Clip

• US 7,222,398 B2
• Filed: 09/23/2004
• Issued: 05/29/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 09/24/2003
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Piolax Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Piolax Incorporated
• Inventors: Koike, Takashi
• Primary Examiner(s): Sandy; Robert J.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Rodriguez; Ruth C.
• Application Number:
  US10/947,403
• Publication Number:
  US 20050091802A1
• Time in Patent Office: 978 Days
• Field of Search: 24289-297, 244/53, 246/06, 246/07, 411/41, 411 45- 48, 411/340, 411/344, 411/453, 411/908, 411508-510
• US Class Current: 24/297
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 27/02 rigid
• CPC Class Codes: F16B 19/1081 fastened by a drive-pin F16B19/109 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 24/309 Plastic type
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 24/42 Independent, headed, aperture pass-through fastener

Abstract

A clip includes: a pin having a head and a shank; and a grommet having a collar and a leg. The leg of the grommet is divided into a plurality of expansion leg pieces by means of slits extending along an axial direction. The expansion leg pieces of the leg are expanded outwardly by the insertion of the pin into an inner side of the grommet, so as to clamp plate-like members by the collar and the expansion leg pieces. The leg of the grommet has resilient beams which project outwardly of the expansion leg pieces on a collar side when the pin is inserted into the inner side of the grommet.

Claims

1. A clip comprising:

a pin comprising a head and a shank; and

a grommet comprising a collar and a leg, wherein;

the leg of the grommet is divided into a plurality of expansion pieces by slits extending along an axial direction;

the expansion pieces of the leg are expanded outwardly by the insertion of the pin into an inner side of the grommet, so as to clamp two or more plate-like members by the collar and the expansion pieces; and

the leg of the grommet comprises resilient beams respectively disposed in the slits and which project outwardly of the expansion pieces on a collar side when the pin is inserted into the inner side of the grommet.

2. The clip according to claim 1, wherein the resilient beams comprise ends thereof respectively connected to a lower surface of the collar, and other ends thereof which are integrally connected.

3. The clip according to claim 2, wherein the other ends of the resilient beams project outwardly from a tip edge of the leg in a tapered state.

4. The clip according to claim 2, wherein the resilient beams comprise a jutting out shoulder on an outer surface thereof at a position close to the one ends thereof.

5. The clip according to claim 4, wherein the resilient beams are provided in even pairs, and the jutting out shoulders of the respective pairs are formed at vertically different positions.

6. The clip according to claim 1, wherein the pin comprises accommodating grooves for accommodating the resilient beams.

7. The clip according to claim 2, wherein the collar of the grommet comprises open ports on outer sides of the one ends of the resilient beams.

8. A clip comprising:

a pin having a head and a shank; and

a grommet having a collar and a leg extending axially from the collar, wherein;

the leg of the grommet is divided into a plurality of expansion pieces by slits extending along the axial direction;

the expansion pieces are arranged and configured so as to be urged radially outwardly by axial insertion of the pin through an opening in the collar into an inner side of the grommet, so as to clamp two or more plate-like members by the collar and the expansion pieces; and

the leg of the grommet has resilient beams arranged and configured between expansion pieces to project radially outwardly of the expansion pieces at a collar end when the pin is inserted axially into the inner side of the grommet.

9. The clip according to claim 8, wherein the resilient beams are respectively disposed in the slits, first ends of the resilient beams are respectively connected to the collar, and second ends of the resilient beams are integrally connected.

10. The clip according to claim 9, wherein tapered portions of the second ends of the resilient beams project axially beyond a tip edge of the leg.

11. The clip according to claim 9, wherein the resilient beams comprise a jutting out shoulder on an outer surface thereof at a position close to one end thereof.

12. The clip according to claim 11, wherein the resilient beams are provided in even pairs, and the jutting out shoulders of the respective pairs are formed at axially different positions.

13. The clip according to claim 8, wherein the pin has accommodating grooves for accommodating the resilient beams.

14. The clip according to claim 9, wherein the collar of the grommet has open ports on outer sides of the first ends of the resilient beams.

15. A grommet for a clip, the grommet comprising:

a collar and a leg, wherein;

the leg of the grommet is divided into a plurality of expansion pieces by slits extending along an axial direction;

the expansion pieces of the leg are expanded outwardly by the insertion of a pin into an inner side of the grommet, so as to clamp two or more plate-like members by the collar and the expansion pieces; and

the leg of the grommet comprises resilient beams respectively disposed in the slits and which project outwardly of the expansion pieces on a collar side when the pin is inserted into the inner side of the grommet.

16. The grommet according to claim 15, wherein the resilient beams comprise ends thereof respectively connected to a lower surface of the collar, and other ends thereof which are integrally connected.

17. The grommet according to claim 16, wherein the other ends of the resilient beams project outwardly from a tip edge of the leg in a tapered state.

18. The grommet according to claim 16, wherein the resilient beams comprise a jutting out shoulder on an outer surface thereof at a position close to one ends thereof.

19. The grommet according to claim 18, wherein the resilient beams are provided in even pairs, and the jutting out shoulders of the respective pairs are formed at vertically different positions.

20. The grommet according to claim 15, wherein the collar of the grommet comprises open ports on outer sides of the one ends of the resilient beams.