Tool for inserting or replacing drawstrings
View Patent ↗A tool for inserting a drawstring into a drawstring passage has elongated leading and trailing bodies which are connected to each other by a flexible member. The trailing body defines at its rear end an aperture into which an end of a drawstring can be inserted, which drawstring can be secured to the trailing body by the cooperation with the trailing body of a drawstring retainer. The retainer is carried by the trailing body and is movable relative to that body toward and away from the rear end of that body. When the retainer is at its rear end limit of movement relative to the trailing body, the retainer is effective to cause a drawstring inserted into the aperture to be held in the insertion tool. The retainer can be spring-biased toward its rearward limit of motion in the insertion tool.
1. An inserter for inserting or replacing a string within a string passage of a garment, the inserter comprising:
a first body having a front end and a rear end, the first body having at the rear end thereof a boundary part forming an aperture, the aperture formed by a length of wire as the boundary part, the length of wire having opposite ends secured to the first body; and
a retainer member movable relative to the first body toward and away from the rear end of the first body, the retainer member biased to move in the aperture toward a limit of movement relative to the first body, the first body and the retainer member having the property of being cooperatively configured to secure a string to the first body when the string is disposed in the aperture and held between the biased retainer member and the boundary part, the string held as the first body enters into, passes through, and exits out of the string passage of the garment, the front end of the first body leading the rear end of the first body.
2. An inserter according to claim 1 in which the retainer member is configured to engage a rear portion of the boundary part of the first body at the limit of movement of the retainer member.
3. An inserter according to claim 1 , the inserter comprising:
a spring, the retainer member biased by the spring.
4. An inserter according to claim 1 in which portions of the length of wire extend through the retainer member.
5. An inserter according to claim 1 in which the length of wire comprises a shape memory metal alloy.
6. An inserter according to claim 1 , the inserter comprising:
an elongate second body having opposite front and rear ends; and
an elongate flexible member connected at a rear end thereof to the front end of the first body, the flexible member connected at a front end thereof to the rear end of the second body.
7. An inserter according to claim 1 in which a portion of the retainer member is carried within a portion of the first body.
8. An inserter for inserting or replacing a string within a string passage of a garment, the inserter comprising:
a first body having a front end and a rear end, the first body having at the rear end thereof a boundary part forming an aperture, the boundary part having a string engagement portion, the aperture formed by a length of wire as the boundary part, the length of wire having opposite ends secured to the first body; and
a retainer member movable relative to the first body toward and away from the rear end of the first body, the retainer member movable to move in the aperture toward the string engagement portion, the first body and the retainer member having the property of being cooperatively configured to secure a string to the first body when the string is disposed in the aperture and held between the retainer member and the string engagement portion, the string held as the first body enters into, passes through, and exits out of the string passage of the garment, the front end of the first body leading the rear end of the first body.
9. An inserter according to claim 8 in which the retainer member is configured to engage the string engagement portion of the boundary part.
10. An inserter according to claim 8 in which the retainer member is biased to move in the aperture toward the string engagement portion of the boundary part.
11. An inserter according to claim 10 , the inserter comprising:
a spring, the retainer member biased by the spring.
12. An inserter according to claim 8 in which portions of the length of wire extend through the retainer member.
13. An inserter according to claim 8 in which the length of wire comprises a shape memory metal alloy.
14. An inserter according to claim 8 , the inserter comprising:
an elongate second body having opposite front and rear ends; and
an elongate flexible member connected at a rear end thereof to the front end of the first body, the flexible member connected at a front end thereof to the rear end of the second body.
15. An inserter according to claim 8 in which a portion of the retainer member is carried within a portion of the first body.