초록 ▼

A U-shaped clip seizes a bib napkin to a general region of the user's clothing that includes the chest and the lap, e.g. a shirt, sweater, blouse or suit coat. Optionally, a pair of clips may be utilized: one on each opposite edge or at the top and bottom of the napkin. The clip is molded from plast

A U-shaped clip seizes a bib napkin to a general region of the user's clothing that includes the chest and the lap, e.g. a shirt, sweater, blouse or suit coat. Optionally, a pair of clips may be utilized: one on each opposite edge or at the top and bottom of the napkin. The clip is molded from plastic and is configured with a pair of jaw pads operable by two pushbuttons: a capture pushbutton that closes the jaw pads and latches them together with a choice of progressive steps of closure to allow for variations in contained cloth thickness, and a release pushbutton that releases the jaw pads for removal. Promotional printing such as a logo or other sponsor identification can be imprinted on exterior surfaces of the clip or one of the pushbuttons, particularly the release pushbutton which has three external facets that can be configured in a special shape and/or fitted with a promotional or decorative overlay part.

대표청구항 ▼

1. A napkin holding clip comprising:a main body having a U-shaped cross-section with two substantially parallel linear arm portions extending from a curved portion of the U-shape to corresponding arm-ends located at an open end thereof;a pair of jaw pads, disposed each at a corresponding one of two

1. A napkin holding clip comprising:a main body having a U-shaped cross-section with two substantially parallel linear arm portions extending from a curved portion of the U-shape to corresponding arm-ends located at an open end thereof;a pair of jaw pads, disposed each at a corresponding one of two arm-ends, interfacing each other;the main body being molded from plastic material and configured so as to be relatively rigid in the linear arm portions and relatively resilient in the curved portion, and formed such that, in an unstressed condition corresponding to a standby mode, the jaw pads are made to be sufficiently separated to allow insertion there between of a folded portion of the table napkin along with the corresponding portion of the user's clothing;a capture pushbutton integrally formed on an exterior surface of one of the linear arm portions, made and arranged to enable a user to urge the jaw pads together through flexure of the curved portion of the U-shaped main body;a fixed latch member located between the parallel linear arm portions and extending from one of the linear arm portions to a mid region between the two linear arm portions, the fixed latch member being configured with a first latch tooth pattern including at least one latch tooth located in the mid region;a flex-mounted latch member, extending from the other linear arm portion, configured with a second latch tooth pattern including at least one latch tooth, made and arranged to engage the first latch tooth pattern, upon user depression of the capture pushbutton to initiate a deployed mode, in a manner to capture and secure together the folded portion of the napkin and the corresponding portion of the clothing between the two jaw pads; andrelease means, including a user-actuated releasing member disposed on an outer region of the U-shaped main body, enabling the user to release the portion of table napkin from the corresponding portion of the user's clothing.2. The napkin holding clip as defined in claim 1 wherein said release means comprises a release pushbutton, constituting the releasing member, and associated releasing structure made and arranged to release the jaw pads from the deployed mode when the release pushbutton is depressed by the user, and to thus initiate a standby mode wherein the jaw pads are held separated ready for subsequent deployment.3. The napkin holding clip as defined in claim 2 wherein the release pushbutton is specially shaped externally and imprinted with graphics of a nature that includes ornamental and promotional matter.4. The napkin holding clip as defined in claim 2 further comprising an overlay member attached onto the release pushbutton and imprinted with graphics of a nature that includes ornamental and promotional matter.5. The napkin holding clip as defined in claim 2 wherein said releasing structure comprises;the flex-mounted latch member being resiliently attached to the associated arm of the main body at a flexure point located close to the associated arm; anda release pushbutton assembly, including the release pushbutton, made and arranged to enable the user, by depressing the release pushbutton, to deflect and unlatch the flex-mounted latch member from the fixed latch member and thus release the jaw pads to separate and thus free the captured napkin and clothing, and thus revert to the standby mode with the jaw pads separated ready for subsequent deployment.6. The napkin holding clip as defined in claim 1 wherein the first latch tooth pattern is configured with two teeth and the second latch tooth pattern is configured with one tooth, thus providing a choice of two latched positions in the deployed mode.