Mechanical connector, two part connector and muntin clip for providing a frictional engagement

A muntin clip adapted for coupling a muntin bar to a window sash, the muntin bar being a tubular member with one or more open ends and a sidewall extending around the open end, the sidewall of the tubular member having a front and a back and two oppositely facing and spaced apart sides coupled between the front and the back, the muntin clip comprising:

• a base adapted for attaching to the window sash;
• a body, which extends from the base, and is adapted in a direction of insertion to extend into one of the open ends of the tubular member of the muntin bar for coupling thereto;
• one or more protruding elements, where each of the one or more protruding elements are coupled to the body at a respective point of coupling, where each of the one or more protruding elements extends from the respective point of coupling in a direction of extension that includes a component that is perpendicular to the direction of insertion of the body into the tubular member, and where a same one of each of the one or more protruding elements is adapted for separately flexing at different times, so as to alternatively extend from the respective point of coupling in at least opposite directions;
• and
• wherein at least some of the one or more protruding elements are coupled to the body of the muntin clip via a respective one of one or more branches, the one or more branches being distinct from the one or more protruding elements, where each one of the one or more branches extends from the body at a point of coupling in a direction that includes a component that is perpendicular to the direction of insertion of the body into the tubular member, and each one of the one or more branches extends from the body at the point of coupling to the body in a direction that includes a component that is opposite the direction of insertion of the body as the body extends into the tubular member;
• and
• wherein when the muntin clip moves in a direction relative to the tubular member, including the muntin clip alternatively being inserted and extracted relative to the tubular member, the one or more protruding elements of the muntin clip engage the sidewall of the tubular member and have an amount of flexibility where each of the one or more protruding elements is caused to flex, so that the direction of extension further includes an additional component that extends in a direction that is substantially opposite the direction of the movement of the muntin clip relative to the tubular member including changing the direction of extension of the protruding elements from the respective points of coupling as part of a change of the direction of movement between the direction of insertion and a direction of extraction of the muntin clip relative to the tubular member, while the muntin clip is at least partially inserted within the tubular member and the one or more protruding elements engage the sidewall of the tubular member, and the one or more branches have an amount of rigidity, where the branches are more resistant to flexing than the one or more protruding elements, such that when the muntin clip moves in the direction relative to the tubular member and transitions between the direction of insertion and the direction of extraction, the direction of extension of the branches maintain a component that is opposite the direction of insertion.