BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention generally relates to personal accessories, and particularly relates to clip assemblies adapted to secure personal items to a second item, such as but not limited to a purse, bag, backpack, etc.
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The intent of this section of the specification is to briefly indicate the nature and substance of the invention, as opposed to an exhaustive statement of all subject matter and aspects of the invention. Therefore, while this section identifies subject matter recited in the claims, additional subject matter and aspects relating to the invention are set forth in other sections of the specification, particularly the detailed description, as well as any drawings.
The present invention provides, but is not limited to, clip assemblies adapted to secure a personal item to a second item, as well as methods for their use.
According to a nonlimiting aspect of the invention, a clip assembly includes opposing first and second members coupled together with a hinge. The members have surfaces facing each other to define a cavity therebetween. The hinge is biased to urge the first and second members toward each other toward a closed configuration in which distal edges of the first and second members are in proximity to each other or contact each other. The clip assembly further includes a tubular sleeve or channel feature attached to or adjoining the hinge or the first member. The tubular sleeve or channel feature is elastically expandable to receive the personal item within the tubular sleeve or within the channel feature to result in the personal item being gripped by the tubular sleeve or channel feature to secure the personal item to the clip assembly.
Other nonlimiting aspects of the invention include methods of using clip assemblies comprising the elements described above.
Technical aspects of clip assemblies and methods having features as described above preferably include the ability to offer convenience when placing a personal item to be readily accessible, such as locating a pepper spray device in a readily accessible location of a purse, bag, or other item, thereby reducing the need to hunt for the pepper spray device in the event of being attacked.
Other aspects and advantages will be appreciated from the following detailed description.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING
FIG. 1 schematically represents a bag (purse) to which two clip assemblies are attached in accordance with first and second nonlimiting embodiments of this invention.
FIGS. 2 and 3 are isolated views schematically representing a first of the two clip assemblies shown in FIG. 1.
FIG. 4 is an isolated view schematically representing a second of the two clip assemblies shown in FIG. 1, and FIG. 5 schematically represents details of the second clip assembly of FIG. 4.
FIG. 6 schematically represents a nonlimiting embodiment of a clip assembly that is similar to the second clip assembly shown in FIG. 4, and FIG. 7 schematically represents a pepper spray device secured to the clip assembly of FIG. 6.
FIG. 8 schematically represents a clip assembly according to another nonlimiting embodiment of the invention, and FIGS. 9, 10, and 11 are various views of the clip assembly of FIG. 8 having a pepper spray device secured to the clip assembly.
FIGS. 12, 13, and 14 schematically represent various views of a clip assembly according to another nonlimiting embodiment of the invention, and show a pepper spray device secured to the clip assembly.
FIG. 15 schematically represents a clip assembly according to another nonlimiting embodiment of the invention, showing the clip assembly equipped with a squeeze handle to release a spring force of the clip assembly.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
The intended purpose of the following detailed description of the invention and the phraseology and terminology employed therein is to describe what is shown in the drawings, which include the depiction of and/or relate to one or more nonlimiting embodiments of the invention, and to describe certain but not all aspects of what is depicted in the drawings. The following detailed description also identifies certain but not all alternatives of the embodiment(s) depicted in the drawings. As nonlimiting examples, the invention encompasses additional or alternative embodiments in which one or more features or aspects shown and/or described as part of a particular embodiment could be eliminated, and also encompasses additional or alternative embodiments that combine two or more features or aspects shown and/or described as part of different embodiments. Therefore, the appended claims, and not the detailed description, are intended to point out subject matter regarded to be aspects of the invention, including certain but not necessarily all of the aspects and alternatives described in the detailed description.
FIGS. 1 through 15 schematically represent nonlimiting embodiments of clip assemblies adapted to secure personal items to a second item, such as but not limited to bags, purses, backpacks, straps, belts, waistbands, pockets, shirt flaps, etc. The term “clip” is generically used herein as a matter of convenience and is in reference to devices depicted in the drawings as having two opposing members coupled together with a hinge or joint. Some of the drawings depict pepper spray devices as exemplary personal items capable of being secured with the clip assemblies, though it is within the scope of the invention that other items can be similarly secured.
In FIG. 1, a purse 10 is represented as having a bag portion 12 that defines an interior closable at upper edges 14 of the bag portion 12, and a handle or strap 16 attached to the bag portion 12. FIG. 1 further shows two variations of clip assemblies 20 and 40 that are attached to the strap 16 and an edge 14 of the purse 10, respectively. Each clip assembly 20 and 40 is represented as having a pepper spray device 18 secured thereto, as will be discussed in greater detail below.
FIGS. 2 and 3 depict perspective and side views, respectively, of the clip assembly 20 and the pepper spray device 18 secured thereto. The clip assembly 20 comprises two opposing members 22 coupled together with a hinge 24, though a flexible joint could be used in place of the hinge 24. Each member 22 has a concave-convex shape, with concave surfaces of the members 22 facing each other to define a cavity 26 therebetween. The cavity 26 is preferably of sufficient size to be capable of accommodating the strap 16 or edge 14 of the purse 10, as well as various other items of comparable size and shape. The hinge 24 is biased to urge the members 22 toward each other toward a closed configuration in which distal edges 28 of the members 22 are in proximity to each other or in some case may contact each other, for the purpose of enabling the members 22 to securely grip an item (e.g., strap 16 or edge 14) therebetween. Various means for biasing the hinge 24 to urge the members 22 toward each other are foreseeable, including torsion springs, flexible joints formed as part of either or both members 22, etc., and all such means are encompassed within the scope of the invention.
The clip assembly 20 further comprises a tether 30 that is attached to or otherwise adjoins the hinge 24, and a tubular sleeve 32 that is attached to or otherwise adjoins the tether 30 so that the sleeve 32 is secured to the hinge 24. The sleeve 32 is preferably though not necessarily formed of or contains an elastic material so that the sleeve 32 is capable of elastically expanding as the pepper spray device 18 is inserted into the sleeve 32, resulting in the device 18 being gripped by the sleeve 32 to secure the device 18 to the clip assembly 20. As represented in FIGS. 2 and 3, the sleeve 32 may have a length comparable to the longitudinal length of the clip assembly 20 (parallel to the axis of the hinge 24). The tether 30 is shown as extending along the longitudinal lengths of the hinge 24 and sleeve 32 to inhibit twisting of the tether 30, such that the sleeve 32 and the device 18 secured therein can be maintained in a substantially parallel orientation to the hinge 24 and the members 22. As such, the clip assembly 20 is also capable of maintaining the device 18 in a substantially parallel orientation to the edge 14, strap 16, or another feature of the purse 10, as well as features of other articles to which the members 22 of the clip assembly 20 may be clamped through the action of the hinge 24.
In view of similarities between embodiments of clip assemblies represented in the drawings, the following discussions of embodiments represented in FIGS. 4 through 15 will focus primarily on aspects of the embodiments of FIGS. 4 through 15 that differ from the embodiment of FIGS. 2 and 3 in some notable or significant manner. Other aspects of the embodiments of FIGS. 4 through 15 that are not discussed in any detail may be, in terms of structure, function, materials, etc., essentially as was described for the embodiment of FIGS. 2 and 3.
FIG. 4 depicts a perspective view of the clip assembly 40 of FIG. 1 and the pepper spray device 18 secured thereto. Similar to the embodiment of FIGS. 2 and 3, the clip assembly 40 comprises two opposing members 42 coupled together with a hinge 44 with concave surfaces thereof facing each other to define a cavity 46 therebetween, a tether 50, and a tubular sleeve 52 that is attached to or otherwise adjoins the tether 50. In contrast to the embodiment of FIGS. 2 and 3, the tether 50 is not attached to or at the hinge 44 of the clip assembly 40, but instead is attached to or otherwise adjoins one of the distal edges 48 of the members 42 so that the sleeve 52 is secured to the edge 48 to which the tether 50 is attached. The tether 50 is shown as extending along longitudinal lengths of the edge 48 and sleeve 52 to inhibit twisting of the tether 50 and maintain the sleeve 52 and device 18 secured therein in a substantially parallel orientation to the edge 48 of the member 42. FIG. 5 schematically represents an embodiment in which the tether 50 can be secured to a distal edge 48 of a member 42 by inserting an edge of the tether 50 into a complementary slot 54 defined in the edge 48.
FIGS. 6 and 7 depict perspective views of another embodiment of a clip assembly 60, and FIG. 7 represents a pepper spray device 18 secured to the clip assembly 60. Similar to the embodiments of FIGS. 2 through 5, the clip assembly 60 comprises two opposing members 62 coupled together with a hinge 64 with concave surfaces thereof facing each other to define a cavity 66 therebetween. Similar to the embodiment of FIGS. 4 and 5, a tubular sleeve 62 is attached to or otherwise adjoins one of the members 62. However, in contrast to the embodiment of FIGS. 4 and 5, the sleeve 72 is not attached with a tether, but instead is directly attached to or otherwise adjoins one of the distal edges 68 of the members 62. The sleeve 72 is shown as extending along a longitudinal length of the edge 68 of the member 62 to maintain the sleeve 72 and device 18 secured therein in a substantially parallel orientation to the edge 68 of the member 62.
FIG. 8 represents another embodiment of a clip assembly 80, and FIGS. 9 through 11 represent various views of a pepper spray device 18 secured to the clip assembly 80. Similar to the embodiments of FIGS. 2 through 7, the clip assembly 80 comprises two opposing members 82 coupled together with a hinge 84 with concave surfaces thereof facing each other to define a cavity 86 therebetween. In contrast to the embodiments of FIGS. 2 through 7, a channel feature 92 is provided to secure the device 18 to the clip assembly 80. The channel feature 92 is represented as integrally formed with or otherwise adjoining an exterior convex surface 82A of one of the members 82. The channel feature 92 comprises a pair of opposing flanges 94 that define therebetween a channel 96. The channel 96 is shown as having a partial circular profile when viewed from a longitudinal end of the clip assembly 80. The channel feature 92 is preferably though not necessarily formed of or contains an elastic material so that the channel feature 92 elastically expands (the flanges 94 pivot away from each other) as the pepper spray device 18 is inserted into the channel 96, resulting in the device 18 being gripped by the flanges 94 to secure the device 18 to the clip assembly 80 in a generally snap-fit manner that facilitates placement of the device 18 in and removal of the device 18 from the channel feature 92. One of the flanges 94 is shown as immediately adjacent the hinge 84 and extending along a longitudinal length of the hinge 84 and the other flange 94 is shown as immediately adjacent and extending along a longitudinal length of a distal edge 88 of the member 82 from which the flanges 94 protrude, so that the device 18 secured between the flanges 94 is maintained in a substantially parallel orientation to the hinge 84 and edge 88 of the member 82.
FIGS. 12 through 14 represent various views of an embodiment of a clip assembly 100 and show a pepper spray device 18 secured to the clip assembly 100. Similar to the embodiment of FIGS. 8 through 11, the clip assembly 100 comprises two opposing members 102 coupled together with a hinge 104 with concave surfaces thereof facing each other to define a cavity 106 therebetween, and a channel feature 112 disposed on a convex surface 102A of one of the members 102 and comprising a pair of opposing flanges 114 that define therebetween a channel 116 in which the device 18 is secured, essentially as was described from the embodiment of FIGS. 8 through 11. Additionally, the clip assembly 100 comprises a lever or tab 118 to facilitate opening of the clip assembly 100, i.e., pivoting the members 102 relative to each other to insert or remove an item from the cavity 106 between the members 102. The tab 118 is shown as disposed above the hinge 104 and projecting above the upper flange 114 closest to the hinge 104. The tab 118 is secured to the member 102 opposite the channel feature 112 so that rotation of the tab 118 toward the upper flange 114 causes the member 102 opposite the channel feature 112 to pivot about the hinge 104 away from the member 102 with the channel feature 112, thus expanding the cavity 106 between the members 102.
FIG. 15 represents an embodiment of a clip assembly 120 similar to the embodiment of FIGS. 12 through 14, but with a pair of levers or tabs 138 to facilitate opening of the clip assembly 120, i.e., pivoting the members 122 relative to each other to insert or remove an item from the cavity 126 between the members 122. The tabs 138 are shown as both projecting above the hinge 124, and the tabs 138 are each secured to a different one of the members 122 so that causing the tabs 138 to rotate toward each other causes the members 122 to pivot about the hinge 124 and away from each other, thus expanding the cavity 126 between the members 122.
The clip assemblies 20, 40, 60, 80, 100, and 120 are each shown as configured to secure a pepper spray device case, though it is foreseeable that the clip assemblies 20, 40, 60, 80, 100, and 120 could be used to secure other items having generally similar shapes and sizes. The clip assemblies 20, 40, 60, 80, 100, and 120 offer convenience when placing a pepper spray device in readily accessible locations on a purse, bag, or other item, thereby reducing the need to hunt for the pepper spray device in the event of being attacked. The hinges 24, 44, 64, 84, 104, and 124 preferably provide sufficient biasing of the members 22, 42, 62, 82, 102, and 122 toward each other to firmly secure the clip assemblies 20, 40, 60, 80, 100, and 120 to a purse, bag, etc. The interior concave surfaces of the members 22, 42, 62, 82, 102, and 122, the interior surfaces of the sleeves 32, 52, and 72, and/or the interior surfaces of the flanges 94 and 114 can be treated to have an increased friction to enhance their gripping capability. The exterior surfaces of the clip assemblies 20, 40, 60, 80, 100, and 120 can be stylized with fabrics, leather, synthetic leather, metallized surfaces, etc., to have an enhanced aesthetically pleasing appearance.
As previously noted above, though the foregoing detailed description describes certain aspects of one or more particular embodiments of the invention, alternatives could be adopted by one skilled in the art. For example, the clip assemblies and their components could differ in appearance and construction from the embodiments described herein and shown in the drawings, functions of certain components of the clip assemblies could be performed by components of different construction but capable of a similar (though not necessarily equivalent) function, and various materials could be used in the fabrication of the clip assemblies and/or their components. As such, and again as was previously noted, it should be understood that the invention is not necessarily limited to any particular embodiment described herein or illustrated in the drawings.
Patent Application
20240365959
