Abstract:
A magnetic spring clip and system are disclosed. In an embodiment, a magnetic spring clip includes a clip base having a semi-circle shape with an opening for engaging an instrument. The magnetic spring clip also includes a pivot point within the clip base. In addition, the magnetic spring clip includes a shaft having a generally linear shape and upper and lower ends. The upper end of the shaft is attached to the clip base by the pivot point such that the shaft is moveable relative to the clip base. Moreover, the shaft farther includes a magnetic lower end. The magnetic lower end is magnetically attracted to the instrument such that the lower end of the shaft contacts the instrument and secures any material between the lower end of the shaft and the instrument. The magnetic spring clip also has a clip magnet, wherein the clip magnet has a magnetic south pole and a magnetic north pole.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS  
       [0001]     This application is a continuation-in-part application of U.S. application Ser. No. 11/208,494 filed on Aug. 22, 2005, which is incorporated by reference herein in its entirety. 
     
    
     STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT  
       [0002]     Not applicable.  
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0003]     1. Field of the Invention  
         [0004]     This invention relates to the field of securing items and more specifically to a magnetic spring clip and system for securing items to clothing.  
         [0005]     2. Background of the Invention  
         [0006]     Items such as writing instruments and flashlights have been secured to clothing by clips. For instance, a conventional writing instrument with a clip includes the writing instrument being retractable into an opening of a barrel and having an operating means including an activation button and an operating cam. Drawbacks to conventional clips used with writing instruments include the writing instrument being operated by a single operating means with the clip only functioning when the writing cartridge is retracted.  
         [0007]     Consequently, there is a need for an improved clip and system for securing items such as writing instruments and flashlights to clothing.  
       BRIEF SUMMARY OF SOME OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS  
       [0008]     These and other needs in the art are addressed in one embodiment by a magnetic spring clip. In an embodiment, a magnetic spring clip includes a clip base having a semi-circle shape with an opening for engaging an instrument. The magnetic spring clip also includes a pivot point within the clip base. In addition, the magnetic spring clip includes a shaft having a generally linear shape and upper and lower ends. The upper end of the shaft is attached to the clip base by the pivot point such that the shaft is moveable relative to the clip base. Moreover, the shaft further includes a magnetic lower end. The magnetic lower end is magnetically attracted to the instrument such that the lower end of the shaft contacts the instrument and secures any material between the lower end of the shaft and the instrument. The magnetic spring clip also has a clip magnet, wherein the clip magnet has a magnetic south pole and a magnetic north pole.  
         [0009]     In addition, these and other needs in the art are addressed by a magnetic spring clip system. The magnetic spring clip system includes an instrument having a generally linear shape, wherein an internal magnet is disposed within the instrument. In addition, the magnetic spring clip system includes a magnetic spring clip that has a clip base having a semi-circle shape with an opening for engaging the instrument. The magnetic spring clip also has a pivot point within the clip base. In addition, the magnetic spring clip has a shaft having a generally linear shape and upper and lower ends, wherein the upper end of the shaft is attached to the clip base by the pivot point such that the shaft is moveable relative to the clip base. The clip further includes a clip magnet having a magnetic north pole and a magnetic south pole.  
         [0010]     These and other needs in the art are further addressed by a magnetic spring clip system. The magnetic spring clip system has a pair of instruments having generally linear shapes, wherein an internal magnet is disposed in one of the instruments. In addition, the magnetic spring clip system includes a magnetic spring clip for attaching the pair of instruments. The magnetic spring clip includes a clip base having a semi-circle shape with an opening for engaging at least one instrument of the pair of instruments. The magnetic spring clip further includes a pivot point within the clip base. Moreover, the magnetic spring clip has a shaft having a generally linear shape and upper and lower ends, wherein the upper end of the shaft is attached to the clip base by the pivot point such that the shaft is moveable relative to the clip base. The shaft further includes a clip magnet. The internal magnet has a magnetic north pole and a magnetic south pole, and wherein the clip magnet has a clip magnet north pole and a clip magnet south pole.  
         [0011]     The foregoing has outlined rather broadly the features and technical advantages of the present invention in order that the detailed description of the invention that follows may be better understood. Additional features and advantages of the invention will be described hereinafter that form the subject of the claims of the invention. It should be appreciated by those skilled in the art that the conception and the specific embodiments disclosed may be readily utilized as a basis for modifying or designing other embodiments for carrying out the same purposes of the present invention. It should also be realized by those skilled in the art that such equivalent embodiments do not depart from the spirit and scope of the invention as set forth in the appended claims. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0012]     For a detailed description of the preferred embodiments of the invention, reference will now be made to the accompanying drawings in which:  
         [0013]      FIG. 1  illustrates a side view of a magnetic spring clip attached to a linear flash light instrument;  
         [0014]      FIG. 2  illustrates an exploded view of the magnetic spring clip;  
         [0015]      FIG. 3  illustrates the magnetic spring clip system with the magnetic spring clip in the closed position;  
         [0016]      FIG. 4  illustrates the magnetic spring clip system with the magnetic spring clip in the open position;  
         [0017]      FIG. 5   a  illustrates a side view of the magnetic spring clip system;  
         [0018]      FIG. 5   b  illustrates a side cross-sectional view of the magnetic spring clip system;  
         [0019]      FIG. 6   a  illustrates a side view of the pivot mechanism of the magnetic spring clip;  
         [0020]      FIG. 6   b  illustrates a side cross-sectional view of the pivot mechanism of the magnetic spring clip;  
         [0021]      FIG. 7  illustrates a side view of an embodiment of the magnetic spring clip system with an illuminated writing instrument;  
         [0022]      FIG. 8  illustrates a side view of an alternate embodiment of the magnetic spring clip implemented with an illuminated writing instrument;  
         [0023]      FIG. 9  illustrates a side view of an alternate embodiment of the magnetic spring system attached to a dual clip; and  
         [0024]      FIG. 10  illustrates the south pole of a clip magnet proximate to a north pole of the magnet in an instrument. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS  
       [0025]      FIG. 1  illustrates magnetic spring clip  10  and magnetic spring clip system  100  for securing instruments to a person&#39;s clothing or other objects or devices.  FIG. 1  shows an embodiment of magnetic spring clip  10  implemented on instrument  12 . As shown, magnetic spring clip  10  is attached to instrument  12 . The attachment of magnetic spring clip  10  to instrument  12  produces opening  14  between a portion of magnetic spring clip  10  and instrument  12 .  
         [0026]      FIG. 2  shows an exploded view of magnetic spring clip system  100 . Magnetic spring clip  10  includes clip base  20 . Clip base  20  may have a semi-circle design such that an opening exists on one side. This opening enables clip base  20  to receive and attach to instrument  22 . Clip base  20  further includes pivot point  24  that attaches clip base  20  to clip arm  26  and enables clip arm  26  to rotate a certain degrees from and toward instrument  22 . In some embodiments, clip arm  26  is a shaft. The shaft may have any suitable design for use with magnetic spring clip system  100  such as without limitation a generally linear shape. In some embodiments, clip arm  26  may further have a threaded end away from the pivot point end of clip arm  26 . Such a threaded end may provide a means to attach clip magnet  28  to clip arm  26 . In other embodiments, clip magnet  28  may be a slide on magnet (e.g., slideably engaged with clip arm  26 ). In this embodiment, end cap  30  may attach to clip arm  26  via such threads to serve as a magnet stop. Second stop  32  is also positioned on clip arm  26  above clip magnet  28 . End cap  30  and second stop  32  help secure and prevent movement of clip magnet  28 . It is to be understood that there may be various types of instruments  22  to which magnetic spring clip  10  may be attached such as without limitation generally linearly shaped instruments. One such instrument may be a writing instrument with a magnetic clip as described in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/907,734 and another instrument may include a magnetic flashlight such as the flashlight disclosed in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/908,108, which are both incorporated by reference herein in their entirety.  
         [0027]     It is to be understood that magnetic spring clip system  100  as shown in  FIG. 2  does not reveal the magnet internal to instrument  22 . In one embodiment, clip arm  26  may be of a magnetic material. Further, surface  105  of instrument  22  may also be of a metal or magnetic material. In such embodiment, the magnetic force of clip arm  26  may cause clip arm  26  to be attracted to surface  105  of instrument  22 . As shown in  FIG. 3 , in some embodiments, instrument  12  may contain internal magnet  34  that is aligned such that the magnetic field of internal magnet  34  forms an attraction to the magnetic field of clip magnet  28  on clip arm  26 .  
         [0028]      FIGS. 3 and 4  conceptually show the different positions of magnetic spring clip system  100 .  FIG. 3  shows magnetic spring clip system  100  in the closed position. This position is the normal or default position of magnetic spring clip  10 . In this position, clip magnet  28  attracts to internal magnet  34 . The attraction force (e.g., magnetic attraction) draws clip magnet  28  towards internal magnet  34  and surface  105 . In some instances, clip magnet  28  may actually contact surface  105  to provide the clamping action that holds objects inserted into magnetic spring clip system  100  to secure instrument  12  to the desired object.  
         [0029]      FIG. 4  shows the position of magnetic spring clip system  100  in the open position. In this position, clip arm  26  is positioned at a distance from instrument  12 . However, because of the magnetic attraction between magnetic spring clip  10  and internal magnet  34 , a force may be applied to clip arm  26  to overcome the magnetic attraction of clip magnet  28  and internal magnet  34  in order to position clip magnet  28  in the open position. In the open position, material to which it is desired to attach instrument  12  is inserted between instrument surface  105  and clip arm  26 . At the release of clip arm  26 , the magnetic force may cause clip arm  26  to rotate toward and move clip magnet  28  toward internal magnet  34 , thereby clamping the inserted material and securing instrument  12  via magnetic spring clip  10  to the material.  
         [0030]      FIG. 5   a  shows a side view of magnetic spring clip system  100  in the closed position. Magnetic spring clip system  100  shows an embodiment of pivot point  24 . Also shown is an illustration of tapered top switch  40 . Switch  40  is used to turn on and turn off the light source for a lighting instrument. For a writing instrument, switch  40  may advance and retract the writing element of a writing instrument.  
         [0031]      FIG. 5   b  is a side cross-sectional view of magnetic spring clip system  100 . This embodiment is one in which magnetic spring clip  10  is attached to instrument  12 , which is in this embodiment a lighting instrument. In addition to the elements of magnetic spring clip system  100 , contained within instrument  12  is a pair of batteries  42  and  44 . Internal magnet  34  is positioned between batteries  42 ,  44 . At the lower end of instrument  12  is light bulb  46 . Switch  40  may be a rotating switch as shown or a push switch. In the implementation of magnetic spring clip system  100  as illustrated in  FIG. 5   b,  internal magnet  34  may not interfere with operation of batteries  42 ,  44  or electrical functions of instrument  12 .  
         [0032]      FIG. 6   a  is a side view of the pivot mechanism of magnetic spring clip  10 . In the pivot point mechanism, pivot rod  48  extends through clip arm  26  and attaches to walls  300  of clip base  20 . Clip arm  26  may be positioned in clip base  20  to provide greater flexibility and degrees for positioning clip arm  26  in the open position. Extension of portions of clip arm  26  toward switch  40  may restrict the degrees of the opening position. In  FIG. 6   b,  the amount of space  50  between clip base  20  and clip arm  26  also allows for the limited movement of clip arm  26 . The closer clip arm  26  is to the top of clip base  20 , the smaller the movement of clip arm  26 . As shown in  FIG. 6   b,  clip base  20  has walls  300  (e.g., a wall on each side), upper side  305 , and opening  310  suitable for receiving clip arm  26  (e.g., shaft).  
         [0033]      FIG. 7  is a side view of an embodiment of magnetic spring clip system  100  with instrument  12 , which as illustrated is an illuminated writing instrument. In this embodiment, magnetic spring clip system  100  is implemented in an improved illuminated writing instrument  12 , which includes writing element  60 , lighting element  62  and attaching element  64 . Lighting element  62  contains internal magnet  66 . Clip magnet  28  magnetically attracts to instrument  12 . Writing element  60  and lighting element  62  are secured to each other via attaching element  64 . A suitable attaching element is disclosed in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/112,260, which is incorporated by reference herein in its entirety. Writing element  60  and lighting element  62  are secured to each other through openings in attaching element  64 . Attaching element  64  has an exterior surface formed of elastic grippers that provide increased stability between the user and the writing instrument. Attaching element  64  also has the capability to alter its shape in response to pressure from a user&#39;s fingers. The capability to alter the shape of attaching element  64  enables the user to easily and comfortably hold instrument  12 .  
         [0034]      FIG. 8  is a side view of an alternate embodiment of magnetic spring clip system  100  implemented with instrument  12 , which in this embodiment is an illuminated writing instrument. In this embodiment, magnet spring clip system  100  is implemented in instrument  12  that includes writing element  80 , lighting element  82 , and attaching element  84 . Writing element  80  and lighting element  82  are secured to each other via attaching element  84 , which is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 7,101,103. U.S. Pat. No. 7,101,103 is incorporated by reference herein in its entirety. Attaching element  84  is a combination dual clip that attaches writing element  80  and lighting element  82  such that the two elements  80 ,  82  form one illuminated writing instrument  12 . Magnetic spring clip system  100  further includes magnetic spring clip  10  to secure instrument  12  as desired by the user. In operation, the force from the magnetic field of clip magnet  28  attracts to the internal magnet (not illustrated) in lighting element  82 . This attraction may draw clip magnet  28  to the internal magnet. The attachment of clip magnet  28  and the internal magnet may secure clip arm  26  to the internal magnet thereby creating the mechanism that may provide the securing capabilities of magnetic spring clip  10 . Magnetic spring clip  10  may have the capability of securing instrument  12  as desired by the user. In alternative embodiments (not illustrated), attaching element  84  is a rubber grummet.  
         [0035]      FIG. 9  is a side view of an alternate embodiment of magnetic spring clip system  100  attached to attaching element  84 , which is a dual clip. Clip base  20  attaches to attaching element  84 . In operation, the force from the magnetic field of clip magnet  28  attracts to the internal magnet (not illustrated) in instrument  12 . Such attraction may draw clip magnet  28  to the internal magnet. In this embodiment, clip arm  26  extends over attaching element  84 .  
         [0036]      FIG. 10  illustrates clip magnet  28  and internal magnet  34 , which are each magnetized to have north and south poles. In an embodiment, internal magnet  34  has north pole  200  and south pole  205 , and clip magnet  28  has clip magnet north pole  210  and clip magnet south pole  215 . Internal magnet  34  is rotatable about its longitudinal axis within instrument  12  but is substantially fixed about the longitudinal axis of instrument  12 . In such an embodiment, clip magnet  28  is not rotatable about its longitudinal axis but has instead been attached to magnetic spring clip  10  with clip magnet north pole  210  distal to instrument  12  and clip magnet south pole  215  proximate to instrument  12 . In such an embodiment, when magnetic spring clip  10  is in the closed position as shown in  FIG. 10 , the magnetic attraction of clip magnet south pole  215  attracts north pole  200 , and internal magnet  34  rotates about its longitudinal axis until north pole  200  is proximate to clip magnet south pole  215 . Therefore, north pole  200  is distal to the body of the individual, for instance when instrument  12  is placed in a pocket of the individual and secured to the pocket by magnetic spring clip  10 . Without being limited by theory, placing north pole  200  distal to the individual&#39;s body may prevent detrimental health issues to the individual that may be related to magnetic fields. For example, without being limited by theory, placing north pole  200  proximate to the individual&#39;s body may restrict blood flow in vessels exposed to the magnetic field exerted by north pole  200 , which may be a detrimental health effect. Such restriction may not occur with south pole  205  proximate to the body. In alternative embodiments, internal magnet  34  is not longitudinally rotatable but is instead fixed in position within instrument  12 , with north pole  200  proximate to clip magnet south pole  215 . In alternative embodiments (not illustrated), magnetic spring clip  10  further includes a shield. The shield may be composed of any material suitable for shielding a magnetic field. Without limitation, an example of such material is ferrous metal. The shield is disposed about a portion of the outside of clip magnet  28 . In an embodiment, the shield is disposed about a portion of the outside of clip magnet  28  that does not include the portion of clip magnet  28  that is in contact with instrument  12  when clip magnet  28  is in the closed position. The shield may be disposed about the outside of clip magnet  28  by any suitable method. For instance, the shield may be applied as a coating, manufactured to be disposed about the outside of clip magnet  28 , and the like. In such embodiments, the shield may provide a shield against at least a portion of the magnetic field of both clip magnet  28  and internal magnet  34 . In some embodiments, instrument  12  may also include such a shield about a portion of surface  105 . In such embodiments, the shield may leave exposed at least a portion or substantially all of the portion of surface  105  that is a contact point with clip magnet  28 . In embodiments, the shield may provide a shield against at least a portion of the magnetic field of both clip magnet  28  and internal magnet  34 .  
         [0037]     Although the present invention and its advantages have been described in detail, it should be understood that various changes, substitutions and alterations may be made herein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims.