US3042984A - Clip device - Google Patents

Description

3,042,984 CLIP DEVICE Kurt W. Mex-feld, Manhasset, N.Y., assignor to Kunreuther and Merfeld, New York, N.Y., a partnership Filed Feb. 3, 1961, Ser. No. 87,014 2 Claims. (Cl. 24-87) u'ons thereof normally in wide spaced relationship with respect to each other for attachment to a garment or other article, the side portions of the clip being moved toward each other in establishing a vgripping engagement with the article.

Still more particularly, the invention deals with a device of thev character described, wherein end portions of the. sides of the clip terminate in angularly offset shoulder portions having outwardly projecting prongs for engagement with the article in securing the clip against displacement therefrom.

The novel features of the invention will be best understood from the following description, when taken together with the accompanying drawing, in which certain embodiments of the invention are disclosed and, in which, the separate parts are designated by suitable reference characters in each of the views and, in which:

FIG. 1 is an enlarged side view of a clip made according to my invention, diagrammatically illustrating the position of the clip when in operative engagement with an article, the line of hanging of the clip, when so used, being diagrammatically illustrated by the dot-dash line extending vertically through the clip, as shown.

FIG. 2 is a bottom view of the clip, as shown in FIG. l.

FIG. 3 is a side view of the clip shown in FIG. 1 in its normally open position; and

FIG. 4 is an enlarged view of the blanked strip material ofthe clip as fashioned preparatory to the folding operations, the center portion of the strip being broken away.

The invention deals with clips which are manually applied to edge portions of garments or `other articles of any type or kind for hanging the garments or articles in display, storage or the like, for application of tags, or for any other purpose for which a clip of this type and kind can be used.

For purposes of simplifying this description, the clip will be referred to as an article engaging clip for the several purposes indicated. Considering FIG. 4 of the drawing, it will appear that the clip is fashioned from an elongated strip of material, preferably a non-rust type of metal, whereby the resulting clip can be manually moved `from the position diagrammatically illustrated in FIG. 3 to the operative position diagrammatically illustrated in FIG. l by simply applying finger pressure to the sides of the clip, as later described. The formed strip is designated by the reference character in FIG. 4, end portions of the strip being fashioned to form short shoulder portions 11 'and 12 which, in the nal bending of the strip as noted in FIG. 3, extend preferably at right angles to adjacent sides 13 and 14, respectively, of the strip or the resulting clip. The shoulder portions 11 and 12 have extending outwardly therefrom prongs 15 and 16, respectively. The prongs have substantially longitudinally alined perpendicular surfaces 17 and 18, respectively, and angular surfaces 19 -and 20, the rangles 19 and 20 being of a sufficiently sharp inclination to vform sharp contracted pointed ends Z1 and 22. In forming the strip 10, the end portions, inwardly of the vshoulder portions rates Patent() 3,042,984 Patented July 10, 1962 lCC 11, have longitudinal corrugations 23 and 24, respectively, for reinforcing the clip.

In the bending operation, the strip is `folded substantially on the dot- dash lines 25, 26 which form the bends in the workpiece, as noted in FIG. 3 of the drawing, thus offsetting inner side portions 27 and 28 of the clip. These side portions are contracted toward each other and are joined in a rounded portion Z9, as noted in FIG. 3. The bending operation is such as to dispose the sides 13, 14 in wide spaced relationship to each other, as clearly noted in FIG. 3, to facilitate positioning of an article between the prongs 15 and 16, preparatory to moving the sides 13 and 14 toward each yother to positively grip and engage the article or, in otherV words,'in moving the clip substantially into the position as noted in FIG. 1 of the drawing.

fIn the position of the clip `as shown in FIG. 1 of the drawing, it will appear that the sides 14 and 2,7 are brought into substantially parallel relationship to eachY other. This relationship will vary slightly depending upon the texture of the article being engaged. In other words, thicker or thinner articles will vary the relationship of the sides 14 and 27. In FIG. 1, a dot-dash line 39 is shown extending through the closed clip. This line has been illustrated to show substantially the hanging position of the clip. In other words, the hanger rod or other means engaging the inner surface of the rounded end portion 29 would support the clip and the article hanging therefrom substantially on the line 30, as noted.

In the article engaging position of the clip, it will appear that the prongs 15 and 16 are inclined upwardly with respect Ito the line 30 and are disposed angularly with respect to each other, thus providing a positive and fixed engagement of the clip with the article, preventing any possible accidental opening thereof.

The shoulder portions 11 and 12 might well be regarded as angularly otset flanges but, by virtue of arrangement of the prongs 15 and 16 in the manner illustrated clearly in FIG. 4, Ithe position of the prongs on the free edges of the portions 11 and 12 form, at both sides of the prongs, shoulders 31 and 32, respectively. These shoulders operate to check movement of the prongs into the article engaged by the clip, thus avoiding damage to the article by minimizing prong engagement therewith. These shoulders also operate to engage the article in gripping the same to assist in support of the article by the clip.

The clip is moved from the open position of FIG. 3 to the closed position of FIG. l by a thumb and finger pressure upon the sides of the clip in movement of the prong ends 15 and 16 toward each other.

By virtue of the angularly offset relatively narrow length shoulder portions 11 and 12, the free pronged end portions of the clip becomes exceedingly strong and capable of resisting any stresses or strains which would tend to open the clip or displace the clip from the article. The reinforcements, as at 23 and 24, also assist in maintaining the clip in operative position. However, by simple lateral movements of the sides one 4with respect to the other, the clip can be quickly and easily removed from the garment or other article.

For purposes of description, the clip may be said to comprise a long side and -a short side joined by a rounded portion, as at 29. 'Ihe long side comprises the parts 13, 27 and the short side comprises the parts 14, 28 and the offset shoulders andprongs can be defined as terminal end portions of said sides.

Considering FIG. 1 of the drawing and Iviewing the ly, in other words, are inclined in the direction of the ,Having fully described 1 ny invention, n new and desire to secure byY Letters Patent is:

H1. A clip ofY the character described comprising an elongatedthin strip of one width throughout the major Vportion of its length, said strip having ared sides joined by a rounded portion, the flared sides having ends bent angularly to Ysaid sides, said strip having corrugations extending onto the flared sides and said ends in maintaining angular relationship of the sides and ends, said ends terminating in flange portions projecting from and extending at substantially right angles to inner suriaces of said bent ends, and said flange portions extending the full Width of said strip and terminating in outwardly projecting prongs materially less in Width than the Width of Y c 4 v the ange portions, leaving shoulders Iat terminal ends of said ange portions. s

2. A clip as dened in claim 1, wherein one liared side of the clip is substantially parallel to the bent end portion of the opposed side of the clip when the clip is in operative position.4 Y

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 505,726 Scott Sept. 26, 1893 559,013 Waterman Apr. 28, 1896 843,128 Boden Feb. 5, 1907 1,544,561 Diamond July 7, 1925 2,127,623 Weil Aug. 23, 1938 Y2,202,694 Daum 'May 28, l1940 2,740,179

VFlora Apr. 3, 1956

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