Supports – Pipe or cable – Brackets
Reexamination Certificate
1999-10-18
2001-04-17
Ramirez, Ramon O. (Department: 3632)
Supports
Pipe or cable
Brackets
C248S073000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06216986
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a clip with flexible locking arms for maintaining in a locked position a tubular element within a range of diameters.
2. Description of the Prior Art
The prior art includes clips for retaining a tube, such as a wire, pipe or other tubular structural element. However, such clips are frequently designed for a tube of a specific diameter or a limited range of diameters. While some clips, such as those of a snail-type design, can accommodate a range of diameters, these clips frequently do not have a locking mechanism to assure the secure engagement of the clip to the tube. Additionally, particularly with automotive applications, the clip must not only securely engage the tube but must also have little or no tendency to rattle.
Examples of prior art clips include U.S. Pat. No. 5,782,090 entitled “Hose Clip” and issued on Jul. 21, 1998 to Locke; U.S. Pat. No. 5,704,573 entitled “Aperture Held Clip Type Fastener” and issued on Jan. 6, 1998 to de Beers et al.; U.S. Pat. No. 5,618,015 entitled “Clip for Fastening Pipes and Similar Articles” and issued on Apr. 8, 1997 to Morini; and U.S. Pat. No. 5,533,696 entitled “Conduit Clip” and issued on Jul. 9, 1996 to Laughlin et al.
OBJECTS AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is therefore an object of this invention to provide a clip which can engage a tubular structural element of a relatively wide range of diameters.
It is therefore a further object of this invention to provide a clip which can lockingly engage a tubular structural element.
It is therefore a still further object of this invention to provide a clip which can achieve the above objects while having little or no tendency to rattle.
These and other objects are attained by providing a clip with two flexible locking arms which have a relatively central hinge between a proximal segment and a distal segment. This forces the flexible locking arms against each other in response to a force otherwise tending to remove the tube thereby locking the tube into a tube pocket within the clip.
The hinge of the flexible locking arms controls where the flexible locking arms bend when the tube is forced out of the clip. The hinge is placed above the highest point of the largest diameter being used. The tube is in contact with the flexible locking arms at all times to avoid rattle.
The rigidity of the support surrounding the clip relative to flexible locking arms is chosen so that the flexible locking arms can flex while the support and other elements remain relatively rigid. The distal ends of the flexible locking arms include outwardly turned locking elements which are urged into complementary locking pockets in response to a force otherwise tending to remove the tube thereby urging the flexible locking arms toward each other.
REFERENCES:
patent: 3444596 (1969-05-01), Soltysik
patent: 4566660 (1986-01-01), Anscher et al.
patent: 4840334 (1989-06-01), Kikuchi
patent: 4917340 (1990-04-01), Juemann et al.
patent: 5184794 (1993-02-01), Saito
patent: 5263671 (1993-11-01), Baum
patent: 5271587 (1993-12-01), Schaty et al.
patent: 5460342 (1995-10-01), Dore et al.
patent: 5509182 (1996-04-01), Nakanishi
patent: 5510579 (1996-04-01), Hammer et al.
patent: 5533696 (1996-07-01), Laughlin et al.
patent: 5618015 (1997-04-01), Morini
patent: 5704573 (1998-01-01), de Beers et al.
patent: 5782090 (1998-07-01), Locke
DeLuca J.
Illinois Tool Works Inc.
Pitney Hardin Kipp & Szuch LLP
Ramirez Ramon O.
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