Patent Publication Number: US-9402483-B2

Title: Yoga mat clip

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     The present application claims priority to provisional patent application 61/827,185 which was filed on May 24, 2013, and is hereby expressly incorporated by reference in its entirety. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND 
     During exercise activities, in particular Yoga, the need arises for both a mat and a towel for comfort, allowing a user to maintain a desired position during exercise, and absorbing liquids including perspiration. The mat is typically padded to reduce the impact on an individual&#39;s muscles and joints. The towel is placed over the mat and serves to absorb sweat and prevent the individual from slipping on the mat. Perspiration and sweat can become an even greater problem during Hot Yoga. 
     While participating in group Yoga activities or solo Yoga activities, the towel can become displaced from its original preferred position. The Yoga participant must then reposition the towel. The act of repositioning the towel causes the Yoga participant to fall behind in group activities, miss certain Yoga poses, increase the length of the workout, and potentially injure the participant. 
     It is an object of the invention to provide a device which holds a towel on a mat. 
     It is a further object of the invention to provide a device which reduces the number of times a towel has to be repositioned during exercise, particularly during Yoga. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     A clip in an open position slides over an end portion of a mat and a towel. After arranging the towel in a chosen location relative to the mat, a cam lever or actuator is actuated toward a closed position. As the cam lever is directed toward the closed position, a portion of the clip eventually reaches full compression. The cam lever then is forced in an over center position to lock the clip, towel and mat in place. The process is reversed to unsecure the towel and mat from the clip. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of the invention in the locked position; 
         FIG. 2  is a side view of the invention in the open position; 
         FIG. 3  is a side view of the invention at full compression; 
         FIG. 4  is a side view of the invention in the locked position; 
         FIG. 5  is a perspective view of the invention in the unlocked position; 
         FIG. 6  is a top view of the invention; 
         FIG. 7  is perspective view of the invention showing a molded sleeve; 
         FIG. 8  is a perspective view of the invention showing a rubber pad. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     Now referring to the drawings,  FIGS. 1-8  show a clip  20  comprising a frame  22  and an actuator  40 . The frame  22  further comprises a top member  23  and a bottom member  24 . The top member  23  and bottom member  24  are separated by a first distance  36 . Preferably the top member  23  is connected to the bottom member  24  through an intermediate member  26 . The top member  23 , bottom member  24  and intermediate member  26  can be made of the same material and form one continuous part. In the preferred embodiment the clip  20  is made of metal and is a spring steel. The top member  23  further comprises a plurality of arms  30  and  32  and a movable member  34 . 
     The actuator  40  is a cam lever comprising a first end  62 , a second end  64  and a pair of opposing rods  42 . It is to be understood that one rod  42  can be utilized with a first end and second end protruding from the actuator  40 . In the preferred embodiment, the actuator  40  is generally L-shaped. The actuator  40  comprises a long arm  66  and a short arm  68 . The short arm  68  is substantially perpendicular to the long arm  66 . The rods  42  extend from the actuator  40  at a point between the first end  62  and second end  64 , preferably at the point where the short arm  68  and long arm  66  connect. The rods  42  are secured by the arms  30  and  32 . The actuator  40  is rotatable about an axis of a center of the rods  42 . 
     Referring specifically to  FIGS. 2-4 , the clip  20  can go from a first position which is an open position to a second position which is a closed position, as well as any position in between the first and second position. In the first position, the movable portion  34  of the top member  23  is the distance  36  from the bottom member  24 . The actuator  40  also has a first position in the open position. As the first end  62  is moved toward the top member  23  as shown in  FIG. 3 , the short arm  68  of the actuator  40  forces the movable member  34  downward toward the bottom member  24 . The actuator  40  is rotatable around a longitudinal axis of the rods  42  as the actuator  40  moves between the first position and second position. The downward movement shortens the distance  36  between the top member  23  and bottom member  24 . Accordingly, any object, specifically the towel and mat between the movable member  34  and bottom member  24  begin to be secured as the actuator  40  is moved toward the second position. 
     At some point between the first position and the second position, a portion of the clip  20  eventually reaches full compression. At the point of full compression, the downward movement of the movable portion  34  ceases. As the actuator  40  continues its rotation toward the second position, the short arm  68  continues to contact the movable member  34  and is slideable upon a top surface of the movable member  34  until the actuator  40  reaches the secured second position and/or until the short arm  68  comes to rest upon a lip  70  of the movable member  34 . The mat and towel are now secured within the clip  20 , specifically between the movable member  34  and a top surface of the bottom member  24 . The over center aspect of the clip  20  along with the position of the short arm  68  on the lip  70  bias the clip  20  to the second position even during use of the clip  20  by an individual during exercise. In order to reverse the process and go from the second position to the first position, the frictional force and the upward force created by the movable portion  34  must be overcome. Such force is overcome by the force generated by an individual using the clip  20 . 
     In the preferred embodiment, the actuator  40  is made of a thermoplastic and the frame is made of steel. The top surface  82  or bottom surface  80  of the actuator is meant to accommodate a logo or identifying mark to assist the user of the clip  20  in recognizing his or her clip. 
       FIGS. 7 and 8  show several options for the clip  20 . Side caps  110  can be attached to the device  20  such that the rods  42  are hidden under the caps  110 . The caps  110  can also be used to cover portions of the arms  30  and  32  for aesthetic purposes and to help prevent wear. Furthermore, the caps  110  can be shaped such that they reduce injury if a user comes into contact with the clip  20  during use. Additionally, a rubber pad  120  can be used on the bottom of the clip  20  to provide cushion and to make the device less likely to slip while in use. A molded sleeve  130  can be utilized for aesthetic purposes. 
     Having thus described the invention in connection with the several embodiments thereof, it will be evident to those skilled in the art that various revisions can be made to the several embodiments described herein with out departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. It is my intention, however, that all such revisions and modifications that are evident to those skilled in the art will be included with in the scope of the following claims. Any elements of any embodiments disclosed herein can be used in combination with any elements of other embodiments disclosed herein in any manner to create different embodiments.