Buckles – buttons – clasps – etc. – Clasp – clip – support-clamp – or required component thereof – With specific mounting means for attaching to rigid or...
Reexamination Certificate
1998-12-14
2002-09-24
Sakran, Victor (Department: 3677)
Buckles, buttons, clasps, etc.
Clasp, clip, support-clamp, or required component thereof
With specific mounting means for attaching to rigid or...
C024S289000, C024S293000, C024S295000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06453522
ABSTRACT:
OBJECT OF THE INVENTION
The invention relates to a fixing system between a metal clip and an accessory or mechanism in order to integrate the same in ceilings, self-supporting panels or other elements lining the interior of motor vehicles, such fixing being assisted by a plastic material peg that is solidly attached to the respective mechanism or accessory to stand as the means for connection, by insertion clipping, to the actual metal clip, defining an integral assembly that is to be mounted on the relevant part of the vehicle bodywork.
The object of the invention is for fixing to take place directly, simply and efficiently, without having to use such additional elements as the classic screws required by conventional fixing systems. The object of the invention is also to enable the accessory to be easily dismounted or detached from the integral assembly it forms part of, which dismounting may be effected using a conventional implement and without any problems whatsoever.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
In mounting self-supporting elements or panels to which certain vehicle accessories or mechanisms are fixed, such as grips in the cabin interior, armrests, rear-view mirror, etc., and in order thereon to mount the entire assembly on and have the same held to the actual vehicle bodywork, clips are used which are on the one hand the means fixing the accessory to the respective self-supporting panel and on the other the means fixing said assembly to the vehicle bodywork.
In particular, Spanish Patent no. 9401338 and Certificate of Addition thereto no. 9501623 disclose a clip for such mounting and fixing purposes, the clip being a metal clip consisting of a steel strip having a flat base and two end expansions, and moreover having two symmetrically folded side projections, which projections are each fitted with flexing flaps diverging outwards.
The clip disclosed in these documents is peculiar in a number of ways, namely for instance because the end expansions of the base define four corners which allow the clip base as such to be full stably supported, even if the window provided in the vehicle bodywork for it to be fitted is longer than the minimum required, the extensions or expansions being provided with a slightly inclined plane for an easier locking and fixing of the clip in and to the relevant window.
Furthermore, said base has two holes, provided with a straight section close to the side or end edges of the clip base, which holes help properly insert the respective positioning guides purposely provided on the accessories to be fixed, moreover making it easier to insert in and subsequently center the clip proper on the vehicle bodywork window, upon the clip sliding along the inclined and vertical planes which the bases supporting the accessories are purposely provided with.
The subject clip is also peculiar in that the side projections are bent into a rounded shape at their top and extend into vertical sections which come to lie side by side and projecting perpendicularly relative to the base, provided to endure the stress conveyed from said base of the clip when the accessory is arranged thereon.
This type of clip has a number of drawbacks or disadvantages, such as the fact that screws and washers are required to fix the clip to the accessory, which results on the one hand in a waste of time due to the screwing operation, and on the other the disadvantage that arises at times when effecting such screwing operation, due to the structural characteristics of the accessory as such and the other component parts involved in the locking or fixing operation.
DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
The fixing system disclosed herein has been devised to solve the above-mentioned drawbacks and moreover provide a number of innovations which result in substantial advantages and new benefits.
More specifically, the fixing system subject of the invention uses the metal clip and a plastic material peg as an integral element of the accessory that is to be fixed, or else an element independent from the accessory, to which it is suitably attached in order thereafter to be fixed to the clip as such, defining an integral assembly ready to be mounted on the respective window purposely provided in the vehicle bodywork.
Connection between the accessory and the clip by means of the plastic material peg can be made directly simply by pressing, using the thumbs, or by means of a purposely made implement, if this is to take place automatically.
The plastic material peg eliminates the classic screw and washer used in conventional systems. Clearly, the new fixing system will eliminate any difficulty whatsoever in regard to screwing to fix the peg and clip and accessory, for there is no screw whatsoever in this case, hence the savings in both time and materials, etc.
Furthermore, because of the special peg configuration, the use of the peg as the interconnection element or to fix the clip and the accessory to each other results in the peg lying on top edges or ridges of the clip flaps or tabs through which support is provided on the edge of the window purposely made in the bodywork, this new arrangement allowing for a substantial rigidity and making the assembly far stronger, indeed as regards “feeling” towards heavy loads, unlike conventional fixing systems, in which a screw is fixed on the actual clip base, which base is the weakest element in the clip because of its configuration, and is however the portion or element undergoing a greater pull/bending stress, thereby conveying a “feeling” of scarce rigidity to strong pulling forces.
As for the clip structure, not only does it have the base and its end and side expansions, as well as flexing flaps and the relevant sides, as with conventional clips, but it is particular in that the side flaps of said clip, are not folded on themselves after their rounded top bend to define vertical side by side expansions, but are rather interrupted after the rounded bend to define a spacing between edges for the relevant connection to the respective peg, being also particular in that the base of said clip has a large rectangular window to allow said peg through.
For its part, said peg consists of a body with a lower rectangular base and a small double slot keyway coaxial with the peg axis, a narrow part with a large hole projecting from such base and ending at the top in a rounded shape resulting in a T-shaped cross-section the cross or top leg of which is entirely rounded, as noted before, i.e. hemispherical or the like, whereas a stepping is defined beneath same on either side precisely for the top edges of the sides of the actual metal clip to be positioned.
Now, therefore, if it should be necessary to dismount any accessory or all the accessories fitted on the self-supporting panel or in other applications, a simple manual implement in the form of a two-part wrench will be inserted through the small double slot keyway coaxial with the peg axis, and upon pushing and turning it over 90°, the top edges of the sides of the actual clip will be appropriately drawn away from the stepping or supporting side portion on the peg where they are inserted, being released therefrom and hence from the fixed position, said clip being in principle fixed to the bodywork window from which it may be readily removed by acting on its tabs with a simple narrow blade screwdriver, to restore it once again by inserting it in the relevant peg of the removed accessory, or leaving it in position and inserting in it again the peg of the dismounted or replaced accessory, whereupon it will be perfectly fixed without any further operations being required.
Because the top edges of the sides of the clip are not in contact with each other, but are rather supported on the sides of the peg body, all squeaking which might result upon their rubbing against each other when the accessory is manipulated or due to the actual vibration of the bodywork or movement of the vehicle will be avoided.
The subject fixing and locking system results in the elements being efficiently clipped, enhancing and further securing their inser
Romero Magariño Antonio
Tomé Pérez Jesús
Irausa Ingenieria, S.A.
Sakran Victor
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