Blanket peg

March 22, 1966

D. E. KNAUFT

BLANKET PEG

3,241,202

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INVENTOR.

DANIEL E. KNAUFT

ATTORNEYS

D. E. KNAUFT

BLANKET PEG

March 22, 1966

Filed Sept. 10, 1963

3,241,202

Sheets-Sheet 2

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INVENTOR.

DANIEL E. KNAUFT

ATTORNEYS

United States Patent Office

3,241,202

Patented Mar. 22, 1966

3,241,202 BLANKET PEG

Daniel E. Knau ft, Berrien Springs, Mich. (2214 43d St. SE., Olympia, Wash.) Filed Sept. 10,1963, Ser. No. 307,939

Claims. (Cl. 24—85)

The present invention relates to a blanket peg and more specifically to a peg for holding a blanket, beach towel, or the like, in fully spread condition.

On visiting the beach, people often spread a beach towel or blanket or some other covering on the ground to sit and lie on, and picnickers frequently spread a tablecloth on the ground for food and dishes. In many other situations, such as outings and the like, a blanket or some other covering is spread on the ground and is used as a seat or bed to avoid getting damp or dirty. These coverings, however, when not held by some means, tend to be blown by the wind and to become displaced, out of shape, wrinkled, uncomfortable, and ineffective as ground coverings by the people moving on and walking across them.

A variety of unsatisfactory partial solutions have been employed. For example, heavy objects such as mounds of sand may be piled on the corners of a beach towel or stones or picnic baskets, or some other heavy object may be placed on the corners of a table cloth or blanket. These partial solutions have several disadvantages. For example, the heavy objects placed on the corners do not secure the covering effectively and unduly restrict the area of the covering available for use. It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a means by which a beach towel, table cloth, blanket, or any other around covering garment can be secured in place and prevented from becoming wrinkled or folded, and which is small enough not to interfere with the use of the covering or restrict the amount of available area.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a blanket-securing peg which can easily be pounded into the ground for securing the blanket firmly in place and which can be easily manipulated to secure and release the blanket.

Another partial solution of the problem is to pound a stake through the corners of the blanket. This method holds the blanket firmly in place, and the stakes are small enough not to interfere with the use of the blanket, but the method has the disadvantage of damaging the blanket. It is accordingly a further object of the present invention to provide a blanket-securing peg which positively and firmly holds the blanket without tearing or otherwise damaging the fabric thereof.

Still another object of the present invention is to provide a blanket peg of the aforesaid type which is compact, easily carried, and attractive when in use, and which is inexpensive, relatively simple in construction, and durable.

Additional objects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent in the following description and accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIGURE 1 is a top plan view of a blanket or similar covering secured by several of the present blanket pegs;

FIGURE 2 is an enlarged side elevational view of the present invention illustrating the manner in which it is used with a blanket or similar covering;

FIGURE 3 is a side elevational view of the present peg when not in use;

FIGURE 4 is a front elevational view;

FIGURE 5 is a top plan of the peg;

FIGURE 6 is an enlarged side elevational view of a fastener forming a part of the present invention, showing the fastener in open position;

FIGURE 7 is a top plan view of the fastener in open position;

FIGURE 8 is a cross-sectional view of the fastener taken on line 8—8 of FIGURE 7; and

FIGURE 9 is a side elevational view of the fastener in closed position.

Referring more specifically to the drawings and particularly to FIGURE 1, numeral 20 designates a blanket, beach towel, table cloth, or similar ground covering, these coverings hereafter in the specification and claims being referred to simply as the “blanket.” Blanket 20 is shown spread on the ground 22 and is held firmly in place by means of the present blanket peg 24, the peg consisting of a stake 26, a top 28, and a fastener 30. Stake 26 is tapered at its lower end so that the stake may be easily pounded into the ground or sand, and is preferably rounded or blunt at that end instead of sharp so that it can be carried and handled safely. Top 28 may be hemispherical or of any other convenient and attractive shape, and may be painted a bright color to enhance its beauty. The top is relatively large and rounded so that the blanket peg can be pushed into the ground with the hand, and it may be removably attached to stake 26 by frictional engagement, screw threads, or some other suitable securing means, so that it can be removed and the stake pounded directly with a hammer or some other instrument other than the hand when it is necessary to drive the blanket peg into very hard ground, thereby preserving the attractive appearance of the top. On the other hand, if desired, top 28 may be attached permanently to the stake by a suitable securing means. The fastener 30 is attached to stake 26 by a metal ring 34 passing through a horizontal hole 36 in the stake and a metal band 38 connected at one end to the ring and at the other end to a loop 40 at the back of the fastener. By means of ring 34 and metal band 38, fastener 30 is attached securely but maneuverably to stake 26. Ring 34, band 38, and fastener 30 could be made of plastic or some other suitable material, but are preferably made of metal.

Fastener 30 consists of a lower clamp 42, an upper clamp 44, loop 40, and a lock 46. Lower clamp 42 has a long flat base 48 joined integrally at the forward end with an upwardly extending serrated tab 50. From each side of base 48 extends upwardly a tab 52 preferably integrally joined thereto and having near its top a hole 54. From the back of base 48 extends a tab 56 preferably integrally joined thereto and having a relatively wide slot 58 at its center.

Upper clamp 44 has a forward base 60 joined integrally at its forward end to a downwardly extending serrated tab 62. Base 48 and base 60 are of such relative lengths that serrated tab 62 seats just behind serrated tab 50 when the fastener is closed, thereby permitting the blanket to be held firmly in place. Forward base 60 is joined integrally to a sloping portion 64 just before the point at which tabs 52 rise from the base of the lower clamp, portion 64 being joined integrally to a back base 66. Back base 66 is parallel to forward base 60, and sloping portion 64 drops down a distance approximately equal to two thicknesses of the sheet metal or other material used in the fastener. A slot 68 extends down the center of portion 64 and approximately half way back in back base 66. Slot 68 serves to guide the motion of lock 46 and enables lock 46 to force the fastener into closed position. Back base 66 has a tongue 70 extending from its free end, inserted in slot 58 of lower clamp 42, and two shoulders 71 resting against the back edge of tabs 52, thereby securing the upper clamp firmly in place. Loop 40 circles around tab 56 of lower clamp 42, passes under back base 66, and is held firmly while extending in a

3,241,202 ³ backward direction to band 38. As a modification it may not be a complete loop but have its two free ends pass along and inside tabs 52 and firmly held there.

Lock 46 has a base 72 from each side of which extends an attractively and conveniently shaped, integrally joined 5 flange 74. Flanges 74 improve the appearance of the fastener and protect the user from its sharp edges. At the back of base 72 and preferably integrally joined thereto is a downwardly extending tab 76 fitting between tabs 52 of lower clamp 42. A tongue 78 extends from io each side of tab 76 and is inserted through hole 54. A tongue 80 extends downwardly from the bottom of tab 76 and passes through slot 68 of upper clamp 44.

When the fastener is open, tab 76 rests flat against back base 66 and tongue 80 passes through and rests near the 15 forward end of slot 68. The fastener is closed by pressing down on base 72, and tongue 80 sliding down the portion of slot 68 in sloping portion 64 causes tab 76 to push down on and close upper clamp 44. As base 72 is pushed farther, tongue 80 slides along the portion 20 of slot 68 in back base 66, thereby firmly locking the fastener in the closed position. When the fastener is closed and locked, tongue 80 rests at the back end of slot 68. While the fastener is being closed, lock 46 is pivoted around, guided by, and held in place by tongues 25 78 inserted in holes 54. When the fastener is open, tongue 70 rests near the top of slot 58, and as the fastener is closed, tongue 70 moves very slightly upward. In the manner herein described, the fastener can be easily opened or closed and when closed holds the blanket firmly. 30

In the use of the blanket peg, the stake is pushed or pounded into the ground or sand near the corner of a fully spread blanket, the edge of the blanket is placed between upper clamp 44 and lower clamp 42, and lock 46 is pressed down to force the fastener into a closed 35 position. When one of the blanket pegs is used at each corner of the blanket, the fasteners hold the blanket firmly and prevent wrinkling or displacement until the user wishes to release them. In releasing the fastener, lock 46 is lifted up, and the edge of the blanket is removed ⁴⁰from between the clamps. The peg can then easily be pulled from the ground by gripping the lower edge of top 28.

The stake 26 and top 28 are shown constructed of wood; however, plastic or metal may be used for one ^4aor the other or both in any particular construction. While the top 28 is shown removable, it may be formed integrally with the stake or it may be secured by any suitable releasable means which permits it to be removed from the upper end of the stake. Various other ⁵⁰shapes than the one shown in the drawings can be used if desired.

Although only one embodiment of the present invention has been described herein, various changes and modifications may be made without departing from the scope ^5uof the present blanket peg.