Jaw Member-die Member Assembly

Abstract

A jaw member-die member arrangement, for releasably and exchangeably holding and aligning in the jaw member, a plurality of die members for attaching various fastener members to a fabric, comprising a jaw member having a base surface and side walls forming a dovetail guide slot. A plurality of die member means hold various fastener members and each have a frustoconical base. The frustoconical bases each have a diametric periphery substantially complementary to the cross-sectional shape of the dovetail guide slot, and means are provided on the jaw members for holding in position the frustoconical base from shifting in the guide slot.

Description

The present invention relates to a fastening means, and more particularly, to fastening means, comprising interchangeable die members, for punching holes, setting eyelets, and assembling of snap fasteners, and the like.

Die members are known for setting various items onto a fabric, for example, eyelets, grommets for punching holes therein, or assembling four part snap fasteners thereon and the like. Effectiveness and ease of use, as well as interchangeability of the die members are of prime consideration.

It is an object of the present invention to provide interchangeable die members which are easily manufacturable, and moldable of plastic material, or metal, and may be conveniently and readily used with ease by a lay person on fabrics and paper for punching holes, setting eyelets, assembling four part snap fasteners with prong rings, assembling four part snap fasteners with decorative caps, assembling four part snap fasteners and back plates for snap-on button shells, assembling grommets, studs and nailheads, and the like.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a plurality of interchangeable die members for accomplishing the above-mentioned purposes, which die members can selectively be used either with a hammer alone, or can be easily mounted in a plier type tool, or in a hinged plastic tool to be utilized in connection with a hammer, including indexing means for releasably holding the die members in alignment in the tools for performing readily the above-mentioned operations.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a jaw member-die member arrangement, for releasably and exchangeably holding and aligning in the jaw member a plurality of die members for attaching various fastener members to a fabric, comprising a jaw member having a base surface and side walls forming a dovetail guide slot, a plurality of die member means for holding various fastener members each having a frustoconical base, the frustoconical bases each having a diametric periphery substantially complementary to the cross-sectional shape of the dovetail guide slot, and means on the jaw members for holding in position the frustoconical bases from shifting in the guide slot.

It is yet another object of the present invention to provide a jaw member-die member arrangement in accordance with the previously mentioned objectives wherein the jaw member is made of a resilient material, and the die member is made of a resilient material, e.g. of plastic.

It is still another object of the present invention to provide a jaw member-die member arrangement in accordance with the previously mentioned objectives further comprising pliers having two of the jaw members on one end thereof and aligned cooperatively to approach one another when the pliers are squeezed.

It is still yet another object of the present invention to provide a jaw member-die member arrangement in accordance with the previously mentioned objectives wherein the above-mentioned means comprises a stud piece projecting from the base surface into the guide slot, and the base of the die members are formed with a recess on a bottom thereof complementary to the stud piece.

It is yet another object of the present invention to provide a jaw member-die member arrangement in accordance with the previously mentioned objectives wherein the side walls of the jaw members extend completely from one side of the jaw member to the other.

It is further another object of the present invention to provide a jaw member-die member arrangement in accordance with the previously mentioned objectives further comprising a hinged tool having two of the jaw members on an end thereof aligned facing each other and adapted to be hit with an impact member.

It is further still another object of the present invention to provide a jaw member-die member arrangement in accordance with the previously mentioned objectives wherein the side walls of the jaw members extend only to one side of the hinged tool and adjacent the other side is a rear curved frustoconical wall curved slightly greater than 180 degrees and substantially complementary in shape to the frustoconical base of the die members.

With the above and other objects in view, the present invention will become readily understood in connection with the accompanying drawings, of which:

FIG. 1 is a side elevation of a pliers in accordance with the present invention, adapted to releasably and selectively index and hold various die members;

FIG. 2 is a section along the lines 2 -- 2 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a section along the lines 3 -- 3 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary, exploded view illustrating die members for assembling two parts of a snap fastener member together and for their use in the pliers of FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary, exploded view similar to FIG. 4 but illustrating the die members for assembling a covered prong ring to a female snap fastener member;

FIG. 6 is a view similar to FIG. 4 but illustrating die members for punching a hole in a fabric;

FIG. 7 is a view similar to FIG. 4 but illustrating die members for use in assembling two interlocking eyelets to a piece of material, including a steel rolling tool;

FIG. 8 is a view similar to FIG. 4 but illustrating die members for fastening prong rings to a female snap fastener member and retaining a backplate for covered buttons therebetween;

FIG. 9 is a view similar to FIG. 4 but illustrating die members including a rolling tool for assembling one eyelet to a fabric;

FIG. 10 is a view similar to FIG. 4 but illustrating die members including the steel rolling tool for assembling a jumbo nailhead to a fabric;

FIG. 11 is a perspective view of a square shaped covered nailhead;

FIG. 12 is a top plan view of a nesting die tool for circular as well as square covered nailheads;

FIG. 13 is a side elevation of a hinged plastic tool for the die members;

FIG. 14 is a top plan view of the opened tool of FIG. 13; and

FIGS. 15 and 17 are illustrations similar to FIG. 6, with some parts omitted showing female dies with different openings; and

FIGS. 16 and 18 are illustrations of FIGS. 15 and 13, respectively, when the pliers are squeezed.

Referring now to the drawings, and more particularly to FIG. 1, a pliers in accordance with the present invention, preferably made of plastic, comprises two members 1a and 1b, pivotally connected by a rivet 2, and spring biased toward the apart position by a spring 2a and having cooperative jaw portions 1c and 1d, respectively, as well as arms for pressing the jaw portions together. The arms 1e and 1f are curved arcuately in the same general direction parallel to each other, up to adjacent the free ends thereof, whereat the ends of the arms curve away from each other, the arm 1f changing its curvature at its free end and the arm 1e is formed with finger gripping undulations 1g, whereas the arm 1b has a smooth outermost surface, being gripped by approximately the ball of the thumb or the palm of the hand, this structure being provided for applying satisfactory slip-proof gripping when a person presses the arms together to cause the jaw members 1c and 1d to approach each other. The arms 1f and 1ebeing of plastic are resilient, and when the jaw portions exert pressure against each other through the die members to be inserted, as shown in FIGS. 4 - 7, respectively, the arms will bend closer towards one another, preventing one from exceeding the maximum pressure and breaking the arms, thus providing a safety overload, and permitting only the maximum pressure to be exerted by the jaw members and the die members on the fastener parts.

The jaw members 1c and 1d are each formed, as shown in FIGS. 1 - 3 with transverse dovetail guide slots 5 formed by outwardly converging side walls 9 extending completely across the jaw portion from one side 3 to the other side 4 thereof. Substantially in the center of the guide slot 5 there is formed a stud piece 6, which projects slightly from the base surface 7 of the guide slot.

The stud piece 6 is preferably integrally formed with the pliers during the molding thereof or may be made of a separate piece cemented thereto, or a spring-loaded ball detent, and serves as an indexing means for the die members to be held securely in the jaws, yet releasable for exchange of other die members.

As illustrated in FIG. 4, the transverse dovetail guide slot of the jaw 1c is formed to be substantially complementary to, i.e., tangent to opposed diametric sides of the frustoconical base portion 21 of the die member 20 for complementary insertion of the latter in the guide slot. The jaw members being made of plastic permit a resiliency of the side walls 9 to grippingly receive the frustoconical portions of the die members, which are forceably pushed into the guide groove from a side 3 or 4 of the pliers. The die members have a central opening or recess, which is complementary to the stud piece 6, e.g. opening 10 of die member 20 into which opening, upon sliding of the base of the die member into a central position in the dovetail slot in the jaw members, the stud piece 6 snaps; consequently locking and holding the die member centrally in proper aligned or indexed position in the dovetail guide groove. When die members are so in position in both of the jaw members and the fastener elements are properly aligned by this indexing of the stud piece 6 in the complementary openings 10 in the die members.

For example if a prong ring fastener 11 is to be secured through a fabric to a male stud 12, a special die member 14 is provided for the prong ring fastener 11. The die member 14 has a frustoconical base 15 substantially complementary in its diametric extremity to the cross-sectional width of the dovetail guide groove 5 of the jaw member 14 and is adapted to be pressedly slided therein, being retained by the indexing means constituting the stud piece 6 which snaps into recess 10a formed in the base 15 of the die member 14, as discussed above in connection with die member 20 and the upper jaw member 1c.

The prong ring fastener 11 has an annular portion 11a which is adapted to be placed on the upper surface 16 of a cylindrical portion 17 of the die member 14.

A colored sleeve-like substantially cylindrical rubber or flexible plastic insert 18 is force-fit embedded into an opening 19 in the cylindrical portion 17 of the die member 14, and projects upwardly therefrom, and the rubber or flexible plastic insert resiliently holdably engages the inner periphery of the annular portion 11a of the prong ring fastener 11 placed thereon and securely temporarily holds the latter on the die member 14 against the surface 16, permitting an operator to manipulate the tool without the prong ring fastener 11 falling off until pressure is applied to the pliers to force the prongs or teeth 11b of the fastener 11 to pass through the fabric 23 and into locking engagement in the stud member 12.

On the other side of the fabric, in the bottom of die member 20, there is formed a larger opening 22 which complementarily holds the stud member 12 at its circumferential edges 12b. The male stud member 12 is one of a two part combination of a four part snap fastener assembly and is inserted with its stud first into the opening 22.

The pliers is now ready for use, and may be turned and positioned freely in any manner since the fastener members 11 and 12 are held and aligned by the indexed die members 14 and 20, which in turn are securely held and aligned by the dovetail guide slots 5 and the stud pieces 6.

Consequently, upon placing a fabric 23 between the two jaws of the pliers and then inserting closing pressure on the arms 1e and 1f, the prong ring 11 pointed teeth 11b, forcibly press through the fabric 23 and enter the curved recess portion 12a of the stud member 12 and are there bent so as to permanently interlock together with the stud member 12, with the fabric therebetween.

Upon release of pressure on the pliers, the spring 2a moves the jaws 1c, 1d to the open position, and the prong member 11 and stud member 12 are released from the die members 14 and 20, respectively, since the holding force of the die members 11 and 12 is merely a releasable complementary fit.

After both of the arrangements of FIGS. 4 and 5 have been used, one obtains on a fabric, a four-part snap-fastener with covered button-like appearance. The members 12 and 24 constitute the male and female cooperating portions of the snap-fastener, and the covered prong ring 25 serves the button-like appearance, as well as securing of the female fastener member 24 to the fabric.

Referring now to the drawings, and more particularly to FIG. 5, the same die member 20 is used to hold a female snap fastener member 24 in the opening 22.

A covered prong member 25, for example, a pearl covered or other decorative button appearance such as a convexly curved shell 28 is held in a complementary concave opening 27 formed in another nesting die member 26. The die member 26, similar to the previously described die members, has a frustoconical base 26a for insertion into dovetail guide slot 5 of the lower jaw 1d, and a recess 10b for snap holding by the stud piece 6 of the jaw member 1d for holding and aligning the die member 26.

The pliers may now be actuated and the teeth 25b pass through the fabric 23 (alternately the teeth may be first positioned by hand through the fabric before actuating the pliers into locking engagement with the member 24 similar to that described in connection with FIG. 4. Upon release of the closing pressure, the pliers open and the members 24 and 25 come out of the respective die members.

Alternately the member 24 can be used to fasten to a type of prong ring member 11 of FIG. 4, and in that case the die member 14 would be used.

Referring now to the drawings and more particularly to FIG. 6, die members are shown to punch holes in a fabric. A punch die member 30 is utilized having a frustoconical base 31 made of plastic material and complementary to the dovetail guide slot 5, as discussed above, and is pressed therein. A recess 10c is provided in the center of the bottom of the die member 30; a metal punch 29 is secured to the base. The base 31 has the opening 10c in engagement with the stud piece 6 of the jaw member 1d for securing and positioning the die member thereon. The die member 30 has the steel punch 29 at the top integrally secured to the die member during manufacture. The punch 29 has a frustoconical cutting or punching surface, the purpose of which is explained below.

The die member 20 is also used in this case; however, in the opening 22 thereof, a female die member 32 made of steel, having a cylindrical portion 33 complementary to the opening 22, is inserted complementarily, held therein by the snug fit. The end 22a of die member 20 rests against the steel female die 32. The female die 32 is formed with an opening 34 and a cutting edge 34A which are aligned with the punch 29 when the pliers are squeezed, thereby punching out a portion of a fabric 23 as the punch enters the opening 34 of the female die 32, and bottoms against the cutting edge 34A of opening 34.

Referring now to FIGS. 15 - 18, which are similar to FIG. 6, but omit several elements for clarity. The configuration of the cone-shaped punch 29 is such that when used with different washers or female dies 32 having different internal diameters, it can be used to punch different size holes. The punch 29 and die 32 are made of hardened steel. As in FIG. 6, the female die 32 is formed with an opening 34 and a cutting edge 34A, which are aligned with the punch 29 when the pliers, are squeezed thereby punching or cutting out a portion of a fabric 23 as the punch enters the opening 34 of the female die 32, and bottoms against the cutting edge 34A of the opening 34. The frustoconical surface of punch 29 allows it to be used to punch holes of different diameters in fabrics by interchanging female die members 32 having different internal diameters or openings 34. The openings would range within the major and minor diameters of the frustoconical surface of the punch 29. FIG. 15 illustrates the punch 29 and female die 32 combination for making a large hole in fabric. FIG. 16 illustrates how the fabric is cut at edge 34A when the pliers are squeezed. FIG. 17 illustrates the punch and die combination for making a small hole. The opening 34 in female die 32 is smaller than in FIG. 15. The punch die member 30 is the same in both cases. FIG. 18 illustrates how the fabric is cut at edge 34A when the pliers are squeezed, when using the female die 32 of FIG. 17.

For inserting grommets or eyelet pieces into a hole 23a (FIG. 7), so formed in a garment, a steel rolling tool 35 is inserted, now into the opening 22 of the die member 20 by its cylindrical portion 36, complementarily to the opening 22, whereby the rolling tool 35 is held therein. The steel rolling tool has a projection 37 thereon and an annular curved recess 38 which is complementary to the rear shape of an eyelet 39 for holding same.

Another nesting die member 40, formed entirely as a frustoconical base 41 is pressed into the dovetail guide slot 5 of the jaw member 1d and the stud piece 6 enters lockingly into a recess 10d formed centrally on the bottom of the base 41. The top of the die member 40 is formed with an annular recess 45 complementary to the rear shape 44 of a second eyelet 43 for holding same therein. The eyelet 39 and 43 are adapted to telescope into one another and through the hole 23a formed in the fabric by the arrangement of FIG. 6.

Upon squeezing the pliers, the top of the eyelet 43 is rolled outwardly by the outer peripheral curve 37a of the projection 37 of the steel rolling die member 35 and into locking engagement with the eyelet 39 about the hole 23a in the garment.

A single eyelet 43a may be used as illustrated in FIG. 9. In this case the steel rolling die member 35 rolls the top of the eyelet onto the top of the fabric 23 itself. The single eyelet of FIG. 9 generally are smaller than those of FIG. 7 and the operative dimensions of the steel rolling tool likewise is correspondingly smaller.

In accordance with the present invention as shown in FIG. 8, a prong ring fastener 11 may be utilized in connection with a female snap fastener member 24 and a backplate 48. The die member 14 (same as in FIG. 4) is used in the same manner as discussed above with the fastener 11. The female fastener 24 of FIG. 5, is used with the die member 20 as in FIG. 5, or the fastener member 12 of FIG. 4 may be used. A backplate 48 is however placed on the annular ring 11a with the teeth 11b passing through an opening 48a in the backplate. When pressure is applied to the pliers, the teeth 11b pass through the fabric 23 and lock with the female fastener 24 with the backplate 48 held between the lower side of the fabric thereagainst, and the annular portion 11a of the prong ring fastener 11. The backplate 48 has an annular ridge 49 which is adapted to have a button shell snap thereover (not shown) and that button shell may be covered with a fabric to provide as for example illustrated in U.S. Pat. No. 3,562,876, dated Feb. 16, 1971, for "REMOVABLE FABRIC COVERED SHELL ASSEMBLY."

FIG. 10 shows the die member 20 used with the same large steel rolling tool 35 as in FIG. 7, however used to roll inwardly the teeth of, for example jumbo covered prong fasteners or nailheads 50, which is held in a nesting die member 51 by a complementary opening 52 which receives the rear of the nailhead. A nailhead normally is bare or plated metal with some having a pattern etched or stamped on the surface. The die member 51 has a frustoconical base complementary to the dovetail groove 5 in the jaw member and a recess 10e to engage with the stud piece 6, as previously discussed. When squeezing the pliers, the teeth 50a are rolled inwardly and into the top of the fabric 23 by the outermost portion 38a of the annular recess of the steel rolling tool 35.

The openings heretofore described for nesting of the fastener parts in the die members have been circular for circular fastener members. However square shaped members (FIG. 11) 53 may also be used. In this case the opening 54 (FIG. 12) can be used to nest the prong fastener 53 of FIG. 11, as well as the circular nailhead of for example FIG. 10.

The fastener of FIG. 11 can however, be rolled by the annular recess of the steel rolling tool 35 of FIG. 10, since the teeth 53a are located at equal distances from the center of the fastener 53. For nailheads which come in many sizes and shapes, appropriate nesting and rolling tools can be provided, adding further versatility to the pliers.

The die members in accordance with the present invention can be utilized in a hinged tool 56 as shown in FIGS. 13 and 14, instead of with the pliers 1a.

The hinged tool is formed with facing dovetail guide slots 57 on one end thereof and is hinged at 58. The dovetail guide slots 57 extend from one side 59 of the tool by parallel side walls 60 and a cross-sectional shape complementary to the diametrical periphery of the frustoconical bases of the die members, which were adapted to fit in the guide slots 5 of the jaw members of the pliers. Accordingly the same die members fit releasably and exchangeably in the guide slots 57 of the hinged tool 56. The center of the guide slot 57 is formed with a rear wall 61 of substantially the same shape as the frustoconical bases of the die member and is slightly greater than 180 degrees in extent, thereby holding the die member therein (note portion 62), without the need for a stud piece 6 or recess 10 as in the pliers. Since the hinged tool is plastic, as well as the die member, the resiliency thereof permits the holding as well as releasing of the parts.

However, the pliers may also be formed with the guide slot types of the hinged tool, and visa versa.

The hinged tool with the facing guide grooves 57 of their jaw members, aligns the die members and consequently the fasteners, and with all the die member and fastener combinations of FIGS. 4 - 12 can be utilized.

Furthermore, the die members and fasteners, have universal use even without either the hinged tool of FIGS. 13 and 14 or the pliers of FIG. 1. Instead the die members may be placed on a surface, and the fasteners, fabric and other die member, suitably on top, whereupon a hammer blow is used. However the pliers and hinged tool with the die members provide a simple and easily alignable attaching device.

The dovetail guide slot for the lower jaw may be made larger, for larger size fasteners, in accordance with the present invention.

The bases of the die members which fit into the dovetail guides 5, 57 are preferably made of plastic, and the die members are colored for ease of recognition by a user, as to which fastener it is to be used with.

A lock may be provided to place the pliers in an non-actuatable condition, e.g. for storage. The lock comprises (FIG. 1) an L-shaped member 1h having an upwardly extending portion 1j, and a base portion 1k, the latter of a smaller size and slidable in a lower recess 1m in the plier member 1a. The plier member 1a has another recess 1n in which the upwardly extending portion 1j of the lock 1h slides. The other plier member 1b has a recess 1p, which after being aligned with the recess 1n, permits the lock 1h to be slided such that the portion 1j enters the recess 1p partly and remains partly in the recess 1n thereby preventing movement of the pliers. For this purpose the cross-sectional length of the recess 1p is smaller than the cross-sectional length of the lock portion 1j. In order to open the pliers, the lock 1k is slided, so that the entire portion 1j leaves the recess 1p. FIG. 1 illustrates the locked position of the pliers.

While we have disclosed several embodiments of the present invention, it is to be readily understood that these embodiments are given by example only, and not in a limiting sense.

Claims

We claim:

1. A jaw member-die member assembly, for releasably and exchangeably holding and aligning in the jaw member a plurality of die members for attaching various fastener members to a fabric, comprising

a jaw member having a base surface and side walls forming a dovetail guide slot,

a plurality of die member means for holding selectively fastener and fabric-working members, each of said die member means having a frustoconical base,

each of said frustoconical base having a diametric periphery substantially complementary to the transverse cross-section of said dovetail guide slot, and

means on said jaw members for holding said frustoconical base in position against shifting in said guide slot.

2. The jaw member-die member assembly, as set forth in claim 1, wherein

said jaw member is made of a resilient material, and said die member is made of a resilient material.

3. The jaw member-die member assembly, as set forth in claim 1, further comprising

a pliers having two of said jaw members on one end thereof and aligned cooperatively to approach one another when said pliers are pressed closed.

4. The jaw member-die member assembly, as set forth in claim 1, wherein said means comprises,

a stud piece projecting from said base surface of said jaw member into said guide slot, and

said base of said die members formed with a recess on a bottom thereof complementary to said stud piece.

5. The jaw member-die member assembly, as set forth in claim 4, wherein

said side walls of said jaw member extend completely from one lateral side of said jaw member to the other.

6. The jaw member-die member assembly, as set forth in claim 1, further comprising

a hinged tool having two of said jaw members on an end thereof aligned facing each other and adapted to be hit with an impact member.

7. The jaw member-die member assembly, as set forth in claim 1, wherein

said side walls of said jaw member extend only to one lateral side of said hinged tool, and adjacent the other side constituting said means is a rear frustoconical wall curved slightly greater than 180 degrees and substantially complementary in shape to said frustoconical base of said die members.