Patent ID: 6925687
Filing Date: 2005-08-09
Classification: A45F,A47G,Y10T

Abstract:
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; and release 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.