Locking clip

Claim 2

A stamped and formed one-piece locking clip, comprising an elongate body (2) characterized in that the body (2) is of substantially C-shaped cross section and thereby defines a slot (4) extending longitudinally of the body (2), the body having a resilient and compliant first portion (6) of major diameter and having a first peripheral edge (8) at one end of the body (2), the first portion (6) merging with a second portion (12) of the body (2), of smaller diameter than, but of greater length than, the first portion (6) thereof, and having a second peripheral edge (14) at the other end of the body (2), a locking spring (16) having a first part (18) extending from said first peripheral edge (8) at a position opposite to the slot (4), to position beyond the slot (4), an intermediate part (20) extending lengthwise of the slot (4) and an end part (22) which is bowed away from the body (2) at a position proximate to said second peripheral edge (14), and having a free end (23) projecting in the inward direction of the slot (4).

Claim 3

A stamped and formed one-piece locking clip for insertion into aligned holes (H1 and H2) in a superposed metal plate (P) and a circuit board (CB) to secure the plate (P) to the board (CB), the locking clip comprising an elongate body (2) characterized in that the body (2) is of substantially C-shaped cross section and thereby defines a slot (4) extending longitudinally of the body (2), the body (2) having a resilient and compliant first portion (6) of major diameter, for insertion into the hole (H1) in the plate (P) and having a first peripheral edge (8) at one end of the body (2), the first portion (6) merging with a second portion (12) of the body (2), which is of smaller diameter than the first portion (6), for insertion into the hole (H2) in the circuit board (CB) and having a second peripheral edge (14) at the other end of the body (2), a locking spring (16) having a first part (18) extending from said first peripheral edge (8) at a position opposite to said slot (4), to a position beyond said slot (4), an intermediate part (20) extending lengthwise of said slot (4), and an end part (22) which is bowed away from said body (2) at a position proximate to said second peripheral edge (14), for engaging a ground plane (G) on the side of the circuit board (CB) remote from the metal plate (P).

Claim 4

A stamped and formed one-piece locking clip for insertion into aligned holes (H1 and H2) in a superposed metal plate (P) and a circuit board (CB) to secure the plate (P) to the board (CB), the locking clip comprising an elongate body (2) characterized in that the body (2) is of substantially C-shaped cross section and thereby defines a slot (4) extending longitudinally of the body (2), the body (2) having a resilient and compliant first portion (6) of major diameter, for insertion into the hole (H1) in the plate (P) and having a first peripheral edge (8) at one end of the body (2), the first portion (6) merging with a second portion (12) of the body (2), which is of smaller diameter than the first portion (6), for insertion into the hole (H2) in the circuit board (CB) and having a second peripheral edge (14) at the other end of the body (2), a locking spring (16) having a first part (18) extending from said first peripheral edge (8) at a position opposite to said slot (4), to a position beyond said slot (4), an intermediate part (20) extending lengthwise of said slot (4), and an end part (22) which is bowed away from said body (2) at a position proximate to said second peripheral edge (14), for engaging a ground plane (G) on the side of the circuit board (CB) remote from the metal plate (P).

Claim 5

A locking clip as claimed in claim 1 or 2, characterized in that said second portion (12) is approximately twice the length of said first portion (6).

Claim 6

A locking clip as claimed in claim 1, 2 or 3, characterized in that the first part (18) of the spring (16) is bowed outwardly of said first peripheral edge (8) and outwardly of the body (2) and is smoothly arcuate.

Claim 7

A locking clip as claimed in any one of the preceding claims characterized in that said slot (4) has parallel longitudinal edges (24) and extends about approximately one-third of the periphery of the body (2), the slot (4) being of constant width.

Claim 8

A locking clip as claimed in any one of the preceding claims characterized in that the spring (16) is of elongate cross section in a direction at right angles to the length of the body (2), so as to extend across the greater part of the width of the slot (4).

Claim 9

A locking clip as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, characterized by stop means (28, 30 or 32) projecting radially outwardly of said first peripheral edge (8).

Claim 10

A locking clip as claimed in claim 7, characterized in that said stop means comprises at least one rim (28) extending from said first peripheral edge (8).

Claim 11

A locking clip as claimed in claim 7, characterized in that said stop means comprises a pair of opposed flanges (30) extending from said first peripheral edge (8).

Claim 12

A locking clip as claimed in claim 7, characterized in that said stop means comprises a radiused portion (32) of the first part of the spring (16).