"Clipas" are modeled as bracelets and a key clip in the Chattanooga Times Free Press photo studio on Thursday. The "clipas" can be used as bracelets, key fobs or purse holders in a variety of situations.For some women, searching for keys in a purse can be like looking for a needle in a haystack. And though some have created practical ways of making the frustrating chore easier (such as attaching keys to a carabiner and hanging them on the outside of a purse), the Clipa offers a fashionable and practical alternative.
It also makes it simple to hang a handbag on a table or chair when dining out, rather than putting it on a dirty floor.
The Clipa hook is available in many styles, ranging from plain to those adorned with Swarovski crystals.
Californian Mike Sweeney, who holds five patents, designed the Clipa in 2009. He was inspired, he said, by a hanger made to carry inside a bag that his wife, Trish, was using. Believing its function was limited, he investigated similar products available on the market.
"I saw there was a need for a more useful device to handle purses," he said. "I came up with the spring-closing ring approach and then had some industrial designers make it look good."
The Clipa is simple to use. It clips around a handbag strap or on existing hardware attached to the strap. One end opens to hang the bag on a table or other surface. When you're ready to go, pull the strap and Clipa slides back onto the bag automatically.
The cost of a Clipa ranges from $20 to $40. Three inches in diameter, it weighs 2 ounces and will hold up to 45 pounds. Its durable finish, designed to match most handbag hardware, won't tarnish, and it never needs polishing, according to the Sweeneys. It is designed to last for 10 years of daily use.
"Clipa is made in the USA," Trish Sweeney said. "We're keeping jobs at home and reducing our carbon footprint."
While the Clipa makes it simple to hang a purse on a hook, handle, table or to clip keys to the outside of a purse, it can double as a bracelet.
"The bracelet idea actually co-evolved with the bag-hanging function," Mike Sweeney said. "The primary use is a bag clip/hanger, but you can put it on your wrist as well. You can stack them, mix them with bangles."
Clipa is available online (clipa.us) or can be purchased locally at Kingwood Pharmacy in East Ridge.
Nancy Dempsey, manager of the pharmacy's cosmetic and jewelry boutique, said the Clipa "does its job."
"The company sent a Clipa with a weighted purse for us to display. We have it displayed hanging, and it does not move around. It's very sturdy," she said. "We haven't had the product long, but people do seem really interested in it."
"Once people try it, they usually buy it," Sweeney said. "Clients love our product. We get excellent reviews wherever Clipas are sold. Our challenge is to get more people to try the product. It looks so simple that its usefulness is deceiving."
Among the women in possession of a Clipa is the Queen of England, said Trish Sweeney.
"Before Christmas last year, one of our German Clipa fans brought to our attention a meat hook in [Queen Elizabeth's] purse to be able to hang it up. I don't know if that's true, but we thought a Clipa would be a much better and safer alternative. So I sent her one as a Christmas gift without much hope of her ever receiving it."
Last March, Sweeney received a letter from Queen Elizabeth's lady-in-waiting, Susan Hussey, thanking her for the "handbag hook for Her Majesty." The note said the Clipa was "greatly appreciated."
Chattanooga educator Angie Gentry, 43, said that though she hasn't seen a Clipa, she visited the website and is impressed with its practicality and style.
"It looks like it would be very functional, and if you can get crystals on it, even better."