Abstract:
A curtain clip that can be used to hold bunched up curtains to the side, and does not slide vertically because a rubber lining affixed along the inside edge prevents the curtain clip from sliding vertically. The rubber lining prevents the curtain clip from sliding on sheer curtains and other curtains that have a somewhat slippery surface texture. The curtain clip also eliminates ropes and tie backs that would otherwise have to be permanently affixed to the window frame or wall using screws or other fastening devices

Description:
BACKGROUND 
       [0001]    The problem this invention addresses is that there are no products on the market that successfully and easily hold curtains to the side. The ropes and tie backs get in the way and are cumbersome to tie and arrange. Furthermore, the ropes and tie backs must be permanently affixed to the window frame or wall using screws or other fastening devices. This leaves holes or adhesive stuck to the frame or wall. 
         [0002]    There are some existing clips, however they slide off or have an incredibly complicated design, preventing their easy or successful use. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0003]    The present invention solves these issues by utilizing a design inspired from hair clips, and by adding a rubber lining to the inside of the clip. The present invention uses clips that are larger than hair clips, but similar in mechanical function. The rubber lining prevents the clip from sliding on sheer curtains and other curtains that have a somewhat slippery surface texture. The clip is manually operable. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0004]      FIG. 1  illustrates a system including one embodiment of a pair of clips holding curtains to the side and not slipping because of the rubber lining inside the clips. 
           [0005]      FIG. 2  illustrates a system including one embodiment of the clip with rubber lining for the purpose of holding curtains. 
           [0006]      FIG. 3  illustrates a system including one embodiment of the clip with rubber lining for the purpose of holding curtains. 
           [0007]      FIG. 4  illustrates a system including one embodiment of the clip with rubber lining for the purpose of holding curtains. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0008]    The present invention uses clips that are larger than hair clips, but similar in mechanical function. Another difference is the present invention has a clip with a rubber lining along the inside edge. The rubber lining prevents the clip from sliding vertically on sheer curtains and other curtains that have a somewhat slippery surface texture. 
         [0009]    The body of the clip may be made of plastic, wood or other stable easily accessible materials. 
         [0010]    The clip binds curtains vertically, so that the clips close on the left and right side of bunched up curtains. The clip wraps around the bunched up curtains. 
         [0011]    The clips would function in pairs, so that 1 clip holds the left side&#39;s bunched up curtains, and another clip holds the right side&#39;s bunched up curtains. 
         [0012]    The clip is operable manually, and includes 2 solid pieces and a lever portion, such that each piece has a smaller straight part above the lever portion and a larger curved part below the lever portion. The lever portion is what connects the 2 solid pieces, and when the smaller straight parts of each piece are squeezed together, the two bottom curved parts below the lever portion open up, so that the bottom curved parts can be placed around bunched up curtains. 
         [0013]    One embodiment of the clip would be 3 inches in width and 6 inches in length. This seems to be the ideal size in order to successfully hold average size curtains in an average house. The ratio of length to width is 2 to 1. There is a range of possible lengths and widths that also work well, the length can be between 4 and 8 inches, and the width can be between 2 and 4 inches. 
         [0014]    The rubber lining goes around the entire edge of the inside of the clip. The ideal width of the rubber lining is one-third of an inch. This can vary but maintain the ratio to the length of the clip. This ratio is 1/9, so that the width of the rubber lining is 1/9 the size of the length of the clip. 
         [0015]    The rubber lining can be affixed to the clip by any reasonable method, such as by gluing it on. 
         [0016]    The clip has an optional decorative design element on the outside that might add to the visual appeal of the curtains. One embodiment of this is a plastic clip, in which the larger curved sides of each curtain retainer member has 4 cutouts, and on the opposite side of the lever portion, the smaller straight part of each curtain retainer member has 5 ornamental slots. 
         [0017]    Another embodiment is a plastic clip, in which the larger curved sides of each clip retainer member has 4 ornamental extensions, and on the opposite side of the lever portion, the smaller straight part of each clip retainer member has 5 ornamental extensions. 
         [0018]    
       FIG. 1 
     
         [0019]      FIG. 1  illustrates a system including one embodiment of a pair of clips holding curtains to the side and not slipping because of the rubber lining inside the clips.  FIG. 1  includes a system with multiple parts: a clip  101 , a clip  102 , and curtains  103 . Clips  101  and  102  hold the sides of the bunched up curtains  103  so that the bunched up curtains stay to the side. Clips  101  and  102  stay at their vertical position and do not slide down the curtains  103  even though the curtains  103  might be sheer or otherwise made of a slippery texture, because the rubber lining on the inside of each clip  101  and  102  holds them in place. 
         [0020]    
       FIG. 2 
     
         [0021]      FIG. 2  illustrates a system including one embodiment with multiple parts: a clip  201 , a rubber lining  202 , a lever portion  203 , ornamental extensions  204 , and different ornamental extensions  205 .  FIG. 2  provides a 3-dimensional view of the clip. 
         [0022]    The lever portion  203  includes a spring hinge to allow the clip to open and close. 
         [0023]    The lever portion  203  allows the clip to expand and contract, which allows the clip to wrap around the bunched up curtains. The rubber lining  202  helps the clip to maintain its vertical position on the curtains. The ornamental extensions  204  and  205  are decorative and extend less than 1/3 of an inch. 
         [0024]    Parts  206  and  207  are the same solid piece of wood, where  206  is straight and above the lever portion, while  207  is curved and larger than  206 . The corresponding parts on the other side of the clip are also 1 solid piece of wood. 
         [0025]      FIG. 3  illustrates a system including one embodiment with multiple parts: a clip  301 , a rubber lining  302 , a lever portion  303 . In this embodiment, the height  304  of the clip is 3 inches, and the width  305  of the clip while closed is 2 inches. The lever portion  303  includes a spring hinge to allow the clip to open and close.  FIG. 3  provides a 2-dimensional view of the clip. 
         [0026]    
       FIG. 4 
     
         [0027]      FIG. 4  illustrates a system including one embodiment with multiple parts: a clip  401 , a rubber lining  402 , a lever portion  403 , ornamental extensions  404 , and different ornamental extensions  405 .  FIG. 4  provides a 3-dimensional view of the clip. 
         [0028]    The lever portion  403  includes a spring hinge to allow the clip to open and close. The lever portion  403  allows the clip to expand and contract, which allows the clip to wrap around the bunched up curtains. The rubber lining  402  helps the clip to maintain its vertical position on the curtains. The ornamental slots  404  and  405  are decorative and extend less than 1/3 of an inch. 
         [0029]    The clip  401  includes a pair of clip retainer members having an elongated longitudinal side. There is a rubber lining  402  affixed to the inside of the clip around the edge of both halves of the clip. 
         [0030]    On each of the clip retainer members there are 4 ornamental slots  405  on the larger curved sides of each clip retainer member. Each curtain retainer member also has 5 ornamental slots  404  on the smaller straight part of each curtain retainer member, on the opposite side of the lever portion  403  from the ornamental slots  405 . This will allow the clip retainer members to clamp down on the bunched up curtains easily.