U.S. patent application number 09/770981 was filed with the patent office on 2001-06-21 for self-tightening clip.
This patent application is currently assigned to Siemens Automotive Corporation. Invention is credited to Kilgore, Jason T..
Application Number | 20010004434 09/770981 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 23342462 |
Filed Date | 2001-06-21 |
United States Patent
Application |
20010004434 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Kilgore, Jason T. |
June 21, 2001 |
Self-tightening clip
Abstract
A self-tightening clip having a planar member and at least one
retention member attached to the planar member. The planar member
includes an inner perimeter, an outer perimeter, and defines a
central axis. The least one retention member including a planar leg
portion and a planar hook portion. The leg portion extends from the
inner perimeter in a first direction along the central axis. The
hook portion projects from the leg portion toward the central axis
in a second direction, which is opposite the first direction along
the central axis. The hook portion is acute to the central axis and
has a free end located on an imaginary perimeter concentric to the
inner perimeter of the planar member. The central axis and a plane
passing through the hook portion of the at least one retention
member form an angle in the range of approximately
20.degree.-30.degree..
Inventors: |
Kilgore, Jason T.; (Newport
News, VA) |
Correspondence
Address: |
MORGAN, LEWIS & BOCKIUS
1800 M STREET NW
WASHINGTON
DC
20036-5869
US
|
Assignee: |
Siemens Automotive
Corporation
|
Family ID: |
23342462 |
Appl. No.: |
09/770981 |
Filed: |
January 26, 2001 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
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09770981 |
Jan 26, 2001 |
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09342589 |
Jun 29, 1999 |
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6227785 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
411/526 |
Current CPC
Class: |
Y10T 29/49876 20150115;
F16B 2/241 20130101; Y10T 29/4984 20150115 |
Class at
Publication: |
411/526 |
International
Class: |
F16B 021/18 |
Claims
I claim:
1. A self-tightening clip comprising: an planar member including an
inner perimeter, an outer perimeter, and defining a central axis;
and at least one retention member attached to the planar annulus,
the at least one retention member including a planar leg portion
and a planar hook portion, the leg portion extending from the inner
perimeter in a first direction along the central axis, the hook
portion projecting from the leg portion toward the central axis in
a second direction, opposite the first direction, along the central
axis, the hook portion being acute to the central axis and having a
free end located on an imaginary perimeter concentric to the inner
perimeter of the planar member.
2. The self-tightening clip of claim 1, wherein the planar member
comprises an annulus and the imaginary perimeter comprise a
circle.
3. The self-tightening clip of claim 2, wherein the at least one
retention member comprises a plurality of retention members, each
of the plurality of retention members having a leg portion
extending in the first direction.
4. The self-tightening clip of claim 3, wherein the leg portion of
each of the plurality of retention members is substantially
parallel to the central axis.
5. The self-tightening clip of claim 3, wherein each of the
plurality of retention members comprises an arcuate portion
disposed between the leg portion and the hook portion.
6. The self-tightening clip of claim 3, wherein the plurality of
retention members comprises five retention members.
7. The self-tightening clip of claim 6, wherein the five retention
members are uniformly disposed about the inner perimeter of the
planar annulus.
8. The self-tightening clip of claim 3, further comprising a
plurality of stiffeners, at least one of the plurality of
stiffeners being disposed on the inner perimeter between two of the
plurality of retention members.
9. The self-tightening clip of claim 8, wherein each of the
plurality of stiffeners comprises a lip extending in the engaging
direction.
10. The self-tightening clip of claim 8, wherein the annulus, the
plurality of retention members, and the plurality of stiffeners
comprise a unitary sheet of metal.
11. The self-tightening clip of claim 1, wherein the central axis
and a plane passing through the hook portion of the at least one
retention member form an angle in the range of approximately
20.degree.-30.degree..
12. The self-tightening clip of claim 11, wherein the angle
comprises approximately 24.degree..
13. A sheet metal clip for securing a first generally cylindrical
housing member to a second generally cylindrical housing, the clip
comprising: a planar annulus including an inner perimeter, an outer
perimeter, and defining a central axis; a plurality of retention
members uniformly disposed about the inner perimeter of the planar
annulus, each of the plurality of retention members including a leg
portion, a hook portion, and an arcuate portion disposed between
the leg portion and hook portion, the leg portion extending in an
engaging direction and being substantially parallel to the central
axis, the hook portion projecting from the leg portion so that the
central axis and a plane passing through the hook portion form an
angle in the range of approximately 20.degree.-30.degree., the hook
portion having a free end positioned on an imaginary circle
concentric to the inner perimeter of the planar annulus; and a
plurality of stiffeners, at least one of the plurality of
stiffeners being disposed on the inner perimeter between two
adjacent retention members of the plurality of retention
members.
14. The clip of claim 13, wherein each of the plurality of
stiffeners comprises a lip extending in the engaging direction.
15. The clip of claim 13, wherein each of the plurality of
retention members comprise a bent substantially trapezoidal
configuration.
16. The clip of claim 13, further comprising a cut-out on the inner
perimeter of the planar annulus between each of the plurality of
retention members and each stiffener.
17. The clip of claim 16, wherein the cut-out comprises a
semicircle.
18. The clip of claim 13, wherein the plurality of retention
members comprises five retention members uniformly disposed on the
inner perimeter.
19. The clip of claim 13, wherein the angle comprises approximately
24.degree..
20. A method of retaining a first generally cylindrical housing to
a second generally cylindrical housing while allowing for relative
rotation between the housings, comprising: providing a sheet metal
clip having an annulus and a plurality of retention members, each
of the plurality of retention members including a leg portion and a
hook portion, the leg portion extending from an inner perimeter of
the annulus, the hook portion projecting from the leg portion
toward a central axis of the annulus, the hook portion being acute
to the central axis; positioning the annulus of the clip within a
retaining portion of the first housing member; and locating the
first housing member proximate the second housing member so that a
free end of the hook portion of each of the retention members
engages a protrusion on the second housing.
21. The method of claim 20, the step of providing further
comprises: providing the sheet metal clip with five retention
members uniformly disposed about the inner perimeter of the
annulus, each of the retention members having at least a portion of
the free end of their respective hook portions located on an
imaginary circle that is concentric to the inner perimeter of the
annulus.
22. A method of stamping a clip for retaining a first generally
cylindrical housing to a second generally cylindrical housing,
comprising: punching a particular sheet of metal configuration, the
configuration having an interior cutout so that a plurality of
substantially trapezoidal sheet metal members extending toward the
central axis of the configuration; and forming each of the
plurality of substantially trapezoidal sheet metal members into a
retention members having a planar leg portion and a planar hook
portion, the planar leg portion extending from an inner perimeter
of a planar annulus created from the circular configuration, the
planar hook portion projecting from the planar leg portion toward
the central axis of the circular configuration, the planar hook
portion being acute to the central axis.
23. The method of claim 22, wherein the step of punching further
comprises punching circular configuration; and the step of forming
further comprises forming each retention members to have the planar
leg portion extending from an inner perimeter of a planar annulus
created from the circular configuration.
24. The method of claim 23, wherein the step of punching further
comprises providing the interior cutout as a centrally located
pentagon with a generally triangular members extending from each
corner of the pentagon.
25. The method of forming a clip of claim 24, wherein the step of
forming further comprises locating the planar hook portion acute to
the central axis so that the central axis and a plane passing
through the planar hook portion form an angle in the range of
approximately 20.degree.-30.degree..
26. The method of claim 22, further comprising forming a stiffener
on the inner perimeter between each of the plurality of retention
members.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] This invention relates to a device that secures a first
housing to a second housing. In particular, the present invention
relates to a unitary sheet metal clip that self-tightens on a
retained housing when the retained housing is displaced.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0002] The present invention provides a clip having a planar member
and at least one retention member attached to the planar member.
The planar member includes an inner perimeter, an outer perimeter,
and defines a central axis. The least one retention member
including a planar leg portion and a planar hook portion. The
arrangement of the leg portion and the hook portion of the
retention member create the self-tightening feature of the
inventive clip.
[0003] The leg portion extends from the inner perimeter in a first
direction along the central axis. The hook portion projects from
the leg portion toward the central axis in a second direction,
which is opposite the first direction along the central axis. The
hook portion is acute to the central axis and has a free end
located on an imaginary perimeter concentric to the inner perimeter
of the planar member. The central axis and a plane passing through
the hook portion of the at least one retention member form an angle
in the range of approximately 20.degree.-30.degree.. Preferably,
the angle comprises approximately 24.degree..
[0004] In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the planar
member comprises an annulus, the imaginary perimeter comprises a
circle, and the at least one retention member comprises a plurality
of retention members. Particularly, five retention members
uniformly disposed about the inner perimeter of the planar
annulus.
[0005] The preferred embodiment further comprises a plurality of
stiffeners. At least one of the plurality of stiffeners is disposed
on the inner perimeter between two of the plurality of retention
members. Each of the plurality of stiffeners comprises a lip
extending in the engaging direction.
[0006] The present invention also provides a sheet metal clip for
securing a first generally cylindrical housing member to a second
generally cylindrical housing. The clip comprises a planar annulus,
a plurality of retention members and a plurality of stiffeners.
[0007] The planar annulus includes an inner perimeter, an outer
perimeter, and defines a central axis. The plurality of retention
members are uniformly disposed about the inner perimeter of the
planar annulus. The plurality of stiffeners are arranged so that at
least one of the plurality of stiffeners is disposed on the inner
perimeter between two adjacent retention members of the plurality
of retention members.
[0008] Each of the plurality of retention members includes a leg
portion, a hook portion, and an arcuate portion disposed between
the leg portion and the hook portion. The leg portion extends in an
engaging direction and is substantially parallel to the central
axis. The hook portion projects from the leg portion so that the
central axis and a plane that passes through the hook portion form
an angle in the range of approximately 20.degree.-30.degree.. The
hook portion has a free end positioned on an imaginary circle
concentric to the inner perimeter of the planar annulus.
[0009] The present invention also provides a method of retaining a
first generally cylindrical housing to a second generally
cylindrical housing while allowing for relative rotation between
the cylindrical housings. The method comprises: (1) providing a
sheet metal clip having an annulus and a plurality of retention
members, each of the plurality of retention members including a leg
portion and a hook portion, the leg portion extending from an inner
perimeter of the annulus, the hook portion projecting from the leg
portion toward a central axis of the annulus, the hook portion
being acute to the central axis; (2) positioning the annulus of the
clip within a retaining portion of the first housing member; and
(3) locating the first housing member proximate the second housing
member so that a free end of the hook portion of each of the
retention members engages a protrusion on the second housing.
[0010] The present invention further provides a method of stamping
a clip, which retains a first generally cylindrical housing to a
second generally cylindrical housing. The method of stamping
comprises: (1) punching a sheet metal circular configuration, the
circular configuration having an interior cutout so that a
plurality of substantially trapezoidal sheet metal members
extending toward the central axis of the circular configuration;
and (2) forming each of the plurality of substantially trapezoidal
sheet metal members into a retention members having a planar leg
portion and a planar hook portion, the planar leg portion extending
from an inner perimeter of an planar annulus created from the
circular configuration, the planar hook portion projecting from the
planar leg portion toward the central axis of the circular
configuration, the planar hook portion being acute to the central
axis.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0011] The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated herein and
constitute part of this specification, illustrate presently
preferred embodiments of the invention, and, together with a
general description given above and the detailed description of the
preferred embodiments given below, serve to explain the principles
of the invention.
[0012] FIG. 1 is a partial cross sectional perspective view of the
clip of the present invention securing a first housing to a second
housing;
[0013] FIG. 2 is a top view of the clip of the present
invention;
[0014] FIG. 3 is a cross sectional view of the clip shown in FIG. 2
taken along the line 3-3 in FIG. 2;
[0015] FIG. 4 is a top view of the sheet metal configuration use to
form the clip of the present invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT(S)
[0016] FIG. 1 shows the sheet metal clip 10 for securing a first
housing 12 to a second housing 14 of the preferred embodiment. The
first housing 12 and the second housing 14 are, preferably,
generally cylindrical housing members, however, it is to be
understood that other configurations could be employed depending on
the particular intended application.
[0017] As shown in FIGS. 1-3, the clip 10 of the present invention
comprises a planar member 16 and at least one retention member 18
attached to the planar member 16. The planar member 16 is held in
place by the first housing 12 so that the retention member 18 can
engage a portion of the second housing 14 to secure the housings
together.
[0018] The planar member 16 includes an inner perimeter 20, an
outer perimeter 22, and defines a central axis 24. The planar
member 16 is preferably a planar annulus with a geometric
configuration, such as, for example, square, rectangle, oval,
circle, which is selected to correspond to the employed housing
configuration. In the preferred embodiment planar member 16
comprises a planar annulus with a circle configuration.
[0019] The circular annulus 16a has an inner circular perimeter 20a
concentric to an outer circular perimeter 22a. A planar support
surface 26 is disposed between the inner and outer perimeters 20,
22.
[0020] The at least one retention member 18 attached to the planar
annulus 16, preferably, comprises a plurality of retention members
18 uniformly disposed about the inner perimeter 20 of the planar
annulus, more particularly, five retention members 18. The clip 10
of the preferred embodiment further includes a plurality of
stiffeners 28 attached to the planar member 16 with at least one
stiffener between two of the plurality of retention members 18.
[0021] In the preferred embodiment the planar member 16, the
plurality of retention members 18, and the plurality of stiffeners
28 comprise a unitary sheet of metal. That is, the clip 10 of the
present invention is, preferably, made from sheet metal.
[0022] Each of the plurality of retention members includes a leg
portion 30, a hook portion 32, and an arcuate portion 34 disposed
between the leg portion 30 and hook portion 32. The leg portion 30
and the hook portion 32 are, preferably, also planar and are formed
from a bent substantially trapezoidal configuration, as discussed
below in reference to FIG. 4.
[0023] The leg portion 30 extends from the inner perimeter 20 of
the annulus in a first direction 36 along the central axis 24. The
leg portion 30 is substantially parallel to the central axis 24.
The first direction 36 defines an engaging direction. That is, the
direction the retention members 18 are moved so that the clip 10 of
the present invention, which is supported by the first housing,
engages the second housing 14.
[0024] The hook portion 32 projects from the leg portion 30 toward
the central axis 24 in a second direction 38. The second direction
38 is generally opposite the first direction 36 along the central
axis 24. The hook portion 32 projects from the leg portion 30 so
that the central axis 24 and a plane (P shown in FIG. 3) passing
through the hook portion 32 form an angle in the range of
approximately 20.degree.-30.degree.. Preferably, the angle
comprises approximately 24.degree..
[0025] The hook portion 32 of each of the plurality of retention
members includes a free end 40 located on an imaginary perimeter 42
concentric to the inner perimeter 20 of the planar member 16.
Because in the preferred embodiment of the invention the planar
member 16 comprises an annulus with a circular inner perimeter 20a,
the imaginary perimeter 42 of the preferred embodiment also
comprises a circle. The free end 40 of the hook portion 32 is
positioned to provide face 44. The face 44 provides a bearing
surface that engages the protrusion 46 of the second housing 14
member.
[0026] By providing each of the free ends 40 of each of the hook
portions 32 on the imaginary perimeter 42 that corresponds to the
selected inner perimeter 20 of the planar member 16, the clip 10 is
self-tightening once installed in a housing-retaining position.
More particularly, in the preferred embodiment of the invention,
the free ends 40 of the respective hook portions 32 of the
plurality of the retaining members are uniformly disposed about the
imaginary perimeter 42. This uniform dispersion of the free ends 40
about the imaginary perimeter 42 applies a balanced retaining force
to the engaged (second) housing that increases as the annulus of
the clip 10 is axially displaced in the non-engaging direction or
the annulus of the clip 10 is maintained in a stationary location
while the engaged housing is axially moved in the engaging
direction. The applied force is also believed to increase because
of the unique relationship between the hook portion 32 and the leg
portion 30 of each of the retention members.
[0027] Even though it is believed that the self-tightening feature
of the preferred embodiment is best achieved by having a plurality
of retention members uniformly dispersed about the planar annulus,
the self-tightening feature of the clip 10 could also be achieved
with a single retention member. A single retention member, however,
allows for the first housing 12 to be removed from the second
housing 14 by rocking the second housing 14 about the central axis
24 so that the single retention member disengages from the second
housing 14. To overcome the removablilty of the first housing from
the second housing 14 when a single retention member is employed,
two retention members disposed at approximately opposite positions
on the inner perimeter 20 could be employed. In order to ensure
that the first housing 12 is secured to the second housing 14 so
that removal by rocking the first housing 12 is prevented, a clip
10 with three uniformly disposed retention members could be
employed.
[0028] As shown in FIGS. 1-3, the free end 40 of the hook portion
32 is disposed at approximately a third of the distance the leg
portion 30 extends from the planar annulus in the engaging
direction. Also, each of the leg portions 30 and the hook portions
32 is, preferably, substantially planar members. Because of the
dimensioning and configuration of the hook portion 32, it is
believed that during loading of the retention member along the
central axis 24 opposite the engaging direction, the hook portion
32 acts as a short column that pushes the hook supporting end of
the leg portion 30 away from the central axis 24. While the hook
supporting end of the leg portion 30 of the retaining member is
pushed away from the central axis 24, due to the elastic quality of
the sheet metal used to form the preferred clip 10, it is believed
that the loading force is substantially applied to the hook portion
32 of the retaining member until plastic or sheering deformation of
the leg portion 30 of the retaining member or the protrusion 46 on
the second housing 14. Instron pull testing of the preferred
embodiment of the invention (inner perimeter 20 approximately 21
mm, outer perimeter 22 approximately 27 mm, leg portion 30
approximately 4.25 mm, and hook portion 32 approximately 2.8 mm)
has confirmed that the retention ability of the clip 10 of the
preferred embodiment continues to increase until catastrophic
failure of the leg portion 30 or the second housing 14 occurs at
approximately 700 psi.
[0029] The plurality of stiffeners 28 attached to the inner
perimeter 20 of the planar member 16, annulus, increase the
structural rigidity of the unitary sheet metal clip 10 of the
present invention. At least one of the plurality of stiffeners 28
is disposed on the inner perimeter 20 between two adjacent
retention members of the plurality of retention members 18.
Preferably, each of the plurality of stiffeners 28 comprises a lip
28a extending in the engaging direction from the inner perimeter 20
of the planar annulus.
[0030] A cut-out 48 is provided on the inner perimeter 20 of the
planar annulus between each of the plurality of retention members
and each stiffener. The cut-out 48 relieves stress created in the
support surface of the planar annulus. The cut-out 48, preferably,
is a semicircle formed in the support surface 26 between the leg of
the retention member and the lip 28a, which serves as the
stiffener.
[0031] The present invention also includes a method of retaining a
first generally cylindrical housing to a second generally
cylindrical housing while allowing for relative rotation between
the housings. The method is achieved by providing a sheet metal
clip 10 having an annulus and a plurality of retention members. As
discussed above, the preferred sheet metal clip 10 includes five
retention members uniformly disposed about the inner perimeter 20
of the annulus, each of the retention members having at least a
portion of the free end 40 of their respective hook portion 32
located on an imaginary circle that is concentric to the inner
perimeter 20 of the annulus.
[0032] After the clip 10 has been provided, the annulus of the clip
10 is positioned within a retaining portion of the first housing
12. Then, the first housing 12 is located proximate the second
housing 14 so that the free end 40 of the hook portion 32 of each
of the retention members engages a protrusion 46 on the second
housing 14.
[0033] The present invention also provides a method of stamping a
clip 10 for retaining a first generally cylindrical housing to a
second generally cylindrical housing. The steps of stamping include
punching and forming a single sheet of metal in a uniform sequence
of steps. First, a particular configuration is punched from a metal
sheet. The preferred configuration is a circular configuration
having an open interior so that a plurality of substantially
trapezoidal sheet metal members 50 extends toward the central axis
24 of the circular configuration. Once the particular configuration
is punched, each of the plurality of substantially trapezoidal
sheet metal members 50 is formed into a retention members having a
planar leg portion 30 and a planar hook portion 32. The planar leg
portion 30 is formed to extend from an inner perimeter 20 of a
planar member 16, preferably, a circular annulus 16a, created from
the particular configuration, while the planar hook portion 32 is
formed to project from the planar leg portion 30 toward the central
axis 24 of the particular configuration.
[0034] As shown in FIG. 4, the preferred embodiment of the punched
configuration before forming provides the interior as a centrally
located pentagon 52 with a generally triangular members 54
extending from each corner of the pentagon. After the preferred
embodiment is punched, the geometric configuration is formed so
that the planar hook portion 32 is acute to the central axis 24 so
that the central axis 24 and a plane passing through the hook
portion 32 form an angle in the range of approximately
20.degree.-30.degree., and a stiffener is located on the inner
perimeter 20 between each of the plurality of retention members
18.
[0035] While the invention has been described in connection with
what is presently considered to be the most practical and preferred
embodiment, it is to be understood that the invention is not to be
limited to the disclosed embodiment, but on the contrary, is
intended to cover various modifications and equivalent arrangements
included within the spirit and scope of the appended claims.
* * * * *