Patent Publication Number: US-2002007513-A1

Title: Blanket clip

Description:
I. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0001] The present invention concerns that of a new and improved apparatus to ensure that a beach towel or beach blanket will remain on the ground and will not be blown around by the wind.  
       II. DESCRIPTION OF THE PRIOR ART  
       [0002] U.S. Pat. No. 5,524,309, issued to La Barbera, discloses a ground spike for securing ground covers, including beach towels and blankets in place.  
       [0003] U.S. Pat. No. 5,327,922, issued to Deroche, discloses a hold down member arranged for projection within a beach surface to secure a blanket and the like.  
       [0004] U.S. Pat. No. 3,732,878, issued to Blankemeyer, discloses a variable tensioning stake which includes a camming serrated surface adjacent the impact receiving head portion.  
       III. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0005] The present invention concerns that of a new and improved apparatus to ensure that a beach towel or beach blanket will remain on the ground and will not be blown around by the wind. The present invention would comprise two major portions, which would include a stake portion and a clip portion. The clip would be affixed to the top of the stake portion of the present invention. The clip would normally be in a closed position, but could be opened by having a user depressing the handles of the clip portion together. A user would then placed an edge of the desired towel or blanket within the clip and then release the handles of the clip, effectively securing the towel or blanket to the present invention.  
       [0006] There has thus been outlined, rather broadly, the more important features of a fabric holding apparatus in order that the detailed description thereof that follows may be better understood and in order that the present contribution to the art may be better appreciated. There are, of course, additional features of the fabric holding apparatus that will be described hereinafter and which will form the subject matter of the claims appended hereto.  
       [0007] In this respect, before explaining at least one embodiment of the fabric holding apparatus in detail, it is to be understood that the fabric holding apparatus is not limited in its application to the details of construction and to the arrangements of the components set forth in the following description or illustrated in the drawings. The fabric holding apparatus is capable of other embodiments and being practiced and carried out in various ways. Also, it is to be understood that the phraseology and terminology employed herein are for the purpose of descriptions and should not be regarded as limiting.  
       [0008] As such, those skilled in the art will appreciate that the conception, upon which this disclosure is based, may readily be utilized as a basis for the designing of other structures, methods and systems for carrying out the several purposes of the present fabric holding apparatus. It is important, therefore, that the claims be regard as including such equivalent constructions insofar as they do not depart from the spirit and scope of the present invention.  
       [0009] It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a fabric holding apparatus which has all of the advantages of the prior art and none of the disadvantages.  
       [0010] It is another object of the present invention to provide a fabric holding apparatus which may be easily and efficiently manufactured and marketed.  
       [0011] It is another object of the present invention to provide a fabric holding apparatus which is of durable and reliable construction.  
       [0012] It is yet another object of the present invention to provide a fabric holding apparatus which is economically affordable and available to the buying public.  
       [0013] It is yet another object of the present invention to provide a fabric holding apparatus which provides additional benefits not present in the prior art.  
       [0014] Other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will become more readily apparent from the following detailed description of the preferred embodiment when considered with the attached drawings and appended claims.  
     
    
    
     IV. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
     [0015]FIG. 1 shows a side view of the present invention.  
     [0016]FIG. 2 shows a front view of the present invention.  
     [0017]FIG. 3 shows the present invention while it would be in use.  
    
    
     V. DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT  
     [0018]FIG. 1 shows a side view of the present invention, while FIG. 2 shows a front view of the present invention. Stake  2  can be seen, with stake  2  preferably being approximately 6½ inches in length. Stake  2  would have two ends, a point end  4  and a top end  6 . The top end  6  would have clip  8  attached to an edge of stake  2 .  
     [0019] Clip  8  would have handles  10  and  12 , which, when squeezed together, would open up clamp  14  of clip  8 . The mechanism of clip  8  and the interaction of handles  10  and  12  with clamp  14  would be analogous to that of a paper clip. When a user would squeeze handles  10  and  12  together, handles  10  and  12  would be pushed against bar  16 , which would force clamp  14  open. A user could then insert an edge or side of a towel  18  into the open clamp  14 , let go of handles  10  and  12 , at which time, clamp  14  would tightly grasp the edge or side of towel  18 . The edge or side of towel  18  could only be released if a user squeezed handles  10  and  12  together, opened up clamp  14 , and removed towel  18 .  
     [0020]FIG. 3 shows the present invention as it would appear in use.