GB2348919A

GB2348919A - A clip mechanism

Info

Publication number: GB2348919A
Application number: GB9828246A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Daniel Bone
Original assignee: Black and Decker Inc
Current assignee: Black and Decker Inc
Priority date: 1998-12-22
Filing date: 1998-12-22
Publication date: 2000-10-18
Anticipated expiration: 2018-12-22
Also published as: GB9828246D0; GB2348919B

Abstract

A clip mechanism 10 for effecting a connection between two bodies (eg stacked containers) is mounted on a first body and comprises a clip element 22 with a latch tooth 40 pivotably displaceable from a first position, in which it is restrained from projecting outwardly of the first container 2, to a second, upstanding position where it is held proud of the first container to facilitate engagement of the tooth 40 with a retaining means 42 mounted on a second body 1 to hold the two bodies together. Formation 16 engages with formations 34 to secure the element 22 in the two positions.

Description

CLIP MECHANISM The present invention relates to a clip mechanism used to facilitate connection between two bodies. More particularly, the invention is directed towards a clip mechanism of the type which is selectively displaceable so as to remain discrete when such a clip mechanism is not required but maybe orientated so as to project proud of the body when required to allow such a mechanism to engage a second body. Further still, this type of clip mechanism is mainly used on containers to allow such containers to be stacked and retained together.

Known methods and means for connecting together two objects such as containers or boxes involve the use of projections from one of the two containers to be received within corresponding rebates in the second container to allow snap engagement between the projections and rebates to effectively lock such containers together. However, a drawback of the use of such projections arises in a situation whereby the user would not wish for such boxes to be connected together but to be both free standing.

It will be appreciated that a projection from a container or box could result in such a container remaining unstable due to the projection. Alternatively, containers may also be connected together by use of pivotal clip mechanisms which are mounted and housed on a peripheral wall of the container. In use these type of pivotal clip mechanisms will have a shoulder for engagement with a rim of a second container. When two such similar size containers are stacked one upon top of the other the clip member of the upper container may be pivoted about a lower edge of the upper container to bring the shoulder into engagement with the rim of the lower container. Similar clip members are engaged about the complete periphery of the two containers to facilitate engagement. However, such a system has several drawbacks, in particular it is necessary that the containers to be connected be substantially of similar dimensions in order that the peripheral walls overlie one another when such containers are stacked together to allow the clip mechanism on the upper container to then be displaced to engage the walls of the lower container.

In addition, whilst the clip mechanisms of such containers are retained in the closed position when not in use, there is no provision for locking such retaining means in a second proud position to facilitate ease of engagement between two such containers.

It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a clip mechanism which alleviates the aforementioned problems in a simple and cost effective manner.

According to the present invention there is provided a clip mechanism mounted on a first body for cooperating engagement with a retaining means mounted on a second body to restrain the first and second bodies from relative displacement, characterised in that the clip mechanism comprises a clip element selectively displaceable from a first position wherein it is restrained from projecting substantially outwardly of the first body, to a second upstanding position where it is restrained proud of the first body for facilitating engagement with the retaining means. In this manner, the clip mechanism serves to provide a substantially securely restrained projection to facilitate engagement when in the second position but allows the same projection to be restrained substantially within the periphery of the casing in its first position so as to allow the first body to be free standing without the inconvenience of projections affecting the stability of such a first body.

Preferably the clip element will be pivotally displaceable about a hinge between its first and second position wherein it is usual that the first body may be of moulded plastics that such a hinge and clip element are integrally moulded in the plastics material to provide a cost effective manufacture of such a clip mechanism.

To facilitate the restraint of the clip element in its first or second position, the clip mechanism will usually comprise a locking means engageable between the first body and the clip element once a clip element is in either first or second position to restrain the clip element in that first or second position respectively.

Preferably, the locking means will comprise at least one first locking member mounted on the clip element and at least two second locking members mounted on the first body for co-operating engagement between the first and second locking members when the clip element is in the first or second position. To facilitate engagement of the locking means, one of the two second locking members will be positioned so as to engage the first locking member when the clip element is in its first position and the other of the second locking members is positioned so as to co-operate with the first locking member when the clip element is in the second position. Thus by providing such locking means, the clip element is restrained in a first or second position to either maintain it from unwanted projection outwardly of the body or to retain it in a position where it does extend proud of the body and serves as a rigid locking member to engage a retaining means on a second body.

Preferably, one of either of the first or second locking members will comprise a resiliently deflectable arm and the other of the first or second locking members will comprise a co-operating arm engaging recess to provide for engagement between the deflectable arm and the recess. To facilitate the engagement between the deflectable arm and the co-operating arm engaging recess, at least one of the arm or the arm engaging recess has an inclined lead-in surface to provide a cam surface to facilitate cam deflection of the resiliently deflectable arm where an engagement therebetween occurs. Preferably, both of the arm and the arm engaging recess will have such lead-in surfaces to facilitate such deflection.

This provides for the deflecting force applied to the resiliently deflectable arm to be gradually applied as the clip element is moved into a restrained position over such cam surfaces.

Preferably, the clip element will comprise a flange on its free end, which flange having a shoulder directed inwardly towards the body, towards the hinge for snap engagement with the co-operating retaining means of the second body. This retaining means will usually comprise a slot in the surface of the second body whereby the walls of such slot are resiliently deflectable to facilitate passage of the flange of the clip element therethrough and which will then snap engage with the shoulder of the clip element to effect the co-operating engagement between the clip mechanism and the retaining means.

Further, according to the present invention there is provided a container comprising a clip mechanism as discussed above as well as a system of at least two interconnectable containers in which at least one of the containers comprises a clip mechanism as discussed above and at least one other container which comprises a retaining means for engagement with this clip mechanism.

A preferred embodiment of the present invention will now be described by way of example only with reference to the accompanying illustrative drawings in which: Figure la is a perspective view of a first container having an open lid ; and Figure lb is a perspective view of the container of Figure la orientated relative to a second container for engagement therewith; and Figure 2 is a plan view from above of an alternative embodiment of the container of Figure la with the lid portion removed; and Figure 3 is a side elevation of the container of Figure 2; and Figure 4 is an exploded plan view from above of a clip mechanism of Figure 2; and Figure 5 is a part sectional view along the line V-V of Figure 2 showing the clip element; and Figure 6 is a part sectional view of the clip element of Figure 2 along the lines of V-V in an engaged position; and Figure 7 is a sectional view along the line of VII-VII of Figure 2.

Referring now to Figures la and lb, the concept of the present invention relates to a clip mechanism primarily for connecting together two bodies. Shown substantially schematically in Figures la and lb it is desirable to connect together two different bodies, especially containers (such as kitboxes for use with power tools and power tool accessories). In the present embodiment, it is desirable to have a primary kitbox (1) for housing a power tool such as an electric drill or electric jigsaw or the like, of a conventional design. However, it is often an initial requirement to also have a container of accessories for that particular power tool, wherein such containers or kitboxes may take the form of an accessories box shown schematically as (2) in Figure la.

Alternatively, the accessories may be stored in the primary kitbox (1) but this has proved to present drawbacks in that there is limited space available and quite often the accessories become dislodged. It is also understood that many power tool users have more than one particular type of power tool such as a plurality of drills for different functions, including (for example) corded drills for more intensive jobs and cordless power tools for less extensive workloads in inaccessible places. Therefore, such users do not wish to have all the accessories for e. g., a drill held together with a particular drill box since that may not be the tool that is actually required for the job. As such, DIY users often require that the accessories are kept separate in a separate container to be transported to the relevant job site. However, there is also a requirement for maintaining the accessories with the tool itself for those users who only have one particular type of tool.

It is therefore desirable to have an accessories kitbox (2) which may either be connected to the primary kitbox (1) housing the power tool or may be capable of standing alone and separate from the primary kitbox (1). Thus it will be appreciated from Figures la and Figures lb that the kitbox (2) may either be stand alone or may be mounted on the primary kitbox (1). To facilitate this mounting, the accessories kitbox (2) will comprise connection means shown schematically as (10) which may engage with co-operating means within the primary kitbox (1) to restrain the two kitboxes in connected engagement.

However, it should also be appreciated that such clip mechanisms (10) may be displaced from the schematic position shown in Figure la so that they do not extend proud of the kitbox (2) when such kitbox (2) is desired to stand alone. This arrangement of the clip mechanism will now be described in more detail.

Referring now to Figure 2 which shows a plan view from above of a lower half (12) of an accessories kitbox similar to that shown in Figure 1A, it can be seen that such a kitbox comprises a recessed storage area (14) for accommodating the particular types of accessories (such as drill bits, screwdriver bits, wallplugs, screws etc. as required for the particular type of power tool). The lower half (12) also comprises two hinge hooks (15) (also shown in Figure 3 of the side elevation of the lower half (12). For co-operating engagement with a corresponding hinge mechanism on the upper half (not shown) of the accessories kitbox to provide a conventional hinged box.

Referring now to Figure 3 the storage area (14) extends below the level of the peripheral wall of the kitbox (2) and serves to form a substantially flat base area for the kitbox (2), providing a stable platform.

The kitbox (2) further has an array of three clip mechanisms (10) at a front of the kitbox. The kitbox further comprises three clip hooks (20) disposed at the rear of the kitbox.

Referring also now to Figures 4 and 5, the clip mechanism (10) will be described in more detail. The kitbox (2) is plastics moulded with the clip mechanism (10) being integrally moulded therewith. This clip mechanism (10) comprises an integrally moulded plastics projection (22) attached to a wall of the kitbox by means of a simple plastics hinge (24) (Figure 5). This hinge (24) is simply a narrow connection of plastics material about which the projection (22) can pivot. This projection (22) has two integrally moulded arms (16) projecting from opposed side faces (26). The clip mechanism (10) further comprises an array of moulded recesses disposed in the wall of the kitbox about the projection (22). There are two lower recesses (28) one each disposed either side of the projection (22) and two upper recesses (30) again disposed either side of the projection (22). The recesses (30), as seen in Figure 5, are indicated by a dotted line in Figure 4 and are being within two projections (31) (Figure 4).

As can be seen from figures 4 & 5 each of the projections (16) have a substantially rounded lead-in surface (32) substantially forming a cam surface. In addition, each of the recesses (28) and (30) also have rounded lead-in surfaces (34) for corresponding cam engagement with the lead-in surfaces (32) of the projection (16).

Referring now to Figure 5, it will be appreciated that the projection (22) is pivotable about the hinge (24) between an upper engaged position and a lower engaged position. The lower engaged position is shown substantially in Figure 6 whereby the projection (22) is rotated to a downwardly extending position (shown schematically as 22'in Figure 3) where it projects proud of the kitbox (2). During rotation of the projection (22) from the position shown in Figure 5 to that shown in Figure 6, the circular lead-in surface (32) each of the side arms (16) engage with the rounded lead-in surfaces (34) of the lower recesses (28) whereby engagement of these rounded surfaces results in a cam action applying force to the resiliently deflectable arm (16), deflecting the arm upwardly as viewed in Figure 6 as the projection (22) is continued to be rotated. Continued rotation causes the arm (16) to then engage the recess (28) whereby it snap engages with said recess under the resilient biassing of the deflected arm (16). Engagement between the arm (16) and the recess (28) then serves to restrain the projection (22) in this downwardly extended position as shown 22'in Figure 3.

It will be appreciated that whilst it is not shown in the figures, if the projection (22) as shown in Figure 5 is displaced in an upward direction about the hinge (24) then again the lead-in surface (32) of the arm (16) will engage the lead-in surface (34) of the recess (30) to again effect resilient deflection of the arm (16) to snap engage with the corresponding recess (30). It is important to note that the upper recess (30) is offset with respect to the lower recess (28) so that the same projection arm (16) can engage both recesses. However, it will also be appreciated that if the arm (16) is more centralised within the edge (26) of the projection (22) then it can be so positioned that the recess (30) could overlie the recess (28) as an alternative embodiment. Alternatively, the single projection (22) could be replacedd by two separate projections (not shown) are each for engagement with the upper or lower recesses.

When the projection (22) has been raised to its upper position so that the arm (16) engages the recess (30) it will be appreciated that this projection (22) will be substantially retained in a recess rearwardly of the outer face (36) of the kitbox. In such a recessed position, the projection (22) has no effect on the stability or support of a free standing kitbox (2).

However, in the position shown in Figure 6, the projection (22) extends proud of the lower surface of the container (as indicated in Figure 3) and thus will affect the stability of this kitbox (2).

Again referring to Figures 5 and 6, the projection (22) comprises a bulbous free end (38) which presents an inwardly directed shoulder (40) directed towards the hinge (24). Again it will be appreciated that the shoulder (40) may extend on the opposite side of the projection (22).

It will be appreciated that the projection (22) is intended to engage with a co-operating retaining means on a second body or container such as the primary kitbox (1) as shown schematically in Figure lb This is clearly shown in Figure 6 by the peripheral wall of the primary kitbox (1) being shown in section as (40) and the retaining means on the kitbox (1) comprising a slot (42) formed in the resiliently deflectable plastics material of that kitbox. Slot (42) has dimensions marginally greater than the thickness of the projection (22) whereby engagement of the bulbous head (38) of the projection (22) into the slot (42) causes resilient deformation of the slot (42) allowing the bulbous projection (38) to pass therethrough. Once the bulbous projection has passed through the thickness of the peripheral wall (40) said wall (40) under the biasing of the resilient deformation snap engages with the shoulder (40) of the bulbous projection to effect engagement between the projection (22) and the lower kitbox (1), thereby retaining the two kitboxes (1 & 2) in engagement.

In the preferred embodiment shown in these figures, the lower kitbox (1) comprises an upstanding rim portion (44) simply as a design modification to be described with reference to Figure 7.

As can be seen in Figure 7 the rear of the kitbox (2) comprises three clip hooks (20) to assist in orientation of the kitboxes (1) and (2) for engagement therebetween and to assist in retaining the two kitboxes from displacement away from each other. These integrally moulded plastics hooks (20) extend from the lower half of the kitbox (12) a pre-determined amount so as not to project beyond the lower surface of the storage area (14) and therefore do not affect the stability of the kitbox (2). The rim portion (44) of the primary kitbox (1) has rebates (46) for co-operation with each of the three clip hooks (20) which are thus simply slid into engagement therewith as shown substantially in Figure 7. Thus the alignment of the kitbox 20 and the rebates (46) serve to align the projections (22) of the accessories kitbox (2) with the corresponding slots (42) formed in the primary kitbox (1).

It will also be appreciated that this clip mechanism provides for a releasable connection system between two kitboxes since access to the bulbous projection (38) extending through the wall (40) of the lower kitbox (1) can be achieved by simply opening the hinged lid of the lower kitbox (1) and forcing the projection (22) out of the slot. Thus it is possible to selectively utilise the kitbox (2) as either a free standing kitbox or as an accessories tray to be connected to a primary kitbox.

In addition, the use of a rim portion (44) in the lower kitbox in the present embodiment is merely one of a number of preferential but non essential design options and it will be appreciated that such a peripheral rim (44) may simply be removed and the clip hooks (20) replaced by corresponding clip mechanisms (10) simply engageable with a corresponding array of slots formed in a substantially upper surface of a lower kitbox (1). In addition, whilst the present embodiment as shown in Figure 2 shows a kitbox utilising three connection mechanisms (10), any number of such mechanisms may be employed to achieve connection between the two kitboxes.

It will further be appreciated that whilst the actual engagement mechanism between the projection (22) and the lower kitbox (1) involves snap engagement between the shoulder (38) and the slot (42) alternative connection methods may be employed such as hook and loop, or the projection (22) may be elongated with a threaded portion for receiving a corresponding nut once it has passed through a corresponding slot (42) or any other additional conventional method of connecting a projection to a secondary body may be employed. The invention is not limited to the simple snap engagement mechanism shown in the preferred embodiment. In addition, the present invention is not limited to use with boxes or containers. It may be utilised to connect any two substantially solid bodies to one another.

It will also be appreciated whilst the preferred embodiment discussed is a moulded plastic unit having an integrally moulded clip mechanism, it will also be appreciated that such a clip mechanism could be manufactured of other materials such as metal with the hinge (24) formed as a conventional metal hinge.

Claims

Claims 1. A clip mechanism mounted on a first body for cooperating engagement with a retaining means mounted on a second body to restrain said first and second bodies from relative displacement, characterised in that said clip mechanism comprises a clip element selectively displaceable from a first position wherein it is restrained from projecting outwardly of the first body, to a second, upstanding position where it is restrained proud of said first body for facilitating engagement with said retaining means.
2. A clip mechanism as claimed in claim 1 in which said clip element is pivotably displaceable about a hinge between said first and second position.
3. A clip mechanism as claimed in either of the preceding claims and comprising locking means engageable between said first body and said clip element when said clip element is in said first or second position to restrain said clip element in said first or second position respectivly.
4. A clip mechanism as claimed in claim 3 in which said locking means comprises at least one first locking member mounted on said clip element and at least two second locking members mounted on said first body for cooperating engagement therbetween when said clip element in said first or second position.
5. A clip mechanism as claimed in claim 4 in which one of said first or second locking members comprises a resiliently deflectable arm and the other of said first or second locking members comprises a co-operating arm engaging recess.
6. A clip mechanism as claimed in any one of the preceding claims in which said clip element comprises a flange on a free end thereof having a shoulder directed towards said first body for snap engaging said cooperating retaining means of said second body.
7. A clip mechanism as claimed in claim 6 in which said retaining means comprises a slot in said second body presenting a lip for snap engagement with said shoulder..
8. A container comprising a clip mechanism as claimed in any one of the preceding claims.
9. A system of at least two interconnectable containers in which at least one container comprises a clip mechanism as claimed in any one of the preceding claims and at least one other container comprises a retaining means for engagement with said clip mechanism.
10. A clip mechanism substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying illustrative drawings.