Attachment clips for support structures

• US 8,366,341 B2
• Filed: 08/24/2011
• Issued: 02/05/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 01/03/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Vitec Imaging Solutions S.p.A. (Vitec Group PLC)
• Original Assignee: Daymen Us, Inc. (Daymen US Holdings, Inc.)
• Inventors: Bevirt, Joeben
• Primary Examiner(s): Lavinder, Jack W.
• Application Number:
  US13/216,250
• Publication Number:
  US 20120091305A1
• Time in Patent Office: 531 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 403/381
• CPC Class Codes: F16B 2200/30 Dovetail-like connections
• CPC Class Codes: F16M 11/041 Allowing quick release of the apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: F16M 11/14 with ball-joint ball-jointed hinges F16C11/06 ; adjustable mountings employing universal joints for lighting devices F21V21/26 - F21V21/30
• CPC Class Codes: F16M 11/16 Details concerning attachment of head-supporting legs, with or without actuation of locking members thereof
• CPC Class Codes: F16M 11/2078 with ball-joint ball-jointed hinges F16C11/06
• CPC Class Codes: F16M 11/40 by means of coilable or bendable legs or spiral shaped legs
• CPC Class Codes: F16M 13/022 repositionable
• CPC Class Codes: G03B 17/561 Support related camera accessories
• CPC Class Codes: G03B 17/566 Accessory clips, holders, shoes to attach accessories to camera if integral part of camera body G03B17/02
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 24/91 One-piece
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 24/3439 Plural clasps
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 24/344 Resilient type clasp
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 24/3441 and cam
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 24/3485 and hook
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 403/32032 Plural ball and socket

Abstract

A mounting clip and structures to support the mounting clips. A clip may narrow in width and thickness to facilitate firmer mounting and to facilitate ease of clipping into a mating receiver. The clip may have different sections along its outer rail of different thicknesses and different widths.

Claims

1. A clip for attachment to a support structure, said clip comprising:

a plate, said plate having a first, second, third, and fourth side around the perimeter of said plate, wherein said first and third sides are opposing, and wherein said second and fourth sides are opposing;

a first rail along said first side of said plate,

a third rail along said third side of said plate,

a first neckdown portion;

a second neckdown portion, and

an intermediate portion, said intermediate portion located between said first neckdown portion and said second neckdown portion.

2. The clip of claim 1 wherein the distance between said first rail and said third rail along said first neckdown portion lessens along a direction from said second side of said plate to said fourth side of said plate.

3. The clip of claim 2 wherein the distance between said first rail and said third rail along said second neckdown portion lessens along a direction from said second side of said plate to said fourth side of said plate.

4. The clip of claim 3 wherein said first neckdown portion narrows in width at a first angle.

5. The clip of claim 1 wherein the thickness of said first rail and said third rail lessens along a direction from said second side of said plate to said fourth side of said plate.

6. The clip of claim 1 wherein said clip comprises a recess in its bottom surface, said recess adapted to receive a tab when said clip is inserted into a clip receiver.

7. A clip for attachment to a support structure, said clip comprising:

a plate, said plate having a first, second, third, and fourth side around the perimeter of said plate, wherein said first and third sides are opposing, and wherein said second and fourth sides are opposing;

a first rail along said first side of said plate,

a third rail along said third side of said plate,

a first neckdown portion; and

a second neckdown portion,

wherein the distance between said first rail and said third rail along said first neckdown portion lessens along a direction from said second side of said plate to said fourth side of said plate, and

wherein the distance between said first rail and said third rail along said second neckdown portion lessens along a direction from said second side of said plate to said fourth side of said plate, and

wherein said first neckdown portion narrows in width at a first angle, and

wherein said second neckdown portion narrows in width at a second angle.

8. The clip of claim 7 wherein said first neckdown portion narrows in width more steeply than said second neckdown portion.

9. The clip of claim 8 wherein the thickness of said first rail and said third rail lessens along a direction from said second side of said plate to said fourth side of said plate.

10. The clip of claim 8 wherein the thickness of said first rail and said third rail lessens at a first rate along said first neckdown portion, and wherein the thickness of said first rail and said third rail lessens at a second rate along said second neckdown portion.

11. The clip of claim 7 wherein said clip further comprises an intermediate portion, said intermediate portion located between said first neckdown portion and said second neckdown portion.

12. The clip of claim 11 wherein said plate does not narrow in width in said intermediate portion.

13. The clip of claim 12 wherein the thickness of said first rail and said third rail lessens at a first rate along said first neckdown portion, and wherein the thickness of said first rail and said third rail lessens at a second rate along said second neckdown portion, and wherein the thickness of said first rail and said third rail does not vary along said intermediate portion.

14. The clip of claim 13 wherein said clip comprises a recess in its bottom surface, said recess adapted to receive a tab when said clip is inserted into a clip receiver.

15. The clip of claim 12 wherein said clip comprises a recess in its bottom surface, said recess adapted to receive a tab when said clip is inserted into a clip receiver.

16. A clip for attachment to a support structure, said clip comprising:

a flat plate, said flat plate having a first, second, third, and fourth side, wherein said first and third sides are opposing, and wherein said second and fourth sides are opposing;

a first rail along said first side of said flat plate,

a third rail along said third side of said flat plate,

a first neckdown portion; and

a second neckdown portion,

wherein the thickness of said first rail and said third rail lessens along a direction from said second side of said flat plate to said fourth side of said plate, and

wherein the thickness of said first rail and said third rail lessens at a first rate along said first neckdown portion, and wherein the thickness of said first rail and said third rail lessens at a second rate along said second neckdown portion.

17. The clip of claim 16 wherein said clip further comprises an intermediate portion, said intermediate portion located between said first neckdown portion and said second neckdown portion.

18. The clip of claim 17 wherein the thickness of said first rail and said third rail does not vary along said intermediate portion.

19. The clip of claim 16 wherein said clip comprises a recess in its bottom surface, said recess adapted to receive a tab when said clip is inserted into a clip receiver.