MXPA00001690A - Fixing clip - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention concerns a clip for fixing a covering on a support comprising a first male part (1) capable of being clipped in an opening of the support, linked by a strap (3) to a female part (4), capable of beingclipped on a second male part (2) of the clip, a part (6) capable of being assembled by sliding on the part (4).

Description

GRIP CLAMP The present invention relates to a fastening clip. particularly, but not exclusively, intended to hold pieces made of thermoplastic material and to supply these staples on metal parts, particularly in the construction of vehicles, in order to fix an internal plastic molding on the body. Traditionally, such fasteners are obtained by means of discrete addition elements, such as rivets, plastic clips or screws, which are threadedly engaged in a hole or opening in the metal or plastic support and where the head holds the piece of plastic that is going to be secured. Although that kind of assembly is easy to disassemble, it is expensive, because additional tools have to be used. Also, a large amount of labor is required to perform such fixation by means of aggregate elements. When the interior of a car is equipped with a side air bag for the head, it is necessary to retain the interior trim after the bag has been inflated, so that the molding does not constitute a projectile that could damage the occupant of the cabin. More generally, it is advantageous to be able to retain a part after it has been un-stapled. An object of the present invention is to alleviate the drawbacks of the known staples and to enable a previously stapled piece to be retained after it has been un-stapled. The invention provides a clip of plastic material for fastening a piece on a support, in particular a metal support, this clip is characterized in that it comprises a base; a first male portion, which can be clamped in an opening, a second female portion, which extends in line with the first portion, a flexible strip secured to the base and which is connected to a female part, which can be press fit on the second male portion. The female part, which can be snapped onto the upper portion of the fastener, is also provided with assembly elements for coupling to a female part, secured to the molding. In another feature of the invention, the bottom portion of the staple comprises a spike, having two walls projecting from its bottom end, in a V-shaped configuration, with the free ends of the walls presenting pressure clamping tips, which come into contact with the edges of the hole, in order to provide a firm resistance to traction.

The flexibility of the plastic material makes it possible to insert the bottom portion of the staple into the hole and retract the projection tips until this staple occupies a predetermined position, in which the metal sheet, or more generally the support, is clamped between the base of the clamp and the clamping tips. In the invention, the base with its edges bent downwards makes it possible to change the position of the acute zones. The edges of the V-shaped staple can thus slide over the edges of the support without being damaged, enabling the staple to take its final position. Such pieces need to be dismantled only occasionally, as a function of particular problems. The thermoplastic material, which constitutes the staple is thus selected in such a way that it is capable of being retained without damage to achieve the assembly and disassembly operations. Other features and advantages of the present invention will be apparent from reading the following description of a particular embodiment, provided merely in the form of a non-limiting example and with reference to the figures, in which: "Figure 1 is a view in perspective of a staple of the invention; "Figure 2 is a perspective view, showing the staple of Figure 1 assembled with a piece linked to the molding to be retained;" Figure 3 is a sectional view through a piece of molding assembled with a clip of the invention; "Figure 4 is a sectional view, showing the staple and molding assembled to the body; and "Figure 5 is a sectional view, showing the molding partially released from the body, In Figures 1 to 5, the same references designate the same elements, In Figure 1, a staple can be seen which is molded. by injection of the plastic material and comprising a base 5 from which a first portion 1 projects downward, in order to press under an opening in the body In the example shown, this portion is of a configuration of anchor, comprised of a spigot 13, having two walls 12, projecting in a V-shape from its free end, these walls move with each other during insertion through a hole and then return to their original configuration, then that they have passed through the hole, the free ends of the walls 12 have tips 11 that are clamped under pressure, which come into contact with the edges of the hole or opening, in order to provide good resistance to the extraction. Starting from the base and in line with the pin 13, a second portion 2 is projected which is of generally oval configuration, which is composed of two walls 21, which together form an axially extending hole 22, thus giving this portion a certain amount of resilience in a transverse direction. The base 5 is flat and its side edges are preferably curved towards the portion 1. Starting from one of the sides of the base 5, a flexible band or band 3 extends, the other end of which is secured to a piece 4. This piece 4 is substantially rectangular in shape and has a hole 41 in its central portion, this orifice is generally frustoconical in configuration, and of such dimensions as to make it possible for the piece 4 to be clamped on the portion 2 of the staple. The sides of the piece 4 have two sliding slots 52 to enable the piece 4 to be assembled with a corresponding piece 6, which is secured to the molding in the manner described below. The piece 6 is shown in Figure 2 and has two pins 62 in its bottom portion (the figure is turned downwards) designed for sliding in the grooves 42 of the piece 4. When the molding is mounted on the body of a car, the piece 6 is integral with this molding, as can be seen in Figure 3. This figure shows the parts as previously described in the previously assembled position. That is, the staple 1, 2 has been clamped in an opening 9 in the body 7. The flexible strip 3 has been bent 90 degrees back on itself, so that the piece 4 can be clamped on the portion 2 of the staple moving down in the figure. The piece 6 is integral with the molding 7 and has slid along the slots 42 within the piece 4. Figure 4 shows the staple and the molding 7 assembled to the body 8, ie the various elements are shown in the positions they occupy during normal use. The clip is retained in the body by the portion 1 with its clamping tips under pressure, and the molding is retained to the clip by the link between the piece 6 and the piece 4, this piece 4 is retained on the portion 2 of the clip . By an appropriate selection of materials, this provides sufficient strength to ensure that the molding remains in place under the conditions of normal use. However, if it were necessary to remove the molding 7, for example in order to replace it, then it is easily dismantled by exerting sufficient traction on the molding, as shown in Figure 5. Since the resistance of the connection between piece 4 and the piece 2 is weaker than that between the staple and the body, this traction causes the piece 4 to become unstacked from the portion 2 of the staple, and the tape 3 then makes it possible to establish a gap between the trim 7 and the staple. This hollow makes it possible or causes the piece 6 of the molding 7 to slide along the piece 4, or also merely cutting through the tape 3. It is then possible to turn the staple through 90 degrees, so that it can be disconnected from the opening 9 since, in the example shown, the opening and consequently the staple are both rectangular. Although the above description was provided using as an example a staple having two ridges, to penetrate into a rectangular cutout, the same structure can be naturally used with a staple having a square or circular configuration. Similarly, although it is economically advantageous for the two pieces 4 to be integral with the molding, it is clear that they can be made up of discrete elements or invisible fasteners and that numerous variants can be provided, in particular by replacing equivalent technical elements, without going further. of the scope of the invention.

Claims (5)

1. A staple of plastic material, for holding a piece on a support, in particular a metal support, this staple is characterized in that it comprises a base, a first male portion for clamping in an opening of the support, a second male portion, which is extends in line with the first portion, and a flexible strip, secured to the base and to a female part, which can be clamped on the second male portion.

2. A staple, according to claim 1, characterized in that a piece, secured to the molding, is mounted on the female part.

3. A staple, according to claims 1 or 2, characterized in that the female part has a frustoconical central hole, suitable for clamping under pressure on the second male portion of the staple.

4. A staple, according to claims 3 or 4, characterized in that the sides of the piece have grooves, where pins can slide on the piece.

5. A staple, according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the resistance of the piece against tearing from the second portion, is less than the resistance of the first portion being torn from the opening.