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. A device for securing a catheter to a garment on a patient, the device comprising: a garment facing side and a non-garment facing side opposite the garment facing side; a body having a garment facing side, a non-garment facing side opposite the garment facing side, and a surface along the non-garment facing side; a flexible tab, the tab having a garment facing side, a non-garment facing side opposite the garment facing side, and a surface along the non-garment facing side; a resiliently deformable channel disposed at the non-garment facing side of the device and configured to releasably secure the catheter, the channel disposed between the body and the tab and having an opening at the non-garment facing side of the device defined by adjacent edges of the body and tab surfaces and that is substantially planar with the body and tab surfaces, wherein the tab is 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 receiving the piercing member, the cover being permanently coupled to the body.

2. The device of claim 1, 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.

3. The device of claim 2, wherein the body comprises a flexible thermoplastic material and the high friction material is a low durometer thermoplastic elastomer.

4. The device of claim 1, wherein the body includes a high durometer thermoplastic elastomer.

5. The device of claim 1, wherein the catheter is a feeding tube.

6. The device of claim 1, wherein the channel is a first channel and the device further comprises a second resiliently deformable channel configured to releasably secure a catheter.

7. The device of claim 1, wherein, 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.

8. A device for securing a catheter to a garment on a patient, the device comprising: a garment facing side and a non-garment facing side opposite the garment facing side; a body having a garment facing side, a non-garment facing side opposite the garment facing side, and a surface along the non-garment facing side; a flexible tab, the tab having a garment facing side, a non-garment facing side opposite the garment facing side, and a surface along the non-garment facing side; a resiliently deformable channel disposed at the non-garment facing side of the device and configured to releasably secure the catheter, the channel having an opening at the non-garment facing side of the device, wherein the opening is defined by adjacent edges of the body and tab surfaces and is substantially planar with the body and tab surfaces and wherein the tab is resiliently maneuverable to change a configuration of the channel, and further wherein the channel has a first configuration in which the channel has a first cross-sectional dimension configured to restrain the catheter and 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 and a cover configured to be positioned between a portion of the piercing member and the garment when the device is secured to the garment, the cover being permanently coupled to the body, 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.

9. The device of claim 8, 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.

10. The device of claim 9, wherein the body comprises a flexible thermoplastic material and the high friction material is a low durometer thermoplastic elastomer.

11. The device of claim 8, wherein the body includes a high durometer thermoplastic elastomer.

12. The device of claim 8, wherein the catheter is a feeding tube.

13. The device of claim 8, wherein the channel is positioned between the tab and the body.

14. The device of claim 8, wherein the channel is a first channel and the device further comprises a second resiliently deformable channel configured to releasably secure a catheter.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) Certain embodiments of the invention will now be described with reference to the following drawings:

(2) FIG. 1 illustrates a first isometric view of a garment clip according to embodiments of the present invention; and

(3) FIG. 2 illustrates a second isometric view of the garment clip of FIG. 1.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE CERTAIN EMBODIMENTS

(4) 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. As shown in FIG. 2, the clasp 18 can comprise a first shaft 30, a second shaft 32, and a spring 34 therebetween. The clasp 18 can comprise a cover 36 opposite the spring 34 along a longitudinal dimension of the clasp 18. The second shaft 32 can comprise a piercing end configured to be received within the cover 36 when the clasp 18 is closed. Accordingly, the second shaft 32 can comprise a piercing member. When the clasp 18 is closed, the second shaft 32 can be substantially parallel to the clothing facing side 14 of the body 12 of the clip 10. 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 20a 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, for example the first shaft 30 as shown in FIG. 2. In the illustrated embodiment the body 12 of the clip 10 is shown as a single piece construction.

(5) 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.

(6) 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.

(7) 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.

(8) 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.