# US 2014/0190047 A1 · Retractable Quilt Clamp Apparatus > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2014/0190047 A1 - Document ID: US20140190047A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 14/145,828 - Filed: 2013-12-31 - Published: 2014-07-10 - Earliest claimed: 2013-01-05 - Assignees: Quilter's Gear, LLC - Applicants: Quilter's Gear, LLC - Inventors: Catherine Mae McCoy; Richard Thomas McCoy; Donna C. Watford - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20140190047A1 ## CPC - D05B 11/00: Machines for sewing quilts or mattresses (control of workpiece-holding frames, or of sewing machines, in order to obtain particular seam configuration D05B21/00) - A41H 15/00: Cloth-holders - D05B 39/005: {Quilting frames} - D05B 91/06: Work holders or supports - G01B 2003/103: {operated by springs} - D05B: SEWING (appliances for the tailoring trade A41H; sewing tables A47B29/00; sewing in bookbinding B42B2/00; sewing machines modified for knitting D04B39/08) - A41H: APPLIANCES OR METHODS FOR MAKING CLOTHES, e.g. FOR DRESS-MAKING OR FOR TAILORING, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR - G01B: MEASURING LENGTH, THICKNESS OR SIMILAR LINEAR DIMENSIONS; MEASURING ANGLES; MEASURING AREAS; MEASURING IRREGULARITIES OF SURFACES OR CONTOURS ## Abstract A retractable quilt clamp apparatus is disclosed having a clamp attached to a strap, and a strap retraction mechanism attached to the strap. The strap retraction mechanism is configured to retract and retain at least part of the strap. The strap retraction mechanism includes a case, a spool, a spiral spring, and a brake. The case at least partially houses and retains the spool. The case and the spool retain the spiral spring. The strap is attached to the spiral spring, which biases the strap to be wound about the spool. The case includes a brake region for retaining and guiding movement of the brake. The brake is configured to press against the strap when in a locked position, and to allow clearance for the strap to move relative to the case when in an unlocked position. A bracket is used to attach the apparatus to a quilting frame, such as a quilting frame of a longarm quilting system. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A quilt clamp apparatus comprising: a clamp configured for grabbing and releasably holding a sheet during use of the apparatus; a strap including a first strap end and a second strap end, the first strap end being attached to the clamp; a strap retraction mechanism including a case, a spool, a spiral spring, and a brake, the case includes a first case half attached to a second case half, the case at least partially housing and retaining the spool, the first case half having a central case post extending therefrom and at least partially within the spool, the central case post having a slit formed therein, the spiral spring having a first spring end and a second spring end, the second strap end being attached to the first spring end, the second spring end extending at least partially through the slit of the central case post to retain the second spring end, the spool having an inner drum region at least partially housing and retaining the spiral spring, at least part of the strap being wound about an outer region of the spool when at least part of the strap is retracted into the case, the case includes a brake region for retaining and guiding movement of the brake, and the brake being configured to press against the strap when in a locked position and being configured to allow clearance for the strap to move in and out of the case when in an unlocked position; and an adjustable bracket configured for attachment to a quilting frame during use of the apparatus. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The quilt clamp apparatus of claim 1, wherein the clamp includes jaws with teeth at a distal end of the clamp. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The quilt clamp apparatus of claim 1, wherein the clamp includes a loop for attaching the first strap end. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The quilt clamp apparatus of claim 1, wherein the clamp is adapted for one-handed operation. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The quilt clamp apparatus of claim 1, wherein the strap includes a flat webbing material. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The quilt clamp apparatus of claim 1, wherein the strap includes a vinyl coated steel cable. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The quilt clamp apparatus of claim 1, wherein the strap includes a monofilament line made from synthetic fiber. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The quilt clamp apparatus of claim 1, wherein the strap includes at least one material selected from the group consisting of nylon, polyester, polypropylene, carbon fiber, aramid fiber, leather, cotton, silk, hemp, linen, steel, titanium, copper, aluminum, and vinyl. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The quilt clamp apparatus of claim 1, wherein at least part of the adjustable bracket is an integral part of at least one portion of the case. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The quilt clamp apparatus of claim 1, wherein at least part of the adjustable bracket is separable from the case. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The quilt clamp apparatus of claim 1, wherein at least part of the spiral spring is made from a steel material. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The quilt clamp apparatus of claim 1, wherein the spool includes a cap portion for at least partially enclosing and retaining the spiral spring in the inner drum region. ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) The quilt clamp apparatus of claim 1, wherein the brake includes a brake knob extending at least partially outside of the case. ### Claim 14 (depends on 1) The quilt clamp apparatus of claim 1, wherein at least part of the brake is a slider mechanism. ### Claim 15 (depends on 1) The quilt clamp apparatus of claim 1, wherein the adjustable bracket includes a threaded shaft and a nut, the nut including an outer surface configured for tightening and loosening the nut by hand without the need for tools. ### Claim 16 A quilt clamp apparatus comprising: a clamp having jaws configured for holding a sheet during use; a strap having a first strap end and a second strap end, the first strap end being attached to the clamp; and a strap retraction mechanism attached to the second strap end, the strap retraction mechanism being configured to retract and retain at least part of the strap during use. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The quilt clamp apparatus of claim 16, wherein the strap retraction mechanism includes a case, a spool, a spiral spring, and a brake, the case at least partially housing and retaining the spool, the spiral spring having a first spring end and a second spring end, the second strap end being attached to the first spring end, the second spring end being retained within an inner region of the spool, the inner region of the spool at least partially housing and retaining the spiral spring, at least part of the strap being wound about an outer region of the spool when at least part of the strap is retracted into the case, the case includes a brake region for retaining and guiding movement of the brake, and the brake being configured to press against the strap when in a locked position and being configured to allow clearance for the strap to move relative to the case when in an unlocked position. ### Claim 18 (depends on 16) The quilt clamp apparatus of claim 16, further comprising a bracket attached to the strap retraction mechanism. ### Claim 19 (depends on 16) The quilt clamp apparatus of claim 16, wherein at least part of the bracket is an integral part of at least one portion of the case. ### Claim 20 A quilting system comprising: a quilting frame; and a quilt clamp apparatus configured to attach to the quilting frame, the quilt clamp apparatus including a clamp, a strap, a strap retraction mechanism, and a bracket, the clamp having jaws configured for holding a sheet during use, the strap having a first strap end and a second strap end, the first strap end being attached to the clamp, the strap retraction mechanism being attached to the second strap end, the strap retraction mechanism being configured to retract and retain at least part of the strap during use, and the bracket being configured for attaching the strap retraction mechanism to the quilting frame. ### Claim 21 (depends on 20) The quilting system of claim 20, further comprising a sewing machine movably coupled to the quilting frame. ### Claim 22 A method of using a retractable quilt clamp apparatus, comprising: pulling a clamp of the apparatus away from a strap retraction mechanism of the apparatus toward a workpiece such that part of a strap of the apparatus is removed from the strap retraction mechanism, the clamp being coupled to the strap retraction mechanism via the strap, wherein the workpiece is held by a quilting frame; attaching the clamp to an edge of the workpiece; pulling the strap away from the workpiece toward the strap retraction mechanism to apply tension on the workpiece via the clamp; and engaging a brake mechanism of the strap retraction mechanism to press against the strap to fix the strap relative to the strap retraction mechanism. ### Claim 23 (depends on 22) The method of claim 22, further comprising: disengaging the brake mechanism from being pressed against the strap; detaching the clamp from the workpiece; retracting the strap and clamp toward the strap retraction mechanism; and retaining the strap at and by the strap refraction mechanism while the clamp is located at the strap retraction mechanism.