Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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SERVIETTE SUPPORT
The present inventi.on relates to methods and apparatus
for the protection of clothing from damage or staining by
substances passing to the mouth of a user and, more
particularly, to means of supporting a serviette or bib.for
this purpose.=
HACxGROUND
Serviettes have long been a common means of preventing
food and drink in particular, from spilling onto one's
clothing when manipulated from, plate or glass to mouth. To
be effective, a serviette ideally should depend from just
below the chin of a wearer, to below the level of the plate
or table from which the fo4d or drink is conveyed.
This is frequently inconvenient to arrange at a
restaurant, or even impossible for feznal.e users wearing,
for example, an evening gown. But even for males, trying to
insert the corner of a serviette into one's tight collar,
is u.ncomfortable and inconvenient.
It is an object of the present invention to address or
at least ameliorato some of the above disadvantages.
BRZEF DESCRIPTION OF INVENTION
Accordingly in one broad from of the invention there is
provided a system for the suspension of a serviette or
table napkin below the chin of a user; said system
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comprising a spring. clip and a suspension device; said
.suspension device adapted for placement about the=neck of a
wearer;= said clip adapted far depending from said
suspension device.
Preferably said clip is a banknote clip.
Preferably said suspension device comprises an elongate
flexible member of a length sufficient to pass loosely
about a neck of said user.
Preferably said elongate flexible member is provided with
cooperating closure means adapted to releasably attach a
first end of said elongate flex.ible member to a second end
of said elongate flexible member.
Preferably said elongate flexible member is a length of
chain.
Preferably said elongate flexible member is a length of
cord.
In yet a further broad form of the invention there is
provided a method of suspending a serviette or table napkin
below the chin of a user; said method including the steps
of:
(a) attaching a spring clip to a suspen.sion device,
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(b) fastening said suspension device around the
neck of said user,
(c) inserting a portion of said serviettc into said
spring clip.
Preferably said suspension device is a flexible elongate
member.
Prefera.bly said elongate=memlaer is a length of chain.
Preferably said elongate member is a length of cord.
Preferably said elongate member is .provided with closure
means adapted for releasably attaching a first end of said
elongate member.to a second end of said elongate member.
Preferably said spring clip is a banknote clip.
In yet a further broad form of the inventiori there is
provided a serviette or table napkin support device as
herein described and with reference to the accompanying
drawings.
BRIEF ]?ESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS
Embodiments of the present invention will now be
described with reference to the accompanying drawings
wherein:
Figure 1 is a perspective view of a preferred
arrangement of the serviette support,
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Figure 2. is a perspecti.ve view of a spring clip
-accord.ing to a preferred ernbodiment of the invention,
Fig 3. is a partial perspective view of a user with a
preferred embodiment of the invention in use.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
With reference to Figs. 1 and 2, a serviette support
according to a preferred embodiment vf the invention,
cQmprises a support device 12 and a spring clip 14. Support
10 device 12 is a length of flexible chain or cord,
sufficiently long to fit loosely around the neck 16 of a
user as may be seen in Fig. 3. Preferably, the chain or
cord is fitted with a closure device, such as. a clasp or
hook 11 and eye 13, as are commonly found on necklaces for
example.
With particular reference to Fig 2, in a preferred
embodiment, spring clip 14 is a banknote clip. Such clips
are typically of a metal, sometimes a precious metal such
as silver, and comprise a single length of the metal folded
back on itself at a point less than half of the length sq
as to form a back portion 16 and relatively shorter f:cont
portion 18. The bend 2Q is formed, a.s a: loop, so that in, the
region of the bend the inner opposing surfaces of the
length of metal are separated sufficient to accommodate a
reasonable sheaf of-banknotes.
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An end 22 of the front portion 1$ is given a concave
curving section 24 so that the tip of front portion is
rai.sed abave the surface 26 of back portion 16. This allows
easy insertion between the back portion 16 and front
5 portion 18 of a thickness of ine.terial approximately up to
that of the loop of bend 20.
As can be seen in Fig. 2, the underside of concave
curving section 24 presses against surface 26 when the clip
14 is not in use. Any parting of this contact is resisted
by the stiffness of the metal forming the clip so that any
material introduced between surface 28 and the underside of
curving section 26 will be retained with some force.
Xn tTse
With reference now to Fig. 3, a serviette or table
napkin 30 may be readily inserted into clip 14 and the
support device 12 placed or fastened about the neck 32 of a
user so as to protect the user's clothing 34.
The clip 14 and its support device 12 are small,
lightweight items which may easily be carried in the
pocket, handbag or purse, thus being xeadily pQrtable fox
use when a user is to partake of a meal in any appropriate
situation.
The above describes only some embodiments of the
present invention and modifications, obvious to those
skilled in the art, can be made thereto without departizig
from the scope and spirit of the present invention. Thus,
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although the preferred clip according to the invention is a
banknote olip, the support device may clearly be fitted
with any clip which is capable of receiving therein and
supporting'a serviette or table.napkin.
