Abstract:
A device for securing a napkin to a child&#39;s clothing is disclosed. The device is an teaching aid used to teach a child how to behave at the dining table like grown-ups. It helps in establishing correct eating manners, encourage proper posture during the meal, and teaches the proper usage of dining napkins.

Description:
BACKGROUND  
       [0001]     1. Field of the Invention  
         [0002]     The present disclosure is for a device that detachably holds a dining napkin or other soft object to an article of clothing. Particular to the usage in the training and care of children, the device features rounded edges and corners, and may be constructed from a soft, resilient material for safety concerns.  
         [0003]     2. Background  
         [0004]     In bringing up children, it is often a great challenge to teach them proper manners at the dining table. Children can be rambunctious and have short attention spans when it comes to sitting still during a meal. It is also common for young children to spill food on themselves when eating. Bibs or trays are commonly used to protect against eating mishaps at a young age, but as a child grows older this quickly becomes impractical and unseemly.  
         [0005]     When a child graduates to the use of dining napkins from using bibs, the dining napkin often winds up on the floor numerous times during the course of a meal. This is usually a result of improper posture, a lack of sitting still, or simply because the child is not consciously aware of the napkin on his lap. It would be beneficial to have a device that would act as the proverbial “training wheels” for dining napkins to train a child in their proper use. The device would be used to secure a napkin to a child&#39;s clothing to protect against food spillage, and to assist in developing proper eating manners. It is also desirable for the device to be simple and safe to operate, so that even children can use it by themselves.  
         [0006]     In attaching a dining napkin to the person, there are numerous napkin holding devices and clips known in the prior art. However, these devices may pose certain dangers when used with a child because they may utilize strong clamping mechanisms and sharp construction, and are only intended for adult use. U.S. Pat. No. 6,301,756 issued to Howard on Oct. 16, 2001, entitled “Clip,” illustrates a device that has large, sharp clamping teeth, which are fully exposed when the device is in the open position. U.S. Pat. No. 5,913,487 issued to Ochsman on Jun. 22, 1999, entitled, “Wearable Clamp for Releaseably Holding a Napkin or Other Flexible Substrate and Method for Wearing a Napkin or Other Flexible Substrate,” is comprised of a planar base hingedly connected to a movable jaw and carries an L-shaped lever and a spring clip. The movable jaw is sharp and the construction has many components.  
         [0007]     Other designs utilize a thin cord or string element to suspend the clipped napkin over clothing, which may pose a danger to children if swallowed. U.S. Pat. No. 6,502,284 issued to Juda et al. on Jan. 7, 2003, entitled “Clothing Protective Device,” discloses a pair of clipping halves that is connected by means of a string or decorative chain which is to be draped around the neck of the user. Similarly, U.S. Pat. No. 6,836,899, issued to Glasmire on Jan. 4, 2005, entititled “Device for Detachable Holding an Absorbent Napkin Across the Torso,” describes a device that features magnetic clipping ends that are also connected by a cord. Both devices may not be suitable for use with younger children.  
         [0008]     Furthermore, most napkin clips and holders cover only the upper extremities starting from the neck of the user. For instance, U.S. Pat. No. 4,425,680 issued to Basseches et al. on Jan. 17, 1984, entitled “Napkin Clip,” describes a clip which may be attached to an upper clothing portion below the chin of a wearer. The absorbent napkin is inserted into this tie clip-like device. This device, however, does nothing to train children in the proper etiquette and use of dining napkins, and in fact simply wears the napkin like a bib.  
         [0009]     What is needed is a device for securing a napkin to a child&#39;s clothing, which is used to teach the child how to behave at the dining table like grown-ups. It helps in establishing correct eating manners, encourage proper posture during the meal, and teaches the proper usage of dining napkins.  
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0010]      FIG. 1  depicts a perspective view showing an embodiment of the present device.  
         [0011]      FIG. 2  depicts a side view shown with an inner gripping surface.  
         [0012]      FIG. 3  depicts a front view of the present device.  
         [0013]      FIG. 4  depicts the device in perspective phantom view showing an inner gripping surface.  
         [0014]      FIG. 5  is a perspective view of the present invention illustrating the attachment of an absorbent napkin to a clothing surface.  
         [0015]      FIG. 5   a  is a cross sectional view of  FIG. 5 .  
         [0016]      FIG. 6  shows another embodiment of the invention in perspective view.  
         [0017]      FIG. 6   a  shows a top view of the embodiment of  FIG. 6 .  
         [0018]      FIG. 6   b  shows a side view of the embodiment of  FIG. 6  in closed position.  
         [0019]      FIG. 6   c  shows a side view of the embodiment of  FIG. 6  in open position. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION  
       [0020]      FIG. 1  depicts an embodiment of the instant device. A clip  100  has a single piece U-shaped body  102  consisting of two oppositely aligned gripping sections  106  and  108 . The body is fabricated from semi-rigid materials such as plastic, rubber or hard foam, such that the clip can easily be opened, even by a child. In alternate embodiments, the body can be made of wood, metal, cardboard or any other material known or convenient. The clamping force exerted by the U-shaped body  102  should be such that the clip will return to a closed position when opened, but will not clamp down suddenly on fingers. The clamping force should be sufficient enough to secure a paper napkin, yet the clip should be able to easily open wide enough to accommodate and secure thicker cloth napkins.  
         [0021]     The edges and corners of the body  102  are rounded to provide safety. In alternate embodiments, the body  102  may be coated in a soft covering to further aid in safety.  
         [0022]      FIG. 2  and  FIG. 3  show an alternate embodiment of the device featuring gripping components  202   a  and  202   b  located on the inner surfaces of gripping sections  106  and  108 . These components may be constructed from soft materials such as rubber or felt to permit easy attachment and removal of articles. With these gripping elements, the gripping sections do not need to assert much force in securing the napkin. The napkin may simply be secured by friction from the gripping components  202   a  and  202   b  acting on the napkin.  
         [0023]     In alternate embodiments, the gripping components  202   a  and  202   b  may have patterns that aid in gripping, such as small ridges or teeth.  FIG. 4  depicts one such embodiment in phantom view, having gripping components  201   a  (not shown) and  202   b  with integral rows of ridges  401 . These patterns may differ in size and shape in alternate embodiments.  
         [0024]      FIG. 5  and  FIG. 5   a  demonstrate the attachment of a paper or cloth dining napkin  501  to an article of clothing  502 . To use the device, the clip  100  is opened and one gripping surface tucked inside the waistband  503  or side pocket  504  of the child&#39;s pants, shorts or dress. ( FIG. 5   a  depicts the inner gripping surface that is tucked inside the article of clothing  502 .) The dining napkin  501  can then be slid between the second gripping section facing outwards and the article of clothing, thereby securing the napkin to the article of clothing. The napkin is meant to be placed across the lap of the child (see  FIG. 5 ), just like grown-ups. Alternatively, the clip may be also be used to secure a napkin to clothing of the upper body for eating foods that may create a mess.  
         [0025]     A dining napkin may be gripped by the clip and remain secured to an article of clothing, as long as the child does not exhibit excessive movements during the meal. It is not an object of the invention to provide a gripping force that can withstand such movements, but rather aid the child in developing proper eating manners and napkin usage by reinforcement. If the napkin does slip from the clip, the child can be informed gently that he is not behaving properly at the dining table, such as not staying still, letting his legs slip off the chair, or generally not maintaining a good sitting posture.  
         [0026]     In a further embodiment depicted in  FIG. 6 , the clip  600  comprises a top half  601  and a bottom half  602  connected by spring means  603 . The spring means assert pressure on the halves to keep the clip in a closed position, as depicted in  FIG. 6   b . A slight pressure is applied by a user&#39;s fingers to tabs  601   a  and  602   a  aft of the spring means  603  to open the clip. While the clip is in its open position, it can be clamped onto an article of clothing and a dining napkin in a similar manner as discussed above. The spring means exert just enough pressure to hold a dining napkin to the article of clothing when the clip returns to its closed position, as depicted in  FIG. 6   b . This ensures that a child will not be injured by the clip suddenly snapping or clamping down on the child&#39;s extremities. Further, this embodiment has a rounded shape with no sharp corners, and is preferably made of a soft and pliant material for increased safety for use around children.  
         [0027]     Although the invention has been described in conjunction with specific embodiments thereof, it is evident that many alternatives, modifications and variations will be apparent to those skilled in the art. Accordingly, the invention as described and hereinafter claimed is intended to embrace all such alternatives, modifications and variations that fall within the spirit and broad scope of the appended claims.