Apparatus for Attaching Ornaments to Sheet Material

The present invention relates to setting to sheet material ornaments such as gems or studs.

Devices for attaching ornaments to fabric or other sheet material are known. For example, in U.S. Pat. No. 3,483,603, a device for attaching ornaments to fabric, plastic, leather or garments has a plunger mounted for reciprocation in a one-piece U-shaped frame. One leg of the frame serves as a base and the other leg contains the plunger. A pin is reciprocable in a bore in the plunger and is resiliently urged toward a downward and outward projecting position. A spring disposed around the plunger and cooperating with the frame urges the plunger upwardly. A die carried by the frame base is aligned with the plunger and the pin. The setting to be fastened must have a central hole in its base so that it can be positioned on the pin for mounting. As the plunger is depressed, the central pin retracts, and the plunger forces the prongs of the setting into and through the sheet material. See also U.S. Pat. No. 2,721,999.

There are various disadvantages with the above described device. The plunger is not supported through any substantial portion of its length. Therefore, as the plunger reciprocates, it may not precisely register with the die. A further disadvantage is that the device does not readily convert to accept different size ornaments and settings. It is necessary to unscrew a threaded bushing, replace the pin mounted in the plunger with a different size pin and then replace the bushing with one of a different size. It is also necessary to replace the die member or anvil. Furthermore, the setting must be of a type having a central hole of a specific size in its base.

Other devices for fastening pronged elements to sheet material are shown in U.S. Pat. Nos. 1,513,356; 2,361,501; 2,700,090; 2,759,184 and 3,520,462.

An object of the present invention is to provide an inexpensive, hand-operated apparatus for attaching ornaments, such as gems and studs, to sheet material, such as fabric used for clothing.

A further object of the invention is to provide apparatus for attaching ornaments to sheet material in precise locations.

Still another object of the invention is to provide apparatus for mounting gems, studs and the like to sheet material which is readily convertible to affix ornaments of varying size and type.

The present invention provides for these purposes apparatus for attaching an ornament to sheet material which includes a base, a head pivotally connected to the base and adapted to hold the ornament setting, an anvil secured to the base and adapted to receive the sheet material and plunger means attached to the head and registrable with the anvil when the head is pivoted relative to and toward the base.

The plunger means includes a sleeve which engages the sheet material as the head pivots relative to and toward the base to hold the material in engagement with the anvil. A punch fixed in position relative to the head travels with the sleeve as the head is pivoted, and travels axially relative to the sleeve after the sleeve has contacted the sheet material. The punch forces the prongs of the setting into and through the sheet material to fasten them together. A spring is disposed between the sleeve and the punch to permit relative axial movement therebetween and to bias them apart after the setting has been fastened. The sleeve has a pair of oppositely disposed, axially extending slots and the punch has a pair of oppositely disposed, axially extending slots in registration with the slots of the sleeve. A pin extends radially through each of the registered slots to attach the punch and the sleeve while limiting the extent of relative axial movement therebetween. A stop is attached to the head to prevent relative movement between the punch and the head. The slots are arranged in a manner which greatly facilitates the manufacture and assembly of the plunger means.

The anvil is preferably in the form of a turret which is connected to and positionable with respect to the base. The turret has at least one matrix or die for deforming the prongs to fasten the ornament to the sheet material. The turret has a centrally located opening and the base has a slot registrable therewith. A screw extends through the opening and slot and is engageable with the turret and the base to affix the turret in position such that the desired matrix is registered with the punch.

A guide is located on the base and on the head for permitting only pivotal movement in a vertical plane between the base and the head. This prevents the punch from misregistering as the head is pivoted relative to the base.

FIG. 1 is an elevational view of apparatus in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a partial sectional view of the apparatus of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a sectional view of an ornament as attached to sheet material by the apparatus of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a sectional view taken along the line 4--4 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is a sectional vew taken along the line 5--5 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 6 is an exploded perspective view of a plunger means of the apparatus of FIG. 1;

FIG. 7 is a partial sectional view of a modified embodiment of the apparatus;

FIG. 8 is a top view of a gem as attached to sheet material by the apparatus of FIG. 7;

FIG. 9 is a sectional view taken along the line 9--9 of FIG. 8;

FIG. 10 is a perspective, partial exploded view of a head and a plunger means of a modified embodiment in the invented apparatus;

FIG. 11 is a perspective exploded view of the plunger means of FIG. 10;

FIG. 12 is a sectional view along line 12--12 of FIG. 10;

FIG. 13 is a perspective view of a retainer pin of the plunger means of FIG. 10;

FIG. 14 is a partly elevational and partly sectional side view of a punch of the plunger means of FIG. 10; and

FIG. 15 is a top view of the punch of FIG. 14.

Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2 of the drawings, there is shown an apparatus 10 for attaching an ornament 12 to sheet material 14 by a pronged setting 16. The term "ornament" as used herein comprises the entire object to be affixed to the sheet material; the term "setting" means the fastener by which the decorative portion of the ornament is affixed to the material. Thus, the ornament 12 shown in FIG. 1 consists of the pronged stud 16 which has a head or crown 89a and prongs 89b, while the ornament shown in FIGS. 7-9 consists of the gem 100 and the setting 98. The apparatus 10 is lightweight and substantially fabricated of a high-strength plastic material such as high-impact styrene. It is inexpensive to manufacture and simple to use. It is capable of mounting a variety of gems, studs and other ornaments to sheet material such as fabric or clothing. It is easily convertible to receive ornaments of varying size.

The apparatus 10 comprises a base 20 and a head 22 pivotally connected at its right-hand end to the right-hand end of the base 20. A large space is defined by and between the head 22 and the base 20 to receive large pieces of fabric. An upwardly facing anvil 24 is located at the left-hand end of the base 20 and is adapted to receive the sheet material 14 thereupon. A plunger 26 adapted to hold the setting is attached to the head 22 at its left-hand end, extending toward the base 20, and cooperates with the anvil 24 when the head is pivoted relative to the base. As the plunger 26 is depressed, it forces the prongs 89b of the setting 16 into and through the sheet material 14. The prongs are deformed on the anvil, and the setting 16 is thereby fastened to the sheet material, with the head or decoration 89a being on one side of the sheet material 14 and the prongs 89b being on the other side.

The head 22 is an elongated, laterally extending member reinforced by internal ribs or by a truss (not shown). The head terminates at the left side in a downwardly extending arm 30 having a recess 32 open at its lower end. A bushing 34 is frictionally fitted within the recess 32. The bushing 34, which is tubular in shape and is formed in two longitudinal halves, has an axially extending key 36 on its right outer surface. The key 36 fits within an axially extending keyway 38 formed in the recess 32 of the arm 30 to prevent the bushing 34 from rotating when placed in the recess. A ring comprising a stop 40 is formed integrally with and internally of the bushing 34.

Referring to FIGS. 10 and 11, which show a slightly modified embodiment of the invention, the bushing 34 comprises two halves 34a and 34b that can be brought together to form the generally cylindrical bushing 34, at which time the pin 34c of the half 34a fits tightly into a correspondingly shaped and dimensioned tubular pin (not visible) of the half 34b to lock the two halves into a single bushing. The half 34b has the key 36 which fits slidingly into the keyway 38 of the left-hand portion 30 of the head 22 to thereby prevent relative rotation between the bushing 34 and the head portion 30.

The plunger 26 for forcing prongs of the setting 16 into the sheet material 14 telescopically engages and is held within the bushing 34 by means of lugs 44a and 44b (FIG. 11) at its upper end which engage holes 34d and 34e (FIGS. 10, 11) in the bushing 34. Alternatively, the plunger may be frictionally fitted within the bushing 34. It is prevented from moving further up axially of the bushing 34 by the stop 40. The plunger 26 is best seen in FIGS. 2, and 6, and the component parts thereof are best seen in FIGS. 10-15. As shown therein, the plunger 26 includes a sleeve 42 which is adapted to engage the sheet material with its bottom end and hold it in secure engagement with the anvil 24. A punch 44, which telescopically engages and is fitted within the bushing 34, is connected to sleeve 42. The punch 44 travels with the sleeve 42 as the head pivots relative to the base, but reciprocates axially within the sleeve 42 and travels relative thereto after the sleeve 42 contacts the sheet material. The punch 44 forces the prongs of the setting 16 into and through the sheet material 14. A spring 46 is disposed between the sleeve 42 and the punch 44 for permitting relative movement therebetween and for biasing them apart after the setting has been affixed.

The sleeve 42 is generally tubular in shape and has an enlarged diameter collar 48 at its axially upper end. The collar 48 is preferably formed integrally with the sleeve, although it may be a separate piece affixed to the sleeve. A shoulder 50 is formed at the location where the enlarged collar merges into the lesser diameter, lower tubular portion 51 of the sleeve. A pair of diametrically oppositely disposed, axially extending, slots 52 are formed in the sleeve in the tubular portion 51. The slots 52 are open at the bottom but terminate prior to the upper end of the sleeve 42.

The punch 44 is generally tubular in shape, and is similar in shape to the sleeve 42. It also has an enlarged diameter, integrally formed collar 54 at its upper end. The collar 54 is adapted to telescopically engage, and is fitted within, the bushing 34 of the head 22. A shoulder 56 is formed at the location where the collar 54 merges into the lesser diameter tubular portion 57 of the punch 44. A pair of axially extending, diametrically oppositely disposed slots 58 are formed in the tubular portion 57. The slots 58 extend from a shoulder 60 (formed internally of the punch 44 at the location where the shoulder 56 is formed externally) along the length of the tubular portion 57, but not entirely therealong. As seen in FIGS. 2, 6, 11, 14 and 15, the slots 58 in the punch 44 start at a level above the bottom end of the punch 44 and are open at the top end of the lesser diameter, lower portion 57 of the punch 44.

The external diameter of the tubular portion 57 of the punch 44 is slightly less than the internal diameter of the tubular portion 51 of the sleeve 42. Thus, the punch 44 can telescopically engage the sleeve 42 and be positioned within the throat 62 of the sleeve. When so arranged, the slots 58 in the punch 44 are in register with the slots 52 in the sleeve 42. A pin 64 extends radially through each of the slots 52 and slots 58 to fasten the punch and the sleeve together while permitting relative axial movement therebetween.

The spring 46 is disposed between the punch 44 and the sleeve 42. In particular, the spring 46 is a coil spring surrounding the tubular portion 57 of the punch 44 and located between the shoulder 56 of the punch and the shoulder 50 of the sleeve. The spring 46 normally urges the punch and the sleeve axially apart.

The punch 44 has a solid surface 66 near its lower end. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 2, this surface 66 is concave. Thus, the setting 16 may be positioned within the throat 62 of the sleeve in engagement with the surface 66 of the punch. The internal diameter of the throat 62 is selected such that the setting 16 can be held therein by friction.

The disclosed construction of the plunger 26, and particularly the manner in which the slots 52 and 58 are arranged and the manner in which the plunger 26 is assembled, provide significant manufacturing and assembly advantages. Specifically, the fact that the slots 52 in the sleeve 42 are open at the bottom of the sleeve 42 allows the sleeve 42 to be molded from plastic material in a single step, with a die forming the slots 52, thus obviating the need to later provide slots or openings in the sleeve 42 by a subsequent machining operation. Similarly, the arrangement of the slots 58 in the punch 44 means that the entire punch can be molded, with the slots 58 therein, to thus obviate the need for a subsequent machining operation for making slots or openings. In molding of the punch 44, a die forms the slots 58. Since the slots 58 are open at the top end of the lesser diameter tubular portion 57, and since the outside diameter of the lesser diameter tubular portion 57 is less than the inside diameter of the collar 54, as shown in the drawing, the punch 44 can be molded in a single operation, with the slots 58 formed by a die inserted coaxially into the punch 44 from the top open end thereof. As seen in FIGS. 11, 12 and 13, the retaining pin 64' is elongated and has enlarged heads at the longitudinally spaced ends. More specifically, each longitudinal end is arrow-shaped in a longitudinal section transverse to the plane of FIG. 12, forming thus retaining ridges 64'a. Additionally, the retaining pin 64 has outwardly-extending projections 64'b from each side of the head which does not have a ridge 64'a. Referring to FIGS. 11-13, the plunger 26 is assembled by placing the spring 46 from below onto the lesser diameter tubular portion 57 of the punch 44 and then moving the lesser diameter portion 57 of the punch 44 into the sleeve 42, from above the sleeve 42, until the slots 58 and 52 overlap over an area least equal to the largest transverse section of the retaining pin 64'. The retaining pin 64' is then inserted into the overlapping slot area until it is in the position shown in FIG. 12. It is noted that the punch 44, sleeve 42 and retaining pin 64' are made of a somewhat resilient plastic material so that each can deform somewhat in the course of inserting the retaining pin 64' and can return to its original shape subsequently, to thus ensure that the retaining pin 64' stays in place during the operation of the device. This manner of arranging and assembling the punch 44, sleeve 42 and retaining pin 64' ensures that each can be made in a single molding operation, without any subsequent machining operations, and that the punch can be assembled by hand, without the need for special machinery.

At the right-hand end of the head 22, opposite the arm 30 containing the plunger 26, guide means 70 are provided at the connection to the base 20. The guide means 70 allow the head to pivot relative to the base only in a vertical plane. Thus, the plunger 26, fixed at the opposite left-hand end of the head 22, also pivots only in a vertical plane. The guide means 70 is best viewed in FIGS. 1 and 5. The right-hand end of the head 22, opposite the arm 30, terminates in a downwardly extending arm 74. In its central region, the arm 74 has a depressed, pinched portion 76. At the bottom end of the arm 74, a yoke 78 is formed. The base 20 has a lug 80 at its right-hand end, opposite the anvil 24. The yoke 78 fits about the lug 80, and the two are secured together by a pin 82 to pivot relative to one another. A pair of upright flanges 83 are formed at the same right-hand end of the base 20. The depressed portion 76 of the arm 74 fits between the flanges 83 to prevent horizontal translational or pivotal movement of the arm. There is thus a dual system for limiting movement relative to the vertical plane: one system results from the engagement of the depressed portion 76 and the flanges 83, and the other results from the engagement of the yoke 78 and the lug 80. This ensures that the head 22 and hence the plunger 26 move only in a vertical plane during fastening of the ornament 12 to the sheet material 14.

The base 20 is generally similar in construction to the head 22 and comprises an elongated member which may be reinforced internally by ribs or by a truss (not shown). At the left end of the base 20, opposite the lug 80 at which the head is pivotally connected, is the anvil 24.

As best seen in FIG. 4, the anvil 24 preferably comprises a turret 84 attached to and rotatable with respect to the base 20. The turret 84 is provided with at least one and preferably several matrices or dies 86. The turret 84 is preferably stamped of sheet metal. Alternatively, the turret 84 may be fabricated of plastic, but the dies 86 should be made of a high-strength material, such as steel, because they absorb the force of the punch 44 and the ornament prongs. The dies 86 are desirably spaced about the periphery of the turret 84. Each die 86 is of a different size and is shaped so as to deform the prongs of the setting 16. As shown in FIG. 2, one die 88 is shaped to have a circular concave portion 88a and a central peak 88b. An ornament 12, which is a stud or setting 16 that comprises a domed decoration or crown 89a and a plurality of prongs 89b, is forced through the sheet material 14 and the prongs 89b are bent inwardly and upwardly by the concave portion 88a to the top of the peak 88b and thence back into the material to secure the ornament 12 to the material, as shown in FIG. 3.

The turret 84 is connected to the base 20 such that its position can be adjusted both longitudinally and circumferentially with respect to the base. As shown in FIGS. 1, 2 and 4, this connection comprises a screw 90 extending though a central opening 91 in the turret 84 and a slot 92 formed in and arranged longitudinally of the base, and secured by a wing nut 94 and a washer 96. When the wing nut 94 is loosened, the turrent 84 can rotate relative to the base such that a selected one of the dies 86 is positioned beneath and in register with the punch 44. Moreover, the turret 84 can be positioned longitudinally of the base by sliding the turret 84 and the screw 90 along the slot 92. This results in precise alignment of the punch and the die. Other adjustment means may also be employed.

In operation of the apparatus 10 to affix an ornament to sheet material, the user places an ornament 12 in the throat 62 at the bottom end of the sleeve 42 of the plunger 26. The decoration 89a and the setting 16 are held by friction in contact with the curved surface 66 near the lower end of the punch 44 and by the throat 62 of the sleeve 42. The sheet material 14 is placed on top of a selected, corresponding one of the dies 88 of the anvil 24. The user pushes down on the head 22 such that it pivots about the pin 82. As the arm 30 of the head moves downwardly, the lowermost surface of the sleeve 42 engages the sheet material 14 and holds it in contact with the die 88. It should be clear, of course, that if the prongs 89b protrude downwardly from the sleeve 42, the prongs would first engage the sheet material 14 and the sleeve 42 may or may not subsequently engage the sheet material 14. Continued pressure exerted by the user causes the punch 44 to move downward relative to the sleeve 42. The prongs 89b of the setting 16 are forced by the punch into and through the sheet material. The prongs 89b are deformed by the concave surface 88a and peak 88b of the die 88 and are bent inwardly and upwardly, and partly back through the under surface of the sheet material, as shown in FIG. 3. The ornament is thus affixed to the sheet material. It is within the scope of the invention to reverse the operation of the apparatus and to place the ornament 12 on a suitable die of the anvil 24 so that the prongs are deformed by the curved surface 66 at the lower end of the punch 44.

To convert the apparatus 10 to affix ornaments of a different size, the user removes the entire plunger from the head 22. This is accomplished by slipping downwardly the friction-fitted bushing 34 from the head arm 30, separating the halves 34a and 34b as shown in FIG. 11, removing the plunger 26 (without disassembly of the plunger) and replacing it with a different plunger having a throat of greater or lesser diameter and a lower surface of a greater or lesser curvature. Several different replacement plungers 26 are typically supplied with the apparatus 10, to match the several different dies of the anvil 24. It is one of the substantial advantages of the present invention that the plunger can be conveniently removed as a unit of facilitate conversion of the apparatus. The turret 84 is readily positioned by means of the wing nut 94 such that the desired die 86 is aligned relative to the punch 44. The turret 84 is also adjustable longitudinally of the base 20 by means of the screw 90 disposed within the slot 92 to provide precise alignment.

The apparatus 10 of the present invention is also suitable for applying to sheet material ornaments which have a separate gem and setting. As shown in FIG. 7 (where similar parts have been given the same number), the punch 44 has a flat bottom surface 66a so that the throat 62 of the sleeve 42 can receive and hold a setting 98 which has a flat crown 98a and a plurality of prongs 98b extending therefrom. In this embodiment, a gem 100 is frusto-conical in shape and has a flat base 100a which cooperates with the flat crown 98a of the setting 98.

In operation, the gem 100 is placed within a die 102 shaped to have a concave inner surface 102a corresponding to the general shape of the gem. The sheet material 14 is placed on top of the gem within the die. The setting 98 is friction-fitted within the throat 62 of the sleeve 42 and the head 22 is depressed. The lower end of the sleeve (or the lower ends of the prongs 98b) engages the sheet material and holds it against the die 102. Continued pressure on the head causes the punch to move relative to the sleeve and the punch 44 then forces the prongs 98b of the setting 98 through the sheet material 14. The prongs are deformed by the die 102 such that they at least partly surround the gem and affix it securely to the sheet material, as best seen in FIGS. 8 and 9. Other types of ornaments may also be affixed using the apparatus of the invention.

Thus, the present invention provides an inexpensive and simple hand-operated apparatus for attaching ornaments, such as studs and gems, by settings to sheet material. The apparatus is readily convertible to affix ornaments of varying size. The apparatus is suitable for attaching ornaments to fabric in precise locations.

It should be noted that orientation terms, such as left, right, above, below, etc., refer only to the orientation shown in the figures and are in no way intended to limit the manner in which the invented apparatus is to be oriented in use.