Squeegee retainer clip

• US 9,341,209 B2
• Filed: 05/06/2011
• Issued: 05/17/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 05/06/2011
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Nilfisk A/S (Nilfisk Holding A/S)
• Original Assignee: Nilfisk, Inc. (Nilfisk Holding A/S)
• Inventors: Hall, Aaron T., Johnson, Kale R.
• Primary Examiner(s): Sandy, Robert J
• Assistant Examiner(s): UPCHURCH, DAVID M
• Application Number:
  US14/115,737
• Publication Number:
  US 20140140762A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,838 Days
• Field of Search: 245/14, 24/31.2, 243/26, 245/38, 245/45, 245/69
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 11/4044 Vacuuming or pick-up tools; Squeegees
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 403/7075 including discrete retainer

Abstract

A retainer clip for a squeegee assembly comprises top and bottom clip members each having an interior surface and an exterior surface. The interior surface of the top clip member includes a first channel portion adjacent to a first end and a first interlocking feature adjacent to a second end. The interior surface of the bottom clip member includes a second channel portion adjacent to a first end and a second interlocking feature adjacent to a second end. Mating the first interlocking feature with the second interlocking feature positions the first channel portion adjacent to the second channel portion to form a pin receiving channel.

Claims

1. A squeegee assembly comprising:

an arcuate vacuumized floor squeegee having a post extending therefrom; and

a retainer clip comprising;

a top clip member having an interior surface and an exterior surface, the interior surface including a first channel portion adjacent to a first end;

a bottom clip member having an interior surface and an exterior surface, the interior surface including a second channel portion adjacent to a first end;

a first interlocking feature adjacent to a second end of the top clip member and comprising one or more protrusions and one or more recesses; and

a second interlocking feature adjacent to a second end of the bottom clip member and comprising one or more protrusions and one or more recesses, each of the protrusions in the first interlocking feature being structured to mate with a corresponding recess in the second interlocking feature, and each of the protrusions in the second interlocking feature being structured to mate with a corresponding recess in the first interlocking feature;

wherein the first channel portion is structured to be positioned adjacent to the second channel portion to form a pin receiving channel extending along a first axis; and

wherein the top and bottom clip members each include an aperture extending along a second axis that is configured to receive the post extending from the arcuate vacuumized floor squeegee, wherein the second axis is generally perpendicular to the first axis.

2. The squeegee assembly of claim 1, wherein the first and second channel portions are each defined by a curved channel surface.

3. The squeegee assembly of claim 2, wherein the curved channel surfaces are semi-circular in shape such that the pin receiving channel has a generally circular cross-section.

4. The squeegee assembly of claim 1, wherein the apertures are substantially circular and define a pivot point to allow the retainer clip to rotate relative to a squeegee assembly.

5. The squeegee assembly of claim 1, further comprising a locking means that is structured to provide a predetermined amount of clamping force upon the top and bottom clip members.

6. The squeegee assembly of claim 5, wherein the locking means comprises a rotatable knob having a threaded inner channel that is structured to engage with an exteriorly threaded shaft that extends through apertures in the top and bottom clip members.

7. The squeegee assembly of claim 1, wherein the top and bottom clip members are formed from a glass reinforced nylon material.

8. A retainer clip for a squeegee assembly, comprising:

a first clip member having an interior surface and an exterior surface, the interior surface including a first curved channel portion adjacent to a first end and a first interlocking feature adjacent to a second end, the first interlocking feature comprising a first protrusion and a first recess; and

a second clip member having an interior surface and an exterior surface, the interior surface including a second curved channel portion adjacent to a first end and a second interlocking feature adjacent to a second end, the second interlocking feature comprising a second protrusion structured to be received within the first recess and a second recess structured to receive the first protrusion;

wherein mating the first interlocking feature with the second interlocking feature positions the first channel portion adjacent to the second channel portion to form a pin receiving channel extending along a first axis;

and wherein the first and second clip members each include an aperture extending along a second axis that is configured to receive a post extending from an arcuate vacuumized floor squeegee, wherein the second axis is generally perpendicular to the first axis.

9. The retainer clip of claim 8, wherein the interior surfaces of the first and second clip members are pitched between the first end and the second end.

10. The retainer clip of claim 8, wherein the pin receiving channel has a generally circular cross-section.

11. The retainer clip of claim 8, wherein the first ends of the first and second clip members are beveled.

12. The retainer clip of claim 8, further comprising a locking means that is structured to provide a predetermined amount of clamping force upon the first and second clip members.

13. The retainer clip of claim 12 wherein the locking means comprises a rotatable knob having a threaded inner channel that is structured to engage with an exteriorly threaded shaft that extends through apertures in the first and second clip members.

14. A retainer clip comprising:

a first clip member having an interior surface and an exterior surface, the interior surface including a first channel portion adjacent to a first end and a first interlocking feature adjacent to a second end, the first interlocking feature comprising a first protrusion and a first recess; and

a second clip member having an interior surface and an exterior surface, the interior surface including a second channel portion adjacent to a first end and a second interlocking feature adjacent to a second end, the second interlocking feature comprising a second protrusion structured to be received within the first recess and a second recess structured to receive the first protrusion;

wherein the first and second channel portions together define a in receiving channel extending along a first axis;

and wherein the first and second clip members each include an aperture that together define a passage extending along a second axis, wherein the second axis is generally perpendicular to the first axis.

15. The retainer clip of claim 14, wherein the first and second clip members are formed integral with one another.

16. The retainer clip of claim 14, wherein the first and second clip members are separable from one another.