Fastener assembly and methods for its use

Abstract

A fastener assembly comprises a frame element having a pair of sides and a shaped opening extending between the sides. The assembly also comprises a clasp having a base and a pair of arms extending from the base. One of the arms is an attachment arm having a release hole and an attachment hole for receiving a strap. The other arm has a detent that fits within the opening of the frame element when the arms are placed adjacent the sides of the frame element.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A fastener assembly comprising: 
 a frame element having a pair of opposing sides and a shaped opening extending between the sides;    a clasp having a base and a pair of spaced apart arms extending from the base, wherein one of the arms is an attachment arm having a release through hole and an attachment through hole that is adapted to receive a strap, and the other arm is a coupling arm having a shaped detent that is aligned with the release through hole and is configured to fit within the shaped opening of the frame when the arms are placed adjacent the sides of the frame element.    
     
     
         2 . An assembly as in  claim 1 , wherein the clasp is constructed of a rigid material, and wherein the arms are biased to a locking position and are configured to be distanced from each other to permit the clasp to be moved over the frame element and then to permit the detent of the coupling arm to snap into the shaped opening of the frame element.  
     
     
         3 . An assembly as in  claim 1 , wherein the release through hole is positioned between the base and the attachment through hole.  
     
     
         4 . An assembly as in  claim 1 , wherein the attachment through hole is elliptical in geometry to permit movement of the strap within the attachment through hole such that the frame element reaches an equilibrium position.  
     
     
         5 . An assembly as in  claim 1 , wherein the frame element has a bottom beneath the opening, and wherein the base is beneath the bottom when the clasp is coupled to the frame element.  
     
     
         6 . An assembly as in  claim 1 , wherein the opening and the detent are both D-shaped in geometry.  
     
     
         7 . An assembly as in  claim 1 , wherein the release through hole is sized sufficiently large to receive a finger, whereby the detent is releasable from the opening by moving a finger through the release opening and pressing the detent.  
     
     
         8 . An assembly as in  claim 1 , wherein the frame element includes a recess that is adapted to receive at least a portion of the attachment arm.  
     
     
         9 . A method for attaching a strap to a frame, the method comprising: 
 providing a frame having a pair of opposing sides and a shaped opening extending between the sides;    providing a clasp having a base and a pair of spaced apart arms extending from the base, wherein one of the arms is an attachment arm having a release through hole and an attachment through hole, and the other arm is a coupling arm having a shaped detent that is aligned with the release through hole;    moving the arms away from each other and moving the clip over the sides of the frame until the detent snaps within the opening; and    attaching a strap to the attachment through hole.    
     
     
         10 . A method as in  claim 9 , further comprising accessing the detent through the release through hole, and pressing the detent to release the clasp from the frame.  
     
     
         11 . A method as in  claim 9 , further comprising lifting the strap to lift the frame, with the base being beneath the frame.  
     
     
         12 . A method as in  claim 9 , wherein the attachment through hole is elliptical in geometry, and wherein the strap slides along the through hole to an equilibrium position when lifted by the strap.  
     
     
         13 . A baby holding device, comprising: 
 a seat that is adapted to hold a baby;    at least two legs extending from the seat;    at least one clasp removably coupled to the seat; and    at least one accessory coupled to the seat by the clasp.    
     
     
         14 . A device as in  claim 13 , wherein the seat comprises a frame and a padded fabric cover coupled to the frame.  
     
     
         15 . A device as in  claim 13 , wherein the accessory comprises a toy bar that is adapted to position a toy over the seat, and wherein clasp couples the toy bar to the frame.  
     
     
         16 . A device as in  claim 15 , wherein the frame has a pair of opposing sides and a shaped opening extending between the sides, and wherein the clasp has a base and a pair of spaced apart arms extending from the base, wherein one of the arms is an attachment arm having a release through hole and an attachment through hole to which the toy bar is coupled, and the other arm is a coupling arm having a shaped detent that is aligned with the release through hole, and wherein the arms are adjacent the sides of the frame element and the detent is disposed within the shaped opening of the frame.  
     
     
         17 . A device as in  claim 16 , wherein each leg is curved as has a pair of ends that are each coupled to the seat.  
     
     
         18 . A device as in  claim 17 , further comprising a pair of rails coupled to the legs.  
     
     
         19 . A device as in  claim 18 , further comprising a set of coupling mechanisms to couple the rails to the legs, wherein the coupling mechanisms include detents to permit the rails to be moved to selective positions.  
     
     
         20 . A device as in  claim 14 , wherein the frame includes a plurality of slots to which the padded fabric cover is coupled.  
     
     
         21 . A device as in  claim 16 , wherein the release through hole is positioned between the base and the attachment through hole.  
     
     
         22 . A device as in  claim 16 , wherein the toy bar includes a strap that is coupled to the attachment through hole.  
     
     
         23 . A device as in  claim 16 , wherein the attachment through hole is elliptical in geometry to permit movement of the strap within the attachment through hole as the device moves to an equilibrium position when lifted using the strap.  
     
     
         24 . A device as in  claim 16 , wherein the frame has a bottom beneath the opening, and wherein the base is beneath the bottom when the clasp is coupled to the frame.  
     
     
         25 . A device as in  claim 16 , wherein the opening and the detent are both D-shaped in geometry.  
     
     
         26 . A device as in  claim 16 , wherein the release through hole is sized sufficiently large to receive a finger, whereby the detent is releasable from the opening by moving a finger through the release opening and pressing the detent.  
     
     
         27 . A device as in  claim 16 , wherein the frame includes a recess that is adapted to receive at least a portion of the attachment arm.