Buckles – buttons – clasps – etc. – Clasp – clip – support-clamp – or required component thereof – Dissociable gripping members
Reexamination Certificate
2000-06-15
2001-09-25
Brittain, James R. (Department: 3626)
Buckles, buttons, clasps, etc.
Clasp, clip, support-clamp, or required component thereof
Dissociable gripping members
Reexamination Certificate
active
06292987
ABSTRACT:
FIELD AND OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION
The invention relates to devices for securing or tying down a tarpaulin (hereinafter “tarp or tarp material”) and other flexible or fabric sheet materials without using conventional grommets or piercing the material in any way. The invention has as its primary object the provision of a device of this character which attaches to the tarp in a way that minimizes the possibility of the device coming loose or otherwise disengaging itself from the tarp or other sheet material.
With these and other objects in view, this invention consists in certain novel features of construction, combination and arrangement of parts to be hereinafter more fully described and claimed.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention is directed to a tie down device for sheet material such as tarpaulin and the like. In its broadest sense, the tie down device includes a bar (also referred to herein as an inner tube) and a sleeve having a slit extending from end to end thereof. The sleeve's ends are open for receiving the bar and a sheet of material positioned around the bar. The sleeve's slit enables sheet material positioned around the bar to project outwardly through the slit on opposite sides of the bar. The bar's cross section is sized and configured so that both the bar and the sheet material can be received in the sleeve. In addition, rope means such as rope, cord or cable is secured to the bar. The rope means extends through the slit when the bar is received in the sleeve and it enables the device to be placed under tension so that the bar binds the sheet material positioned around the bar against the sleeve. This binding action firmly secures the sheet material to the device and thereby prevents the sheet material from slipping out of the device between the bar and the sleeve.
In addition to the foregoing, the tie down device of the present invention preferably includes means for preventing the bar from sliding out through the ends of the sleeve when the device is placed under tension. One such preferred means includes a notch defined by the sleeve which opens into the slit of the sleeve. The notch prevents the bar from sliding out of the sleeve by receiving the rope means attached to the bar which effectively locks the bar to the sleeve.
Another preferred means for preventing the bar from sliding out of said sleeve includes a raised portion defined by the bar which is sized and configured for engaging receipt with the sleeve's slit and ends when the sheet material is located therebetween, i.e. between the raised portion and the sleeve's slit and ends. This embodiment puts very little stress on any one area of the tarp and thus is suitable for use on thin or brittle sheet material having a tendency to tear.
In addition to the foregoing, the present invention also provides a unique tent or awning pole having a tie down device attached at one end of the pole for securing the device to the sheet material. When placed in a generally upright position the pole can be used to support any area of the sheet material without falling over as long as tension is maintained on its tie down device as more fully described herein.
The present invention also has an embodiment which does not require a rope means for placing the device under tension. The embodiment is employed in situations where the sheet material is (or will be) placed under tension by some other means. This embodiment includes an elongated bar having a raised portion and a sleeve having a slit extending from end to end thereof. The ends of the sleeve are open for receiving the bar and a sheet of material positioned around the bar. The slit enables the sheet material to project outwardly therethrough on opposite sides of the bar. In addition, the bar has a cross section which is sized and configured so that both the bar and the sheet material are capable of being received in the sleeve. The bar and raised portion serve to bind the sheet material positioned around the bar against the sleeve when the sheet material is tensioned. In addition, the bar's raised portion is sized and configured to fit within the slit of the sleeve to prevent the bar from rotating within the sleeve when the sheet material is tensioned.
REFERENCES:
patent: 4657062 (1987-04-01), Tuerk
patent: 4686748 (1987-08-01), Kaivanto
patent: 4688304 (1987-08-01), Marcott
patent: 5074014 (1991-12-01), Freeman
patent: 5168605 (1992-12-01), Bartlett
patent: 5209442 (1993-05-01), Buck et al.
patent: 5692272 (1997-12-01), Woods
Brittain James R.
Smith, P.C. Brian D.
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