US4216637A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Molding retainer
Assignee: Northrop Grumman Space and Mission Systems Corp
•
Filing: 1978-08-28
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Granted: 1980-08-12
•
Expires: 1998-08-28
Abstract
Abstract A molding retainer for fastening a molding to a support panel which has a head stud welded thereon. The retainer is of molded plastic construction, and has an open-ended channel extending through it from one end to the other whereby it can be slidably mounted on the stud from either of its ends. The channel defines a retention area intermediate the end of the retainer and two insertion areas leading from its ends to the retention area and the retainer carries a pair of resilient tongues which are urged against the head of the stud when the retainer is mounted on the stud and the stud head is disposed in the retention area. Each of the tongues has an abutment which engages the stud head to inhibit accidental removal of the retainer from the stud when the stud head is positioned in the retention area. The retainer carries external shoulders over which the molding can be slid or snapped once the retainer is secured to the stud. In a modified form of the retainer, the shoulder on one side of the clip is replaced by external hooks and a pressure element disposed between the hooks.
Inventors
- 👤 Willibald Kraus
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-07 17:41
CPC Classifications
F; F16; F16B; F16B5/00; F16B5/12; F16B5/126; B; B60; B60B; B60B7/00; B60B7/06; B60B7/08; F16B21/00; F16B21/09; Y; Y10; Y10T; Y10T24/00; Y10T24/30; Y10T24/304; Y10T24/307; Y10T24/309
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 44
Claim 1
Independent Claim
160 words
A clip for mounting an article on a support which has an upstanding headed stud, the clip comprising an open channel extending continuously through the clip from end to end whereby the clip can be slidably mounted on the stud from either end of the clip, the channel defining a retention area intermediate the length of the channel and two insertion areas, at least one resilient element having an abutment which is resiliently urged against the head of the stud when the clip is mounted on the stud and the head of the stud is in the retention area, the abutment being adapted to resist withdrawal of the stud from the retention area, the channel being generally of inverted U-shape in cross-section and being defined by side walls and a web formed at least partly by the resilient element, and connecting ribs which define the side walls proximate the retaining area and extend from one insertion area to the other.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
160 words
A clip for mounting an article on a support which has an upstanding headed stud, the clip comprising an open channel extending continuously through the clip from end to end whereby the clip can be slidably mounted on the stud from either end of the clip, the channel defining a retention area intermediate the length of the channel and two insertion areas, at least one resilient element having an abutment which is resiliently urged against the head of the stud when the clip is mounted on the stud and the head of the stud is in the retention area, the abutment being adapted to resist withdrawal of the stud from the retention area, the channel being generally of inverted U-shape in cross-section and being defined by side walls and a web formed at least partly by the resilient element, and connecting ribs which define the side walls proximate the retaining area and extend from one insertion area to the other.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
39 words
A clip as claimed in claim 1, wherein the resilient element comprises a tongue which extends in the direction of the length of the channel from an insertion area towards the retention area and terminates in the retention area.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
24 words
A clip as claimed in claim 1, wherein the undersurface of the resilient element has a sloping surface facing away from the retention area.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
52 words
A clip as claimed in claim 3, wherein the web of the channel is formed with a retaining incline on the resilient element which faces the sloping surface and with a guide surface adjacent the retaining incline, the guide surface being generally parallel with the direction of the length of the channel.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
28 words
A clip as claimed in claim 3, wherein the ribs extend from the or each insertion area in the region of the sloping surface of the resilient elements.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
32 words
A clip as claimed in claim 5, wherein the side walls of the clip are provided with external angled surfaces in the insertion areas and with external flanges in the retention area.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
21 words
A clip as claimed in claim 1, wherein two resilient elements are provided, one at each end of the retention area.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
66 words
A clip as claimed in claim 7, wherein the sloping surface of each resilient element terminates in the retention area in an arcuate end surface adapted to abut the head of the stud and a lip projecting beyond the end surface which is adapted to overlie the head of the stud when the head of the stud abuts the arcuate end surface of the resilient element.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
23 words
A clip as claimed in claim 8, wherein the facing end edges of the lips of the two resilient elements are spaced apart.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
55 words
A clip as claimed in claim 7, wherein the connecting ribs are spaced apart by a distance approximately equal to the diameter of the shank of the stud to be engaged and the side walls of the channel are spaced apart by a distance approximately equal to the diameter of the head of the stud.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
30 words
A clip as claimed in claim 8, wherein the ribs form conical openings leading to support surfaces which are positioned beneath and spaced from the lips of the resilient elements.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
43 words
A clip as claimed in claim 1, wherein at least one external shoulder is provided on one side of the clip and at least one external hook and at least one external pressure element are provided on the other side of the clip.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
52 words
A clip as claimed in claim 12, wherein a support flange is provided on the lengthwise side of the clip which is provided with the two shoulders and two support flanges are disposed on the lengthwise side of the clip which is provided with the two hooks and the pressure element therebetween.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
35 words
A clip as claimed in claim 13, wherein one support flange as seen in top view is located between the two shoulders and the two support flanges enclosing the pressure element between the two hooks.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
38 words
A clip as claimed in claim 12, wherein two external shoulders are provided on one side of the clip and two external hooks and an external pressure element therebetween are disposed on the other side of the clip.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
31 words
A clip as claimed in claim 15, wherein the pressure element is at the height of the two shoulders and consists of a short sloping leg and a longer projecting leg.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
36 words
A clip as claimed in claim 15, wherein the two external shoulders and the two external hooks are each connected to one another by a sloping inclined planar surface on the upper surface of the clip.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
36 words
A clip as claimed in claim 17, wherein each hook has a short horizontal leg and a longer, vertical leg, said longer vertical leg being located at a distance from one lengthwise side of the clip.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
37 words
A clip as claimed in claim 18, wherein the longer leg is provided on the outside with one increasing and one decreasing area, said decreasing area effecting a transition to a stop area parallel to the inside.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
35 words
A clip as claimed in claim 18, wherein the longer projecting leg of the pressure element extends up to the height of the upper surface of the short horizontal leg of the or each hook.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
27 words
A clip as claimed in claim 20, wherein the longer projecting leg of the pressure element is inclined relative to the abutting lengthwise side of the clip.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
163 words
A clip for mounting an article on a support which has an upstanding headed stud, the clip being of generally inverted U-shape in cross-section and having side walls joined at their upper ends by middle parts extending therebetween, the clip defining an open channel extending longitudinally and continuously through the clip from end to end whereby the clip can be slidably mounted on the stud from either end of the clip, the channel defining a retention area intermediate the length of the channel and two insertion areas located proximate the middle parts, and the clip including at least one resilient element having an abutment which is resiliently urged against the head of the stud when the clip is mounted on the stud and the head of the stud is located in the retention area to resist withdrawal of the stud from the retention area, the resilient element extending lengthwise of the clip and being a longitudinal, substantially coplanar extension of said middle part.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
163 words
A clip for mounting an article on a support which has an upstanding headed stud, the clip being of generally inverted U-shape in cross-section and having side walls joined at their upper ends by middle parts extending therebetween, the clip defining an open channel extending longitudinally and continuously through the clip from end to end whereby the clip can be slidably mounted on the stud from either end of the clip, the channel defining a retention area intermediate the length of the channel and two insertion areas located proximate the middle parts, and the clip including at least one resilient element having an abutment which is resiliently urged against the head of the stud when the clip is mounted on the stud and the head of the stud is located in the retention area to resist withdrawal of the stud from the retention area, the resilient element extending lengthwise of the clip and being a longitudinal, substantially coplanar extension of said middle part.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
39 words
A clip as claimed in claim 22, wherein the resilient element comprises a tongue which extends in the direction of the length of the channel from an insertion area towards the retention area and terminates in the retention area.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
24 words
A clip as claimed in claim 22, wherein the undersurface of the resilient element has a sloping surface facing away from the retention area.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
21 words
A clip as claimed in claim 22, wherein two resilient elements are provided, one at each end of the retention area.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
66 words
A clip as claimed in claim 25, wherein the sloping surface of each resilient element terminates in the retention area in an arcuate end surface adapted to abut the head of the stud and a lip projecting beyond the end surface which is adapted to overlie the head of the stud when the head of the stud abuts the arcuate end surface of the resilient element.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
30 words
A clip as claimed in claim 26, wherein the ribs form conical openings leading to support surfaces which are positioned beneath and spaced from the lips of the resilient elements.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
23 words
A clip as claimed in claim 26, wherein the facing end edges of the lips of the two resilient elements are spaced apart.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
31 words
A clip as claimed in claim 24, wherein the insertion areas of the clip are joined by connecting ribs which define the side walls in the retaining area of the clip.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
55 words
A clip as claimed in claim 29, wherein the connecting ribs are spaced apart by a distance approximately equal to the diameter of the shank of the stud to be engaged and the side walls of the channel are spaced apart by a distance approximately equal to the diameter of the head of the stud.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
28 words
A clip as claimed in claim 29, wherein the ribs extend from the or each insertion area in the region of the sloping surface of the resilient elements.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
32 words
A clip as claimed in claim 31, wherein the side walls of the clip are provided with external angled surfaces in the insertion areas and with external flanges in the retention area.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
43 words
A clip as claimed in claim 22, wherein at least one external shoulder is provided on one side of the clip and at least one external hook and at least one external pressure element are provided on the other side of the clip.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
52 words
A clip as claimed in claim 33, wherein a support flange in provided on the lengthwise side of the clip which is provided with the two shoulders and two support flanges are disposed on the lengthwise side of the clip which is provided with the two hooks and the pressure element therebetween.
Claim 37
Dependent Claim
35 words
A clip as claimed in claim 34, wherein one support flange as seen in top view is located between the two shoulders and the two support flanges enclosing the pressure element between the two hooks.
Claim 38
Dependent Claim
38 words
A clip as claimed in claim 33, wherein two external shoulders are provided on one side of the clip and two external hooks and an external pressure element therebetween are disposed on the other side of the clip.
Claim 39
Dependent Claim
31 words
A clip as claimed in claim 36, wherein the pressure element is at the height of the two shoulders and consists of a short sloping leg and a longer projecting leg.
Claim 40
Dependent Claim
36 words
A clip as claimed in claim 36, wherein the two external shoulders and the two external hooks are each connected to one another by a sloping inclined planar surface on the upper surface of the clip.
Claim 41
Dependent Claim
36 words
A clip as claimed in claim 38, wherein each hook has a short horizontal leg and a longer, vertical leg, said longer vertical leg being located at a distnace from one lengthwise side of the clip.
Claim 42
Dependent Claim
37 words
A clip as claimed in claim 39, wherein the longer leg is provided on the outside with one increasing and one decreasing area, said decreasing area effecting a transition to a stop area parallel to the inside.
Claim 43
Dependent Claim
35 words
A clip as claimed in claim 39, wherein the longer projecting leg of the pressure element extends up to the height of the upper surface of the short horizontal leg of the or each hook.
Claim 44
Dependent Claim
27 words
A clip as claimed in claim 41, wherein the longer projecting leg of the pressure element is inclined relative to the abutting lengthwise side of the clip.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US3222838A
Cited
US3246440A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1983-08-12 | 1984-02-11 | 1984-08-12 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1987-08-12 | 1988-02-11 | 1988-08-12 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1991-08-12 | 1992-02-11 | 1992-08-12 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |