Field of the Invention
[0001] The present invention relates to a clip assembly for use with a portable electric
or electronic apparatus, in particular a portable electronic telecommunication device
such as a portable cordless or mobile telephone, a radio pager and the like.
Background of the Invention
[0002] Clip assemblies of the type according to the present invention comprise a clip member
or a clip hook which is resiliently biased towards the body or housing of a device
to which the clip assembly is attached. By lifting the clip member against its biasing
force, an object such as a piece of garment, a pocket, or a belt can be received between
the clip member and the body or housing of the device. After release of the clip member,
due to the biasing force acting on the clip member, the device and the object are
mutually firmly clamped. The clip assembly can be either directly connected to the
body or housing of the device or by a separate attachment member or mounting bracket.
[0003] US-A-3,710,423 discloses a clamping device for clamping an article to a perforated
board. In use, the biasing means are secured to the board by a separate mounting bracket.
[0004] Prior art clip assemblies, such as disclosed by EP-A-0,552,962; US-A-4,780,934 and
US-A-4,536,925 generally comprise a support structure having a hinge shaft, a separate
attachment member or mounting bracket to which the clip assembly is fixedly mounted,
fastening lugs on the clip member and the attachment member for supporting the shaft,
and biasing means formed by small torsion springs or small leaf springs. The biasing
springs act on the clip member at or near the hinge point thereof.
[0005] The support and biasing structure of these known clip assemblies is structurally
rather complicated, comprising a number of small parts, which are not only difficult
to assemble but are also prone to damage. In particular, if an external force is exerted
on the clip member, for example when the portable strikes upon a table or the like
or when the portable hooks behind an arm of a chair or another object and is forcefully
removed, besides breakage of a lug or lugs the clip assemblies can fall to pieces
and are then difficult to reassemble.
[0006] US-A-5,016,326 discloses a clip assembly comprising a clip member or a clip hook
and biasing leaf spring means. One end of the clip member is pivotally mounted at
the body or housing of a device, such that an opposite receiving end of the clip member
can be raised from the body or housing of the device for the receipt of a piece of
garment or another object. One end of the leaf spring means engages the clip member
at its pivot point whereas an opposite end of the leaf spring means extends in the
direction of the receiving end of the clip member and is supported by the body or
housing of the device.
[0007] The receiving opening of this known device is, however, limited to such part of the
receiving end of the clip member which, if viewed from its pivot point, projects beyond
the support point of the leaf spring means at the body or housing of the device.
Summary of the Invention
[0008] A first object of the invention is to provide a clip assembly of the type having
a pivotable clip member or clip hook and biasing means, which clip assembly is compact
in size and relatively easy to assemble with as little as possible small and/or separate
parts, and without the need for a separate support of the biasing means at the body
or housing to which the clip assembly is attached.
[0009] It is a second object of the invention to provide a clip assembly which can be easily
attached to a device without having to exercise special technical skills.
[0010] It is a third object of the invention to provide a clip assembly which, as a safety
measure, automatically releases from the body or housing to which it is attached in
case a detachment force exceeding a certain threshold is exerted on the clip member.
[0011] According to the invention, there is provided a clip assembly for attachment to a
body or housing, comprising an elongated clip member having a first end and a second
end, hinge means arranged between said first end and second end for pivotally mounting
the clip member, and leaf spring means extending in longitudinal direction of the
clip member for biasing the first end of the clip member towards the body or housing.
A first end of the leaf spring means engages the clip member at a position between
the first end and the second end thereof, whereas a second end of the leaf spring
means extends in the direction of the second end of the clip member. The leaf spring
means have a spring force such that in its assembled state the second end of the leaf
spring means is urged towards the body or housing.
[0012] The clip assembly according to the invention, with its longitudinally extending leaf
spring means, combines a small size with a high biasing force, i.e. clamping or holding
force, which is an important advantage in view of the trend towards smaller sizes
for portable telecommunication devices and the like.
[0013] With the clip assembly of the invention the leaf spring means, with their second
end, may freely extend in the direction of the second end of the clip member, such
that there is no need for a separate support of the leaf spring means at the body
or housing of the device to which the clip assembly is to be attached.
[0014] The clip assembly of the invention comprises a common single mounting point, i.e.
its hinge means for pivotally mounting the clip assembly to a body or housing of a
device, such that attachment of the clip assembly can be established without having
to use a separate attachment member, mounting bracket etc.
[0015] In the arrangement according to the invention, in order to provide for a releasable
attachment, the hinge means are advantageously configured for releasable attachment
by snap fitting on the body or housing. Suitable snap fittings are known per se in
practice.
[0016] By a proper design of the snap fitting, as a safety measure, automatic release of
the attachment of the clip assembly can be obtained in those cases, for example, when
the portable strikes upon a table or the like or when the portable hooks behind an
arm of a chair or another object causing a forceful detachment of the clip assembly.
With such a measure damage of the clip assembly and/or the hinge means and the body
or housing of a device can be effectively avoided. By having the leaf spring means
attached to the clip member, the connection can be easily restored by snapping the
clip assembly and the body or housing together.
[0017] By shaping the clip member such that the leaf spring means, from the first end of
the clip member, extend for the greater part within the circumference of the clip
member, an object projecting a certain distance beyond the first end of the clip member
in the direction of the second end of the clip member can be received between the
clip member and the body or housing of a device without impeding the biasing force
of the leaf spring means. Accordingly, a relatively large receiving opening is provided
for the receipt of an object.
[0018] The term leaf spring means used in the present description and the claims is to be
construed as comprising any resilient means having a spring action comparable to a
leaf spring.
[0019] In an embodiment of the invention the leaf spring means comprise at least one single
leaf spring, the first end of which is attached the clip member at or near the first
end thereof. With such a separate leaf spring, by properly selecting its spring characteristics,
the biasing of the clip member can be relatively accurately set to meet the conditions
required. The leaf spring can be made of a plastic material or a metal.
[0020] In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the leaf spring is attached to the clip
member by means of a separate grip piece provided at the first end of the clip member,
for frictionally holding the clip to a piece of a garment or the like.
[0021] In a yet further embodiment for mounting the grip piece, the clip member is provided,
at its outwardly facing surface, with a recess which connects to an opening for receiving
the grip piece. The grip piece has a first part which closes off the recess and a
second part which, through the opening, extends from the clip member in the direction
of the body or housing. This second part of the grip piece has a slit for receiving
the first end of the leaf spring, such that in its assembled state the first end of
the leaf spring is positioned and held in the recess by means of the grip piece.
[0022] This construction is very simple and avoids the need for separate joint means such
as screws, rivets or the like, for connecting the leaf spring to the clip member.
By using the clip piece, which is preferably made of rubber, an easy to assemble and
to reassemble clip assembly is provided. For locking the leaf spring in the recess
of the clip member, in another embodiment of the invention, the recess and the leaf
spring are provided with complementary connecting projections and cut outs. The projections
are preferably formed in the recess and are inclined towards the first end of the
clip member, in order to provide a self latching effect of the leaf spring and the
clip member during and after their assembly.
[0023] In a still further embodiment of the invention the leaf spring means are integrally
formed with the clip member and may comprise a pair of lip shaped leaf springs positioned
at each side of the clip member. Advantageously, the lips can be made out of the plane
of the clip member, for example in the form of a single loop shaped configuration
which extends from part of the circumference of the clip member. It is, however, also
possible to use separate lip shaped leaf spring means which are completely or partly
embedded in or covered by the material of the clip member.
[0024] Such an integral embodiment of the clip member and the leaf spring means is preferred
from an assembling point of view. By having also the hinge means integrally formed
with the clip member, the clip assembly is just comprised of one single piece.
[0025] Although the clip assembly according to the invention is designed for use without
a separate attachment member, it will be understood that whenever a separate attachment
member is preferred or needed, e.g. in case of replacement of a prior art clip assembly
by the clip assembly of the invention, the latter can be provided mounted at such
attachment member. This while maintaining all the other features and advantages as
mentioned above.
[0026] The invention relates also to a portable electronic apparatus, in particular a portable
electronic telecommunication device such as a cordless or mobile telephone or radio
pager, comprising the novel and inventive clip assembly as described above.
Brief Description of the Drawings
[0027] Fig. 1 is a schematic side view illustrating a cordless portable telephone provided
with a clip assembly according to the invention.
[0028] Figs. 2 and 3 are schematic cross sections on an enlarged scale through part of the
portable telephone shown in Fig. 1, illustrating the clip assembly in different positions.
[0029] Fig. 4 is a schematic perspective exploded view of the clip assembly shown in Figs.
2 and 3, illustrating the several parts of the clip assembly before assembly thereof.
[0030] Fig. 5 is a schematic perspective view of the clip assembly according the invention,
illustrating a clip member and leaf spring means integrally formed with the clip member.
Detailed Description of Embodiments
[0031] The invention will now be described and illustrated with reference to exemplary embodiments
to which the invention is, however, not limited. It will be understood that the invention
is neither limited to its use with portable electric or electronic apparatuses such
as a cordless or mobile portable telephone.
[0032] Fig. 1 shows in a side view a cordless or mobile portable telephone 1, having a plastic
body or housing 2 with a front face 3, provided with several push buttons 4 for operating
the telephone, and a back or rear face 5, to which a clip assembly 6 according to
the present invention is attached. The clip assembly 6 comprises an elongated plastic
clip member or clip hook 7 which is pivotally connected to the rear face 5 of the
body or housing 2.
[0033] Fig. 2 shows, on an enlarged scale, part of the clip assembly 6 and the body or housing
2 of Fig. 1. Besides the clip member 7, the clip assembly comprises biasing means
in the form of a leaf spring 8 and hinge means in the form of a support section 9
which is formed as an integral part of the clip member 7. The support section 9 has
a protruding shaft like attachment part 10 which is configured for pivotally releasable
snap insertion into a complementary recess 11 of the body or housing 2. As illustrated,
the support section 9 is positioned between a first end 12 and a second end 13 of
the clip member 7, such that the hinge point formed by the attachment part 10 is closer
to the second end 13.
[0034] At its first end 12, the clip member 7 terminates in a barb-like projection 14. At
its first end 12 the clip member 7 is also provided with a grip piece 15 of rubber
or the like. A part 16 of this grip piece 15 is received in a recess 19 formed in
the outwardly facing surface 20 of the clip member 7, whereas another part 17 of the
grip piece 15, making right angles with the part 16, is received in a through opening
21 which connects to the recess 19 adjacent the projection 14, viewed in the direction
of the second end 13 of the clip member 7. The part 17 of the grip piece 15 is dimensioned
such that, when assembled, this part 17 projects from the clip member 7 to form with
the projection 14 an integral barb shaped end of the clip member 7.
[0035] The biasing leaf spring 8, which can be of plastic or a suitable metal such as stainless
steel, has a first end 23 which is attached to the clip member 7 at its first end
12, and a second end 24 which extends freely in the direction of the second end 13
of the clip member 7 beyond the hinge point thereof. At its first end 23 the leaf
spring 8 is received in the recess 19 through a slit or slot 18 in the part 17 of
the grip piece 15. The leaf spring 8 has a spring force or tension which urges the
clip member 7 with its first end 12 towards the rear face 5 of the body or housing
2 until it is stopped by the grip piece 15 making contact with the rear face 5, and
urges the second end 24 of the leaf spring 8 towards and against the rear face 5 of
the body or housing 2, as shown.
[0036] Fig. 3 shows the clip member 7 in a lifted position, such that there is formed a
receiving opening 22 between the rear face 5 and the grip piece 15, i.e. the first
end 12 of the clip member 7, for receiving a piece of garment or a belt or the like,
not shown. The clip member 7 can be lifted either by pushing its second end 13 towards
the rear face 5 of the body or housing or by raising the first receiving end 12 of
the clip member 7 with respect to the rear face 5 of the body or housing 2.
[0037] By removing such a lifting force, the clip member 7, under the biasing force of the
leaf spring 8, returns to the position shown in Fig. 2. In cases where there is inserted
an object such as a piece of garment between the grip piece 15 and the rear side 5
of the body or housing 2, the piece of garment is clamped to the body or housing 2
by the clip member 7, i.e. its grip piece 15. The clamping strength depends mainly
on the spring characteristics of the leaf spring 8, its dimensions and the positions
at which the leaf spring engages the clip member 7 and the body or housing 2. The
grip piece 15 of rubber provides an additional frictional force to the piece of garment.
[0038] From Figs. 2 and 3 it can be seen that the support section 9 is shaped such that
the leaf spring 8 from its first end 23 extends for the greater part within the circumference
of the clip member 7. Accordingly, an object received in the receiving opening 22
will not impede or otherwise have an influence on or is obstructed by the leaf spring
8.
[0039] By spacing apart the positions at which the leaf spring 8 engages the clip member
7 and the body or housing 2, respectively, the mechanical force exerted on the clip
member 7 is properly distributed along the length thereof. Further, in the arrangement
of the invention, the clip member 7 is biased for the greater part by the relatively
high spring force of the leaf spring 8 acting in longitudinal direction thereof. This
means that with a relatively small sized clip assembly 6 according to the invention,
a relatively high clamping or holding force can be provided. The clamping force of
the clip assembly can be further controlled by limiting the travel of the second free
end 24 of the leaf spring 8, for example by providing at the rear side or back 5 of
the body or housing 2 a groove in which the second end 24 is received and/or can slide
(not shown).
[0040] Fig. 4 shows the several parts of the clip assembly 6 in their disassembled form.
The recess 19 in the clip member 7 is provided with two semi-circular projections
25, of which only one is shown. These projections are raised in the direction of the
first end 12 and towards the outwardly facing side 20 of the clip member 7. The leaf
spring 8 is at its first end 23 provided with complementary semi-circular like cut
outs 26, as shown.
[0041] The clip assembly 6 can be very easily assembled by pushing the grip piece 15 into
the recess 19 of the clip member 7, as shown, while simultaneously inserting the leaf
spring 8 with its first end 23 through the slot 18 of the grip piece 15 into the recess
19. The corresponding semi-circular protrusions and cut outs 25, 26 will snap into
each other in a self-aligning manner. In the assembled state, the grip piece 15 and
the leaf spring 8 hold each other in position without the need for additional fixing
means such as screws, rivets or the like. It will be understood that by the absence
of small parts, the clip assembly is very easily to assemble and to reassemble in
case it has been fallen to pieces, without a need for special tools or skills. Further,
the clip member and leaf spring can be kept in stock as spare parts.
[0042] The opening 21 is also very advantageously from a moulding point of view. In order
to provide for multiple protrusions at on side of a body or housing, such as the attachment
part 10 and the barb-like projection 14 of the clip member 7, the mould has to be
provided with a relatively complicated structure of mould slide means. However, with
the clip member 7 of the invention, the projection 14 at the first end 12 can be formed
in one step with the opening 21, such that a relatively simple single mould slide
structure for forming the attachment part 10 suffices.
[0043] Fig. 5 illustrates a further embodiment of a clip assembly 27 based on the concept
of the invention. There is shown a elongated plastic clip member 28, having a first
end 29 and a second end 30 and leaf spring means 31. The leaf spring means 31 take
the form of two lip shaped leaf springs 32, 33 each positioned at a longitudinal edge
of the clip member 28. With their first ends 34 the leaf springs 32, 33 are connected
to the clip member 28 between the first end 29 and the second end 30 thereof, whereas
the second ends 35 of the leaf springs 32, 33 are mutually connected to form a single
loop shaped configuration which extends in the direction of the second end 30 of the
clip member 28.
[0044] The clip member comprises hinge means in the form of two parallel support sections
36 which are formed as an integral part of the clip member 28. The support sections
36 have protruding attachment parts 37, each comprising oppositely directed semi-spherical
protrusions 38 which are configured for pivotally releasable snap insertion in complementary
recesses provided in the body or housing to which the clip member is to be attached,
or in a separate attachment member, not shown.
[0045] In the embodiment shown in Fig. 5, the loop shaped spring means 31 and the support
sections 36 are formed in one piece from the material of the clip member 28. As indicated
by a dot/dashed line 39 it is also possible to have separate leaf spring means embedded
in or covered by the plastic of the clip member 28. It will be understood that this
is a very attractive embodiment, because the clip assembly as a whole comprises essentially
one single part.
[0046] A skilled person will understood that the support or hinge sections 9, 36 of the
clip assemblies 6, 27 can be mutually substituted or replaced by other known support
sections. It is of course not mandatory to use releasable support means, in particular
the snap fittings shown. The clip assembly is further not restricted to the use of
plastic material or the connection of the leaf spring 8 to the clip member 7 by means
of the grip piece 15. Such connection can also be made by means of screws, rivets
and the like or by embedding the first end 23 of the leaf spring 8 in the clip member
7.
1. A clip assembly (6; 27) for attachment to a body or housing (2), comprising an elongated
clip member (7; 28) having a first end (12; 29) and a second end (13; 31), hinge means
(10; 36, 37, 38) arranged between said first end (12; 29) and second end (13; 31)
for pivotally mounting the clip member (7; 28), and leaf spring means (8; 32, 33)
extending in longitudinal direction of the clip member (7; 28) for biasing the first
end (12; 29) of the clip member (7; 28) towards the body or housing (2), and wherein
a first end (23; 34) of the leaf spring means (8; 32, 33) engages the clip member
(7; 28) at a position between the first end (12; 29) and the second end (13; 34) thereof,
characterised in that a second end (24; 35) of the leaf spring means (8; 32, 33) extends in the
direction of the second end (13; 34) of the clip member (7; 28), said leaf spring
means (8; 32, 33) having a spring force such that when attached to a body or housing
(2) said second end (24; 35) of the leaf spring means (8; 32, 33) is urged towards
said body or housing (2).
2. A clip assembly according to Claim 1, wherein said leaf spring means comprise at least
one separate leaf spring (8), a first end (23) of said leaf spring (8) engaging the
clip member (7) essentially at its first end (12).
3. A clip assembly according to Claim 2, wherein the clip member (7) at its first end
(12) is provided with a grip piece (15) for holding the clip member (7) to an object,
said leaf spring (8) being attached to the clip member (7) by means of said grip piece
(15).
4. A clip assembly according to Claim 3, wherein the clip member (7), at its outwardly
facing surface (20), is provided with a recess (19) which connects to an opening (21)
for receiving said grip piece (15), said grip piece (15) having a first part (16)
which closes off said recess (19) and a second part (17) which through said opening
(21) projects from the clip member (7) in the direction of the body or housing (2),
wherein said second part (17) of said grip piece (15) has a slit (18) for receiving
said first end (23) of said leaf spring (8), such that in its assembled state said
first end (23) of said leaf spring (8) is latched in said recess (19) by means of
said grip piece (15).
5. A clip assembly according to Claim 4, wherein said recess (19) is provided with projections
(25) which connect to complementary cut outs (26) of said leaf spring (8), said projections
(25) are inclined towards the first end (12) of the clip member (7), in order to provide
a self latching effect of said leaf spring (8) and clip member (7).
6. A clip assembly according to any of the previous Claims, wherein the clip member (7)
has an outer circumference (9) shaped to receive part of the leaf spring means (8)
extending from the clip member (7).
7. A clip assembly according to Claim 1, wherein the leaf spring means (32, 33) are integrally
formed with or partly or completely embedded in the clip member (27).
8. A clip assembly according to Claim 7, wherein the leaf spring means comprise a pair
of leaf springs (32, 33) positioned at each side of the clip member (27), said leaf
springs (32, 33) having the shape of elongated lips, and wherein said leaf springs
(32, 33) at their second ends (35) connect to each other, such that a single loop
shaped configuration is formed which extends at part of the circumference of the clip
member (27).
9. A clip assembly according to any of the preceding Claims, wherein said hinge means
are configured for releasable attachment by snap fitting means (10, 11; 37, 38).
10. A portable electronic apparatus, in particular a portable electronic telecommunication
device (1), comprising a clip assembly (6; 27) according to any of the previous Claims.