Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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CLIP WITH PIN FOR ATTACHING TO FABRIC
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a clip for attaching to fabric material for
example as an ornamental accessory or to join together a plurality of pieces
of fabric.
BACKGROUND
A conventional bi-stable or snap-type clip comprises a frame and at least
one finger typically formed integrally with the frame, for example by stamping
out of a
common sheet of metal, where the finger is attached at one end to the frame
and has
another end which is free. The finger is used to mount the frame to a base
material, for
example hair of a human wearer. The frame is bendable between a first closed
position
in which the frame has a first curvature by which the free end of the finger
and the frame
are brought to touch, so that the base material is resisted from passing
between the
finger and frame, and a second open position in which the frame has a second
curvature
by which the free end of the finger and the frame are in spaced relation so
that the base
material may be readily passed therebetween.
The Applicant has developed a novel snap-type clip designed particularly
for use with fabric..
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
According to an aspect of the invention there is provided a clip for
attaching to a piece of fabric having first and second faces, the clip
comprising:
a main frame defined by a strip of metallic material forming a closed loop;
at least one pin having a first end affixed at a first location on the main
frame and extending across the closed loop to a second end of the at least one
pin
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which is free and located at a second location on the main frame that is
spaced
thereabout from the first location;
the main frame being bendable between a first closed position of the clip
where the main frame has a first curvature by which the main frame is brought
to touch
with the at least one pin at or adjacent the second end thereof and a second
open
position of the clip where the main frame has a second curvature by which the
main
frame is located in spaced relation to the second end of the at least one pin;
the second end of the at least one pin being sharpened so as to form a
pointed tip for piercing the piece of fabric such that the second end is
passed
therethrough from a position at or adjacent the first face of the fabric to a
position at or
adjacent the second face of the fabric;
the at least one pin having a rounded cross-section along its length from
the second end which is sharpened towards the first end of the at least one
pin so as
to resist catching on the fabric as the second end is passed therethrough.
This clip is thus locatable on any area of the piece of fabric so as to not
be limited to a fastening location at or adjacent an edge of the fabric only
like most
conventional clips are.
The rounded cross-section of the pin is thus resistant to catching fibres of
the fabric as the second end pierces and passes through same. As such, the pin
is less
likely to visibly damage the fabric by insertion therethrough as the pointed
tip and
rounded cross-section may cause the interwoven fibres of the fabric, which
intersect at
a plurality of respective intersecting locations, to separate from one another
at the
respective intersecting location in a manner which does not pull the fibres
out of either
face of the fabric.
Typically each pin has a thickness measured transversely to its length
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between first and second ends and said thickness is greater than a thickness
of the
main frame which is measured between opposite faces of the strip of metallic
material.
In one arrangement, in each of the first closed position and the second
open position the main frame is curved from a first end location at a
periphery of the
main frame to a second end location located at the periphery of the main frame
in
longitudinal relation to the first end location, and the at least one pin is
oriented
transversely of the main frame.
In one arrangement there is provided a coupling arrangement to affix to
the main frame the pin which is wholly distinct therefrom, the coupling
arrangement
comprising a bracket having a central area which is bendable so as to follow
curvature
of the main frame and being connected to the main frame such that the at least
one pin
is clamped between the central area of the bracket and the main frame.
In one arrangement the bracket comprises a separate strip of metallic
material wholly distinct from the main frame and fasteners connecting the
separate strip
to the main frame.
The pin may be clamped by a flat face of at least one of the main frame
and the central area of the bracket.
For example, both the main frame and the central area of the bracket
have flat faces for. clamping the at least one pin therebetween.
Additionally or alternatively, a clamping face at which the pin is engaged
thereby of at least one of the main frame and the central area of the bracket
thereby
comprises a groove for seating the pin therein.
Typically the central area of the bracket comprises side edges extending
along a length of The bracket that follow a path of a respective one of inner
and outer
peripheral edges of the main frame.
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In other arrangements the pin may be formed unitarily with the main
frame. For example, sheet metal from which the main frame is manufactured may
be
of a sufficient thickness so that a pin with a rounded cross-section may be
formed out
of same.
In one arrangement there is provided at the second location a body of
non-metallic material attached to one of the main frame and the pin which in
the first
closed position provides non-metallic contact with a metal surface of another
one of the
main frame and the pin.
According to another aspect of the invention there is provided a clip for
attaching to a piece of fabric having first and second faces, the clip
comprising:
a main frame defined by a strip of metallic material forming a closed loop;
at least one pin having a first end affixed at a first location on the main
frame and extending across the closed loop to a second end of the at least one
pin
which is free and located at a second location on the main frame that is
spaced
thereabout from the first location;
the main frame being bendable between a first closed position of the clip
where the main frame has a first curvature by which the main frame is brought
to touch
with the at least one pin at or adjacent the second end thereof and a second
open
position of the clip where the main frame has a second curvature by which the
main
frame is located in spaced relation to the second end of the at least one pin;
the second end of the at least one pin being sharpened so as to form a
pointed tip for piercing the piece of fabric such that the second end is
passed
therethrough from a position at or adjacent the first face of the fabric to a
position at or
adjacent the second face of the fabric;
the at least one pin having a thickness measured transversely to its length
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between first and second ends and said thickness being greater than a
thickness of the
main frame which is measured between opposite faces of the strip of metallic
material.
Preferably each pin has a rounded cross-section along its length from the
second end which is sharpened towards the first end of the at least one pin so
as to
5 resist catching on the fabric as the second end is passed therethrough.
In one arrangement there is provided at the second location a body of
non-metallic material attached to one of the main frame and the pin which in
the first
closed position non-metallic contact with a metal surface of another one of
the main
frame and the pin.
According to another aspect of the invention there is provided a clip for
attaching to a piece of fabric having first and second faces, the clip
comprising:
a main frame defined by a strip of metallic material forming a closed loop;
at least one pin having a first end affixed at a first location on the main
frame and extending across the closed loop to a second end of the at least one
pin
which is free and located at a second location on the main frame that is
spaced
thereabout from the first location;
the main frame being bendable between a first closed position of the clip
where the main frame has a first curvature by which the main frame is brought
to touch
with the at least one pin at or adjacent the second end thereof and a second
open
position of the clip where the main frame has a second curvature by which the
main
frame is located in spaced relation to the second end of the at least one pin;
the main frame being fixed in size between the first location and the
second location;
the second end of the at least one pin being sharpened so as to form a
pointed tip for piercing the piece of fabric such that the second end is
passed
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therethrough from a position at or adjacent the first face of the fabric to a
position at or
adjacent the second face of the fabric;
the at least one pin having a rounded cross-section along its length from
the second end which is sharpened towards the first end of the at least one
pin so as
to resist catching on the fabric as the second end is passed therethrough.
According to another aspect of the invention there is provided a clip for
attaching to a piece of fabric having first and second faces, the clip
comprising:
a main frame defined by a strip of metallic material forming a closed loop;
at least one pin having a first end affixed at a first location on the main
frame and extending across the closed loop to a second end of the at least one
pin
which is free and located at a second location on the main frame that is
spaced
thereabout from the first location;
the main frame being bendable between a first closed position of the clip
where the main frame has a first curvature by which the main frame is brought
to touch
with the at least one pin at or adjacent the second end thereof and a second
open
position of the clip where the main frame has a second curvature by which the
main
frame is located in spaced relation to the second end of the at least one pin;
the main frame being fixed in size between the first location and the
second location;
the second end of the at least one pin being sharpened so as to form a
pointed tip for piercing the piece of fabric such that the second end is
passed
therethrough from a position at or adjacent the first face of the fabric to a
position at or
adjacent the second face of the fabric;
the at least one pin having a thickness measured transversely to its length
between first and second ends and said thickness being greater than a
thickness of the
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main frame which is measured between opposite faces of the strip of metallic
material.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
One embodiment of the invention will now be described in conjunction
with the accompanying drawings in which:
Figure 1 is top plan view of clip according to the present invention.
Figure 2 is a bottom view of the clip of Figure 1.
Figure 3 is an exploded view of the clip of Figure 1.
Figure 4 is a first elevational view illustrating the clip of Figure 1 in a
closed
position where some components are omitted for clarity of illustration.
Figure 5 is a second elevational view of the clip in the closed position.
Figure 6 is a first elevational view illustrating the clip of Figure in an
open
position where some components are omitted for clarity of illustration.
Figure 7 is a second elevational view of the clip in the open position.
Figure 8 is a sectional view of the clip as if it were taken along line 8-8 in
Figure 4 but showing only a portion of the clip.
In the drawings like characters of reference indicate corresponding parts
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in the different figures.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
There is disclosed in the accompanying figures a clip which is generally
indicated at reference numeral 10 for attaching to fabric as, for example, an
ornamental
accessory or to join together a plurality of pieces of fabric (not shown). In
the latter
example, the pieces of fabric each having a first and second face delimited by
a
peripheral edge may be joined together by weaving the clip through at least
two of the
plurality of pieces of fabric which are disposed each and the next with their
faces at
least partially overlapped.
The clip 10 comprises a main outer frame 12 which is defined by a strip
of metallic material 13 forming a closed loop. Typically, the strip of
metallic material 13
is cut from sheet metal and terminates at first and second ends which are
overlapped
and coupled together for example by a rivet 14 thereby forming the closed
loop. Thus
the strip of metallic material 13 is substantially stable and firm in shape,
but the main
frame which has an annular shape is bendable from a first convex curvature as
more
clearly shown in Figures 4-5 to a second concave curvature as more clearly
shown in
Figures 6-7. The different curvatures will be described in more detail later.
The clip 10 further includes at least one pin 16 which has a first end 17A
affixed to the main frame 12 at a first location L1 thereon and second free
end 17B
located across the main frame from the first end 17A so as to be located at a
second
location L2 on the main frame spaced from the first location about the closed
loop. The
pin 16 thus extends across the closed loop from the first location L1 to the
second
location L2 in a manner spanning a central void 19 defined by the frame which
itself
defines a periphery of the clip. In the illustrated embodiment, there are
provided two
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pins 16 extending across the central void 19 in parallel condition to each
other.
Furthermore, it will be appreciated that the pins 16 are similar in
functionality and
purpose to a finger of a conventional snap-type clip.
Each pin 16 is sharpened at its second free end 17B so that a pointed tip
21 is formed, from which a body of the pin diverges to a rounded cross-section
along
its full length from the second end 17B to the first end 17A. In the
illustrated
embodiment, the pin has a circular cross-section and the pin is substantially
cylindrical
(i.e., uniform cross-section) with the exception of a portion of the length
adjacent the
second end 178 clue to the tapering of the pin body to the pointed tip 21.
It will be appreciated that a thickness of the body of the respective pin 16,
measured transversely to the length of the pin between its first and second
ends 17A
and 178, is greater than a thickness of the main frame 12 measured between
opposite
faces of the strip 13. The strip 13 is sufficiently thin so that this strip is
substantially
stable and firm in shape but when formed into the closed loop the main frame
is able to
flex as will be described in more detail shortly.
Furthermore, it will be appreciated that in the illustrated embodiment the
pins 16 are wholly distinct from the main frame 12 such that they are separate
elements
not formed unitarily with the frame, and thus the pins must be mounted to the
main
frame.
Therefore, in order to support the pins 16 at their first ends 17A to the
main frame 12, a coupling arrangement is provided in the form of a bracket 23
which
clamps the pins 16 to the main frame. That is, the bracket 23 comprises a
central area
26 which is bendable to follow curvature of the main frame 12 and is connected
at its
terminal ends 27A, 27B to the main frame such that each pin is clamped between
the
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central area 26 of the bracket and the main frame 12.
The bracket 23 comprises a strip 28 of metallic material which is separate
of the strip 13 forming the main frame but typically made of similar material
thereto.
That is, the strip 28 is wholly distinct from the strip 13 of the main frame.
The strip 28
forms the central area 26 of the bracket and is shaped so that its side edges
30A, 30B
extending along its full length follow inner and outer peripheral edges 32A,
32B of the
strip 13 of the main frame (at the first locations L1).
The separate strip 28 is connected in spaced relation to the main frame
12 by fasteners as for example rivets 34. In the illustrated embodiment, one
rivet 34 is
located on either side of the respective pin 16 such that sufficient clamping
pressure
may hold the first end 17A of the pin in fixed position.
Such rivets like those indicated at 14 and 34 are known in the art of clips
and thus not described in further detail herein.
As more clearly shown in Figure 8, the pins 16 are clamped in between a
clamping face 36 of the bracket strip 28 and a clamping face 37 of the main
frame 12
facing same. Each clamping face may be flat like that indicated at 37 or may
include at
spaced positions corresponding to locations of the pins grooves 39 shaped in a
manner
cooperating with the pin to seat same in its clamped condition like the
clamping face in
Figure 8 indicated at 36. It will be understood that although Figure 8 shows
one
clamping face being flat and the other clamping face including the grooves,
which is
done primarily for purposes of illustration, both clamping faces may be flat
or both
clamping faces may include the grooves. Further, each groove may be formed by
bending the constituent strip of metallic material forming the respective one
of the frame
and the bracket so as to introduce curvature for the groove, as shown in
Figure 8, but
alternatively each groove may be defined by a recess in the clamping face such
that a
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thickness of the strip at the location of the groove is smaller than where
there is no
groove in the strip of metallic material.
It will be appreciated that the bracket is thus located at one face of the
main frame delimited by the inner and outer peripheral edges 32A, 32B.
As alluded to earlier, the main frame 12 is bendable so as to form two
distinct curvatures as is understood in the art of bi-stable clips, which when
taken with
respect to a common reference point externally of the clip at a location
adjacent the
bracket, for example that point indicated at R in Figures 5 and 7, then one
curvature
may be referred to as convex and the other concave.
More specifically, the main frame 12 is bendable between a first closed
position shown more clearly in Figures 4 and 5 where the main frame has a
first convex
curvature relative to point R or the bracket 23 located at the clamping face
37 of the
main frame by which the main frame at its second location L2 is brought to
touch with
the pin 16 at or adjacent the second end 17B thereof. As such, the main frame
12 and
pins at their second ends 17B are abutting one another in the first closed
position so
that any thickness of fabric through which the second end 17B has been passed
and
which is now received on the body of the pin 16 is resisted from passing
between the
main frame and pins.
The main frame is also bendable into a second open position which is
shown more clearly in Figures 6 and 7 where the main frame has a second
concave
curvature relative, to point R or the location of the bracket 23 which is at
the frame's
clamping face 37 by which the main frame at its second location L2 and the
pins 16 at
their second ends 17B are spaced from one another. Thus, in the second open
position
of the clip the second ends 17B of the pins 16 may be passed through the
fabric from
a position at or adjacent a first exposed face of the fabric (or collection of
fabrics in the
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case of a plurality of overlapping pieces of fabric) to a position at or
adjacent a second
exposed face of the fabric.
The main frame 12 holds its curvature in both positions in a stable
manner, that is without a user having to exert a force thereon to maintain
same, until
5 the user bends the frame out of its current curvature so as to position
the clip into the
other one of the positions.
Further, in each of the first closed position and the second open position
the main frame is. curved from a first end location El at a periphery of the
main frame
12 to a second end location E2 which is located at the periphery of the main
frame in
10 longitudinal relation to the first end location. As such, the curvature
of the main frame
in each position is substantially longitudinal of the frame. In the
illustrated embodiment,
the pins 16 are each oriented transversely of the main frame, and therefore by
the
curvature of the main frame 12, which is longitudinal and thus transverse to
orientation
of the pins 16, the free ends 17B of the pins are brought to touch or to be in
spaced
relation from the frame. There is some degree of twisting which occurs in the
strip 13 in
movement between the open and closed positions of the clip. Therefore,
relative to the
second location L2 on the frame, the second free ends 17B of the pins are
displaced
therefrom when the clip is put into the open position from an initially closed
position,
and the opposite action occurs when the clip is put into the closed position
from the
open position; that is, the free ends 17B of the pins are displaced towards
the main
frame 12.
In use the clip 10 is positioned in the open position so that the pins 16 can
be woven through the piece(s) of fabric such that the second free ends 17B of
the pins
are passed through the thickness of the piece(s) of fabric at least twice.
Once the fabric
is received on the bodies of the pins 16 the clip can be positioned in the
closed position
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so as to bring the main frame and second ends 17B of the pins to touch in
abutment
with one another. In the closed position, the main frame and second pin ends
17B may
be pressed against each other by the corresponding curvature of the main frame
such
that they are biased towards one another.
The. pointed tip of the respective pin and the rounded cross-section
thereof resists the pin from being caught on constituent fibres of the fabric,
as the
pointed tip 21 acts to separate the fibres on passage through the thickness of
fabric
and the rounded cross-section lacks edges on which the fibres may become
caught.
Further, since the pins are suitable for weaving through fabric the clip 10
is attachable on any area of the fabric, for example an edge-adjacent location
or a
central area which is not typically possible with conventional clips in the
art.
In some arrangements, depending on a thickness and texture of the
fabric, there may be provided bodies of additional material at the first pin
end 17A, for
example at locations and at the second location L2 on the frame as shown in
Figure 6
acting as stoppers to further resist passage of material between the pin 16
and the main
frame 12 in the closed position of the clip while not inhibiting movement of
the clip
between the open and closed positions. For example, a body of stopper material
which
is non-metallic, such as silicone, may be provided so as to bridge a gap
between the
first end 17A of the pin and the first location L1 on the frame, that is at a
location of the
clip indicated at 41, so as to prevent catching or snagging of the fabric
therebetween.
Also, a body of non-metallic stopper material 43 such as the silicone or
sandpaper may
be provided at the second location L2 on the main frame 12, attached thereto
to provide
a non-metallic location of contact with the metallic pin and so as to enhance
friction
between the second end of the pin 17B and the second location L2 on the frame
in the
closed position so as maintain them in abutting condition. The stopper
material 43 may
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also act to bridge a gap between the main frame and the body of the pin at the
second
location L2 on the frame so that the fabric may not become wedged therebetween
in a
manner acting to .displace the second pin end 17B from the main frame in the
closed
position which would not be desirable. Further, the stopper material 43 may be
soft so
as to conform to shape of the pin in contact therewith in the closed position
of the clip.
It will be appreciated that in the illustrated embodiment the body of each
pin follows a linear path from the first end 17A to the second end 17B.
In other arrangements (not shown), the body of each pin may have to be
curved, that is the pin body may follow an arcuate path from first to second
ends, so
that the second pin end 17B can be brought to touch with the frame in the
closed
position of the clip as there may be some shapes of frame and curvatures
thereof in
which this abutting condition of the closed position may not be satisfied with
a linearly
extending pin. For example, it is possible that with an elliptically shaped
main frame
with pin oriented longitudinally of the main frame, curvature in the pin along
its length
may be required in order to satisfy the abutting condition of the closed
position.
In yet further arrangements (not shown), instead of the curved pin body,
there may be provided a filler material at the first pin end 17A in order to
set the pin at
a prescribed angle relative to curvature of the main frame in the closed
position which
is in the direction in which the pin is oriented relative to the main frame so
that in the
closed position the second pin end 17B abuts the second location L2 on the
frame,
where otherwise the free pin end would not butt up against the frame. That is,
filler
material such as glue or silicone may be inserted in a space about the first
pin end 17A
between the pin and at least one of the bracket and the first location L1 on
the main
frame so as to occupy that space and support the pin fixedly at the prescribed
angle
but in a manner which does not inhibit movement of the clip between the open
and
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closed positions, particularly the flexing of parts of the clip which may
occur during
same.
In yet further alternative arrangements, clamping faces sandwiching the
pin's first end therebetween each may be inclined longitudinally of the pin so
as to set
the prescribed angle so that the abutting condition is satisfied in the closed
position of
the clip.
In other arrangements, the pins 16 may be connected to the main frame
by at least one of welding, soldering, or bonding by adhesive substance,
provided that
such a means of attachment to the main frame does not inhibit the bending or
flexing
of the main frame between open and closed positions and, furthermore, that
such
attachment means can withstand the bending.
In yet further arrangements, the pin may be formed unitarily with the main
frame. For example, sheet metal from which the main frame is manufactured may
be
of a sufficient initial thickness so that a pin with a rounded cross-section
may be formed
out of same. As the pins are made to be thicker than the main frame, that is
the main
frame is typically thinner than the pins so as to be able to flex, a thickness
of that portion
of the sheet metal from which the main frame is formed may have to be reduced
from
the initial thickness of the sheet metal in order to form the frame.
Since various modifications can be made in my invention as herein above
described, and many apparently widely different embodiments of same made, it
is
intended that all matter contained in the accompanying specification shall be
interpreted
as illustrative only and not in a limiting sense.
