GB2161200A - Fastening clip - Google Patents

Abstract

A fastening clip for retaining shoulder straps on a bow-shaped clothes hanger, has the form of a bifurcated resilient clip, having an inner arm 2 and an outer arm 1, mounted on gripping means 3 adapted to grip the hanger and retain the clip in the desired position, such that when the clip is in position each arm 1, 2 of the bifurcated clip lies substantially parallel to the hanger, the outer arm 2 overlying the inner arm 1, the inner arm being resiliently biassed to press against the hanger and the outer arm being resiliently biassed to press against the inner arm. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Fastening clip This invention relates to fastening clips for retaining shoulder straps etc. on clothes hangers.

When a dress of blouse is hung on a smooth metal or plastics hanger, especially the usual bowshaped hanger having a central hook, it is a wellknown problem that narrow shoulder straps and the edges of wide necklines will tend to slip off. To prevent this hangers have been formed with integral notches in which straps can lodge. Such hangers have an interrupted profile which renders them unsuitable for other garments, e.g. those made of delicate fabrics. Clip-on fasteners are also well known. These serve to convert a smooth hanger for use with a garment with straps.A typical fastening clip of this type comprises a gripping device for mounting on the hanger, carrying a hook arranged to extend upwards towards the centre (to prevent the strap from slipping down) or carrying clip, like that on a fountain pen, arranged to extend downwards towards the end and under which a strap can be wedged.

We have found that neither of these systems is completely satisfactory as straps, and especially wide necklines, tend to slip out too easily. We have now modified this type of clip to improve the grip while maintaining its ease of fitting and cheapness or manufacture. According to this invention we provide a fastening clip for retaining shoulder straps on a bow-shaped clothes hanger, in the form of a bifurcated resilient clip, having an inner and an outer arm, mounted on gripping means adapted to grip the hanger and retain the clip in the desired position, such that when the clip is in position each arm of the bifurcated clip lies substantially parallel to the hanger, the outer arm overlying the inner arm, the inner arm being resiliently biassed to press against the hanger and the outer arm being resiliently biassed to press against the inner arm.

Generally speaking the clip will be mounted with the arms extending down toward the end of the hanger and lying on top of the hanger. The nature of the gripping means will depend on the structure of the hanger, but generally it will comprise a short length of resilient channel or tube having a crosssection to match that of the intended hanger, so that the gripping means can be slid onto the hanger and pushed along to the required position, or else sprung onto the hanger in the required position, the resilience serving to grip the hanger and prevent slippage.

The bifurcated clip itself comprises two arms, one above the other, mounted at one end thereof on the gripping means and extending on one side from the gripping means in a direction generally parallel to the axis of the channel or tube. The resilience required to bias the arms one against the other and against the hanger may be achieved by offsetting each arm slightly from the true parallel, e.g. about 1 to 5 degrees inwards towards the hanger.

The clip is conveniently formed of resilient mouldable plastics, e.g. high impact polystyrene or nylon. The open ends of the arms conveniently carry small lips or ledges arranged to bear against each other and allow a space between the arms for the strap or portion of garment.

Typically the clip is about 5055 mm long overall, with individual arms about 3540 mm long and 4--6 mm wide to fit on a hanger formed of Uchanneled polystyrene about 14 mm deep. A prefer red embodiment is now described by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is a front view of the clip while Figure 2 is a cross-section at A-A.

Referring to Figure 1, the clip comprises two arms 1,2 mounted on a short length of U-shaped channel 3 and extending generally parallel to the axis of channel 3. The inner arm 2 is offset a degree or two below the parallel in order to provide a bias towards a hanger on which the clip is to be mounted. The outer arm 1 is sloped down at a steeper angle from the parallel (about 5 ) so as to approach the lower end of the inner arm 2 and to so define a slit 4. Each arm carries a ribbed lip 5, the pair of lips 5 being arranged so as to grip interposed cloth and/or to prevent slippage of a strap lodged in the slit 4.

With reference to Figure 2, the gripping means 3 is provided with returning edges 6 which serve to grip the hanger and prevent the clip from springing off.

1. Afastening clip for retaining shoulder straps on a bow-shaped clothes hanger, in the form of a bifurcated resilient clip, having an inner and an outer arm, mounted on gripping means adapted to grip the hanger and retain the clip in the desired position, such that when the clip is in position each arm of the birfurcated clip lies substantially parallel to the hanger, the outer arm overlying the inner arm, the inner arm being resiliently biassed to press against the hanger and the outer arm being resiliently biassed to press against the inner arm.

2. A clip according to claim 1, in which the gripping means comprises a short length of resilient channel or tube.

3. A clip according to claim 1 or claim 2, in which the open ends of the arms carry small lips or ledges arranged to bear against each other.

4. A clip according to claim 1, substantially as herein described.

**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims (4)

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. SPECIFICATION Fastening clip This invention relates to fastening clips for retaining shoulder straps etc. on clothes hangers. When a dress of blouse is hung on a smooth metal or plastics hanger, especially the usual bowshaped hanger having a central hook, it is a wellknown problem that narrow shoulder straps and the edges of wide necklines will tend to slip off. To prevent this hangers have been formed with integral notches in which straps can lodge. Such hangers have an interrupted profile which renders them unsuitable for other garments, e.g. those made of delicate fabrics. Clip-on fasteners are also well known. These serve to convert a smooth hanger for use with a garment with straps.A typical fastening clip of this type comprises a gripping device for mounting on the hanger, carrying a hook arranged to extend upwards towards the centre (to prevent the strap from slipping down) or carrying clip, like that on a fountain pen, arranged to extend downwards towards the end and under which a strap can be wedged. We have found that neither of these systems is completely satisfactory as straps, and especially wide necklines, tend to slip out too easily. We have now modified this type of clip to improve the grip while maintaining its ease of fitting and cheapness or manufacture. According to this invention we provide a fastening clip for retaining shoulder straps on a bow-shaped clothes hanger, in the form of a bifurcated resilient clip, having an inner and an outer arm, mounted on gripping means adapted to grip the hanger and retain the clip in the desired position, such that when the clip is in position each arm of the bifurcated clip lies substantially parallel to the hanger, the outer arm overlying the inner arm, the inner arm being resiliently biassed to press against the hanger and the outer arm being resiliently biassed to press against the inner arm. Generally speaking the clip will be mounted with the arms extending down toward the end of the hanger and lying on top of the hanger. The nature of the gripping means will depend on the structure of the hanger, but generally it will comprise a short length of resilient channel or tube having a crosssection to match that of the intended hanger, so that the gripping means can be slid onto the hanger and pushed along to the required position, or else sprung onto the hanger in the required position, the resilience serving to grip the hanger and prevent slippage. The bifurcated clip itself comprises two arms, one above the other, mounted at one end thereof on the gripping means and extending on one side from the gripping means in a direction generally parallel to the axis of the channel or tube. The resilience required to bias the arms one against the other and against the hanger may be achieved by offsetting each arm slightly from the true parallel, e.g. about 1 to 5 degrees inwards towards the hanger. The clip is conveniently formed of resilient mouldable plastics, e.g. high impact polystyrene or nylon. The open ends of the arms conveniently carry small lips or ledges arranged to bear against each other and allow a space between the arms for the strap or portion of garment. Typically the clip is about 5055 mm long overall, with individual arms about 3540 mm long and 4--6 mm wide to fit on a hanger formed of Uchanneled polystyrene about 14 mm deep. A prefer red embodiment is now described by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is a front view of the clip while Figure 2 is a cross-section at A-A. Referring to Figure 1, the clip comprises two arms 1,2 mounted on a short length of U-shaped channel 3 and extending generally parallel to the axis of channel 3. The inner arm 2 is offset a degree or two below the parallel in order to provide a bias towards a hanger on which the clip is to be mounted. The outer arm 1 is sloped down at a steeper angle from the parallel (about 5 ) so as to approach the lower end of the inner arm 2 and to so define a slit 4. Each arm carries a ribbed lip 5, the pair of lips 5 being arranged so as to grip interposed cloth and/or to prevent slippage of a strap lodged in the slit 4. With reference to Figure 2, the gripping means 3 is provided with returning edges 6 which serve to grip the hanger and prevent the clip from springing off. CLAIMS

1. Afastening clip for retaining shoulder straps on a bow-shaped clothes hanger, in the form of a bifurcated resilient clip, having an inner and an outer arm, mounted on gripping means adapted to grip the hanger and retain the clip in the desired position, such that when the clip is in position each arm of the birfurcated clip lies substantially parallel to the hanger, the outer arm overlying the inner arm, the inner arm being resiliently biassed to press against the hanger and the outer arm being resiliently biassed to press against the inner arm.

2. A clip according to claim 1, in which the gripping means comprises a short length of resilient channel or tube.

3. A clip according to claim 1 or claim 2, in which the open ends of the arms carry small lips or ledges arranged to bear against each other.

4. A clip according to claim 1, substantially as herein described.