WO2005023035A1

WO2005023035A1 - A belt clip

Info

Publication number: WO2005023035A1
Application number: PCT/IE2004/000117
Authority: WO
Inventors: Damien Gough
Original assignee: Damien Gough
Priority date: 2003-09-09
Filing date: 2004-09-09
Publication date: 2005-03-17

Abstract

A belt clip (1) has a looped body (2) defining a belt receiving opening (3) for reception of a pair of overlapping belt portions (4, 5) to tidy a free end of the belt (4). The body (2) is U-shaped with an inner arm (8) and an outer arm (9) interconnected at their, upper ends by a top portion (10). An in-turned lip (12) is provided at a lower end of the outer arm (9) and defines a slot (6) with the inner arm (8) which allows the clip (1) to be slid downwardly onto a belt (4). A free end (5) of the belt (4) can then be inserted through the slot (6) into the opening (3) between the belt (4) and the outer arm (9).

Description

"A belt clip"

This invention relates to a belt clip.

In many instances when wearing a belt the free end of the belt does not meet the next loop on the trousers of the wearer and as a result hangs down, looking unsightly. If the free end of the belt is sufficiently long it may be tucked into a pocket or tucked behind the belt itself, however either of these an unsatisfactory solution to the problem, and detracts from the overall appearance.

The present invention is directed towards overcoming this problem.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

According to the invention there is provided a belt clip including a looped body defining a belt receiving opening for reception of a pair of overlapping belt portions, said body having a slot in a side wall of the body to allow through passage of a belt into and out of said belt receiving opening for demountably engaging and hanging the belt clip on said belt, the body being U-shaped having an inner arm and an outer arm spaced-apart and interconnected at their upper ends by a top portion, the slot being provided between spaced-apart lower ends of the arms, an in-turned lip being provided at a lower end of the outer arm projecting inwardly in the direction of the inner arm, the slot being defined between a free end of the lip and the inner arm.

Advantageously the belt clip of the invention can be clipped onto a belt when worn by a user in an optimum position for retaining the free end of the belt neatly and in line with the rest of the belt. Conveniently the belt clip can be slid down onto the belt when it is worn by the user for mounting and adjusting the belt clip to the optimum belt holding position to neatly support the free end of the belt. The lip conveniently prevents any tendency of the free end of the belt to drop out of engagement with the belt clip during use.

In one 'embodiment of the invention the belt clip has a pair of straight arms forming said inner arm and said outer arm which are substantially parallel.

In another embodiment the in-turned belt retaining lip on said first arm is substantially perpendicular to the second arm.

In a preferred embodiment the in-turned lip is provided at a lower end of said first arm. Preferably the in-turned lip is provided at a lower end of the outer arm.

In another embodiment an inwardly facing brush is provided at a lower end of the outer arm on an inside face of the outer arm and projecting towards the inner arm.

In another embodiment the arms are spaced-apart by at least two belt widths.

In another embodiment the widths of the slot corresponds to the widths of the belt.

In a further embodiment the width of the lip corresponds to the width of the belt.

In another embodiment the belt clip is formed from a single piece of material bent intermediate its ends.

In another embodiment the belt clip is formed of a substantially rigid material. The belt clip may be of metal or plastics material.

In another embodiment the first and second arms are of equal length.

In another embodiment the first and second arms are of different lengths.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The invention will be more clearly understood by the following description of some embodiments thereof, given by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a belt clip according to the invention;

Fig. 2 is a perspective view illustrating the belt clip, in-use; Fig. 3 is an end elevation view showing the belt clip in use;

Fig. 4 is an elevational view of another belt clip;

Fig. 5 is an elevational view of another belt clip;

Fig. 6 is an elevational view of another belt clip;

Fig. 7 is a perspective view of another belt clip; Fig. 8 is a perspective view of a further belt clip;

Fig. 9 is a perspective view of another belt clip;

Fig. 10 is a perspective view of another belt clip; and

Fig. 11 is an end elevational view of the belt clip shown in Fig. 10.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Referring to the drawings and initially to Figs. 1 to 3 thereof there is illustrated a belt clip according to the invention indicated generally by the reference numeral 1. The belt clip 1 has a looped body 2 defining a belt receiving opening 3 for reception of a pair of overlapping belt portions 4, 5 as shown in Figs. 2 and 3. A slot 6 at a bottom of the body 2 allows through passage of a belt 4 into and out of the belt receiving opening 3 for demountably engaging and hanging the belt clip 1 on the belt 4.

The body 2 is generally U-shaped having an inner arm 8 and an outer arm 9 spaced- apart and interconnected at their upper ends by an arcuate top portion 10. An in- turned lip 12 is provided at a lower end of the outer arm 9. This lip 12 projects inwardly in the direction of the inner arm 8. The slot 6 is provided between a free end of the lip 12 and the inner arm 8.

In use, the belt clip 10 can be slid downwardly into engagement with a belt 4 worn by a user of the clip 1. The inner arm 8 engages behind the belt 4 which slides upwardly through the slot 6 as the belt clip 1 is pushed downwardly onto the belt 4. Thus engaged, the belt clip 1 effectively forms an auxiliary belt loop on the belt 4 at a desired location to engage and hold an outer free end 15 of the belt 4. Said outer free end 15 is simply pushed through the belt receiving opening 3 between the belt 4 and the outer arm 9 of the belt clip 1.

It will be appreciated that the belt clip 1 can be readily easily engaged at any position along the belt 4 to receive the outer end 15 of the belt and hold it in neat overlapping engagement with the belt 4 in line with the rest of the belt and secured to the belt 4.

Fig. 4 shows another belt clip 16 largely similar to the belt clip previously described and like parts are assigned the same reference numerals. The inner arm 8 and outer arm 9 are spaced-apart by a distance A which is equal to or slightly more than twice the width E (Fig. 2) of the belt 4 to snugly support the free outer end 15 of the belt 4 in use. Also, the effective height B of the belt receiving opening 3 is approximately equal to or slightly greater than the depth F (Fig. 2) of the belt 4. By effective height is meant the straight portion of the outer arm 9 extending between the lip 12 and the top portion 10 which is substantially parallel to the inner arm 8, that is excluding the narrowing curved portions at either end. The width of the slot 6 formed between an inner end 13 of the lip 12 and a lower end 14 of the inner arm 8 is slightly greater than the width E of the belt 4. Also, the width D of the lip 12 is approximately equal to the width E of the belt 4. Thus the belt clip 16 can be easily slid downwardly onto the belt 4 which passes through the slot 6 and the free end 15 of the belt 4 is snugly supported within the opening 3 between the belt 4 and the outer arm 9.

Fig. 5 shows a slight modification in which a belt clip 17 has the lip 12 located just below the bottom end 18 of the inner arm 8, the top of the lip 12 being substantially in alignment with the bottom end 18 of the inner arm 8. Fig. 6 shows another modification in which a belt clip 19 has a shortened inner arm 8. It is envisaged however that the inner arm 8 should be at least half the depth F of the belt 4 for secure hanging attachment on the belt 4.

Referring now to Fig. 7 there is shown another belt clip according to a second embodiment of the invention indicated generally by the reference numeral 20. This is largely "similar to the belt clip described previously and like parts are assigned the same reference numerals. In this case an advertising logo or message 21 is provided on an outer face 22 of the outer arm 9. The message 21 may be indented into the surface of the outer arm 9, or be provided in relief or even simply as a surface decoration. It will be appreciated that the belt clip 20 may be designed with any suitable logo, advertising message or design attached to or formed on the belt clip 20. It can thus be used for promotional activities for example.

Referring now to Fig. 8 there is shown another belt clip indicated generally by the reference numeral 30 according to a third embodiment of the invention. This belt clip 30 is largely similar to the belt clip 1 described previously and like parts are assigned the same reference numerals. In this case an advertising logo 31 is integrally formed with the outer arnrf 9, the logo 31 being cut into the material forming the outer arm 9.

Referring now to Fig. 9 there is shown another belt clip indicated generally by the reference numeral 40 according to a fourth embodiment of the invention. Parts similar to those described previously are assigned the same reference numerals. In this case the outer arm 9 incorporates a shape or design indicated generally by the reference numeral 41 for decorative purposes. It will be appreciated that the belt clip generally, and in particular the outer arm 9 may be provided with any suitable shape or decoration to render it a more attractive jewellery or fashion item.

Referring now to Figs. 10 and 11 there is illustrated another belt clip according to a fifth embodiment of the invention indicated generally by the reference numeral 50. Parts similar to those described previously are assigned the same reference numerals. In this case instead of the in-turned lip described in the embodiment of Fig. 1 a brush element 51 is provided at a lower end of the outer arm 9. The brush element 51 projects inwardly toward the inner arm 8. The slot 6 is defined between an inner free end of the brush 51 and an inside face of the inner arm 8.

The invention is not limited to the embodiments hereinbefore described which may be varied in both construction and detail within the scope of the appended claims.

Claims

1. A belt clip including a looped body defining a belt receiving opening for reception of a pair of overlapping belt portions, said body having a slot in a side wall of the body to allow through passage of a belt into and out of said belt receiving opening for demountably engaging and hanging the belt clip on said belt, the body being U-shaped having an inner arm and an outer arm spaced-apart and interconnected at their upper ends by a top portion, the slot being provided between spaced-apart lower ends of the arms, an in-turned belt retaining lip being provided on a first arm of said arms projecting in the direction of a second arm of said arms, the slot being defined between a free end of the lip and the second arm.

2. A belt clip as claimed in claim 1 having a pair of straight arms forming said inner arm and said outer arm which are substantially parallel.

3. ^'A belt clip as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2 wherein the in-turned belt retaining lip on said first arm is substantially perpendicular to the second arm.

4. A belt clip as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the in-turned lip is provided at a lower end of said first arm.

5. A belt clip as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the in-turned lip is provided at a lower end of the outer arm.

6. A belt clip as claimed in any preceding clam wherein the belt retaining lip is formed by an inwardly facing brush provided at a lower end of the first arm on an inside face of the first arm and projecting towards the second arm.

7. A belt clip as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the arms are spaced- apart by at least two belt widths.

8. A belt clip as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the width of the slot corresponds to the width of the belt.

9. A belt clip as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the width of the lip corresponds to the width of the belt.

10. A belt clip as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the belt clip is formed from a single piece of material bent intermediate its ends.

11. A belt clip as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the belt clip is formed of a substantially rigid material.

12. A belt clip as claimed in claim 11 wherein the belt clip is metal.

13. A belt clip as claimed in claim 11 wherein the belt clip is of plastics material.

14. A belt clip as claimed in any preceding claim wherein said first and second arms are of equal length.

15. A belt clip as claimed in any of claims 1 to 13 wherein said first and second arms are of different lengths.