Panel fastener clip and method of panel assembly

A method for securely repairing randomly located holes in panels of gypsum board, sheet rock, masonite, insulation board, plywood or the like without mechanical connection to or support from the internal, spaced apart wall studs, support columns or the like, said method comprising the steps of:

• defining and locating a hole in said panel to be repaired;
• applying a plurality of clips at spaced apart locations about the internal periphery of said hole to be repaired, each of said clips comprising:
• a generally rectangular and planar, perforated body portion adapted to be blindly penetrated by a self tapping screw, said body portion having a length significantly greater than the thickness of said panel, a front, a rear, and a pair of spaced apart sides;
• prong-like spring tab means integrally projecting forwardly from said clip body portion at said spaced apart sides thereof, each of said spring tab means including a vertical portion generally perpendicular to said clip body portion and an integral offset horizontal flange portion oriented generally parallel with said clip body portion adapted to readily frictionally grasp said panel to sandwich same against said clip body;
• said spring tab flange portions spaced apart from said clip body portion a distance approximately equal to or less than the thickness of said panel;
• riser wings disposed at said body front upon said sides of the clip body to create an angle between panels and the clip body;
• whereby a plurality of clips may be initially installed about the periphery of said hole to be repaired;
• installing a self-tapping fastener through said wall substantially within regions defined between said spring tab means horizontal portions so as to penetratingly engage each clip body portion to permanently affix them;
• positioning an appropriately shaped repair piece within said hole over said clips;
• installing a self-tapping fastener through regions of said repair piece immediately adjacent said spring tab means horizontal portions so as to permanently couple said repair piece to said clips whereby said repair piece is permanently secured to the wall within said hole without additional mechanical linkage to a stud, support column or the like;
• and,
• thereafter manually removing said horizontal flange portions of said spring tab means by manually bending them until breakage occurs along a predefined scored junction, whereby to ultimately construct an unobstructed wall surface for subsequent finishing.

A clip for enabling the coupling together of adjacent panels of gypsum board, sheet rock, masonite, insulation board, plywood or the like which have abutting finished edges which, during construction of a wall, end up randomly positioned relative to spaced apart wallstuds, support columns or the like, said clip comprising:

• a generally planar body portion comprised of perforated metal, said body portion having a length significantly greater than the thickness of said panel, a front, a rear, a pair of spaced apart sides, and at least one reinforcing groove extending generally longitudinally between said front and said rear;
• prong-like spring tab means integrally projecting forwardly from said clip body portion at said sides thereof for compressively clamping said clip about an exposed edge of said panel, each of said spring tab means comprising:
• a vertical portion generally perpendicular to said clip body portion;
• an integral, arcuate, offset horizontal flange portion oriented generally parallel with said clip body adapted to readily grasp an edge of a panel and to sandwich same against said clip body without penetrating the panel;
• and,
• said spring tab flange portions spaced apart from said clip body portion a distance approximately equal to or less than the thickness of said panel;
• said spring tab flanges generally defining a region about said panel for installing a self-tapping fastener through said panel substantially within said region whereby to penetratingly engage said clip body portion to permanently affix said clip to said first panel;
• said clip body having an exposed rear portion immediately adjacent to the exposed edge of said first panel over which at least a portion of a second panel may be laid and into which another fastener may be installed to permanently couple two or more panels together;
• and,
• said clips comprising riser wings disposed upon said sides of the clip body to at least temporarily create angle between adjacent coupled panels.

A construction clip for enabling the coupling together of adjacent panels of gypsum board, sheet rock, masonite, insulation board, plywood or the like which have abutting finished edges which, during construction of a wall, end up randomly positioned relative to spaced apart wall studs, support columns or the like, said clip comprising:

• generally rectangular and planar, perforated body means for embracing said panels, said body means comprising a length significantly greater than the thickness of said panel, a front, a rear, a pair of spaced apart sides, and at least one reinforcing groove defined in said body means and extending generally between said front and said rear;
• prong-like spring tab means integrally projecting forwardly from said clip body portion at said sides thereof for compressively clamping said clip about an exposed edge of said panel, each of said spring tab means comprising:
• a vertical portion generally perpendicular to said clip body portion;
• an integral, arcuate, offset horizontal flange portion oriented generally parallel with said clip body adapted to readily grasp an edge of a panel and to sandwich same against said clip body without penetrating the panel;
• said spring tab means flange portions spaced apart from said clip body portion a distance approximately equal to or less than the thickness of said panel;
• and
• said horizontal flange portions of said spring tab means being separated from the vertical portions thereof by a scored junction which facilitates breaking away from said body means for removal;
• said spring tab flanges generally defining a region about said panel for installing a self-tapping fastener through said panel substantially within said region whereby to penetratingly engage said clip body portion to permanently affix said clip to said first panel;
• said body means having an exposed rear portion immediately adjacent to the exposed edge of said first panel over which at least a portion of a second panel may be laid and into which another fastener may be installed to permanently couple two or more panels together;
• and,
• riser wing means associated with said sides of the clip body to at least temporarily create an angle between adjacent coupled panels, said riser wings extending angularly upwardly from said body means generally in the direction of the spring tab means.

A construction method for securely coupling together adjacent panels of gypsum board, sheet rock, masonite, insulation board, plywood or the like, which panels having abutting finished edges which, during wall assembly, terminate at random positions spaced apart from the wall studs, support columns or the like, said method comprising the steps of:

• conventionally installing a first panel upon and between spaced apart studs or vertical support columns during assembly with an exposed edge of said first panel randomly positioned apart from the nearest stud or vertical support column over a hollow region of the wall structure;
• applying at least one clip to the exposed, finished panel edge to prepare said first panel for coupling to a second panel finished edge, each of said clips comprising:
• a generally planar and rectangular, perforated body portion adapted to be blindly penetrated by a self tapping screw, said body portion having a length greater than the thickness of said panel, a rear, a front having a width less than the width of the rear, and a pair of spaced apart sides;
• prong-like spring tab means integrally projecting forwardly from said clip body portion toward said front at said sides of said body portion, each of said spring tab means including a vertical portion generally perpendicular to said clip body portion and an integral offset horizontal flange portion oriented generally parallel with said clip body portion adapted to readily frictionally grasp a finished edge of a panel to sandwich same against said clip body;
• said spring tab flange portions spaced apart from said clip body portion a distance approximately equal to or less than the thickness of said panel;
• wherein the flange portions of said spring tab means are outwardly curved to compressively grip the panel edge when said clip is manually installed, to avoid penetration of the finished panel edge, and to facilitate subsequent manual manipulation, breakage and removal of the spring tab flanges;
• a pair of spaced apart riser wings disposed upon sides of the clip body to create an angle between panels and the clip body during installation, said riser wings extend angularly upwardly from the clip body toward said spring tab assemblies;
• and,
• a pair of parallel, spaced apart longitudinally extending reinforcing grooves defined in said clip body portion to prevent deformation thereof during clip installation;
• installing a fastener through said first panel substantially within a region defined between said spring tab means horizontal portions so as to penetratingly engage said clip body in a substantially random position thus permanently affixing said at least one clip to said first panel;
• positioning a second panel having an exposed finished edge immediately adjacent to the exposed finished edge of said first panel over exposed planar portions of said at least one clip with said finished edges of said panels substantially abutting one another;
• installing another fastener through said second panel immediately adjacent said spring tab means horizontal portions so as to permanently couple said second panel to said at least one clip body portion whereby said first and second panels are coupled together along their exposed finished edges and the panels are at least temporarily slightly angulated relative to one another by the clip with the clip forming the sole backup structure for the adjacent panels without additional mechanical linkage to a stud, support column or the like;
• and,
• thereafter manually removing said horizontal flange portions of said spring tab means by bending them until breakage occurs along a predefined scored junction, whereby to ultimately construct an unobstructed wall surface for subsequent finishing.

A method for securely repairing randomly located holes in panels of gypsum board, sheet rock, masonite, insulation board, plywood or the like without mechanical connection to or support from the internal, spaced apart wall studs, support columns or the like, said method comprising the steps of:

• defining and locating a hole in said panel to be repaired;
• applying a plurality of clips at spaced apart locations about the internal periphery of said hole to be repaired, each of said clips comprising:
• a generally planar and rectangular, perforated body portion adapted to be blindly penetrated by a self tapping screw, said body portion having a length greater than the thickness of said panel, a rear, a front having a width less than the width of the rear, and a pair of spaced apart sides;
• prong-like spring tab means integrally projecting forwardly from said clip body portion toward said front at said sides, each of said spring tab means including a vertical portion generally perpendicular to said clip body portion and an integral offset horizontal flange portion oriented generally parallel with said clip body portion adapted to readily frictionally grasp a finished edge of a panel to sandwich same against said clip body;
• said spring tab flange portions spaced apart from said clip body portion a distance approximately equal to or less than the thickness of said panel;
• wherein the flange portions of said spring tab means are outwardly curved to compressively grip the panel edge when said clip is manually installed, to avoid penetration of the finished panel edge, and to facilitate subsequent manual manipulation, breakage and removal of the spring tab flanges;
• a pair of spaced apart riser wings disposed upon opposite sides of the clip body at said front to create an angle between panels and the clip body during installation, said riser wings extend angularly upwardly from the clip body toward said spring tab assemblies;
• and,
• a pair of parallel, spaced apart reinforcing grooves defined longitudinally within said clip body portion to prevent deformation thereof during clip installation;
• whereby a plurality of clips may be initially installed about the periphery of said hole to be repaired;
• installing a self-tapping fastener through said wall substantially within regions defined between said spring tab means horizontal portions so as to penetratingly engage each clip body portion to permanently affixed them;
• positioning an appropriately shaped repair piece within said hole over said clips;
• installing a self-tapping fastener through regions of said repair piece immediately adjacent said spring tab means horizontal portions so as to permanently couple said repair piece to said clips whereby said repair piece is permanently secured to the wall within said hole without additional mechanical linkage to a stud, support column or the like;
• and,
• thereafter manually removing said horizontal flange portions of said spring tab means by manually bending them until breakage occurs along a predefined scored junction, whereby to ultimately construct an unobstructed wall surface for subsequent finishing.

A clip for enabling the coupling together of adjacent panels of gypsum board, sheet rock, masonite, insulation board, plywood or the like which have abutting finished edges which, during construction of a wall, end up randomly positioned relative to spaced part wall studs, support columns or the like, said clip comprising:

• a generally planar body portion comprised of perforated metal, said body portion having a length significantly greater than the thickness of said panel, a rear, a front having a width less than said rear, a pair of spaced apart sides, and at least one reinforcing groove extending generally along its length;
• prong-like spring tab means integrally projecting forwardly front said clip body portion at said sides thereof for compressively clamping said clip about an exposed edge of said panel, each of said spring tab means comprising:
• a vertical portion generally perpendicular to said clip body portion;
• an integral, arcuate, offset horizontal flange portion oriented generally parallel with said clip body adapted to readily grasp an edge of a panel and to sandwich same against said clip body without penetrating the panel, said horizontal flange portions being separated from the vertical portions thereof by a scored junction which facilitates manual bending of said flanges until they break away from said body for removal, wherein the horizontal flange portions are outwardly flared to compressively grip and avoid penetration of the panel edge when said clip is installed and to facilitate manual manipulation and removal of the flanges;
• and,
• said spring tab flange portions spaced apart from said clip body portion a distance approximately equal to or less than the thickness of said panel;
• said spring tab flanges generally defining a region about said panel for installing a self-tapping fastener through said panel substantially within said region whereby to penetratingly engage said clip body portion to permanently affix said clip to said first panel;
• said clip body having an exposed rear portion immediately adjacent to the exposed edge of said first panel over which at least a portion of a second panel maybe laid and into which another fastener may be installed to permanently couple two or more panels together;
• and,
• said clips comprising a pair of spaced apart riser wings disposed upon sides of the clip body to at least temporarily create an angle between adjacent coupled panels, said riser wings extending angularly upwardly from the clip body toward the spring tab assemblies.

A clip for enabling the coupling together of adjacent panels of gypsum board, sheet rock, masonite, insulation board, plywood or the like, said panels having abutting finished edges which during construction of a wall, end up, in effect, randomly positioned relative to spaced-apart wall studs, support columns or the like, said clip comprising:

• a generally planar body portion comprising perforated metal, said body portion having a length significantly greater, in use, than the thickness of said panel and having a front, a rear, and a pair of opposite spaced-apart sides,
• prong-like spring tab members integrally-formed out of the material of said body portion and projecting forwardly from said body portion of said opposite sides thereof for use in compressively clamping the clip to an exposed edge of such a panel, each spring tab member comprising:
• an upstanding portion generally perpendicular to the plane of said body portion;
• an arcuate transverse portion, integral with the upstanding portion, offset from the plane of said body portion and generally parallel to the plane of said body portion, arranged to grasp readily an edge of said panel and to cause said edge to be sandwiched against said clip body portion without penetrating the panel;
• said spring tab transverse portions being spaced apart from said clip body portion by a distance, in use, approximately equal to or less than the thickness of said panel;
• the spring tab transverse portions, in use, defining generally a region of said panel for installing a self-tapping fastener through the panel substantially within said region so as to penetrate and engage the clip body portion in order to affix said clip to a first such panel substantially permanently;
• said clip body portion having an exposed portion immediately adjacent, in use, to the exposed edge of said first panel over which at least a portion of second such panel may be laid and into which another fastener may be installed to couple the two or more panels together substantially permanently;
• whereby the direction in which said spring tab transverse portions extend from the upstanding portions is such that said spring tab transverse portions overlie an area from which material of said clip body portion has gone to form said spring tab members, and
• riser wings projecting out of said face of the clip body portion on opposite sides thereof to at least temporarily create an angle, in use, between the planes of panels held by said clip.