Patent Publication Number: US-6212800-B1

Title: Apparatus for positionally retaining flexible material

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The invention relates, in general to an apparatus for positionally retaining flexible material. In particular the invention relates to an apparatus for positionally retaining quilting material, craft projects, and flexible fabric. More particularly the invention relates to an apparatus for positionally retaining materials quilting wherein the apparatus has a plurality of positions relative to the quilter or user. Each selected position creates a hands free environment for quilting or craft projects. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Flexible materials that provide warmth have changed and matured over the years. For example, quilts at on time were thought of only as a means to keep warm or as a bed cover. Historically, a quilt is a coverlet or blanket made of two layers of fabric with a layer of cotton, wool, feathers, or down in-between. All are stitched firmly together usually in a decorative crisscross design. Today, quilts are still used for warmth and bed comforters but they are also works of art. The International Quilt Festival, Houston, Tex., 1999 evidenced the art form to which quilts have become. Quilts have become fabric mosaics depicting important events in people&#39;s lives and events in history. The quality and artistry of the quilters is comparable to traditional works of art. 
     Quilting has become a business, a recreational activity, and a source of joy for men and women alike. Machines to hold quilting material have evolved from a simplistic hoop positioned on a person&#39;s lap to very large quilting mechanisms used in factories. The quilting mechanisms used by individuals outside of a factory setting are generally quilting stands used to support the quilting material. In generally, these stands evolved from stretcher frames and embroidery hoops. These types of quilting frames are generally round. Quilts are inherently square or rectangular. The plurality of quilting workpieces used to produce a single quilt are inherently square because the quilt is square. Stretcher frames and embroidery hoops provided the quilter with a hands free environment but the quilter would be required to frequently reposition the quilting material because of the inherent difficulty in matching a square pattern to a round hoop. 
     In the past quilting machines that provide a hands free environment for the quilter had limited mobility and could only be positioned in a limited number of ways. The quilting stand was generally fixed or rigid and could not be easily moved, stored, or transported. The rigidity was thought to be necessary to support the weight of the quilting material. The engineering effort of the past equated weight to rigidity and rightly so. The strength of materials in the past is not the strength of materials today. 
     The engineering design of quilting machines or frames to be useful in quilting requires the frame to be multi-positionable. The multiple positions of the frame in relation to the quilter enables the quilter to quilt with both hands provided the frame can be locked into the selected position. In the past attempts were made to lock or clamp the frame in-place. These efforts failed because the locking or clamping mechanism was borrowed from another industry and did not lend itself to quilting. These clamping mechanisms were for positioning workpieces relative to a machine that would do work on selected workpieces. 
     It would be desirable to have an apparatus for positionally retaining flexible material that is easy to disassemble and fold into a compact unit for transport. The apparatus would have a substantially rectangular hoop or retaining mechanism to hold the flexible material. The hoop would be multi-positionable and enable an operator or user to use both hands when performing activities such as quilting. The retaining mechanism would be able to rotate 360° (degrees) in the vertical plane relative to the user. The retaining mechanism would be able to rotate 360° (degrees) in the horizontal plane relative to the user. The retaining mechanism would be positionally adjustable in the vertical plane relative to the user to accommodate a seated or standing user. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention is a transportable multi-positionable apparatus for retaining flexible material. The present invention has a substantially rectangular hoop or retaining mechanism to hold the flexible material. The retaining mechanism may, if desired, be swivelable and positionally connected to a substantially rectangular footed stand member. The swivel action permits the retaining mechanism to rotate 360° (degrees) both the vertical and horizontal plane relative to a seated or standing user. The retaining mechanism may, if desired, be adjustably positioned vertically relative to the seated or standing user. The present invention creates a positionable and hands free environment for the seated or standing user. 
     The substantially rectangular footed stand member has an upright substantially rectangular portion selectively connected to a substantially rectangular footed portion. One end of an elongated cantilever member is connected to one end of the upright portion oppositely spaced from the substantially rectangular footed portion. The cantilever member&#39;s other end has the flexible material retaining mechanism mounted thereto via a clamping mechanism. The cantilever member may, if desired, be selectively adjusted in the vertical plane relative to the footed portion of the substantially rectangular footed stand member. 
     The clamping mechanism has an outwardly extending swivelable first shaft that is connected to the base of the retaining mechanism. The first shaft enables the flexible material retaining mechanism to rotate 360° (degrees) in the horizontal plane relative to the footed portion of the substantially rectangular footed stand member. The first shaft may, if desired, be selectively rotated 90° (degrees) with respect to the vertical plane of the footed portion of the substantially rectangular footed stand member. The flexible material retaining mechanism may, if desired, be rotated 360° (degrees) in the vertical plane relative to the footed portion of the substantially rectangular footed stand member. 
     The clamping mechanism has a second outwardly extending shaft. The second shaft traverses one end of the cantilever member oppositely spaced from the upright portion of the substantially rectangular footed stand member. The second shaft is adjustably secured to the cantilever member by an adjusting knob. The other end of the second shaft is connected to a clamping shoe disposed within the clamping mechanism. 
     The clamping shoe partially surrounds the swivel portion of the swivelable first shaft. To selectively position the flexible material retaining mechanism, the adjusting knob is loosened and the retaining mechanism is positioned as desired. The adjusting knob is then tightened causing the clamping shoe to engage the swivel portion of the first shaft and lock the swivel portion in-place. 
     An edge tool may, if desired, be used in concert with the present invention to provide stretching or added weight to the flexible material positioned within the confines of the retaining mechanism. The edge tool may, if desired, be an elongated shaft with a channel or slot disposed along its longitudinal length. One edge of a substantially rectangular flexible sleeve is mounted into the channel or slot. The other edge of the sleeve, oppositely spaced from the channel or slot, is detachably secured to one edge of the flexible material. During the insertion process of the flexible material into the retaining mechanism the edge tool may, if desired, be connected to the material to stretch, pull, or provide weight to the edge of the material facilitating the mounting of the material into the retaining mechanism. 
     When taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings and the appended claims, other features and advantages of the present invention become apparent upon reading the following detailed description of embodiments of the invention. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     The invention is illustrated in the drawings in which like reference characters designate the same or similar parts throughout the figures of which: 
     FIG. 1 illustrates a perspective view diagram of the preferred embodiment of the present invention, 
     FIG. 2 illustrates a perspective exploded view diagram of the quilting material retaining mechanism of FIG. 1, 
     FIG. 3 a  illustrates a perspective view diagram of the inner hoop and adjustable outer hoop of FIG. 2, 
     FIG. 3 b  illustrates a top view diagram of the inner hoop and adjustable outer hoop of FIG. 3 a,    
     FIG. 3 c  illustrates a top view diagram of the outer hoop of FIG. 3 a,    
     FIG. 3 d  illustrates a top view diagram of the inner hoop of FIG. 3 a,    
     FIG. 4 illustrates a perspective view diagram of the cantilever member of FIG. 1, 
     FIG. 5 illustrates a perspective view diagram of the cantilever member mounted to the footed stand of FIG. 1, 
     FIG. 6 illustrates a partial exploded perspective view diagram of the footed stand of FIG. 1, 
     FIG. 7 illustrates a perspective view diagram of the footed stand of FIG. 1, 
     FIG. 8 illustrates a perspective view diagram of the preferred embodiment in a first folded position for storage, 
     FIG. 9 illustrates a perspective view diagram of the preferred embodiment in a second folded position for storage, 
     FIG. 10 illustrates a perspective view diagram of the preferred embodiment in a third folded position for storage, 
     FIG. 11 illustrates a sectional front view diagram of the clamping mechanism of FIG. 1, 
     FIG. 12 illustrates a sectional top view diagram of FIG. 11, 
     FIG. 13 illustrates a sectional side view diagram of FIG. 11, 
     FIG. 14 illustrates a sectional bottom view of FIG. 11, 
     FIG. 15 illustrates a top view diagram of the clamping shoe of FIG. 11, 
     FIG. 16 illustrates a sectional end view diagram of FIG. 15, 
     FIG. 17 illustrates a perspective view diagram of an edge tool. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT OF THE PRESENT INVENTION 
     Before describing in detail the particular improved apparatus for positionally retaining flexible material in accordance with the present invention, it should be observed that the invention resides primarily in a novel structural combination of conventional flexible material retaining apparatuses, discrete subsystems or subassembly components, associated control of the aforementioned flexible material retaining apparatus and components, and not in the particular detailed configuration thereof. Accordingly, the structure, command, control, and arrangement of these conventional components and subassemblies have, for the most part, been illustrated in the drawings by readily understandable diagram representations and schematic diagrams. The drawings show only those specific details that are pertinent to the present invention in order not to obscure the disclosure with structural details which will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art having the benefit of the description herein. For example, the flexible material  12 , FIG. 3 a  has numerous portions or sections that may be used in the process of quilting. Only one portion of the flexible material  12  is illustrated in order to simplify and emphasize those portions of the present invention  10  that are most pertinent. Thus, the schematic diagram illustrations of the Figures do not necessarily represent the mechanical structural arrangement of the exemplary system, and are primarily intended to illustrate major hardware structural components of the system in a convenient functional grouping whereby the present invention may be more readily understood. 
     An Overview of the Present Invention 
     The preferred embodiment of the present invention  10 , FIG. 1 is an apparatus for positionally retaining flexible material. Typically, a person, user, or quilter positions herself adjacent to a substantially rectangular footed stand member  16  in a standing or sitting position. The present invention  10  may, if desired, be conveniently adjusted to numerous positions to accommodate a standing or seated user. The flexible material may, if desired, be placed within the confines of the retaining mechanism  14 . Any type of flexible material known in the art may be used in concert with the present invention  10 . Examples of flexible material are cotton, wool, canvass, plastic, thin wood, thin metal, or polymer composite. The user may, if desired, adjust a clamping mechanism  17  to position or rotate the retaining mechanism to any convenient position. 
     The substantially rectangular footed stand member  16  has an upright substantially rectangular portion  47  selectively connected to a substantially T-shaped footed portion  49 . The substantially rectangular footed stand member  16  has one end of an elongated cantilever member  18  connected to the upright rectangular portion  47 . The other end of the cantilever member  18  is connected to the retaining mechanism  14  via the adjustable clamping mechanism  17 . The retaining mechanism  14  may, if desired, be selectively positioned about the clamping mechanism  17 . The vertical position of the retaining mechanism  14  may, if desired, be selected by adjusting the cantilever member  18  relative to the T-shaped footed portion  49 . 
     A More Detailed Discussion of the Present Invention 
     The Retaining Mechanism 
     The retaining mechanism  14 , FIG. 2 has an elongated arcuately shaped upper bracket  19  with a positioning notch  20  disposed along its longitudinal length. Preferably, the positioning notch  20  is centrally located with respect to the end points  21  and  22 . The end points  21  and  22  are of sufficient size to accommodate the securing of an inner hoop  28 , FIG. 3 a.  The end points  21  and  22  may, if desired, have an aperture disposed therethrough for connecting the upper bracket  19  to the inner hoop  28 . 
     The retaining mechanism  14  has an elongated arcuately shaped lower bracket  24  with a positioning notch  27  disposed along its longitudinal length. Preferably, the positioning notch  27  is centrally located with respect to the its end points  25  and  26 . The end points  25  and  26  are of sufficient size to accommodate the securing of an inner hoop  28 , FIG. 3 a.  The end points  25  and  26  may, if desired, have an aperture disposed therethrough for connecting the lower bracket  24  to the inner hoop  28 . The positioning notches  20  and  27  may, if desired, be positioned in an overlying relationship thereby enabling the weight of the quilting material to be evenly distributed along the longitudinal length of the upper and lower brackets  19  and  24  respectively. 
     A lower bracket plate  29  has a molded or machined top surface  33  sculpted to accommodate portions of the lower bracket  24  and upper bracket  19 . An upper bracket plate  30  has a similar top surface (not shown) to accommodate portions of the lower bracket  24  and the upper bracket  19 . When the upper and lower bracket plates  29  and  30  are assembled about the upper and lower brackets  19  and  24 , they provide a securing mechanism for the aforementioned upper and lower brackets. The upper and lower bracket plates  29 ,  30 , and the upper and lower brackets  19  and  24  have an aligned aperture disposed therethrough. The clamping mechanism  17  has an elongated swivel first shaft  33  extending outwardly. The first shaft  33  traverses the bracket apertures and the brackets are held in place by a retaining washer  32  and first retaining nut  31 . 
     The inner hoop  28 , FIG. 3 a  may, if desired, be any convenient physical geometry. Preferably, the inner hoop  28  is substantially rectangular in shape with rounded corners. Inner hoop  28  has an inner surface  33  surrounding an open area or cavity. The inner hoop  28  also has a plurality of holes (not shown) through which screws may be inserted to securely connect upper and lower brackets  19  and  24 . The inner hoop  28 , FIG. 3 d  has an outer surface that is divided into  8  distinct sections or walls that are contiguous with each other. Each pair of distinct walls is joined at an outwardly extending union along the longitudinal length of the pair of joined walls. The outward extending union is in the range of 2° to 10° (degrees) measured from the horizontal. Preferably, the angle of elevation from the horizontal is about 4° (degrees). The outer surface wall  110  joins outer surface wall  111  at  118  at an elevation angle of about 4°  156 , FIG. 3 d.  Joined to one end of wall  111  is one end of a rounded corner wall  119  and joined at the other end of wall  110  is one end of round corner wall  122 . The rounded corner  119  is connected to the outer wall  112  which joins outer wall  113  at  200  at an elevation angle of about 4°. Joined to one end of wall  113  is one end of a rounded corner wall  120 . The rounded corner  120  is connected to the outer surface wall  114  which joins outer wall  115  at  120  at an elevation angle of about 4°. Joined to one end of wall  115  is one end of a rounded corner surface wall  121 . The rounded corner surface wall  121  is connected to the outer surface wall  116  which joins outer surface wall  117  at  119  at an elevation angle of about 4° (degrees). Joined to one end of wall  117  is one end of the rounded corner wall  122 . The inner hoop  28  has four distinct outwardly extending ledges connected at a 90° (degree) angle from the surface of each pair of outer surface walls. Each ledge conforms to the angular elevation of each pair of outer walls. The ledge  126  is outwardly extending from outer surface walls  111  and  110  at an angle of 90° (degrees). The ledge  123  is outwardly extending from outer surface walls  112  and  113  at an angle of 90° (degrees). The ledge  124  is outwardly extending from outer surface walls  114  and  115  at an angle of 90° (degrees). The ledge  125  is outwardly extending from outer surface walls  116  and  117  at an angle of 90° (degrees). The four outwardly extending ledges are sufficiently sized to receive the outer hoop  35 . The 4 ledges extend outward from the surface of their respective surface walls about {fraction (1/16)} to ½ inch. Preferably, the ledges extend outward about ⅛ inch. 
     The retaining mechanism  14  has an outer hoop  35 , FIG. 3 a  that is sized to fit over the inner hoop  28 . The outer hoop  35  may, if desired, be the same or different geometry as the inner hoop  28 . Preferably, the outer hoop  35  is substantially rectangular in shape with an inner surface  36  and an outer surface  37 . The inner surface  36  surrounds an opening or cavity that is sized to overlay the inner hoop  28 . The outer hoop  35 , FIG. 3 c  has an inner surface that is divided into 8 distinct sections or walls that are contiguous with each other. Each pair of distinct walls is joined at an outwardly extending union along the longitudinal length of the pair of joined walls. The outward extending union is in the range of 2° to 10° (degrees) measured from the horizontal. Preferably, the angle of elevation from the horizontal is about 4° (degrees). The inner surface wall  127  joins inner surface wall  126  at  134  with an elevation angle measured from the horizontal of about 4°  155 , FIG. 3 c.  The inner surface wall  132  joins inner surface wall  133  at  186 . The inner surface wall  131  joins inner surface wall  130  at  137 . The inner surface wall  128  joins inner surface wall  129  at  138 . Each pair of inner surface walls  126 ,  127 ,  130 ,  131 ,  128 , and  129  are joined to rounded corners  139 ,  140 ,  141 , and  142  respectively. The rounded corner  142  may, if desired, have an adjusting mechanism  38  disposed therein. The adjusting mechanism  38  comprises, in part, an adjusting slot  144 , adjusting shaft  145  (not shown), and adjusting knob  148 , FIG.  9 . The adjusting shaft  146  traverses the adjusting slot  144 . The adjusting knob  143  is disposed about the adjusting shaft  145  at  146 . If desired, the adjusting mechanisms  38  component parts may be recessed within the interior of the mechanism to prevent snagging of material that would overlay the mechanism during operation. Rotating adjusting knob  143  expands or contracts the adjusting slot  144  which expands or contracts the overall diameter of the outer hoop  35 . 
     The inner surfaces of the outer hoop  35  (discussed above) abut the outer surfaces of the inner hoop  28  (discussed above) and come to rest on the outwardly extending ledges  123 ,  124 ,  125 , and  126 . The adjusting knob  143  is rotated (discussed above) and the outer hoop  35  is adjustably secured about inner hoop  28 . When the outer hoop  35  is positioned over the inner hoop  28  the rounded corners  139 ,  140 ,  141 , and  142  of the outer hoop  35  are spaced from the rounded corners  119 ,  120 , 121 , and  122  of the inner hoop  28 . The gaps  147 ,  148 , 149 , and  150  are formed between the respective spaced apart rounded corners. The range of the gap between any two spaced apart rounded corners is in the range of {fraction (1/32)} to about ¾ inch. Preferably, the gap is about ⅛ inches. 
     The selected portion of the flexible material  12  may, if desired, be positioned between the inner hoop  28  and the outer hoop  35 . Preferably, the weave of the material  12  is aligned at right angles to the inner hoop&#39;s  28  inner surface walls. Positioning the material in this manner enables the material to retain its form without stretching due to contact with present invention  10 . The outer hoop  35  is positioned over the material  12  and the inner hoop  28  coming to rest on the ledges  123 ,  124 ,  125 , and  126 . The adjusting knob  143 , in concert with the adjusting slot  144  tighten the outer hoop  35  about the inner hoop  28 . The material  12  disposed in gaps  147 ,  148 ,  149 , and  150  is adjustable secured in the gaps but is not engagingly secured by the rounded pairs of spaced apart rounded corners. Securing the corners of the material  12  in this in this manner preserves the form of the material without stretching the material. 
     The retaining mechanism  14  may be fabricated from any convenient material known in the art. The surfaces of the retaining mechanism  14  may be machined, polished, painted or rough honed. Examples of material that may be used to fabricate the retaining mechanism are wood, metal, plastic, or composite polymer. 
     The Cantilever Member 
     The cantilever member  18 , FIG. 4 is substantially rectangular in shape. The cantilever member  18  may, if desired, be fabricated from the same or different material as the retaining member  14 . The clamping mechanism  17  mounts to one end of the cantilever member  18 . The other end of the cantilever member  18  is sized to accommodate horizontal adjustment controls  44  and  43  respectively. This end of the cantilever member  18  has a handle  45  mounted thereto for carrying the present invention  10  when it is in a folded position (discussed herein). An aperture or hole  42  is provided at one end of the cantilever member  18  for insertion of a second shaft  41  of the clamping mechanism  17  (discussed herein). The second shaft  41  freely slides or traverses along the inner walls of the hole  42 . A knob  39  adjustably secures the clamping mechanism  17  to the cantilever member  18 . 
     The vertical adjustment  43  is ratchet controlled. A knob  46  is mounted onto a threaded shaft extending outward from upright substantially rectangular portion  47  of the substantially rectangular footed stand member  16 . The knob  46  may be selectively loosened and the cantilever member  18  may then be ratcheted up or down with respect to the horizontal plane. The range of vertical displacement provided by the ratchet control is in the range from 0 to about 20 inches. Retaining wing nut  43  mounted to a second threaded shaft extending outward from the upright substantially rectangular portion  47  along with knob  46  may be loosened, if desired, and the cantilever member  18  may be rotatively adjusted along slot  48 . This rotative adjustment enables the cantilever member  18  to be positioned vertically relative to the user. The vertical displacement or distance traveled in the vertical plane is 2 to about 24 inches. 
     The Substantially Rectangular Footed Stand Member 
     The substantially rectangular footed stand member  16 , FIG. 5 has a substantially T-shape footed portion  49  with a substantially elongated rectangular upright portion  47  mounted thereto. The substantially rectangular footed stand member  16  may, if desired, be fabricated from the same or different material as the retaining member  14 . The T-shape footed portion  49 , FIG. 6 has a first elongated substantially rectangular member  50  comprising a top surface  52  and a bottom surface  53 . The first elongated substantially rectangular member  50  has a pair of oppositely spaced apart protuberances or feet  54  and  55  extending outward from the bottom surface  53 . The feet  54  and  55  partially support the weight of the present invention  10 . The first elongated substantially rectangular member  50  has one end sized to accommodate an arcuate slot  56  and spaced therefrom a longitudinal slot  57 . The substantially rectangular footed stand member  16  has a second elongated substantially rectangular member  51 , FIG.  7 . The second rectangular member  51  has at least one slot  58  disposed along one edge. The second rectangular member  51  has a pair of oppositely spaced apart protuberances or feet  91  and  92  extending outward from the bottom surface  93 . The feet  91  and  92  partially support the weight of the present invention  10 . The feet  91  and  92 , in concert with feet  54  and  55 , support the weight of the present invention  10  when in the upright position. The second rectangular member  51  is mounted onto one end of the first rectangular member  50  in such a way as to form a T-shape. The elongated rectangular upright portion  47  has one end inserted into an open area disposed in one end of the first rectangular member  50 . A headed first threaded shaft or hex head bolt  59  traversing the arcuate slot  56  and the rectangular upright portion  47  is adjustably secured by a wing nut  61 . A headed second threaded shaft or hex head bolt  60  traversing the elongated slot  57  and the rectangular upright portion  47  is adjustably secured by a wing nut  62 . Loosening the wing nuts  61  and  62  enables the user to either horizontally position the present invention  10  relative to the user or fold the footed portion  49  against the rectangular stand member  49 . To lock the rectangular upright portion  47  in the upright position or perpendicular to the footed stand portion  49  a third threaded shaft or hex head bolt  64  traverses the rectangular upright portion  47  and the second rectangular member  51  and is securely tightened by a wing nut  63 . 
     To fold the present invention  10  from an unfolded or first position into a convenient folded or second position sized for transport or storage, the retaining mechanism  14 , FIG. 8 is positioned along the cantilever member  18 . The substantially rectangular footed stand member  16 &#39;s substantially T-shaped footed portion  49  is folded along the substantially rectangular upright portion  47 . The adjusting knob  46  is loosened and the cantilever member  18  is folded along the rectangular upright member  47 , FIG. 9 locking the first rectangular portion  49  against the rectangular upright portion  47 . The second rectangular member  51  is positioned along the rectangular upright member  47 , FIG.  10  and securely connected at one end by retaining notch  64 . The other end of the second rectangular member  51  is connected to hex bolt  64  and held securely in place by wing nut  63 . The present invention  10  may now be transported using handle  45 , FIG.  9 . 
     The Clamping Mechanism 
     The clamping mechanism  17 , FIG. 1 enables the retaining mechanism  14  to rotate about swivel shaft  33 , FIG. 11, 360° (degrees) in the horizontal plane and 360° (degrees) in the vertical plane relative to T-shaped portion  49  of the substantially rectangular footed stand member  16 . The clamping mechanism  17  may, if desired, be fabricated from the same or different material as the retaining member  14 . The swivel shaft  33  has a molded or attached substantially spherically shaped ball  70  disposed at one end. A housing  71  has a top wall  72 , a bottom wall  73 , a front wall  74 , and a swivel end wall  75  that partially subtend or partially surround the ball  70 . The swivel shaft  33  extends through an opening in the top wall  72 . The opening is sufficiently sized to permit the swivel shaft  33  in concert with the ball  70  to rotate 360° in the horizontal plane. The swivel shaft  33  may, if desired, be rotated 90° through an opening in the front wall  74 . The opening in the front wall  74  is continuous or contiguous with the opening in the top wall  72 . The opening in the front wall  74  is sufficiently sized to permit the swivel shaft  33  in concert with the ball  70  to rotate 360° in the vertical plane. The swivel shaft  33  may, if desired, be secured in any selected or desired position from either opening in the top or front walls  72  and  74  respectively. The interior of the housing  71  is sized to receive a clamping shoe  76 , FIG.  12 . 
     The clamping shoe  76  is spaced between the top wall  72  and the bottom wall  73 . The clamping shoe  76  has a top and bottom surface that enables it to slide along the interior surfaces of the top and bottom walls  72  and  73 , respectively. The length of travel of the clamping shoe  76  may, if desired, extend from the front wall  74  to the swivel wall  75 . The clamping shoe  76 , FIG. 15 is substantially Ω (omega) shaped with an interior wall  78  and an exterior wall  77 . The walls of the Ω-shaped clamping shoe  76  form an end portion or end wall  82  oppositely spaced from an opening  84 . The end wall  82  has an aperture or hole  86  disposed therein. The aperture is sized to receive the adjusting shaft  41 , FIG.  4 . Adjusting shaft  41  has a head portion  88 , FIG. 16 that is connected to the end wall  82 . The interior wall  78  contiguous with the end wall  82  forms an interior cavity with one end open at  84 . The interior wall  78  is adjacently spaced from the surface of the ball  70 . The interior wall  78  has two oppositely spaced apart end portions  86  and  87  extending outward from the opening  84  towards the exterior wall  77 . When the clamping shoe  76  is positioned in the housing  71 , the end portions  86  and  87  extend beyond the opening in the front wall  74 . The end portions  86  and  87  in a first position abut the opening of the front wall  74  in such a way that no pressure or tension is applied to the clamping shoe  76 . When adjusting knob  39  is rotated in one selected direction the end wall  82  moves toward the swivel end wall  76 . This movement causes a retraction of the end portions  86  and  87  towards the opening  84  accordingly applying pressure or tension on the clamping shoe  76 . The interior wall  78  engages the outer surface of the ball  70  in a second position clamping the ball  70  in-place. 
     An edge tool  94 , FIG. 17 once properly affixed to the flexible material  12  enables it to be stretched over the inner hoop  28 . The edge tool  94  may, if desired, be fabricated from the same or different material as the retaining member  14 . The edge tool  94  has a substantially rectangular shape with a channel or groove  96  disposed along one edge of the tool  94 . A substantially rectangular cloth sleeve  99  has one edge  97  connected to groove  96 . The other edge  100  oppositely spaced from edge  97  may, if desired, be connected to the material  12  by a plurality of pins  98 . The edge tool  94  drapes over the edge of the inner hoop  28  and stretches the material  12 . The outer hoop  35  is then properly positioned and retained about the inner hoop (as discussed above). If desired a plurality of edge tools  94  may be used to stretch the material  12  over the inner hoop  28 . 
     The best mode of operation of the present invention  10  is to unfold it from the folded position discussed herein. The present invention  10 , in the unfolded position has the substantially T-shaped footed portion  49  disposed in the horizontal plane with the substantially rectangular portion  47  connected thereto in the vertical plane. The substantially rectangular portion  47  has disposed at one end the cantilever member  18 . The cantilever member  18  has the flexible material retaining mechanism  14  connected at one end via the clamping mechanism  17 . 
     The flexible material  12  is placed over the inner hoop  28  with the desired number of edge tools  94  connected about its perimeter. The outer hoop  35  is positioned over the inner hoop  28 , resting on edge  34 . The outer hoop  35  is then adjustably secured about the inner hoop  28  by adjusting knob  143 . 
     The user may, if desired, position the retaining mechanism  14  to any convenient position in the vertical or horizontal plane. One means of positioning the retaining mechanism  14  is by loosening adjusting knob  39  of the clamping mechanism  17  thereby disengaging the clamping shoe  76  from the surface of the ball  70 . Once the clamping shoe  76  is disengaged the swivel shaft  33  may be conveniently positioned. Another means of positioning the retaining mechanism relative to the user is by loosening the adjusting knob  46  and ratcheting the cantilever member  18  up or down to a convenient position. The adjusting knob  26  is tightened and the present invention  10  is now ready for use. 
     Although only a few exemplary embodiments of this invention have been described in detail above, those skilled in the art will readily appreciate that many modifications are possible in the exemplary embodiments without materially departing from the novel teachings and advantages of this invention. Accordingly, all such modifications are intended to be included within the scope of this invention as defined in the following claims, means-plus-function clause is intended to cover the structures described herein as performing the recited function and not only structural equivalents but also equivalent structures. Thus, although a nail and a screw may not be structural equivalents in that a nail employs a cylindrical surface to secure wooden parts together whereas a screw employs a helical surface, in the environment of fastening wooden parts, a nail and a screw may be equivalent structures.