Metal eyelet

Abstract

The present invention relates to an eyelet (100) for a flexible sheet such as a tarpaulin, canvas, foil or linen, the eyelet (100) forming a generally round loop having a central aperture (1) suitable for receiving a rope. The eyelet (100) comprises a metal body (110) comprising a cylindrical section (119) comprising a first end (111) and a second end (112). The first end (111) is provided with a radially extending first flange (113) extending towards the second end (112). The second end (112) is provided with a radially extending second flange (114) extending towards the first end (111). A partly confined space (115) is formed by the first (113) and second flange (114) and the cylindrical section (119). The eyelet further comprises a plastic body (120) enclosing the metal body (110), whereby the plastic body (120) is securely joined to the metal body (110) due to plastic at least occupying the partly confined space (115). The plastic body (120) further has a radially extending plastic flange (121), thereby providing means for joining the eyelet (100) to the flexible sheet. Thereby, the eyelet experiences an improved inherent strength and improved attachment. Further, the eyelet provides a means—through the provision of an integral plastic flange—for attaching a flexible sheet to the eyelet by means of welding, melting, gluing or fusion of the two materials.

Claims

1. An eyelet for a flexible sheet, wherein the flexible sheet is a tarpaulin, canvas, foil, or linen, the eyelet forming a round loop having a central aperture suitable for receiving a rope; wherein the eyelet comprises: a metal body comprising a cylindrical section comprising a first end and a second end, wherein the first end is provided with a radially extending first flange extending towards the second end, and wherein the second end is provided with a radially extending second flange extending towards the first end, such that a partly confined space is formed by the first and second flange and the cylindrical section, and a plastic body enclosing the metal body, whereby said plastic body is securely joined to the metal body due to plastic occupying at least the partly confined space, and wherein the plastic body comprises a radially extending plastic flange, thereby providing means for joining the eyelet to the flexible sheet.

2. The eyelet according to claim 1, wherein the first and second flanges and the plastic flange are rotationally symmetric about a central axis of the eyelet.

3. The eyelet according to claim 1, wherein the first flange extends further away from the cylindrical section than the second flange.

4. The eyelet according to claim 1, wherein the second flange is substantially U-shaped in cross section.

5. The eyelet according to claim 1, wherein the plastic flange extends further away from the cylindrical section than the first flange.

6. The eyelet according to claim 1, wherein the plastic flange is planar.

7. The eyelet according to claim 1, wherein the plastic flange comprises ribs.

8. A flexible sheet comprising an eyelet according to claim 1.

9. The eyelet according to claim 2, wherein the first flange extends further away from the cylindrical section than the second flange.

10. The eyelet according to claim 2, wherein the second flange is substantially U-shaped in cross section.

11. The eyelet according to claim 3, wherein the second flange is substantially U-shaped in cross section.

12. The eyelet according to claim 2, wherein the plastic flange extends further away from the cylindrical section than the first flange.

13. The eyelet according to claim 3, wherein the plastic flange extends further away from the cylindrical section than the first flange.

14. The eyelet according to claim 4, wherein the plastic flange extends further away from the cylindrical section than the first flange.

15. The eyelet according to claim 2, wherein the plastic flange is planar.

16. The eyelet according to claim 3, wherein the plastic flange is planar.

17. The eyelet according to claim 4, wherein the plastic flange is planar.

18. The eyelet according to claim 2, wherein the plastic flange comprises ribs.

19. The eyelet according to claim 3, wherein the plastic flange comprises ribs.

20. The eyelet according to claim 4, wherein the plastic flange comprises ribs.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) In the following, example embodiments are described according to the invention, where

(2) FIGS. 1A-1C illustrate an eyelet according to the invention. FIG. 1A illustrates a perspective view of eyelet 100; FIG. 1B illustrates a top view of eyelet 100; and FIG. 1C illustrates a cross sectional view of eyelet 100 taken along the line A-A.

(3) FIG. 2 illustrates a perspective view of an eyelet according to the invention comprising radially extending ribs according to the invention.

(4) FIGS. 3A and 3B illustrate an eyelet attached to a flexible sheet according to the invention. FIG. 3A illustrates a perspective view and FIG. 3B illustrates a cross sectional view of flexible sheet 300 comprising eyelet 100.

(5) FIGS. 4A-4H illustrate different shapes of the first and the second flange on the metal body of an eyelet according to the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

(6) In the following the invention is described in detail through embodiments thereof that should not be thought of as limiting to the scope of the invention.

(7) FIGS. 1A-1C illustrate an eyelet 100 according to the invention. FIG. 1A illustrates a perspective view of such an eyelet 100. FIG. 1B illustrates a top view of the eyelet of FIG. 1B. FIG. 1C illustrates a cross sectional view taken along the line A-A indicated in FIG. 1A and FIG. 1B. In the following, attention is mainly drawn to FIG. 1C. The eyelet 100 comprises a metal body 110 and a plastic body 120 enclosing said metal body 110. The eyelet 100 is generally ring-shaped and comprises a through-going central aperture 1, as best realised from FIG. 1A. The central aperture 1 allows for the insertion/passage of a rope/string, such that the rope and a flexible sheet may be connected by means of the eyelet 100. A central axis C passes through the aperture 1. The eyelet 100 in the illustrated embodiment is rotationally symmetric about the central axis C, but alternative shapes are also possible.

(8) The metal body 110 comprises a cylindrical section 119 comprising a first end 111 and a second end 112. The first end 111 is provided with a first flange 113 and the second end 112 is provided with a second flange 114. The flanges 113,114 are radially extending, meaning that they extend radially in a direction away from the central axis C of the eyelet 100.

(9) The first flange 113 extends in a direction towards the second end 112. In certain embodiments, this may be described through the angle V formed between the first flange 113 and the cylindrical section 119. In such certain embodiments, said angle V is acute. The second flange 114 extends in a direction towards the first end 111. In other words, the first flange 113 and the second flange 114 extend towards each other. In certain embodiments, the cross section of the second flange is U-shaped. In other embodiments, the direction of the second flange 114 may be described through the angle W formed between said second flange 114 and the cylindrical section 119. In such other embodiments, said angle W is acute. Thus, the first flange 113 and the second flange 114 define a partly confined space 115 due to said flanges 113,114 extending towards each other. A gap G is formed between the flanges 113,114 allowing the plastic of the plastic body to enter the partly confined space. One notices that the first flange 113 is longer than the second flange 114. Such difference in lengths introduces an asymmetric arrangement of the flanges, such that the gap G is not disposed symmetrically between the first end 111 and second end 112 of the metal body 110. This asymmetry reduces the risk of detachment between the metal body 110 and plastic body 120 in cases where said plastic body 120 is pulled in a direction being normal to the outer wall 116 of the cylindrical section 119.

(10) A plastic body 120 (hatched, FIG. 1C) encloses the metal body 110. The plastic body 120 is provided with a plastic flange 121 being substantially planar and radially extending, orthogonal to the central axis C. Thus, in certain embodiments, the plastic flange 121 may be said to form a base of the eyelet 100, whereas in other embodiments, the plastic flange 121 may be positioned between the first end 111 and the second end 112 of the metal body 110. In any case, the plastic flange 121 extends further away from the central axis C than both the first flange 113 and the second flange 114. Further, the plastic flange 121 has a thickness being smaller than the length of the cylindrical section 119 of the metal body 119, which may be considered the general thickness of the eyelet 100. A shoulder 122 of the plastic body 120 is formed across the first flange 113 of the metal body 110 in order to enclose said first flange 113. In the shown embodiment, the eyelet 100 comprises a first diameter d and a second diameter D, the second diameter D being greater than the first diameter d. The second diameter D reflects the extension of the plastic flange 121, whereas the first diameter d is set by the shoulder 122, and thereby partly by the extension of the first flange 113.

(11) Thereby, the plastic flange 121 may be welded/fused with a flexible sheet in cases where said plastic flange 121 and said flexible sheet are both made of a fusible material, e.g. plastics, such as polyethylene. Due to the plastic body 120 being an integral body enclosing the metal body 110, likewise being an integral body, the eyelet 100 experiences a significant strength compared to conventional eyelets. Especially, due to the plastic of the plastic body 120 occupying the partly confined space 115 defined by the first 113 and second flanges 114, a disconnection between said plastic body 120 and the metal body 110 is unlikely.

(12) FIG. 2 illustrates a perspective view of an eyelet 100 according to the invention comprising radially extending ribs 123 provided in the plastic flange 121. The ribs 123 introduce corrugations in the surface of the plastic flange 121, which aids in a strong welding/fusion with a flexible sheet. The ribs 123 are radially extending away from the central axis C. A circular rib 124 may be provided along the edge of the plastic flange 121, the circular rib 124 being circular about the central axis C and thus perpendicular to the radially extending ribs 123.

(13) FIGS. 3A and 3B illustrate an eyelet 100 according to the invention attached to a flexible sheet 300. FIG. 3A illustrates a perspective view of a flexible sheet 300 comprising an eyelet 100. FIG. 3B illustrates a cross sectional view of the view in FIG. 3A. A rope 2 has been passed through the aperture 1 formed in the eyelet 100. The flexible sheet 300 is made of a synthetic material, such that said flexible sheet 300 may be welded/fused with the plastic flange 121 of the eyelet 100. The synthetic material of the flexible sheet 300 may for example be a type of polymer or plastic, e.g. PVC, polyurethane or PP. Preferably, the flexible sheet 300 and the plastic flange 121 of the eyelet 100 are made of the same material, such that an efficient welding zone 121′ is formed. The welding zone 121′ is coinciding with the plastic flange 121 and is indicated by the dashed outline of said plastic flange 121. Thus, the eyelet 100 may be considered an integral part of the flexible sheet 300. Thereby, the eyelet 100 may be securely fixed/attached to the flexible sheet 300. In combination with the build of the eyelet 100, where the plastic body 120 encloses the metal body 110, this creates a durable eyelet 100 less prone to tearing of the flexible sheet 300. Especially, the asymmetric orientation of the first 113 and second flange 114 increases the resistance of detachment between the plastic body and metal body when pulled in a direction normal to the outer wall of the metal body, as indicated by the arrows E.

(14) FIGS. 4A-4H all illustrate different shapes of the first and the second flange on the metal body of an eyelet according to the present invention. All embodiments are different examples of a metal body as described in FIGS. 1A-1C comprising a cylindrical section comprising a first end and a second end. The first end is provided with a radially extending first flange extending towards the second, and the second end is provided with a radially extending second flange extending towards the first end. In all embodiments, a partly confined space is formed by the first and second flange and the cylindrical section.

REFERENCE NUMBERS

(15) A-A Cross section C Central axis d First diameter D Second diameter E Direction of pull V Angle related to First flange 113 W Angle related to Second flange 114 1 Central aperture 2 Rope 100 Eyelet 110 Metal body 111 First end of Cylindrical section 119 112 Second end of Cylindrical section 119 113 First flange 114 Second flange 115 Partly confined space 116 Outer wall of Cylindrical section 119 119 Cylindrical section 120 Plastic body 121 Plastic flange 122 Shoulder of Plastic body 120 123 Ribs 124 Circular rib 300 Flexible sheet