  140 . Female snap  120  is connected to body  130  via rivet  140 ; rivet  140  passing through first side  182  and second side  184  of tarpaulin  180  (shown in  FIGS. 2 and 3 ); wherein body  130  is located on the (upperside) first side  182  of tarpaulin  180  in use, body  130  is thereby accessible for use by a user to manipulate first rockable lever snap assembly  110 . Female snap  120  is located on the (underside) second side  184  of the tarpaulin  180  in use; wherein the tarpaulin  180  is thereby sandwiched between body  130  and the female snap  120  in use, the rivet  140  passing through the tarpaulin  180  fixedly joining the body  130  and the female snap  120 . In this way the present invention is secured to the tarpaulin  180 . 
     In this particular embodiment, the body  130  of first rockable lever snap assembly  110  preferably comprises cammed-upper surface  132  and a planar bottom surface  134 , such that it is convenient to manipulate. Cammed-upper surface  132  comprises a lobe in a half-moon-shape  133  such that the user is able to press down with relative ease and comfort on a first-end  136  of the cammed-upper surface  132  and pull up on a second-end  138  (indicated in  FIG. 2 ) such that the first rockable lever snap assembly  110  is able to act in a capacity of a lever when ‘rocked’. To remove the tarpaulin  180  the user pulls in the direction indicated by the directional arrow. The planar bottom surface  134  of the body  130  comprises a flat-surface  135  such that the body  130  of the integrated rockably released leverage snap fastening system  100  is able to cover an increased surface area (as compared to that of conventional snaps) on the tarpaulin  180  underneath the body  130  so as to effectively prevent ripping of the tarpaulin  180  when the first rockable lever snap assembly  110  is removed from a male snap  190  located on an object (such as a boat  170 , RV, vehicle or the like) via levering. The male snap  190  and the first rockable lever snap assembly  110  in combination create a class one lever system wherein the male snap  190  comprises a fulcrum; and wherein the first rockable lever snap assembly  110  is removably fastened to the male snap  190  to hold the tarpaulin  180  in place on the object when desired. 
     Referring now to second-rockable-lever-snap-assembly  200  (as shown in  FIG. 5 ); integrated rockably released leverage snap fastening system  100  in a second embodiment preferably comprises a second-rockable-lever-snap-assembly  200  having an upper body portion  210  (having exactly two rivets  240 , the two rivets  240  integral with the upper body portion  210 ); and a lower body portion  220  (having exactly one female snap  230 , and two rivet-receiving apertures  250 ), the female snap  230  integral with the lower body portion  220 ; wherein the second-rockable-lever-snap-assembly  200  comprises in combination the upper body portion  210 , and the lower body portion  220 . The rivets  240  (both) pass through a first side  182  and a second side  184  of a tarpaulin  180  and through the rivet-receiving apertures  250  in use. 
     The upper body portion  210  is located on the first side of the tarpaulin  180  in use; the upper body portion  210  is thereby accessible by a user to manipulate the second-rockable-lever-snap-assembly  200 . The female snap  230  is positioned via the lower body portion  220  on the second side  184  of the tarpaulin  180  in use adjacent the object to be fastened to via the male snap  190 ; wherein the tarpaulin  180  is sandwiched between the upper body portion  210  and the lower body portion  220  in use, the rivets  240  passing through the tarpaulin  180  fixedly joining the upper body portion  210  and the lower body portion  220 . The upper body portion  210  and the lower body portion  220  of the second-rockable-lever-snap-assembly  200  comprise a first planar bottom surface  212  and a second planar bottom surface  222 , respectively. The second-rockable-lever-snap-assembly  200  is able to act in the capacity of a (rockable) lever, the upper body portion  210  and the lower body portion  220  comprising a surface area significantly greater than the female snap  230 . 
     The upper body portion  210  and the lower body portion  220  are held together via the exactly two rivets  240 , a first of the rivets  240  (first-rivet  242 ) located on a left side of the female snap  230  and a second of the rivets  240  (second-rivet  244 ) located on a right side of the female snap  230 . The upper body portion  210  is preferably substantially elliptically shaped (to reduce stress on the tarpaulin  180  about the edges of the female snap  230 ) and comprises the first planar bottom surface  212  comprising a first flat-surface  214  such that the upper body portion  210  of the integrated rockably released leverage snap fastening system  100  is able to cover an increased surface area on the tarpaulin  180  (underneath the upper body portion  210 ) so as to prevent ripping of the tarpaulin  180  when the second-rockable-lever-snap-assembly  200  is manipulated by the user. Both sides of the tarpaulin  180  are able to realize less stress using the present invention given the increased surface area contact present. 
     The lower body portion  220  is preferably elliptically shaped (as well) and comprises the second planar bottom surface  222  comprising a second flat-surface  224  such that the lower body portion  220  of the integrated rockably released leverage snap fastening system  100  is able to cover an increased surface area on the tarpaulin  180  (above the lower body portion  220 ) so as to help prevent ripping of the tarpaulin  180  when the second-rockable-lever-snap-assembly  200  is removed from a male snap  190  located on an object (such as a boat  170 , as shown in  FIG. 1 , or vehicle or the like) via levering. The male snap  190  and the second-rockable-lever-snap-assembly  200  in combination create a class one lever system wherein the male snap  190  comprises a fulcrum. The second-rockable-lever-snap-assembly  200  is removably fastened to the male snap  190  to hold the tarpaulin  180  in place on the object. 
     The present invention discloses integrated rockably released leverage snap fastening system  100  which may provide a user with an ergonomic snap assembly for quick and virtually effortless fastening and unfastening. In this manner, the male snap provides (is) a fulcrum and female snap  230  acts as a lever as designed. The user is able to rock his or her thumb (or other finger) in a downward motion from the center of the integrated rockably released leverage snap to unfasten the female portion from the male snap(s)  190  without ripping the tarpaulin  180 . In this way considerably less effort is required to remove the tarpaulin  180 . 
     Referring now to  FIG. 4 , illustrating a perspective view of integrated rockably released leverage snap fastening system  100 . In alternative embodiments, rockable lever snap assembly  400  may comprise round shaped rockable plate  415  with a logo “SNAP.EZE”. Upon reading this specification, it should be appreciated that, under appropriate circumstances, considering such issues as user preferences, design preference, structural requirements, marketing preferences, cost, available materials, technological advances, etc., alternative embodiments comprising custom preference indicia  400 , designs such as fish, sporting goods, advertisements, of various dimensions etc., may be sufficient. 
     The embodiments of the invention described herein are exemplary and numerous modifications, variations and rearrangements can be readily envisioned to achieve substantially equivalent results, all of which are intended to be embraced within the spirit and scope of the invention. Further, the purpose of the foregoing abstract is to enable the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office and the public generally, and especially the scientist, engineers and practitioners in the art who are not familiar with patent or legal terms or phraseology, to determine quickly from a cursory inspection the nature and essence of the technical disclosure of the application.