US3683738A

US3683738A - Tack strip

Info

Publication number: US3683738A
Application number: US119249A
Authority: US
Inventors: Vaselios N Kyriakos
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1971-02-26
Filing date: 1971-02-26
Publication date: 1972-08-15
Anticipated expiration: 1989-08-15

Abstract

A tack strip is disclosed of the type formed from a length of flexible, non-resilient metal longitudinally folded to provide first and second angularly disposed flanges, both serrated to provide a series of tabs separated by notches with the first flange to underlie a margin of upholstery material and the second flange provided with a series of projections overlying the first flange and constituting anchoring tacks when the second flange is folded over the driven flat against the material. The invention provides each tab of the first flange with a hole positioned always to receive one projection and the notches of the first flange to receive the other projections unless the strip is so bent as to close them.

Description

United States Patent [151 3,683,738 Kyriakos 1 Aug. 15, 1972 [54] TACK STRIP 614,199 12/1948 Great Britain ..85/13 [72] Inventor: Vaselios N. Kyriakos, 27 Magnolia Rd., Sudbury, Mass. 01776 [22] Filed: Feb. 26, 1971 [21] Appl. No.: 119,249

[52] US. Cl. ..85/l3, 16/16, 85/11 [51] lint. C1 ..Fl6b 15/00 [58] Field of Search ..85/1l, 13, 17; 16/4, 5, 16

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,976,747 10/1934 Reuter et al. ..85/1l 2,051,191 8/1936 Watson ..85/1l 2,256,313 9/1941 Dexter ..85/l1 3,008,173 11/1961 Goss et al. ..16/16 FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 253,054 7/1964 Australia ..85/ l 3 Primary Exarhiner-Marion Parsons, Jr. Attorney-Abbott Spear 5 7 ABSTRACT A tack strip is disclosed of the type formed from a length of flexible, nonresilient metal longitudinally folded to provide first and second angularly disposed flanges, both serrated to provide a series of tabs separated by notches with the first flange to underlie a margin of upholstery material and the second flange provided with a series of projections overlying the first flange and constituting anchoring tacks when the second flange is folded over the driven flat against the material. The invention provides each tab of the first flange with a hole positioned always to receive one projection and the notches of the first flange to receive the other projections unless the strip is so bent as to close them.

2 Claims, 4 Drawing Figures PATENIEDAum m2 3.633.733

INVENTOR Va/u/ewt QpA ATTORN Y TACK STRIP The present invention relates to tack strips for use in securing upholstery to the framework of furniture.

In upholstering furniture, it is, of course, essential that the margins of the material be securely anchored to the framework. It is also important that the anchored margins be smooth and even. Metal strips tacked to the framework through a margin of the material with the material then folded over the concealed strip enabled the edges to be smooth and flat but still required individual tacks. Subsequently, metal strips were developed provided with tacks and also with tack establishing projections. The present and most widely used type of tack strip is formed by lengthwise folding a strip of flexible, non-resilient metal to provide margins disposed at right angles and serrated to establish tabs separated by notches with at least one series of notches intersecting the fold line.

In use, one flange underlies a margin of the material and each of the tabs has a hole therein for an anchoring tack. The other flange is to be folded over and flattened against the material and its tabs have a plurality of integral projections that pierce the material and may enter the wooden framework. One such tack strip is illustrated by US. Pat. No. 3,008,173.

The difficulty with the last described type of tack strip is that the chances of the projections entering the wooden framework are poor so that if they are relied upon both to anchor the material and attach the strip, the upholstery may be loose. In addition, the projections as they become upset by contact with the tabs of the underlying flange often prevent the secured margins from being smooth.

The objectives of the present invention are concerned with ensuring that the tack-establishing projection of the overlying flange of the tack strip of the above detailed type will function to enable the margins of upholstery to be secured smoothly and evenly attached to the framework. In accordance with the inven tion, this objective is attained by providing that the notches of the underlying flange are of a type having one margin extending substantially at right angles to the center of a tab of the other flange and its other margin inclined outwardly and away from the other margin with its extremity substantially in alignment with the proximate end edge of the next tab of said other flange. The projections of each tab of said other flange are spaced such that one enters through the hole in the tab that underlies it when said other flange is folded flat against the material and the other projection or projections of each such flange enter the framework through the appropriate notch unless the strip is bent, as it is attached, to an extent closing that notch.

In the accompanying drawings, there is shown an embodiment of the invention illustrative of these and other of its novel features and advantages.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a section of a strip, the strip being shown as somewhat enlarged;

FIG. 2 is a view of the strip showing its first flange in edge view with a tab of the second flange folded against it;

FIG. 3 is a section taken approximately along the indicated lines 3-3 of FIG. 2 illustrating the anchoring of upholstery material; and

FIG. 4 is an approximately full-size view of a section of the strip, showing the second flange in edge view.

A tack strip in accordance with the invention is formed from a band of flexible, non-resilient metal folded lengthwise to establish first and second right angularly disposed flanges generally indicated at 5 and 6, respectively, and a fold line 7.

The flanges are both serrated to provide each with a series of tabs separated by notches with the notches of either one or both of the flanges intersecting the fold line 7. In the case of the flange 5, the notches are in the form of relatively narrow slots 8 intersecting the fold line 7 and having their margins parallel and at right an gles to the fold line 7 and the tabs 9 are oblong. Each tab 9 is shown as having a lengthwise series of equally spaced, integral projections 10, preferably three projections for each tab 9. The tabs 9 may be unequally spaced and they do need to be in lengthwise alignment so long as they are disposed to enter the wood. The projections 10 are disposed to overlie the flange 6 and to function as anchoring tacks.

In the case of the flange 6, each tab 11 interconnects two tabs 9 and each notch 12 includes an edge 12A disposed at right angles and extending substantially to the fold line 7 and centrally of one of the tabs 9 it interconnects while its edge 12B tapers outwardly towards the other tab 9 it interconnects with its junction with the next tab 1 1 substantially in alignment with the proximate edge of said other tab 9.

It will be noted that each flange 11 has a hole 13 transversely aligned with the tack-establishing projection 10 adjacent the margin 8B and spaced relative thereto so that when the margin of material 14 is laid over the flange 6 to register with the fold line 7 and the flange 5 then folded flat against said margin, that projection passes through the hole 13 and is driven into the subjacent wooden understructure 15 and the other projection or projections will pass through a notch 12 and also be driven into the wood. The holes 13 may be of any desired size and shape. For example, they might be in the .form of slots to permit tacks to be used without interfering with the anchoring functions of the projection 10. If preferred, the same effect can be attained by more than one hole.

From FIG. 4, it will be appreciated that if the strip is bent forwardly or rearwardly in the plane of the flange 6, the fold lines 16 are centrally of the tabs 12. If such bending widens a notch 12, all the projections are always effective as strip-anchoring tacks and this is also true if the bending is upwardly or downwardly with respect to that flange. If, however, the bending of the strip narrows a notch 12 at least one of the projections remains operative until the notch is almost completely closed.

It will be noted from FIG. 4 that the flange 5 is narrower than the flange 6. The flanges may be of the same width or the flange 6 may be wider than the flange 5.

As will be apparent from FIG. 3, after the strip has been folded to anchor a margin of the material, the material is folded over the strip. While anchoring of the strip is a necessity and is achieved by the above described arrangement, it is also important that the strip be as thin as possible when in use. The notch arrangement shown in the drawings, avoids the overlapping of the tabs 11 except when the strip has been bent into an abnormal position but even in that case, one projection of each tab 9 will always pass freely into the wood 15.

lclaim:

1. A tack strip for anchoring upholstery materials to underlying wood structure, said strip comprising a band of flexible, non-resilient metal having a lengthwise fold dividing it into first and second angularly disposed flanges, both flanges serrated to provide a series of tabs with notches between them, each notch extending at least to the fold approximately midway between the ends of a tab of the other series, the first flange to underlie a margin of the material and the second flange to be folded over said margin, each tab of the second flange including a plurality of integral projections, each disposed at right angles thereto to overlie the first flange and constituting a tack, and each notch of the first flange having one margin substantially at right angles to a tab of the second flange and its other margin inclined outwardly away from said one margin with its outer extremity substantially in alignment with the proximate edge of a next tab of said second flange, and each tab of said first flange having a hole with which one tack of a tab of said second flange is in transverse alignment, said tacks of said second flange and said holes and notches of said first flange being arranged so that, when said flanges are folded together, appropriate ones of the tacks pass through the tackholes of the first flange and the other tacks pass through the notches thereof both when the strip is straight and also when it is curved in either lateral direction to a predetermined extent.

2. The tack strip of claim 1 in which each tab of the second flange includes three tack-establishing projections one end projection for entry through the hole of a tab of the first flange and the other two projections for entry through the proximate notch.

Claims

1. A tack strip for anchoring upholstery materials to underlying wood structure, said strip comprising a band of flexible, nonresilient metal having a lengthwise fold dividing it into first and second angularly disposed flanges, both flanges serrated to provide a series of tabs with notches between them, each notch extending at least to the fold approximately midway between the ends of a tab of the other series, the first flange to underlie a margin of the material and the second flange to be folded over said margin, each tab of the second flange including a plurality of integral projections, each disposed at right angles thereto to overlie the first flange and constituting a tack, and each notch of the first flange having one margin substantially at right angles to a tab of the second flange and its other margin inclined outwardly away from said one margin with its outer extremity substantially in alignment with the proximate edge of a next tab of said second flange, and each tab of said first flange having a hole with which one tack of a tab of said second flange is in transverse alignment, said tacks of said second flange and said holes and notches of said first flange being arranged so that, when said flanges are folded together, appropriate ones of the tacks pass through the tack holes of the first flange and the other tacks pass through the notches thereof both when the strip is straight and also when it is curved in either lateral direction to a predetermined extent.