Tube-retaining clip assembly

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9494258-B2
Application number	US-201414779034-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Feb 17, 2014
Priority date	Mar 29, 2013
Publication date	Nov 15, 2016
Grant date	Nov 15, 2016

Abstract

A clip assembly is configured to securely connect a tubular member to a structure. The clip assembly may include a base connected to first and second lateral walls, and a tube cradle connected to the base and the lateral walls. The tube cradle defines a tube-receiving channel configured to receive the tubular member. First and second tube-retaining locking arms are configured to securely retain the tubular member within the tube-receiving channel. The first and second tube-retaining locking arms are configured to flex toward the first and second lateral walls, respectively, as the tubular member is inserted into the tube-receiving channel. The first and second tube-retaining locking arms securely connect to the first and second lateral walls, respectively, when the tubular member is received within the tube-receiving channel to securely retain the tubular member within the tube-receiving channel.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A clip assembly configured to securely connect at least one tubular member to a structure, the clip assembly comprising:
a base connected to one or more lateral walls;
at least one tube cradle connected to one or both of the base and the one or more lateral walls, wherein the at least one tube cradle defines a tube-receiving channel configured to receive the at least one tubular member; and
at least one tube-retaining locking arm configured to securely retain the at least one tubular member within the tube-receiving channel, wherein the at least one tube-retaining locking arm is configured to flex toward the one or more lateral walls as the at least one tubular member is inserted into the tube-receiving channel, wherein the at least one tube-retaining locking arm securely connects to the one or more lateral walls when the at least one tubular member is received within the tube-receiving channel to securely retain the at least one tubular member within the tube-receiving channel, wherein the at least one tube-retaining locking arm forms a triangular retainer with respect to the one or more lateral walls when the at least one tubular member is received within the tube-receiving channel, wherein the at least one tube-retaining locking arm includes a catch at a distal end, wherein the catch moves from a disconnected state in relation to the one or more lateral walls into a connected state with the one or more lateral walls when the at least one tubular member is received within the tube-receiving channel, wherein the at least one tube-retaining locking arm comprises: (a) an apex directly connected to and directly extending from the one or more lateral walls, (b) a canted extension beam that downwardly angles from the apex toward a central axial plane of the clip assembly without user intervention when the at least one tubular member is outside of the tube-receiving channel; and (c) a tube-contacting beam extending back from the canted extension beam toward the one or more lateral walls without user intervention, wherein the tube-receiving channel is configured to receive the at least one tubular member when the canted extension beam downwardly angles from the apex toward the central plane of the clip assembly and the tube-contacting beam extends back from the canted extension beam toward the one or more lateral walls when the at least one tubular member is outside of the tube-receiving channel.

2. The clip assembly of claim 1 , wherein the tube-contacting beam includes the catch at the distal end, wherein the catch is configured to securely latch onto the one or more lateral walls when the at least one tubular member is received within the tube-receiving channel.

3. The clip assembly of claim 1 , wherein the at least one tube-retaining locking arm comprises first and second tube-retaining locking arms.

4. The clip assembly of claim 3 , wherein the first tube-retaining locking arm includes a first catch, and the second tube-retaining locking arm includes a second catch, wherein the first catch spans a first half depth or less of the clip assembly, wherein the second catch spans a second half depth or less of the clip assembly, and wherein the first half depth is opposite from the second half depth.

5. The clip assembly of claim 1 , wherein the at least one tube cradle comprises at least two tube cradles.

6. The clip assembly of claim 1 , wherein the at least one tube cradle comprises two tube cradles connected together by a flexion joint.

7. The clip assembly of claim 6 , wherein the flexion joint is configured to allow the two tube cradles to pivot toward and away from one another.

8. A clip assembly configured to securely connect a tubular member to a structure, the clip assembly comprising:
a base connected to first and second lateral walls;
a tube cradle connected to the base and the lateral walls, wherein the tube cradle defines a tube-receiving channel configured to receive the tubular member; and
first and second tube-retaining locking arms extending from the first and second lateral walls, respectively, wherein each of the first and second tube-retaining locking arms is configured to securely retain the tubular member within the tube-receiving channel, wherein the first and second tube-retaining locking arms are configured to flex toward the first and second lateral walls, respectively, as the tubular member is inserted into the tube-receiving channel, and wherein the first and second tube-retaining locking arms securely connect to the first and second lateral walls, respectively, when the tubular member is received within the tube-receiving channel to securely retain the tubular member within the tube-receiving channel, wherein the first and second tube-retaining locking arms forms triangular retainers with respect to the first and second lateral walls, respectively, when the tubular member is received within the tube-receiving channel, wherein each of the first and second tube-retaining locking arms includes a catch at a distal end, wherein the catch moves from a disconnected state in relation to the first or second lateral walls into a connected state with the first or second lateral walls when the tubular member is received within the tube-receiving channel, wherein each of the first and second tube-retaining locking arms comprises: (a) an apex directly connected to and directly extending from one of the first or second lateral walls, (b) a canted extension beam that downwardly angles from the apex toward a central axial plane of the clip assembly without user intervention when the tubular member is outside of the tube-receiving channel; and (c) a tube-contacting beam extending back from the canted extension beam toward one of the first or second lateral walls without user intervention, wherein the tube-receiving channel is configured to receive the tubular member when the canted extension beam downwardly angles from the apex toward the central plane of the clip assembly and the tube-contacting beam extends back from the canted extension beam toward one of the first or second lateral walls when the tubular member is outside of the tube-receiving channel.

9. The clip assembly of claim 8 , wherein the tube-contacting beam includes the catch at the distal end, wherein the catch is configured to securely latch onto a protuberance of one of the first or second lateral walls.

10. The clip assembly of claim 8 , wherein the first tube-retaining locking arm includes a first catch, and the second tube-retaining locking arm includes a second catch, wherein the first catch spans a first half depth or less of the clip assembly, wherein the second catch spans a second half depth or less of the clip assembly, and wherein the first half depth is opposite from the second half depth.

11. The clip assembly of claim 8 , further comprising at least one additional tube cradle.

12. The clip assembly of claim 8 , further comprising a flexion joint that connects the tube cradle to an additional tube cradle.

13. The clip assembly of claim 12 , wherein the flexion joint is configured to allow the tube cradle to pivot toward and away from the additional tube cradle.

Assignees

• Illinois Tool Works

Inventors

• Flynn Gregory S

Classifications

• F16L3/237

  for two pipes · CPC title

• F16L3/13 Primary

  and engaging it by snap action {(F16L3/1203 takes precedence)} · CPC title