Abstract:
A clip device for releasably securing objects together is provided. The clip device comprises a clip body with a first slot formed in the clip body and a second slot formed in the clip body substantially parallel to the first slot. A cross member divides the first slot from the second slot. A faceplate substantially parallel to the cross member is formed in the clip body with the faceplate having a substantially planar front face surface and a rear face surface. A finger extends from the front face surface with the finger curling back toward the front face surface. An opening is formed through the faceplate wherein upon positioning of the front face surfaces of two adjacent clip bodies together, the finger is releasably receivable within the opening formed in the front faceplate.

Description:
The present application claims priority of provisional patent application Ser. No. 61/066,715, filed on Feb. 21, 2008, entitled “Clip Device”. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     This invention relates generally to a clip device and, more particularly, the invention relates to a clip device using inner tubes or straps to releasably secure objects. 
     2. Description of the Prior Art 
     Hundreds of thousands of bicycle tubes are discarded every year by bicyclists due to wear or malfunction. Many of the tubes end up in landfills and dumps since other simple uses have not yet been discovered. It would be beneficial to be able to use the discarded bicycle tubes for other uses without further polluting the earth and contributing to the diminishing landfill capacity. 
     SUMMARY 
     The present invention is a clip device for releasably securing objects together. The clip device comprises a clip body with a first slot formed in the clip body and a second slot formed in the clip body substantially parallel to the first slot. A cross member divides the first slot from the second slot. A faceplate substantially parallel to the cross member is formed in the clip body with the faceplate having a substantially planar front face surface and a rear face surface. A finger extends from the front face surface with the finger curling back toward the front face surface. An opening is formed through the faceplate wherein upon positioning of the front face surfaces of two adjacent clip bodies together, the finger is releasably receivable within the opening formed in the front faceplate. 
     In addition, the present invention is a method for releasably securing objects together. The method comprises providing a clip body, forming a first slot in the clip body, forming a second slot in the clip body substantially parallel to the first slot, dividing the first slot from the second slot, forming a face plate substantially parallel to the cross member with the face plate having a substantially planar front face surface and a rear face surface, extending a finger extending from the front face surface, curling the finger back toward the front face surface, forming an opening through the face plate, positioning the front face surfaces of two adjacent clip bodies together, sliding the front face surfaces along each other until the fingers align with the openings, applying outward pressure on the clip bodies causing the fingers to be received within the openings, and releasably securing the clip bodies together. 
     The present invention further includes a clip device for releasably securing objects together. The clip device comprises a clip body with a first slot formed in the clip body and a second slot formed in the clip body substantially parallel to the first slot. A cross member divides the first slot from the second slot. A faceplate substantially parallel to the cross member is formed in the clip body with the faceplate having a substantially planar front face surface and a rear face surface. A finger extends from the front face surface with the finger curling back toward the front face surface. An opening is formed through the faceplate. A section of tubing is provided having a first end and a second wherein one of the ends of the tubing is insertable in an upward direction through the first slot closest to the face plate, wrappable around the cross member, and insertable in a downward direction through the second slot furtherest from the face plate. As the front faceplates of adjacent clip bodies are positioned against each other, the finger of each clip device curls behind the front faceplate of the adjacent clip body. As the front face surfaces are slid along each other, the fingers align with the apertures. Outward pressure on the clip bodies cause the fingers to be received within the openings thereby releasably securing the clip bodies together. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view illustrating a clip device, constructed in accordance with the present invention; 
         FIG. 2  is a perspective view illustrating the clip device, constructed in accordance with the present invention, prior to a pair of clip devices being releasably secured to each other; 
         FIG. 3  is a perspective view illustrating the clip device, constructed in accordance with the present invention, with a pair of clip devices being releasably secured to each other; 
         FIG. 4  is a perspective view illustrating a single clip device, constructed in accordance with the present invention, with a hook secured thereover; and 
         FIG. 5  is a perspective view illustrating a pair of clip devices, constructed in accordance with the present invention, with the tube inserted into the clip devices and the clip device releasably locked together. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     As illustrated in  FIGS. 1-4 , the present invention is a clip device, indicated generally at  10 , for releasably securing objects together. It should be noted that while the clip device  10  of the present invention will be described and illustrated herein as being used with discarded bicycle tubes  12 , a person skilled in the art will understand that the clip device  10  can be used with other items including, but not limited to, straps (not shown). 
     The clip device  10  of the present invention, as best illustrated in  FIGS. 1-3 , includes a pair of slots, namely a first slot  14  and a second slot  16 , divided by a cross member  18  for receiving the inner tube  12 . Preferably the first slot  14  is substantially parallel to the second slot  16 . Also, preferably, the cross member  18  is ribbed for extra gripping of the tube  12  when inserted into the slots  14 ,  16 . It should be noted that while the cross member  18  is described and illustrated herein as being ribbed, it is within the scope of the present invention for the cross member  18  to either have different gripping mechanisms or be smooth, depending on the desires of the manufacturer and/or user. 
     In addition, the clip device  10  includes a faceplate  20  substantially parallel to the cross member  18 . The faceplate  20  has a substantially planar front face surface  22  and a rear face surface  24 . A finger  26  extends from the front face surface  22  and curls back toward the front face surface  22 . The finger  26  is releasably receivable within an opening  28  formed in the faceplate  20  of an adjacent clip device  10  when in use. As the faceplates  20  of adjacent clip devices  10  are positioned against each other, the finger  26  of each clip device  10  curls behind the faceplate  20  of the adjacent clip device  10 . Then, the user slides the front face surfaces  22  along each other until the fingers  26  align with the openings  28 . Outward pressure on the clip devices  10  causes the fingers  26  to be received within the openings  28 . Basically, when used in pairs, the clip device  10  is releasably secured to another clip device  10 . 
     Also, as best illustrated in  FIG. 4 , the clip device  10  of the present invention can include a hook  30  receivable over the clip device  10 . The hook  30  for use with the clip device  10  is preferably formed from a single piece of wire stock. The hook  30  includes a substantially oval loop  32  with an extension member  34  extending from the oval loop  32 . A small gap  36  is formed in the oval loop  32 . A hook member  38  is formed at the other end of the extension member  34 . The clip device  10  includes a notch  40  formed in the faceplate  20 . When the hook  30  is positioned over the clip device  10 , the extension member  34  is received within the notch  40 . The hook  30  allows the clip device  10  to be used in a different manner, as will be described below. 
     The manner of use of the clip device  10  of the present invention will now be described. It will be understood by those skilled in the art that the manner of use of the clip device  10  described herein is merely one method of use and other methods of use of the clip device  10  are within the scope of the present invention. 
     Clip Devices Only: 
     First, the user cuts a section of the tubing  12  to the desired length. It should be noted that the length of the tubing  12  is adjustable when inserted into the clip device  12 . Next, the user lays the tubing  12  flat insuring that the tubing  12  is not twisted. A clip device  10  is attached to each end of the cut tubing  12  by inserting the end of the tubing  12  in a generally upward direction into the first slot  14  adjacent the face plate  20 , maneuvering the tubing  12  over the cross member  18 , and inserting the tubing  12  in a generally downward direction into the second slot  16 . It is important to leave at least one (1″) inch of the end of the tubing  12  hanging out of the clip device  10  with the notch  40  facing in a generally upward direction. The user then confirms that each clip device  10  is firmly attached to the tubing  12  by holding tube approximately two (2″) inches from the clip device  10  while holding the sides of the clip device  10 . If the tubing  12  does not slip within the first slot  14  and the second slot  16 , the clip device  10  is firmly attached to the tubing  12 . Then, holding the sides of the two clip devices  10 , the tubing  12  is stretched around the item to be secured and the clip devices  10  are attached together. As the faceplates  20  of the adjacent clip devices  10  are positioned against each other, the finger  26  of each clip device  10  curls behind the faceplate  20  of the adjacent clip device  10 . Then, the user slides the front face surfaces  22  along each other until the fingers  26  align with the openings  28 . Outward pressure on the clip devices  10  causes the fingers  26  to be received within the openings  28 . Tubing sections  12  can be linked together using the clip devices  10  and secured by sliding a small piece of cardboard or a portion of the tubing  12  hanging out of the clip device  10  between the faceplates  20  of the adjacent clip devices  10 . 
     Hooks Only: 
     In this manner, an uncut tubing  12  is used. First, the user insures that the tubing  12  is not twisted and does not have any significant imperfections that might cause the tube to break under tension. One edge of the tubing  12  is slid through the gap  36  formed in the oval loop  32  of a first hook  30 . Then with the second hook  30  facing the opposite direction of the first hook  30 , the tubing  12  is slid through the gap  36  in formed in the oval loop  32  of a second hook  30 . The tubing  12  can now be used to tie down items in a truck bed, hang bicycles, etc., similar to other tie downs. 
     Clip Devices and Hooks: 
     First the user attaches a cut section of tubing  12  to the clip devices  10 , as described above, making certain that the notch  40  is facing in a generally upward direction. With the hook member  38  of the hook  30  facing toward the clip device  10 , the tubing  12  is slid into the gap  36  formed in the oval loop  32  of the hook  30 . Holding the hook member  38  of the hook  30  the user pulls the hook  30  over the clip device  10  so that the hook  30  buts up against the rear face  24  of the clip device  10  and the extension member  34  of the hook  30  rests in the notch  40 . 
     In an alternative embodiment, the hook  30  can be positioned over the front face surface  22  with the oval loop  32  maneuverably over the front face surface  22 . In addition, in another alternative embodiment, the hook  30  can be positioned on the clip device  10 , as described above, prior to the tubing  12  being secured to the clip device  10 . 
     The clip device  10  of the present invention can inhibit hundreds of thousands of bicycle inner tubes from ending up in landfills every year. The clip device  10  has been created as a very practical and easy way to reuse tubing. Attaching a clip device  10  and/or hook to an intact bicycle tubing or a tubing cut to any length, and the user is able to tie down almost anything. Tube sections can be linked together with multiple clip devices  10  providing even more flexibility. 
     The foregoing exemplary descriptions and the illustrative preferred embodiments of the present invention have been explained in the drawings and described in detail, with varying modifications and alternative embodiments being taught. While the invention has been so shown, described and illustrated, it should be understood by those skilled in the art that equivalent changes in form and detail may be made therein without departing from the true spirit and scope of the invention, and that the scope of the present invention is to be limited only to the claims except as precluded by the prior art. Moreover, the invention as disclosed herein, may be suitably practiced in the absence of the specific elements which are disclosed herein.