Securing clip assembly

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10100860-B2
Application number	US-201515316874-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jun 7, 2015
Priority date	Jun 12, 2014
Publication date	Oct 16, 2018
Grant date	Oct 16, 2018

Abstract

A fluid control system may include a fluid conduit defining a fluid passage, and a fluid metering assembly in fluid communication with the fluid passage. The fluid metering assembly may include a metering valve rotatably secured within an internal chamber. An actuator may be coupled to the metering valve. A control unit may be coupled to the actuator. The control unit is configured to operate the actuator to rotate the metering valve between an open position in which fluid flows through the fluid passage and a closed position in which the fluid is prevented from flowing through the fluid passage. The control unit is configured to operate the actuator to rotate the metering valve into a pressure relief position beyond the closed position that is configured to allow a reduced portion of the fluid to flow through the fluid passage.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A clip assembly configured to secure to at least one component, the clip assembly comprising:
a pin comprising a central beam having a distal end, wherein first and second cap retainers extend from the central beam; and
a cap secured to the distal end of the pin, wherein the first cap retainer is configured to securely retain the cap at a first position on the pin, and wherein the second cap retainer is configured to securely retain the cap at a second position on the pin,
wherein one of the pin or the cap comprises at least one detent and the other of the pin or the cap comprises at least one reciprocal recess configured to retain the at least one detent, wherein the at least one detent is securely retained within the at least one reciprocal recess in the first position.

2. The clip assembly of claim 1 , wherein the first position is a removal prevention position that is configured to one or both of prevent the cap from being inadvertently removed from the pin, or prevent flexible arms of the pin from being squeezed together.

3. The clip assembly of claim 1 , wherein the second position is an unlocked position in which the second cap retainer maintains flexible arms of the pin in a compressed state to facilitate removal of the clip assembly from the at least one component.

4. The clip assembly of claim 1 , wherein the first cap retainer comprises a first ramp, and wherein the second cap retainer comprises a second ramp spaced apart from the first ramp.

5. The clip assembly of claim 1 , wherein the cap comprises:
a covering nose; and
lateral beams extending from the covering nose, wherein at least one of the lateral beams comprises a ramp-engaging protuberance, wherein the ramp-engaging protuberance is secured between the first and second cap retainers in the first position, and wherein the ramp-engaging protuberance is supported by the second cap retainer in the second position.

6. The clip assembly of claim 1 , wherein the pin further comprises:
opposed prongs at the distal end; and
opposed flexible arms outwardly extending from the central beam.

7. The clip assembly of claim 6 , wherein the cap is configured to be pushed toward a head of the pin to move the cap into the second position, and wherein the cap compresses the flexible arms towards one another as the cap is pushed toward the head of the pin.

8. The clip assembly of claim 6 , wherein each of the opposed flexible arms comprises an internal protuberance that is configured to abut into a portion of the cap in the first position and be separated from the portion of the cap in the second position.

9. The clip assembly of claim 8 , wherein the internal protuberance is separated from the portion of the cap in a third position in which the clip assembly is securely installed to the component.

10. The clip assembly of claim 1 , further comprising an annular seal secured to the pin.

11. A securing system comprising:
a panel comprising a hole; and
a clip assembly configured to secure to at least one component, wherein the clip assembly comprises:
a pin comprising a central beam having a distal end, wherein first and second cap retainers extend from the central beam, wherein the central beam is positioned through the hole of the panel; and
a cap secured to the distal end of the pin, wherein the first cap retainer is configured to securely retain the cap at a first position on the pin, and wherein the second cap retainer is configured to securely retain the cap at a second position on the pin,
wherein one of the pin or the cap comprises at least one detent and the other of the pin or the cap comprises at least one reciprocal recess configured to retain the at least one detent, wherein the at least one detent is securely retained within the at least one reciprocal recess in the first position.

12. The securing system of claim 11 , wherein the first position is a removal prevention position that is configured to one or both of prevent the cap from being inadvertently removed from the pin, or prevent flexible arms of the pin from being squeezed together, wherein the second position is an unlocked position in which the second cap retainer maintains the flexible arms in a compressed state to facilitate removal of the clip assembly from the at least one component.

13. The securing system of claim 11 , wherein the first cap retainer comprises a first ramp, and wherein the second cap retainer comprises a second ramp spaced apart from the first ramp.

14. The securing system of claim 11 , wherein the cap comprises:
a covering nose; and
lateral beams extending from the covering nose, wherein at least one of the lateral beams comprises a ramp-engaging protuberance, wherein the ramp-engaging protuberance is secured between the first and second cap retainers in the first position, and wherein the ramp-engaging protuberance is supported by the second cap retainer in the second position.

15. The securing system of claim 11 , wherein the pin further comprises:
opposed prongs at the distal end; and
opposed flexible arms outwardly extending from the central beam, wherein each of the opposed flexible arms comprises an internal protuberance that is configured to abut into a portion of the cap in the first position and be separated from the portion of the cap in the second position, wherein the cap is configured to be pushed toward a head of the pin to move the cap into the second position, and wherein the cap compresses the flexible arms towards one another as the cap is pushed toward the head of the pin.

16. The securing system of claim 15 , wherein the internal protuberance is separated from the portion of the cap in a third position in which the clip assembly is securely installed to the component.

17. A clip assembly configured to secure to at least one component, the clip assembly comprising:
(a) a pin comprising:
(i) a head;
(ii) a central beam connected to the head and having a distal end opposite from the head,
(iii) opposed prongs at the distal end;
(iv) opposed flexible arms outwardly extending from the central beam, wherein each of the opposed flexible arms comprises an internal protuberance; and
(v) first and second cap retainers extend from the central beam;

(b) an annular seal secured to the pin; and
(c) a cap secured to the distal end of the pin, wherein the cap comprises a covering nose;
and lateral beams extending from the covering nose, wherein the first cap retainer is configured to securely retain the cap at a removal prevention position on the pin that one or both of prevents the cap from being inadvertently removed from the pin, or prevents the flexible arms of the pin from compressing together, wherein the second cap retainer is configured to securely retain the cap at an unlocked position on the pin in which the second cap retainer maintains the flexible arms in a compressed state to facilitate removal of the clip assembly from the at least one component, wherein the internal protuberance of each of the opposed flexible arms abuts into a portion of the cap in the removal prevention position and is separated from the portion of the cap in the unlocked position, wherein the cap is configured to be pushed toward the head of the pin to move the cap into the unlocked position, and wherein the cap compresses the flexible arms towards one another as the cap is pushed toward the head of the pin.

18. The clip assembly of claim 17 , wherein the first cap retainer comprises a first ramp, wherein the second cap retainer comprises a second ramp spaced apart fr

Assignees

• Illinois Tool Works

Inventors

• Kanie Hideki
• Zander Jason M

Classifications

• F16B19/1081

  fastened by a drive-pin (F16B19/109 takes precedence) · CPC title

• F16B5/0657 Primary

  at least one of the plates providing a raised structure, e.g. of the doghouse type, for connection with the clamps or clips of the other plate · CPC title

• F16B19/00

  Bolts without screw-thread; Pins, including deformable elements (in screwed connections F16B29/00); Rivets (means for preventing withdrawal F16B21/00) · CPC title

• F16B19/008

  with sealing means · CPC title