Plastic clip

Details Plastic clip Plastic clip

1999-10-06

2001-07-17

Brittain, James R. (Department: 3626)

Buckles, buttons, clasps, etc.

Clasp, clip, support-clamp, or required component thereof

Including pivoted gripping member

C024S504000

Reexamination Certificate

active

06260244

ABSTRACT:

RELATED APPLICATION
This present application claims the priority of Japanese Patent Application Number 10-332089 (filed on Nov. 5, 1999) which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to a plastic clip. The clip is used on clothes such as suspender clips or as a clip attached on the leading end of a waist cloth for closing a Kimono. The clip can also be used as a clothes pin.
2. Description of the Prior Art
The present inventor has already obtained the following two U.S. patents based on similar concepts:
(1) U.S. Pat. No. 5,400,483, and
(2) U.S. Pat. No. 5,778,497
U.S. Pat. No. 5,400,483 discloses a plastic clip, wherein metallic pins or metallic springs were not adopted. Instead of pins and springs, an elastic plastic material was utilized. As shown in FIG.
7
A and
FIG. 7B
, this prior art clip is opened or closed when top ends of a lower clipping member (
1
) and an upper clipping member (
10
) are operated by an operation member (
20
). A support shelf (
33
) is formed at a rear portion of the lower clipping member (
1
), while a hinge (
34
) is also formed at a rear portion of the upper clipping member. A cam plate (
35
) is provided on the operation member (
20
). When both rear portions of the lower clipping member (
1
) and the upper clipping member (
10
) are combined together crossing like the letter X, the cam (
35
) is pinched between the crossing portion and the rear portion. Thus, the hinge (
34
) is adapted to engage onto the supporting shelf (
33
) at a fixed pressure power, so that the top ends of the lower clipping member (
1
) and the upper clipping member (
10
) may be opened by elastic power of a plastic material.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,778,497 discloses another plastic clip, wherein the minimum thickness of the clip is attained and at the same time the pressure toward each locking material is ensured. As shown in FIG.
8
A and
FIG. 8B
as another example of Prior Art, an upper clipping member (A) comprises a mouth (
38
) prepared on an upper surface of a rear portion, a side wall (
39
) formed on a bottom surface of a rear portion, a spindle plate (
40
) established in the forward portion of the side wall (
39
), and a recess bearing (
41
) prepared on the inside surface of the side wall (
39
). A lower clipping member (B) comprises a ditch-like bearing (
42
) on bottom surface of rear portion, a narrow projection (
44
) having a protuberance (
43
) on both sides of the rear portion formed, and an elastic tongue (
45
) extending upward formed on the central portion. An operation member (C) comprises an actuation expansion (
48
) formed on the outer surface of an outer side wall (
46
) of a box (
47
) having the outer side wall (
46
). This actuation expansion (
48
) is adapted to fit between the side wall (
39
) and the projection (
44
), an engaging dent (
49
) into which the protuberance (
43
) fits and a pressure plate (
50
) provides a little bit rear position from the center of the actuation expansion, and a slit-like belt insertion is prepared at the end portion.
The plastic clip developed by U.S. Pat. No. 5,400,483 has a defect in that the shape of the operation member (
20
) is easily worn and is found to damage the durability.
The plastic clip developed by U.S. Pat. No. 5,778,497 has improved durability and locking power, but it is still necessary to offer a better quality and long-lasting clip for the market, and as another aspect, the exterior of the clip is unattractive due to the combination between the upper clipping member, the lower clipping member and the operation member.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The object of the present invention is to provide a better quality plastic clip after resolving various problems existing in prior art.
This applicant has changed the construction of the rear portions and changed the method for combination of an upper clipping member and a lower clipping member as well as adopting a novel operation member. The plastic clip developed by this invention is now furnished with an ensured pressuring power by the operation member for pinching the upper clipping member and the lower clipping member. At the same time, during pinching between the upper and lower clipping members, the actuation cam on the operation member has no affect on a rear wall of the upper clipping member which acts a reaction bar. Therefore, hysteresis wear of the rear wall is avoided, so that the durability is increased.
This invention comprises a plastic clip:
a lower clipping member (
1
), an upper clipping member (
10
), and an operation member (
20
), wherein a top end of the upper clipping member (
10
) is opened or closed by operation movement of the operation member (
20
);
a square-like window (
5
) formed on the rear area of the lower clipping member (
1
);
a pair of side walls (
3
) prepared on both sides of the window (
5
);
a rear wall (
7
) lower than the side wall (
3
) established in the rear area of the window (
5
);
an arcuate support shelf (
6
) formed on central and front areas of the rear wall (
7
);
a first pair of arcuate surfaces (
8
) are prepared on both side ends of the rear wall (
7
);
a pair of pivot pins (
4
) are positioned in front of and higher than the arcuate support shelf (
6
) and in the inner surfaces of the pair of side walls (
3
);
a recessed auxiliary plate (
12
) is established on the rear area of the upper clipping member (
10
), which is adapted to be inserted into the square-like window (
5
);
a rear wall (
15
) of the recessed auxiliary plate (
12
) is formed in an extending shape;
an arcuate bottom (
14
),
FIG. 3B
, corresponding with the arcuate support shelf (
6
) is prepared on the middle and outside areas of the rear wall (
15
);
a second pair of arcuate surfaces (
16
) corresponding with the first pair of arcuate surfaces (
8
) of the rear wall (
15
) are established on both sides of the arcuate bottom (
14
),
FIG. 3B
;
a strap insertion hole (
26
) is formed in the rear area of the operation member (
20
);
a back plate (
22
) is adapted to be inserted between the pair of side walls (
3
) prepared in the front area (
23
a
) of the operation member (
20
);
a top end of a front wall (
23
) for the back plate (
22
) provided in arcuate form;
a tongue-like actuation cam (
24
) which is almost same height of the front wall (
23
) top end and which is positioned in some fixed separate distance from the wall (
23
) established in the central area of the top end of a front wall (
23
);
a pair of pivot pin receiver holes (
25
) which receive a pair of the pivot pins (
4
) formed on both outer sides of the back plate (
22
);
wherein the recessed auxiliary plate (
12
) which is now inserted into the square-like window (
5
) and the arcuate bottom (
14
) which is placed on the arcuate support shelf (
6
);
wherein the pivot pin receiver hole (
25
) of the operation member (
20
) which is now fitted into the axis (
4
) in the inside surface of the side wall (
3
) of the lower clipping member (
1
) and which is forcibly pressed downward from the upper portion of the recessed auxiliary plate (
12
);
wherein the top ends of the lower clipping member (
1
) and the upper clipping member (
10
) which are pinched together by elastic power of the plastic material at the bottom end of the front wall (
23
) of the operation member (
20
) for closing; and
wherein the rear area of the operation member (
20
) moved in the upper area of the rear wall (
15
) is pressed forcibly on to the rear area at the bottom end of the tongue-like actuation cam (
24
), which promotes opening the top ends of the lower clipping member (
1
) and the upper clipping member (
10
) by the force provided by a fulcrum function of the bottom (
14
).
This invention further provides a gap (
30
),
FIG. 6B
, between the tongue-like actuation cam (
24
) and an inner surface (
18
) of the rear wall (
15
). This device prevents the mutual and direct contact between the rear wall (
15
) and the actuation cam (
24
) in order to avoid the hysteresis wear caused by mutual

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