Holding ring

May 1, 1951

E. F. MIDDLETON ET AL

HOLDING RING

2,551,384

Filed May 22, 1948

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Patented May 1, 1951

2,551,384

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE

2,551,384

HOLDING RING

Earl F. Middleton, New Rochelle, and Carl W. Middleton, Larchmont, N. Y.

Application May 22,1948, Serial No. 28,636

Claims. (

The invention herein disclosed relates to a holding ring that is especially suitable for holding curtains, tapestry, blankets and the like.

Curtains, tapestry and the like are frequently provided with openings through which they are . suspended from reds by holding rings that surround the rods. Blankets, especially for a baby's crib, may also be provided with openings adjacent the edges or corners, through which openings they may be loosely secured to the rods or 1 rails of the crib.

It is an object of this invention to provide a split holding ring for such purposes. Another object of the invention is to provide a holding ring of this kind that is provided with a simple 1 and effective locking arrangement. A further object of the invention is to provide a ring of the kind mentioned that is economical to manufacture and that is attractive in appearance.

The foregoing objects and certain advantages 2 that will hereinafter appear are realized in the holding ring, constituting one specific example of an embodiment of the invention, that is illustrated in the accompanying drawing and described in detail below. 2

The drawing includes:

Fig. 1 which is an isometric view of a holding ring embodying the invention;

Fig. 2 which is a plan view of the same;

Fig. 3 which is a side elevation of the same; ,, Fig. 4 which is a fragmentary, side elevation showing the ring with the ends thereof separated;

Fig. 5 which is a plan view illustrating the initial step in securing the ends of the ring together; ,

Fig. 6 which is an enlarged, fragmentary elevation showing the relation of the interengaging lips just prior to securing the ends of the ring.

The particular holding ring illustrated in the drawing consists of a narrow strip I of resilient and flexible material. The ring may be formed from any suitable material such, for example, as metal or a thermo-plastic that is resilient and flexible. Holding rings of the kind shown in the drawing and made from cellulose acetate have ₄proven to be highly satisfactory for the purpose.

At the ends of the strip I, there are interengaging lips which, when properly arranged, interengage to hold the end sections of the strip together. Desirably, the strip is pre-formed in the shape of a ring of greater circumference than the length of the strip. Thus, when the end portions of the strip overlap there is a tendency for them to separate. This tendency of the ends to separate is utilized in effecting the locking of the ₅ends together to form a closed ring.

1. 16—87.2)

Adjacent the end edge 2 of the strip I, there is formed a laterally extending lug or lip 3 which extends laterally of the plane of the strip from the side edge 4 of the strip. The length of the lip 3 is approximately the same as the thickness of the strip, and the width of the lip 3 is slightly greater than the thickness of the strip. In the closed position of the ring, the lip 3 extends along and engages the side edge 4 of the end portion 5 of the strip.

The end portion 5 of the strip is provided with spaced, oppositely disposed, overhanging lips 6 and 7. The lip 6 is adjacent the end edge 8 of the strip. This lip extends laterally from the side edge 4 of the strip and inwardly to overhang the strip. The laterally extending portion 9 of the lip is of such length that the inwardly extending portion i 0 thereof is spaced from the strip a distance but slightly greater than the thickness of the strip. The lip 7 is spaced longitudinally or circumferentially of the strip, from the lip B and extends laterally from the opposite side edge of the strip and inwardly to overhang the strip. Like the lip 6, the laterally extending portion 11 of the lip 7 is of such length that the overhanging portion 12 of the lip is spaced from the strip a distance but slightly greater, approximately the same as, the thickness of the strip. The length of the inwardly extending portion 10 and 12 of the lips 6 and 7 are approximately half the width of the strip.

As will be seen from Figures 1, 2 and 3, in the closed position of the ring, the end portion of the strip having the lip 3 thereon is engaged under the overhanging portion of the lips 6 and 7. The lip 3 engages the side edge 4 of the strip and thus prevents pivotal or sidewise movements of the end portion of the strip. Due to the tendency of the ring to open up, the lip 3 is held against the edge of lip 7. In this position, the lip 3 is of sufficient length to engage the side edge of the strip. The lips 6 and 7 restrain the ring from opening up and also with the lip 3 stops sidewards or pivotal movement of the end sections of ₅ the ring.

To open the ring, the ring is compressed. Upon compression of the ring, and due to its curvature, the lip 3 is released from the side edge of the strip as illustrated in Fig. 6. The end section ₀ of the ring containing the lip 3 can then be twisted or pivoted to a position comparable to that shown in Figure 5. In this position, the end section is released from the lip 6 and can be slipped out from under the lip 7. When the end _Λ sections are thus disengaged and the ring is released, the end edges will separate as shown in

2,561,384

Fig. 4, due to the resiliency of the ring and the fact that it was pre-formed in the shape of a ring of greater circumference than the length of the strip.

With the ring open, one end portion may be 5 inserted through the opening in a curtain, tapestry or blanket and the ring sprung apart to encompass the rod or rail as the case may be. The ring may then be closed and locked in the closed position by reversing the operation per- 10 formed and described above for opening the ring. To close the ring, the end section containing the lip 3 is brought to the position shown in Fig. 5. The end section is then allowed to straighten out and is brought under the lip 6. IS With the end section thus arranged, the ring is released. It assumes the position shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 3 in which the end sections are locked together.

From the foregoing description of the embodi- 20 ment of the invention disclosed in the drawing and described above, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that by this invention there is provided a split holding ring of the kind mentioned that has an effective locking arrange- 25 ment; and that will not accidentally become displaced and the ring opened. It will also be apparent that by this invention there is provided a holding ring that is simple in construction and economical to manufacture. ³⁰

It will be obvious that various changes may be made by those skilled in the art in the details of the embodiment of the invention illustrated in the drawing and described above within the principle and scope of the invention as expressed ³⁵in the appended claims.