GB2169025A

GB2169025A - A releasable self-locking spring clip

Info

Publication number: GB2169025A
Application number: GB08530643A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Guy Andre
Original assignee: A Raymond
Current assignee: A Raymond
Priority date: 1984-12-22
Filing date: 1985-12-12
Publication date: 1986-07-02
Also published as: FR2592692B1; ES291072U; DE3500256C1; GB8530643D0; IT209726Z2; FR2592692A1; ES291072Y; GB2169025B; DE8437754U1; IT8524229V0

Abstract

The clip comprises two spreader tongues (4) which bear at their free ends against a peripheral surface (7) of a pin or bolt (2) at an acute angle ( alpha ) with respect to the radial plane (R) and which are provided at their other ends that face away from the bolt (2) with support surfaces (8) which in turn are integrally connected together by flat web portions (10). So that the spring clip can be easily opened if necessary, the web portions (10) are passed around the bolt (2) in a coaxial arc and are set on edge relative to the radial plane (R) so that when the web portions (10) are pressed towards one another, the spreader tongues (4) are urged away from the bolt (2). To prevent permanent deformation from occurring when the web portions (10) are pressed towards one another, the tongues (4) are provided at their free ends with ears (11) which project towards both sides and which are directed towards the inside surface of the shallow web portions (10) and which are intended to limit the movement of the web portions (10) towards each other, to within their elastic bending limit. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Releasable self-locking spring clip This invention relates to a releasable self-locking spring clip for axially fixing a component on a bolt, pin or the like, by means of two facing, spaced apart, spreader tongues which bear at free ends thereof against the peripheral surface of the bolt, when therebetween, at an acute angle with respect to a radial plane through the bolt and which are provided at their other ends which, in use are directed away from the bolt, with support surfaces which are integrally connected together by shallow web portions which each extend past the bolt in an arc curved coaxially to the longitudinal axis of the bolt and which are set on edge with respect to the radial plane through the bolt. Such a clip is disclosed in German utility model No. 71 25 322.

Non-releasable spring clips are known, which are also referred to as spring nuts, are used for example in the motor industry to fix motor vehicle emblems and badges to the bodywork sheet metal. To this end, the pins which are cast on the emblem or badge are pushed through suitable holes in the sheet metal and the spring clip is pressed on to the pin from the rear, until it comes to bear against the sheet metal. When that is done the spreader tongues open a little and slide with their sharp edges over the surface of the pin.Due to the acute angle between the radial plane and the spreader tongues, the spring clip may be displaced only in one direction over the pin; in the opposite direction the tongues lock to prevent movement of the spring clip on the pin, If at some time a component which has been fixed in position in this way has to be removed, then this can only be done by destroying the spring clip at the same time, unless there is the possibility of lifting the spreader tongues away from the pin somewhat and at the same time pushing the clip back.

With the releasable spring clip disclosed in German Utility Model No. 71 25 322, the spreader tongues can be released from the bolt when the web portions, which are taken in an arcuate configuration past the bolt, are pressed slightly towards the bolt and, when that is done, the spreader tongues are simultaneously pressed away from the bolt. As finger force however is generally not adequate sufficiently to press the arcuate web portions towards each other, a pair of thin-nose pliers or the like preferably has to be used. When this is done, however, the danger may easily arise that the web portions are pressed towards each other beyond the elastic limit so that the spreader tongues no longer spring back into their old clamping position and the spring clip is made useless as a result.

There is thus a need for an improved releasable self-locking spring clip such that, for releasing the spreader tongues and with a view to reusability of the clip, the spring web portions may be pressed towards each other only to such an extent as to avoid permanent deformation, According to the present invention there is provided a releasable self-locking spring clip for axially fixing a component on a bolt, pin or the like, by means of two facing, spaced apart, spreader tongues which bear at free ends thereof against the peripheral surface of the bolt, when therebetween, at an acute angle with respect to a radial plane through the bolt and which are provided at their other ends which, in use are directed away from the bolt, with support surfaces which are integrally connected together by shallow web portions which each extend past the bolt in an arc curved coaxially to the longitudinal axis of the bolt, when present between the tongues, and which are set on edge with respect to the radial plane through the bolt, wherein each spreader tongue has at its free end ears which project laterally from each side of the tongue towards the inside surface of the respective facing adjacent shallow web portion and which are operable to restrict movement of the web portions, when the latter are pressed towards each other into engagement with the ears to displace the free ends of the tongues away from and out of engagement with a bolt periphery for release purpose, to within the elastic bending range of the web portions.

By this design feature, the spring clip can now also be easily released by a pair of pliers which may be used not only for pressing the spring web portions towards each other but also for subsequently pulling the spring clip off the bolt after the spring clip, in the opened condition, has been firmly embraced by the nose of the pliers.

For a better understanding of the present invention, and to show how the same may be carried into effect, reference will now be made, by way of example, to the accompanying drawing, in which: Figure 1 is a cross-sectional view through a spring clip according to the invention in a mounted condition, taken along line I-I in Fig.

2, Figure 2 is a plan view of the clip of Fig. 1, and Figure 3 is a plan view of the spring clip of Figs. 1 and 2 showing spreader tongues pressed apart for release purposes.

A spring clip of the invention shown in the accompanying drawings is suitable for axially fixing or securing a component 1 on a bolt 2 which is shown in dash-dotted lines and which is connected to another component 3 which is also shown in dash-dotted lines. For this purpose the spring clip is provided with two facing, spaced apart spreader tongues 4 having free ends with sharp edges 5 and 6 which bear at an acute angle a with respect to a radial plane 'R' through the bolt 2 against the peripheral surface 7 of the bolt. At their other ends that face away from the bolt 2, the spreader tongues 4 have support surfaces 8 which lie in the radial plane 'R' and thereby press the component 1 against the component 3 which is carried on the bolt 2, as soon as the spring clip is firmly pressed down.

At their upwardly bent edge strip portions 9, the support surfaces 8 are integrally joined together by flat or shallow web portions 10.

These web portions 10 are also in on-edge relationship to the radial plane 'R' and extend past and around the bolt 2 in an outwardly curved arc coaxial with the longitudinal axis of the bolt 2. The web portions 10 are of such strength relative to their cross-section that they hold the spreader tongues 4 together with sufficient force to produce the self-locking effect. On the other hand however, as shown in Fig. 3, they may be elastically pressed towards each other in the direction indicated by the arrows P, to cause the spreader tongues 4 to be moved apart in the direction indicated by the arrows Z, in order to release the spring clip. In this way the sharp edges 5 and 6 are lifted away from the surface 7 of the bolt and the spring clip can be easily removed from the bolt and subsequently pressed back on to the bolt.

As the spring web portions 10 can scarcely be pressed toward each other by finger pressure alone, because of the necessary size of the web portions and bending cross-sections, a pair of flat-nose or beak-nose pliers will be necessary for dismantiing purposes. The amount of movement with which the web portions can be pressed towards each other is restricted by virtue of the spreader tongues 4 being provided at their free ends that face towards the pin 2, with ears 11 that project laterally from each side of the tongues. This has the advantage that spring web portions 10 cannot be pressed towards each other beyond their elastic bending limit.In this connection abutment edges 12 on the ears 11 may be displaced outwardly to such an extent that, when the web portions 10 are pressed inwardly towards each other, the spreader tongues 4 just come away a little from the surface 7 of the bolt.

Each tongue free end has at least one sharp edge, preferably the two edges 5, 6 which are formed on a generally V shaped region of the tongue in plan view to extend in V shaped formation.

The spring clip is preferably punched or stamped out of flat spring steel and bent, with the punched or stamped edges 5 and 6 making a firm hold on the smooth steel bolt or pin 2, in a particularly good fashion.

However the spring clip may also be formed from other materials such as plastics materials with a suitable elastic behaviour, particularly when the spreader tongues 4 can engage in a groove extending around the bolt 2, when no sharp support edges 5 and 6 are required.

Claims

1. A releasable self-locking spring clip for axially fixing a component on a bolt, pin or the like, by means of two facing, spaced apart, spreader tongues which bear at free ends thereof against the peripheral surface of the bolt, when therebetween, at an acute angle with respect to a radial plane through the bolt and which are provided at their other ends which, in use are directed away from the bolt, with support surfaces which are integrally connected together by shallow web portions which each extend past the bolt in an arc curved coaxially to the longitudinal axis of the bolt, when present between the tongues, and which are set on edge with respect to the radial plane through the bolt, wherein each spreader tongue has at its free end ears which project laterally from each side of the tongue towards the inside surface of the respective facing adjacent shallow web portion and which are operable to restrict movement of the web portions, when the latter are pressed towards each other into engagement with the ears to displace the free ends of the tongues away from and out of engagement with a bolt periphery for release purpose, to within the elastic bending range of the web portions.

A clip according to Claim 1, wehrein each tongue free end has at least one sharp edge for engagement with the bolt periphery.

3. A clip according to Claim 1, wherin each tongue free end has two sharp edges for engagement with the bolt periphery.

4. A clip according to Claim 3, wherein each tongue free end hs at least in part a generally V shaped region in plan view providing said two sharp edges.

5. A releasable self-locking spring clip, substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawing.