Fastening clip assembly

• US 10,385,901 B2
• Filed: 10/26/2015
• Issued: 08/20/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 11/04/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Illinois Tool Works Inc.
• Original Assignee: Illinois Tool Works Inc.
• Inventors: Steltz, Jeffrey J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Saether, Flemming
• Application Number:
  US15/522,443
• Publication Number:
  US 20170335877A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,394 Days
• Field of Search: 411508
• CPC Class Codes: F16B 21/08 in which the stud, pin, or spigot has a resilient part F16B21/065, F16B21/125, F16B21/165, F16B37/043 take precedence; wall-dowels F16B13/00
• CPC Class Codes: F16B 21/082 the stud, pin or spigot having two resilient parts on its opposite ends in order to connect two elements
• CPC Class Codes: F16B 21/086 the shank of the stud, pin or spigot having elevations, ribs, fins or prongs intended for deformation or tilting predominantly in a direction perpendicular to the direction of insertion
• CPC Class Codes: F16B 5/06 by means of clamps or clips F16B5/0004 takes precedence; friction-grip releasable fastenings in general F16B2/00
• CPC Class Codes: F16B 5/0621 in parallel relationship fastened by a drive-pin F16B19/1081; fastened by a device locking by rotation F16B21/02
• CPC Class Codes: F16B 5/0642 the plates being arranged one on top of the other and in full close contact with each other
• CPC Class Codes: F16B 5/0657 at least one of the plates providing a raised structure, e.g. of the doghouse type, for connection with the clamps or clips of the other plate

Abstract

A fastening clip assembly is configured to secure to a component, and may include four retaining legs that are configured to directly contact portions of the component to provide four points of contact with the component, and a central pedestal including a central beam and two angled retaining beams extending from the central beam. The two angled retaining beams are configured to exert a triangular retaining force into the component.

Claims

1. A fastening clip assembly configured to secure to a component, the fastening clip assembly comprising:

four retaining legs that extend from a lead-in nose which are configured to directly contact portions of the component to provide four points of contact with a component; and

a central pedestal that extends from the lead-in nose, which includes a central beam that is centered about a longitudinal axis and two angled retaining beams that each extend downward and outward from the central beam at a point spaced from the lead-in nose and at an angle from the longitudinal axis, wherein the two angled retaining beams are configured to exert an outward retaining force into the component.

2. The fastening clip assembly of claim 1, wherein the four retaining legs and the central pedestal are integrally molded and formed together.

3. The fastening clip assembly of claim 1, wherein the four retaining legs and the central pedestal are configured to securely connect the fastening clip assembly to a round opening of the component.

4. The fastening clip assembly of claim 1, wherein the lead-in nose is beveled and configured to guide the fastening clip assembly into a round opening of the component.

5. The fastening clip assembly of claim 1, wherein each of four retaining legs comprises a flexible root connected to an outwardly-extending angled extension beam, which, in turn, connects to an inwardly-canted ramp, wherein the inwardly-canted ramp is configured to compressively abut into an internal edge of a round opening of the component.

6. The fastening clip assembly of claim 1, wherein the four retaining legs are regularly spaced about a central longitudinal axis of the fastening clip assembly.

7. The fastening clip assembly of claim 1, further comprising an annular collar, wherein the central beam provides a bracing support between the lead-in nose and the annular collar, wherein the bracing support resists crushing.

8. The fastening clip assembly of claim 7, further comprising an annular seal secured to the annular collar.

9. The fastening clip assembly of claim 1, wherein the two angled retaining beams form two legs having a length that is the same.

10. A securing system comprising:

a component having a round opening; and

a fastening clip assembly secured to the component, the fastening clip assembly comprising;

four retaining legs that extend from a lead-in nose and directly contact portions of the component proximate to the round opening to provide four points of contact with the component; and

a central pedestal that extends from the lead-in nose, which includes a central beam that is centered about a longitudinal axis and two angled retaining beams that each extend downward and outward from the central beam at a point spaced from the lead-in nose and at an angle from the longitudinal axis, wherein the two angled retaining beams exert an outward retaining force into the component.

11. The securing system of claim 10, wherein the four retaining legs and the central pedestal are integrally molded and formed together.

12. The securing system of claim 10, wherein the four retaining legs and the central pedestal securely connect the fastening clip assembly to the round opening of the component.

13. The securing system of claim 10, wherein the lead-in nose is beveled and connected to the central pedestal, and

wherein the beveled lead-in nose guides the fastening clip assembly into the round opening of the component.

14. The securing system of claim 10, wherein each of four retaining legs comprises a flexible root connected to an outwardly-extending angled extension beam, which, in turn, connects to an inwardly-canted ramp, wherein the inwardly-canted ramp compressively abuts into an internal edge of the round opening of the component.

15. The securing system of claim 10, wherein the four retaining legs are regularly spaced about a central longitudinal axis of the fastening clip assembly.

16. The securing system of claim 10, wherein the fastening clip assembly further comprises a lead-in nose and an annular collar, wherein the central beam provides a bracing support between the lead-in nose and the annular collar, wherein the bracing support resists crushing.

17. The securing system of claim 16, wherein the fastening clip assembly further comprising an annular seal secured to the annular collar.

18. The securing system of claim 16, wherein the two angled retaining beams form two legs having a length that is the same.

19. A fastening clip assembly configured to secure to a component, the fastening clip assembly comprising:

four retaining legs that extend downwardly from a lead-in nose and are configured to directly contact portions of the component to provide four points of contact with the component, wherein each of four retaining legs comprises a flexible root connected to an outwardly-extending angled extension beam, which, in turn, connects to an inwardly-canted ramp, wherein the inwardly-canted ramp is configured to compressively abut into an internal edge of a round opening of the component, wherein the four retaining legs are regularly spaced about a central longitudinal axis of the fastening clip assembly;

a central pedestal that extends from the lead-in nose, which includes a central beam that is centered about a longitudinal axis and two angled retaining beams that each extend downward and outward from the central beam at a point spaced from the lead-in nose and at an angle from the longitudinal axis, wherein the two angled retaining beams form two legs having a length that is the same, wherein the two angled retaining beams are configured to exert a triangular retaining force into the component, wherein the four retaining legs and the central pedestal are configured to securely connect the fastening clip assembly to the round opening of the component;

an annular collar connected to the central pedestal; and

a beveled lead-in nose connected to the central pedestal, wherein the beveled lead-in nose is configured to guide the fastening clip assembly into the round opening of the component, wherein the central beam provides a bracing support between the lead-in nose and the annular collar, wherein the bracing support resists crushing,

wherein the four retaining legs, the central pedestal, the annular collar, and the beveled lead-in nose are integrally molded and formed together as a single piece.

20. The fastening clip assembly of claim 19, further comprising an annular seal secured to the annular collar.