Holding device for a tarpaulin-like or cloth-like object to be processed Number:6,996,890 from the United States Patent and Trademark Office (PTO) owispatent

Title: Holding device for a tarpaulin-like or cloth-like object to be processed

Abstract: The invention relates to a holding device for a tarpaulin-like or cloth-like object to be processed.To provide a holding device that means are provided for releasably pressing at least a part of the object to be processed against a processing head connectable with the holding device, said means being releasable from the contact position via an actuating lever, it is suggested within the scope of the invention that means are provided for releasably pressing at least a part of the object to be processed against a processing head connectable with the holding device, said means being releasable from the contact position via an actuating lever.

Patent Number: 6,996,890 Issued on 02/14/2006 to Frey

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Inventors:	Frey; Helmut (Birkenweg 16, 66333 Voelklingen, DE)
Appl. No.:	783445
Filed:	February 20, 2004

Foreign Application Priority Data

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Aug 20, 2001[DE]

201 13 350 U

Current U.S. Class:	29/566; 29/33
Current Intern'l Class:	B23P 19/04    (20060101)
Field of Search:	29/566,33.R,564,564.1,33.K,267,243.53,243.528,243.521

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References Cited [Referenced By]

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U.S. Patent Documents

1945892	Feb., 1934	Gobin.
2518545	Aug., 1950	William et al.
4088004	May., 1978	Di Maio et al.
4864840	Sep., 1989	Perez.
5488767	Feb., 1996	Franovick.
6450931	Sep., 2002	Frey.
Foreign Patent Documents
338133	Nov., 1930	GB.
WO 99/2650/6	Jun., 1999	WO.

Primary Examiner: Ashley; Boyer D.
Assistant Examiner: Ross; Dana
Attorney, Agent or Firm: Collard & Roe, P.C.

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Parent Case Text

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CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

The Application is a Continuation of and priority is claimed under 35 U.S.C. 120 of International Patent Application No. PCT/DE02/02347 filed on Jun. 28, 2002. Applicant also claims priority under 35 U.S.C. §119 of Application No. DE 201 13 350.4 filed on Aug. 20, 2001.

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Claims

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What is claimed is:

1. A holding device for an article to be processed comprising:

(a) an actuating lever;

(b) means for removably pressing at least a part of the article to be processed against a processing head connectable with the holding device, said means being removable from a contact position via said actuation lever and comprising a pressing member pretensioned towards the processing head by a spring;

(c) a first hand grip for one hand of an operator; and

(d) a second hand grip for another hand of the operator;

wherein the processing head is part of a device for the removal or setting of eyelets and for punching holes in the article, and the article is a tarpaulin provided with or to be provided with eyelets.

2. The holding device of claim 1, wherein said means for removably pressing is located on an upper side of the holding device.

3. The holding device of claim 1 wherein said actuating lever is within reach of said second hand grip.

4. A holding device for an article to be processed comprising:

(a) an actuating lever;

(b) means for removably pressing at least a part of the article to be processed against a processing head connectable with the holding device, said means being removable from a contact position via said actuation lever and comprising a bent component pretensioned towards the processing head;

(c) a first hand grip for one hand of an operator; and

(d) a second hand grip for another hand of the operator;

wherein the processing head is part of a device for the removal or setting of eyelets and for punching holes in the article, and the article is a tarpaulin provided with or to be provided with eyelets.

5. The holding device of claim 4, wherein the bent component comprises wire.

6. The holding device of claim 5 wherein said bent component comprises spring steel wire.

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Description

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The invention relates to a holding device for a tarpaulin-like or cloth-like object to be processed.

From the applicant's WO 99/26506, a device is known for removing eyelets, especially from webs of textile fabric or plastics. This device can also be used to set eyelets in such webs of fabric or plastics.

However, holding the web of textile fabric or plastics during the processing step has proved difficult; firstly, this can result firstly in inaccurate work and secondly, it slows down the process substantially. The object of this invention is thus to provide a device with which tarpaulin-like or cloth-like objects can be held while being processed.

This object is established by providing a means for releasably pressing at least a part of the object to be processed against a processing head connectable with the holding device, said means being releasable from the contact position via an actuating lever, and by providing the holding device with a first hand grip for one of the operator's hands, a second hand grip for the operator's other hand and, preferably within reach of the second hand grip, the actuating lever.

This device makes it possible to securely hold the flat-spread object to be processed, thus reducing processing time and improving the accuracy.

Since the holding device is operated with two hands, its weight is easier to accommodate over an extended period of time, and in addition, the device can be opened via the actuating lever located near one of the hand grips.

According to one version of the invention, the means for releasably applying pressure is engineered as a bent component pretensioned towards the processing head. During the processing step, this bent component presses the flat-spread object firmly against the processing head and holds it securely in position there. Subsequently, the bent component is released from the contact position by way of the actuating lever, and the flat-spread object is moved on (to the next eyelet) or else replaced by another flat-spread object.

It is expedient in this case if the bent component consists of wire, especially spring steel wire.

In another version of the invention, the means for releasably applying pressure is engineered as a pressing member that is pretensioned towards the processing head by means of a spring.

Here the device works in a similar manner, except that the pretensioning of the bent component is replaced by the tension of the pressure spring.

It is also to advantage if the means for releasably applying pressure to at least a part of the object to be processed is located preferably on the upper side of the holding device.

It is within the scope of the invention that the processing head is part of a device for the removal and setting of eyelets, and that the object is a tarpaulin provided or to be provided with eyelets.

The main advantages of the invention consist in the provision of an easily operated device which, in combination with a device for the removal and setting of eyelets, allows tarpaulins to be processed substantially faster and hence more economically, irrespective of whether eyelets are being set or removed.

An embodiment of the invention will now be explained by reference to the drawings:

FIG. 1 shows a device according to the invention, having a pretensioned bent component.

FIG. 1A shows a top view of FIG. 1.

FIG. 2 shows a device according to the invention, having a pressing member pretensioned by a spring.

FIG. 2A shows a top view of FIG. 2.

As is evident from FIGS. 1 and 2, the device of the invention consists of a body 1 which, on its lower side, has a first hand grip 2 for one of the operator's hands and a second hand grip 3 for the operator's other hand. The body 1 also has an actuating lever 4 which is positioned within reach of the second hand grip 3 and by means of which the means 5 for releasably applying pressure can be released.

This means 5 for releasably applying pressure can, for example, be engineered as a bent component 5a, consisting for instance of spring steel wire, which is pretensioned towards the processing head 6 of a device for removing and setting eyelets, in particular for accurately centering the tarpaulin during punching of holes therein (FIG. 1), or as a pressing member 5b that is pretensioned towards the processing head 6 by a spring 7 (FIG. 2).

In both cases, the tarpaulin-like or cloth-like object 8 is held flat against the processing head 6 during the processing step, and is released again from this contact position when the actuating lever 4 is actuated.

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