Vehicle accessory combined hook and clip

• US 6,457,690 B1
• Filed: 11/26/2001
• Issued: 10/01/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 11/26/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Johnson Controls Technology Company (Johnson Controls International plc)
• Original Assignee: Johnson Controls Technology Company (Johnson Controls International plc)
• Inventors: Smith, Nels R., Spykerman, David J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Braun, Leslie A.
• Assistant Examiner(s): BAXTER, GWENDOLYN WRENN
• Application Number:
  US09/994,219
• Time in Patent Office: 309 Days
• Field of Search: 248/304, 248/305, 248/306, 248/308, 248/294.1, 248/339, 248/101, 224/313, 224/553, 224/554, 224/542, 224/557, 224/571, 211/96, 211/86.01, 211/123, 211/85.3, 211/106.01, 247/16, 24/305.P, 245/43, 296/139, 296/37.7, 296/37.8
• US Class Current: 248/305
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 7/10 for supporting hats, clothes or clothes hangers
• CPC Class Codes: F16B 45/00 Hooks; Eyes if the attaching parts or means are concerned, groups F16B13/00, F16B15/00, F16B19/00, F16B25/00, F16B35/00, F16B47/00 take precedence; for hanging pictures or the like A47G1/16; towing hooks for ships B63B21/58; for hoisting or hauling purposes B66C; hooks or eyes with integral parts designed to facilitate quick attachment to cables or ropes at any point F16G11/14
• CPC Class Codes: F16B 45/008 plastics
• CPC Class Codes: F16B 5/0685 Joining sheets or plates to strips or bars F16B5/0692 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F16B 5/0692 joining flexible sheets to other sheets or plates or to strips or bars tent fastenings E04H15/64; coping elements for swimming pools with fixing means for sealing foil E04H4/142; greenhouses of flexible synthetic material A01G9/1407; end or aperture-closing arrangements or devices for sacks or bags B65D33/16
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 24/153 Plastic band bag tie
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 24/44752 Integral locking-means
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 24/51 Hanger on portable article support for manual attachment thereof to overhead support [e.g., drapery hook]

Abstract

A combined hook and clip includes a mounting housing which can be integrated into a vehicle panel or separately provided and which includes a recess for receiving a pivoted combined hook and clip. The hook and clip includes a mounting collar, which is pivotally mounted within the housing by a pivot pin, a downwardly and inwardly projecting leg extending from the mounting collar to a base. Extending integrally upwardly and outwardly from the base is a second leg which, together with the first leg and base, defines a generally U-shaped hook. Extending downwardly from the second leg and projecting below the base is a third leg with a gripper member facing the housing for defining a clip. A bias member retains the combined hook and clip within the recess of the housing and urges the clip into a gripping position.

Claims

1. A combined accessory hook and clip for a vehicle comprising:

a mounting collar including a pivot pin extending therethrough and a generally U-shaped hook extending downwardly from said mounting collar and including a clip extension extending downwardly from an end of said U-shaped hook, wherein said mounting collar is adapted to be coupled within a housing for movement between a retracted position with the housing to one or more extended positions for exposing the hook for receiving items to be stored thereon and for presenting the clip for gripping items separately from the hook.

2. The hook and clip as defined in claim 1 wherein the U-shaped hook is defined by first downwardly and inwardly extending leg, a base and a second upwardly and outwardly extending leg.

3. The hook and clip as defined in claim 2 wherein the clip is defined by a third leg extending downwardly from the second leg.

4. The hook and clip as defined in claim 3 including a gripping member mounted to a surface of said third leg facing toward said U-shaped hook.

5. The hook and clip as defined in claim 4 including a bias member coupled between the mounting collar and pivot pin for urging the combined hook and clip into a stored position within a recess of the housing.

6. The hook and clip as defined in claim 5 which is integrally molded of a polymeric material.

7. The hook and clip as defined in claim 6 wherein the polymeric material is polycarbonate.

8. The hook and clip as defined in claim 7 wherein the polymeric material is a rubber-material.

9. A combined accessory hook and clip comprising:

a housing defining a recess;

a generally U-shaped hook extending downwardly including a mounting collar and including a clip extension extending downwardly from an end of said U-shaped hook; and

a pivot pin pivotally coupling said collar to said recess wherein said mounting collar is adapted to be coupled within said housing for movement between a retracted position to one or more extended positions for exposing the hook for receiving items to be stored thereon and for presenting the clip for gripping items separately from the hook.

10. The hook and clip as defined in claim 9 wherein the U-shaped hook is defined by first downwardly and inwardly extending leg, a base and a second upwardly and outwardly extending leg.

11. The hook and clip as defined in claim 10 wherein the clip is defined by a third leg extending downwardly from said second leg.

12. The hook and clip as defined in claim 11 including a gripping member mounted to a surface of said third leg facing toward said U-shaped clip.

13. The hook and clip as defined in claim 9 including a bias member coupled between said mounting collar and said pivot pin for urging the combined hook and clip into a stored position within said recess of said housing.

14. The hook and clip as defined in claim 9 integrally molded of a polymeric material.

15. The hook and clip as defined in claim 14 wherein the polymeric material is a rubber-material.

16. A vehicle accessory comprising:

a vehicle panel having a recess defining a housing for receiving a combined hook and clip;

a generally U-shaped hook extending downwardly from a mounting collar and including a clip extension extending downwardly from an end of said U-shaped hook; and

a pivot pin pivotally coupling said collar to said recess wherein said hook and clip moves between a retracted position within said housing to one or more extended positions for exposing the hook for receiving items to be stored thereon and for presenting the clip for gripping items separately from the hook.

17. The hook and clip as defined in claim 16 wherein the U-shaped hook is defined by first downwardly and inwardly extending leg, a base and a second upwardly and outwardly extending leg.

18. The hook and clip as defined in claim 17 wherein the clip is defined by a third leg extending downwardly from said second leg.

19. The hook and clip as defined in claim 18 including a gripping member mounted to a surface of said third leg facing toward said U-shaped hook.

20. The hook and clip as defined in claim 16 including a bias member coupled between said mounting collar and said pivot pin for urging the combined hook and clip into a stored position within said recess of said housing.

21. The hook and clip as defined in claim 16 integrally molded of a polymeric material.

22. The hook and clip as defined in claim 21 wherein said gripping member includes a rubber-material.