US20100287738A1

US20100287738A1 - Gym clip

Info

Publication number: US20100287738A1
Application number: US12/454,140
Authority: US
Inventors: David Amsalem
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2009-05-13
Filing date: 2009-05-13
Publication date: 2010-11-18

Abstract

A gym clip with clip body housing and one or more clip bodies each hold a spring clip. The spring clip can be used to hold a gym towel, or a key ring that can hold the user's keys. A hollow portion in the housing can hold paper currency. A belt clip located on the underside of the housing can be fastened to a user's belt or pants pocket lip or waistband. The housing includes a retaining ledge that can retain a plurality of clip bodies so that multiple items can be held at the same time.

Description

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

Not Applicable

STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT

Not Applicable

DESCRIPTION OF ATTACHED APPENDIX

Not Applicable

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates generally to the field of fastening devices and more specifically to a gym clip.
When going to a health club or gym, it is often necessary for a person to carry specific items, such as keys, money and a transaction card, while wearing gym clothes. Gym clothes tend not to have the type of pockets that are available when wearing normal outdoor clothes. Additionally, a person does not have easy access to purses or other carry bags when operating gym equipment. Also, when a person is exercising at a gym facility, they often carry a moisture absorbent towel to wipe away the excessive sweat that occurs during the exercise process. To this end, those who frequent gyms tend to look for ways to carry the above described items in an efficient way.
There have been many key holders designed and marketed to attach to a user's belt. Additionally, there have been various towel holders designed and marketed that attach to a user's belt.
However, there is a deficiency in the prior technology in that there is no single carrying device that can be custom designed by the user to hold a variety of items at the same time, including keys, a towel, paper currency and a transaction card.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The primary object of the invention is to provide a gym clip that attaches to a users belt or pocket and can hold a variety of items that the user normally carries with him or her during a workout session.
Another object of the invention is to provide a gym clip that can retain a towel.
Another object of the invention is to provide a gym clip that can retain keys.
A further object of the invention is to provide a gym clip that can retain currency in the form of paper bills.
Yet another object of the invention is to provide a gym clip that can retain a credit card sized transaction card.
Still yet another object of the invention is to provide a gym clip that can be modified to accept any or all of the above described items.
Other objects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following descriptions, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, wherein, by way of illustration and example, an embodiment of the present invention is disclosed.
In accordance with a preferred embodiment of the invention, there is disclosed gym clip comprising: clip body housing, clip body, clip body retaining tabs, sub body housing, clip, clip ring, key ring, belt clip, housing pivot pin, belt clip pivot pin, said housing body including a clip body retaining ledge, said sub body housing attached to said clip body by said housing pivot pin, said belt clip attached to the underside of said sub body housing by said belt clip pivot pin, said clip body slidably and removably retained within said body housing by said clip body retaining ledge and said retaining tabs, said clip ring attached to said clip body, and said clip attached to said clip ring.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The drawings constitute a part of this specification and include exemplary embodiments to the invention, which may be embodied in various forms. It is to be understood that in some instances various aspects of the invention may be shown exaggerated or enlarged to facilitate an understanding of the invention.

FIG. 1 is a front view of the dip housing of the invention.

FIG. 2 is a front view of the dip housing with clip bodies in place.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a clip body having a key ring extension.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a clip body having an elastic cord extension.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a clip body having a fixed spring clip attached.

FIG. 6 is a side section view of the invention.

FIG. 7 is a side view of the invention.

FIG. 8 is a perspective view of the open sub housing holding paper currency.

FIG. 9 is a rear view of the invention.

FIG. 10 is a rear view of the invention with a transaction card in place.

FIG. 11 is a perspective view of an alternate version of the invention that holds a single clip body.

FIG. 12 is a perspective view of the alternate version in place on a user's pants pocket lip.

FIG. 13 is a front view of the alternate version of the invention.

FIG. 14 is a side view of the alternate version of the invention.

FIG. 15 is a top view of the alternate version of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Detailed descriptions of the preferred embodiment are provided herein. It is to be understood, however, that the present invention may be embodied in various forms. Therefore, specific details disclosed herein are not to be interpreted as limiting, but rather as a basis for the claims and as a representative basis for teaching one skilled in the art to employ the present invention in virtually any appropriately detailed system, structure or manner.
Referring now to FIG. 1 we see a front view of the clip housing 10 of the invention. A ledge 2 that surrounds three sides of the housing can retain clip bodies 12, to be described below.
Retaining tabs 6, 8 allow the clip bodies 12 to snap into the housing 10 and can flex out of the way when a dip body 12 is removed by a user.
FIG. 2 shows a front view of the clip housing 10 where three clip bodies 12 have been slid into place within the clip body 10. Each clip body 12 shown has a ring 16 and a spring clip 14 attached to it. The spring clip 14 can removably retain items such as a key ring, or an absorbent towel. Tabs 6, 8 prevent all the clip bodies 12 from falling out until the user wants to remove them.
FIG. 3 shows a perspective view of a clip body 12 and ring 16 that is holding a standard key ring 18 that lets user's easily remove and replace keys from the ring 18.
FIG. 4 shows a perspective view of a clip body 12 that has an elastic cord 20 attached to it, and a spring clip 14 attached to the cord 20. The elastic cord allows a user to insert a towel into the loop portion formed by the cord 20. The clip 14 allows the user to hold an additional item such as a key ring.
FIG. 5 shows a perspective view of a clip body 12A shows a spring clip 14A that is fixedly attached to the top portion of the clip body 12A.
FIG. 6 shows a side section view as defined by section line 80 in FIG. 2. Clip bodies 12 rest in main clip housing 10 provides the space for sliding in clip bodies 12. Rings 16 are inserted into an aperture at the tip of the clip body 12. Spring clips 14 include an aperture in one of the legs that allow the ring 16 to be attached to the leg. A sub housing 11 forms a space 32 to store paper currency 34. The currency can be accessed by swinging open the sub housing via pivot pin 26. A belt clip 24 is attached to the underside of sub housing 11 via hinge pin 28. The sub housing 11 is held in place by retaining member 4 which can be released by the user to access the space 32 within the sub housing 11. Integral thumb press member 36 allows the user to open belt clip 24. The belt clip 24 is spring biased by a torsion spring, not shown, in a standard way. The belt clip 24 allows the user to removably attach the invention to his or her pants pocket lip, waist band, or belt. Disk shaped magnets 22 are fixedly attached to the underside of clip bodies 12. The magnets 22 allow the clip bodies to be attached to a ferrous metal surface such as a metal gym locker or metal exercise equipment.
FIG. 7 shows a side view of the invention. Transaction card retaining member 30 can be seen holding a transaction card 38 in place between the retaining member 30 and the pivot portion 28 of the belt dip. Many gyms issue credit card sized membership cards. This card can be held in the present invention. Other fitness clubs issue smaller transaction cards that each have an aperture in one end to allow the card to be attached to a key ring. This type of card can be attached to any of the rings or clips associated with the present invention.
FIG. 8 shows a perspective view of the invention with the sub housing 11 swung open via pivot point 26. The space between the underside of main housing 10 and the top surface of sub housing 11 allows a person to store folded paper currency 34 within the space 32. The embodiment shown includes Three clip bodies 12. One with a key 42 attached by standard ring 40. The other two clip bodies have spring clips 14 attached.
FIG. 9 shows a rear view of the invention clearly showing belt clip 24 and transaction card retaining member 30.
FIG. 10 shows a rear view of the invention with a transaction card 38 in place.
FIG. 11 shows a perspective view of an alternate embodiment 50 of the invention that holds a single clip body 12. Retaining tabs 57, 58 hold the clip body 12 in place until the user pulls on the dip body 12 and overcomes the resistance of the retaining tabs 57, 58. The underside of the invention 50 includes a ring retainer 54 and ring 56. In this embodiment 50 the user can attach a towel 74 to spring clip 14 and a key to ring 56. The belt clip 52 holds the unit 50 to the user's belt or pants pocket lip, or waistband as shown in FIG. 12.
FIG. 14 shows a front view of the clip housing of the alternate embodiment of the invention 50. FIG. 14 shows a side view of the invention 50 clearly showing belt clip 52.
FIG. 15 shows a top view of the alternate embodiment of the invention 50 with a clip body 12 in place. The clip body has ring 16 and spring clip 14 attached.
While the invention has been described in connection with a preferred embodiment, it is not intended to limit the scope of the invention to the particular form set forth, but on the contrary, it is intended to cover such alternatives, modifications, and equivalents as may be included within the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims.

Claims

1. gym clip comprising:

clip body housing;

clip body;

clip body retaining tabs;

sub body housing;

clip;

clip ring;

key ring;

belt clip;

housing pivot pin;

belt clip pivot pin;

said housing body including a clip body retaining ledge;

said sub body housing attached to said clip body by said housing pivot pin;

said belt clip attached to the underside of said sub body housing by said belt clip pivot pin;

said clip body slidably and removably retained within said body housing by said clip body retaining ledge and said retaining tabs;

said clip ring attached to said clip body; and

said clip attached to said clip ring.

2. Gym clip as claimed in claim 1 further comprising an alternate clip body that includes a fixed clip attached to the tip of said clip body.

3. Gym clip as claimed in claim 1 wherein said clip body housing can retain three said clip bodies.

4. Gym clip as claimed in claim 1 further comprising an alternate clip body that includes a resilient cord that can removably retain a towel.

5. Gym clip as claimed in claim 1 wherein said clip is capable of removably retaining a gym towel.

6. Gym clip as claimed in claim 1 wherein the space created within said sub housing is capable of removably retaining paper currency.

7. Gym clip as claimed in claim 1 wherein said belt clip can be attached to a user's belt, or pants waistband or a pants pocket

8. Gym clip as claimed in claim 1 further comprising a magnetic disk fixedly attached to the underside of said clip body so that said clip body may be attached to a ferrous metal surface.

9. Gym clip as claimed in claim 1 wherein said clip body housing can hold a single clip body.

10. Gym clip as claimed in claim 1 further comprising a transaction card retaining member attached to the distal end of said clip body housing so that said transaction card can reside on the underside of said sub housing and be removably held by said card retaining member and said belt clip.