U.S. patent application number 10/187663 was filed with the patent office on 2004-01-08 for rod clip.
Invention is credited to Anscher, Joseph.
Application Number | 20040005188 10/187663 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 29735258 |
Filed Date | 2004-01-08 |
United States Patent
Application |
20040005188 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Anscher, Joseph |
January 8, 2004 |
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.
Inventors: |
Anscher, Joseph;
(Muttontown, NY) |
Correspondence
Address: |
COLLARD & ROE, P.C.
1077 Northern Boulevard
Roslyn
NY
11576
US
|
Family ID: |
29735258 |
Appl. No.: |
10/187663 |
Filed: |
July 2, 2002 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
403/329 |
Current CPC
Class: |
Y10T 403/7062 20150115;
Y10T 403/606 20150115; E05B 79/16 20130101; F16B 37/0885 20130101;
Y10T 403/5786 20150115; E05B 65/5292 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
403/329 |
International
Class: |
B25G 003/18 |
Claims
What is claimed is:
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.
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.
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