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US 9,702,387 B2Granted
Cover panel clip
AssigneeColorado Lining International, Inc.
InventorAndre Alan Harvey
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A clip for securing one or more cover panels within a containment structure includes an annular portion partially-enclosing an internal space and two compressible legs adjoining opposite ends of the central portion. The clip further includes a clasp with first and second securing tabs configured to fixedly secure an object within the internal space and apply an outward force on the compressible legs.
Claims20
A clip comprising:
- a curved central portion forming a perimeter that partially-encloses an internal space with a first diameter, the curved central portion having a first and second ends;
- a neck portion including a first side with an upper end adjoining the first end of the curved central portion and a second side with an upper end adjoining a second end of the curved central portion, the first side separated from the second side by a distance smaller than the first diameter that provides a channel to the internal space;
- a first compressible leg adjoining a lower end of the first side of the neck portion and a second compressible leg adjoining a lower end of the second side of the neck portion, wherein the first compressible leg and the second compressible leg each include a midpoint protrusion adjacent to the neck portion and on an outward-facing surface and an endpoint protrusion distal to the neck portion and on the outward-facing surface, the endpoint protrusion longer than the midpoint protrusion;
- and
- a clasp extending from the neck portion and including first and second securing tabs, the first and second securing tabs configured to fixedly secure an object within the channel to the internal space while the object supplies an outward force on the first compressible leg and the second compressible leg.
2 more elements
A method comprising:
- applying force to compress two legs of a clip toward one another, the clip including:
- a curved central portion forming a perimeter that partially-encloses an internal space with a first diameter, the curved central portion having a first and second ends;
- a neck portion including a first side with an upper end adjoining the first end of the curved central portion and a second side with an upper end adjoining a second end of the curved central portion, the first side separated from the second side by a distance smaller than the first diameter that provides a channel to the internal space;
- a first compressible leg adjoining a lower end of the first side of the neck portion and a second compressible leg adjoining a lower end of the second side of the neck portion, wherein the first compressible leg and the second compressible leg each include a midpoint protrusion adjacent to the neck portion and on an outward-facing surface and an endpoint protrusion distal to the neck portion and on the outward-facing surface, the endpoint protrusion longer than the midpoint protrusion;
- and
- a clasp extending from the neck portion and including first and second securing tabs;
- threading an object through the internal space;
- and
- applying a force to the object in a direction toward the first compressible leg and the second compressible leg to engage a clasp such that the first and second securing tabs fixedly secure the object within the channel to the internal space while the object supplies an outward force on the first compressible leg and on the second compressible leg.
6 more elements
A clip including:
- a curved central portion sized to receive a cable and forming a perimeter that partially-encloses an internal space with a first diameter, the curved central portion having a first and second ends;
- a neck portion including a first side with an upper end adjoining the first end of the curved central portion and a second side with an upper end adjoining a second end of the curved central portion, the first side separated from the second side by a distance smaller than the first diameter that provides a channel to the internal space;
- a first compressible leg adjoining a lower end of the first side of the neck portion and a second compressible leg adjoining a lower end of the second side of the neck portion, wherein the first compressible leg and the second compressible leg each include a midpoint protrusion adjacent to the neck portion and on an outward-facing surface and an endpoint protrusion distal to the neck portion and on the outward-facing surface, the endpoint protrusion longer than the midpoint protrusion;
- and
- a clasp including first and second securing tabs extending from the neck portion, the first and second securing tabs configured to fixedly secure the cable within the channel to the internal space while the cable supplies an outward force on the first compressible leg and the second compressible leg;
- and
- a latching mechanism on an outward-facing surface of each of the first compressible leg and the second compressible leg, the latching mechanism configured to provide resistance to movement of an object encircling the first compressible leg and the second compressible leg.
4 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.