Patent Publication Number: US-2009217497-A1

Title: Universal spring loaded clamp

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     (1) Field of the Invention 
     This invention is directed to universal spring loaded securing clamp that can fit any conceivable type or design of hand-bag or purse, with or without a carrying strap, or any bag used for the carrying of items, or any container that is used to carry or s,tore items that is within the weight carrying capacities of the specific application of the invention for the purposes of suspending it from any horizontal or vertical surface provided that the surface has a dimension sufficient to accommodate the invention and the attached suspended article or container of articles . . . i.e. a thickness in one dimension, and a plane in the perpendicular to that dimension, as in a table-top, a chair back, a railing, etc. 
     Many carriers of handbags complain of not having a secure method of hanging their bags in a safe, visible and readily accessible manner when they are out and about. This includes, but is in no way limited to restaurants, theaters, shopping venues, meetings, or anywhere that the bag would need to be removed from the person, but still kept in close proximity for security and or ready access. More often than not, a table, chair or desk will be in contact with the owner of such handbag or purse. 
     In view of the above mentioned problem, there is a need for a universal spring loaded hinged securing clamp that can be easily attached to a strap, zipper, loop or any other method of attachment to any conceivable type of handbag, purse, or container used for carrying items. The design and the appearance of the clamp can be adorned, decorated or covered in any fashion to compliment the esthetics of the handbag, purse or container if so desired by the user. It can accompany a particular bag, purse or container used for carrying items at the time of purchase, or be available separate and apart from the bag, purse or container used for carrying items and secured to it by means of a simple loop or other connecting device readily available to the end user. 
     (2) Description of Related Art 
     Applicant is aware of no prior art directly relevant to the present invention. 
     BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     In accordance with the present invention, universal spring loaded clamp is comprised of two semi-lunar members hinged together at one end to allow an articulating joint that is kept in a closed position by the tension of a simple band spring and opposite ends or “jaws” that are covered at their respective ends with non-slip frictional rubber or vinyl composition grips. The jaws of the clamp when fully closed without engaging any surface such as a table top, chair, railing or other similar entity are open slightly to avoid the pinching of an operator&#39;s fingers. When engaging a surface such as a table top, chair, railing or other similar entity, the tension exerted by the spring at the articulating joint will, along with the frictional properties of thenon-slip rubber or vinyl composition grips be sufficient to suspend any handbag, purse or similar container used for carrying objects from table top, chair, railing or other similar entity. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  illustrates the side view of the universal spring loaded clamp 
         FIG. 2  illustrates the side view of the universal spring loaded clamp and its relationship to an engaged surface suspending an article. 
         FIG. 3  illustrates the spring loaded clamp from the jaw side of the clamp 
         FIG. 4  illustrates the springloaded clamp from the hinged articulating side of the clamp 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       FIG. 1  illustrates the side view of the hinged spring loaded clamp comprised of two crescent shaped jaws ( 2 ) that are connected by a hinge ( 4 ) that consists of an overlap of the sidesurfaces of the jaws ( 1 ) connected by a hinge pin ( 5 ), with the pin, that is pressed with a resultant retentive flange on the outsides to lock the two crescent shaped jaws in a tranverse direction, but allow for their articulation in a plane perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the hinge pin. 
     The opposite ends of the crescent shaped jaws have affixed to them non-slip spherical pads ( 2 ) that cause friction between the jaws and any planar surface that they might engage for the purpose of suspending the article from the clamp assembly. The hinge joint ( 4 ) has a simple flat band spring ( 3 ) orientated in such a way as to exert pressure towards the open jaw end of the clamp, and tension should the jaws be widened or opened as they would be to engage a planar or other object. The tension in the spring would always result in constant pressure in an opposite direction so as to exert a fore on the non-slip pads at the opposite end of the jaws, that together with the pressure of the spring, the non-slip property of the pads at the opposite end of the jaws, and the gravity of the weight of the suspended article, would keep the article securely suspended from the planar or other object until the article was removed along with the clamp by manually spreading the clamp to disengage the planar or other surface. The outside surface of one or both of the crescent shaped jaws, i.e. the surfaces that would not be approximating the engaged planar or other object, have a track ( 6 ) that runs along the surface from the hinge ( 4 ) to the no-slip pad ( 2 ), with this track being undercut along its side walls so as to accommodate a slide ( 7 ) to which can be attached a universal ring ( 8 ) that can have a strap or other device that is part of the article being suspended and allow it to travel along the track so as to seek a position perpendicular to a planar object by the force of gravity when attached to a planar or other surface. 
       FIG. 2  illustrates the same view of the present invention as  FIG. 1  with the present invention engaging a planar surface and suspending an article. The tension produced on the band spring ( 3 ) by the opening of the jaws ( 1 ) causes a pressure to be exerted on the articulating jaws ( 1 ) and the non-skid pads ( 2 ) that are pressing against the top and the bottom of the planar surface. The weight of the article suspended acting in unison with the pressure caused by the tension of the band spring ( 3 ) will allow the article to hang from the planar surface. The tension of the pressure exerted on the articulating jaws ( 1 ) and the non-skid pads ( 2 ) to be appropriate to the maximum weight that can be contained in the article to be suspended. In the event that the article to be suspended is to be suspended from a railing, or more vertically aligned planar surface, the spherical or spheroidal shape of the non-skid pads ( 2 ) will engage the railing, the ring ( 8 ) engaging the suspended article and sliding with the connector ( 7 ) inside of the track ( 6 ) will allow the suspended article to position itself in the most inferior position due to gravity with the pressure of the articulating jaws ( 1 ) securing the article.  FIG. 3  illustrates a view of the present invention from the open jaw side showing the relationship between the various parts comprising the present invention where the numbering of the parts coincides with  FIG. 1  and  FIG. 2 . 
       FIG. 4  illustrates a view of the present invention from the hinge side showing the relationship between the various parts comprising the present invention where the numbering of the parts coincides with  FIG. 1  and  FIG. 2 .