US2461083A - Clip - Google Patents

Description

Feb. s, 1949.

R; L. RANK CLIP Filed Feb. 21, 1944 Patented Feb. 8, 1949 UNITED STATES PATENT 7 Claims.

The present invention relates to a clip. More particularly, it comprises a snap-action clip for holding material.

The clip is capable of general use but it is particularly desirable in connection with catamenial pads.

Among the objects of the invention is the provision of a clip of the kind which has a springllke clamping action which has no outstanding edges that could provide either discomfort or something to cause accidental opening.

Particular objects include the provision of a clip of this kind having a minimum number of parts, each of which is capable of inexpensive manufacture and which may be assembled inexpensively to provide a sturdy device.

In the drawing:

Fig. 1 is a front view of the clip;

Fig. 2 is a side view thereof in closed position;

Fig. 3 is a back view of the clip;

Fig. 4 is a longitudinal section taken on the line 4-4 of Fig. 1 with the clip closed;

Figs. 5, 6 and 7 are sections similar to Fig. 4 but showing the clip in varying degrees of closure; and

Fig. 8 is a transverse section on the line 8-8 of Fig.,3.

The clip comprises three portions consisting of a front member I0, a back member II and a latch member I2. The design is such that each of these members may be made from a stamping or a molding.

The front member I has side flanges I3 and I4 and a top flange I that is bent out at I6 to provide a strap-receiving ear having a slot Iii' therein.

The front member I0 in its main body portion has a longitudinal channel II therein, at the top part of which there is a slot I8. This slot has a lower edge I9 for a purpose to be described.

At the upper part of the two flanges I3 and I4 are bosses 20 and 2| that are struck inwardly, as is more particularly shown in Fig. 8.

The lower part of the front member Ill has clamping prongs 22 struck backwardly therefrom.

The back member II is bifurcated by a slot 25 and formed with two arms 25a and 25h. The upper ends of these arms or forks are bent over at 26 so that they may engage around the bosses and 2|. A slight deformation of the parts permits the back member II to be snapped into position over the bosses 20 and 2I where it will remain securely held. It will be observed from Fig. 6 that one of the overturned ends of the member II, shown at 21, is narroweddown to frontV member I0.

2 be more flexible, is extended to lie along the front member Iii, and is preset to an angle, relative to the back` member (see Fig. 7), that causes it to act as a spring urging the two members I0 and II to open position. Y K

The inner walls of the slot 25 in the member II are provided with two extensions Zilintegral therewith that are adapted to receive the latching member I2. The lower partY of the memberrII has clamping prongs 2S struck toward the front member Ii) therefrom and preferably has a slot 3G to be disposed opposite the prongs 22 on the member I0.

The latching member I2 comprises'a relatively narrow strip-like piece of material fashioned into a tongue 35 adapted to Apass through the slot I8 and to close down into the depression Il in the The back part of the latch member I2 is bent upon itself at 38 and then is bent around again to provide a tubular or loop portion 3l that may engage over .the two extensions 28 projecting outwardly from the walls of the slot in the back member I I. By reference to Fig. 3, it will be seen that the width of the latch member decreases somewhat at 39 near ythe extensions 28.

yThe device is assembled as follows:

First the latch member I2 is secured on to the extensions 28 of the back member II. This is readily accomplished by warping one of the arms of the bifurcated portion out of the plane of the other, whereupon the two extensions may Abe engaged in the tubular portion 31. As the member I I springs back to its normal shape, the latch member I2 will be securely held.

The tongue 35 of the latch member is then inserted through the slot I8 of the front member I0. The upper part 26 of the back member II may then be snapped into position over the bosses 20 and 2 I, by the yielding of the flanges I3 and I4, and of the arms of the back member II. In this insertion, the member II will be slightly angularly disposed relative to the member I0, but the cut-back portion 39 on the latch member permits it to wobble slightly on the extensions 28 to accommodate this angular disposition. After the parts are thus assembled, the latch member, when closed, interposes its wider part within the slot 25 to spread the bifurcations and spring them outwardly, adding to their normal spring to hold them over the bosses 2Iland 2 I.

When the device is thus assembled, it operates as follows: Y

In the opening position shown in Fig. 7, theA material is inserted between the front member I0 and the back member l I. It will be seen that the bottom wall I9 of the slot i8 is disposed so that a downward force applied to the end of the tongue 35 of the latch member will tend to close the front l0 toward the back member ll, owing to the disposition of the bend 35 above the pivots provided by the extensions 28. When the parts of the clip reach `the position of Fig. 6 they are substantially closed. Further depression of the tongue 35 will draw them tightly together, clamping the material between them. n the closing action, one of the overturned ends of the back member Il, shown at 2l, applies an opening force which is overcome by the latching operation. As the tongue 35 is depressed from the .position of Fig. 6 to the position of Fig. 5, the 'Wall 'I'Q 'of the slot IS causes a spreading ofthe tongue 35 `:away from the loop 37 by bending about the ,portion 36 which is displaced from the loop to permit such action. When an overcenter point is reached, thereafter V`the tongue '35 Iwill readily 'move down into the depression l' 'oi the iront member l 0 with lessthanthe maximum-deiorma tion of the latch member I 2, so that the same will hold tightly, the latter 'being made possible by A'having the Wall I9 related to the pivot 2'6 `as is lclearlyshown inthedrawing.

When the device 'i-'s `iclosed, it will be seen ythat there are no Voutstanding parts that could 'cause 'accidental opening. JHowever, the bottom end of gthe tongue-:35 'may 'be vreadily llifted for opening purposes. It will also Ybe observed that any force applied from the back against the latch member tends to close the same and applies `a vresistance toopening thereof.

What is claimed is:

1. In a clip, Aa front memberhaving-side 4'flanges thereon, oppositelydisposed pivot portions on -the said ange members, a back member having lseparated bent vsections snapped `over the pivot portions on the front member, latch 'means to, draw the two portions together lin 'clamping 're- Ala`tionship,'saif`l latch means `comprising a latch device ipivotally 'attached to one Vof said members uand extending through the other member, there being a slot in the front .portion through which the latch means extends, the said slot V`having a vwall disposed slightly toward the :pivot between the front and back portions from the pivot Voi lthe latch member 'onthe back 'in ember,` whereby the latch member 'may engage 'said Vedge to be Vclosed with an over-center action.

2. In 'a clip, 'a front member having said via'nges slightly yieldable outwardly rand Tportions op- Vpositely disposed'upon the side ilanges'to provide a 'pivot means, a'bifurcated back member Thaving forks bent at their ends 'and adapted to 'be snapped over said pivot means for attaching the back member pivotally'with the front member, said forks of said back member having .projections extending toward each other, a latch 'member comprising a .unitary strip bent 'in the form of a U having one of its arms'termin'ating Ain a loop and the other form-ing a tongue 4extend- Y between the forks whereby tolspread them-outwardly, vthe tongue of the fiatch member being adapted to extend through the front member, an edge on the front member disposed nearer the pivot portions of the front member than the projections engaging the loop of the latch, whereby the tongue may be forced downwardly over said edge and by such movement be spread a greater distance initially than at the end of said movement whereby to hold the clip in closed position. Y

3. In a clip, affront member having side flanges slightly vyieldabl'e outwardly 'and portions oppositely disposed upon the side flanges to provide 'a pivot means, a bifurcated back member having forks bent at their ends and adapted to be -snapped over said pivot means for attaching the 'back member pivotally with the front member, said forks of said Yback member having projections extending toward each other, a latch member comprising a unitary strip bent in the form of a U having one of its arms terminating in a loop and the other for-ming a 'tongue extending beyond 'the loop, said loop being 'engageable over the projections on the forks of the lback member, vthe loop portion being narrower than the space `between the forks to permit said forlks to yield toward one another ier engagement of theirben't ends over-the pivot portions on the frontmember, the outwardly Yprojecting part vof `the latch'member being as Wide as the space between the forks whereby to spread them outwardly, the tongue oi' the latch member being adapted 'to V4extend through the front member, an -edge :on 'the 'front member disposed nearer the pivot portion of the front member than the projections engaging the loop oi the lat-ch, whereby the tonguema'y be forced downwardly over said edge and-by 'such movement be spread a greater kdistance before the end of its Vmovement than at the end of its movement whereby it holds itself lin close position, said front member having avdepressed portion to receive the latch member.

4. In a clip, a iront member, Aa back member, a llatch member, said rontmember having faiznain 'bodyrwith atransverse slot therein and fin'cluding side anges having opposed pivot bosses, said 'back 'member ibei'ng 'bifurcated and including Ytwo arms bent back upon themselves, eacharm in cluding a lateral extension, said back member 'engaging lover jthe pivot bosses :at the bend 1in pivotal relationship, saitllatch memberfcompris- Ying a Lresilient 'strap bent "back `upon itself and including a looped end pivotally Iengaging said lateral extensions, the other end of said latch memb er extending vthrough the ltransversejslot 'in said front membera'nd engagingthe :edgeithereo'f remote .from the pivot bosses of said front vrn'ember, the 'relationship `of said remote edge, said pivot bosses and said lpivot lateral extensions being such that 'ano'vereenter action obtains b'etween saidlatch 'member 'and said remote edge to provide a Vlatching and holding -aotion and a release action, andopposed clamping prongs near the free ends ci said lfront 'and back members f adapted to rest'ad'iacenteach other when'sai'd clip .is in 'latchedposition and tob'e remote from'ea'ch other when Said -clip is in unlatohedposition.

5. In a clip, a 'front member, -a'back memben `alatclfl member, each of said three members comprising a vformed stamping, said front member having-a mainbody witha transverse slot therein and including side -iianges having oppose'dipivot bosses, said :back member :being bifuroated `and including `two arms -bent back upon themselves, eachfarmincludinga lateral extension, saidback member engaging over the pivot bosses at the bend in pivotal relationship, said latch member comprising a resilient strap bent back upon itself and including a looped end pivotally engaging said lateral extensions, the other end of said latch member extending through the transverse slot in said front member and engaging the edge thereof remote from the pivot bosses of said front member, the relationship of said remote edge, said pivot bosses and said pivot lateral extensions being such that an overcenter action obtains between said latch member and said remote edge to provide a latching and holding action and a release action, and opposed clamping prongs near the free ends of said front and back members adapted to rest adjacent each other when said clip is in latched position and to be remote from each other when said clip is in unlatched position.

6. In a clip, a front member, a back member having separated bent sections, means pivotally supporting said back member on said front member and engaging said separated bent sections, latch means to draw the two portions together in clamping relationship, said latch means comprising a latch device pivotally attached to one of said members and extending through the other member, there being a slot in the front portion through which the latch means extends, the said slot having a wall disposed slightly toward the pivot between the front and back portions from the pivot of the latch member on the back member, whereby the latch member may engage said edge to be closed with an over-center action.

7. In a clip, a front member, a back member, a latch member, said front member having a main body with a transverse slot therein and including side flanges, said back member being bifurcated 6 and including two arms bent back upon themselves, each arm including a lateral extension,

means associated with the side flanges of said front member and pivotally engaged by the backY member at the bend of its two arms, said latch member comprising a resilient strap bent back y upon itself and including a looped end pivotally Y engaging said lateral extensions, the other end of said latch memberV extending through the transverse slot in said front member and engaging the edge thereof remote from the pivot bosses of said front member, the relationship of said remote edge, said pivot bosses and said pivot lateral extensions being such that an over-center action obtains between said latch member and said remote edge to provide a latching and holding action and a release action, and opposed clamping prongs near the free ends of said front and back members adapted to rest adjacent each other when said clip is in latched position and to be remote from each other when said clip is in unlatched position.

` RICHARD L. RANK.

REFERENCES CITED` The following references are of record in the file ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 385,330 Taylor s June 26, 1888 404,023 Weld May 28, 1889 421,660 Bray et al. Feb. 18, 1890 605,219 Carney June 7, 1898 617,944 Atwood Jan. 17, 1899 810,678 Rubin Jan. 23, 1906 2,251,800 ,Painter Aug. 5, 1941

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