CN110998106A

CN110998106A - Interlocking fastening clamp

Info

Publication number: CN110998106A
Application number: CN201880053911.7A
Authority: CN
Inventors: 格雷戈里·G·布基恩斯基
Original assignee: Illinois Tool Works Inc
Current assignee: Illinois Tool Works Inc
Priority date: 2017-08-22
Filing date: 2018-08-13
Publication date: 2020-04-10
Anticipated expiration: 2038-08-13
Also published as: WO2019040301A1; CN110998106B

Abstract

An interlocking fastening clip (100) includes at least one interlocking interface (118, 120) configured to couple to at least one other interlocking interface of at least one other interlocking fastening clip to couple the interlocking fastening clip to the at least one other interlocking fastening clip.

Description

Interlocking fastening clamp

RELATED APPLICATIONS

The present application relates to and claims the benefit of U.S. provisional patent application No.62/548,453 entitled "interlocking fastening Clips", filed 2017, 8, month 22, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference.

Technical Field

Embodiments of the present disclosure generally relate to fastening clips for securely coupling components together, and more particularly, to fastening clips that interlock with one another, for example, for quick and easy loading into or onto a tool.

Background

Various fastening clips are used to secure the components together. Typically, the fastening clips are separate and distinct from each other. The fastening clips are typically loaded individually into a particular tool used to secure the fastening clip to a particular component. As can be appreciated, the process of inserting each fastening clip individually into the tool can be time consuming and cumbersome.

Disclosure of Invention

There is a need for a fastening clip that can be quickly and easily loaded into or onto a tool. Further, there is a need for a fastening clip that is configured to be quickly and easily coupled to one or more other fastening clips such that components of the fastening clip can be quickly and easily loaded into or onto a tool.

In view of these needs, certain embodiments of the present disclosure provide an interlocking fastening clip that includes at least one interlocking interface configured to couple to at least one other interlocking interface of at least one other interlocking fastening clip to couple the interlocking fastening clip to the at least one other interlocking fastening clip.

In at least one embodiment, the at least one interlock interface includes a first interlock interface and a second interlock interface. In at least one embodiment, the first interlock interface extends from a first outer edge of the first base panel and the second interlock interface extends from a second outer edge of the second base panel. In at least one other embodiment, a first interlock interface extends from a first lateral edge of the beam and a second interlock interface extends from a second lateral edge of the beam. The first interlock interface may be staggered relative to the second interlock interface.

The interlock interface may include a plurality of interlock members. The plurality of interlocking members may comprise teeth separated by complementary grooves.

The interlocking fastening clip can include a nose and opposing beams extending from the nose. The retaining arms may extend into or to one side of an opening formed in the opposing beam.

Certain embodiments of the present disclosure provide an interlocking fastening clip strip assembly comprising a plurality of interlocking fastening clips coupled together. Each interlock of the plurality of interlocks includes a first interlock interface and a second interlock interface. The first interlocking interface of a first interlocking fastening clip of the plurality of interlocking fastening clips is coupled to the second interlocking interface of a second interlocking fastening clip of the plurality of interlocking fastening clips.

Drawings

FIG. 1 illustrates a top perspective view of an interlocking fastening clip according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 2 shows a top view of an interlocking fastening clip.

FIG. 3 shows a front view of an interlocking fastening clip.

Figure 4 shows a bottom view of the interlocking fastening clip.

FIG. 5 illustrates a bottom side perspective view of an interlocking fastening clip strip assembly according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 6 shows a side view of an interlocking fastening clip strip assembly.

FIG. 7 shows a top view of an interlocked fastening clip strip assembly.

FIG. 8 illustrates a bottom view of an interlocked fastening clip strip assembly.

Fig. 9 illustrates a bottom perspective view of a first interlocking fastening clip's first interlocking interface coupled to a second interlocking fastening clip's second interlocking interface of the interlocking fastening clip strip assembly.

FIG. 10 illustrates a front perspective view of an interlocking fastening clip according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 11 shows a front view of an interlocking fastening clip.

FIG. 12 shows a bottom view of the interlocking fastening clip.

FIG. 13 illustrates a side perspective view of an interlocking fastening clip.

FIG. 14 illustrates a top perspective view of an interlocking fastening clip strip assembly according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 15 shows a top view of an interlocked fastening clip strip assembly.

FIG. 16 shows a front view of an interlocked fastening clip strip assembly.

FIG. 17 shows a bottom view of an interlocked fastening clip strip assembly.

FIG. 18 illustrates a side view of an interlocking fastening clip strip assembly within a tool in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 19 shows a side view of an interlocking fastening clip of the interlocking fastening clip strip assembly removed from a tool in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure.

Before the embodiments of the disclosure are explained in detail, it is to be understood that the disclosure is not limited in its application to the details of construction and the arrangement of components set forth in the following description or illustrated in the following drawings. The disclosure is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced or of being carried out in various ways. Also, it is to be understood that the phraseology and terminology used herein is for the purpose of description and should not be regarded as limiting. The use of "including" and variations thereof is meant to encompass the items listed thereafter and equivalents thereof as well as additional items and equivalents thereof.

Detailed Description

Embodiments of the present disclosure provide a fastening clip with an interlocking/mating interface that allows the fastening clips to be connected to each other. In at least one embodiment, the interlocking interface comprises a tooth or finger that interlocks with a tooth or finger on another fastening clip. In this way, a plurality of fastening clips can be fixed to one another and loaded into and/or onto the tool, for example as a single strip (strip).

In at least one embodiment, the interlocking fastening clips include opposing interlocking interfaces, such as at the edges of the flared base. The interlocking interface may include teeth, fingers, etc. configured to mate with an interlocking interface of another interlocking fastening clip. The interlocking interfaces may be staggered relative to one another such that adjacent interlocking fastening clips can interlock with one another in a linear direction.

One or more sets of interlocking fastening clips may be coupled together by adjacent, staggered interlocking interfaces. The interlocking interfaces of adjacent fastening clips cooperate with one another to provide interlocking, linked-together linear strips of fastening clips. The interlocking interfaces between adjacent fastening clips remain secured together, such as by an interference fit, until separated, such as by a tool (similar to a stapler or staple gun).

In at least one embodiment, the interlock interface extends from the clamp beam lateral edges (e.g., legs) at a location proximate to the arcuate interface between the clamp beams. The interlocking fastening clips may be mated together in a side-to-side configuration.

When the interlocking fastening clip strips are inserted into the tool, the tool may then be used to couple each fastening clip to one or more components, thereby separating the individual fastening clips from the larger fastening clip strips operatively coupled to the tool. The tool feeds a fastener clip strip to the end (e.g., top) of the tool. During the process of separating one fastening clip from a set of fastening clips within the tool, the tool pushes the individual clips (e.g., via a plastic tower) out of the tool.

The interlocking fastening clips may be formed in a stamping and folding machine, heat treated and plated, and then pressed together into strips of interlocking, linked fastening clips.

Referring to fig. 1-4, an interlocking fastening clip 100 is shown, wherein the interlocking fastening clip 100 can include opposing beams 102 extending from a resilient nose 104. The beam 102 may extend downward from the nose 104 (as shown in fig. 1) and include an opening 106, and the resilient and flexible retaining arms 108 may extend into the opening 106 and/or be disposed outside of the opening 106. Alternatively, the opposing beams 102 may flare outward and downward from the nose 104. In at least one other embodiment, the retaining arm 108 may extend distally from the lower end of the beam 102 away from the nose 104. In at least one other embodiment, the interlocking clip 100 may not include the retaining arm 108 or the opening 106. In at least one other embodiment, each beam 102 may include a plurality of openings into which at least one flexible retaining arm 108 extends and/or is disposed outside of the openings.

Base bosses

110 and 111 extend outwardly from beam 102 at a location opposite nose 104. One or more retaining prongs 112 may extend from an inner edge 116 of the

bottom bosses

110, 111 and into the space 114 between the beams 102. The interlocking fastening clip 100 may include more or fewer retaining prongs 112 than shown. For example, the interlocking fastening clip 100 may not include the retaining prongs 112.

As shown, the

bottom bosses

110 and 111 may be flat plates extending outwardly from the beam 102, for example, at an angle in a range between 70 and 100 degrees. In at least one embodiment, the plane of the

bottom bosses

110 and 111 can be substantially perpendicular to the plane of the lower portion of the beam 102. Alternatively, the

bottom bosses

110 and 111 may extend outwardly from the beam 102 at an angle of less than 70 degrees or greater than 100 degrees.

The interlocking fastening clip 100 may have a different size, shape, and configuration than that shown. Other examples of clips or Fastener assemblies are shown and described in U.S. patent No.9,303,665, entitled "Adaptive mating Fastener Assembly," which is incorporated by reference herein in its entirety. Additionally, U.S. patent application publication No.2015/0026933 entitled "Clips," which is incorporated herein by reference, discloses a clip having a clip body configured to be inserted into a mounting hole of a panel and mounted to a clip base. Also, U.S. patent No.6,796,006 entitled "Rib Clip" (which is incorporated herein by reference) discloses a retaining Clip that includes a U-shaped body having a pair of legs flexibly connected at their bottom ends and spaced apart for receiving a knife fastener therebetween. In addition, PCT/US2018/014125 entitled "Rib ClipAssembly" is also incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. In addition to the illustrated clamps, embodiments of the present disclosure may also be used with various other types of clamps. In general, embodiments of the present disclosure may be used with any fixture configured to be loaded into and/or on a tool.

As shown in FIG. 1, the interlocking fastening clip 100 includes opposing interlocking

interfaces

118 and 120. The interlock interface 118 extends from an outer edge 122 of the bottom boss 110 (and/or forms an outer edge 122 of the bottom boss 110), while the interlock interface 120 extends from an outer edge 124 of the bottom boss 111 (and/or forms an outer edge 124 of the bottom boss 111). Each interlock interface 120 includes a plurality of interlock members 126. The interlocking member 126 includes teeth 128 and complementary grooves 130, wherein the teeth 128 are separated by the complementary grooves 130. The teeth 128 include a tapered tip 134 and an enlarged size base 132, wherein the base 132 is connected to the tapered tip 134. Rather, the groove 130 includes an inlet 136 of increased size and a tapered blocking end 138, wherein the inlet 136 is connected to the tapered blocking end 138. The interlock interfaces 118 and 120 may include more or fewer interlock members 126 than shown. Alternatively, instead of a sawtooth configuration as shown in fig. 1, the interlocking members 126 may be formed as alternating rectangles or bars (e.g., fingers) and complementary grooves, undulating extensions and complementary grooves, arcuate extensions and complementary grooves, and/or the like. The interlock interface 118 of an interlocking fastening clip 100 is configured to engage and interlock with the interlock interface 120 of another interlocking fastening clip 100, and vice versa.

As shown, the interlock interfaces 118 and 120 can be staggered with respect to each other. For example, the leading interlocking member 126 proximate to the end 140 of the bottom boss 110 may be the tooth 128, while the leading interlocking member 126 proximate to the end 142 of the bottom boss 111 (shown in fig. 2 as being longitudinally and axially aligned with the leading interlocking member 126 along the common longitudinal axis 141) may be the complementary groove 130, or vice versa. The interlocking members 126 alternate between teeth 128 and complementary grooves 130 along the length of each

base boss

110 and 111. The interlocking interfaces 118 and 120 are staggered relative to one another such that adjacent interlocking fastening clips 100 (only one of which is shown in fig. 1) can interlock with one another in a straight, flush, linear orientation. Alternatively, the interlock interfaces 118 and 120 may not be staggered.

Fig. 5 illustrates a bottom side perspective view of an interlocking fastening clip strip assembly 200 according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. FIG. 6 shows a side view of an interlocking fastening clip strip assembly 200. FIG. 7 shows a top view of an interlocking fastening clip strip assembly 200. Fig. 8 shows a bottom view of the interlocking fastening clip strip assembly 200. Fig. 9 illustrates a bottom perspective view of the first interlock interface 118 of the first interlocking fastening clip 100a, the first interlock interface 118 being coupled to the second interlock interface 120 of the second interlocking fastening clip 100b of the interlocking fastening clip strip assembly 200.

Referring to fig. 5-9, an interlocking fastening clip strip assembly 200 is shown, the interlocking fastening clip strip assembly 200 including a plurality of interlocking

fastening clips

100a, 100b, and 100c, the interlocking

fastening clips

100a, 100b, and 100c coupled together by respective interlocking interfaces 118, the interlocking interfaces 118 mateably coupled to complementary interlocking interfaces 120. The interlocking

fastening clips

100a, 100b, and 100c are coupled together for quick and easy loading into and/or onto a tool used to separately separate the interlocking

fastening clips

100a, 100b, and 100c from the interlocking fastening clip strip assembly 200 to secure the separate

interlocking fastening clips

100a, 100b, and 100c to one or more components. For example, the tool may secure the components together by individually removable

interlocking fastening clips

100a, 100b, and 100 c. In this way, the interlocking

fastening clips

100a, 100b, and 100c are configured to be temporarily coupled together before being separated from each other and removed by the tool. The interlocking fastening clip strip assembly 200 can include more or fewer

interlocking fastening clips

100a, 100b, and 100c than shown.

The interlocking

fastening clips

100a, 100b, and 100c are coupled together by adjacent staggered interlocking

interfaces

118 and 120 that mate together. As shown in fig. 7, the staggered interlocking

interfaces

118 and 120 are connected together such that the interlocking

fastening clips

100a, 100b, and 100c are longitudinally aligned with each other along a common longitudinal axis 150, thereby resulting in flush lateral edges 160 and 162 (i.e., none of the interlocking

fastening clips

100a, 100b, and 100c protrudes laterally relative to any other of the interlocking

fastening clips

100a, 100 b). The interlocking interfaces 118 and 120 of adjacent interlocking fastening clips 100a/100b and 100b/100c mate with each other to provide a flush linear clip strip assembly 200. The interlocking interfaces 118 and 120 between adjacent fastening clips 100a/100b and 100b/100c remain secured together, such as by an interference fit, until separated, such as by a tool (similar to a stapler or staple gun).

As shown in fig. 1-9, the interlocking

interfaces

118 and 120 extending from the

bottom bosses

110 and 111 allow the interlocking

fastening clips

100a, 100b, and 100c to be coupled together in an end-to-end orientation. Alternatively, the interlocking

interfaces

118 and 120 may be positioned on other portions of the interlocking fastening clip 100 to allow for edge-to-edge coupling. In at least one embodiment, the interlocking

interfaces

118 and 120 can be configured to allow the interlocking

fastening clips

100a, 100b, and 100c to be coupled together in a misaligned manner such that the

lateral edges

160 and 162 are not flush.

Accordingly, embodiments of the present disclosure provide an interlocking fastening clip 100 that includes at least one interlocking interface 118 and/or 120 configured to couple to at least one other interlocking interface 118 and/or 120 of at least one other interlocking fastening clip to couple the interlocking fastening clip 100 to the at least one other interlocking fastening clip.

Fig. 10 illustrates a front perspective view of an interlocking fastening clip 100 according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. Fig. 11 shows a front view of the interlocking fastening clip 100. Fig. 12 shows a bottom view of the interlocking fastening clip 100. Fig. 13 shows a side perspective view of the interlocking fastening clip 100.

Referring to fig. 10-13, another embodiment of an interlocking holding fixture 100 is shown, wherein the interlocking holding fixture 100 shown in fig. 10-13 is similar to the embodiment shown and described with reference to fig. 1-4, except that the interlocking

interfaces

119 and 121 may extend from the

lateral edges

103 and 105 of the beam 102 instead of from the

bottom bosses

110 and 111. In particular, each beam 102 may include an interlock interface 119 extending from a first lateral edge 103 and an interlock interface 121 extending from an opposite second lateral edge 105. Further, the interlock interfaces 119 and 121 can be staggered relative to the opposing beams 102 such that the interlock interface 119 extends from the lateral edge 103 of one beam 102 and the interlock interface 121 extends from the lateral edge 105 of the opposing beam 102, or vice versa. Alternatively, the interlocking

interfaces

119 and 121 of opposing beams 102 may not be staggered with respect to each other.

Interlocking interfaces 119 and 121 extending from

lateral edges

103 and 105 of beam 102 may be proximate nose 104. Optionally, interlocking

interfaces

119 and 121 may extend from

lateral edges

103 and 105 closer to

bottom bosses

110 and 111 than nose 104. In at least one embodiment, the interlock interfaces 119 and 121 extend less than the entire length of the

lateral edges

103 and 105. In at least one other embodiment, the interlock interfaces 119 and 121 can extend the entire length of the

lateral edges

103 and 105.

Fig. 14 illustrates a top perspective view of an interlocking fastening clip strip assembly 200 according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. FIG. 15 shows a top view of an interlocking fastening clip strip assembly 200. Fig. 16 shows a front view of an interlocking fastening clip strip assembly 200. Fig. 17 shows a bottom view of the interlocking fastening clip strip assembly 200. Referring to fig. 10-17, the interlocking

interfaces

119 and 121 extending from the

lateral edges

103 and 105 of the interlocking

fastening clips

100a, 100b, and 100c allow the interlocking

fastening clips

100a, 100b, and 100c to be coupled together in a side-by-side configuration. The interlocking interfaces 118 and 120 of adjacent interlocking fastening clips 100a/100b and 100b/100c mate with each other to provide a linear interlocking fastening clip strip assembly 200 as described above.

Fig. 18 shows a side view of an interlocking fastening clip strip assembly 100 (such as any of those described herein) within a tool 300 according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. FIG. 19 shows a side view of the interlocking fastening clip 100a of the interlocking fastening clip strip assembly 200 removed from the tool 300.

Referring to fig. 18 and 19, when the interlocking fastening clip strip assembly 200 is inserted into the tool 300, the tool 300 can then be used to couple each interlocking fastening clip 100a to one or more components, thereby separating the individual fastening clip 100a from the larger fastening clip strip (i.e., the interlocking fastening clip strip assembly 100) loaded into the tool 300. The tool 300 feeds the interlocked fastening clip strip assembly 100 to an end 301 (e.g., top) of the tool 300. In separating the interlocking fastening clip 100a from the remaining set of interlocking fastening clip strip assemblies 100 within the tool 300, the tool 300 pushes a single interlocking fastening clip 100a (e.g., via the plastic tower 302) therefrom in the direction D1.

Referring to fig. 1-19, the interlocking fastening clip 100 can be formed in a stamping and folding machine, heat treated and plated, and then pressed together into the interlocking fastening clip strip assembly 200.

As described herein, the interlocking fastening clip 100 allows one to manipulate multiple fastening clips as a group of fastening clips, rather than, for example, inserting separate and distinct clips into a tool. By interlocking the fastening clips, multiple fastening clips can be manipulated together, thereby facilitating rapid and efficient automated assembly of one or more components. Furthermore, interlocking sets of fastening clips reduces loose parts. Furthermore, interlocking sets of fastening clips reduces waste because fewer small individual components are lost during component assembly.

Although various spatial and directional terms (e.g., top, bottom, lower, middle, lateral, horizontal, vertical, front, etc.) may be used to describe embodiments of the present disclosure, it is understood that such terms are used only with respect to the orientations shown in the drawings. The orientation may be reversed, rotated or otherwise changed such that the upper portion is the lower portion and vice versa, horizontal becomes vertical, etc.

Variations and modifications of the foregoing are within the scope of the present disclosure. It should be understood that the embodiments disclosed and defined herein extend to all alternative combinations of two or more of the individual features mentioned or evident from the text and/or drawings. All of these different combinations constitute various alternative aspects of the present disclosure. The embodiments described herein explain the best modes known for practicing the invention and will enable others skilled in the art to utilize the invention. The claims are to be construed to include alternative embodiments to the extent permitted by the prior art.

To the extent used in the appended claims, the terms "including" and "in which" are used as the plain-english equivalents of the respective terms "comprising" and "in which". Furthermore, to the extent used in the appended claims, the terms "first," "second," and "third," etc., are used merely as labels, and are not intended to impose numerical requirements on their objects. Furthermore, the limitations of the following claims are not written in the form of "means-plus-function" and are not intended to be interpreted based on 35u.s.c. § 112(f), unless and until such claim limitations explicitly use the phrase "means for … …", followed by a functional statement lacking further structure.

Various features of the disclosure are set forth in the following claims.

Claims

1. An interlocking fastening clip comprising:

at least one interlocking interface configured to couple to at least one other interlocking interface of at least one other interlocking fastening clip to couple the interlocking fastening clip to the at least one other interlocking fastening clip.

2. The interlocking fastening clip of claim 1, wherein the at least one interlocking interface comprises a first interlocking interface and a second interlocking interface.

3. The interlocking fastening clip of claim 2, the first interlocking interface extending from a first outer edge of a first base panel and the second interlocking interface extending from a second outer edge of a second base panel.

4. The interlocking fastening clip of claim 2, the first interlocking interface extending from a first lateral edge of a beam and the second interlocking interface extending from a second lateral edge of the beam.

5. The interlocking fastening clip of claim 2, wherein the first interlocking interface is staggered relative to the second interlocking interface.

6. The interlocking fastening clip of claim 1, wherein the at least one interlocking interface comprises a plurality of interlocking members.

7. The interlocking fastening clip of claim 6, wherein the plurality of interlocking members comprise teeth and complementary grooves, the teeth being separated by the complementary grooves.

8. The interlocking fastening clip of claim 1, further comprising:

a nose portion; and

opposing beams extending from the nose.

9. The interlocking fastening clip of claim 8, further comprising a retaining arm extending into or to one side of an opening formed in the opposing beams.

10. An interlocking fastening clip strip assembly comprising:

a plurality of interlocking fastening clips coupled together, wherein each of the plurality of interlocking fastening clips comprises a first interlocking interface and a second interlocking interface, wherein the first interlocking interface of a first interlocking fastening clip of the plurality of interlocking fastening clips is coupled to the second interlocking interface of a second interlocking fastening clip of the plurality of interlocking fastening clips.

11. The interlocking fastening clip strip assembly of claim 10, the first interlocking interface extending from a first outer edge of a first base panel and the second interlocking interface extending from a second outer edge of a second base panel.

12. The interlocking fastening clip strip assembly of claim 10, said first interlocking interface extending from a first lateral edge of a beam and said second interlocking interface extending from a second lateral edge of said beam.

13. The interlocking fastening clip strip assembly of claim 10, wherein the first interlocking interface is staggered relative to the second interlocking interface.

14. The interlocking fastening clip strip assembly of claim 10, wherein the at least one interlocking interface comprises a plurality of interlocking members.

15. The interlocking fastening clip strip assembly of claim 14, wherein the plurality of interlocking members comprise teeth and complementary grooves, the teeth being separated by the complementary grooves.

16. The interlocking fastening clip strip assembly of claim 10, further comprising:

a nose portion; and

opposing beams extending from the nose.

17. The interlocking fastening clip strip assembly of claim 16 further comprising a retaining arm extending into or to one side of an opening formed in the opposing beams.

18. An interlocking fastening clip comprising:

a first interlock interface;

a second interlock interface that is staggered relative to the first interlock interface, wherein the first interlock interface and the second interlock interface each comprise a plurality of interlock members,

the first interlocking interface is configured to couple to another second interlocking interface of a second interlocking fastening clip to couple the interlocking fastening clip to the second interlocking fastening clip.

19. The interlocking fastening clip of claim 18, the first interlocking interface extending from a first outer edge of a first base panel and the second interlocking interface extending from a second outer edge of a second base panel.

20. The interlocking fastening clip of claim 18, the first interlocking interface extending from a first lateral edge of a beam and the second interlocking interface extending from a second lateral edge of the beam.