Package Fastening Clip with Secure Latching

Abstract

A product package clip has cooperating locking tabs and openings which facilitate secure assembly of the clip and resistance to forces imposed by mishandling during shipment.

Description

FIELD AND BACKGROUND OF INVENTION

[0001] This invention relates to fastener clips for product packaging. In particular, this invention is an improvement over the clips shown and described in Khachadourian et al U.S. Pat. No. 6,412,153 and Liverman et al U.S. Pat. No. 7,240,406, owned in common with the invention described here, to which the interested reader is referred, and which are hereby incorporated by reference into this disclosure.

[0002] As the prior art clips have been widely and successfully used, efforts have been made to assure that product packages secured together by such a clip will remain securely assembled. That has been done heretofore by providing a latch structure which engages one of a plurality of pivoting legs as the clip is installed. In the previously patented clip, the engagement is between a single projection or “tooth” of the latch member and a cooperating ledge or notch formed in one pivoting leg (See Column 2 of the '153 patent, beginning at line 54 and Col...

Examples

Embodiment Construction

[0009]While the present invention will be described more fully hereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which a preferred embodiment of the present invention is shown, it is to be understood at the outset of the description which follows that persons of skill in the appropriate arts may modify the invention here described while still achieving the favorable results of the invention. Accordingly, the description which follows is to be understood as being a broad, teaching disclosure directed to persons of skill in the appropriate arts, and not as limiting upon the present invention.

[0010]Referring now to FIGS. 1 through 3, an apparatus 10 is shown which is an improvement over the clips of the prior patents incorporated by reference into this disclosure by the provision of a more positively locking latch mechanism. More particularly and as with the clips of the prior patents, the apparatus has a socket body 12 having a planar portion 13, a thin walled protuberance 1...

FIELD AND BACKGROUND OF INVENTION

[0001] This invention relates to fastener clips for product packaging. In particular, this invention is an improvement over the clips shown and described in Khachadourian et al U.S. Pat. No. 6,412,153 and Liverman et al U.S. Pat. No. 7,240,406, owned in common with the invention described here, to which the interested reader is referred, and which are hereby incorporated by reference into this disclosure.

[0002] As the prior art clips have been widely and successfully used, efforts have been made to assure that product packages secured together by such a clip will remain securely assembled. That has been done heretofore by providing a latch structure which engages one of a plurality of pivoting legs as the clip is installed. In the previously patented clip, the engagement is between a single projection or “tooth” of the latch member and a cooperating ledge or notch formed in one pivoting leg (See Column 2 of the '153 patent, beginning at line 54 and Col...

Examples

Embodiment Construction

[0009]While the present invention will be described more fully hereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which a preferred embodiment of the present invention is shown, it is to be understood at the outset of the description which follows that persons of skill in the appropriate arts may modify the invention here described while still achieving the favorable results of the invention. Accordingly, the description which follows is to be understood as being a broad, teaching disclosure directed to persons of skill in the appropriate arts, and not as limiting upon the present invention.

[0010]Referring now to FIGS. 1 through 3, an apparatus 10 is shown which is an improvement over the clips of the prior patents incorporated by reference into this disclosure by the provision of a more positively locking latch mechanism. More particularly and as with the clips of the prior patents, the apparatus has a socket body 12 having a planar portion 13, a thin walled protuberance 1...

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