MULTI-DIAMETER CLIP
20220307626 · 2022-09-29
Inventors
Cpc classification
F16L3/1041
MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
F16L3/237
MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
F16L55/035
MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
F16L3/13
MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
B60R16/0215
PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
International classification
F16L3/13
MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
F16L3/10
MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
F16L3/223
MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
Abstract
A routing clip assembly is configured to secure a tube to a structure. The assembly includes a clip having a main body, and at least one tube-retaining section is defined on a lateral side of the main body. The tube retaining section includes a channel adapted for receipt of the tube. The channel defines a channel axis and is configured to accommodate a variety of tube diameters. The channel includes at least two pairs of fingers, wherein each finger of a given pair connects to the body at a respective hinge on a side of the channel opposite the other finger of the pair. Further, each of the fingers has a distal end that extends generally toward the channel axis. The at least two pairs of fingers are configured to flex between a closed position and an open position to permit insertion of the tube into the channel.
Claims
1. A routing clip assembly configured to secure a tube to a structure, the assembly including: a clip having a main body including at least one tube-retaining section defined on a lateral side, the tube retaining section including: a channel configured to receive a tube, wherein the channel is configured to accommodate a variety of tube diameters and defines a channel axis; at least two pairs of fingers, wherein each finger of a given pair connects to the main body at a respective hinge on a side of the channel opposite the other finger of the given pair, wherein the at least two pairs of fingers are configured to flex between a closed position and an open position to permit insertion of the tube into the channel, and each of the fingers has a distal end that extends generally toward the channel axis, the at least two pairs of fingers including: a first pair of fingers configured to accommodate a first range of tube diameters; and a second pair of fingers being configured to accommodate a second range of tube diameters that differs from the first range of tube diameters, wherein, when the tube received within the channel has a diameter that exceeds the first range, the first pair of fingers is in the open position.
2. The routing clip assembly of claim 1, wherein the distal end of each of the fingers of at least one of the pairs of fingers are configured to abut directly against the tube in a radial configuration to retain the tube within the channel.
3. The routing clip assembly of claim 1, wherein the distal end of each of the fingers of at least one of the pairs of fingers define a concave shape that is configured to conform to a curved outer surface of the tube.
4. The routing clip assembly of claim 1, wherein each of the fingers of at least one of the pairs of fingers includes an abutment surface that is spaced apart from the distal end of the finger, the abutment surface being configured to tangentially abut against the tube to mitigate movement of the tube relative to the main body.
5. The routing clip assembly of claim 4, wherein the abutment surface defines a concave shape configured to conform to a curved outer surface of the tube.
6. The routing clip assembly of claim 4, wherein when a tube diameter exceeds the first range, the abutment surfaces tangentially abut against the tube to mitigate movement of the tube relative to the main body.
7. The routing clip assembly of claim 1, wherein the tube retaining section further includes a third pair of fingers disposed adjacent to one of the first pair and the second pair, wherein the first pair, the second pair, and the third pair are axially spaced along the channel.
8. The routing clip assembly of claim 7, wherein the third pair of fingers is configured to accommodate a third range of tube diameters that differs from the first range, and differs from the second range.
9. The routing clip assembly of claim 8, wherein when a diameter of the tube received within the channel exceeds the first range, the first pair of fingers in in the open position, the second pair of fingers is in the open position, and the third pair of fingers is in the closed position, wherein the distal end of each finger of the third pair of fingers radially abut against the tube, and the abutment surfaces of the first pair of fingers tangentially abut against the tube to mitigate movement of the tube relative to the main body.
10. The routing clip assembly of claim 1, wherein the clip further includes a shank integrally formed with and extending from the main body, the shank including: a proximal end in connection with the main body; a distal tip spaced apart from the main body; and a plurality of flexible flanges that extend radially outward from the shank between the proximal end and the distal tip, wherein the shank is configured to be inserted through an aperture in an object, and wherein at least one of the plurality of flexible flanges abuts against an interior edge of the aperture to retain the clip in connection with the object.
11. A routing clip assembly configured to secure a tube to a structure, wherein the routing clip assembly is configured to accommodate a variety of tubes having a range of diameters, the routing clip assembly including: a routing clip configured to receive the tube, the routing clip including a body, and a tube-retaining section being defined on the body, the tube-retaining section including a channel adapted for receipt of the tube, the tube-retaining section further including: a first pair of fingers having distal ends extending within the channel, the first pair of fingers connecting to the body at corresponding hinges on opposing sides of the channel, wherein the first pair of fingers have a first length defined between the corresponding hinge and the distal end, and the first length is configured to accommodate a first range of tube diameters, wherein each finger of the first pair of fingers includes a concave abutment surface that is spaced from the distal end, and wherein, for a tube diameter that exceeds the first range, the concave abutment surface tangentially abuts against the tube when the tube is received within the channel.
12. The routing clip assembly of claim 11, wherein the routing clip further includes a second pair of fingers having distal ends extending within the channel, the second pair of fingers connecting to the body at corresponding hinges on opposing sides of the channel, wherein the second pair of fingers have a second length defined between the corresponding hinge and the distal end, the second length being different from the first length, and being configured to accommodate a second range of tube diameters, and wherein the second pair of fingers are axially spaced from the first pair.
13. The routing clip assembly of claim 12, wherein each finger of the second pair of fingers includes a concave abutment surface that is spaced from the distal end, and wherein for a tube diameter that exceeds the second range, the concave abutment surface tangentially abuts against the tube when the tube is received within the channel.
14. The routing clip assembly of claim 13, wherein the routing clip further includes a third pair of fingers having distal ends extending within the channel, the third pair of fingers connecting to the body at corresponding hinges on opposing sides of the channel, wherein the third pair of fingers have a third length defined between the corresponding hinge and the distal end, the third length being different from both the first length and the second length, and being configured to accommodate a third range of tube diameters, and wherein the third pair of fingers are axially spaced from the first pair and the second pair.
15. The routing clip assembly of claim 11, wherein the distal end of each of the fingers of the first pair of fingers have a concave shape and are configured to conform to a curved outer surface of a tube.
16. The routing clip assembly of claim 11, wherein the clip further includes a shank integrally formed with and extending from the body, the shank including: a proximal end in connection with the body; a distal tip spaced apart from the body; and a plurality of flexible flanges that extend radially outward from the shank between the proximal end and the distal tip, wherein the shank is configured to be inserted through an aperture in an object, and wherein at least one of the plurality of flexible flanges abuts against an interior edge of the aperture to retain the clip in connection with the object.
17. A routing clip assembly comprising a routing clip in connection with at least one tube, the routing clip being configured to secure the tube to a structure, the routing clip including: a main body; a shank protruding from the main body and including radially-disposed flanges; a tube-retaining section being defined on the main body; and at least one channel being defined in the tube-retaining section, the at least one channel being configured to accommodate a variety of tube diameters, the at least one channel including: a first pair of opposed fingers; and a second pair of opposed fingers disposed adjacent to the first pair, wherein each of the first pair and second pair of opposed fingers connect to the main body at respective hinges on opposing sides of the channel, and each finger structurally mirrors the other finger of the respective pair; wherein the first and second pairs of opposed fingers are naturally disposed in a closed position and flex to an open position to permit insertion of a tube into the channel, wherein, following insertion of a first tube into the channel, the first pair of opposed fingers returns to the closed position and distal ends of the first pair of opposed fingers abut against the first tube, and the second pair of fingers remains in the open position, wherein the second pair of fingers tangentially abut the first tube at concave abutment surfaces, and wherein the distal ends of the first pair of opposed fingers are shaped to conform with a curvature of the first tube.
18. The routing clip assembly of claim 17, further comprising a third pair of opposed fingers, wherein each finger of the third pair of opposed fingers connects to the main body at a corresponding hinge on an opposing side of the channel from the other finger of the third pair of opposed fingers, and each finger of the third pair of opposed fingers structurally mirrors the other finger of the third pair of opposed fingers.
19. The routing clip assembly of claim 18, wherein each finger of the first pair of opposed fingers has a first length defined between the corresponding hinge and the distal end, and the first length is configured to accommodate a first range of tube diameters.
20. The routing clip assembly of claim 17, wherein the routing clip further includes a second tube-retaining section defined on an opposing side of the main body from the tube-retaining section, the second tube-retaining section defining a second channel configured to accommodate a variety of tube diameters.
Description
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0015] The invention will be better understood and features, aspects, and advantages other than those set forth above will become apparent when consideration is given to the following detailed description thereof. Such detailed description makes reference to the following drawings.
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[0027] Before the embodiments of the disclosure are explained in detail, it is to be understood that the disclosure is not limited in its application to the details of construction and the arrangement of the components set forth in the following description or illustrated in the drawings. The disclosure is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced or being carried out in various ways. It is to be understood that the phraseology and terminology used herein are for the purpose of description and should not be regarded as limiting. The use of “including” and “comprising” and variations thereof is meant to encompass the items listed thereafter and equivalents thereof as well as additional items and equivalents thereof.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0028] Aspects of the present disclosure provide a fastening assembly that is configured to be used to mate components of an assembly. For example, the fastening assembly according to the present disclosure may be particularly useful when mating a tube with a panel, a wall, or other component. The present disclosure provides a routing clip assembly 100 that is configured to secure one or more cables, tubes, or other cylindrical objects 200 to a separate object or article of manufacture. The assembly includes a routing clip 102 having a main body 104, and at least one tube-retaining section 106, 108 is defined on the main body 104. Each tube-retaining section 106, 108 includes a channel 110 configured for receipt of the tube 200.
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[0030] The routing clip 102 of
[0031] As further illustrated in
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[0033] Turning now to
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[0036] In
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[0038]
[0039] Referring to
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[0041] As illustrated in the cross-sectional views of
[0042] Referring to
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[0044] With reference to
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[0046] Referring to
[0047] Still referring to
[0048] To remove the tubes 200 from the tube-retaining channels 110, each pair 120, 122, and 124 of fingers 112a, 112b, 112c are flexed or retracted from a second or closed configuration toward the open or first configuration, thereby un-obstructing the channel 110 to allow removal of the tubes 200.
[0049] While the embodiments shown herein depict pairs 120, 122, and 124 of fingers 112a, 112b, 112c that can accommodate tubes of two different diameters, it is also contemplated that the pairs 120, 122, and 124 of fingers 112a, 112b, 112c could accommodate more than two different diameters and/or more pairs of fingers may be utilized to accommodate more diameters.
[0050] Thus, embodiments disclosed herein provide an assembly that securely engages around tubes, pipes, conduits, or the like through more than just a circular tube opening. Embodiments provide adaptable tube-engaging fingers that extend into tube channels to securely engage around tubes, pipes, conduits, and the like of varying shapes and sizes. Each set of fingers engages the tubes, either radially or tangentially, to secure the tube within the channel or mitigate movement of the tube relative to the channel.
[0051] The adaptable tube-engaging fingers that are shown and described accommodate multiple tube diameters without changing a centerline horizontal distance from one another, and/or from a mounting point. While the adaptable tube-engaging members may flex toward or away from the center of the receiving channel, the tubes secured therein remain constantly centered due to the conforming engagement of the adaptable tube-engaging members around more than half a circumference of each tube. Further, by wrapping around more than 180° of a tube, the channel of the tube-engaging section provides a higher axial slide/thrust force than previous assemblies.
[0052] While various spatial and directional terms, such as top, bottom, lower, mid, lateral, horizontal, vertical, front and the like may be used to describe embodiments of the present disclosure, it is understood that such terms are merely used with respect to the orientations shown in the drawings. The orientations may be inverted, rotated, or otherwise changed, such that an upper portion is a lower portion, and vice versa, horizontal becomes vertical, and the like.
[0053] While the device disclosed herein may be embodied in many different forms, several specific embodiments are discussed herein with the understanding that the embodiments described in the present disclosure are to be considered only exemplifications of the principles described herein, and the disclosure is not intended to be limited to the embodiments illustrated. Throughout the disclosure, the terms “about” and “approximately” mean plus or minus 5% of the number that each term precedes.
[0054] Variations and modifications of the foregoing are within the scope of the present disclosure. It is understood that the embodiments disclosed and defined herein extend to all alternative combinations of two or more of the individual features mentioned or evident from the text and/or drawings. All of these different combinations constitute various alternative embodiments of the present disclosure. The claims are to be construed to include alternative embodiments to the extent permitted by the prior art.
[0055] Various features of the disclosure are set forth in the following claims.