Upholstery clip assembly

Abstract

An upholstery clip assembly comprising a first member 1 having a body 5 defining a longitudinal axis 3, and a second member 2. The second member 2 comprises an annular flange 9 extending in a plane no

Description

The present application relates to an upholstery clip assembly. In particular, but not exclusively, the application is related to a clip having two members which are inter-engageable to affix two components, such as pieces of plywood, together. It is often desirable to affix two or more elements used in furniture, such as wood panels, together, or affix fabric onto such elements. Whereas there exist an abundance of fittings means, there is often a lack of flexibility and simplicity which does not sacrifice quality and still works in many scenarios, including for instance curved panels. According to a first aspect of the invention, there is provided an upholstery clip assembly comprising a first member having a body defining a longitudinal axis, and a second member comprising an annular flange extending in a plane non-parallel to the longitudinal axis, the annular flange having an inner edge defining an opening through the flange, a series of fingers protruding from the inner edge of the annular flange, the fingers spaced around the circumference of the inner edge, and substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis, and defining a passage for receiving the first member, at least some of the fingers comprising a first end adjacent to the inner edge of the annular flange, and a retainer part on a second end opposite to the first end, the retainer part disposed to protrude radially outward from the finger, such that when the second member is provided in an aperture in a panel, movement of the second member in the axial direction is prevented by the flange and the retainer parts, wherein the first and / or second member comprise means to hold the first and second members together, when the first member is provided in the passage formed by the fingers of the second member. The clip assembly may be disposed such that the fingers are separated by gaps around the circumference of the passage, and only joined at the annular flange. The fingers may be joined by living hinges extending substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis. The living hinges may be formed by thinner portions of the same material as the fingers. The angle between the longitudinal axis of the first member and the annular flange of the second member may be substantially 90°, when the first member is provided in the passage formed by the fingers of the second member. The longitudinal axis of the first member and the annular flange of the second member may be disposed such that they are non-perpendicular, when the first member is provided in the passage formed by the fingers of the second member. The first member may be insertable into the second member from a first direction only. The first and second members may be arranged such that the only allowed insertion direction of the first member is along the axial direction, from the annular flange towards the retainer part of the second member. The shape of the retainer part may be arranged such that it allows the second member to be pushed from the first direction only. The retainer part may comprise a first end forming a ledge substantially parallel to and facing the annular flange, a second end facing away from the annular flange, a side wall tapering inwards from a radially outer edge of the first end of the retainer part, towards the finger and the second end of the retainer part, such that the side wall urges the fingers flex inwards towards the longitudinal axis when the second member is pushed through an aperture in the first direction, and the first end of the retainer part prevents the second member from being pulled back out in a direction opposite the first direction. The clip assembly of any preceding claim wherein the first member comprises one or more grooves on the outside of the body. The grooves may be substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis. The assembly may consist of only the first and second members. The second member may be a single unitary part. The means to hold the first and second members together may comprise inter-engaging projections on the outer surface of the body of the first member and the inner surfaces of the fingers. The projections on the first member may be a plurality of protrusions extending radially from the body and the projections on the fingers may be a single protrusion on each finger, wherein the single protrusion may extend radially inwards from the fingers, and wherein the protrusion from each finger may be arranged to be complementary with and received between adjacent projections on the body of the first member. There may be provided a plurality of projections on the first member. There may be a plurality of projections on the fingers of the second member. There may be only one projection on the fingers of the second member and a plurality of projections on the first member. There may be a plurality of projections on the fingers of the second member and only a single projection on the body of the first member. the gaps separating the fingers on the second member may be air gaps. The gaps may comprise living hinges. The second member may comprise one or more longitudinal grooves. In a second aspect of the invention, there is provided a system comprising: two or more panels, the clip assembly of the first aspect, wherein the second member is received in an aperture in the first panel, the first member is received in an aperture in a second panel, and wherein the first member is received in the second member, with the two panels thus retained together by the clip assembly. In a third aspect of the invention there is provided a method of joining two panels using the clip assembly of the first asepct, the method comprising: providing the second member of the clip assembly in an aperture of a first panel, such that edges of the aperture are received between the flange and the retainer parts. The method may also comprise providing the first member in an aperture formed in a second panel, and inserting the first member into the passage in the second member in a direction from the flange of the second member to the second end. The method may also comprise securing fabric, padding or material to the panels. Embodiments will now be described, by way of example only, with references to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 illustrates a perspective view of the first member 1; Figure 2 illustrates a longitudinal cross-section view of the first member; Figure 3 illustrates a bottom view of the first member, viewed from a second end; Figure 4 illustrates a perspective view of a cross-section of the second member; Figure 5 illustrates a perspective view of the second member; Figure 6 illustrates a cross-section of the clip assembly, with the two parts engaged with each other; Figure 7 illustrates a perspective view of the cross-section of the two parts interengaged; and Figure 8 illustrates a cross-section of an assembly with two pieces of plywood affixed together via the engagement of the first member and the second member. The Figures show' a clip system formed of two members 1, 2 which engage with each other to join two components of an assembly. For example, the clips may join tw'O plywood panels of an upholstered office chair. Equal or functionally equivalent components are designated with the same reference numerals in the figures. Figure 1 shows a perspective view of the first member 1, w hilst Figure 2 shows a cross section of the first member alongside a longitudinal axis 3. The first member 1 has a first end 4 formed by a circular disk from which a body 5 of the first member 1 protrudes in a substantially perpendicular direction. The body 5 has a narrower diameter than the circular disk, and defines the longitudinal axis 3 of the clip system. Opposite the first end 4, the body 5 has a second end 8, defining a plane substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis 3 and parallel to the circular disk forming the first end 4. Proximal to the first end 4, the body 5 of the first member 1 comprises an annular flange 6 protruding radially from the body 5, in a plane substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis 3. In the section of the body 5 between the annular flange 6 and the second end 8, the first member 1 comprises a plurality of projections 7. The projections 7 extend outwardly from the body 5, with a first face 7b facing towards the first end 4 of the body and a second face 7c facing towards the second end 8 of the body. The first face 7b is parallel to the circular disk 4 at the first end 4. The second face 7c tapers inwards towards the body 5 in a direction from the first end 7b to the second end 7c. The projections 7 are spaced by gaps 7 along the longitudinal axis. In the example shown, the first member 1 comprises a pair of grooves 19, running on the outside of the body 5 alongside the longitudinal axis 3, wherein the grooves extend through the flange and projections 7 on the body 5, and partway through the body 5. Figure 3 shows a bottom view of the first member 1, viewed from the second end 8, opposite the first end 4. This view shows the two longitudinal grooves 19 running parallel to the body axis, on either side of the body 5 of the first member 1, at diametrically opposed positions. The second member 2 will now be described with reference to Figures 4 and 5. As shown in Figures 4 and 5, the second member 2 comprises an annular flange 9, disposed on a plane substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis 3. The annular flange 9 has an inner edge 10 defining an opening through the flange 9, the opening disposed to receive the first member 1. A plurality of fingers 11 protrude substantially perpendicularly from the inner edge 10 of the annular flange 9. The fingers 11 are spaced around the circumference of the annular flange 9, and are disposed substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis. The fingers 11 thus form a hollow cylindrical passage around the longitudinal axis 3, disposed to receive the first member 1 within it. The fingers 11 define two surfaces 16,17, a first (“inner”) surface 16 facing inwards towards the interior of the passage formed by the plurality of the fingers 11, and a second (“outer”) surface 17 facing outwards, The fingers 11 comprise a first end 12 adjacent to the inner edge 10 of the annular flange 9. The fingers 11 additionally comprise a retainer part 14 on a second end 13 opposite to the first 12. The retainer part 14 is disposed to protrude radially outwards from the finger 11 on the outer surface 17. At least some of the fingers 11 comprise a projection 15 on the first, inner surface part way along the finger. The projections 15 each comprise two faces, a first face and a second face. The first face is disposed such that it is perpendicular to the longitudinal axis and faces towards the second end 13 of the fingers 11. The second face tapers outwards in the direction from the first end 12 to the second end 13 of the fingers 11 and faces towards the first end 12. As discussed above, the fingers are spaced around the circumference of the inner edge of the annular flange 9. The fingers 11 are separated by gaps 18, extending along the ends of the fingers (i.e., alongside an axis parallel to the longitudinal axis 3) so that the fingers 11 are only joined at or near the first end 12. The gaps 18 may be air gaps. The gaps may be living hinges, wherein the fingers are joined along at least part of their lengths. The gap may be any suitable material and configuration to allow the second member 2 to be flexible. Figures 6 and 7 show a perspective view of a cross-section of the clip assembly described above, with the first member 1 engaged with the second member 2. Figure 6 shows a crosssection alongside a plane parallel to the longitudinal axis and cutting the clip assembly in two symmetric halves. Figure 7 shows a perspective view of the first and second member 1,2 engaged with each other, with the annular flange 9 of the second member 2 adjacent to the first end 4 of the first member 1. When engaging the first member 1 with the second member 2, the first member 1 is inserted into the opening defined in the annular flange 9 of the second member 2. This is done by first bringing the second end 8 of the first member 1 into the opening defined in the annular flange 9 of the second member 2. The first member 1 is then pushed through said opening, urging the first end to pass through the opening and past the projections 15 on the fingers 11 of the second member 2. The second 8 of the first member 1 continues its motion until it passes beyond the end 13 of the fingers 11 of the second member 2. The direction of insertion is alongside the arrow A shown in figures 6 and 7. This allowed direction of movement for the first member 1 is alongside the longitudinal axis 3, from the annular edge 9 of the second member 2 towards the second end 13 of the fingers 11. The shape of the projections 7 on the body 5 of the first member 1 are such that their outside configuration is complementary with the configuration of the projections 15 of the fingers 11 of the second member 2. When the first member 1 is pushed into the opening of the second member 2 in the direction A as shown in figures 6 and 7, the tapered surfaces of the projections 7 on the body 5 of the first member 1 and the projections 15 on the fingers 11 of the second member 2 engage to allow the first member to push past the projections 15 on the fingers 11 of the second member 2. The projections 15 on the fingers 11 then settle into one of the gaps in-between the projections 7 on the body 5 of the first member 1. There is a plurality of projections 7 on the body of the first member 1. This means there is a plurality of the gaps mentioned in the above paragraph. This allows a user to insert the first member 1 into the second member 2 by different desired lengths. After inserting the first member 1 into the second member 2, the projections 7 and 15 are engaged together, if a user tries to pull the first member 1 into the direction opposite to A, the faces on the projections 7 on the body 5 of the first member I and the projections 15 on the fingers 11 of the second member 2, which are perpendicular to the longitudinal axis 3, engage to prevent such movement. The clip assembly allows to two separate pieces of plywood to be attached together and then upholstered without showing any fitment on the outside. An example embodiment in which the clip assembly is used to attach two pieces of plywood will be described with respect to Figures 8. A first piece of plywood 26 comprises a plurality of apertures 28. a second member 2 is installed in at least some of the apertures 28 . Figure 8 shows two apertures with second members 2 installed, showing one of the apertures in cross section. The first piece of plywood 26 has a first surface and a second surface separated by a thickness of material. The aperture 28 is substantially perpendicular to the two surfaces of the panel, i.e., the aperture 28 is through the thickness of material of the panel 26. When the second member 2 is pushed into the aperture 28, the tapered surface on the retaining member 14 engages the edge of the aperture 28, deflecting the fingers 1 1 inwards into the cylindrical body defined by the second member 2. This allows the fingers 11 to push past the edge of the aperture 28 in the panel 26. When fully inserted into the aperture 28, the second member 2 is such that the perpendicular face of the retaining member 14 rest against one of the surfaces of the panel 26, whereas the annular flange 9 rests against the other, opposite surface. Due to the arrangement of the fingers, the second member 2 can be inserted into flat, curved or other irregularly shaped pieces of plywood. Figure 8 shows a second piece of plywood 27 to be attached to the first piece. The second piece of plywood 27 has apertures 29 aligned with the apertures 28 in the first piece of plywood 26. Once the second members 2 are inserted in the apertures 28 in the first plywood panel 26, the second plywood panel 27 is overlaid over the first plywood panel 26, wit the apertures 28 and 29 aligned. The first member 1 is inserted through the apertures 29 in the second panel 27 and into the passage in the second member 2. The second piece of plywood 27 is anchored to the first piece of plywood 26 between the circular disk at the first end of the first member 1 and the flange 9 on the second member 2. The inter-engagement of the first member 1 and the second member 2 (or multiple first and second members if multiple apertures are used) holds the arrangement rigid. The longitudinal grooves allow the first member to be flexible. This allows the first member to be inserted in a direction that is not necessarily straight with respect to the passage in the second member. This also allows the first member to be inserted through apertures in curved surfaces, and / or to be inserted if the apertures are misaligned. This Cloth or padding can be fixed to one or both of the outward facing surfaces of the panels. This may be fixed by glue, staples or any other means. While the embodiment shown in the figures described above shows the fingers 11 as comprising only one projection 15 on the inner surface each, this is by way of example only. There may be any suitable number of projections 15 along the length of the fingers 11 of the second member 2. There may be any suitable number of fingers 11 on the second member 2. There may be just one projection 7 on the body 5 of the first member 1. There may be any suitable number of such projections 7 on the body 5 of the first member 1. A clip assembly may thus be comprised of a first member 1 having a single projection 7 on its body 5, inter-engaged with a second member 2 comprising fingers 11 having a plurality of projections 15. Conversely, a clip assembly may be configured such that the first member 1 comprise a body 5 with a plurality of projections 7 whereas the second member 2 comprise fingers 11 with only one projection 15 each. There may be any suitable number of grooves along the length of the body 5 of the first member 5. The grooves on the body 5 of the first member 1 may run along any suitable axis or direction. The clip assembly be provided with no grooves on the body 5 of the fist member 1. There may be any number of gaps between the fingers 11 on the second member 2. Such gaps may be air gaps or may be live hinges. The second end 13 of the fingers 11 of the second member 2 may be joined by a ring. 5 The clip assembly may be provided to affix any suitable elements. There may be provided any suitable means for affixing the first member 1 to the second member 2, instead of interengaging projections.

Claims

1. An upholstery clip assembly comprising:a first member having a body defining a longitudinal axis, anda second member comprising:an annular flange extending in a plane non-parallel to the longitudinal axis, the annular flange having an inner edge defining an opening through the flange,a series of fingers protruding from the inner edge of the annular flange, the fingers spaced around the circumference of the inner edge, and substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis, and defining a passage for receiving the first member, at least some of the fingers comprising:a first end adjacent to the inner edge of the annular flange, anda retainer part on a second end opposite to the first end, the retainer part disposed to protrude radially outward from the finger, such that when the second member is provided in an aperture in a panel, movement of the second member in the axial direction is prevented by the flange and the retainer parts,wherein the first and / or second member comprise means to hold the first and second members together, when the first member is provided in the passage formed by the fingers of the second member.

2. The clip assembly of claim 1 wherein the fingers are separated by gaps around the circumference of the passage, and only joined at the annular flange.

3. The clip assembly of claim 1 wherein the fingers are joined by living hinges extending substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis.

4. The clip assembly of claim 3, wherein the living hinges are formed by thinner portions of the same material as the fingers.

5. The clip assembly of any preceding claim wherein the angle between the longitudinal axis of the first member and the annular flange of the second member is substantially 90°, when the first member is provided in the passage formed by the fingers of the second member.

6. The clip assembly of any of claims 1 to 4 wherein the angle between the longitudinal axis of the first member and the annular flange of the second member is non-perpendicular, when the first member is provided in the passage formed by the fingers of the second member.

7. The clip assembly of any preceding claim wherein the first member is insertable into the second member from a first direction only.

8. The clip assembly of claim 7 wherein the first and second members are arranged such that the only allowed insertion direction of the first member is along the axial direction, from the annular flange towards the retainer part of the second member.

9. The clip assembly of claim 7 or claim 8 wherein the shape of the retainer part is arranged such that it allows the second member to be pushed from the first direction only.

10. The clip assembly of claim 9, wherein the retainer part comprises:a first end forming a ledge substantially parallel to and facing the annular flange,a second end facing away from the annular flange,a side wall tapering inwards from a radially outer edge of the first end of the retainer part, towards the finger and the second end of the retainer part, such that the side wall urges the fingers flex inwards towards the longitudinal axis when the second member is pushed through an aperture in the first direction, and the first end of the retainer part prevents the second member from being pulled back out in a direction opposite the first direction.

11. The clip assembly of any preceding claim wherein the first member comprises one or more grooves on the outside of the body.

12. The clip assembly of claim 11 wherein the grooves are substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis.

13. The clip assembly of any previous claim wherein the assembly consists of only the first and second members.

14. The clip assembly of any previous claim wherein the second member is a single unitary part.

15. The clip assembly of any previous claim, wherein the means to hold the first and second members together comprise inter-engaging projections on the outer surface of the body of the first member and the inner surfaces of the fingers.

16. The clip assembly of claim 15 where the projections on the first member are a plurality of protrusions extending radially from the body and the projections on the fingers are a single protrusion on each finger, wherein the single protrusion extends radially inwards from the fingers, and wherein the protrusion from each finger is arranged to be complementary with and received between adjacent projections on the body of the first member.

17. The clip assembly of any previous claim wherein there is a plurality of projections on the first member, and wherein there is a plurality of projections on the fingers of the second member.

18. The clip assembly of claim 17 wherein there is only one projection on the fingers 11 of the second member and a plurality of projections on the first member, or wherein there is a plurality of projections on the fingers of the second member and there is only a single projection on the body of the first member.

19. The clip assembly of any preceding claims wherein the gaps separating the fingers on the second member are air gap, or wherein the gaps comprise living hinges.

21. The clip assembly of any preceding claim wherein the second member comprise one or more longitudinal grooves.

22. A system comprising:two or more panels,the clip assembly of any preceding claim, wherein the second member is received in an aperture in the first panel, the first member is received in an aperture in a second panel, and wherein the first member is received in thesecond member, with the two panels thus retained together by the clip assembly.

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