Apparatus for gripping thin flexible materials, such as cloth
AssigneeRobert C. Bosack
InventorMicheal D. Lake
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A gripping apparatus, and more specifically a gripping apparatus that can be used with a shirttail retaining harness to grip garments and secure them in place without damaging the garments. The gripping apparatus 30 comprises an upper member 34 having a substantially flat, elastic upper surface 32 and a lower member 38 having a substantially non-flat, rigid lower surface 36. When the gripping apparatus is in a closed position to grip a garment, the lower member 38 is urged into contact with the upper member 34, such that the lower surface 36 elastically deforms the upper surface 32.
Claims10
An apparatus for gripping thin flexible material comprising:
- a first member having a flat and elastic surface;
- a second member having a surface which is sufficiently rigid with respect to said first member surface and having at least one protrusion on said surface of said second member, said protrusion being capable of elastically deforming at least a portion of said substantially flat and elastic surface;
- and,
- means for urging said first member into contact with said second member, so that at least a portion of said surface of said first member surface is elastically deformed and so that said thin flexible material between said first and second members is gripped by an elastic force resulting from said elastic deformation.
A gripping apparatus comprising:
- a first jaw having a surface which is flat and elastic;
- a second jaw having a protrusion which is sufficiently rigid with respect to said first jaw surface to elastically deform at least a portion of said surface first jaw;
- means for cooperatively joining said first jaw and said second jaw to provide an open and a close position, wherein said surface of said second jaw is urged into contact with said surface of said first jaw so as to elastically deform said surface of said first jaw when said first jaw and said second jaw are in said closed position;
- and,
- means for maintaining said first jaw and said second jaw in said closed position when desired.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.