GB2054022A - Napkin clip - Google Patents

Abstract

A table-napkin holder provides means, preferably in the form of a clip arrangement e.g. with back 16 and front 18 portions, for holding a napkin and attachment means, for example a self-adhesive strip on the rear of the back portion 16, for removably attaching the holder to the wearer's clothing. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION A table-napkin holder The present invention concerns a table-napkin holder.

According to the present invention there is provided a table-napkin holder including napkin engaging means for gripping a table napkin and attachment means adapted for fixing the holder to the napkin user's clothing.

One embodiment of the present invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawing which shows a perspective view, not to scale, of a tablenapkin holder.

A table-napkin holder 10 is manufactured by extruding a strip of resilient plastics material having the cross-section of the holder shown in the drawing when viewed in the direction of arrow A.

After a self-adhesive strip 12 having a peel-off backing paper 14 is stuck to the rear of the plastics strip it is cut to form several holders as illustrated in the drawing. Each holder has a back portion 1 6 and a shorter front portion 1 8 parallel to the back portion and attached thereto by a bowed portion 20, this bowed portion being so arranged that it urges the front portion 1 8 towards the back portion 1 6 against which it normally lies.

In use a cloth or paper table-napkin has a portion of one of its edges or a corner forced between the back and front portions, the front portion having an outwardly directed flange 22 at its free end to facilitate the insertion of the napkin.

Owing to the resilience of the bowed portion 20 and the thickness of the napkin, the napkin is firmly retained in the holder which can then be stuck to the user's clothing by the self-adhesive strip 12, after the backing paper has been removed.

When the user no longer requires to wear the napkin it is a simple matter to remove it and the holder from his clothing simply by peeling off the holder which can then be disposed of or, for a limited period until the strip 12 loses its adhesion, be reused.

It is possible for the holder to carry advertising material and conveniently this is printed on to the extruded strip before it is cut up into individual holders.

Various modifications can be made without departing from the scope of the invention as defined in the claims, for example, the selfadhesive strip may be replaced by any other convenient attachment means, preferably one which wili not damage or mark the user's clothing.

The napkin engaging means may take any suitable form. One convenient form is a tab formed in the back portion of the holder (the bowed and front portions being omitted) by cutting three lines to form the three sides of a rectangle, the tab being hinged away from the back portion about the 'uncut' side of the rectangle to allow insertion of the napkin corner or edge, the resilience of the material from which the holder is formed then tending to return the tab to its original position, thus gripping the napkin. A further form of napkin engaging means may be provided by cutting two parallel lines in the back portion (the bowed and front portions again being omitted) from one edge thereof, the tab formed between the two lines being used in the manner described in the preceding sentence.In a further modification the holder may be manufactured from sheet steel rather than plastics material.

In the drawing the outline configuration of the holder is generally rectangular, it is possible, however, for it to have other more ornamental outlines, for example oval.

Means may be incorporated in the holder to enhance its grip on the napkin, for example the facing faces of the front and back portions of the holder illustrated in the accompanying drawing may have spike-like protrusions therefrom.

1. A table-napkin holder including napkin engaging means for gripping a table-napkin and attachment means adapted for fixing the holder to the napkin user's clothing.

2. A table-napkin holder as claimed in claim 1, in which said attachment means is a self-adhesive strip fixed to the hoider.

3. A table-napkin holder as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2, in which the napkin engaging means comprises a clip formed integrally with the holder.

4. A table-napkin holder as claimed in any one of the preceding claims manufactured from a resilient plastics material.

5. A table-napkin holder as claimed in claim 3 or claim 4, including a back portion and a shorter front portion attached to said back portion by a bowed portion such that the front portion lies alongside the back portion to form said clip.

6. A table-napkin holder as claimed in claim 5, in which the free end of the front portion has an outwardly directed flange.

7. A table-napkin holder as claimed in any one of claims 4 to 6 manufactured by extrusion.

8. A table-napkin holder as claimed in claim 3 or claim 4 including a back portion having a tab therein defined by lines formed through said back portion, whereby said tab may be hinged away from the back portion to permit insertion of a table-napkin.

9. A table-napkin holder substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawing.

10. Any novel subject matter or combination including novel subject matter herein disclosed, whether or not within the scope of or relating to the same invention as any of the preceding claims.

**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims (10)

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. SPECIFICATION A table-napkin holder The present invention concerns a table-napkin holder. According to the present invention there is provided a table-napkin holder including napkin engaging means for gripping a table napkin and attachment means adapted for fixing the holder to the napkin user's clothing. One embodiment of the present invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawing which shows a perspective view, not to scale, of a tablenapkin holder. A table-napkin holder 10 is manufactured by extruding a strip of resilient plastics material having the cross-section of the holder shown in the drawing when viewed in the direction of arrow A. After a self-adhesive strip 12 having a peel-off backing paper 14 is stuck to the rear of the plastics strip it is cut to form several holders as illustrated in the drawing. Each holder has a back portion 1 6 and a shorter front portion 1 8 parallel to the back portion and attached thereto by a bowed portion 20, this bowed portion being so arranged that it urges the front portion 1 8 towards the back portion 1 6 against which it normally lies. In use a cloth or paper table-napkin has a portion of one of its edges or a corner forced between the back and front portions, the front portion having an outwardly directed flange 22 at its free end to facilitate the insertion of the napkin. Owing to the resilience of the bowed portion 20 and the thickness of the napkin, the napkin is firmly retained in the holder which can then be stuck to the user's clothing by the self-adhesive strip 12, after the backing paper has been removed. When the user no longer requires to wear the napkin it is a simple matter to remove it and the holder from his clothing simply by peeling off the holder which can then be disposed of or, for a limited period until the strip 12 loses its adhesion, be reused. It is possible for the holder to carry advertising material and conveniently this is printed on to the extruded strip before it is cut up into individual holders. Various modifications can be made without departing from the scope of the invention as defined in the claims, for example, the selfadhesive strip may be replaced by any other convenient attachment means, preferably one which wili not damage or mark the user's clothing. The napkin engaging means may take any suitable form. One convenient form is a tab formed in the back portion of the holder (the bowed and front portions being omitted) by cutting three lines to form the three sides of a rectangle, the tab being hinged away from the back portion about the 'uncut' side of the rectangle to allow insertion of the napkin corner or edge, the resilience of the material from which the holder is formed then tending to return the tab to its original position, thus gripping the napkin. A further form of napkin engaging means may be provided by cutting two parallel lines in the back portion (the bowed and front portions again being omitted) from one edge thereof, the tab formed between the two lines being used in the manner described in the preceding sentence.In a further modification the holder may be manufactured from sheet steel rather than plastics material. In the drawing the outline configuration of the holder is generally rectangular, it is possible, however, for it to have other more ornamental outlines, for example oval. Means may be incorporated in the holder to enhance its grip on the napkin, for example the facing faces of the front and back portions of the holder illustrated in the accompanying drawing may have spike-like protrusions therefrom. CLAIMS

1. A table-napkin holder including napkin engaging means for gripping a table-napkin and attachment means adapted for fixing the holder to the napkin user's clothing.

2. A table-napkin holder as claimed in claim 1, in which said attachment means is a self-adhesive strip fixed to the hoider.

3. A table-napkin holder as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2, in which the napkin engaging means comprises a clip formed integrally with the holder.

4. A table-napkin holder as claimed in any one of the preceding claims manufactured from a resilient plastics material.

5. A table-napkin holder as claimed in claim 3 or claim 4, including a back portion and a shorter front portion attached to said back portion by a bowed portion such that the front portion lies alongside the back portion to form said clip.

6. A table-napkin holder as claimed in claim 5, in which the free end of the front portion has an outwardly directed flange.

7. A table-napkin holder as claimed in any one of claims 4 to 6 manufactured by extrusion.

8. A table-napkin holder as claimed in claim 3 or claim 4 including a back portion having a tab therein defined by lines formed through said back portion, whereby said tab may be hinged away from the back portion to permit insertion of a table-napkin.

9. A table-napkin holder substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawing.

10. Any novel subject matter or combination including novel subject matter herein disclosed, whether or not within the scope of or relating to the same invention as any of the preceding claims.