Abstract A method of and apparatus for setting grommets in woven fabrics without cutting strands of the fabric, or with the cutting only of strands of the fabric which extend in directions other than the direction of the pull which will be exerted on the fabric when the article is in use. The apparatus includes a fabric penetrating device designed to be used in conjunction with grommet setting tools to form an opening in the fabric by penetrating the fabric between the strands or moving strands or threads of the fabric apart without severing the same to permit the insertion in the opening of one part of a grommet to be set in the fabric. The penetrating device may have a cutting edge positioned to cut a limited number of strands or threads of the fabric extending in a direction normal to the direction of the pull which will be exerted on the fabric during use of the article formed therefrom, in order to facilitate the penetration of the fabric to form the grommet opening therein without severing strands upon which the pull will be exerted. The method of the invention comprises forming a grommet receiving opening in a woven fabric by inserting a penetrating device therethrough between strands of the fabric to separate the strands without cutting the same, and inserting and setting a grommet in the opening so formed. The method may include the cutting of a limited number of strands of the fabric which extend in directions other than the direction in which strands of the fabric would be subjected to a pulling force in the use of the article of which the fabric is formed.
A fabric penetrating implement for applying grommets to articles formed of woven fabrics which comprises: an anvil having a central bore and having at its upper end an annular cavity surrounding said bore, an eyelet part of a grommet formed with an annular portion having the shape of said annular cavity and a tubular neck portion extending above said cavity, and a fabric penetrating means having a tapered head portion terminating at a point and having a shank portion of reduced size relative to said head and defining a grommet engaging shoulder at the base of said head portion, said base of said head portion seated on said tubular neck portion of said eyelet part of said grommet and said shank portion passing through the annulus of said eyelet part of said grommet and extending into said bore of said anvil.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
141 words
A fabric penetrating implement for applying grommets to articles formed of woven fabrics which comprises: an anvil having a central bore and having at its upper end an annular cavity surrounding said bore, an eyelet part of a grommet formed with an annular portion having the shape of said annular cavity and a tubular neck portion extending above said cavity, and a fabric penetrating means having a tapered head portion terminating at a point and having a shank portion of reduced size relative to said head and defining a grommet engaging shoulder at the base of said head portion, said base of said head portion seated on said tubular neck portion of said eyelet part of said grommet and said shank portion passing through the annulus of said eyelet part of said grommet and extending into said bore of said anvil.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
32 words
An implement according to claim 1 wherein said head portion has a diameter at the base which is the same as the outer diameter of the tubular neck portion of said grommet.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
27 words
An implement according to claim 1 wherein said anvil has means which extends into said central bore whereby said fabric penetrating means is held against axial rotation.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
26 words
An implement according to claim 3 wherein said shank of said fabric penetrating means has a slot in which said means for holding against rotation cooperates.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
21 words
An implement according to claim 1 wherein said head portion of said fabric penetrating means is tapered to a cutting edge.