Clip for interconnecting garments

Abstract

The clip includes an outer component having an opening in which an inner component is received. The inner component is resiliency biased into a closed position in which its front and back walls are co-planar with the front and back walls, respectively, of the outer component. A force opposed to the bias of the resilient means causes the inner component to pivot away from the outer component thereby enlarging the space between the two components. A pair of socks or mitts may then be inserted into the space. The socks or mitts are retained in the space when the inner component springs back to the closed position. The clip is optionally provided with a panel on which information or illustrations is provided.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to clips for interconnecting garments such as socks and mitts and more particularly to a dip which may be easily attached and detached from a pair of garments and which lies substantially flat and occupies little space in a drawer. The clip may be provided with a panel which displays such things as the manufacturer's or retailer's name, its logo or other information or illustration.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

It often happens that when a garment that belongs in a pair such as a sock or a mitt is washed or put away for storage, the garment will separate from its mate. Children often drop outside clothing carelessly on the floor when they come indoors and when they do, one of a pair of mitts is apt to become lost. Carelessness may also be the cause of lost socks for when a large load of washing is not sorted carefully before it is put away, socks may separate from their mates and become odd socks in the drawer where they are put.

I have invented a clip which substantially overcomes the problem of lost garments in the foregoing situations. The clip may used to attach two garments such as socks while they are being washed or dried and while they are being stored. The clip can also be used by a child to attach two mitts after they are taken off and before they are dropped on a floor. The clip is easy to attach, occupies little space while it is attached and is easily removed when the socks or mitts are to be worn.

The clip is also useful for displaying a message such as the manufacturer's or retailer's name, its logo or other information or illustration. To display such things, the clip is provided with a panel at its top, side or elsewhere on which such things are set out.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Briefly, the clip of my invention includes an outer component having an opening and oppositely facing front and back walls. An inner component is disposed within the opening and has front and back walls and upper and lower ends. The inner component is connected to the outer component at the upper end but otherwise is disconnected from it. The inner component is biased by resilient means into a closed position in which its front and back walls are co-planar with the front and back walls, respectively, of the outer component. The inner component is pivotal about the upper end into an open position by the application of a force opposed to the bias of the resilient means. The application of such force causes a space between the outer and inner components to enlarge to admit a portion of the garments therein. Upon removal of the force, the garments are retained in the space upon return of the inner component to the closed position.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The clip of the invention is illustrated in the drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is an elevation of the front of the clip;

FIG. 2 is an elevation of the back of the clip;

FIG. 3 is a section of the clip on line 3-3 of FIG. 1;

FIGS. 4 and 5 are elevations of the clip in conjunction with the upper portions of a pair of socks or mitts;

FIG. 6 is an elevation of the front of a second embodiment of the clip;

FIG. 7 is an enlarged elevation of the upper portion of the clip of FIG. 6; and

FIG. 8 is an elevation of the rear of the upper portion illustrated in FIG. 7.

Like reference characters refer to like parts throughout the description of the drawings.

DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

With reference to FIGS. 1, 2 and 3, the clip of the invention, generally 10, has an outer component 12 and an inner component 14. The inner component is located within an opening 10a in the outer component and is connected to the outer component at its upper end, generally 13.

The outer edge of the outer component is preferably in the shape of a sock since it is believed that the clip will be most frequently used to hold a pair of socks. The outer edge of the inner component likewise is preferably in the same shape and is made up of a pair of parallel first side edges 14a which extend downwardly from the top, generally 13, of the component and terminate at a pair of parallel second side edges 14b. The latter edges extend further downwardly at an oblique angle from the first side edges and terminate at a semi-circular bottom edge 14c which extend between the two second side edges.

The inner component is connected to the outer component at the top 13 of the inner component but is otherwise spaced apart from, the outer component by a slot 16.

Preferably, the clip is formed of a single piece of plastic and the inner component is defined and surrounded by the slot which extends around the outer edge 14 of the inner component. The slot terminates at the top 13 of the inner component where the inner component is integral with the outer component.

The inner and outer components of the clip are composed of resilient material such that the front and back walls 26, 28 of the inner component are resiliency biased into a co-planar relationship with the front and back walls 22, 24, respectively, of the outer component. The inner and outer components are in a so-called “closed position” in FIGS. 1-3.

When a bending force, opposed to the bias of the resilient material, is applied to the inner component, the latter component bends or pivots about its top 13 to a so-called “open position”. As it bends, the space between it and the outer component enlarges to admit the cuffs or ends of one or two garments such as socks or mitts. When the inner component is no longer bent, the inner component returns to its undeformed state or closed position and thereby decreases the size of the space with resulting engagement of the socks or mitts between the inner and outer components.

A protuberance 30 is formed on the lower end of the inner component. The protuberance extends outwardly from both the front and back walls of the inner component. A number of parallel spaced ribs 32 are also formed on the front and back walls of the inner component. Preferably like ribs 34 are also formed on the front and back walls of the outer component.

With reference to FIGS. 4 and 5, as indicated previously, the clip is preferably composed of a single piece of plastic which inevitably have slippery outer walls. The ribs and protuberance serve; to increase the area of contact of the inner and outer components of the clip with the garments. The ribs and protuberance also decrease the evenness of the walls. The resulting increased contact of the garments with the walls of the clip and the increased irregularity of the walls reduce the amount of slippage between the garments and the clip.

A hook 36 is formed at the top of the outer component for hanging the clip onto a bracket or a clothes rack.

FIGS. 4 and 5 show two ways in which the clip may be used to interconnect a pair of socks or mitts. In FIG. 4 the outer and inner hems of two socks or mitts pass through the space between the inner and outer component of the clip whereas in FIG. 5, only the inner hems of the socks or mitts pass through the space. It may be more suitable to display socks or mitts for sale when attached as shown in FIG. 5 than in FIG. 4 since the clip does not detract from their appearance whereas in FIG. 4 it does. However where socks or mitts are being stored, their appearance does not matter and the clip will secure them more tightly when used as illustrated in FIG. 4 since more of the sock or mitt is in the space between the inner and outer components of the clip.

With reference to FIGS. 6, 7 and 8 the clip, generally 50, is the same as that illustrated in the previous figures except that hook 36 of FIGS. 1-5 has been replaced by a circular generally flat panel 52. In addition, the clip lacks a protuberance on its lower end 54a of the inner component 54. In all other respects however the cup of FIGS. 6-8 is the same as the clip of the previous Figures.

Panel 52 is provided primarily for advertising purposes. It can, for example, display the sock manufacturer's logo, its name or other illustration or information that will enhance sales. Alternatively, the panel can display instructions for use of the clip or other like information.

In most cases the clip of FIGS. 6-8 will be attached to the backing of a display by means of an adhesive tape. Alternatively the clip can be attached to the backing by means of a loop or a hook such as hook 36 of the previous Figures.

It will be understood, of course, that modifications can be made in the clip of the invention without departing from the scope and purview of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

Claims

1. A clip for interconnecting a pair of garments, said clip comprising: an outer component having an opening and oppositely facing front and back walls; and an inner component disposed within said opening and having front and back walls and upper and lower ends, said inner component being connected to said outer component at said upper end but otherwise being disconnected therefrom, said inner component being biased by resilient means into a closed position in which its said front and back walls are co-planar with the front and back walls, respectively, of said outer component, said inner component being pivotal about said upper end into an open position by the application of a force opposed to the bias of said resilient means, the application of said force causing a space between said outer and inner components to enlarge to admit a portion of said garments therein which said portion, upon, removal of said force, being retained in said space upon return of said inner component to said closed position.

2. The clip of claim 1 wherein said inner component has a plurality of parallel spaced ribs disposed on its said front and back walls.

3. The clip of claim 1 wherein both said inner and outer components have a plurality of parallel spaced ribs disposed on their said front and back walls.

4. The clip of claim 1 further including a hook formed on said outer component for hanging said clip to a support.

5. The clip of claim 1 further including an upwardly extending panel formed on said outer component for displaying a message on said panel. adjacent to its said lower end.

6. A clip for interconnecting a pair of socks, said clip having a oppositely facing front and back walls and a generally circular shaped upper segment for displaying a message on the front wall thereof, and a lower segment which is resiliently deformable and which is defined by inner and outer sock-shaped components each of which, having a top, a pair of parallel first side edges which extend downwardly from said top and terminate at a pair of parallel second side edges, said second side edges extending at an oblique angle from said first side edges and terminating at a semi-circular bottom edge which extends between said second side edges, said inner component being disposed within said outer component and being connected to said outer component at the top of said inner component but otherwise being spaced apart from said outer component by a slot, said inner component being biased by resilient means into a closed position in which the front and back walls of said inner component are coplanar with the front and back walls, respectively, of said outer component but pivotal about its said top to an open position by the application of a force opposed to the bias of said resilient means, said front and back walls of said inner component when in said open position being oriented at an oblique angle relative to the front and back walls of said outer component such that portions of a pair of socks can be accommodated in the space between said inner and outer components and being retained therein upon removal of said force with resulting return of said inner component to said closed position.

7. The clip of claim 6 wherein said inner component has a plurality of parallel spaced ribs disposed on its said front and back walls.

8. The clip of claim 6 wherein both said inner and outer components have a plurality of parallel spaced ribs disposed on their said front and back walls.

9. The clip of claim 6 further including a hook formed on said outer component for hanging said clip to a support.

10. The clip of claim 6 further including a protuberance formed on said inner component adjacent to its said lower end.