US20070209168A1

Movatterモバイル変換

Info

Publication number: US20070209168A1
Application number: US11/747,750
Authority: US
Inventors: Dan Dietz
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2005-08-22
Filing date: 2007-05-11
Publication date: 2007-09-13

Abstract

A magnetic spring clip and system are disclosed. In an embodiment, a magnetic spring clip includes a clip base having a semi-circle shape with an opening for engaging an instrument. The magnetic spring clip also includes a pivot point within the clip base. In addition, the magnetic spring clip includes a shaft having a generally linear shape and upper and lower ends. The upper end of the shaft is attached to the clip base by the pivot point such that the shaft is moveable relative to the clip base. Moreover, the shaft farther includes a magnetic lower end. The magnetic lower end is magnetically attracted to the instrument such that the lower end of the shaft contacts the instrument and secures any material between the lower end of the shaft and the instrument. The magnetic spring clip also has a clip magnet, wherein the clip magnet has a magnetic south pole and a magnetic north pole.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation-in-part application of U.S. application Ser. No. 11/208,494 filed on Aug. 22, 2005, which is incorporated by reference herein in its entirety.

STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT

Not applicable.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

This invention relates to the field of securing items and more specifically to a magnetic spring clip and system for securing items to clothing.

2. Background of the Invention

Items such as writing instruments and flashlights have been secured to clothing by clips. For instance, a conventional writing instrument with a clip includes the writing instrument being retractable into an opening of a barrel and having an operating means including an activation button and an operating cam. Drawbacks to conventional clips used with writing instruments include the writing instrument being operated by a single operating means with the clip only functioning when the writing cartridge is retracted.

Consequently, there is a need for an improved clip and system for securing items such as writing instruments and flashlights to clothing.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF SOME OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

These and other needs in the art are addressed in one embodiment by a magnetic spring clip. In an embodiment, a magnetic spring clip includes a clip base having a semi-circle shape with an opening for engaging an instrument. The magnetic spring clip also includes a pivot point within the clip base. In addition, the magnetic spring clip includes a shaft having a generally linear shape and upper and lower ends. The upper end of the shaft is attached to the clip base by the pivot point such that the shaft is moveable relative to the clip base. Moreover, the shaft further includes a magnetic lower end. The magnetic lower end is magnetically attracted to the instrument such that the lower end of the shaft contacts the instrument and secures any material between the lower end of the shaft and the instrument. The magnetic spring clip also has a clip magnet, wherein the clip magnet has a magnetic south pole and a magnetic north pole.

In addition, these and other needs in the art are addressed by a magnetic spring clip system. The magnetic spring clip system includes an instrument having a generally linear shape, wherein an internal magnet is disposed within the instrument. In addition, the magnetic spring clip system includes a magnetic spring clip that has a clip base having a semi-circle shape with an opening for engaging the instrument. The magnetic spring clip also has a pivot point within the clip base. In addition, the magnetic spring clip has a shaft having a generally linear shape and upper and lower ends, wherein the upper end of the shaft is attached to the clip base by the pivot point such that the shaft is moveable relative to the clip base. The clip further includes a clip magnet having a magnetic north pole and a magnetic south pole.

These and other needs in the art are further addressed by a magnetic spring clip system. The magnetic spring clip system has a pair of instruments having generally linear shapes, wherein an internal magnet is disposed in one of the instruments. In addition, the magnetic spring clip system includes a magnetic spring clip for attaching the pair of instruments. The magnetic spring clip includes a clip base having a semi-circle shape with an opening for engaging at least one instrument of the pair of instruments. The magnetic spring clip further includes a pivot point within the clip base. Moreover, the magnetic spring clip has a shaft having a generally linear shape and upper and lower ends, wherein the upper end of the shaft is attached to the clip base by the pivot point such that the shaft is moveable relative to the clip base. The shaft further includes a clip magnet. The internal magnet has a magnetic north pole and a magnetic south pole, and wherein the clip magnet has a clip magnet north pole and a clip magnet south pole.

The foregoing has outlined rather broadly the features and technical advantages of the present invention in order that the detailed description of the invention that follows may be better understood. Additional features and advantages of the invention will be described hereinafter that form the subject of the claims of the invention. It should be appreciated by those skilled in the art that the conception and the specific embodiments disclosed may be readily utilized as a basis for modifying or designing other embodiments for carrying out the same purposes of the present invention. It should also be realized by those skilled in the art that such equivalent embodiments do not depart from the spirit and scope of the invention as set forth in the appended claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

For a detailed description of the preferred embodiments of the invention, reference will now be made to the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 illustrates a side view of a magnetic spring clip attached to a linear flash light instrument;

FIG. 2 illustrates an exploded view of the magnetic spring clip;

FIG. 3 illustrates the magnetic spring clip system with the magnetic spring clip in the closed position;

FIG. 4 illustrates the magnetic spring clip system with the magnetic spring clip in the open position;

FIG. 5aillustrates a side view of the magnetic spring clip system;

FIG. 5billustrates a side cross-sectional view of the magnetic spring clip system;

FIG. 6aillustrates a side view of the pivot mechanism of the magnetic spring clip;

FIG. 6billustrates a side cross-sectional view of the pivot mechanism of the magnetic spring clip;

FIG. 7 illustrates a side view of an embodiment of the magnetic spring clip system with an illuminated writing instrument;

FIG. 8 illustrates a side view of an alternate embodiment of the magnetic spring clip implemented with an illuminated writing instrument;

FIG. 9 illustrates a side view of an alternate embodiment of the magnetic spring system attached to a dual clip; and

FIG. 10 illustrates the south pole of a clip magnet proximate to a north pole of the magnet in an instrument.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

FIG. 1 illustratesmagnetic spring clip10 and magneticspring clip system100 for securing instruments to a person's clothing or other objects or devices.FIG. 1 shows an embodiment ofmagnetic spring clip10 implemented oninstrument12. As shown,magnetic spring clip10 is attached toinstrument12. The attachment ofmagnetic spring clip10 toinstrument12 produces opening14 between a portion ofmagnetic spring clip10 andinstrument12.

FIG. 2 shows an exploded view of magneticspring clip system100.Magnetic spring clip10 includesclip base20.Clip base20 may have a semi-circle design such that an opening exists on one side. This opening enablesclip base20 to receive and attach toinstrument22.Clip base20 further includespivot point24 that attachesclip base20 to cliparm26 and enablesclip arm26 to rotate a certain degrees from and towardinstrument22. In some embodiments,clip arm26 is a shaft. The shaft may have any suitable design for use with magneticspring clip system100 such as without limitation a generally linear shape. In some embodiments,clip arm26 may further have a threaded end away from the pivot point end ofclip arm26. Such a threaded end may provide a means to attachclip magnet28 to cliparm26. In other embodiments,clip magnet28 may be a slide on magnet (e.g., slideably engaged with clip arm26). In this embodiment,end cap30 may attach to cliparm26 via such threads to serve as a magnet stop.Second stop32 is also positioned onclip arm26 aboveclip magnet28.End cap30 andsecond stop32 help secure and prevent movement ofclip magnet28. It is to be understood that there may be various types ofinstruments22 to whichmagnetic spring clip10 may be attached such as without limitation generally linearly shaped instruments. One such instrument may be a writing instrument with a magnetic clip as described in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/907,734 and another instrument may include a magnetic flashlight such as the flashlight disclosed in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/908,108, which are both incorporated by reference herein in their entirety.

It is to be understood that magneticspring clip system100 as shown inFIG. 2 does not reveal the magnet internal toinstrument22. In one embodiment,clip arm26 may be of a magnetic material. Further,surface105 ofinstrument22 may also be of a metal or magnetic material. In such embodiment, the magnetic force ofclip arm26 may causeclip arm26 to be attracted to surface105 ofinstrument22. As shown inFIG. 3, in some embodiments,instrument12 may containinternal magnet34 that is aligned such that the magnetic field ofinternal magnet34 forms an attraction to the magnetic field ofclip magnet28 onclip arm26.

FIGS. 3 and 4 conceptually show the different positions of magneticspring clip system100.FIG. 3 shows magneticspring clip system100 in the closed position. This position is the normal or default position ofmagnetic spring clip10. In this position,clip magnet28 attracts tointernal magnet34. The attraction force (e.g., magnetic attraction) drawsclip magnet28 towardsinternal magnet34 andsurface105. In some instances,clip magnet28 may actually contactsurface105 to provide the clamping action that holds objects inserted into magneticspring clip system100 to secureinstrument12 to the desired object.

FIG. 4 shows the position of magneticspring clip system100 in the open position. In this position,clip arm26 is positioned at a distance frominstrument12. However, because of the magnetic attraction betweenmagnetic spring clip10 andinternal magnet34, a force may be applied to cliparm26 to overcome the magnetic attraction ofclip magnet28 andinternal magnet34 in order to positionclip magnet28 in the open position. In the open position, material to which it is desired to attachinstrument12 is inserted betweeninstrument surface105 andclip arm26. At the release ofclip arm26, the magnetic force may causeclip arm26 to rotate toward and moveclip magnet28 towardinternal magnet34, thereby clamping the inserted material and securinginstrument12 viamagnetic spring clip10 to the material.

FIG. 5ashows a side view of magneticspring clip system100 in the closed position. Magneticspring clip system100 shows an embodiment ofpivot point24. Also shown is an illustration of taperedtop switch40.Switch40 is used to turn on and turn off the light source for a lighting instrument. For a writing instrument, switch40 may advance and retract the writing element of a writing instrument.

FIG. 5bis a side cross-sectional view of magneticspring clip system100. This embodiment is one in whichmagnetic spring clip10 is attached toinstrument12, which is in this embodiment a lighting instrument. In addition to the elements of magneticspring clip system100, contained withininstrument12 is a pair of

batteries

42 and44.Internal magnet34 is positioned between

batteries

42,44. At the lower end ofinstrument12 islight bulb46.Switch40 may be a rotating switch as shown or a push switch. In the implementation of magneticspring clip system100 as illustrated inFIG. 5b,

internal magnet

34 may not interfere with operation of

batteries

42,44 or electrical functions ofinstrument12.

FIG. 6ais a side view of the pivot mechanism ofmagnetic spring clip10. In the pivot point mechanism,pivot rod48 extends throughclip arm26 and attaches towalls300 ofclip base20.Clip arm26 may be positioned inclip base20 to provide greater flexibility and degrees forpositioning clip arm26 in the open position. Extension of portions ofclip arm26 towardswitch40 may restrict the degrees of the opening position. InFIG. 6b,the amount ofspace50 betweenclip base20 andclip arm26 also allows for the limited movement ofclip arm26. Thecloser clip arm26 is to the top ofclip base20, the smaller the movement ofclip arm26. As shown inFIG. 6b,

clip base

20 has walls300 (e.g., a wall on each side),upper side305, andopening310 suitable for receiving clip arm26 (e.g., shaft).

FIG. 7 is a side view of an embodiment of magneticspring clip system100 withinstrument12, which as illustrated is an illuminated writing instrument. In this embodiment, magneticspring clip system100 is implemented in an improvedilluminated writing instrument12, which includes writingelement60,lighting element62 and attachingelement64.Lighting element62 containsinternal magnet66.Clip magnet28 magnetically attracts toinstrument12. Writingelement60 andlighting element62 are secured to each other via attachingelement64. A suitable attaching element is disclosed in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/112,260, which is incorporated by reference herein in its entirety. Writingelement60 andlighting element62 are secured to each other through openings in attachingelement64. Attachingelement64 has an exterior surface formed of elastic grippers that provide increased stability between the user and the writing instrument. Attachingelement64 also has the capability to alter its shape in response to pressure from a user's fingers. The capability to alter the shape of attachingelement64 enables the user to easily and comfortably holdinstrument12.

FIG. 8 is a side view of an alternate embodiment of magneticspring clip system100 implemented withinstrument12, which in this embodiment is an illuminated writing instrument. In this embodiment, magnetspring clip system100 is implemented ininstrument12 that includes writingelement80,lighting element82, and attachingelement84. Writingelement80 andlighting element82 are secured to each other via attachingelement84, which is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 7,101,103. U.S. Pat. No. 7,101,103 is incorporated by reference herein in its entirety. Attachingelement84 is a combination dual clip that attaches writingelement80 andlighting element82 such that the two

elements

80,82 form oneilluminated writing instrument12. Magneticspring clip system100 further includesmagnetic spring clip10 to secureinstrument12 as desired by the user. In operation, the force from the magnetic field ofclip magnet28 attracts to the internal magnet (not illustrated) inlighting element82. This attraction may drawclip magnet28 to the internal magnet. The attachment ofclip magnet28 and the internal magnet may secureclip arm26 to the internal magnet thereby creating the mechanism that may provide the securing capabilities ofmagnetic spring clip10.Magnetic spring clip10 may have the capability of securinginstrument12 as desired by the user. In alternative embodiments (not illustrated), attachingelement84 is a rubber grummet.

FIG. 9 is a side view of an alternate embodiment of magneticspring clip system100 attached to attachingelement84, which is a dual clip.Clip base20 attaches to attachingelement84. In operation, the force from the magnetic field ofclip magnet28 attracts to the internal magnet (not illustrated) ininstrument12. Such attraction may drawclip magnet28 to the internal magnet. In this embodiment,clip arm26 extends over attachingelement84.

FIG. 10 illustratesclip magnet28 andinternal magnet34, which are each magnetized to have north and south poles. In an embodiment,internal magnet34 hasnorth pole200 andsouth pole205, andclip magnet28 has clipmagnet north pole210 and clipmagnet south pole215.Internal magnet34 is rotatable about its longitudinal axis withininstrument12 but is substantially fixed about the longitudinal axis ofinstrument12. In such an embodiment,clip magnet28 is not rotatable about its longitudinal axis but has instead been attached tomagnetic spring clip10 with clipmagnet north pole210 distal toinstrument12 and clipmagnet south pole215 proximate toinstrument12. In such an embodiment, whenmagnetic spring clip10 is in the closed position as shown inFIG. 10, the magnetic attraction of clipmagnet south pole215 attractsnorth pole200, andinternal magnet34 rotates about its longitudinal axis untilnorth pole200 is proximate to clipmagnet south pole215. Therefore,north pole200 is distal to the body of the individual, for instance wheninstrument12 is placed in a pocket of the individual and secured to the pocket bymagnetic spring clip10. Without being limited by theory, placingnorth pole200 distal to the individual's body may prevent detrimental health issues to the individual that may be related to magnetic fields. For example, without being limited by theory, placingnorth pole200 proximate to the individual's body may restrict blood flow in vessels exposed to the magnetic field exerted bynorth pole200, which may be a detrimental health effect. Such restriction may not occur withsouth pole205 proximate to the body. In alternative embodiments,internal magnet34 is not longitudinally rotatable but is instead fixed in position withininstrument12, withnorth pole200 proximate to clipmagnet south pole215. In alternative embodiments (not illustrated),magnetic spring clip10 further includes a shield. The shield may be composed of any material suitable for shielding a magnetic field. Without limitation, an example of such material is ferrous metal. The shield is disposed about a portion of the outside ofclip magnet28. In an embodiment, the shield is disposed about a portion of the outside ofclip magnet28 that does not include the portion ofclip magnet28 that is in contact withinstrument12 whenclip magnet28 is in the closed position. The shield may be disposed about the outside ofclip magnet28 by any suitable method. For instance, the shield may be applied as a coating, manufactured to be disposed about the outside ofclip magnet28, and the like. In such embodiments, the shield may provide a shield against at least a portion of the magnetic field of bothclip magnet28 andinternal magnet34. In some embodiments,instrument12 may also include such a shield about a portion ofsurface105. In such embodiments, the shield may leave exposed at least a portion or substantially all of the portion ofsurface105 that is a contact point withclip magnet28. In embodiments, the shield may provide a shield against at least a portion of the magnetic field of bothclip magnet28 andinternal magnet34.

Although the present invention and its advantages have been described in detail, it should be understood that various changes, substitutions and alterations may be made herein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims.

Claims

1. A magnetic spring clip, comprising:

a clip base having a semi-circle shape with an opening for engaging an instrument;

a pivot point within the clip base;

a shaft having a generally linear shape and upper and lower ends, wherein the upper end of the shaft is attached to the clip base by the pivot point such that the shaft is moveable relative to the clip base, and

a clip magnet, wherein the clip magnet has a magnetic south pole and a magnetic north pole.

2. The magnetic spring clip as described inclaim 1 wherein the clip magnet is disposed on the lower end.

3. The magnetic spring clip as described inclaim 1 wherein the clip magnet is screwably secured to the shaft.

4. The magnetic spring clip as described inclaim 1 wherein the clip magnet is slideably engaged to the shaft.

5. The magnetic spring clip as described inclaim 1 further comprising upper and lower caps attached to the shaft and positioned such that the clip magnet is disposed between the upper and lower caps.

6. The magnetic spring clip as described inclaim 1 wherein the clip base has walls, an upper side and an opening to receive the shaft.

7. The magnetic spring clip as described inclaim 6 wherein the clip base further comprises a pivot rod extending across the opening and attached to the walls of the clip base.

8. The magnetic spring clip as described inclaim 7 wherein the pivot rod extends through the upper end of the shaft thereby attaching the shaft to the clip base.

9. A magnetic spring clip system, comprising:

an instrument having a generally linear shape, wherein an internal magnet is disposed within the instrument;

a magnetic spring clip, comprising:

a clip base having a semi-circle shape with an opening for engaging the instrument;

a pivot point within the clip base;

a shaft having a generally linear shape and upper and lower ends, wherein the upper end of the shaft is attached to the clip base by the pivot point such that the shaft is moveable relative to the clip base, and wherein the shaft further comprises a clip magnet, and

wherein the internal magnet has a magnetic north pole and a magnetic south pole, and wherein the clip magnet has a clip magnet north pole and a clip magnet south pole.

10. The magnetic spring clip system as described inclaim 9 further comprising a second instrument having a generally linear shape.

11. The magnetic spring clip system as described inclaim 10 further comprising a mechanism that attaches the instrument to the second instrument.

12. The magnetic spring clip system as described inclaim 11 wherein the mechanism is a dual clip or a rubber grummet.

13. The magnetic spring clip system as described inclaim 9 wherein the clip magnet further comprises a shield.

14. The magnetic spring clip system as described inclaim 9 wherein the north pole of the internal magnet is proximate to the clip magnet south pole.

15. The magnetic spring clip system as described inclaim 9 wherein the clip magnet is rotatable about its longitudinal axis.

16. The magnetic spring clip system as described inclaim 9 wherein the clip magnet north pole is distal to the instrument.

17. A magnetic spring clip system, comprising:

a pair of instruments having generally linear shapes, wherein an internal magnet is disposed in one of the instruments;

a magnetic spring clip for attaching the pair of instruments, wherein the magnetic spring clip comprises:

a clip base having a semi-circle shape with an opening for engaging at least one instrument of the pair of instruments;

a pivot point within the clip base; and

a shaft having a generally linear shape and upper and lower ends, wherein the upper end of the shaft is attached to the clip base by the pivot point such that the shaft is moveable relative to the clip base, and wherein the shaft further comprises a clip magnet; and

wherein the internal magnet has a magnetic north pole and a magnetic south pole; and wherein the clip magnet has a clip magnet north pole and a clip magnet south pole.

18. The magnetic spring clip system as described inclaim 17 wherein the clip magnet further comprises a shield.

19. The magnetic spring clip system as described inclaim 17 wherein the north pole of the internal magnet is proximate to the clip magnet south pole.

20. The magnetic spring clip system as described inclaim 17 wherein the clip magnet is rotatable about its longitudinal axis.