Quick quilt attachment apparatus and method

Abstract

A quick quilt attachment apparatus and method consists of a leader with a frame end and a quilt end. A first quick connector is provided at both the frame end and the quilt end of the leader. A trap flap is provided where the trap flap has a first end connected with the leader and a second end where the second end includes a second quick connector conformed to connect the second end of the trap flap to the first quick connector at the quilt end of the leader.

Claims

1. In a quilting system including a frame, a quick quilt attachment apparatus comprising: a. a leader with a length and a width and with a frame end and a quilt end wherein said frame end of said leader is removably connectable with said frame; b. a first quick connector at both said frame end and said quilt end of said leader; and c. a trap flap wherein said trap flap has a first end and a second end, wherein said first end is connected with said leader in between said frame end of said leader and said quilt end of said leader and wherein said first end connection creates a single straight alignment space along the first end connection across the width of said leader in between said frame end of said leader and said quilt end of said leader such that an object placed in between said trap flap and said leader and against said first end of said trap flap is aligned with said single straight alignment space between said trap flap and said leader and wherein said, second end of said trap flap includes a second quick connector conformed to connect said second end of said trap flap to said first quick connector at said quilt end of said leader by connecting said second quick connector with said first quick connector at said quilt end.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said frame end of said leader is connected with said frame.

3. The apparatus of claim 2 further including a third quick connector on said frame and wherein said first quick connector at said frame end of said leader connects with said third quick connector on said frame.

4. The apparatus of claim 3 wherein said third quick connector is selected from a group consisting of: a magnet device and a magnet attracting device.

5. In a quilting system with a frame, a quick quilt attachment method comprising: a. providing a leader with a length and a width and with a frame end and a quilt end; a first quick connector at both said frame end and said quilt end; and a trap flap wherein said trap flap has a first end and a second end, wherein said first end is connected with said leader in between said frame end of said leader and said quilt end of said leader and wherein said first end connection creates a single straight alignment space along the first end connection across the width of said leader in between said frame end of said leader and said quilt end of said leader such that an object placed in between said trap flap and said leader and against said first end of said trap flap is aligned with said single straight alignment space in between said trap flap and said leader and wherein said second end of said trap flap includes a second quick connector conformed to connect said second end of said trap flap to said first quick connector at said quilt end of said leader by connecting said second quick connector with said first quick connector at said quilt end; and b. connecting said frame end of said leader with said frame.

6. The method of claim 5 wherein said object is quilt material and further comprising placing said quilt material over said quilt end of said leader and under said second end of said trap flap and aligning said quilt material with said single straight alignment space and then connecting the second quick connector of said trap flap with said first quick connector of said leader such that said quilt material is trapped in between.

7. The method of claim 5 wherein said first quick connector and said second quick connector are selected from a group consisting of: a magnet device and a magnet attracting device.

8. The method of claim 7 wherein said magnet, attracting device is selected from a group consisting of: a magnet device and angle iron.

9. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said first quick connector is selected from a group consisting of: a magnet device and a magnet attracting device.

10. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said object is quilt material.

11. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said trap flap covers the length and width of said leader from said first end connection of said flap trap with said leader up to said quilt end of said leader.

12. The method of claim 5 further including a third quick connector on said frame and wherein said first quick connector at said frame end of said leader connects with said third quick connector on said frame.

13. The method of claim 12 wherein said third quick connector is selected from a group consisting of: a magnet, device and a magnet attracting device.

14. The method of claim 13 wherein said magnet attracting device is selected from a group consisting of: a magnet device and angle iron.

15. The method of claim 5 wherein said trap flap covers the length and width of said leader from said first end connection of said flap trap with said leader up to said quilt end of said leader.

16. The apparatus of claim 9 wherein said magnet attracting device is a metal device.

17. The apparatus of claim 9 wherein said magnet attracting device is angle iron.

18. The apparatus of claim 9 wherein said magnet attracting device is a magnet device.

Description

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) Other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will become more fully apparent from the following detailed description of the preferred embodiment, the claims and the accompanying drawings in which:

(2) FIG. 1 is a side view of the quick quilting attachment of the present invention; and

(3) FIG. 2 is a top view of the invention of FIG. 1 showing quilt material attached to the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

(4) The preferred embodiment of the present invention is illustrated by way of example in FIGS. 1 and 2. With specific reference to FIG. 1, quick quilt attachment apparatus 10 includes a leader 12. Leader 12 has a frame end 14 and a quilt end 16. A first quick connector 18 is attached to both frame end 14 and to quilt end 16. A trap flap 20 is provided with a first end 22 and a second end 24. The first end 22 of the trap flap 20 is connected to the leader 12 between the frame end 14 and the quilt end 16 of the leader 12. Preferably, and as illustrated in FIG. 1, first end 22 is connected with leader 12 near quilt end 16. The second end 24 of the trap flap 20 includes a second quick connector 26 conformed to removably connect with the first quick connector 18 at the quilt end 16 of the leader 12. In one case, for example only as described above, the first quick connector 18 at the quilt end 16, in one aspect, includes material, such as a magnet device, to which second quick connector 26 is attracted, by being formed of material such as metal, for example only and not by way of limitation. It may also be that first quick connector 18 in quilt end 16 includes a magnet oriented to attract and be attracted to the second quick connector 26 in the form of another magnet. Likewise first quick connector 18 at frame end 14 of leader 12 is conformed to connect with a quilt frame 28. This attraction may be to the quilt frame 28 directly since the quilt frame 28 is typically metal. On the other hand, a third quick connector 30 may be provided. The third quick connector 30 is attached to the quilt frame 28 in any manner known, such as by welding, gluing, taping and the like. Third quick connector 30, as with first quick connector 18 and second quick connector 26, consists of either a magnet device or a magnet attracting device. Third quick connector 30, for example only, may be created by attaching a piece of angle iron 32 to the quilt frame 28. In fact, Applicant has observed that a third quick connector 30 in the form of an angle iron 32 with an extended face, shown at quilt end 16 in the FIG. 1 for illustrative purposes, helps in holding quilt end 16 of the leader 12 in place on the quilt frame 28.

(5) Referring now to FIG. 2, a top view of the quick quilt attachment apparatus 10 is shown with a quilt system 34 supporting quilt frame 28. Also shown is quilt material 36. As illustrated, the leading edge 38 of quilt material 36 is shown aligned with the first end 22 of trap flap 20 on the inside of the trap flap 20. That is, quilt material 36 is placed over the top of quilt end 16 of leader 12 and under trap flap 20. The leading edge 38, again, is aligned with the secured first end 22 on the inside or underneath trap flap 20. Thus, when the second quick connector 26 on trap flap 20 is connected with the first quick connector 18 at the quilt end 16 of leader 12, quilt material 36 is “trapped” between them and held securely in place. Importantly the ever critical requirement that the quilt material 36 be evenly attached to the leader 12 is ensured by the alignment of leading edge 38 with the secured first end 22 of trap flap 20. Any readjustment that is required of quilt material 36 is a simple matter of lifting trap flap 20, adjusting the quilt material 36 and replacing the second end 24 of trap flap 20 such that first quick connector 18 and second quick connector 26 reconnect.

(6) Again, all terms used herein are given their common meaning and the meaning of those knowledgeable about quilting.

(7) In use, a person places the leading edge 38 of a length of quilting material 36 up to and all along the length of the connection of trap flap 20 first end 22 on the inside of and underneath the trap flap 20 and on top of the leader 12. Quilting material 36 will cover quilt end 16 and be perfectly and accurately aligned with leader 12. Thereafter, all a user has to do is lay down second end 24 of trap flap 20 and second quick connector 26 connects seamlessly to first quick connector 18 at the quilt end 16 of leader 12. No pins are required. A job that can literally take hours is done in minutes. If the quilt material 36 is misaligned, all that needs to be done is to separate first quick connector 18 from second quick connector 26 and reposition the quilt material 36 under the trap flap 20 and then lower second quick connector 26 as described before.

(8) Similarly, connection of frame end 14 to quilt frame 28, which also, prior to the present invention, is a difficult process particularly when the prior art leader is festooned with pins and subject to snagging and movement, simply requires the user to align first quick connector 18 with the quilt frame 28, including preferably third quick connector 30 attached to it, or the like. Thus this entire heretofore difficult process takes minutes and is easy to adjust and maneuver.

(9) The description of the present embodiments of the invention has been presented for purposes of illustration, but is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to the form disclosed. Many modifications and variations will be apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art. As such, while the present invention has been disclosed in connection with an embodiment thereof, it should be understood that other embodiments may fall within the spirit and scope of the invention as disclosed and illustrated herein and as set forth in the following claims.