Adjustable retainer clip
AssigneeTenn-Tex Plastics, Inc.
InventorRobert C. Hightower
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A retainer clip includes a shaft extending along a clip axis. The shaft has a shaft diameter and first and second opposed ends. A head extends radially outwardly from the shaft adjacent the first end of the shaft. The head has a head diameter which is greater than the shaft diameter. The head includes a cam surface extending circumferentially about the shaft and facing the second end. At least two portions of the cam surface located at different circumferential positions about the shaft are disposed at different axial distances from the second end. A frame/panel assembly may be formed by mounting and retaining a panel member in a frame using one or more of the retainer clips.
Claims34
A retainer clip comprising:
- a) a shaft extending along a clip axis, said shaft having a shaft diameter and first and second opposed ends;
- and
- b) a head extending radially outwardly from said shaft adjacent said first end of said shaft, said head having a head diameter which is greater than said shaft diameter, said head including a cam surface extending circumferentially about said shaft and facing said second end;
- c) wherein at least two portions of said cam surface located at different circumferential positions about said shaft are disposed at different axial distances from said second end.
A frame/panel assembly comprising:
- a) a frame member having a mounting surface;
- b) a retainer clip comprising:
- 1) a shaft extending along a clip axis, said shaft having a shaft diameter and first and second opposed ends;
- 2) a head extending radially outwardly from said shaft adjacent said first end of said shaft, said head having a head diameter which is greater than said shaft diameter, said head including a cam surface extending circumferentially about said shaft and facing said second end;
- 3) wherein at least two portions of said cam surface located at different circumferential positions about said shaft are disposed at different axial distances from said second end;
- 4) wherein said clip is secured to said mounting surface such that said clip is rotatable about said clip axis and said cam surface and said frame define a gap therebetween;
- and
- c) a panel member including an edge portion disposed in said gap and retained on said frame by said head of said clip.
A method for retaining a panel member on a frame member, said method comprising the steps of:
- a) placing the panel member on the frame member;
- b) mounting a retainer clip on the frame member such that the clip is rotatable about a clip axis, the clip comprising:
- 1) a shaft extending along the clip axis, the shaft having a shaft diameter and first and second opposed ends;
- 2) a head extending radially outwardly from the shaft adjacent the first end of the shaft, the head having a head diameter which is greater than the shaft diameter, the head including a cam surface extending circumferentially about the shaft and facing the second end;
- 3) wherein at least two portions of the cam surface located at different circumferential positions about the shaft are disposed at different axial distances from the second end;
- 4) wherein the cam surface and the frame define a gap therebetween and an edge portion of the panel member is disposed in the gap;
- and
- c) rotating the clip relative to the frame member about the clip axis such that the cam surface reduces the size of the gap, thereby clamping the panel member between the frame member and the cam surface.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.