Self-locking clip

• US 8,595,903 B2
• Filed: 06/01/2010
• Issued: 12/03/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 06/05/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Nite Ize Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Nite Ize Incorporated
• Inventors: Miltner, Heinz Richard, Adams, Julie Lynn
• Primary Examiner(s): Sandy, Robert J
• Assistant Examiner(s): UPCHURCH, DAVID M
• Application Number:
  US12/791,697
• Publication Number:
  US 20100306972A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,281 Days
• Field of Search: 24/31.1, 24/31.2, 241/70, 243/38, 244/98, 245/11
• US Class Current: 24/3.11
• CPC Class Codes: A45F 5/02 Fastening articles to the garment
• CPC Class Codes: A45F 5/021 to the belt
• CPC Class Codes: A45F 5/022 within pockets
• 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: Y10T 24/1391 Article held by clip with spring [e.g., leaf, coil] member
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 24/1394 Article held by clip
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 24/3443 Spring biased jaw
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 24/44017 with specific mounting means for attaching to rigid or semirigid supporting structure or structure-to-be-secured
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 24/44368 Pivoted gripping member applies camming force
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 24/44436 including pivoted arm
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 24/44479 Flat or leaf spring
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49826 Assembling or joining

Abstract

A self-locking clip may include a first member configured to attach to an item, the first member having a tongue arranged adjacent the item when the first member is attached to the item, the tongue configured to allow an article to be received between the tongue and the item when the first member is attached to the item; a second member pivotally attached to the first member, the second member having at least one engagement surface for engaging the article, when the first member is attached to the item and the article is received between the tongue and the item; and a bias member arranged to bias the second member to pivot in a direction to urge the at least one engagement surface toward the article to engage the article, when the first member is attached to the item and the article is received between the tongue and the item.

Claims

1. A clip for attachment to an item and for selectively securing the item to an article, the clip comprising:

a first member configured to attach to an item, the first member having a tongue that is arranged adjacent the item when the first member is attached to the item, the tongue configured to allow an article to be in contact with the tongue when the article is received between the tongue and the item when the first member is attached to the item;

a second member pivotally attached to the first member, the second member having at least one engagement surface for engaging the article, when the first member is attached to the item and the article is received between the tongue and the item;

and a bias member arranged to bias the second member to pivot in a direction to urge the at least one engagement surface of the second member toward the article to engage the article, when the first member is attached to the item and the article is received between the tongue and the item, wherein the second member includes a pressing area where a force may be applied to disengage the second member from the article to remove the article from being located between the tongue and the item.

2. The clip as recited in claim 1, wherein the tongue is biased toward the item, when the first member is attached to the item.

3. The clip as recited in claim 1, wherein the first member comprises a base portion having a first surface and a second surface, the second surface attachable to the item, the first surface facing away from the item when the second surface is attached to the item;

and

wherein the tongue is biased toward the first surface of the base.

4. The clip as recited in claim 1, wherein the first member comprises a base portion having a first surface and a second surface, the second surface attachable to the item, the first surface facing away from the item when the second surface is attached to the item;

and

wherein the bias member is arranged to bias the second member to pivot the at least one engagement surface of the second member toward the first surface of the base portion.

5. The clip as recited in claim 4, wherein the second member includes a surface for receiving a force from a user in a direction for pivoting the second member relative to the first member against a bias force of the bias member, to urge the at least one engagement surface of the second member away from the first surface of the base portion.

6. The clip as recited in claim 1, wherein the bias member comprises a portion of the first member configured to provide a bias force against the second member.

7. The clip as recited in claim 1, wherein the first member and the bias member comprise a unitary structure formed from a single piece of metal.

8. The clip as recited in claim 1, wherein the at least one engagement surface of the second member comprises two engagement surfaces.

9. The clip as recited in claim 1, wherein the at least one engagement surface of the second member has a generally pointed tip for engaging the article when the first member is attached to the item and the article is received between the tongue and the item.

10. The clip as recited in claim 1, wherein the second member includes a surface for receiving a force from a user in a direction for pivoting the second member relative to the first member against a bias force of the bias member, to urge the at least one engagement surface of the second member away from the article, when the first member is attached to the item and the article is received between the tongue and the item.

11. The clip as recited in claim 1, wherein the second member has a surface configured to receive a force from the article to pivot the second member relative to the first member in the direction to urge the at least one engagement surface of the second member toward the article and increase a force of engagement of the at least one engagement surface on the article to further inhibit the article from being removed from between the tongue and the item, when the first member is attached to the item and the article is received between the tongue and the item.

12. The clip as recited in claim 1, wherein the second member includes a surface for receiving a force from a user in a direction for pivoting the second member relative to the first member against a bias force of the bias member;

and wherein the second member is configured to allow the article to be engaged by the at least one engagement surface of the second member before receiving the force from the user on the surface of the second member.

13. The clip as recited in claim 1, wherein the second member is configured to automatically engage the article with the at least one engagement surface as the article is received between the at least one engagement surface and the item.

14. The clip as recited in claim 1, wherein the tongue and the second member are arranged to be in contact with the article when the second member is engaged with the article.

15. The clip as recited in claim 3, wherein the second surface of the base has an adhesive material such that the second surface adheres to the item.

16. The clip as recited in claim 3, wherein the first surface of the base is in contact with the tongue when the article is located away from the first surface of the base and the tongue.

17. The clip as recited in claim 1, wherein the tongue is biased towards the item to squeeze the article between the tongue and the item, when the first member is attached to the item and the article is received between the tongue and the item.

18. A clip for attachment to an item and for selectively securing the item to an article, the clip comprising:

a first member configured to attach to an item, the first member having a tongue that is arranged adjacent the item when the first member is attached to the item, the tongue configured to allow an article to be in contact with the tongue when the article is received between the tongue and the item when the first member is attached to the item;

a second member pivotally attached to the first member, the second member having at least one engagement surface for engaging the article, when the first member is attached to the item and the article is received between the tongue and the item;

and a bias member arranged to bias the second member to pivot in a direction to urge the at least one engagement surface of the second member toward the article to engage the article, when the first member is attached to the item and the article is received between the tongue and the item, wherein the first member comprises a base portion having a first surface and a second surface, the second surface attachable to the item, the first surface facing away from the item when the second surface is attached to the item;

the tongue is biased toward the first surface of the base; and

the second surface of the base has an adhesive material such that the second surface adheres to the item.

19. A clip for attachment to an item and for selectively securing the item to an article, the clip comprising:

a first member configured to attach to an item, the first member having a tongue that is arranged adjacent the item when the first member is attached to the item, the tongue configured to allow an article to be in contact with the tongue when the article is received between the tongue and the item when the first member is attached to the item;

a second member pivotally attached to the first member, the second member having at least one engagement surface for engaging the article, when the first member is attached to the item and the article is received between the tongue and the item;

and a bias member arranged to bias the second member to pivot in a direction to urge the at least one engagement surface of the second member toward the article to engage the article, when the first member is attached to the item and the article is received between the tongue and the item, wherein the first member comprises a base portion having a first surface and a second surface, the second surface attachable to the item, the first surface facing away from the item when the second surface is attached to the item;

the tongue is biased toward the first surface of the base; and

the first surface of the base is in contact with the tongue when the article is located away from the first surface of the base and the tongue.