Claims
- 1. A fastener, comprising:
a plastic member; and a first clip attached to the plastic member, wherein:
i) the first clip includes a first member hingedly connected to a second member with a hinge portion at a proximate end of each of the first member and the second member; and ii) each of the first member and the second member include an inner liner for providing a softer contact surface.
- 2. A fastener as in claim 1, further comprising a fastening member extending from the skeletal plastic member.
- 3. A fastener as in claim 2 wherein the fastening member is formed on the plastic member by:
i) locally heating and melting a portion of the plastic member to form a molten zone; ii) compressing the portion of the plastic member between a pressing unit and a die cavity for shaping the fastening member; and iii) allowing the portion to solidify thereby hardening the fastening member.
- 4. A fastener as in claim 1 wherein the inner liner is at least partially formed of an elastomer.
- 5. A fastener as in claim 4 wherein the first member and the second member are at least partially formed of a thermoplastic material selected from the group of polyamides, polyolefins, polyethylene or polyvinyl chloride and wherein the inner liner is formed a thermoplastic vulcanite.
- 6. A fastener as in claim 4 wherein the inner liner is integrally formed with the first member and second member of the clip using a co-extrusion technique.
- 7. A fastener as in claim 6 wherein the co-extrusion technique includes extruding a mass and slicing the mass to form the fastener.
- 8. A fastener as in claim 7 wherein the cross-section of the mass varies during extrusion.
- 9. A fastener, comprising:
a skeletal plastic member, wherein:
i) the plastic member includes a first concave surface forming a first channel and a second concave surface forming a second channel; and a first clip and a second clip integrally formed with the plastic member, wherein:
i) the first clip and the second clip each include a first member hingedly connected to a second member with a hinge portion at a proximate end of each of the first member and the second member; ii) each of the first member and the second member include an inner liner for providing a softer contact surface; iii) each of the first member and the second member include a distal end; and iv) the hinge portion of the first clip and hinge portion of the second clip are respectively biased toward the first concave surface and the second concave surface upon movement of the distal end of the first member toward the distal end of the second member for each of the first and second clips.
- 10. A fastener as in claim 9, further comprising a fastening member extending from the skeletal plastic member.
- 11. A fastener as in claim 9 wherein the inner liner of the first and second members is at least partially formed of an elastomer.
- 12. A fastener as in claim 11 wherein the first member and the second member are at least partially formed of a thermoplastic material selected from the group of polyamides, polyolefins, polyethylene or polyvinyl chloride and wherein the inner liner is formed a thermoplastic vulcanite.
- 13. A fastener as in claim 11 wherein the inner liner is integrally formed with the first member and second member of the clip using a co-extrusion technique, which includes extruding a mass and slicing the mass to form the fastener.
- 14. A fastener as in claim 13 wherein the cross-section of the mass is substantially constant during extrusion.
- 15. A fastener as in claim 9 wherein, upon movement of the distal end of the first member toward the distal end of the second member for each of the first and second clips, the clips form a configuration that is selected from substantially rectangular, substantially square or substantially annular.
- 16. A fastener, comprising:
a skeletal plastic member, wherein:
i) the plastic member has a through-hole extending therethrough; and ii) the plastic member includes a first arcuate concave surface forming a first channel and a second arcuate concave surface forming a second channel; and a first clip and a second clip integrally formed with the plastic member, wherein:
i) the first clip and the second clip each include a first arcuate member hingedly connected to a second arcuate member with a hinge portion at a proximate end of each of the first arcuate member and the second arcuate member; ii) each of the first arcuate member and the second arcuate member include an inner liner for providing a softer contact surface; iii) each of the first arcuate member and the second arcuate member include a mating portion at located at a distal end of each of the first arcuate member and the second arcuate member; and iv) the hinge portion of the first clip and hinge portion of the second clip are respectively biased toward the first arcuate concave surface and the second arcuate concave surface upon securing of the mating portion of the first arcuate member to the mating portion of the second arcuate portion respectively of the first clip and second clip.
- 17. A fastener as in claim 16 wherein the inner liner is at least partially formed of an elastomer.
- 18. A fastener as in claim 17 wherein the first member and the second member are at least partially formed of a thermoplastic material selected from the group of polyamides, polyolefins, polyethylene or polyvinyl chloride and wherein the inner liner is formed a thermoplastic vulcanite.
- 19. A fastener as in claim 17 wherein the inner liner is integrally formed with the first member and second member of the clip using a co-extrusion technique.
- 20. A fastener as in claim 19 wherein the co-extrusion technique includes extruding a mass and slicing the mass to form the fastener.
CLAIM OF BENEFIT OF FILING DATE
[0001] The present application claims the benefit of the filing date of U.S. Provisional Application Serial No. 60/371,750 (filed Apr. 11, 2002), hereby incorporated by reference.
Provisional Applications (1)
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Number |
Date |
Country |
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60371750 |
Apr 2002 |
US |