Badge clip assembly including a spring-biased clip member

• US 5,564,166 A
• Filed: 08/02/1995
• Issued: 10/15/1996
• Est. Priority Date: 08/02/1995
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Craft, Inc.
• Original Assignee: ROY Manufacturing Co., Inc.
• Inventors: Roy, Armand E.
• Primary Examiner(s): Cuomo, Peter M.
• Assistant Examiner(s): VU, STEPHEN A
• Application Number:
  US08/510,188
• Time in Patent Office: 440 Days
• Field of Search: 24/13, 24/24, 24/508, 24/513, 24/330, 24/335, 24/3.11, 40/1.5, 40/1.6, 40/666
• US Class Current: 24/3.11
• CPC Class Codes: A44B 99/00 Subject matter not provided for in other groups of this subclass
• CPC Class Codes: A45F 2200/055 Thin, flat, rectangular articles, e.g. ID badges or cards
• CPC Class Codes: A45F 5/02 Fastening articles to the garment
• CPC Class Codes: G09F 3/207 in the form of a badge to be worn by a person
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 24/1365 Pin attached
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 24/1391 Article held by clip with spring [e.g., leaf, coil] member
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 24/1471 Pivoted parts
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 24/3432 and toggle operator
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 24/3439 Plural clasps
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 24/44453 having specific handle structure
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 24/44496 with operator means for moving pivoted member

Abstract

A badge clip secures a badge to an attaching member which enables the badge to be worn or carried by a person. The badge clip includes a fixed leg having a first end portion and an opposite second end portion with a curled barrel formation, and a movable leg having a first end portion which is reversely bent from the first end portion of the fixed leg, and an opposite second end portion which is engageable with the curled barrel formation of the fixed leg. The movable leg is pivotally movable between an open position and a closed position, the movable leg being biased to its closed position. The arrangement is such that the curled barrel formation of the fixed leg is capable of receiving a badge having an opening formed therein for securing the badge to the badge clip. The curled barrel formation is received through the opening of the badge when the movable leg is in its open position. The badge is secured to the badge clip when the movable leg resiliently returns to its closed position.

Claims

1. A clip assembly for securing a badge to an article of clothing comprising:

a badge clip including a fixed leg having an inwardly facing surface and first and second end portions, said second end portion being reversely bent such that a terminal end of said second end portion is adjacently positioned to said inwardly facing surface, said badge clip further including a movable leg having an inwardly facing surface and first and second end portions, said first end portion of said movable leg being fixedly attached to said first end portion of said fixed leg wherein said second end portion of said movable leg is engageable with the terminal end of the second end portion of the fixed leg, said second end portion of said movable leg being movable between a closed position wherein the second end portion of the movable leg is engaged with the terminal end of the second end portion of said fixed leg and an open position wherein the second end of the movable leg is spaced apart from said terminal end, said badge clip further including means for normally biasing the second end portion of the movable leg to said closed position, said second end portions of said fixed and movable legs having a width which is less than that of a slot formed along a top edge of a badge, said terminal end of said second end portion of said fixed leg being received through said slot whereby said badge is secured to said badge clip; and

clamping means attached to said badge clip for releasably clamping said badge clip to an article of clothing.

2. The clip assembly of claim 1 wherein said means for normally biasing said second end portion of said movable leg comprises a detent formed on the inwardly facing surface of one of the fixed and movable legs, and means for securing said first end portions of said fixed and movable legs in facing relation whereby said detent functions as a fulcrum to resiliently bias said second end of said movable leg to said closed position.

3. The clip assembly of claim 2, wherein said detent is formed on the inwardly facing surface of said fixed leg.

4. The clip assembly of claim 2, wherein said means for securing said first end portions of said fixed and movable legs in facing relation comprises a rivet extending through said fixed and movable legs, said rivet further functioning to attach said clamping means to said badge clip.

5. In the clip assembly of claim 1, each of said fixed and movable legs further comprising opposing sidewall portions located adjacent the second end portions of said fixed and movable legs.

6. The clip assembly of claim 1, wherein said reversely bent second end portion of said fixed leg is reversely bent in the shape of a curved barrel.

7. The clip assembly of claim 1, wherein said, first end portion of said movable leg is reversely bent from the first end portion of the fixed leg.