Precursors for impaling clips and impaling clips formed therefrom for mounting acoustic panels onto structural components
OwnerKenneth Huberinventor
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A precursor to form an impaling clip, and an impaling clip formed therefrom. The impaling clip is configured for mounting an acoustic panel on a structural component, e.g., a wall stud, of a building. The impaling clip includes a base member from which a pair of prongs project upward perpendicular to the plane of the base member. The base member includes at least one hole for receipt of a fastener, e.g., a screw, to fixedly secure the base member of the clip to the structural component. Each prong includes a leg portion terminating in pointed head and outwardly projecting under-cut barbs configured to pierce through the back surface of the panel to lock the prong within the panel so that it is resistant to removal.
Claims14
A clip for mounting an acoustic panel on a support structure, the acoustic panel being formed of a material having a rear surface and a front surface, said clip comprising:
- a base including an undersurface configured to be disposed on an outer surface of the support structure, said base comprising at least one window having a bottom edge;
- at least one opening for receipt of a fastening member to fixedly secure said base on the support structure with said undersurface in engagement with the outer surface of the support structure;
- at least one prong projecting outward perpendicularly from said base at said bottom edge of said at least one window, said prong being a planar member comprising an elongated leg portion having a free end comprising a sharp main point, and at two subsidiary points, a first of said subsidiary points comprising a first undercut barb having an edge extending at an acute angle with respect to a first side edge of said leg portion, a second of said subsidiary points comprising a second undercut barb having an edge extending at an acute angle with respect to said first side edge of said leg portion, said first and second subsidiary points being longitudinally offset from each other along an axis extending a length of said prong portion, said sharp main point being configured for penetration of the rear surface of the acoustic panel, whereupon said sharp head portion, said at first and second subsidiary points and at least a portion of said leg portion enters and is fixedly held within the material of the acoustic panel between the rear surface and the front surface thereof, with said at least first and second point resisting extraction of said prong from within the material of the acoustic panel.
A precursor for a clip for mounting an acoustic panel on a support structure, the acoustic panel being formed of a material having a rear surface and a front surface, said precursor comprising:
- a generally planar sheet lying in a plane and having at least one window therein, said at said at least one window having a bottom edge;
- an opening or hole extending through said sheet and configured for receipt of a fastener therethrough;
- and
- a prong portion extending from said bottom edge within said at least one window, said prong portion being a planar member comprising an elongated leg portion having a free end comprising a sharp main point, and at two subsidiary points, a first of said subsidiary points comprising a first undercut barb having an edge extending at an acute angle with respect to a first side edge of said leg portion, a second of said subsidiary points comprising a second undercut barb having an edge extending at an acute angle with respect to said first side edge of said leg portion, said first and second subsidiary points being longitudinally offset from each other along an axis extending a length of said prong portion.
In combination an acoustic panel having a front surface and a rear surface and an impaling clip configured for mounting the acoustic panel on a support structure, said impaling clip comprising:
- a base including an undersurface configured to be disposed on an outer surface of the support structure, said base comprising at least one window having a bottom edge;
- at least one opening for receipt of a fastening member to fixedly secure said base on the support structure with said undersurface in engagement with the outer surface of the support structure;
- at least one prong projecting outward perpendicularly from said base at said bottom edge of said at least one window, said prong being a planar member comprising an elongated leg portion having a free end comprising a sharp main point, and at two subsidiary points, a first of said subsidiary points comprising a first undercut barb having an edge extending at an acute angle with respect to a first side edge of said leg portion, a second of said subsidiary points comprising a second undercut barb having an edge extending at an acute angle with respect to said first side edge of said leg portion, said first and second subsidiary points being longitudinally offset from each other along an axis extending a length of said prong portion, said sharp main point being configured for penetration of the rear surface of said acoustic panel, whereupon said sharp head portion, said at first and second subsidiary points and at least a portion of said leg portion enters and is fixedly held within the material of said acoustic panel between the rear surface and the front surface thereof, with said at least first and second point resisting extraction of said prong from within the material of said acoustic panel.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.