Linkable clip

Abstract

Clips of this invention are capable of being held by other, like clips and are capable of holding items such as balloons. Hence decorative objects such as latex party balloons can be strung together in various forms by means of their clips. Preferred clips are moulded in a plastics material. Extenders (lacking the means to hold objects) are also included in the invention. Complex assemblies of party balloons can be assembled on these clips and interlinked. Hundreds of balloons can be reversibly assembled in festoons. Distended balloons are attached by their necks, twisted a few times around holding structures on the clips. The open mouths of the necks are intentionally left trapped in tension against the holding structures so that they cannot unravel. No other seals are needed.

1 . A linkable clip characterised in that the linkable clip includes an elongated member bearing at least one holding structure comprising a branch of the elongated member, the branch being bent through a substantial fraction of a circle in order to form a throat against the elongated member and in order to delimit a partially enclosed aperture, the holding structure being capable of releasably holding a neck of a distended balloon, so that the linkable clip can support at least one distended balloon; the linkable clip also including at least one enclosed aperture formed on an extension of the elongated member, the aperture being capable of releasably retaining a branch of the elongated member of another linkable clip.  
     
     
         2 . A linkable clip as claimed in  claim 1 , characterised in that the holding structure is capable of maintaining a distended balloon in a sealed state after the neck has been twisted about the holding structure.  
     
     
         3 . A linkable chip as claimed in  claim 1 , characterised in that the number of holding structures is in the range of from one to nine.  
     
     
         4 . A linkable clip as claimed in  claim 1 , characterised in that the number of holding structures is in the range of from one to five.  
     
     
         5 . A linkable clip as claimed in  claim 1 , characterised in that the linkable clip is made of a tough material.  
     
     
         6 . A linkable clip as claimed in  claim 5 , characterised in that the linkable clip is made of a plastics material.  
     
     
         7 . A linkable clip as claimed in  claim 5 , characterised in that the linkable clip is made of a metal.  
     
     
         8 . A die for making a linkable clip as claimed in  claim 6  characterised in that the die is adapted for use in an injection moulding process.  
     
     
         9 . A die for making a linkable clip as claimed in  claim 6  or in  claim 7  characterised in that the die is adapted for use in a process of pressing from a sheet of stock material.  
     
     
         10 . A method for closing off a distended balloon using a linkable clip, characterised in that the method includes the steps of taking a first linkable clip and the distended balloon, temporarily holding the balloon by the base of the neck so that the contents cannot escape, wrapping the neck around the holding structure of the elongated member of the linkable clip, and catching the open end of the neck against any holding structure of the linkable clip so that the neck cannot unwrap itself.  
     
     
         11 . A method for constructing a display comprised of at least one distended balloon supported on a linkable clip as claimed in  claim 10 , characterised in that the method includes the step of repeatedly adding distended balloons each closed off to further holders of the linkable clip.  
     
     
         12 . A method as claimed in  claim 11 , characterised in that the method further includes the step of clipping at least one further linkable clip to the first linkable clip.  
     
     
         13 . A method as claimed in  claim 12 , characterised in that the method further includes the step of adding at least one distended balloon to the at least one further linkable clip.  
     
     
         14 . A method as claimed in  claim 10 , characterised in that the method further includes the step of affixing at least one linkable clip to a supporting substrate.