Material sheet attachment device and methods

Abstract

A device for attaching a fabric layer of a quilt to a leader that, in turn, attaches to a rail on a quilting machine so that the quilt may be pulled allowing the quilting machine to stitch the entire quilt.

1 . A material sheet attachment device, comprising:
 a channel member defining an outer channel surface and a channel cavity having an inner channel surface, the channel member being mounted to a fabric leader along at least a portion of the outer channel surface, the channel cavity being sized to receive a portion of a material sheet;   a plurality of retaining members configured to releaseably mount to the channel member, wherein when each retaining member is mounted to the channel member,
 a first portion of the retaining member is positioned in the channel cavity in engagement with the material sheet to retain the material sheet between the inner channel surface and the first portion of the retaining member, and 
 a second portion of the retaining member is positioned outside the channel cavity and configured for grasping by a user to insert and remove the retaining member relative to the channel cavity member. 
   
     
     
         2 . The device of  claim 1 , further comprising at least one insert member sized to fit within the channel cavity between the first portion of the retaining member and the material sheet. 
     
     
         3 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the channel member has a C-shaped cross-section. 
     
     
         4 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the retaining member comprises a spring construction. 
     
     
         5 . The device of  claim 2 , wherein the at least one insert member includes a plurality of insert member each having an elongate construction. 
     
     
         6 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the retaining member has a generally U-shape construction. 
     
     
         7 . The device of  claim 1 , further comprising a fastener or an adhesive configured to secure the leader to the outer surface of the channel member. 
     
     
         8 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the leader is a fabric sheet and the material sheet comprises fabric. 
     
     
         9 . A quilting system, comprising:
 a quilting machine;   a quilting rack assembly configured to support the quilting machine and including at least one fabric rail;   a sheet attachment device, including:
 a channel member defining a channel cavity and an outer surface, the channel cavity sized to receive a portion of a fabric sheet; 
 a fabric leader secured along one edge to the at least one fabric rail and secured along an opposite edge to the outer surface of the channel member; 
 a retaining member configured to releaseably mount to the channel cavity, wherein when the retaining member is mounted to the channel, a first portion of the retaining member is positioned in the channel cavity to secure the fabric sheet to the channel member, and a second portion of the retaining member is positioned outside of the channel cavity for engagement by a user to insert and remove the retaining member from the channel member. 
   
     
     
         10 . The quilting system of  claim 9 , wherein the channel member has a C-shaped cross-section. 
     
     
         11 . The quilting system of  claim 9 , wherein the retaining member comprises a spring construction. 
     
     
         12 . The quilting system of  claim 9 , wherein the fabric leader is secured to the outer surface of the channel member with an adhesive. 
     
     
         13 . The quilting system of  claim 9 , wherein the fabric leader is secured to the outer surface of the channel member with a fastener. 
     
     
         14 . The quilting system of  claim 9 , further comprising at least one elongate insert member sized to fit within the channel cavity between the first portion of the retaining member and the fabric sheet. 
     
     
         15 . A method of securing a fabric sheet to a quilting machine rail with a material sheet attachment system, the material sheet attachment system including a channel member and a retaining member, the method comprising.
 coupling an outer surface of the channel member to the quilting machine rail;   positioning a portion of the fabric sheet within a channel cavity defined by the channel member;   positioning a portion of the retaining member within the channel cavity to secure the fabric sheet to the channel member.   
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein positioning a portion of the retaining member within the channel cavity includes removeably positioning a first portion of the retaining member within the channel cavity while maintaining a second portion of the retaining member outside the channel cavity for grasping by a user. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 15 , further comprising operatively positioning an insert member within the channel cavity between the fabric sheet and the portion of the retaining member. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein positioning a portion of the retaining member within the channel cavity to secure the fabric sheet to the channel member includes orienting the retaining member in a first orientation while inserting the portion of the retaining member within the channel cavity, and then rotating the retaining member into a second orientation. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein an opening into the channel cavity is positioned along a top side of the channel member and the fabric leader is secured to a bottom side of the channel member. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein coupling the channel member to the quilting machine rail further includes securing a fabric leader to the quilting machine rail along a first edge of the fabric leader and securing a second edge of the fabric leader that is opposite the first edge to the outer surface of the channel member. 
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein securing the opposite edge of the fabric leader to the outer surface of the channel member includes applying an adhesive or securing a fastener between the outer surface of the channel member and the opposite edge of the fabric leader.