Clip

This invention relates to clips for providing attachments to rings, lines, cord loops, bars or the like. A preferred embodiment of the invention provides a clip suitable for attaching a ski leash to a ring on a ski boot.

Some prior art clips comprise a rigid hook and a resilient leaf spring biassed against an inner portion of the tip of the hook. The leaf spring and the hook form a closed elongated loop which can be opened to receive a ring, or the like, by pressing the leaf spring inwardly. These clips can be difficult to remove, especially when wearing gloves. Many such clips are not designed to withstand pressure on the inner side of the leaf spring.

Other prior art clips comprise a rigid hook and a spring-loaded pin which is biassed into contact with the end of the hook. These clips can be undesirably expensive to manufacture since they typically include several separate pieces. Further they can be difficult to open, especially when wearing gloves. Ice build up can prevent the pin from moving freely.

There is a need for clips which can be made cost effectively and yet are durable, reliable, and easy to operate under a wide variety of conditions. There is a particular need for such clips which can be easily operated while wearing gloves.

This invention provides a clip which overcomes some of the disadvantages of the prior clips described above. Accordingly, the invention provides a clip which comprises a resilient bow having first and second ends. A first hook portion is on the first end of the bow and a second hook portion is on the second end of the bow. The second hook portion comprises a pair of spaced-apart hook parts. The first and second hook portions respectively comprise first and second hooks. The clip is resiliently deformable between an open configuration and a closed configuration. In the open configuration, the first hook portion extends between the hook parts of the second hook portion and ends of the first and second hook portions are spaced apart to define an opening. When the clip is in the closed configuration the first and second hooks form a closed loop. The bow biases the clip from its open configuration toward its closed configuration.

In preferred embodiments the clip is formed from a unitary piece of resilient plastic material. Other suitable materials could also be used. The bow preferably comprises first and second generally straight flexible cantilever arms extending from a base portion.

Further features and advantages of the invention are described below.

In figures which illustrate non-limiting embodiments of the invention:

FIG. 1 is a plan view of a clip according to a preferred embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 2 is an end view of the clip of FIG. 1 engaged with a ring;

FIGS. 3A, 3 B and 3 C are plan views of the clip of FIG. 1 at different stages of being engaged with a ring.

10 clip

12 bow portion

12 A, 12 B arm of bow

12 C base portion of bow

14 first hook portion

16 second hook portion

16 A, 16 B hook parts

20 space

22 hook

23 hook

22 A tip of hook 22

23 A tip of hook 23

22 B bevelled end portion of hook 22

23 B bevelled end portion of hook 23

26 grip portion

30 opening

32 arrows

34 cable

34 A expanded end of cable

36 aperture

38 block

F 1 first force

F 7 second force

R ring

As shown in FIG. 1, a clip 10 has a resilient bow portion 12 . A first hook portion 14 extends from a first end of the bow portion. A second hook portion 16 extends from a second end of bow portion 12 . As shown in FIG. 2, second hook portion 16 comprises first and second hook parts 16 A, 16 B which are spaced apart by a gap 20 . In the preferred embodiment, parts 16 A, 16 B extend parallel to one another and have generally planar faces facing gap 20 . Gap 20 is capable of receiving first hook portion between hook parts 16 A and 16 B. Preferably gap 20 is dimensioned so that first hook portion 14 can easily pass through gap 20 with little space on either side.

Clip 10 is preferably a unitary plastic part. Clip 10 may, for example, be injection molded from polycarbonate, nylon, acetal, or another suitable resilient plastic.

Hook portions 14 and 16 each form generally U-shaped hooks 22 , 23 which have tips 22 A and 23 A respectively. When clip 10 is in the configuration of FIG. 1, the hooks are preferably oriented to face slightly rearwardly. In the embodiment of FIG. 1, both hooks 22 , 23 open rearwardly at an angle of about 45 degrees.

Bow 12 is preferably generally V-shaped. In the embodiment shown in the drawings bow 12 comprises relatively thin, flexible, cantilever arm sections 12 A and 12 B which extend from a thicker base portion 12 C. Cantilever arm sections 12 A and 12 B are generally straight in the embodiment shown in the drawings. Clip 10 has an outwardly bulging grip portion 26 at each end of bow 12 . The outward facing surface of clip 10 may be serrated or patterned with a series of grooves or otherwise roughened on grip portions 26 .

As shown in FIG. 3A, bow 12 can be resiliently deformed inwardly by applying a first force F 1 to grip portions 24 . This may be done, for example, by grasping grip portions 24 between a user's fingers and squeezing inwardly. When clip 10 is in the configuration of FIG. 3A, hook portion 14 is received in overlapping relation between hook parts 16 A and 16 B of hook portion 16 and hooks 22 and 23 form a closed loop 28 .

When a force F 2 (which is greater than force F 1 ) is applied to grip portions 26 , bow 12 undergoes further elastic deformation until loop 28 opens, as shown in FIG. 3 B. With clip 10 in the “open” configuration of FIG. 3B, a ring R, or the like, can be inserted into loop 28 through the opening 30 between tips 22 A and 23 A. Force F 2 can then be removed, whereupon clip 10 returns to the configuration of FIG. 3 C. Bow 12 then biases hook portions 14 and 16 outwardly as shown by arrows 32 (FIG. 2) so that ring R is captured in loop 28 . When clip 10 is in the “closed” configuration of FIG. 3C, tips 22 A and 23 A are preferably each located slightly behind the forward end of loop 28 so that clip 10 does not tend to open when it is pulled on.

Ring R can be removed from clip 10 by squeezing grip portions 26 together, thereby returning clip 10 to the configuration of FIG. 3 B. Preferably hooks 22 and 23 have bevelled end portions 22 B and 23 B respectively. When clip 10 is almost in its “open” configuration of FIG. 3B, and ring R is pulled outwardly, ring R wedges hooks 22 and 23 apart so that ring R can be removed from loop 28 . When clip 10 is in its “open” configuration of FIG. 3B, opening 30 passes between bevelled end portions 22 B and 23 B and opening 30 is wider at its “proximal” end toward bow 12 and narrower at its “distal” end away from bow 12 .

A tether, such as a cable or cord, is affixed to clip 10 . In the illustrated embodiment, a cable 34 having an expanded end 34 A passes through an aperture 36 in the bight of bow 12 . In the illustrated embodiment, aperture 36 passes through base portion 12 C of bow 12 . An inwardly-projecting block 38 abuts expanded end 34 A and thereby prevents clip 10 from sliding along cable 34 .

A clip 10 has many potential applications. The clip is particularly well adapted for use in clipping a ski or snowboard leash to a boot. Clip 10 can be opened by squeezing bow 12 transversely. This may be done while wearing gloves. Clip 10 may be made from a plastic material which sheds snow and resists ice build up.

As will be apparent to those skilled in the art in the light of the foregoing disclosure, many alterations and modifications are possible in the practice of this invention without departing from the spirit or scope thereof. For example:

The shape of bow 12 may be varied.

Cable 34 may be attached to clip 10 in a manner other than as described above. For example, a loop of cable 34 may pass through bow 12 .

Instead of being attached to some object by way of a cord, such as a cable 34 , an object such as a key ring, compass, whistle, or the like may be directly attached to clip 10 .

One part of a mating fastener, such as a buckle, snap, or the like could be attached to clip 10 so that clip 10 can be detachably affixed to a corresponding part of the mating fastener. The part of the mating fastener may be made integrally with clip 10 .

While the clip 10 illustrated in the drawings has three hook portions, clip 10 could have a larger number of interdigitating hook portions.

Accordingly, the scope of the invention is to be construed in accordance with the substance defined by the following claims.