Patent ID: 7607399

Claim:
A fabric retaining device for holding an article to be embroidered in an embroidery machine, said device comprising: a first hooping member defining a first opening; a second hooping member defining a second opening; wherein one of said first and said second hooping members comprises a plurality of individual spaced apart magnets; wherein the other of said first and said second hooping members comprises a material to attract the magnets of the other of said hooping members, whereby said article to be embroidered is retained by the magnetic attraction between said first and said second hooping members; at least one ridge formed on the upper member of said first and said second hooping members and whereby said at least one ridge positions said article to be embroidered relative to a needle plate on said embroidery machine; and wherein at least one of said first and said second hooping members comprises at least one mounting arm for attaching said device to the embroidery machine.