Clipping device and method of use

Abstract

A clipping device and method of use wherein the clipping device comprises a hook for attachment to a supporting bar or other device. The hook has a shank end and a curved end. A two way, more than two way, or all direction gate having an upper end and a lower end is pivotally coupled to the shank end of the hook. The upper end of the gate is adjacent to the curved end of the hook and forms an openable mouth. Use comprises attaching the clipping device to a support by pressing the upper end of the gate against the support causing movement of the gate inward, providing passage for the support into said hook. The clipping device is detached from the support by pressing the upper end of the gate against the support, causing movement of the gate outward, providing passage for the support out of said hook.

1 . A clipping device comprising: 
 a hook having a shank end and a curved end;    a two-way gate having an upper end and a lower end, wherein the lower end of said two-way gate is pivotally coupled to said shank end of said hook; and    wherein said upper end of said two-way gate is adjacent to said curved end of said hook thereby forming an openable mouth, and further wherein the gate is unobstructed by the hook as it pivots in both an inward direction toward the shank, and an outward direction away from the shank.    
   
   
       2 . The clipping device of  claim 1  wherein said two-way gate is tapered from said lower end toward said upper end.  
   
   
       3 . The clipping device of  claim 1  further comprising a garment support member.  
   
   
       4 . The clipping device of  claim 3  wherein said garment support member is triangular.  
   
   
       5 . The clipping device of  claim 1  further comprising an attachment means located at said shank end of said hook.  
   
   
       6 . The clipping device of  claim 5  wherein said attachment means is an aperture formed in said shank end of said hook.  
   
   
       7 . The clipping device of  claim 5  wherein said attachment means is a dowel protruding from said shank end of said hook.  
   
   
       8 . The clipping device of  claim 5  wherein said attachment means is a screw protruding from said shank end of said hook.  
   
   
       9 . A method of securing a clipping device to a support comprising the steps of: 
 providing a hook having a shank end and a curved end and a two way gate, the gate being deformable in both an inward direction toward the shank, and an outward direction away from the shank, the gate further having an upper end and a lower end pivotally coupled to the shank end of the hook, wherein said upper end is adjacent to said curved end and forms an openable mouth; and    pressing said upper end of said two-way gate against a support, thereby causing movement of said two-way gate inward, thereby opening said openable mouth and providing passage for said support into said hook.    
   
   
       10 . The method of securing a clipping device of  claim 9  comprising the further step of removing said clipping device from said supporting bar by pressing said upper end of said two-way gate against said support, thereby causing movement of said two-way gate outward, thereby opening said openable mouth and providing passage for said support out of said hook.  
   
   
       11 . A hanger for supporting an object on a hanging structure comprising: 
 a support member upon which the object is placed;    a hook assembly, the hook assembly having: 
 a hook having a free end, the hook forming a mouth;  
 a gate member, resiliently deformable in all directions, the gate member having a free end, the resilient gate member being positioned with respect to the hook such that the gate member free end is proximate the hook free end, and further positioned such that the mouth is substantially obstructed when the gate member is not deformed, and open to accept the hanging structure when the gate member is deformed, the gate member being further positioned such that the hook free end does not obstruct the gate member as the gate member is deformed; and  
   an attachment mechanism for removably attaching the hook assembly to the support member.    
   
   
       12 . A clip for attachment to an object comprising: 
 a hook having an upper portion, the upper portion having a distal free end, the hook also having a lower portion, the lower portion having a distal free end, the lower portion free end being resiliently deformable inwardly and outwardly, the lower portion free end terminating proximate the upper portion free end, the lower portion free end being further positioned such that the hook upper portion is open to accept the object when the lower portion free end is deformed inwardly, the lower portion free end being further positioned such that the upper portion free end does not obstruct the lower portion free end as the lower portion free end is deformed outwardly.    
   
   
       13 . A clip for attachment to an object comprising: 
 a hook having an upper portion, the upper portion having a distal free end, the hook also having a lower portion, the lower portion having a distal free end, the lower portion free end being resiliently deformable in more than two directions, the lower portion free end terminating proximate the upper portion free end, the lower portion free end being further positioned such that the hook upper portion is open to accept the object when the lower portion free end is deformed, the lower portion free end being further positioned such that the upper portion free end does not obstruct the lower portion free end as the lower portion free end is deformed in any direction.    
   
   
       14 . The clip of  claim 13 , further comprising a support member upon which an object may be supported, the support member being attached to the clip.  
   
   
       15 . The clip of  claim 14 , wherein the support member is a generally triangular shape.  
   
   
       16 . A clip for attachment to an object comprising: 
 a hook having an upper portion, the upper portion having a distal free end, the hook also having a lower portion, the lower portion having a distal free end, the lower portion free end being resiliently deformable in all directions, the lower portion free end terminating proximate the upper portion free end, the lower portion free end being further positioned such that the hook upper portion is open to accept the object when the lower portion free end is deformed, the lower portion free end being further positioned such that the upper portion free end does not obstruct the lower portion free end as the lower portion free end is deformed in any direction.    
   
   
       17 . A hanger for supporting an object on a hanging structure comprising: 
 a support member upon which the object is placed;    a hook assembly attached to the support member, the hook assembly having:    a hook having a free end, the hook forming a mouth;    a gate member, resiliently deformable in all directions, the gate member having a free end, the resilient gate member being positioned with respect to the hook such that the gate member free end is proximate the hook free end, and further positioned such that the mouth is substantially obstructed when the gate member is not deformed, and open to accept the hanging structure when the gate member is deformed, the gate member being further positioned such that the hook free end does not obstruct the gate member as the gate member is deformed in any direction.