U.S. patent application number 11/075780 was filed with the patent office on 2005-07-14 for dual durometer clip.
Invention is credited to Lydan, Robert.
Application Number | 20050150087 11/075780 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 34738534 |
Filed Date | 2005-07-14 |
United States Patent
Application |
20050150087 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Lydan, Robert |
July 14, 2005 |
Dual durometer clip
Abstract
A clip (10) for fastening a panel (50) to a support structure
(52) is provided. The clip (10) has a plate (12) and a stem (14)
extending from the plate. The stem (14) has a base (22) and a body
section (24). The base (22) has a width greater than a width of the
body section (24). A pair of tangs (16) extend from a distal end of
the stem (14) towards the plate (12). A sealing flange (18) extends
from the base (22). The sealing flange (18) is first molded from a
material having a first durometer and then the plate (12), stem
(14) and tangs (16) are molded from a material having a second
durometer greater than the first durometer.
Inventors: |
Lydan, Robert; (Cambridge,
CA) |
Correspondence
Address: |
Mr. Robin W. Asher
Clark Hill, P.L.C.
Suite 3500
500 Woodward Avenue
Detroit
MI
48226-3435
US
|
Family ID: |
34738534 |
Appl. No.: |
11/075780 |
Filed: |
March 8, 2005 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
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11075780 |
Mar 8, 2005 |
|
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10333196 |
Jan 16, 2003 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
24/297 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B29L 2031/7282 20130101;
B60R 13/04 20130101; F16B 21/088 20130101; B62D 29/048 20130101;
B29C 2045/1678 20130101; F16B 5/0642 20130101; Y10T 24/309
20150115; B60R 13/0206 20130101; F16L 3/04 20130101; B29C 45/1635
20130101; B29C 45/1676 20130101; F16B 5/065 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
024/297 |
International
Class: |
E04F 019/02 |
Claims
1. A clip for fastening a panel having an aperture to a support
structure having an aperture, said clip comprising: a plate, a stem
extending longitudinally from said plate to a distal end, said stem
having a base and a body section, said base having a width greater
than a width of said body section, a pair of tangs extending from
said distal end of said stem towards said plate, and a sealing
flange extending radially from said base of said stem, said sealing
flange molded from a material having a first durometer and said
plate, stem and tangs molded from a material having a second
durometer greater than said first durometer.
2. A clip as claimed in claim 1 wherein said tangs are biased to
allow insertion thereof through said aperture and to prevent
removal therefrom.
3. A clip as claimed in claim 2 wherein said plate abuts against
said panel when said clip extends through said panel aperture.
4. A clip as claimed in claim 2 wherein said base of said stem
abuts against said support structure when said clip extends through
said support structure aperture.
5. (canceled)
6. A clip as claimed in claim .about.4 wherein said material having
a first durometer is a synthetic rubber and said material having a
second durometer is nylon.
7-11. (canceled)
Description
FIELD OF INVENTION
[0001] This invention relates to a dual durometer clip. In
particular, this invention relates to a fastener having a flange of
softer material for sealing the fastener against a mounting
surface.
BACKGROUND OF INVENTION
[0002] W-Clips are well know in the automotive industry to attach a
cladding or panel to a support structure. W-Clips generally have a
base plate with a stem extending therefrom. A pair of elastic tangs
extend from the tip of the stem towards the base plate. A sealing
flange is spaced from the base plate and extends about the base of
the stem. The sealing flanges closes the aperture on the support
structure. Examples of such clips are illustrated in U.S. Pat. Nos.
5,173,026; 6,689,863; 5,704,753; and 5,857,244.
[0003] The prior art W-Clips can be made as a single injection
molding. Since the stem and base plate of the W-clip needs to be
relatively rigid to provide sufficient support for the cladding or
panel, the sealing flange will also be relatively rigid and thus
provides only a limited amount of sealing.
[0004] Alternatively, the prior art W-Clips can be manufactured
using an over-molding technique. The base plate and stem are first
molded using a relatively rigid material and then a softer material
is over molded to form the sealing flange.
[0005] Typically, the base of the stem has the same width as the
rest of the stem. If a softer flange is over-molded onto the base
of the stem, the slip could be inserted beyond the flange causing
the flange to distort and reduce its effectiveness as a seal.
[0006] Alternatively, a more rigid flange could be initially molded
and a softer material over-molded at the outer periphery of the
flange. The more rigid flange prevents the clip from being
over-inserted. However, the complexity and cost of the mold
required to produce such a clip increases dramatically.
[0007] Thus, there exist a need for a simple W-clip which provides
an effective sealing flange, which cannot be over-installed and
which is easily molded.
SUMMARY OF INVENTION
[0008] The disadvantages of the prior art may be overcome by
providing a clip having a stem with a base which is wider than the
body of the stem. A sealing flange is first molded and then the
body of the stem and base plate is under-molded.
[0009] According to one aspect of the invention, there is provided
a clip for fastening a panel to a support structure. The clip has a
plate and a stem extending from the plate. The stem has a base and
a body section. The base has a width greater than a width of the
body section. A pair of tangs extends from a distal end of the stem
towards the plate. A sealing flange extends from the base of the
stem. The sealing flange is first molded from a material having a
first durometer and then the plate, stem and tangs are molded from
a material having a second durometer greater than the first
durometer.
[0010] According to another aspect of the invention, there is
provided a method of forming a clip. The method includes the steps
of:
[0011] providing a mold having a cavity complementary to the
clip;
[0012] moving an injector pin to close off a portion of the cavity
complementary to the stem;
[0013] moving a sleeve surrounding the injector pin to a position
to close a portion of the cavity defining the sealing flange;
[0014] injecting a first material having a first durometer into the
cavity to mold the sealing flange;
[0015] retracting the injector pin and the sleeve to close the
cavity at a position to define a portion of the plate;
[0016] injecting a second material having a second durometer
greater than the first durometer into the cavity to mold the plate,
stem and tangs; and
[0017] opening the mold and ejecting the clip.
[0018] According to another aspect of the invention, there is
provided an apparatus for molding a clip according to the present
invention. The apparatus has a mold having a first mold cavity
complementary to the sealing flange and a second mold cavity
complementary to said plate, stem and tangs. An injector pin
communicates with the first and second mold cavity and a source of
first material of a first durometer and a source of second material
of a second durometer. The second durometer is greater than the
first durometer. A sleeve surrounds the injector pin and slides
relative thereto. The pin and sleeve each move independently
between a first position closing the first mold cavity and a second
position closing the second cavity. The pin closes a portion of the
second cavity corresponding to the stem and tangs when the pin is
in the first position.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0019] In drawings which illustrate the preferred embodiment of the
invention,
[0020] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the W-Clip of the present
invention;
[0021] FIG. 2 is an end elevational view of the W-Clip of FIG.
1;
[0022] FIG. 3 is a side elevational view of the W-Clip of FIG.
1;
[0023] FIG. 4 is a sectional view of a mold for molding the W-Clip
of FIG. 1, molding the sealing flange;
[0024] FIG. 5 is a section view of the mold of FIG. 4, molding the
base portion of the W-Clip of FIG. 1; and
[0025] FIG. 6 is a side sectional view of the W-Clip of Figure
fastening a plastic panel to a support structure.
DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0026] Referring to FIGS. 1-3, a W-Clip 10 of the present
invention. The clip 10 generally comprises a plate 12, a stem 14, a
pair of tangs 16 and a sealing flange 18.
[0027] Plate 12 is illustrated as rectangular with tabs 20
extending from opposite end regions of the plate 12. Size and
shaping of the plate 12 and the position and size of the tabs 20
are dictated by the particular application of the clip 10.
[0028] Stem 14 extends generally perpendicularly from the plate 12.
Stem 14 has a base 22 and a body section 24. As is apparent in FIG.
2, the base 22 has a greater width than the body section 24. Base
22 has a thickness slightly greater than the thickness of the plate
12. Body section 24 preferably has a tapered end.
[0029] A pair of resilient tangs 16 extend from the tapered end of
the body section 24 towards the plate 12. The tangs 16 each have a
notch 26 at the distal ends thereof. The notches 26 align with the
base section 24 of the stem 14.
[0030] Sealing flange 18 extends radially outwardly from the base
22. The sealing flange 18 presents a concave seal.
[0031] Referring to FIGS. 4 and 5, a mold 30 for manufacturing the
clip 10 is illustrated. The mold 30 comprises mold portions 32 and
34 and mirror mage mold portions (not illustrated). Optionally mold
halves could be utilized. Mold portion 32 has a cavity 36 which is
complementary to the body section 24 and tangs 16. Additionally,
the surface 38 surrounding the entrance of cavity 36 is contoured
to be complementary to the concave surface of the sealing flange
18.
[0032] Mold portion 34 has a cavity 40 complementary to the plate
12, the base 22 and the convex side of sealing flange 18. Mold
portion 34 has a bore 42 which communicates with cavity 40.
Optionally, mold portions 32, 34 can be made as a single mold half
with a mirror image mold half. The parting line of the clip 10 is
longitudinally of the base 12.
[0033] To mold a clip 10, the mold 30 is closed. An injector pin 44
has a sleeve 46. The pin 44 and sleeve 46 is inserted through bore
42 until pin 44 abuts with surface 38 and closes off cavity 36.
Sleeve 46 is aligned with the inner edge of the mold cavity 40
defining plate 12. A first relatively softer or low durometer
material, such as a synthetic rubber, ZYTEL FN or SANTOPRENE is
injected into the cavity 40 surrounding the pin forming sealing
flange 18. The injector pin 44 and sleeve 46 are retracted to the
outer edge of cavity 40. A second relatively rigid or high
durometer material, such a NYLON is injected into cavity 36 and the
remainder of cavity 40 to form the plate 12, the stem 14 and the
tangs 16. The mold 30 is opened and the clip 10 is ejected.
[0034] Referring to FIG. 6, a clip 10 is illustrated fastening a
plastic panel 50 to a support structure 52. The plastic panel 50
has an aperture sized to receive the base 22 of stem 14 and the
support structure 52 has an aperture smaller than the diameter of
the aperture of the plastic panel 50. The width of the base 22
prevents the clip 10 from being inserted into the support structure
52. The tangs 16 are biased and sized to enable insertion of the
stem 14 through the aperture of support structure 52 until the
tangs 16 snap into place when fully inserted. The bias of tangs 16
retain the tangs 16 in engagement with the back side of the support
structure 52, i.e., the notches 26 prevent removal of the clip 10
from the support structure 52.
[0035] The invention has been described in an illustrative manner,
and it is to be understood that the terminology which has been used
is intended to be in the nature of words of description rather than
of limitation. Many modifications and variations of the present
invention are possible in light of the above teachings. It is,
therefore, to be understood that within the scope of the appended
claims the invention may be practiced otherwise than as
specifically described.
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