CLIP AND BOTTLE OPENER

Abstract

A clip including: a first arm including a mounting point at which the clip is mountable; a biasing means configured to bias the first arm into a holding position; and wherein the first arm comprises a bottle opener.

Claims

1. A clip comprising: a first arm comprising a mounting point at which the clip is mountable; a biasing means configured to bias the first arm into a holding position; and wherein the first arm comprises a bottle opener.

2. The clip as claimed in claim 1, wherein the clip is configured to hold an object, such as one or more pieces of paper, when the first arm is in the holding position.

3. The clip as claimed in claim 1, wherein a force exerted on the first arm to remove the bottle cap from a bottle acts to bias the first arm into the holding position.

4. The clip as claimed in claim 1, wherein the bottle opener is shaped to receive at least part of a bottle cap.

5. The clip as claimed in claim 1, wherein the bottle opener comprises a first surface configured to engage with a first side of the bottle cap; and wherein a force exerted on the first surface of the bottle opener to remove the bottle cap from a bottle acts to bias the first arm into the holding position.

6. The clip as claimed in claim 5, wherein the bottle opener comprises a hole shaped to receive at least part of a bottle cap; and wherein the first surface is an edge of the hole.

7. The clip as claimed in claim 5, wherein the first side of the bottle cap is the underside of one or more teeth of the bottle cap.

8. The clip as claimed in claim 5, wherein the bottle opener comprises a second surface configured to engage with a second side of the bottle cap; and wherein the second surface is a bracing surface configured to stabilize the bottle cap.

9. The clip as claimed in claim 8, wherein the bottle opener comprises a protrusion; wherein the second surface is a side of the protrusion.

10. The clip as claimed in claim 8, wherein the second side of the bottle cap is a top surface of the bottle cap.

11. The clip as claimed in claim 8, wherein the first surface and the second surface are located on opposite sides of the mounting point.

12. The clip as claimed in any of claim 8, wherein the first arm comprises a first layer and a second layer, wherein: the first layer and the second layer are separated by a cavity; the first layer comprises the first surface; and the second layer comprises the second surface and the mounting point.

13. The clip as claimed in claim 1, wherein the clip comprises a second arm; wherein the first arm is mounted to the second arm at the mounting point; and wherein the clip is configured to hold an object, such as one or more pieces of paper, between a portion of the first arm and a portion of the second arm when the first arm is in the holding position.

14. The clip as claimed in claim 13, wherein the second arm is mountable to a block for attachment to a galley component of an aircraft.

15. The clip as claimed in claim 1, wherein the clip comprises a recess configured to catch liquid from the bottle.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0056] Certain examples of the present disclosure will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

[0057] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a clip in accordance with the present disclosure;

[0058] FIG. 2 is a side view of a clip in accordance with the present disclosure;

[0059] FIG. 3 is a plan view of a clip in accordance with the present disclosure;

[0060] FIGS. 4 and 5 are perspective views of a clip in accordance with the present disclosure being used as a bottle opener; and

[0061] FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a clip in accordance with the present disclosure mounted to a galley component of an aircraft and being used as a bottle opener.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0062] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a clip 2 according to the present disclosure. In this example, the clip 2 includes a first arm 4 and a second arm 6.

[0063] The first arm 4 includes a mounting point 8. The first arm 4 is mounted to the second arm 6 at the mounting point 8. The first arm 4 is configured to pivot about the mounting point 8 relative to the second arm 6.

[0064] The first arm 4 includes a bottle opener. In this example, the first arm 4 includes a first layer 14 and a second layer 16 separated by a cavity 18. The bottle opener includes a hole 10 and a protrusion 12. The hole 10 is formed in a first layer 14 of the first arm 4. The protrusion 12 extends from a second layer 16 of the first arm 4 into the cavity 18.

[0065] The hole 10 is shaped to receive at least part of a bottle cap. That is, the size of the hole 10 is such that at least part of a bottle cap can be inserted into the hole 10. In particular, the hole 10 is shaped to receive at least part of a crown cork bottle cap.

[0066] The hole 10 includes a first surface 20 at its edge which is configured to engage with the underside of one or more teeth of the bottle cap. A force can be applied to the underside of the teeth of the bottle cap at the first surface 20 to remove the bottle cap from a bottle.

[0067] The protrusion 12 includes a second surface 22 on one side. The second surface 22 on the protrusion 12 is configured to engage with the top surface of the bottle cap. The bottle cap at least partly extends into the cavity 18 and rests between the first surface 20 and the second surface 22. Therefore, the first surface 20 and the second surface 22 are spaced apart by a distance less than or equal to the diameter of a bottle cap.

[0068] The second surface 22 of the protrusion 12 acts as a bracing surface that stabilizes the bottle cap as it is removed from the bottle. This can help to ensure that the bottle cap is correctly oriented such that the force to remove the bottle cap is applied in a suitable direction to remove the bottle cap from the bottle.

[0069] When the bottle opener is used, the force exerted on the first surface 20 to remove the bottle cap from a bottle acts to bias the first arm 4 into the holding position. A force is also exerted on the second surface 22 as the bottle cap is rested against it. As the first surface 20 and the second surface 22 are located on opposite sides of the mounting point, the forces exerted on the first surface 20 and the second surface 22 act to produce a torque around the mounting point 8. The torque biases the first arm 4 into the holding position.

[0070] Therefore, using the bottle opener on the first arm 4 does not prevent the clip 2 from being used to hold an object. In fact, using the bottle opener on the first arm 4 helps to apply a greater force to hold an object in the clip 2.

[0071] The clip 2 of FIG. 1 also includes a recess 24 configured to catch liquid from the bottle. For example, if some spray is released from the bottle as it is opened or condensation drips down the side of the bottle, it may be collected in the recess 24. This helps to reduce the amount of liquid that drips onto an object being help in the clip 2, if present. This also helps to facilitate cleaning of the clip 2.

[0072] FIG. 2 is a side view of a clip 2 according to the present disclosure.

[0073] It can be seen that the clip 2 includes a spring 26 connected between the first arm 4 and the second arm 6. The spring 26 acts to bias the first arm 4 into the holding position (although in FIG. 2 the clip 2 is not shown in the non-holding position, i.e. with a force acting against the spring 26). To move into the holding position, the first arm 4 pivots about the mounting point 8 relative to the second arm 6, such that a portion of the first arm 4 is brought into contact with a portion of the second arm 6 when no object is being held.

[0074] It can also be seen that the first arm 4 includes teeth 28. The teeth 28 are located in the portion of the first arm 4 that is brought in contact with the second arm 6 when the clip 2 is in the holding position. Therefore, the teeth 28 help to hold an object in the clip 2 when the clip 2 is in the holding position.

[0075] In this embodiment, the first arm 4 has an inner surface 30 facing the second arm 6 and an opposing outer surface 32. The second arm 6 has an inner surface 34 facing the first arm 4 and an opposing outer surface 36. The distance between the outer surface 32 of the first arm 4 and the outer surface 36 of the second arm 6 is indicated by the distance H. In this example, the distance H is less than 20 mm. For example, the distance H may be approximately 16 mm.

[0076] FIG. 3 is a plan view of a clip 2 according to the present disclosure.

[0077] In FIG. 3, it can be seen that the first surface 20 and the second surface 22 are located on opposite sides of the mounting point. When the bottle opener is used, the forces exerted on the first surface 20 and the second surface 22 act to produce a torque around the mounting point 8, which biases the first arm 4 into the holding position.

[0078] It can also be seen in FIGS. 1, 2 and 3 that the edges of the clip 2 and the edges of the hole 10 are filleted. That is, the edges are sloped with respect to the surfaces that they join. This helps to reduce the sharpness of the corners, thereby making the clip 2 safer to use. The fillets also help to reduce the profile of the clip 2. This is particularly useful when the clip 2 is mounted to another object, because it minimizes the distance by which the clip 2 extends outwards from the object.

[0079] Furthermore, the hole 10 is formed in the first arm 4 such that the portion of the first arm 4 that remains forms a closed surface around the perimeter of the hole 10. In this example, this helps to ensure that there are no protruding parts in the clip 2. This may help to reduce the chances of an object becoming unintentionally caught on the clip 2, thereby making the clip 2 safer and easier to use.

[0080] FIGS. 4 and 5 are perspective views of a clip 2 according to the present disclosure being used as a bottle opener.

[0081] The bottle 38 is sealed with a bottle cap 40, which in this example is a crown cork bottle cap. In order to insert the bottle cap into the bottle opener, the bottle 38 is held with the bottle cap at the top and at an angle with respect to the vertical direction.

[0082] The bottle cap 40 is inserted into the hole 10 such that the first surface 20 at the edge of the hole 10 engages with the underside of one or more teeth of the bottle cap 40. A force can be applied to the underside of the teeth of the bottle cap at the first surface 20 to remove the bottle cap from a bottle. The force may be applied by rotating the bottle 38 downwards towards the surface on which the clip 2 is mounted, while keeping the bottle cap 40 substantially stationary.

[0083] The bottle cap 40 also engages with the second surface 22, which acts as a bracing surface that stabilizes the bottle cap 40 as it is removed from the bottle 38. This can help to ensure that the bottle cap 40 is correctly oriented such that the force to remove the bottle cap 40 is applied in a suitable direction to remove the bottle cap 40 from the bottle 38.

[0084] It can be seen that the first surface 20 hooks over the edge of the bottle cap 40 while the top side of the bottle cap 40 is resting on the second surface 22. The provision of the second surface 22 can also help a user to place the bottle cap 40 into the bottle opener correctly.

[0085] In this example, the clip 2 is mounted such that the (planar) second arm 6 is substantially vertical and the mounting point 8 about which the first arm 4 pivots relative to the second arm 6 is substantially horizontal. In this orientation, the recess or trough 24 is located underneath the bottle opener. This helps to ensure that the recess or trough 24 is able to catch liquid from the bottle as it drips or falls downwards.

[0086] Furthermore, the portion of the first arm 4 and the second arm 6 in which an object 52 is held is located at the bottom of the clip, underneath the bottle opener and the recess or trough 24. This helps to ensure that the bottle opener can be accessed when an object 52 is being held in the clip 2. In FIG. 5, the clip 2 is shown holding an object 52.

[0087] In this example, the second arm 6 of the clip 2 is mounted to a block 42 for attachment to a galley component of an aircraft. In this example, the block 42 includes a first part 44 and a second part 46. It can be seen in FIG. 5 that, when the block 44 is mounted to a surface 48, the first part 44 of the block 42 rests on the exterior of the surface 48 and the second part 46 of the block 42 is recessed into the surface 48. For example, the second part 46 of the block 42 may be embedded into the surface 48 or resting on an opposing face of the surface 48. This may help to ensure that the clip 2 is securely mounted to the surface 48, such that a force can be applied to the clip 2 to remove a bottle cap 40 from a bottle 38 without removing the clip 2 from the surface 48.

[0088] This may be particularly advantageous when the block 42 is being used to attach the clip 2 to a galley component of an aircraft (shown in FIG. 6). The surfaces of many galley components are formed from a material having a honeycomb structure, which may not be particularly strong if an object is attached directly to the structure (e.g. using fixing members such as screws). Therefore, using a block 42 such as the one shown in FIGS. 5 and 6 may help to ensure that a force can be applied to the clip 2 to remove a bottle cap 40 from a bottle 38 without removing the clip 2 from the galley component.

[0089] FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a clip 2 according to the present disclosure mounted to a galley component 50 of an aircraft being used as a bottle opener.

[0090] It can be seen that the clip 2 is mounted in a position where there is open space adjacent to the clip 2, in a direction extending outwards from the surface 48. This helps to ensure that the bottle 38 can be inserted into the bottle opener and rotated downwards to remove the bottle cap 40 from the bottle 38.

[0091] In some examples, the galley component 50 may be used for storing bottles. By mounting the clip 2 to the galley component 50, the bottle opener may be used without the user walking to another location on the aircraft after taking a bottle from the galley storage. This may help to decrease the time and effort required to serve drinks on board the aircraft.

[0092] In some examples, the clip 2 may be used to hold one or more pieces of paper. This may be particularly advantageous when the clip 2 is used to hold information relating to the drinks (e.g. a drinks menu or a list of drinks orders). Information relating to the drinks may be read without the user walking to another location on the aircraft after taking a bottle from the galley storage. This may help to decrease the time and effort required to serve drinks on board the aircraft.

[0093] Furthermore, the clip 2 may be mounted at or above waist height so that the objects being held can be seen easily and/or the bottle opener can be used while the user is in a standing position. This may be particularly advantageous when the clip 2 is used to hold information relating to the drinks (e.g. a drinks menu or a list of drinks orders).

[0094] In this example, the clip 2 is mounted on an interior surface of the galley component 50. This may help to ensure that the clip 2 does not protrude outwards of the galley component 50, thereby reducing the risk that objects are caught on the clip 2, for example.