Hook-shaped arrangement

• US 6,301,751 B1
• Filed: 11/05/1999
• Issued: 10/16/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 05/09/1997
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Expograf Cardkeep International AB
• Original Assignee: Expograf Cardkeep International AB
• Inventors: Ohlson, Kurt Lennart
• Primary Examiner(s): Sakran, Victor N.
• Application Number:
  US09/423,251
• Time in Patent Office: 711 Days
• Field of Search: 24/31.1, 24/31.2, 24/36, 245/96, 246/63
• US Class Current: 24/3.11
• CPC Class Codes: A44C 3/001 Badges
• CPC Class Codes: A45F 5/02 Fastening articles to the garment
• CPC Class Codes: G09F 3/14 by strings, straps, chains, or wires
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 24/1379 Key ring holder
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 24/1391 Article held by clip with spring [e.g., leaf, coil] member
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 24/1394 Article held by clip

Abstract

The present invention relates to a hook-shaped arrangement (1) which comprises a main part (1a), a hook-shaped device (1b) integral with said main part, and a holding means (2) which is integral with or attached to said main part. The hook-shaped device (1b) is comprised of a tongue (5) which is part-circular, or at least essentially part-circular in cross section and has an angle of arc slightly below 360°. The center (5′) of the curved tongue is located in a plane (A) which coincides with a plane (A′) that lies on one side surface (7) of the main part. The free end (5a) of the tongue extends in a plane (B) that coincides with a plane (B′) lying on that side surface (8) of the main part opposite to said one side surface (7) of said main part.

Claims

1. A hook-shaped arrangement that comprises:

a main part,

a hook-shaped device integral with said main part, and

a holding means which is connected to said main part,

wherein said hook-shaped device is formed at one end of the main part and adapted to firmly hold an object, while being not readily removable therefrom, and wherein the holding means is connected to the other end of the main part and capable of being attached to and readily removed from a further holding means,

wherein the hook-shaped device is comprised of a tongue which has an essentially part-circular cross-sectional shape that has an angle of arc slightly smaller than 360°

;

the centre of said curved tongue is located essentially in a plane that is orientated to coincide with a plane on one side surface of the main part; and

the free end of the tongue extends essentially in a plane which is orientated to coincide with a plane orientated on that side surface of said main part which lies opposite to said one side surface of said main part, and

wherein the main part includes a projection which faces towards said tongue and which is located in the close proximity of the side surface of said main part that is opposite to said one side surface of said main part, and orientated between said mutually opposing side surfaces.

2. An arrangement according to claim 1, wherein the angle of arc of said circular cross-sectional surface of the tongue is greater than 300°

and smaller than 340°

.

3. An arrangement according to claim 2, wherein the thickness of the tongue is essentially half the thickness of the main part of said device.

4. An arrangement according to claim 3, wherein the width of the tongue is equal, or at least essentially equal, to the width of the main part.

5. An arrangement according to claim 1, wherein said main part includes in the proximity of said other end one or two circular, barbed projections adapted for firm attachment to the holding means and capable of being rotated in relation to said means when necessary.

6. An arrangement according to claim 5, wherein said projections include a first type of projection formed on one side surface of said main part and adapted for co-action with a first type of holding means.

7. An arrangement according to claim 6, wherein the first type of holding means includes braces or a suspender clip.

8. An arrangement according to claim 5, wherein said projections include a second type of projection formed on that side surface of the main part which lies opposite said one side surface of said main part, said second type of projection being adapted for co-action with a second type of holding means.

9. An arrangement according to claim 8, wherein the second type of holding means includes a crocodile clip.

10. An arrangement according to claim 1, wherein the diameter of the curved tongue and the thickness of said tongue are slightly less than the distance from an outer edge of an identity card to a slot defining edge of said card that faces towards said outer edge.

11. An arrangement according to claim 1, wherein said main part and said hook-shaped device are comprised of a plastic material.

12. An arrangement according to claim 11, wherein the plastic material includes a polycarbonate material.

13. An arrangement according to claim 1, wherein the free end of the tongue is rounded towards one side surface of said main part.

14. An arrangement according to claim 1, wherein the centre of said curved tongue is located on one side of a plane orientated on one side surface of said main part and in a direction away from the plane orientated on that side surface of the main part which lies opposite to said one side surface of said main part.

15. An arrangement according to claim 14, wherein the angle of arc of the curved tongue is greater than 320°

and smaller than 350°

.

16. An arrangement according to claim 1, wherein the object includes an identity card, and said hook-shaped device is adapted to firmly hold the identity card, whilst being not readily removable therefrom.

17. An arrangement according to claim 16, wherein the further holding means includes part of a wearer'"'"'s clothing, and the holding means is capable of being attached to and readily removed from the part of a wearer'"'"'s clothing.