Patent Application
20050067447
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to fabric clips for hanging arrangements, for example, garment clips for garment hangers.
2. Description of the Related Art
It is known to provide garment hangers with end-clips for coupling to at least a portion of a fabric article (e.g., a garment) to be displayed. In this regard, at least some of the conventional end-clips (e.g., garment clips) include stationary and moveable retaining arms, between which a portion of the garment is frictionally engaged. To maintain the garment in frictional engagement between the stationary and moveable retaining arms, a cross-bar or connecting member is arranged between the arms to bias the moveable retaining arm against the stationary retaining arm. In operation, a portion of the garment is slid between the arms, thereby causing the moveable retaining arm to bend away from the stationary arm against the biasing force produced by the cross-bar, the biasing force thereafter causing frictional engagement of the garment between the stationary and moveable retaining arms.
The conventional prior art garment clips described above may disadvantageously permit substances, such as chemicals, lubricants, and the like, to leech off the garment and onto the cross-bar. These substances may weaken the structural integrity of the cross-bar and, as such, may cause the biasing force produced by the cross-bar to lessen over time, or cause the cross-bar to completely fail under stress. This may cause the garment to slide or fall out (i.e., disengage) of the garment clip.
It is an object of the present invention to provide a garment clip that overcomes the disadvantages of the prior art garment clips described above. In an example embodiment, the garment clip includes a stationary retaining arm, a moveable spring arm, and an elastic cross-bar or connecting part to join the moveable spring arm and the stationary retaining arm and bias the spring arm with respect to the stationary retaining arm. The garment clip further includes a blocking member configured to prevent a garment from contacting the cross-bar after the garment is inserted into the garment clip.
For the purposes of illustrating the invention, there is shown in the drawings a form which is presently preferred, it being understood however, that the invention is not limited to the precise arrangements and instrumentalities shown. The features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following description of the invention that refers to the accompanying drawings, in which:
a through 2b show an operational sequence for inserting pieces of fabric into the garment clip of
Referring now to
In an example embodiment, garment clip 100 includes a stationary retaining arm or wall 105 and a spring arm 110 forming a garment receiving portion 112 therebetween. A cross-bar or connecting part 115 joins spring arm 110 and stationary retaining arm 105 to bias spring arm 110 with respect to stationary retaining arm 105. In an example embodiment, spring arm 110 includes a pressing member 111 carried by spring arm 110. Pressing member 111 is moveable with respect to spring arm 111 when a garment is inserted into garment receiving portion 112 between spring arm 111 and stationary retaining arm 105. Any or all of stationary retaining arm 105, spring arm 110, and connecting part 115 may be formed separately and then coupled to one another by any of the known methods. Alternatively, stationary retaining arm 105, spring arm 110, and connecting part 115 may be formed as one integral piece, for example, by injection molding, or by any of the known methods.
In an example embodiment of the present invention, a blocking member 120 extends outwardly from stationary retaining arm 105. Blocking member 120 is configured to prevent a fabric such as garment 200,
In an example embodiment, blocking member 120 is configured to prevent garment 200 from contacting at least a substantial portion of cross-bar 115. In an example embodiment, this may be construed to mean that blocking member 120 is configured to prevent garment 200 from contacting at least enough of the cross-bar 115 to prevent the fabric from having an adverse effect on the biasing function of the cross-bar 115.
Referring now to
In an example embodiment, stationary retaining arm 105 and/or spring arm 110 may also be provided with gripping members 125 to better help retain garment 200 between stationary retaining arm 105 and spring arm 110. Gripping members may include any structure or mechanism operable and/or configured to help retain garment 200 between stationary retaining arm 105 and spring arm 110.
As shown in the example embodiment of
It should be realized by those skilled in the art that blocking member 120 need not be limited to use in connection with garment clip 100. Blocking member 120 may be used in connection with any of the known garment clips, made by any of the known methods. For example, garment clip 100 may be constructed from any material by any method suitable for engaging garment 200 between stationary retaining arm 105 and spring arm 110. For example, garment clip 100 may be constructed from plastic, a polymer, an elastic material, etc. by injection molding.
By way of further example, blocking member 120 can be used in connection with any garment clip that has a cross-bar or the like that functions as a biasing member to bias one structural member with respect to another. For example, blocking member 120 can be used in connection with a garment clip that does not include spring arm 111. Instead, the garment clip can be structured and arranged to include a spring arm that is similar in size to retaining arm 105. The spring arm can also include a gripping member that cooperates with a gripping member located on the retaining arm to engage a garment therebetween. In this example garment clip, not shown, a cross-bar or connecting part would join the retaining arm and spring arm to bias the spring arm with respect to the retaining arm.
It should also be realized by those skilled in the art that blocking member 120 may be constructed in any shape or configuration from any material suitable for preventing garment 200 from contacting cross-bar 115 or any like biasing or connecting member, by any method. For example, blocking member 112 may be arranged on stationary retaining arm 105, spring arm 110, and/or arranged on any portion of garment clip 100 in any way to prevent garment 200 or the like from coming into contact with cross-bar 115. Blocking member 120 may be constructed from plastic, a polymer, an elastic material, etc. It should also be realized by those skilled in the art that blocking member 120 may be formed together with garment clip 100 as a single integral piece.
Although the present invention has been described in relation to particular embodiments thereof, many other variations and modifications and other uses will become apparent to those skilled in the art. It is preferred, therefore, that the present invention be limited not by the specific disclosure herein.
The present invention is based on and claims priority to U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 60/485,794 filed Jul. 9, 2003 and entitled BLOCKING MEMBER FOR A GARMENT CLIP, the entire contents of which are expressly incorporated herein by reference.
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 60485794 | Jul 2003 | US |
