U-Clip assembly and method of producing and utilizing the same

• US 4,508,220 A
• Filed: 03/06/1984
• Issued: 04/02/1985
• Est. Priority Date: 04/09/1982
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Hartco Incorporated (H&N Family Subco, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Hartco Incorporated (H&N Family Subco, Inc.)
• Inventors: Pearson, Kenneth C.
• Primary Examiner(s): Lowrance, George E.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Foster, Jimmy G.
• Application Number:
  US06/586,669
• Time in Patent Office: 392 Days
• Field of Search: 24/20 CW, 24/20 W, 24/23 W, 24/259 R, 206/338-347, 206/390, 206/820
• US Class Current: 206/343
• CPC Class Codes: A47C 31/06 for attaching flat meandering springs
• CPC Class Codes: F16B 15/0015 Staples
• CPC Class Codes: F16B 15/08 formed in integral series but easily separable
• CPC Class Codes: F16B 7/0433 for rods or tubes being in parallel relationship
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 24/1488 Swedged to lock band ends

Abstract

An improved clip assembly in the form of a row of aligned U-shaped clips. The clips are maintained in aligned relation to each other by resilient interconnecting means such as small diameter flexible strong metal wires which advantageously are intimately secured to the crown portions of the clips by a metal-to-metal bond. The assembly can be wound, in the manner of spool of thread or wire, into a tight, self-sustaining, compact roll comprising thousands of clips. The invention also involves a method of producing said improved clip assembly and a method in which said improved clip assembly is utilized to wrap the U-shaped clips on overlying wire members to produce bed spring, furniture and the like.

Claims

1. A clip assembly for use with a clinching tool capable at high speeds of sequentially severing and wrapping a clip on overlying wire members employed in the manufacture of furniture, bed springs, and the like, to secure the members together, comprising:

a plurality of generally U-shaped sheet metal clips having an arcuate crown portion and depending leg portions integrally joined in spaced relation to one another to the transverse margins of the crown portion, the clips being arranged in abutting, or near abutting, aligned relation to one another with the transverse axis of the crown portions substantially normal to the longitudinal axis of the clip assembly; and

a pair of metal wires for maintaining the clips in positive, fixed abutting, or near abutting, aligned relation to one another, said pair of metal wires being positioned in spaced relation to one another and being secured in point contact with and substantially tangential to the crown portion of each of the clips of the assembly by a metal-to-metal bond in a manner both to prevent the disruption of the positive, fixed, aligned relation of the clips when the clips are subjected to a pulling or tension force and to provide severable clip spanning portions which freely extend between the metal-to-metal bond formed by said pair of metal wires with the crown portion of each clip to enable each clip to be sequentially severed and wrapped by a clinching tool on overlying wire members of a workpiece.

2. A clip assembly according to claim 1 wherein the diameter of the wires is such that when the clip spanning portions thereof are severed by a clinching machine, the profile of the severed wires on the crown portion of each clip is minimal and will be essentially free from any surfaces or edges which may cause injury during handling or which may damage finishing materials coming into contact therewith.

3. A clip assembly for use with a clinching tool capable at high speeds of sequentially severing and wrapping a clip on overlying wire members employed in the manufacture of furniture, bed springs, and the like, to secure the members together, comprising:

a plurality of generally U-shaped sheet metal clips having an arcuate crown portion and depending leg portions integrally joined in spaced relation to one another to the transverse margins of the crown portion, the clips being arranged in abutting, or near abutting, aligned relation to one another with the transverse axis of the crown portions substantially normal to the longitudinal axis of the clip assembly; and

metal carrier means for maintaining the clips in positive, fixed abutting, or near abutting, aligned relation to one another, said metal carrier means comprising wire secured in point contact with and substantially tangential to the crown portion of each clip by a metal-to-metal bond in a manner both to prevent the disruption of the positive, fixed, aligned relation of the clips when the clips are subjected to a pulling or tension force and to provide severable clip spanning portions which freely extend between the metal-to-metal bond formed by the metal carrier means with the crown portion of each clip to enable each clip to be sequentially severed and wrapped by a clinching tool on overlying wire members of a workpiece, said clip spanning portions serving to impart a flexiblity to the clip assembly which enables the assembly to be wound, under tension, into a tight, self-sustaining, compact, spool-like roll comprising at least several thousand interconnected clips, and being capable when severed by a clinching tool of lying in flush contact with the crown portion of their associated clip.

4. A clip assembly according to claim 3 wherein the assembly, when formed into a self-sustaining spool-like roll, is oriented to position the leg portions of the clips in a direction facing away from the axis of the roll, and the crown portion of each clip of the assembly is oriented to position it in overlying relation to the leg portions of the clips comprising the preceding convolution of the clip assembly on the roll, the ends of the leg portions cooperating with said metal carrier means to restrict lateral movement of adjacent convolutions of the clip assembly with relation to one another whereby the tight, self-sustaining character of the spool-like roll is maintained.

5. In a method for sequentially severing and wrapping a clip on overlying wire members employed in the manufacture of furniture, bed springs, and the like, the clip having a generally U-shape and comprising an arcuate crown portion and depending leg portions:

the steps including providing a clip assembly formed of a plurality of said clips, said clips being assembled in positive, fixed abutting, or near abutting, relation to one another with the transverse axis of the crown portion of each clip normal to the longitudinal axis of the clip assembly, the clips being secured in said positive, fixed relation to one another by longitudinally extending flexible metal wire carrier means fused in fixed point contact with and substantially tangential to the crest of the crown portion of each clip of the assembly;

forming the assembly, under tension, into a tight, self-sustaining spool-like roll, the clips being oriented on the roll such that the legs of the clips extend radially outwardly with relation to the axis of the roll;

mounting the roll formed from the clip assembly for rotation about a horizontal axis;

applying a pulling force to the end of the clip assembly on the roll whereby the assembly is pull-fed into a clinching tool capable of sequentially severing and wrapping the clips of the assembly on overlying wire members to be used in the manufacture of an article of furniture, a bed spring, and the like, and sequentially severing and wrapping each clip of the clip assembly on said overlying wire members.