Wire strand attachment clip

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11840859-B2
Application number	US-202117406911-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Aug 19, 2021
Priority date	Sep 11, 2020
Publication date	Dec 12, 2023
Grant date	Dec 12, 2023

Abstract

A wire strand attachment clip including an alignment guide connector, a first wire strand holder connected to and extending from the alignment guide connector, and a second wire strand holder connected to and extending from the alignment guide connector, wherein the alignment guide connector is attachable to an alignment guide of a support post such that the first and second wire strand holders can receive and hold the wire strand to that support post.

First claim

The claims are as follows:

1. A wire strand attachment clip comprising:
an alignment guide connector attachable to an alignment guide of a support post, wherein the alignment guide has a height and a width, wherein the alignment guide connector defines an alignment guide receiving slot configured to receive the alignment guide of the support post, wherein a height of the alignment guide receiving slot is greater than the height of the alignment guide, and wherein a width of the alignment guide receiving slot is smaller than the width of the alignment guide;
a first wire strand holder connected to and extending from the alignment guide connector, the first wire strand holder defining a first slot configured to receive a wire strand; and
a second wire strand holder connected to and extending from the alignment guide connector, the second wire strand holder defining a second slot configured to receive the wire strand.

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

3. The wire strand attachment clip of claim 1 , wherein inner side edges of the alignment guide connector that form the alignment guide receiving slot are securely engagable with spaced apart side surfaces of the alignment guide of the support post.

4. The wire strand attachment clip of claim 1 , wherein the alignment guide connector includes a first side section that includes a first inner alignment guide engagement edge that partially defines the alignment guide receiving slot and a second side section that includes a second inner alignment guide engagement edge that partially defines the alignment guide receiving slot.

5. The wire strand attachment clip of claim 1 , wherein the alignment guide connector includes a first end section that includes a first inner edge that partially defines the alignment guide receiving slot, and a second end section that includes a second inner edge that partially defines the alignment guide receiving slot.

6. The wire strand attachment clip of claim 5 , wherein first inner edge of the first end section and the second inner edge of the second end section are configured to securely engage opposite sides of the alignment guide of the support post.

7. The wire strand attachment clip of claim 6 , wherein the first inner edge of the first side section includes multiple angled surfaces and the second inner edge of the second side section includes multiple angled surfaces.

8. The wire strand attachment clip of claim 1 , wherein the alignment guide connector includes an alignment guide engager that defines the alignment guide receiving slot, a first rigidity tab connected to and extending outwardly from a first end of the alignment guide engager, and a second rigidity tab connected to and extending outwardly from a second end of the alignment guide engager.

9. The wire strand attachment clip of claim 1 , wherein the first wire strand holder defines a first wire strand receiving and holding area configured to receive the wire strand and the second wire strand holder defines a second wire strand receiving and holding area configured to receive the wire strand.

10. The wire strand attachment clip of claim 9 , wherein the first wire strand receiving and holding area and the second wire strand receiving and holding area extend in inverse directions.

11. The wire strand attachment clip of claim 10 , wherein
(a) the first wire strand holder includes a first wire engager connected to and extending from the alignment guide connector, a second wire engager connected to and extending from the first wire engager, and a third wire engager connected to and extending from the second wire engager, wherein the first wire engager, the second wire engager, and the third wire engager define the first wire strand receiving and holding area and a first opening therefore; and
(b) the second wire strand holder includes a first wire engager connected to and extending from the alignment guide connector, a second wire engager connected to and extending from the first wire engager, a third wire engager connected to and extending from the second wire engager, wherein the first wire engager, the second wire engager, and the third wire engager define the second wire strand receiving and holding area and a second opening therefore, wherein the first and second openings are adjacent to opposite ends of the alignment guide connector.

12. A wire strand attachment clip comprising:
an alignment guide connector defining an alignment guide receiving slot configured to receive an outwardly extending alignment guide of a support post, the alignment guide connector including spaced apart inner edges that define the alignment guide receiving slot and that are engagable with opposing side surfaces of the alignment guide, wherein the alignment guide has a width, and wherein a width of the alignment guide receiving slot is smaller than the width of the alignment guide;
a first wire strand holder connected to and extending from the alignment guide connector, the first wire strand holder defining a first wire strand receiving and holding area configured to receive a wire strand; and
a second wire strand holder connected to and extending from the alignment guide connector, the second wire strand holder defining a second wire strand receiving and holding area configured to receive the wire strand, wherein the first and second wire strand receiving and holding areas extend in inverse directions.

13. The wire strand attachment clip of claim 12 , wherein the alignment guide connector includes an alignment guide engager, a first rigidity tab connected to and extending outwardly from a first end of the alignment guide engager, and a second rigidity tab connected to and extending outwardly from a second end of the alignment guide engager.

14. The wire strand attachment clip of claim 12 , wherein the inner edges include multiple angled surfaces.

15. A collated group of wire strand attachment clips comprising:
a plurality of wire strand attachment clips each including:
an alignment guide connector attachable to an alignment guide of a support post, wherein the alignment guide has a width, wherein the alignment guide connector defines an alignment guide receiving slot configured to receive the alignment guide of the support post, wherein a width of the alignment guide receiving slot is smaller than the width of the alignment guide,
a first wire strand holder connected to and extending from the alignment guide connector, the first wire strand holder defining a first slot configured to receive a wire strand, and
a second wire strand holder connected to and extending from the alignment guide connector, the second wire strand holder defining a second slot configured to receive the wire strand; and

at least one clip attachment member connecting the plurality of wire strand attachment clips.

16. The collated group of wire strand attachment clips of claim 15 , wherein each wire strand attachment clip is formed from a solid flat metal material.

17. The collated group of wire strand attachment clips of claim 15 , wherein the at least one clip attachment member is secured to the alignment guide connector of each of the plurality of wire strand attachment clips.

Assignees

• Illinois Tool Works

Inventors

• Schaefer Patrick D
• Maniar Ninad C

Classifications

• E04H17/124 Primary

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

• E04H17/12 Primary

  the wire being placed in slots, grooves, or the like · CPC title

• H02G3/0456

  Ladders or other supports · CPC title