FIELD OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to suspender clips and in particular to their decoration.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Suspenders and suspender clips, in some form, have been used for many years by men and women to hold up pants, stockings, socks and hosiery.

As originally used, suspenders and clips were of conservative design and colour and clips were constructed of metal. In recent years there has been a market trend towards fashionable and colourful suspenders and clips.

Accordingly suspender clips are now available in many colours and shapes, including coloured metal clips, coloured plastic clips, clips with engraved patterns or printed images, or clips of novelty shapes such as coins, stars, hands and bears.

Currently, the adornment of suspender clips cannot be changed and one must purchase each shaped or coloured clip separately. As a result, to save on costs, suspender clips are generally made of low quality materials and tend to break and be replaced regularly.

There have been numerous patent documents which disclose basic clip design such as GB198959, GB350404, GB484758 and GB650156. However we have not found any documents which address the issue of decoration of the suspender clips. In particular a clip with interchangeable decorative shapes would eliminate the need for purchasing multiple clips and would allow for the clip to be made of higher quality material so as not to break OBJECT OF THE INVENTION

It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide means for decorating suspender clips or at least to provide an alternative to current suspender clips.

STATEMENT OF THE INVENTION

According to the present invention means for decorating suspender clips comprise shapes removably attached to said dips.

Preferably the shape is attached to the clip by a stud and clasp mechanism in which one or more clasps are fixed to either the clip or the shape and are secured on one or more mating studs fixed to the other of the clip or shape. Preferably, the one or more clasps have a small protrusion which snaps into a corresponding groove in the one or more mating studs to secure the shape on the front of the suspender clip.

Preferably the shape is removed from the front of the suspender clip by sliding the shape upwards from the clip so that the protrusions leave the grooves and the clasps disengage the studs.

Alternatively the shape is attached to the clip by a hinge mechanism in which a central hinge member is fixed to the shape and is retained by a transverse pin located in holes through the sides of the clip and in which one or more studs located on the shape snap into one or more mating grooves in the clip.

Preferably the shape can be removed from the front of the suspender dip by rotating the shape away from the clip until the studs disengage the grooves and then removing the pin from the holes in the clip. Preferably the attachment of the shapes allows for adjustment of suspender straps.

Preferably the means also involves encrusting the clip and/or the shape with precious or semi precious stones.

Preferably the means also involves manufacturing the clip and/or the shape from precious metals such as gold, silver or platinum.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

An embodiment of the invention is now described by way of example only with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

Fig 1 is a front elevation of a suspender clip adapted to receive a removable heart shape attachment

Fig 2 is a plan view from above of the suspender clip of Fig 1 with heart shape attached

Figs 3 is a side elevation of the suspender dip of Fig 1 with heart shape attached

Fig 4 is a front elevation of a suspender clip with an alternative mechanism for attaching a removable heart shape shown above the clip

Fig 5 is a plan view from above of the suspender clip of Fig 4 with heart shape attached and

Fig 6 is a side elevation of the suspender clip of Fig 4 with heart shape attached.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

In Fig 1 suspender clip 1 has studs 2 adapted to receive metal clasps 3 fixed to the underside of removable shape 4. Clasps 3 have small protrusions 14 which snap into grooves 5 in studs 2 thereby securing removable shape 4 on the front of suspender clip 1 as shown in Figs 2 and 3. Shape 4 can be detached from clip 1 simply by sliding shape 4 upwards from clip 1 so that protrusions'! 4 leave grooves 5 and clasps 3 disengage studs 2. The attachment of shape 4 to clip 1 allows adjustment of suspender strap (now shown). Fig 4 shows a suspender dip 1 with an alternative hinge attachment mechanism. Central hinge member 7 is fixed to underside of shape 4 and sides 6 of clip1 have holes 8 so that pin 9 is inserted through holes 8 and hinge member 7 thereby hinging shape 4 to clip 1. Shape 4 pivots about pin θ to allow adjustment of the suspender strap (not shown) within receiving slots 10. Shape 4 also has studs 11 adapted to snap into grooves 12 on top of clip 1 thereby securing shape 4 on the front of clip 1 as shown in Figs 5 and 6. Removable shape 4 is detached from suspender clip 1 by rotating shape 4 away from clip 1 until studs 1 1 disengage grooves 12 and by removing pin 9 from holes 8.

Suspender clip 1 and removable shape 2 are made from high quality materials such as gold, silver or platinum and further decorated by encrusting precious stones 13 as shown in Figs 1 through 6. Suspender clip 1 may also be rhodium, gold or silver plated and decorated with Swarovski crystals or cubic zirconium. Clips 1 have a cross section thick enough to allow for the stones to be pressed into their outer surfaces during production.

ADVANTAGES

It will be obvious that these methods of construction of clips 1 allow a range of ornamental shapes to be removably attached to them. Accordingly the basic clip can be made from valuable materials such as gold, silver and platinum and encrusted with precious stones and sold with custom made interchangeable shapes. This results in clips which are high fashion accessories and not just a functional suspension device such as existing clips. VARIATIONS

It will be realized that the foregoing has been given by way of illustrative example only and that all other modifications and variations as would be apparent to persons skilled in the art are deemed to fall within the broad scope and ambit of the invention as herein set forth.

Throughout the description and claims of this specification the words "comprise" and variations of that word such as "comprises" and "comprising" are not intended to exclude other additives components integers or steps.