H clip

• US 7,444,792 B2
• Filed: 02/01/2006
• Issued: 11/04/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 02/10/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Mo Products Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Mo Products Incorporated
• Inventors: Matson, John R.
• Primary Examiner(s): Chilcot, Jr.; Richard E.
• Assistant Examiner(s): GENNARO, JR, ANTHONY J
• Application Number:
  US11/345,510
• Publication Number:
  US 20060174579A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,007 Days
• Field of Search: 526/96, 524/68, 524/70, 525/822, 243/36, 244/58, 245/811.1, 242/97, 245/55, 162/25, 403/326, 403/329, 403/305, 403/309, 446/108, 446/109, 446/111, 446/112, 446/113, 446/114, 446/115, 446/124
• US Class Current: 52/698
• CPC Class Codes: E04B 1/6112 by clamping, e.g. friction, means on lateral surfaces
• CPC Class Codes: E04D 12/00 Non-structural supports for roofing materials, e.g. battens, boards E04D11/02 and E04D13/16 take precedence; self-supporting slabs with non-structural supports for roofing materials E04B7/205
• CPC Class Codes: E04F 2201/0517 U- or C-shaped brackets and clamps
• CPC Class Codes: E04F 2201/0594 Hinge-like connectors
• CPC Class Codes: F16B 5/0008 by moving the sheets, plates or panels substantially in their own plane, perpendicular to the abutting edge
• CPC Class Codes: F16B 5/0028 using I-shaped connectors with flanges moving towards each other F16B5/0068
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 24/344 Resilient type clasp
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 24/44855 Terminal end of resilient member having engagement or disengagement enhancing structural modifications

Abstract

An H-shaped clip is used to connect two pieces of building material such as plywood, roofing sheath, wafer board or other materials quickly, easily and securely. The H clip includes two tapered arms connected by a spacing bar, where each arm ends in a ski-shaped lead-in having a contoured face and a living hinge.

Claims

1. A one-piece panel clip for use in construction, comprising a spacing bar centrally and perpendicularly disposed between a pair of spaced apart arms, wherein the arms are generally in parallel disposition with each other, wherein each arm has a first end and a second end, wherein the ends of each arm comprise a lead-in rotatably mounted to the arm, wherein the ends of the arms include indentations to accommodate the rotation of the lead-in thereby allowing the lead-ins to rotate inwardly to a parallel configuration with respect to the arms.

2. The clip of claim 1 wherein the lead-ins include a contoured face.

3. The clip of claim 1 wherein the arms are tapered such that the opposing ends of the arms are closer to each other than arms at the location of the spacing bar.

4. The clip of claim 1 wherein the spacing bar includes a thickened area.

5. The clip of claim 1 wherein the end of each arm further comprises a flexible living hinge connecting the lead-in to the arm.

6. The clip of claim 1 wherein the clip is made of materials selected from the group consisting of metal, nylon, plastic or other polymeric compound.

7. The clip of claim 1 wherein the clip is made of a polymeric compound.

8. A one-piece panel clip for use in construction, comprising a spacing bar centrally and perpendicularly disposed between a pair of spaced apart arms,

wherein the arms are generally in parallel disposition with each other, wherein each arm has a first end and a second end,

wherein the ends of the arms include indentations to accommodate the rotation of a lead-in thereby allowing the lead-ins to rotate inwardly to a parallel configuration with respect to the arms,

wherein the arms are tapered such that the opposing ends of the arms are closer to each other than arms at the location of the spacing bar,

wherein the ends of each arm comprise the lead-in rotatably mounted to the arm.

9. The clip of claim 8 wherein the lead-ins include a contoured face.

10. The clip of claim 8 wherein the spacing bar includes a thickened area.

11. The clip of claim 8 wherein the end of each arm further comprises a flexible living hinge connecting the lead-in to the arm.

12. The clip of claim 8 wherein the clip is made of materials selected from the group consisting of metal, nylon, plastic or other polymeric compound.

13. The clip of claim 8 wherein the clip is made of a polymeric compound.