GB2444729A - Clip to engage in an aperture - Google Patents
Clip to engage in an aperture Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- GB2444729A GB2444729A GB0625058A GB0625058A GB2444729A GB 2444729 A GB2444729 A GB 2444729A GB 0625058 A GB0625058 A GB 0625058A GB 0625058 A GB0625058 A GB 0625058A GB 2444729 A GB2444729 A GB 2444729A
- Authority
- GB
- United Kingdom
- Prior art keywords
- clip
- article
- hole
- attachment
- leading end
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Withdrawn
Links
- 239000000463 material Substances 0.000 claims description 8
- 230000002787 reinforcement Effects 0.000 claims description 6
- 239000004952 Polyamide Substances 0.000 claims description 4
- 239000000835 fiber Substances 0.000 claims description 4
- 229920002647 polyamide Polymers 0.000 claims description 4
- OKTJSMMVPCPJKN-UHFFFAOYSA-N Carbon Chemical compound [C] OKTJSMMVPCPJKN-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 claims description 3
- 239000004743 Polypropylene Substances 0.000 claims description 3
- 229910052799 carbon Inorganic materials 0.000 claims description 3
- 239000003365 glass fiber Substances 0.000 claims description 3
- -1 polypropylene Polymers 0.000 claims description 3
- 229920001155 polypropylene Polymers 0.000 claims description 3
- 230000000694 effects Effects 0.000 claims description 2
- 229910000831 Steel Inorganic materials 0.000 description 13
- 239000010959 steel Substances 0.000 description 13
- 239000002184 metal Substances 0.000 description 7
- 229910052751 metal Inorganic materials 0.000 description 7
- 238000004519 manufacturing process Methods 0.000 description 3
- 238000000465 moulding Methods 0.000 description 3
- 238000001746 injection moulding Methods 0.000 description 2
- 230000003014 reinforcing effect Effects 0.000 description 2
- 239000000565 sealant Substances 0.000 description 2
- 239000012815 thermoplastic material Substances 0.000 description 2
- 230000000712 assembly Effects 0.000 description 1
- 238000000429 assembly Methods 0.000 description 1
- 239000000969 carrier Substances 0.000 description 1
- 239000011248 coating agent Substances 0.000 description 1
- 238000000576 coating method Methods 0.000 description 1
- 230000006835 compression Effects 0.000 description 1
- 238000007906 compression Methods 0.000 description 1
- 238000001125 extrusion Methods 0.000 description 1
- 238000005187 foaming Methods 0.000 description 1
- 239000011521 glass Substances 0.000 description 1
- 238000010438 heat treatment Methods 0.000 description 1
- 238000002347 injection Methods 0.000 description 1
- 239000007924 injection Substances 0.000 description 1
- 239000004033 plastic Substances 0.000 description 1
Classifications
-
- F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
- F16—ENGINEERING ELEMENTS AND UNITS; GENERAL MEASURES FOR PRODUCING AND MAINTAINING EFFECTIVE FUNCTIONING OF MACHINES OR INSTALLATIONS; THERMAL INSULATION IN GENERAL
- F16B—DEVICES FOR FASTENING OR SECURING CONSTRUCTIONAL ELEMENTS OR MACHINE PARTS TOGETHER, e.g. NAILS, BOLTS, CIRCLIPS, CLAMPS, CLIPS OR WEDGES; JOINTS OR JOINTING
- F16B5/00—Joining sheets or plates, e.g. panels, to one another or to strips or bars parallel to them
- F16B5/06—Joining sheets or plates, e.g. panels, to one another or to strips or bars parallel to them by means of clamps or clips
- F16B5/0607—Joining sheets or plates, e.g. panels, to one another or to strips or bars parallel to them by means of clamps or clips joining sheets or plates to each other
- F16B5/0621—Joining sheets or plates, e.g. panels, to one another or to strips or bars parallel to them by means of clamps or clips joining sheets or plates to each other in parallel relationship
- F16B5/0664—Joining sheets or plates, e.g. panels, to one another or to strips or bars parallel to them by means of clamps or clips joining sheets or plates to each other in parallel relationship at least one of the sheets or plates having integrally formed or integrally connected snap-in-features
-
- F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
- F16—ENGINEERING ELEMENTS AND UNITS; GENERAL MEASURES FOR PRODUCING AND MAINTAINING EFFECTIVE FUNCTIONING OF MACHINES OR INSTALLATIONS; THERMAL INSULATION IN GENERAL
- F16B—DEVICES FOR FASTENING OR SECURING CONSTRUCTIONAL ELEMENTS OR MACHINE PARTS TOGETHER, e.g. NAILS, BOLTS, CIRCLIPS, CLAMPS, CLIPS OR WEDGES; JOINTS OR JOINTING
- F16B21/00—Means for preventing relative axial movement of a pin, spigot, shaft or the like and a member surrounding it; Stud-and-socket releasable fastenings
- F16B21/06—Releasable fastening devices with snap-action
- F16B21/08—Releasable fastening devices with snap-action in which the stud, pin, or spigot has a resilient part
-
- F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
- F16—ENGINEERING ELEMENTS AND UNITS; GENERAL MEASURES FOR PRODUCING AND MAINTAINING EFFECTIVE FUNCTIONING OF MACHINES OR INSTALLATIONS; THERMAL INSULATION IN GENERAL
- F16B—DEVICES FOR FASTENING OR SECURING CONSTRUCTIONAL ELEMENTS OR MACHINE PARTS TOGETHER, e.g. NAILS, BOLTS, CIRCLIPS, CLAMPS, CLIPS OR WEDGES; JOINTS OR JOINTING
- F16B21/00—Means for preventing relative axial movement of a pin, spigot, shaft or the like and a member surrounding it; Stud-and-socket releasable fastenings
- F16B21/06—Releasable fastening devices with snap-action
- F16B21/08—Releasable fastening devices with snap-action in which the stud, pin, or spigot has a resilient part
- F16B21/088—Releasable fastening devices with snap-action in which the stud, pin, or spigot has a resilient part the stud, pin or spigot being integrally formed with the component to be fastened, e.g. forming part of the sheet, plate or strip
-
- F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
- F16—ENGINEERING ELEMENTS AND UNITS; GENERAL MEASURES FOR PRODUCING AND MAINTAINING EFFECTIVE FUNCTIONING OF MACHINES OR INSTALLATIONS; THERMAL INSULATION IN GENERAL
- F16B—DEVICES FOR FASTENING OR SECURING CONSTRUCTIONAL ELEMENTS OR MACHINE PARTS TOGETHER, e.g. NAILS, BOLTS, CIRCLIPS, CLAMPS, CLIPS OR WEDGES; JOINTS OR JOINTING
- F16B5/00—Joining sheets or plates, e.g. panels, to one another or to strips or bars parallel to them
- F16B5/06—Joining sheets or plates, e.g. panels, to one another or to strips or bars parallel to them by means of clamps or clips
- F16B5/0607—Joining sheets or plates, e.g. panels, to one another or to strips or bars parallel to them by means of clamps or clips joining sheets or plates to each other
- F16B5/0621—Joining sheets or plates, e.g. panels, to one another or to strips or bars parallel to them by means of clamps or clips joining sheets or plates to each other in parallel relationship
- F16B5/065—Joining sheets or plates, e.g. panels, to one another or to strips or bars parallel to them by means of clamps or clips joining sheets or plates to each other in parallel relationship the plates being one on top of the other and distanced from each other, e.g. by using protrusions to keep contact and distance
Abstract
A clip is provided which can produce secure attachments by passing through a aperture in a panel 10 in which there is limited space behind the aperture. The clip has a leading end to which are flexibly attached shaped legs 4, 5 provided with hooks 7 on the end of the legs to engage on the reverse side of the aperture surround. The trailing end of the clip may be provided with flexible arms 8, 9 which bear against the front side of the surround. The legs 4, 5 are each U-shaped as shown to provide a flexing portion at the front side of the aperture but they may be V or W-shaped.
Description
IMPROVEMENTS IN OR RELATING TO CLIPS
The present invention related to improvements in or relating to attachment devices and, in particular it relates to attachments devices which enable a secure attachment to be achieved in a confined space. In a preferred embodiment the invention also provides an improved attachment device that can be manufactured more readily by injection moulding than previous attachment devices that have been developed for use in confined spaces. The invention further provides assemblies comprising an article attached to a member by means of the attachment device of the present invention.
In many industries it is necessary to attach components together and an attachment is frequently formed by the provision of a clip on one of the articles which can pass through a hole formed in another article to form a secure attachment. Typically the clip will have flexible divergent legs whereby the legs move together as the clip is pushed into the hole to allow the clip to pass through the hole and they will spring back once they have passed through the hole to prevent the clip passing back through the hole. Such systems are frequently used for the attachment of components such as baffles and/or structural reinforcing articles within the frames of automobiles. However, in certain locations there can be very little space behind the hole and the smaller the space behind the hole, the more difficult to provide short divergent legs with sufficient flexibility to pass through the hole and revert to a locking position once they have passed through the hole.
In certain instances the space behind the hole can be no greater than 5 millimeters deep and in some instances it can be as small as 2 to 3 millimeters deep.
European Patent 0837252 BI proposes a clip provided with limbs which are pulled down onto the perimeter of the backside of a hole as they are pushed through the hole so finishing flush with the reverse surface of the material to which the attachment is to be made. This clip requires intricate design providing a nose which is directed towards with the front side of the surface to which the attachments is to be made. The clip of European Patent 0837252 Bi is generally made from plastic and is integrally rnoulded with the article that is to be attached and requires an intricate and expensive mould. The clip of European Patent 0837252 BI in which a rigid nose is provided to bear against a steel part, in automobile manufacture, when in the closed position, suffers from the disadvantage that different clips must be used with different thicknesses of the steel.
The present invention provides a clip that is of a simpler design and which can be used to provide an effective attachment in confined spaces and can be used to attach articles to members of differing thicknesses. In this application the term "leading end" of the clip is used to describe the end of the clip that is designed to pass through a hole to form an attachment. The "trailing end" of the clip is the piece that does not pass through the hole.
The present invention therefore provides a clip comprising a leading end provided on each side of the leading end with U, V or W shaped flexible legs, the ends of the U, V or W shaped legs being provided with outwardly extending hooks.
In operation the leading end of the clip is pushed into the hole in the article to which the attachment is to be made and the flexible legs will be forced inwards as they bear against the perimeter of the hole and will flex about the bends in the U shape in the legs and also about the positions where they join with the leading end of the clip. The flexing will continue until the leading end of the clip including the hooks have passed through the hole whereupon the flexibility of the legs will push the hooks outward so they engage with the reverse surface of the article to which the attachment is to be made thus retaining the clip in the clipped position and preventing the clip from passing back through the hole without the application of considerable force Typically satisfactory clipping is determined by the force required to establish clipping and the force required to remove the clip, for example in automotive applications the force required to establish clipping is typically of the order of 3 to 5 decanewtons and the minimum force to remove the clip is typically 10 decanewtons.
In a preferred clip system according to the present invention flexible arms are provided at the trailing end of the clip which face the article to which the attachment is to be made.
The flexible arms extend to a distance greater than the radius of the hole through which the leading end will pass when the attachment is formed. In this way the arms can bear against the front surface of the article to which the attachment is to be made so that the combination of the arms pressing against the front surface of the article and the hooks against the reverse surface of the article exerts a clamping effect to provide a secure attachment. It is preferred that in the unclipped state the distance between the plane of the base of the hook and the plane of the end of the flexible arm is less than the thickness of the article to which the attachment is to be made.
The clips of the present invention may be used for making any type of attachment between articles however, a preferred use of the clip is for attaching an article such as acoustic baffles or sealant or structural reinforcement to metal panels in for example automobiles, ships, aircraft or other forms of transportation. Acoustic baffles and sealants and components for structural reinforcement are provided within hollow metal components in automobile manufacturer. Typically they are provided by clipping a component comprising a carrier provided with a outer foamable layer within the hollow metal component. Accordingly in a further embodiment the invention provides an assembly comprising an article, such as a baffle or structural reinforcement, attached to a member, such as a steel automobile member, by a clip of the present invention In automobile manufacture when the clip is used with a baffle or a structural reinforcement the component is usually clipped in a manner whereby a gap is provided between the exterior surface of the foamable material and the inner surface of the metal.
In this way an anticorrosion coating can be deposited on the metal while the foamable material is in an unformed state and the foamable material can subsequently be foamed, usually by heating, to bridge the gap and securely bond the carrier to the metal.
In this embodiment the clip holds the component in place during the anticorrosion and foaming operations. In many instances the carriers of the baffles or structural reinforcement parts are of thermoplastic material and are produced by injection moulding.
The clip of the present invention can conveniently be provided as an integral part of the injection moulded carrier. Examples of suitable thermoplastic materials that may be used for the carrier include polyamides and polypropylene which may be fibre filled with, for example, glass fibre or carbon fibre to provide increased strength. Glass filled polyamide is a particularly preferred material. The design of the clip of the present invention allows the integral moulding of the carrier and one or more clips to be produced in a mould of relatively simple design thus reducing the cost of both the mould and the mouldings and also reducing the risk of breakages of the mouldings.
Alternatively, the clip can be fanned as a continuous integrated part of an extrusion which can, if desired, be cut to provide components provided with an elongated clip according to the present invention.
In automobile manufacture the space behind holes provided in metal components for attachments can be very small. For example in structures such as pillars particularly A and B pillars in vehicles and in rails the space behind a hole in the pillar or rail wall which can accommodate the leading end of a clip can be as little as 2 to 5 millimeters sometimes as little as 2 to 3 millimeters. lt is not possible to achieve a secure attachment with a standard clip provided with diverging legs from the leading end in such a confined space. We have found however that a secure attachment may be achieved in such a confined space when employing a clip according to the present invention and so the clip may have a leading end that is no more than 5 millimeters and at times no more that 3 millimeters long and still form a secure attachment and the U shaped legs can also have a depth no more than 5 millimeters and at times no more than 3 millimeters.
The clips of the present invention have the additional benefit that the same design of clip can be used for attachment of articles to materials of varying thickness. For example, in automobile manufacturer the steel in the components to which it is desired to make the attachments can vary in thickness typically from about 0.5 millimeters to 2 to 3 millimeters thick. A clip of the present invention can be used with all steels within this range of thickness.
The present invention is illustrated by reference to the accompanying drawings in which:-Figure 1 is a perceptive view of a prototype clip of the present invention.
Figure 2 shows the prototype clip providing an attachment to a steel panel.
Figure 3 is an exploded view of the circled area of Figure 2 showing the clamping action achieved between the hooks of the clip on the reverse side of the steel panel and the flexible arms on the front side of the steel panel.
The figures show the clip as being integrally moulded with a rectangular blank, this blank could however be the carrier of a baffle or a structural reinforcing component of an automobile.
Referring to Figure 1 the clip comprises a leading end (1) to which are integrally moulded two U shaped legs (2) and (3) which are on either side of the leading end (1). The end of the limbs (4) and (5) of the U shaped legs are provided with integrally moulded hooks (6) and (7). The trailing end of the clips is provided with two flexible arms (8) and (9).
Figure 2 shows the clip attached to a steel panel (10) and it can be seen that the leading end of the clip can be pressed through the hole by the compression of the U shaped legs about the flex points (11) and (12) where the legs join the leading edge (1) and also the flex points (13) and (14) at the bends in the U shaped legs. It can also be seen that once the hooks on the ends of the U shaped legs have been pressed through the hole the flexibility of the system pushes the hooks outwards over the back of the steel panel so that they will prevent the leading edge of the clip from passing back through the hole without the application of significant pressure. Figure 2 also shows that once the hooks are in place on the reverse side of the steel panel (10) the flexible arms (8) and (9) bear against the front side of the steel panel (10) to exert a clamping action which is shown on the expansion of the circled portion of Figure 2 which is Figure 3 showing that the distance from the hook to the arm is less than the thickness of the steel.
Whilst the present invention has been described in terms of the legs of the clips being U shaped it will be appreciated that other shapes having the required flexibility can be used.
For examples the legs may be V shaped or W shaped.
Claims (14)
1. A clip comprising a leading end provided with U, V or W shaped flexible legs on each side of the leading end, the ends of the U, V or W shaped legs being provided with outwardly extending hooks.
2. A clip according to claim I provided with flexible arms at the trailing end of the clip which face the article to which the attachment is to be made.
3. A clip according to claim 2 in which the flexible arms extend to a distance greater than the radius of the hole through which the leading end will pass so that the attachment is formed.
4. An assembly comprising an article attached to a member by means of a clip wherein the clip is attached to the article and the leading end of the clip passes through a hole in the member wherein the leading end is provided with U, V or W shaped flexible legs provided at their ends with outwardly extending hooks which pass through the hole in the member and bear against the rear side perimeter of the hole.
5. An assembly according to claim 4 in which the clip is provided with flexible arms at the trailing end of the clip.
6. An assembly according to claim 5 in which the arms bear against the front surface of the article to which the attachment is to be made so that the combination of the arms pressing against the front surface of the member and the hooks against the reverse surface of the article exerts a clamping effect to provide a secure attachment.
7. An assembly according to any of claims 4 to 6 in which in the unclipped state the distance between the plane of the base of the hook and the plane of the end of the flexible arm is less than the thickness of the article to which the attachment is to be made.
8. An assembly according to any of claims 4 to 7 in which the article and the clip are made from polyamides or polypropylene filled with glass fibre or carbon fibre.
9. An assembly according to claim 8 in which the polyamides or polypropylene is filled with glass fibre or carbon fibre.
10. An assembly according to any of claims 4 to 9 comprising an automotive pillar containing a component within the pillar clipped to the pillar
11. An assembly according to claim 10 in which the space behind a hole in the pillar or rail wall which can accommodate the leading end of a clip is 2 to 5 millimeters.
12. An automotive component having a clip according to any of claims 1 to 3 integrally moulded therewith.
13. An automotive component according to claim 12 compnsing a baffle comprising a carrier supporting a layer of foamable material wherein the clip is integrally moulded with the carrier.
14. An automotive component according to claim 12 comprising a structural reinforcement comprising a carrier supporting a layer of structured foamable material wherein the clip is integrally moulded with the carrier.
Priority Applications (1)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| GB0625058A GB2444729A (en) | 2006-12-15 | 2006-12-15 | Clip to engage in an aperture |
Applications Claiming Priority (1)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| GB0625058A GB2444729A (en) | 2006-12-15 | 2006-12-15 | Clip to engage in an aperture |
Publications (2)
| Publication Number | Publication Date |
|---|---|
| GB0625058D0 GB0625058D0 (en) | 2007-01-24 |
| GB2444729A true GB2444729A (en) | 2008-06-18 |
Family
ID=37712218
Family Applications (1)
| Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| GB0625058A Withdrawn GB2444729A (en) | 2006-12-15 | 2006-12-15 | Clip to engage in an aperture |
Country Status (1)
| Country | Link |
|---|---|
| GB (1) | GB2444729A (en) |
Cited By (1)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| WO2010142524A1 (en) * | 2009-06-11 | 2010-12-16 | Rolls-Royce Plc | Fastener |
Citations (3)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| GB620988A (en) * | 1946-08-26 | 1949-04-01 | Tinnerman Products Inc | Improvements relating to fastening devices |
| GB2205892A (en) * | 1987-06-08 | 1988-12-21 | Ford Motor Co | Push pin retainer |
| US5199896A (en) * | 1991-07-29 | 1993-04-06 | Itt Corporation | Latchable p.c. board connector |
-
2006
- 2006-12-15 GB GB0625058A patent/GB2444729A/en not_active Withdrawn
Patent Citations (3)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| GB620988A (en) * | 1946-08-26 | 1949-04-01 | Tinnerman Products Inc | Improvements relating to fastening devices |
| GB2205892A (en) * | 1987-06-08 | 1988-12-21 | Ford Motor Co | Push pin retainer |
| US5199896A (en) * | 1991-07-29 | 1993-04-06 | Itt Corporation | Latchable p.c. board connector |
Cited By (2)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| WO2010142524A1 (en) * | 2009-06-11 | 2010-12-16 | Rolls-Royce Plc | Fastener |
| US9194414B2 (en) | 2009-06-11 | 2015-11-24 | Rolls-Royce Plc | Fastener |
Also Published As
| Publication number | Publication date |
|---|---|
| GB0625058D0 (en) | 2007-01-24 |
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Legal Events
| Date | Code | Title | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| WAP | Application withdrawn, taken to be withdrawn or refused ** after publication under section 16(1) |