Clip assembly with positive locating features

• US 20020179780A1
• Filed: 02/25/2002
• Published: 12/05/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 05/31/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Illinois Tool Works Inc.
• Original Assignee: Illinois Tool Works Inc.
• Inventors: Shereyk, David A., Benoit, Thomas A.
• Granted Patent: US 6,669,150 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 248/73
• CPC Class Codes: F16B 21/084 with a series of flexible ribs or fins extending laterally from the shank of the stud, pin or spigot, said ribs or fins deforming predominantly in a direction parallel to the direction of insertion of the shank
• CPC Class Codes: F16L 3/02 partly surrounding the pipes, cables or protective tubing bands or chains F16L3/14
• CPC Class Codes: F16L 3/127 and extending away from the attachment surface
• CPC Class Codes: F16L 3/2334 the barb having a plurality of serrations
• CPC Class Codes: F16L 55/035 in the form of specially adapted hangers or supports

Abstract

A clip assembly configured for attachment to an axially elongated tubular member in a manner limiting movements of said clip assembly relative to the elongated member is disclosed. The clip assembly includes a hollow sleeve configured to fit about and grippingly engage an outer lengthwise portion of the elongated tubular member and a clip having a fastening portion and an attachment portion. The fastening portion of the clip is configured to attach the clip to a support. The attachment portion of the clip includes first and second sections which combine with each other to define an opening for accommodating and compressing the hollow sleeve therebetween. The sleeve and attachment portion of the clip are provided with cooperating instrumentalities which relate to each other after said sleeve is inserted and compressed between the first and second sections of the attachment portion of the clip to limit movement between the sleeve and clip thereby providing a positive locating feature between the sleeve, the clip, and the elongated member.

Claims

1. A clip assembly configured for attachment to an axially elongated tubular member in a manner limiting axial lengthwise movements of said clip assembly relative to said elongated member, said clip assembly comprising:

a hollow sleeve configured to fit about and grippingly engage an outer lengthwise portion of said elongated tubular member,

a clip having a fastening portion and an attachment portion, with said fastening portion of said clip being configured to attach said clip to a support, and with said attachment portion of said clip including first and second sections which combine with each other to define an opening for accommodating and compressing said sleeve therebetween; and

wherein said sleeve and the attachment portion of said clip define cooperating instrumentalities which relate to each other, after said sleeve is inserted and compressed between said first and second sections of the attachment portion of said clip, to limit axial movement between said sleeve and said clip and thereby providing a positive locating feature between said sleeve, said clip, and said elongated member.

2. The clip assembly according to claim 1 wherein said hollow sleeve defines an inner surface having an incomplete circular cross-section.

3. The clip assembly according to claim 2 wherein said hollow sleeve defines a pair of confronting cam surfaces for facilitating fitting said sleeve about and along said outer lengthwise portion of said elongated member.

4. The clip assembly according to claim 1 wherein said hollow sleeve is formed from a compressible, elastomeric material for reducing vibration transfer between said support and said elongated member.

5. The clip assembly according to claim 1 wherein said fastening portion of said clip includes a shaft portion defining a longitudinal axis and anti-retraction ribs disposed along said shaft portion and extending away from said longitudinal axis for restricting removal of said clip of from said support.

6. The clip assembly according to claim 1 wherein said first and second sections define a pair of resilient and free ended arms extending away from said fastening portion and which are disposed relative to each other to provide a generally C-shaped configuration to the attachment portion of said clip, and with the free ended arms terminating in a pair of opposed end portions which are slightly spaced apart from one another.

7. The clip assembly according to claim 1 wherein said first and second sections of the attachment portion of said clip are joined together at respective first ends by a hinge having an undeformed condition wherein the first and second sections of said attachment portion are in an open position in which second ends of said first and. second sections are relatively spaced from each other, with the hinge being elastically deformable to a deformed condition wherein the first and second portions of said attachment portion are in a closed position in which the second ends of said first and second sections are relatively closed to each other.

8. The clip assembly according to claim 7 wherein said second ends of said first and second sections have structure for maintaining said first and second portions in said closed position.

9. The clip assembly according to claim 1 wherein said sleeve has opposed ends with a predetermined length therebetween, and wherein an outer surface of said sleeve is configured between opposed ends with a radial projection having a first length less than said predetermined length of said sleeve, and wherein the opening defined between said first and second sections of the attachment portion of said clip is configured with a recess for accommodating said radial projection on said sleeve, said recess having a second length, with the first length of said projection and the second length of said recess limiting axial movement between said sleeve and said clip and thereby providing a positive locating feature between said sleeve, said clip, and said elongated member.

10. The clip assembly according to claim 1 wherein the fastening portion of said clip includes a resilient strap having a generally circular configuration with two flexible limbs which are positionable about said support, with each flexible limb including a series of teeth disposed for interengagement relative to each other whereby permitting said clip to be positioned and secured relative to said support.

11. A clip assembly configured for attachment to an axially elongated tubular member in a manner limiting axial and rotational movements of said clip assembly relative to said elongated member, said clip assembly comprising:

a sleeve having an opening extending lengthwise therethrough, with said sleeve and said opening being configured such that an inner surface of said opening fits about and grippingly engages an outer lengthwise portion of said elongated tubular member;

a clip having a fastening portion and an attachment portion, with said fastening portion of said clip being configured to attach said clip to a support, and with said attachment portion of said clip including first and second sections which combine with each other to accommodate and compress said sleeve therebetween; and

wherein said sleeve and the attachment portion of said clip define cooperating instrumentalities which relate to each other, after said sleeve is inserted and compressed between said first and second sections of the attachment portion of said clip, to limit axial and rotational movements between said sleeve and said clip and thereby providing a positive locating feature between said sleeve, said clip, and said elongated member.

12. The clip assembly according to claim 11 wherein said sleeve has an elongated generally C-shaped configuration.

13. The clip assembly according to claim 11 wherein said hollow sleeve is formed from a compressible, elastomeric material for reducing vibration transfer between said support and said elongated member.

14. The clip assembly according to claim 11 wherein the fastening portion of said clip includes a shaft portion defining an longitudinal axis and anti-retraction ribs disposed along said shaft portion and extending away from said longitudinal axis for restricting removal of said clip of from said support.

15. The clip assembly according to claim 11 wherein said first and second sections define a pair of resilient and free ended arms extending away from the fastening portion of said clip, and with the free ended arms defining a pair of confronting cam surfaces for facilitating fitting said sleeve therebetween.

16. The clip assembly according to claim 11 wherein said first and second sections of the attachment portion of said clip are joined together at respective first ends by a hinge having an undeformed condition wherein the first and second sections of said attachment portion are in an open position in which second ends of said first and second sections are relatively spaced from each other, with the hinge being elastically deformable to a deformed condition wherein the first and second portions of said attachment portion are in a closed position in which the second ends of said first and second sections are relatively closed to each other.

17. The clip assembly according to claim 16 wherein said second ends of said first and second sections include latching structure for maintaining said first and second portions in said closed position.

18. The clip assembly according to claim 11 wherein said sleeve has opposed ends with a predetermined length therebetween, and wherein an outer surface of said sleeve is configured between opposed ends with a radial projection having a first length less than said predetermined length of said sleeve, and wherein the opening defined between said first and second sections of the attachment portion of said clip is configured with a recess for accommodating said radial projection on said sleeve, said recess having a second length, and wherein said recess and said projection are each configured relative to the other to limit axial and rotational movement between said sleeve and said clip after said projection is accommodated within said recess thereby providing a positive locating feature between said sleeve, said clip, and said elongated member.

19. The clip assembly according to claim 11 wherein the fastening portion of said clip includes a resilient strap having a generally circular configuration with two flexible limbs which are positionable about said support, with each flexible limb including a series of teeth disposed for interengagement relative to each other whereby permitting said clip to be positioned and secured relative to said support.

20. The clip assembly according to claim 11 wherein said clip is formed from an elastomeric material selected from the group consisting of:

nylon, plastic, and composite materials.