GARMENT CLIP

Abstract

A clip for attaching a flexible cable or tube to clothing. The clip comprises a body and a clasp for attaching the body of the clip to clothing. The body comprises at least one receiving formation in the form of a resiliently deformable channel for receiving a flexible cable or tube.

Claims

1-15. (canceled)

16. A device for securing a catheter to a garment on a patient, the device comprising: a body having a garment facing side and a non-garment facing side opposite the garment facing side, wherein the non-garment facing side comprises a resiliently deformable channel configured to releasably secure the catheter, and wherein the body includes a flexible tab adjacent the channel, the tab being resiliently maneuverable to increase or decrease a cross-sectional dimension of the channel to release or secure the catheter, respectively; and a clasp disposed on the garment facing side of the body and configured to releasably secure the body of the device to the garment, wherein the clasp comprises a piercing member and a cover for the piercing member, and wherein, when the device is secured to the garment, the piercing member extends through a thickness of the garment and the cover is positioned between the piercing member and the garment.

17. The device of claim 16, wherein the body includes a high friction material disposed within the channel, and wherein the high friction material is configured to resist longitudinal movement of the catheter along the channel.

18. The device of claim 17, wherein the body comprises a flexible thermoplastic material and the high friction material is a low durometer thermoplastic elastomer.

19. The device of claim 16, wherein the body includes a high durometer thermoplastic elastomer.

20. The device of claim 16, wherein the catheter is a feeding tube.

21. The device of claim 16, wherein the channel is positioned between the tab and the rest of the body.

22. The device of claim 16, wherein the channel is a first channel and the body further comprises a second resiliently deformable channel configured to releasably secure a catheter.

23. A device for securing a catheter to a garment on a patient, the device comprising: a body having a garment facing side and a non-garment facing side opposite the garment facing side, wherein: the non-garment facing side comprises a resiliently deformable channel configured to releasably secure the catheter, and the body includes a flexible tab that is resiliently maneuverable to change a configuration of the channel, wherein: the channel has a first configuration in which the channel has a first cross-sectional dimension configured to restrain the catheter, and the channel has a second configuration in which the channel has a second cross-sectional dimension different than the first cross-sectional dimension and that allows insertion and removal of the catheter; and a clasp disposed on the garment facing side of the body and configured to releasably secure the body of the device to the garment, the clasp comprising a piercing member, wherein, at least when the device is secured to the garment, a longitudinal axis of the piercing member is substantially parallel to the garment facing side of the body.

24. The device of claim 23, wherein the body includes a high friction material disposed within the channel, and wherein the high friction material is configured to resist longitudinal movement of the catheter along the channel.

25. The device of claim 24, wherein the body comprises a flexible thermoplastic material and the high friction material is a low durometer thermoplastic elastomer.

26. The device of claim 23, wherein the body includes a high durometer thermoplastic elastomer.

27. The device of claim 23, wherein the catheter is a feeding tube.

28. The device of claim 23, wherein the channel is positioned between the tab and the rest of the body.

29. The device of claim 23, wherein the channel is a first channel and the body further comprises a second resiliently deformable channel configured to releasably secure a catheter.

30. A device for securing a catheter to a garment on a patient, the device comprising: a body having a first side and a second side opposite the first side along a thickness of the body, the body including a resilient portion, wherein the resilient portion defines a channel at the first side of the body, the channel configured to receive the catheter, and wherein the resilient portion is movable between a first configuration in which the channel has a cross-sectional dimension sufficient to permit insertion of the catheter into the channel and a second configuration in which the channel has a cross-sectional dimension sufficient to inhibit removal of the catheter from the channel; and a clasp positioned at the second side of the body, the clasp comprising (a) a shaft with a piercing end, and (b) a retaining element coupled to the body and configured to receive the piercing end, wherein, when the clasp is secured to the garment, the shaft extends through a thickness of the garment and the piercing end is covered by the retaining element.

31. The device of claim 30, wherein the body includes a high friction material disposed within the channel, and wherein the high friction material is configured to resist longitudinal movement of the catheter along the channel.

32. The device of claim 31, wherein the body comprises a flexible thermoplastic material and the high friction material is a low durometer thermoplastic elastomer.

33. The device of claim 30, wherein the body includes a high durometer thermoplastic elastomer.

34. The device of claim 30, wherein the catheter is a feeding tube.

35. The device of claim 30, wherein the channel is a first channel and the body further comprises a second resiliently deformable channel configured to releasably secure a catheter.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0021] Certain embodiments of the invention will now be described with reference to the following drawings:

[0022] FIG. 1 illustrates a first isometric view of a garment clip according to embodiments of the present invention; and

[0023] FIG. 2 illustrates a second isometric view of the garment clip of FIG. 1.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE CERTAIN EMBODIMENTS

[0024] A garment clip 10 according to the illustrated embodiment of the invention comprises a body 12 having a clothing facing side 14 and a non-clothing facing side 16. The clothing facing side 14 of the garment clip 10 mounts a clasp 18, for example a conventional safety pin, for securing the garment clip 10 to clothing worn by a person. The clasp 18, i.e. a standard safety pin in the illustrated embodiment, is retained by the body 12 of the garment clip 10 by a clasp retainer 20 which in the illustrated embodiment comprises a raised protrusion from the body facing side 14 of the body 12. The raised protrusion 20a includes a hole (not shown) running longitudinally therethrough for receiving at least a part of the clasp 18. In the illustrated embodiment the body 12 of the clip 10 is shown as a single piece construction.

[0025] At least one deformable channel 22 is formed on the clothing facing side 14 of the body 12 of the garment clip 10. In the illustrated embodiment, two deformable channels 22, 24 are formed in a parallel relationship on the body facing side 14 but it will be appreciated that other embodiments may include just one deformable channel 22, more than two deformable channels 22 or multiple deformable channels which are arranged other than in a parallel relationship.

[0026] In the illustrated embodiment, longitudinal channel 22 has a width of 2.6 mm, depth of 3.6 mm and length of 22 mm. A flexible tab 26 is positioned outwardly adjacent to each of the parallel longitudinal channels 22, 24. Each flexible tab 26, 28 is biased in a first position, substantially planar with the body 12.

[0027] The body 12 of the garment clip 10 if formed from a flexible thermoplastic elastomer can provide flexibility for a cable or tube to be inserted into each deformable channel 22, 24. The material also provides friction between the cable or tube and garment clip 10 to assist in preventing movement of the cable or tube relative to the garment clip 10. Examples of suitable materials include a high durometer Santoprene. Alternatively and preferentially the body of the clip is formed from a more rigid thermoplastic such as polypropylene and one or more of the deformable channels 22, 24 may be lined with a different material to the body 12. Such a liner may resist or encourage longitudinal movement of a flexible tube or cable within the deformable channel 22, 24.

[0028] In use, a part of a catheter or flexible cable is inserted into a deformable channel 22, 24 by applying a force to the flexible tab 26, 28 so as to deform the body 12 and open the longitudinal channel 22, 24 to permit lateral entry into the longitudinal channel 22, 24 of a flexible cable or tube. The flexible tab 26, 28 is then released to close the longitudinal channel 22, 24 applying compressive holding forces and prevent lateral exit of a flexible cable or tube from the longitudinal channel 22, 24. The flexible cable or tube cannot then easily be removed laterally from the deformable channel 22, 24 until a force is applied to the flexible tab 26, 28 to again open the deformable channel 22, 24.