US2284806A - Collar clip - Google Patents

Description

Patented lJune 2, 1942 'UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE COLLAR CLIP v William De Laney, Willow Grove, Pa. Application September 21, 1938, Serial No. 230,951

` 1to1. 2li-s1) l My invention relates to newV and useful improvements in a collar clip ofthe type used for holding the ends or ilaps of collars, especially soft and semi-stili? ones, in proper positions relative to each other and to other articles of the users wearing apparel in order to maintain a neat appearance. 1

One of the objects of the present invention is to produce a relatively inexpensive device of this character which is durable andeiiicient in operation and which accomplishes certain purposes in a unique and novel manner.

Another object of the invention is to provide a collar clip in 'which the clasps are universally movable relative to eachother and the several elements are capable of changes in positions with relation to one another whereby said collar clip will remain in place on the collar even though the latter .is ,temporarily `disarranged due to movements of the throat-cr neel; muscles', especially abnormal movements, as when a. person coughs.

Another object of the invention is to provide a collar clip consisting of a spring and clasps pivotally connected with ends of said spring to permit of universal movements. y

Another object of the invention is to provide means for limiting the extensibility ofthe spring.

A further object of the invention is to provide a housing for the spring which will not interfere with movements of the parts of the collar clip.

A still further object of this invention isl to utilize the properties of a ycontractile spring for accomplishing the same purposes as when using an extensile spring.

With the above and `other objects in view, this invention consists of the details of construction and combination of elements hereinafter set forth and then designated by the claims.

In order that those skilled in the art to which this invention appertains may understand how to make and use the same, I will describe its construction in detail, yreferring by numerals to the accompanying drawing, in Which- Fig, 1 is a view of a collar illustrating the manner of use of the collar clip.

Fig. 2 is a frontA elevation of the collar clip illustrating the parts in a straight line position and showing in dotted lines several of the locations which can be assumed by the clasps relative to each other and to the spring for giving the universal movements.

Fig. 3 is a plan view of the collar clip shown in Fig. 2 and also illustrating in dotted lines some of the positions which the clasps are capable of Y assuming.

Fig. 4 is a plan View of the collar clasp with the addition of means to limit the extension of 1 the spring, the latter being shown in section and extendedcondition.

Fig. 6 is aplan View of a modification wherein the spring is housed within a casing that limits the extensibility of said spring Aand in which the device is shown contracted.

Fig. 7 is a view illustrating the device of Fig. 6

contracted. Fig. 8 is a sectional plan view of another modification wherein a contractile spring is used, the collar clip being illustrated as in a contracted condition.

Fig. 9 is a view of the device in Fig. 8 illustrated in an extended or expanded condition.

Fig. 10 is a section on the line lll- Ill of Fig. 9.

In carrying out my invention as herein embodied, particular reference being rst had to Figs.` 1 to 5 inclusive, I5 represents a spring of the extensile type having an eye I6, or equivalent attaching means, at each end. To each eye I6 is pivotally or swingingly connected a spring clasp I1 so that said clasps may'move about in allrdirections or assume any positions relative to each other and to the spring as suggested by the dotted lines in Figs. 2 and 3. These universal move- Aments permit a user to apply the collar clip to the ends or flaps of a collar in any desired posiusual movements of the wearer and also allows changes in positions of the parts when abnormal movements of the neck and throat muscles take place.

In actual practice, the clasps are attached to the opposite vends or flap of a collar and the spring will provide sufcient tension to hold the collar snug, neat appearing and in proper posi- J tion about the neck of the wearer and still allows freedom of movements without disengaging either end of the collar clasp` from the collar .which so often happens in connection with or-v dinary unyielding clips, clasps or pins and which is exceedingly distressing and annoying to the while, at all times, urging the collar ends to the desired positions.

While the clasps I7 may be of any suitable construction to grip the collar ends, the ones shown for purposes of illustration are produced from spring material and each is fashioned to provide coacting jaws I8 and I9 with an entrance or mouth 2l] between them whereby they may be attached to the eyes of the spring during the course of manufacture and slipped over the edges of the collar ends when the collar clip is to be used.

As will be obvious by reference to Fig. 5, the spring I can be and is extended or expanded when the collar clip is being attached to the collar ends and at any time while in use when certain parts of the wearers body are moved and in order to prevent undue extension or expansion of said spring beyond its critical point, a flexible suppressor means 2l, such as a chain or any equivalent thereof, for instance a string, cable or the like, has its ends attached to the clasps and extends through or around the spring I5. This allows the spring I5 to contractwithout interference but limits its expansion so that tension thereof will not be weakened or otherwise damaged.

In Figs. 6 and '7 I have illustrated the same general principle except that the suppressor takes the form of a flexible casing orhousing 22 capable of being extended and shortened; This casing is produced from. suitable material in ribbon form, woven or pleated into a tubular structure and preferably but not essentially closed at both ends. The casing embraces or surrounds the spring I5 so` as to substantially enclose the latter and the endsof said casing are connected or linked to the clasps I1 by loops 22a. Because of the formation of said casing, the movements of the spring in any direction are not interfered with, except for the limitation placed upon the extensibility or expansibility thereof. When this last described form of the invention is being used, thespring I5 and the suppressor-casing 22 are extended in unison, as shown in Fig. '7, by the opposite force applied to the clasps I1 but when said clasps are released the spring I5 will contract and draw the ends of the suppresser-casing towards each other, thus shortening the latter so as to approximately correspond to the contracted body length of said spring as illustrated in Fig. 6.

The modification depicted in Figs. 8, 9. and

comprises two hollow telescoping members 23 and 24 constituting a casing which houses the contractile spring 25. The member 24, in reality, contains said spring at all times and has an abutment 26 at its inner end, preferably formed by bending portions inward. The member 23 also has an abutment 21 at its inner end which, like abutment 2B, preferably is formed by bending in sections of the casing and these sections project through and slide in longitudinal slots 28 in the member 24. The spring'25 is positioned within the member 24, as before stated,

and has its opposite ends engaging the abutments 26 and 21 to urge them apart and thus contract the casing. The outer ends of the casing members carry eyes 29 or equivalent means for pivotally or swingingly connecting the spring clasps 30 to opposite ends of the casing whereby said clasps are universally movable relative to each other and to the casing. By this particular arrangement, when the spring 25 is free to expandthe casing of the collar clip is shortened as shown in Fig. 8, but when said collar clip is caused to yield or be extended the spring will be compressed as illustrated in Fig. 9.

It is to be particularly noted that a collar clip constructed as above described, is exceedingly flexible and capable of yielding to any movements of a persons body, either voluntary or involuntary and therefore is unlikely to become detached from a collar which can and does happen with those of rigid form even though they embody the feature of extensibility.

Of course, I do not wish to be limited to the exact details of construction herein shown and described, as these may be varied within the scope of the appended claims Without departing from the spirit of my invention.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim asnew and useful is:

l. A collar clipcomprising a pair of collar engaging elements, an extensile spring having each end connected to an element in a manner to permit the latter to move in any direction, and suppressor-casing enclosing the spring and linked to the collar engaging elements.

2. The structure in claim 1 wherein the suppressor-casing is a flexible structure capable of extending and retracting.

3. The structure in claim 1 wherein the suppressor-casing is a hollow tubular member of woven ribbon strands.

WILLIAM E. DE LANEY.

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