Patents by Inventor James P. Clinch

James P. Clinch has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 6692206
    Abstract: The invention provides a cage nut assembly having a nut member and a cage member. The nut has a threaded aperture therethrough. The cage is capable of encaging the nut such that the nut has a limited range of movement within the cage in at least one dimension. The cage has an aperture therein sized and located to allow access to the threaded aperture of the nut within the range of movement of the nut. The cage has a plurality of protrusions, such as dimples or tabs, extending therefrom. At least one of the protrusions is formed in halves which abut against one another to define a seam therebetween. The protrusions are capable of being welded to a mating surface to secure the cage to a mating surface, and, substantially contemporaneously, the halves of the at least one protrusion are capable of being welded together along the seam.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 16, 2002
    Date of Patent: February 17, 2004
    Assignee: Textron Inc.
    Inventors: James P. Clinch, Gary Puzzella
  • Patent number: 5593263
    Abstract: A snap-in type fastener (100) is provided that is adapted to have an object such as automobile trim (24) secured hereto by a threaded member such as a screw (26) and which features a pair of opposed resilient fingers (14, 14') having a contoured cross-section enabling them to flatten as they are pressed into an aperture (32) in a panel (30) until free-ends (17,17') respectively of tabs (16,16') extending respectively therefrom spring or snaps outwardly to engage the opposite side of panel (30) to lockingly secure fastener 100 (and trim 24) to panel (30) while enabling fingers (14,14') to resume their original contoured cross-sectional configuration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 9, 1995
    Date of Patent: January 14, 1997
    Assignee: Eaton Corporation
    Inventors: James P. Clinch, Michael Danby
  • Patent number: 5256018
    Abstract: A clip on fastener (100) is provided that features a pair of spaced apart legs (2) and (6) extending from a closed end (9) to an open end (10) of fastener (100). Leg (6) includes a pair of resilient arms (16 and 18) that extend away from the side of the leg (6) facing away from leg (2) and end in overhanging relationship to an opening (7) through arm (16). Arm (18) extends towards closed end (9) and includes a guide tab (20) that extends angularly away from leg (2) towards open end (10). Tab (20) is operative to initiate separation of legs (2 and 6) to enhance receipt of an edge of a panel or plate (P) into open end (10).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 2, 1992
    Date of Patent: October 26, 1993
    Assignee: Eaton Corporation
    Inventors: Hans R. Rattmann, James P. Clinch, James H. Laarman
  • Patent number: 5108239
    Abstract: A push-in fastener (50) is provided having a base portion (4) having a threaded aperture (11) for receiving a threaded member (8) therethrough and from which a pair of spaced-apart resilient legs (14,14') extend that are configured to contract towards each other sufficiently to be received through an opening (16) through a workpiece (12) and then expand to secure fastener (50) thereto yet have respective free-ends (18,18') that are lockingly engaged together by a tab (20) in one of legs (14,14') to prevent warpage and undesirable movement in the legs (14,14').
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 6, 1991
    Date of Patent: April 28, 1992
    Assignee: Eaton Corporation
    Inventor: James P. Clinch
  • Patent number: 5036567
    Abstract: A press-in fastener clip (50) is provided that features a resilient locking arm (10) having a surface (18) adapted to releasably secure clip (50) to an aperture (16). Clip (50) has a V shaped insertion leg (8) that is operative to assist in securing clip (50) to aperture (16) as well as to automatically urge clip (50) outwardly therefrom upon manual release of locking arm (10).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 1990
    Date of Patent: August 6, 1991
    Assignee: Eaton Corporation
    Inventor: James P. Clinch