GB2245019A - Retaining clips - Google Patents

Abstract

The clip 11 for interconnecting panels, such as display panels, and support poles is slid into a channel member 10 having lips 16. The clip 11 includes a mouth portion 12, an anchor portion 13 and an interconnecting web 14. The anchor portion 13 has a pair of divergent legs 15 which are dimensioned to engage frictionally respective lips 16 and the base 17 of the channel 10. Each leg 15 has a reverse projection 18 which engages the under surface of a respective lip 16. Preferably lips 16 are resilient. <IMAGE>

Description

Retaining Clips This invention relates to clips for interconnecting panels, such as display panels and support poles.

The majority of clips which are used to support display panels or support poles involve a combination of snap-fitting and locking and are awkward and inflexible to use. A considerably improved clip has recently been developed which enables the clip to be frictionally retained within a channel so that it can be slid to any position in the channel but will support a display panel when not subjected to an external force. However, these clips have a considerable limitation in that very small dimensions hold the panels so close to the centre line of the support poles that any attempt to achieve significant angles between the panels results in the panels locking up.However, if the mouth of the clip and its anchor portion were to be made further apart, and the Applicant is not aware of anyone adopting such a solution, the resultant extra leverage would be such that the clips would be likely to be pulled out of the locating channel The invention consists in a clip for interconnecting a channel member, having a mouth defined by opposed lips, on a cylindrical member, comprising a mouth portion for snap-fittingly engaging the cylindrical member and an anchor portion for engaging the edges of each of the clips and the base for frictionally engaging the clip in the channel and having projections for engaging the inner surfaces of the lips to prevent withdrawal of the clips through the mouth.

In a preferred embodiment the mouth and anchor portion are interconnected by a web and the projections may be dimensioned for permanently frictionally engaging the underside of the lips.

The invention also consists in an assembly comprising a channel member having a mouth defined by opposed lips and a clip as hereinbefore defined, wherein the lips are resilient such that they react on the projections to increase the frictional engagement between the anchor portion and the base of the channel.

Although the invention has been defined above it is to be understood that it includes any inventive combination of the features set out above or in the following description.

The invention may be performed in various ways and a specific embodiment will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawing, in which: Figure 1 is a perspective view of a clip, and, Figure 2 is an end view of a channel member showing a clip located therein.

Display panels are frequently provided with periphery channel members having outwardly facing mouths defined by inturned lips. Such a channel member is diagrammatically indicated at 10 in Figure 2. These channel members can be dimensioned to slidingly receive a clip 11 such that its mouth portion 12 extends outwardly from the display panel for engagement on a support pole (not shown). The clip 11 includes the mouth portion 12, an anchor portion 13 and an interconnecting web 14. The anchor portion 13 comprises a pair of divergent legs 15 which are dimensioned to frictionally engage respective lips 16 and the base 17 of the channel member 10. Each leg 15 is provided with a reverse projection 18 which is dimensioned to engage the under surface of a respective lip 16.

Preferably the lips 16 are resilient so that not only does the engagement of the projection 18 increase the frictional engagement between the clip 11 and the channel member 10 due to the increased engagement surface, but also the reaction force on the projections 18 presses the anchor portion 13 against the base 17.

It will be understood that the projections 18 have the effect of preventing the clip 11 being withdrawn through the mouth of the channel member 10 despite the increased leverage which may be caused by the presence of the web 14.

Thus the clip 11 enables a much greater flexibility in the arrangement of display panels relative to the support poles, whilst retaining the infinite adjustability available from a frictional clip. Indeed the construction provides increased security.

Claims (5)

1. A clip for interconnecting a channel member, having a mouth defined by opposed lips, on a cylindrical member, comprising a mouth portion for snap-fittingly engaging the cylindrical member and an anchor portion for engaging the edges of each of the lips and the base for frictionally engaging the clip in the channel and having projections for engaging the inner surfaces of the lips to prevent withdrawal of the clip through the mouth.

2. A clip as claimed in Claim 1, wherein the mouth and anchor portions are interconnected by a web.

3. A clip as claimed in Claim 1, wherein the projections are dimensioned for frictionally engaging the undersides of the lips.

4. A clip substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawing.

5. An assembly comprising a channel member having a mouth defined by opposed lips, and a clip as hereinbefore defined, wherein the lips are resilient such that they react in the projections to increase the frictional engagement between the anchor portion and the base of the channel.