Abstract:
We provide a securement apparatus or clip including a flexible unibody member that allows two sides of the clip to be separated, allowing the clip to be placed around a rod to support a curtain. Each part of the clip that is in contact with the rod includes a point of minimal contact with the rod, designed to reduce friction and to help maintain the clip on the rod.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 61/878,735, filed on Sep. 17, 2013. That application is incorporated by reference herein. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    1. Field of the Invention 
         [0003]    Embodiments of the invention relate to curtain clips that may be used to retain shower curtains, decorative curtains, and the like on a rod. 
         [0004]    2. Background of the Related Art 
         [0005]    Curtains are in common use for a number of purposes throughout the home. They may be used for privacy, to block sun, or to prevent egress of water from a shower or bath. These curtains normally depend from a rod. 
         [0006]    Many curtains, especially bath or shower curtains, include integral rings or eyelets through which the rod may be threaded to allow the shower curtain to depend directly from the rod. In other cases a series of rings are placed on a rod, and hooks depend from or are integral with these rings. The hooks are then mated with the rings or eyelets on the curtain, allowing the curtain to indirectly depend from the rod. In another example clips, rather than hooks, depend from the ring and are secured to a curtain that does or does not have integral rings or eyelets. 
         [0007]    Current systems for hanging curtains using ring systems share a common disadvantage. The threading of the rings on the rod is time consuming. Moreover, when hooks are used the curtain may easily lift out of the hook during use, creating a gap and requiring maintenance. Moreover, inserting hooks into rings is also a time-consuming exercise, and it may be particularly difficult for people who are unable to use both hands or who are not able to hold their hands above their head for long periods of time. Many clips may not be useful because their opening points downward, allowing the curtain to slip from the clip and fall. 
       BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0008]    We provide a system and apparatus designed to allow easy, single-handed suspension of a curtain from a rod. Embodiments provide a unibody clip that includes an aperture at its top. The clip may be slid into a ring or opening on a curtain. Then the clip may be pushed onto a curtain rod. As the clip is pushed onto a curtain rod it deforms to allow the rod to pass through the aperture. After the curtain rod has passed through the aperture the clip returns to its original configuration. 
         [0009]    Embodiments provide a securement apparatus, also referred to as a clip, including a unibody member having a bottom conjoined with a first side and a second side, each of said first side and second side forming a top of said unibody member, with the bottom being substantially coplanar with said first and second sides. The first and said second sides each have a shoulder near said top leading each of said first and said second side to abut each other at a central location of said top forming an aperture, and at least one of the first side and the second side is provided with a protrusion, said protrusion configured to direct an ancillary object into said aperture when said ancillary object makes contact with said top and said unibody member is advanced towards said ancillary object; and, the unibody member is resilient and flexible to enable deflection of at least one of the first and second sides to spread the first side from the second side enabling said unibody member to circumscribe the ancillary object, wherein after the ancillary object advances past the shoulders, the first and second sides advance back towards each other to envelope said ancillary object. 
         [0010]    In other embodiments the aperture is offset from said central location of said top. The bottom may be round or squared. Each protrusion may be provided with a curvature. The unibody member may be made from a material selected from the group consisting of polypropylene, polystyrene, acrylic, and spring steel. In some embodiments one or more of the first or second sides is provided with an embellishment disposed on or integral with an outer surface of the first or second side. 
         [0011]    In some embodiments each shoulder is provided with a bead disposed on an inner surface thereof. In some embodiments each shoulder is provided with a depression disposed on an inner surface thereof, and a bearing configured to fit within an individual depression is placed within each depression and secured in place with a bushing to properly secure said bearing to said unibody member and enable free motion thereof. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0012]      FIG. 1  shows front, side perspective, side, top, and bottom views of an embodiment of the invention. In the second side perspective view the clip is open as if it is being placed on a curtain rod. 
           [0013]      FIG. 2  shows side, top, and bottom views of another clip of the invention. 
           [0014]      FIG. 3  shows front and side views of another embodiment. 
           [0015]      FIG. 4  shows front and side view of a still further embodiment. 
           [0016]      FIG. 5  shows front and side views of a yet still further embodiment. 
           [0017]      FIG. 6  shows a perspective view of yet still further embodiment. 
           [0018]      FIG. 7  shows an embodiment of the invention being placed on a curtain rod. 
           [0019]      FIG. 8  shows an embodiment of the invention having been placed through an eyelet on a curtain. 
           [0020]      FIG. 9  shows an embodiment of the invention placed on a rod with a curtain depending from the embodiment. 
           [0021]      FIG. 10 ,  FIG. 11 ,  FIG. 12 ,  FIG. 13 , and  FIG. 14  show front, side perspective, side, top, and bottom views of different embodiments of the invention. In the second side perspective view on each figure the clip is open as if it is being placed on a curtain rod. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0022]    We provide clips  1  for use in retaining curtains  19  without the need for separate hooks. Embodiments of the invention comprise at least one clip  1  having a bottom  7 , a first side  3   a,  a second side  3   b,  and a top  18 . Each clip  1  may have a shape including but not limited to approximately circular, oval, rectangular, hexagonal, or teardrop-shaped. Often the place where the sides  3   a,    3   b  meet the bottom  7  is rounded. Where the sides  3   a,    3   b  meet the top  18  may have sufficient curvature to be described as “shoulders”  13  of the clip  1 . 
         [0023]    A central portion of the top  18  of the clip  1  has an aperture  11  through which a curtain eyelet  21  and a curtain rod  17  may be placed. When in use, the top  18  of the clip  1 , and therefore the aperture  11 , is on the side of the curtain rod  17  opposite the side from which the curtain  19  depends. In some embodiments, however, the clip  1  is shaped and/or weighted so that the aperture  11  is offset from the central portion of the top  18 . 
         [0024]    Embodiments may include embellishments  5  disposed on an outer surface of at least one side  3   a,    3   b,  but are not required to include them. For example, as shown in  FIGS. 3 ,  4 , and  5 , one or both sides  3   a,    3   b  of the clip  1  may include an embellishment  5  that may be a molded ornamental design. While these embellishments  5  may be ornamental in nature and enhance aesthetics of the clip  1 , these embellishments  5  also serve a utilitarian function by providing an abutment to adequately secure curtains  19  with openings that may have widened, frayed, torn, or otherwise degraded. These embellishments  5  also cover and conceal the unsightly openings. Although referred to herein as “clips,” embodiments should not be confused with the type of prior art curtain clips or stays that are used to hold a curtain in an open position. 
         [0025]    The top  18  of each clip  1 , adjacent to the aperture  11 , includes a protrusion  15  extending from each side  3   a,    3   b.  These protrusions  15  serve multiple functions. First, they help a user orient the clip  1  to a rod  17  in a fashion that enables the clip  1  to be pushed onto the rod  17 . Second, the protrusions  15  are angled to cause the aperture  11  to open when the top  18  of the clip  1  is pressed against a rod  17 . 
         [0026]    Significantly, the use of the protrusions  15  in the manner described above enables a user to place a clip  1  on a rod  17  without taking direct action to pull apart the protrusions  15 . This allows simple, one-handed operation of the clip  1 . So long as the rod  17  is secure to an ancillary structure, the clips  1  may be forced onto the rod  17  with a quick motion. Pressing the top  18  of the clip  1  against the rod  17  deflects the sides  3   a,    3   b  so that as the clip  1  is advanced toward the rod  17  and the sides  3   a,    3   b  circumscribe the rod  17 . After the clip  1  has been advanced so that the rod  17  passes the shoulders  13 , the resilient, flexible nature of the clip  1  snaps the sides  3   a,    3   b  back to their original shape without plastic deformation to envelop the rod  17 . The curtain  19  may be placed on the clip  1  either before or after the clip  1  has been secured to rod  17  by inserting a side  3   a,    3   b  of the clip  1  through an eyelet  21  or ring in the curtain  19 . 
         [0027]    This apparatus has further advantages. When a user wishes to remove a curtain  19 , he is able to remove both the curtain  19  and each clip  1  by grasping the curtain  19  and, in a quick downward motion, pull the curtain  19  and each clip  1  from the rod  17 . This is substantially more convenient than prior art systems and apparatuses, in which rings must be removed one at a time from a rod  17 , or when one or both sides of the rod must be removed from an ancillary structure to allow closed rings to slide off when a change is desired. 
         [0028]    The surface of the protrusions  15  leading to the aperture  11  may be curved, as shown in  FIG. 1 , or straight, as shown in  FIG. 2 . In another embodiment one side  3   a,    3   b  may be straight and the other side  3   a,    3   b  curved. 
         [0029]    At least one shoulder  13  may be provided with a bead  9  disposed on an inner surface of the clip  1 , as is shown in  FIG. 1 . These beads  9  may be absent in some embodiments, as is shown in  FIG. 2 . Each bead  9  may be an integral, stationary part of the clip  1 , or it may be placed in depressions of the inner surface of the top  18  of the clip  1  and able to move freely like bearings. In embodiments where the beads  9  acts like bearings, it is envisioned for the bead  9  to comprise a hard spherical ball secured within the depression via a bushing or race to enable securement to the clip  1  while permitting free rotation thereof. In some embodiments the beads  9  are hemispheres, while in other embodiments they may be pyramidal. In preferred embodiments the beads are shaped to minimize contact with the bead and a rod when the clip is in place. Although referred to as a “bead” it will be recognized that the structure may take many shapes, as shown for example in  FIG. 1  and  FIGS. 10-14 . 
         [0030]    Each bead  9  acts as a mechanical stop to inhibit the rod  17  from advancing up into the aperture  11  when the clips  1  are used to suspend a curtain  19 . This reduces the risk of having the clips  1  and curtain  19  fall off of the rod  17 . The beads  9 , whether bearing types or not, also serve to reduce the friction experienced between the engagement of the clip  1  with the rod  17  so as to enable smooth and uninterrupted slidable motion of the clips  1  about the rod  17  if it is desired to slide the curtain  19  and clips  1  to about the rod  17 . 
         [0031]    Embodiments may be made of any one of many materials. For example, they may be polypropylene, polystyrene, acrylic, or spring steel. The type of material may vary depending on the use to which a clip  1  may be put; stronger materials may be more suitable for supporting heavy curtains  19 . The clips  1  may be made by extrusion, injection molding, press molding, or other means. 
         [0032]    Ideally the material will be one that is resilient and flexible enough to allow separation of the top  18  of the clip  1  at the aperture  11  without breaking, while still able to move back into its original shape and support a curtain  19 . Of course, those of skill in the art will recognize that in some situations it may not be necessary for a single clip  1  to bear the weight of an entire curtain  19 , since in a typical application many clips  1  will be used to support a single curtain  19 . 
         [0033]    Embodiments may be further understood with reference to the figures.  FIG. 1  shows a clip  1  including sides  3   a  and  3   b,  ornamental effect  5 , bottom  7 , beads  9 , aperture  11 , top shoulders  13 , and protrusions  15 .  FIG. 8  shows a clip  1  on a rod  17  and including a curtain  19  having an eyelet  21 . 
         [0034]    Those of skill in the art will recognize that further embodiments are within the scope and spirit of the invention.