Drawstring Retention Clasp

Abstract

A drawstring retention clasp includes a front housing and a rear cover. The rear cover has a width greater than the diameter of an opening in a guide sleeve of an article of clothing or a bag or similar object to minimize or prevent a drawstring clamped by the drawstring retention clasp from being inadvertently drawn completely into the guide sleeve

I claim: 
     
         1 . A drawstring retention clasp comprising:
 a front housing;   a rear cover being configured to be detachably connected to said front housing;   said front housing comprising a front surface and a rear surface;   said rear cover comprising an engagement surface configured to be placed against said rear surface upon connection of said rear cover to said front housing;   said front housing comprising a guide recess disposed in said rear surface being open-ended and configured to extend along the length of said rear surface;   said guide recess being configured to receive a drawstring of an article of clothing or a bag or similar object;   said rear cover being configured to cover said guide recess and clamp a drawstring between said guide recess and said engagement surface; and   said rear cover having a width greater than the diameter of an opening in a guide sleeve of an article of clothing or a bag or similar object to minimize or prevent a drawstring clamped between said guide recess and said engagement surface from being inadvertently drawn completely into the guide sleeve.   
     
     
         2 . The drawstring retention clasp of  claim 1 , wherein:
 said front housing comprises a locking projection disposed in said guide recess; and   said rear cover comprises a projection recess disposed in said engagement surface; and   said locking projection and said projection recess are configured and disposed to together further lock a drawstring in place between said guide recess and said engagement surface.   
     
     
         3 . The drawstring retention clasp of  claim 2 , wherein:
 said rear cover comprises snap-fit arms; and   said front housing comprises snap-fit recesses configured and disposed to engage with said snap-fit arms to detachably connect said rear cover and said front housing.   
     
     
         4 . The drawstring retention clasp of  claim 3 , wherein said front housing is substantially rectangular. 
     
     
         5 . The drawstring retention clasp of  claim 4 , wherein said rear cover is substantially oval-shaped or elliptical such that the ends thereof project substantially beyond the outer edges of said front housing. 
     
     
         6 . The drawstring retention clasp of  claim 5 , wherein one of (A) and (B):
 (A) said front surface comprises a decorative image or design; and   (B) said front surface comprises a transparent plate; and   said front housing comprises a slot disposed behind said transparent plate configured to receive a sheet bearing an image or design thereon.   
     
     
         7 . The drawstring retention clasp of  claim 6 , wherein said rear cover comprises a decorative image or design. 
     
     
         8 . The drawstring retention clasp of  claim 1 , wherein:
 said rear cover comprises snap-fit arms; and   said front housing comprises snap-fit recesses configured and disposed to engage with said snap-fit arms to detachably connect said rear cover and said front housing.   
     
     
         9 . The drawstring retention clasp of  claim 1 , wherein said front housing is substantially rectangular. 
     
     
         10 . The drawstring retention clasp of  claim 1 , wherein said rear cover is substantially oval-shaped or elliptical such that the ends thereof project substantially beyond the outer edges of said front housing. 
     
     
         11 . The drawstring retention clasp of  claim 1 , wherein said front surface comprises a decorative image or design. 
     
     
         12 . The drawstring retention clasp of  claim 1 , wherein:
 said front surface comprises a transparent plate; and   said front housing comprises a slot disposed behind said transparent plate configured to receive a sheet bearing an image or design thereon.   
     
     
         13 . The drawstring retention clasp of  claim 1 , wherein said rear cover comprises a decorative image or design.