Barrel Nut Type Decorative Accessory and Methods For Attachment To Drawstrings

Abstract

Apparatus, systems and methods for the attachment of an accessory to a drawstring including a barrel member having an axially disposed, female compression cavity formed in one end defining an annular end-face and a pair of diametrically disposed feed through holes. The feed through holes are positioned axially along the body so as to intersect the barrel cavity above its base and are sized to receive and allow a drawstring or the like to pass into the barrel, through the barrel cavity and exit the barrel. The apparatus includes a male compression member dimensioned to fit within and frictionally engage and mate with the female compression cavity of the barrel member, the male compression member having a compression tip projecting distally of the feedthrough holes relative to the cavity opening. The length of the male compression member is less than that of the cavity, but upon insertion and frictional interlocking engagement of the male compression member into the cavity, the male member engages and compress a drawstring, extending diametrically through the feedthrough holes, positionally affixing the barrel on the drawstring.

1 . An apparatus for the attachment of an accessory to a drawstring comprising:
 a barrel member having an axially disposed, female, compression cavity formed in one end defining an annular end-face and a pair of diametrically disposed feed through holes, positioned axially along the body so as to intersect said barrel cavity above its base; said feedthrough holes being sized to receive and allow a drawstring or the like to pass into the barrel, through said barrel cavity and exit said barrel;   a compression member dimensioned to fit within and mate with said female compression cavity of said barrel member, said compression member having a compression tip projecting distally of said feedthrough holes relative to said cavity opening wherein the length of said compression member is less than that of said cavity but upon insertion and frictional interlocking engagement of said male compression member into said cavity, said male member engages and compress a drawstring extending diametrically through said feedthrough holes, positionally affixing said barrel on said drawstring.   
     
     
         2 . The device of  claim 1  wherein said male compression member further comprises a head that corresponds in shape and circumference to the barrel body and includes a stop ring to abut a corresponding stop lip formed at the top of the barrel cavity to prevent over insertion and damage to the accessory and/or the compressed drawstring. 
     
     
         3 . The device of  claim 1  wherein said male compression member comprises a trough associated with the compression tip to facilitate non-damaging compression on the engaged string. 
     
     
         4 . The device of  claim 2  wherein said barrel member compression cavity has interior threading and said male compression member is a compression screw having corresponding exterior threading for frictional interlocking engagement. 
     
     
         5 . The device of  claim 4  wherein said compression screw head further comprises at least one dimple disposed on the stop ring, and said barrel body includes at least one groove, corresponding to said dimple on said stop ring, disposed on said stop lip, wherein upon threadable engagement of said barrel and said screw said at least one dimple and said at least one groove engage to seat said compression screw to said barrel. 
     
     
         6 . The device of  claim 1  wherein said male compression member and said female compression cavity's frictional interlocking engagement is through a “click-type” locking mechanism. 
     
     
         7 . The device of  claim 1  wherein said barrel member further comprises a plurality of deformable molded keys disposed below said feedthrough holes, said molded keys projecting radially from said cavity surface, and said male compression member compression tip has a slightly greater diameter than the diameter of the interior cavity defined by said plurality of molded keys in the bottom section of said barrel member. 
     
     
         8 . The device of  claim 1  wherein said barrel member is contained within a housing structure, said housing structure having an ornamental shape. 
     
     
         9 . The device of  claim 1  wherein the exposed surfaces of said barrel member and male compression member when engaged form an ornamental shape. 
     
     
         10 . An apparatus for the adjustable attachment of an accessory to a clothing string comprising:
 a barrel member having a top and bottom section, said bottom section having an axially disposed, female compression cavity formed therein defining an annular end-face and, a pair of diametrically disposed feed through holes positioned axially along the body intersecting the compression cavity above its base, said top section of said barrel member having another axially disposed, cavity formed in the top extending to said bottom cavity above the said feed through holes, said top cavity having a groove assembly disposed on said top end to receive and retain an end cap assembly;   a male compression member having a base, a smooth shaft and a compression tip, said base dimensioned to fit within and frictionally engage and mate with the female compression cavity of the barrel member, said compression tip projecting distally from said base relative to the cavity opening, past said feedthrough holes;   an end cap assembly having a substantially smooth vertical shaft having at least one tongue assembly disposed to frictionally engage said groove assembly of said barrel member when inserted into the top of said barrel member locking said end cap to said barrel;   wherein upon insertion and frictional interlocking engagement of said male compression member and said barrel cavity said male compression member engages a drawstring extending diametrically through said feedthrough holes within said barrel cavity, compressing said drawstring affixing said barrel to said drawstring.   
     
     
         11 . The device of  claim 10  wherein said barrel member has plurality of deformable molded keys disposed in said female compression cavity below said feedthrough holes, said molded keys projecting radially from said cavity surface, and said male compression member having a compression tip that having a slightly greater diameter than the diameter of the interior cavity defined by said plurality of molded keys in the bottom section of said barrel member. 
     
     
         12 . The device of  claim 11  wherein said male compression member and said female compression cavity's frictional interlocking engagement is through a “click-type” locking mechanism. 
     
     
         13 . The device of  claim 11  wherein said bottom section of said barrel member further comprises a plurality of locking grooves formed in the exposed surface of the base of the female compression cavity, and said male compression member having at least one corresponding dimple lock disposed on the surface of said male compression member's base adjacent to said shaft. 
     
     
         14 . The device of  claim 10  wherein said bottom section of said barrel member further comprises a stop ring and said male compression member's head further comprises a corresponding stop lip to prevent over insertion of said male compression member. 
     
     
         15 . The device of  claim 10  wherein said barrel member compression cavity has interior threading and said male compression member is a compression screw having corresponding exterior threading disposed on the base of the shaft for frictional interlocking engagement. 
     
     
         16 . The device of  claim 15  wherein said compression screw head stop ring has at least one dimple disposed on said stop ring, and said barrel body includes at least one groove, corresponding to said dimple on said stop ring, disposed on said stop lip, wherein upon threadable engagement of said barrel and said screw said at least one dimple and said at least one groove engage to rotationally seat said compression screw to said barrel. 
     
     
         17 . The device of  claim 15  wherein said compression screw comprises a trough associated with the compression tip to facilitate non-damaging compression on the engaged string. 
     
     
         18 . The device of  claim 10  wherein said barrel member is contained within a housing structure, said housing structure having an ornamental shape. 
     
     
         19 . The device of  claim 10  wherein the exposed surfaces of said barrel member, said end cap, and male compression member when assembled form an ornamental shape. 
     
     
         20 . The device of  claim 10  wherein said end cap assembly further comprises an electronic identifier means. 
     
     
         21 . The device of  claim 20  wherein said electronic identifier means is an RF identification chip. 
     
     
         22 . A method for the adjustable attachment of an accessory to a drawstring comprising:
 a barrel member having an axially disposed, female compression cavity formed in one end defining an annular end-face and a pair of diametrically disposed feed through holes, positioned axially along the body;   inserting said drawstring into said barrel member through a first feed through hole, through said barrel's compression cavity and out of said second feed through hole exiting said barrel member;   inserting into said barrel member compression cavity a male compression member dimensioned to fit within and frictionally engage said female compression cavity of said barrel member;   compressing said drawstring against said cavity base with said male compression member tip affixing said barrel onto said drawstring.   
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 22  further comprising the step of engaging a mechanical interlock between said male compression member and said barrel member. 
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 23  further comprising altering the compression of said drawstring by varying the distance said male compression member is inserted into said barrel member's compression cavity. 
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 23  further comprising threadably engaging said female compression cavity and said male compression member. 
     
     
         26 . The method of  claim 25  further comprising varying the distance said male compression member is inserted into said barrel member's compression cavity by rotating said male compression member relative to said barrel member's compression cavity. 
     
     
         27 . The method of  claim 25  further comprising engaging the mechanical interlock between said male compression member and said of said by rotating said male compression member relative to said barrel. 
     
     
         28 . An apparatus for the attachment of an accessory to a drawstring comprising:
 a barrel member having an axially disposed, female, compression cavity formed in one end defining an annular end-face and a pair of diametrically disposed feed through holes, positioned axially along the body so as to intersect said barrel cavity above its base; said feedthrough holes being sized to receive and allow a drawstring or the like to pass into the barrel, through said barrel cavity and exit said barrel;   said barrel member further having at least one accessory mounting tab disposed on the outer surface of the barrel body said accessory mounting tab having a tab surface that projects out from the outer surface of said barrel body, said tab surface having a hole therein to engage an accessory;   a compression member dimensioned to fit within and mate with said female compression cavity of said barrel member, said compression member having a compression tip projecting distally of said feedthrough holes relative to said cavity opening wherein the length of said compression member is less than that of said cavity but upon insertion and frictional interlocking engagement of said male compression member into said cavity, said male member engages and compress a drawstring extending diametrically through said feedthrough holes, positionally affixing said barrel on said drawstring.   
     
     
         29 . The apparatus of  claim 28  wherein said at least one accessory mounting tab disposed on said barrel member is molded into said barrel members body. 
     
     
         30 . The apparatus of  claim 28  wherein said at least one accessory mounting tab disposed on said barrel member is incorporated into at least one band assembly, said band assembly adapted to substantially and concentrically loop said barrel member and demountably affix said mounting tab to said barrel member. 
     
     
         31 . The apparatus of  claim 30  wherein said band assembly demonuntably engages a surface of said barrel member in a clamping action. 
     
     
         32 . The apparatus of  claim 30  wherein said barrel assembly includes at least one pair of protruding stop assemblies disposed on the surface of said barrel assembly proximate to the outside edges of each of said at least one band assembly to retain said band assembly on said barrel assembly. 
     
     
         33 . The apparatus of  claim 32  wherein said at least one pair protruding stop assemblies are ring assemblies that protrude from to barrel surface and define the range of slidable engagement of the band assembly on the barrel assembly in at lest one plane of motion.