Flexible material tightener with resilient coupler

Abstract

A rigid coupler having an upper surface, a lower surface and four sides, the coupler incudes a lower portion, an upper portion mateable with the lower portion, at least one inlet defined by the upper and lower portions, and at least one outlet defined by the upper and lower portions.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A rigid coupler having an upper surface, a lower surface and four sides comprising:
 a lower portion;   an upper portion mateable with the lower portion;   a first inlet and a second inlet, each defined by the upper and lower portions, the first and second inlets being unobstructed and configured and arranged to receive a portion of a drawstring and an elastic band of a cord, each of the first inlet and the second inlet being disposed on opposing sides of the four sides; and   at least one outlet defined by the enclosure and configured and arranged to receive a portion of the drawstring of the cord, the at least one outlet being disposed on a third side perpendicular to the opposing ends that define the first inlet and the second inlet.   
     
     
         2 . The rigid coupler of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one outlet includes two outlets. 
     
     
         3 . The rigid coupler of  claim 1 , wherein the first inlet and the second inlet each have a central region of a first height, and side regions of a second height, the first height and the second height being uneven. 
     
     
         4 . The rigid coupler of  claim 1 , wherein the first inlet and the second inlet include narrow extremities for receiving the drawstring and a region that is taller than the narrow extremities for receiving both the drawstring and the elastic band 
     
     
         5 . The rigid coupler of  claim 1 , wherein each of the at least one outlet is circular. 
     
     
         6 . The rigid coupler of  claim 1 , further comprising a plurality of pins on one of the upper and lower portions, and a plurality of receivers on another of the upper and lower portions, the plurality of pins and the plurality of receivers being aligned with one another. 
     
     
         7 . The rigid coupler of  claim 6 , wherein the plurality of pins and the plurality of receivers are cylindrical. 
     
     
         8 . The rigid coupler of  claim 1 , further comprising at least one projection on one of the upper and lower portions, and at least one receptacles on another of the upper and lower portions, the at least one projection and the at least one receptacle being aligned with one another, each of the at least one projection and the at least one receptacles defining a hole for accepting a fastener. 
     
     
         9 . The rigid coupler of  claim 8 , wherein the at least one projection is pyramidal and the at least one receptacle has a ramp shape with a central recess to accept the at least one pyramidal projection. 
     
     
         10 . The rigid coupler of  claim 8 , wherein the at least one projection includes four projections. 
     
     
         11 . The rigid coupler of  claim 10 , wherein the at least one receptacle includes four receptacles arranged near corners of the rigid coupler. 
     
     
         12 . The rigid coupler of  claim 1 , wherein the upper and lower portions form a coupler in the shape of a rectangular prism. 
     
     
         13 . The rigid coupler of  claim 1 , wherein the upper and lower portions form a disk-shaped coupler. 
     
     
         14 . The rigid coupler of  claim 1 , wherein the upper and lower portions are of a same size and shape. 
     
     
         15 . A system for covering and securing a pre-determined sized bed with a fabric sheet upon a mattress, comprising:
 a first cord including a drawstring and an elastic band disposed within an outer sleeve; and   a rigid coupler having an upper surface, a lower surface and four sides, the rigid coupler including a lower portion, an upper portion mateable with the lower portion, a first inlet and a second inlet, each defined by the upper and lower portions and configured and arranged to receive a portion of the first cord, and at least one outlet defined by the upper and lower portions.   
     
     
         16 . The system of  claim 15 , wherein the drawstring, the elastic band and the outer sleeve of the first cord extend through the at least one inlet, and the drawstring of the second cord extends through the at least one outlet. 
     
     
         17 . The system of  claim 15 , further comprising a second cord including a second drawstring and a second elastic band disposed within a second outer sleeve. 
     
     
         18 . A device comprising:
 a rigid coupler having an upper surface, a lower surface and four sides comprising (i) a lower portion and (ii) an upper portion mateable with the lower portion, the coupler further comprising a first inlet and a second inlet, each defined by the upper and lower portions, each of the first inlet and the second inlet being disposed on opposing sides of the four sides, and at least one outlet defined by the enclosure, the at least one outlet being disposed on a third side perpendicular to the opposing ends that define the first inlet and the second inlet; and   a first cord including a drawstring and an elastic band disposed within an outer sleeve, the first cord extending through each of the first inlet and the second inlet.