Patent Application
20090260199
The present invention generally relates to hygiene articles, and, more particularly, to a hygiene article used for avoiding a contact of apparel of a person to a contaminated floor.
Use of public facilities, such as a toilet, a restroom and a lavatory, is a part of our daily life. In a majority of public facilities, the floors are the areas that may be contaminated with germs, such as microbes and bacteria. Any person using such a public facility should avoid a contact between his/her apparel and the floor of the facility, for hygienic and sanitary reasons. Specifically, a person wearing apparel, such as pants or a long skirt, should avoid such contacts to prevent his/her apparel from getting contaminated with the germs on the floor.
It has been customary that people generally hold their apparel in a raised position by their hands for avoiding the contact between the apparel and the floor. In some instances people even fold hem portions or cuff portions of the apparel for avoiding such contact. However, a folded portion of the apparel may unfold upon loosely folding the apparel, which may result in contaminating the apparel with the germs. Additionally, while using the public facility, holding the apparel by hands may be a cumbersome task.
Accordingly, there exists a need for a suitable mechanism, which should be capable of avoiding a contact between apparel and a floor of a public facility.
In view of foregoing disadvantage inherent in the prior art, the general purpose of the present invention is to provide a suitable mechanism, to include all the advantages of the prior art, and overcome the drawbacks inherent therein.
An object of the present invention is to provide a suitable mechanism for use in securing a folded portion of apparel thereto to avoid a contact between the apparel and a floor of a public facility.
In light of the above object, in one aspect, the present invention provides the suitable mechanism, such as a clip assembly. The clip assembly includes at least one clip and a case for enclosing the at least one clip therein. Each clip of the at least one clip is capable of securing a folded portion of apparel thereto. Each clip includes a pair of clip members and a coupling mechanism disposed between the pair of clip members. Each clip member of the pair of clip members has a first end portion and a second end portion opposite to the first end portion. The coupling mechanism is configured to enable first end portions of the pair of clip members to assume a close position and open position of the pair of clip members. The open position of the pair of clip members is assumed upon pressing second end portions of the pair of clip members. The first end portions of the pair of clip members are adapted to secure the folded portion of the apparel thereto in the close position of the pair of clip members.
In another aspect of the present invention, a clip for securing a folded portion of apparel thereto is disclosed. The clip includes a pair of clip members and a coupling mechanism disposed between the pair of clip members. Each clip member of the pair of clip members has a first end portion and a second end portion opposite to the first end portion. The coupling mechanism is configured to enable first end portions of the pair of clip members to assume a close position of the pair of clip member. The coupling mechanism is further configured to enable the first end portions of the pair of clip members to assume an open position of the pair of clip members upon pressing second end portions of the pair of clip members. The first end portions of the pair of clip members are adapted to secure the folded portion of the apparel thereto in the close position of the pair of clip members.
These together with other aspects of the present invention, along with the various features of novelty that characterize the present invention, are pointed out with particularity in the claims annexed hereto and form a part of this present invention. For a better understanding of the present invention, its operating advantages, and the specific objects attained by its uses, reference should be made to the accompanying drawings and descriptive matter in which there are illustrated exemplary embodiments of the present invention.
The advantages and features of the present invention will become better understood with reference to the following detailed description and claims taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein like elements are identified with like symbols, and in which:
Like reference numerals refer to like parts throughout the description of several views of the drawings.
The exemplary embodiments described herein detail for illustrative purposes and are subject to many variations in structure and design. It should be emphasized, however, that the present invention is not limited to a clip assembly, as shown and described. It is understood that various omissions and substitutions of equivalents are contemplated as circumstances may suggest or render expedient, but these are intended to cover the application or implementation without departing from the spirit or scope of the claims of the present invention. Also, it is to be understood that the phraseology and terminology used herein is for the purpose of description and should not be regarded as limiting.
The terms “a” and “an” herein do not denote a limitation of quantity, but rather denote the presence of at least one of the referenced item. The terms “first,” “second,” and the like, herein do not denote any order, quantity, or importance, but rather are used to distinguish one element from another.
The present invention provides a clip assembly for use as a hygiene article. The clip assembly is configured to secure a folded portion of apparel, such as a pant leg or a long skirt, thereto for avoiding a contact between the apparel and a floor of a public facility, such as a toilet, a restroom and a lavatory. The floor of the public facility may be contaminated with germs and accordingly, the floor will be hereinafter referred to as ‘contaminated floor’ in the description that follows. More specifically, a folded cuff portion or a folded hem portion of the apparel is secured by the clip assembly, such that the folded cuff portion or the folded hem portion of the apparel is avoided from getting spoiled by the contaminated floor of the public facility.
Referring to
The clip 110a includes a pair of clip members, such as a clip member 112a and a clip member 114a, and a coupling mechanism 130a. The coupling mechanism 130a is disposed between the clip member 112a and the clip member 114a. The clip member 112a includes a first end portion 116a and a second end portion 118a, which is opposite to the first end portion 116a. Similarly, the clip member 114a includes a first end portion 120a and a second end portion 122a, opposite to the first end portion 120a.
The coupling mechanism 130a is configured to functionally couple the clip member 112a and the clip member 114a, such that the clip members 112a and 114a may move pivotally about the coupling mechanism 130a. Moreover, the coupling mechanism 130a is configured to enable the first end portions 116a and 120a of the clip members 112a and 114a, respectively, to assume a close position. In one embodiment of the present invention, the coupling mechanism 130a includes extended arms (not shown) extending from ends of the coupling mechanism 130a, such that the extended arms are coupled to the clip members 112a and 114a. The extended arms of the coupling mechanism 130a exerts a force of compression on the clip members 112a and 114a, such that clip members 112a and 114a tend to come into contact about the first end portions 116a and 120a. Herein, such a positioning of the clip members 112a and 114a may be referred to as a ‘close position’. The close position of the clip members 112a and the 114a is illustrated in the
The coupling mechanism 130a is further configured to enable the first end portions 116a and 120a to assume an open position. More specifically, the first end portions 116a and 120a tend to move away from each other and attain the open position, upon pressing the second end portions 118a and 122a of the clip members 112a and 114a, respectively. In one embodiment of the present invention, in the open position of the clip members 112a and 114a, the extended arms of the coupling mechanism 130a may expand due a force applied on the second end portions 118a and 122a, thereby causing the first end portions 116a and 120a to move apart for attaining the open position. The open position of the clip members 112a and 114a will be explained further in conjunction with
In one embodiment of the present invention, the coupling mechanism 130a is a spring mechanism. However, it will be apparent to person skilled in the art that the coupling mechanism 130a may be any mechanical arrangement capable of enabling the pivotal movement of the clip members 112a and 114a about the coupling mechanism 130a, such that the clip members 112a and 114a may attain the close position or the open position.
In one embodiment of the present invention, the clip members 112a and 114a further includes a grip element 124a and a grip element 126a, respectively. The grip element 124a and 126a are disposed on the first end portions 116a and 120a of the clip members 112a and 114a, respectively as depicted in
As disclosed herein, the clip assembly 100 further includes the clip 110b. The components of the clip 110b are structurally and functionally similar to the corresponding components of the clip 110a. For example, the clip 110b includes a pair of clip members, such as a clip member 112b and a clip member 114b similar in configuration to the clip members 112a and 114a of the clip 110a, and a coupling mechanism 130b similar in configuration to the coupling mechanism 130a of the clip 110a. Similarly, the clip member 112b includes a first end portion 116b and a second end portion 118b and the clip member 114b includes a first end portion 120b and a second end portion 122b. Furthermore, the clip members 112b and 114b include grip elements (not shown) similar to the grip elements 124a and 126a of the clip members 112a and 114a, respectively. The clips 110a and 110b is accommodated in the compartments 152a and 152b of the case 150. The representation of the case 150 in
Referring specifically to
The close position of the clip 110a is capable of being used for securing a folded portion of apparel thereto. It will be evident to a person skilled in the art that the term “close position of the clip 110a” used herein does not necessarily refer to only cases when the first end portions 116a and 120a are in close contact. However, ‘the close position’ of the clip 110a also refers to a position of the clip 110a, where the clip 110a is partially opened to accommodate the folded portion of the apparel therebetween, such that the first end portions 116a and 120a of the clip members 112a and 114a are in contact with the folded portion of the apparel, which is shown in
Referring to
Once the use of the clips 110a and 110b is over, the clips 110a and 110b may be enclosed in the case 150. As explained in conjunction with
The clip assembly, explained in conjunction with
The foregoing descriptions of specific embodiments of the present invention have been presented for purposes of illustration and description. They are not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the present invention to the precise forms disclosed, and obviously many modifications and variations are possible in light of the above teaching. The embodiments were chosen and described in order to best explain the principles of the present invention and its practical application, and to thereby enable others skilled in the art to best utilize the present invention and various embodiments with various modifications as are suited to the particular use contemplated. It is understood that various omissions and substitutions of equivalents are contemplated as circumstances may suggest or render expedient, but these are intended to cover the application or implementation without departing from the spirit or scope of the claims of the present invention.
