CA1156017A - Free standing wall system - Google Patents

Abstract

ABSTRACT

The invention relates to a free-standing wall or partition assembly wherein a plurality of panel members are removably connected to upright support poles by a plurality of panel-to-pole clips. In the invention a frame member along the edge of the panel member has a channel in which unitary clips having a base portion receivable in the channel are slidable. Each clip has arcuate side walls to grip a support pole and planar walls connecting the side walls to the base.
The planar walls are resiliently biased against the edges of the channel to keep the clip in position but by squeezing the side walls together the clip may be slid along the channel to a new location. Also disclosed is a new and improved structure for joining adjacent pole sections together and a new and improved male and female clip assembly for directly joining panel members together without an intervening pole.

Description

This inventiorl relates to walls and partitions in general and to free-standing wall systems in par-ticular.
B~CKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Free-standing wall or partition systems are well known, as exemplified by Canadian Patent No.926~593 issued May 22, 1973 to Nimmo and by Canadian Patent No. 1,039,916 issued October 10, 1978 to Kepac Limited. The sys-tems illustrated in such patents can be used as dividing walls in an o~fice environment or they can be used as free-standing displays for adverti~ing or exhibition purposes. Such sys-tems utilize panels, which represent the dividing or display portion, and appropriate structure to connect the panels together. Usually a post or pole separates adjacent panels, with -the panels carrying clips which snap on to, or otherwise engage, the poles whereby the poles carry or support the panels. In the Nimmo patent referred to a~ove an aluminum alloy clip is carried by the panel and snaps on to a cylindrical pole member for support. Adjacent lengths of pole material may be joined ~ogether by a connector which has a non-circular outer periphery, preferably oval, and i~ receivable in a corresponding internal "bore" in the pole.
Adjacent poles having a connector therein can be twisted or rotated relative to each other so that they are locked togethe~.
A similar clip construction is used in the Kepac structure to secure the panels to the poles~ Neither Q~ these patents shows a m~chanism ~or dlrectly joinin~ one panel to another panel wl~hout the use o~ an ln-tervenlng polq. Also the clips, connectors and means ~or assembling said items to the panels and or poles are cumbersome and, in many instances, ine~icien-t~

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SUMMA~Y OF T~IE INVENTION
The present invention provides an improved wall, screen or partition system which improves on -the ind:ividual items o the prior ar-t~ achieving an attractive, yet economical and efficient system. In the present invention the clips ~or attaching the panels to -the poles are adapted to slide in a channel provided in a frame member of the panel and any number of clips and any positioning o~ the clips may be used. The clips are sprung against the restraining edges of the channels and lQ such springiness tends to lock the clips in the desired position although they can be easily moved by squeezing the gripping legs together and sliding the ~clip along the channel. The channel can also accommodate clips which are designed to interlock together so t~at a panel may be secured to an adjacent panel without using a support pole therebetween. ~Such clips come as male and ~emale pairs~and are dimensioned so that there is very little, if any, gap ~etween adjacent panels when they are secured together.
The invention aLso provides an improvement in joininy adjacent pole sections together so as to achieve support poles ~ ;
o~ different heights. Each pole section has a cylindrical cxoss-section with a circular hollow interior. Adjacent each end the pole section is provided with a pair o~ radially inwardly d~re~d and ~x~ally aLi~ned ~implq~. ~he dimples ax~ ~ceiv~b:le in a l~ngi~udlnal ~XOOv~ in ~hq Qut~r ~rip~exy o~ ~ c~nnqç~r mem~r and wh~n ~w~ adjaaqnk pol~ ~ec~ions Wi~ a conn~a~ox m~m~qX t~qrebqtw~n ar~ ~wlsted r~ ivq to ~ach o~har ~he dimpl~ w~ riction~Lly en0a0e ~he sides o~ ~h~ gxooye t9 Loak ~ 2 c~
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each pole sectiorl to the connec~lncJ member. Bo-th dimples of one pole section may engage the yroove of -the connecting member or, alterrlative.lyth~ dimple farthest from the end of the pole section may be ejther deeper tharl the other or circumferentially offset ~rom the other to act as a stop to prevent over-inser~ion of the connector member into the pole section. If the fit between the connector member and the adjacent pole sections is fairly tight, then it may not be necessary to twist~lock the adjacent pole sections t.o the connec-tor member although a s~ronger connection will result ~rom -thQ locking step.
Broadly speak:ing now, the present invent.ion provides, a ~ree-standing wall or partition assembly comprising: a plurality of generall~ rectangular panel members having corner-abutting frame members along the periphery thereof, each frame member having an outer, longitudinally extending channel therein defined by side walls of the frame member and reentrant opposing flanges extending inwardly from the free edges o~ the side walls; a plurality of cylindrical support pole means to which the panel members may be connécted to ~orm the assembly; and means for 2Q connecting the panel member to the suppor-t pole means, the connecting means including a plurality of unitary clips, each clip being ~ormed from a resilient spring material and having a base portion for sliding recep~ion in ~he channel, a gripping por~ion for re~ilien~ly snapping over and engaging the suppoxt pole means and a connea-~ion portion interconnec-~ing the base portl~n and the gxipping portion, -the connection porkion being resil.i~ntly hiasecl into engagement wi.th the reentrant ~langes to preven~ undesired slicling movement o~ the clip in the ahannel and pc/

11 5B0~ 7 bciny moveable out o~ engacJement with the Elanges -to permit sliding reposi~ionlllg oE the clip within the outer channel.
BRIEF DI~SC~IPTION OF T~113 DI~ INGS
Figure l shows in side eleva-tion a pair of panels joined to a support pole in accordanc~ with the present invention.
Figure 2 shows a section of a panel, frame, clip and pole in operative condition taken on -the line 2-2 o~ Figure 1.
Figure 3 is an end view of a clip as used in the present i`nvention.
lQ Figure 4 is an enlarged partial view of a corrier o~ a panel showing the manner in which the frame members are connected together.
Figure 5 is a top view of a frame member to show an insertion opening ~or a clip.
~ igure 6 is a section on the line 6-6 o~ Figure 1 showing how~the pole sections may be connected together.
Figure 7 is an exploded view of a connectox member and a pole section.
` Fi~ure 8 is a perspective view oP a pair of mating panel-to-panel clips.
- DETAILED DESCRIPITION OF THE INVENTION
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Figure l shows the basic con~iguration o~ a ~ree-standing wal~, par-tition or display sys-tem utilizing the present inven~ion~ ~h~ baslc syætem includes a plurali-ty o~ panels 10, m~ans- such as a suppor-k pole 12 for supporting the panels in the ,desixed arientation, and me~ns such as clips 14 eor connec-ting t~e panels -to the poles. ~he panels 10 may be oP any appropriate conætruc-ti~on, such as wood, aluminum or, as contemplatecl herein, P~/

1 1 56~1 7 a honeycomh cardboard pallel havinc3 cl decorative, coloured, covcring thereover. While a pre.ferred :Eorm ~or -the panel has been :indicated it is important to note that the panel construc-tion per se does not form a part of the invention.
With reference now to Figures 1 and 2 it is seen that each panel 10 is provicded around its periphery with a plurality of frame members 16. As seen in Figure 2, each frame member 16 has a pair of opposed sides 18 joined by a transverse web 20.
The sides 18 and web 20 define a first longitudinally extending inner channel 22 on one side of the web 20, the channel ~2 heiny o~ a w;dth to smoothly receive the panel 10. On the other side of the web 20 it is seen that flanges 24 project inwardly from the free edges of sides 18, the flanges defining therebetween a longitudinally extending slot or opening 26 and also defining, with web 20 and sides 18 a second longitudinally extendin~ outer channel 28 on the other side of web 20, facing away from channel 22. ~hannel 28 is accessible by way of slot or opening 26.
As seen in Figures 1 and 4 each frame member 16 abuts an adjoining frame member 16 at a corner of a panel by way of mitered ends 29. When assembling the ~rame members to the panel 10 the ~rame members for t~opposing sides are first of all placed in position along the panel edge with the panel edge being received in ~h~ channel 22 of each ~rame member. ~he fxame members fox ~he ~-ther two o~posing sides axe each provided with an ~sh~ped lockincJ m~mber 30, one leg o~ each such.member being slid int~ -the channel 28 ~rom ~he ends o~ khe fxame membex 16.
Each. lockinc~ member 30 has a width essentially e~ual to tha~ o~
chanr~el ~8 and a ~hickness less than the heic~ht o~ channel ~8 pc,~' ' lls6al7 Also ~ach leg oE the memher 30 has a pa;r of alignecl threaded bores, e~ch recc:ivincJ a set-screw 32, access to which is provided by the slot or opening 26. With the~ members 30 loosely positioned one at each end of the remaining frame members 16, those frame members are assembled to -the panel 10 in such a manner that the other leg of each locking member 30 enters the channel 28 of the adjacent~ already positioned frame member 16. All of the set-screws 32 are then tightened, the effec-t being to lift each leg o~ each locking member 30 away from i-ts adjacent portion of the web 20 and to force the opposite surface of each leg into tight enyagement with the underside of the Elanges 24 opposite the web 20. The members 3Q are thus locked into their corner positions and the frame members are prevented from inadvertant removal ~rom the panel 10. The members 30 also reinforce the corner areas of panel 10, making the corner areas stronger and less susceptible to damage in the event a panel is dropped on a corner.
The clip 14 will he described with reference to Fi~ures 1,-2 and 3. It is seen first of all that the clip 14 is unitary in nature, being formed from sheet material such as .025"
2Q sprincJ steel. The clip includes a base por-tion 34 which has a width and height suf~icient for a smooth, but not loose, reception in channel 28. The base portion is defined by the generally ~lat ~loor portion 35, the lower sides 36 rising from the floor por-~ion 35 and t~e r@ent~ant flanges 38. CQnverging sicle por-tions 40 extend away ~rom the ~xqe end of ~langes 38 and terminate in outw~rdl~ curved 0ripping portion3 42~ ~ach grippiny portion ~2 terminatq~ in an outturned end portion 44, -~he two end portlons ~4 defin:in~ -therebetween an entrancq ~uiaeway ~or the pc~/
, 0 ~ 7 ~upport ~ol~ :l.2 during assembl.y of -the clip thereto.
Wh.il~ the rad:i~ls of cllrvature o,E each gripping portion 42 is essentially the same as the outs:lde di,ameter of the support pole 12 to which it will be attached it is seen that in Figure 3 r in the relaxed~ unassemblccl state, the wides-t distance between the gripping portions 42 is considerably less than -the operative separat~on distance when assembled to the support pole 12, as seen in Figure 2. This is achievecl during the for}niny stage of the clip by having the side portions 40 converge as seen in Figure 3. When the clip is assembled to a support pole the end portions 44 will initially engage the side wall of the support pole and wqth continued pressure towards the pole the gripping portio.ns will spread against the gripping forces provided by the converging side portions 40 and the spring-like base portion 34. Once the end portions 44 pass the widest part of the support pole the clip will actually by drawn onto the pole by the spring forces generated within the clip as it is spread for the assem~ly operation. Additional gripping pressure is generated due to the resistance to spreading of the gripping portions 42 by abutting 2Q engayement, during the spreading phase, between each side portion 40 and the edge of adjacent flange 24, When the clip 14 is positioned in the channel 28~ as in Fi~ure ~, p.rior to assembly to a support polq, it is possiblq -to ~lide the clip -to any desired location along the channql bq-tween thq locking members 30~ It is clesirable Por the side por-kions 40 to he ini~ially formed so -that when the clip is positioned in khe channel 23 the side portions wi~.l exert a slight, outwardly directed pr~sure against the ,l?C~

ed(Jes o.~ tl~e fklnges 24. In this con:Eiguration, if it is necessary to sl.;de a clip along the channel 28, -the gripping porti.ons 42 ar.e squeezed tocJether to release the pressure exerted by the side portions 40 and the clip may then be slid to i:-ts new location. Release of -the squee~ing pressure will permit the side portions to spread back into a frictional locking engagement with the edges o~ ~langes 24. In this manner a clip may be located anywhere along the channel 28 without Eear that it will move Prom its desired location even when the channeL is in a vertical orientation.
Clips may be assembled to a channel 28 before the frame member 16 is assembled to a panel 10 merely by sliding them into the open end of the channel before a locking member is secured therein. Thi.s may not be convenient at a later point in time when a wall conEiguration is to be changed and it is necessary to repositi.on clips from one frame member to another frame member or to merel~ remove unnecessary clips from a part.icular frame member. In order to remove, or insert, clips ~rom, or ~nto, a channel 28 one flange 24 of each frame member is modified as in Fi~ure 5. There it is seen that a section oP one flange 24 has been cut back as at 46 for a distance slightly greater than the length of a clip 14. The distance "D" between.the base Qf the cut out 46 and the edge o:E the opposi-te P:lange ~4 is jus-t sligh~ly greater ~han the dlstance "d'l (Flgure 3) between the ~utside "B" of one lowe.r side 36 and -the outside "A" oP the opposite side pOr~iQn 40~ When inserting a clip into a channel

2~ at -the inse.rtlon zone de~ined by the aut out ~6 the area "~"
o~ t~le clip is ~rough-t agains-t -the edge "E" oP ~he Plan~e 24 P~

6a~7 with the ad jaccnt reerltr~rlt E].an~e 38 and sicle 36 positioned uncler the ElancJc 24. Tllo clip is then rotated towards the web ~0 so that the sicle "~" of the clip passes the ed~e "F" o~ the cut out 46 until the floor portion 36 of the cl.ip rests on the web 20. The clip may then be sli.d along the channel 28 .-to its desired location.
Turning now to Figures 1, 6 and 7 the support pole 12 and struoture ~or conncct.ing acljacent poles to~ether will be described. Fi~ure 1 shows a pair oE suppor-t poles 12 in axi.al ~lignment with the upper pole carryiny a sui-table decorative cap 48 which is secured -to the upper pole in any convenient and well known manner, In order that the wall system of the present in~ention may be as versatile as possible, however, it should be poss;ble to construct walls of any desired height and thus, ~hen using support poles of specific, standard lengths, it may ~ecome necessary to assemble several pole sections together to achieve the desired heiyht. Since considerable transverse force is exerted on a support pole when one or more panel clips is attached thereto the joint between adjacent pole sections should be as strong as possible to avoid a loss of alignment when a panel is attached to an assembled pole~
As seen in Fi~ures 6 and 7.the pole 12 is o~ cylindrical ~or~ ~nd ÇroSs-~ection. The pole 12 is desixably a seamless ex~ruded section oP aluminum kubin~. Adjacent each end -thereo~
p~ir: c3.~ ~ially ali~ned, radially inwardly directqd, generally ~pheriaal climples 5~ are ~ormed in the sic1e wall of thq pole .sec~ioll, Axially inwaxdl~ o~ the inner.~mosk dimple ~0, and prefer-ably circumerenkially o~fset th~refrom, is a third dlmple 52 which is lar~er and deepcr than the okher dimples 50.

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~ I}lcn formin-J t~le dimples 50 and 52 in aluminum tubing it ls not sufEici~nt to merely apply pressure -through a forming tool on~o the ou~r surface of the tubing since this tends to cause sharp ~tress crclcks and rough edges on the formed dimple surface within the tubing, which rough edges and surfaces can damage anything slid into the tubing that is of alumlnum or a so~ter material. In or~er to avoid such a problem the present invention contemplates a dimple forming process which results in a smoothly formed dimple. In the process the tubing is supported internally on a mandrel held in a vise below a rotatable Eorming tool held in an appropriate machine such as a drill press. The forming tool has a non-cutting conical end which will form the dimple in the tubing, Under the effect of high rotational speeds and downwardly-directed pressure the material of the tubing in the vicinity of the tool end is heated and softened sufficiently that it will flow and deform to the shape of the tool end. Since the tubing material is thus subiected to plastic deformation there will be no stress cracks or rough edges on the other side of the dimple within the tubing. The tubing surface subjected to the action of the forming tool may have burrs thereon but it is a simple process to debur the material after the dimple-forming process.
A joining pi~ce 54~ ~ormed from appropriate material, s-lch as ex~ruded ~luminum, is used ~ join acljacen-t lengths of pole sec~ions 12.-together. ~ch joininy piece 5~ is about 8 inches long and i5 essentially circular in cross-section for smooth, almost tight recep~,ion wlthin the pole section 12 -9~- ~

`ll56017 (~ic3~lrc 6). rile joinlng ~iecc 54 h.ls, however, an axially ~nd r~d~ ].y di.rected grooVe 56 in l:he wa]l thereof, which ~JL'OOVC iS size~cl to receive the dimp]es 50 bu-t not the dimple 52. There :i5 a smoothl~ curved transi-tion area 60 from the cylindrlcal wall oE the joining piece 54 to the side wall 62 of the yroove 56.
When joining two lengths of pole sections 12 together a joining piece 54 is first of all fitted into the open end oE
one section with the groove 56 receiving, or mating with the dimples 50. The dep-th of inscrtion of the joining piece into the pole seckion 12 is controlled by the dimple 52 which cannot be received in the groove 56, due to being o~fset therefrom, and thus acts as a limit stop to prevent any further insertion of the joining piece. A second polc section 12 is then slid over the exposed length of the joining piece with the dimples 50 aligned with the groove 56 until the two pole sections abut each other. The pole sections 12 may then be twisted relative to each other on the joining piece 54 to force the dimples 50 of one pole section 12 into frictional locking engagement with the transition area 60 along one side of the groove 56 while the dimples 50 of the other pole sec-tion are forced into frictional locking engagement with the transition area 60 along the other side of the groove 56~ In this manner both pole sec-tions are securely locked to -khe joining piece 5~ and a solid suppor-t pole resul-ts. ~he smooth na-ture of -the dimples prevents any damage -to the joining piece 5~.

sd ~ -10-~ rhe nun~b~r of dim~les 50 is not restricted -to -two and, in fact, ;f the outer di~meter of the joining piece 54 and the inner cliamet~r o~ the pole SeCtionS L2 can be controlled during manufacture to ensure a close, tigh-t, almost interference fit there~etween, it might be possible to eliminate the dimples 50 and the groove 56 altogether. The dimple 52 would still be used to limit inward movement of the joining piece 54 although it could be of less depth than before.
The final aspect oE the present invention to the described herein is the panel-to-panel clip structure as shown in Figure 8. This structurc is used when it is desired to assemble panels together wlthout the benefit of an intervening support pole. The clip structure of Figure 8 includes a male clip 64 and a female clip 66 each of which is adapted for insertion and positioning in the channel 28 of a frame member 16 in the same manner as a clip 14. Both clips 64 and 66 are preferably ~ormed from spring steel.
The male clip 64 has an enlarged, almost teardrop shaped curved nose piece 68 which has converging side walls 70.
The side walls 70then diverge into opposi-tely directed feet 72 which in turn lead in~o legs 74 and reentrant flan~es 76. The feet 72, legs 74 and flanges 76 define a base which is receivable in a channel 28 in the same manner as -the hase 34 of a clip 14.
B~ ~c~xmlncJ the clip 64 ~xom spring steel the properties of the materlal are usqd to lc)~k the cl:ip in posi-tion in a channel 28.
F~r example it is necessary -to squeeze the two side walls 70 tc~c~ethqr in c~rcler to insex-t a clip 64 into a channel 28 by way oE
au-tc~lt 46.

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1156~17 The f~male cl:ip 66 has a ~ase portlon 78 Pormed li]c~
b.lse 3~ of cl:ip 14, with a ~loor portion 80 and side portions 82.
~ach side portion 82 leads into an inward].y curving gripping porti.on 84 which t~rminates in an outwardly curving and reentrant C-shaped guide wall. ~he female clip 66 may be inserted into a channe]. 28 in the same manner as a clip 14, the spring nature of thc material serving -to hold i-t in position.
When two panels are to be joined together without a support pole, a plurality of male clips 64 are positioned in the lQ channel 28 o~ a frame member 16 on one panel and a corresponding plurality of ~emale clips 66 are positioned in the channel 28 of the opposing Erame member 16 on the other panel. The panels are brought to~ether so that the nose pieces 68 of the male clips are aligned with. and introduced into the converging mouths o~
the female clips 66 as defined by the curving guide walls 86.
Further ~orce causes the nose pieces 68 to spread the walls 84 of the female clips 66 until the area of maximum width of the nose pieces 68 pass the area oE minimum width between the walls 84 and the walls 84 then clvse in on the nose pieces 68 to ~0 lock them.in place. To separa-te adjacent panels it is only necessary to ~orce them apart so as to e~fect disengagement be.tween the male and female clips.
It is not necessary to have male clips only on one panel and ~em~le clips only on the o-ther panel~ Male and f~male allps may be in-term.ixed on any on~ panel as long ~s correspondin~
~emale and male clips ara provided on thq oppo~itq panel.
It is un~ersto~d that -the Pore~oin~ descr:Lba5 the prq~exred ~orm o~ -the prqsqnt inverltiorl but :lt is al80 undcrs-tvod pc~

~lS~017 that variatlc)rls therc.in could also be achieved by a person ski:lled in the art without departi.nc3 from the spirit of the invention. Ilence the protection to be afforded the invention is to be dctermined ~rom the claims appended hereto.

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Claims (12)

THE EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION IN WHICH AN EXCLUSIVE
PROPERTY OR PRIVILEGE IS CLAIMED ARE DEFINED AS FOLLOWS:

1. A free-standing wall or partition assembly comprising:
a) a plurality of generally rectangular panel members having corner abutting frame members along the periphery thereof, each frame member having an outer, longitudinally extending channel therein defined by side walls of the frame member and reentrant opposing flanges extending inwardly from the free edges of said side walls;
b) a plurality of cylindrical support pole means to which said panel members may be connected to form said assembly; and c) means for connecting a said panel member to a said support pole means, said connecting means including a plurality of unitary clips, each clip being formed from a resilient spring material and having a base portion for sliding reception in a said channel, a gripping portion for resiliently snapping over and engaging a said support pole means and a connection portion interconnecting said base portion and said gripping portion, said connection portion being resiliently biased into engagement with the reentrant flanges to prevent undesired sliding movement of the clip in the channel and being moveable out of engagement with said flanges to permit sliding repositioning of the clip within the outer channel.

2. The assembly of claim 1 wherein each said frame member includes a longitudinally extending transverse web between said side walls, said web defining said outer channel on one side thereof and, on the other side thereof defining with said side walls an inner channel in which the peripheral edge portion of the panel member is receivable.

3. The assembly of claim 2 wherein the ends of each frame member are mitred for mating abutment with the mitred end of an adjacent frame member , the abutting frame members being connectable to each other by an L-shaped locking member, the lens of which are receivable in and securable to the corresponding outer channel of the abutting frame members.

4. The assembly of claim 1 wherein each of said support pole means includes at least two co-axially abutting pole sections joined together by a joining piece, each pole section being cylindrical in cross-section and having a cylindrical internal bore and, adjacent each end thereof, at least one dimple extending radially inwardly from the outer surface of the pole section, said joining piece being cylindrical in cross-section and being slidably receivable in said internal bore up to a limit defined by said dimple whereby a portion of said joining piece will extend outwardly from the bore of a pole section for reception in the. bore of an adjoining pole section.

5. The assembly of claim 4 wherein on each pole section a second dimple, smaller than said one dimple, is positioned in the pole section between the one dimple and the adjacent end of the pole section, and wherein said joining piece includes a longitudinally extending groove directed radially inwardly from the outer surface thereof, the second dimple of adjoining pole sections being receivable in said groove.

6. The assembly of claim 5 wherein the outer surface of said joining piece curves smoothly into the side walls of said groove whereby by twisting adjoining pole sections oppositely to each other with said joining piece in position the second dimple of each pole section is forced into frictional locking engagement with a corresponding curved side wall of said groove.

7. The assembly of claim 6 wherein each pole section includes two of said second dimples axially spaced apart for reception in the groove of the joining piece.

8. The assembly of claim 1 wherein a portion of one of said reentrant flanges is cut out for a distance therealong slightly greater than the length of a said clip so that a said clip may be inserted into the outer channel through the gap defined between the cut out area of the one flange and the edge of the opposing flange.

9. A clip for use in connecting a planar panel member having a restrictive channel along at least one edge thereof to cylindrical support pole means, comprising: a base portion for sliding reception in said channel; a gripping portion for resiliently snapping over and engaging said support pole means;
and a resilient connection portion interconnecting said base portion and said gripping portion, said connection portion being resiliently biased into engagement with edge portions of said channel to prevent sliding movement of said clip in said channel and being moveable out of engagement with said edge portions for slidingly repositioning the clip within the channel.

10. The clip of claim 9, being formed of resilient spring sheet material which is bent into the desired unitary configuration.

11. The clip of claim 9 wherein said base portion in cross-section conforms generally to the internal cross-section of said channel and is generally C-shaped, said gripping portion comprises a pair of arcuate side walls of a radius essentially equal to that of said support pole means, and said connection portion comprises a pair of planar side walls which in the non-gripping condition of said clip converge from the base portion towards the arcuate side walls of the gripping portion.

12. The clip of claim 11 and including, along the free edge of each arcuate side wall, an entrance guide wall which projects out and away from the arcuate side wall , the guide walls serving to guide the clip onto the support pole means.