Cover clip

Claim 2

A clip for attaching a cover panel having a planar foot of predetermined thickness to a backboard panel having an angularly turned flange of predetermined thickness, the clip comprising an upstanding front tab, an upstanding back tab spaced from the front tab in a clip depth direction, a base member interconnecting the front and back tabs in U-shaped configuration, and at least one spring arm extending upwardly from the base member and at least partially defined by a front spring arm edge and a back spring arm edge, the front spring arm edge being spaced apart from the front tab in a clip depth direction by a positive amount less than the backboard flange thickness, and the back-spring arm edge being spaced apart from the back tab in a clip depth direction by a positive amount less than the cover foot thickness.

Claim 3

A clip according to claim 1 wherein said front tab is normally biased toward the spring arm in a clip depth direction, and wherein attachment of the clip to the backboard flange resiliently forces the front tab away from the spring arm in a clip depth direction into a flange-engagement position to squeeze the flange between the spring arm and the front tab.

Claim 4

A clip according to claim 1 wherein said back tab is normally biased toward the spring arm in a clip depth direction and wherein attachment of the clip to the cover panel foot resiliently forces the back tab away from the spring arm is a clip depth direction into a cover foot engagement position to squeeze the cover foot between the spring arm and the back tab.

Claim 5

A clip according to claim 1 wherein said base member is substantially planar in shape, and is interposed between said front tab and said back tab in an orientation to cause the cover panel to be mounted to the clip at a position spaced apart from the position at which the backboard flange is mounted to the clip.

Claim 6

A clip according to claim 1 wherein said clip spring arm member projects from an edge of said base in the general direction in which said front and back tabs extend but diverges from the tabs in a clip length direction.

Claim 7

A clip according to claim 1 wherein said spring arm is provided with a hook configuration at a free end of the front edge, the spring arm front edge and hook portion being adapted to mate with the outer surface of the backboard flange and the surface of a flange-backboard face shoulder.

Claim 8

A clip according to claim 6 wherein said clip front tab is provided with an outWardly flared top adapted to guide the inner surface of the backboard flange toward the clip base as the clip is being attached to the backboard.

Claim 9

A clip according to claim 1 wherein said spring arm is provided with a cam surface at a free end of the back edge to guide the cover toward the clip back tab and between the back tab and spring arm as said cover is moved into engagement with the clip and toward the clip base.

Claim 10

A clip according to claim 1 wherein said clip back tab is provided with an outwardly flared free end to guide the cover between the back tab and spring arm as said cover is mounted into engagement with the clip and toward the clip base.

Claim 11

A clip according to claim 1 wherein said clip is provided with two spring arm members, one spring arm member projecting from each edge of said clip base in the general direction in which said front and back tabs extend but diverging from each other and from the tabs in a clip length direction.

Claim 12

A clip for attaching a cover panel having a planar foot of predetermined thickness to a backboard panel having a perpendicularly turned flange of predetermined thickness, the clip comprising an upstanding front tab, an upstanding back tap spaced from the front tab in a clip depth direction, a base member interconnecting the front tab in U-shaped configuration, and two spring arm members, one spring arm member projecting upwardly from each side of the base member in the general direction in which said front and back tabs extend but diverging from each other and from the tabs in a clip length direction, each spring arm being at least partially defined by a front spring arm edge, a hook configuration at a free end of the spring arm front edge, the spring arm front edge and hook portion being adapted to mate with the outer surface of the backboard flange and the surface of a flangebackboard face shoulder, the front spring arm edge being spaced apart from the front tab in a clip depth direction by a positive amount less than the backboard flange thickness, and the back spring arm being spaced part from the back tab in a clip depth direction by a positive amount less than the cover foot thickness.

Claim 13

A clip for attaching a cover panel having a planar foot of predetermined thickness to a backboard panel having a perpendicularly turned flange of predetermined thickness, the clip comprising an upstanding front tab, an upstanding back tap spaced from the front tab in a clip depth direction, a base member interconnecting the front tab in U-shaped configuration, and two spring arm members, one spring arm member projecting upwardly from each side of the base member in the general direction in which said front and back tabs extend but diverging from each other and from the tabs in a clip length direction, each spring arm being at least partially defined by a front spring arm edge, a hook configuration at a free end of the spring arm front edge, the spring arm front edge and hook portion being adapted to mate with the outer surface of the backboard flange and the surface of a flangebackboard face shoulder, the front spring arm edge being spaced apart from the front tab in a clip depth direction by a positive amount less than the backboard flange thickness, and the back spring arm being spaced part from the back tab in a clip depth direction by a positive amount less than the cover foot thickness.

Claim 14

A clip according to claim 11 wherein the distance from said clip base to said spring arm hook configuration is substantially equal to the length of said backboard panel flange measured in a direction perpendicular to the backboard face, the clip, when installed upon the backboard and backboard flange, having its spring arms resiliently urged from their unstressed diverging positions into positions more perpendicular to said base member and closer to said front and back tab portions in a clip length direction.