Article management clip and method of use thereof

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11053965-B2
Application number	US-201916665676-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Oct 28, 2019
Priority date	Nov 7, 2018
Publication date	Jul 6, 2021
Grant date	Jul 6, 2021

Abstract

An article management clip includes a body having a tab, a first arm extending from the tab, a second arm extending from the tab, and a first member connecting the first arm with the second arm. The tab has a securement nub, and the body includes a resilient material.

First claim

We claim:

1. An article management clip, comprising:
a body including:
a tab;
a first arm extending from the tab, the first arm having first, second, and third arm segments;
a second arm extending from the tab, the second arm having first, second, and third arm segments; and
a first member connecting the first arm with the second arm,

wherein the first arm and the second arm are connected at a joint, and the first arm and the second arm define an angle of less than about 50 degrees,
wherein the tab comprises a securement nub,
wherein the body comprises a resilient material, and
wherein the article management clip is configured to hold an article between the first, second, and third arm segments of the first arm and between the first, second, and third arm segments of the second arm.

2. The article management clip of claim 1 , wherein the body is an integral component.

3. The article management clip of claim 1 , wherein the body comprises a metal.

4. The article management clip of claim 1 , wherein a second member extends between the first arm and the second arm, and is spaced apart from the first member.

5. The article management clip of claim 1 , wherein the first arm includes a concave portion and the second arm includes a concave portion.

6. The article management clip of claim 1 , wherein the body is configured to act as a spring by retracting into a first position after being manipulated into a second position by a user, and
wherein the body is configured to apply pressure to an article that is retained by the clip when the clip is in the first position.

7. The article management clip of claim 1 , wherein the body is symmetric about a plane that intersects the tab.

8. An article management clip, comprising:
a unitary body including:
a tab defining a first end;
a first arm extending from the tab;
a second arm extending from the tab;
an upper bar defining a second end, the upper bar being integrally connected with the first arm and the second arm, and
a cylindrical bar extending between the first arm and the second arm, and spaced apart from the upper bar,

wherein the tab comprises a planar surface and a securement nub, and
wherein the article management clip is further configured to couple with webbing that is threaded between the first arm and the second arm at the upper bar.

9. The article management clip of claim 8 , wherein the body comprises a polymer.

10. The article management clip of claim 8 , wherein the body comprises a metal.

11. The article management clip of claim 8 , wherein the first arm includes a concave portion and the second arm includes a concave portion.

12. The article management clip of claim 8 , wherein a first plane and a second plane that are orthogonal with respect to one another extend through the first arm, the second arm, and the securement nub.

13. The article management clip of claim 8 , wherein the first arm and the second arm are connected at a joint, and
wherein the first arm and the second arm define an angle of less than about 30 degrees.

14. The article management clip of claim 8 further comprising an injection molding gate disposed along the upper bar.

15. An article management clip, comprising:
a unitary body including:
a tab defining a first end;
a first arm extending from the tab;
a second arm extending from the tab;
an upper bar defining a second end, the upper bar being integrally connected with the first arm and the second arm, and further comprising an injection molding gate, and

a cylindrical bar extending between the first arm and the second arm, and spaced apart from the upper bar, and
wherein the tab comprises a planar surface and a securement nub,
wherein a first plane and a second plane that are orthogonal with respect to one another extend through the first arm, the second arm, and the securement nub.

16. The article management clip of claim 15 , wherein the body comprises a polymer or a metal.

17. The article management clip of claim 15 , wherein the first arm includes a concave portion and the second arm includes a concave portion.

Assignees

• Illinois Tool Works

Inventors

• Millward Eric William
• Keller Steven Craig
• Kolasa Scott David

Classifications

• F16B45/00

  Hooks; Eyes (if the attaching parts or means are concerned, groups F16B13/00, F16B15/00, F16B19/00, F16B25/00, F16B35/00, F16B47/00 take precedence; for hanging pictures or the like A47G1/16; towing hooks for ships B63B21/58; for hoisting or hauling purposes B66C; hooks or eyes with integral parts designed to facilitate quick attachment to cables or ropes at any point F16G11/14) · CPC title

• B65H75/366

  with stored package of material loosely hanging on a support, e.g. a hose hanger · CPC title

• A44B15/00 Primary

  Key-rings · CPC title

• B65H75/20

  Skeleton construction, e.g. formed of wire {(perforated supports for textile materials to be treated D06B23/042)} · CPC title

• B65H2701/3919

  USB, earphones, audio or video cables, e.g. for connecting small electronic devices such as MP3 players or mobile telephones · CPC title