Modular retaining clip

Abstract

A modular retention clip for retaining an elongate article to a structure includes a clip body having first and second body portions made of a first rigid material, the first and second body portions being positionable between an open position and an engaged position. A barrier made of a second elastomeric material is connected to the first and second body portions, the barrier contacting the elongated article and retaining the elongated article in the engaged position. The living hinge integrally connects the first body portion and the second body portion, and the latch member is arranged to be capturable within the receiving cavity to hold the first and second body portions together. At least one mounting pin extends from the second body portion. A bracket having a receiving portion and a mounting portion has at least one hole in the receiving portion that receives a mounting pin to secure the clamping body to the bracket. The bracket mounting portion attaches the bracket to a structure.

Description

[0001] Cross - reference to related applications

[0002] This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 63 / 600,733, filed on November 20, 2023, under 35 U.S.C. § 119(e). This provisional application is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. Technical Field

[0003] The present invention generally relates to retaining clips for mounting cables, wires, tubes, or conduits to a support structure such as a vehicle body. Background Art

[0004] A variety of different retaining clips have been designed to mount elongated components, such as fuel lines or brake lines, accelerator cables, and wire harnesses, at specified structural locations to a vehicle frame. A retaining clip as an integral member typically includes two parts. One part is a body part for receiving and holding an item to be retained, and the other part is a bracket part for mounting the retaining clip to the vehicle body. The body part of such a retaining clip uses a pivot cover or a snap - type arm. The pivot cover locks an item inserted into the item holder, and the snap - type arm automatically holds the item on the retaining clip after the item is inserted into the arm. The arm bends apart during insertion and then quickly returns to engage a small - width or small - diameter part of the item and forcibly hold the item. The body part of the retaining clip can also employ vibration - absorbing materials or vibration - isolating features to isolate vibrations in the pipes, tubes, or wire harnesses, thereby preventing them from being coupled to the bracket part and generating undesirable noises on the vehicle frame. The vibration - absorbing features are typically provided by vibration - absorbing materials installed in the body part of the retaining clip. The vibration - damping material is usually formed as a separate component conforming to the body part of the retaining clip and then inserted into the body part. This increases the number of components and the total cost of the retaining clip due to the added assembly steps and assembly time. In other known retaining clips, the vibration - damping material is injection - molded in a secondary process or a secondary "injection cycle" in a two - shot injection - molding process to complete the formation of the vibration - damping material of the retaining clip. Since the retaining clip is manufactured using a variety of bracket configurations, the two - shot injection - molding process for manufacturing a retaining clip consisting of a retaining body and a bracket requires many different molding steps to complete the different configurations of the retaining clip. The manufacturing cost of the two - shot injection - molding method is also high due to the need to mold a retaining clip with an integral bracket having multiple configurations.

[0005] Accordingly, there is a desire to provide a retaining clip for mounting elongated items such as tubes, conduits, cables, and wires to a vehicle frame that can effectively suppress vibrations in these components and can be manufactured efficiently at low cost. Summary of the Invention

[0006] The present invention relates to a retaining clip for mounting an elongated item to a support structure such as a vehicle body.

[0007] In a first embodiment, a retaining clip is disclosed that includes a clamping body having a first body portion and a second body portion, with the first body portion rotatably mounted to the second body portion. A first isolation portion and a second isolation portion are correspondingly connected to the first body portion and the second body portion, where rotation of the first body portion relative to the second body portion causes rotation of the first isolation portion relative to the second isolation portion. At least a first mounting pin extends from the mounting surface of the second body portion. The first mounting pin is arranged to be received in a first hole in a bracket, and the first mounting pin is physically altered to fix the clamping body to the bracket.

[0008] In a second embodiment, a modular retaining device for holding an elongate article to a structure is disclosed that includes a clamping body having a first body portion and a second body portion made of a rigid material. The first body portion and the second body portion can be arranged between an open position and an engaged position. An isolation portion made of an elastic material is attached to each of the first body portion and the second body portion. The isolation portion frictionally contacts the elongate article and holds the elongate article in the engaged position. At least one mounting pin extends from the mounting surface of the second body portion. A bracket with a receiving portion having at least one hole receives the mounting pin to fix the clamping body to the bracket, and a bracket mounting portion attaches the bracket to a structure.

[0009] Based on the following drawings, description, and claims, other technical features may be apparent to those skilled in the art. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0010] To more fully understand the present invention, reference is now made to the following description in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

[0011] Figure 1 is a front perspective view of a clamping body in an open position according to the present invention;

[0012] Figure 2 is a front perspective view of a clamping body in an engaged position according to the present invention;

[0013] Figure 3A is a perspective view of a first side of an exemplary assembled retaining clip according to the present invention;

[0014] Figure 3B is Figure 3A a perspective view of a second side of the exemplary assembled retaining clip in ;

[0015] Figure 4A is a perspective view of a first side of an exemplary bracket used with a clamping body according to the present invention;

[0016] Figure 4B is Figure 4APerspective view of the second side of the bracket in;

[0017] Figure 5A is a perspective view of the first side of another exemplary bracket for use with a clamping body according to the present invention;

[0018] Figure 5B is Figure 5A Perspective view of the second side of the bracket in;

[0019] Figure 6A is a perspective view of the first side of another exemplary bracket for use with a clamping body according to the present invention; and

[0020] Figure 6B is Figure 6A Perspective view of the second side of the bracket in. Detailed Description

[0021] In this patent document, the figures discussed below and the various embodiments used to describe the principles of the present invention are merely illustrative and should not be construed in any way as limiting the scope of the present invention. Those skilled in the art will understand that the principles of the present invention can be implemented in any type of suitably arranged device or system.

[0022] The present invention is a modular retaining clip that includes a clamping body for mounting elongated items such as wires, wire harnesses, pipes, tubes, etc., and the clamping body can be mounted to different brackets and used in automotive applications. Assembling the clamping body to the bracket forms a modular retaining clip that can be fastened to the vehicle frame.

[0023] The clamping body includes a first body portion and a second body portion, both formed of a rigid first polymer material. When rotated apart at an angle relative to each other, the first body portion and the second body portion define an open position, and when rotated into direct contact with each other, the first body portion and the second body portion define an engaged position. The isolation portion is formed of an elastic second polymer material. The isolation portion includes isolation members individually connected to each of the first body portion and the second body portion. When the clamp is held in the engaged position, the isolation members are positioned facing each other. The isolation members frictionally contact the elongate article, thereby holding the elongate article in the engaged position. The active hinge integrally connects the first body portion and the second body portion together, allowing the first body portion and the second body portion to rotate relative to each other. When the first body portion and the second body portion are switched between the open position and the engaged position, the active hinge provides the only connection between the first body portion and the second body portion. The latch member elastically and integrally molded on the first body portion deflects to be captured in the latch receiving cavity formed in the second body portion, and the latch receiving cavity captures and holds the first body portion and the second body portion together. The clamping body further includes a pair of mounting members extending from the surface of the second body portion of the clamping body. Each mounting member is arranged to be placed in a corresponding hole formed through the mounting bracket. Each mounting member can be deformed using heat and tools to form a retaining head that fixes the clamping body to the bracket. The brackets can be manufactured in a variety of configurations and forms. All brackets are arranged to receive the clamping body to form a modular retaining clip.

[0024] Reference Figure 1 , an exemplary modular retaining clip of the present invention is shown. The retaining clip includes a clamping body 10 made of a first polymer material such as a polyamide material or a polyoxymethylene material or other similar thermoplastic materials, and the first polymer material has the stiffness required to maintain the shape of the retaining clip when the retaining clip engages with one or more elongate articles (not shown). The clamping body 10 is made in a mold cavity (not shown) in a first injection molding process or a first "injection cycle". The clamping body 10 may further include an isolation portion 12 made of an elastic second material such as a thermoplastic elastomer. The isolation portion 12 is injection molded in a second process or a two-shot process to complete the formation of the clamping body 10. When the materials are at an elevated temperature in the mold, the materials of the clamping body 10 and the isolation portion 12 are fixedly connected, for example, by chemical bonding to connect the isolation portion 12 to the clamping body 10.

[0025] The clamping body 10 includes a first body portion 16 that is rotatably connected to a second body portion 18. When injected in a second injection molding, the material of the isolation portion 12 flows onto the first body portion 16 to form a first isolation member 20 having a plurality of elastic ribs 22 extending from the clamping surface and a second isolation member 24 having a plurality of elastic ribs 26 extending from a complementary clamping surface.

[0026] The movable hinge 30 flexibly connects the second body portion 18 to the first body portion 16. The movable hinge 30 is integrally and uniformly made of the material that holds the body 10 and is formed during the injection molding of the first body portion 16 and the second body portion 18. The material of the movable hinge 30 extends between the outer surface 32 of the first body portion 16 and the outer surface 34 of the second body portion 18.

[0027] The first body portion 16 and the second body portion 18 are molded in a first injection molding, wherein the first body portion 16 and the second body portion 18 are integrally connected to the movable hinge 30. In a subsequent second injection molding, the material of the isolation portion 12 flows to the arcuate surface 41 of the first body portion 16 and the similar arcuate surface 42 of the second body portion 18.

[0028] The first body portion 16 of the holding body 10 further includes a latch member 36 that elastically deflects to engage within a latch receiving cavity 38 formed in the second body portion 18 to assist in coupling the first body portion 16 and the second body portion 18 together. The latch member 36 includes a flexible arm 44 extending from the material of the first body portion 16 toward the latch receiving cavity 38. The latch receiving cavity 38 is formed between a rigid wall 40 extending from the material of the second body portion 18 and a deflecting arm 43 that elastically deflects toward the rigid wall 40. When the flexible arm 44 of the latch member 36 is received within the latch receiving cavity 38, after the flexible arm 44 extends through the latch receiving cavity 38, teeth 47 extending from the flexible arm 44 engage complementary teeth 46 extending from the wall 40 into the latch receiving cavity 38. When the teeth 46 are coupled to the teeth 47, the deflecting arm 43 exerts a force on the flexible arm 44 that prevents the flexible arm 44 from being released from the latch receiving cavity 38.

[0029] The first mounting pin 50 and the second mounting pin 52 extend from the bottom surface of the second body portion 18. The first mounting pin 50 and the second mounting pin 52 have a circular cross-section, and each mounting pin has a cavity 53 that partially extends through the first mounting pin 50 and the second mounting pin 52. The first mounting pin 50 and the second mounting pin 52 are axially offset from each other so as to maximize the distance between the mounting pins, which contributes to the stability of the mounting configuration and holding the clamping member to the bracket. The first mounting pin 50 and the second mounting pin 52 are arranged to fit within complementary holes in the bracket and are fixed to the bracket using a thermal riveting process that will be explained in more detail below. In Figure 1 The holding body 10 is molded using a secondary injection molding process in the open position shown.

[0030] Refer to Figure 2 and Figures 3A - 3B, the first body portion 16 is shown as being joined to the second body portion 18. The first body portion 16 and the second body portion 18 preferably receive an elongate article, such as a wire, a wire harness, a conduit, a tube (not shown), within the isolation portion 12 before and optionally after and before the clamping body 10 is secured to the bracket 60. Refer to Figures 3A through 3B , the installation of the clamping body 10 to the bracket 60 will be shown in more detail. The elongate article is placed between the isolation members 20 and 24 and rests on either the isolation member 20 or 24 based on the orientation of the clamping body 10.

[0031] Then, the first body portion 16 rotates from Figure 1 the shown molded or open position towards Figure 2 the shown closed or joined position. The axis of rotation is defined by the closing arc defined by the active hinge 30. During this part of the rotation of the first body portion 16, the active hinge 30 provides the only physical connection between the second body portion 18 and the first body portion 16. The freely deflectable material of the active hinge 30 provides an elastic biasing force that is used to align and bring the first body portion 16 against the second body portion 18 and the elongate article contained between the first isolation member 20 and the second isolation member 24. When the elongate article is received on the isolation members, the elastic ribs 22, 26 of the first isolation member 20 and the second isolation member 24 are elastically compressed or bent. The second body portion 18 is coupled to the first body portion 16 by the arm 44 of the latch member 36 when the arm 44 is received in the receiving cavity 38 and locked together by the engagement of the teeth 47 with the teeth 46.

[0032] Figure 3A and Figure 3B show the clamping body 10 secured to an exemplary mounting bracket 60 in the joined position. Figure 4A and Figure 4B show an exemplary mounting bracket 60 of the clamping body 10 not secured to the mounting bracket 60. Refer to Figure 4A and Figure 4B as well as Figure 3A and Figure 3B , the exemplary features of the bracket 60 for forming the modular retaining clip will be explained. The bracket 60 includes a clamping body receiving portion 62 and a mounting portion 64. Figure 4A shows the first side of the bracket 60, while Figure 4B shows the second side of the bracket 60 opposite the first side. The clamping body receiving portion 62 is formed on the first side of the bracket 60 by a planar mounting surface 65 that is defined by a pair of walls 66 located at the periphery of the mounting surface 65, where each wall 66 is directly opposite to the other. The mounting portion 64 of the bracket 60 includes a raised platform that extends from the mounting surface 65 and extends out from a peripheral wall 67 that extends perpendicularly from the third periphery of the mounting surface 65. ​​​

[0033] The mounting portion 64 includes a centrally located mounting hole 69 that extends through the platform from the first side to the second side of the mounting bracket 60. The mounting surface 65 also includes a first hole 61 and a second hole 68 that extend through the mounting surface 65 on the first side of the bracket 60 to a surface 71 on the second side of the bracket 60. The first hole 61 and the second hole 68 are sized and positioned on the mounting surface 65 to receive the mounting pins 50, 52 of the clamping body 10. As can be readily seen, the mounting holes 61 and 68 are axially offset on the mounting surface 65 to match the offset arrangement of the mounting pins 50 and 52 of the clamping body 10.

[0034] As Figure 3A shown, the clamping body 10 is mounted on the mounting surface 65 between the peripheral walls 66 and 67, where the separate mounting pins 50, 52 are inserted into the complementary holes 61, 68 respectively. The walls 66 and 67 serve as edges to accommodate the second body portion 18 between the walls 66 and 67. It should be noted that Figure 3A the mounting of the clamping body in the engaged position is shown, and it should be understood that the clamping body 10 can also be mounted to the bracket 60 in the molded or open position and rotated to the engaged position after the clamping body 10 is mounted to the bracket 60.

[0035] The clamping body 10 is fixed to the bracket 60 by applying heat from a heat source to the mounting pins 50 and the mounting pin 52 from the second side of the bracket 60 to soften the polymeric material of the mounting pins 50, 52. When in the softened state, the portions of each mounting pin 50, 52 that extend beyond the surface 71 are formed into dome-shaped caps 70, 72 using a female die tool (not shown). The mounting pins 50, 52 are pressed down against the surface 71 on the second side of the bracket 60 to form the dome-shaped caps 70, 72 against the surface 71. Once cooled, the dome-shaped caps 70, 72 fix and hold the clamping body 10 to the bracket 60, as Figure 3B shown. Then, by using a fastener (not shown) introduced into the mounting hole 69, the completed retaining clip can be fastened to the vehicle frame or other structure, and the fastener is received by a related fastener receiver on the vehicle frame. The second side of the bracket 60 may also include a key member 75 that fits into a related recess in the vehicle frame to correctly position the bracket 60 on the vehicle frame and assist in fixing the bracket 60.

[0036] Figures 5A - 5B and Figure 6A -B shows examples of other forms of the bracket 60 that can be used with the clamping body 10 to form the modular retaining clip of the present invention. It should be noted that Figures 4A - 4B 、 Figures 5A - 5B and Figures 6A - 6B all of the brackets 60 shown in can be molded separately from the clamping body 10 from a polymeric material or stamped from a suitable metallic material. Figures 5A - 5BEach bracket 60 shown in FIGS. 6A - 6B includes the same main components as the bracket 60 shown and described herein. Figures 4A - 4B The bracket 60 shown and described herein. Figure 5A and Figure 6A FIG. Figure 6A shows the first side of the bracket 60, while Figure 5B and 6B FIG. 6B shows the second side of the bracket 60 opposite the first side. As Figures 5A - 5B shown, the bracket 60 in this exemplary bracket discloses a configuration having a mounting portion 64 arranged at a 45 - degree angle to the receiving portion 62. In Figures 6A - 6B , the mounting portion 64 is arranged at a 90 - degree angle to the receiving portion 62.

[0037] In Figures 4A - 4B , Figures 5A - 5B and Figures 6A - 6B shown in all of the mounting brackets 60, the elements required to mount the clamping body 10 to each bracket 60 have common mounting features, including a flat mounting surface 65, a second surface 71, a wall 66, and holes 61 and 68. The common mounting features provide modularity, where the clamping body 10 can be assembled onto a variety of different types and configurations of brackets 60 to form a modular retaining clip.

[0038] It may be advantageous to clarify the definitions of certain words and phrases used throughout this patent document. The term "communicate" and its derivatives include direct communication and indirect communication. The terms "comprise" and "include" and their derivatives mean including but not limited to. The term "or" is inclusive and means and / or. The phrase "associated with" and its derivatives can mean including, included within, interconnected, containing, contained within, connected to or connected with, coupled to or coupled with, capable of communicating with, cooperating with, interleaved, juxtaposed, adjacent, joined to or joined with, having, having the attribute of, related to, etc. When used with a list of items, the phrase "at least one" means that different combinations of one or more of the listed items can be used and may only require one item from the list. For example, "at least one of A, B, C" includes any of the following combinations: A, B, C, A and B, A and C, B and C, A and B and C.

[0039] The description in this application should not be construed as implying that any particular element, step, or function is a necessary or critical element that must be included within the scope of the claims. The scope of the claimed subject matter is defined only by the allowed claims. Additionally, no claim is intended to invoke 35 U.S.C. § 112(f) with respect to any appended claim or claim element, unless the exact phrase "means for" or "step for" is expressly used in a particular claim, followed by a participle phrase identifying the function. The use of terms such as (but not limited to) "means," "module," "device," "unit," "component," "element," "member," "apparatus," "machine," "system," or "controller" in a claim should be understood as and intended to refer to structures known to those of ordinary skill in the relevant art, further modified or enhanced by the features of the claim itself, and not intended to invoke 35 U.S.C. § 112(f).

[0040] Although the invention has been described in terms of certain embodiments and generally associated methods, modifications and permutations of these embodiments and methods will be apparent to those skilled in the art. Accordingly, the foregoing description of exemplary embodiments does not define or limit the invention. Other modifications, substitutions, and variations are possible without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims.

Claims

1. A retaining clip, comprising: A clamping body, the clamping body having a first body portion and a second body portion, the first body portion being rotatably mounted to the second body portion; a first isolating portion and a second isolating portion, the first isolating portion being attached to the first body portion and the second isolating portion being attached to the second body portion, wherein rotation of the first body portion relative to the second body portion causes the first isolating portion to rotate relative to the second isolating portion; and At least a first mounting pin extends from a mounting surface of the second body portion, the first mounting pin being arranged to be received within a first aperture in a bracket, wherein the first mounting pin is arranged to be physically altered to secure the clamp body to the bracket.

2. The retaining clip according to claim 1, wherein: A living hinge integrally connects an outer surface of the first body portion to an outer surface of the second body portion, and the living hinge allows the first body portion to rotate relative to the second body portion.

3. The retaining clip according to claim 2, wherein: The first body portion, the second body portion and the living hinge are all made of rigid material.

4. The retaining clip according to claim 2, wherein: The first body portion includes a latch member located on the first body portion on a side opposite to the movable hinge, and the second body portion includes a latch member receiving cavity aligned with the latch member, wherein when the first body portion is rotated relative to the second body portion, the latch member is captured in the latch member receiving cavity, thereby retaining the first body portion to the second body portion.

5. The retaining clip according to claim 4, wherein: The latch member includes a first tooth and the latch member receiving cavity includes a second tooth, the first tooth engaging with the second tooth to lock the first body portion to the second body portion.

6. The retaining clip according to claim 5, wherein: The latch member receiving cavity includes a deflection arm arranged to apply a force to the first and second teeth to prevent the first and second teeth from releasing when the first and second teeth are engaged.

7. The retaining clip according to claim 2, wherein: The first body portion and the second body portion each include an arcuate surface, and the first partition portion is attached to the arcuate surface of the first body portion, and the second partition portion is attached to the arcuate surface of the second body portion.

8. The retaining clip according to claim 7, wherein: The first and second isolating portions are both made of elastic material, and are arranged to hold an elongated object and retain the elongated object between the first and second isolating portions when the first main body portion rotates relative to the second main body portion, and each of the first and second isolating portions includes a plurality of ribs extending from a clamping surface, wherein each of the plurality of ribs presses against the elongated object.

9. The retaining clip according to claim 1, wherein: The second body portion includes a second mounting pin extending from the mounting surface, the second mounting pin being axially offset from the first mounting pin; and the bracket includes a receiving portion, the receiving portion including the first hole and the second hole, the second hole being axially offset from the first hole, and each of the first hole and the second hole being arranged to receive a corresponding first mounting pin and a second mounting pin therethrough, wherein each of the first mounting pin and the second mounting pin is physically altered to secure the clamping body to the bracket.

10. The retaining clip of claim 9, wherein: The bracket also includes a mounting portion having a mounting hole arranged to receive a fastening device therethrough and attach the bracket with the clamp body to a structure.

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