GB2066890A

GB2066890A - Spring clips

Info

Publication number: GB2066890A
Application number: GB8037592A
Authority: GB
Original assignee: WA Deutsher Pty Ltd
Current assignee: WA Deutsher Pty Ltd
Priority date: 1979-11-27
Filing date: 1980-11-24
Publication date: 1981-07-15
Also published as: DE3044501A1

Abstract

The invention provides a spring clip for attachment to a jacket and usable for holding an identification tag or card. The clip consists of two parts only, a housing (11) and a trigger (20), which are interfitted in such a manner that the trigger can pivot relatively to the housing so that a pair of jaws (14,22) on the two parts can move apart to engage on opposite sides of the fabric of the jacket and then be closed, by pressure exerted on the trigger (20) by a spring arm (16) of the housing (11), so as to grip the fabric and hold the clip in position. Preferably, the two jaws (14,22) are so arranged that the fabric gripped between them will be caused to follow a tortuous path, for secure retention without damage, and both the trigger (20) and the housing (11) are designed to be made in a two-plate mould for ease and economy of production. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Spring clips This invention relates to a spring clip and it refers particularly but not exclusively to a spring clip for holding an identification tag, such as is worn on jacket lapels or pockets by airline and other personnel who require identification for security and/or other reasons.

An object of the invention is to provide a spring clip of simple design and construction wherein the spring effect will be provided by the resilience of the material from which it is made. Another object is to provide a two-piece spring clip which will effect a positive grip upon the material to which it is affixed without damage to that material. A further object is to provide a spring clip which will be economical to produce and easy to assemble.

According to one aspect of the invention there is provided a spring clip having a housing and a trigger which are assembled in a snap-fitting manner. The housing has a first jaw and a spring arm to press on the trigger, and the trigger has a second jaw which will cooperate with the first jaw to grip fabric - such as a lapel or top edge portion of a pocket. One of said parts has a pivot and the other part has a socket for the pivot whereby the two parts may be pivotally connected together with the spring arm pressing on the trigger in a manner to bring the two jaws into closed relationship.

To enable the two parts to be assembled either the trigger has an opening through which the spring arm will fit or the spring arm has an opening to accommodate the trigger.

It is preferred that the housing incorporate means for holding a card or other identification means, which holding means is independent or separate from the fabric gripping means, and for that purpose the housing may have a forwardly-projecting headed stud for engagement in opening means near the top of card-holding means of suitable type.

In order that the invention may be readily understood and conveniently put into practical effect we shall now describe one particular construction of identification tag clip, made according to the invention, which reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein: Figure 1 is a front elevation of the assembled clip; Figure 2 shows a vertical cross-section on the line and in the direction of the arrows 2-2 of Figure 1, showing the clip in its normal upright position; Figure 3 is a rear elevation of the clip; Figure 4 shows a side elevation of the trigger; Figures 5 and 6 are rear and front elevations, respectively, of the trigger; Figure 7 illustrates the housing in side elevation; and Figure 8 shows the rear elevation of the housing.

Referring to these drawings, the housing 11 has a plate 12 which, in use, is in an upright position and at the top there is a finger piece 13 to facilitate operation of the clip whilst at the lower end there is a rearwardly-curved jaw 14. Extending forwardly of the plate 12 is a headed stud or barbed spike 15 and on the back of the plate 12 is a spring arm 16 which extends rearwardly and then downwardly and has a forwardly-extending transverse ridge 17 at its lower end. Also on the back of the plate 12 is a transversely-extending pivot 18.

The trigger 20 has a finger piece 21 at its upper end and aforwardly-curved jaw 22 at its lower end. At an intermediate position is a transversely-extending embossment 23 having in it a seating 24 for the pivot 18 of the housing 11, and above that seating is an opening 25 through which the spring arm 16 may project. In the back of the trigger 20, at a location corresponding to the lower part of the embossment 23, is a shallow recess 26 to accommodate the ridge 17 of the housing spring arm 16.

To provide adequate strength in the parts the housing has a rib 27 and the trigger has two side flanges 28.

The arrangement of the ridge 17 at the lower end of the spring arm 16 in relation to the pivot 18 is such that the spring arm 16 will exert pressure on the lower end of the trigger 20 so as to press it against the housing jaw 14, and the relationship of the two jaws 14 and 22 is such that when the clip is closed, fabric gripped by the jaws will follow a tortuous path, for secure retention without damage thereto.

The two parts are readily assembled by sliding the spring arm 16 through the opening 25 in the trigger and pressing the ridge 17 down over the curved back of the embossment 23 until it engages in the recess 26.

It is apparent the trigger 20 may be moved pivotally relative to the housing 11 against the pressure exerted by the spring arm 16. The two parts of the clip are preferably made of a thermoplastic such as acetal resin so as to provide the desired resilient properties.

For the purpose of holding an identification or other card there is a strap 30 for engagement with the card and the upper ends of the two branches of the strap have openings into which the headed stud 15 will engage so as to hold the strap, and the card held therein, on the housing 11. That strap may be made of a suitable plastics material, such as nylon.

The strap 30 may be passed through a slot or slots in the card and it can pivot on the stud 15 so that, if the clip is attached to a lapel at an angle to the vertical, the card may still be held horizontal.

Instead of the strap there may be provided a card holder having its opposite ends closed and made of clear plastics, into which an identification card may be placed and securely retained therein once the card holder is engaged on the stud 15.

The invention is not to be deemed to be limited to the particular construction with reference to the drawings. For example, it may be found desirable to have the pivot on the trigger and the seating or socket for the pivot on the housing.

1. A spring clip consisting of a housing and a trigger, the housing having a first jaw and a spring arm to press on the trigger, and the trigger having a second jaw to co-operate with the first jaw in

**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. SPECIFICATION Spring clips This invention relates to a spring clip and it refers particularly but not exclusively to a spring clip for holding an identification tag, such as is worn on jacket lapels or pockets by airline and other personnel who require identification for security and/or other reasons. An object of the invention is to provide a spring clip of simple design and construction wherein the spring effect will be provided by the resilience of the material from which it is made. Another object is to provide a two-piece spring clip which will effect a positive grip upon the material to which it is affixed without damage to that material. A further object is to provide a spring clip which will be economical to produce and easy to assemble. According to one aspect of the invention there is provided a spring clip having a housing and a trigger which are assembled in a snap-fitting manner. The housing has a first jaw and a spring arm to press on the trigger, and the trigger has a second jaw which will cooperate with the first jaw to grip fabric - such as a lapel or top edge portion of a pocket. One of said parts has a pivot and the other part has a socket for the pivot whereby the two parts may be pivotally connected together with the spring arm pressing on the trigger in a manner to bring the two jaws into closed relationship. To enable the two parts to be assembled either the trigger has an opening through which the spring arm will fit or the spring arm has an opening to accommodate the trigger. It is preferred that the housing incorporate means for holding a card or other identification means, which holding means is independent or separate from the fabric gripping means, and for that purpose the housing may have a forwardly-projecting headed stud for engagement in opening means near the top of card-holding means of suitable type. In order that the invention may be readily understood and conveniently put into practical effect we shall now describe one particular construction of identification tag clip, made according to the invention, which reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein: Figure 1 is a front elevation of the assembled clip; Figure 2 shows a vertical cross-section on the line and in the direction of the arrows 2-2 of Figure 1, showing the clip in its normal upright position; Figure 3 is a rear elevation of the clip; Figure 4 shows a side elevation of the trigger; Figures 5 and 6 are rear and front elevations, respectively, of the trigger; Figure 7 illustrates the housing in side elevation; and Figure 8 shows the rear elevation of the housing. Referring to these drawings, the housing 11 has a plate 12 which, in use, is in an upright position and at the top there is a finger piece 13 to facilitate operation of the clip whilst at the lower end there is a rearwardly-curved jaw 14. Extending forwardly of the plate 12 is a headed stud or barbed spike 15 and on the back of the plate 12 is a spring arm 16 which extends rearwardly and then downwardly and has a forwardly-extending transverse ridge 17 at its lower end. Also on the back of the plate 12 is a transversely-extending pivot 18. The trigger 20 has a finger piece 21 at its upper end and aforwardly-curved jaw 22 at its lower end. At an intermediate position is a transversely-extending embossment 23 having in it a seating 24 for the pivot 18 of the housing 11, and above that seating is an opening 25 through which the spring arm 16 may project. In the back of the trigger 20, at a location corresponding to the lower part of the embossment 23, is a shallow recess 26 to accommodate the ridge 17 of the housing spring arm 16. To provide adequate strength in the parts the housing has a rib 27 and the trigger has two side flanges 28. The arrangement of the ridge 17 at the lower end of the spring arm 16 in relation to the pivot 18 is such that the spring arm 16 will exert pressure on the lower end of the trigger 20 so as to press it against the housing jaw 14, and the relationship of the two jaws 14 and 22 is such that when the clip is closed, fabric gripped by the jaws will follow a tortuous path, for secure retention without damage thereto. The two parts are readily assembled by sliding the spring arm 16 through the opening 25 in the trigger and pressing the ridge 17 down over the curved back of the embossment 23 until it engages in the recess 26. It is apparent the trigger 20 may be moved pivotally relative to the housing 11 against the pressure exerted by the spring arm 16. The two parts of the clip are preferably made of a thermoplastic such as acetal resin so as to provide the desired resilient properties. For the purpose of holding an identification or other card there is a strap 30 for engagement with the card and the upper ends of the two branches of the strap have openings into which the headed stud 15 will engage so as to hold the strap, and the card held therein, on the housing 11. That strap may be made of a suitable plastics material, such as nylon. The strap 30 may be passed through a slot or slots in the card and it can pivot on the stud 15 so that, if the clip is attached to a lapel at an angle to the vertical, the card may still be held horizontal. Instead of the strap there may be provided a card holder having its opposite ends closed and made of clear plastics, into which an identification card may be placed and securely retained therein once the card holder is engaged on the stud 15. The invention is not to be deemed to be limited to the particular construction with reference to the drawings. For example, it may be found desirable to have the pivot on the trigger and the seating or socket for the pivot on the housing. CLAIMS

1. A spring clip consisting of a housing and a trigger, the housing having a first jaw and a spring arm to press on the trigger, and the trigger having a second jaw to co-operate with the first jaw in gripping fabric, one of the two parts having a pivot and the other part having a socket for the pivot whereby the trigger may move pivotally relative to the housing with the spring arm applying to the trigger pressure to bring the two parts into closed relationship.

2. A spring clip as claimed in Claim 1 wherein the housing has a forwardly projecting stud for engagement with a holder for an identification card.

3. A spring clip as claimed in either of Claims 1 or 2 wherein the pivot is on the rear side of the housing and the trigger has the socket on its front side.

4. A spring clip as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein the trigger has in its middle part an opening to accommodate the spring arm of the housing and, below that opening, a transverse recess to accommodate the lower end part of the spring arm, the transverse recess being below the line of pivotal connection of the trigger and housing.

5. A spring clip has claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein the housing has a front plate and the spring arm of the housing has an upper side which extends rearwardly from the back of the front plate and a downwardly-extending extension of that upper side, said downwardly-extending extension having a forwardly-extending ridge to engage with the rear side of the trigger so as to press the lower part of the trigger forwardly.

6. A spring clip as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein the trigger is constructed and adapted to operate substantially as herein described with reference to and as illustrated in the drawings.

7. A spring clip as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein the housing is constructed and adapted to operate substantially as herein described with reference to and as illustrated in the drawings.

8. A spring clip consisting of a housing, a trigger interengagedtherewith and a holderforan identification card constructed and adapted to operate substantially as herein described with reference to the drawings.