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US 9,833,888 B2Granted
Clip installation tool
AssigneeToyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc.
InventorJeffrey D. Lambert
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An installation tool for a two-stage clip is described. The tool includes a base element and a plunger element. The base element can include a plunger installation cavity and a clip receiving cavity. At least a portion of the plunger element can be retainably engaged in base element. The plunger element can be movable within the base element between a retracted position and an extended position. In the extended position, a portion of the plunger element can extend into the clip receiving cavity.
Claims17
A clip installation tool comprising:
- a base element, the base element including a plunger insertion cavity and a clip receiving cavity, the base element including a connecting passage connecting between the plunger insertion cavity and the clip receiving cavity, the connecting passage including a keyway along a first portion of the length of the connecting passage, a first end of the keyway opening to the plunger insertion cavity, the connecting passage including a guide passage along a second portion of the length of the connecting passage, the guide passage being offset from the keyway, the guide passage being in communication with the keyway by a transfer passage in the base element, a second end of the keyway opening to the transfer passage;
- and
- a plunger element, at least a portion of the plunger element being retainably received in the base element, the plunger element being movable within the base element between a retracted position and an extended position, a portion of the plunger element extending into the clip receiving cavity in the extended position, the plunger element including a shaft portion having a retention element thereon, the plunger element having a longitudinal axis and a longitudinal direction,
- the keyway, the guide passage, and the transfer passage being configured to receive the retention element,
- when the retention element is received in the keyway or in the guide passage, the plunger element being movable substantially in the longitudinal direction,
- when the retention element is received in the transfer passage, the plunger element being selectively rotatable substantially about the longitudinal axis, whereby the retention element is selectively circumferentially movable within the transfer passage between the keyway and the guide passage.
3 more elements
A clip installation tool comprising:
- a base element, the base element including a plunger insertion cavity and a clip receiving cavity, the clip receiving cavity being configured to retainably engage a two-stage clip having a first stage configured as an elongated protrusion and a second stage that is configured with a generally circular cross-sectional shape, the clip receiving cavity including a plurality of protrusions extending from an inner peripheral surface of the clip receiving cavity, the protrusions being configured to contact the second stage of the two-stage clip, whereby the plurality of protrusions retainably engage the two-stage clip;
- and
- a plunger element, at least a portion of the plunger element being retainably received in the base element, the plunger element being movable within the base element between a retracted position and an extended position, a portion of the plunger element extending into the clip receiving cavity in the extended position such that the plunger element contacts the second stage of the two-stage clip.
A clip installation tool comprising:
- a base element, the base element including a handle, the base element including a plunger insertion cavity and a clip receiving cavity, the base element including a connecting passage connecting between the plunger insertion cavity and the clip receiving cavity, the clip receiving cavity being configured to retainably engage a two-stage clip having a first stage configured as an elongated protrusion and a second stage that is configured with a generally circular cross-sectional shape,
- the clip receiving cavity being substantially circular and configured to receive at least a portion of the second stage of the two-stage clip, the clip receiving cavity having an associated length;
- and
- a plunger element, at least a portion of the plunger element being retainably received in the base element, the plunger element being movable within the base element between a retracted position and an extended position, a portion of the plunger element extending into the clip receiving cavity in the extended position, and the plunger element including a pad portion and a shaft portion, the pad portion being transverse to the shaft portion,
- the base element and the plunger element being configured to establish a maximum extended position of the plunger element, and
- wherein, in the maximum extended position, the plunger element extends less than the entire length of the clip receiving cavity.
3 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.