Methods and apparatus to mount a clip to a mounting surface

Abstract

Methods and apparatus to mount a clip to a mounting surface are disclosed. An example clip assembly includes a clip defining a bore, a drive pin penetrating the bore, a first washer friction fit to the drive pin on a first side of the clip, and a second washer friction fit to the drive pin on a second side of the clip.

Description

FIELD OF THE DISCLOSURE

[0001] This disclosure relates generally to mounting clips, and, more particularly, to methods and apparatus to mount a clip to a mounting surface.

BACKGROUND

[0002] It is often desirable to mount a clip or bracket to a mounting surface. The clip or bracket is typically used to secure another element to the mounting surface. For example, in the cable television industry, in running cable from a distribution point to a building, it is often desirable to secure the cable to an exterior surface of the building. Typically, a mounting clip is used for this purpose.

[0003] Known mounting clips comprise a stamped or otherwise formed piece of sheet metal or the like. The clip typically includes a bore for receiving a fastener such as a screw or a pin (e.g., a nail) that is intended to be driven into the mounting surface to secure the clip thereto. Sometimes a washer is mounted to a threaded fastener between a head of the threaded fastener and the clip to separate the head from the clip.

[0004] The clip and the fastener, and sometimes the washer are separate elements intended to be assembled at the point of installation. When an installer wishes to use the mounting clip, he/she must insert the fastener into the clip. The installer may drop and/or lose the fastener and/or the clip during this assembly process, particularly in cold and/or snowy weather. Since the assembly process sometimes occurs while the installer is standing on a ladder, dropping the fastener and/or the clip may require the installer to dismount from the ladder to find the same, and/or may result in discarding of the fastener, the clip, and/or both. At a minimum, dropping the fastener and/or the clip results in an undesirable loss of time during the installation process. Similarly, requiring the installer to assembly the fastener and clip slows the installation process by using the installer's time

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0005] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an example E drop wire clip assembly.

[0006] FIG. 2 is a front view of the example E drop wire clip assembly of FIG. 1.

[0007] FIG. 3 is a top view of the example clip assembly of FIG. 1.

[0008] FIG. 4 is a bottom view of the example clip assembly of FIG. 1.

[0009] FIG. 5 is a side view of the example clip assembly of FIG. 1.

[0010] FIG. 6 is an exploded side view of the example clip assembly of FIG. 1.

[0011] FIG. 7 is a perspective view of the clip assembly of FIG. 1 securing a cable to a wall in an example environment of use.

[0012] FIG. 8 is a perspective view of an example drive ring clip assembly.

[0013] FIG. 9 is a front view of the example clip assembly of FIG. 8.

[0014] FIG. 10 is a top view of the example clip assembly of FIG. 8.

[0015] FIG. 11 is a bottom view of the example clip assembly of FIG. 8.

[0016] FIG. 12 is a side view of the example clip assembly of FIG. 8.

[0017] FIG. 13 is a perspective view of an example T drop hook clip assembly.

[0018] FIG. 14 is a front view of the example clip assembly of FIG. 13.

[0019] FIG. 15 is a top view of the example clip assembly of FIG. 13.

[0020] FIG. 16 is a bottom view of the example clip assembly of FIG. 13.

[0021] FIG. 17 is a side view of the example clip assembly of FIG. 13.

[0022] FIG. 18 is a perspective view of an example cable tie clip assembly.

[0023] FIG. 19 is a front view of the example clip assembly of FIG. 18.

[0024] FIG. 20 is a top view of the example clip assembly of FIG. 18.

[0025] FIG. 21 is a bottom view of the example clip assembly of FIG. 18.

[0026] FIG. 22 is a side view of the example clip assembly of FIG. 18.

[0027] FIG. 23 is a perspective view of the example clip assembly of FIG. 18 shown before its tail is wrapped to secure a cable or wire.

[0028] FIG. 24 is a side view of the clip assembly of FIG. 23.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0029] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an example clip assembly 10. The clip assembly 10 of FIG. 1 is an E drop wire bracket assembly that may be used, for example, to mount a cable 11 (see FIG. 7) to a mounting surface 13 such as the exterior of a wall. To hold a cable or wire 11, the illustrated assembly includes a clip or bracket 12. As shown in FIGS. 1 and 5, the illustrated clip 12 is shaped in a V. The lower end of the V is dimensioned to receive the cable or wire 11 and may be plasticized to avoid fraying the same. Each of the upper ends of the V defines a bore 14. After the cable or wire 11 is positioned within the V-shaped bracket 12, the upper ends of the V can be closed with the bores 14 in alignment to capture the cable/wire 111 within the bracket 12 as shown in FIG. 7.

[0030] The clip assembly 10 of FIGS. 1-7 includes a drive pin 18 which is sized to penetrate the aligned bores 14 and an adjacent mounting surface 13 to secure the clip 12 and the cable/wire 11 it carries to the mounting surface (see FIG. 7). As shown in FIGS. 1-6, prior to mounting the assembly 10 to the mounting surface 13, the pin 18 is secured within one of the two bores 14 by first and second washers 20, 22. In particular, a first washer 20 is friction fit onto the shaft of the pin 18. The point of the pin 18 is then passed through the bore 14 until the first washer 22 abuts a first side of the clip 12. The second washer 22 is then friction fit onto the shaft of the pin 18 in abutting relationship to a second side of the clip 12 such that the clip 12 is sandwiched between the first and second washers 20, 22. As shown in FIG. 5, when so assembled, a point of the drive pin 18 protrudes past the second washer 22. In the illustrated example, less than one-half of the shaft of the pin 18 extends beyond the second washer 22, although different washer-to-shaft relationships may likewise be chosen.

[0031] Preferably the washers 20, 22 are affixed to the pin 18 such that they withstand at least approximately ten pounds of pressure before they will slide along the shaft of the pin 18. In the illustrated example, this securement is achieved by an interference fit. In particular, the inner diameters of the annular washers 20, 22 are dimensioned to be substantially the same as, or slightly smaller than, the diameter of the shaft of the pin 18. As a result, the washers 20, 22 resist movement along the shaft of the pin 18. This resistance to movement holds the pin 18 within the bore 14 of the clip 12 during sale, transport and installation of the clip assembly 10. As a result, the problem of separated fasteners and/or clips being dropped during installation present in prior art clip assemblies is overcome.

[0032] When an installer desires to mount the clip assembly of FIGS. 1-7 to a surface, the installer bends the clip 12 and aligns the bores 14 such that the pin 18 penetrates both bores 14 simultaneously. The installer then uses a hammer or the like to strike the head of the pin 18. Striking the pin 18 with sufficient force one or more times drives the point of the pin into the mounting surface 13. As the pin 18 moves into the mounting surface 13, engagement between the washer 22 and the mounting surface 13 causes the shaft of the pin 18 to slide relative to the washers 20, 22 and the clip 12 until the head of the pin 18 abuts or nearly abuts the washer 20 as shown in FIG. 7. When installed in this fashion, the second washer 22 is disposed between two arms of the clip 12, one of the arms of the clip 12 is disposed between the two washers 20, 22, and the first washer 20 is disposed between the head of the pin 18 and one of the arms of the clip 12. Before the clip assembly 10 is mounted to a mounting surface 13, the head of the pin 18 is separated a first distance from the washer 20 (see FIG. 5). After the clip assembly is mounted to the mounting surface, the head of the pin 18 may abut the first washer 20 (see FIG. 7).

[0033] In the example of FIGS. 1-7, the pin 18 is an unthreaded fastener such as a nail. The nail may be constructed of any known material such as, for example, hardened steel. Moreover, although the shaft of the nail 18 of FIGS. 1-7 has a substantially uniform diameter over its length except where the nail tapers to the point, persons of ordinary skill in the art will readily appreciate that the shaft of the nail may have two or more sections of different diameters and or a continuously variable diameter.

[0034] After the clip assembly 10 is assembled with the pin 18 through a bore 14 and the washers 20, 22 interference fit to the pin 18, the entire assembly 10 may be galvanized with, for example, a heavy zinc electroplate. The galvanization may enhance the washer's resistance to movement along the shaft of the pin 18. Indeed, in examples wherein the inner bores of the washers 20, 22 are larger than the outer diameter of the shaft of the pin 18, the galzanization may provide the resistance to relative movement of the washers 20, 22 relative to the shaft of the pin 18.

[0035] In the illustrated example, the washers 20, 22 have approximately the same outer diameter. However, persons of ordinary skill in the art will readily appreciate that washers 20, 22 having different outer diameters may alternatively be employed. Similarly, while in the illustrated example, the washers 20, 22 have circular perimeters, persons of ordinary skill in the art will readily appreciate that one or both of the washers 20, 22 could alternatively have a non-circular perimeter. For example, one or both of the washers 20, 22 may have a hexagonal outer perimeter. Moreover, while the illustrated washers 20, 22 each define a closed bore 14, the bores 14 of the washers 20, 22 may alternatively have an opening in a side thereof. Also, although the diameters of the illustrated bores 14 are substantially the same, washers having bores of different diameters may alternatively be employed.

[0036] Persons of ordinary skill in the art will readily appreciate that although the clip 12 of FIGS. 1-7 is a V-shaped bracket for use in securing a cable or wire 11 to a mounting surface 13, clips of other shapes and purposes may alternatively be employed. For instance, in the example clip assembly 100 of FIGS. 8-12, the clip is implemented by a drive ring 112. The drive ring 112 is a c-shaped bracket that may be used to contain wires, cable, and the like while they are routed from one location to another. As shown in FIGS. 8, 9 and 11, the drive ring 112 defines a bore 114 by wrapping an end of the ring 112 back on itself. The bore 114 is not closed, but instead has an opening formed in one of its sides. A pin 118 is captured in this bore 114 by a pair of washers 120, 122 as explained above.

[0037] In the example of FIGS. 8-12, the pin 118 has a shaft including a point. The shaft of the pin 118 also has a first section 124 having a first diameter, a second section 126 having a second larger diameter, and a head 128. In the illustrated example, the head 128 has a smaller diameter than the second section 126.

[0038] In the example clip assembly 200 of FIGS. 13-17, the clip is implemented by a hook 212. In particular, the hook 212 is a T-drop hook that may be used to support objects such as, for example, drop wire clamps from a building or other structure. The drop hook 212 includes a base 230 that defines a bore 214. The pin 218 is secured in the bore 214 by a pair of washers 220, 222 as explained above.

[0039] In the example clip assembly 300 of FIGS. 18-22, the clip is implemented by a strap or cable tie 312. The strap or cable tie 312 includes a flexible tail 350 that may be wrapped around and behind a detent 353 formed from a base 354 of the strap 312 to capture a cable, wire, or group of cables and/or wires within a loop formed by the tail 350. The base 354 of the strap 312 defines a bore 314 which received a pin 318. The pin 318 is fixed within the bore 314 by a pair of washers 320, 322 as explained above.

[0040] Any of the above clip assemblies 10, 100, 200, 300 may be manufactured by stamping, machining, or otherwise forming the clip 12, 112, 212, 312, the pin 18, 118, 218, 318 and/or the washers 20, 22, 120, 122, 220, 222, 320, 322. One of the washers 20, 22, 120, 122, 220, 222, 320, 322 may then be penetrated by the pin 18, 118, 218, 318. The clip 12, 112, 212, 312 may then be penetrated by the pin 18, 118, 218, 318. The second washer 20, 22, 120, 122, 220, 222, 320, 322 may then be penetrated by the pin 18, 118, 218, 318 to capture the clip 12, 112, 212, 312 between the first and second washers 20, 22, 120, 122, 220, 222, 320, 322. If desired, the entire assembly 10, 100, 200, 300 may then be galvanized.

[0041] Any of the above clip assemblies 10, 100, 200, 300 may be used by positioning the clip assembly 10, 100, 200, 300 adjacent a mounting surface. Because of the washers 20, 22, 120, 122, 220, 222, 320, 322, the pin 18, 118, 218, 318 is attached to the clip 12, 112, 212, 312 and will not separate therefrom during handling and/or installation of the clip assembly 10, 100, 200, 300. Once the clip assembly 10, 100, 200, 300 is positioned in the desired location, the pin 18, 118, 218, 318 is driven into the mounting surface such that the pin 18, 118, 218, 318 moves relative to the washers 20, 22, 120, 122, 220, 222, 320, 322 and the clip 12, 112, 212, 312 to thereby secure the clip assembly 10, 100, 200, 300 to the mounting surface. The pin 18, 118, 218, 318 may be driven into the mounting surface a distance such that the second washer 20, 22, 120, 122, 220, 222, 320, 322 engages the mounting surface, the clip 12, 112, 212, 312 engages the second washer 20, 22, 120, 122, 220, 222, 320, 322, the first washer 20, 22, 120, 122, 220, 222, 320, 322 engages the clip 12, 112, 212, 312, and the head of the pin 18, 118, 218, 318 engages the first washer 20, 22, 120, 122, 220, 222, 320, 322.

[0042] Although certain example methods and apparatus have been described herein, the scope of coverage of this patent is not limited thereto. On the contrary, this patent covers all methods, apparatus and articles of manufacture fairly falling within the scope of the appended claims either literally or under the doctrine of equivalents.

Claims

1. A clip assembly comprising:

a clip defining a bore;

a drive pin penetrating the bore;

a first washer friction fit to the drive pin on a first side of the clip, and

a second washer friction fit to the drive pin on a second side of the clip.

2. A clip assembly as defined in claim 1 wherein the clip is dimensioned to mount at least one of a cable and a wire to a mounting surface.

3. A clip assembly as defined in claim 1 wherein the clip comprises at least one of: a drop wire bracket, a v-shaped bracket, an E drop wire bracket, a c-shaped bracket, a ring, a hook, a drop hook, a T drop hook, a strap, a cable tie, and a cable clip.

4. A clip assembly as defined in claim 1 wherein the drive pin comprises a nail.

5. A clip assembly as defined in claim 1 wherein the drive pin is unthreaded.

6. A clip assembly as defined in claim 1 wherein the first and second washers have approximately a same outer diameter.

7. A clip assembly as defined in claim 6 wherein the first and second washers each define a bore.

8. A clip assembly as defined in claim 7 wherein the bores of the first and second washers have approximately a same diameter.

9. A clip assembly as defined in claim 1 wherein the first washer has a circular outer circumference.

10. A clip assembly as defined in claim 1 wherein the first washer has a non-circular outer circumference.

11. A clip assembly as defined in claim 1 wherein the first washer has a first outer diameter and the second washer has a second outer diameter different than the first outer diameter.

12. A clip assembly as defined in claim 1 wherein the first and second washers slide along a shaft of the drive pin when the drive pin is driven into a mounting surface.

13. A clip assembly as defined in claim 1 wherein the drive pin includes a head, and the first washer is mounted between the head of the drive pin and the clip.

14. A clip assembly as defined in claim 1 wherein the drive pin has a shaft having a point, a first section having a first diameter, a second section having a second diameter, and a head.

15. A clip assembly as defined in claim 1 wherein the drive pin withstands approximately ten pounds pull out force without separating from the pin.

16. A clip assembly as defined in claim 1 wherein the drive pin includes a point that protrudes from the second washer.

17. A clip assembly as defined in claim 16 wherein less than one-half of the shaft extends beyond the second washer prior to mounting the clip assembly to a mounting surface.

18. A clip assembly as defined in claim 1 wherein a head of the drive pin is separated a first distance from the first washer prior to mounting the clip assembly to a mounting surface, and the head of the drive pin engages the first washer when the clip assembly is mounted to the mounting surface.

19. A clip assembly as defined in claim 1 wherein the drive pin is constructed of hardened steel.

20. A clip assembly as defined in claim 1 wherein the clip assembly is galvanized after the first washer, the clip, and the second washer are mounted to the drive pin.

21. A clip assembly comprising:

a clip defining a bore;

a first washer and a second washer; and

a pin slidably secured within the bore of the clip by the first and second washers.

22. A clip assembly comprising:

a nail;

a clip; and

first and second washers mounted to the nail to secure the nail to the clip.

23. A clip assembly as defined in claim 22 wherein the first and second washers are interference fit to the nail.

24. A method of manufacturing a clip assembly comprising:

penetrating a first washer with a drive nail;

penetrating a clip with the drive nail; and

penetrating a second washer with the drive nail to capture the clip between the first and second washers.

25. A method as defined in claim 24 further comprising galvanizing the clip assembly.

26. A method as defined in claim 24 wherein the clip is dimensioned to mount at least one of a cable and a wire to a mounting surface.

27. A method of mounting a clip to a mounting surface comprising:

positioning a clip assembly adjacent the mounting surface, the clip assembly having a nail secured to a clip by first and second washers; and

driving the nail into the mounting surface such that the nail moves relative to the first and second washers and the clip to thereby secure the clip to the mounting surface.

28. A method as defined in claim 27 wherein driving the nail into the mounting surface comprises driving the nail into the mounting surface until the second washer engages the mounting surface, the clip engages the second washer, the first washer engages the clip and a head of the nail engages the first washer.