Patent Publication Number: US-2015082601-A1

Title: Crimping apparatus

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
     This application claims the benefit of priority of U.S. provisional application No. 61/882,167, filed Sep. 25, 2013, the contents of which are herein incorporated by reference. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to a crimping apparatus and, more particularly, to a crimping apparatus that attaches objects to materials using a malleable fastener. 
     Currently, there are limitations to attaching objects to various materials as well as limitations of materials that allow attachment. Attaching objects can be difficult and time consuming. Further, the attachment can be weak and at other times be difficult to separate when needed. An example is adhesives which do not adhere to many objects and materials. The resulting attachment can be very weak or conversely very difficult to separate without causing damage. Mechanical attachment such as screws may not work on many materials or objects. 
     As can be seen, there is a need for an improved crimping apparatus that attaches objects to materials using a malleable fastener. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     In one aspect of the present invention, a crimping apparatus comprises: a crimping platform comprising a top surface and a bottom surface, wherein the top surface comprises at least one cut out portion comprising an inner surface and at least one retaining bar extending over the at least one cut out portion, forming a gap in between the at least one retaining bar and the inner surface. 
     In another aspect of the present invention, a method of attaching materials to objects comprises: providing a crimping platform comprising a top surface and a bottom surface, wherein the top surface comprises two cut out portions, each comprising an inner surface, and two retaining bars extending over the at least one cut out portion, forming a gap in between each of the retaining bars and the inner surfaces; permanently affixing the bottom surface of the crimping platform to an object; placing a material over the top surface of the crimping platform; and stapling a staple into the crimping platform so that the ends of the staple bend around the two retaining bars, thereby securing the staple to the crimping platform. 
     These and other features, aspects and advantages of the present invention will become better understood with reference to the following drawings, description and claims. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of the present invention, shown in use; 
         FIG. 2  is a perspective view of the present invention; 
         FIG. 3  is an exploded view of the present invention; 
         FIG. 4  is an exploded view of the present invention; 
         FIG. 5  is a section view of the present invention, taken along line  5 - 5  in  FIG. 2 ; 
         FIG. 6  is a perspective view of the present invention, illustrating the placement of the material onto the crimping platform for insertion into a stapler; 
         FIG. 7  is a section view of the present invention, taken along line  7 - 7  in  FIG. 1 , with the upper portion of the stapler not shown for clarity; 
         FIG. 8  is a section view of the present invention, illustrating the initial insertion of the malleable fastener; 
         FIG. 9  is a section view of the present invention, illustrating the crimping of the malleable fastener; and 
         FIG. 10  is a section view of the present invention, with a crimped fastener attaching the material to the object. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     The following detailed description is of the best currently contemplated modes of carrying out exemplary embodiments of the invention. The description is not to be taken in a limiting sense, but is made merely for the purpose of illustrating the general principles of the invention, since the scope of the invention is best defined by the appended claims. 
     The present invention includes a crimp platform apparatus to attach objects using malleable fasteners, such as staples. The present invention attaches objects to other materials using malleable fasteners that conform to the crimp platform and thus lock it in place. This allows a large variety of objects to be attached to a large variety of materials. This apparatus creates an attachment in a process that is easy and rapid. The created attachment is strong but can be easily separated if needed. 
     The platform with the crimp pattern may be built into the back side of an object. The platform with the crimp pattern can also be created separately and applied to the object using different methods, including adhesives. The platform with the reverse crimp pattern may be placed on the opposite side of the object. This reverse crimp pattern may stabilize and align the object when it is situated on a surface that conforms to its shape, such as a stapler crimp platform. The material that the object is to attach to is applied over the crimp pattern. This material can vary and can include paper, cloth, rubber, and plastic. A malleable fastener, such as a staple, can then be applied on the crimp pattern using a common device, such as a stapler. This malleable staple goes through the material and then contacts the platform and conforms to the crimp pattern. The malleable staple is firmly attached to the platform due to the specific crimp pattern that holds it in place and does not allow the staple to be released. The object, which has the crimp platform built into it or applied to it, is thus firmly attached to the material. The platform with the reverse crimp pattern can then be removed from the other, front side of the object. This reveals the full face of the object, which is now firmly attached to the material. 
     Referring to  FIGS. 1 through 10 , the present invention includes a crimping apparatus  10 . The crimping apparatus  10  includes a crimping platform  14 . The crimping platform  14  includes a top surface and a bottom surface. The top surface may include at least one cut out portion  16 , such as two cutout portions  16 . The cut out portions  16  may include an inner surface. A retaining bar  18  may extend over each of the cut out portions  16  forming a gap in between the retaining bar  18  and the inner surface of the cut out portion  16 . 
     The crimping apparatus  10  may be used to attach an object  28  to a material  30 . The bottom surface of the crimping platform  14  may be permanently affixed to the object  28 . In certain embodiments, the object  28  may be manufactured with the crimping platform  14 . Alternatively, the crimping platform  14  may be adhered to the object  28  by a permanent adhesive  24 . The material  30 , such as paper, cloth, rubber, and the like may be placed over the cut out portions  16 . A malleable fastener, such as a staple  38  may puncture the material  30  and enter the cutout portions  16 . 
     The cut out portions  16  of the present invention may be sized to receive the ends of the staple  38 . The staple  38  is applied to the crimping platform  14  using a stapler  32 . The malleable staple  38  goes through the material  30  and then contacts the inner surface of the crimping platform  14 . The staple  38  conforms to the crimp pattern, i.e. the inner surface of the cutout portions  16  and the retaining bars  18 . The malleable staple  38  is firmly attached to the platform  14  due to the retaining bars  18  that holds it in place and does not allow the staple  38  to be released. The object  28 , which has the crimping platform  14  built into it or applied to it, is thus firmly attached to the material  30 . 
     In certain embodiments, the present invention may further include a stabilizer platform  20 . The stabilizer platform  20  may include a top surface and a bottom surface. The bottom surface may include at least one stabilizer nub  22 , such as two stabilizer nubs  22 . The stabilizer nubs  22  are sized to fit within a stapler crimp plate cavity  36  of a stapler crimp plate  34 . The top surface of the stabilizer platform  20  may include a temporary adhesive  26  and may be temporarily attached to the object  28  on the opposite side of the crimping platform  10 . When in use, the stabilizer nubs  22  may be placed within the stapler crimp plate cavity  36  to stabilize and align the crimping apparatus  10 . A user may then easily staple into the crimping platform  14 . 
     A method of using the present invention may include the following. Determine the object that is to be attached. The platform with the crimp pattern is placed on the back side of the object. It can be placed with strong adhesive, screwed into the object, or be built into the object. The reverse crimp platform is placed on the other side of the object using a temporary adhesive. The reverse crimp platform is aligned with the crimp platform base of a stapler to achieve stabilization and alignment. A material that is to be attached to the object, such as paper, is selected. It can be any material that can be penetrated by a malleable fastener, such as a staple or have openings to allow this. The material is placed over the platform with the crimp pattern, with its front side facing the crimp pattern. Using the stapler, a staple is applied through the paper and proceeds to the crimp platform where it is reshaped and conforms to the crimp pattern. Due to the crimp pattern, the staple remains securely attached. The object may be removed from the stapler. The object is now securely attached to the front side of the paper. The reverse crimp platform is no longer needed and is removed, revealing the complete face of the object. The back side of the paper reveals the staple. A staple remover can be applied here to remove the staple which comes out of the crimp pattern, and thus removes the attachment to the object. The object can thus be easily separated from the paper. 
     The platforms and crimp patterns can be made with different materials and may be used for different functions. For example, the materials may include tissue, plastics, woods, metals, electronics, and cloth. The crimp pattern can be varied to create different types of fixation. Mechanical or mobile elements could be used to provide a variety of functions. Different colors, sizes, styles, and shapes of the various components can be used for different purposes. Different malleable materials can be used for different functions. The above can also be modified and reconfigured to create the same or similar functions. The present invention may be used in the construction, healthcare, manufacturing, education, marketing, and related fields, as well as common, everyday uses. 
     It should be understood, of course, that the foregoing relates to exemplary embodiments of the invention and that modifications may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as set forth in the following claims.