Connecting portion blocking member for a garment clip

Abstract

A fabric clip for gripping a fabric includes a stationary retaining arm, a spring arm, and a connecting portion joining the spring arm and the stationary retaining arm to bias the spring arm with respect to the stationary retaining arm. A blocking member is configured to prevent the fabric, such as a garment, from contacting the connecting portion when the fabric is inserted between the spring arm and the stationary retaining arm.

1 . A clip for gripping a fabric, the clip comprising: 
 a first arm;    a second arm;    a connecting portion operatively joining the second arm and the first arm to bias the second arm with respect to the first arm; and    a blocking member configured to prevent the fabric from contacting the connecting portion when the fabric is inserted between the second arm and the first arm.    
   
   
       2 . The fabric clip of  claim 1 , further comprising a pressing member arranged on the second arm, the pressing member being moveable with respect to the second arm when the fabric is inserted between the second arm and the first arm.  
   
   
       3 . The fabric clip of  claim 1 , wherein the blocking member extends outwardly from at least one selected from the group consisting of the first arm and the second arm.  
   
   
       4 . The fabric clip of  claim 1 , wherein the first arm, the second arm, and the connecting portion are formed as one integral piece.  
   
   
       5 . The fabric clip of  claim 4 , wherein the first arm, the second arm, and the connecting portion are formed as one integral piece by injection molding.  
   
   
       6 . The fabric clip of  claim 1 , further comprising gripping members to help retain the fabric between the first arm and the second arm after the fabric is inserted therebetween.  
   
   
       7 . The fabric clip of  claim 1 , wherein the blocking member is formed from at least one selected from the group consisting of a plastic, a polymer, and an elastic material.  
   
   
       8 . The fabric clip of  claim 1 , wherein the blocking member, the stationary arm, and the second arm are formed as one integral piece.  
   
   
       9 . The fabric clip of  claim 1 , wherein the fabric clip is a garment clip of a hanger.  
   
   
       10 . A hanger for hanging a garment, the hanger comprising: 
 a hanger body having first and second ends; and    respective garment clips arranged at the first and second ends of the hanger body to grip the garment, each of the respective garment clips including: 
 a first arm;  
 a second arm;  
 a connecting portion operatively joining the second arm and the first arm to bias the second arm with respect to the first arm; and  
 a blocking member configured to prevent the garment from contacting the connecting portion after the garment is inserted between the second arm and the first arm.  
   
   
   
       11 . The hanger of  claim 10 , wherein each of the respective garment clips includes a pressing member arranged on the second arm, the pressing member being moveable with respect to the second arm when the garment is inserted between the second arm and the first arm.  
   
   
       12 . The hanger of  claim 10 , wherein the blocking member extends outwardly from at least one selected from the group consisting of the first arm and the second arm.  
   
   
       13 . The hanger of  claim 10 , wherein the hanger body, the first arm, the second arm, and the connecting portion are formed as one integral piece.  
   
   
       14 . The hanger of  claim 13 , wherein the hanger body, the first arm, the second arm, and the connecting portion are formed as one integral piece by injection molding.  
   
   
       15 . The hanger of  claim 10 , wherein each of the respective garment clips includes gripping members to help retain the garment between the first arm and the second arm after the garment is inserted therebetween.  
   
   
       16 . The hanger of  claim 10 , wherein the blocking member is formed from at least one selected from the group consisting of a plastic, a polymer, and an elastic material.  
   
   
       17 . The hanger of  claim 10 , wherein the blocking member, the stationary arm, and the second arm are formed as one integral piece.  
   
   
       18 . A clip for gripping a fabric, the clip comprising: 
 a first arm and a second arm, the first and second arms forming a fabric receiving portion therebetween;    a connecting portion operatively joining the second arm and the first arm to bias the second arm with respect to the first arm; and    a blocking member configured to prevent the fabric from contacting the connecting portion after the fabric is inserted into the fabric receiving portion.    
   
   
       19 . The clip for gripping a fabric of  claim 18 , wherein the blocking member is configured to terminate the fabric receiving portion.  
   
   
       20 . The clip for gripping a fabric of  claim 18 , wherein the blocking member is configured to separate the garment receiving portion from the connecting portion.  
   
   
       21 . A clip for gripping a fabric, the clip comprising: 
 a first arm and a second arm, the first and second arms forming a fabric receiving portion therebetween;    a connecting portion operatively joining the second arm and the first arm to bias the second arm with respect to the first arm; and    a blocking member configured to prevent the fabric from contacting at least a substantial portion of the connecting portion after the fabric is inserted into the fabric receiving portion.    
   
   
       22 . A clip for gripping a fabric, the clip comprising: 
 a first arm and a second arm, the first and second arms forming a fabric receiving portion therebetween;    a connecting portion operatively joining the second arm and the first arm to bias the second arm with respect to the first arm; and    means for preventing the fabric from contacting the connecting portion after the fabric is inserted into the fabric receiving portion.    
   
   
       23 . A clip for gripping a fabric, the clip comprising: 
 a first arm;    a second arm;    a biasing portion operatively connecting the second arm and the first arm to bias the second arm with respect to the first arm; and    a blocking member configured to prevent the fabric from contacting the biasing portion after the fabric is inserted between the second arm and the first arm.    
   
   
       24 . A clip for gripping a fabric, the clip comprising: 
 a first arm;    a second arm;    means for biasing the second arm with respect to the first arm; and    means for preventing the fabric from contacting the biasing portion after the fabric is inserted between the second arm and the first arm.