Panel clip assembly and related method of use
AssigneeA. Raymond Et Cie
InventorsMichael Murray, Miroslaw Przybyl
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A clip assembly is provided including a clip having a support leg joined with a control arm, an actuator, and a displacement control element operable to engage the control arm and hold the support leg in a retracted mode. The actuator is movable relative to the clip and/or a carrier associated with the clip to disengage the displacement control element from the control arm and thereby deploy the associated support leg from the body to secure the clip to the panel. The clip can include a retention leg to retain the clip relative to the panel upon installation of the clip relative to the panel. A related method of use is provided.
Claims20
A clip assembly for attaching a component to a panel, the clip assembly comprising:
- a clip comprising:
- a base defining a hole and including a border element extending around the hole, the base configured to be placed adjacent a first side of a panel defining a panel aperture;
- a body extending from the base, the body including first and second retention legs configured to retract when engaged with a perimeter of the panel aperture and to extend when placed on a second side of the panel, opposite the first side, to retain the clip relative to the panel, the body including first and second support legs distal from the first and second retention legs, the first and second support legs joined with respective first and second control arms;
- an actuator projecting through the hole and below the base;
- a carrier including a first displacement control element and a second displacement control element, the first displacement control element operable to engage the first control arm and hold the first support leg in a retracted mode, the second displacement control element operable to engage the second control arm and hold the second support leg in a retracted mode,
- wherein the actuator is operable to engage the carrier in a first mode in which the first displacement control element engages the first control arm to hold the first support leg in the retracted mode, with the second displacement control element engaging the second control arm to hold the second support leg in the retracted mode,
- wherein the actuator is operable to engage the carrier in a second mode, in which the first support leg and the second support leg extend to an extended mode such that the first support leg and the second support leg are configured to engage the panel to prevent removal of the clip assembly from the panel aperture.
A clip assembly for attaching a component to a panel, the clip assembly comprising:
- a clip comprising:
- a base defining a hole and configured to be placed adjacent a first side of a panel defining a panel aperture;
- a body extending from the base, the body including a retention leg to retain the clip relative to the panel by engaging a second side of the panel upon initial installation of the clip relative to the panel, the body including a support leg distal from the retention leg, the support leg joined with a control arm;
- and
- a threaded fastener operably coupled to a displacement control element that engages the control arm and holds the support leg retracted relative to the body in a first mode, and that engages the control arm permitting the support leg to extend relative to the body to a second mode in which the support leg engages the second side of the panel if the base is pulled away from the first side of the panel.
A method of using a clip assembly, the method comprising:
- providing a clip in a panel aperture of a panel, the clip including a retention leg to retain the clip relative to the panel, a body including a support leg distal from the retention leg, the support leg joined with a control arm and in a retracted mode;
- and
- rotating an actuator relative to a carrier rotatably constrained by the clip to disengage a displacement control element of the carrier from the control arm and thereby deploy the support leg from the body in an extended mode to secure the clip to the panel while the retention leg retains the clip relative to the panel.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.