Curtain clip

A curtain clip device (10) includes a top flange portion (14) with two inwardly directed channels (16) and (18) bounding of the upper surface (20) of the top flange portion (14). The inwardly directed channels (16) and (18) partially enclose the upper surface (20) of the top flange portion (14) to form a recess (24) sized to receive a support structure. A diagonally downward extending lever (26) protrudes from the outside lower corner of adjacent channel (18). Rotation of the lever (26) causes the top flange portion (14) to be flexed, allowing the clip device (10) to engage with a support structure. A curved lower jaw (30) depends downward from the lower surface (22) of the top flange portion (14) and has a free end (32) configured to form a jaw clasp (34). A stationary clasp (36) depends from the lower surface (22) of the top flange portion (14), which is designed to selectively mate in an interlocking configuration with the jaw clasp (34) of the curved lower jaw (30) thereby securing a protecting curtain. The curved lower jaw (30) further contains an outwardly directed channel (38) opposite the jaw clasp (34) for receiving a leverage tool to assist in unlatching the jaw clasp (34) from the stationary clasp (36).

FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
The present invention relates to an implement composed of a clip-type 
device, and more particularly to a device for hanging curtain type 
material from the framework used to support ceiling tiles. 
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
It is frequently desirable to temporarily hang protective curtains inside 
buildings in many different instances, such as during interior 
construction, remodeling, and painting. At the present time, there is no 
satisfactory way to accomplish supporting protective curtains in this 
manner. This is largely due to the fact that these buildings are usually 
devoid of any adequate supporting structures for the curtains. A possible 
method for suspending articles in this situation, incorporates utilizing 
the horizontal beams which support acoustical ceiling tiles. 
There have been attempts in the prior art to produce devices that will 
suspend various articles from ceiling support beams. . These include U.S. 
Pat. No. 4,112,550 (DeWitt et al.) and U.S. Pat. No. 4,315,611 (Hoop), 
both of which disclose suspended hooks that will attach to ceiling support 
beams and facilitate the hanging of objects from their lower hook 
portions. These devices are ineffective however, in providing a means for 
supporting a temporary protective curtain from a ceiling structural 
member, in that a hook will not efficiently anchor to the sheet 
configuration of a curtain. 
Although some type of jerryrigging might possibly be conceived to hang a 
curtain from a hook, this would not only be impractical, but would also 
likely produce tearing of the curtain and/or excessive gapping between the 
curtain and the ceiling. Thus, there is a continuing need for a simplified 
device that will effectively suspend a temporary curtain from a support 
structure, and is also relatively easy to install and operate. 
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
The present invention teaches a clip type device including a top flange 
portion with two inwardly directed channels at the ends of the top flange 
portion's upper surface. The inwardly directed channels partially enclose 
the top flange portion's upper surface to form a recess such that a 
support structure is receivable into the recess. A lower jaw portion 
extends downward from the lower surface of the top flange portion and has 
a free end configured to form a jaw clasp. A stationary clasp depends from 
the lower surface of the top flange portion, which is designed to 
selectively mate in an interlocking configuration with the jaw clasp of 
the lower jaw portion. The free end of the lower jaw portion further 
contains an outwardly directed channel to assist in unlatching the jaw 
clasp from the stationary clasp. 
In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the inwardly directed 
channels of the top flange portion are sized to engage with a standard 
15/16 th inch ceiling t-grid. The top flange portion further contains a 
diagonally downward extending lever which is incorporated into the outside 
lower comer of one of the inwardly directed channels. This lever has a 
serrated or otherwise textured upper surface to facilitate manual 
activation of the lever. The purpose of the lever is to rotate the 
attached inwardly directed channel when desiring to attach or detach the 
clip device from the ceiling support t-grid. The lower jaw portion of the 
clip is designed such that the jaw clasp of the lower jaw portion and the 
stationary clasp of the top flange can close over a thin fabric or plastic 
curtain and secure it in place, using only finger pressure. The outwardly 
directed channel can be used to unlatch the jaw clasp from the stationary 
clasp through insertion of a release tool, such as a screwdriver blade, 
thus allowing repetitive use of the clips. 
In an alternate embodiment, the clip device is similar to the clip of the 
preferred embodiment, except that the inwardly directed channels of the 
top flange portion are sized to engage with a standard 9/16 th inch 
ceiling t-grid. 
In an additional alternate embodiment, the top flange portion of the clip 
device does not have inwardly directed channels at its ends, but instead 
is substantially flat. Further, the top flange portion of the clip also 
does not contain a downwardly extending lever. A clip of this alternate 
embodiment is designed to be mounted on a vertical wall, with the 
substantially flat surface of the top flange portion adhered to a vertical 
wall. The lower jaw portion, the jaw clasp and the stationary clasp of 
this alternate embodiment function in the same manner as the preferred 
embodiment. 
A clip device constructed in accordance with the present invention may thus 
be simply, inexpensively, and effectively used to temporarily suspend thin 
protective curtains from standard ceiling supports. The device is 
constructed such that the top flange portion can be easily released from a 
ceiling support t-grid, and such that a secured curtain can be easily 
released from the selectively mateable jaw clasp and stationary clasp. 
Thus, the clip device is fully adjustable and reusable, requiring only a 
screwdriver blade or similar instrument for detachment and reuse. 
Alternate embodiments of this invention provide correspondingly sized 
clips for varying standard ceiling support t-grids, and additionally 
provide a vertical wall mounting embodiment for situations where ceiling 
support t-grids do not exist or are otherwise unavailable.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
FIG. 1 illustrates a preferred embodiment of a curtain clip device 10 
constructed in accordance with the present invention and mounted to the 
lower flange of a t-grid ceiling support 12. The clip device 10 includes a 
top flange portion 14 with two inwardly directed channels 16 and 18 
bounding the upper surface 20 of the top flange portion 14. The two 
inwardly directed channels 16 and 18 partially enclose the upper surface 
20 of the top flange portion 14 forming a recess 24 sized to receive the 
lower flange of a t-grid ceiling support 12. From the outside lower comer 
of adjacent channel 18 protrudes a diagonally downward extending lever 26. 
Rotation of the lever 26 causes the top flange portion 14 to be flexed, 
allowing the clip device 10 to engage over the lower flange of a t-grid 
ceiling support 12. Extending downward from the lower surface 22 of the 
top flange 14 is a curved lower jaw 30. The curved lower jaw 30 is 
operatively connected with the top flange portion 14 adjacent channel 18 
and has a nominally free end 32 configured to form a jaw clasp 34 at the 
end of the clip device 10 adjacent channel 16. Additionally, a stationary 
clasp 36 depends generally downward from the lower surface 22 of the top 
flange portion 14, which is designed to selectively mate in an 
interlocking configuration with the jaw clasp 34 of the curved lower jaw 
30. Further, the free end 32 of the curved lower jaw 30 contains an 
outwardly directed channel 38 opposite the jaw clasp 34 to assist in 
unlatching the jaw clasp 34 from the stationary clasp 36. 
As shown in FIG. 1, the curtain clip device 10 is designed to attach to the 
lower horizontal flange of a t-grid ceiling support 12. T-grid ceiling 
supports are contained in the ceiling structure of many buildings and are 
used as a framework to support acoustical ceiling tiles. The width of the 
lower horizontal flange of a standard t-grid ceiling support 12 is 15/16 
ths of an inch. The curtain clip device 10 is configured to receive this 
15/16" width. Another common width for the lower horizontal flange of a 
t-grid ceiling support 120 is 9/16 ths of an inch. As shown in FIG. 2, an 
alternate embodiment temporary curtain clip device 100 is designed to 
match this 9/16" width. This alternate embodiment temporary curtain clip 
device 100 is the same as the clip device 10 in all other aspects however. 
Referring again to FIG. 1, the top flange portion 14 of the curtain clip 
device 10 is the section of the clip device that abuts against the bottom 
of the t-grid ceiling support 12. Specifically, the upper surface 20 of 
flange portion 14 is put into substantial face-to-face contact with the 
lower surface of the t-grid ceiling support 12 when the clip device 10 has 
been mounted. The upper surface 20 of the top flange 14 is bounded at each 
end by inwardly directed channels 16 and 18. These inwardly directed 
channels 16 and 18 partially enclose the upper surface 20, forming a 
recess 24. This recess 24 is occupied by the lower horizontal flange of 
the t-grid ceiling support 12 when the clip device 10 is mounted to the 
t-grid 12. 
Referring to FIG. 2, a lever 26 is shown extending outwardly and downward 
from the outside lower comer of adjacent channel 18. In the preferred 
embodiment, the lever 26 extends diagonally downward at about a 45.degree. 
angle, as shown in FIG. 2. It should be noted, however, that the lever 26 
could extend solely outwardly with no downward angle, solely downward with 
no outward angle, or at any angle within that 90.degree. range without 
departing from the scope of the present invention. It should also be noted 
that it is not necessary for the lever 26 to be attached to the outside 
lower comer of adjacent channel 18 as shown in FIG. 2. In an alternate 
embodiment of the present invention, the lever 26 could extend from any 
portion of adjacent channel 18. Additionally, in alternate embodiments of 
the present invention, the lever 26 could extend from adjacent channel 16 
instead of adjacent channel 18. A further alternate embodiment could 
include levers 26 extending from both inwardly directed channels 16 and 
18. 
Referring again to FIG. 2, it can be seen that lever 26 has a serrated, or 
otherwise textured upper surface 28 to assist in rotation of the lever 26. 
As demonstrated in FIG. 3, clockwise rotation of the lever 26 causes the 
top flange portion 14 of the clip device 10 to be flexed such that the 
inwardly directed channels 16 and 18 separate enough to allow the lower 
horizontal flange of the t-grid ceiling support 12 to be inserted into the 
recess 24 created by the upper surface 20 of the top flange 14 and the two 
inwardly directed channels 16 and 18. When the clockwise manual pressure 
is removed from the lever 26, the top flange portion 14 unflexes back into 
substantially its original position, thereby securing the clip device 10 
to the t-grid ceiling support 12, as shown in FIG. 4. 
As should be readily apparent from the above description, the clip device 
10 must be composed of a material flexible enough to allow and withstand 
the above-described deflection. As should also be readily apparent from 
the above description, the clip device 10 must be composed of a material 
resilient enough to substantially reassume its original shape after 
undergoing the above described deflection. Preferably, the clip device 10 
is formed of a material with a modulus of elasticity such that the release 
lever 26 can be activated by finger pressure. 
Referring again to FIG. 2, the curtain clip device further includes a 
curved lower jaw 30 that is generally semi-circular in shape. The curved 
lower jaw 30 extends downwardly from the lower surface 22 of the top 
flange 14. In a preferred embodiment, the curved lower jaw 30 has a fixed 
end 42 incorporated into the lower surface 22 of the top flange 14 near 
channel 18. From the fixed end 42, the lower jaw 30 curves generally 
downward, then continues curving towards channel 16, and at its free end 
32, curves back in a generally upward direction. The generally 
semi-circular shape of the curved lower jaw 30 creates an interior cavity 
44 in the area above the curved lower jaw 30 and below the top flange 
portion 14. The free end 32 of the curved lower jaw 30, to configured to 
form a jaw clasp 34. 
As can also be seen in FIG. 1, the clip device 10 further contains 
stationary clasp 36 that extends generally downward from the lower surface 
22 of the top flange 14 near channel 16. The stationary clasp 36 is 
positioned on the lower surface 22 of top flange 14 such that the 
stationary clasp 36 is selectively mateable with the jaw clasp 34 of 
curved lower jaw 30 in an interlocking configuration, through upward 
deflection of the curved lower jaw 30 relative to the top flange portion 
14. 
The free end 32 of the curved lower jaw 30 additionally includes a hook 40 
that forms an outwardly directed channel 38 between the inner surface of 
the hook 40 and the outer surface of the curved lower jaw 30. The 
outwardly directed channel 38 is sized to receive a screwdriver blade or 
other similarly shaped object. Counterclockwise rotation of the 
screwdriver blade will result in the disengagement of the jaw clasp 34 
from stationary clasp 36. 
In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the clip device 10 is 
constructed of a material with a flexibility and resilience that will 
allow the curved lower jaw 30 to be pushed upwards with finger pressure, 
causing the selective mating of the jaw clasp 34 and the stationary clasp 
36, and allow the disengagement of the jaw clasp 34 from the stationary 
clasp 36 by way of insertion and counterclockwise rotation of a 
screwdriver blade or similarly shaped object in the outwardly directed 
channel 38. Disengagement of the selectively mated jaw clasp 34 and 
stationary clasp 36 results in the curved lower jaw 30 substantially 
returning to its original unmated position. Thus, allowing the curtain 
clip device 10 to be fully adjustable and reusable. 
When the curved lower jaw 30 is in its open position (with jaw clasp 34 and 
stationary clasp 36 unlatched), a protective curtain 46 is inserted 
between the clasps 34 and 36 and into the interior cavity 44 of the clip 
device 10. Referring again to FIG. 4, the curved lower jaw 30 is then 
pushed upward, causing the interlocking of clasps 34 and 36 and securing 
the protective curtain 46 between them. Corresponding clasps 34 and 36 are 
adapted such that they can still achieve a secure interlocked mated 
position with the curtain 46 clamped between them. 
In the embodiment of the present invention shown in FIG. 5, another curtain 
clip device 130 is demonstrated as adapted to mount on a vertical wall 135 
for situations where a t-grid ceiling support 12 is unavailable. The clip 
device 130 has a portion 140 that is substantially flat and contains no 
inwardly directed channels or diagonally depending levers. Instead, the 
substantially flat surface of the alternate flange portion 140 of the 
alternate clip device 130 is adhered directly to a vertical wall 135. The 
remaining features of this alternative clip device 130 are adapted and 
function in the same manner as the clip device 10 of the preferred 
embodiment. 
All stated orientational language is provided merely for illustrative 
purposes and does not denote any intent to limit the present invention. 
The present invention has been described in relation to a preferred 
embodiment and several alternate embodiments. One of ordinary skill, after 
reading the foregoing specifications, may be able to effect variations, 
other changes, alterations, and substitutions or equivalents without 
departing from the broad concepts disclosed. It is therefore intended that 
the scope of the letters patent granted hereon be limited only by the 
definitions contained in the appended claims and equivalents thereof.