EP2609825B1

EP2609825B1 - A Locking Clip and a Locking Arrangement

Info

Publication number: EP2609825B1
Application number: EP20110195930
Authority: EP
Inventors: Pelle Reinius; Gustaf Ljungqvist
Original assignee: Hultafors Group AB
Current assignee: Hultafors Group AB
Priority date: 2011-12-28
Filing date: 2011-12-28
Publication date: 2014-07-30
Anticipated expiration: 2031-12-28
Also published as: EP2609825A1

Description

Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a locking clip adapted to hold a retaining element, said locking clip comprises a base comprising a rear end portion adapted to attach said locking clip to an attachment part, such as a garment, a belt, a strap or the like, wherein the base has a direction of extension from said rear end portion to an opposite front end portion provided with a holding means for holding said retaining element. The invention also relates to a locking arrangement comprising such a locking clip and a retaining element.

Technical Background

There are many different kinds of clips/buckles which can be used for attaching, for example, a belt. However, when it comes to clips which shall be used with a tool belt, they have to be sturdy, since they have to carry a significant amount of weight. This since the user usually arranges many different kinds of tools and small parts in the tool belt. Commonly used are belt clips/buckles which are used for example with back packs. US 6,848,605 shows a tool belt with this kind of buckle. When releasing this buckle the user needs both hands. He needs one hand to press on both sides of the buckle first part and the other to pull the buckle first part out of the buckle second part. Another clip which may be used is a snap assembly, like the one in US 4,158,907 . Here also two hands are necessary to release the retaining ring from the snap assembly which is held by a hook. The user needs to use one finger to open the snap assembly because a flexible locking member, which is adapted to move relative to an inner surface of the hook, has to be pressed down so that an opening is created in order to take the retaining ring off. The user needs the other hand in order to unhook the retaining ring. Depending on the design the finger may be in the way when taking the ring off. However, some times the user only has one hand available when he/she wants to take off the tool belt. Hence, there is a need for a locking clip which can be easily removed when using only one hand
According to another example of a prior art belt clip/buckle, DE 249 673 discloses a locking clip adapted to hold a retaining element. Safety means is arranged to be positioned in a hook to prevent unlocking of the locking clip.

Summary of the Invention

An object of the present invention is to provide a clip that overcomes the above drawbacks of the prior art. According to a first aspect of the invention this is accomplished by a locking clip adapted to hold a retaining element, said locking clip comprises a base comprising a rear end portion adapted to attach said locking clip to an attachment part, such as a garment, a belt, a strap or the like, wherein the base has a direction of extension from said rear end portion to an opposite front end portion provided with a holding means for holding said retaining element, wherein said locking clip further comprises a locking means movable relative to said holding means between a closed position and an open position, wherein when said locking means is in said closed position said locking means with said holding means are adapted to lock said retaining element, wherein said locking clip further comprises an actuator connected to said locking means, said actuator being movable in parallel with or substantially in parallel with said base and perpendicularly to said direction of extension of the base, wherein when said actuator is moved perpendicularly to said direction of extension from a first position to a second position said locking means moves from said closed position to said open position. A locking clip like this makes it possible to use only one hand when releasing the retaining element and attaching the locking clip to the retaining element. The retaining element may for example be a retaining ring. The user only has to press the actuator and with the same hand he may take the locking clip and release it from the retaining element. The actuator is preferably moved by a user who presses the actuator from the first position to the second position. The force applied to the actuator in one direction is transmitted to a movement in the same direction or another direction. Particularly, a force perpendicular to the direction of extension of the base accomplishes a rotational movement or a translation, for example vertical to the base and/or in the direction of the extension of the base. Further, the design of the clip may be thinner, i.e. the mechanism may not take up a lot of space in a direction which is perpendicular to the direction of extension.
The locking means comprises a plate with a longitudinal direction extending perpendicularly to said direction of extension of the base and having a first end connected to said actuator and a second end arranged to a locking means supporting element, wherein when said actuator is moved from said first position to said second position said plate bends by having its first end pressed towards said second end and moves from said closed position to said open position. The plate may be a flat metal plate. Alternatively it may be a flat plastic part. The plate does not have to be entirely flat, it may for example have protruding parts, as long as the plate can be bent. By having a flat plate no force has to be on the locking means in order to keep the locking means in the closed position, i.e. it needs no force to stay in the locked position. The actuator may be integrated and made in one part with the plate or it may be a separate component connected to the plate. The locking means supporting element may be a recess in one of the side walls, or a separate part protruding from the base or it may be a separate part connected to the side wall. The plate may be fixedly connected to the locking means supporting element by for example a screw or any other suitable fastener or alternatively it may be pressed between two parts, for example the locking means supporting element and a cover. As a further alternative, the part may only be supported by the locking means supporting element, for example the locking means supporting element may be a slit in a side wall into which the second end protrudes. The plate will bend when the user pushes the actuator, since the second end will be in a locked position.
Alternatively, a second actuator may be connected to the second end of the plate and be so arranged in the locking clip that both actuators can be moved towards each other so that the plate bends.
According to at least one exemplary embodiment when said locking means is in said closed position, at least one point of said locking means is arranged at a first distance to said holding means and when said locking means is in said open position, said at least one point of said locking means is arranged at a second distance to said holding means, wherein said second distance is greater than said first distance. Advantageously, when the locking means is in a closed position the first distance is smaller than the thickness of the retaining element which shall be held and when the locking means is in the open position the second distance is preferably larger than the thickness of the retaining element which shall be held so that the locking clip easily can be released from the retaining element. As an alternative the locking means may overlap said holding means.
Advantageously, the holding means may be a stop which may extend parallel with the base, such as a roof and may be connected to the base. It may have an open structure towards the rear end portion.
According to at least one exemplary embodiment said holding means is a hook, having an opening facing said rear end portion. A hook is an easy holding arrangement. When the user shall release the locking clip from the retaining element, which for example may be a retaining ring, the user only has to tilt the locking clip until the hook unhooks from the retaining element. The hook may have an L-, C. or U- shape which extends from the base in a perpendicular direction so that a hook is provided. If it has a U-shape it should be an opening towards the rear end portion, for example the U-shape form may get a shape which is more like a J-shape. Advantageously, the locking means may be moved relative to an inner side of the hook. As an alternative, the holding means may be have a closed O-shape in a view from the side. The retaining element may then have a hook shape which may hook into the O-shaped holding means from the side.
According to at least one exemplary embodiment said locking means is arranged between said holding means and said rear end portion.
According to at least one exemplary embodiment said locking clip comprises two lateral walls, one on each side of said base extending in a direction between said front end portion and said rear end portion, and said locking means is at least partly arranged between said side walls and said actuator extends through one of said side walls. Two lateral walls make the locking clip more stable. Further they may protect the inner parts of the locking clip. The lateral side walls may hold against the force which the actuator is exposed to. Other support structures may be a protrusion which is connected to one of the side walls. Alternatively, it may be a protrusion protruding from the base.
According to at least one exemplary embodiment said clip further comprises a cover covering at least partly said base and at least partly said locking means. Such a cover protects at least partly the inside of the locking clip so that dirt and dust can not come into the clip and destroy it. It also makes the locking clip sturdier if, for example, any one would step on it. The cover may be connected by screws to the side walls or to screw retaining parts protruding from the base or to the base itself. Alternatively, they may be connected by using other fasteners such as clips.
According to at least one exemplary embodiment said cover has a protrusion in the area of said plate and said protrusion is extending towards said plate and said protrusion touches said plate in said closed position. This will prevent a locking clip which has a locking device which is a plate from accidently bend in the wrong direction, i.e. away from the base instead of towards the base.
According to at least one exemplary embodiment said base has at least one guiding part which has a slanted surface facing said holding means adapted to guide said retaining element towards said holding means or away from said holding means. A guiding part helps to arrange a retaining element into the right position and to guide it out from the holding position so that the retaining element easily and quickly can be arranged into the locking clip and taken out. The slanted surface may have a curved shape.
According to at least one exemplary embodiment said locking means is moved from said open position back to said closed position by a spring. A spring can make the locking means return automatically from the open position to the closed position. The spring may be the plate itself which function as a spring when it is bent. When it bends towards the base due to pressure from the actuator it will automatically return to its position when the force on the actuator is removed. Hence it works like a spring.
According to a second aspect of the invention a locking arrangement is provided. The locking arrangement comprises a locking clip, as described above, adapted to be attached to an attachment part, such as a garment, a belt, a strap or the like. The locking arrangement further comprises a retaining element adapted to be hold by said holding means and said locking means, wherein when said locking means is in a closed position said retaining element can not be released from said holding means, and when said locking means is in an open position said retaining element can be released from said holding means. The same advantages apply for the locking arrangement having a locking clip as described above.
Generally, all terms used in the claims are to be interpreted according to their ordinary meaning in the technical field, unless explicitly defined otherwise herein. All references to "a/an/the [element, device, component, means, step, etc]" are to be interpreted openly as referring to at least one instance of said element, device, component, means, step, etc., unless explicitly stated otherwise. Other objectives, features and advantages of the present invention will appear from the following detailed disclosure, from the attached dependent claims as well as from the drawings.

Brief Description of the Drawings

The above, as well as additional objects, features and advantages of the present invention, will be better understood through the following illustrative and nonlimiting detailed description of an embodiment of the present invention, with reference to the appended drawings, wherein:

Fig. 1 a shows a locking clip according to an embodiment of the invention in a perspective view in a closed position and connected to a retaining ring.
Fig. 1b shows an exploded view in perspective of the locking clip in Fig. 1 a.
Fig. 2 shows the locking clip in cross-section A-A in fig. 1b, when assembled and when the locking clip is in a closed position.
Fig. 3 shows the locking clip in cross-section A-A in fig. 1b when assembled and when the locking clip is in an opened position.
Fig. 4a shows a locking clip according to an example not forming part of the invention in a perspective view in a closed position and connected to a retaining ring.
Fig. 4b shows an exploded view in perspective of the locking clip in Fig. 4a.
Fig. 5 shows the locking clip in Fig. 4b when the locking clip is in an opened position.
Fig. 6a shows a locking clip according to another example not forming part of the invention in a closed position connected to a retaining ring.
Fig. 6b shows the locking clip of Fig. 6a in an open position.
Fig. 6c shows the locking clip of Fig. 6a and 6b with the locking clip separated from the retaining ring.
Fig. 7 shows part of the locking clip illustrated in Fig. 1 b.

Detailed Description of the Drawings

An embodiment of the present invention will now be described in more detail, with reference to the accompanying drawings.
Figs. 1 a and 1 b show a locking clip 1 which is connected with a retaining element 2, which here is exemplified as a retaining ring 2. Fig. 1 a and Fig. 1b will be described together. The locking clip 1 may be attached to one end of a tool belt (not shown) and to the other end of the belt the retaining ring 2 may be arranged. The locking clip 1 and the retaining element 2 may however be attached to a garment, or a bag or the like. When the user wants to use the tool belt he attaches the locking clip 1 to the retaining ring 2. The locking clip 1 comprises a main body 3 having a base 15 with two lateral walls, i.e. two side walls 8, 9 extending on each side. It has a front end portion 30 and a rear end portion 31 and the base 15 has a direction of extension from said rear end portion 31 to said front end portion 30. At the rear end portion 31 between the two side walls 8, 9 is a belt connection 4 arranged, which in this case is a cross beam through which the belt of the tool belt can be threaded through and fastened in any suitable way. At the front end portion 30 is a holding means 5 in the shape of a hook 5 arranged which will hook the retaining ring 2 when it is arranged to the locking clip 1. In order to keep the retaining ring 2 hooked, a locking means 14 is arranged between the two walls 8, 9. The locking means 14 is a flat plate 6 with a longitudinal direction with an actuator 24 arranged on one end. The actuator 24 is here a separate part made of for example plastic, it may however be made in one piece with the flat plate 6 or from another material. The flat plate 6 is preferably made of metal since it is more durable, it may however be of any other suitable material, for example plastic. The flat plate 6 has a longitudinal extension which is so long that it at least fits between the walls 8, 9, i.e. it is arranged in parallel with or substantially in parallel with the base 15. Alternatively, the plate 6 may be arranged to an arrangement which is connected to the wall and/or the base. On the end opposite the actuator 24 the plate 6 has a recess 10 which will position the flat plate 6 in a correct position in the locking clip 1. A holding element 11 for the locking means, i.e. a locking means holding elements, here exemplified as a protrusion 11, is arranged at one of the walls 8 and the protrusion 11 has a small nose 12 which will fit into the recess 10 of the flat plate 6 when it is fitted into the locking clip. The flat plate 6 will be resting on the protrusion 11 and the nose 12 and the wall 8 will prevent it from moving. The wall 9 opposite the wall 8 having the protrusion 11 with the nose 12 has a recess 13 through which the actuator 24 protrudes. The actuator 24 and the recess 13 in the wall through which it shall protrude have a D-shape so that actuator 24 is always arranged in a correct position. The actuator 24 has a small flange 33 on one side which when arranged in the locking clip 1 will be in the inside of the locking clip 1 so that the actuator 24 cannot fall out of the recess 13. When mounting the locking means 14 the actuator 24 is arranged from the inside of the locking clip 1 so that the actuator 24 protrudes out of the recess 13 in the wall 9. On the other end the plate 6 will rest on the protrusion 11. In order prevent the locking means 6 from falling out in the direction which is opposite the base 15 a cover 16 is arranged over the locking means 14. The cover 16 is fastened with two screws 17 which will hold the cover in place. On the locking clip 1 two mutually matching screw holes 18 are arranged in the screw protrusions 19 extending from the base 15. Between the two screw protrusions is a wall 23 arranged. The wall 23 may make the locking clip more stable. It may also prevent dirt to enter into the locking area. However, the locking clip 1 may not have a wall 23. The main body 3 is preferably made of metal since it makes the locking clip 1 sturdier, it may however be made of plastic or any other suitable material.
The flat plate 6 has a locking nose 20 which is pointing towards the hook. The locking nose 20 prevents the retaining ring 2 from getting off the hook 5 when it is in a closed position. The locking nose 20 is arranged at a small distance from the end of the hook 5. The distance may however not be greater than the part of the retaining ring 2 which is to be held in the locking clip 1, otherwise the retaining ring may slip off. As an alternative, the end part of the hook 5 of the nose 20 may overlap each other. The plate does not necessary have to have a nose, the plate itself may extend all the way so that the retaining ring 2 cannot be released.
When the locking clip 1 shall be arranged to the retaining ring 2 the user may just hook it into place. The flat plate 6 will be bending downwards since the locking nose 20 will be pressed towards the base 15 by the retaining ring 2 and when the retaining ring 2 is arranged in the hook it will no longer press the locking nose downwards. The flat plate 6 acts like a spring and snaps, i.e. bends back into place i.e. to the closed position. Fig. 2 shows the flat plate 6 in a closed position. When the locking clip 1 shall be released the user presses the actuator 24 inwards and the end of the flat plate 6 which is connected to the actuator 24 will be pressed towards the other end and the flat plate 6 will be bending towards the base 15, which is shown in Fig. 3, so that the clip 1 can unhook itself from the retaining ring 2. The cover 16 has a guiding protrusion 21 arranged on its inside so that it is pointing towards the flat plate when it is arranged to the locking clip 1. The guiding protrusion 21 abuts the flat plate 6 and hence presses it slightly downwards so that it is ensured that the flat plate 6 is always bent towards the base 15 and not accidently upwards. The locking clip 1 also has on its base 15 one or more guides 22 (two shown in Fig. 1 a) which are of triangular shape one side of the triangle is the base, a tapering side is facing the hook 5 so that a guiding surface is accomplished. This surface is slightly curved, this is however optional. The guides 22 help to guide the retaining ring 2 into a hooked position and out of the locking clip 1 so that it cannot get stuck under the flat clip 6. The guides 22 are not limited to have triangular shapes. They can be of any suitable shape.
The retaining ring 2 has a square ring shape, the front end 34 will hook into the hook 5 of the locking clip 1. The other opposite end, the rear end 35, is for connecting the retaining ring to the other end of the tool belt. Here, the belt may be threaded trough and may be stitched together to a loop. However, any other design of the rear end portion 35 of the retaining ring 2 for connecting the belt to the retaining ring 2 is possible. The retaining element 2 is not limited to a ring shape. It may for example have a U shape where the bottom of the U is the front end which will hook into the hook 5 of the locking clip 1.
The flat plate 6 is loosely arranged inside the locking clip 1, however as an alternative it could be fixedly arranged by for example a screw on the end of the flat plate where the recess 10 is arranged. Further, the flat plate could be slightly pre-bent so that the flat plate always bends automatically in the right direction. The cover 16 may then not be necessary. Alternatively, a second actuator may be connected to the opposite side of the plate. The user may push both actuators toward each other so that the plate bends.
Fig. 4a shows a locking clip101 not forming part of the invention which is connected with a retaining element 102, which here is exemplified as a retaining ring 102. Fig. 4a and Fig. 4b will be described together and Fig. 4b is an exploded view of Fig. 4a. The locking clip 101 may be attached to one end of a tool belt (not shown) and to the other end of the belt the retaining ring 102 may be arranged. The locking clip 101 and the retaining element 102 may however be attached to a garment, or a bag. When the user wants to use the tool belt he attaches the locking clip 101 to the retaining ring 102.
The locking clip 101 comprises a main body 103 having a base 115 with two lateral walls, i.e. two side walls 108, 109 extending on each side. It has a front end portion 130 and a rear end portion 131 and the base 115 has a direction of extension from said rear end portion 131 to said front end portion 130. At the rear end portion 131 between the two side walls 108, 109 is a belt connection 104 arranged, which in this case is a loosely fitted pin through which the belt of the tool belt can be threaded through and fastened in any suitable way. On the other end, i.e. the front end portion 130 is a holding means 105 in the shape of a hook 105 arranged which will hook the retaining ring 102 when it is arranged to the locking clip 101. In order to keep the retaining ring 102 hooked, a locking means 114 is arranged between the two walls 108, 109, i.e. it is arranged in parallel with or substantially in parallel with the base 115. The locking means 114 comprises a loosely fitted pin 106 with an integrated or connected actuator 124 on one end. The pin 106 may be made of metal or plastic. The pin 106 has a longitudinal extension which stretches between the walls 108, 109 and the main part 137 of the pin has a constant outer diameter. At the end opposite the actuator 124 is a thinner part 126 arranged which has a diameter which is smaller than the pin itself and a wall 135 is arranged where the thinner part 126 starts. A coil spring 127 is arranged on the thinner part 126. A recess 128 is arranged in one of the side walls 108, and acts as a holding means for the locking means, i.e. a locking means holding means, into which the thinner part 126 of the pin 106 is fitted into. The coil spring 127 will be resting between the side wall 108 of the clip and the wall 135 created by the transition between the main part 137 and the thinner part 126 of the pin 106. The side wall 109 opposite the side wall 108 having the recess 128 for the smaller part of the pin has a recess 113 through which the actuator 124 protrudes. This recess 113 has a key-hole shape, a round portion and a smaller square portion 129. The pin 106 may have a protruding part, i.e. a locking protrusion (not shown), which extends perpendicularly to the longitudinal extension of the pin, near the end of the actuator which fits into this square portion 129 and this protruding part could work as a kind of locking function if the pin 106 is inserted through the recess 113 from the outside of the locking clip and turned so that the protruding part no longer is in the area of the small square portion. This would prevent the pin 106 from falling out of the locking clip. Another way of preventing the pin from falling out is to arrange a screw or a rivet to the pin after it has been arranged into the locking clip, then the smaller square portion is not necessary. For example a screw may be screwed into a hole in the pin 106, after the pin has been arranged into the locking clip. The hole then has to be arranged close to the actuator but at a distance so that the hole is arranged inside the belt clip. The screw should protrude out of the pin and this way preventing the pin from falling out through the hole in the wall. Instead of using a screw a rivet may be used in a similar way. However, the locking clip 101 is not limited to this. When arranging the pin 106 into the locking clip 101 the pin 106 with its coil spring 127 is arranged through this recess 128. The pin 106 further has a locking nose 120 which when mounted in the locking clip 101 is in a closed position and is then pointing towards the hook 105. The locking nose 120 will prevent the retaining ring 102 from getting off the hook 105 when it is in a closed position. The locking nose 120 is a protrusion which extends in the longitudinal direction of the pin and protrudes transversal from the longitudinal extension of the pin. It has a cross section which is triangular with a flat top. The locking nose is not limited to this cross section, it may have a square shape, a round shape or any other suitable shape. The locking nose 120 is arranged at a small distance from the end of the hook. The distance may however not be greater than the part of the retaining ring 102 which is to be held in the locking clip 101, otherwise the retaining ring 102 may slip of. As an alternative, the locking nose 120 may overlap the inside of the hook when it is in a closed position. In the base 115 of the clip at the area of the pin 106 is a pin guiding recess 136 arranged at an angle to the longitudinal direction of the pin. The pin 106 has a guiding protrusion 125 which protrudes from the pin 106 in the radial direction of the pin 106 which is arranged in the guiding recess 136.
The pin 106 is arranged so that it is in a closed position when the actuator 124 is not pressed. When the locking clip 101 shall be arranged to the retaining ring 102 the user may just hook it into place. The retaining ring 102 pushes the locking nose 120 towards the base 115 which rotates the pin and the guiding protrusion 125 will move in the guiding recess 136 and the coil spring 107 will be presses together. The actuator 124 will move from its first position to a second position. The coil spring 107, which have been pressed together, will automatically go back to its unpressed state and force the pin to rotate back to a closed position since the guiding recess 136 guides the guiding protrusion 125 so that the pin 106 and its locking nose 120 gets back to the closed position. When the locking clip 1 shall be disconnected from the retaining ring 102 the user presses the actuator 124 inwards and the guiding protrusion 125 moves in the guiding recess 136 so that the locking nose 120 rotates towards the base 115, which is shown in Fig 5, and the locking clip 1 can be unhooked from the retaining ring. The coil spring 127 will be compressed. When releasing the actuator 124 the locking nose 120 will rotate back automatically through the force of the compressed coil spring and the guiding protrusion 125 in the guiding recess 136 to a locked position. A cover (not shown) like the one in Fig. 1a, 1b may be arrange above at least a part of the locking means in order to prevent dirt from coming into the locking means. The locking clip 101 may also have on its base 115 guides (not shown, but similar to the one in Figs. 1 a and 1 b) which are of triangular shape, one side of the triangle is the base, a tapering side is facing the hook so that a guiding surface is accomplished. This surface may be slightly curved, this is however optional. The guides help to guide the retaining ring into a hooked position and out of the locking clip.
Figs. 6a and 6b show a locking clip 201 not forming part of the invention which is connected with a retaining element 202, which here is exemplified as a retaining ring 202. Fig. 6a shows the locking clip in a closed position. Fig. 6b shows the locking clip in an open position and Fig. 6c shows the retaining ring 202 released from the locking clip 201. Fig. 6a, Fig. 6b and Fig. 6c will be described together. The locking clip 201 may be attached to one end of a tool belt (not shown) and to the other end of the belt the retaining ring 202 is arranged. The locking clip and the retaining element 202 may however be attached to a garment, or a bag or the like. When the user wants to use the tool belt he attaches the locking clip 201 to the retaining ring 202.
The locking clip 201 comprises a main body 203 having a base 215 with two lateral walls, i.e. two side walls 208, 209 extending on each side. It has a front end portion 230 and a rear end portion 231 and the base 215 has a direction of extension from said rear end portion 231 to said front end portion 230. On the rear end portion 231 between the two side walls 208, 209 is a belt connection arranged (not shown, but may be similar as described for Figs. 1-5). On the other end, i.e. the front end, is a holding means 205 in the shape of a hook 205 arranged which will hook the retaining ring 202 when it is arranged to the locking clip 1 (see Fig. 6a). In order to keep the retaining ring 202 hooked, a locking means 214 is arranged between the two walls 208, 209. The locking means 214 comprises a loosely fitted pin 206 with an integrated or connected actuator 224 on one end. The pin 206 may be made of metal or plastic. The pin 206 has a longitudinal extension which stretches between the walls 208, 209, i.e. it is arranged in parallel with or substantially in parallel with said base 215 and the main part 237 of the pin has a constant outer diameter. The actuator 224 is protruding out of the wall 209. At the end opposite the actuator 224 is a thinner part 226 arranged which has a diameter which is smaller than the main part 237. A coil spring 227 is arranged on the thinner part 226. A recess (not shown, but similar to the one in Fig. 4b) is arranged in one of the side walls 208 into which the thinner part of the pin 206 is fitted into. The coil spring 227 will be resting between the side wall 208 of the clip and the wall created by the transition between the main part 237 and the thinner part 226 of the pin 206. The wall 209 opposite the wall 208 having the recess for the smaller part of the pin has a recess 213 through which the actuator 224 protrudes. The pin 206 further has several locking noses 220, it may however be only one, which when mounted in the locking clip 201 is pointing towards the hook 205 and which will prevent the retaining ring 202 from getting off the hook when it is in a closed position. The locking noses 220 are protrusions which protrude perpendicularly to the longitudinal direction of the pin 206 and each protrusion has a curved contour in the longitudinal direction. They may however have a half sphere shape, a polygonal, square or other suitable shape. The locking noses 220 are arranged at a distance from the end of the hook. The retaining ring 202 has on the end which shall be held by the hook recesses 229. The recesses 229 have a shape which is complementary to the shape of the locking noses 220. When the pin 206 is in a closed position the locking noses 220 and the recesses 229 on the retaining ring 202 are so arranged that they overlap. That is, the locking noses 220 will be arranged offset from the recesses 229 in the retaining ring so that the retaining ring 202 can not be taken out. When the retaining ring 202 shall be released the actuator 224, which is protruding on the outside of the clip 201, is pressed inwards in the direction of the arrow A and the locking noses 220 will also be pushed in the same direction so that they come in the same position as the recesses 229 of the retaining ring 202, i.e. they will be aligned with each other (as shown in Fig. 6b) and the clip 201 can be released from the retaining ring (as shown in Fig. 6c) with one hand. The spring 227 will be pressed together between the wall 208 and the wall created on the pin at the smaller end part, just like described for the pin 106 in Fig. 4a and 4b when the pin is moved from its locked position to its open position when the user presses the actuator 224. When the pressure of the actuator is released the spring 227 will return to its unpressed state and automatically push the pin 206 with the locking noses 220 to the closed position. When the locking clip 201 shall be arranged to the retaining ring 202 the user presses the actuator 224 so that the locking means moves from the closed to the open position. The locking clip 201 can then be arranged to the retaining ring 202. When in place the user releases the actuator 224 so that the locking device moves back to the closed position, keeping the retaining ring in place. J.
A cover (not shown) like the one in Fig. 1a, 1b may be arranged above at least a part of the locking means in order to prevent dirt to come into the locking means. The locking clip 201 may also have on its base guides (not shown, but similar to the one in Fig. 1 a and 1 b) which are of triangular shape, one side of the triangle is the base, a tapering side is facing the hook so that a guiding surface is accomplished. This surface may be slightly curved, this is however optional. The guides help to guide the retaining ring into a hooked position and out of the locking clip.
Fig. 7 shows part of the locking clip illustrated in Fig. 1 b. As previously discussed, and being true for all embodiments, the base has a direction of extension X from a rear end portion to an opposite front end portion. This direction of extension is illustrated in Fig. 7 as an axis X. The direction of extension X is contained in a geometrical plane P. As indicated by the arrow, the actuator 24 is movable perpendicularly to the direction of extension X of the base and in parallel with the geometrical plane P. This is also true for the actuators (e.g. 124, 224) in any other embodiments of the invention. The imaginary geometrical plane P overlies the base. Since the geometrical plane P is parallel with or substantially parallel with the base, the actuator 24 is movable in a direction which extends in parallel with or substantially in parallel with said base.
The invention has mainly been described above with reference to an embodiment. However, as is readily appreciated by a person skilled in the art, other embodiments than the one disclosed above are equally possible within the scope of the invention, as defined by the appended patent claims.

Claims

A locking clip (1) adapted to hold a retaining element (2), said locking clip (1) comprises
a base (15) comprising a rear end portion (31) adapted to attach said locking clip to an attachment part, such as a garment, a belt, a strap or the like, wherein the base (15) has a direction of extension from said rear end portion (31) to an opposite front end portion (30) provided with a holding means (5) for holding said retaining element (2),
wherein said locking clip (1) further comprises
a locking means (14) movable relative to said holding means (5) between a closed position and an open position, wherein when said locking means (14) is in said closed position said locking means (14) together with said holding means (5) are adapted to lock said retaining element (2),
wherein said locking clip (1) further comprises
an actuator (24) connected to said locking means (14), said actuator (24) being movable in parallel with or substantially in parallel with said base (15) and_perpendicularly to said direction of extension of the base (15), wherein when said actuator (24) is moved perpendicularly to said direction of extension from a first position to a second position said locking means (14) moves from said closed position to said open position, characterized i n that said locking means (14) comprises a plate (6) with a longitudinal direction extending perpendicularly to said direction of extension of the base and having a first end connected to said actuator (24) and a second end arranged to a locking means supporting element (11), wherein when said actuator (24) is moved from said first position to said second position said plate bends by having its first end pressed towards said second end and moves from said closed position to said open position.
A locking clip (1) according to claim 1, wherein when said locking means (14) is in said closed position, at least one point of said locking means (14) is arranged at a first distance to said holding means (5) and
when said locking means (14) is in said open position, said at least one point of said locking means (14) is arranged at a second distance to said holding means (5), wherein said second distance is greater than said first distance.
A locking clip (1) according to claim 1 or 2, wherein said holding means (5) is a hook (5), having an opening facing said rear end.
A locking clip (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein said locking means (14) is arranged between said holding means (5) and said rear end portion.
A locking clip (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein said clip (1) comprises two lateral walls (8, 9), one on each side of said base (15) extending in a direction between said front end portion (30) and said rear end portion (31), and said locking means (14) is at least partly arranged between said side walls (8, 9) and said actuator (24) extends through one of said side walls (8, 9).
A locking clip (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein said clip (1) further comprises a cover (16), covering at least partly said base (15) and at least partly said locking means (14).
A locking clip (1) according to claim 6, wherein said cover (16) has a protrusion (21) in the area of said plate (6) and said protrusion (21) is extending towards said plate (6) and said protrusion (21) touches said plate in said closed position.
A locking clip (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein said base (15) has at least one guiding part (22) which has a slanted surface facing said holding means (5) adapted to guide said retaining element (2) towards said holding means (5) or away from said holding means (5).
A locking clip (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein said locking means (14) is moved from said open position back to said closed position by a spring.
A locking arrangement comprising
a locking clip (1) according to any one of the preceding claims adapted to be attached to an attachment part ,such as a garment, a belt, a strap or the like,
a retaining element (2) adapted to be held by said holding means (5) and said locking means (14),
wherein when said locking means (14) is in a closed position said retaining element (2) is prevented from leaving said holding means (5) and
when said locking means (14) is in an open position said retaining element (2) can be released from said holding means (5).