MOUNTING CLIP

• US 20170311472A1
• Filed: 04/21/2016
• Published: 10/26/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 04/21/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: US LED, Ltd.
• Original Assignee: US LED, Ltd.
• Inventors: DeKeyser, Nicholas Joseph
• Granted Patent: US 9,861,003 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: F16B 2/22 of resilient material, e.g. rubbery material F16B2/205 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 19/004 by deformation of parts or snap action mountings, e.g. using clips
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 1/18 Printed circuits structurally associated with non-printed electric components H05K1/0201, H05K1/023, H05K1/0243, and H05K1/16 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 2201/09063 Holes or slots in insulating substrate not used for electrical connections
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 2201/10106 Light emitting diode [LED]
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 2201/10386 Clip leads; Terminals gripping the edge of a substrate
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 3/0058 Laminating printed circuit boards onto other substrates, e.g. metallic substrates H05K1/0281 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 7/1417 having securing means for mounting boards, plates or wiring boards H05K7/1461 takes precedence

Abstract

A flexible mounting clip is configured for engaging with a circuit board for removably attaching the circuit board to a mounting surface. A rib on an arm of the mounting clip engages with an opening in the circuit board to position and hold the circuit board in place, allowing easy replacement of the circuit board without tools.

Claims

1. A mounting clip, comprising:

a flexible first arm, comprising;

a base section;

a raised section, offset from the base section; and

a rib extending from the raised section, configured for engagement with a corresponding area of a circuit board; and

an attachment member disposed at an end of the first arm, distal to the raised section, configured for attaching the mounting clip to a mounting surface.

2. The mounting clip of claim 1, further comprising:

a flexible second arm, extending from the attachment member, comprising;

a base section;

a raised section, offset from the base section; and

a rib extending from the raised section, configured for engagement with a corresponding area of a circuit board.

3. The mounting clip of claim 2, wherein the second arm is perpendicular to the first arm.

4. The mounting clip of claim 2, wherein the second arm has a different length than the first arm.

5. The mounting clip of claim 1, wherein the rib is substantially rectangular.

6. The mounting clip of claim 1 wherein the attachment member comprises a raised member, configured for rivet or screw attachment to the mounting surface.

7. The mounting clip of claim 1, wherein the attachment member comprises a plurality of vanes extending radially from an edge of the attachment member.

8. The mounting clip of claim 1, wherein the attachment forms a central opening configured for insertion of a rivet or screw.

9. The mounting clip of claim 8, further comprising:

a plurality of support members extending away from a surface of the mounting clip, configured to support the mounting clip away from the mounting surface.

10. A kit, comprising:

a plurality of circuit boards, each comprising;

a plurality of mounting slots, spaced along the circuit board; and

a plurality of flexible mounting clips, each comprising;

a mounting member, configured for attaching the mounting clip to a mounting surface;

a plurality of flexible arms, disposed about the mounting member, each comprising;

a base section, connected to the mounting member;

a raised section, configured for inserting a circuit board of the plurality of circuit boards between the raised section and the mounting surface; and

a rib, extending from the raised section, and configured to engage with one of the plurality of mounting slots of a circuit board of the plurality of circuit boards.

11. The kit of claim 10, wherein each circuit board of the plurality of circuit boards comprises a plurality of light emitting diodes, spaced along the circuit board.

12. The kit of claim 10, wherein the mounting surface is a surface of a light fixture.

13. The kit of claim 10, wherein the plurality of flexible arms are disposed in a cruciform configuration about the mounting member.

14. The kit of claim 10, wherein some of the plurality of flexible arms are of a different length than others of the plurality of flexible arms.

15. The kit of claim 10, wherein the plurality of mounting clips are formed of a plastic material.

16. A method of mounting circuit boards in a fixture, comprising:

attaching a mounting clip to a mounting surface of the fixture;

flexing an arm of the mounting clip, allowing insertion of a circuit board between the mounting clip and the mounting surface; and

engaging a rib of the arm of the mounting clip with an opening in the circuit board.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein the mounting clip is formed of a plastic material.

18. The method of claim 16, further comprising:

disengaging the rib from the opening in the circuit board by flexing the arm of the mounting clip; and

removing the circuit board.

19. The method of claim 16, further comprising:

rotating the mounting clip about a central mounting member to position a desired arm of the mounting clip in a desired direction,

wherein the mounting clip comprises a plurality of arms, some of the plurality of arms having a length different than others of the plurality of arms.

20. The method of claim 16, wherein flexing the arm of the mounting clip and engaging the rib of the arm with an opening in the circuit board are performed without tools.