Patent Publication Number: US-2015067951-A1

Title: Metallic Swimming Goggle Replacement Clip

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 61/876,471 entitled “Metallic Swimming Goggle Replacement Clip” filed Sep. 11, 2013, the contents of which are incorporated herein by reference. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates, in general, to swimming goggles and, more specifically, to a metallic clip configured to secure a strap of swimming goggles thereto. 
     2. Description of Related Art 
     Conventionally, swimming goggles have included a clip or buckle that fits onto the strap for adjusting the strap to a desired length. More specifically, the strap is inserted into two slots formed on two sides of the lens assemblies of the swimming goggles, and two ends of the strap are inserted into the holes formed on the clip so that the strap can be adjusted to a desired length. 
     However, such conventional clips are manufactured from plastic materials and are very susceptible to breaking, particularly after repeated use. In addition, such conventional clips do not include an area to allow them to be altered with the decorative indicia. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     Accordingly, an object of the invention is to provide a swimming goggle clip that is manufactured from a durable, metal material. In addition, a further object of the invention is to provide a swimming goggle clip that can be customized with a decorative indicia. Finally, another object of the invention is to provide a swimming goggle clip that can be interchangeably used with both bungee and ribbon style straps. 
     Provided is a clip for securing a strap to a pair of swimming goggles. The clip includes: a body formed from a metal material. The body includes: a top edge, a bottom edge, and longitudinally opposite ends; a plurality of partitions arranged between the ends which connect the top edge to the bottom edge; a plurality of holes defined by the top edge, the bottom edge, the ends, and the partitions; a first strap-receiving slot positioned at a first one of the longitudinally opposite ends and a second strap-receiving slot positioned at a second one of the longitudinally opposite ends; and an indicia-bearing area extending from the top edge of the body and configured to receive an indicia thereon. 
     The body may have a length of about 1 to 1.5 inches, a height of about 0.5 to 1.0 inches, and a thickness of about 0.025 to 0.075 inches. The metal material forming the body may be stainless steel, aluminum, or any other suitable metal material. The body may be curved along its length. 
     Also provided are swimming goggles that include: a pair of lens assemblies interconnected by a bridge; an elastic strap connected to the lens assemblies; and a clip for securing longitudinally opposite ends of the strap. The clip includes a body formed from a metal material. The body includes: a top edge, a bottom edge, and longitudinally opposite ends; a plurality of partitions arranged between the ends which connect the top edge to the bottom edge; a plurality of holes defined by the top edge, the bottom edge, the ends, and the partitions; a first strap-receiving slot positioned at a first one of the longitudinally opposite ends and a second strap-receiving slot positioned at a second one of the longitudinally opposite ends; and an indicia-bearing area extending from the top edge of the body and configured to receive an indicia thereon. 
     Still further, provided is a clip for securing a strap of a pair of swimming goggles. The clip includes a body formed from a metal material. The body comprises: a top edge, a bottom edge, and longitudinally opposite ends; a first set of three slots positioned adjacent to a first one of the opposite ends; a second set of three slots positioned adjacent to a second one of the opposite ends; a central hole positioned between the first set of three slots and the second set of three slots in a central location of the body; and an indicia-bearing area extending from the top edge of the body and configured to receive an indicia thereon. 
     The clip is configured to receive both a bungee type strap and a ribbon type strap. For instance, a bungee type strap may be secured to the clip as follows. A first end of the bungee type strap may be configured to be secured to the clip by: a) passing the first end of the bungee type strap through a center slot of the first set of three slots in a first direction; b) passing the first end of the bungee type strap through the center slot of the first set of three slots in a second direction to form a loop; c) passing the first end of the bungee type strap through the central hole in the first direction; and d) passing the first end of the bungee type strap through the loop. A second end of the bungee type strap may be configured to be secured to the clip by: a) passing the second end of the bungee type strap through a center slot of the second set of three slots in a first direction; b) passing the second end of the bungee type strap through the center slot of the second set of three slots in a second direction to form a loop; c) passing the second end of the bungee type strap through the central hole in the first direction; and d) passing the second end of the bungee type strap through the loop. 
     Alternatively, a ribbon type strap may be configured to be secured to the clip as follows. A first end of the ribbon type strap may be configured to be secured to the clip by: a) passing the first end of the ribbon type strap through a first slot of the first set of three slots in a first direction; b) passing the first end of the ribbon type strap through a center slot of the first set of three slots in a second direction; c) passing the first end of the ribbon type strap through a third slot of the first set of three slots in the first direction; and d) passing the first end of the ribbon type strap through the first slot of the first set of three slots in the second direction. A second end of the ribbon type strap may be configured to be secured to the clip by: a) passing the second end of the ribbon type strap through a first slot of the second set of three slots in a first direction; b) passing the second end of the ribbon type strap through a center slot of the second set of three slots in a second direction; c) passing the second end of the ribbon type strap through a third slot of the second set of three slots in the first direction; and d) passing the second end of the ribbon type strap through the first slot of the second set of three slots in the second direction. 
     The body may further comprise a first strap-receiving slot positioned at the first one of the longitudinally opposite ends and a second strap-receiving slot positioned at the second one of the longitudinally opposite ends. The body may also be curved along its length. 
     These and other features and characteristics of the present invention, as well as the methods of operation and functions of the related elements of structures and the combination of parts and economies of manufacture, will become more apparent upon consideration of the following description and the appended claims with reference to the accompanying drawings, all of which form a part of this specification, wherein like reference numerals designate corresponding parts in the various figures. It is to be expressly understood, however, that the drawings are for the purpose of illustration and description only and are not intended as a definition of the limits of the invention. As used in the specification and the claims, the singular form of “a”, “an”, and “the” include plural referents unless the context clearly dictates otherwise. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of the swim goggle replacement clip in use with a pair of goggles in accordance with the present invention; 
         FIG. 2  is a front plan view of the clip in accordance with the present invention; 
         FIG. 3  is a bottom plan view of the clip of  FIG. 2 ; 
         FIG. 4  is a front plan view of an alternative embodiment of the clip in accordance with the present invention; 
         FIG. 5  is a front plan view of another embodiment of the clip in accordance with the present invention; 
         FIG. 6  is a perspective view of the clip of  FIG. 5  illustrating the manner in which a bungee-type strap is secured thereto; 
         FIG. 7  is a front plan view of the clip of  FIG. 5  having a bungee-type strap secured thereto; 
         FIG. 8  is a bottom plan view of the clip of  FIG. 5  illustrating the manner in which a ribbon-type strap is secured thereto; 
         FIG. 9  is a perspective view of the clip of  FIG. 5  having a first end of a ribbon-type strap secured thereto; and 
         FIG. 10  is a front plan view of the clip of  FIG. 5  having a ribbon-type strap secured thereto. 
     
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     For purposes of the description hereinafter, the terms “upper”, “lower”, “right”, “left”, “vertical”, “horizontal”, “top”, “bottom”, “lateral”, “longitudinal”, and derivatives thereof, shall relate to the invention as it is oriented in the drawing figures. However, it is to be understood that the invention may assume various alternative variations, except where expressly specified to the contrary. It is also to be understood that the specific devices illustrated in the attached drawings, and described in the following specification, are simply exemplary embodiments of the invention. Hence, specific dimensions and other physical characteristics related to the embodiments disclosed herein are not to be considered as limiting. 
     With reference to  FIG. 1 , a pair of swimming goggles S include a pair of lens assemblies  1  interconnected by a bridge  3 , an elastic strap  5  extending through a pair of through-holes formed in outer ends of the respective lens assemblies  1 , and a clip  10  used to secure longitudinally opposite ends of the strap  5 . The ends of the strap  5  are shown as being secured in engagement with the clip  10 . 
     With reference to  FIGS. 2 and 3 , and with continued reference to  FIG. 1 , the clip  10  includes: a body  12  formed from a metal material. The metal material may be any suitable, light weight metal material such as, but not limited to, stainless steel, aluminum, or any other suitable metal material. The body may have a length of about 1 to 1.5 inches and desirably 1.375 inches, a height of about 0.5 to 1.0 inches and desirably 0.650 inches, and a thickness of about 0.025 to 0.075 inches and desirably 0.06 inches. The body is desirably curved along its length as shown in  FIG. 3 . 
     The body  12  includes: a top edge  14 , a bottom edge  16 , and longitudinally opposite ends  18 ,  19 ; a plurality of partitions  20 ,  21 ,  22 ,  23  arranged between the ends  18 ,  19  which connect the top edge  14  to the bottom edge  16 ; a plurality of holes  24 ,  25 ,  26 ,  27 ,  28 ,  29  defined by the top edge  14 , the bottom edge  16 , the ends  18 ,  19 , and the partitions  20 ,  21 ,  22 ,  23 ; a first strap-receiving slot  30  positioned at a first one  18  of the longitudinally opposite ends and a second strap-receiving slot  31  positioned at a second one  19  of the longitudinally opposite ends; and an indicia-bearing area  33  extending from the top edge  14  of the body  12  and configured to receive an indicia  35  thereon. The indicia  35  may be formed on the indicia-bearing area  33  by any suitable metal working technique such as machining or stamping. The clip  10  may further include a centrally located hole  37  located in a central portion of the body  12 . 
     The clip  10  according to this invention can reliably retain the strap  5  while providing increased durability since the body  12  thereof is manufactured from a metal material. In addition, the clip  10  is highly customizable due to the addition of the indicia-bearing area. 
     With reference to  FIG. 4 , and with continued reference to  FIGS. 1-3 , an alternative embodiment of the clip  10 ′ may include an alternative indicia-bearing area  33 ′ that is machined into a decorative shape. 
     With reference to  FIG. 5 , another alternative embodiment of the clip  10 ″ allows for both bungee-type straps  39  and ribbon-type straps  41  to be secured thereto. The embodiment shown in  FIG. 1  also allows for both types of straps to be secured thereto. The clip  10 ″ includes: a body  12 ″ formed from a metal material such as, but not limited to, stainless steel, aluminum, or any other suitable metal material. 
     The body  12 ″ includes: a top edge  14 ″, a bottom edge  16 ″, and longitudinally opposite ends  18 ″,  19 ″. A first set of three slots  50  is positioned adjacent to the end  18 ″ and includes a first slot  54 , a center slot  55 , and a third slot  56 . A second set of three slots  52  is positioned adjacent to the end  19 ″ and includes a first slot  57 , a center slot  58 , and a third slot  59 . A central hole  60  is positioned between the first set of three slots  50  and the second set of three slots  52  in a central location of the body  12 ″. An indicia-bearing area  33 ″ extends from the top edge  14 ″ of the body  12 ″ and is configured to receive an indicia thereon. The body  12 ″ may further comprise a first strap-receiving slot  30 ″ positioned at the end  18 ″ and a second strap-receiving slot  31 ″ positioned at the end  19 ″. The body  12 ″ may also be curved along its length. The central hole  60  allows the clip  10 ″ to be used with a bungee type strap as discussed hereinafter. In addition, the slots of the first set of three slots  50  and the second set of three slots  52  have a vertically offset position with regard to each other as shown in  FIG. 5 . By positioning the slots in this manner, a ribbon type strap is more securely connected to the clip  10 ″ than with a conventional clip. 
     With reference to  FIGS. 6 and 7 , a bungee type strap may be secured to the clip  10 ″ as follows. A first end  61  of the bungee type strap  39  may be configured to be secured to the clip  10 ″ by: a) passing the first end  61  of the bungee type strap  39  through the center slot  55  of the first set of three slots  50  in a first direction as shown by arrow A 1  in  FIG. 6 ; b) passing the first end  61  of the bungee type strap  39  through the center slot  55  of the first set of three slots  50  in a second direction as shown by arrow A 2  in  FIG. 6  to form a loop; c) passing the first end  61  of the bungee type strap  39  through the central hole  60  in the first direction as shown by arrow A 3  in  FIG. 6 ; and d) passing the first end  61  of the bungee type strap  39  through the loop as shown by arrow A 4  in  FIG. 6 . A second end  62  of the bungee type strap  39  may be configured to be secured to the clip  10 ″ by: a) passing the second end  62  of the bungee type strap  39  through a center slot  58  of the second set of three slots  52  in a first direction; b) passing the second end  62  of the bungee type strap  39  through the center slot  58  of the second set of three slots  52  in a second direction to form a loop; c) passing the second end  52  of the bungee type strap  39  through the central hole  60  in the first direction; and d) passing the second end  62  of the bungee type strap  39  through the loop. 
     Typically, bungee type straps are secured to a pair of goggles using a spring loaded clamp. Such a spring loaded clamp is rather large and uncomfortable for the user. By using the clip  10 ″ of the present disclosure, a bungee type strap can be held more securely without slippage and is more comfortable for the user. 
     With reference to  FIGS. 8-10 , a ribbon type strap  41  may also be configured to be secured to the clip  10 ″ as follows. A first end  63  of the ribbon type strap  41  may be configured to be secured to the clip  10 ″ by: a) passing the first end  63  of the ribbon type strap  41  through the first slot  57  of the second set of three slots  52  in a first direction as shown by arrow Bi in  FIG. 8 ; b) passing the first end  63  of the ribbon type strap  41  through the center slot  58  of the second set of three slots  52  in a second direction as shown by arrow B 2  in  FIG. 8 ; c) passing the first end  63  of the ribbon type strap  41  through the third slot  59  of the second set of three slots  52  in the first direction as shown by arrow B 3  in  FIG. 8 ; and d) passing the first end  63  of the ribbon type strap  41  through the first slot  57  of the second set of three slots  52  in the second direction as shown by arrow B 4  in  FIG. 8 . A second end  64  of the ribbon type strap  41  may be configured to be secured to the clip  10 ″ by: a) passing the second end  64  of the ribbon type strap  41  through the first slot  54  of the first set of three slots  50  in a first direction; b) passing the second end  64  of the ribbon type strap  41  through the center slot  55  of the first set of three slots  50  in a second direction; c) passing the second end  64  of the ribbon type strap  41  through the third slot  56  of the first set of three slots  50  in the first direction; and d) passing the second end  64  of the ribbon type strap  41  through the first slot  54  of the first set of three slots  50  in the second direction. 
     While specific embodiments of the invention have been described in detail, it will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that various modifications and alternatives to those details could be developed in light of the overall teachings of the disclosure. Accordingly, the particular arrangements disclosed are meant to be illustrative only and not limiting as to the scope of the invention which is to be given the full breadth of the claims appended and any and all equivalents thereof.