Clip

• US 7,805,815 B2
• Filed: 08/22/2007
• Issued: 10/05/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 08/22/2007
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Toyota Motor Corporation
• Original Assignee: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America Incorporated (Toyota Motor Corporation)
• Inventors: Williams, Paxton S., Babian, Philip Joseph
• Primary Examiner(s): Lavinder; Jack W.
• Application Number:
  US11/843,444
• Publication Number:
  US 20090049660A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,140 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 24/295
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 13/0206 Arrangements of fasteners and clips specially adapted for attaching inner vehicle liners or mouldings devices for fastening or securing F16B
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 13/0256 Dashboard liners
• CPC Class Codes: F16B 2/20 Clips, i.e. with gripping action effected solely by the inherent resistance to deformation of the material of the fastening
• CPC Class Codes: F16B 2005/0678 in abutting relationship
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 24/307 Sheet metal formed
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 24/309 Plastic type
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 24/44 Clasp, clip, support-clamp, or required component thereof
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 24/44026 for cooperating with aperture in supporting structure or structure-to-be-secured

Abstract

The present invention discloses a clip for attaching an object to a sheet having an aperture spaced apart from a leading edge of the sheet. The clip includes a base with a generally planar lower member, the lower member having a leading edge and a trailing edge. The base also has a generally planar upper member extending across the lower member, the upper member also having a leading edge, a trailing edge and an opening between the upper member leading edge and trailing edge. The trailing edge of the upper member is attached to and extends from the base proximate the trailing edge of the lower member. The upper member also includes a spring located proximate to the trailing edge of the upper member and extending into the opening in a generally leading edge direction. The finger spring is operable to apply a force in a generally leading edge direction onto a sheet edge of a sheet inserted and located between the lower member and the upper member. The upper member can include a catch stem located proximate to the leading edge of the upper member yet oppositely disposed across from the opening from the finger spring. The catch stem extends into the opening in a generally trailing edge direction and is operable to catch a sheet edge of the sheet bounding the aperture spaced apart from the leading edge of the sheet and thereby preventing removal of the clip from the sheet.

Claims

1. A clip for attaching to a sheet, the sheet having an aperture spaced apart from a leading edge of the sheet, said clip comprising:

a generally planar lower member, said lower member having a leading edge and a trailing edge;

a generally planar upper member extending across said lower member, said upper member having a leading edge, a trailing edge and an opening between said leading edge and said trailing edge;

said trailing edge of said upper member attached to and extending from said lower member proximate said trailing edge of said lower member;

said upper member having;

a spring proximate said trailing edge of said upper member and extending into said opening in a direction from said trailing edge to said leading edge, said spring operable to apply a force against the leading edge of the sheet located between said lower member and said upper member; and

a catch stem proximate said leading edge of said upper member and having a catch notch facing said spring, oppositely disposed across said opening from said spring and extending into said opening in a direction from said leading edge to said trailing edge, said catch notch having a first surface generally parallel to the sheet located between said lower member and said upper member, a stop surface and a cam surface extending from said first surface to said stop surface, said catch notch operable to catch upon a sheet edge bounding the aperture spaced apart from the leading edge of the sheet located between said lower member and said upper member and prevent the sheet from being removed from the clip.

2. The clip of claim 1, wherein said spring is a finger spring having a generally U-shape with an elastic finger element extending into said opening between said trailing edge and said leading edge.

3. The clip of claim 2, wherein said elastic element extends into said opening in a direction from said trailing edge to said leading edge.

4. The clip of claim 2, wherein said finger spring has a base and an elastic finger element extending from said base into said opening between said trailing edge and said leading edge.

5. The clip of claim 4, wherein said elastic finger element extends into said opening in a direction from said trailing edge to said leading edge.

6. The clip of claim 1, wherein said cam surface extends from said first surface at an obtuse angle.

7. The clip of claim 6, wherein said stop surface extends from said cam surface in a direction generally perpendicular to the sheet located between said lower member and said upper member.

8. A clip for attaching to a sheet, the sheet having an aperture spaced apart from a leading edge of said sheet, said clip comprising:

a base having a generally planar lower member, said lower member having a leading edge and a trailing edge;

said base also having a generally planar upper member extending across said lower member, said upper member having a leading edge, a trailing edge and an opening between said leading edge and said trailing edge;

said trailing edge of said upper member attached to and extending from said base proximate said trailing edge of said lower member;

said upper member further comprising;

a finger spring having a generally U-shaped elastic element proximate said trailing edge of said upper member and extending into said opening in a direction from said trailing edge to said leading edge, said finger spring operable to apply a force against the leading edge of the sheet located between said lower member and said upper member proximate said trailing edge of said upper member; and

a catch stem proximate said leading edge of said upper member, oppositely disposed across said opening from said finger spring and extending into said opening in a direction from said leading edge to said trailing edge;

said catch stem having a catch notch facing said finger spring, said catch notch having a first surface generally parallel to a sheet located between said lower member and said upper member, a stop surface and a cam surface extending from said first surface to said stop surface, said catch notch operable to catch upon a sheet edge of the sheet having an aperture spaced apart from the leading edge and located between the lower member and the upper member.

9. A clip for attaching an instrument panel to a cowl in a motor vehicle when the cowl has an aperture spaced apart from a leading edge of the cowl, said clip comprising:

an instrument panel end operable to attach to the instrument panel of the motor vehicle;

a cowl end having a base extending from said instrument panel end, said base having a generally planar lower member, said lower member having a trailing edge;

said base also having a generally planar upper member extending across said lower member, said upper member having a leading edge, a trailing edge and an opening between said leading edge and said trailing edge;

said trailing edge of said upper member attached to and extending from said base proximate said instrument panel end;

said upper member having;

a spring proximate said trailing edge of said upper member and extending into said opening in a direction from said trailing edge to said leading edge, said spring operable to apply a force against the leading edge of the sheet located between said lower member and said upper member; and

a catch stem having a catch notch proximate said leading edge of said upper member, facing said spring, oppositely disposed across said opening from said spring and extending into said opening in a direction from said leading edge to said trailing edge, said catch notch having a first surface generally parallel to the sheet located between said lower member and said upper member, a stop surface and a cam surface extending from said first surface to said stop surface, said catch notch operable to catch upon a sheet edge bounding the aperture spaced apart from the leading edge of the sheet located between said lower member and said upper member and prevent the sheet from being removed from the clip.

10. The clip of claim 9, wherein said spring is a finger spring having a generally U-shape with an elastic element extending into said opening between said trailing edge and said leading edge.

11. The clip of claim 10, wherein said elastic element extends into said opening in a direction from said trailing edge to said leading edge.

12. The clip of claim 10, wherein said finger spring has a base and an elastic finger element extending from said base into said opening between said trailing edge and said leading edge.

13. The clip of claim 12, wherein said elastic finger element extends into said opening in a direction from said trailing edge to said leading edge.

14. The clip of claim 9, wherein said cam surface extends from said first surface at an obtuse angle.

15. The clip of claim 14, wherein said stop surface extends from said cam surface in a direction generally perpendicular to the sheet located between said lower member and said upper member.

16. A clip for attaching to a sheet, the sheet having an aperture spaced apart from a leading edge of the sheet, said clip comprising:

a generally planar lower member;

a generally planar upper member having an opening and extending across said lower member;

said upper member having a spring and a catch stem extending into said opening, said spring operable to apply a force against the leading edge of the sheet back towards said catch stem when the sheet is attached to the clip and located between said lower member and said upper member; and

said catch stem operable to catch upon a sheet edge bounding the aperture spaced apart from the leading edge of the sheet located between said lower member and said upper member and prevent the sheet from being removed from the clip.