US3722670A

US3722670A - Clip stack

Info

Publication number: US3722670A
Application number: US00126018A
Authority: US
Inventors: L Plunkett
Original assignee: Signode Corp
Current assignee: Signode Corp
Priority date: 1971-03-19
Filing date: 1971-03-19
Publication date: 1973-03-27
Anticipated expiration: 1990-03-27
Also published as: SE382246B; GB1332761A; BE779059A; BR7201567D0; ES401575A1; CA962823A; AU455336B2; DE2211211A1; IT948415B; DE2211211B2; GB1332762A; JPS5723125B1; FR2129691A5; AU3865372A

Abstract

A clip stack, a method of forming a rigidified joint, and the resulting joint. Filler material is positioned adjacent wires to be clinched by a clip, and is clinched with the wires to deform and to be compressed by the clip and wires to form a stronger and more rigid joint. The filler material may be carried by the clip, and may be severed from a clip stack joined by a strand of filler material from which filler material is severed as a clip is separated from the stack. The filler material may be at both sides of the stack and in an interference fit in notches in opposite sides of the clips of the stack.

Description

United States P310111 Plunkett 51 Mar. 27, 1973 CLIP STACK [75] Inventor: Larry D. Plunkett, Crystal Lake, Ill. [73] Assignee: Signode Corporation, Glenview, ill. [22] Filed: Mar. 19, 1971 [21] Appl.'No.: 126,018

UNITED STATES PATENTS 12/1965 Couch ..206/56 DF 3,363,628 1/1968 Woodt. ...'.206/56 DF UX 1,026,050 '5/l9l 2 Reber .;206/56 DF 2,746,601 5/1956 Rebichon ..206/65 K 10/1971 Langas et al. ..206/56 AC 9/1954 Chaffee ..206/56 AC [57] ABSTRACT A clip stack, a method of forming a rigidified joint, and the resulting joint. Filler material is positioned adjacent wires to be clinched by a clip, and is clinched with the wires to deform and to be compressed by the clip and wires to form a stronger and more rigid joint. The filler material may be carried by the clip, and may be severed from a clip stack joined by a strand of filler material from which filler material is severed as a clip is separated from the stack. The filler material may be at both sides of the stack and in an interference fit in notches in opposite sides of the clips of the stack.

7 Claims, 10 Drawing Figures our STACK This invention relates to a method of forming a rigidificd joint consisting of at least a pair of elements, such as wires locally embraced by a clinched clip, to the improved joint so formed and to a clip stack especially assembled to be used in forming such a rigiditied joint. 1

It is well known in the art to join elongate elements, such as wires forming automobile seat springs and the like, to each other to form a spring assembly or the like..-

A commonly used expedient for joining such elements locally is a clip, which clip is then clinched about the elements. A typical clip and a typical tool for clinching such a clip are illustrated in US. Pat. No. 2,574,811. Other clips used for similar purposes are illustrated, for example, in US. Pat. No. 3,032,184.

Although clips of the types illustrated in such patents have been used successfully to locally join elements, such as wires, too frequently the joints formed are somewhat loose, sometimes resulting in misalignment of parts of the joined elements, sometimes resulting in squeaky assemblies, etc. Furthermore, clips of the types illustrated in such patents, to be usable in fastacting tools must be assembled into stacks. Although various modes of assembling them have been suggested and used, most stacks require either difficult assembly operations to form them or once formed are too rigid or fragile, which stacks then easily separate and scatter, unless very carefully handled.

In accordance with this invention, an improved clip stack is provided, which clip stack when used in a clinching tool results in the formation of an improved localized joint.

Joints formed in accordance with prior art procedures usually comprise a clinched clip and at least a pair of elongate elements, such as wires, locally embraced by the clinched clip. An improved joint of this 7 invention also incorporates tightly compressed dunnage or filler material disposed between the clinched clip and the wires, and in engagement with each of them, for resisting movement of the wires with respect to the clip. Theclip may also be notched to provide a localized weak area, so that as it is clinched about the wires, it buckles into closer conformity with the wires, thereby further to assist in providing a rigidified joint.

To form such joints, a clip and filler material are positioned adjacent the localized region of the wires to be clinched, and the clip is clinched about the wires and the tiller material, to compress, to deform and to relocate the filler material, thereby to form a tightly wrapped joint.

In a preferred embodiment, the filler material is associated with the clip as it is separated from a clipstack, and is carried by the clip into engagement with the wires, where the filler material is released to be compressed and deformed within the clinched clip to form the rigiditied joint. When the filler material is associated with the clip, it preferably derives from continuous filamentary key material joining a plurality of like clips into a stack. In such a stack, the clips may be generally U-shaped and define notch segments longitudinally of the stack frictionally engaging the key material, so that when a clip is separatedfrom. the

stack, a segment of the key is severed from the key material and that segment is then carried by the clip for subsequent compression and deformation in the joint.

Further objects, features and advantages of this invention will become apparent from the following description and drawings of which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a clip formed in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a clip blank from which the clip of FIG. 1 may be formed;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a stack of clips in'accordance with FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is an enlarged fragmentary view of a portion of a clip of the stack of FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary view of a clip tool, prior to separation of a clip from a clip stack; 7

FIG. 6 is a view similar to FIG. 5, showing a clip separated from the clip stack;

FIG. 7 is a view similar to FIG. 5, showing a partially clinched clip;

FIG. 8 is an enlarged view similar to FIG. 7, showing the clip of FIG. 7 fully clinched;

FIG. 9 is a perspective view of a clinched clip and joint of FIG. 8 taken substantially along the line 99 of FIG. 10; and

FIG. l0-is a fragmentary perspective view of a spring assembly clinched in accordance with this invention.

The clips cor the embodiment of FIGS. 1 to 4 are each formed from a rectangular sheet metal blank B (FIG. 1) that includes openings in the form of slots or notches in opposite side edges thereof. Preferably the blank B comprises notch means including a first pair of notch segments or notchesl2 and a second pair of notch segments or notches 14, each pair at one side edge -10 of the blank. Preferably the

notches

12, 14 are formed by a punching operation. The'blank B is bent around a generally centrally disposed fold line 16 to provide a generally rounded central body portion 18, and downwardly extending, spaced parallel leg portions 20.

Theresulting clips C are adapted to be positioned in an adjacent or juxtaposed relationship with respect to one another, with the surfaces of the leg portions 20 of adjacent clips to be positioned in abutting contact with each other, thereby to be formed into stacks S in the manner to be described.

When the clips C are so positioned, as is illustrated in FIG. 3, the

notches

12, 14, respectively, are aligned longitudinally of a stack. In that condition,

notches

12, 14 are adapted, respectively, to receive continuous connecting filamentary keys or filaments 22 at opposite side edges 10, desirably in an interference fit.

Typical suitable filaments 22 are illustrated as being generally circular in cross-section and as having a diameter slightly greater than the width of

notches

12, 14. (See FIG. 4.) As such, when the filaments 22 are press fit into frictional engagement in notches l2, 14, they function as keys to secure the clips C to each other in continuous stacks S. Desirably, the transverse dimension of the

notches

12, 14 is, greater than the vertical dimension, so that when the filamentary material is circular, it is completely within the confines or projection of the side edges 10 of the stack S. Regardless of the configuration of the filament 22, it is desirable that itbe entirely within the confines of the side edges 10, so

that when a joint is formed, as'will be described, the' filamentary material is retained in the joint. Illustratively,

notches

12, 14 may be about 0.062 inch wide and about 0.12 inch deep. The filaments 22 may be about 0.067 inch in diameter.

. 3 Filaments 22are preferably formed of an inexpensive plastic material, such as a low-density polyethylene, Such filaments are sufficiently limber to allow the individual clips in the stack S to flex slightly.

relative to. one another, and are sufficiently soft to .stack to be inserted into a curved chute, which could even be coiled to provide an extremely compact clip dispensing unit. In use, the individual clips of such a to a position in which the ends of the leg portions contact the clinching surfaces of the jaw 50, gradually to wrap the clip about the localized region of th'e'wires W, i.e., for example, as progressively illustrated in,

FIGS. 6 to 8.

As the segments 22' are compressed against and between the inner surface of clip C and the wires W they gradually deform and are extruded. l'n the case of polyethylene, they may well be shorn or cut into several relocated sections 22", but, many event, the material remains substantially within the confines of the side edges 10 of the clinched clip C, thereby to provide stabilizing and rigidifying filler between the wires and the 7 clip C'. The filler material may tend to be extruded stack S can be readily separated from one another,

- since bymoving one clip transversely relative to the stack with even a relatively small force will cause shearing and severing of the filaments 22.

Although polyethylene is a preferred material, for the purpose of providing a filler material to enhance joint rigidity, other materials maybe used as well, such as, forexample, soft wire, twine, solder, etc.

The clips Cof FIGS. 1 to 4 are adapted to be used to clinch at least two elongate elements, such as wires or the like together, to form a rigiditied localized joint" 52. A stack S of clips maybe fed to the position illustrated in FIG. 5 in a magazine 54 associated with the tool, as by a suitable follower (not shown). vA typical clinching tool 40 embodying such features is described 7 in Blume'nsaadtUS. Pat. No. 2,574,811.

' A clip stackIS, as'illustrated in FIG. 3, is placed injoint stability.

magazine 54 in known manner and is fed or biased into the position illustrated in FIG. SiWhen the tool is to be used, at least a pair of elongate wires W are positioned adjacent the jaw 50, with the localized regionsto be clinched, being positioned within the side edges of the jaw. Wires W may be circular in cross section, or may be of other cross-sectional configurations/With the wires W so positioned, the tool is actuated and the clinching-blade 52 is thrust downwardlyfrom the position of FIG, 5 towards the jaw 50. It contacts a central body portion 18 0f a clip C, and drives the clip C downwardly simultaneously severing a clip C and shearing filament segments 22' from the stack 8 adjacent the interface of adjacent leg portions 20.

Because the segments 22 are supported in the spaced apart notch

segments

12, 14, respectively, the severed clip C carries segments 22 downwardly, -as illustrated in FIGS. 3 and 6. The clinching blade 52 then release the segments 22 from the

notches

12, 14, and

laterally of the clip, in addition to being relocated vertically (as illustrated in FIGS. 8 and 9). As such, the filamentary material cooperates to form a rigiditied joint which resists relative movement betweenthe clinched .clip C and the wires W, both longitudinally of the joint 100, and about the axes of the wires W. The spaced pair of laterally spaced segments 22' form relocated sections 22" at two spaced areas, further enhancing The upper surface of a wire W will cooperate with. the inner surface of the clip in the manner of a hammer and anvil to deform, ex'trude and relocate the filler material. When the wires W are circular in cross section, the wire and clip surfaces will tend to relocate the filler material into the areas adjacent the contacting surfacesof the wires, and only a very small amount of tiller material will be necessary to stabilize the joint, as

at the 'two localized areas in the embodimentillustrated. v

' As best seen in Fig. 8, the joint 100., at its sides,

defines slightly convex or buckled sections 102 confronting the contacting" surfaces of wires W. That results from thetendency of' the clip C to buckle preferentially generally along an imaginary line between

spaced'opposite notches

12, 14 in a leg 20. That preferential buckling also contributes to a tighter, more rigid joint than those obtained with conventionalclips which have no

notches

12, 14, such as those "illustrated in the aforementioned Blumensaadt patent.-

tioned, they may also take the form of other material,

such as an adhesive, or solder or the like, which, when suitably activated, asby heat, will physically secure the elements of the joint- 100 to each other. Further, it will 1 'be apparent that clips of other shapes; and with notches in other positions may be used to form clip stacks joined by filaments in notches therein to form a joint in accordance with this invention. Exemplary of other 'such clips are those illustrated in US. Pat. No.

3,032,184. And, it will be clear, that in forming a rigiditied joint, filler material may be introduced separately from the clip, as with the wires, to position it for clinching with a clip and wires to form a filled, rigidified joint.

While this invention is susceptible of embodiment in many different forms, there has been shown and described in detail preferred embodiments of the invention, with the understanding that the present disclosure is to be considered as an exemplification of the principles of the invention and is not intended to limit the invention to the embodiment illustrated. The scope of the invention will be pointed out in the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. An elongate clip stack comprising a plurality of similarly shaped, non-nested adjacent clips, each clip being generally U-shaped in cross-section, and each clip including spaced, generally parallel, leg portions extending downwardly from a central web portion, each clip in said stack being positioned with its leg portions in contact with leg portions of next adjacent clips, each said clip defining notch means aligned with notch means of other of said clips longitudinally of said stack, each leg portion having outer edges with an outwardly facing notch segment in an outer edge of each leg portion, the notch segments of each clip cooperating to form a said notch means, all of said notch means collectively defining a keyway extending longitudinally and opening outwardly of said stack, a filamentary key in frictional engagement within each of said spaced notch segments, whereby when a clip is separated from said stack, a segment of said filamentary key between said notch segments is severed from the key and is carried by a said separated clip.

2. An elongate clip stack in accordance with claim 1-, wherein said filamentary key is positioned in said notch segments completely within the' confines of said outer edges.

3. An elongate clip stack in accordance with claim 1, comprising second notch segments in opposite outer edges of said leg portions, whereby opposed notch segments define a weakened zone to facilitate buckling of the clip when clinched to embrace wires.

4. An elongate clip stack in accordance with claim 1, comprising second notch segments and a second filamentary key in opposite side edges of said leg portions, whereby when a clip is separated from said stack, segments of said filamentary keys between said notch segments are severed from said keys and are carried by a separated clip.

5. An elongate clip stack in accordance with claim 1 wherein said filamentary key is generally circular in cross-section, and slightly larger in diameter than the width of each notch segment.

6. An elongate clip stack in accordance with claim 5, wherein said filamentary key is formed of a limber plastic material.

7. An elongate clip stack in accordance with claim 6, wherein said filamentary key is formed of a low-density polyethylene.

Claims

1. An elongate clip stack comprising a plurality of similarly shaped, non-nested adjacent clips, each clip being generally Ushaped in cross-section, and each clip including spaced, generally parallel, leg portions extending downwardly from a central web portion, each clip in said stack being positioned with its leg portions in contact with leg portions of next adjacent clips, each said clip defining notch means aligned with notch means of other of said clips longitudinally of said stAck, each leg portion having outer edges with an outwardly facing notch segment in an outer edge of each leg portion, the notch segments of each clip cooperating to form a said notch means, all of said notch means collectively defining a keyway extending longitudinally and opening outwardly of said stack, a filamentary key in frictional engagement within each of said spaced notch segments, whereby when a clip is separated from said stack, a segment of said filamentary key between said notch segments is severed from the key and is carried by a said separated clip.

2. An elongate clip stack in accordance with claim 1, wherein said filamentary key is positioned in said notch segments completely within the confines of said outer edges.