Decorative clip assembly

Abstract

Decorative clip assemblies attachable to an item of wear, e.g. a boot, are disclosed. The decorative clip assembly includes a bent portion having a first free end portion and a second end portion for draping the clip assembly onto an edge of the item of wear; a mounting portion connected to the second end portion for selectively mounting a first decorative embellishment; and a ring portion connected adjacent to the mounting portion for selectively receiving and carrying a second decorative embellishment. The ring portion includes a spring loaded open end section or a hinged gate ring. The decorative clip assembly may be made of spring wire, spring steel, or rigid plastic or it may be made from a single sheet of spring steel wherein the clip assembly is an integral one piece assembly. Methods for forming the decorative clip assembly are also disclosed.

1 . A decorative clip assembly, comprising:
 a bent portion having a first free end portion and a second end portion for attaching the decorative clip assembly around an edge of an item of wear;   a mounting portion connected to the second end portion and constructed to selectively mount a first decorative embellishment thereon; and   a ring portion connected to and located adjacent to the mounting portion and constructed to selectively receive and secure a second decorative embellishment.   
     
     
         2 . The decorative clip assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the decorative clip assembly is comprised of a material selected from the group consisting of rigid plastic and metal. 
     
     
         3 . The decorative clip assembly of  claim 2 , wherein the material is metal. 
     
     
         4 . The decorative clip assembly of  claim 3 , wherein the material is metal and wherein the metal includes spring steel. 
     
     
         5 . The decorative clip assembly of  claim 3 , wherein the metal is a precious metal selected from the group consisting of gold, silver, bronze and a combination thereof. 
     
     
         6 . The decorative clip assembly of  claim 1 , wherein at least the bent portion and the ring portion are made of spring wire. 
     
     
         7 . The decorative clip assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the ring portion is made of spring steel and comprises a spring loaded open end section spaced away from the mounting portion. 
     
     
         8 . The decorative clip assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the ring portion comprises a spring loaded open end section. 
     
     
         9 . The decorative clip assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the ring portion comprises a hinged gate ring. 
     
     
         10 . The decorative clip assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the decorative clip assembly is made from a flat rolled metal sheet. 
     
     
         11 . The decorative clip assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the bent portion, the first free end portion, the second end portion, the mounting portion and the ring portion are one integral piece and made from a single metal sheet. 
     
     
         12 . The decorative clip assembly of  claim 11 , wherein the single metal sheet is comprised of spring steel. 
     
     
         13 . The decorative clip assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the first decorative embellishment is fixedly secured to the mounting portion. 
     
     
         14 . The decorative clip assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the second decorative embellishment comprises at least one hanging ornament. 
     
     
         15 . A method for forming a decorative clip assembly for an item of wear, comprising the steps of:
 (a) bending a straight piece of a first spring wire in a first plane to form a first free end portion;   (b) bending the first spring wire of step (a) into a second plane that is perpendicular to the first plane to form a bent portion including a second end portion for draping the decorative clip assembly over the top of an item of wear;   (c) fixedly attaching the second end portion of step (b) to a mounting portion; and   (d) fixedly attaching a ring portion including a gate ring to the mounting portion of step (c).   
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15 , the steps further comprising:
 (e) optionally attaching a first decorative embellishment to the mounting portion, and optionally inserting a second decorative embellishment onto the ring portion of the decorative clip assembly.   
     
     
         17 . A method for forming a decorative clip assembly for an item of wear, comprising the steps of:
 (a) using a single flat sheet metal made of spring steel and cutting the flat sheet metal into a pattern representing a decorative clip assembly and comprising a first free end portion, a second end portion connected to the first free end portion, a mounting portion connected to the second end portion, and a ring portion connected to the mounting portion;   (b) bending the first free end portion in a first plane; and   (c) bending the second end portion along with the mounting portion and the ring portion in a second plane perpendicular to the first plane to form a bent portion between the first free end portion and the second end portion.   
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17 , the steps further comprising: providing the ring portion with a spring loaded open end which is separated from the mounting portion of the decorative clip assembly. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 17 , the steps further comprising:
 (e) optionally attaching a first decorative embellishment to the mounting portion, and optionally inserting a second decorative embellishment onto the ring portion of the decorative clip assembly.