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US 5,388,313 AGranted
Locking clip
OwnerRobert W. Cameroninventor
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A clip assembly for gripping a sheet of material. The assembly includes first and second jaw members having ramp portions which are joined along a common hinge. The ramp portions form divergent inclined planes, and are surrounded by a sliding collar. As the sliding collar is moved from the hinge area toward the grip portions of the jaws, the latter are forced together against the sheet of material. A releasable ratchet pawl locks the sliding collar against reverse movement. The clip assembly is suitable for fabrication from injection molded plastic.
Claims18
A clip assembly for gripping a sheet of material, said clip assembly comprising:
- first and second jaw members mounted to a hinge portion in opposition to one another, each said jaw member comprising:
- a grip portion for engaging said sheet of material;
- and
- a ramp portion which extends from said hinge portion toward said grip portion;
- said ramp portions of said first and second jaw members forming inclined planes which diverge from one another from said hinge portion toward said grip portions;
- a collar member surrounding said ramp portions of said first and second jaw members, so that in response to sliding movement of said collar member from said hinge portion toward said grip portions said collar member rides up said divergent inclined planes so as to force said grip portions together against said sheet of material;
- and
- ratchet means for preventing reverse movement of said collar member from said grip portions of said jaw members toward said hinge portion, and for selectively releasing said collar member for said reverse movement so as to permit disengagement of said jaw members from said sheet of material, said ratchet means comprising:
- a first set of ratchet teeth formed on said collar member;
- a second set of ratchet teeth mounted to at least one said jaw member;
- and
- a ratchet pawl having said second set of ratchet teeth formed thereon, said ratchet pawl being mounted to said at least one jaw member for resilient deflection so as to permit said first set of teeth to ride over said second set of teeth as said collar member is moved toward said grip portions of said jaw members.
9 more elements
A clip assembly for gripping a sheet of material, said clip assembly comprising:
- first and second jaw members mounted to a hinge portion in opposition to one another, each said jaw member comprising:
- a grip portion for engaging said sheet of material;
- and
- a ramp portion which extends from said hinge portion toward said grip portion;
- said ramp portions of said first and second jaw members forming inclined planes which diverge from one another from said hinge portion toward said grip portions;
- a collar member surrounding said ramp portions of said first and second jaw members, so that in response to sliding movement of said collar member from said hinge portion toward said grip portions said collar member rides up said divergent inclined planes so as to force said grip portions together against said sheet of material;
- rachet means for preventing reverse movement of said collar member from said grip portions of said jaw members toward said hinge portion, and for selectively releasing said collar member for said reverse movement so as to permit disengagement of said jaw members from said sheet of material;
- a loop portion for attachment to a load-bearing cord;
- and
- hinge means for pivotally mounting said loop portion of said assembly to said jaw members of said assembly;
- said hinge means comprising:
- a first plate member mounted to said loop portion and having a flat bearing surface formed thereon;
- a second plate member mounted to said jaw members and having a flat bearing surface formed thereon;
- and
- a pivot pin for mounting said first and second plate members together so that said flat bearing surfaces abut one another for pivoting movement along a common plane which lies substantially parallel to a plane in which said jaw members are configured to hold said sheet of material;
- so that said hinge means eliminates twisting movement of said jaw members against contact surfaces of said sheet of material owing to relative movement between said material and said load-bearing cord.
13 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.