Wire strand attachment clip

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11598115-B2
Application number	US-202117328662-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	May 24, 2021
Priority date	Jun 3, 2020
Publication date	Mar 7, 2023
Grant date	Mar 7, 2023

Abstract

A wire strand attachment clip including a wire catch that defines a wire strand receiving and holding area configured to receive a wire strand, and a plurality of attachment arms connected to and extending from the wire catch that are dimensionally and biasingly configured to be positioned on a support post to attach the wire strand to that support post such that the attachment arms engage multiple surfaces of the support post.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A wire strand attachment clip comprising:
a wire catch that defines a wire strand receiving and holding area configured to receive a wire strand, the wire catch including a rear wire engager, a first side wire engager connected to and extending forwardly from a first end of the rear wire engager, a second side wire engager connected to and extending forwardly from a second end of the rear wire engager, a first side post engager connected to and extending outwardly from the first side wire engager, and a second side post engager connected to and extending outwardly from the second side wire engager;
a first attachment arm connected to and extending from the wire catch, the first attachment arm including a first arm shoulder connected to and extending outwardly and rearwardly from the first side post engager, a first upper arm connected to and extending outwardly and rearwardly from the first arm shoulder and from the first side post engager, a first elbow connected to and extending outwardly and then forwardly from the first upper arm, a first forearm connected to and extending outwardly and forwardly from the first elbow, a first wrist connected to and extending outwardly and forwardly from the first forearm and then rearwardly and inwardly back toward the first arm shoulder and the rear wire engager, and a first post engagement hand connected to and extending inwardly and rearwardly from the first wrist toward the first arm shoulder and the rear wire engager; and
a second attachment arm connected to and extending from the wire catch, the second attachment arm including a second arm shoulder connected to and extending outwardly and rearwardly from the second side post engager, a second upper arm connected to and extending outwardly and rearwardly from the second arm shoulder and from the second side post engager, a second elbow connected to and extending outwardly and then forwardly from the second upper arm, a second forearm connected to and extending outwardly and forwardly from the second elbow, a second wrist connected to and extending outwardly and forwardly from the second forearm and then rearwardly and inwardly back toward the second arm shoulder and the rear wire engager, and a second post engagement hand connected to and extending inwardly and rearwardly from the second wrist toward the second arm shoulder and the rear wire engager,
wherein the wire catch, the first attachment arm, and the second attachment arm are dimensionally and biasingly configured to snap onto a T-shaped support post to attach the wire strand to that T-shaped support post such that the first attachment arm and the second attachment arm each engage front and rear surfaces of the T-shaped support post.

2. The wire strand attachment clip of claim 1 , which is formed from a solid cylindrical metal wire.

3. The wire strand attachment clip of claim 1 , which is formed from a solid rectangular metal wire.

4. The wire strand attachment clip of claim 1 , wherein the wire catch includes a first connector connected to and extending forwardly and outwardly from the first end of the rear wire engager, the first side wire engager connected to and extending forwardly from the first connector, a second connector connected to and extending forwardly and outwardly from the second end of the rear wire engager, the second side wire engager connected to and extending forwardly from the second connector a third connector connected to and extending forwardly and outwardly from a front end of the first side wire engager, the first side post engager connected to and extending outwardly from the third connector, a fourth connector connected to and extending forwardly and outwardly from a front end of the second side wire engager, and the second side post engager connected to and extending outwardly from the fourth connector.

5. The wire strand attachment clip of claim 4 , wherein the first connector, the second connector, the third connector, and the fourth connector are each curved sections.

6. The wire strand attachment clip of claim 5 , wherein the rear wire engager, the first side wire engager, the second side wire engager, the first side post engager, and the second side post engager are each straight sections.

7. The wire strand attachment clip of claim 1 , wherein the first arm shoulder, the first elbow, the first wrist, the second arm shoulder, the second elbow, and the second wrist are each formed as curved sections.

8. The wire strand attachment clip of claim 7 , wherein the first upper arm, the first forearm, the first post engagement hand, the second upper arm, the second forearm, and the second post engagement hand are each straight sections.

9. A collated group of wire strand attachment clips comprising:
a plurality of wire strand attachment clips each including:
a wire catch that defines a wire strand receiving and holding area configured to receive a wire strand, the wire catch including a rear wire engager, a first side wire engager connected to and extending forwardly from a first end of the rear wire engager, a second side wire engager connected to and extending forwardly from a second end of the rear wire engager, a first side post engager connected to and extending outwardly from the first side wire engager, and a second side post engager connected to and extending outwardly from the second side wire engager,
a first attachment arm connected to and extending from the wire catch, the first attachment arm including a first arm shoulder connected to and extending outwardly and rearwardly from the first side post engager, a first upper arm connected to and extending outwardly and rearwardly from the first arm shoulder and from the first side post engager, a first elbow connected to and extending outwardly and then forwardly from the first upper arm, a first forearm connected to and extending outwardly and forwardly from the first elbow, a first wrist connected to and extending outwardly and forwardly from the first forearm and then rearwardly and inwardly back toward the first arm shoulder and the rear wire engager, and a first post engagement hand connected to and extending inwardly and rearwardly from the first wrist toward the first arm shoulder and the rear wire engager, and
a second attachment arm connected to and extending from the wire catch, the second attachment arm including a second arm shoulder connected to and extending outwardly and rearwardly from the second side post engager, a second upper arm connected to and extending outwardly and rearwardly from the second arm shoulder and from the second side post engager, a second elbow connected to and extending outwardly and then forwardly from the second upper arm, a second forearm connected to and extending outwardly and forwardly from the second elbow, a second wrist connected to and extending outwardly and forwardly from the second forearm and then rearwardly and inwardly back toward the second arm shoulder and the rear wire engager, and a second post engagement hand connected to and extending inwardly and rearwardly from the second wrist toward the second arm shoulder and the rear wire engager,
wherein the wire catch, the first attachment arm, and the second attachment arm are dimensionally and biasingly configured to snap onto a T-shaped support post to attach the wire strand to that T-shaped support post such that the first attachment arm and the second attachment arm each engage front and rear surfaces of the T-shaped support post; and

at least one clip attachment member secured to each of the plurality of wire strand attachment clips.

10. The collated group of wire strand attachment clips of claim 9 , wherein each of the wire strand attachment clips is formed

Assignees

• Illinois Tool Works

Inventors

• Young Graeme
• Stemper Daniel
• Alirezaee Tayebeh

Classifications

• F16B2/248

  of wire · CPC title

• F16B15/08

  formed in integral series but easily separable · CPC title

• E04H17/124 Primary

  connecting by one or more clamps, clips, screws, wedges or ties · CPC title

• F16B2/245

  external, i.e. with contracting action · CPC title