Pull-on bifurcated clip for improved reflector trim retention

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The invention relates generally to mounting structure for positioning and holding a reflector trim within a lamp housing of a downlighting fixture or similar lighting fixture, the invention particularly relating to an inexpensive pull-on clip of improved structure which can be rapidly assembled onto a reflector trim for mounting of the trim within a lamp housing.

2. Description of the Prior Art

Downlighting provides a flexibility not available with most other categories of lighting due to the ability to employ a variety of fixtures intended for downlight purposes to lighting situations which range from ambient to accent to wall-washing and the like. Where desired, downlighting can also be used in task lighting applications. The flexibility of downlighting is not limited to use situations but also extends to appearance and even to the use of a variety of differing lamp choices in most downlighting fixtures. With cost always a consideration in any lighting choice, it becomes necessary to provide downlighting fixtures which can be inexpensively manufactured and installed with the least intensive labor use while providing the most optimal lighting performance. Lighting fixtures so configured must also be easily and rapidly installable not only by relatively skilled labor such as in new construction but also by relatively unskilled labor such as by a home owner in a retrofit situation. Downlighting fixtures comprising varying “rough-in” structures are common in the marketplace and vary in complexity and cost. Such fixtures are manufactured and marketed by Lithonia Lighting of Conyers, Ga., Lithonia Lighting being a part of the Lithonia Lighting Group which is a division of National Service Industries, Inc. of Atlanta, Ga. In these fixtures as in downlighting fixtures produced by others, an intent has been the manufacture of effective fixtures having the best possible performance at the least possible fixture cost and the least possible involvement of installation labor. Fixtures having these desirable characteristics must include structure insertable into a lamp housing or “can” and which will positively secure lamping, a reflector trim with or without a baffle and a lamp socket within the can with positive lamp positioning and with positioning of the reflector trim snugly against a ceiling hole such that a gap does not exist between the trim and peripheral edge portions of the ceiling which surround the ceiling hole. While relatively complex and expensive mechanisms can be and are employed in at least some downlighting fixtures to produce the necessary results, the achievement of such results inexpensively and with mechanical simplicity is less than commonplace in the industry. Desirable mechanical simplicity in the industry now extends even to the very insertion of a reflector trim and lamp socket assembly into the can, standard practices in the industry essentially requiring the ability to insert such an assembly into the can in a single motion with concurrent fitting of annular flange-like portions of the tri about the ceiling hole above which the fixture is operatively mounted. In the prior art, clip-like structures riveted to the reflector trim have been used to hold the trim and socket assemblies within a can. These prior clip structures have generally required assembly to trim reflectors in a manufacturing environment and could not be reasonably attached on the job site. Clip attachment to reflector trim in the manufacturing environment further allows shipment of trim to a job site to be inefficient due to the bulky nature of reflector trim having preattached assembly clips, each trim being incapable of packaging in a nesting relation to each other such as will be possible if clips could be installed easily and rapidly on the job site. A clip capable of functioning in the manner described is disclosed and claimed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,707,143 and provides an improved mechanism for mounting a reflector trim or a reflector trim and lamp socket assembly within a lamp housing or can to achieve the results and economies alluded to herein. It is to be noted that Blaisdell et al, in U.S. Pat. No. 4,388,679; Basile, in U.S. Pat. No. 4,593,344; and Zadeh, in U.S. Pat. No. 5,440,471 also provide mechanisms which are of interest relative to achievement of the desired goals enumerated herein.

The present invention intends solution to certain deficiencies of the prior art by providing a reflector trim assembly which can also include a lamp socket mountable to the trim and which can be easily and rapidly mounted with positive securement within the interior of a lamp housing or can of a downlighting fite or similar lighting fixture. The invention includes assembly clip structure of improved characteristics capable of attachment to a reflector trim on a job site without the use of tools, thereby allowing reflector trim to be compactly packaged in a nesting arrangement for shipment to the job site. The present clip can rapidly be attached to the reflector trim without damage to the trim The invention further provides for improved positive retention of the reflector trim and any associated structure within the can with positive lamp positioning for optimal lighting performance and with snug fitting of the trim against a ceiling surface about a ceiling opening through which light is directed from the downlighting fixture. The improved structure of the invention provides finger-like projections having multiple points at distal ends of the projections, the structure acting to “snug” the reflector trim against the ceiling about the opening to prevent the existence of an unsightly gap between the trim and the ceiling, thus preventing light leakage and providing a clean appearance. The advantages of the invention are realized with net cost reductions in manufacturing, product shipment and job site installation.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The invention particularly provides improvement upon the clip disclosed and claimed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,707,143, the disclosure of which is incorporated hereinto by reference. The present clip structure has in common with the clip of the patent the ability to mount a reflector trim and any associated structure within a downlighting fixture “rough-in”. The present clip can be easily and quickly pulled onto a penultimate body portion of a reflector trim and locked thereto by means of a fitting of a locking tab of the clip into an aperture formed in the reflector trim the clip thus being positively secured to the reflector trim manually and without the use of tools. Two of the “pull-on” clips are mounted one each to each side of the trim although it is to be understood that more than two of the clips could be used as desired. Regardless of the number of clips used, the clips are regularly spaced about upper portions of the reflector trim and are attachable thereto without the use of tools. The structure of the present clip allows attachment thereof to the reflector trim at a job site, thereby allowing reflector trim to be compactly packaged and shipped to the job site with optimum economy. Use of the present pull-on clips provides positive lamp positioning on single motion insertion of the reflector trim assembly into a lamp housing or can with improved fitting of a trim flange of the reflector trim assembly against ceiling surfaces about an opening above which a downlighting fixture is mounted to provide a clean appearance and to prevent light leakage.

The attachment end of the improved pull-on clip of the present invention particularly includes a locking tab similar to the locking tab disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,707,143, with the exception that the locking tab of the present structure is taken to be approximately twice as long as the locking tab of the patent. The locking tab of the present invention is also provided with an angled lead-in element formed distally of the locking tab to facilitate assembly of the clip to the reflector trim without damage to portions of the trim over which the locking tab must pass in order to reach a slot formed in the reflector trim into which the locking tab snap-fits in order to positively mount the clip to the trim A “tighter” bend in formation of clipping elements of the clip eliminates undesirable “rocking” of the clip once assembled and reduces effective retention forces.

The free end of the pull-on clip is bifurcated to form two finger-like elements each having sharpened points at distal ends thereof the points “biting” into inner surfaces of the trim to effectively increase removal forces, thereby facilitating connection of the trim to the housing cam The finger-like projections of the clip are initially maintained slightly out of plane and flex independently of each other in order to improve positioning of the trim relative to the ceiling opening and to prevent dislodgment of the clip from engagement with the trim in an installed situation.

The pull-on clip of the invention is formed of spring steel having a thickness of approximately 0.02 inch in order to provide desired resiliency. The clip is further provided with a bend formed essentially medially of its length in order to provide the capability of snugging reflector trim portions up against a ceiling opening during a simple one-motion insertion of the reflector trim assembly into a lamp housing or can. The pull-on clip of the invention deflects on insertion into the interior of the can to hold the reflector trim assembly within the interior of the can by the spring force exerted by the clips attached to the trim.

Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide an improved reflector trim assembly including associated structure which has pull-on clips manually mountable thereto without the use of tools and in a job site environment so that the reflector trim assembly can be inserted into a lamp housing or can in but a single motion with the pull-on clips acting to retain the reflector trim assembly within the can with positive positioning of lamping carried by the assembly and with positive engagement of annular flange-like lower portions of the reflector trim assembly about a ceiling opening above which a downlighting fixture “rough-in” is mounted, the clip having an improved attachment end for facilitating mounting of the clip to the trim and an improved bifurcated distal end which improves the ability of the clip to maintain the trim assembly within the can.

It is another object of the invention to provide a mechanically simple and inexpensive pull-on clip which can be assembled to a reflector trim on a job site without the use of tools, thereby allowing operational economies in manufacture, product shipment and job-site installation, the pull-on clip being improved at the attachment end by the provision of a locking tab of a greater length which acts as a lead-in element which does not damage those portions of the reflector trim over which the locking tab must pass to find engagement with a slot formed in the reflector trim for receiving the locking tab, thereby to lock the tab within the slot and therefore positively mount the clip to the trim, the tab preventing the clip from being pushed back and forth and/or off the trim during installation and handling.

It is a further object of the invention to provide an inexpensive pull-on clip for retaining a reflector trim assembly within the interior of a lamp housing or can of a downlight fixture “roughing”, the clip being locked in place on a reflector trim by a simple and rapid linear pull-on motion of the clip relative to the trim to lock the clip in place on said trim, the improvement further comprising a bifurcated distal end having flexible finger-like elements which are preferably initially out of plane and which flex to engage sharpened points thereof with inner wall surfaces of the trim to engage the trim and to snug the trim in place about an opening formed in the ceiling.

Further objects and advantages of the invention will become more readily apparent in light of the following detailed description of the preferred embodiments.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1

is a detail sectional view of a portion of a clip and reflector trim with the clip assembled to the reflector trim;

FIG. 2

is a perspective view of the reflector trim and the pull-on clips of the invention, one of the clips being assembled to the reflector trim and the other clip being shown in an assembly relation thereto;

FIG. 3A

is a sectional view of an upper portion of the reflector trim taken from a point interiorly thereof and showing one of the pull-on clips assembled thereto and a second clip in an assembly relationship;

FIG. 3B

is a detail view of the opening formed in the top of the reflector trim;

FIG. 4

is a side elevational view of the pull-on clip;

FIG. 5

is a plan view of the pull-on clip; and,

FIG. 6

is a detail view of the locking tab of the clip.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

The invention particularly improves upon the pull-on clip disclosed and claimed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,707,143, the disclosure of which is incorporated hereinto by reference. It is to be understood that the present clip can be used in essentially all situations in which the clip of the patent finds utility and can be mounted to reflector trim in essentially the same manner. Further, the improved clip of the present invention can maintain a reflector trim and associated lamping and socket elements within a downlighting housing or can as is shown and described in the aforesaid patent.

Referring now to the drawings and particularly to

FIGS. 1 through 3

, a reflector trim is seen at

10

, the trim being essentially identical in most respects to conventional reflector trim used in optical assemblies of conventional downhighting fixtures. The reflector trim

10

essentially comprises what is known in the art as a fill optical reflector which optimizes lamp performance. Structure such as the reflector trim

10

can be formed in a variety of shapes and sizes and can be spun or drawn from materials including anodized aluminum or other aluminum alloys, steel, and the like. Trim such as the reflector trim

10

can be painted with high reflectivity coatings such as white polyester powder paint which is durable and easily cleanable. Trim such as the reflector trim

10

can be utilized with inexpensive “A” lamps, R-lamps, par lamps, halogen par lamps or other lamping as appropriate. Trim such as the reflector trim

10

is also available in various colors and finishes as is commonplace in the industry.

The reflector trim

10

is seen to comprise a bulbous body portion

12

having interior surfaces which are highly reflective and which define a reflective cavity which optimizes lamp performance. The trim

10

can have any number of shapes including conventional shapes available in the market. It is to be understood that the body portion

12

can be shaped other than as explicitly shown in the drawings and described herein without departing from the scope of the invention. The body portion

12

is seen to be terminated at the top of the trim

10

by means of a cylindrical cap

16

which is preferably integrally formed with the body portion

12

as is depending flange-like skirt

18

which terminates the body portion

12

about opening

20

. The skirt

18

can be formed of a substantially planar annular flange but is preferably formed in a dished-out fashion as is conventional in order that periphery

22

of the skirt

18

can effectively provide one annular edge which provides the sole loci of points which contact ceiling surfaces.

Planar penultimate surface

24

of the trim

10

is formed with an opening

26

centrally disposed within the circular surface

24

, the opening

26

having a circular central portion

28

bordered on diametrically opposed sides of the opening

26

by T-shaped notch portions

30

. The opening

26

is shown in detail in FIG.

3

B. Leg portions

32

of each of the notch portions

30

extend outwardly of the central portion

28

, the notch portions

30

communicating with the central portion

28

of the opening

26

at top portions of the T-shaped notch portions

30

. The opening

26

thus takes the form of a circular aperture having T-shaped projections formed in diametrically opposed relation to each other. Immediately outwardly of the leg portions

32

of each of the notch portions

30

is formed a rectangular slot

34

. The opening

26

and the slots

34

are conveniently and conventionally punched into the surface

24

.

As is further seen in

FIGS. 1 through 3A

, pull-on clips

35

mount to the reflector trim

10

by reception into the T-shaped notch portions

30

and the rectangular slot

34

, each one of the clips

35

mounting to a combination of one of the notch portions

30

and one of the rectangular slots

34

which portions

30

and slot

34

are located in adjacent relation to each other. A total of two of the pull-on clips

35

are used in the embodiment of the invention shown in

FIGS. 1 through 3A

for a given reflector trim

10

having the opening

26

configured as described. It is to be understood that the opening

26

could be otherwise configured, such as by having a greater number of the T-shaped notch portions

30

formed about the periphery of the circular central portion

28

of the opening

26

. Such notch portions

30

would preferably be regularly disposed about the central portion

28

of the opening

26

with three or four of the clips

35

being suitable for use. However, the preferred embodiment as shown utilizes two of the clips

35

arranged in diametrically disposed relationship to each other across the circular central portion

28

of the opening

26

.

Referring also to

FIGS. 4 through 6

in addition to continuing reference to

FIGS. 1 through 3B

, the structure of the pull-on clip

35

can be appreciated as well as the mounting thereof to the reflector trim

10

. The pull-on clip

35

is seen to be formed of a single length of spring steel such as C-1050 steel of a thickness of 0.020 inch as an example. The grain direction of the spring steel is preferably along the longitudinal axis of the clip

35

. The material forming the clip

35

preferably has a Rockwell Hardness of between Rc 43-46, the value and the range being increased relative to the clip of U.S. Pat. No. 5,707,143 in order to prevent rocking of the clip

35

once assembled to the trim The clip

35

comprises a body portion

38

formed of a flat length of spring steel stock prior to forming of the clip

35

, the body portion

38

being formed at an attachment end

39

to have bent clipping elements

40

and

42

formed along each side of said end

39

, the elements

40

and

42

being essentially identical in structure and being formed of recurved lateral portions of the clip

35

and terminating in arcuate distal tips

44

and

46

, the clipping elements

40

and

42

being bent to a radius which causes arcuate pressure surfaces

48

and

50

to be respectively formed immediately anteriorly of said tips

44

,

46

on respective clipping elements

40

,

42

. The body portion

38

of the clip

35

terminates essentially medially of the length of the clipping elements

40

,

42

, said elements

40

,

42

extending beyond effective end

51

of the clip

35

. A locking tab

52

is formed in the body portion

38

of the clip

35

at a location between the tips

44

,

46

and spaced from the end of the body portion

38

. The locking tab is preferably punched and formed from the material of the body portion

38

in a downward direction toward the tips

44

,

46

. The locking tab

52

is substantially rectangular in conformation with a length approximately twice as great as the length of the rectangular slot

34

at each end of the surface

24

of the trim

10

such that the locking tab

52

passes over that portion of the surface

24

lying between the opening

26

and the rectangular slot

34

when the clip

35

is engaged within the opening as shown particularly in

FIGS. 1 and 3

, the locking tab

52

snap-fitting into the rectangular slot

34

as the clip

35

is pulled into place within the T-shaped notch portion

30

of the opening

26

. As the clip

35

is attached to the reflector trim

10

to engage the locking tab

52

within the rectangular slot

34

, the clipping elements

40

and

42

respectively receive portions of the surface

24

bordering and defining shoulders

54

,

56

respectively. The shoulders

54

,

56

contact distal interior surfaces of the clipping elements

44

,

46

with the arcuate pressure surfaces

48

,

50

resiliently biasing up against interior wall

62

disposed about the opening

26

interiorly of the cylindrical cap

16

. The clipping elements

40

,

42

thus effectively engage and hold two portions of the reflector trim

10

as shown and described while at the same time the locking tab

52

is received into and engages in locking fashion within the rectangular slot

34

. Once the clip

35

is so engaged, the clip

35

can only be removed by an intentional deformation of the body of the clip

35

to disengage the locking tab from the rectangular slot

34

.

Referring now particularly to

FIG. 6

as well as continuing with reference to the remaining drawings, the locking tab

52

is seen to be provided with a lead-in element

53

which terminates body portion

58

of the locking tab

52

. The body portion

58

is seen to extend from the plane of the clip

35

at an angle whereas the lead-in element

53

substantially lies in a plane which is essentially parallel to the plane in which a surmounting portion of the clip

35

lies. The lead-in element

53

, due to its essentially upwardly bent relation to the plane of the body portion

58

rides over that portion of the surface

24

lying between the opening

26

and the rectangular slot

34

and does not gouge, deform or otherwise damage that portion of the surface

24

as indicated. It is to be understood that the distal end of the lead-in element

53

could be further upturned to prevent presentation of an end structure which could damage the surface

24

. However, the slightly bent nature of the lead-in element

53

relative to the body portion

58

of the locking tab

52

suffices to allow for ease of assembly of the clip

35

to the trim

10

without damage to any portion of the surface

24

. The length of the locking tab

52

relative to corresponding structure in U.S. Pat. No. 5,707,143 is substantially twice that of the corresponding structure in the patent. The additional length of the locking tab

52

of the present invention is desirable in order to provide a lead-in which mounts the clip

35

to the trim

10

without damage to the trim

10

.

The clip

35

differs from the clip of U.S. Pat. No. 5,707,143 in another respect relative to the inside radius at which the clipping elements

40

and

42

are bent, the preferred inside radius being 0.025 inch. The newly chosen radius reduces unnecessary movement of the clip in a vertical direction.

As is best seen in the drawings, and particularly

FIGS. 1

,

2

and

5

, the body portion

38

of the clip

35

bends substantially upwardly at

64

at a preferred angle of approximately 15° to form spring section

66

which then bends downwardly at

68

to form distal section

70

, the angle of the distal section per se to horizontal preferably being approximately 16° although fingers

76

,

78

forming major portions of the distal section

70

preferably lie in different planes. The length of the spring section

66

is greater than the extended lengths of the clipping elements

40

,

42

and anterior flat section

72

of the clip

35

. The spring section

66

preferably has a length approximately 25 per cent greater than the length of the portion of the clip

35

disposed anteriorly of the bend at

64

. The distal section

70

of the clip

35

preferably has a length approximately 30 to 35 per cent greater than the length of the distal section

66

, these relative lengths being otherwise dimensioned as desired but being preferred in order to accomplish intended results. The distal section

70

is notched at

74

to define the fingers

76

,

78

and thus to bifurcate the distal section

70

. Points

80

and

82

are respectively formed on the distal ends of the fingers

76

,

78

, the points

80

,

82

providing effective contact with structure within which the reflector trim is received. Those portions of the clip

35

formed by bending of the body portion

38

at

64

and at

68

to form the spring section

66

and the distal section

70

respectively function to facilitate a “snugging up” of the skirt

18

of the reflector trim against ceiling surfaces.

The clips

35

engage interior surfaces

14

of the trim

10

by virtue of the points

80

,

82

of the fingers

76

,

78

digging into the material forming said surfaces

14

and essentially connecting the clip

35

thereto. A single point could be formed on one each of the fingers

76

,

78

. The flexing nature of the fingers

76

,

78

as well as other portions of the clips

35

bias the trim

10

and any structure connecting thereto upwardly within a housing or can to position the reflector trim

10

such that a gap cannot occur between the skirt

18

of the trim

10

and an opening formed in a ceiling above which the present structure is mounted as part of a downlighting fixture. Essentially, the clip

35

functions in a manner similar to the operation of the clip

36

described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,707,143, as to the free end of the clip

35

. However, the fingers

76

,

78

provide improved operation of the clip

35

with the multiple points

80

,

82

on the respective fingers

76

,

78

providing improved engagement with the interior of the housing can and resistance to removal of the trim from the can. The reflector trim

10

provided with the clips

35

not only accomplishes this reflecting function but also its trimming function by virtue of the operation of the clips

35

.

The structure thus described is seen to provide the advantages referred to hereinabove and in U.S. Pat. No. 5,707,143. In particular, the clips

35

themselves can be inexpensively manufactured and are not intended to be assembled to a reflector trim such as the trim

10

in a manufacturing environment. Accordingly, a number of the reflector trims

10

can be nested together during shipment to a job site. It is to be understood that various lamp housings and pan assemblies can be utilized without departing from the scope of the invention

The embodiments of the pull-on clip of the invention shown and described herein function to provide substantial advantages in the art especially in combination with a reflector trim assembly comprising a reflector trim such as the reflector trim

10

and pull-on clips such as the clips

35

. Further, the invention provides substantial advantages to the operation and use of an assembly such as the aim assembly comprises with a socket assembly (not shown in the drawings) which also utilizes pull-on clips such as the clips

35

. It is therefore to be noted that the invention can be embodied other than as explicitly illustrated and described herein without departing from the scope of the invention, the inventive scope being defined by the recitations of the appended claims.

Claims

1. A clip for mounting a reflector trim within a lamp housing of a lighting fixture mounted above a ceiling opening formed in a ceiling, the reflector trim having a reflector trim opening formed in one end thereof to receive a portion of the lamp socket, the reflector trim opening communicating with notches formed about the periphery of the opening in the trim, the trim further having a slot formed in juxtaposition to each one of the notches, the clip comprising:an anterior end portion having a locking tab formed therein, the locking tab having a lead-in element formed distally thereof and lying out of plane with remaining portions of the locking tab, the locking tab engaging and having at least a portion thereof received into one of the slots when the anterior end portion of the clip is pulled over one of the notches; and, at least one clipping element formed in the anterior end portion of the clip and being recurved distally to receive and bias against edge portions of the trim defining the notches to facilitate mounting of the clip to the trim.
2. The clip of claim 1 wherein body portions of the clip are formed of a single piece of spring steel stock.
3. The clip of claim 1 and further comprising:a medial portion of the clip formed at an angle to the anterior end portion of the clip; and, a distal portion of the clip formed at an angle to the medial portion of the clip, the medial and distal portions of the clip acting on engagement with interior walls of the lamp housing to pull the reflector trim and lamp socket mounted thereto inwardly of the lamp housing to fit the trim snuggly against the ceiling about the ceiling opening.
4. The clip of claim 3 wherein the distal portion of the clip is bifurcated to form flexible finger elements.
5. The clip of claim 4 wherein end portions of the finger elements of the clip are formed into spaced points for engagement with interior walls of the lamp housing.
6. The clip of claim 4 wherein the finger elements lie out of plane with each other prior to and on assembly to the trim.
7. The clip of claim 4 wherein body portions of the clip are formed of a single piece of spring steel stock.
8. The clip of claim 1 wherein distal end portions of the finger elements are formed into spaced points for engagement with interior walls of the lamp housing.
9. The clip of claim 1 wherein a body portion of the locking tab is formed out of plane with the anterior end portion of the clip and extends from a side of the clip along which the at least one clipping element recurves.
10. The clip of claim 1 and further comprising:a distal portion of the clip formed at an angle to the anterior end portion of the clip.
11. The clip of claim 10 wherein end portions of the distal portion of the clip are formed into spaced points for engagement with interior walls of the lamp housing.
12. The clip of claim 10 wherein body portions of the clip are formed of a single piece of spring steel stock.
13. A clip for mounting a reflector trim within a lamp housing of a lighting fixture, the reflector trim having an opening formed in one end thereof to receive a portion of a lamp socket, the reflector trim having at least one slot formed therein and spaced from the opening, the clip comprising:a body element having first and second end portions; locking means formed in a first end of the body element for engaging the at least one slot when the first end is pulled over a perimetric portion of the opening from which the at least one slot is spaced; clipping means formed in the first end portion of the body element for receiving and biasing against edge portions of the perimetric portion of the opening from which the at least one slot is spaced to facilitate mounting of the clip to the trim; and, a distal portion of the clip bifurcated to form flexible finger elements of a length which constitutes a major portion of the length of the distal portion of the clip.
14. The clip of claim 13 wherein the body element is formed of a single piece of spring steel stock.
15. The clip of claim 13 wherein the locking means comprise a locking tab formed in the body element, the locking tab engaging and being received into the at least one slot.
16. The clip of claim 13 wherein the clipping means comprise at least one clipping element which is recurved distally to receive and bias against edge portions of the perimetric portion of the opening from which the at least one slot is spaced to facilitate mounting of the clip to the trim.
17. The clip of claim 15 wherein the locking means comprise a locking tab formed in the body element, the locking tab engaging and being received into the at least one slot, the locking tab having a lead-in element formed distally thereof, the lead-in element lying out of plane with body portions of the locking tab.
18. The clip of claim 17 wherein a body portion of the locking tab is formed out of plane with the first end portion of the clip and extends from a side of the clip along which the at least one clipping element recurves.
19. The clip of claim 13 wherein a distal portion of the body element comprising the second end portion thereof is formed at an angle to the first end portion of the body element.
20. The clip of claim 19 wherein end portions of the distal portion of the finger elements are formed into spaced points for engagement with interior walls of the lamp housing.
21. The clip of claim 13 wherein the reflector trim has a plurality of slots formed therein and spaced from the opening, one each of the clips engaging one each of the slots.
22. The clip of claim 4 wherein the flexible finger elements are of a length which constitutes a major portion of the length of the distal end portion of the clip.
23. The clip of claim 22 wherein the finger elements lie out of plane with each other prior to and on assembly to the trim.
24. The clip of claim 16 wherein the radius of the distally recurved portion of the at least one clipping element is 0.025 inch.

US Referenced Citations (1)

Number	Name	Date	Kind
5707143	Hentz	Jan 1998	A

Pull-on bifurcated clip for improved reflector trim retention

Information

Patent Number

Date Filed

Date Issued

Inventors

Original Assignees

Examiners

Agents

CPC

US Classifications

Field of Search

US

International Classifications

Abstract

Description

Claims

US Referenced Citations (1)