Fastener clip with slip-proof locking feature, joint structure using same and method for making same

A clip for use in a joint structure comprising:

• a unitary, one piece metal plate having first and second end flanges, a first central portion generally in a plane spaced from the general plane of either of said end flanges and joined to said first end flange at one end thereof through a first wall member and to said second end flange at the other end thereof through a first pair of spaced upstanding legs forming an opening therebetween;
• a first slot formed in said first central portion, said first slot having a closed end and an open end, said closed end being at a point intermediate the end of said first central portion and said open end extending to and communicating with said opening between said first pair of legs, said central portion defining said first slot to have a widened middle area extending to a point intermediate said open end and said closed end, said first slot having a seating area located between said widened middle area and said closed end, said seating area being narrower than said middle area;
• a first set of wedging surfaces at opposite sides of said slot, said first wedging surfaces inclined toward said end flanges from said widened middle area toward said closed end;
• a rectilinear locking flange integrally formed with said plate from metal removed from said first slot, said locking flange disposed between said first pair of upstanding legs and extending generally from said second end flange upwardly at an angle to said first central portion to a point short of and slightly below said first slot closed end adjacent said seating area, said locking flange having a locking end wider than said seating area so as to prevent said locking end from passing through said first slot, to permit an expanded head of a first stud to pass the end of said locking flange as it passes into said closed end, but to prevent removal of said first stud from said closed end past said locking flange without first depressing said locking flange;
• and
• where a first stud having a head larger than said first slot, when positioned within said first slot, will be drawn downwardly toward the planes of said end flanges as said first stud is moved relative to said clip in a direction from said open end to said closed end, and locked in position.

A method of manufacturing a clip for use in a joint structure comprising the steps of:

• cutting a configured tab from a blank or flat metal stock, said tab having a narrow free end and a wider connecting area, said wider area having a width wider than the width of said narrow free end;
• cutting off said narrow free end from said tab so that said tab terminates in said wider area to provide a locking flange locking end;
• and
• bending said blank to form a locking flange from said tab and a central portion spaced from an end flange such that said central portion includes a narrow slot area corresponding to said narrow end of said tab and a wider slot area corresponding to the wider area of said tab;
• said forming of said locking flange including bending said tab upwardly from the general plane of said end flange such that said locking end is positioned immediately under said narrow slot area of said central portion.

A method for making a clip for use in a joint structure comprising:

• cutting a configured tab having a free end in a metal blank;
• and
• bending said blank to form a securing flange and a raised central portion joined to said securing flange and including a slot defined by the outline of at least a portion of said tab and having a narrow slot portion which is narrower than said free end;
• said bending including positioning said configured tab at an angle to said slot with its free end immediately adjacent said narrow slot portion to form a locking flange.

A clip for use in a joint structure comprising:

• a unitary, one piece plate having an end flange means for securing the clip in a joint structure;
• a first central portion generally in a plane spaced from the general plane of said end flange means, and having joining means for joining said end flange means to said central portion;
• first slotted means for receiving the head of a securing stud in said first central portion, said slotted means including a slot with a closed end and seating means for seating the head of a securing stud in said slotted means;
• inclined means for drawing a securing stud downwardly when the stud is moved along the slot toward the closed end;
• a locking flange integrally formed with said plate from material separated from said slot and extending generally from said end flange means at an angle to said slotted means, said locking flange terminating at a locking end adjacent said seating means and at a distance from said central portion less than the thickness of a securing stud head, said locking end being wider than the width of said slotted means at said seating area whereby the head of a securing stud can depress and pass said locking end of said locking flange as it passes toward said closed end of said slot but is prevented from returning past said locking end when moving away from said closed end such that slippage of the locking end of said locking flange through said slot is prevented and slippage in and/or loosening of any joint in which the clip is used is reduced and/or prevented.