The present invention relates generally to snap-together clips for operatively joining straps or similar structures and more particularly to a clip having a stirrup portion and an engageable hook portion which snaps around the crossbar of the stirrup portion. In the snapped-together state, the hook portion is rotatable at least partially about the stirrup crossbar to adopt a folded structure. The hook portion and/or the stirrup portion may include one or more eyelets for acceptance and retention of strap members for tensioning adjustment.
Clips for connecting a strap to a second strap or other structure are well known to those of skill in the art. By way of example only, such clips may be used for fastening backpacks, luggage or other articles.
One prior clip arrangement incorporates a male member with a pair of laterally disposed legs that snap in locking relation within a relatively flat female body. In such a construction portions of the snap legs typically project through openings in the lateral sides of the female body in locking relation. The locking relation is disengaged by a user pressing inwardly against the lateral sides of the body to force the snap legs to the interior while applying a separating tensioning force. This permits the legs to be pulled outwardly from the body. While such prior structures are suitable for many applications, one deficiency is that the clip cannot bend in the assembled condition. Thus, a user's movement may be restricted. Moreover, when substantial tension is applied, that tension must be carried by the snap legs and the female body, thereby requiring the use of materials of enhanced thickness and/or strength in those components.
Another prior clip arrangement incorporates a relatively large diameter “J” hook with a leaf spring closure. The “J” hook can snap loosely through a connection eyelet. However, in the connected relation there can be substantial lateral relative movement between the “J” hook and the eyelet. Moreover, in the event that the leaf spring closure is damaged, the “J” hook will tend to become disengaged due to the large entrance opening which tends to be much larger than the connection eyelet.
In light of the above, it would be desirable to provide an attachment clip which permits relative rotation of the components in the assembled condition and which also maintains the snapped-together relationship in tensioned and untensioned states.
The present invention offers advantages and alternatives over the prior art by providing a foldable attachment clip assembly including a receiving body portion having a hollow interior and a slotted opening extending along the length which receives and retains a crossbar of a stirrup connection portion. The crossbar of the stirrup connection portion is adapted for press-fit insertion through the relatively narrow width slotted opening which opens into a wider diameter retention pocket at the interior of the body portion. Following attachment, the receiving body portion and the stirrup connection portion can rotate relative to one another about an axis defined generally by the crossbar within the retention pocket. Upon application of a tensioning force, the clip is substantially straightened and the receiving body pulls tight against the crossbar in a secure relation.
In accordance with one exemplary aspect, the present invention provides a foldable attachment clip assembly including a stirrup member having a crossbar oriented between opposing lateral legs. The clip assembly further includes a hook member including a receiving body adapted to receive the crossbar and an eyelet extension adapted to receive a strap element extending away from the receiving body. The receiving body has a hollow interior with a slot opening extending along the length of the receiving body. The slot opening has a height dimension which is less than or equal to the height dimension of the crossbar. The slot opening defines an insertion path across a wall of the receiving body adapted for press-fit insertion of the crossbar to a portion of the hollow interior defining a retention pocket adapted to receive the crossbar. The retention pocket has an effective diameter which is greater than the effective diameter of the crossbar such that the hook member can rotate about the crossbar following insertion of the crossbar.
In accordance with another exemplary aspect, the present invention provides a foldable attachment clip assembly including a stirrup member having a crossbar extending between a pair of enhanced diameter end walls. The crossbar includes flattened upper and lower surfaces with a height dimension between the upper and lower surfaces. The stirrup member further includes a first eyelet extension having at least one eyelet disposed at a position remote from the crossbar between a rear cross member and a barrier element disposed in opposing relation to the crossbar. The clip assembly includes a hook member having a substantially cylindrical receiving body adapted to receive the crossbar and a second eyelet extension extending away from the receiving body. The receiving body has a hollow interior with a slot opening extending along the length of the receiving body. The slot opening has a pair of opposing planar boundary surfaces with the distance between the boundary surfaces defining the height dimension of the slot opening which is less than or equal to the height dimension of the crossbar. The slot opening defines an insertion path across a wall of the receiving body adapted for press-fit insertion of the crossbar to a portion of the hollow interior defining a retention pocket adapted to receive the crossbar. The retention pocket has an effective diameter which is greater than the effective diameter of the crossbar such that the hook member can rotate about the crossbar following insertion of the crossbar. The second eyelet extension includes at least one eyelet adapted to receive a strap element.
In accordance with another exemplary aspect, the present invention provides a foldable attachment clip assembly including a stirrup member having a crossbar extending between opposing lateral legs of the stirrup member, the crossbar having flattened upper and lower surfaces with a height dimension between the upper and lower surfaces. The stirrup member further includes a first eyelet extension having at least one eyelet disposed at a position remote from the crossbar between a rear cross member and a curved barrier element disposed in opposing relation to the crossbar. The clip assembly includes a hook member having a substantially cylindrical receiving body adapted to receive the crossbar and a second eyelet extension extending away from the receiving body. The receiving body has a generally “C” shaped cross-sectional profile with a hollow interior and a slot opening extending along the length of the receiving body. The slot opening has a pair of opposing planar boundary surfaces with the distance between the boundary surfaces defining the height dimension of the slot opening which is less than or equal to the height dimension of the crossbar. The slot opening defines an insertion path across a wall of the receiving body adapted for press-fit insertion of the crossbar to a portion of the hollow interior defining a retention pocket adapted to receive the crossbar. The retention pocket has an effective diameter which is greater than the effective diameter of the crossbar such that the hook member can rotate about the crossbar following insertion of the crossbar. The length of the receiving body is substantially equivalent to the distance between the enhanced diameter end walls to block relative axial movement between the receiving body and the crossbar. The first eyelet extension and/or the second eyelet extension includes a first pass through opening and at least a second pass through opening adapted to receive an adjustment strap.
Before the exemplary embodiments of the invention are explained in detail, it is to be understood that the invention is in no way limited in its application or construction to the details and the arrangements of the components set forth in the following description or illustrated in the drawings. Rather, the invention is capable of other embodiments and being practiced or being carried out in various ways. Also, it is to be understood that the phraseology and terminology used herein are for purposes of description only and should not be regarded as limiting. The use herein of terms such as “including” and “comprising” and variations thereof is meant to encompass the items listed thereafter and equivalents thereof as well as additional items and equivalents thereof.
Exemplary embodiments of the invention will now be described in reference to the drawings, wherein like reference numerals designate like elements in the various views. Referring now in particular to
In the illustrated exemplary embodiment, the hook member 110 includes a receiving body 122 having a generally hollow interior adapted to receive and retain a portion of the stirrup member 120 in a manner as will be described further hereinafter. In the illustrated exemplary construction, the receiving body 122 is generally cylindrical in the form of a circular barrel with an enhanced outer diameter at its center relative to its ends. However, other configurations including, without limitation, straight cylinders, elongate polygonal cylinder structures or the like may also be used.
As best seen in
As shown, in the exemplary arrangement, an eyelet extension 132 extends away from one edge of the slot opening 124 in a plane transverse to the slot opening 124. The eyelet extension includes at least one pass through opening 134 (
As noted previously, the slot opening 124 is adapted to receive a portion of the stirrup member 120 to be held rotatably within the retention pocket 130. In the illustrated exemplary embodiment the stirrup member 120 includes a crossbar designated generally as 140. The crossbar 140 is oriented with its length dimension extending between opposing end walls 142 (
In the exemplary construction, the stirrup member 120 includes an eyelet extension 150 defining a tethering connection extending away from the crossbar 140 for retention of a strap element 152 such as webbing, cord material, rope or the like. In the illustrated embodiment, the eyelet extension 150 is substantially co-planar with the crossbar 140 and includes a pair of lateral legs 151 and a rear cross member 153 extending between the lateral legs 151. However, other configurations may be used if desired. In practice, the strap element 152 may be secured to a base panel 154 such as a fabric substrate or the like such that the stirrup member 120 is anchored in a floating relation relative to the base panel 154. The strap element 152 may be secured to the base panel 154 by techniques such as stitching, adhesive bonding or other techniques as may be desired t act as a tether. By way of example only, and not limitation, the base panel 154 may be a portion of a backpack, clothing article, or other structure to be closed by the clip assembly 100.
As shown, the eyelet extension 150 may include at least one tethering eyelet 160 disposed in spaced-apart relation from the crossbar 140 for acceptance of the strap element 152. In the illustrated configuration, the tethering eyelet 160 is separated from the crossbar 140 by a barrier 162 which extends between the lateral legs 151 at a position between the crossbar 140 and the rear cross member 153. As shown, the barrier 162 may be curved to substantially match the curvature at the outer surface of the receiving body 122 if desired such that the barrier 162 defines a concave profile opposing the crossbar and cradles the receiving body 122 during relative rotation. Of course, the barrier 162 may also be substantially straight if desired. By way of example only, and not limitation, the stirrup member 120 may be formed as a single piece from polymeric structural materials such as nylon, polyester, polypropylene, ABS or the like using injection molding or other suitable formation practices as may be known to those of skill in the art.
In the exemplary construction, the height dimension of the crossbar 140 extending between the flattened upper and lower surfaces substantially matches or is slightly greater than the height dimension of the slot opening 124. During assembly, a user may orient the stirrup member 120 relative to the slot opening 124 such that the upper and lower surfaces of the crossbar 140 are substantially parallel to the corresponding boundary surfaces 126, 128 of the slot opening 124. In this orientation, the leading edge 146 of the crossbar 140 may then be pressed into the slot opening 124. As insertion proceeds, the slot opening 124 may be forced to flex open to a further extent to permit complete insertion of the crossbar 140. Upon achieving completed insertion, the slot opening 124 may then spring back to its original condition. In the inserted condition, the crossbar 140 is then held within the retention pocket 130 which has a diameter larger than the crossbar 140 such that the crossbar 140 may rotate relatively freely within the retention pocket.
In the illustrated exemplary construction, the length of the receiving body 122 may closely approximate the distance between the end walls 142. As will be appreciated, by matching the length of the receiving body 122 to the distance between the end walls 142, lateral sliding of the hook member relative to the stirrup member 120 may be reduced or eliminated. However, in a low tension or untensioned state, the receiving body 122 nonetheless is able to rotate about the crossbar 140. Of course, it is also contemplated that the length of the receiving body 122 may be shorter than the distance between the end walls 142 if a degree of lateral sliding is desired.
As illustrated through joint reference to
In the event that it is desired to disassemble the clip, the tensioning forces may be relieved and the receiving body 122 may be is rotated back to an orientation in which the boundary surfaces 126, 128 of the slot opening 124 are oriented substantially parallel to the flattened upper and lower surfaces of the crossbar. In this orientation, the crossbar may be pulled out of the receiving body 122 without undue force.
In the illustrated exemplary construction, the eyelet extension 250 has a configuration substantially as described previously and may include at least one eyelet 260 disposed in spaced-apart relation from the crossbar 240 for acceptance of a strap element 252 which may be anchored to a base panel 254. In the illustrated configuration, the eyelet 260 is separated from the crossbar 240 by the barrier 262 which extends between lateral legs 251 at a position between the crossbar 240 and the rear cross member 253. As shown, the barrier 262 may be curved to substantially match the curvature at the outer surface of the receiving body 222 such that the barrier cradles the receiving body 222 during relative rotation. Of course, the barrier 262 may also be substantially straight if desired.
As shown, in the exemplary embodiment of
In practice, a user may orient the stirrup member 220 relative to the receiving body 222 such that the upper and lower surfaces of the crossbar 240 are substantially parallel to the corresponding boundary surfaces of the slot opening 224. In this orientation, the leading edge of the crossbar 240 may then be pressed into the slot opening 224. As insertion proceeds, the slot opening 224 may be forced to flex open to a further extent to permit complete insertion of the crossbar 240. Upon achieving completed insertion, the slot opening 224 may then spring back to its original condition. The crossbar 240 is then held within the retention pocket 230 which has a diameter larger than the width dimension of the crossbar 240 such that the crossbar may rotate relatively freely within the retention pocket.
Upon the application of an upward folding force away from the plane of the base panel 354, the receiving body 322 rotates to a position in which the crossbar 340 is in alignment with the slot opening 324 (
Upon the application of an upward folding force away from the plane of the base panel 454, the receiving body 422 rotates to a position in which the crossbar 440 is in alignment with the slot opening 424 (
As illustrated, in the exemplary embodiment of
Of course, variations and modifications of the foregoing are within the scope of the present invention. Thus, it is to be understood that the invention disclosed and defined herein extends to all alternative combinations of two or more of the individual features mentioned or evident from the text and/or drawings. All of these different combinations constitute various alternative aspects of the present invention. The embodiments described herein explain the best modes known for practicing the invention and will enable others skilled in the art to utilize the invention. The claims are to be construed to include alternative embodiments and equivalents to the extent permitted by the prior art.
Various features of the invention are set forth in the following claims.
This non-provisional application claims the benefit of, and priority from, U.S. Provisional Applications 61/256,555 filed Oct. 30, 2009 and 61/360,538 filed Jul. 1, 2010, each of which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety as if fully set forth herein.
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Number | Date | Country | |
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20110099774 A1 | May 2011 | US |
Number | Date | Country | |
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