Crip and cord

• US 10,448,743 B2
• Filed: 08/21/2018
• Issued: 10/22/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 08/27/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: YKK Corporation
• Original Assignee: YKK Corporation
• Inventors: Saiga, Shinsuke, Yoshino, Tetsuya, Iyoda, Yoshitomo
• Primary Examiner(s): San, Jason W
• Application Number:
  US16/107,527
• Publication Number:
  US 20180352962A1
• Time in Patent Office: 427 Days
• CPC Class Codes: A47C 31/023 connecting upholstery to frames, e.g. by hooks, clips, snap fasteners, clamping means or the like
• CPC Class Codes: A47C 7/24 Upholstered seats A47C7/18 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/58 Seat coverings
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/5825 by hooks, staples, clips, snap fasteners or the like
• CPC Class Codes: B68G 7/12 Other elements specially adapted for fastening, fixing, or finishing, in upholstery work
• CPC Class Codes: F16B 2/22 of resilient material, e.g. rubbery material F16B2/205 takes precedence

Abstract

A clip has an engagement portion including: a first arm with a first claw at the top end side; a second arm with a second claw at the top end side; and a bottom provided at the respective base end sides of the first arm and the second arm. Projections of the first claw and the second claw defines a left-right width of a mouth. A third claw projects into the retaining space at a position closer to the base end of the first arm, and a fourth claw is provided which projects into the retaining space at a position closer to the base end of the second arm. The third claw is narrower than the first claw in their widths along a front-back direction orthogonal to the depth direction of the retaining space extending from the mouth to the bottom and the left-right width direction of the mouth.

Claims

1. A combination of a cord and one or more clips,

said one or more clips each comprising:

left and right arms each including base and top ends, the left arm including a first claw and a third claw, and the right arm including a second claw and a fourth claw; and

a bottom to which respective base ends of the left and right arms are coupled, the third claw positioned between the first claw and the bottom, and the fourth claw positioned between the second claw and the bottom,

said cord comprising a tape and a molded portion attached to the tape, the molded portion including;

left and right top surfaces being arranged to sandwich the tape and to be covered at least partially by the first and second claws respectively;

left and right side surfaces extending away from the left or right top surface toward a bottom end of the molded portion;

one or more left grooves each being configured to receive the third claw when the clip and the cord are coupled, the left groove being formed at least on the left side surface and being provided with a left bottom surface;

one or more right grooves each being configured to receive the fourth claw when the clip and the cord are coupled, the right groove being formed at least on the right side surface and being provided with a right bottom surface;

one or more left portions each being configured to provide the left bottom surface so that the left portion is sandwiched between the third claw and the bottom of the clip when the clip and the cord are coupled; and

one or more right portions being configured to provide the right bottom surface so that the right portion is sandwiched between the fourth claw and the bottom of the clip when the clip and the cord are coupled.

2. The combination of claim 1, wherein the third claw is coupled to the first claw, and the fourth claw is coupled to the second claw, and wherein

the left groove is formed on the left top surface and the left side surface, and the right groove is formed on the right top surface and the right side surface.

3. The combination of claim 1, wherein the molded portion further comprises a flange that includes a left flange portion and a right flange portion,

a left interspace being defined between the left flange portion and the left top surface into which the first claw is inserted when the clip and the cord are coupled, and

a right interspace being defined between the right flange portion and the right top surface into which the second claw is inserted when the clip and the cord are coupled.

4. The combination of claim 3, wherein the molded portion further comprises a connecting portion that extends from the left and right top surfaces to the flange.

5. The combination of claim 1, wherein a distance between the left and right side surfaces in left-right direction is reduced as the left and right side surfaces extend toward the bottom end of the molded portion.

6. The combination of claim 1, wherein the molded portion includes a tapered portion that is defined at least partially by the left and right side surfaces.

7. The combination of claim 1, wherein the molded portion is provided with three or more left grooves which are formed at a predetermined interval, and/or the molded portion is provided with three or more right grooves which are formed at a predetermined interval.

8. The combination of claim 7, wherein the predetermined interval is less than the maximum width of the first or second arm.

9. The combination of claim 1, wherein the molded portion is shaped symmetrically with respect to the tape.

10. The combination of claim 1, wherein the third claw touches the left bottom surface of the left groove when the clip and the cord are coupled and/ or the fourth claw touches the right bottom surface of the right groove when the clip and the cord are coupled.

11. The combination of claim 1, wherein an inward end of the third claw in left-right direction is inwardly positioned relative to an inward end of the first claw in the left-right direction, and/or an inward end of the fourth claw in the left-right direction is inwardly positioned relative to an inward end of the second claw in the left-right direction.

12. The combination of claim 1, wherein the third and fourth claws are plate-like portions.

13. The combination of claim 1, wherein the clip further comprises a hook coupled to the bottom.

14. The combination of claim 1, wherein the clip further comprises a left protrusion arranged between the third claw and the bottom, and a right protrusion arranged between the fourth claw and the bottom.

15. The combination of claim 1, wherein the left groove is configured to be opened continuously at the left side surface and the left top surface.

16. The combination of claim 1, wherein the right groove is configured to be opened continuously at the right side surface and the right top surface.

17. The combination of claim 3, wherein the left bottom surface of the left groove is arranged to face the left flange portion, and the right bottom surface of the right groove is arranged to face the right flange portion.