Apparatus and method for installing a c-clip
OwnerBradley Baconinventor
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Disclosed herein is an apparatus and method for installing a c-clip outside a far end of a passage. In some embodiments, the apparatus comprises prong members each comprising a prong end, a base end, and a lip part. A base is secured to the base ends, so the prong members are parallel with each other, and so the lip parts form a ring-shaped lip adapted to secure the c-clip. A tube is provided comprising an inner surface having a varying radius. The base inserts the prong members through the tube and against the inner surface, the inner surface forcing the c-clip to close into a closed c-clip. The prong ends are moved at least partially through the rear of the tube, and in some embodiments through a tube extension, permitting a restoring force of the c-clip to open the c-clip.
Claims50
An apparatus for installing a c-clip outside a far end of a passage, the apparatus comprising:
- a plurality of prong members each comprising a prong end and a base, and where at least a subset of the plurality of prong member each have a lip part below the prong end;
- a base secured to the base ends, so that each of the plurality of prong members are substantially parallel with each other of the plurality of prong members, and so that the lip parts form a ring-shaped lip adapted to secure the c-clip;
- and
- a tube comprising an inner surface having a varying radius, an outer surface, a front opening having a front opening inner surface radius, and a rear opening having a rear opening inner surface radius;
- wherein the base is operable to insert the prong members at least partially through the front opening and against the inner surface, the inner surface forcing the c-clip to close into an at least partially closed c-clip and the prong ends to converge into converged prong ends, and wherein the base is operable to move the prong ends at least partially through the rear opening.
An apparatus for installing a c-clip outside a far end of a passage, the apparatus comprising:
- a plurality of prong members each comprising a base end and a sector shaped prong end, where at least one of the plurality of prong members comprise a resilient prong member, and where at least a subset of the plurality of prong member each have a lip part below the prong end;
- a base secured to the base ends so that each of the plurality of prong members are substantially parallel with each other of the plurality of prong members, so that the lip parts form a ring-shaped lip adapted to secure the c-clip, and so that each base end is evenly spaced to form at the base an outline of a regular polygon shape;
- a tube comprising an inner surface having a varying radius, an outer surface, a front opening having a front opening inner surface radius, and a rear opening having a rear opening inner surface radius, wherein the front opening inner surface radius is greater than the rear opening inner surface radius;
- and
- a tube extension having a tube extension inner surface radius substantially equal to the rear opening inner surface radius, a tube extension outer surface radius, and a tube extension rear opening, wherein the tube extension extends from the rear opening and is sized to be insertable in the passage;
- wherein the base is operable to insert the prong members at least partially through the front opening and against the inner surface, the inner surface forcing the c-clip to close into a closed c-clip and the prong ends to converge into converged prong ends;
- and
- wherein the base is operable to move the converged prong ends at least partially through the tube extension rear opening, thereby permitting a restoring force of the closed c-clip to open the closed c-clip.
A method for installing a c-clip outside a far end of a passage, the method comprising:
- providing a plurality of prong members each comprising a prong end and a base end, at least a subset of the plurality of prong member each have a lip part below the prong end;
- providing a base secured to the base ends, so that each of the plurality of prong members are substantially parallel with each other of the plurality of prong members, and so that the lip parts form a ring-shaped lip adapted to secure the c-clip;
- providing a tube comprising an inner surface having a varying radius, an outer surface, a front opening, and a rear opening;
- placing the c-clip on the ring-shaped lip;
- using the base to insert the prong members at least partially through the front opening and against the inner surface, so that the varying radius forces the c-clip to close into a closed c-clip and the prong ends to converge into converged prong ends;
- and
- using the base to move the prong ends at least partially through the rear opening.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.