Two shot tube retention clip with resilient living hinge

• US 8,967,556 B2
• Filed: 03/13/2012
• Issued: 03/03/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 03/13/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Newfrey Llc (Stanley Black & Decker, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Newfrey Llc (Stanley Black & Decker, Inc.)
• Inventors: Meyers, Jason A., Pilon, Roger E.
• Primary Examiner(s): Liu, Jonathan
• Assistant Examiner(s): Ijaz, Muhammad
• Application Number:
  US13/418,446
• Publication Number:
  US 20130240684A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,085 Days
• Field of Search: 248/548, 248/65, 248/67.5, 248/68.1, 248/74.1, 248/74.2, 248/74.4, 248/909
• US Class Current: 248/74.1
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 16/0215 Protecting, fastening and routing means therefor
• CPC Class Codes: F16L 3/2235 each pipe being supported by a common element fastened to the base
• CPC Class Codes: F16L 3/237 for two pipes
• CPC Class Codes: F16L 55/035 in the form of specially adapted hangers or supports
• CPC Class Codes: H02G 3/32 using mounting clamps

Abstract

A retention clip includes first and second body portions created of a first polymeric material. The body portions when angularly rotated apart define an open position, and when rotated into direct contact defining an engaged position. An isolation portion is created of a resilient second polymeric material. The isolation portion includes isolation members connected to the body portions. The isolation members are positioned facing each other when the retention clip is in the engaged position. The isolation members frictionally contact and retain a tubular shaped member in the engaged position. A living hinge integrally connects the body portions allowing the body portions to rotate with respect to each other. The living hinge provides the only connection between the body portions as the body portions transition between the open position and the engaged position. A frangible connector initially integrally connects the first and second body portions only in the open position.

Claims

1. A retention clip, comprising:

first and second body portions both created of a substantially stiff first polymeric material, the body portions when rotated away from contacting each other defining an open position, and when rotated into contact with each other defining an engaged position;

an isolation portion created of a resilient second polymeric material, the isolation portion including;

a first isolation portion on the first body portion having a plurality of ribs and a second isolation portion on the second body portion having a plurality of ribs, the ribs of the first isolation portion directed toward the ribs of the second isolation portion such that the ribs compress when receiving a tubular member when the retention clip is in the engaged position; and

a living hinge integrally connecting the first and second isolation portions, and thereby connecting the body portions about which the body portions rotate with respect to each other; and

a frangible connector of the first polymeric material initially integrally connecting the first and second body portions in the open position, the frangible connector breaking when the body portions move away from the open position and toward the engaged position, and after the frangible connector breaking, the living hinge and thereby the resilient second polymeric material providing the only continuous connection between the body portions as the body portions transition between the open position and the engaged position;

wherein the living hinge defines a fixed arc of rotation about which the body portions rotate with respect to each other that remains substantially the same both before and after the frangible connector breaking.

2. The retention clip of claim 1, wherein the frangible connector is positioned parallel to the living hinge in the open position and is broken by a bending force as the body portions move away from the open position and toward the engaged position.

3. The retention clip of claim 1, further including a retaining arm extending from the first body portion and received in a retaining arm cavity of the second body portion when the body portions are in the engaged position;

wherein the frangible connector is initially integrally connected to the retaining arm and to a connecting wall of the second body portion in the open position and is broken by a compression force as the body portions move away from the open position and toward the engaged position.

4. The retention clip of claim 1, wherein the frangible connector is initially integrally connected to a wall end face of the first body portion and to a connecting wall of the second body portion in the open position, and is broken by a tension force as the body portions move away from the open position and toward the engaged position.

5. The retention clip of claim 1, further including an isolation member connected to each of the body portions and positioned in alignment when the retention clip is in the engaged position, the isolation member of both body portions acting to frictionally contact a tubular shaped member there-between to retain the tubular shaped member in the engaged position of the retention clip.

6. The retention clip of claim 5, further including:

an arc-shaped surface of the first body portion provided to receive the isolation member of the first body portion; and

opposed first and second retention edges proximate to the arc-shaped surface, both directed toward a central axis defined by the arc-shaped surface, the first and second retention edges acting to retain the isolation member of the first body portion in direct contact with the arc-shaped surface.

7. The retention clip of claim 1, further including:

a retaining arm extending from the first body portion proximate to the living hinge, the retaining arm received in a retaining arm cavity of the second body portion when the body portions are in the engaged position; and

a latching member having a deflecting arm received in a latch receiving cavity of the second body portion when the body portions are in the engaged position.

8. A retention clip, comprising:

first and second body portions both created of a first substantially stiff polymeric material, the body portions when angularly rotated apart defining an open position, and when rotated into direct contact with each other defining an engaged position;

an isolation portion created of a resilient second polymeric material, the isolation portion including;

isolation members individually connected to each of the first and second body portions, the isolation members positioned facing each other when the retention clip is in the engaged position, the isolation members frictionally contacting and thereby retaining a tubular shaped member in the engaged position; and

a living hinge connecting the body portions about which the body portions rotate with respect to each other, the resilient material of the living hinge providing a lower resistance to rotation than the material of the body, the living hinge integrally connected to the isolation members via an exit channel created in the first body portion and a flow channel created in the second body portion, the exit and flow channels providing a flow path for material of the isolation members to flow within and between the first body portion and the second body portion during formation of the clip;

and

a frangible connector of the first polymeric material initially integrally connecting the first and second body portions only in the open position, the frangible connector breaking when the body portions move away from the open position and toward the engaged position, and after the frangible connector breaking, the living hinge and thereby the resilient second polymeric material provide the only continuous connection between the body portions as the body portions transition between the open position and the engaged position;

wherein the frangible connector is positioned parallel to the living hinge in the open position.

9. The retention clip of claim 8, further including a retaining arm extending from the first body portion and received in a retaining arm cavity of the second body portion when the body portions are in the engaged position.

10. The retention clip of claim 9, wherein the frangible connector is initially integrally connected to the retaining arm and to a connecting wall of the second body portion in the open position.

11. The retention clip of claim 9, wherein the frangible connector has a width less than a width of the retaining arm.

12. The retention clip of claim 8, wherein each of the isolation members includes a plurality of resilient ribs, the ribs of both of the first and second body portions in contact with the tubular shaped member only after the frangible member breaks.