Abstract:
A multi-purpose cap clip, comprising a clip unit, a holding device, and an accessory object. The clip unit has a fixing plate and two clasping plates to two sides of the fixing plate, with the fixing plate and the two clasping plates clasping a brim of a cap. The accessory object has a holding element which fits on the holding device and is held thereby. After assembly of the structural parts, the clip unit fastens the accessory object on the brim of the cap.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
         [0001]    1. Field of the Invention  
           [0002]    The present invention relates to a multi-purpose cap clip, particularly to a multi-purpose cap clip for fastening an accessory object to a cap worn by a person.  
           [0003]    2. Description of Related Art  
           [0004]    Caps are often used clothing articles worn outdoors to provide protection against the sun. For other functions, accessory objects supplement caps, e.g. sunglasses for protecting the eyes against the sun. At events, for propaganda purposes, caps are distributed to participants, carrying certain imprinted patterns or small flags or other decorative objects to be well seen.  
           [0005]    These examples for accessory objects on caps mostly require using dedicated special caps with the accessory objects fixed thereon, which must be especially made. On the other hand, some supplementary objects on caps have fixing elements to be fastened to caps. But then caps and supplementary objects are fixed together, allowing only for a single function. For various functions, various caps have to be prepared, which is inconvenient.  
         SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
         [0006]    It is the main object of the present invention to provide a multi-purpose cap clip which allows to put various accessory objects on a brim of a cap.  
           [0007]    Another object of the present invention is to provide a multi-purpose cap clip which has a simple structure and is inexpensive.  
           [0008]    A further object of the present invention is to provide a multi-purpose cap clip which fits on a cap that is commonly available on the market, so that the cap accommodates various accessory objects without modification.  
           [0009]    The present invention can be more fully understood by reference to the following description and accompanying drawings. 
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0010]    [0010]FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the multi-purpose cap clip of the present invention in the first embodiment.  
         [0011]    FIGS.  1 A- 1 C are perspective views of variations of the fixing element of the present invention in the first embodiment.  
         [0012]    FIGS.  2 A- 2 C are perspective views of various accessory objects held by the present invention in the first embodiment.  
         [0013]    FIGS.  3 A- 3 D are schematic illustrations of the present invention in the first embodiment used in conjunction with various accessory objects.  
         [0014]    [0014]FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the multi-purpose cap clip of the present invention in the second embodiment.  
         [0015]    [0015]FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the present invention in the second embodiment, with an accessory object mounted thereon. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS  
       [0016]    As shown in FIG. 1, the multi-purpose cap clip of the present invention in a first embodiment has a clip unit  10  to be fastened to a brim  21  of a cap  20 , as shown in FIGS.  3 A- 3 D. The clip unit  10  comprises: a base plate  11 , which is a rectangular plate; a fixing plate  12 , extending away from the base plate  11  from a middle part thereof in a rearward direction; and two clasping plates  13 , extending rearward from two ends of the base plate  11 . The fixing plate  12 , the base plate  11  and the two clasping plates  13  lie in a common plane or in different planes. As shown in FIGS.  3 A- 3 D, the fixing plate  12  and the two clasping plates  13  of the clip unit  10  clasp upper and lower sides of the brim  21  of the cap  20 . Since the fixing plate  12  and the two clasping plates  13  are elastic, the clip unit  10  is held tight on the brim  21 . The present invention further has a holding device  15  for fastening an accessory object  30  on the clip unit  10 .  
         [0017]    Referring again to FIG. 1, for keeping the clip unit  10  on the brim  21  with an increased holding force, the two clasping plates  13  have several teeth  14  on a surface thereof that contacts the brim  21 . Thus holding friction between the two clasping plates  13  and the brim  21  is increased.  
         [0018]    Referring to FIGS. 2A to  2 C, the present invention is able to hold various accessory objects  30 . As shown in FIG. 2A, the accessory object  30  is a flag with a lower end which is attached to a holding base  31 . The holding base  31  is held by the holding device  15  of the clip unit  10 . As shown in FIG. 1, in the first embodiment of the present invention, the holding unit  15  comprises two curved elastic plates  16 , attached to the fixing plate  12  on an upper side thereof. A gap is left between the two elastic plates  16  and the fixing plate  12 , forming the holding device  15  and allowing to insert the holding base  31 . The holding base  31  of the accessory object  30  is formed like the inverted letter T and is easily inserted into the holding device  15 , so that the accessory object  30  is mounted on the clip unit  10 .  
         [0019]    [0019]FIGS. 2B and 2C show further variations of accessory objects. As shown in FIG. 2B, an accessory object  30 A is used which is a toy wind wheel  31 A set on a holding base  32 A. As shown in FIG. 2B, an accessory object  30 B is used which is a pair of sunglasses  31 B, to which a central holding element  32 B is attached.  
         [0020]    FIGS.  3 A- 3 D show various ways of mounting the accessory object  30  on the clip unit  10 . Depending on the kind of accessory object used, the holding device  15  is placed on the upper side or the lower side of the brim  21 , then the accessory object is put on the holding device  15 . As shown in FIGS. 3A and 3B, with the accessory object  30 ,  30 A being a flag and a toy wind wheel, respectively, the holding device  15  is placed on the upper side of the brim  21 . On the other hand, as shown in FIGS. 3C and 3D, with the accessory object  30 B being a pair of sunglasses, the holding device  15  is placed on the lower side of the brim  21 . Then the holding element  32 B is inserted into the holding device  15 , allowing to adjust a tilting angle of the sunglasses  31 B.  
         [0021]    Referring to FIGS.  1 A- 1 C, the holding device  15  has several variations. Therein, as shown in FIG. 1A, a holding device  15 A is used which is a single curved elastic plate  16 A, attached to a fixing plate  12 A at a central position thereof. Alternatively, as shown in FIG. 1A, a holding device  15 B is used which is a single curved elastic plate  16 A, attached to a fixing plate  12 B at an asymmetric lateral position thereof. Finally, as shown in FIG. 1C, a holding device  15 C is used which is a circular hole in a fixing plate  12 C.  
         [0022]    The present invention allows a user to mount any of various accessory objects on the cap  20 , serving multiple purposes. The same cap carries a flag, sunglasses or another object without any need of modification.  
         [0023]    Referring now to FIGS. 4 and 5, the present invention in a second embodiment comprises a clip unit  40 , a pair of sunglasses  50 ; and a movable seat  60 . The clip unit  40  further comprises: a base plate  41 , which is a rectangular plate; a fixing plate  42 , extending away from the base plate  41  from a middle part thereof in a rearward direction; two clasping plates  43 , extending rearward from two ends of the base plate  41  and, together with the fixing plate  42 , clasping the brim  21  of the cap  20 . The movable seat  60  is mounted on the fixing plate  42  and movable thereon, carrying the sunglasses  50 , allowing to position the sunglasses  50  on the fixing plate  42 .  
         [0024]    The fixing plate has a central opening  45 , taking in the movable seat  60 . As shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, the movable seat  60  has a main body  61  with a lower side which carries an elastic hook  62 . When the movable seat is mounted on the fixing plate  42 , the elastic hook  62  reaches through the opening  45  to a location below the fixing plate  42 . The sunglasses  50 , at a top edge thereof in a central position, have a holding rod  51 . The holding rod  51  is inserted in the elastic hook  62 , so that the sunglasses  50  are held on the fixing plate  42 .  
         [0025]    For adjusting a tilting angle of the sunglasses  50 , the main body  61  of the movable seat  60  on two ends thereof has positioning projections  64 , and the two ends of the holding rod  51  each carry a cog  52 . The positioning projections  64  and the cogs  52  engage, holding the sunglasses  50  at a fixed tilting angle.  
         [0026]    The present invention in the second embodiment serves to hold a pair of sunglasses on a cap. The main characteristic thereof is that the sunglasses  50  have an adjustable distance from the eyes of a user, adjusted by moving the movable seat  60  on the fixing plate  42 . With the positioning projections  64  and the cogs  52  mutually engaging in various positions, the tilting angle of the sunglasses  50  is conveniently adjusted.  
         [0027]    As the above explanation shows, the multi-purpose cap clip of the present invention has a simple structure and is inexpensive, allowing to mount any kind of accessory objects on a cap with a brim at low cost and in an economical way. The present invention is combinable with various accessory objects. Any manufacturer producing accessory objects for caps only needs to provide a holding element on each accessory object that fits into the holding device  15  of the clip unit  10 , so as to connect the accessory object with the multi-purpose cap clip of the present invention. Thus caps serve multiple additional functions. Furthermore, the multi-purpose cap clip of the present invention is suitable for all caps without any need of modifications. Therefore, a manufacturer of accessory objects does not need to produce further, specialized caps.  
         [0028]    While the invention has been described with reference to preferred embodiments thereof, it is to be understood that modifications or variations may be easily made without departing from the spirit of this invention which is defined by the appended claims.