U.S. patent application number 12/318873 was filed with the patent office on 2010-07-15 for elastic clip.
Invention is credited to Mei Hui Chang.
Application Number | 20100175229 12/318873 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 42317957 |
Filed Date | 2010-07-15 |
United States Patent
Application |
20100175229 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Chang; Mei Hui |
July 15, 2010 |
Elastic clip
Abstract
An elastic clip that can be fabricated and assembled easily
includes a first clipping blade, a second clipping blade, a pin and
an elastic reed. The first clipping blade and second clipping blade
face each other, and have respectively a pair of lugs in the middle
corresponding to each other. Each lug has a transverse notch and a
pin hole at a tail end of the notch to be wedged in transversely by
the pin to couple the first and second clipping blades. The pin
serves as a movement axis. The elastic reed is disposed between the
first and second clipping blades by pushing from a rear side. The
elastic reed has a first side blade and a second side blade
retained by the first and second clipping blades, and a curved
portion in the middle to press and surround the pin. Thus assembly
can be done quickly and labor cost can be reduced. It provides
significant improvements over the conventional elastic clip.
Inventors: |
Chang; Mei Hui; (Tanzi
Shiang, TW) |
Correspondence
Address: |
ROSENBERG, KLEIN & LEE
3458 ELLICOTT CENTER DRIVE-SUITE 101
ELLICOTT CITY
MD
21043
US
|
Family ID: |
42317957 |
Appl. No.: |
12/318873 |
Filed: |
January 12, 2009 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
24/530 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A45F 2200/055 20130101;
A45D 8/20 20130101; A45F 5/02 20130101; D06F 55/02 20130101; Y10T
24/44641 20150115 |
Class at
Publication: |
24/530 |
International
Class: |
A44B 21/00 20060101
A44B021/00 |
Claims
1. An elastic clip comprising a first clipping blade, a second
clipping blade, a pin and an elastic reed, the first clipping blade
and the second clipping blade facing each other, wherein: the first
clipping blade has a first clipping portion at a front end, a first
inner recess on an inner side of a rear side thereof and a pair of
first lugs in a middle portion corresponding to each other; each
first lug having a first transverse notch and a first pin hole at a
tail end of the first transverse notch; the second clipping blade
has a second clipping portion at a front end thereof, a second
inner recess on an inner side of a rear side thereof and a pair of
second lugs in a middle portion thereof corresponding to each
other; each second lug having a second transverse notch and a
second pin hole at a tail end of the second transverse notch; the
pin is held in the first and second pin holes to function as a
movement axis and a fulcrum; and the elastic reed is a W-shaped
blade and has a curved portion in a middle portion to press and
surround the pin, and a first side blade and a second side blade at
two sides to wedge in the inner recesses of the first and second
clipping blades.
2. The elastic clip of claim 1, wherein the blade of the elastic
reed has at least one reinforced rib.
3. The elastic clip of claim 1, wherein the first transverse notch
and the first pin hole are joined at a first retaining spot which
is extended slightly outwards.
4. The elastic clip of claim 1, wherein the second transverse notch
and the second pin hole are joined at a second retaining spot which
is extended slightly outwards.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] 1. Field of the Invention
[0002] The present invention relates to an elastic clip that is
easily fabricated and assembled at a lower labor cost.
[0003] 2. Description of the Prior Art
[0004] A conventional elastic clip 1, referring to FIG. 1, is
widely used. For instances clothespins, stationery clips, hairclips
and the like mostly adopt such a structure. The elastic clip 1
mainly includes a first clipping blade 11, a second clipping blade
12, a pin 13 and a torsional spring 14. The first and second
clipping blades 11 and 12 face each other and have respectively a
pair of lugs 111 and 121 in the center corresponding to each other.
The lugs 111 and 121 have respectively a pin hole 112 and 122, and
are spaced from each other to form a space 10 between them to hold
the torsional spring 14. For assembly, first, dispose the torsional
spring 14 in the space 10; position the first and second clipping
blades 11 and 12 to face each other; insert the pin 13 into the pin
holes 112, 122 and a round hole 141 formed in the middle of the
torsional spring 14; and dispose a first leg 142 and a second leg
143 of the torsional spring 14 to press an inner side of the first
and second clipping blades 11 and 12. The elastic clip 1 thus
formed is extended outwards by an elastic force at one end and
provides a clipping force at another end. Such a structure requires
a lot of efforts and time to do assembly. Mass production is
difficult and the cost is higher. Product competitiveness suffers.
There are still rooms for improvement.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0005] In view of the aforesaid problems, the primary object of the
present invention is to provide an elastic clip that can be
fabricated and assembled easily. It includes a first clipping
blade, a second clipping blade, a pin and an elastic reed. The
first clipping blade and the second clipping blade face each other,
and have respectively a pair of lugs in the middle corresponding to
each other. Each lug has a transverse notch and a pin hole at a
tail end of the notch to be wedged in transversely by the pin to
couple the first and second clipping blades. The pin serves as a
movement axis. The elastic reed is positioned between the first and
second clipping blades by pushing from a rear side. The elastic
reed has a first side blade and a second side blade retained by the
first and second clipping blades, and a curved portion in the
middle to press and surround the pin. Such a structure allows
assembly to be done quickly and labor cost can be reduced. It
provides significant benefits over the conventional technique.
[0006] The side blades of the elastic reed also have at least one
reinforced rib to increase the elastic strength thereof.
[0007] The foregoing, as well as additional objects, features and
advantages of the invention will be more readily apparent from the
following detailed description, which proceeds with reference to
the accompanying drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0008] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a conventional elastic
clip.
[0009] FIG. 2 is an exploded view of the invention.
[0010] FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the invention.
[0011] FIG. 4 is a sectional view of the invention.
[0012] FIG. 5 is a schematic view of the invention in a use
condition.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
[0013] Referring to FIGS. 2 and 3, the invention provides an
elastic clip 2 which includes a first clipping blade 21, a second
clipping blade 22, a pin 23 and an elastic reed 24. The first
clipping blade 21 and the second clipping blade 22 face each
other.
[0014] The first clipping blade 21 has a first clipping portion 211
at a front end, a first depressing portion 212 at a rear end and a
first inner recess 217 on an inner side that has a rear end formed
a first detent wall 218. It also has a pair of first lugs 213 in a
middle portion corresponding to each other. Each first lug 213 has
a first transverse notch 214 and a first pin hole 215 at a tail end
of the first transverse notch 214. The first pin hole 215 and the
first transverse notch 214 are joined at a slightly protrusive
juncture to form a first retaining spot 216.
[0015] The second clipping blade 22 has a second clipping portion
221 at a front end, a second depressing portion 222 at a rear end
and a second inner recess 227 on an inner side that has a rear end
formed a second detent wall 228. It also has a pair of second lugs
223 in a middle portion corresponding to each other. Each second
lug 223 has a second transverse notch 224 and a second pin hole 225
at a tail end of the second transverse notch 224. The second pin
hole 225 and the second transverse notch 224 are joined at a
slightly protrusive juncture to form a second retaining spot
226.
[0016] The pin 23 is held in the pins holes 215 and 225 to function
as a movement axis.
[0017] The elastic reed 24 is a W-shaped blade and has a curved
portion 241 in a middle portion to press and surround the pin 23,
and a first side blade 242 and a second side blade 243 at two sides
to wedge in the inner recesses 217 and 227 of the first and second
clipping blades 21 and 22.
[0018] For assembly, first, place the first and second clipping
blades 21 and 22 facing each other with the transverse notches 214
and 224 of the lugs 213 and 223 overlapping with each other at the
same opening; dispose the pin 23 transversely into the transverse
notches 214 and 224, as the upper and lower sides of the transverse
notches 214 and 224 are slightly elastic, the pin 23 can pass
through the retaining spots 216 and 226 under forces to reach the
pin holes 215 and 225, and also is retained by the retaining spots
216 and 226 without escaping from the pin holes 215 and 225; then
push the elastic reed 24 towards the first and second clipping
blades 21 and 22 from the rear side, and wedge the first and second
side blades 242 and 243 respectively in the inner recesses 217 and
227 of the first and second clipping blades 21 and 22 (referring to
FIG. 4) to form a finished product of the elastic clip 2. Assembly
can be done quickly and labor cost can be reduced.
[0019] Referring to FIG. 5, when in use, depress the depressing
portions 212 and 222 through a user's fingers; the pin 23 serves as
an axis and fulcrum with the curved portion 241 of the elastic reed
24 pressing the pin 23; the first and second side blades 242 and
243 are pressed and deformed to generate an elastic force, and the
first and second clipping blades 21 and 22 are extended outwards at
the front side to allow the clipping portions 211 and 221 to clip a
selected article; then the depressing of the user's fingers can be
released and the elastic reed 24 can release a returning elastic
force to maintain a clipping condition. In order to enhance the
elastic force of the elastic reed 24, the elastic reed 24 may have
one or more reinforced rib 244 formed thereon.
[0020] As a conclusion, the elastic clip of the invention can be
fabricated and assembled quickly to reduce the labor cost. It
provides a significant improvement over the conventional elastic
clip.
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