Rod clip

Abstract

A rod clip for connecting a rod to a lever comprises a first portion and a second portion hinged to the first portion. The second portion has a top surface having a recess for receiving a rod, such that folding the second portion over the first portion forms a channel for retaining the rod. There is a lock for locking the first portion to the second portion after the second portion is folded over the first portion. The first portion and second portion are in two separate pieces. There is a lever retaining device disposed on one of the two portions. The hinge is formed by apertures on sides of one of the portions and corresponding protrusions on the other. The protrusions extend into the apertures to allow pivoting of the first and second portions with respect to each other. The two portions are separate pieces, but are molded in one single injection molding process, so that the entire clip is molded in an assembled state.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0001] 1. Field of the Invention

[0002] This invention relates to a clip for connecting a rod to an actuating lever. In particular, the invention relates to a durable clip that connects the end of a rod to a lever for operating accessories in motor vehicles.

[0003] 2. The Prior Art

[0004] It is well known in the automotive industry to use rod clips to connect actuating rods to levers. This type of arrangement is especially common with door locking mechanisms and carburetor linkage arrangements. The clips are typically made of a plastic material and snap around the end of the rod. The lever is then snapped into a protrusion on the clip having a retaining lip or latches on its sides.

[0005] One typical clip is shown in U.S. Pat. No. 5,178,479 to Brown et al. This clip has a c-shaped rod-retaining part which snaps around the end of the rod. The latch then snaps into the protrusion.

[0006] Another device used by Ford Motor Company comprises a two-piece clip having two sides that fold to enclose the rod and a pivoting second piece that snaps over the folded sides. The rod-enclosing portion of the clip is threaded to securely retain the clip and to allow for fine adjustments of the rod after the clip is attached. This clip is durable and works well to retain the rod and lever, but is expensive to produce and time-consuming to assemble. Another clip used in the automotive industry comprises a one-piece clip where the two sides of the clip fold over and snap around the rod. The sides of the clip are threaded to retain the rod. This clip has the drawback that the hinge connecting the two sides of the clip often breaks.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0007] It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a rod clip that is durable, securely retains the rod and lever, allows for adjustments of the rod, is inexpensive to produce and requires no assembly.

[0008] These and other objects of the invention are accomplished by a rod clip comprising a first portion and a second portion hinged to the first portion. The first portion has a top surface with a recess for retaining a rod and a having a lever retaining device. The second portion also has a top side having a recess for receiving the rod, such that folding the second portion over the first portion forms a channel for retaining the rod. The recesses in the top and bottom portions are threaded to interact with threads on the rod to securely retain the rod in the clip. The threads also allow for fine position adjustments of the rod.

[0009] There is a lock for locking the first portion to the second portion after the second portion is folded over the first portion. The lock preferably comprises a latch on one of the portions and a recess on the other of the portions. The latch snaps into the recess to lock the clip to the rod. The clip can be unlocked by prying the latch upwards out of the recess.

[0010] The first portion and second portion are in two separate pieces. The hinge is formed by apertures on sides of one of portions and corresponding protrusions on the other portion. The protrusions extend into the apertures to allow pivoting of the first and second portions with respect to each other. The first and second portions are formed in a single injection molding process, even though they are made of two separate pieces. This way, the clip is molded in its fully assembled condition, making it easier for the purchaser to use. The clip is very durable and can withstand repeated pivoting movements because no thin, weak sections are made to form the hinge.

[0011] The lever retaining device is preferably a protrusion extending down from the bottom surface of one of the first and second portions. The protrusion is equipped with latches to engage a lever when the lever is snapped on to the lever retaining device.

[0012] In another embodiment, the protrusion of the lever retaining device has two outwardly extending curved wings that engage a lever when the lever is snapped on to the lever retaining device.

[0013] In yet another embodiment, the lever retaining device is formed by an extension of one of the first and second portions. The extension comprises a first leg, a second leg pivotally and integrally connected to the first leg and an end section. The end section contains part of the recess on the respective first or second portion, such that folding the second leg over the first leg forms the lever retaining device and causes the end section to abut the top surface of the respective first or second portion to complete the recess. The lever retaining device of this embodiment also has latches to engage a lever. In this embodiment, only one of the clip portions is recessed to receive the rod. The other portion snaps over the top of the recess to retain the rod.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0014] Other objects and features of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description considered in connection with the accompanying drawings. It is to be understood, however, that the drawings are designed as an illustration only and not as a definition of the limits of the invention.

[0015] In the drawings, wherein similar reference characters denote similar elements throughout the several views:

[0016] FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of the rod clip according to the invention;

[0017] FIG. 2 shows a side view of the rod clip;

[0018] FIG. 3 shows a top view of the rod clip;

[0019] FIG. 4 shows a front view of the rod clip, with a rod and lever attached thereto;

[0020] FIG. 5 shows a perspective view of one portion of another embodiment of the rod clip according to the invention; and

[0021] FIG. 6 shows a perspective view of yet another embodiment of the rod clip according to the invention in an open position; and

[0022] FIG. 7 shows a side view of the embodiment of FIG. 6 in a closed position.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

[0023] Referring now in detail to the drawings and, in particular, FIGS. 1-4 show a rod clip 10 according to the invention comprising a first portion 20 and a second portion 30 hinged to first portion 20. First portion 20 has a top surface 21 with a threaded recess 22 for retaining a rod. Lever retaining device 23 is disposed on the underside of first portion 20 and has a plurality of catches 28 for retaining a lever 50, which is snapped on to lever retaining device 23, as shown in FIG. 4. Second portion 30 has a top side 31 having a threaded recess 32 for receiving a rod, such that folding second portion 30 over first portion 20 forms a channel for retaining the rod 40, shown in FIG. 4. The recesses 22, 32 in top and bottom portions 20, 30, respectively, are threaded to interact with threads on the rod to securely retain rod 40 in clip 10. The threads also allow for fine position adjustments of rod 40.

[0024] There is a lock for locking first portion 20 to second portion 30 after second portion 30 is folded over first portion 20. The lock preferably comprises a latch 24 on first portion 20 and a recess 34 on second portion 30, or vice versa. Latch 24 snaps into recess 34 to lock the clip 10 to the rod 40. Clip 10 can be unlocked by prying latch 24 upwards out of recess 34.

[0025] First portion 20 and second portion 30 are in two separate pieces. The hinge is formed by apertures 26 on the sides of first portion 20 and corresponding protrusions 36 on the sides of second portion 30, or vice versa. Protrusions 36 extend into apertures 26 to allow pivoting of the first and second portions 20, 30 with respect to each other. The first and second portions 20, 30 are formed in a single injection molding process, but result in two separate pieces. This way, clip 10 is molded in its fully assembled condition, making it easier for the purchaser to use. In a preferred embodiment, there is a fragile member connecting the first portion to the second portion in an area of the hinge, to prevent movement of the pieces during shipping. Rotating the first portion in relation to the second portion severs this member so that the two portions remain separate during use.

[0026] The protrusions 36 can be of any shape or design, including round, hexagonal, etc. A polygonal shape is preferred because it creates some resistance to rotation of the hinge and makes a tighter fit. Alternatively, detents can be present on the internal surface of the apertures to again create additional resistance to the rotation of the hinge.

[0027] FIG. 5 shows another embodiment of first portion 20 of the invention. Here, lever retaining device 60 comprises two outwardly extending curved wings 61, which secure a lever when the lever is snapped on to lever retaining device 60. Wings 61 flex to let the lever pass over them, and then extend back outwardly to keep the lever from disengaging. Wings 61 can take on any shape or design that would permit them to retain a lever.

[0028] FIGS. 6 and 7 show another embodiment of the rod clip 10, in which the lever retaining device is formed by an extension of first portion 20, the extension comprising a first leg 70, a second leg 71 pivotally and integrally connected to first leg 70 and an end section 72, such that folding second leg 71 over first leg 70 forms the lever retaining device and causes end section 72 to abut the top 21 surface of first portion 20. Latches 75 are disposed on each of first and second legs 71 to retain a lever snapped thereon. Second section 30 is then snapped over and secures end section 72 to rod clip 10, as shown in FIG. 7.

[0029] Accordingly, while only a few embodiments of the present invention have been shown and described, it is obvious that many changes and modifications may be made thereunto without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

Claims

1. A rod clip comprising: a first portion having a top surface and a bottom surface; a second portion hinged to the first portion, said second portion having a top surface and a bottom surface, wherein folding the second portion over the first portion causes the top surfaces to form a channel for retaining the rod; a lever retaining device disposed on one of the first and second portions; and means for locking the first portion to the second portion after the second portion is folded over the first portion, wherein the first portion and second portion are in two separate pieces and wherein the hinge is formed by apertures on sides of one of the first and second portions and corresponding protrusions on the other of the first and second portions, said protrusions extending into the apertures to allow pivoting of the first and second portions with respect to each other.

2. The rod clip according to claim 1, wherein the top surfaces of the first and second portions form recesses and are threaded so as to securely retain a correspondingly threaded rod.

3. The rod clip according to claim 1, wherein the locking device comprises a latch on one of the first and second portions, and a recess on the other of said first and second portions, wherein said latch snaps into said recess to lock the first and second portions together.

4. The rod clip according to claim 1, wherein the lever retaining device comprises a protrusion extending below the bottom surface of one of said first and second portions.

5. The rod clip according to claim 4, wherein the protrusion comprises a cylinder having latches to engage a lever.

6. The rod clip according to claim 4, wherein the protrusion includes wings extending outward from the protrusion to engage a lever.

7. The rod clip according to claim 1, wherein the lever retaining device is formed by an extension of one of the first and second portions, the extension comprising a first leg, a second leg pivotally and integrally connected to the first leg and an end section, such that folding the second leg over the first leg forms the lever retaining device and causes the end section to abut the top surface of the respective first or second portion.

8. The rod clip according to claim 1, wherein the rod clip is produced already assembled in a one-step injection molding process.