Claims
- 1. A spring biased clip, comprising:
- a first clamping element having a clamping edge, said first clamping element made from a length of stock material having a substantially constant cross section;
- a second clamping element having a clamping edge, said second clamping element made from a length of stock material having a substantially constant cross section;
- a hinge connecting said clamping elements together, said hinge comprising a male and female snap connections arrangement; and
- a spring associated with the clip for biasing said clamping edges of said plate elements together, said spring defined by an integral leaf type tapered member which initially extends generally perpendicular from one of said clamping elements and in an assembled condition of the clip extends outwardly to a free end and towards the other opposite clamping element to slidably contact same along an arcuate end portion of said spring so that the clamping force of said spring will increase as said clamping edges are moved away from each other so that the clip will exert greater force on a thicker article than a thinner article.
- 2. A clip according to claim 1, wherein said hinge comprises an elongated protrusion having a substantially round cross section first portion extending from an inner surface of one clamping element, and another protrusion having a substantially round cross section concave portion receiving said first portion extending from an inner surface of the other clamping element defining said hinge.
- 3. A clip according to claim 1, wherein said stock materials are extruded.
- 4. A clip according to claim 1, wherein said clamping elements include interconnecting portions defining a hinge between said clamping elements.
- 5. A clip according to claim 4, wherein said interconnecting portions have substantially constant cross sections.
- 6. A clip according to claim 5, wherein said interconnecting portions are male and female connectors.
- 7. A clip according to claim 6, wherein said male and female connectors define an elongated element and an elongated receiving slot hinge.
- 8. A clip according to claim 1, wherein said spring is a cantilever spring extending from an inner side of one of said plate elements.
- 9. A clip according to claim 8, wherein said cantilever spring has a substantially constant cross section.
- 10. A device according to claim 1, wherein said spring is defined by a curved tapered cantilever spring extending from one clamping element and extending between said clamping elements, said cantilever spring having a base portion connected to the one clamping element and being thicker than a free end portion thereof, said free end portion of said cantilever spring including an outer curved surface portion slidably engaging with the other clamping element for biasing portions of said clamping elements apart while biasing said clamping edges together about said hinge.
- 11. A spring biased clip, comprising:
- a first clamping element having a clamping edge, said first clamping element provided with a first interfitting portion, said first clamping element made from a length of stock material having a substantially constant cross section;
- a second clamping element having a clamping edge, said second clamping element provided with a second interfitting portion cooperating with said first interfitting portion defining a male and female snap connection for hingedly connecting said clamping elements together, said second clamping element made from a length of stock material having a substantially constant cross section; and
- a cantilever spring associated with the clip for biasing said clamping edges of said clamping elements together, said spring defined by an integral leaf type tapered member which initially extends generally perpendicular from one of said clamping elements and in an assembled condition of the clip extends outwardly to a free end and towards the other opposite clamping element to slidably contact same along an arcuate end portion of said spring so that the clamping force of said spring will increase as said clamping edges are moved away from each other so that the clip will exert greater force on a thicker article than a thinner article.
- 12. A spring according to claim 11, wherein said snap connection is defined by a male and female connections hinge.
- 13. A clip according to claim 12, wherein said male and female connections hinge comprises an elongated protrusion having a substantially round cross section first portion extending from an inner surface of one clamping element, and another elongated protrusion having a substantially round cross section concave portion receiving said first portion extending from an inner surface of the other clamping element defining said hinge.
- 14. A clip according to claim 11, wherein said cantilever spring protrudes from an inner side of one plate element and said interfitting portions of said clamping elements are male and female connectors.
- 15. A clip according to claim 14, wherein said male connector extends from the inner side of one clamping element and said cantilever spring extends from the inner side of the same clamping element.
- 16. A clip according to claim 15, wherein said male and female connectors are positioned between said cantilever spring and said clamping edges of said clamping elements.
- 17. A clip according to claim 14, wherein said male and female connectors are positioned between said cantilever spring and said clamping edges of said clamping elements.
- 18. A device according to claim 11, wherein said cantilever spring is defined by a curved tapered cantilever spring extending from one clamping element and extending between said clamping elements, said cantilever spring having a base portion connected to the one clamping element and being thicker than a free end portion thereof, said free end portion of said cantilever spring including an outer curved surface portion slidably engaging with the other clamping element for biasing portions of said clamping elements apart while biasing said clamping edges together about said hinge.
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
This application is a continuation-in-part application of Ser. No. 07/587,029, filed Sep. 24, 1990, now U.S. Pat. No. 5,079,808.
US Referenced Citations (8)
Foreign Referenced Citations (2)
Number |
Date |
Country |
1570080 |
Jun 1969 |
FRX |
2066890 |
Jul 1981 |
GBX |
Continuation in Parts (1)
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Number |
Date |
Country |
Parent |
587029 |
Sep 1990 |
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