Abstract:
A clothing protective device which is particularly adapted to be worn by a person, such as a man, woman or child, and which in particular will assist in the protection of clothing while dining. In essence, the device is essentially in the form of a so-called napkin holder which can be readily transported in a clothing pocket or a purse and which is imparted a large number of uses in addition to being merely a clothing protective device.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application claims the benefit of the U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 60/070,581; filed on Jan. 6, 1998. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates to a clothing protective device which is particularly adapted to be worn by a person, such as a man, woman or child, and which in particular will assist in the protection of clothing while dining. In essence, the device is essentially in the form of a so-called napkin holder which can be readily transported in a clothing pocket or a purse and which is imparted a large number of uses in addition to being merely a clothing protective device. 
     In essence, various types of clothing protective devices, especially in the form of napkin holders which may be worn about the neck of the user during dining are currently known and in widespread use. Among such devices, of a rather primitive nature are the so-called napkins or bibs which are adapted to be tied about the neck of a wearer during dining and which are relatively unsightly when worn in public locations or more sophisticated dining establishments. 
     Currently a number of clothing protective devices of this nature; in essence, which are adapted to be worn about the neck of a wearer during desired periods of time; for example, such as when dining or the like, are known in the art. 
     2. Discussion of the Prior Art 
     Among the devices adapted to protect clothing during dining or similar instances are the napkin clip of Basseches et al. U.S. Pat. No. 4,425,680. In that instance, a clip which may be attached to an upper clothing portion below the chin of a wearer has clamping structures which are adapted to engage a napkin corner which is passed through a slot so as to be clipped to the clothing. This, however only protects a narrow front portion of the clothing of the wearer and, in essence, does not provide for any adjustability with regard to the different types of clothing, or the size of the wearer; for example, that of a man compared to woman or a child. Consequently, Basseches at el. discloses a napkin clip which is only of relatively limited applicability. 
     Lokken U.S. Pat. No. 5,191,681 discloses a napkin or drape holder which is in the form of a spring-like first plastic member and a spring-like second plastic member of collinear proportion adapted to be engaged so as to wedge a hinge structure therebetween, the latter of which may be attached to a napkin or a drape. When attached to a napkin, the ring-like element may be positioned about the neck of wearer during dining. This however, presents, a complex and uncomfortable structure which is not suspectable of large scale utilization in view of its lack of adjustability to the neck of a child or woman where it may create problems as to sensitivity and discomfort. 
     Similarly, Kaderabek U.S. Pat. No. 4,587,692 discloses a universal napkin support in the form of two elastic circular arm bands which are adapted to be position about the neck of a wearer, and wherein clip members at side portions thereof are adapted to engage a clothing or napkin article so as to be suspended from the neck of the wearer. Again, as in the previously discussed patent to Lokken, this would provide a large degree of discomfort and lack of adjustability for the neck of a woman or child of tender years. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     Accordingly, in order to clearly and advantageously distinguish over the foregoing, pursuant to the present invention a clothing protective device includes a small case, generally in the form of a cylindrical element, constituted of two separable halves attached by an extendable and subsequently retractable string, and incorporates elements for the attachment of a clothing protective article to the device, such as a napkin or the like. 
     The item aids in the protection of clothing while dining, the small casing assembly allows the user to keep a variety of items which are helpful before, during and after meals in one convenient case. The outer case can be made of any type of material, i.e. wood, plastic, metal, glass and is easily transported in a clothing pocket or purse. The two halves of the symmetric container split apart to expose an individual clip on the innermost planar surface of each half. The clips hold a user supplied napkin in place during a meal or while engaging in activities which would normally stain clothing. The two halves of the case are connected by means of a retractable string which is draped around the neck of the user, who attaches each clip to one side of a napkin which can then be easily adjusted to vary the napkin position. When finished dining the two halves are simply unclipped by the user from the napkin, and by applying a slight pressure to a release button, located on an internal planar surface of the bottom half, retracts the string into that half of the casing. The remaining few inches of string, which is left outside of the container, are automatically retracted and concealed when the two halves are placed together. Furthermore, the user need not press the release button to retract the string, but by merely bringing the two halves of the case together and closing them, causes an internal retraction mechanism to roll up the string and conceal it within the reassembled halves of the case. A pair of steel locating pins is adapted to keep the assembly consisting of the case halves together, oriented and magnetically attached until pulled apart again. 
     In addition to constituting a basic clothing protective device, the entire unit consisting of the case and the attended napkin engaging structure and mechanism is also adapted for other diverse application, all of which enhance the usefulness and aesthetic value thereof. 
     The unit may also be worn as a necklace by removing the internally stored decorative chain and clipping it to the outside of the unit in the spaced provided. The internal components that make up the mechanical sub-assembly are designed into the bottom half and in a fashion that can be easily inserted into a variety of external cases that can be both entertaining as well as decorative. The variety of material that can be used in manufacturing can vary how it is sold and help to classify it as either as a novelty, toy or jewelry either expensive or costume in structure. Components which do not relate to the function of the string retraction sub-assembly mechanism but make up the rest of the unit as a whole may comprise, selectively, a toothpick, mirror and recessed photograph or engraving. The top half of the container, which does not house the string retraction mechanism, is used for storage of a toothpick and necklace. The extreme outer spherical surface of both halves, of this particular design, are flat and parallel to each internal surface and can provide a smooth face for engraving in the event a recess for the picture or mirror is not desired for other models. The toothpick, concealed in a recess on the circumference of the outermost spherical portion of the top half, can be easily removed by inserting a finger tip into the concave indentation and pulled outward. 
     Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a novel clothing protective device comprising a casing including separable halves interconnected by an extendable and retractable string which includes clip structure for engaging a napkin or similar clothing protective article. 
     Another object of the present invention is to provide a casing consisting of mating casing halves which are adapted to be carried in a clothing pocket or a purse, and which may be readily removed therefrom and placed about the neck of the wearer by being separated while attached by an extendable string so as to engage a clothing protective article, such as a napkin, while the user is dining. 
     Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a clothing protective device of the type described herein which includes retraction mechanism subsequent to use thereof when worn about the neck of a wearer so as to be able to reassemble the casing halves with the string retracted therein. 
     A still further object to present invention is to provide a clothing protective device as described herein wherein the device is adapted to selectively incorporate further features, such as the incorporation of a toothpick, mirror, neck chain and other elements in enhancing the usefulness and aesthetic properties thereof. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     Reference may now be had to the following detailed description of preferred embodiments of the invention, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings; in which: 
     FIG. 1 illustrates an exploded perspective view of the clothing protective device pursuant to the invention, illustrating all of the internal constituents thereof; 
     FIGS. 2 a  and  2   b  illustrate, respectively, a front and top view and a rear and bottom view in a perspective representation of the assembled clothing protective device, shown on an enlarged scale; 
     FIGS. 3 a  through  3   d  illustrate, respectively, top, bottom, front and rear views of the assembled casing halves forming the clothing protective device pursuant to the invention; 
     FIGS. 4 illustrates, on an enlarged scale, a transverse central sectional view of the device of FIG. 3 a ; and 
     FIG. 5 illustrates the casing halves of the device shown in various operative positions thereof. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     Reference may now be had to FIG. 1 of the drawing which illustrates a perspective exploded view of the clothing protective device  10  with essentially all of the internal components, including optional components, being shown in the order in which they would be installed within the clothing protective device  10 . 
     Referring specifically to the detail of components, the clothing protective device  10  includes a first hollow cup member forming a lower case half  12 . This cup-shaped component houses the string retraction mechanism  14 , consisting essentially of a spool  16 , a coil spring  18 , a connecting string  20  (shown in FIG.  5 ), a trip latch  22 , a trip latch pivot pin  24 , a pair of steel locating pins  26 , and a spool retainer  28 . 
     As illustrated, the mating case half  30  also is essentially hollowed cup-shaped and is adapted to house a toothpick  32 , a mirror  34 , and is provided with a hollow or recess on an opposite side, which is adapted for storage of a necklace chain or other small items (not shown) which may adapt the entire device to be worn as a decorative pendant or the like. As is indicated, the spool  16  is adapted to retain the string  20 , the latter of which may by formed of Kevlar™ or the like to impart strength thereto and resistance to tearing, while stored in the cup-shaped casing half  12 . The coil spring  18  is a coiled taut spring which is adapted to supply the force needed to retract and wind the string  30  when the casing halves are placed together onto the spool  16 . The spring also supplies the force which is required to lock the trip latch  22 . 
     A spool retainer  38  forms a protective barrier between the spool  16  and a napkin clip  40  for the casing half  12 . The spool retainer  38  also serves as a spacer in order to retain the spool  16 , thereby restricting the vertical movement thereof relative to the case. 
     As illustrated, two napkin clips  40  and  42  are provided to serve as fasteners for the inserted napkin (not shown). The steel locating pins  26  are employed as a guide structure during the matings or placing together of the cup halves  12  and  30 , when the latter are in the closed positions as shown in FIGS. 2 a  and  2   b , and FIG. 4 of the drawings. In order to maintain the mating case halves  12  and  30  together, suitable magnets  44  are provided as illustrated in FIG. 1 of the drawing. The trip latch  22  provides for the locking mechanism for the string  20 , whereas the pivot pin  24  for the trip latch provides a pivot point during the locking and releasing of string  20 . 
     Further provided may be a suitable toothpick  46  which is adapted to slide into a recess  48  formed in the casing half  30 . 
     The casing half  30  may have the outer service provided with a circular recess  50  for receiving a mirror  52 ; whereas similarly, the bottom of the casing half  12  may have a circular picture or metal engraving structure  54  inserted therein and fastened thereto through a suitable adhesive. Further provided is a napkin plug  56  which engages adjacent the casing half  30 , and which may provide a so-called “squeeze point” for the napkin which is to be held by the device  10  and the napkin clip  40 . 
     An optional component which may be incorporated into the unit may be a suitable circuit board or digital display for additional function, in future models, as described hereinbelow. 
     In FIGS. 2 a  and  2   b  there are illustrated two enlarged perspective views of the complete device  10 . The rear and bottom view in FIG. 2 b  shows the picture recess  60  in case half  12 , the inserted toothpick  46  and the access slot  62  for the napkin fastener. The cup-like case half  12  contains all of the mechanical components which are described in specific detail with reference to FIG. 4, and as shown in FIG.  1 . The case half  3  contains toothpick  46 , a storage compartment and one-half of the slot  62 . This slot allows for access to the napkin clip  40  so that a user can bend the clip outwardly with one finger and allow for the insertion of the napkin. A match line  64  represents the mating halves of the two major case components  12  and  30  when the assembly of the device is complete. The front and top view, FIG. 2 a , shows the mirror recess  50  in case half  30 , a recessed string slot  66 , the case half  12  and the assembly match line  64 . 
     FIGS. 3 a  through  3   d  illustrate four views of the complete assembled device  10 . A frontal view  70  depicts the string slot/recess  66  which is provided for easier retraction of the string  20  upon closure of the device. Side view  72  diagrammatically displays the complete internal workings of the device  10 , which view  74  shows the external and internal features of the bottom case half  12  only so as not to confuse them with the mating upper case  30  shown by view  76 . The coil spring  18  (in FIG. 1) is not shown for purposes of clarity, but is contained within spool  16 . The lower half, view  74  displays the recess  60  for a picture or engraving  54  which could be added for decorative purposes. The upper view  76 , shows the external and internal features of the top half case only so as not to confuse them with the mating lower half case, whereas view  76  displays the recess  50  for a mirror  52  and the channel  48  for recessing the toothpick  40 , but not the necklace storage compartment. 
     FIG. 4 shown an enlarged transverse center section viewed from the left front side. Shown are the lower (bottom) and upper case halves  12 ,  30  of the protective clothing device assembly, respectively. Identified by reference numeral  40  are the napkin clips, preferably of polypropylene, which fold outwardly to allow for the insertion of one half of a napkin. When released, the clip  40  squeezes the napkin material between itself and the vertical pin  56 . Also shown is the mirror recess  50  for mirror  52  in FIG.  1 . The toothpick  40  is a nylon toothpick inserted into the channel or recess  48  (see FIG. 1.) Napkin clip  40  presses against trip latch  22  at closure so as to open the latter, and allows the string  20  (shown in FIG. 5) to retract into the device by means of preloaded “spring wound” spool  16 . The string  20  is allowed to travel in and out of the device  10  via a narrow corridor from the inside to the outside of lower case half  12 . The trip latch  22  is positioned above the string  20  in this corridor and toggles about pivot pin  24  is an “arc like” motion, but for only over a fraction of a degree. The string  20  is in constant contact with trip latch  22  in either direction of movement. As the string  20  moves outwardly, trip latch  22  toggles upwardly allowing the string  20  to pass unobstructed. As the string retracts inwardly, trip latch  22  toggles downwardly and squeezes the string against the base of the corridor, causing the string to lock, wherein  66  is the recess for the Kevlar string which connects both case halves  12 , 30  of the device  10 . The recess  60  for a picture or engraving for decorative purposes, and recess  50  for a mirror may be eliminated if not required for other variations of the device. A center post  80  centers the spool  16 , and more importantly retains the coil spring  18  center tab from releasing during extension or retraction of string  20 . The spool retainer  38  is used as a spacer between the spool  16  and the underside of the napkin clip  40 . 
     Referring to FIG. 5, the device  10  is represented diagrammatically in a simulated motion during closure of the case halves  12  and  30 . The string  20  is preferably a 40″ long Kevlar™ string which joins the two case halves  12  and  30 , and serves as a hanger when wrapped around the neck of a user and retracts into the lower casing  12  for storage. The opposite end of string  20  is attached to the upper casing half  30 , and is secured through the toothpick recess  48 . 
     Modifications of the above described inventive clothing protective device  10  may incorporate an LED (light emitting diode) display behind the mirror  52 , which will cause a light to shine through the mirror when a button is depressed or if the device is squeezed by user. This display can be employed for time, alarm clock settings, or a variety of reminder messages. Furthermore, the device could also be employed as a pocket pager to indicate the phone numbers of incoming calls and as a cellular phone when the electronic technology enables such electronics to be incorporated into a sub-miniature package the size of the present device  10 . For that purpose, the circuit board and digital display referred to hereinabove under reference numeral  58  is an optional element which is normally not installed in the present device, until the latter is adapted to be modified for the above-referenced electronic utilization. 
     While there have been shown and described what are considered to be preferred embodiments of the invention, it will, of course, be understood that various modifications and changes in form or detail could readily be made without departing from the spirit of the invention. It is, therefore, intended that the invention be not limited to the exact form and detail herein shown and described, nor to anything less than the whole of the invention herein disclosed as hereinafter claimed.