US2486593A - Fastening device - Google Patents

Description

Nov. 1, 1949. w. w. GARDNER FASTENING DEVICE Filed Dec. 31, 1946 INVENTOR Milam I7? an/mfr BY Y TTORNY Patented Nov. 1, 1949 'UiNsI TED S TATES PAT EN T OFFICE FASTENING DEVICE -Wallace W.Gardner, GlenRock, N. J.

. ipplicaltion"Deceniber'31, 1946,'Serial'N0. 719,542

4 Claims.

,The present invention I*relates Ato a fastening device, or sticker and more particularly to a fastening deviceiadapteditobelsecured,to a surface and to hold anoticeforfanarticle to be exhibited.

.Itis generallycustomaryzto 4post notices, advertisements or .articles on Abulletin boards by means of thumb ,tacks :or by first perforating them andfilinglthem -on-anail or peg. The rst method objectionablesince it `perforates the backing andinmanyinstances it is desired to post anoticezor lsupport an article on a hard surface whichcannot bepenetratedby a thumb tack. .PuttingLthenotices-or articles on nails or pegs: offers the ldisadvantagethatl only an uppermost noticeis visiblesand since theinails or pegs are iiixed in :position Litis not feasible to place thenotice, advertisement or thelike at a most desirable Llocationon :the bulletin board or surface.

EIt has been 1 attempted Ato post .notices or displays by utilizingpaste or/adhesive. Thismethod may be satisfactory .in .instances where an advertisement or'noticeiisfglued'to the bill board over itsentire area. .'Attemptingto retain notices or .displays by ameans of vadhesive on lthe rear surfaces .oiers fthe objection that the adhesive area .is Ynot '.always :located at the `most advantageous' position for securing-.itl to4 abulletinboard or other hacker. With suchmethods'the notice or'displayvis.notlreadilyremovable :and is generally torn or damaged during removal. Accumulation :of such :pasted `areas, Aon a bulletin board "requires scraping and refinishing of the board after it lhaslbeenin luse for vraperiod of time.

The present invention aims .to `overcome the above and .other disadvantages .or 4.objections 'by providing a new and :improved Dfastening :device adapted to beausedifor:retainingmotices, displays or l' other articles inipositionffon :a supporting surface. .The invention =further contemplates the provision ofza fastening'fdevice'onsticker that may be .readily .removed i'from :a supporting surface with -a :minimum :tendency "to atear .the 4notice l'or display'4 which is attachedzto' it.

An object of the present invention :is tto .provide .fa new .and fimproved :fastening rdevice.

`Another object-tof the finvention iis to provide a .newzand improved .ffastening :rlevicenwhiclr may be readily placed :in ,position to retain :an :article.

.Another object of=.the inventionzisitorprovide a new and `limproved fastening :device 1whiclfi may be :readily .'removed `from 'a supporting surface.

Another object of the invention l'is =to fprovide a rfastening device .which is reinforced .for facili tating removal .from .-a supporting surface.

Another object of .the .invention is .to iprovide a .newand improved fastening device which may be manufactured from .a single piece 4of material.

Other and further objectsof the invention will be obvious upon an understandingiof the illustrative embodiment about pto ,be described, vor will be -`indicated in 'the .appended claims, and various advantages mot .referred to .herein will occur to one skilledin theartuponremployment of the invention inpractice.

.A preferred embodiment of the invention has been chosen for purpose of illustration ,anddescription and is shown in the .accompanying drawings, forming a .part of the specication, wherein:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view showing a preferred form of the present fastening device in an initial stage of manufacture;

Fig. 2 isa perspective View showing onesurface or side yof `the preferred form .of .fastening `device;

Fig. 3 is a perspective View showing the opposite surface of the `fastening'device illustrated in Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a perspectiveview. showing apreferred form of completed Afastening device;

Fig. 5 is a sectional view taken along the line 5 5 of Fig. 4;

, Fig. 6 is a sectional view showing the fastening device of Figs. 1 through `5 in use;

Fig. 7 is a sectional View taken along the line 'l-J of Fig. 6;

`Fig.8 is aperspective ,view'showinga modified form of the-invention; and

Fig. 9 is a perspective view showing a modified form of the invention along the linesoi Fig. 8.

.Referring again .to the drawings, and more particularly toFigs. 1, 2.=and 3 thereof, there is shown a preferred'form of thepresent fastening device or sticker. Fig. lsshows `an early state in the manufacture and illustrates a substantially `flat member I comprising an enlarged portion `2 and a portion or tongue 4 of reduced Width connected therewith. The yroughly T-shaped membershowniinlFig. l may bestamped out of or otherwise formed Afrom la large sheet of suitable, strong, ilexible material such as cloth, toughpaper Vor gummed tape.

"The enlarged portion 4vf2 of v'the member I is preferably provided 'with van aperture or 1operi-` hesive, there ing 1. While this aperture may be located at any convenient part of the enlarged portion 2 it is shown for purposes of illustration,- as approximately centrally located in the enlarged portion.

Preferably one surface or side of the member I is coated with an adhesive 5, the opposite surface being left free of adhesive so that there is no tendency for this latter surface to adhere with any surface with which it may be placed in contact. While any suitable type of adhesive may be applied to the member I it has been found preferable to utilize a type which does not require wetting before application of a fastener to a surface or article. Suitable adhesive materials are those which may be referred to as rubber compounds and which are commercially available; this type of adhesive facilitates repeated application and removal of an adhesive surface Without the appreciable deterioration of the adhering effect.

Fig.. 2 illustrates a subsequent step in the manufacture of the present fastening device. In this figure the tongue, tab or portion 4 of reduced width is shown folded or turned to a position overlying the enlarged portion 2 of the member I. In this relationship the tongue extends over and covers the aperture 'I previously formed in the enlarged portion 2. The pressed together adhesive surfaces of the enlarged and reduced Width portions of the member I serve to retain the tongue in folded relationship against the surface of the enlarged portion.

By reason of the somewhat smaller dimensions of the tongue portion 4 there remains exposed a substantially marginal portion 8 coated with adhesive, which extends around a portionlof the folded tongue 4. As shown in Fig. 2 this marginal portion extends around three edges of the tongue 4, which is shown as of substantially square shape. Since the exposed surface of the tongue 4 shown in Fig. 2 is not coated With adpart of the fastening device When it is placed into contact with an article or a surface. The portion it adjacent the folded edge II of the tongue 4 provides a very desirable removal feature, which will be hereinafter brought out.

In Fig. 3, which shows the opposite side of the fastening device of Fig. 1, it will be noted that the adhesive surface I2 of the tongue 4 is exposed to view through the opening l in the enlarged portion 2 of the fastening member. Adjacent surrounding areas of the enlarged port-ion 2 are free of adhesive and hence do not adhere to an article or surface with which the fastening device may be placed in contact. The only adhesive effect at this side of the fastening device is embodied in the exposed surface I2 available through the opening or aperture '1.

From the foregoing description it will be clear that the fastening device illustrated more particularly in Figs. 2 and 3 possesses adhesive surfaces at opposite sides thereof. The effective adhesive surface at one side of the device (Fig. 2) comprises a substantially marginal area 8v and the exposed or available adhesive surface at the other side of the device (Fig. 3) comprises that portion of the adhesive surface of the tongue 4 which is exposed through the opening or aperture I. As brought out hereinabove, the adhesive material or composition is preferably one which readily adheres to various surfaces and yet which may be readily stripped from the surfaces Withwill be no adhering effect at that` out marking or marring the surface and without leaving adhesive on the surface.

While the present fastening may be conveniently sold in packages in the form shown in Figs. 2 and 3 it may be desirable to minimize the possibility of one or more of the fasteners adhering together by reason of the normally exposed adhesive surfaces 8 and I2. In Figs. 4 and 5 the fastening device is shown combined with a means for minimizing this possibility. As shown in each of these latter figures the fastening device is provided with a covermember I6 fitting over the fastener and adhered thereto by the exposed adhesive surfaces 8 and I2. The cover IS may be manufactured from gauze, cellophane, waxed paper or any other suitable material easily removable by stripping it from the adhesive surfaces. The feature shown in Figs. 4 and 5 is not absolutely essential but its use may be desired in order to minimize adhering together of fastening devices or to prevent objectionable soiling of them.

In Figs. 6 and 7 the preferred embodiment of fastening device is shown in use applied to a bulletin board or other vertically disposed supporting surface I3 and retaining in position a notice, display or article I4. The present device is preferably utilized with the marginal areas 8 adhered in position against the supporting surfaces I3 and with the adhesive area I2 at the opposite side thereof adhesively retaining the notice or article I4. The fastening device is shown with the folded reinforced edge II located uppermost or in such position that it is easily available for use in connection with removal of the fastener from the supporting surface. It was brought out in the description of Fig. 2 that the surface I Il adjacent the folded edge II is preferably not coated with adhesive; with this construction a thumb nail, knife, coin or other thin article may be inserted into the space I5 behind the unadhered surface of the fastener and intermediate the fastening device and supporting surface I3. As the folded upper portion I Il is pulled outwardly away from the supporting surface I3 the adhesively secured marginal portions at opposite sides of the fastening device move out of contact with the supporting surface I3. The folded upper edge of the fastener provides a reinforced or strengthened edge which facilitates removal from a surface with minimum danger of tearing the fastener.

Fig. 8 shows a modified form of the invention which is adapted to be used for retaining an article in display position. In this form of the invention the fastening device is provided with an enlarged portion 2a and a portion 4a of reduced width similar to that described in connection with the preferred embodiment. The tongue 4a and enlarged portion 2a are also preferably of one piece construction, as hereinbefore described. A substantially marginal area 8a is also formed on the enlarged portion 2a extending about the walled or turned tongue 4a. The enlarged portion 2a may be provided with an aperture or opening for retaining an article in display position.

In addition, the fastening device is shown provided with a string, wire, or other flexible member extending between the contiguous or folded portions of the enlarged portion 2a and tongue 4a, with the ends of the member projecting outwardly for securing around an article to be retained by the fastening device. In use the device of Fig. 8 may be pressed against a wall or other supporting surface and retained in position by the adhesive marginal areas 8a; the flexible member l1 may be Wound or tied around an article. Here again the reinforced edge Illa formed by the turn I la of the tongue or tab facilitates removal of the fastener from the Wall upon insertion of a thumb nail behind the portion iErl. of the fastener.

In Fig. 9 there is illustrated a modified form of the invention generally similar to that described in connection with Fig. 8. In this latter form of the invention a exible member or string I'lb is shown extending through recesses or apertures I9 formed in the enlarged portion 2b of the fastening device. This modified form may be used similarly to that described in connection with Fig. 8 and may be also easily removed from a supporting surface upon insertion of a thumb nail or coin between the supporting surface and the reinforced turned edge lb.

It will be seen that the present invention provides a new and improved fastening device or sticker which may be manufactured from a single piece of material and Which embodies a most desirable reinforced edge feature for facilitating ready removal of the fastening from a supporting surface. A protective cover minimizes the possibility of separate fastening devices adhering together and maintains them in unsoiled condition. The modified form of the invention may be used for retaining displays, articles or irregularly shaped objects in viewing position. One or more of the fasteners may be applied to any convenient position on a surface and to any suitable part of a display or article; their use does not result in marring a wall or article.

As various changes may be made in the form, construction and arrangement of the parts herein Without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention and Without sacrificing any of its advantages, it is to be understood that all matter herein is to be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

Having thus described my invention, I claim:

1. In a device of the class described, the combination of a member having a tongue of reduced width at one side thereof, said tongue being folded and, normally lying against a larger portion of said member, and an adhesive intermediate said tongue and larger portion and on an area extending partially about said tongue.

2. A device of the class described comprising, a member having an aperture, an adhesive on one surface of said member, and a portion of said member being folded upon itself to a position overlying said aperture.

3. A device of the class described comprising, an apertured member having a portion of reduced Width, adhesive on one surface of said member, and said portion of reduced width normally lying against a larger portion of said member and extending over said aperture.

4. In a device of the class described, the cornbination of a member having a tongue of reduced Width secured to one side thereof, said tongue beingrfolded and normally lying against a larger portion of said member, an adhesive intermediate said tongue and larger portion and on an exposed area extending partially about said tongue, and an article-securing member having a portion thereof retained intermediate said tongue and larger portion.

WALLACE W. GARDNER.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENT

Images