Bracket clip

A snap-in bracket clip adapted for insertion through an access opening in an insert flange projecting through a mounting bracket to secure the insert flange in place relative to the mounting bracket, the bracket clip comprising:

• a head portion defining a finger engagement press tab projecting away from a linear outboard boundary edge to an inboard boundary edge of convex bowed configuration, the outboard boundary edge being adapted to engage a surface of the mounting bracket at a position above the insert flange, wherein the head portion has a variable thickness with enhanced thickness at the outboard boundary edge relative to the inboard boundary edge;
• a pair of spaced-apart legs integral with the head portion and extending away from the head portion, each of the legs having a wedge-shaped configuration including an upper portion bordered by parallel inboard and outboard edges adapted for disposition at the interior of the access opening and a tapered lower portion, wherein the lower portion includes an outboard contact surface of non-tapered configuration adapted to engage a surface of the mounting bracket at a position below the insert flange,
• an integral base extending between distal ends of the legs such that the base and the legs cooperatively form a “U” shaped profile, the base including a nose projecting in angled, transverse relation to a plane defined by the outboard contact surface;
• an integral snap wing extending in angled relation away from the base, the snap wing including a lower wing segment having an outer surface forming a first angle relative to the underside of the head portion and an upper wing segment extending to a free edge, the upper wing segment having an outer surface forming a second, steeper angle relative to the underside of the head portion, the outer surface of the lower wing segment including one or more longitudinal raised ribs of curved profile extending at least partially along the length of the lower wing segment.

A method of securing an insert flange projecting through a mounting bracket in place in transverse relation to the mounting bracket using a snap-in bracket clip adapted for insertion through an access opening in an insert flange, the method comprising the steps of:

• providing the bracket clip, the bracket clip comprising, a head portion defining a finger engagement press tab projecting away from an outboard boundary edge to an inboard boundary edge, the outboard boundary edge being adapted to engage a surface of the mounting bracket at a position above the insert flange, the bracket clip further comprising a pair of spaced-apart legs integral with the head portion and extending away from the head portion, each of the legs having a wedge-shaped configuration including an upper portion bordered by inboard and outboard parallel edges adapted for disposition at the interior of the access opening and a tapered lower portion, wherein the lower portion includes an outboard contact surface of non-tapered configuration adapted to engage a surface of the mounting bracket at a position below the insert flange, the bracket clip further comprising an integral base extending between distal ends of the legs such that the base and the legs cooperatively form a “U” shaped profile, and a single integral snap wing extending in angled relation away from the base on one side of clip, the snap wing including a free edge disposed below the underside of the head portion;
• and
• pressing the bracket clip into the access opening in the insert flange such that the head portion is disposed across an upper surface of the insert flange, the outboard contact surface is disposed in adjacent contacting relation to a surface of the mounting bracket at a position below the insert flange and the free edge of the snap wing is biased a side of the insert flange facing away from the head at a position inboard of the access opening.