Abstract:
A clip mechanism for supporting a flexible storage receptacle on a portion of a chair. The apparatus has a first clip member mountable to the portion of the chair and a second clip member connectable to the first clip member. A coupling is employed for connecting a first member to a second member, whereby the first member and the second member are positioned in a spaced apart relationship when coupled.

Description:
[0001]    The present invention relates to a clip mechanism for attaching storage devices to a seat or chair. 
     
    
     
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
         [0002]    Public facilities, such as stadiums or theatres, commonly use rows of folding seats separated by aisles to maximize the number of spectators that can be accommodated per event. Spectators often bring items to the event, such as purses, hats, or sweaters. Spectators also typically purchase concession goods, such as popcorn, candy and beverages while watching the event. Due to limited seating space provided by the facility to the spectator, the only places to put the items are either on the floor, under the seat, or on the spectator&#39;s lap Also, discarded containers and wrappers from the concession goods can often clutter the aisles and underneath seats, which is unsightly and requires specialized cleaning services to remove.  
           [0003]    Shipman et al. teaches a storage device for stadium seating in U.S. Pat. No. 5,820,210. The storage device fastens to an underside of the seat, or a seat back, and consists of a flexible receptacle held by a rigid frame. This arrangement does provide for item storage, however Shipman&#39;s storage device can be too bulky when fastened to the back of the seat. The width of the storage device can restrict spectator travel along the aisles, which is inconvenient and can pose safety concerns in the case of emergencies. Another disadvantage is that replacement of the storage receptacle requires disassembly of the frame. This is undesirable in situations where the receptacles are frequently changed, such as with garbage bags. A further disadvantage is that a limited amount of surface area on the storage device is available, for providing information and advertising to the surrounding spectators.  
           [0004]    Allegro in U.S. Pat. No. 5,887,942 attempts to address the need for advertising space by teaching a trash collection system for mounting on fold-up stadium seating. The system uses a trash receptacle attached to the seat, preferably by adhesive. The receptacle has information displayed thereon. One disadvantage with this system is that the adhesive attachment means does not provide a way to attach other articles to the seat, such as hats, purses, or bags brought by the spectator. As well, the use of adhesive does not provide for symmetrical placement of the bags on the seats, as mounting position depends upon the placement skills of the person installing the bags. This can produce a haphazard or non-uniform display of the bags in the stadium, which can be undesirable from an advertiser&#39;s viewpoint A further disadvantage is that all displayed information by the system is removed from the seat, once the receptacle is removed.  
           [0005]    It is an object of the present invention to obviate or mitigate the above presented disadvantages.  
         SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
         [0006]    According to the present invention there is provided an apparatus for supporting a storage receptacle on a portion of a chair. The apparatus comprises a first member mountable to the portion of the chair. A second member is connectable to the first member. A coupling is employed for connecting the first member to the second member, whereby the first member and the second member are positioned in a spaced apart relationship to accommodate a portion of said storage receptacle. 
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0007]    Preferred embodiments of the present invention are now described by way of example only with reference to the following drawings, in which:  
         [0008]    [0008]FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a clip mechanism mounted on a chair;  
         [0009]    [0009]FIG. 2 is a section  2 - 2  view of FIG. 1,  
         [0010]    [0010]FIG. 3 is a section  3 - 3  view of FIG. 1;  
         [0011]    [0011]FIG. 4 is a top view of the clip mechanism of FIG. 1;  
         [0012]    [0012]FIG. 5 shows a side view assembly of the clip mechanism of FIG. 1;  
         [0013]    [0013]FIG. 6 shows the bag of FIG. 1;  
         [0014]    [0014]FIG. 7 is a further embodiment of FIG. 1; and  
         [0015]    [0015]FIG. 8 shows further clip mechanisms. 
     
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS  
       [0016]    Referring to FIG. 1, a clip mechanism  10  is used to support a storage bag  12 , shown in ghosted view, to a back  14  of a folding seat  16 . The clip mechanism  10  comprises a mounting plate  18  fastened securely to the back  14  by a series of screws  20 . A face plate  22  is connected to the mounting plate  18 , and can be used to display indicia  24 , such as advertisements or other suitable information to surrounding spectators.  
         [0017]    As shown in FIG. 2, the mounting plate  18  includes a connector  19 , which has a resilient arm  24  connected to a plate portion  26 . The arm  24  is positioned in a cut-out  25 , of the plate portion  26 . A wedge  28  is located on one end of the arm  24 , and comprises a ramp portion  30  and an abutment surface  32 . The connector  19  also includes a pair of L-shaped brackets  34 , connected to the plate portion  26 , and are mateable with a pair of corresponding brackets  36 , (of a connector  23 ), located on the back side  38  of the face plate  22  (shown in FIG. 3).  
         [0018]    The connector  23  also has a wedge  30  located between the brackets  36 , which comprises a ramp portion  40  and an abutment surface  42 . A width “W” of the surface  42  helps to determine a corresponding spacing  44  between the plates  18 ,  22  when assembled, as shown in FIG. 4.  
         [0019]    In order to assemble the plates  18  and  22 , the mounting plate  18  is secured to the chair back  14  by the screws  20 , or other fasteners such as adhesive or clips if desired. This places the back wall  23  of the arm  24  in a spaced apart relationship with respect to the chair back  14 . A face plate  22  is then positioned above the mounting plate  18  as shown in FIG. 5. Once the bracket pairs  34  and  36  are aligned in a mateable orientation, as shown in FIG. 4, the plate  22  is displaced towards the plate  18  so that a portion of the brackets  36  is received within the brackets  34 . This arrangement places the ramp portions  30 ,  40  of the connectors  19 ,  23  into engagement.  
         [0020]    Further downward displacement of the plate  22 , with respect to the plate  18 , causes the wedge  28  on the resilient arm  24  to flex towards the chair back  14 , in response to the interaction between the ramp portions  30  and  40 . Once the ramp portions  30 ,  40  by-pass one another, the resilient arm  24  is released into a relaxed state which causes an edge  46  to contact a front surface  48  of the arm  24 . This arrangement places the abutment surfaces  32  and  42 , of the connectors  19 ,  23 , into engagement. A pair of stops  50  are positioned on a bottom end  54  of the brackets  34  to inhibit further advance of an end  56  of the brackets  36 , thereby locking the face plate  22  onto the mounting plate  18  as shown in FIG. 1.  
         [0021]    Once the clip mechanism  10  is assembled, a cut-out portion  58  of the bag  12  can be positioned in the space  44  between the plates  18 ,  22  (see FIG. 4). This arrangement provides support for the bag  12  on the chair  14 , as well as inhibiting accidental knocking of the bag  12  off the clip mechanism  10  due to spectator contact. The bag  12 , shown in FIG. 6, has a mounting portion  60  containing the cut-out  58  and a receptacle portion  62 . The receptacle portion  62  can be initially closed by a perforated seal  64 , if desired.  
         [0022]    In order to use the bag  12 , a spectator breaks the seal  64  and proceeds to fill the portion  62  with personal items or trash generated by the consumption of concession goods. A further pouch  66  can be provided on the bag  12 . The pouch  66  can be used to provide the spectator with promotional goods  68 , such as coupons or consumer samples. The front areas of the portion  60 ,  62  can also be used to display indicia  24 , if desired. In order to replace the bag  12 , the cut-out  58  is removed from the space  44 .  
         [0023]    Disassembly of the clip mechanism  10  is accomplished by flexing the arm  24  towards the chair back  14 . Once the abutment surfaces  32  and  42  of the connectors  19 ,  23  are thereby disengaged, the face plate  22  can be displaced upwards relative to the mounting plate  18  and removed. A tool, such as a screwdriver, can be used to flex the arm  24  and force apart the surfaces  32 ,  42  if desired.  
         [0024]    The clip mechanism  10  can also be used to attach bag  12  to the underside of folding seats, such as in sporting venues and large theatres. The folding seats are typically spring loaded, which causes the seat to automatically rise into an upright position when a user vacates the seat. The placement of indicia  24  on the bag  12  can be effective, since a spectator at the venue will be constantly exposed to the indicia whenever the spectator glances at an empty folding seat, or uses the bag  12  attached to an adjacent seat. Since the bag  12  is preferably recyclable and disposable, indicia can be changed for each event. It should be noted that the clip mechanism  10  can be mounted to other types of facility seating, if desired. Also, indicia  24  can also be displayed on the mounting plate  18 .  
         [0025]    Mounting of the bags  12  on the seats  16  can be facilitated using static electricity contained by the bag material, such as plastic, after manufacture thereof. Static electricity can attract and retain the bag  12  in contact with portions of the seats  16 , once the bags  12  are mounted on the clip mechanism  10 . This helps the bags  12  to be held away from high traffic areas, such as aisles, so that movement of spectators between seats  16  may be less awkward. Also, adhesive may be used to retain the bag  12  in contact with the seat  16 , if desired.  
         [0026]    A further embodiment of the clip mechanism  10  as shown in FIG. 7, wherein like numerals with the prefix  1  refer to similar elements to those in proceeding figures. A mounting plate  118  is U-shaped in cross-section. The plate  118  consists of a top portion  70  connected to two side portions  72 . The plate  118  can be mounted on a top  74  on the chair back  114  shown in ghosted view. The side portions  72  are inwardly disposed, in a relaxed state, so that force is required to spread the portion  72  apart when mounting the plate  118  to the chair back  114 . This arrangement provides a compressive force to help clip the mounting plate  118  to the back  114 . Additional fasteners can also be used to mount the plate  118  to the back  114 , if desired.  
         [0027]    Referring to FIG. 8, different clip mechanisms  210 ,  310  are shown. Clip mechanism  210  has a small faceplate  222  with a larger mounting plate  218 . In this case indicia  24  can be placed on both plates  222 ,  218 . Clip mechanism  310  has a faceplate  322  larger than a mounting plate  318 , which provides greater support for the bag  12  against accidental removal from behind the plate  322 .  
         [0028]    Although the invention has been described with reference to certain specific embodiments, various modifications thereof will be apparent to those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as outlined in the claims appended hereto.