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US 7,111,813 B2Granted
Support clip and pilaster apparatus and method
AssigneeThermo Electron Corporation
InventorJianhan Lin
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A clip is used with a pilaster assembly, where the clip is snap-fit into the slots of the pilaster, so that the clip is retained when inserted into the slots. This provides the advantage that the clips tend not to fall out due to bumps or vibrations such as those that can occur, for example, during transport of a cabinet having the pilasters and clips.
Claims18
A mounting system, comprising:
- an elongated pilaster having at least a pair of slots therein, said pilaster elongated in a first direction of elongation in vertical axis;
- and
- a clip, the clip comprising:
- a body portion having a first planar portion having a first axis therethrough, said body portion having a first edge;
- a first finger portion projecting from said first edge of said first planar portion of said body portion and insertable through one of the slots, said first finger having a second planar portion having a second axis therethrough;
- and
- a second finger portion projecting from said first edge of said first planar portion of said body portion and insertable in another of the slots, said second finger having a third planar portion at an opposite angle to said second planar portion so that said second and third planar portions are non-coplanar with each other, said third planar portion having a third axis therethrough wherein the second axis and the third axis intersect, wherein the plane of said first planar portion is parallel with the first direction of elongation of said pilaster and intersects with a portion of the pilaster when the clip is installed on the pilaster.
4 more elements
A system for supporting an item on a wall surface, comprising:
- an elongated pilaster strip adapted to be arranged generally along the wall surface and having at least two slots therein, said pilaster elongated in a first direction of elongation in vertical axis;
- and
- a clip having:
- a body portion having a first planar portion having a first axis therethrough, said body portion having a first edge;
- a first finger portion projecting from said first edge of said first planar portion of said body portion and insertable through one of the slots, said first finger having a second planar portion having a second axis therethrough;
- and
- a second finger portion projecting from said first edge of said first planar portion of said body portion and insertable in another of the slots, said second finger having a third planar portion at an opposite angle to said second planar portion so that said second and third planar portions are non-coplanar with each other, said third planar portion having a third axis therethrough wherein the second axis and the third axis intersect, wherein the plane of said first planar portion is parallel with the first direction of elongation of said pilaster and intersects with a portion of the pilaster when the clip is installed on the pilaster.
4 more elements
A method for releasably affixing a clip to a pilaster strip, comprising the steps of:
- providing an elongated pilaster strip having at least two slots therein, the pilaster elongated in a first direction of elongation in vertical axis;
- providing a clip comprising a body portion having a first planar portion having a first axis therethrough and the body portion having a first edge, a first finger portion projecting from said first edge of said first planar portion of said body portion and insertable through one of the slots, said first finger having a second planar portion having a second axis therethrough, and a second finger portion projecting from said first edge of said first planar portion of said body portion and insertable in another of the slots, said second finger having a third planar portion at an opposite angle to said second planar portion so that said second and third planar portions are non-coplanar with each other said third planar portion having a third axis therethrough,
- inserting the first finger of the clip into a slot of the strip, so that the first finger extends into the slot, and a second finger is offset from a second slot;
- releasing the force applied to the clip, so that the clip springs into a position where the second finger has a partial interference with a second slot and the first finger has a partial interference with the first slot, thereby retaining the clip in the slot such that the second axis intersects the third axis, wherein the plane of said first planar portion is parallel with the first direction of elongation of said pilaster and intersects with a portion of the pilaster when the clip is installed on the pilaster.
1 more element
A mounting system comprising:
- an elongated pilaster having at least a pair of slots therein, said pilaster elongated in a first direction of elongation in vertical axis;
- and
- a clip comprising:
- a body portion having a first planar portion having a first axis therethrough, said body portion having a first edge;
- first engaging means projecting from said first edge of said first planar portion of said body portion for engaging one of the slots and having a second planar portion having a second axis therethrough;
- and
- second engaging means projecting from said first edge of said first planar portion of said body portion for engaging the other slots and having a third planar portion at an opposite angle to said second planar portion so that said second and third planar portions are non-coplanar with each other said third planar portion having a third axis therethrough wherein the second axis and the third axis intersect, wherein the plane of said first planar portion is parallel with the first direction of elongation of said pilaster and intersects with a portion of the pilaster when the clip is installed on the pilaster.
4 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.