Tube clip

• US 6,554,232 B1
• Filed: 11/02/2000
• Issued: 04/29/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 11/04/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: International Truck Intellectual Property Co. LLC (Volkswagen AG)
• Original Assignee: International Truck Intellectual Property Co. LLC (Volkswagen AG)
• Inventors: Macris, Harold F.
• Primary Examiner(s): King, Anita
• Assistant Examiner(s): STERLING, AMY JO
• Application Number:
  US09/705,560
• Time in Patent Office: 908 Days
• Field of Search: 248/74.3, 248/65, 248/71, 248/74.1, 248/74.2, 248/73, 245/43
• US Class Current: 248/71
• CPC Class Codes: F16B 21/02 Releasable fastening devices locking by rotation with snap-action F16B21/06; studs or coupling pins with resilient protrusions F16B21/08
• CPC Class Codes: F16B 5/0685 Joining sheets or plates to strips or bars F16B5/0692 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F16L 3/127 and extending away from the attachment surface
• CPC Class Codes: F16L 3/13 and engaging it by snap action F16L3/1203 takes precedence

Abstract

The invention is a tube clip with a clip end and a cam. The design of the tube clip allows the rotation of the tube clip after insertion into a mounting support. Preferably the installed tube clip can rotate no farther than about a quarter turn or about 90° after insertion. The clip end has a base, first and second sides and a channel. The first and second sides are at opposite ends of the base and perpendicular thereto with the channel inbetween. A slanted guide extends inwardly along the length of the first side distal to the base. A slanted outer face extends inwardly along the length of the second side distal to the base. The slanted guide and the outer face align to cooperatively guide a tube into the channel. The cam has a head and a stem connecting the head to the base. The head has a beveled edge and a shoulder. The shoulder projects from the beveled edge toward the stem and overhangs the base.

Claims

1. A tube clip comprising:

a clip end comprising a base, first and second sides at opposite ends of the base and perpendicular thereto, and a channel being located between the first and second sides, the first side having a slanted guide extending inwardly along a length of the first side distal to the base, the second side having a slanted outer face extending inwardly along a length of the second side distal to the base, the slanted guide and the slanted outer face being aligned to cooperatively guide a tube into the channel;

a cam comprising a head, and a stem connecting the head to the base, the head having a beveled edge and a shoulder projecting from the beveled edge toward the stem and overhanging the base; and

wherein the second side is longer than the first side.

2. A tube clip of claim 1, wherein the stem has opposite curved sides.

3. A tube clip comprising:

a clip end comprising a base, first and second sides at opposite ends of the base and perpendicular thereto, and a channel being located between the first and second sides, the first side having a slanted guide extending inwardly along a length of the first side distal to the base, the second side having a slanted outer face extending inwardly along a length of the second side distal to the base, the slanted guide and the slanted outer face being aligned to cooperatively guide a tube into the channel; and

a cam comprising a head, and a stem connecting the head to the base, the head having a beveled edge and a shoulder projecting from the beveled edge toward the stem and overhanging the base, wherein the stem has opposite curved sides, and wherein the stem has rectangular sections with a single pair of opposed rounded vertices.

4. A tube clip comprising:

a clip end comprising a base, first and second sides at opposite ends of the base and perpendicular thereto, and a channel being located between the first and second sides, the first side having a slanted guide extending inwardly along a length of the first side distal to the base, the second side having a slanted outer face extending inwardly along a length of the second side distal to the base, the slanted guide and the slanted outer face being aligned to cooperatively guide a tube into the channel;

a cam comprising a head, and a stem connecting the head to the base, the head having a beveled edge and a shoulder projecting from the beveled edge toward the stem and overhanging the base; and

wherein the shoulder is curved and the stem has opposite curved sides.

5. A tube clip comprising:

a clip end comprising a base, first and second sidewalls at opposite ends of the base and perpendicular thereto, and a channel being located between the first and second sidewalls, the sidewalls being aligned to cooperatively guide a tube into the channel;

a stem connecting a head with the base; and

the head having a quadrilateral flat surface with two pairs of parallel head portions, beveled edges bordering each head portion, and shoulders projecting from the parallel beveled edges toward the stem and overhanging the base.

6. A tube clip of claim 5, further comprising:

a slanted guide having a channel end connected to the channel and extending inwardly from the channel to the first sidewall along the length of the first sidewall distal to the base.

7. A tube clip of claim 6, further comprising:

(a) an inwardly overhanging lip extending along the length of the second sidewall distal to the base, the overhanging lip having opposite inner and outer faces.

8. A tube clip of claim 7, wherein the overhanging lip is a spring.

9. A tube clip of claim 8, wherein the channel is U-shaped.

10. A tube clip of claim 8, wherein the stem has opposite curved sides.

11. A tube clip comprising:

a clip end comprising a base, first and second sidewalls at opposite ends of the base and perpendicular thereto, a slanted guide extending inwardly along the length of the first sidewall distal to the base, an inwardly overhanging lip extending along the length of the second sidewall distal to the base, the overhanging lip having opposite inner and outer faces, and a channel being located between the first and second sidewalls, the sidewalls being aligned to cooperatively guide a tube into the channel, and wherein the overhanging lip is a spring;

a stem connecting a head with the base;

the head having a quadrilateral flat surface with two pairs of parallel head portions, beveled edges bordering each head portion, and shoulders projecting from the parallel beveled edges toward the stem and overhanging the base; and

wherein the stem has rectangular sections with a single pair of opposed rounded vertices.

12. A tube clip of claim 11, wherein the shoulders are curved.

13. A tube clip of claim 12, wherein one head portion is curved.

14. A tube clip comprising:

a clip end comprising a base, first and second sidewalls at opposite ends of the base and perpendicular thereto, a slanted guide extending inwardly along the length of the first sidewall distal to the base, an inwardly overhanging lip extending along the length of the second sidewall distal to the base, the overhanging lip having opposite inner and outer faces, and a channel being located between the first and second sidewalls, the slanted guide and the overhanging lip being aligned to cooperatively guide a tube into the channel; and

a cam for inserting into a slot within a mounting support and rotating after insertion for locking the tube clip to the mounting support.

15. A tube clip of claim 14, wherein the cam rotates about 90°

after insertion.

16. A tube clip of claim 15, wherein the cam prevents a rotation of greater than about 90°

after insertion.

17. A tube clip of claim 16, wherein the overhanging lip is a spring.

18. A tube clip of claim 17, wherein the cam further comprises:

(a) a stem having opposite curved sides; and

(b) a head with beveled edges, and shoulders projecting from the beveled edges toward the stem and overhanging the base.

19. A tube clip comprising:

a clip end comprising a base, first and second sidewalls at opposite ends of the base and perpendicular thereto, a slanted guide extending inwardly along the length of the first sidewall distal to the base, an inwardly overhanging lip extending along the length of the second sidewall distal to the base, the overhanging lip having opposite inner and outer faces, and a channel being located between the first and second sidewalls, the sidewalls being aligned to cooperatively guide a tube into the channel, wherein the overhanging lip is a spring;

a cam for inserting into a slot within a mounting support and rotating after insertion for locking the tube clip to the mounting support, the cam having a head with beveled edges and a stem connecting the head to the base and having opposite curved sides, the head having shoulders projecting from the beveled edges toward the stem and overhanging the base, and wherein the opposite curved sides are rectangular sections with a single pair of opposed rounded vertices; and

wherein the cam rotates about 90° and

prevents the rotation past about 90°

after insertion.

20. A tube clip of claim 19, wherein the shoulders are curved.

21. A tube clip of claim 20, wherein the head further comprises:

(a) a curved head portion.