U.S. patent application number 10/878098 was filed with the patent office on 2005-12-29 for pin assembly for towels, sheets, linen, and other items for display.
Invention is credited to Mariconti, Donna, Mariconti, Peter.
Application Number | 20050284590 10/878098 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 35504337 |
Filed Date | 2005-12-29 |
United States Patent
Application |
20050284590 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Mariconti, Donna ; et
al. |
December 29, 2005 |
Pin assembly for towels, sheets, linen, and other items for
display
Abstract
A switching fabric securing system and method is described. In
one embodiment, the system includes a fabric rod; at least one
piece of fabric draped over the fabric rod; and a pin assembly for
securing at least one piece of fabric to the fabric rod. In another
embodiment, the method includes draping at least one piece of
fabric over a rod; and inserting at least one pin assembly through
at least one piece of fabric to secure the at least one piece of
fabric to the rod.
Inventors: |
Mariconti, Donna; (Commack,
NY) ; Mariconti, Peter; (Commack, NY) |
Correspondence
Address: |
ALFRED M. WALKER
225 OLD COUNTRY ROAD
MELVILLE
NY
11747-2712
US
|
Family ID: |
35504337 |
Appl. No.: |
10/878098 |
Filed: |
June 28, 2004 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
160/349.1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A47K 10/04 20130101;
A47K 10/02 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
160/349.1 |
International
Class: |
A47H 001/00 |
Claims
1. A fabric securing system comprising in combination: a fabric
support rod; at least one piece of fabric draped over the fabric
rod; and a pin assembly for securing said at least one piece of
fabric to said fabric support rod.
2. The system of claim 1, further comprising: at least one other
pin assembly for securing said at least one piece of fabric to said
fabric rod.
3. The system of claim 1 wherein said pin assembly comprises: a pin
wherein said pin has a longitudinal axis, a distal end and a
proximal end; a front end connected to said distal end of said pin,
wherein said front end is substantially perpendicular to said
longitudinal axis; and a clutch mechanism for receiving said
proximal end of said pin.
4. The system of claim 3 wherein said front end has a logo
thereon.
5. The system of claim 3, wherein said front end is decorative.
6. The system of claim 1, wherein said at least one piece of fabric
is one of a towel, a sheet, a flag, a comforter, a tapestry, a
carpet sample and linen.
7. The system of claim 1, wherein said at least one piece of fabric
is at least one towel.
8. The system of claim 1, wherein said at least one piece of fabric
has a low friction against said fabric support rod.
9. The system of claim 8, wherein said at least one piece of fabric
has a front portion and a rear portion; and said pin assembly
secures said at least one piece of fabric to said fabric support
rod without balancing said front portion with said rear portion on
said fabric support rod.
10. A method for securing fabric to a rod comprising: draping at
least one piece of fabric over a support rod; and inserting at
least one pin assembly through said at least one piece of fabric to
secure said at least one piece of fabric to said rod.
11. The method of claim 10, wherein said at least one piece of
fabric comprises at least one of a towel, a flag, a tapestry, a
sheet, a comforter, a carpet sample and linen.
12. The method of claim 10, wherein said draping further comprises:
placing said at least one piece of fabric over said support rod
such that said at least one piece of fabric has a front portion
length that is unequal to a rear portion length.
13. A fabric securing system comprising: a towel support rod; a
towel draped over said towel support rod; and a pin assembly for
securing said towel to said towel support rod.
14. The system of claim 13, wherein said towel has a low level of
friction against said towel support rod.
15. The system of claim 14, wherein said draped towel has a front
portion length that is unequal to a rear portion length.
16. The system of claim 13, further comprising at least one other
pin assembly for securing said towel to said towel support rod.
17. The system of claim 16, further comprising at least one other
towel draped over said towel support rod.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] 1. Field of the Invention
[0002] Embodiments of the present invention generally relate to the
hanging, using, and/or displaying of fabric. More particularly, the
invention relates to an apparatus and method which utilize at least
one pin and rack assembly to secure the fabric to a fabric support
rod.
[0003] 2. Description of the Related Art
[0004] Over the years, numerous arrangements and devices have been
employed for supporting a towel, tapestry, curtains, tapestry, and
various other fabric. For example, some arrangements have included
merely draping a towel over a rod. However, one drawback to this
type of arrangement is that the towel must be balanced on the rod
so that the towel (or other fabric) does not fall off of the
rod.
[0005] Other arrangements have included one or more loops joined to
a towel edge for fitting over an appropriate hook. In these
arrangements, holes or openings are formed in a towel (or other
fabric) to fit a hook through; such holes have been formed such
that the towel (or other fabric) hangs at an angle from the hook.
Further, when an attempt is made to center the fabric on the hook,
the fabric often does not drape in a substantially normal preferred
orientation. Another arrangement, as disclosed in U.S. Pat. No.
4,565,144 of Ricci, arranges an opening or slot on the bias across
the towel weave, setting that slot back a minimum distance from the
towel edges at a corner.
[0006] Pin and rack assemblies are typically used in tie tacks and
ear rings. When used as a tie tack, an attached pin and a clutch
mechanism secure the pin to a tie and shirt. A similar arrangement
is sometimes used to attach earrings through pierced ears. The
clutch mechanism is simply a gripper portion with either a spring
or some other device to frictionally grasp the pin in a removable
fashion. U.S. Pat. No. 3,698,044 of Chernow describes a gripper
with a resilient plastic resin or rubber as an alternative to a
spring mechanism.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0007] The present invention relates generally to using a pin and
clutch assembly in conjunction with a rod to hanging, using, and/or
display of fabric. In keeping with these objects and others which
may become apparent, the present invention uses a much enlarged
version of a jewelry pin with a decorative front portion, long
attached pin, and a suitably enlarged clutch mechanism. A fabric
item draped over a fabric support rod is secured to the rod by
using one or more of the removable pin assemblies with the pin
portion driven through both front and back surface of the fabric.
In this way, low friction fabric items need not be draped carefully
over a rod in such a way as to balance the weight of the front and
back portions to resist slipping from the rod. Several applications
for this method are described below.
[0008] For example, a single pin assembly can be used to discourage
removability of a hand towel from a towel rod while permitting its
use. Illustratively, when small children use the towel, it can be
adjusted longer on the front surface to make it easier to reach
without danger of slipping off the towel rod (if it is retained by
at least one pin assembly). Another use is to display flags or
tapestries on the wall of a home or public place by simply draping
the fabric over a rod and retaining it near a top edge with two or
more decorative pin assemblies. The display can be easily changed
periodically. This arrangement can be used as well in a carpet
store to display carpet samples. In a bed and bath shop,
coordinated sets of comforter, sheets and pillow cases can be
attractively folded and draped over a rod for vertical display. The
items are adjusted for aesthetic appeal and locked in place with a
number of pin assemblies. This type of display permits customers to
examine the texture of each item without disturbing the displayed
items. Additionally, the visible front portion of the pin assembly
can display the logo or name of the manufacturer in a prominent
fashion.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0009] So that the manner in which the above recited features of
the present invention can be understood in detail, a more
particular description of the invention, briefly summarized above,
may be had by reference to embodiments, some of which are
illustrated in the appended drawings. It is to be noted, however,
that the appended drawings illustrate only typical embodiments of
this invention and are therefore not to be considered limiting of
its scope, for the invention may admit to other equally effective
embodiments.
[0010] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a prior art pin
assembly;
[0011] FIG. 2 is a side view of prior art pin assembly with clutch
mechanism in cross-section;
[0012] FIG. 3 is a side elevation of an embodiment of a pin
assembly for use in conjunction with the invention;
[0013] FIG. 4 is a front view of an embodiment of a decorative
front portion of a pin assembly for use in conjunction with the
invention;
[0014] FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a single pin assembly used
to secure a hand towel to a towel rod;
[0015] FIG. 6 is a perspective view showing an embodiment of the
invention to display a flag or tapestry on a wall; and,
[0016] FIG. 7 is a front view showing a coordinated display of
multiple fabrics draped over a rod using pin assemblies.
[0017] To facilitate understanding, identical reference numerals
have been used, wherever possible, to designate identical elements
that are common to the figures.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
[0018] So that the manner in which the above recited features of
the invention are attained and can be understood in detail, a more
particular description of the invention, briefly summarized above,
may be had by reference to the embodiments thereof which are
illustrated in the appended drawings.
[0019] It is to be noted, however, that the appended drawings
illustrate only typical embodiments of this invention and are
therefore not to be considered limiting of its scope, for the
invention may admit to other equally effective embodiments.
[0020] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a prior art pin assembly.
Specifically, FIG. 1 shows a prior art pin assembly 1 with a
decorative pearl 2 attached to pin 3 with a clutch mechanism 4
slideably mounted on pin 3. The clutch mechanism 4 includes a
housing 6 having a first or gripper end 10 which is substantially
covered or enclosed, and which forms an integral part of the
housing 6, and a second or abutment end 8 which is open. The
housing also includes a longitudinal bore 12. The pin 3 is inserted
into the housing 6 via the longitudinal bore 12, first through the
abutment end 8 towards the gripper end 10. In addition, the pin 3
extends beyond the clutch mechanism 4 (i.e., beyond the gripper end
10).
[0021] FIG. 2 shows a cross-section of the prior art pin assembly 1
depicted in FIG. 1. For brevity, those elements already described
with respect to FIG. 1 which are shown in FIG. 2 will not be
repeated. In addition, to the elements described in FIG. 1, FIG. 2
also depicts the clutch mechanism 4 having a resilient plastic or
rubber material 5 rather than a typical spring gripper.
[0022] FIG. 3 is a side elevation of an embodiment of a pin
assembly 10 for use in conjunction with the invention.
Specifically, FIG. 3 shows the pin assembly 10 of this invention
having a pin 12, a decorative front portion 11, and clutch
mechanism 14. The decorative front portion 11 is attached to a
distal end 14 of the pin 12. The proximal end (not shown) of the
pin 12 is inserted into a bore (not shown) within clutch mechanism
14. The clutch mechanism 14 has a closed end 16. The decorative
front end 11 is substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal
axis of the pin 12. Because the pin assembly 10 may be used to
secure various types of fabric to a support rod (not shown), the
length of the pin 12 will vary depending upon the fabric that the
pin assembly 12 is intended to secure to the support rod. Thus, pin
12 is relatively long so as not to distort fabric (while in use)
which may be draped over a reasonably large diameter support rod.
The proximal end of pin 12 is fairly sharp to easily penetrate
fabrics. Clutch mechanism 14 is of the design which denies through
penetration of pin 12 so as to protect the user from the sharpened
proximal end 12.
[0023] FIG. 4 is a front view of an embodiment of a decorative
front portion 11 of the pin assembly 10 for use in conjunction with
the invention. Specifically, FIG. 4 is a front view of the
decorative portion 11 having a dimension D. Dimension D varies in
size depending on the fabric that the pin assembly 10 is intended
to secure to the support rod. Illustratively, dimension D is
typically equal to or larger than one inch (several
centimeters).
[0024] FIG. 5 shows the use of a single pin assembly 10 used to
deny easily removal of a hand towel 17 from fabric support rod 16.
The hand towel 17 when draped over the fabric support rod 16 has a
front portion 18 and a rear portion 20. Only the front decorative
portion 11 of the pin assembly 10 is visible while the pin assembly
10 is in use. The pin assembly 10 shown is FIG. 5 operates as
described with respect to FIG. 4 and for brevity is not
repeated.
[0025] The pin assembly 10 may be removed to allow a user to adjust
the towel 17 or to reverse the towel 17 so that the rear portion 20
is exposed to the user and the front portion 18 is behind the rear
portion 20 (i.e., away from the user's view). Thus, towel 17 can be
adjusted with a longer front portion 18, if desired, since pin
assembly 10 prevents the towel 17 from sliding off the towel rod
16.
[0026] FIG. 6 is a perspective view showing an embodiment of the
invention to display a flag or tapestry on a wall. Specifically,
FIG. 6 illustrates the use of two pin assemblies 10 to retain a
fabric (illustratively a flag or tapestry) 21 on fabric support rod
20 which is attached to wall 22. Each of the pin assemblies 10 is
inserted into the flag or tapestry 21 substantially parallel to
each other. However, it is appreciated that each of the pin
assemblies 10 need not be positioned substantially parallel to each
other. The pin assemblies 10 operate as described above with
respect to FIGS. 4 and 5. For brevity the operation of pin
assemblies 10 is not repeated.
[0027] FIG. 7 is a front view showing a coordinated display of
multiple fabrics draped over a fabric support rod using multiple
pin assemblies 10. Specifically, FIG. 7 illustrates the use of
three pin assemblies 10 in a store display 25 showing a vertical
display of a coordinated bedding set on rod 26. The arrangement
illustratively shows folded pillow case 29, sheet 28, and comforter
27 being displayed together. In various embodiments, a
manufacturer's logo 30 is emblazoned on the surface of front
portion 11 of each pin assembly 10. The pin assemblies 10 operate
as described with respect to FIGS. 4 and 5. For brevity, that
description is incorporated by reference into the description of
FIG. 7.
[0028] In the foregoing description, certain terms and visual
depictions are used to illustrate various embodiments of the
invention. However, no unnecessary limitations are to be construed
by the terms used or illustrations depicted, beyond what is shown
in the prior art, since the terms and illustrations are exemplary
only, and are not meant to limit the scope of the present
invention. Thus, while the foregoing is directed to embodiments of
the present invention, other and further embodiments of the
invention may be devised without departing from the basic scope
thereof, and the scope thereof is determined by the claims that
follow.
* * * * *