NZ314671A - Open-sided washable clip with attachment for securing to base article and at least two latitudinal members between which a garment is longitudinally located - Google Patents

Abstract

Clip 1 is secured to base article 3 typically either by threads located on indentations 2 or by fabric adhesive 6. Garment 5 is longitudinally located between at least two clip latitudinal members.

Description

% Patents Form No 5 Our Re* JC207919 ;NEW ZEALAND PATENTS ACT 1953 ;Complete After Provisional No. 314671 Filed. 24 April 1997 ;COMPLETE SPECIFICATION ;A CLIP MEANS AND A METHOD FOR SECURING A PORTION OF AN ARTICLE ;I, LIESMA VASBENTER, a citizen of New Zealand of 11 Mariri Road, Kelburn, Wellington, New Zealand hereby declare the invention, for which I pray that a patent may be granted to me and the method by which it is to be performed, to be particularly described in and by the following statement. ;- 1 - ;PT0582255 ;314671 ;A CLIP MEANS AMD A METHOD FOR SECURING A PORTION OF AN ARTICLE ;The present invention relates to a clip means, more particularly a clip suitable for securing a portion of an article, such as fabric or garments straps, or portions of cord or cable The present invention also relates to a method of securing a portion of an article ;Conventionally, straps of undergarments have been secured to garments by safety pins or VELCRO™ ;The difficulty with securing straps with a safety pin is that one must be careful not to tear the fabric of the garment or to catch the skin of the wearer It will also often be necessary to seek assistance to secure an undergarment strap to a garment with a safety pin as the point which requires securement may be difficult to reach ;A disadvantage with using a VELCRO'" patch is that a patch must be attached to both the garment and the undergarment often leaving a bulky point which is visible if the garment fabric is lightweight ;It is an object of the present invention to provide a clip suitable for securing fabric or garment straps which overcome some of the difficulties associated with conventional securing means, or to at least provide the public with a useful choice ;According to one aspect of the invention there is provided a washable clip suitable for securing at least a portion of a garment to a base article comprising ;INTELLto i urtL PHUPERTY OFFIC^ OF NZ 'j ;J 2 JAN 2009 _ RECEIVFn ;at least one attachment means adapted to enable securemerfl t the base article; and at least two substantially latitudinal members between which a portion of the garment to be secured is longitudinally located; and in which the arrangement of the attachment means and the latitudinal members provide an open sided shaped clip ;Preferably but not necessarily, the clip is employed to secure fabric straps or garment straps It is also envisaged that the clip could be employed to secure a portion of an article, such as a portion of a cord or cable ;According to a further aspect of the present invention there is provided a method of securing at least a portion of a garment to a base article, the method comprising the steps of optionally securing a clip as defined above to the base article by at least one attachment means, the attachment means being adapted to enable securement to the base article, and locating longitudinally a portion of the garment between latitudinal members of the clip ;Further aspects of this invention which should be considered in all its novel aspects will become apparent from the following description given by way of example of possible embodiments thereof and which reference is made to the accompanying drawings wherein ;INTELLECTUAL PROPEPTY~OFFiTr ;OF NZ ;1 2 JAN 2000 ;.received ;- 4 - ;% ;Figure 1 shows diagrammatically a plan view of a clip according to one possible embodiment; ;Figure 2 shows diagrammatically the attachment points of the clip to the base article, and ;Figure 3 shows diagrammatically a strap of a portion of an article or garment threaded or woven longitudinally through the clip ;Figure 4 shows diagrammatically an alternative embodiment of a clip, comprising a self adhesive patch as attachment means ;Referring to the accompanying drawings, a clip for securing a portion of an article to a base article is referenced generally by 1 The attachment means adapted to enable securement of the clip to the base article are referenced generally by 2 The base article to which the clip is attached is generally referenced as 3 The substantially latitudinal members of the clip are referenced generally by 4 The portion of the article or garment which is longitudinally threaded or woven through the latitudinal members is generally referenced by 5 ;In a preferred embodiment the clip is generally "S" shaped with the attachment means being extensions of the shape "S" curved portions It is also envisaged that the clip could be shaped differently, for example, generally "Z" shaped ;JINTFILECTII*. 'ROPERTY OFFICE J I OF NZ i; 1998 : received Preferably the clip 1 is manufactured from a washable, lightweight material, preferably but not necess&nly a plastics or metallic material.

The attachment means are preferably adapted to enable securement of the clip to the base article by stitching with cotton or with thread the clip attachment means 2 to the base article, such as a dress. It is also envisaged that the clip 1 may be further adapted to include small indentations or protrusions on either the inside or outer side of the attachment means substantially at position 2 The indentations aid in securing the thread at attachment point 2 It is further envisaged that the clip 1 may have a small opening or slot in the centre of the attachment means substantially at position 2 Thread may be sewn through the slot or opening to hold the clip securely to the base article Attachment means may also be selected from staples, tacks or VELCRO™ when it is necessary to secure a clip to a panel or a building surface A further attachment means may be for example an adhesive, such as a patch of fab.i^ adhesive 6 on the reverse side of the clip Such an embodiment is illustrated in Figure 4. The adhesive patch could be protected by a peel-off protective layer, prior to application to a base article The overall shape and design of the clip may vary, for example the clip may be narrowed to suit the width of the portion of the article to be secured The clip may be lengthenea with several more latitudinal members through which a portion of an article may be located Further attachment means would also be available as the number of latitudinal members increased It is also envisaged that if adhesive patches are employed to secure the clip to a base article, it INTELLECTUAL VHUPERTY OFFICEI OF NZ I 1; JUL 1998 I received] may be necessary to Increase the size or width of one or more latitudinal members to provide a reasonable area of adhesive, relative to the size of the clip. A modified clip size is illustrated in Figure 4. Furthermore if a particularly thick strap or cord is to be secured, it is envisaged that the clip may need to be moulded into a 3 dimensional clip to provide a longitudinal channel deep enough to secure the strap or cord.

The present invention provides a means for securing in particular bra straps or petticoat straps to a garment. In some instances it may be advantageous not to secure the clip to a base article, for example, in a situation where it is desired to hold straps together, but not necessarily in place under an overlying article A practical application of this method is envisaged when one wishes to keep a petticoat strap from falling over a shoulder The wearer need only secure the petticoat strap and, for example a bra strap longitudinally through the clip.

An advantage of the present invention is the ease with which the portion of an article may be secured and detached A further advantage of the present invention is the ease of securing or attaching the clip to a garment or article The clip may be left permanently on the garment even when the yaiment is washed A further advantage is that the straps of an undergarment may be secured invisibly beneath a strap of a garment INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY OFFICE OF NZ 17 jul 1998 i received • 7 - It is also envisaged that a clip of the present Invention could bo used to secure cables or cords along panels for building or electrical purposes.

Where In the foregoing description reference has been made to Integers having known equivalents, then those equivalents are herein incorporated as If individually set forth.

Although this invention has been described by way of example and with reference to possible embodiments thereof, it is to be undei stood that modifications or improvements may be made thereto without departing from the scope of the claims.

INTtLLECTUAL PROPERTY OFFICE OF NZ 1 1 jul 1998 received

Claims (12)

WHAT I CLAIM IS: - 8 - 314671

1. A washable clip suitable for securing at least a portion of a garment to a base article comprising: at least one attachment means adapted to enable settlement to the base article; at least two substantially latitudinal members between which a portion of the garment to be secured is longitudinally located, and in which the arrangement of the attachment means and latitudinal members provide an open sided shaped clip.

2. A clip according to claim 1, having a multiplicity of latitudinal members,

3. A clip according to claim 1 or claim 2, in which the attachment means o further adapted to include a slot in the clip suitable for threading or passing a socuromont means through tho slot into the base article.

4 A clip according to any one of claims 1 to 3, in which the attachment mean# is further adapted to include indentations or protrusion* at the attachment position of the clip to assist In securing any threads of an attachment means in place when the clip is in placo on tho baso article,

5 A clip according to any one of claims 1 to 3, in which tho a&curement means is a thread, a tack, a staple or a pin moons. I ' J JAN «)oo | i—ZJLCfiiyrr) 314671

6 A clip according to any one of claims 1, and 3 to 5, which is substantially "S" or "Z" shaped.

7. A clip as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 0 In which the clip is further adapted into a 3 dimensional shape to enable the longitudinal location of a cable or cord,

8 A clip according to any one of claims 1, 2, 6 and 7 which is secured to a base article by way of an adhesive, or adhesive patch.

9 A clip as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 7, in which the portion of a garment is a fabric strap or garment strap.

10. A clip as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 7, in which the clip is employed to secure a portion of an article, such as a portion of a cord or cable to a base panel

11. A clip according to any one of claims 1 to 9, constructed from a plastics or metallic material

12. A method of securing at least a portion of a garment to a base article, the method comprising the steps of. optionally securing a clip as defined in claim 1 to the base article by at least one attachment means, the attachment means being adapted to enable securement to the base article, and INTLllco I UAL PROP£RTrOFRC^1 OF NZ * 2 jan 2000 .received - 10 - cay i \ "VJ 146 7 locating longitudinally a portion of the garment Between latitudinal members of the clip 13 A method according to claim 12, wherein the clip is secured to the base article by an adhesive, thread, nail, pin or tack 14 A clip, substantially as herein described and with reference to Figure 1 and Figure 4 15 A method of securing a portion of an article to a base article, substantially as herein described and with reference to Figures 2 and 3 LIESMA VASBENTER By Her Attorneys BALDWIN SHELSTON WATERS CSPEC82264 IN*! LLLEo i UAlT huptn i YUH OFNZ - 4 MAY 1999 RECEIV E 0