Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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TITLE OF INVENTION
Sports and Utility Clip.
FIELD OF INVENTION
This invention relates to a utility clip for temporarily storing small
5 articles such as gloves, keys, towels, lottery tickets, bandannas or the like from a
supporting surface and finds particular application to clips upon which a
multiplicity of articles may be temporarily retained.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
A multitude of clips or supports exist in the art. Examples of some
10 of the known devices are found in the patent literature as follows.
United States Patent 5,381,922, which published on January 17, 1995,
there is taught in article holder for a cylindrical article only, including a clip
attachable to a user's belt and a flexible cup like holder. As best seen in figure 1, a
compatible pad of Velcro 22 is attached to the clip which is fastened to the user at
15 the belt thereof 26, as seen in Figure 2. The cylindrical cuplike holder alsoincludes a patch of compatible Velcro 20 to retain the holder in position.
United States Patent 5,050,830, issued September 24, 1991, teaches a
clip as seen in figure 2, having a shorter second leg, and a longer first leg, with
the pinch point being intermediate the legs and including a section of Velcro at 4,
20 located on the exterior of the clip, for engagement with a patch of Velcro 8, on the
back of the score card holder. The clip is therefore hooked over the edge of a golf
bag as seen in figure 1, and the score card holder is temporarily fastened in
posihon.
United States Patent 4,625,862, issued December 2, 1986, teaches the
25 use of a support assembly for golfing accessories as best seen in figures 5,6,7, and 8
including a planar member 5, having a patch of Velcro 6 supported near the end
thereof, and an opening adjacent the other end thereof for fastening to a golf bag.
This reference does not teach the use of a clip however for these purposes.
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United States Patent 5,177,881 issued January 12, 1983, teaches a golf
accessory for use with a golf bag that includes a plate like portion having two
ends adapted to access first and second straps. The first strap is utilized for
supporting from a golf bag at a hook member 14, and a supplementary hook
5 member 16, is provided to suspend a towel therefrom. The plate like member is
then fastened to this strap wherein a message appears on the plate like member.
At the end of the plate like member is fastened a second strap which includes a
Velcro patch at 22 as seen in Figure 4, which may be utilized as seen in Figure 1,
to suspend a golf glove.
10United States Patent 4,449,310 issued May 22, 1984, teaches the use of
an alternative type of clip in conjunction with a score card, pencil and tee
support.
United States Patent 4,699,303 issued October 13, 1987, teaches
another golf accessory retaining article as best seen in figure 4. United States15Patent 3,374,508 teaches the use of Velcro patches fixed to an individual by
example, utilizing a safety pin in conjunction with a second patch of compatibleof Velcro incorporating a clip to fasten and support an article. United States
Patent 4,645,105 teaches another golf accessory.
United States Patent 4,768,236 issued September 6, 1988, teaches a
20 sports wear garment including a detachable towel as seen in figure 2 and Figure 6.
Velcro patches are conveniently located at the waist and hem line of the garmentto support co-operative patches of Velcro provided with the towel.
United States Patent 5,511,756, issued April 30, 1996, describes a ball
glove holding and managing device utilized primarily for baseball gloves and
25 supporting the gloves as seen in figure 4 from a frost free fence. The article
includes a support for a key ring or the like.
United States Design Patent Number 248,515 was issued July 18,
1978, and expired on July 18, 1992. This key hanger includes a clip portion as best
seen in figure 3, including a key hanger incorporated therewith.
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-- Nowhere within the prior art therefore, to Applicant's knowledge,
is there found a utility clip which allows for a multiplicity of articles to be
temporarily stored for example against a users body when the clip is removeably
attached to a pocket, or to a supporting surface when the clip is removeably
5 attached to said surface, for example a golf bag, thereby temporarily storing the
article and preferably more than one article in a user accessible location. Further
the clip may be designed to retain the articles such as gloves, keys, towels, lottery
tickets, bandannas or the like in a temporary user accessible position by a
supplementary member such as a magnet or strip of Velcro fastened to a
10 supporting surface such as a refrigerator or bulletin board from which the utility
clip, having a complimentary magnet or strip of Velcro, is supported. Further
the clip provides all of these advantages in one preferably standard configuration
for compactness when supported from one's pocket, belt or the like.
It is therefore a primary object of the invention to provide a sports
15 and utility clip which is simply designed, compact and easy to use.
It is a further object of the invention to provide a sports and utility
clip which has a standard configuration for temporarily supporting multiple
articles yet remaining compact when supported for examples from one's pocket,
belt or the like.
It is yet a further object of the invention to provide a utility clip for
temporarily storing small articles such as gloves, keys, towels, lottery tickets,
bandannas or the like from a supporting surface.
Further and other objects of the invention will become apparent to
those skilled in the art when considering the following summary of the
invention and the more detailed description of the preferred embodiments
illustrated herein.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
According to a primary aspect of the invention, there is provided a
sports and utility clip comprising a one-piece resilient flexible substrate folded
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upon itself to form a first and second flange separated by a fold, said first flange
extending in a first plane, preferably said second flange extending in a plane so as
to intersect the plane of first flange proximate a pinch point, preferably said
second flange extending laterally away from said pinch point and the plane of
5 said first flange thereafter, said first flange having two ends and having disposed
proximate the end remote said fold, means for temporarily securing a
supplementary member, such as a Velcro or magnetic patch, provided for
supporting the supplementary member, for example a glove or a towel also
having a compatible securing means disposed therewith such as Velcro or a
10 magnetic patch, said first flange preferably having disposed therewith
intermediate said fold and said means for temporarily securing a supplementary
member, an area wherein a message such as an advertising logo or the like may
be displayed, said second flange having disposed adjacent one end, and in one
embodiment the preferred pinch point, a fastener for fastening a second
15 supplementary member such as a key ring, a watch fob or the like, said second flange having disposed intermediate the fold and said one end means for
securing said clip (for example a Velcro or magnetic patch) to a supporting
surface such as a refrigerator, bulletin board or the like, the first and secondflanges having disposed therebetween a space wherein flat planar articles such as
20 lottery tickets or currency may be retained within said space and preferably
secured by said pinch point, wherein said utility clip may be temporarily retained
from a supporting surface by the means for securing said clip (for example a
Velcro or magnetic patch) to a supporting surface disposed on the exterior of the
second flange thereby providing temporary storage for memos, keys or the like,
25 further wherein said clip may be fastened to the waist band or pocket of a
garment preferably with the second flange extending inside the waist band or
pocket and the fold of the clip being disposed proximate the top of the waistband
or pocket for securing the second supplementary member such as a key ring, a
watch fob or the like inside the waistband or pocket, and the first flange
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~ extending outside the waistband or pocket to allow a user to temporarily storeand access a supplementary article such as a golf glove, a towel, a bandanna or the
like. In an alternative embodiment of the invention the second supplementary
member such as a key ring, a watch fob or the like, may be suspended adjacent
5 the bottom of the first flange instead of or in addition to said second flangehaving disposed adjacent the pinch point a fastener for fastening the second
supplementary member.
The basic multipurpose clip is formed from plastic material, having
two flanges extending from a central fold. The first flange may be substantially10 longer than the other, and extend in a first plane. The second flange may be
shorter than the first flange and extend angularly toward the plane of the firstflange, and butting the flange at a created pressure point at a bend near the end of
the second flange. This design therefore provides the clip with the ability to
fasten and hold onto a supporting surface such as a pocket or waist band, or golf
15 bag, or alternatively hold a flat planar item between the two flanges in a secure
manner, for example lottery tickets, reminder notes, or currency. This feature
may utilized in the many various expressions of my sports and utility clip. A
patch of Velcro is provided adjacent the bottom of the exterior face of the first
flange. The purpose of this patch is to temporarily fasten and carry an article
20 such as a towel or rag or generically, a cloth substrate. The cloth substrate also
includes a compatible swatch of Velcro therewith to temporarily fasten the towelor the like to the clip. This would be most advantageous for a mechanic or a
tennis player. Alternatively, a golfer could utilize the clip to temporarily hold
his/her golf glove while on the green, wherein the clip would be fixed to the rear
25 pocket of the golfer, as one example, or to the golf bag. As is well known most
golf glove manufacturers include a flap closed by a Velcro fastener.
Further, I propose to fix advertising logos or messages to my utility
clip to enhance its appeal as a souvenir at sporting events such as racing, golf,
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~ hockey, basketball, and football or the like. The advertising may be displayed on
the first and/or second flange.
A key ring or watch fob or the like may be directly attached or
alternatively attached by a preferably plastic connector or strap to the end of the
5 first or second flange remote from the fold of the clip adjacent the bottom
thereof. Further a second, preferably coin shaped magnet or Velcro patch may be
secured to the exterior surface of the first or second flange preferably adjacent the
top of the flange to enable the user to temporarily suspend his/her keys, for
example, from the user's waistband or belt, and subsequently remove the clip
10 carrying the keys from the belt and fix them via the preferred Velcro patch to a
compatible Velcro patch attached to, for example, a refrigerator bulletin board or
a computer. Alternatively, a magnetic patch may be substituted for the Velcro
patch where the supporting surface is magnetic as is the surface of most
refrigerators. My clip allows for the provision of a logo such as for example, a15 lottery logo, or the like for retaining lottery tickets on a supporting surface such
as a refrigerator in the manner described above at the same time as ones keys are
temporarily secured. My clip essentially standardizes all the uses of the
aforementioned embodiments and can be utilized as a multipurpose clip to
effectively accomplish any or all of the aforementioned functions as desired by
20 the user.
Therefore according to yet another aspect of the invention there is
provided a multipurpose clip formed from plastic material, comprising two
flanges extending from a central fold, a first flange being substantially longer than
the other, and extending in a first plane, a second flange shorter than the first
25 flange and extending angularly toward the plane of the first flange, and butting
the flange at a created pressure point proximate a bend near the end of the second
flange, said clip thereby being able to fasten and hold onto a supporting surface
or alternatively hold a flat planar item between the two flanges in a secure
manner, said clip having patch of Velcro provided adjacent the bottom of the
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~ exterior face of the first flange to temporarily fasten and carry a cloth substrate
also including a compatible swatch of Velcro therewith to provide for
temporarily fasten the substrate to the clip or alternatively utilize the clip to
temporarily retain a golf glove wherein the clip would be fixed to the rear pocket
of the golfer or to the golf bag, said golf glove including a flap closed by a Velcro
fastener, said clip having advertising logos or messages provided therewith to
enhance its appeal as a souvenir at sporting events said advertising being
displayed on the first and/or second flange, said clip having a key ring or watch
fob or the like attached to the end of the first or second flange remote from the
fold of the clip adjacent the bottom thereof, said clip having a second, preferably
coin shaped magnet or Velcro patch secured to the exterior surface of the first or
second flange preferably adjacent the top of the flange to enable the user
temporarily suspending his/her keys, for example, from the user's waistband or
belt, to subsequently remove the clip carrying the keys from the belt and fix them
via the preferred Velcro patch to a compatible Velcro patch attached to, for
example, a refrigerator bulletin board or a computer, wherein said clip essentially
standardizes all the uses of the multipurpose clip to effectively accomplish any or
all of the functions thereof as desired by the user.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
Figure 1 is a front view of the sports and utility clip illustrated in a
preferred embodiment of the invention.
Figure 2 is a side view of the sports and utility clip of Figure 1.
Figure 3 is a rear view of the sports and utility clip of Figure 1.
Figure 4 is a front view of the sports and utility clip illustrated in an
25 alternative embodiment of the invention.
Figure 5 is a side view of the clip of Figure 4.
Figure 6 is a rear view of the clip of Figure 4.
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Figure 7 is a perspective view of the clip of Figure 1 illustrating the
use thereof in one mode and shown in a preferred embodiment of the
nventlon.
Figure 8 is a view similar to Figure 7 illustrating the use of the clip
5 of Figure 1 in a preferred embodiment of the invention.
Figure 9 is a side view of the clip of Figure 1 and another use
therefor illustrated in a preferred embodiment of the invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS OF THE
INVENTION
Referring now to the figures and specifically to Figures 1, 2 and 3,
there is illustrated a sports and utility clip 5 having two ends, two sides, a front
and a back. The clip is manufactured from a flexible one piece plastic substrateand includes a first flange 10 and a second flange 20 separated by a bend or fold 7.
The first flange 10 includes a surface 11 upon which a printed message may be
15 provided such as, for example, advertising, or a logo, or an individual's name.
The first flange 10 also includes a Velcro patch 12 fixed adjacent the end 12a
remote the fold 7. The second flange 20 is angled inwardly toward the inside
surface of the first flange 10 to a pinch point 22, and from the pinch point thesecond flange angles outwardly to a third flange portion 21. The second flange
20 portion 20 in this embodiment includes a fastener 9 for fastening too the bottom
of the flange 20 adjacent the pinch point 22 to allow for a key ring or a strap at 8 to
being suspended therefrom. This is best seen in relation to Figure 3. The exterior
surface 23 of the second flange 20 includes a coin-shaped Velcro patch 25c (for
example loops) which may include in some embodiments when the clip is first
25 acquired a complimentary Velcro patch (for example hooks) also in a coin shape
25b which has on its exterior surface a removable backing 25a to allow for
fastening of the second coin-shaped portion 25b to a surface such as a refrigerator,
computer or the like. This is best seen in relation to Figure 9.
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Referring now to Figures 4 through 6, there is illustrated a very
similar embodiment to the embodiment of Figures 1 through 3 with the
exception that the key ring 8 is affixed adjacent the bottom of the first flange 10
near the end thereof at 12a. The location of the key ring 8 on the utility clip 5
5 depends to a large extent on the ultimate use to which the key ring will be put to.
In another embodiment (not shown) both the first and second flanges may have
a clip 9 to attach a key ring and a stop watch thereto. When carried in the waist
band or pocket of an individual the keys suspended from the key ring carried on
the second flange may be within the waistband or pocket with the stop watch
10 being readily accessible on the exterior of the waistband or pocket.
For example, referring to Figure 7, the sports and utility clip 5 has
been clipped into a pocket P whereat the pinch point 22 of the second flange 20
engages the material on the inside of the pocket P and retains the clip 5 and the
fold 7 adjacent the top of the pocket in the position shown. The flange 20
15 therefore rests inside the pocket P and the keys K are therefore carefully secured
within the pocket P. The first flange 10 is however carried on the outside surface
of the pocket P to display the message on the surface 11 whether it be the logo of a
particular golf course or tennis club, or the name of the user. The Velcro patch 12
therefore, now affixed on the exterior of the pocket P allows for a golf glove G or
20 a work glove G, including a flap having a Velcro patch utilized for fastening the
glove securely to one's hand. This Velcro patch G1 therefore is affixed by the
user to the compatible Velcro patch 12 to thereby suspend the glove G so as to be
readily accessible to the user. It is important that the Velcro patch 12 be formed
from compatible loops in order to receive the hook portions provided on the
25 patch G1 disposed with the glove G. Alternatively, if the patch G1 included the
loops, then the patch 12 would have to include the hooks. In this manner, an
individual can secure temporarily the glove G in a position so as to not misplace
it and at the same time have it readily accessible for wearing while carrying
his/her keys safely in a secure accessible location. The clip is particularly useful
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~ for a golfer who normally removes his/her glove when on the putting green.
Also, for a worker during a lunch break having gloves with a patch G1 may also
be remove the gloves to allow for the drying thereof and the cooling of the
hands. In this manner, the keys may be secured securely in a pocket, and the
5 glove is secured securely to the Velcro patch.
In the case illustrated in Figure 8, the user may decide, to support a towel T
from the clip 5. The towel T may also include a printed message as shown,
which may be the name of the club to which a tennis player belongs, or the like.In the case of a worker, the towel T may be a cloth for cleaning, or a hand wipe.
10 The user may then finish his or her tennis match or alternatively finish his or
her chores in the basement and subsequently mount the identical clip 5 via the
coin-shaped Velcro patches 25b and 25c to a supporting surface such as a
refrigerator R or a bulletin board or the like.
The same clip 5 therefore has provided the user with security for his or her
15 keys, and at the same time has provided the convenience of being able to
removeably and temporarily store a golf glove for temporary storage purposes or
for drying purposes, and/or a towel or rag for clean-up purposes or wiping sweatfrom one's brow. The surface 11, or for that matter, the surface 23 may include
an advertising message, name or any other alternative message desired. For
20 example, should the clips be colour coded for use in the home, the names of the
individual's could be included with the clips, or the clips could be colour coded
to identify one clip from another user's clip. The space 5a between the flanges 10
and 20 may be utilized while the clip is stored in the position illustrated in Figure
9 to store messages, memo notes, currency, lottery tickets, or any other planar
25 sheet members.
When desired, the user may remove the clip 5 from its location as
shown in Figure 9 and place it in his or her pocket along with the keys and any
notes and currency contained between the two flanges 10 and 20 within the space
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~ 5a. The clip therefore provides many features which are advantageous to the
user and effectively limited by the user's imagination.
In an alternative embodiment of the invention, not illustrated, the
coin-shaped portion 25 may be replaced entirely with a magnetic substrate for
5 fastening to metal surfaces such as refrigerators or the like. The key ring may be
replaced by a resilient fastener such as a leather belt or elastic loop or cable for
supporting any supplementary member such as a stop watch or the like.
Alternatively, a second supporting connector 9a may be provided, not shown,
which can support a second supplementary member such as a leather fob or the
10 like for a second set of keys or watch.
Many changes may be made to the invention without departing
from the scope thereof; it is intended that all material contained herein be
interpreted as illustrative of the invention and not in a limiting sense.
