Tapered clips

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10280958-B2
Application number	US-201715672059-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Aug 8, 2017
Priority date	Aug 19, 2016
Publication date	May 7, 2019
Grant date	May 7, 2019

Abstract

A tapered clip comprises a base; and a clip body connected to the base and moveable relative to the base. The clip body includes a clipping member, and the clipping member includes a clip surface having a first clip edge and a second clip edge next to the first clip edge. The first clip edge forms a first angle with a plane that is perpendicular to a clip engagement direction and the second clip edge forms a second angle with the plane.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A tapered clip, comprising:
a base including a top portion; and
a clip body connected to the base and moveable relative to the base, wherein the clip body includes a support member connected to the top portion of the base and a clipping member protruded from an end of the support member over a surface of the supporting member, and wherein the clipping member includes a clip surface having a first clip edge and a second clip edge next to the first clip edge,
wherein the first clip edge forms a first angle with a plane that is perpendicular to a clip engagement direction, and the second clip edge forms a second angle with the plane.

2. The tapered clip of claim 1 , wherein the first clip edge and the second clip edge form an interior angle that is substantially equals to 90 degrees.

3. The tapered clip of claim 1 , wherein the first clip edge and the second clip edge form an interior angle that is greater than 90 degrees.

4. The tapered clip of claim 1 , wherein the first angle is different from the second angle.

5. The tapered clip of claim 1 , wherein the clip surface is a flat surface.

6. The tapered clip of claim 1 , wherein the clip body and the base are made from plastic, and wherein the clip body and the base are integrally formed.

7. The tapered clip of claim 1 , wherein the base includes two legs extending from the top portion; and wherein the support member is disposed between the two legs.

8. The tapered clip of claim 7 , wherein the clip body further includes sidewalls protruding from edges of the support member and connecting the clipping member and the sidewalls have a curved outer surface sloped to the top portion of the base.

9. A tapered clip, comprising:
a base including a top portion; and
a clip body including:
a support member connected to the top portion of the base,
a clipping member disposed on a free end of the support member, wherein the clipping member includes a first clip edge and a second clip edge, and the second clip edge is next to the first clip edge and opposite to the support member,
wherein the clipping member has a tapered surface, in a X, Y, Z coordinate system with a Z axis parallel to a length direction of the base, projection of the first clip edge on a Y-Z plane forms a first angle with a Y axis, and projection of the second clip edge on a X-Z plane forms a second angle with an X-axis.

10. The tapered clip of claim 9 , wherein projection of the second clip edge on a X-Y plane forms a third angle with the X axis.

11. The tapered clip of claim 10 , wherein the clip body and the base are made from plastic, and the clip body and the base are integrally formed, and wherein the clip body is capable of rotating relative to the base.

12. The tapered clip of claim 9 , wherein the first angle is different from the second angle.

13. The tapered clip of claim 9 , wherein an interior angle between the first clip edge and the second clip edge substantially equals to 90 degrees.

14. The tapered clip of claim 9 , wherein an interior angle between the first clip edge and the second clip edge is greater than 90 degrees.

15. A clip assembly, comprising:
a connecting component including a clip retention opening with a clip engagement edge; and
a clip to be engaged with the clip engagement edge of the connecting component, including
a base including a top portion,
a clip body connected to the base and moveable relative to the base, wherein the clip body includes a support member connected to the top portion of the base and a clipping member protruded from an end of the support member over a surface of the supporting member, and wherein the clipping member includes a clip surface having a first clip edge and a second clip edge next to the first clip edge, and
wherein the first clip edge forms a first angle with a plane that is perpendicular to a clip engagement direction, and the second clip edge forms a second angle with the plane,

wherein either the first clip edge or the second clip edge contacts the clip engagement edge of the connecting component when the clip is engaged with the connecting component.

16. The clip assembly of claim 15 , wherein an interior angle between the first clip edge and the second clip edge substantially equals to 90 degrees.

17. The clip assembly of claim 15 , wherein an interior angle between the first clip edge and the second clip edge is greater than 90 degrees.

18. The clip assembly of claim 15 , wherein the clip body and the base are made from plastic, and wherein the clip body and the base are integrally formed.

19. The clip assembly of claim 15 , wherein the base includes two legs extending from the top portion; and wherein the support member is disposed between the top portion of the base and the clipping member and between the two legs; and wherein the second clip edge is opposite to the surface.

20. The clip assembly of claim 19 , wherein the clip body further includes sidewalls protruding from edges of the support member and connecting the clipping member and wherein the sidewalls have a curved outer surface sloped to the top portion of the base.

Assignees

• Ford Global Tech Llc

Inventors

• Job David
• Huggan Dale Travis

Classifications

• F16B5/128

  a strip with a C-or U-shaped cross section being fastened to a plate such that the fastening means remain invisible, e.g. the fastening being completely enclosed by the strip · CPC title

• F16B2/22 Primary

  of resilient material, e.g. rubbery material {(F16B2/205 takes precedence)} · CPC title

• B62D25/163

  Mounting devices · CPC title

• F16B5/126

  at least one of the sheets, plates, bars or strips having integrally formed or integrally connected snap-in-features · CPC title

• F16B13/04 Primary

  with parts gripping in the hole or behind the reverse side of the wall after inserting from the front ({F16B13/002 and F16B13/12 take precedence;} friction-grip releasable fastenings in general F16B2/00) · CPC title