US 7,152,284 B1Granted

Clip systems and methods for sheet materials

AssigneeHomax Products, Inc.

InventorsLester R. Greer, Jr., Randal W. Hanson, Wilfred Joseph Hoffmann

Life of this patent

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Abstract

A clip apparatus or method for sheet materials comprising a clip member and a collar member. The clip member is resilient and defines a hinge portion, first and second finger portions extending from the hinge portion, and a ratchet portion formed on at least one of the first and second finger portions. The collar member is resilient and defines a latch portion, a lever portion, a latch opening, and a housing interior. The collar member acts on the clip member to place the clip member in the closed configuration. The latch portion engages the ratchet portion through the latch opening to inhibit movement of the collar member. When the collar member is in a disengaged configuration, the collar member may move relative to the clip member.

Claims17

Dependent claims

A clip for sheet materials comprising:

a clip member defining a hinge portion, first and second finger portions extending from the hinge portion, and a ratchet portion formed on at least one of the first and second finger portions, where
the clip member is made of resilient material such that the clip member may be deformed from a normally open configuration into a closed position, and
the first and second finger portions do not engage each other when the clip member is in the open configuration and the first and second finger portions engage each other when the clip member is in the closed position;
and
a collar member defining a latch portion, a lever portion, a latch opening, and a housing interior, where
the collar member is made of resilient material such that applying a force to the lever portion causes the collar member to deform from a normally engaged configuration to a disengaged configuration, and
the latch portion extends into the housing interior through the latch opening when the collar member is in the engaged configuration and is withdrawn from the housing interior through the latch opening when the collar member is in the disengaged configuration;
whereby
the clip member extends through the housing interior such that
when the collar member is in a first position relative to the clip member, the clip member is in the open configuration;
when the collar member is in a second position relative to the clip member, the collar member acts on the clip member to place the clip member in the closed configuration;
and
when the collar member is in the engaged configuration, the latch portion engages the ratchet portion to allow movement of the collar member towards the second position and inhibit movement of the collar member towards the first position, and
when the collar member is in the disengaged configuration, the collar member may move between the first and second positions;
and
the first and second finger portions define first and second gripping portions, respectively;
at least one of the first and second gripping portions defines a line notch adapted to receive an edge line of the sheet material;
and
at least one of the first and second gripping portions defines a line tooth;
whereby
the line tooth defines at least a portion of a line projection adapted to engage the edge line of the sheet material;
the first and second gripping portions define first and second line notches, respectively;
the first and second gripping portions define first and second line teeth, respectively;
and
the first and second line teeth define a line projection adapted to engage the edge line of the sheet material.

22 more elements

A clip assembly for sheet materials comprising:

a clip member defining a hinge portion, first and second finger portions extending from the hinge portion, first and second cam surfaces formed on the first and second finger portions, respectively, and a ratchet portion formed on at least one of the first and second finger portions;
a collar member defining a housing portion, a latch portion, a latch opening, and a housing interior, where the latch portion defines a latch lever and an engaging portion that is normally disposed within the housing interior;
whereby
the clip member is displaced in a first direction relative to the collar member until the housing portion of the collar member engages the first and second cam surfaces;
further displacement of the clip member in the first direction relative to the collar member causes the housing portion to engage the first and second cam surfaces such that the first and second finger portions are forced together;
the engaging portion of the latch portion normally engages the ratchet portion to prevent movement of the clip member in a second direction relative to the collar member, where the second direction is opposite the first direction;
and
displacement of the latch lever relative to the housing portion causes the engaging portion of the latch portion to disengage from the ratchet portion to allow movement of the clip member in the second direction relative to the collar member.

5 more elements

A method of attaching a structure to a sheet material, comprising the steps of:

providing a clip member defining a hinge portion, first and second finger portions extending from the hinge portion, first and second cam surfaces formed on the first and second finger portions, respectively, and a ratchet portion formed on at least one of the first and second finger portions;
providing a collar member defining a housing portion, a latch portion, a latch opening, and a housing interior, where the latch portion defines a latch lever and an engaging portion that is normally disposed within the housing interior;
displacing the clip member in a first direction relative to the collar member until the housing portion of the collar member engages the first and second cam surfaces;
further displacing the clip member in the first direction relative to the collar member such that
the housing portion engages the first and second cam surfaces such that the first and second finger portions are forced together to grip the sheet material, and
the engaging portion of the latch portion engages the ratchet portion to prevent movement of the clip member in a second direction relative to the collar member, where the second direction is opposite the first direction;
and
displacing the latch lever relative to the housing portion to cause the engaging portion of the latch portion to disengage from the ratchet portion to allow movement of the clip member in the second direction relative to the collar member.

5 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 10/791,482Filed 2 Mar 2004 · continuation
Priority: 19 Feb 2002
Granted: 26 Dec 2006
Term ends: Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification13 codes

F16B 2/10
External, i.e. with contracting action: using pivoting jaws
A44B 99/00
Subject matter not provided for in other groups of this subclass
Y10T 24/44444
Distinct spring: having specific surface material or irregularity on or along engaging face
Y10T 24/44496
Including pivoted gripping member: with operator means for moving pivoted member

Family

Application60/358,455Us provisional application · filed 19 Feb 2002
Application60/423,111Us provisional application · filed 1 Nov 2002
Application10/370,644Parent of this continuation · filed 19 Feb 2003
US 6,698,071 B1Parent of this continuation
US 7,152,284 B1This patent

From the US filing history. Foreign family members aren’t listed.