Connector clip

Claim 2

A connector clip for linking a pair of straps such as cable ties, at least one of said straps being a closed looped strap, said clip comprising a body having a first strap passage adapted to receive and retain a strap passing longitudinally therethrough, and a cantilever jaw having an inner surface and an outer surface, said inner surface extending along and spaced from a portion of the outer periphery of said body to define a second passage adapted to receive a strap, said jaw having a first end integrally formed at one point on the outer periphery of said body and an outer end spaced slightly from a second point on the outer periphery of said body to define an opening communicating with said second passage for the insertion of the closed looped strap laterally into said second passage without opening the closed loop strap, said second passage having a first side formed by a portion of the outer periphery of said body, a second side formed by the inner surface of said cantilever jaw, a third side depending from said body connecting said first and second sides, and a fourth side projecting from said second side adjacent said outer end toward said second point on the periphery of said body, and wherein said fourth side terminates short of said second point to form said opening, the outer end of said jaw beyond said fourth side being tapered to form an edge to assist in inserting said clip under a strap tightly in place around a bundle of wires wiThout loosening the strap, the lateral sides of said outer end taper toward each other approaching said edge to provide an edge of substantially smaller width than the width of the remainder of said clip whereby insertion of said clip under a tight strap is further assisted.

Claim 3

A connector clip as set forth in claim 1 wherein said body comprises a closed ring so that said first strap passage is a closed walled passage adapted to receive a strap prior to forming the strap into a closed loop.

Claim 4

A connector clip as set forth in claim 2 wherein said passages are of generally rectangular configuration having their longer dimensions corresponding to the width of the straps disposed in planes generally parallel to each other.

Claim 5

A connector clip as set forth in claim 2 wherein the axes of the respective first and second passages are generally parallel whereby the loops formed by the respective straps are disposed in generally the same plane.

Claim 6

A connector clip as set forth in claim 2 wherein said opening is substantially smaller than the distance between said first and second sides and smaller than the thickness of said one of said straps whereby insertion of said one of said straps into said second passage requires flexure of said cantilever jaw relative to said first side.

Claim 7

A connector clip as set forth in claim 5 wherein said third side of said second passage is of substantially greater thickness than said first and second sides to provide adequate strength during the flexure of said cantilever jaw.

Claim 8

A connector clip as set forth in claim 5 wherein the outer end of said jaw and the outer periphery of said closed ring diverge beyond the plane of said fourth side to form a diverging mouth for initiating the insertion of a looped strap through said opening into said second passage.

Claim 9

A connector clip as set forth in claim 7 wherein said diverging mouth is formed by a flat lead surface on the outer end of said jaw disposed parallel to said first and second sides of said second passage and by a curved portion of the outer periphery of said closed ring diverging from said lead surface beyond said second point.

Claim 12

The method of claim 9 wherein said closed looped strap has a predetermined thickness and said opening is smaller than said thickness, said step of snapping the connector clip onto the closed looped strap includes flexure of said wall relative to the other of said passages.

Claim 13

A connector clip for linking a pair of straps such as cable ties, at least one of said straps being a closed looped strap, said clip comprising a body having a first strap passage adapted to receive and retain a strap passing longitudinally therethrough, and a cantilever jaw having an inner surface and an outer surface, said inner surface extending along and spaced from a portion of the outer periphery of said body to define a second passage adapted to receive a strap, said jaw having a first end integrally formed at one point on the outer periphery of said body and an outer end spaced slightly from a second point on the outer periphery of said body to define an opening communicating with said second passage for the insertion of the closed looped strap laterally into said second passage without opening the closed looped strap, said second passage having a first side formed by a portion of the outer periphery of said body, a second side formed by the inner surface Of said cantilever jaw, a third side depending from said body connecting said first and second sides, and a fourth side projecting from said second side adjacent said outer end toward said second point on the periphery of said body, and wherein said fourth side terminates short of said second point to form said opening, the outer end of said jaw beyond said fourth side being tapered to form an edge to assist in inserting said clip under a strap lightly in place around a bundle of wires without loosening the strap, the outer end of said jaw comprising a flat lead surface extending perpendicular to and from the terminus of the fourth side of said second passage, said outer surface of said jaw being curved upwardly to intersect said lead surface forming said edge, whereby insertion of said clip under said looped strap is facilitated without said edge cutting into the wires.

Claim 14

A connector clip for linking a pair of straps such as cable ties, at least one of said straps being a closed looped strap, said clip comprising a body having a first strap passage adapted to receive and retain a strap passing longitudinally therethrough, and a cantilever jaw having an inner surface and an outer surface, said inner surface extending along and spaced from a portion of the outer periphery of said body to define a second passage adapted to receive a strap, said jaw having a first end integrally formed at one point on the outer periphery of said body and an outer end spaced slightly from a second point on the outer periphery of said body to define an opening communicating with said second passage for the insertion of the closed looped strap laterally into said second passage without opening the closed looped strap, said second passage having a first side formed by a portion of the outer periphery of said body, a second side formed by the inner surface Of said cantilever jaw, a third side depending from said body connecting said first and second sides, and a fourth side projecting from said second side adjacent said outer end toward said second point on the periphery of said body, and wherein said fourth side terminates short of said second point to form said opening, the outer end of said jaw beyond said fourth side being tapered to form an edge to assist in inserting said clip under a strap lightly in place around a bundle of wires without loosening the strap, the outer end of said jaw comprising a flat lead surface extending perpendicular to and from the terminus of the fourth side of said second passage, said outer surface of said jaw being curved upwardly to intersect said lead surface forming said edge, whereby insertion of said clip under said looped strap is facilitated without said edge cutting into the wires.

Claim 15

A connector clip as set forth in claim 11 wherein the outer periphery of said body diametrically opposite said second point is curved to provide a bearing surface to assist in manual insertion of said clip under a tightly looped strap.

Claim 16

A connector clip as set forth in claim 11 wherein said opening is substantially smaller than the distance between said first and second sides and smaller than the thickness of said one of said straps whereby insertion of said one of said straps into said second passage requires flexure of said cantilever jaw relative to said first side.

Claim 17

A connector clip as set forth in claim 13 wherein the outer end of said jaw and the outer periphery of said body diverge beyond the plane of said fourth side to form a diverging mouth for initiating the insertion of a looped strap through said opening into said second passage.

Claim 18

A connector clip as set forth in claim 14 wherein said diverging mouth is formed by a flat lead surface on the outer end of said jaw disposed parallel to said first and second sides of said second passage and by a curved portion of the outer periphery of said body diverging from said lead surface beyond said second point.

Claim 19

A connector clip for linking a pair of straps such as cable ties, at least one of said straps being a closed looped strap, said clip comprising a body having a first strap passage adapted to receive and retain a strap passing longitudinally therethrough, and a cantilever jaw having an inner surface and an outer surface, said inner surface extending along and spaced from a portion of the outer periphery of said body to define a second passage adapted to receive a strap, said jaw having a first end integrally formed at one point on the outer periphery of said body and an outer end spaced slightly from a second point on the outer periphery of said body to define an opening communicating with said second passage for the insertion of the closed looped strap laterally into said second passage without opening the closed looped strap, said second passage having a first side formed by a portion of the outer periphery of said body, a second side formed by the inner surface of said cantilever jaw, a third side depending from said body connecting said first and second sides, and a fourth side projecting from said second side adjacent said outer end toward said second point on the periphery of said body, and wherein said fourth side terminates short of said second point to form said opening, said opening being substantially smaller than the distance between said first and second sides and smaller than the thickness of said one of said straps whereby insertion of said one of said straps into said second passage requires flexure of said cantilever jaw relative to said first side.

Claim 20

A connector clip for linking a pair of straps such as cable ties, at least one of said straps being a closed looped strap, said clip comprising a body having a first strap passage adapted to receive and retain a strap passing longitudinally therethrough, and a cantilever jaw having an inner surface and an outer surface, said inner surface extending along and spaced from a portion of the outer periphery of said body to define a second passage adapted to receive a strap, said jaw having a first end integrally formed at one point on the outer periphery of said body and an outer end spaced slightly from a second point on the outer periphery of said body to define an opening communicating with said second passage for the insertion of the closed looped strap laterally into said second passage without opening the closed looped strap, said second passage having a first side formed by a portion of the outer periphery of said body, a second side formed by the inner surface of said cantilever jaw, a third side depending from said body connecting said first and second sides, and a fourth side projecting from said second side adjacent said outer end toward said second point on the periphery of said body, and wherein said fourth side terminates short of said second point to form said opening, said opening being substantially smaller than the distance between said first and second sides and smaller than the thickness of said one of said straps whereby insertion of said one of said straps into said second passage requires flexure of said cantilever jaw relative to said first side.